Vol 92 issue 16

ARKATECH THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923

THE ARKANSAS

TECH

UNIVERSITY

//

T H U R S D A Y,

FEB.25,2016

•

VOL.92

NO.16

Tech has a new queen MICHAELA TALLEY

Contributing Writer

Miss Tech 2016, Carly Copeland of Clarksville, will take her platform, “Mentoring Matters” not only to local schools, but also to the Miss Arkansas Pageant in July.

Copeland was crowned Miss Tech Friday night in a packed Witherspoon Auditorium. The freshman education major also won the CenturyLink Interview Award. As Miss Tech, Copeland will receive a two-semester tuition scholarship and thousands of dollars in gift certificates from area businesses.

Copeland’s talent was a vocal performance of “There’s a Fine, Fine Line.” She was sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha.

Copeland said she hopes to spread her message about the importance of mentoring to schools in the River Valley.

LIZ CHRISMAN/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Carly Copeland of Clarksville, was crowned Miss Tech Friday night in a packed Witherspoon Auditorium.

“I am so excited to have the opportunity as Miss Tech to go into as many schools as I can and to be a mentor for kids in the area,” said Copeland.

Copeland said she looks forward to the opportunity to represent her university.

“I just got chills from thinking about it,” she said. “Representing Arkansas Tech University means everything to me, and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”

The first runner-up was Tiffany Squires of Sherwood and Grace Evans of Little Rock was second runner-up.

Evans also won the Lifestyle in Fitness and Swimsuit award and the Virginia Bachman Scholastic Achievement Award.

Kaylee Hefley of Hot Springs was third runner-up and Kelsey Stone of Russellville was fourth runner-up. Stone was named by her fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality. She also won the Lindsey Ahrens Vocal Award and the Nona Dirksmeyer Talent Award.

Fourteen contestants competed in the pageant, which is an official preliminary to the Miss Arkansas Pageant. Six Tech students have qualified to compete in the Miss Arkansas Pageant.

Food recovery program officially launches

JAMES KNECHT

Contributing Writer

The official launch of Arkansas Tech University’s food recovery program was Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Golden Suns halftime show.

The launch recognized that ATU’s food recovery program, called The Campus Kitchen at Arkansas Tech University, is an official affiliate of the national network of campus kitchens associated with The Campus Kitchens Project.

Arkansas Tech University is the 50th campus to participate in the project.

The Campus Kitchens Project is a national movement that empowers students to find sustainable solutions to food waste and food insecurity on campus and in the community.

Through the work of individual campuses, the project has recovered over 5 million pounds of food and has

prepared over 2 million meals; Tech has recovered more than a ton of food and has fed more than 5,000 people.

The project addresses food waste and food insecurity through “existing assets in the community and on campus such as food that is going to waste, dining halls that aren’t being used during off hours and motivated students,” said Olivia Rogine, community development coordinator and representative of The Campus Kitchens Project.

The food is recovered by volunteers who go to the campus kitchen, collect food that was not eaten and prepare the food for the morning it will be delivered.

After food is recovered and meals are prepared, the meals are then delivered to places in the surrounding community.

The food recovered on Tech’s campus goes to places in the community such as

Main Street Mission, St. John Catholic Church and Manna House.

“Our hope is to expand that over the next few weeks, we just have to get the system in place,” said Sean Huss, associate professor of sociology and faculty co-advisor to The Campus Kitchen at Arkansas Tech University.

It was reported in 2014 that 48.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households, including 32.8 million adults and 15.3 million children. In Arkansas, 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 children struggle with hunger.

The Campus Kitchens Project was launched by Robert Egger, founder of DC Central Kitchen.

DC Central Kitchen was founded by Egger in the ‘80s and was intended to feed homeless DC residents and, according to the organization's

(see FOOD page 4)

Congressman visits campus RYAN HARMON Entertainment Writer

Congressman Steve Womack made a visit to Arkansas Tech University Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The Arkansas third district representative was on campus to speak to Dr. Christopher Housenick's American Government class.

A Russellville native, Womack earned his bachelor's degree from Tech in 1979.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW. WOMACK.HOUSE.GOV

Womack spoke to students about current issues and the way the U.S. government runs before

(see WOMACK page 4)

AMBER QUAID/THE ARKA TECH

News briefs

Campus Events- Students have the opportunity to meet with professionals in the education industry at the Educators Fair from 9 a.m.-noon Thursday in the Young Ballroom. Participants are encouraged to bring their resume.

Diversity and Inclusion- Share your thoughts on #Blacklivesmatter and #Alllivesmatter from noon1 p.m. Thursday in Baz Tech during a Tech Talk.

From 6-7:30 p.m. learn the newest line dances from Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and more. The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 27, in the Young Ballroom.

