The Forum March 2023 Edition

THE FORUM

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Student Newspaper

March 2023

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

RUN FOR THE FALLEN

LEGO CONVENTION

ART EXHIBIT

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

BASEBALL

ARKANSAS RUN FOR THE FALLEN, A RITUAL OF LOVE, LONGING AND LOSS

Whether it’s an acute awareness or a violently apparent reality, every service member in the military knows that to be in the military is to form a shaky contract with love, longing and loss.

Bubba Beason says the same thing every year that he organizes the Arkansas Run for the Fallen, “Everyone dies twice. First when they die, and then again when their name is said aloud for the last time.” Service members carry this uneasy truth.

That’s why when Beason searches for dozens of runners for a 3-day, 155-mile-long run from Ozark to Little Rock, he exclusively recruits military runners (veterans and current service members).

This year, Beason organized the run’s 12th year. The run began on Mar. 17 and spanned most of the day from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., starting in Ozark with what seemed like every Ozarker, including the mayor, lining the sidewalks, cheering the runners on with flags

and family alongside.

The run concluded at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Little Rock, on March 19, at 1 pm and 5K was run from MEPS to the State Capitol.

Each team has a minimum of two runners who run in six-mile increments and honor a fallen Arkansan service member (referred to as ‘heroes’ during the run) each mile.

This year, I had the chance to participate in the run for the first time. I spent six years in the Navy as a SONAR Technician with most of my time on the USS Gridley (DDG-101) stationed in Everett, WA.

The love that I witnessed over the weekend because of longing and loss made me realize that nothing can fill the hole that loss leaves us with, but community makes it just a little more bearable, even if it only exists in 90-second sweaty hugs with a stranger.

The love in that community was admittedly infectious and

empowering, and although I had never run further than 6 miles at a time, I ran 20 miles in total that weekend for the Run.

The heroes’ names were said aloud every mile and their story was told as the runners made their journey escorted by a motorcade of military veterans and police vehicles for the 155 miles.

Many runners ran for multiple legs, some in the same day and some others in consecutive legs.

Each leg was run in less than an hour as a requirement because many Gold Star Families, the heroes’ loved ones, waited at some of the stops. Some of the families were large and sometimes only a single person waited for the runners at their stop.

Every year many of the families point out that their loved one’s names are never said aloud all year except during the Run.

So, some waited in 30-degree weather and whipping winds for the runners to read aloud their loved ones’ stories, boldly exclaim

their name and then forcefully shout, “You will not be forgotten!”

Almost every one of the family members hugged the sweaty runners gratefully and some cried with the runners.

Without my asking, many of the volunteer veterans readily confessed that this run was so important to them because they felt that they could have been one of the heroes that gave their life.

No one joins to give their life, even when it is quietly understood that death is a possibility. Service members may join for several reasons: education; financial stability for themselves and their families: American citizenship for their families; patriotism; a longing for community; the list is endless.

But no one joins to die.

When service members die during their service or because of their time in service, it is certainly never expected. Many of the heroes were young—less than 25 years old—gone entirely too soon.

Service members seem to

understand the sometimesunderstated connection between fear and love.

The bridge is gratitude. That is what the Run is quietly about: gratitude for love, loss and longing because they keep us connected to our loved ones in their respective ways while we have our loved ones and after our loved ones have passed from us.

Beason told me that he was worried that the Run would not last much longer as every year has proved harder to find willing military runners.

If any of our military students would like to be involved with the 2024 AR Run for the Fallen, they may contact the Run’s organizers through the Facebook Page, AR Run for the Fallen or their website, www.arkansasrunforthefallen.org

BY BRYAN HERNANDEZ

RUN FOR THE FALLEN Bryan Hernandez photos

BREAKING THE CYCLE: CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL’S MISSION

Children International, a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for children around the world, has been making a significant impact in Arkansas through its programs and services located on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Campus.

With its headquarters located in Kansas City, Missouri, Children International has been operating in Arkansas for many years, providing support and assistance to lowincome families and children in need.

The organization’s programs

in Arkansas focus on education, health, and personal development.

Children International operates community centers in Little Rock and Hope, where children and families can access a variety of services, including tutoring, computer classes, health screenings, and counseling.

One of the most successful programs run by Children International is the Sponsorship program, which connects sponsors with children in need, providing them with basic necessities, such as food, clothing and medical care.

Sponsors also have the opportunity to correspond with their sponsored

children and build meaningful relationships with them.

Children International’s impact in Arkansas has been substantial. In 2020, the organization provided services to more than 2,000 children and their families, including more than 12,000 meals and snacks and 7,000 hours of tutoring.

“Children International has been a true lifeline for our family,” said Maria, a single mother of two who has been receiving assistance from the organization for several years.

“The tutoring and counseling services have made a real difference for my kids, and the Sponsorship

program has helped us get through some tough times.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for organizations like Children International, but the organization has been able to adapt and continue its important work.

“We are grateful for the support of our donors and sponsors, who have continued to help us make a difference in the lives of children and families in Arkansas,” said Jill Kummer, Vice President of Communications at Children International.

“We know that the need for our services will continue to be great,

and we are committed to doing everything we can to support those who need it most.”

As Children International continues its work in Arkansas and around the world, the organization remains dedicated to its mission and providing children with the opportunity they need to succeed.

BY NOAH HOUSEHOLDER

MODEL ARAB LEAGUE 2023 RECAP

The UA Little Rock Model Arab League team recently wrapped up their 2023 class with a trip to the national Model Arab League (MAL) conference in Washington D.C., where multiple members took home national awards.

An underrated class at the university, Model Arab League has been a consistent presence in the MAL community for years, and is spearheaded by Dr. Rebecca Glazier.

The conferences are put on by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, and through the council, students in the class get to meet diplomats from the nations they represent, and many renowned speakers.

This year at the national conference, every student who

attended got to hear from the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state at the opening ceremony.

UALR represented the State of Qatar this year at the national and southeast regional conferences this year, and represented Qatar and Somalia at the bilateral conference held in Houston.

Bilateral was the first conference the class attended, as it is smaller and good training before the intensive national conference. Several students in the class chaired committees at the conference, and were involved with the secretariat, or the group that runs the conference. There, multiple students won Distinguished or Outstanding Delegation awards, and the team won an award for their representation of Qatar.

Next, the administrative

team of the Model Arab League student organization traveled to Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to compete in the southeast regional conference for the first time ever.

At this conference, there were 8 committees, but UA Little Rock only brought 6 students, leaving the team at a disadvantage for overall team awards as they automatically received a score of zero in the two unstaffed committees.

Despite this, all six of the students that attended won an award in their committee, landing the team an Outstanding award for the representation of Qatar, which resulted in the collective gasp heard around the campus by the team (seriously multiple people brought up the gasping).

After SERMAL, the whole team

traveled to D.C. for the national competition. After two days of exploring the city, a meeting with diplomats at the Qatari embassy and a tour of the Capitol Building, the team traveled to George Washington University for two full days of debating, writing and compromising.

