The Forum September 2021 Edition

THE FORUM September 2021 The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Student Newspaper

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

POLICE BEAT

THE RETURN TO C A M P U S

LITTLE ROCK EATERIES

STUDENT LIFE

UNIVERSITY UPGRADES

2 | THE 2021 2 - September 15, 2015 September 2 FORUM | SEPT.

NEWS

Opinions

ualr.edu/forum

WELCOME WEEK STARTS SEMESTER OFF RIGHT UA Little Rock kicked off Welcome Week during the first week of the fall semester. Each day, events and pop-up tents assisted lost freshmen and gave students something to look forward to as they met their professors and received their syllabi.

The Ottenheimer Library hosted tours of the library each day in order for students to understand the resources the department offers. Library staff also hosted meet and greets in buildings such as Engineering and Information Technology (EIT) and Dickinson to get out on campus and be more visible to students who wouldn’t normally visit the library. They also had giveaways, including free printing money.

Events ranged from two home soccer games, complete with tailgating, free food trucks and other incentives; Wipeout Wednesday, with a giant inflatable obstacle course set up in the Donaghey Student Center (DSC) pool; National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) on the yard, where students enjoyed strolls from sororities and fraternities on campus; and even a Carnival, complete with a mechanical shark to ride, Velcro

Axe Throwing and a pop-up Mythbusters: Sex Edition hosted by the Counseling Center and Health Services to educate students about safe sex practices.

Freshmen and transfer students were welcomed in a special event hosted by Student Retention Initiatives, where students met with different organizations on campus, including Trio Student Support Services and the Multicultural Center.

Throughout the week, free shirts, breakfast, and school supplies were given to students. Religious organizations on campus such as Young Life, Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), and Chi Alpha also hosted independent fun activities for students to get involved and meet each other.

Overall, the first week of the semester was one packed with exciting activities and ways for students to connect with each other. The Student Experience Center (SEC) is planning other events as the year progresses, including free movie nights organized by the Student Activities Board and Homecoming in November.

By Magnolia Risley

Welcome Week Magnolia Risley Photos

Opinions

ualr.edu/forum Act 1002, Arkansas’ legislation banning mask mandates, went into effect statewide on July 27.

For the first time since April 2020, the campus did not have a mask mandate.

“Masks required” signs were taken down, social distancing stickers were torn off the floors, and campus employees returned to their physical offices on Aug. 2.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson regretted the bill as cases began to rise at the beginning of August. On campus, masks could be “strongly recommended,” but not required.

“We recognize that there will be vigorous disagreement on all sides,” Chancellor Christina Drale said in an email to employees the day before Act 1002 took effect.

“There are different opinions on the best course of action and we have considered and debated these within my leadership team.”

On Aug. 3, Chancellor Drale signed an open letter addressed to Gov. Hutchinson citing concerns over the mask mandate ban.

This letter was signed by other higher education presidents and chancellors across the state.

A week and a day later, Chancellor Drale sent another email to the campus community.

This time, mask requirements were reinstated: “UA Little Rock will reinstate its mask requirement in all indoor environments where physical distancing cannot be maintained (with limited exceptions), effective immediately.”

“Masks required” signs were reprinted and taped back up at each building’s entry point. PPE kits were restocked across campus.

Here’s to another semester during a global pandemic.

Riley Pagan was a freshman studying biology when the pandemic began. After classes transitioned to virtual, Pagan left the college. With the promise of classes being face to face, she registered for this term.

“It feels so weird but nice and refreshing [to be back],” she said. “ It was like starting a new school all

THE2015 FORUM | SEPT. 2021 September 2 - September 15, 3 |3

RETURN TO CAMPUS: NOT WITHOUT MASKS over again. It’s so nice to be around people again and hopefully to start making new friends.”

The Cafe has returned to self service as it was prior to the pandemic. Student organizations are able to meet in person and hold events. The campus is trying its best to remain safe, but also to bring back the fun elements of the college experience for students.

Pagan feels protected as far as her health and the precautions the school is taking. She has never had a student in her class without a mask. Pagan’s concerns lie in missing classes if she were to test positive. In her class, mandatory assignments and point deductions for absences are not exempt if she had to quarantine.

“My teacher was like, ‘Don’t

worry because if you miss the assignment, you may get a 0, but your lowest grade gets dropped,’” she said. “But if I have class every Friday and I get Covid on a Thursday, I’d have to miss two classes, which means two assignments.”

She is also left with questions about what steps will be taken if someone in her class tests positive.

Are students emailed and made aware of the illness? Are the next two classes online only?

There have been 48 new positive cases on campus since Aug. 1. Currently, there are seven cases of COVID-19 on campus. If needed, students and employees can receive rapid COVID-19 tests from Health Services.

Health Services also offers

free Johnson & Johnson vaccines to students and employees by appointment at (501) 916-3188.

To date, the campus has offered 22 vaccine clinics in which 1,036 people participated, and there is one tentatively planned for Oct. 19.

At the end of August, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 49.2% of students and 60.9% of employees were fully vaccinated.

In regards to receiving a positive test, students need to report their results to Health Services by accessing this form (https://ualr. edu/health/reporting-a-covidpositive-test-result/) so that contact tracing can be conducted.

From there, Pagan’s questions of COVID-19 classroom protocol remain to be answered.

continue to evolve as learning commons are introduced to more and more universities.

A learning commons is a dynamic learning space that promotes studying, tutoring, socializing and collaborating.

According to the Canadian School Libraries organization, a learning commons is "a whole-school approach to building a participatory learning community. The library learning commons is the physical and virtual collaborative learning hub of the school. It is designed to engineer and drive future-oriented learning and teaching throughout the entire school."

Tutoring resources at UA Little Rock, such as the University Writing Center (UWC), the Math Assistance Center (MAC), and the Communications Skills Center (CSC), along with additional tutoring services, will reopen

their in-person services once the Learning Commons is ready for visitors.

"The space will also include computer work stations, rooms for small group work, and hang-out areas," said AVC Rice. "I should also note that TRIO Student Support Services (which serves first-generation and low-income students, as well as students with disabilities) and the Ronald McNair Scholars program (which helps undergraduate students explore and prepare for graduate school) will be moving to the first floor of SUB, which is next door to the library and which we are completely renovating."

In the past, these services were scattered throughout campus.

Now, the Learning Commons and the services in SUB will enable students to receive help in a single, connected system.

"The convenience to students should make a big difference," Rice said. "If a student is getting help with College Algebra, they can also get help with a paper or a class presentation, all without leaving the Commons. If they are receiving services from TRIO SSS, those services are next door."

Having these services in a common area is not the only benefit.

According to Kami Kinkaid's "What Does Learning Commons Mean for Your School," studies have shown that learning commons can help students with reading comprehension, critical thinking, and knowledge application. UA Little Rock students should keep an eye out for the new learning commons as they continue their educational journey next spring.

By Magnolia Risley

AN UPDATE ON THE UNIVERSITY LEARNING COMMONS The University of Arkansas at Little Rock plans to open the university's Learning Commons this upcoming 2022 spring semester. Located on the first floor of the Ottenheimer Library, the learning commons will become a hub of student support services.

"Development of the plan we

“

Rice worked alongside UA Little Rock's current support centers, the Ottenhiemer Library, the Facilities Management department and an outside architectural firm to develop the consolidation plan that originated in 2014.

The question is, What should UA Little Rock students expect

It is designed to engineer and drive future-oriented learning and teaching throughout.” are now executing started with a discussion of the need to increase tutoring for particular courses that perhaps are not addressed directly by the existing assistance centers," said AVC Rice, an Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

As the project coordinator, AVC

from these changes?

As learning evolves, so do learning spaces. Over the last two decades, library patrons watched as their libraries embraced the use of technology through media labs, online content resources and 3D printers. Traditional libraries

By Danielle Spence

News

4|4 THE FORUM | SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015 September

ualr.edu/forum

POLICE BEAT Campus crime report by Ent. Editor Remington Miller Bicycle Incident On Sept. 3 it was reported that an individual was riding their bicycle when they ran into a barrier fitting hole on Aug. 30 at around 8:30 p.m. This occurred on 28th Street near the entrance to the Trail of Tears. The incident report said that the individual “wasn’t paying attention to the stomp because he was looking to cross the intersection.”

There is supposed to be a pole attached to the hole, but it was

laying on the ground. The individual ran into the stomp and both tires were flat. Upon noticing the pole still down on Sept. 1, they alerted a Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) officer to contact the UA Little Rock Police Department. The individual then approached the UA Little Rock Police Department and made a statement about the pole being a safety issue and later on desired to make a claim about the bicycle’s flat tires.

Facilities Management was

made aware of the fallen pole and advised the individual to file a claim with the Arkansas Claims Commission.

suspect had been confronted in the University Plaza earlier that day. At that time the suspect was informed that she cannot be nude in public and to exit the property.

Woman on Asher This being the second Officer Christopher Rogers encounter, the suspect was responded to the report of a female transported to the Pulaski County brushing her teeth shirtless on Regional Crisis Stabilization Unit Asher Avenue on Aug. 25 at 12:46 (PCRCSU). Shelter and amenities p.m. When Officer Rogers arrived were offered to the suspect but she he found a nude woman sitting on refused to be admitted and exited the sidewalk, washing her hair. the area on foot.

Prior to this encounter, the

UA LITTLE ROCK AWARDED $175K TO CREATE ONLINE TEACHING ACADEMY The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been awarded a $175,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Education to implement an online teacher academy for K-12 teachers in Arkansas.

The grant will take care of tuition, books and a state assessment for 20 K-12 teachers who are taking part in the online teacher academy.

The 2021-2022 Online Teacher Academy Endorsement program prepares Arkansas K-12 teachers by training them to learn more about online teaching and course creation by taking courses through the UA Little Rock Learning System Technology Education (LSTE) program in the School of Education.

Dr. Daryl Tate, assistant professor and e-learning founder at UA Little Rock, will serve as the academy’s director. With a diverse background, Dr. Tate has extensive knowledge that is particularly helpful and beneficial.

“I was an instructional designer and course developer for different schools in higher ed, Texas A&M Commerce, different community colleges in the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” Dr. Tate said. “What led me there, before I had my master’s or doctorate in learning technologies, I was in multimedia ... we had a client that was a school district and that is where I got bit by the education bug ... I have always had a passion for technology and so now I am able to utilize that in education.”

Dr. Tate worked with the Arkansas Department of Education

(ADE) to design and develop the program and curriculum.

“I began working with ADE staff and I came up with some of the courses that we already had in the program,” Dr. Tate said. “They mapped out with the matrix of the learning objectives of what ADE wanted in their K-12. I helped out because we did a lot of redesigning when I arrived in 2016 with [the] standards that they used. They mapped on with five courses. I also wanted to be competitive with different schools around the state.”

The certificate entails 15 hours of coursework and with only three more hours, any candidate can receive a master’s degree as it takes 18 hours to complete and some of the courses overlap.

“The beautiful part about it — ADE loved this as well — is that it’s also embedded in what we call a graduate certificate,” Dr. Tate said. “We have an LSTE graduate certificate which is 18 hours and 15 hours of those hours make up the online K-12 online teacher endorsement. So while you are matriculating the program, these certificates and endorsements are embedded and you are picking up those credentials along the way.”

To be eligible for this certificate, the candidate first needs to apply for the graduate program and be accepted as well as be a K-12 teacher in the state of Arkansas.

