ARKA
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
THE
ARKANSAS
TECH
UNIVERSITY
//
Opinion- constant cell phone usage. PAGE 2
THURSDAY,
APRIL
19,
2018
•
VOL.
Study Abroad: Nearing end, it is not all coming up roses Gabbi Calabrese Foreign Correspondent
A lot of people that I talk to in the U.S. seem to think that Europe is a magical place where problems go to die. That sentiment is very far from being true. Austria is just a country, where stress and bad days exist just as plentifully as they do anywhere else. With that said, I’d like to talk about the word “lucky” and how—excuse me if I sound a tad bitter here—I am apparently not allowed to have troubles because I am so “lucky” to be studying abroad. Don’t get me wrong; I know I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to be gallivanting around Europe. While life most certainly isn’t perfect—in fact, it’s quite challenging—I am so grateful to be in Graz, learning and experiencing more than I ever could have expected. However, to brush off my situa-
94
NO.
19
Anthem protest and the righteous NFL Noah Delshaw Sports Writer
OPINION COLUMN
A handful of tulips from Amsterdam's lovely flower market. tion as “lucky” is downright offensive for many reasons. Yes, I have a lot of privilege and I’ve been given a lot of help throughout my life that allowed me to make it to Austria this semester, but there are a few other factors that made it possible, too: hard work, sacrifice and courage. I’m not saying any of this to toot my
own horn. In fact, I want everyone with an interest in studying abroad to realize that having the chance isn’t a product of luck. It’s not something that’s just going to happen to you. It’s an opportunity you can earn. It’s also a major adjustment that you have to be committed to. It’s time for hones-
The last dance
HANNAH COSTER
stressed about money a lot since arriving and I’ve tried to be smart with my purchases (though I am not always successful. Oops!). Living in Europe is expensive, especially if you actually want to go out and experience life and culture and other parts of the world. I also
In August of 2016, I did not think that Colin Kaepernick would still be talked about today in 2018, about the kneeling situation and what goes with that. Here we are April 2018, a few months short of two years later, and Colin Kaepernick is still looking for an NFL team while none will pick him up because he remains adamant in his position of kneeling during the National Anthem. Over this time, different protests have come about, and our president has said not too nice things to NFL players and owners. The
(ABROAD page 4)
(NFL page 8)
GABBI CALABRESE/THE ARKA TECH
ty hour. I come from a low-income family and received very little financial assistance from my family for this trip. Instead, I saved money, applied for scholarships and took out loans to help cover costs. In the sprit of complete candor, I have to admit that I am still in an economically precarious position. I’ve
Off-campus vandalism impacts on-campus life
Contributing Writer
ATU Dance Company is planning a new performance for Arkansas Tech students and Russellville residents. The performance will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21, from 6-8 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m., respectively. Admission will be $1. The performance will feature a guest performance by Royal Diamonds Dance Company, led by ATU Dance Company’s co-founder, Alexandreia Nelson, a rehabilitation science major from Ashdown. The theme of this year’s performance, called Passion for the Stage, will be “sex appeal,” said co-founder, Jerry “Jay” Anderson, a psychology and speech communication major from Little Rock. “We will be displaying more choreography that is very sassy, very sexy, very classy,” Anderson
(DANCE page 3)
AMBER QUAID/THE ARKA TECH A view of the Techionery Theater during a performance in 2017.
One-act plays take over the Tech stage ASHLIN TRAHAN
Contributing Writer
Eight students in the Advanced Directing class, taught by Ardith Morris, have put together a selection of short plays, entitled Kaleidoscope, to be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at Techionery Theater across from BazTech. There will be six oneact plays performed, each having their own director, with the exception of one play having three directors. The directors include: Holly Willmon, Alexa Carrington, Katie
Potts, Nathan Yzaguirre, Summer Dantzler, Taylor Paulk, Glen Poole, and Maegan Anderson. David Eshelman, director of the theatre program, said, that it gives the class a chance to direct a play on the regular stage. “The one-acts are very student focused,” said Eshelman. “It allows us to see what the next generation of theatre artists have on their minds.” For the auditions, directors spread out in different parts of the theater with a sample script for each person who wanted to try out. After two days
SUBMITTED
A Tech student had their car vandalized off campus but had to drive it on campus to figure out how to get the markings off of their car. TIFFINI JARVIS
(STAGE page 7)
Off-campus vandalism victimizing international students Arkansas Tech’s Student Government Association released a statement Monday regarding off-campus vandalism issues involving international students. SGA released a statement via Twitter in efforts to show
support to international students who have been the subject of several car vandalisms at apartment complexes across Russellville. “Some of the students in our international community, that live off-campus, have recently been seeing their cars get tagged with spray paint and other forms of vandalism,” said Matthew Smith, SGA president and agriculture business ma-
2016 to fall 2017. Abdelrahman was co-chair of the ATU campus master plan process, and he oversaw the development of the ATU Interdisciplinary Research Center. “We thank Dr. Abdelrahman for his efforts on behalf of our
students and our faculty, and we wish him the best in the future,” said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, ATU president. Dr. Phillip Bridgmon, associate vice president for academic affairs at ATU, will fulfill the duties of chief academic officer at Arkansas Tech
during the interim period. Bridgmon has been employed as associate vice president at ATU since Oct. 2, 2017. He was previously dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., from 2012-17.