Sports- The Golden Suns will play Southeastern Oklahoma Thursday, Feb. 25, at 5:30 p.m. in Tucker Coliseum followed by the Wonder Boys game at 7:30 p.m.

The Golden Suns softball team bats against Henderson State from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the baseball field.

The Golden Suns and Wonder Boys basketball teams will take on East Central Saturday, Feb. 27.

The girls will play at 1 p.m. and the boys at 3 p.m.

Saturday in Tucker Coliseum.

From 5-8 p.m., cheer on the baseball team as they play against Northeastern State Tuesday, March 1, at the baseball field.

SAB- At 6:30 p.m. Thursday enjoy a showing of “The Good Dinosaur” and a free snack in the Doc Bryan Lecture Hall.

Celebrate Leap Year from 7:30-11 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29 in the Young Ballroom.

PAGE 2 | Opinion

That one thing that makes you beautiful

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS.COM

Editorial: ed·i·to·ri·al

[ed-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] noun: An article that represents the official viewpoint of a newspaper on a topic of public interest.

One Direction, the British boy band that has taken the world (and our hearts) by force, is on a hiatus that reports from NY Daily News and US Weekly say will turn permanent. To “1D” fans all over the country that are mourning this loss, be assured—the ArkaTech mourns with you.

Many ArkaTech staff members have been closely watching One Direction’s progression since their first album was released in 2012. As a band, One Direction created five albums, two EP’s, and sadly, lost one member along the way.

Zayn Malik announced his split from One Direction after spending five years with the band.

This was truly a tough loss for the ArkaTech team because we cherished Zayn’s talents and input.

We believe that One Direction is doing their faithful fans a huge disservice.

First, One Direction has served as a guiding light for young women and girls all over the world. Not only are the One Direction boys

handsome, they are smart, funny, talented and gentlemen. We believe that with the dispersion of One Direction, girls will not have pristine examples to look to anymore, and will, in turn, lower their standards.

Second, no one is, or ever has been, the equivalent of One Direction. Because of the band’s humble beginnings, One Direction is shockingly relatable and down to earth. This is something that couldn’t be said for bands such as N’SYNC or Backstreet Boys. Who will be the boys next door when One Direction is gone?

Third, what cannot be overlooked is the myriad of lessons that One Direction has taught us; the band showed young girls that true attraction comes from those who are unaware of their own beauty because clearly, “that’s what makes them beautiful.” In their song, “One Thing,” One Direction reminded girls to be distinctly themselves because if they are not, they won’t have that one thing. We’re not sure what that one thing is—but it must be incredible.

Lastly, we believe that One Direction fans and Arkansas Tech University college students alike would be wise to stop expending untold energy calculating opinions on issues such as boy band breakups.

There are real-world situations that call for our action. If we have the ability to muster such attention to detail in matters like this (and we do), then surely we are up to date on world news,

presidential campaigns and social issues, right?

Last week, Pope Francis made a visit to the Texas border to pray for the victims of human trafficking; Harper Lee, renowned author of “To Kill a Mocking Bird” passed away, after a life she used to write literature that would change America and give insight into issues such as racism and social injustice. And, although it pains us to make this political, Donald Trump called for a boycott on Apple.

Speaking of Trump, in less than a year, we will elect the man or woman who will lead our country for the next four years, in a time when many of us will be making our way into adulthood.

The point of this being, friends, that what we give thought to today matters much more than any of us might know.

In conclusion, the Arka Tech’s official stance on One Direction’s split is that, ultimately, it doesn’t matter much.

What matters is that silence implies consent, and when we spend all of our time screaming about one issue, we might be completely missing another opportunity to decide on the truly important stuff—the decisions that could change the world.

At Tech, let’s cultivate a conversation that will carry us into the future, create social change and positively influence America.

Failure vs adulting: what’s the difference?

MICHAEL HARRIS Advertising Manager

This week has been one of the most challenging weeks of my collegiate experience.

When I made the decision to attend Arkansas Tech, I felt like I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I had mapped out my career path from freshman year to years after. I thought I knew what my dream job was and I felt like everyone thought that I had every aspect of my life figured out.

Since I’ve been at Tech, I changed my major from Information Systems with a minor in Business to Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations, a minor in Psychology and a secondary major in Information Technology, to now just Journalism Public Relations with a minor in Psychology.

When I first changed my major, I felt like I was a failure.

When I told my friends and family that I was going into the computing field, they were

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR.COM extremely excited for me and to tell them that my passion was no longer in that field, I felt like I was letting them down.

However, what I have discovered is that college is not just meant to be a place to learn about academics, but it is also a place to learn about yourself as an individual. I never understood the statement “College is where you find yourself ” until the beginning of my junior year at Arkansas Tech.