“One last caveat, anything that is an endorsement with certification in the state of Arkansas, there is an assessment for it,” Dr. Tate said. “At the end of the 15 hours, you take the assessment and pass it, and

then you earn your licensure with the state of Arkansas through UA Little Rock.”

During the academy, teachers will be able to learn and be prepared in various contexts of teaching such as how to implement technology in the classroom, among other things.

Dr. Tate recognizes the benefits this

“

rounded teaching perspective that can be impactful towards the students.

“I like the idea that it covers a wide range of education or learning-centered environments,” Dr. Tate said. “I also like the fact that in our program we are teaching about universal design

I look forward to making LSTE and the School of Education world-class.”

kind of endorsement has. “[I like] the preparation for different modalities of instructions,” Dr. Tate said. “It’s not just online. Our program teaches you aligning in general of instruction. Whether it be online, hybrid or face-to-face environment, you’re able to leverage technology. I like the flexibility of the program in terms of the skill sets that you’ll learn.”

Not only does this academy create opportunities for teachers to learn different ways of teachings, but it also allows them to acknowledge how important technology can be in the classroom.

“I really believe that the 21st-century educator has a certain domain of skill sets and knowledge that are necessary to be effective,” Dr. Tate said.

“We’re building that strength and competency in them so that in any type of instruction, they’ll be to incorporate technology.”

Equity within education is an important concept in this academy as well. Dr. Tate understands the importance of having a well-

and learning and so it gets off in this equity-minded teaching piece where you have multiple means of representing content and multiple ways of assessing and engaging students.”

“We are able to leverage digital technologies because they can be augmented out of their natural state,” Dr. Tate continued. “I think that is huge. I think that is a gamechanger for reaching students that we have not been able to reach.”

With this grant and academy in place, Dr. Tate hopes that it takes the UA Little Rock School of Education to the next level and hopes that it can be competitive with schools around the country.

“I look forward to making LSTE and the school of education worldclass,” Dr. Tate said. “We want to be premier. We compete with everyone around the country and not just the region. I think this is an important step in that direction.”

By Azalea Andrade

Breaking and Entering The victim filed a breaking and entering report at 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 24. They parked their vehicle in the Villiage parking lot and entered their residence on Aug. 23. When they woke up the next morning and went to purchase books at the UA Little Rock bookstore, they noticed the money they had left in the middle console was gone around 10 a.m.

After searching around the vehicle, the money could not

LEARN ABOUT CONSENT The Office of Title IX presents various workshops throughout the year to educate both University of Arkansas at Little Rock students and employees.

The definition of sexual assault in Arkansas law is any crime in which the offender subjects the victim to unwanted sexual activity.

If sexual assault does happen, when making a campus report the victims are not required to report to the Department of Public Safety or local law enforcement.

However, all faculty and staff are mandatory reporters of sexual misconduct.

One main point that Title IX emphasizes is that consent is always active and never passive. This entails neither person being incapacitated in any way. Silence, lack of verbal or physical resistance do not equal consent. Consent can always be taken away and is never indefinite. The metaphor of tea can emphasize this, if a person does not want the tea, you should not force them to drink it.

There are various reporting options such as an online incident report form, phone call or email. All this information is available on the UALR website under Office of Title IX.

By Payton Dhooge

News

ualr.edu/forum

THE 2015 FORUM | SEPT. 2021 September 2 - September 15, 5 |5

Arrest for Criminal Trespassing On Aug. 15, before students returned to campus, a female Cars Incident suspect was sleeping on a bench Two cars connected in Lot 13 in front of the Department of on Aug. 23 around 11:45 a.m. One Public Safety (DPS) building. The driver misjudged the turn, striking suspect was a repeat offender the right front bumper of another and told not to return to campus. car. The other driving was sitting Officer Marilyn Thompson made in the vehicle at the time of the the arrest, but the suspect became accident, according to the incident agitated. According to Officer report.

Thompson, the suspect showed No injuries were reported but signs of erratic behavior and acted both cars had minor damage. in an aggressive manner. Police Cpl. Woods assisted in the arrest and the suspect was transported

for processing.

It was noted in the incident report that the suspect was “mentally unstable and [one] should use extreme precaution when approaching and dealing with her.”

TWO CLASSES AT ONCE: ARE THESE HYBRID CLASSES EFFECTIVE?

students more or to Zoom students for a lack of cameras on and engagement.

This is new territory for everyone in higher education. Trial and error will play a big role in the upcoming semester.

For some students, there is a bias towards the classroom. Sitting inside a classroom, there can be nonverbal feedback from peers, like nodding and gesturing in agreement or disagreement. Zoom students cannot always see their peers, even if they can hear them. If the webcams are off, then students in the classroom cannot see more than their peer’s name or a picture. That connection is removed virtually but fostered in the classroom.

Ray reflected on the disconnect, “I dislike that even now the majority of cameras are off at all times, but there isn’t always a lot of classroom engagement either. It was definitely an adjustment. Conversation tends to happen more organically in the classroom.”

“I think I need to find a way to make that conversation more seamless between the modalities,” Barrio added.

Barrio explained that this was a difficult time in higher education.

Teaching requires professors or instructors to spend more time thinking about activities they want students to complete inside the classroom.

They then have to determine if the experience can be equal online and in-person.

These decisions cause extra time and effort that can go unnoticed and increase fatigue. Even students now must decide each day how they attend class and prepare to attend class. If you are attending virtually, you may have questions about whether you have the technology and a quiet place to set up.

For in-person students, they have to speculate their own health and the risks along with their classmates.

Classroom experiences will continue to change as students and professors

be found. They remembered carrying their bags in but they were uncertain if they locked the doors to their vehicle. They did not see anyone around the parking lot when they carried their bags inside.

Stolen Phone On Aug. 23, the first day of classes for the Fall 2021 semester at UA Little Rock, Officer Ka’Noesha Wilson reported to East Hall to file a report on a stolen phone. The victim said the phone was stolen from their room and the phone

This semester carrying my backpack felt as strange as it did when I was walking into my first day of kindergarten. It had been unused since March 2020, when UA Little Rock transitioned to online classes due to the pandemic. It was the second semester of my sophomore year.

As the pandemic progressed, classes utilized video conferencing software like Zoom, Google Meet, and Blackboard Collaborate. Interaction with other students was facilitated through breakout rooms, online whiteboards, and polls. Occasionally I would see my peers when they joined me in turning my camera on, but mostly I read their names in a little gray box in the sidebar. I thought I had seen it all, until Fall 2021.

Starting this semester UA Little Rock has class options where Zoom classes occur simultaneously with in-person classes. Students have the option to join the class via Zoom or in-person.

There is no requirement for either method; students may switch between the options in a way that suits them.

There is no limit to the number of times a student can resort to Zoom.

For me, there are two classes with this option on my schedule. Both classes are in the English department and are discussion-oriented. A normal class session begins with in-person students entering the room and getting ready.

The professor logs onto Zoom, starts the session and shares their screen if they are showing any class material, or leaves them up so in-person students can see their peers.

I will never forget the warning from my professor on syllabus day.

In between all the usual attendance policies and grade breakdowns, she added, “These microphones are good, just because I don’t hear you talking

was an older model, according to the incident report.

from the front of the class that doesn’t mean the folks at home won’t!”

Located in Stabler Hall are two “Zoom Rooms” that I know of. These classrooms are equipped with ceiling microphones and cameras to show the professor. One room is even equipped with a student camera, so Zoom students can see who is talking in the in-person discussion.

The idea of a dual classroom is sensitive to students as they are heavily impacted by the pandemic and makes learning accessible. However, it calls into question if a class can be both online and offline friendly during the same time period.

During September, my roommate’s father contracted COVID-19. I had already been exposed to her before her father’s test swab had been collected. Her results had not come in by the time of my Monday class, and, choosing public safety, I returned to my old habits and set my laptop on that school-issued desk. Attending class via Zoom felt strange now.

I am not the only student with this experience. Sydney Ray is a student also experiencing classes with both attendance options.

Ray said, “I always have the intention to go in-person. I have found that I am significantly more engaged inside of the classroom. I have chosen to use the Zoom option so far this semester for multiple reasons such as childcare, personal illness and schedule conflicts.”

Watching my professor teach an in-person class was not the same as synchronous online classes. In an online format, the professor could focus on the technology and how to utilize that way of instruction.

It is difficult to make small groups in the main classroom and breakout

rooms in the Zoom class. For a professor to check in with the Zoom students, the noise distracts the in-person groups.

But, it is unfair for Zoom students to not have a professor available to help with assignments.

“I really like the check-in polls that some of the teachers do, and I wouldn’t be opposed to participating in polls in-person,” Ray added.

There are some options that might be equally accessible and efficient online and in-person, creating a seamless classroom experience.

However, finding those options takes a lot of preparation and experimentation.

Ray said, “I can see a genuine effort from the majority of my professors!

They single out the zoomers in an attempt to promote engagement. Some professors in particular really are trying to create a half and half scenario.”

Associate Professor of English Dr. Laura Barrio-Vilar is teaching one hybrid class this semester. She described that the support of the English department’s chair was there; professors had the option to teach completely online to ensure safety during the rise of the delta variant.

It was not until just before the semester started that she decided to add the Zoom component to the class. It is not clear yet exactly what the assessments will be on the meshed mediums. That requires students to give feedback, more assignments to be graded, and the overall progress of the class.

“I think it’s especially in participation that modality makes a difference,” Barrio said. “I’ve noticed that once people in the classroom start talking that there is more of a conversation.”

The fault could be assigned in many places, from the professor needing to work on engaging online synchronous

Broken Car Window The UA Little Rock Police Department was dispatched to assess a broken window at the University Villiage Dairy Lane on Aug. 15. The victim, a UA Little Rock student, had a friend with them. When the friend returned from outside, they told the victim

that their car window was busted.

Nothing was stolen from the vehicle.

According to the incident report, around that time, Police Cpl. Woods observed a campus housing contracted worker, who was trimming weeds and grass near the vehicle. Near the driver’s rear door of the vehicle, a small, black rock was found. Several students observed a worker with headphones trimming weeds near the victim’s car earlier.

collaborate in order to make a safe and effective learning environment.

“I think that cameras should be on,” Ray said, “The only reason to turn off the camera is if you have to step away for a moment, or your technology simply doesn’t allow it. I have a very small class this semester, and there are usually only two people in the physical classroom, and it makes it difficult to show up when it feels like no one else is.”

She is not incorrect. I remember on around the third week of class it was only four minutes until class began. I was sitting in the classroom, looking at Dr. Barrio, and asked, “What happens if I am the only one here?”

If the whole class had decided to Zoom in, would most of the engagement fall on me? I already know what I know, so it was worrisome to think about not being able to discuss Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Sula with my peers.

Literature classes especially require discussion, as conversations with the text aren’t meant to be entirely solitary.

Other students did finally show up, but this disproportion was scary enough.

With all these uncertainties, there are chances for improving hybrid classes.

“I do have to admit, being challenged to think about all these alternatives, I think it is making [me] a better teacher,” Barrio said.

Beyond more funds to make better and more Zoom rooms, which can be expensive, professors are searching for ways to improve the learning environment for both types of students.

Barrio said she wants to propose professors inviting each other to attend their classes.

“Right now my experience with a hybrid class is from a point-of-view of the professor,” she said, “I want to know what it feels like from the point-of-view of the student.”

By Remington Miller

6 | THE 2021 2 - September 15, 2015 September 6 FORUM | SEPT.

