The Forum Oct./Nov. 2022

Emily Reynolds Art

LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

October is recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As of Oct 1987, individuals as well as organizations have united to raise awareness on the tragic and overlooked issue that is domestic violence.

“We envision a national culture in which we are all safe, empowered and free from domestic violence,” writes https://ncadv.org/.

“Our mission is to lead, mobilize and raise our voices to support efforts that demand a change of conditions that lead to domestic violence such as patriarchy, privilege, racism, sexism, and classism. We are dedicated to supporting survivors and holding offenders accountable and supporting advocates.”

In July of 2021, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) as well as the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) sought to find a way in which their respective organization could work together in order to further their shared mission.

In August of 2022, the NCADV and The Hotline joined together to create Project Opal. Domestic Violence has been an immense issue that has been underresourced for a very long time.

Project Opal looks to take a local, regional and national approach in order to fully support domestic violence survivors in their safety and recovery. Not only do they provide 24/7 resources that are dedicated to aid individuals affected by domestic violence, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline and emergency shelter systems, but this Project is dedicated to policy change regarding this tragic problem.

Project Opal’s goals include but are not limited to, “Create an ecosystem of services rooted in equity for survivors and advocates on a regional, statewide, national, and even international level; lead survivor-informed, traumainformed, and field-informed education, training, technical assistance, and certifications, and host the national conference on domestic violence; create a scientific, data-driven, and scalable approach to domestic violence

response that includes alternatives to law enforcement responses and a focus on culturally specific resources.”

The website, https://ncadv.org/, continues to state that they “advocate for survivor-centered policies and protections; create a standard for the wellness and retention of those doing this work. Every year across the country, domestic violence organizations lose amazing people because we do not equip them with the tools or resources they need to truly take care of themselves and relieve the impact of the secondary trauma they experience daily; develop strategies to address social and racial justice in the framework of intimate partner violence. Putting in place education, resources, tools, and proposed policy that advance marginalized victims and communities and ensure they also receive the highest quality and most holistic services and support.”

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock acknowledges Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Trojan Food Pantry holds personal care and hygiene products to share with domestic violence shelters. They actively need items like bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, body wash, ethnic hair and skin products, shaving cream, razors, makeup remover wipes, facial cleanser, toothpaste, toothbrushes, kids bath products, mouth wash, feminine hygiene products, washcloths, individually-wrapped snacks, water flavor and hydration packets, and first aid supplies.

If you, or someone you know, are being abused by a partner, seek help as soon as you can. If you are in immediate danger, contact 911. For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-7873224 (TTY). Visit https://ncadv.org/ for more information and/or help. They have options for a safety exit from the website.

HURRICANE IAN HITS FLORIDA

Hurricane Ian was a large Category Four hurricane that became the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida in decades.

The hurricane began destruction on Sept 28 in the United States, and left many without homes and loved ones. Heavy rainfall and damage took a wide spread over the southwestern parts of Florida.

The hurricane also reached Jamaica, western Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. Like other hurricanes, hurricane Ian began as a tropical storm and grew stronger, forming a Category One hurricane in the central Caribbean on September 23.

As the Ian traveled, it hit the southern Gulf of Mexico as a Category Three hurricane. Breaking the record as the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since 2017’s Irma.

Ian caused at least 114 deaths in Florida, five in North Carolina, and one in Virginia.

During the time of the crisis, Arkansas is urged to donate blood to help those in need after Hurricane Ian.

“Hurricane Ian left many parts of

Florida unable to hold hold drives to support their patients,” said Dr. John Armitage, Arkansas Blood Institute’s president and CEO.

Armitage urged Arkansas residents to donate blood saying “Right now, Floridians need blood… donations save up to three lives.”

The Arkansas Blood Institute had a setup at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for students who wanted to donate blood. Donors of the campus received a free Big Foot t-shirt and a Little Rock Zoo ticket.

Recently families who evacuated out of the hurricane Ian zone have come back to what was once their homes. Communities are coming together to help rebuild what was once theirs, and create memorials for the ones lost during the storm.

The storm is over but the aftermath is forever, to help out more families and communities in need of blood, schedule an appointment with the Little Rock Donor Center at 877-340-8777.

BY JOE SANTANA

BY VIVIAN ANGELES

EDUCATORS RISING REGION SIX CONFERENCE

As published online November 17, 2022.