Contributing Writer
jor from Hermitage. According to the organization’s statement, “We oppose hate crimes regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. We plan to continue looking into various ways to make sure you are supported by your fellow students by working with the Department of
(SGA page 3)
VP Abdelrahman accepts position at CSU-Pueblo SAM STRASNER
MARCOMM
Colorado State University-Pueblo has announced the hiring of Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman, vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University since 2016, as its provost and
executive vice president. Over the span of Abdelrahman’s tenure at ATU, the institution implemented eight new bachelor’s degrees and a Master of Business Administration degree while increasing its student retention rate by 2.73 percent from fall
Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman
2 Opinion arkatechnews.com
Being a Millennial, that's okay
BUZZFEED
At the Arka Tech, we’ve talked before about this current generation that most of us fall under—the Millennial. There are also a multitude of news articles, podcasts and opinion articles about how Millennials are ruining the world. We are apparently single-handedly responsible for destroying the restaurant and housing industry, and about 15 other industries. What’s particularly concerning to us here at the Arka Tech though is the fact that most of us who are desperately trying to navigate our 20s, have absolutely no idea what we’re doing. We are caught in an interesting conundrum. Our parents told us, “You can be anything you want to be. You want to be an astronaut? Go for it! President? Awesome!” But when we got out into the real world, it hasn’t exactly been that easy. No one can say the Millennials haven’t been trying, though. The Pew Research Center indicated in 2015 that Millennials are well on their way to being “the Most Educated Generation to Date.” The percentage for men who are getting bachelor’s degrees is up four percent from our grandparent’s generation (the Baby Boomers), and three percent from our parent’s generation (Gen X). For women, that percentage is much more palpable. The percentage of women getting bachelor’s degrees from the Baby Boomer generation is up 13 percent, and the percentage from Gen X is up seven percent. Despite our drive to get bachelor’s degrees, many of us remain under- or unemployed. According to npr.org, 3.8
percent of Millennials are unemployed. For those Millennials who don’t have a college degree, that statistic is much worse. Over 12 percent without a college degree are unemployed, and “about 22 percent of that cohort are below the poverty line,” according to npr.org. Part of this has to do with the sluggish economy that our nation is sort of trapped in. But another part of it is that many of us refuse to settle. As a generation, we tend to want different things than our parents or grandparents. We want jobs that give us financial security, emotional happiness and allow us to still chase our dreams. In other words, we want well-paying, flexible jobs in fields we love. Despite this, most of us are optimistic about the future. Forty-nine percent of Millennials believe that “the country is on the road to its best years,” according to npr.org, as of 2014. So, we’re an ambitious, optimistic group of people. But, many of us, also suffer from mental health issues that can be debilitating. According to healthstatus.com, Millennials rate their stress at 5.4 on a 10-point scale. Which sounds average, but Baby Boomers only rated their stress at 4.7 and the Matures (the WWII group) rated their stress levels at 3.7. According to the same source, about 19 percent of Millennials suffer from some level of depression and anxiety. Part of our abnormally high stress level could come from the fact that we’re worried about what’s going to happen when we graduate with these bachelor degrees and enter into an over flood-
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. ed job market. Plus, it probably doesn’t help that we are constantly bombarded by people (parents, reporters, teachers, doctors and pretty much everyone in our lives) telling us that we’re lazy and just don’t understand hard work. At the Arka Tech, we can’t fix any of that. We can’t fix people telling you you’re lazy even though you’re working a full-time job and going to school and trying to balance career furthering clubs and internships on top of that. We can’t fix your anxious or depressed thoughts (we do highly recommend that, if you are having anxious or depressed thoughts, or if you’re just feeling overwhelmed, that you visit the Health and Wellness Center, or your own doctor to get the help you need). We can’t fix the fact that you are highly educated and still terrified about going out into the job world. What we can tell you is that you’re not alone. We are all terrified. We are all anxious. We are all struggling through this. And we are almost all willing to help. We have yet to meet a Millennial who won’t sit down and drink some rosé or craft beer with you and commiserate about the trials and tribulations of navigating your 20s. There are also multiple Ted Talks and podcasts that talk about being a Millennial and give you tips and tricks on how
to interview, what to look for in jobs or internships and tell you how to figure out what you what to do for the rest of your life. One of our favorite podcasts at the Arka Tech is a podcast called “Millennial.” This podcast was started in 2015 by Megan Tan, who had recently graduated college and was moving back home and facing unemployment. This podcast is “about what no one really teaches you— how to navigate your 20s.” Tan’s podcast covers everything from job offers to relationship issues to money to figuring out what the heck you want to do with the rest of your life. You can check out the podcast at millennialpodcast.org. The Arka Tech just wants you to understand you’re not alone. We’ve all been down, or are going down, that road where you’re working, you’re going to school and you’re trying to balance your social life, and figuring out how to do your taxes, and wondering if you can ignore the fact that your vision has been blurry for a week because you can’t afford a doctor’s visit. You are not alone. And there are resources that can help you. You are always welcome to shoot us an email at arkatech@atu.edu. If no one else will, we will commiserate with you over avocado toast and La Croix.
vere depression rose by 58 percent,” according to an article by Alice G. Walton, a contributor to Forbes, citing a study done by the CDC. “About 48 percent of those who spent five or more hours a day on their phones—a lot of time by any measure—had thought about suicide or made plans for it, vs. 28 percent of those who spent only one hour per day on their phones.” If depression wasn’t bad enough,
cell phone usage before bed may also disrupt your sleep. The blue wavelength of light emitted by your phone suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep, causing the users’ circadian rhythm to be off. This leads to restless nights and less REM sleep than normal. REM sleep is considered the most important phase of sleep. The trouble comes when blue light is viewed within 2 hours of the users’ normal bedtime. “Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that those who used the tablets while wearing orange goggles, which filter blue light, had higher levels of melatonin than those who either used the tablets without goggles on or, as a control, with bluelight goggles on. The harm caused by blue light has been replicated over and over. ” I personally use my cell phone several hours a day. In fact, I was looking back and forth at it while typing this article. In the world today it seems almost impossible to set the phone down, but for the sake of our health we all need to recognize too much screen time does not come without its consequences.
Smartphones are amazing, amazingly bad for you
DALE QUAID
Staff Writer
Technology has intertwined its self into our everyday lives. So much so that it is becoming part of our culture. Too much of a good thing of course is never good; the same is true with the greatest invention of the century—the cell phone. The cell phone used to only make calls but from a remote location, but now making calls is only a small percentage of what the modern cell phone can do. People have become inseparable from their phones, which have become an all in one media tool. “Fully 92 percent of American adults own a cellphone, including the 67 percent who own a smartphone,” according the Pew Research Center on cell phone usage. “Their owners often treat them like body appendages. Ninein-ten cellphone owners (90 percent) say they ‘frequently’ carry their phone with them, while 6 percent say they ‘occasionally’ have their phones with them. Just 3 percent say they only ‘rarely’ have their cellphones with them and 1 percent of cellphone owners say they ‘never’ have their phone with them.”