News

ualr.edu/forum

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES: ADVOCATES SINCE 1978 From financial aid to tutoring to time management, all college students have had at least one of these things at the back of their minds when taking the step to continue their education. But what happens when we don’t know where to start and feel as though these are immovable mountains that will impede our successes?

That’s when organizations like the TRIO program can step in and help you climb this mountain in order to achieve what seems impossible.

Desarae Nelson, the TRIO Student Support Services Director, explains that it is a federally-funded education program through the U.S. Department of Education and that it focuses on providing support services to students who are firstgeneration college students — meaning their parents or guardians do not have a four-year bachelor’s

“

with students to achieve three main goals: persistence and retention at the university, maintaining a good academic standing financially and academically and graduation so that students can successfully enter graduate programs or career interests.

The benefits of the TRIO program are vast in what they have to offer. Scholarships, loans and tutors are some ways in which the program can assist students.

The Chancellor and Provost Scholarship is offered to 25 students that have been involved with the program for at least two semesters and are enrolled in at least six undergraduate credit hours; they must also be active within the program, such as meeting with their advisor and participating in events. The scholarship awards a total of $500.

We want our students to know that when they come to our office, we are advocates for them, and we’re a voice to listen to them and then speak up on their behalf as needed.” degree — are low-income, based on federal low-income guidelines, or have a documented disability.

Their mission, as Nelson describes, is to serve the underrepresented student population on campus and do so through faculty mentors, stipends for research, tutoring services and more. “The main thing I think I want students to understand is that we really are like a family atmosphere,” Nelson said. “We do take that extra time to really get to know our students to work closely with them. We encourage them to come and just hang out with us throughout the day, in between classes.”

At UA Little Rock, the TRIO services are managed by an office of five staff members who advise over 250 students annually. Their jobs range from working directly with and advising students, coordinating tutoring for success, career coaching and project coordinating. The care that each staff member possesses is what ties this program together. They work

With these benefits, the program hopes to encourage students to continue moving forward, a step that can include graduate school.

Members have taken various graduate school trips, including one they will take at the end of October. They will visit the University of Texas at Austin, so that, Nelson said, “our students have the opportunity to learn more about what graduate school options that campus has.” During the trip, students will also visit The Preserve in Fredericksburg, Texas, where students will get to interact and care for Asian elephants.

“We also do financial literacy components, so we’ve got some programs [and] workshops,” Nelson detailed. “We’ve done stuff in the past about couponing, for healthy eating, Black Friday deals and how to safely shop [and] credit repair.” Workshops are a major part of TRIO and Nelson explained that they are getting ready to launch the Career Academy, which is a series of career readiness

workshops that deal with things like interview etiquette, entering workplace environments for the first time and preparing for interviews and overall success.

Because college is much more than just homework and exams and stress, Nelson makes it an effort to “get away from the academic side” and explained that they “have an interest in other forms of art.”

The program has taken students to watch live performances of the musicals Hairspray, Wicked and The Sound of Music, and plans to take students to see Hamilton in the spring.

The program is currently working to begin in-person events after COVID-19’s hard hit.

“That was devastating to several of our students,” Nelson explained. “We do have a lot of older, nontraditional students that switched to online learning and it wasn’t something they adapted to well, so several of them decided to sit out this semester.” It was a major shift in which she says they had to “gear up to do some additional support to check in on [students] to make sure they’re okay.” This extra effort to reach and encourage their members shows the true colors of this program: “We want to be an advocate here for them on campus ... We want our students to know that when they come to our office, we are advocates for them and we’re a voice to listen to them and then speak up on their behalf as needed,” stated Nelson.

Students who are interested in the program and want to learn about their eligibility can visit their website at ualr.edu/ studentsupport, email Nelson at triosss@ualr.edu or they can stop by their office that will be relocating to the Old Donaghey Student Union B building. All forms of communication are welcomed.

By Vasti Hernandez

SUB Magnolia Risley Photos

S

tudents walking to classes past the Student Union B building may be wondering why, during the first week of the semester, caution tape blocked off doors and Warning signs cited danger to those who entered without wearing proper protection. It was an unusual sight to be sure.

Asbestos is a fire-resistant material that was used in buildings constructed prior to the 1980s, which includes several campus buildings; Student Union B being one of them. It may cause cancer or respiratory illness if people are exposed over a prolonged amount of time, and its removal is taken very seriously.

The building is set to be renovated, and the asbestos was discovered on June 21 of this year while the building was being inspected prior to renovations.

“In the 1980s, UALR had a dedicated asbestos crew that conducted many surveys and performed abatements,” said Vince Rogers, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety for UA Little Rock Facilities Management. “At some level,

ASBESTOS ON CAMPUS? most ‘suspect’ buildings have been checked; however, not all buildings have been checked due to their age.”

No illnesses related to asbestos have been reported from this building. Facilities Management refers back to records from past projects in order to determine if samples should be taken to identify asbestos prior to any renovations or maintenance.

In total, this asbestos abatement and building renovation cost $293,377. The abatement was completed on Sept. 14, according to Leslie Hutchins, the Director of Planning and Capital Construction for Facilities Management.

Renovations have begun as planned, and Eco Construction has been able to start their work.

“In general, any building that was constructed after 1980, should not contain asbestos building materials,” said Rogers. “However, age does not automatically preclude an inspection.”

If anyone suspects asbestos in a campus building, they can call Facilities Management at (501)9163390.

By Magnolia Risley

ualr.edu/forum

News

THE 2015 FORUM | SEPT. 2021 September 2 - September 15, 7 |7

ENTERTAINMENT SURPRISE BENEFIT TO REOPENING CAMPUS Hear from Health & Sciences Writer Ahad Nadeem in this edition’s health column

During online instruction, walking to a class typically meant walking from bed to desk. One of the biggest changes with the return of in-class instruction is the actual act of walking to class. It is well known that excessive inactivity is unhealthy and that walking has many health benefits. While some benefits like improved heart function and mood are commonly known, there are other fascinating benefits of walking you may have never heard of. Read below to learn about some of these unexpected benefits and ways to maximize your health benefits from walking!

Walking can enhance creativity: Have you ever been stuck on a problem and suddenly realized the answer after taking a short walk? It turns out that walking has actually been shown to enhance creative thinking. In 2014, psychologists from Stanford conducted four experiments to compare the effects of sitting and walking on creative thought (which was measured through cognitive tasks). In the experiments, participants either sat indoors, walked indoors, walked outside or were rolled outside in a wheelchair. In each experiment, more than 80% of participants showed more creativity while walking than sitting. Specifically, those who walked outside produced the most creative responses to the cognitive tasks. This study was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology and fitly named “Give Your Ideas Some Legs.”

So next time you’re stuck on a seemingly impossible problem, try taking a brief walking break. Not only is it good for your physical health, but it may also provide you with the creativity boost needed to find the answer.

Walking may help reduce chocolate consumption: Health professionals know that excessive snacking of sugary foods like chocolate can increase weight gain and affect overall health. To better understand how sweet cravings can be reduced, researchers from the University of Exeter investigated the effect of brief exercise on chocolate consumption in daily chocolate eaters.

The researchers assigned participants either to an exercise group or a rest control group. The exercise group performed a 15-minute walk, and the control group a 15-minute quiet seating.

After performing either exercise or rest, participants completed a computer task with intermittent breaks. A bowl of chocolates, which was weighed pre and post-experiment, was available for participants to eat from during the session. The researchers found that the participants in the rest group ate almost double the amount of chocolate than the exercise group, on average.

Thus, the researchers hypothesize that brief exercise (like walking) may reduce chocolate consumption. So, if you find yourself frequently munching on chocolate or other sweets during breaks,

consider performing a short aerobic activity like walking before reaching for the snack bowl. It may help control your cravings.

If losing weight is your goal, try varying your walking speed: A study published in Biology Letters in 2015 found that varying your walking speed can result in a higher metabolic rate than walking at a constant pace.

Participants in this study performed ‘constant-speed’ and ‘oscillatingspeed’ walking experiments, and their metabolic rates were measured. The researchers found that changing one’s walking speed yields higher metabolic costs (i.e. more calories burned), and generally the greater the speed variations the higher the metabolic cost. Thus, if you’re seeking to burn calories, try altering your walking speed to make your exercise more efficient and metabolically demanding. This can be accomplished through intervals of fastwalking and slow-walking. If you’re ever in a rush to get to class, that fast walking pace may come in handy Walk in a group: A systematic review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2015 found evidence that walking outside in a group can lead to a wide range of health benefits. The researchers reviewed 42 group-walking studies and found statistically significant evidence for many benefits, including reductions in blood pressure, resting heart rate,

BMI and depression. Find a buddy to walk to class or the caf with and reap the benefits.

Walk in nature: Several studies have found significant health benefits from walking in nature. A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found an association between group walks in nature and reductions in perceived stress and depression. The researchers described walking in nature as being able to “undo” some of the negative mental health effects of a stressful life event.

Another study published in Environment and Behavior in 2018 found that nature walking can result in lower cortisol levels during a stressful period (such as finals week) than just watching a nature video.

Additionally, walking in nature improved the mood of participants significantly more than just watching nature videos or exercising in a gym. Fortunately, we are in the Natural State, and Little Rock has several beautiful parks and trails to help you escape the city.

In fact, a great walking path on campus is the trail that runs along Coleman Creek.

Walking this trail can be an excellent way to immerse yourself in the sounds and sights of the Creek and its ecosystem.

To maximize your walking benefits, consider bringing a friend or two.

Exercising is more fun (and healthier) with great company!

8|8 THE FORUM | SEPT. 2021 September - September 15, 2015 MARCH 20212EDITION

Campus Life NEWS

EAT BEAT

PRESS WAFFLE CO. Press Waffle Co. opened their location in Little Rock on Sept. 3.

I found out about them through Facebook and Instagram. I saw many people talking about the restaurant so I had to go see what the hype was about. I decided to go a couple of weeks after the opening day, and when I arrived at the location the first thing I noticed was parking. There is parking in front of the building, but not a lot and nowhere near enough. I had to park down the street and walk.

I went around 7 p.m. on a Tuesday so the line wasn’t bad. When you walk in, the menu is easy to read and displayed on the wall.

They have a wide variety of waffles ranging from the plain build your own Liége Waffle to The Happy Camper which includes toasted marshmallow, cookie butter and chocolate syrup.

Their drink variety is my favorite part.

They offer mimosas with your choice of juice, beer and wine from local breweries, along with coffee, soda, milk and juice.

I settled on ordering the fruity pebbles cereal waffle with a caramel iced coffee and my boyfriend had their chicken and waffles.

The portion size is not as big as I hoped for it to be. For the price we paid I was thinking we would get more than one waffle, which was not the case. Each dish only comes with a single one of their waffle, which is also smaller than you would imagine. The chicken and waffles comes with a measly 2-4 chicken pieces.

For two waffles and an iced coffee it was $25.

The fruity pebbles waffle came with whipped cream, fruity pebble cereal pieces and what tasted like a honey glaze. The chicken and waffles came with two chicken tenders, sprinkled bacon and maple syrup.

The taste of both waffles lived up to the expectations I had going in. The only thing I didn’t like with the fruity pebbles waffle was the honey glaze.

While Press Waffle Co. is a great place to meet up with friends for a snack or to study, I wouldn’t recommend going here if you’re wanting a meal that will fill you up, unless you want to spend the money on multiple waffles. It’s pricey for not much food.

The atmosphere is incredible inside, since they offer indoor and outdoor seating, and have shelves of unopened board games to play, as well as outlets at each booth.