There is a conference coming for future educators near and far that will be hosted right here on campus at UA Little Rock!

On November 17th, 2022, The University at Little Rock will be hosting a special conference for all aspiring future educators.

All new teachers need encouragement and a motivational push and pat on the back for pursuing and preparing to take on a task as great and sometimes daunting as impacting the lives of those who will impact the future of the United States of America and possibly even abroad.

The conference will be held on campus at Stabler Hall from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm.

This annual conference was created with the ideas in mind to encourage and support high school and collegiate students who are interested in pursuing a career in education and serves as professional development for students enrolled in pre-educator programs of study.

The theme for this conference will be The Hard Truth on Soft Skills.

The conference will include breakout session topics such as stress management, confidence, leadership, cultural competence, problem solving and work ethic.

There will also be competitions on various different academic strategies including lesson planning, TED talks, speeches regarding Ed rising moments and

so much more.

There are 20+ students from UALR registered to attend and compete.

Last year, Ayonna Preston who is now completing her final internship this fall at UALR, won the regional and state competition, which awarded her a monetary prize and an all expense paid trip to Washington DC where she then placed 2nd in the nation.

You can read more about her experience from last year by clicking this link. https://ualr.edu/ education/edrising/

Look forward to reading more about this event as it unfolds and let’s hope for the best from our collegiate students as they represent UA Little Rock

BY VAL BELL

UA LITTLE ROCK RESEARCHER STUDYING HOW TO COMBAT DISEASES

You cannot just apply AI [artificial intelligence] or machine learning randomly to answer any biological problems. You need to figure out what’s the underlying significance of that problem from the rest of the computer science.”

Kanishka Manna, a UA Little Rock/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) doctoral student, began his research in 2019.

Manna is pursuing a PhD in bioinformatics, which led him to his unique project: a custom protein database.

His studies revolve around cells, a combination of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. This work is challenging, as it involves extensive time, knowledge and dedication.

Manna’s background lies in microbiology, which is more laboratory-based. But in this field,

he noticed that there was often a poor perception of data when a study reached its end.

“I took the challenge head-on that I wanted to learn this new field, this new research, and speaking of that, not many biologists come to this field to explore this field because biologists understand experimental techniques very well.”

He saw the strengths – and weaknesses – commonly found in labs, and sought understanding. Even more than understanding the data himself, he also hopes to present data to the public in a more clear way so that others may understand it as well.

Manna’s custom protein database is unlike the ones used publicly, such as The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

“In custom generated databases, you basically create the database

according to your sample,” he explained.

The data derived from the genome and proteome help researchers build a reference sequence specific to the sample.

Proteins have multiple forms leaving researchers to first find what protein forms are inside their samples, which is something that cannot be accomplished with a public database.

“Custom generated databases help to figure out what type of protein X is there in your sample. Say, if you have X one, it can detect that with the help of a genomic annotation, like the genome side of the story.”

This project falls under the category of multi-omics, and provides a sort of “snapshot” of what is occurring in the cell at any given time, as well as a clearer picture of how to treat a disease.

As for Manna’s project, he

says, “Right now, we are focusing [on] that this too can work on different types of cancer datasets… Currently, I am undergoing this custom database on melanoma.”

There is always more going on behind the scenes that we could ever imagine.

“In a newspaper, you read that scientists have discovered this ‘drug’ or this ‘cure,’ but it’s way beyond lightyears,” Manna states.

With his database, he and other researchers he has collaborated with are working to detect therapeutic vulnerabilities on mutations.

“From there, it will give clinicians and researchers and educators a better picture of where the problem is. This is not only restricted to cancer. It can be extended into microbiology, the microbiome part, autoimmune diseases, everything.”

As for Manna himself, he plans

to graduate in 2023. “I’ve been enjoying it every single day,” he said.

His plans are great, and contributions greater. His hard work and dedication will most definitely pay off, both now and in the future.

To read the abstract to the preprint, visit the following link: biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022. 02.15.480454v1.

BY VASTI HERNANDEZ

CRIME BEAT

Water Damage at University Village

In the early morning hours on Aug. 19, 2022, Officer Chester L. Mays received a call from dispatch to go to Coleman Court for water damage at Student Apartment One.

Sergeant Gavin L. Hurst spoke with the Resident Assistant. She informed Sergeant Hurst and Officer Mays that Apartment Two had a broken toilet.