Sunday morning marked the awards ceremony, and the UA Little Rock team won the most awards they ever have at the national level. Amelia Loken, Rebecca Little, Jack Schlotter, Yvonne Rodriguez, Chloe McGehee & Owen Haynes all won awards.

On top of that, Caleb Mimms and Owen Haynes were selected after an application and interview process to be a part of next year’s secretariat, with Mimms being selected as Assistant Secretary

General, and Haynes being selected to Chair the Arab Heads of State Committee. This is also the first time UA Little Rock students will be part of the national secretariat. Clearly, the program is growing and improving, but the team does not plan to stop soon. They are stepping up recruitment efforts and recently created a student organization for MAL.

It is important to note I myself have been a part of MAL for two years now and am totally biased in how awesome the class is. As I like to say, if you like to argue diplomatically, Model Arab League is probably for you.

BY CHLOE MCGEHEE

ENTERTAINMENT

THE EPIC HIGHS AND LOWS OF STARBUCKS’ VEGETARIAN MENU

Being a vegetarian is difficult in Arkansas, and even more so if you want something fast. Anyone who knows me knows I am borderline addicted to Starbucks, and while you go there for the coffee, they also have some of the best fast food for vegetarians out there; and yes, it is fast food.

I have tried every single vegetarian item on the Starbucks menu, and here I am with the ultimate guide to each item in no particular order.

Let us begin with the hot breakfast menu, starting with the classic Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, the feat of nature that has made vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike sell out Starbucks: the sandwich that made even the most meat-eatery of meat eaters try the impossible sausage.

I don’t like it.

You are seriously better off

getting an Egg McMuffin with no canadian bacon from McDonald’s then this sandwich, and for much cheaper at that. While I am delighted we vegetarians are turning people onto our side to eat less meat, I urge anyone who wants to try fake meat to eat something actually seasoned and not spongelike.

Moving along to the Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap, this is a classic 6/10 for me. It’s better than a lot, but the taste leave more to be desired. If you like the taste of eggs in particular, this is for you.

The famous, or infamous, Sous Vide Egg Bites, two of which are vegetarian: the Kale & Mushroom Egg Bites and the Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites.

The red pepper bites by far outstretch the kale and mushroom in taste and in texture. I’ll add that I personally dislike eggs, so these are not my favorite, but I can

understand the appeal. Despite my understanding, the name of this food in general offends me, “Sous Vide” is trying much too hard, and since this is my opinion, eggs are gross, so these fall short for me.

My favorite breakfast item is the Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal, which comes with brown sugar, almonds, blueberries and honey. This way you can control every aspect of your oatmeal, so my fellow control freaks will also enjoy this breakfast item.

Overall, Starbucks breakfast does not hit it out of the park for me. A note to Starbucks: vegetarians can eat things other than eggs. Moving on to the lunch menu, this is a much better selection in my opinion.

The Grilled Cheese is my favorite food on the Starbucks menu. The cheese is rich, and they add a crusty layer of cheese on top of the bread that is so good. My only

complaint is that it is sometimes a little greasy because there is so much cheese, but I’d rather have too much cheese than not enough, so it gets a pass. 9/10.

The other lunch sandwich, the Tomato & Mozzarella on Focaccia is also quite good, if not a little basic.

Also on the Starbucks lunch menu are their protein boxes, which are really delicious and a great little snack. I can highly recommend the vegetarian ones, as the ingredients feel high quality for a snack box and are pretty delicious.

The last vegetarian item on the lunch menu is the avocado spread, which tastes more like the onion spread. Barf.

Going over every bakery item at Starbucks would take way too much time, so here’s a highlight reel: the good, the bad and the ugly. Their bagels are frankly not

the best and on par with Walmart bagged bagels. Some highlights for me are the cake pops, as they pair perfectly with Starbucks’ coffee flavors.

Their chocolate croissant is great heated up, but their regular croissant is not the best.

The red velvet loaf is also a highlight for me, despite not liking the icing on it, but the glazed doughnut is ugly and gross.

Everytime I have had a Starbucks scone, it has been stale and stuck to my mouth, definitely the ugly.

But many other bakery items are nice to have with your coffee, the banana nut loaf, lemon loaf and their selection of sweet granola bars are all good in particular.

I may have been a little harsh to some of these bakery items, but all in all, Starbucks is the best fast food option for vegetarians, and they have some real shining moments.

BY CHLOE MCGEHEE

PURIM: BRINGING JOY AND REVELRY TO ARKANSAS

The Jewish holiday of Purim, which falls on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, is a time of joyous celebration and revelry for Jewish communities around the world. This year, Purim began at sundown on March 16th and continued until sundown on March 17th.

The origins of Purim date back to the fifth century BCE when the Jewish people resided in Persia. According to Jewish text, the Persian king Ahasuerus chose Esther, a Jewish woman, to be his queen. When the king’s advisor, Haman, plotted to exterminate the

Jewish people, Esther revealed her hidden Jewish identity and used her influence with the king to save her people.

To honor their deliverance, the Jewish people established the holiday we now call Purim. The name “Purim” comes from the Persian word for “lots,” as Haman cast lots to determine the date on which he would carry out his plan.

Purim is celebrated with a variety of traditions and customs. One of the most memorable aspects of the holiday is the reading of the Book of Esther, also known as the Megillah. The Megillah tells

the story of Esther and Haman and is read aloud in synagogues and community centers.

Another important Purim tradition is the exchange of gifts of food and drink, known as mishloach manot. Jewish families and friends give each other baskets or packages filled with sweets, fruits and other treats. This tradition emphasizes the importance of charity and community.

Purim is also a time for dressing up in costumes and masks. Children and adults alike adore festive outfits and participate in parades and parties. This tradition

is thought to symbolize the idea that things are not always as they seem, as Esther concealed her true identity until she revealed it to the king.

Synagogues and Jewish communities all across Arkansas took time for feasting and merriment. Jewish Families gathered together for festive meals, often featuring traditional Purim foods such as hamantaschen and triangular-shaped pastries filled with fruit or poppy seeds.

In addition to these customs, Purim is a time for reflection and meditation. Many Jewish

communities used the holiday as an opportunity to support local charities and engage in acts of kindness and service.

BY NOAH HOUSEHOLDER

LINED UP FOR BLOCKS: BRICK UNIVERSE LEGO CONVENTION

Many of us fondly remember lying on the floor arguing with our siblings over which pieces we needed for our work of art made of tiny plastic bricks.

The nostalgia is still alive and well at the traveling convention of Lego artists widely known as BrickUniverse.

Upon walking through the door of the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, one could not help but turn into an 8-yearold child again.

In February, the BrickUniverse Lego convention displayed a wide range of Lego sculptures, including actual building sets from every era, fantastical creations from the minds of Lego masters, and intricate artworks that were nothing short of amazing.

In addition, VIP entrants received a souvenir identification badge made of, you guessed it, Legos.

Vendors sold custom Lego mini-figures and hard-to-find Lego sets at the two-day sold-out convention.

Once the doors opened to the general admission crowd, the entire convention center flooded with children and adults alike to view the creations on display and rub elbows with some of the artists.