It is ok for us to change our major once or twice as long as we can see the bigger picture in the long run. Being a college student that will be the first in their family to obtain a bachelor’s degree, as long as I see the big picture of getting a degree, I can change my major twenty times and

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

not be a failure. It is all about making the right adult decisions for yourself.

I have decided that I want to go into the field of higher education and student affairs. I want to work with student leadership programs and play a part in developing student leaders at a four year university.

It does not really matter if my job pays fifteen dollars an hour because what is most important is that I am happy in the career path that I choose.

I know that I made the right adult decision and that this is the best choice for me. There are still times when I doubt myself, but with my support system of friends, family and ATU faculty and staff, I know I will be successful in this career.

Campus | PAGE 3

MAN ON THE STREET What is a Wonder Boy?

Leap Year Party PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR.COM

JAMES KNECHT

Contributing Writer

A leap year party, sponsored by the Student Activities Board (SAB), is Monday, Feb.29, in the Young Ballroom from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“A Wonder Boy is a student here at tech making a Wonderful difference whether its male or female.”

Amber Christensen Freshman Pre-Vet Fort Smith

The leap year party will be the first one ever hosted by SAB and is free to all Arkansas Tech University students. The idea for the leap year party was brought up by the board as a whole.

Erica Goss, junior hospitality and administration major and social chair for SAB, said when they were doing their calendar

planning they noticed it was a leap year and that it is “something that only comes around every four years.”

Goss said, “We should have an event that day.”

The party started out as something that would happen during lunch, but they decided to make it a “full-on social party at night,” Goss said.

The party will host a DJ, have glow sticks and a popcorn bar with all different kinds of toppings.

The idea for the party will be an On Track event that will be a

part of the Unite track.

Tech’s website reads, “On Track is an undergraduate cocurricular experience designed to enhance student development beyond the classroom setting, encourage students to network socially among peers and include students in traditional and signature university events.”

On Track consists of seven tracks; Active Mind and Body; Advance to Career; Aspiring Leader; Elevated Citizen; Global Focus; Leader Identified; and Unite. Additional information on each track is available on the university’s website.

OPINION

“ A Wonder Boy is a male athlete here at ATU with outstanding talents.”

Brennon Taylor Freshman Mechanical Engineering

“The Wonder Boys in my eyes are our outstanding intelligent group of young men here at ATU.” Audrey Foy Freshman Art Education

“A guy here at Tech who has ambitious, leadership skills. Not just an athlete, just a male in general.”

Zulfikar Graduate student Educational Technology

Jerry joins ATU fraternity SAM HOISINGTON Web Editor

Earlier this year, Jerry the Bulldog did something rather unusual for a canine--he joined a fraternity.

Greek life on the whole has an iffy reputation, but participation in Greek Life at Tech is one of the best things an undergraduate could do to guarantee a great college experience. It doesn’t shock me in the least that Jerry saw the wonderful opportunities available to him through Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter and decided to pledge.

At least a part of the success of Greek life on the Tech campus is due to the work of the Department of Campus Life, headed up by Kevin Solomon.

Jennifer Duncan, former coordinator of Greek Life, recently left her position to pursue another opportunity at Carnegie Mellon University.

Duncan headed up university relations with Greek organizations, but she did more than the bullets on her job description. Duncan was involved in Greek Life on a personal basis.

She invested a lot of time and energy into establishing personal relationships with sorority and fraternity leadership.

Duncan was a member of Chi Omega at UALR before beginning her professional career. Having an inside perspective of Greek Life is invaluable to future student affairs staff members--it allows one look beyond the surface

Friday, February 26

Mario Juarez Freshman Biomedical

Daddy’s Home 5:00 p, 10:00 p Deadpool 4:50 p, 7:15 p, 7:30 p, 9:50 p Eddie the Eagle 4:55 p, 7:25 p, 9:55 p Gods of Egypt 7:00 p Gods of Egypt- 3D 4:00 p, 9:45 p

“A Wonder Boy is an outstanding individual that makes a difference each day through the ups and downs” Katherine Nunez Senior

deep view to see the potential of what a Greek system can be: a catalyst for personal growth and community change.

Our student leadership on campus is disproportionately Greek. The current SGA president is in a sorority, the last SGA president was in a fraternity. Three of seven student activity executive board members are in a fraternity or sorority. According to reports available via the Institutional Research Office, only around 7% of the general student body is in Greek Life.

This isn’t due to a rigged system, it’s due to a general attitude of commitment to the campus community shared by all chapters of the Greek system. It is a result of great leadership, present and former, which challenge the Greek community to improve themselves, this campus and beyond.

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Indonesia

“All men sports activities here makes up our Wonder Boys.”