However, currently you can only dine-in, as they do not allow takeout or delivery.

By Maddie Becker

ualr.edu/forum LIFE.UALR.EDU/FORUM

SCIVALLY & FARRAR RESTAURANT REVIEW: LOCAL LR RESTAURANT, HEIGHTS TACO & TAMALE PROVIDES A LIVELY EXPERIENCE

Right after classes started, Forum editor Chloe McGehee attended lunch with CHASSE advisor, Louis Scivally and Associate Director of Athletic Academics, Jonathan Farrar.

We went to Heights Taco and Tamale, a staple in the nearby campus neighborhood. As soon as you walk in, you are hit with their unique atmosphere and lively energy. Below is our commentary on the experience.

SCIVALLY: Recently, on our trip to Heights Taco and Tamale, I tried something new. While I normally get their HouseSmoked Pulled Pork Nacho Skillet and I absolutely love it, it is too big for lunch. I tried the Beef Enchiladas with a side of Mexican rice and we began the meal with the Heights Taco and Tamale “legendary” cheese dip. This trip was a lunchtime affair and I usually go to this restaurant at night for time with friends. The food was still top-notch and the meal was enjoyable with the great atmosphere at the restaurant.

Our experience this time was thumbs up for me as usual with my trips there after work for their cuisine.

The Heights Taco and Tamale restaurant is a familiar spot in Little Rock. The restaurant debuted in 1946, under the name “Browning’s Mexican Food” and the menu is slightly

different than in the past. The location is great for UA Little Rock students who want a great meal in a great atmosphere. Their menu is a little pricier so I usually only eat there once or twice a month.

MCGEHEE: While I have gone to lunch at Taco and Tamale many times in the past, it is a treat to go there, as the menu is pricier, and you have to pay for salsa, which would be complimentary anywhere else. As a broke college student, it can feel like a splurge to eat here, so I usually go with friends when we are all dressed up or on a birthday. Paying for salsa is a big strike for me, as at any other restaurant, it would be free with the meal, but all of their dips are delicious, as well as their ‘Melting Pot’ cheese dip which is truly great.

As a vegetarian, it can be hard to find options in lots of places, but Taco and Tamale is not one of them. There’s an abundance of both vegetarian and meat options, which I really enjoy.

The atmosphere is like no other with unique tiling, cool light fixtures and fun decor all around.

My favorite piece would have to be the vintage road sign they have on the back wall that they change out to put funny, catchy slogans about tacos, margaritas or the Heights.

They play indie rock music pretty loudly and they have a pretty busy bar at all times. It definitely gives off a college vibe, even if the price range might be out of our budget.

ualr.edu/forum LIFE.UALR.EDU/FORUM

Campus Life NEWS

THE 2015 FORUM | SEPT. 2021 September 2 - September 15, 9|9 MARCH 2021 EDITION

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Boy with a Banjo Brings Casual Tunes to Campus Caspian Grabowski

FARRAR: Is there anything better than great company and good food? Heights Taco and Tamale did not disappoint on their end as the Melting Pot Cheese Dip and Salsa Dip Trio were slam dunks! As someone who considers themselves a cheese fan (Go Packers) this very well could be the best cheese dip in the capital city! Additionally, the Hatch Green Chile Salsa offered just the right amount of heat to make it exciting and the Creamy Jalapeno-Onion Dip offered a little spicy to the classic dip we all love. If you are ballin’ on a budget I would pair one of these shareables with the Grilled Cheese’Dilla Tacos, which I found to be filling and tasty.

The ballin’ scale is one to five basketballs. A one basketball rating means the spot is a true bank breaker and a five basketball rating means the menu is an ultimate budget baller location.

Heights Taco and Tamale offers an atmosphere that is perfect for a night out with a group of friends featuring some amazing food.

However, you have to be ready to pay for this experience and the Ark-Mex style of food can feel a little pricey when compared to other Tex-Mex restaurants of the same caliber. Thus, they receive a ballin’ on a budget score of 🏀🏀 3 making it most ideal for a once or twice a semester spot if you are ballin’ on a budget!

During these unprecedented times, Caspian Grabowski has brought music and smiles to many across campus. All days of the week, he can usually be seen in his tie-dye Crocs sporting his banjo, with a few people around him as he plays.

In the cafeteria, outside Starbucks, walking to class, he plays his banjo.

“I hate being in my dorm. I just want to be outside every second and only in my dorm to sleep,” he said.

The sophomore received a banjo for a Christmas present last December. He has been musical since he started playing the bass guitar in seventh grade.

Before then, he was tone deaf.

Why did he want a banjo, of all things? He went to New Orleans and was inspired.

“I think it is the most southern instrument and I wanted to indoctrinate myself into the culture of the South,” he said.

“I don’t even listen to bluegrass stuff,” he said. “I like listening to indie alternative, progressive metal, classical and jazz fusion. I just like banjo.”

Grabowski found that playing his banjo brought people happiness, especially at a time when the campus had fewer students physically here.

“Nobody has a problem with it, I’m just doing my own thing and if people want to come, that’s cool. If they don’t come, I’ll still be playing,” he said.

He says everyone he has met on campus has been interesting.

“I don’t care what you look like.

If you’re genuine, loving and nice, I can trust you,” he said. “I love everyone.”

He shares his music on his YouTube channel, which is under his name. He has written his own songs, titled Original Banjo Song 2 Electric Boogaloo and Mac-n-Cheese.

Grabowski plans on hosting an outdoor concert on the first

Friday of every month at 7 p.m. The next one will be in October. People who plan on watching can direct message him any song requests they might have on his Instagram, @pacasin.

The computer science major doesn’t exactly know where this 8 month old hobby will take him, but he is open to many options in the future.

“Right now, I’m trying to get my name out there and maybe be an alternate for a band. I like jam sessions, nothing too formal. It’s just people having fun,” he said.

Grabowski moved to Little Rock from California for wrestling. Now, he is not able to wrestle due to health reasons, which has been difficult for him, especially at a time when he is deciding what he wants his future to look like.

“Banjo is a good outlet,” he said.

“I don’t even know what career path I see myself on. I go wherever the wind takes me; I’m too young to know right now and will figure it out later. There’s so many options and no right answer.”

He offers reassurance to other students who don’t have specific plans after graduation. “Nobody knows what they’re doing, just do your best and that’s all you can do,” he said.

By Magnolia Risley

Grabowski playing Magnolia Risley Photos

10 |10 THE FORUM | September SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015

Features

ualr.edu/forum

ART BEAT: FOLK ART EXHIBITS AT UA LITTLE ROCK: A VISIONARY VERNACULAR ROAD TRIP UA Little Rock’s Department of Art and Design is hosting 3 exhibits this fall curated by Brad Cushman.

Located in the Brad Cushman gallery from Aug. 16 to Oct. 15 the exhibit A Visionary Vernacular Road Trip will be on display. This will be part one of a two-part display. The second part The Road Trip Continues will be available to the public Oct. 4 to Dec. 1 in the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery. Located in the Focus Gallery from Aug. 17 to Sep. 27 is the Butch Anthony exhibit. All are available for free to the public.

What links these 3 exhibits together is the concept of outsider art that is not typically shown in the American traditional art world. Many of the pieces of art are not done by formally trained artists which leads to them being diverse in medium and concept. A Visionary Vernacular Road Trip is a collection of folk art and sculptures inspired by spirituality and the transformation of normal objects into art. The Road Trip Continues will continue the commentary of spirituality along with philosophical, political, and pop culture commentary. In total there are twentyone states in the United States that will be represented in this series.

While the road trip has a variety of artists the Butch Anthony exhibit features art by its namesake. Anthony who lives in Seale, Alabama taught himself art growing up by using resources around him, mainly trash that was found, into sculptures and functional objects. The exhibit has on display Anthony’s mixed-media vintage photograph combinations and an early painting of his on canvas.

Reception for A Visionary Vernacular Road Trip will be held on Friday Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be an hour-long online curator lecture as well by Brad Cushman Oct. 8 at 6 pm.

Registration for the online lecture is on the UALR Department of Art and Design Events page.

By Payton Dhooge

Art Exhibit by Butch Anthony Payton Dhooge Photos

Features

ualr.edu/forum

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT WINS VARIOUS AWARDS The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s chemistry department is continuously striving to improve their instruction and provide as many resources to their students as possible. Their hard work has not gone unnoticed as some professors and students received honors by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and Dr. Brian Walker was named Central Arkansas Professor of the Year.

“I was very happy to receive the award. I was nominated by the ACS student officer’s,” Walker said. “It was great to know they took the time to write a letter describing the impact I’ve had on them.”

Dr. Brian Walker has an excellent track record in chemistry. He received his bachelor of science in chemistry from James Madison University in 2008 and a master’s in analytical chemistry from the University of Tulsa. Fayetteville welcomed around 2010 where he pursued a PhD in organic chemistry and completed that in 2016.

“There I worked on the synthesis of natural products, specifically the synthesis of antascomicin B which we were interested in for its use in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease,” Dr. Walker explained. “I started at UALR in the fall of 2016 as a postdoctoral researcher making small molecules for the inhibition of cancer cell replication. During that time, I also started teaching as an adjunct until I became an assistant professor in the fall of 2020.”

The chemistry department chair and professor, Dr. Anindya Ghosh, expressed that he felt proud of Dr. Brian Walker’s

award, especially because it was a student-nominated award. He was also happy to know that some students and professors received recognition as well.

“I think this is a recognition of his hard work,” Dr. Ghosh said.

“Dr. Walker is very much involved in teaching and he has helped the students as much as possible and getting recognized by the student is a big thing. Dr. Walker is helping them in a big way.”

Dr. Ghosh hopes that this can bring more recognition to the department that can benefit the students. “... It brings our department to a higher level and if people think we have a really great teacher in the university, that will helps for the students’ success and potential,” Dr. Ghosh said. “I am really proud of Brian Walker’s achievement. He is an assistant professor. He is just beginning and he is doing some really good research involving undergraduate students in his lab and that way the students are getting experience in cutting-edge research too.”

Dr. Walker appreciates the impact he is making among students and the chemistry department, and he thoroughly enjoys the work he is doing.

“What I like most about my position is the opportunity to pursue ideas in organic synthesis with students and demonstrate the applications of some of the things they are learning in the classroom,” Dr. Walker said. “I enjoy opportunities for collaborations with faculty from other disciplines to bring together ideas that can have a positive impact on people's lives.”

He shared that he is currently working to implement a research lab to develop innovative

September 2 - September THE 15, FORUM 2015 | SEPT. 2021 11| 11

BACKYARD BALLET: AR EDITION

Joy can sometimes be hard to come by, especially during times of such worldwide uncertainty and pain. Dancing is one joyful activity that everyone can participate in, even if only in admiration and appreciation.

After the previous almost two years of seemingly endless social distancing, being adamantly paranoid of people with voracious coughs and a runny nose while constantly donning facial coverings, people are aching to participate in some semblance of fun, even more so in a communal atmosphere.

A new performance series presented by Ballet Arkansas, in partnership with the City of Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department, is being gifted to the community on September 25 titled “Movement in the Parks”.

“One goal is to eventually provide free access to this art form by reaching into the schools by bringing dancing to the students during the day as well as bringing performing arts into all wards of the city,” said Catherine Fothergill, Ballet Arkansas’ Associate Artistic Director. “Particularly in the natural and accessible areas.”

The partnership between Ballet Arkansas and the city Little Rock’s Park and Recreation department is the first of its kind, in which a performing arts organization pairs with the city itself to provide

free and accessible artistic programming to the public.