According to comScore, the average adult used their cell phone an average of 2 hours and 51 minutes per day. All of that cell phone usage must have a negative effect on its users; and indeed it does. Depression and anxiety have been on the rise, and too much screen time is the culprit. “Years 2010-2015, found that girls were particularly at risk: Their suicide rate rose by 65 percent in those five years. The number of girls with se-
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
Campus 3 arkatechnews.com
MAN ON THE STREET WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PARKING ON CAMPUS?
“I think it's very good. The way we do it here is way cheaper for universities than where I'm from.” Aziz Almarri Mechanical Engineering
Kuwait
“It is troublesome. At Turner we have to share a lot with the larger dorms so I don't even leave campus during the week cause i don't want to lose my spot.” Brittney Oliver Graphic Design
Mayflower
HANNAH BUTLER/THE ARKA TECH "Light the Night" took place on April 11 allowing different cultures to mix and be shared with the Tech campus.
'Light the Night'
MARY MASSIRER
Staff Writer
There is one night of the year that always seems to draw a crowd. It lights up campus with cultures from all around the world including China, Japan, Nepal, India, Germany, Mexico and many other countries. This event is known as Light the Night and it recently took place on April 11. The International and Multicultural Student Services hosted this event to showcase all the different cultures represented on campus and to enrich the knowledge of students and staff on campus. Participants were given the opportunity to learn
about other countries and hear from students and staff that actually originated from these countries. There was also free food from each booth showcasing traditional food eaten in each country. Along with the food, the henna tattoos seemed to be a huge hit. This is a removable tattoo that features many different designs usually on the hand. It is mostly practiced in parts of southern and eastern Asia and parts of Africa. People could also choose to participate in a guided tour, which provided quick facts about various countries. Music could be heard from all ends of campus and kids excitedly ran around as crowds of
people flocked from booth to booth. This is an exciting time for the people of Arkansas Tech to show off their country with pride. Lin, who is an accounting student at Tech, said, “I’m from China so it would be my privilege to represent and promote our culture.” For many students like Lin, it is exciting to showcase something that fellow peers and staff may not have ever heard before. Lin is originally from Guangzhou, China so it is extra special for her to display the country she was born in. Students also seemed to enjoy this event and it was repeatedly said by Light the Night goers that this is one of the best events on campus.
SGA
From Page 1
“I don't really have an issue with it. I don't mind walking.” Maxwell Higgins Mechanical Eneineering
Greenwood
“It's crazy, really busy and hard to find a spot.” Patricia Tovar English Education
Russellville
“During the week, I can almost never find a spot close to my dorm.” Michael Tompkins Art Education
Springdale
“It can be challenging to find a spot but walking doesen't bother me, except when it's raining.” Olivia Karnes Rehabilitation Science West Fork
Diversity and Inclusion, the Department of Public Safety, and the City of Russellville.” Although the acts of vandalism happened off-campus, the organization is taking steps to better the safety of apartment complexes for students and the community. “In our meetings with the mayor, we’ve talked about security in housing around the city,” said Smith. “He reaffirmed to us of some of the new projects for more college-friendly student housing that will be equipped with more security needs that students are looking for.” “We brought this issue to SGA because they are known to help and support Tech students in many situations, and I’m really thankful for what they have done and what they will continue to do regarding these situations,” said Turki AlKhaldi, international student and SGA senator. “Our entire senate felt it was important we show support for international students here at Tech because they are such a big part of our community, and we love having them here,” said Smith. “We had our international student senator reach out to the International Student Services department, and all they really wanted was to know that we supported them.” No suspects have been found regarding this case. If you have any information on these incidents, please contact the Department of Public Safety.
WES HERMAN/THE ARKA TECH ATU athletics supporters and donors gathered for the official presentation.
Opening ceremony held for multi-sports complex WES HERMAN
Contributing Writer Arkansas Tech University held a dedication ceremony for its multi-sports complex on Saturday, April 14. ATU athletics supporters and donors gathered for the official presentation on Saturday morning, as well as several sports teams, coaches, cheerleaders and the band were in attendance. The Multi-Sports Complex is located just beyond Tech Field’s outfield wall on North Glenwood Avenue. The complex will offer indoor practice space for ATU athletics. Dr. Robin Bowen, president of the university, said preparation is a key component in a successful athletic program. “Trophies are won on the field and in the courts of play, but they are earned on the relative solitude of the practice field,” said Bowen. The 19,600 square-foot complex will be used by ATU baseball, softball, golf and tennis programs. It will also house coach’s offices, a physical training room, a conference room and a baseball locker room. ATU athletic director, Steve Mullins, said the complex will give student athletes and coaches an advantage in preparing for
competition. He also said the complex is one of the finest of its kind in college sports. “I can promise you there are many, many Division I programs that would love to have a facility like this,” said Mullins. The $3.86 million indoor sports facility was funded by private donations and university reserves. Among those recognized for their donations, were the late Col. Carl F. Baswell and family, Rick and Harriet Thone, Centennial Bank and Frank Griffin Oil Company, Inc. The ATU Multi-Sport Complex will replace the Stroupe building, which served the same function before being demolished last month. The complex also marks the completion of the first facility that has been planned and constructed during the tenure of Dr. Bowen. Matthew Smith, ATU Student Government Association president, said that Tech athletics is a rallying point for students, alumni and the community. “The new multi-sports complex is a beautiful addition to our campus,” said Smith. “I know our student athletes are excited about this new chapter for athletics here at Tech and I know the rest us are ready to cheer them on.”