SUBMITTED/THE ARKATECH

Ride Along 2 “VIP Recliner” 4:45p, 7:15 p, 9:40 p Risen 5:05 p, 7:35 p, 10:00 p The Choice “VIP Recliner” 4:15 p, 7 p, 9:30 p The Witch 5:00 p, 7:10 p, 9:35 p

Saturday, February 27 Daddy’s Home 12:15p, 5:00 p, 10:00 p Deadpool 12:00 p, 2:25 p, 2:30 p, 4:50 p, 7:15 p, 7:30 p, 9:50 p Eddie the Eagle 12:05 p, 2:30 p, 4:55 p, 7:25 p, 9:55 p Gods of Egypt 1:00 p, 7:00 p Gods of Egypt- 3D 4:00 p, 9:45 p

How to Be Single “VIP Recliner” 5 :00 p, 7:30 p, 10:00 p Kung Fu Panda 3 4:40 p, 7:05 p, 9:20 p

How to Be Single “VIP Recliner” 12:00 p, 2:30 p 5 :00 p, 7:30 p, 10:00 p

Race “VIP Recliner” 4:00 p, 6:55 p, 9:45 p

Kung Fu Panda 3 12:10 p, 2:25 p, 4:40 p, 7:05 p, 9:20 p

Race “VIP Recliner” 4:00 p, 6:55 p, 9:45 p Ride Along 2 “VIP Recliner” 12:05 p, 2:25 p, 4:45p, 7:15 p, 9:40 p Risen 12:05 p, 2:35 p, 5:05 p, 7:35 p, 10:00 p The Choice “VIP Recliner” 1:15 p, 4:15 p, 7:00 p, 9:30 p The Witch 12:35 p, 2:45 p, 5:00 p, 7:10 p, 9:35 p

Psychology and Sociology Rogers

Matinee (shows before 6pm): Adult Child (ages 3-11) Senior (ages 60 and over)

$6.50 $6.50 $6.50

General Admission:

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$8.50 $6.50 $6.50

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

PAGE 4 | News

Biology professor encourages exercise OLIVIA KAYS Contributing Writer Brief breaks in the classroom for physical activity are associated with improved cognitive function, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Scott Kirkconnell, professor of biology, has been instilling the importance of exercise habits in his students for years.

A few minutes before the beginning of class, Kirkconnell gives the students the opportunity to walk with him around a section of campus.

During class he sets a timer to go off every 15 minutes and when the timer goes off he encourages the students to stand up and exercise with him.

He encourages the students to run 40 steps in place, do five jumping jacks and five toe touches.

“I became increasingly aware of cognitive function for students to learn a lot,”Kirkconnell said. “I started reading things like “Brain Rules” by John Medina. I also started listening to the “Brain Science Podcast” by Ginger Campbell,” he said.

As he began paying more attention to these findings he became more aware of things that would influence his students.

“The average attention span is 15 minutes long and the average class is 50 minutes to 80 minutes,” Kirkconnell said.

He tried to think of something that would be effective but not take much time.

“I just thought that running 40 steps in place, then five jumping jacks and then five touch your toes would work; that’s when I started setting my egg timer,” Kirkconnell said.

Correlation between exercise and academic success has been recorded in studies by the CDC, but Kirkconnell is also noticing success within his students.

Kirkconnell told a success story of a young woman who was in his microbiology course and barely passed.

The student decided to retake the course, Kirkconnell began, but she was making the same grades as she did previously. After Kirkconnell spoke with the class about the important of exercise, eating right and being around nice people, she decided to implement regular exercise at home with her kids.

Kirkconnell immediately noticed a change in her grades.

“Her grades were the total opposite,” he said.

When he asked the student what she was doing differently, she informed him of her regular exercising habits. She said that her daughter, who was also having trouble in high school, was now getting better grades because of the exercise.

“I want my students to succeed in my courses and their other courses,” Kirkconnell said.

Kirkconnell has found the walks with his students to be beneficial to him as a professor. Students will tell him all sorts of things like, “Blackboard isn’t working” or “the bookstore doesn’t have a certain book.”

Students appear to find this very beneficial, Kirkconnell said.

“I have noticed that even if I forget to set my timer I will be reminded; after about 15 minutes I will notice students starting to doze off,” he said.

Student feedback has been uniformly positive. Students have even noted that they now notice students in their other classes dozing off after about 15 minutes and often wish other professors would have them get up and move around, Kirkconnell said.

Kirkconnell continues to walk with his students and exercise with them throughout each class period.

He hopes that other professors will begin to try this with their own students.

“It’s been an exciting journey for me, getting to see these implemented in the classroom and now passing them on to other professors,”Kirkconnell said.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

FOOD

from page 1

website, “ultimately liberate hungry and homeless individuals from poverty.”

The organization continued to grow and “helped start more than 60 likeminded community kitchens across the

WOMACK from page 1

taking questions from those in attendance.