Aside from the captivating contemporary and classical forms of dancing being presented, “Movement in the Parks” will also bring increasingly vital art education programs to K-12 students in various outdoor and (safe) indoor settings for free.

“Lecture demonstrations mixed with a little student participation allow the students to see as well as experience the dancing,” Fothergill said. “That blending of interaction reaches students in such different and affective way.”

Providing locals with such premiere, live performance art during an ongoing global pandemic presented its own set of challenges for “Movement in the Parks”.

“Being driven to host performances outdoors due to COVID-19 has provided an innovative way for Ballet Arkansas to look at our programming year ‘round and have it be something that’s less traditional in format­­ – or not always inside the theater,” Fothergill said. “We are enjoying the new opportunities that come from that.”

Hosting this event series throughout the coming months at outdoor locations like MacArthur Park on September 25 at 12 and 3 p.m., the Southwest Community Center on October 16 at 12 and 3 p.m., Riverfront Park on March

12 at 2 and 6 p.m. and War Memorial Park on April 2 at 2 and 6 p.m. provides the patrons natural preventative measures against COVID-19.

Bringing a folding chair or blanket is advised for comfortable seating arrangements. Patronizing and spending your time and money, before and after the event, at local restaurants and businesses in the area is highly encouraged as well.

This live event will provide world-class dancing to local Arkansans of all ages and gender identities while being cost-friendly, with the price of admission being free.

“We are trying to reach as many people as possible that are interested in the visual arts, music or dance,” Fothergill said.

“While also reaching out to people interested in trying something new.”

Facial coverings and social distancing are encouraged amongst audience members, but not required.

methods in bond formation for organic synthesis and is hoping to apply that methodology to the synthesis of biologically relevant drugs and natural products.

A lot of Dr. Walker’s work includes thinking towards the future and continuously working to improve the department and in turn placing students’ success first.

“The impact I hope to have at UALR is to increase the exposure of the chemistry department and continue to recruit students to pursue a career in science,” Dr. Walker said. “I would like to expose undergraduate students to the opportunities available for advanced degrees in research-based sciences and to train students for careers in the applied sciences.”

As department chair, Dr. Ghosh has his own goals in mind for the next few years and hopes that he can increase student retention and

expand the learning assistant program which originated from the chemistry department and is being led by Professor Ronia Kattoum and Dr. Mark Baillie.

“I want to see our enrollment increase...over the next five years,” Dr. Ghosh said. “Maintaining good student success and retention is one of our goals. We are [also] one of the first departments to implement learning assistant programs (LAP). This program is students teaching other students.

I want that to increase in terms of number and capability so we can offer it to higher-level courses.”

Aside from the awards received this year, there are some notable successes that the department has accomplished throughout the years.

“It is a good culture of teaching and research,” Dr. Ghosh said.

“We support both graduate

and undergraduate research; we publish heavily in peerreview articles; we are one of the departments in the whole US that are using the concept of LibreTexts.

The students don’t have to buy any textbooks. At one point, there were three start-up companies that came out of our department based on the research we have done.”

Dr. Ghosh and Dr. Walker work alongside other recognized people in the department who all received ACS awards this year, including Ibraheem Abbood, Anthony Aloi, Nabeel Alwan, Kajal Desai, Sadie Goss, Samantha Macchi and Tripti Shukla.

The chemistry department has worked hard for this recognition and hopes to continue to make a positive impact on their diverse group of students.

For more information about “Movement in the Parks” you can search Facebook for the event or visit Ballet Arkansas’ website, as well as follow them on Instagram at @ballet_ arkansas.

By Bennett Wood

By Azalea Andrade

12 |12 THE FORUM | SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015 September

Features

ualr.edu/forum

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH The first person to introduce the idea of commemorating the Hispanic and Latinx culture was California Congressman George E. Brown who found it important to recognize the contributions the Hispanic and Latinx communities had on the US and its history.

That same year, on Sept. 17, 1968, then-president Lyndon B. Johnson signed into action Hispanic Hertigate Week. In 1988, then-president Ronald Reagan expanded the week into a month to what we now observe as Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15.

But what does all this really mean? According to h i s p a n i c h e r i t a g e m o n t h . g ov, it is a time to “recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions

SOCIALS AT THE TROJAN CAFE

The Socials at our Trojan Cafe are themed evenings filled with peppy music, all kinds of games, prizes for students and unique cuisines that are not typically served at the Trojan Cafe. These events are the perfect opportunities to get out after a long day of studying and meet new people. The Socials aare also a great time to spend quality time with friends and relax after classes.

The Socials at Trojan Cafe will continue to be held regurlarly throughout the whole fall semester!

There will be different themes throughout. Even if you don't live on campus, you should come enjoy the unique campus experience with your friends and make college memories that you can share with the important people in your life. If you’d like to stay updated about Trojan Cafe events for the upcoming fall and spring semester, go to UALR’s website events tab.

By Chloe McGehee

who have inspired others to achieve success.” It celebrates the backgrounds and cultures of American citizens whose ancestry is rooted in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

September 15 is independence day for many Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18.

At the time of the proclamation, Johnson stated, “The people of Hispanic descent are the heirs of missionaries, captains, soldiers and farmers who were motivated by a young spirit of adventure, and a desire to settle freely in a free land. This heritage is ours.”

Since then, the Hispanic and

Latinx population has grown exponentially. According to Pew Research Center, in 1970, the U.S. Hispanic population was about 9.8 million. After the 2020 Census, the Hispanic and Latinx population is at 62 million.

However, the 1970 census drastically undercounted the Hispanic and Latinx population where the only choices on the question of race were White, Black, American Indian and various Asian nationalities. The Bureau estimated it had overlooked about 5.3 million Americans.

But recently, the term has also been challenged due to the lack of representation that the word has within the Hispanic and Latinx population. Since it was first coined in the 1980s in the Census, communities with Latin American

JOIN THE RAINBOW ALLIANCE

roots were skeptical of the word because Hispanic translates to “Hispano” in Spanish which refers to a person of Spanish descent — Spain. This did not is right with a lot of people due to Spain having colonized a lot of the Latin American countries.

According to history.com, the word Latino is short for Latino Americano which “... gradually re-emerged in English, appearing in books and even in a 1970 White House diary entry by Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson.” The term excluded Spain and included Brazil.

President Biden proclaimed that “National Hispanic Heritage Month is an important reminder of how much strength we draw as a Nation from our immigrant roots and our values as a Nation of immigrants.”

Historically, it has been difficult to group people from different countries into one.

The opposition these two words have received throughout the years is due to immigrants not feeling represented in the U.S. culture. There is still so much work to be done to have equal representation but while activists, politicians, etc., advocate for that change, but while that happens, let’s continue uplifting Hispanic and Latinx voices.

For on-campus resources, the on-campus League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) have started meetings. You can follow them on Instagram at lulac_ council771.

By Azalea Andrade

Are you a member of the LGBTQ+ community? Are you a trusted ally? Then join the Rainbow Alliance. Here at UA Little Rock, a new club is starting called the Rainbow Alliance. The club was brought together by the combined efforts of a new UALR transfer Melissa Alvarez and the help of professors.

Alvarez stated that she was attending college at a university in the San Francisco Bay Area which had a plethora of clubs and organizations on campus for the LGBTQ+ community and she was shocked that Little Rock didn’t have much representation.

Once she started to attend UALR, one of the first things she did was look for clubs to meet other Queer students, and she learned that the old Alliance club was inactive. Seeing that there were no active clubs for the LGBTQ+ community, she reached out to one of her professors, Dr. Kris McAbee, about starting a new club. Once she was connected to a club faculty advisor and got all the necessary paperwork done, Alvarez formed the Rainbow Alliance, but what

exactly is the Rainbow Alliance?

The Rainbow Alliance was formed to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ and allied students to meet each other and talk about their life experiences as well as learn ways to spread awareness. All are welcome to join and members don’t have to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Alvarez had this to say, “We are all here to learn and be a part of something special. We are a safe place.” The central goal at the moment for the alliance is to create a sense of community on the UALR campus and to provide support for members of the community by creating a safer campus for the LGBTQ+ community.

For those who are interested in joining, there is an official instagram page @rainbowalliance_ ualr for more information about dates and announcements.

After following students who are interested can DM the account above to ask questions and get any further details. Meetings will be held once a month Wednesdays from 6pm to 7pm.

By James Johnson

Features

ualr.edu/forum

September 2 - September THE 15, FORUM 2015 | SEPT. 2021 13| 13

“FROZEN, STEP ASIDE, HORROR IS TELLING A NEW STORY OF TWO SISTERS: MALIGNANT REVIEW A new horror movie from “The Conjuring” filmmaker James Wan was released on Sept. 10.

“Malignant” features Madison, played by Annabelle Wallis, who is plagued with visions after she and her husband were attacked and mysterious murders have been happening around their city.

For those hoping this movie is like “The Conjuring,” you will be disappointed. “Malignant” is not part of “The Conjuring” universe.

This movie heavily leans on the thriller aspect of horror/thriller.

This is not the shining jewel in Wan’s career, but it is easy to be dwarfed by a massive success such as “The Conjuring.” However, there are still jumpscares and the movie is by no means not scary.

The movie had an interesting plot, but it took a while for the action to pick up. However, once the climax began it did not let up.

The last 45 minutes were filled with more events and tension than the first hour of the movie. Viewers have to sit through a long and perhaps uncomfortable first act, where the set-up drags on due to Madison constantly being in solitude. There are times where it is essential for a character to be alone, especially in horror movies, because it is easier

to terrorize one person than many.

But, there was a good part of the movie just following artsy shots of Madison living in a large house doing household chores.

“Malignant” is filled with a lot of horror cliches. It was almost to the point that it seemed like the movie was trying to handle too much and there would be no way to tie it all together. There were themes of haunting, sleep paralysis, demons, home intrusions, an adopted child with strange tendencies, a spooky imaginary friend, and an abandoned child’s psychiatric hospital.

Due to how much they tried to incorporate, not all of the scenes were fully fleshed out. In lieu of skipping over some of the themes, it might have better served the film to drop them.

These genre conventions are familiar to avid horror movie fans.

However, Wan does present them in a different light. These cliches can be endearing and delightful when done correctly. “Malignant” just seemed to try to tie in too many, despite definitely working up to a shocking reveal. Perhaps the reliance on these basic horror elements was a plan to make the audience think they are comfortable. Especially with the heavy

foreshadowing that makes an audience go “oh!” at the big reveal, bringing all the little clues they may have missed to the forefront of their mind.

What was most surprising was the amount of plot and information that relied heavily on secondary character Sydney, played by Maddie Hasson. She is the sister of Madison and appears early on as Madison was in the hospital, returning again in a princess outfit as she works at a children’s place.

She is filled with agency and does more detective work than the police. Her ability and willingness to save her older sister, who she shockingly finds out is adopted in the middle of the movie, is what reveals all the secrets the audience needs to know.

She is comparable to a modern Anna from “Frozen,” if Anna was stuck in a horror film. Sydney is an optimistic and feisty character, begging to be part of the action and help figure out what is going on. Her older sister shut her out after getting married to an abusive husband, but she is still there the second Madison is in trouble.

In a very exorcism-like way, it is not a husband or priest who pleads with Madison, who is pos-

sessed in the loosest sense of the word, to control what is inside her.

It is Sydney who calls her out of that dark place and gives her the strength to fight. Her role makes Madison a hero. She is not just a support system, she is a brave woman fighting for her family. It was refreshing to see a movie centered on two women with little to no nods to romance.