DANCE From Page 1 said. The program will also feature music from around the world. “We’ve practiced our butts off and put in a lot of work,” Nelson said. “It’s going to be one of the biggest and most exciting shows yet.” The dance company is a collection of students
that want to showcase their talents, improve their techniques and just have a good time, according to Anderson. “It’s been my own little baby for the last four years and watching it grow and improve and seeing all the people come and go has been a real moving experience for me.”
It is welcome to all students, “the tryout process is mostly just for the coaches to see where you are at, and find room for improvement.” They mainly focus on contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, jazz and ballet. The organization is “here to promote dancing, advocate local
dancers, and spread our choreography around the world,” according to their social media platforms. To support the company or find practice times, contact them on TheLink, at ATU Dance Company, practices are held Tuesday through Saturday every week.
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
4 Sports arkatechnews.com
Golden Suns win another conference series on the road DANIEL TURNER
Staff Writer
The Golden Suns softball team took three out of the four games this past Sunday and Monday on the road against the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms. The first game on Sunday was a great pitching performance by Cabot native Megan Goodnight and the Sun’s offense. Tech took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Goodnight, scoring Paty Loredo from Fort Worth, Texas in the first. Then in the fourth, Loredo hit a two RBI double to score Sarah Coronado, of Frisco, Texas, and Ashton Sangster, of Van Buren, to give Tech a 3-0 lead. The Suns took the first game of the series 3-0 behind a complete game one-hitter by Goodnight. That win gave Goodnight her thirteenth win in the pitching circle. Goodnight walked two and struck out three. In the night cap on Sunday, both offenses got on a role. Tech took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Tulsa, Oklahoma native Makenzie Addis, scoring Paige Mendoza, from Fort Smith, in the top of the first. UAM then scored one in the first and two in the second to give them a 3-1 lead. The Golden Suns tied the game at three in the top of the third after Coronado singled home Goodnight, and Sangster was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Addis. Then, in that same inning, Bailey Bunch, from Mena, singled home Coronado and Sydnie Henson, from Greenwood, to put the Suns back up 5-3. In the fifth, Tech scored two runs on a sacrifice by Sangster, scoring Addis. Then Bunch scored Coronado on a fielding error to extend the Suns’s lead 7-4. The Cotton Blossoms scored six runs in the bottom half of the inning and the Golden Suns split the doubleheader on Sunday. On the first game, the Suns offense exploded. The scoring started in the second inning when Sangster hit a solo homerun to put Tech up 1-0. Then in the third, Mendoza doubled home Bunch. Then in that same inning, Coronado singled home Mendoza and Sangster, putting the Golden Suns up 4-0. In the fourth, Tech scored six runs starting with Loredo hitting a sacrifice fly, scoring Henson. Then the next batter, Mendoza, doubled home Bunch and Addis. Also, in that same inning, Sangster hit a two-run homerun, scoring
RICCI LOGAN/THE ARKA TECH Kristen Dempsey, of Benton, pitched a complete game, only giving up five hits, one run, which was earned, walked one and struck out five. Dempsey improved her win total to nine. Mendoza, and the big inning was capped off with a solo homerun by Coronado to put them up 10-0. The Cotton Blossoms were only able to score one run and the Golden Suns won in a run-rule shortened game, 10-1, in five innings. Goodnight got her second complete game victory of the weekend, improving her win total to 14. Goodnight only gave up three hits, one earned run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out two. The Golden Suns carried that momentum into the nightcap and final game of the series. The scoring started in the second inning when Henson singled home Coronado to give a Tech a 1-0 lead. In the fifth inning, the Golden Suns scored six runs starting with Loredo hitting a sacrifice fly, scoring Ashley Maeder, of Plano, Texas. Then Mendoza scored Bunch on a fielding error. Also, in that inning, Coronado hit a two run single, scoring Goodnight and Mendoza. Then Janie Knowles, of Celina, Texas, hit a two run double scoring Sangster and Coronado to cap off the huge inning. In the seventh inning, Knowles doubled home Coronado to make the score 8-0, Tech leading. The Cotton Blossoms scored one run in the seventh and Tech won
the series finale 8-1. Kristen Dempsey, of Benton, pitched a complete game, only giving up five hits, one run, which was earned, walked one and struck out five. Dempsey improved her win total to nine. The Golden Suns now sit alone at second in the GAC standings at 25-9 in GAC play. They will now come back home to take on conference leader Southern Arkansas for a four-game series on Friday/Saturday at Chartwells Sports Complex.
2018 GAC Women's Softball Standings Southern Arkansas
31-3
Arkansas Tech
24-9
Southeastern Oklahoma
22-11
Harding
19-15
Henderson State
18-16
Southern Nazarene
15-16
Ouachita
15-19
East Central
15-19
Oklahoma Baptist
12-19
Northwestern Oklahoma State
10-24
Southwestern Oklahoma State
9-22
ArkansasMonticello
7-24
Tennis enters campionship seeded at No.3 TIFFANY WEBSTER
Contributing Writer
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns tennis team defended their home courts this past week as they took on Harding University and Henderson State University. The team swept the competition in an effort to get ready for the Great American Conference Women’s Tennis Championship that starts at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, in Bentonville. On April 12 the team won in a close match against Harding University. The Golden Suns took a 2-1 lead after winning doubles as they headed into their singles matches. Teresa Sanchez won the first singles match despite her loss of the first set, 6-0. Annabel Rowlands and Kami Ward also
secured a court victory during singles which put the team in the winning position for the match. The teams second victory last week was against Henderson State University on Saturday, April 14. The team swept the doubles matches by winning all three courts. This gave the team a 3-0 lead going into the singles matches. Henderson State got on the board as they took the victory on the first two singles courts. But later, Teresa Sanchez and Kami Ward answered the Henderson team by sweeping their competition away, while Anabel Rowlands and Katie Harris battled it out on their courts to win in a third-set. This put the team in the winning position with a final score of 7-2. The Golden Suns will now com-
pete in the Great American Conference Championships seeded at No. 3. As the team gets ready for conference, Abby Davis, head coach of the Golden Suns tennis team, said, “we are feeling good and we are excited to go. We have pretty high expectations and we believe we will make it pretty far.” The team is also ready for a great conference and excited to represent the university. “We are excited to get the opportunity to go play,” said Kami Ward, bio-medical major from Hot Springs, and student athletic for the tennis team. “This team has worked really hard together and we have a lot of depth together.” The conference will start Thursday, April 19 and the finals will be held on Saturday, April 21, in Bentonville.