With Womack being up for re-election this year, he urged young voters to be engaged in the political process.

country ‘90s.”

through

the

The Campus Kitchens Project is a replicate of DC Central Kitchen and was developed in 2001.

The Campus Kitchens Project is funded through large corporations such as the American Association of "The government has overspent and overpromised.

The younger generation needs to be leaning forward because you'll get the bill. I think you should have a say."

Womack also urged voters to think for themselves.

Retired Persons (AARP), Walmart and Sodexo.

The project is also funded through private entities and individual donations.

The Campus Kitchens Project partners with high schools, colleges and universities. Additional information is available on the project’s website.

"Don't just turn on the TV, listen to what someone says and let that become your opinion."

Womack was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010.

He will face Nathan LaFrance (Libertarian) for re-election in November.

Second straw poll added at university RYAN HARMON Entertainment Writer

The History and Political Science department has added a second presidential straw poll.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take part in the poll, which will give participants the chance to pick their favorite Democrat or Republican presidential

candidate.

The poll will be available until 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29.

To take part in the straw poll, visit the History and Political Science Department's page on theLINK. The direct link for the poll is https:// thelink.atu.edu/org anization/ HIstoryandPoliticalScienceDept/ election/start/94146.

The Arka Tech

GENERAL POLICY

News stories printed in The Arka Tech must be accurate, fair and as unbiased as possible. Any mistakes in fact found in an issue of The Arka Tech will be corrected in the first possible issue. Opinions expressed in The Arka Tech are not necessarily the opinions of Arkansas Tech University or its students. Individual copies of The Arka Tech are free to members of the Tech community. Contact the adviser for pricing of multiple copies.

CONTACT US Office: Energy Center 138

Editor-in-Chief:

CLAUDIA YOUNG Managing Editors: JENN TERRELL AMBER QUAID News Writer: SIERRA MURPHY Entertainment Writer: RYAN HARMON Web Editor: SAM HOISINGTON Sports Writer: MATTHEW EMERY

General email: arkatech@atu.edu

Advertising Manager:

Ads email: arkatech.ads@atu.edu

MICHAEL HARRIS

Faculty Advisor: TOMMY MUMERT

Staff Writer: ASHLEY PEARSON

THE

ARKATECH

Feature | PAGE 5

MATTHEW EMERY/THE ARKA TECH The Bowles family has to deal with much more than the average college student, yet they power through and stay strong together.

Love with an enlarged heart: the Bowles family MATTHEW EMERY Sports Writer

Valentine’s Day for the Bowles family ended with movies and ice cream, not too far from how average everyday couples spent the holiday.

LVAD, is an electronic device that has a tube running to the heart and controls the pumping. If the device stops working, the heart stops working.

The device cannot get wet, or it will short circuit.

However, the Bowles family are anything but an average everyday couple. Matthew Bowles, a junior teaching major from Morrilton, suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy, which is a fancy way of saying his heart is enlarged and cannot pump efficiently.

The batteries die after about twelve hours, turning every day into a management of power.

Bowles first noticed something was wrong when he got the flu in high school at the age of 17. Then, as he was preparing for the state all-star game, he discovered that he was unable to pass the physical.

Every night, Mrs. Bowles has to sterilize, equip a mask, and address the tubing on her husband’s stomach.

After seeing multiple doctors and physicians, it was determined that the flu had stretched Bowles heart out two and a half times that of a normal heart.

In fact, one of Mr. Bowles first times out of the house after receiving the device, a woman in Wal-Mart thought he was carrying a bomb.

Despite having his world flipped upside down, Bowles has done his hardest to not let it affect his life too much.

The reaction of the public is something that continues to frustrate his wife, but Mr. Bowles laughed it off, saying, “I think they just stare because I look good.”

“I try to do everything I can. It only limits you as much as you let it,” Bowles said.

Bowles is continuing his life just as he would without the condition, and on December 22, 2014, he married his best friend since preschool.

Bowles wife, Emilee, a senior communications major from Morrilton, has never given up on him.

“It wasn’t an option for me.

When he was in the hospital, I slept on the floor every single night. I just love him,” she said, struggling with her words.

“She keeps me going, keeps me pushing. I gotta do it for her. I gotta build us a future,” Mr. Bowles said about his wife.

The Bowles family does not currently have any children, they do however, have an LVAD. A left ventricular assist device, or

When the Bowles family travels, they have to plan ahead and map out which hospitals have LVAD support, just in case.

And just like a hyper child, the public always notices the device.

nuances of the condition and LVAD, the Bowles family insists that they aren’t letting it take away from their relationship at all.

“It’s actually helped us mature as a couple,” Mr. Bowles said. He continued, “We have had to do a lot of things most couples don’t have to do until they’re 50. She makes my decisions when I can’t.”