In the back corner were several large banquet tables piled high with loose Legos for patrons to build whatever they wanted. The displays featured were everything from dioramas, architecture, artwork, historic Lego sets, realistic models and custom fantasy creations.

Some of the diorama scenes included the stay-puff marshmallow man scene from “Ghostbusters,” an Elvis Presley concert, a Prince concert and too many more to mention.

The flat panel artworks were particularly intriguing, some completely two-dimensional, others using a technique called “greebles,” where the artist uses various random type pieces to create artwork with texture.

An excellent example of this technique in action is the Joker panel and the Miles Morales

Spider-Man panel.

Artists even made some art panels in such a way that if you walked past them, the image would change, not unlike the little corrugated plastic pictures found in a Cracker-Jack box, only bigger and made of Legos.

Lego artist Lia Chan from Dallas enthusiastically shared her research methods on how she designed and built her massive International Space Station model.

“Lots and lots of pictures and 3D renderings,” Chan laughs.

“The ISS took me 10 days, I think, to finish it.” The meticulous attention to detail in this piece is quite astonishing in person, and the camera struggles to capture the scope of the project.

Nevertheless, Chan’s exhibit remained extremely popular throughout the day, and she was cheerfully available for questions.

Another fascinating Lego artist showcasing his work was Paul Hetherington of Vancouver, Canada. Hetherington recreated scenes from “Grease,” “Purple Rain” and “Scooby Doo, but the most mesmerizing was a custom model that he calls “Unchain My Heart.”

The model looks like a reallife steampunk-style android, complete with a top hat, but it is extraordinary because it is completely life-size.

The display of the mechanical man is a torso-up model holding a mechanical “heart,” hence the name of the piece.

On a personal note, just inside the doors of BrickUniverse was a tribute model of the former World Trade Center and the 9-11 memorial.

Plaques in memoriam of one of the most tragic and humbling days in our nation’s history accompanied the models serving as solemn reminders that the U.S. is not untouchable.

While Legos continue to capture our sense of wonder, BrickUniverse continues to remind us that our achievements are only limited by our imaginations.

BY JESSE CAIN

BRICK UNIVERSE CONVENTION

Jesse Cain photos

VOCES OMNES PERFORMANCE

hat does it feel like to be lost in music? On a Monday night, choirs came together to bring a wonderful evening full of music and wonder.

On Mar. 6, 2023, UA Little Rock School of Literary and Performing Arts presented “Voces Omnes.” This concert showed the talent of our very own UA Little Rock choirs with high school choirs: Robinson High School Bella Voce, Parkview High School Lab Singers and Madrigals, and Sylvan Hills High School VOX Chorale.

Opening the program was Robinson High School Freshman Choir, directed by Edmund Hampton, with the song “Siyahamba”, an amusing and lively piece. They then led into their second piece “Elijah Rock”, a song that starts with a sad and wistful sound but turns into a bouncy and bright tune. It is safe to say that this group started the concert on the right foot.

After a fantastic performance by Robinson High School, Bryant High School Bella Voce, under the direction of Tanner Oglesby and accompanied by Jeannie Cross on piano was next.

Their first song, “Muusika” was a light and delicate piece. It sounded effortless and had a simple, but ethereal sound.

Next, their song “Flight”, truly made you feel like you were floating. The group visibly moved with passion and feeling. It was beautiful to see young people sing with such a love for music.

Their last song “A City Called Heaven”, brought a standing ovation. Maegan Hall was an outstanding soloist. It could not be denied the powerhouse vocalists present in this choir.

Parkview High School Madrigals, under the direction of Mary Shollmier with piano accompaniment by CamRyn

WStillman, take the stage next with the song “All Ye Who Music Love.” The song was light and complex, with lots of moving parts that came together to form one beautiful sound.

Their second piece, “Locus Iste” sounded otherwordly. After a beautiful performance by the Madrigals, Parkview High School Lab Singers join them on the stage. Their first piece, “Wade in the Water”, was soulful. They brought a unique rendition of a classic African American spiritual.

Next, they sang their second piece “I Cannot Count the Stars” accompanied by flutist, Megan Dorris. The song was dramatic, yet airy. It had a fantastical element like I was entering a hidden world.

They finished a beautiful performance with the song “Richte Mich Got.”

Finishing out the high school performances was the Sylvan Hills High School VOX Chorale led by Director Elaine Harris and Assistant Director Alexa Wilson.

They started with the song, “Sing Gently”, a comforting piece that sounded like a lullaby. There was something hopeful about the song, like it was a message and promise between two people that they will see each other again.

Next, they sang, “Lord Have Mercy”. It was an acapella piece, the only accompaniment was their footsteps and hand claps. The song had a soulful and full sound to it. This group sounded wise beyond their years.

In the second part of the program, the UA Little Rock Choirs, under the direction of Dr. Lorissa Mason with accompaniment by Professor Leann Jones, take the stage beginning with the Women’s Choir.

The Women’s Choir started with the song, “Grace Before Sleep.” A delicate lullaby that sounded like it could be on a movie soundtrack. The song

moved with such color, like the Northern lights. The feathery and soft sound of the sopranos soared through the air like a bird, as the altos provided a strong foundation like a tree for the bird to land on. The Women’s Choir elevates its sound with each performance they bring and this song proved it.

Their next song, “The Seal Lullaby” was sung with such care for the words and meaning of this piece. The thought put into this performance was evident.

Their last song, “Vichten” was a fun and animated acapella piece written in a similar style to Acadian folk music.

According to jwpepper. com, “the words of Vichten are made up entirely of nonsense syllables, similar to Scottish “mouth music” where the voices are intended to mimic instruments.”

Soloist, Saige Kelly started the song, her voice filling the concert hall. The group, accompanied by Dorian Izzo who played the spoons clearly enjoyed singing this piece, as they could not help but smile while singing such a joyous song. As you watched them, you probably couldn’t help but smile too.

The UA Little Rock Chamber Singers grace us with their singing abilities next with the song, “Bogoroditse Devo” conducted by student Christian Waldron.

The piece moved like leaves on a fall day, swaying in the wind and carrying you to a different place.

It may be a meadow, the beach, or a forest. Wherever it is, the Chamber Singers know how to take their audience to a different place with their music. Their next piece was “Tu Sangre en la mia”, which translates to “Your Blood in Mine.”

According to jwpepper.com, the Grammy-nominated piece was composed to the poem by

Pablo Neruda, “Tu Sangre en la Mia.”

The piece celebrates the simplistic beauty of love with an alluring and dramatic sound.

The Chamber Singers finished their portion of the program with the song “Invictus.”

From the very first note, the song draws you in. Joined by cello player, Joanna Klett, the song had a dark, ominous, and haunting sound.

It was captivating. The piece moved with the force and gracefulness of a raging sea. This talented group of singers is skilled in the art of telling a story with music.

Last, but certainly not least, the UA Little Rock Concert Choir takes the stage. The choir starts with the song, “At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners.”

This song was complex. At times it was a bold proclamation for praise, followed by a sweet lullaby and plea for God’s grace and mercy.

Next, was the song “Immortal Memory,” a piece made in tribute to the late Robert Burns. The song felt nostalgic and familiar.