More sports on page 8
ABROAD From Page 1 don’t know what I’m going to do when I return to the States with an empty bank account, supposed to move across the country to start grad school, but that’s a problem I knew I’d face before leaving the country. I had to decide if the struggle would be worth it. It’s a terrifying predicament, but it has forced me to grow up and learn how to solve my issues. Studying abroad can also be horrendously lonely, especially at first. I have a lot of co-dependency issues with my friends. I was used to doing almost everything with my close friends and seeing them pretty much every day. It has been difficult to see my friends hang out without me or invite each other places I can’t go. Honestly, my friends could pass each other in the hall and I’d get jealous. What makes it worse
is that I also struggle with social anxiety. I’ve made new friends now, but I’ve also spent many nights alone in my room wishing I had someone to spend time with. Even still, it’s hard when my best friend has a play or an important interview or has accomplished something fantastic and I’m not there to lend support, and being seven hours ahead means I’m usually asleep for most of their day. There are a lot of other struggles and sacrifices, too. I’m graduating later than anticipated. I miss my cat. I’ve reverted to living in a dorm after sharing an apartment with my best friend. I can’t eat some of my favorite foods. I had a hard time picking which grad school I wanted to go to because I couldn’t visit the campuses. I could go on and on and on. A lot of these may seem little, but when
you add them all together they create something bigger. It is important for me to note that nothing could make me regret my decision to study abroad. I adore my classes and my free time and the culture and the growth I’ve already experienced. I am thrilled to be here, but I also refuse to be dismissed as merely “lucky” because that not only diminishes my accomplishments and my struggles, but it sends the wrong idea to people who dream of studying abroad. It is tough. It was tough before leaving, it was tough upon arrival, and it will remain tough, because life is tough no matter where you live, but it is amazing and if you want to study abroad, you can make it happen and you will revel in the days you spend abroad, both the good and the bad.
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
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 General email: arkatech@atu.edu Ads email: arkatech.ads@atu.edu
facebook.com/arkatechnews/ @arkatechnews
CoEditor-in-Chiefs: AMBER APPLEBY AMBER QUAID Online Editor: BRUCE THOMAS Sports Photographer: RICCI LOGAN
Entertainment Writer: GABBI CALABRESE SportsWriter: NOAH DELASHAW News Writer: HANNAH BUTLER Cartoonist: GEORGE CLARK Layout Assistant: KIERRA HILDRETH Staff Writers: DALE QUAID JORDAN CLARK SHELBY ARNOLD DANIEL TURNER MARY MASSIRER Faculty Advisor: TOMMY MUMERT
Feature 5 arkatechnews.com
TURKI ALKHALDI
MOHOMMAD ALSUROURI
FABIANA ALVES DO MONTE
EMILY AMOS
WILLIAM ANDERSON
KRISTIN ANDREWS
JILLIAN BALL
KAILA BOWEN
MOLLIE BREWER
GABRIELL CALABRESE
HAILEY CANADA
MELISSA CARMACK
MARANDA COFFEY
SAVANNAH DYE
KAELYN GREER
ALLISON HOLLOWAY
Arkansas Tech University
Who's Who 2017-2018
AMANDA CONDON
EMILY FREE
JAELYN HERREA
BLAKE HURLEY
ALYSSA KOOL
SETH MAYS
SETH MCCAMMON
BROOKE MILLER
COLLIN MOORE
MONIQUE MORRIS
MALIK OLIVER
ZACHARY PAQUET
AMBER QUAID
TY REASNOR
DANIEL RIVERA
MATTHEW SMITH
ANNA STARK
KATIE TRAN
LANTWAN TRAYLOR
WILLIAM WELCH
LAUREN KECK
WILLIAM REYES
CHANDLER TACKETT
ARIYANA WOODSON
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
6 Entertainment arkatechnews.com
La Plaza: food, service inconsistent
Not the worst but also not the best AMBER APPLEBY
Editor-in-chief
La Plaza is a fairly new Mexican restaurant in Russellville. It’s located on Arkansas Avenue, toward Dardanelle, right across from Old Post BBQ and that Subway. The building doesn’t look like much because it’s fairly small and puts you in the mind of just a little house. Inside, the walls are painted in various bright shades from green to fuchsia. They even have little potted (fake) succulents, which I love. I was seated quickly and began pursuing the menu. The first thing I ordered was cheese dip, mostly because I just really love cheese dip and it’s usually a good indication of how the rest of the meal will be at a Mexican restaurant. So, out came my chips and salsa. The waitress took my order and then she disappeared. I probably got my cheese dip five minutes
later, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you’re sitting there dying for cheese dip—it feels like six years. The salsa was sort of sweet. Normally, salsa has several different kinds of spices in it, usually with some onions and cilantro. This salsa was lacking in spices. It was mostly just sweet tomatoes. And I hate tomatoes. Although, I will say, when I really stirred the salsa, it was better. Not great, but better. It was the same with the cheese dip. It was sort of bland, until I stirred it. What I did really enjoy about the cheese dip was that I could really taste the poblano peppers they have diced up in there. It was really good. Again, after I had stirred it up. About 20 minutes later, my food finally got to the table. I ordered carnitas, which are pork tips which have been simmered in an array of spices until they are pot roast-like consis-
GOODREADS.COM
6
/10
AMBER APPLEBY/THE ARKA TECH Carnitas, pork tips simmered in an array of spices. served with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole and sour cream. tency. The carnitas came with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole and sour cream. I love carnitas. They’re one of my favorite things to get at Mexican restaurants, which is saying a lot because I don’t generally like pork at all. These carnitas were dry in places. In some places, they were absolutely the perfect consistency and it fell apart in my mouth. But, in others, it was tough and kind of hard.