Officer Mays responded to Apartment Two and made contact with the resident. The resident was in the bathroom naked according to Officer Mays’ narrative.

Officer Mays knocked and identified himself, and the student opened the door. When asked if they were all right, the student said yes.

However, when Officer Mays asked what happened the resident appeared to be confused. The student reported they did not remember what happened.

According to police reports, the towel rack was broken off the wall, and the toilet was slightly turned facing right and was cracked and broken. There was water on the floor and the carpet was soaked in about an inch of water.

After advising the student to go to the living room, Officer Mays and Sergeant Hurst went to the apartment located under the soiled apartment.

The apartment also had damage to the floors, carpet and ceilings. A light fixture shattered right over Sergeant Hurst and Officer Mays’ heads, a reaction caused by the electricity and water sparking together.

Building Maintenance and Resident Assistants began the work of evacuating the apartments, turning off the water and drying out the damaged apartments.

Sergeant Hurst also checked Apartment Three, which was also confirmed to have water damage.

According to the Building Maintenance Supervisor, he was called at 5:25 a.m. about water damage at Apartment One.

He walked up to Apartment Two where he found the resident, obviously intoxicated in much the same manner as Officer Mays found them.

After shouting at the resident several times to get up, the supervisor was able to start the cleaning process.

It was confirmed that the resident of Apartment Two had been drinking earlier in the evening. Contact with all the residents from Apartments One, Two and Three were made, pictures were taken and facilities could start the cleaning process of all three apartments.

Hit and Run on 28th Street

At 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022, Officer William I. El Amin was dispatched to 28th street in front of the Bailey Alumni Center regarding a disturbance.

On arrival, the officer observed “a traffic incident with a possible fatality,” according to the officer’s narrative.

Officer Amin advised dispatch to contact Little Rock Police Department and to get another unit to assist with traffic.

At 7:10 p.m., The Little Rock Fire Department and Little Rock Police Department arrived at the scene.

According to Officer Amin’s narrative, “the vehicle rear-ended another vehicle as it turned into the Alumni Center, then attempted to flee when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to jump the curb, hit the decorative blocks,

then strike a tree.”

The Little Rock Police Department worked on the incident.

Arrest on Warrants at University Village

On Sept. 14, 2022, Officer Johnny Smith was dispatched to the University Village about a male with a beard and tattoos in the pool, who was not a resident.

He and Captain Birmingham made contact with the individual who was later identified. It was then confirmed that he was not a resident.

After Officer Johnny Smith ran his ID through the Arkansas Crime Information Center, it was then found out the suspect had three warrants out of the Board of Parole, Benton Police Department and Little Rock Police Department.

The parole officer asked them to transport him to the Little Rock Police Department. The suspect was handcuffed and transported to the Main Department.

Once there, he was transferred to Assistant Chief Benjamin’s patrol unit.

He and Chief Detective Mayo transported the suspect to the Board of Parole office in North Little Rock. According to Officer Smith’s narrative, The “Benton Police Department advised of a court date, and Little Rock Warrants division requested we take him to their office, but they were advised we were already en route to the Board of Parole.”

BY RIAN NEWMAN

ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER: BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is a month of change, from the weather to the color of the leaves. With Halloween and other holidays just around the corner, people are changing into a festive mood.

However, October is also a reminder of a disease that has affected almost all of us either directly or indirectly: breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to spreading awareness of breast cancer, especially knowledge of the signs, symptoms, risk factors and preventive measures.

This information is crucial for every person to know. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women (not including skin cancer) and the second leading cause of female cancer-related death (behind lung cancer).

Though the number of deaths caused by breast cancer has declined in the past three decades, the incidence rate (number of new cases) has slightly increased by 0.5% every year since 2010.

In honor of breast cancer awareness, below is some information about breast cancer, risk factors and the best ways to reduce your risk.

Cancer occurs whenever cells divide uncontrollably. Breast cancer, in particular, refers to when cells in a breast or both breasts divide abnormally and develop into a malignant lump, or tumor. Not all breast lumps are cancerous, so tests (typically a biopsy)

by a physician are necessary to accurately diagnose cancer.

Cancer cells that develop in the breast can potentially spread to other parts of the body if they enter the blood or lymph nodes.