Though the piece was made in memory of Robert Burns, you can’t help but think back to simple and happy times. Times

with loved ones that seemed like it was over all too quickly. With this song, the Concert Choir brought you back to a safe place.

The Concert Choir concluded this evening of performances with the song “Modimo,” a South African piece that the group sang with high spirits.

Accompanied by Omar Delgado for percussion, the piece felt like a living thing. As Dr. Lorissa Mason said, “Choral music is a visual art.” The visible connection between Dr. Mason and her singers is beautiful to see.

All of this would not be possible without the creative direction and guidance of each choral director and pianist. Together, with their singers, they put on an evening full of magnificent performances. Be on the lookout for upcoming performances and concerts by the UA Little Rock School of Literary and Performing Arts. You do not want to miss it.

BY RIAN NEWMAN

UA LITTLE ROCK SPRING 2023 GRADFEST

On Mar. 15, UA Little Rock held its grad fest for students graduating this spring. The event allows soon-to-be graduates to handle all their graduation needs, including buying their cap and gown and joining the alumni association.

In addition, UA Little Rock staff was present to answer any questions graduates had and to give information about class rings and all things related to graduation.

Laptops were set up with staff encouraging graduates to complete a post-graduation

survey, and alumni association members were present to discuss the benefits of membership with graduates.

Some benefits of joining the alumni association include deep discounts at various retailers, hotels, and restaurants. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the alumni association dues also contributes to an annual fund that awards over $100 thousand annually to UA Little Rock Students.

For details on membership and benefits, visit https://ualr. edu/alumni/.

Representatives from the graduate program were also

present to help students considering a master’s program navigate the application requirements for admission. Graduate school can be an expensive endeavor, but the UA Little Rock graduate program staff can help prospective students find and apply for financial assistance, including grants and loans to help them achieve their educational goals. A good starting point for students considering graduate school is the “get your feet wet” scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition for one course in their chosen graduate program.

In addition, UA Little Rock offers a wide selection of

graduate degree programs that fit most students’ professional and educational goals.

For more information on the graduate program, visit https:// ualr.edu/gradschool/.

For students not immediately considering a graduate degree, UA Little Rock also offers career services that can help future graduates prepare to enter the professional world.

Career services assist with building and certifying an effective resume with SmartResume, a free certified resume building available to UA Little Rock students to help them stand out among other

applicants.

Career services also have the Trojan career closet that helps students by allowing them to “shop” for business attire at no cost to the student.

Students interested in utilizing the Trojan career closet can email the program coordinator at cgwallace@ualr. edu. For more information about how UA Little Rock career services can assist you with your educational and professional journey, visit https://ualr.edu/ careers/.

BY JESSE CAIN

KUKULI VELARDE ON COLONIZATION AND SURVIVAL THROUGH CORPUS EXHIBIT

The Windgate Distinguished Lecture Series welcomed Kukuli Velarde, internationally recognized Peruvian American artist, to UA Little Rock on Feb. 24 as the featured artist for Spring 2023.

Her CORPUS Exhibit was demonstrated from Monday, Jan. 9, to Friday, March 3.

Kukuli Velarde has experience with multiple mediums, including ceramics, drawing, painting and installation.

She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hunter College in

New York.

She has received awards from the John Guggenheim Fellowship, Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant and Joan Mitchell Foundation grant.

During her Windgate Distinguished Lecture, “A Voice of My Own,” she spoke about her history of works, including the CORPUS Exhibit.

Her work aims to show indigenous cultures’ resilience in the face of colonization. Her CORPUS exhibit playfully

blends Peruvian Pre-Colombian indigenous influence with Catholic representations in an almost mischievous fashion. The exhibit draws from the annual Corpus Christi Festival in Cusco, Peru.

Following the lecture, I had the chance to ask her if her work with representing indigenous cultures helped her connect with her Quechua roots.

She quickly said no. She affirmed that she identifies as mestiza, a recognized label for Latinos of mixed indigenous, European and

sometimes African roots.

She said she cannot force herself to be something she is not. She boldly stated that she can only be a reflection of what she feels she is in the moment.

I respected her answer; many Latinx peoples often feel their identity is determined on an individual basis.

She asked me if I was an artist, and I quickly said no. She playfully expressed disappointment with a scoff.

I proceeded to ask her how

she believed Latinx peoples could affirm their identities after colonization. She asked me what I identified as, and I responded that I was Mexican.

She re-emphasized again that we can only live aligned with our circumstances and attempt to express ourselves as we can in the moment.

BY BRYAN HERNANDEZ

Bryan Hernandez photos

UA LITTLE ROCKS PRODUCTION OF “TWELFTH NIGHT” WAS AMBITIOUS, BUT AT WHAT COST?

Starting Mar 3, a group of UA Little Rock students began touring an adaptation of “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare. The production came to fruition from the new theatre course, Theatre on the Road, taught by Ms. Stacy Pendergraft, the co-director of UA Little Rock’s School of Literary and Performing Arts.

The performance was meant to educate middle and high schoolers around central Arkansas about theatrical arts through the abbreviated play. The play was adapted by Chad Bradford, the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre Managing Director.

“Twelfth Night” has toured to libraries and schools in central Arkansas and even Our House, a homeless shelter in Little Rock.

Before I divulge into my criticisms of the play, I would first like to praise the actors, costume and prop department, and the set designers.

The actors did an excellent job with what they were given. Acting out a complicated play such as “Twelfth Night” in such a short time is a serious undertaking, made even more intense by the fact the cast and crew only had about five weeks to put the production together.

It was immediately clear that each student put an immense amount of effort into each of their performances by how intensely they played up their characters’ playfulness, dread or sorrow.

Given the complicated nature of speaking Shakespearean English at such a breakneck pace, I was amazed at how they were able to get a lot of the message through their tone of voice and actions alone.

The costumes, props, and set were another fabulous aspect of the play. The costumes, which were mostly assembled from clothes the actors already owned or costumes from

past plays didn’t come off as amateur. It had an eclectic and campy vibe with mismatched colors and idiosyncratic patterns, made even better by the professional theatre masks the actors wore during certain parts to act as the ensemble.

The set was another delightful touch to the play. Given that the play is a traveling production, I had quite low expectations for the set design. However, the use of the set was extremely innovative. Though the base of the set, a curtained podium with two connected flag poles, was quite basic, the cast and crew managed to use it in creative ways like moving the curtains back and forth to illustrate the undulating waves you would see while traversing the sea.

I was surprised by how many set pieces were included in the production, such as couches, cushions, and fake plants.

Considering the fact that the cast were also the crew (and vice versa) they did well moving the set pieces in a way that did not distract from the action going on on stage.

Although the students did their absolute best to provide an amazing performance, there is still a large disconnect between the goal of the play (to educate children about theater) and the play chosen, “Twelfth Night”. Not only was the play entirely in Shakespearean English, but the plot and dialogue flew by at a breakneck pace.

Honestly, if I had not seen the original two and a half hour long play beforehand, I would have no idea what was going on.