The rice and beans were yummy. But they weren’t anything to write home about. The one thing that was absolutely spectacular was the guacamole. I love guacamole. It is hands down my favorite thing ever to eat. And this guacamole was wonderful. It was filled with spices, but not so much that it overpowers the avocado taste that I love. There was even a
bright pop of citrus that most guacamole is missing. It was delicious. The waitress was nice, but unobtrusive to the point of absence. I won’t say that this was the worst experience I have ever had at a Mexican restaurant because they would be an extreme exaggeration. I will say there are Mexican restaurants that I can have a more pleasant experience at in town.
Decent service, delicious food but a bit pricy AMBER QUAID
Editor-in- chief
Editor's Note: These food reviews were done at two seperate times, on two different days, to give the reader a better feel of the restaurant overall. La Plaza is almost too easy to miss. In fact, I almost drove right past it because I thought it was a house. However, the parking lot right next to it is big and offers in and out driveways, which were nice. The stairs at restaurants in Russellville seem to be odd and this one fit that bill. The first two steps are fine but watch the last two— they’re a doozy. Once I was able to safely make my way into the restaurant I found that the atmosphere was cozy with a hint of Spanish décor. The look was fun without being tacky. I was able to examine the restaurant effectively because the one person up front was busy helping a cus-
tomer check out and we had to wait for him to be seated. This one gentleman had to ring up customers, greet and seat customers and was also our waiter, so I’ll forgive his initial rude comment to “give him a moment,” in an irritated tone. Once I was seated, his tone changed a bit; it went more robotic and less irritated. He brought me my drink right away, unsweet tea, and I ordered a bowl of cheese dip to start off with (if you’ve read my other reviews this is how I test the standards of the restaurant). The salsa (served with chips) here was flavorful with spices and slightly chunky, I fell in love with it. The cheese dip was right on par with the salsa, yum, yum, yum. When I mixed the two, perfection. Needless to say I was humming the first five minutes I was there. Service was quick and spot on, though he did ask if everything “tasted well” a few too many times for
AMBER QUAID/THE ARKA TECH Carnitas, crispy pork on the outside and tender pork on the inside. my liking (he asked all eight times he came to the table and again when I went to pay). Though the carnitas (pork) I ordered for my main meal were delicious and needed no question to see the answer. I almost licked my plate when I was done. The carnitas were cooked perfectly. They were crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the in-
side with just enough fat to cook nicely. They also had a large portion size, which made the $9.89 price they asked for them more than reasonable. They were served with Spanish style rice (this was the weak part of the plate but it was edible), refried beans, corn tortillas and side garnishes of guacamole, sour cream, cilantro and lettuce. This meal was so large that I left
9
/10
complaining I ate too much but couldn’t stop because it was so good. Because of the quick service, the quaint atmosphere and the delicious food I would recommend this place for lunch and dinner. At $10 for the plate of food, $3 for the cheese dip and $2 for the tea, a good $15 lunch may be pricy but it would make two meals easy and the taste is worth every cent.
Clichéd, but readable AMBER APPLEBY
Editor-in-chief
I wanted to read this book because I saw a trailer for the movie of the same name that’s coming out later this year (in August). Mandy Moore is in the trailer, and I loved Mandy Moore, so I knew I would want to see the movie, which meant I had to read the book first. I was slightly disappointed, but unsurprised. “The Darkest Minds,” by Alexandra Bracken, follows the story of just turned 10-year-old Ruby Daly. Ruby, like almost everyone left in her generation, has special powers. She can read minds and, sometimes, erase memories. Ruby is what’s known as an Orange. All of the Oranges have some sort mind control power; the Blues can move things with their minds; the Reds can control fire; the Yellows can manipulate electricity; and the Greens are hyper intelligent. Once the government figures out that the children in the country have special powers, they put them in camps. Think like the Holocaust. In the camps, the kids are sorted based on their abilities. Oranges (this almost goes without saying) are considered the most dangerous. Ruby isn’t exactly sure what she is. She’s terrified of her ability, and what she can do. But, when she convinces the tester that she’s a Green, she begins to understand that her abilities might be more complicated than she thinks. Many kids are experimented on in these camps,
(BOOK page 7)
Don’t give up now, Jason Marz spreads inspiration in music JORDAN CLARK
Staff Writer
With finals on the horizon and summer soon after, we should all be reminded that it’s okay to take a break every once in a while. This week’s artist is one that shows that hard work pays off in the long run if you pursue what you enjoy. Jason Mraz was born in 1977 and grew up in Virginia for most of his childhood. Despite his parents divorcing, Mraz still lived a comfortable life as a child. His interest in music did not kick off until he reached high school with the help of musical theater. After graduating high school, Mraz went on to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Mraz did drop out after a year and decided to pick up guitar and songwriting. He returned home eventually, but once more moved to another popular city—San Diego, California. He was drawn to the city’s history of singers and songwriters. He performed weekly at Java Joe’s, which previously hosted Jewel—a musician that Marz followed after. With his acoustics and a drummer named Noel “Toca” Rivera, who played a djembe, Mraz performed live shows of music and comedy.
WIKIPEDIA
His music soon reached outside of San Diego into the ears of Los Angeles’s record labels. Mraz signed onto Elektra Records in 2002 and set out to Virginia to write and record his debut album. This album was released in November of 2002 and named “Waiting on my Rocket to come.” The songs featured
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
on this album were a mix of his early influences of music styles, ranging from country, roots rock and coffeehouse folk. One of the songs, “Remedy (I Don’t Worry),” was co-written with the Matrix and went on to become a hit. His next album called “Tonight, Not Again” was released in 2004 after a per-
formance in the Eagles Ballroom on October 2003. This kept fans holding on to him until he released “Mr. A-Z.” However, his popularity reached a whole new high with his 2008 release: “We sing, We Dance, We Steal Things.” This album holds the most familiar song of Mraz’s songs—“I’m Yours.” Which became of one his most recognizable songs. This artist allowed himself to take a breather every once in a while, which is shown in his three year break between his third and fourth studio albums: “Live on Earth” in 2009 and “Love is a Four Letter Word” in 2012. Mraz returned in 2014 with the album “Yes!” The following year, Mraz was featured in Sara Bareilles’s “What’s Inside: Songs from ‘Waitress’” in the songs “Bad Idea” and “You Matter to Me” from her musical “Waitress.” Mraz decided to make a Broadway debut in 2017 with the musical for a ten-week run. Mraz’s music is nothing more than inspiring, sending words of comfort and support to listeners. This year, he is doing a tour, starting May 18 to September 15. With that said, don’t give up now college students and graduates, for you have the support here and now.