What causes breast cells to become cancerous? The best answer, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

It is estimated that up to 10 percent of breast cancers are associated with inherited genetic mutations. Two genes that have been implicated in the development of breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2.

These genes are tumor suppressor genes, which function to prevent excessive cell division. If you inherit a mutated version of one or both of these genes, your risk of breast cancer is greater.

There are also several other factors linked to a higher risk of breast cancer including: being female, dense breast tissue, older age, exposure to radiation, obesity, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking and irregular timing of puberty or menopause.

Having a few or several of these risk factors, including the gene mutations, does not guarantee that you will develop breast cancer, only that your risk is higher.

What are the best ways to decrease the risk of breast cancer?

For people with an average risk (determined by a physician), Mayo Clinic recommends screening exams (mammograms), breast self-exam (in which women

inspect their own breasts), limited alcohol consumption, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet (e.g. Mediterranean diet).

For people with a high risk (also determined by a physician), other options are available, such as estrogen-blocking medications or a mastectomy (surgery in which the breasts are removed). These both carry more risks and need to be discussed with a physician.

Unfortunately, there are some misconceptions about breast cancer that need to be addressed. First, though rare, men can also develop breast cancer.

The CDC reports that approximately one percent of breast cancer diagnoses are made in men. A 2019 study found that men may actually be more likely to die from a breast cancer diagnosis than women.

This study reported a nearly nine percent lower five-year survival rate in men than women after being diagnosed.

One reason may be a lack of knowledge among men on their possibility of developing breast cancer, which could cause them to ignore lumps and ultimately underscores the importance of breast cancer awareness for all people.

Additionally, some people believe that antiperspirants can lead to breast cancer; however, there is currently no strong evidence for this claim, according to the American Cancer Society.

Finally, having a family history of breast cancer does not guarantee

that you will also develop breast cancer (though you are at a higher risk).

Likewise, having no family history of breast cancer does not guarantee that you will not develop breast cancer. In fact, most women who develop breast cancer actually have no family history of it.

If you would like to learn more about breast cancer, several online resources are available.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation has an excellent website (nationalbreastcancer. org), with easily accessible and understandable information about breast cancer.

They also have opportunities to

volunteer and get more involved with breast cancer awareness.

Komen.org is another resource with a wealth of information about symptoms, screenings, and treatments. If you’d like to learn more about your individual risk of breast cancer, scheduling an appointment with a genetic counselor can help you identify if you have a genetic predisposition. Moreover, your doctor can help you in making lifestyle changes to decrease your risk.

BY AHAD NADEEM

THE CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF

The Centennial Campaign KickOff event was just the catalyst for more tremendous change coming to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus.

UA Little Rock needed a campaign goal that would accommodate the immense growth we’ve seen. With the announcement of the campaign goal of $250 million dollars and the upcoming 100th anniversary of UA Little Rock in 2027, this was a feat worth celebrating.

To start, the Centennial Campaign goal was announced in two phases.

The first phase was the night of Oct. 13, 2022. The twinkling lights, the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation filled the Fine Arts Hall.

The Campaign Planning Committee and Campaign Cabinet have been working to get donors which led to this special night. As

a result, more than 20,100 donors have supported the Centennial Campaign.

The Centennial Kick-Off Event was a night of community and remembrance of the beginning of UA Little Rock.

Many were present the night of the Campaign Kick-Off including UA Little Rock Alumni, the Alumni Board, the Campaign Cabinet, city representatives and even the Little Rock mayor, Frank Scott Jr.

The UA Little Rock Concert Choir showed up and showed out with a flash mob performance of “A Million Dreams” and “We Are the World,” stunning the patrons and keeping the spirit of the evening alive.

After, came a brief presentation showcasing the history of UA Little Rock, hearing from former and current students, as well as celebrating the announcement of the campaign goal and how far the

university has come since 1927.

Phase Two was carried out at the BBQ at the Bailey Event on Oct. 14, 2022, just a day after the initial campaign announcement.

Music blared from the speakers, people talked and mingled and students hit the dance floor. Accompanied by good food, this campus-wide event was the perfect setting as students, faculty and staff alike were present.

The campaign has been in the works since 2017, all leading up to this point.

The central idea of this campaign is to raise funds for the students, and has been carefully curated to guarantee student achievement.

The four critical areas of the Centennial Campaign are student scholarships, student success, living and learning environment improvements and program excellence.