The Bowles have had to and continue to rely on a lot. Doctors, weather, the LVAD and each other, but the one they have relied on the most? God. “God has been so present in this situation. To know what could have happened, we have been so blessed,” Mrs. Bowles said.

The Bowles are excited for what is next. “We’ll graduate, find jobs, get a house, travel, then have kids,

he probably wants to have kids then travel. We’ll see,” Mrs. Bowles said.

Mr. Bowles added, “It’d be nice to have a transplant thrown in somewhere.”

Transplanting and donating have become very passionate topics for the Bowles family. “Death is horrible, but something good can come out of it,” Mrs. Bowles said.

“One single person can save up to eight lives.”

The Bowles never said “if ” Mr. Bowles gets a transplant, but said “when” he gets a transplant.

A transplant would mean Mr. Bowles could get rid of his LVAD and go back to living a normal life.

The one thing he is looking forward to the most after a transplant?

“A long, hot shower,” Mr. Bowles said.

Treating and caring for the LVAD is a full-time job for the Bowles family.

One of their biggest accidents and scares came last April, during the visitation for Mrs. Bowles grandfather. Mr. Bowles pump began to fail in the middle of the visitation and they had to immediately run to Little Rock and get it replaced.

Mrs. Bowles says she will never forget the scene. The nurse gave her a stethoscope to listen to her husband's heartbeat as she switched out the pumps. When the original pump was removed, Mr. Bowles heart stopped.

Mrs. Bowles watched her husband die for a split second.

“I’ll never forget the look on his face when they put in the new tube,” she said.

Despite all the hindrances and

EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

The LVAD, the device shown above, is used on patients waiting for a heart transplant, according to myLVAD.com. Some have to use the device permanently if they never get a new heart, but Bowles and his wife are confident that Bowles will receive a heart transplant in the near future.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

PAGE 6 | Entertainment

Exposure versus exploitation RYAN HARMON Entertainment Writer If you're a musician, and you've been around awhile, you've probably heard it: "We don't pay our entertainers. It'll be great exposure for you, though!"

The fact is, many talent bookers are snakes! There's no way to put it mildly.

shoes, if you're just starting out.

My usual line is "if you're not opening for Paul McCartney, it's not exposure."

To make it easy, I break it down into two categories. If you're about to agree to play somewhere for free, take a step back and evaluate it based on the following:

I've been fooled into these situations before, so I'd like to offer some advice.

You might not take me seriously when it comes to music business advice because I'm not a well-known, successful artist. That's fair enough, but I've been performing for almost ten years and I've likely been in your

Now, be careful! Sometimes you'll run across exploitations disguised as exposure. This usually happens with showcases. Think clearly! Playing in

“If you're not opening for Paul McCartney, it's not exposure.”

I have friends tell me about how packed their performance schedules are all the time, and when they mention specific venues, I ask the same question: "How much does it pay?"

Sadly, the answer usually comes without a dollar sign.

at an average venue, on an average night, for no financial compensation.

A local bar that has 10 regular customers on an average weekend will not give you the opportunities listed above.

Exposure: an offer that could introduce you to a large number of people or give you the chance to make connections with successful/ influential members of the music industry. This could be a large event/ festival, an opening slot for a major artist, or a showcase in front of key music industry players; Exploitation: an offer that puts you in front of an average crowd,

front of a guy who produced a rough demo of a church choir that Tom Petty was in for two weeks when he was 12 is not exposure!

There's one section I need to throw in that's really important to cover: favors and fun. If your best friend owns a bar, and he desperately needs someone to perform tonight, do him a favor. If there's a local place you play at just for fun, do it!

Just don't do the same show that you charge other venues for.

Put together something special for those performances. If you don't, it'll be harder for bookers to take you seriously, and believe me, that's already hard enough as it is.

So, how much do you charge?

This is up to you. Basically, make sure you charge enough to cover all expenses and leave yourself room for profit. Don't expect to be paid $5,000 for a local bar show. Also, find out if the venue serves food. If they do, ask for a free meal and free drinks. Many times you'll find that you don't even have to ask.

To be clear: being allowed or encouraged to put out a tip jar or sell CD's is not payment!

I could go on for pages about this, but this covers the basics you need to get a more serious booking strategy started. I hope this helps! Keep on playing!

Food Review Photos by Jenn Terrell

La Villa is located near Tech on North Arkansas Avenue. A variety of italian dishes such as pizza, spaghetti, ravioli, and veal are served there.

Delicious pasta, cozy atmosphere- La Villa offers a taste of Italy CLAUDIA YOUNG Editor-In-Chief Shrimp Scampi - $13 Though I’ve lived in Russellville for two years, I have never been to La Villa.Upon walking in, I noticed it was packed and loud. We arrived at 1 p.m. on a Sunday, so a lot of families were eating lunch after church. Within a few minutes, the place had cleared out and it had a great ambiance.