Entertainment 7 arkatechnews.com
FX’s Legion is a mutant metaphor for mental illness SHELBY ARNOLD
Staff Writer
There is something special about FX’s TV show “Legion.” The show burst onto the now Disney owned channel late February of last year and has become something much different for something produced by Marvel Television. The show, now in its second season, tells the story of David Haller (“Downton Abbey’s” Dan Stevens), an extremely powerful mutant with a whole slew of powers fueled by the mutant x gene he got from his father. In the comic books, he’s the son of Professor Xavier. In the TV show, it’s a bit more ambiguous. Either way you slice it though, David is a mutant, a possibly dangerous one at that. The show basically revolves around David trying to rid himself of the shadowy mutant Amal Farouk (Navid Negahban) who basically makes his life a living hell. It also tells the story of the team at Summerland who saves his life and how they want to use him as weap-
on because he’s extremely powerful. All his life, David is different and not just because he’s a mutant who can destroy the world. David is mentally ill. Mental illness is a slippery slope for the television landscape. In fact, talking about mental illness is something that is almost taboo in our society but “Legion” is changing the conversation and subverting typical tropes often seen in the entertainment industry. Where characters with mental illness typically are labeled the “bad guys” or their mental illness is described as “superpower,” “Legion” does no such thing. Noah Hawley, the show’s creator and writer and sometimes director has made sure to present David Haller not as a villain or even a superhero. Yes, David is a mutant but Hawley and Stevens have made sure to separate David’s powers from his illness thus giving a bit of a voice to those who suffer bipolar and schizophrenia and what they go through in their lives. While some people have an issue
and, once they figure out they can’t control them, all of the Oranges, Reds and Yellows are removed from Ruby’s camp and eliminated. Eventually, Ruby gets broken out of camp, escapes from the people who broke her out and hooks up with a band of kids trying to find the Slip Kid, who can supposedly get kids back to the parents they were taken from without the government knowing. Along the way, the band of thieves runs into more than one problem—the
with “Legion’s” handling of mental illness, it’s definitely worth noting that it’s a much more accessible TV show than something like “Jessica Jones” that is only available on a paid service with a limited audience. It’s also worth noting that though there are still those notable tropes, “Legion” is still tackling something that isn’t often seen and doing it in a creative way that not only draws people in but also gets them thinking and talking. That’s what’s important.
If you don’t believe me, the show airs on FX on Tuesday nights at 9. It’s a lot different than most “X-Men” based stories but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your viewing. If anything, it’s worth it to watch the show to get an understanding of mental illness in a way that’s different than you’re expecting. It’s also a way to spend an hour scratching your head in confusion as you let the psychedelic storytelling of the show mess with your brain. Either way, the show is worth your time.
STAGE From Page 1 least of which being that no one but Ruby actually knows what she can do. Okay, it’s really cliché. I mean, we have a love interest (surprise), bad guys, bad guys who are worse than other bad kids, a know-it-all boy who never had a snowball’s chance of getting the girl and a little girl that the group is supposed to take care of. It’s all been done before, and, in some cases, done better. But that doesn’t necessarily change the fact that it’s a pretty good story. I
SIMPLY CASUAL
liked the love relationship that develops (although, it happened way too fast without enough build up or background) and I felt really attached to some characters. That being said, I’m sure when the movie hits the big screen later this year, I’ll end up seeing it and enjoying it better because I can actually see how awesome these powers are. Overall, it was a decent book. A typical dystopian, young adult book, and, if you like that kind of thing, you’ll love it.
of auditions, the directors sat down together and discussed whom they wanted in their casts. A potential challenge was that each actor was only allowed, at maximum, to be in two shows. Two hours after the last person auditioned, each director called their potential cast members to confirm their roles. “This experience has taught me mostly about how to maximize your time within a limited space,” said Holly Willm-
on, a theatre major who is the director of the play entitled Daddy Issues. Willmon has taken this class before, and this time she said she learned how important it is to communicate with the technical director about lights and other special effects during the performance. The “really wonderful” part, for Willmon, about directing this specific play is seeing it brought to life after reading the play two years ago, when she fell in love
with the storyline, the characters and the everyday struggle about it. The plays range from dramatic scenes to comedic scenes, showing a variety of talent from the actors and directors alike. According to Eshelman the benefits for the directors include learning “leadership skills necessary for directing.” For more information, contact the ATU Department of Communication and Journalism at (479) 964-0890.