Since Dec. 2021, 50 new

scholarships, or endowments, have been created.

To boost student success, UA Little Rock is looking at a variety of ways to support students including tutoring, internships and creating more campus spaces for students to build connections.

Another top priority is academic program excellence which includes investing in classrooms, laboratories with the latest technology and faculty.

With a 10 percent increase in fall-to-fall retention of current students, guaranteeing access to the best resources will ensure academic longevity and career success.

There is a sizable percentage of students who, after graduating from UA Little Rock, continue to work in the Little Rock area. Offering students opportunities to engage in their desired career field gives them a greater advantage

when they leave college and join the workforce.

Leading the effort are co-chairs of the Centennial Campaign Committee, Jerry Damerow and Alfred Williams, as well as Chancellor Christina S. Drale, Provost Ann Bain, James Bobo, Bob Denman, Thomas Dickinson, Courtney Little, R.J. Martino, Don Riggin, Cheryl Shuffield, Bill Sowell and Michael Williams Sr.

Overall, the Centennial Campaign represents a new beginning for the UA Little Rock as we reach our 100-year mark.

In an interview held with Dr. Carrie Phillips, she said, “This is our opportunity to set the course for the next 100 years.” With improvements on campus already starting, a change to UA Little Rock is coming. So Trojans, let’s show everyone all we can be.

BY RIAN NEWMAN

Rian Newman Photos

BBQ AT BAILEY

Jacobb Nichol & Rian Newman Photos

A SECOND CHANCE ELEVEN YEARS LATER

LOVE & OTHER WORDS BOOK REVIEW

“I haven’t been living without him. I’ve been merely surviving.”

Love & Other Words was written by the authorial duo, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Their combined pen name is the name they’re most well-known as, Christina Lauren. According to christinalaurenbooks.com/:

“The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced eighteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received multiple starred reviews, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, been inducted into the Library Reads Hall of Fame, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, a Lambda Literary Award finalist and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more.”

Other well-known books by Christina Lauren include The Unhoneymooners, Roomies, My Favorite Half-Night Stand and The Honey-Don’t List.

Love & Other Words takes place in two timelines: Then and Now.

Then focuses on Macy Sorenson’s young friendship and blooming relationship with Elliot Sorenson.

After Macy’s mother tragically passed away, she and her father

purchased a weekend home as a step closer to healing their grief. Elliot is her neighbor at this new home, and they are instant best friends as they share the same love for books and interesting words.

As they grow up, and hormones increasingly course through their bodies, Macy and Elliot fall in love. Still, they were young. Through the course of weekends and summers, they dance around each other with stolen glances and steamy makeout sessions.

They valued their friendship too much to throw it away. Macy has boyfriends and Elliot has girlfriends, but they always seem to end up right where they started: with each other.

Finally, they make the decision to be boyfriend and girlfriend. However, that’s when everything falls apart. Macy and Elliot were happy, their relationship holding a new, more intimate weight.

Then, through several miscommunications and misconceptions, Elliot broke Macy’s heart. She disappears from his life entirely with no goodbye and no remorse.

Until Now. eleven years later, Macy is a pediatric resident. She is doing what she loves, and her career is her entire life. She’s also engaged.

Although Paul is slightly older, and he and Macy got engaged in a few short months, Macy thinks he’s good and kind.

Paul is simple and easy, and he doesn’t demand anything from

Macy. Macy was ready to settle for a life with an exciting career and a dull husband.

Then, she has a chance encounter with Elliot. Macy is confused, nostalgic, hurt and flustered. She attempts to run away from Elliot’s questions and confessions, but he is right in front of her. And she is right back to those weekends and summers of blushing love. Elliot was her first love; maybe he’s even the love of her life.

Does she still love him? Does he still love her? What happened all those years ago?

I really liked this book; it’s a good 3.75 out of 5. It’s a cute, heartwarming read.

It’s one of those books that makes you blush and smile to the point where you need to put the book down and compose yourself. Macy and Elliot have an undeniable chemistry, which is why they are pulled back to each other years after they’ve broken each other’s heart.

They each have their separate pain and agony, but Macy and Elliot find a solace and safe haven in each other. Their story is beautiful, tragic and heart wrenching. For me, the ending is a bit rushed, and some elements of the book are slightly questionable. Nonetheless, I think this is a great read.