I feel the choice of using “Twelfth Night” was a misstep, as it is one of Shakespeare’s more dense, complicated plays.

Since the story deals with cross-dressing and a multitude of miscommunications, I can only imagine how hard it would be for a child or teenager to

piece together the plot, as many beats went by so fast it felt like if you blinked you’d miss them. Furthermore, every character except for Viola, the main protagonist of the play, had such a quick introduction that it was hard to keep track of who’s who. Additionally, when the story shifts away from Viola and to Sebastian, Viola’s twin brother who was lost at sea, the shift comes out of no where.

When Sebastian and the man that rescued him from the shipwreck, Antonio, appeared I remember thinking “who are these people?” It wasn’t until the later part of the play when I realized that those two random characters were Sebastian and Antonio.

There was even a child who asked “what was the play even about?” At the end Q&A session. That, combined with the many confused faces I saw in the crowd solidified that it wasn’t just me who thought the play was a bit confusing.

There’s only one change I would make to the play to make it more accessible, though: change it to modern English. I feel that this change would have made a drastic difference in the audience’s understanding of the play. The use of modern language would make it more palatable to the younger audience, and would let the actors talk as fast as they were without being incomprehensible.

Though this play wasn’t perfect, I’m still hopeful and excited for future productions. The cast and crew definitely carried this production, which makes me more excited to see a production with a better script.

WOMEN IN FILM: WHERE ARE THEY?

For International Women’s History Month, I asked people about their favorite films that are empowering to women.

The most popular answer was “Hidden Figures.” If you haven’t seen it, “Hidden Figures” is based on the true story of Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – three AfricanAmerican mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race. It’s a very good watch.

It is not only empowering in the story it tells, but by the people behind the camera as well.

There are a lot of women on the crew. The cinematography is done by Mandy Walker, the screenplay is co-written by Allison Schroeder and half of the producers are women. There are still a disproportionate number of men working on the movie, but at least they are making an effort towards equality.

Women are severely underrepresented in film. According to Forbes, in 2022, women accounted for 24% of directors, writers, producers, editors and cinematographers of the 250 top grossing films.

gone up since 1998. On screen, only 33% of movies in 2022 have a female protagonist.

The on-screen representation that women receive is not particularly flattering.

There’s wildly offensive stereotypes about women of color, like “sassy black woman,” “spicy latina” and “lotus flower.” If you happen to see a woman over 40 in a film, she’s likely stuck in the “dirty old woman” stereotype.

Women in film are arm-candy, crazy ex-girlfriends, damsels in distress, manic pixie dream girls, gold-diggers, “disposable women” (wives, girlfriends, etc. that are killed off so the male protagonist is propelled into his story) and “cool girls.” All of these media stereotypes about women are roles that support male protagonists and the male gaze.

Despite all this, I have hope for the future of women in film. There is attention being brought to the lack of diversity on and off camera, and there has been more attempts to tell empowering stories about women.

BY SKYLAR BOONE

These numbers have barely

BY EMILY WELLS

“TWELFTH NIGHT” REHERSAL CourtesyUALittleRock

THE BATTLE FOR SOUTH LITTLE ROCK

For residents in the southern area of the capital city, there are very few options available to shop and also get the most bang for their buck.

This took a turn for the worst when residents near the areas of University, Asher, Colonel Glenn and W 36th St. lost their local Kroger in Aug. 2022.

Many were devastated that if they wanted to use their Kroger Rewards they would have to trek across town to the West Markham location or be at a total loss.

When it came to local shopping, their options were Value Foods, a cost plus store, and Kroger. Both had their advantages and disadvantages.

Kroger provided a wide variety of items and an amazing assortment of high quality produce while being

able to have that shoppers card to save money on gas and groceries.

Value Foods also had its place offering a ton of items at drastically discounted prices including steak and chicken wings, even when they’ve become a premium due to inflation.

Cost plus means that the store charges what it costs them to get the item and then adds a 10% cost and sales tax at the register.

This resulted in the store being full of customers on a daily basis, almost comparable to the noise level in a mall and lines stretching well into the freezer aisles.

In early March, the Edwards brand known for their illustrious Food Giant stores, opened a Cash Savers, their version of a cost plus store, in the old Kroger building on Colonel Glenn.

Upon entering the store, the renovations are apparent as the main entrance has been altered to no longer have two doors but now one, and windows where the old door was.

The lights have been replaced and add a much brighter look to the location. Beyond that, the store is full of regular checkout lanes even where the self checkouts for Kroger were located.

The produce section was also quite nice, but the main attraction was the Hispanic-focused aisle.

The southern Little Rock area is home to a large minority population, which the majority of them hail from Hispanic descent.

This aisle is packed with amazing items, but most notably it had a viral seasoning that made waves on the internet, that being

FOREVER THRIFTED

Sazón Goya.

In other parts of the store, they offer very high quality protein products but not at the low price as Value Foods. They also have a deli from Chester’s which offers really good fried chicken; the Honey Stung Chicken Sandwich is a real treat.

While on the topic, the deli was closing for the night and when a customer was ordering one of the sandwiches. They refused to sell it because they were closing and the person “wouldn’t want to eat that sandwich” because it had been sitting there for quite some time.

In all honesty, they deserve points for not serving something to the customer that may not be enjoyable or worse.

The same buzz that once characterized Value Foods is now

a distant memory leaving it just short of empty and now scrambling to save whatever they can.

Upon entering, one can now find flannel shirts for $6 and other novelty items that were not previously present, but as always, they are still offering their great prices on meat.

All the while, Edwards Cash Saver, is thriving and leaving some customers hunting for parking spaces.

Two cost plus stores are set to duke it out for the foreseeable future and only time will tell if the community can support both, or if Value Foods has met its end.

BY JOHN REED

FOREVER THRIFTED SWAP MEET Jacobb Nichol photos

RODRIGUEZ TO GET LULAC BACK ON TRACK POST-PANDEMIC

UA Little Rock Junior Yvonne Rodriguez doesn’t have hobbies. She has passions.

And those passions keep her busy. She’s a Donaghey Scholar, a member of the acclaimed Model Arab League, a Student Government Association Senator-at-Large, a campus peer mentor, Outreach Director for the Young Democrats and a communications intern for the House of Representatives. Oh, and she’s working with local immigration lawyers to help students find employment with HB-1 visas.

On top of it all, she is bringing the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) back to UA Little Rock.

COVID-19 rattled many student organizations on campus. When

students went home, the systems that held most of the registered student organizations (RSOs) together crumbled.

LULAC was no exception. Membership took a steep decline and student engagement was all but impossible during the peak of the pandemic.

Most students at UA Little Rock have never seen a full campus after three years of COVID-19. Like any college campus, RSOs establish the culture and provide continuity to campus life. Suffice it to say that student engagement is key to making a UA Little Rock campus experience fun again.

A National LULAC Scholarship recipient herself, Rodriguez knows that LULAC must return to campus in order to keep serving Latinx

students.

After all, LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic and LatinAmerican civil rights organization in the United States.

While Hispanic/Latinx students only make up 3.06% of the UA Little Rock student population as of the Fall 2022 semester, that still equals out almost 250 students that have an organization to represent them.