Not every character was as powerful as Sydney, Detective Kekoa Shaw, played by George Young, was a vital part of the narrative. But, despite being a slight love interest for a minor character and Sydney, he was just there. He was implied to care about Madison’s troubles and did seem determined to work late nights. Kekoa had a friendly relationship with his much more memorable partner, Detective Regina Moss, played by Michole Brianna White. Their banter livened up some dull scenes certainly.

But, mainly he was there for the action-filled chase scenes.

Mckenna Grace, a child actress who has starred in many horror roles including “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Annabelle Comes Home” plays young Madison in this film as she struggles to adjust to an adopted family. Her acting is

as deserving as praise as ever, the scenes of young Madison are eerily creepy. It is hard to make talking into a light-up toddler phone send shivers down your spine, but Grace manages.

As for the big twist at the end, it makes sense. The audience should be able to garner what is actually going on with Madison, but the way Wan chooses to present this new take on sibling rivalry, especially juxtaposing it with Sydney and Madison’s relationship, is horrific and will have you dropping your popcorn.

This movie most likely will not make it into my top 10, because once you know the big secret it is a bit lackluster. The route you take to get there is just not worth learning something you already know. In a way, it is exactly like when the line for the roller coaster is too long and you decide to go home early instead because you’ve ridden the ride once before. If the line was empty, you might ride the roller coaster again for nostalgia’s sake, but it’s not going to break your heart if you don’t ride it again for a few years.

By Remington Miller

14 |14 THE FORUM | September SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015

DRAKE’S ‘CERTIFIED LOVER BOY’ EFFORTLESSLY CLIMBS THE CHARTS

The initial release of ‘Certified style as the ad-libs imitate a broLover Boy’ caused an uproar ken record. The track indeed set among the public when Drake the tone for the whole album with announced his sixth album would its catchy and familiar feel. Other officially release Sept. 3. 2021. tracks such as ‘Papi’s Home’ and Drake’s announcement set off rap- ‘Love All’ fall around the personal per Kanye West and provoked him aspects of things. Drake started out to move up his own album release addressing all “his sons” in ‘Papi’s date for the anticipated ‘Donda.’ Home’ as he dedicated the track to Tension skyrocketed between all “the juniors.” Beatles members the two as fans buckled in for the John Lennon and Paul McCartney ride. The two albums battled for were even credited as co-writers on No. 1 on the charts. West released ‘Papi’s Home.’

‘Donda’ on Aug. 29. 2021, concurWhile Drake is widely known ring No. 1 on the charts. As pre- for always expressing his feelings cipitated, Drake’s Certified Lover in his music, his most popular Boy was released, and in merely songs include those that are not a week quickly took West’s place on the personal aspect. Fan favoras No. 1. After two weeks, Drake’s ites include “Way 2 Sexy” featuring ‘Certified Lover Boy’ sits at No. 1 Future and “ Knife Talk” featuring on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. 21 Savage. “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring In the 86-minute album, Drake Future, claimed the first spot on is in his natural habit of using inti- the Billboard Hot 100 last week, mate lyricism and inviting his fans and now rests in second. into a familiar journey through his Facing adversity with rapper thoughts and feelings. Through Kanye West surely played a role this album, we soon recognize that in boosting his sales. Drake even Drake will be Drake. A man still addressed the matter various times dealing with issues of trust, fame, throughout the album. Drake raps, ambition, and insecurity.

“Get that address to your driver, Needless to say, the highly make it your post out of desperaanticipated album was expected tion,” alluding to West leaking his to be impressive on its own, but address on social media. Fans the features included boosted the quickly caught on that it was only album exponentially. The features one of many shots fired towards included Jay-Z, Future, Travis Scott, West in ‘Certified Lover Boy.’ Young Thug, Kid Cudi, 21 Savage, Throughout the 21-track and more. ‘Certified Lover Boy’ album, there is a mix of upbeat set new records for the artist as it and catchy songs along with slowbroke Drake’s own record of the paced thought processing tracks. most streamed album on Spotify He solely pushes the theme of his within a 24 hour release period. latest efforts of wanting and also We get a glimpse into the com- rejecting the concept of commitplex world of Drake as he hits us ting to a lifelong monogamous with one of his generic but excit- relationship. Drake also establishing introductions in his opening es throughout his album that just track “Champagne Poetry.” We because he is extremely successful, can also hear one of the many that doesn’t mean he is unaware of 90s samples Drake has included in what hardships occur in the world this album featured on this track. and in his own life.

The track is presented in a broken

By Shadayja Sneed

Features

ualr.edu/forum

CPC Bid Day Magnolia Risley Photos

Features

ualr.edu/forum

D

uring Pride Month, Disney released “Luca” (2021), directed by Enrico Casarosa, an adorable story about a young sea monster finding a place for himself in the human world. The setting of the Italian Riviera provides a warm and comforting atmosphere for a children’s summer movie.

The story follows 12-year-old Luca, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, a sea monster who lives in the water with his mother, father, and grandfather. In a very Arielesque manner, items from the human world fall off a boat and settle in front of the boy as he is doing his duty of shepherding a school of fish. This desire for the forbidden and to escape the water is not a new storyline to Disney.

Skip the evil sea witch, Luca meets Alberto, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer, who is collecting the human items and shifting seamlessly between a sea monster form and a human as he takes his things to the surface. The boys begin a friendship and learn from each other.

All is well until Luca’s parents find out he’s been going to the surface and invite Uncle Ugo, voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen, to step in and discuss the dangers of the surface. Uncle Ugo is a humanoid anglerfish in his sea monster form. By his mother’s demands, Luca is going to live with Uncle Ugo in the deep for a season, far away from the surface.

Rejecting this change, Luca tells Alberto and the two decide to hide from Luca’s parents in the mortal town of Portorosso, Italy, where the main attraction is hunting sea monsters.

There they meet a feisty and brave Giulia, voiced by Emma Berman, who encourages them to stay with her and join a community triathlon.

Throughout the movie, there are close calls with Luca’s

September 2 - September THE 15, FORUM 2015 | SEPT. 2021 15| 15

L O O KING A T LUCA : W H AT D O E S IT REA LLY SA Y? parents as well as both Luca and Alberto getting wet and changing into their sea monster forms. They are spending the summer hiding from who they are and the expectations from a town that sees them as a danger and a home that wants to limit them to the shadows.

The film tackles anxiety in a kid-friendly way, using a repeated catchphrase “Silenzio Bruno!” When Luca is nervous about doing something, Alberto advises him to refuse to listen to that voice in his head. A common therapy exercise is to generate self-talk and address and control the negative or doubting thoughts in one’s head. In a global pandemic

where children are returning to school after virtual learning, it is a great opportunity to introduce children to tips that may be able to help them with back-to-school anxieties.

Beyond the mental health aspect, without the sea monster aspect, this movie is about two boys who form a relationship and are hiding from the world.

The threat of Luca having to be sent away with Uncle Ugo echoes LGBTQ+ youth being sent away to conversion camps.

Even more so, when the boys are revealed to be sea monsters, and eventually accepted in Portorosso, more people step out into the rain to reveal they too are sea monsters living in the town. This mimics finding a community that was always there, just silent about it. Even

Luca’s mother must come around to the humans seeing her son for what he is. The themes of queerness are there without a doubt.

With the amount of debated discourse “Luca” has amassed across the internet, it is hard to deny the parallels made between the film and the experience of growing up Queer. However, this correlation does not mean the film was intended to be Disney’s inaugural LGBTQ+ coming of age story.

Understanding the difference between artistic intent and aesthetic interpretation will better help the viewer discern the various meanings behind the film.

Artistic intent refers to the decision made by an artist to communicate a more profound meaning through their respective medium.

This focuses on the purpose or message of a story that the director is trying to convey.

Whereas aesthetic interpretation refers to the explanation of works of art by the viewer, usually expressing a particular experiential or emotional understanding of the piece. The focus of this interpretation relies heavily on the viewer and how they relate to the story.

This brings the conversation back to the debate over whether “Luca” is a loosely based LGBTQ+ story, or not.

The journey of two literal “fish out of water” (or sea monsters)

Luca and Alberto navigating a world in which almost every person is either afraid of them or wants to hunt them down and hurt them, sounds eerily similar to the everyday lives of many LGBTQ+ individuals all over the world.

Casarosa revealed at a press conference though that the film “Luca” was intended to focus primarily on the time before romance existed in children’s

and Alberto as having close relationships with Luca. The IMDb summary for the movie is: “On the Italian Riviera, an unlikely but strong friendship grows between a human being and a sea monster disguised as a human.” It is not overtly intentional to align the themes of this movie with the LGBTQ+ communities, but it is not a far jump.

Between the beautiful

lives, stating the artistic intent behind the film.

This is where the aesthetic interpretation tool can help the viewer find more universal meaning within the story.

What makes “Luca” such an impactful piece of art, with such a hotly debated meaning, is the universal meaning of the story itself. The story of an outsider (in our case, Luca and Alberto) facing the challenges of fitting in and people (the townspeople) treating them differently because of who they are can be translated to any misfit or outsider’s experience in dealing with prejudice and being authentically themselves, regardless of sexuality.

Although there is no official romance in the movie, Alberto does end up selling the Vespa he’s desired since the beginning to pay for Luca to attend school.

There is a saying in storytelling that “if two people have to kiss to show the audience they are in love, then they aren’t in love.”

Disney goes out of its way to be sure to introduce both Giulia

animation, vibrant colors, and exciting scenery, the movie does open up a space for families to discuss acceptance of things that go against the norm, especially when that nonconformity is actively threatened in a small town.

“Luca” may not spell it out completely, but it is a possible first step in learning about social values. The theme of being brave, wanting to be accepted, and having an open mind are values that lead to a more critically thinking community.

By Remington Miller & Bennett Wood

16 |16 THE FORUM | September SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015

Entertainment

ualr.edu/forum

SUSTAINIBILITY THIS MONTH REDUCING PLASTIC WASTE

1 2 3 4 5 CLC Volleyball Magnolia Risley Photos

Did you know that only 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled? Twelve percent is incinerated, and 79 percent ends up in landfills or the natural environment. We should all strive to recycle our plastic waste. One of the best ways to reduce your plastic consumption, and save money at the same time, is to change out some of your household products. Here are some tips on how to do this.

Use dishwasher pods instead of liquid detergent. Dishwasher pods are available in grocery stores next to liquid dishwashing products.

Replace liquid or powdered detergent with washer sheets.

These can be purchased online at places like Earth Breeze and TruEarth. They take up less space in your laundry room and have minimal packaging.

Switch out your liquid fabric softener with dryer sheets. As with washer sheets, there is minimal packaging and no large plastic jug.

· Buy trash bags made with non-petroleum-based plastics, such as the Hippo Sak. These bags are made from sustainable plant-based materials and are biodegradable.

For further reference: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/07/plasticage/533955/ More plastic reduction tips next month... Live Sustainably!

The information in this email is provided by the UA Little Rock Sustainability Committee.

Entertainment

ualr.edu/forum

SPORTS SEPTEMBER VOLLEYBALL The Trojans hit a season best 11 aces, while also having five players hit over .400. In dominating fashion Little Rock won the game 3-0 over Southern University.

The set scores were 25-9, 25-10, and 25-9, as the Trojans kickoff the Louisiana Tech Invitational.

Little Rock(7-3) hit a blistering .474 percentage in the match, while Southern (0-4) hit .028 as a team. The Trojans had five players that hit over .400 in the game.