Much to my chagrin, La Villa is like most places in the River Valley.

They don’t serve Coke products. I am one of Coca-Cola’s most loyal customers, but I got by with a Dr. Pepper.

I picked up the menu to find an infinite amount of choices. After perusing the menu for at least ten minutes, I chose the Shrimp Scampi. While we were waiting for our food to come out, we ate the complimentary bread with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip. It was absolutely delicious!

Our food came out quickly and it looked professionally done. I took a bite and was instantly transported to

The baked spinach ravioli ordered by Jenn.

JENN TERRELL Managing Editor Complimentary bread and dip. heaven.

A delicious combination of butter, garlic and lemon filled every sense in my body. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the best Shrimp Scampi I have ever had.

The portion was big enough to have leftovers for that night. It was just as good the second time around.

I would highly recommend La Villa to any newcomers to Russellville and will definitely be back for a date night with my husband.

Claudia's large and delicious helping of shrimp scampi.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Spinach Ravioli/salad - $10 La Villa is a cozy little Italian restaurant located between Textbook Brokers and Taco Bell.

To get to the entrance, you are guided by a romantic, vine covered walkway. Once inside, the restaurant is filled with photos of Italy and the windows are lined with vines. The restaurant makes a true attempt at making you feel like you are far away at an eatery in the Italian countryside.

Their hefty menu includes everything from stuffed mushrooms to veal dishes. Before our main dishes arrived we received a basket of rolls and a side of oil with various herbs.

The oil with herbs that accompanied the bread was a delicious mixture with a slight tanginess.

I had the spinach ravioli and a side salad with the house Italian dressing. The side salad

was exquisite, thanks to the Italian dressing made in house. It had a zangy and tomatoey taste that I haven't found before in Russellville.

The spinach ravioli was equal parts delicious and cheesy. The pasta was made with spinach and the ravioli was also filled with spinach and ricotta cheese. The dish was topped with a seemingly endless layer of mozzarella cheese that was baked on. I finished half the meal and had the rest for dinner, making it a very decently priced meal.

I highly recommend a trip to La Villa, especially during lunch hours when prices are even cheaper.

The Italian dressing is made fresh in house.

Sports | PAGE 7

Suns GAC champions

RICCI LOGAN Contributing Writer

The Golden Suns won the Great American Conference regular season title outright, defeating Henderson State Thursday with a final of 82-54.

The win puts the Golden Suns at 21-3 and 19-1 in the GAC. Fatima Adams, a senior from Bryant, Texas, led all scorers with 28 points. Anissa Pounds, a junior from Kotka, Finland, had 12 points.

The Reddies only led twice in the game, and the lead vanished when Calli White, a junior from Fort Smith, hit a 3-pointer to put Tech up 11-10.Tech controlled the rest of the game and at half time, Tech lead by 15 points, 43-28.

The Golden Suns lead by 24 points in the third quarter taking a 64-40 lead and took their largest lead of the night in the fourth quarter to go up by 28.

The Golden Suns forced 18 turnovers and punished them, by scoring 19 points off those turnovers. Tech outshot HSU 50.8 percent to 39.3 percent.

The Golden Suns bench scored 21 points and held the HSU bench scoreless the entire game.Following the win, the Golden Suns went back on the road Saturday to face ArkansasMonticello at Steelman Fieldhouse.

Tech ran away with the win 106 to 67.

TRAVIS CLAYTON & ELIJAH MORENO/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Tech will return home to Tucker Coliseum this week for the final two games against Southwestern Oklahoma.

The Golden Suns Scored the first six points in the first 90 seconds of the game.

18 points.The Golden Suns ended up pushing their lead to 39 as they defeated UAM.

UAM tried to fight back coming within three 10-7, but they were unable to get the lead as they trailed the whole game.

Tech never trailed in this game as they lead in almost every stat of the night 38-22 in the paint, 19-10 off turnovers, 17-6 on secondchance points, 4-0 on fast-break points and 33-8 on bench points.

Tech led going into the second quarter by 16 (28-12).Tech continued to pour in the points pushing the lead (45-24) at half time.

Kelsey McClure, a junior from Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Aujana Dawkins, a junior from Oakland, California, both led the team with

Tech will return home to Tucker Coliseum for the final two games against Southwestern Oklahoma Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

First conference series results in success for Wonder Boys MATTHEW EMERY Sports Writer

The middle infield of Arkansas Tech was a force to be reckoned with this weekend, as Dylan McDearmon, a freshman from Greenbrier, and Collin O’Neil, a senior from Phoenix, Arizona, helped surge the Wonder Boys in their first conference series of the season, against Southern Nazarene, two games to one.