Moreover, LULAC offers scholarships, volunteer opportunities and internship opportunities for its members.

Rodriguez took the reins as president in December 2022, as elected by the rest of the LULAC student population.

Since then, membership has increased from 18 members to 32 members. But she isn’t stopping

there.

She insisted on organization and structure since her election as president. One of her first moves was to create and fill officer positions.

Stephanie Sandoval was elected as her vice president, Oreana Roman was elected as her secretary, Maria Avalos was elected the social media manager, Brayan Arias was elected as recruiting coordinator, Maria Roman was elected treasurer and Dajany Cano was elected the event/volunteer coordinator. She also has a strong plan to increase engagement.

LULAC sold cantaritos, Mexican clay mugs, at WorldFest with the Multicultural Center on March 29 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. LULAC will also host a Noche De Baile on April

6 (tentative) from 5-7 p.m. in one of the Ledbetter Suites. You can find updates on their Instagram profile at lulac_council771.

BY BRYAN HERNANDEZ

CREED III WAS CRIMINALLY GOOD TAU BETA PI-E

“Creed III” was an excellent entry into the franchise. It extended the story of Adonis “Donnie” Creed but also gave way to what could perhaps be the plot of “Creed IV.”

In this film, Donnie, as he is called by loved ones, has risen through the ranks, become one of the all time greats in the sport of boxing and now is basking in the joys of retirement along with fatherhood.

Beyond that, his professional aspirations have shifted to that of a promoter. At his gym, he trains the world heavyweight champion, setting the reputation for the Creed legacy of champions and training new ones.

As we know, Donnie is a Los Angeles native and just outside his gym, he ran into an old friend from his adolescence. In comes Damien “Dame” Anderson, who just finished serving an 18 year prison sentence.

The movie takes us back to 2002 where the two young kids are cruising around LA and becoming a dynamic duo as they destroy the underground fight scene.

Donnie runs into an old foe at a convenience store, and upon remembering the horrors the man committed, he took action into his own hands.

A beatdown ensues before Dame interferes with a gun and is subsequently caught by the police, stripping away any chance of him becoming a champion like Donnie would eventually do.

Dame has his sights set on becoming champion and will do so by any means necessary, and when his opportunity “arose” he took advantage of it with no regard for human life.

Adding to that notion, Michael B. Jordan commissioned J. Cole’s Dreamville Records to make the soundtrack to the movie.

At first it was a struggle to understand what a North Carolina rapper has to do with a film so attached to the City of Angels.

Upon hearing some of the songs, Cole mastered the feel of “Creed III” by organizing the perfect artists, such as Big Sean and EST Gee on the track “Anthem,” to bring the writing to life.

Jordan’s directorial vision was superb as he likened Dame’s first fight to that of his father’s, Apollo Creed, last fight save for the fact that Felix Chavez did not die.

Eventually, Donnie is forced to come out of retirement and put Dame in his place. However, with a fair portion of ring rust and Dame’s brutality, he would have to unearth a hunger that had eluded him since the inaugural film.

We are then brought to a montage to showcase Jordan in his old age unearthing a beast when the world and even he thought there was nothing left.

To accompany this scene, the aforementioned J. Cole laid down an interlude that encapsulates both his career as a rapper and Donnie’s rebirth.

The track sampled “The Watcher” by Dr. Dre, who later remixed it for Jay-Z when he released “The Watcher 2.” Cole is at a point in his career where he is one of the most prolific rappers of his generation and arguably at the top of the mountain.

He is pondering retirement, this being the same place Dre and Jay found themselves in 2001 and 2003 respectively, prior to starting a new reign of dominance.

In terms of Donnie’s story, he had been at the top, stepped away from the ring and now attempted a return against a hungry beast with nothing to lose.

Everything was now called into question for Creed as he could very well meet the same fate as his father, or overcome his past that he spent so much time shoving into a box.

It was truly a masterpiece of a story given that we were able to see Donnie grow beyond just a fighter, but also shine as a father and husband.

Speaking of that, his daughter, Amara, shines a wonderful light on his development, especially given her condition of being deaf, but that changes nothing in her personality.

She is obsessed with her father’s illustrious career and is an innate fighter with her temperament. This is revealed by her reaction to being bullied at school.

As for a potential “Creed IV,” she could very well be the story

that a condition should not take away your dreams. It could truly be an empowerment for athletes everywhere, but especially athletes with disabilities.

Whenever the film hits the big screen, we could very well see Amara as an adolescent in the underground boxing scene, asserting dominance, overcoming stereotypes about deaf athletes and screaming empowerment to a world that hasn’t made room for her or those like her. The Creed franchise has submitted its application to be the crown jewel of our generation like Rocky was for his, and only time will reveal the verdict.

BY JOHN REED

TAU BETA PI FUNDRAISER Emily Wells photos

CAMPUS GARDEN

UA LITTLE ROCK CAMPUS GARDEN Jesse Cain photos

LITTLE ROCK MARATHON

Alagoon of the Arkansas river, frozen thick enough on the coldest day of winter that waterfowl strut across while a hawk watches from above. The hawk spots its prey and strikes. The waterfowl scatter. A man runs by, moving doggedly onward, his mind set on one goal.

Yet even he stopped to marvel at this sight, the moment when time seemed to be frozen before the hawk began its dive. He takes a minute to catalog the scene in his memory and then presses onward, stubbornly pressing onward in spite of the cold that stings his cheeks and nose.

This man is none other than UA Little Rock’s own Dr. Simon Hawkins, associate professor of Anthropology and director of the Donaghey Scholars Honors program. I meet him in his office, the hundred books that line the walls providing a striking contrast to the image of the man stubbornly running on in the cold.

He has been preparing for Little Rock’s annual marathon, and as professors are wont to do, he has a great deal to say about it.

This marathon is his ninth, and any nervousness he might have once felt has long since given way to excitement, though he still dreads the weather.

While the weather the day of the marathon only reached 73 degrees, a far cry from the extremes of Arkansas temperatures, when running 26 miles, even warm weather feels blistering.

Dr. Hawkins will enjoy it anyway though, his experience in the past teaching him to enjoy the process rather than get caught up in stress.

“There are places that will give you little shots of beer and little bloody Marys and little Mimosas,” he says, laughter in his voice. He does not worry about his time so strictly anymore.

“You drink it while you’re running, which is not the smartest

thing in the world to do, but it’s fun.” This time he does laugh.

The topic of fun came to dominate the conversation, the subject of his personal growth when it came to running marathons.

He first became interested in running when, as a child, he saw a Kenyan marathon runner in the Olympics. He forgot about the event for years but had his passion reignited when he moved to Little Rock and discovered that there is a marathon here.

However, he soon became wrapped up in obsessing about his time and speed, to the detriment of both his ability to enjoy running and his mental health.

Learning to let go of that obsession and focus more on the pleasure of it is something he had to learn over time, and now that he’s attained a healthier mindset, he works hard to maintain it.

He stubbornly wanted to run faster and farther than anyone he saw, an attitude he now recognizes is unsustainable. As a result, the number one piece of advice he would give to aspiring runners is to focus more on having fun, not worrying about getting faster and faster.