Lauren Jansen had a game, leading all players with 14 kills, while hitting .522 and served up a season-high three aces.

Zanobia Willis posted career highs in kills (10) and hitting percentage (.667) and also leading all players with (4) blocks.

Little Rock now leads the all time series over Southern(1-0).

The Trojans were able to win the Louisiana Tech Invitational. I was able to get a quote from head coach Van Compton: “We played very well over our three matches at Louisiana Tech and had the opportunity to play almost everyone on our bench. I was pleased with how we were able to perform well in all areas of the court-offense, serving, serve reception and defense. I’m especially proud of our alltournament honorees-Laura Jansen, Nedima Kamberovic and Nejra Hanic-who played very well

and were impressive on the court. Hopefully this past weekend’s performance has us prepared to enter Sun Belt play, which starts this week.”

Lauren Jansen was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of The Week.

By George Shavers

Andy Mclean Photo

Tom Morris Photo

September 2 - September THE 15, FORUM 2015 | SEPT. 2021 17| 17

CROSS COUNTRY AT TEXAS A & M On Sept. 25, 2021 the UA-Little Rock men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station, Texas. Both teams have been through a lot, and that meet revealed how resilient and determined they are- a Championship is just in their reach.

The Dale Watts Course is known to be fast, and the competing teams are known to be faster. There were eleven teams competing in the men’s race and nine teams competing in the women’s race; the men’s team placed fifth and the women’s team placed seventh.

Three of the schools there were University of Arkansas, Rice, and University of North Texas- top powerhouse schools known to have excellent teams. However, the UA-Little Rock cross teams did not just go there to make an appearance, but to claim victory.

They all agreed “it’s comeback season, so Sunbelt be ready”.

The men’s team had a phenomenal performance. Every single guy set new personal records in the 8K race. Spencer Cardinal, a sophomore, finished first for the team, and fourteenth overall out of one hundred and one. He ran a spectacular time of 24:21 which was over a minute pr, and was the third fastest time ever ran for UA-Little Rock. Andrew Payton, a sophomore, finished second for the team, and twenty-third overall, with a time of 24:37 which was also a new personal best. Aaron Soltmann, a sophomore, finished

third for the team and forty-third overall, having ran 25:23 which, again, was a new personal record.

Carter Reynolds, a senior, finished fourth for the team, and fifty-third overall. Reynolds ran a 25:40 which was over a minute personal best from the previous cross country season, and over a twenty second personal best from his entire running career thus far. Joel Allen, a freshman, finished fifth for the team and sixty second overall. For his first ever 8k race, he ran a solid time of 25:57 which sets himself up for a great rest of the season. Lastly, Dominic Ward, a freshman who was battling a knee injury, finished sixth for the men’s team and placed seventy-eighth overall. He also ran his first 8K, running a great time of 26:25 which sets himself up for a strong rest of the season.

The women’s team displayed an impressive performance. Most of the women set season bests for cross country this year. Lindsey Hutcheson, a fifth year working towards her masters, finished first for the women’s team and twentyeighth overall out of eighty. She ran an incredible time of 19:14 which was an improvement from the last time she had raced at that course. Panagiota Lazarou, a freshman, finished second for the team and thirty-fifth overall, with a time of 19:28 which shows her consistency. Bailey Cronin, a fifth year senior, finished third for the team and thirty-eighth overall, ran a 19:36 which sets herself up for a great season. These three women

Benjamin Krain Photo do an outstanding job of running together and pushing each other to benefit the team. Keila Finnistad, a sophomore graduating in the spring, finished fourth for the team and sixtieth overall, ran 20:42. Amanda Gordon, a junior graduating next year, finished fifth for the team and sixty second overall, ran a season best of 20:46.

Alexia Allen, a sophomore and normally a 400m hurdler, finished sixth for the team and seventysixth overall, ran a 23:33.

Some interesting facts about this race was that most of the team’s families were able to come watch the races due to how a majority of the team is from Texas. This also means that some of the runners got to race against old high school teammates on opposing teams which added to the fun. On both sides, they all ran strong individual races which came to form awesome overall team performances.

Getting out to compete and see high level competition just encourages improvement and next level performances. As long as they stick to their current training- it clearly is working- they will be able to maintain their momentum heading into the home meet at War Memorial Oct. 16, and Sunbelt Conference on Oct. 30th in Mobile, Alabama.

By Amanda Gordon

18 |18 THE FORUM | September SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015

Entertainment

ualr.edu/forum

STUDENT ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: PANAGIOTA LAZAROU Across the Atlantic, all the way from Methana, Greece, freshman Panagiota Lazarou has started off her first collegiate cross country season with a bang. Lazarou took third in both the Monroe 4k and UCA 5k. Currently after just these two races, she has already proven herself to be a powerful asset to the UA- Little Rock women’s cross country team, and to earn the student athlete spotlight.

Background: How Panagiota Lazarou came to UA-Little Rock’s Women Cross Country and Track family Lazarou used to competitively kayak before she became the runner she is now. She found her love for long distance running in the oddest of places- during kayak practices. Part of her previous training for kayaking was running 5ks. Because she could easily run them in 21 minutes, friends and family told her she had a gift which sparked the idea to try running as a sport. She was just 14 at the time, making this incredibly impressive.

Shortly after this discovery, she got connected with a local team called G.E. Porou-Troizinias which seemed like a good fit. Before she knew it, Lazarou found herself battling injuries, training plans, jealous teammates, and her coach.

Pushed by the need to regain her confidence and happiness in running again, Lazarou joined a new team with a new coach this past April. With this new team, she was able to focus on getting healthy and improving; this opened a door for an opportunity Lazarou hadn’t thought possible, but the offer was too good to not take advantage of.

An agent had gotten in contact with Alan Webb, the previous head cross country coach for UA- Little Rock. This created the connection and opportunity Lazarou needed to take the next step in her running career. Lazarou considered all of the benefits that would come from this opened door including: a full ride, running in safe places on real tracks rather than makeshift concrete “tracks”, a team that can push her to improve, and going to

America (because she has always wanted to). Another big factor was how in Greece, school and sports are separate. There is no such thing as being a student athlete over there. She used to have to travel an hour just for practice which ended up being at poor quality concrete tracks. Needless to say, these were enough to make her take this leap.

Present: How Lazarou is not only adjusting but fitting into the family of UA-Little Rock’s Cross Country and Track family Lazarou is pursuing a degree in Psychology to become a sports psychologist; as she feels strongly for this. Her first running coach was harsher towards her, tearing her down as an athlete, and mistreated her by making her run on an injury. Lazarou wants to be that supportive and encouraging person she needed to go to for future athletes as well as being able to combine her hobby and passion into a career.

Another big and fascinating difference between America and Greece is how the whole concept of a cross country season here in America does not exist in Greece.

In Greece, cross country runners get one large, important race.

However in America, cross country runners get multiple small races which are followed by a large important race that offers a chance to advance to yet an even larger more important race. Lazarou noticed how here in America, runners get the opportunity to track their progress over time. On top of this, races occur in the early mornings, here, rather than in the late evenings meaning you do not have to feel the dreaded wait of what is to come- you begin the day with a moment of giving it your absolute all fueling the feeling of accomplishment. She shared how in Greece, schools do not also have sports teams, so if you want to participate in a sport, you have to find a club outside. This makes being a student athlete that much more challenging. Lazarou was delighted to find the combination of her sport and education at UA-

Little Rock to provide her with the ability to keep doing two things that strongly matter to her. In addition, there are more safe places to run in Little Rock than back in her home country. No longer having to avoid people is a bonus.

After the 4K race at Monroe, Alabama, Lazarou declared she was excited for the rest of the season.

She hopes to improve her times and receive a personal best for the 5k race. At the Monroe 4k race, she ran a 15:18, and at UCA she ran a lightning fast time of 18:55 easily placing her in top ranking for the region. These are incredibly impressive times for a freshman runner; these alone prove she is extremely talented and has so much more to offer her team and school. So far, training has been going exceptionally well, which is definitely a confidence booster.

Lazarou has found a new favorite workout, which are 1k repeats.

Over the course of just 5 weeks, she has noticed a significant amount of improvement in her running.

But Lazarou is not stopping here.

Her goal is to race in the European

Championship, so she keeps this at the back of her mind as a source of motivation. For Lazarou, running is more than just a daily activity or even a sport. For her, it is a source of happiness and a therapeutic outlet. She has a few more years ahead of her, so she has time. In the meantime, the majority of her focus will be on running for UALittle Rock as a Trojan. As it should be-- she is a warrior.

Over the course of just 5 weeks, she has noticed a significant amount of improvement in her running.

But Lazarou is not stopping here.

Her eyes are set on competing in the European Championships.

This goal drives her to be one of the best runners out there.For Lazarou, running is more than just a daily activity or even a sport. For her, it is a source of happiness and a therapeutic outlet. She has a few more exciting years ahead of her. In the meantime, the majority of her focus will be on running for UALittle Rock as a Trojan. As it should be-- she is a warrior.

By Amanda Gordon

Entertainment

ualr.edu/forum

September 2 - SeptemberTHE 15,FORUM 2015 | SEPT. 2021 19| 19

UA-LITTLE ROCK’S SOCCER TEAM TAKES WIN FOR SENIOR NIGHT APPRECIATION

S

enior Night for the UA-Little Rock women’s soccer team was held on Sept. 17, 2021 at 8:30pm. It was originally scheduled for 7pm but was delayed due to lightning. They played against Troy at UA-Little Rock’s very own Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex stadium. UA- Little Rock took the win in overtime ending the game 1:0. The six seniors were Hilma Svalander, Fanney Einarsdottir, Astros Luckas, Abril Lucio, Bergros Asgeirsdottir, and Natalee Geren. They were called to the middle of the field where they each received roses and were recognized for their years of hard work, commitment, and success.

It is inspiring to see these girls’ strength and determination on the field after years of practicing. Their teamwork and hardship to be the best is what makes the UA-Little Rock soccer team stand out.

The first senior is Hilma Svalander, number 30, who plays goalkeeper. Svalander is from Borås, Sweden and is majoring in Information Science and minoring in Digital graphics. Svalander had dreams to have the D1 athlete experience, and when she heard about the strong team chemistry at UA-Little Rock she was sold.

Svalander’s favorite part of being on the team was the family atmosphere and tight bond of the girls: she knew she had twentyfive other girls to support her and who played for her just as she did for them. Her biggest takeaway from playing for their team was how much she has “grown as a player and a person being a part of a college team” as well as how it taught her the skill of “fight[ing] through adversity” which she’ll be able to use in her future career, and for the rest of her life. What she will miss most after this season is this chapter in her life; for a while

all she focused on was soccer and school, and now she must step into a new chapter of her life with a new focus.

After college, Svalander plans to, “move back to Sweden to be an entrepreneur in the Information Science/ Tech industry” as well as attend graduate school to receive a masters in management. She doesn’t just have plans for her future, but also for the team. She hopes the team “will continue to grow as a united group of girls that will fight for each other no matter what and win some championships”. For Svalander, soccer is more than just a hobby.

Soccer gave her a community, and a family; it is her passion, and where she has learned the most about herself than from any other area in life.

The next senior who has played the positions of midfielder, center back, and for senior night also partially played right back was Fanney Einarsdottir, number twenty- five. Einarsdottir is from Kopavogur, Iceland, majoring in mechanical engineering. She was drawn to the reputation of the UALittle Rock team and community, explaining why she chose to play there. Einarsdottir’s favorite part of being on the team are the girls because they are her roommates, friends, and family away from home.