McDearmon and O’Neil went a combined 10-19 behind the plate and collected six RBIs, the majority of which, came during the Saturday afternoon matchup that saw the Wonder Boys collecting a seasonhigh 17 hits and winning with a final of 13-2.

Not to be outdone by the middle infield, Marcus Wilson, a junior from Bryant, filled up the scoring card himself, going 4-5 with three runs, two steals and two RBIs during the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday.

The Wonder Boys have had to turn to the bullpen early in most of the games so far this season, but

Isaac Hale, a freshman from Aledo, Texas, gave the boys some rest, as he went six innings, fanning five and allowing only two runs on five hits and a lone walk.

The scoring started early for Tech and in the fourth inning, the third homerun of the season for the Wonder Boys, the first of the season from Mark Vaughn, a redshirt sophomore from Salina, Kansas, really began to open things up as it pushed the lead to 9-2.

Wonder Boys on the losing end of the score was the series opener on Friday, where the rally fell just short.

The Wonder Boys scored three innings in the seventh, thanks to Josh Watkins, a senior from Hope Hull, Alabama, who drilled a two run double, making the score 10-6. That and a sac-fly to make it 10-7 from Vaughn would be all the Wonder

Boys could muster for the rest of the game.

The Wonder Boys will look to ride the momentum of the conference win into this weekend, when they will continue conference play in Arkadelphia, against Henderson State. First pitch on Friday is scheduled at 6 p.m.

The Wonder Boys would take the field again a few hours later to finish off the doubleheader, this time winning in a closer affair with a final of 5-4.

Blake King, a sophomore from Phoenix, Arizona, made his presence felt as his solo homer in the sixth inning that made the score 5-3 would prove to be the winning run.

Trent Armstrong, a junior from Waxahachie, Texas, earned his second win of the season, going 4 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, fanning six.

The only game that saw the

MATTHEW EMERY/THE ARKA TECH The Wonder Boys will continue conference play in Arkadelphia on Friday.

Two critical wins for the Wonder Boys

RICCI LOGAN Contributing Writer

After a couple of HSU runs, Tech saw themselves down at halftime by five, 37-32.

The Wonder Boys were able to pull out a win against Henderson State Thursday 78-65.

The Wonder Boys responded with a 10-0 run over the opening 4 minutes of the second half.

The Wonder Boys are now 14-11, 9-10 Great American Conference.

Tyler Corley, a junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, helped his team with 21 points, followed by Andrew Guillory, a senior from Fort Worth, Texas, with 20 points.

DeChriston McKinney, a senior from Waco, Texas, contributed a double-double.

The Wonder Boys went on 8-2 run to take five point lead (16-11) at the 10:30 to play in the first half, but they soon gave up the lead, as HSU went on 6-0 run to cut the deficit to one point (23-22) at the 7:31 mark.

HSU soon pulled within 2 points 46-44, but Tech would score the next seven points to take the lead 53-44 with 12:20 left to play.

After HSU pulled back within 2 Points (5856), Tech took control and HSU would not get any closer than 6 points for the remainder of the game.

Monticello. They came out on top 76-69.

In the opening minutes both team exchanged small runs, but Tech pushed forward by 10 (28-18).

UAM was able to cut the lead to six going into the half 40-34.

Coming out of half time Tech stretched the lead back to 10 points, and shortly after, the Wonder Boys took a 23 point lead (66-43), the largest of the night.

UAM was unable to fully recover and eventually fell short to the Wonder Boys.

The Wonder Boys held the advantage shooting 53.8 percent to 46.4 percent, points in the paint 28-18, and in rebounding 35-24.

Corley once again led his team with 18 points, Guillory also scored 17 points.

The Wonder Boys were back in action Saturday to face the Boll Weevils of Arkansas-

The Wonder Boys will return home to play Southeastern Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, at Tucker Coliseum.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

PAGE 8 | Campus Photos

Miss Tech 2016 Fourteen contestants competed for the crown Friday night in the annual Miss Tech pageant.

TIFFINI JARVIS/SUBMITTED

TIFFINI JARVIS/SUBMITTED Above: Jerry poses with the Miss Tech winner and runner ups.

TIFFINI JARVIS/SUBMITTED

Solutions to this week's puzzles will be featured in the next issue of The Arka Tech.

Thank You For Your Continued Support Of The Arka Tech

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Left: From Left: Kelsey Stone of Russellville (fourth runner-up), Tiffany Squires of Sherwood (first runner-up), newly crowned Miss Tech, Carly Copeland of Clarksville, Grace Evans of Little Rock (second runner-up), and Kaylee Hefley of Hot Springs (third runner-up) all stand together on stage after the crowning.