“We’re so obsessed with times and speeds…that you can’t have fun.”

Dr. Hawkins is not the only individual at UA Little Rock who participated in the Little Rock Marathon, however. UA Little Rock students Gracie Howard and John Peterson also participated in the races and their stories are markedly different from the one Dr. Hawkins told.

Howard ran the 5K, her first time participating in the Little Rock Marathon’s suite of races. For her, running was a change of pace from her high school career as an athlete.

She was a swimmer and weightlifter in high school but had to stop for about 6 months due to injuries. Running was where she picked back up as an athlete

afterward.

Running caters more to Howard’s skills, especially compared to weightlifting. She told me that she dislikes the regimented feel of weightlifting and feels freer to do what she wants with running.

She said to me that “Running feels more about me and less about others if that makes sense. I don’t have to compare myself to anybody.”

Another thing that stuck out from Howard’s training was the communal aspect of it. She would run with her friend Gabby Lucas, a member of UA Little Rock’s crosscountry teams.

Howard attributes much of her time improvements when running to Gabby’s presence. That and the freedom to go at her own pace were the key components of Howard’s improvements and enjoyment.

Howard had an interesting time goal for the 5K: “At the slowest, I wanted to go 40 minutes and at the fastest, I wanted to go 30 minutes.”

She met her goal, and in fact, ran 6 minutes faster the day of the race than her previous best time. She now plans to run another 5K soon and was sponsored to do so by one of her patients at the chiropractic clinic where she works as an intern.

Her goal is to improve her time compared to her time during the marathon. Suffice it to say that she enjoyed the 5K.

When posed the question of what the best view she saw while training was, she said that she decided to run through Two Rivers park one morning.

She described a vivid picture of fog lit by the rising sun: “The entire river was covered in fog and all you could see was the sunrise and it was just really beautiful and it made me happy.”

We also talked about her plans for running even farther into the future. She plans on running a 10K in the future but at the moment running a full marathon is not on her radar.

In addition, Howard is currently in the process of applying to naturopathic medical school and so may be moving to Canada in the coming winter.

Needless to say, this would affect her plans for running, particularly since she told me she dislikes running in the cold so would have to reckon with Canada’s weather.

However, she does remain committed to running regularly, be it indoors or outside. She is truly dedicated to running and it was a pleasure to talk to her.

Peterson, on the other hand, ran the half-marathon, something he has been doing with his mother yearly. He has run in many different races, including a marathon in Memphis and the St. Jude race. He has participated in the Little Rock marathon for the past four years.

Peterson picked up the habit from his mother, and she had been running yearly since before he was born.

Peterson is not sure if he will run again next year but says that he probably will. He was very laid back about running over the course of our conversation, though you can tell he still enjoys it.

The way he described running the half-marathon is that “It kind of gives you an endorphin high so you get all loopy…by the end of it, your legs are on fire but you are mentally just having fun.”

Like Howard, Peterson was training for the run in the winter. He also does not like the cold so he was training inside, though he also did some training by riding his bike in Boyle Park.

Peterson is an engineering major and part of his motivation for running is that it helps him feel less sluggish during his downtime. He said that he really does not like being lethargic.

His dedication to running is impressive as he continues to do it despite having plantar fasciitis, which causes occasional injuries in the arches of his feet.

As a result of that, he stressed

the importance of resting and not doing stupid things when it comes to running.

Despite this, he makes good time when running. His fastest time for a half-marathon is 2 hours and 11 minutes, or 10 minutes a mile. His dedication to running is impressive.

All 3 runners featured here were impressive, their dedication shining through clearly. To be sure, UA Little Rock performed well at the Little Rock marathon. We have proven to have a wonderful running community here.

BY SABLE HAWKINS

BASEBALL V. LINDENWOOD

In their inaugural season entering the new conference, the UA Little Rock Trojans received a visit from the Lindenwood Lions to start their Ohio Valley Conference play. Game one was a classic thriller seeing UALR start off 2-0 after the first four innings with Lindenwood answering back in the fifth and sixth.

The Trojans would add two more runs at the bottom of the sixth along with Lindenwood responding in the eighth leaving one final chance for glory.

However, a great job by senior closing pitcher Austin Stubber allowed just two hits and one run in the save against a hungry Lindenwood team.

Sophomore Jackson Wells’ performance in this game during 6.2 innings of pitching consisted of: allowing six hits for two runs but acquiring eight strikeouts.

Senior center fielder Tyler Williams, sophomore third baseman Nico Baumbach, junior Skyler Trevino, freshman Ty Rhoades and senior Jake Wright all

reached base at least once.

However, only the first four crossed home plate. The series appeared to be going in the direction of three classic games and the capital city was looking forward to such a treat after the 4-3 opener in favor of the Trojans.

Game two saw sophomore Preston Davis take the mound against Lindenwood’s Eli Brown.

The first two innings were a vintage pitcher’s duel resulting in only two strikeouts for Brown and six for Davis in a valiant effort.

The bottom of the third would see the Trojans post four runs before adding one in the following inning and another in the sixth.

Lindenwood would respond with a single run at the top of the seventh. However, UALR gave them two for their troubles.

The eighth inning would see two runs from the Lions and another one from the Trojans before senior Erik McKnight would seal the 9-3 effort for UALR.

The finale of the three-game series saw Lindenwood fall apart

from the very beginning.

The Lions’ starting pitcher Bennett Stice was retired in the first after allowing five runs without recording a single out.

He was replaced by Brody Roach who would allow another three runs over the next two innings. Over in the home dugout, life was wonderful as all hitters, aside from sophomore Jaxson Anderson and Wright, recorded a hit and at least one run throughout the game.

Lindenwood would record no runs on six hits and were staring down the tunnel of utter embarrassment leading into the bottom of the seventh.

Trevino was equal to the eight wonders of the world as he recorded three hits for three runs, one being a three run missile to left field, and another being a two-run blast to deep center, sending the Lions home via the mercy rule.

With that, the Trojans notified the rest of the OVC that they will be making noise from this point forward.

BY JOHN REED

BASEBALL V. GRAMBLING

Grambling State University, known for their elite band, was silenced in all three matchups. Game one showcased what looked to be an even matchup but three unanswered runs would make all the difference in the sixth and seventh innings.

Junior Ryan Lee, sophomore Nico Baumbach, junior Luke Pectol and sophomore Alex Seguine led the way, batting in all nine of UA Little Rock’s runs; Lee led three of them.

To add insult to injury, GSU’s starting pitcher, Lorenzo Petersen, took a 114 mph hit to the left shin during the bottom of the third inning from junior Skyler Trevino.

The pain was noticeably affecting his control as his pitches continued to slip out of the zone thereafter, including a few wild ones.

He would continue to pitch for two more innings and that’s when the floodgates opened for UALR to convert three runs in the inning.

If game one was silence, game two was punishment as GSU

suffered a mauling with a 0-6 loss while managing just a single hit. Sophomore Jackson Wells’ near perfect game was electric as he displayed masterful location with multiple pitches hitting the edge of the strike zone, followed up by nasty breaking balls getting GSU hitters to chase them on numerous occasions.