For Einarsdottir, soccer is an escape from life and struggles, as well as a place where she can express herself; it has taught her the values of winning and losing while learning from your mistakes. Soccer is also where she “learned how to come back from defeat, celebrate the wins, develop leadership skills, and most importantly to cherish friendships.

What she will miss most after this season is traveling with the team to new places she otherwise would never see outside of soccer.

Just as Svalander, Einarsdottir

hopes the team continues to grow in unity, and aim for graduating as champions. After college, Einarsdottir plans to move back to Europe to earn her master’s degree.

The next senior is Astros Luckas, number twenty-six, who plays the positions of forward and midfielder.

Luckas is from Reykjavík, Iceland, and she is majoring in International Business. For Luckas, soccer has given her opportunities she could not have imagined for herself, has taught her important life lessons, along with love and passion that she would not be able to find anywhere else.

Luckas chose to play for UA-Little rock because of the unique atmosphere, and positive feeling she got about the girls, coach, and program. She does not regret it either. Her biggest takeaways from playing for UA-Little Rock’s soccer team was how she learned to work hard, work through hardship, and pushing past her limits; she has grown as a person with and because of her team that she considers her family away from home. Over the course of her college soccer career, she has scored five goals, and was a part of the 2018 Conference Championship win.

Her favorite part of the team was how incredibly supportive the girls were: they had her back just like she had theirs no matter what, they wanted the absolute best for each other, all of the girls were some of the hardest workers she knows. What Luckas will most after this season is the many hours of her time spent with the girls, and all of the late night activities like soccer games and practices.

She hopes fpr the same things as her other senior teammates: she wants the best for the team, for them to continue building on the current foundation, continue growing as players, they win some championships, and that they each reach their goals. After college, Luckas plans to travel around

Mark Wagner Photo Europe making more memories.

The next senior is Abril Lucio, number thirteen, plays the position of midfielder, and is from Wichita Kansas. She is majoring in Applied Communication and minoring in Digital Graphics. Just like what has been said by the previous seniors, Lucio was drawn to the team chemistry, strong bond of the girls, and the welcoming atmosphere which is why she chose to play soccer on this team-she wanted more from a team. Soccer clearly taught her to strive for more and because of this, Lucio plans to get her masters degree after college.

Her biggest takeaway from playing for this team is how it allowed her to grow as an individual, build friendships and cherish memories she has created these past few years. It has also taught her to live in the moment where she is not worrying about her future, but enjoying what she is currently doing and who she is currently with. Her favorite part about being on this team is how supportive and uplifting the girls are towards each other. She is going to miss being around the girls and playing soccer with them everyday, as well as all of their support. She hopes they continue to grow as strong women and keep the strong bond on the team on and off the field. For Lucio, soccer means love and peace where it has allowed her to create and keep friendships with many different people as well as provide a safe space for her to release her burdens and worries.

The last senior for this article is Bergros Asgeirsdottir. Asgeirsdottir is a big reason as to why they won the game verses Troy on Senior Night. In overtime, she scored the winning point ending the game 1:0 and adding yet another win to the team’s long list of wins.

Asgeirsdottir is from Selfoss, Iceland and is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. On the team, she plays defender and

her jersey number is twenty. After college, she plans to go back to Europe to continue playing soccer or if she changes her mind she will go for her masters degree.

She chose to play on the soccer team at UA-Little Rock because of the great team chemistry. There is a clear theme going on here which shows what kind of team and program it is- a strong one that anyone would be lucky to be a part of. Her biggest takeaway from playing on the team is all of the great friendships she has made and how these friendships have contributed to her growth as a person. Her favorite part from these last few years is how she has gotten the opportunity to be a part of such a close group. What she will miss most from all of this is hanging out with these girls whom she calls her friends and getting to continuously play soccer with them everyday. Just like the other seniors, she hopes the girls continue to grow as individual people and as players and as a team hoping this will lead to many more champions. For Asgeirsdottir, soccer means absolutely everything to her. It positively influenced her personality and brought her a family of friends she could never trade for anything.

All of these women deserve recognition for their hard work as players, and for their championships they brought home. However, they also need to be recognized and shown appreciation for the legacies they have built and have influenced to be continuously built here. The strong bond that continues to grow here and the determination they found are things they are planning to take with them as they step into their next chapters of life whatever it may be. One thing for sure, though, is they will always be Trojans.

By Amanda Gordon

20 20 | THE FORUM |September SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015

Comics

ualr.edu/forum

OPINION ON TEXAS’ NEW ABORTION BAN

A

s of Sept. 1, 2021, the Texas Abortion Law has gone into affect. What does this mean exactly? According to the law, abortions will be banned after six weeks of pregnancy. This law directly affects the seven million population of women in the age range of 15-45. The six week abortion ban has been met with a ton of backlash and an uproar of oppostintion causing contorversy within the state.

Content creator and Houston resident Kennedy, also known as capnkenknuckles on tik tok, gave an account on the atmosphere in Houston since the passing of the abortion ban. She states that this has become a hot topic within the city and feelings have been skewed since the pass of the ban. She had this to say, “My thoughts on this law is that it’s terrible and it baffles me how they say the law is separate from religion but clearly it isn’t.” She also believes that the law makers clearly aren't thinking about how the law will affect lower income women and women of color.

She continues to touch on the effects on women of color as the mortality rate continues to grow.

“Many black households have been given a talk about how these laws affects us and what to do in these situations,” Kennedy says, “and this affects women in so many different ways especially if something happens to them like r*pe and women who have miscarriages, and it scares me because it feels like we are seen as vessels not humans.”

Many other students in Arkansas feel the same way as well.

A UALR student, who chooses to remain anonymous, also spoke about her frustrations with the law as well. “It’s really hard for me not to resonate with the anger because I am a woman, and it’s really harmful for the government to make decisions for what women can do with their bodies. I think that it’s really odd for America to be so contradictory considering that we’re supposed to be the land of the free and they’re doing something like this.” The student is a podcaster who talks about many different topics and has tried to stray away from this topic. She believes that women in Arkansas have negative feelings about the law and its impact on them and are trying not to immerse themselves in the situation. She also feels that the US is regressing. “It’s odd to me that we have men making this decision when they don’t have to go through the carrying the baby, mental strife, or the post partum depression, or childbirth. I’m definitely not the person to judge whether someone is pro-life or pro-choice becuase it doesn’t affect me so I don’t care. I really wish that when someone has a belief they don't try to force it on others.”

With the Texas law passing, Kennedy and the anonymous podcaster both agree that people should take notice and vote not only for themselves but for future generations.

By James Johnson

HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT RISING COVID CASES?

T

he first US cases of Covid-19, that were not travel related, were on February 26 in the year 2020. Before February, the cases were too low to be detected as the Coronavirus.

Day to day life changed for everyone. People are more at their own place than ever before, which isn’t always healthy for someone’s mental health.

The virus brought a lot of issues in today's society just like the increase in mental health issues. Staying at home and not having a social life was difficult. The first few months people couldn’t leave the house unless it was for something important, like going to the doctor or getting groceries.

After those months the government needed to do something different, so that

the economy wouldn’t be ruined too much. Therefore they opened up restaurants for take out and other things with mandates to still keep the cases under control.

Because we’ve been dealing with Covid for the past year and a half, people are starting to be less careful. Especially younger people are starting to go back to their “normal” lives.

Since the vaccine came out in 2020, lots of people got vaccinated. People are ready to forget about Covid. Which is obviously understandable, but not smart.

Elderly people have stayed home this whole time, because they are more vulnerable to the virus they have to be more careful. Even though elderly are vaccinated, they still have to stay in their bubble.

Because college students and

teenagers are going out to parties and meeting a lot of new people, the cases keep rising.

Just because younger people want to go back to their normal lives so badly, they are the reason that elderly could not go back to their normal lives any time soon.

Personally, I would love to go back to our normal day to day lives, but I would rather wait longer in order for the virus to be fully gone or not be life-threatening anymore.

If we would’ve waited with opening up the country and starting our social life, maybe we would’ve been in a better spot with less Covid cases.

By Laura Jansen

Comics

ualr.edu/forum

THE STRUGGLES OF ONLINE LEARNING Last March at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic there were a lot of unknowns including how we would proceed with our education.

I remember being in the middle of class and my professor told us we would be transitioning to virtual learning and we would return after spring break.

Fast forward a year and a half and I still haven’t physically been back for in person instruction.

I’m a hands-on learner so it’s been hard for me to retain the information I’ve learned from home.

I’ve had several classes where the professor had to completely change how the class is structured because we were online. I can’t help but feel like I haven’t gotten the most out of each class.

I am a Mass Communications major with an emphasis in Journalism so a lot of my work involves interacting with other people.

Being online makes it challenging to get the full experience out of putting together a story.

Having a group project in

an online class presents more complications. When we were physically in class it was easier to get with my group because we saw each other on the same days every week. For online classes you have to work around everyone’s schedule and a lot of the time it’s hard to get everyone together virtually.

When I had class in person I got the help that I needed instantly versus online. I’ve waited up to three days to get an email back for one question.

When the university announced it will fully reopen for the fall semester I was hopeful that I would be returning to the classroom.

I was disappointed when I registered for my classes and none of them had an in person option.

I understand that the safest thing to do during the pandemic was shifting to online classes, but now that the majority of classes offer in person instruction and online it can be frustrating to not have the option to meet physically.

I am hopeful that next semester I will be able to finish my last semester in the classroom.

By Maddie Becker

September 2 - September THE 15,FORUM 2015 | SEPT. 2021 21| 21

22 |22 THE FORUM | September SEPT. 2021 2 - September 15, 2015

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 the meaning of the letter, but will correct spelling and punctuation and edit to conform to Associated Press and news style.

All letters are subject to publication.

The editor has the right to reject any letter especially those letters that are libelous, obscene or incoherent, as well as comments on our news coverage and editorial position.

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.

Sports

ualr.edu/forum

EXECUTIVE EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR

NEWS EDITOR

ENT. EDITOR

PHOTO EDITOR

HEALTH/SCIENCES

@remy.case

@gage.taylor05

WRITER

MARKETING/WRITER WRITER

Chloe McGehee, Azalea Andrade, Danielle Spence, @chloeamkbs @dontcallmeiggy @daniellejspence

Remington Miller, Gage Taylor,

Ahad Nadeem, @_ahadnadeem

CONNECT WITH US Instagram: UALITTLEROCKFORUM Twitter: UALITTLEROCKFORUM Facebook: UALITTLEROCKFORUM

George Shavers

Amanda Gordon, Bennett Wood, @amanda_michele_3 @_misterbennett

Sports

ualr.edu/forum

September 2 - SeptemberTHE 15,FORUM 2015 | SEPT. 2021 23| 23

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

ILLUSTRATOR

WRITER

WRITER ADVISOR Carlton ‘Sonny’ Rhodes, Natalie Arnold,

Maddie Becker, Payton Dhooge, Laura Jansen, @paytondhooge @laura.jansennn @maddiee_erin

Magnolia Risley, Shadayja Sneed, Vasti Hernandez, @mags.ris @Shaylildayja @iamvastihernandez

Marissa Davis, @helloimriss

James Johnson, @treynotdre

@sonny_rhodes

@nattt_alyy

Magnolia Risley Photos

HAVE PHOTOS YOU WANT TO BE IN THE PAPER?

EMAIL PICTURES TO editor@ualr.edu