If you like childhood friendsto-lovers and/or a second chance romance, you will definitely enjoy Love & Other Words. .”

BY EMILY WELLS

EAT BEAT

PATY’S GORDITAS

Paty’s Gorditas is a hidden gem just 10 minutes away from the UALR campus. I have gone twice with one of my friends, and we will definitely be going again.

It’s located at 7415 Geyer Springs Rd. It’s in the same building as a tortilla factory, and the actual restaurant is pretty easy to miss if you’re coming from the direction of UALR, so I look for the “Tortilleria” sign.

My favorite of the things I’ve gotten has been the chorizo and steak torta. It’s a huge sandwich, so if you order it, definitely get the half portion. Even the half sandwich was absolutely enormous and it took me two meals to eat it.

That was probably because I ordered rice and beans as well (they were worth it). I was hesitant to get steak at first, because most sandwiches I’ve had with steak have been difficult to eat since the steak doesn’t tear easily.

That was not the case for this sandwich. The steak was incredibly tender, and very easy to bite into.

My friend’s favorite thing that she has gotten so far are the chicken fajitas, which I tried and agree are delicious. The chicken, like the steak, is unbelievably tender, and just melts in your mouth.

The peppers are fragrant, and it is served with lettuce, sour cream, avocado and a container full of hot, fresh tortillas. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere with lots of string lights and decorations. The restaurant’s specialty is their gorditas, which is a corn tortilla stuffed with meat, cheese and other fillings. I hope to try these very soon, as well as some of their other tasty-looking menu options.

BY EMILY WELLS

BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: MIDNIGHTS BY TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM REVIEW

Taylor Swift is one of the most profound song writers of our generation. She proves this yet again with her latest album, Midnights.

Midnights is an album of reflection, of what keeps Swift up at the middle of the night.

Swift returns to pop after two alternative albums, Folklore and Evermore, and her two latest re-recordings of her past countrymusic albums, Fearless and Red.

Swift told Jimmy Fallon she was nervous returning to pop music, “There was a bit of pumping myself back up and saying, you can do it.”

Swift proves that she still has that engaging pop sound with Midnights projecting to be her best selling album beating her 2014 pop album, 1989.

Midnights has thirteen songs, signifying a chapter in Swift’s life

that kept her up at midnight. A mixture of “sweet dreams and terror,” according to Swift.

The album opens up with Lavender Haze, a perfect album opener discussing her current relationship with Joe Alwyn. Swift has been keeping her relationship in the shadows for six years now.

Taylor explained to Today that “My relationship for six years, we’ve had to dodge weird rumors, tabloid stuff – and we just ignore it.”

Instead of replying to rumors she tells listeners about her relationship through her music, and it’s beautiful.

Swift has more catchy love songs on the album believed to be tied to Alwyn as well, like “Snow on the Beach” featuring Lana del Rey.

Snow on the Beach is about falling in love with someone at the same time they’re falling in love

with you. It’s supposed to be a beautiful and weird feeling, like seeing snow fall on the beach.

Swift also gives us a ride back to her infamous 2016 scandal with Kim Kardashian and her now ex-husband, Kanye West.

It seems that the eleventh track “Karma” is about the recorded phone call that took place. Causing Swift to go into hiding after the entire internet turned on her.

She then came back with her sixth studio album “Reputation.” Speaking of Reputation, we get a feel of the electro-pop album with Midnights’ eighth track “Vigilante Sh*t.”

Believed to be a poke at Scooter Braun who bought Swift’s masters without her knowledge. Making Swift re-record her first six albums making them “Taylor’s Version.”

Swift also released seven more

songs, releasing “Midnights: 3am edition.” She takes the seven tracks to a similar tone of what Folklore and Evermore sounds like, but mixes it with a fresh sound of Midnights.

She ends the entire album with “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” and “Dear Reader.” Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve is about her past 2010 relationship with John Mayer.

One of her darkest songs to date, telling us how young and vulnerable she was, and how Mayer took advantage. At the time of their relationship, Swift was 19 and Mayer was 32.

“If I was a child did it matter, if you got to wash your hands.” Swift says in the nineteenth track.

She also exclaimed “I regret you all the time – the wounds won’t close – give me back my girlhood, it

was mine first.” You could tell Swift didn’t let anything slide, making her 2010 Speak Now song “Dear John” sound too nice.