Through five innings pitched, Wells allowed one hit and three walks, and one batter was hit by a pitch while also coming away with five strikeouts.

Game three was more of the same, as the Trojans started the game up by 11 runs before the Tigers would respond with consecutive innings posting four runs in the fifth and sixth, but the damage was already done. The game ended 15-9 and subsequently, the ink was dry on the story of the series’ utter obliteration.

BY JOHN REED

BASEBALL V. VALPARISO

The start of the season for the UA Little Rock Trojans has been rocky to say the least. Multiple games were rained out, and other issues caused games to be delayed and even canceled, heavily altering the season.

The Trojans, as of March 2023, sit with 21 games played with a 13-8 record. Aside from that statistic, they have started to strengthen their lineups throughout this portion of the season.

The first major series played

against Valparaiso in the earlier part of March was a series of heartbreak, embarrassment and ultimately sweet revenge.

The first game started with somewhat dominant play as UALR led by three runs going into the final inning. Valparaiso somehow got four runners across home plate to stun the capital city crowd with

a 7-6 effort, and held the Trojans scoreless in the bottom of said inning.

Furthermore, game two saw the Trojans completely fall apart in the seventh inning giving up five unanswered runs en route to a destructive 9-3 loss after matching Valparaiso’s efforts all game.

Despite the fact that Valpraiso

would escape with the series victory, the Trojans were not going to leave empty-handed, and would muster up a ferocious 18-8 effort sending their opponents home in just seven innings.

BY JOHN REED

UA LITTLE ROCK V. LINDENWOOD, GRAMBLING, AND VALPARISO Jesse Cain photos

THE LEARNS ACT: COMMODIFYING THE CLASSROOM OPINION

The Arkansas education system has found itself in the hot seat quite often this year. The LEARNS Act passed with dizzying speed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and conservatives in early March, creating much controversy—and rightfully so. While increasing pay from $36,000 to $50,000 for teachers, it also introduced school vouchers for students that could lead to disastrous effects for public school funding.

Additionally, topics such as Critical Race Theory (CRT), gender identity and sexual orientation have been prohibited in classrooms through vague language in the bill that could ensure that educators avoid these vital discussions altogether.

Because these changes in Arkansas education systems have been recent, it is worth exploring how Arkansas has compared to other states in the past regarding education. In Nov 2022, Learner, an online tutoring company, released a ranking of education systems by each state, known as the Quality of Education Index.

The index score is based out of 100, with 100 being the highest ranking and 0 being the lowest ranking. Ranking is based on five factors for every state: average ACT score, average SAT score, public education spending, teacherstudent ratio and high school graduation rate.

The highest-ranked state was New Hampshire with an overall quality of education index value of 93.56. The lowest-ranked state was Arizona with an overall quality of education index value of 72.95. Arkansas scored 26th overall among the states, with a composite quality of index score of 81.56.

Arkansas’ highest category was its graduation rate index value of 95.65, and its lowest category was public education spending ratio with an index value of 62.51. Arkansas scored fairly high in its average SAT score index value with 95.13 but was marked with an average ACT score index value of 69.89. Arkansas also scored a

modest 84.62 in its teacher-student ratio index value.

Average SAT scores in 2022 were provided by CollegeBoard. org, average ACT scores in 2022 were provided by ACT.org, public education spending was derived from EducationData.org, teacherstudent ratios by state was found on PublicSchoolReview.com, and graduation rates by state were provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.

According to a separate study released by WalletHub in February, Arkansas ranked 47th overall in the nation, based on metrics in two categories: educational attainment and quality of education. Arkansas ranked 47th in educational attainment and 27th in quality of education, which aligns with Learner’s Quality of Education Index value.

US News and Rankings placed Arkansas as 41 out of 50 states, ranking its K-12 system as #38 and its higher education system as #41. No matter the ranking system, it seems to be clear that Arkansas’ education system is in a precarious position. Even Governor Huckabee Sanders could not deny that. However, the LEARNS Act is a slow death march in the wrong direction.

Arkansan educators deserve more pay. This is agreed upon almost entirely by both sides of the aisle. The LEARNS Act gets this right. But one right doesn’t make a mountain of wrongs permissible. The increased pay comes off as little more than a pound of silver in exchange the crucifixion of the public Arkansan school system.

The LEARNS Act creates an uphill battle for public and rural schools by removing state-funded raises for teachers based on experience and graduate degrees.

And of course, the matter of prohibited topics is concerning, to say the least. At best, the LEARNS act guts the education system of empathy by prohibiting the acknowledgment of CRT, gender identity and sexual orientation.

This will serve to stoke the

flames of a culture war already in full form in Arkansas and the U.S. At its very worst, prohibiting these topics in the classroom denies the experiences of multiple underrepresented, unappreciated and at-risk communities that have not only always existed but also have made countless contributions to American society.

But value is not the basis for acknowledging a person’s humanity, history and struggles within a classroom. These conversations matter because students in Arkansas are not just students.

They are people and future contributors. They deserve the truth. Avoiding discussions surrounding the LGTQIA+ community does not eradicate their communities’ existence or their rich history.

Attempting to ignore the role that race has played in American history will not erase the atrocities committed towards people of color in the past or in the present. But it will breed resentment when these students realize their histories and identities were systematically erased by their educational institutions.

More students leave for a postsecondary, 4-year education rather than stay in Arkansas. 21%—to be exact, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. If Arkansas hopes to achieve longterm economic prosperity by retaining students and increasing the education of our workforce, we must learn to honor the dignity of all Arkansans.

The snake in the grass of the LEARNS Act is the voucher system. Removing public school funding by assigning a dollar value to each student that can be transferred to a private institution serves to further commodify the classroom and drive inequity in the state. Arkansas already ranks 38th in public school spending and 41st in public school funding, according to EducationData.org.

The answer is not reallocating state and local funds from public

schools to private schools.

Representative Nicole Clowney (D-Washington Co.) criticized the LEARNS Act as helping primarily families that are already well-off by saying, “When these types of programs are instituted, they do not increase school choice for

poor children. Instead, 75-80% of these funds are used by families whose kids already attend private schools.”

BY BRYAN HERNANDEZ

LEARNS PROTEST

Adrian Rogers photos

STAFF

The Forum is the official student newspaper at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Forum is funded in part by the student activity fee. The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of UALR. The Forum is published 7 times in each of the fall and spring semesters. The Forum editor can be reached at editor@ ualr.edu.

The Forum welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. Letters must include the author’s name, classification, major or position and a contact telephone number for confirmation. Letters are subject to editing to meet space limitations. Please limit letter to 500 words or less. The staff will not alter

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Letters should be emailed to editor@ualr.edu or sent to: The Forum, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Donaghey Student Center, Suite 116, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204

All material published in this newspaper is copyrighted.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Chloe McGehee, @chloeamkbs

ASST. EDITOR Bryan Hernandez, @prettyfly_bryguy

ASST. EDITOR Vasti Hernandez, @iamvastihernandez

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