Midnights is already the best selling album of 2022 according to Billboard, and has already broken major records like vinyl sales, and the fastest selling album of the year.

Regardless of her achievements over Midnights, the music and song writing speaks for itself. It is a dark album based on love, regret, revenge, spotlight, and empowerment.

BY JOE SANTANA

WHY DO WE LOVE HALLOWEEN?

The Halloween season came and went like every year, and if you’re anything like me then one of your favorite Halloween traditions is to get spooked by some mediocre haunted house that you paid twenty dollars to just run through. Why do we do it? What is the reason?

It’s fun that’s for sure, but do we really spend over $20 per ticket and wait an hour in lines just to run through the haunted houses for three minutes?

It’s actually because we love getting scared and feeling that adrenaline rush that our morning coffee fails to give us. It’s Halloween and everyone lives for the thrills.

We watch horror movies with the lights off and play tricks on one another. We watch true crime documentaries and drama series based on real life serial killers just to end up being scared of trusting anyone. Why are we like this? Fear is in human nature, but why do we pay for it during the Halloween season and dread it any other season?

Is it fantasy that we chase after or is it facing our fears? We love to feel fear that doesn’t cause us emotional distress, even if you

don’t feel it at that moment but once it’s over you’re going to say it was fun. It’s the same as riding a rollercoaster or a fair ride. You feel safe because you are choosing to get scared, and choosing to engage. So your brain knows it’s all for fun and laughs, but you still get scared by the unexpected, and that is what makes Halloween fun.

When you watch horror movies, you know it’s a movie but you’re still dreading that jump scare. Today, if a horror movie doesn’t have enough jump scares then it’s considered “not good enough.” People love being scared when they know it’s safe. Some people don’t like being scared at all. They may hate horror movies, haunted houses and rollercoasters. It all comes down to what their brain tells them. I hate rollercoasters and refuse to get on any. I just don’t feel safe and it will not be fun for me, but for horror movies and haunted attractions I am there enjoying the thrills because to me, I still feel safe and enjoy a good thrill. Do you love Halloween?

BY JOE SANTANA

Fall-O-Ween & SGA Pumpkin Carving Rian Newman Photos

CAMPUS GARDEN Jacobb Nichol Photos

NERD NIGHT

Jacobb Nichol Photos

OPINION

IS TRUE CRIME

ETHICAL?

True crime is becoming more and more popular as a genre. Netflix recently released a show called Dahmer, and it has raised the question of whether or not true crime is ethical as a genre for a few reasons.

The first reason is that Netflix did not reach out to the families of the victims about the show.

Rita Isbel, the sister of Errol Lindsey, who was a victim of Jeffrey Dahmer, said that watching the show felt like “reliving it all over again.”

With shows like this getting so popular, it is nearly impossible for the families of victims to avoid seeing clips of the shows. Clips are shared to just about every media platform, so families would have to avoid the internet entirely.

Another reason is that a lot of true crime movies and shows tend to cast conventionally attractive actors in the roles of serial killers, causing people to start romanticizing these killers. For example, in Dahmer, the role of Jeffrey Dahmer is played by Evan Peters and in Extremely Wicked, ShockinglyEvilandVile, the role of Ted Bundy is played by Zac Efron. Both are conventionally attractive and popular male actors.

The biggest reason, however, is the reactions of some of the people who consume this type of media. There were people complaining (on mostly social media platforms, i.e. TikTok and Twitter) that Dahmer did not have enough gore and saying that they were unaffected by the show.

Some people even claimed that they were unaffected by any true crime story. This is disturbing because these are stories of real people. If someone wants to watch something with a lot of gore, they should watch a slasher movie, or something made by Quentin Tarantino. I think that consuming true crime media is okay if you are mindful of sharing things about it online and if the families of the victims have consented to having their stories shared.

I think it is important to remember that these stories are real and should be consumed from more of an educational standpoint than simply for entertainment.

BY EMILY WELLS

THE TRUTH ABOUT NEPOTISM

Nepotism, Favoritism, Cronyism; what is the difference between them or are they all relative?

Whatever “ism” it is we need to have a clear understanding of how they are defined to decipher what to feel about them and then, if and/or when necessary, address them.

Speaking of relatives, nepotism is when one favors relatives and friends due to kinship, whereas favoritism is the act of favoring one person over the other no matter what and then cronyism is when one abuses one’s power in favor of providing undue advantages and benefits to friends.

An example of nepotism that will be used here is the recently trending discussion of nepotism babies. Zoe Kravitz (Batman) is considered a “nepotism baby” because of who her mother (Lisa Bonet) and her father (Lenny Kravitz) are. Her mother Lisa is a famous actor who made her debut on The Cosby Show and then A Different World back in the 80’s with a slew of other movie credits to her name and her father Lenny is a wellknown rock musician and actor, too (The Hunger Games).

Lenny could also be considered a nepotism baby as his mother Roxie Roker (The Jeffersons) was an acclaimed actor herself and yes if you were wondering, related to one of our most famous AfricanAmerican weather anchors, Al Roker as his second cousin.

You could say that Zoe is a part of Hollywood royalty right along with others such as Jaden Smith and Dakota Johnson.

Oh yes and the royals, the late Queen Elizabeth (RIP), King Charles, William, Harry and all their family members are the recipients of this thing called nepotism. It is inevitable for them to be given positions within the United Kingdom because the royals keep their power all in the family.

But getting back to the offspring of those who have made it in Hollywood, is it fair that 85% or more of the time when these nepotism babies audition for their chosen part they will get it over an unknown who may be just as talented? You could call it a family business; and that is how the business is worked.

However, many believe that the few mentioned above deserve their success due to their talent and not because of who their parents are.

How about favoritism? For instance, what if an instructor favored students they liked or have a special preference for over other students that they do not particularly like or care for leaving those students who are not favored feeling alienated and defeated when it comes to them accomplishing their goals in whatever arena they are being overlooked or in most cases ignored?

How could those students resolve this issue that can be very discouraging and debilitating?

Before offering up suggestions on that matter, I would say that it is my opinion that cronyism and favoritism are the same thing or very closely related and should be addressed the same way. The first step would be for students to request a meeting with the instructor to make them aware of how they feel about the situation. The instructor may have a reasonable explanation for their actions and may offer advice on how the situation can be improved.

However, if it is indeed cronyism and power is being used unjustly, the problem may not be resolved with that suggested first step and students should seek someone who can advocate for them. There may be a personality conflict between the student and instructor which would require arbitration. It would be necessary for students to avoid taking a passive aggressive stance in matters such as these.

Problems are meant to be

resolved, not ignored or avoided. Keeping a positive perspective should be first in their thought process. Self-evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses should also come into play. If there is something that needs to be corrected or improved to help one to not be overlooked or passed over, this must be considered as well.

Developing strengths and even finding other avenues to elevate where the instructor who is unfair has no control or influence is another option that should be taken into consideration. Keep in mind that cronyism does not just happen in school settings. It happens in the workplace as well. Being overlooked or passed over for a position that one is highly qualified for at work, year after year, is something that many have had to deal with.

Quitting that job and moving to another place of employment is a decision that some would have to make to keep from stagnating and not progressing into the career that they desire to have. The similarity

between work and school is that the student may have to endure the same instructor the whole four years that they are advancing towards the degree of their major just as the employee would have to suffer through having an unjust boss year after year. However, the student should never allow themselves to be put in a position where they would reconsider their major or purpose for attending school in the first place.

Whatever the scenario is, one must never give up on oneself, they should always continue to look for tools to develop skills to overcome difficult encounters with people who may prove to be obstacles in the path of their future, dreams, and aspirations.

They should endeavor to redirect fate and never allow anyone to cause them to deviate from their destiny. They must never be afraid to speak up for themselves and break through all glass ceilings by reconfiguring, improvising, and consistently looking for insight from others who may have had the same experience and survived

it. More than anything, one must know their worth and stay true to themselves in the face of rejection.

So, the truth about nepotism is it may not be what many people think it is but then again maybe it is. Who knows, but we should not get it mixed up with favoritism or cronyism because there is a difference. We all have to live in this world together and everyone should be able to seize the opportunity to reach their fullest potential no matter who their relatives are, who they work for or even who they are being taught by.

We should always stay focused on the light of our WHY and never let anyone dim that light just because they can’t see it. We must be our own favorite and surround ourselves with kindred spirits who are all willing to support us as we support each other making it impossible for anyone to be left out, overlooked or passed over.

We don’t have to wait to be great. Our time is now. Seize the day.

BY VAL BELL

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