GEORGE CLARK/THE ARKA TECH
ANSWERS from April 12
BOOK From Page 6
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
8 Sports arkatechnews.com
Wonder Boys upsets UAM twice
DANIEL TURNER
Staff Writer
The Wonder Boys picked up two huge victories against No. 15 Arkansas-Monticello Boil Weevils this past weekend at Tech Field. The first game of the series on Saturday was a marathon of a game. UAM scored first in the top of the fourth and took an early 1-0 lead. Tech then tied the game up at one on an RBI single by Britt Stroth, of Conway. Then two hitters later, Stroth scores on a wild pitch to give the Wonder Boys a 2-1 lead after four innings. Tech extended their lead in the seventh when Riley Hickerson, of Cooter, Missouri, scores Jake Harvey, of Overland Park, Kansas. Then the next batter, Mark Vaughn, of Salina, Kansas, singled home Stroth to make the score 4-1, Tech leading. The Boil Weevils tied the game up in the eighth, scoring three runs. Then, for the next five innings, both games were held scoreless. It wasn’t until the top of the fourteenth when UAM scored 12 runs in the inning and Tech dropped the first game of the series, 16-4. The night cap was a totally different story. Instead of both teams manufacturing a ton of runs, it ended being an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel. Tech scored two
runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Shane Pollard, of Arnold, Missouri, scoring Stroth. Then Phoenix, Arizona native Kyle Gibbs drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Pollard. UAM scored one run in the top of the second. Then in the fifth, Vaughn scored on a wild pitch to extend Tech’s lead back to 3-1. UAM didn’t score in the final two innings and the Wonder Boys took game two 3-1 tying up the series setting up a rubber match on Sunday afternoon. Hayes Cox, of Fayetteville, picked up his seventh win of the year, pitching a complete game giving up four hits, one run, which was earned, walked five and struck out five. In the rubber match on Sunday, the Tech offense was manufacturing runs in bunches. UAM took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the next half inning, Tech scored five starting with a two RBI double by Vaughn scoring Pollard and Stroth. Then Gibbs drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Hickerson. Also, in that inning, Harvey scored two runs on a couple of fielding errors by UAM, scoring Vaughn and Harry Gard, of Phoenix, Arizona. The Boil Weevils scored five runs in the top of the second, giving them a 6-5 lead. In the bottom half of the
RICCI LOGAN/THE ARKA TECH Mark Vaughn from Salina, Kansas, covers first base to give Arkasas-Monticello their third out. second, the scoring kept going with Gard hitting a two-run single, scoring Pollard and Stroth. Then Gibbs doubled home Vaughn to give the Wonder Boys a 8-6 lead. In the third, Hickerson singled home Stroth, then in the fourth inning Harvey singled home Cody Wescott of Phoenix, Arizona. Also, in that fourth inning, Korey Thompson, of Bryant, singled home Gibbs. Then Pollard scored Harvey on an RBI groundout. In the fifth inning, Tech scored two bases loaded walks by Harvey and Thompson, extending the Wonder Boys’ lead 14-6. UAM scored a run in the top of the seventh. Then in the top of the eighth, Hickerson scored
on a wild pitch, and the Wonder Boys took the series finale, 14-6, and the overall series against No. 15 Arkansas-Monticello. Anthony Race, of Phoenix, Arizona, picked up his third win of the year pitching four and one-third innings. Race gave up four hits, one run, which was earned, walked four and struck out two. The Wonder Boys have now won their eighth straight conference series win, improving their conference record to 18-9 in GAC play, which puts them in a tied at third with Southern Arkansas. Tech heads on the road to take on the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas in Magnolia for Friday/Saturday three game conference series.
This week in sports Thursday April 19, 2018 Tennis vs Southern Nazarene 2 p.m. Friday April 20, 2018 Baseball @ Southern Arkansas 6 p.m. Friday April 20, 2018 Women's Tennis GAC Semifinals 2 p.m. Friday April 20, 2018 Softball vs. Southern Arkansas 3 p.m. Friday April 20, 2018 Softball vs Southern Arkansas 5 p.m.
Saturday April 21, 2018 Tennis GAC Championship 2 p.m. Sunday April 22, 2018 Women's Golf @ GAC Championship
Saturday April 21, 2018 Baseball @ Southern Arkansas 2 p.m.
Sunday April 22, 2018 Men's Golf @ GAC Championship Monday April 23, 2018 Men's Golf @ GAC Championship
Saturday April 21, 2018 Baseball @ Southern Arkansas 6 p.m.
Monday April 23, 2018 Women's Golf @ GAC Championship
Saturday April 21, 2018 Softball vs. Southern Arkansas 12 p.m.
Tuesday April 24, 2018 Women's Golf @ GAC Championship
Saturday April 21, 2018 Softball vs. Southern Arkansas 2 p.m.
Tuesday April 24, 2018 Men's Golf @ GAC Championship
Player of the week • Britt Stroth, from Conway • Went 3-for-4 with a double and a run, scored last weekend, in a win against the No. 15 Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils. • Also recorded 3 hits in the final game of the series helping lift the Wonder Boys over the Boll Weevils 15-7
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
Britt
Stroth
2018 GAC Men's Baseball Standings ArkansasMonticello
21-6
Henderson State
19-8
Arkansas Tech
18-9
Southern Arkansas
17-9
Oklahoma Baptist
16-9
Southwestern Oklahoma
15-10
Harding
13-13
Southeastern Oklahoma
13-14
Northwestern Oklahoma
12-15
Southern Nazarene
7-20
Ouachita
6-21
East Central
2-25
NFL From Page 1 2017-2018 NFL season was one for the books with things like the NFL wide protest, where hundreds of the players were kneeling during the anthem, to owners and players linking up together in solitude, to Papa John’s pizza dropping the NFL claiming that the protests made their numbers go down. Colin Kaepernick has continued to kneel and says he will continue to kneel before the anthem. He makes this decision because he wants his message to continue to stand strong through all the things that have tried to keep him held back. The narrative has been heard hundreds of times about not wanting politics in sports. “We do not want to watch if it’s going to be a social issue fest.” It is 2018 and people need to be aware of the problems that are ongoing in this country. NFL teams will not pick him up because they do not want to have someone who brings attention to an ongoing issue that could potentially bring down the team in terms of sales and views. The Seattle Seahawks recently cancelled workouts with Kaepernick
because when asked about kneeling he said he would continue to kneel until there was justice. Colin Kaepernick remains sidelined by these NFL teams because the NFL is righteous and wants to do what is right. The definition of righteous, according to Webster, is “morally right or justifiable; virtuous.” These NFL teams claim to do what is best for their teams and for their own image to hold a good upstanding. Colin Kaepernick remains sidelined because of his choice to bring attention to an ongoing issue in our country. Who is really doing the morally right thing? Just this week Adidas announced they want to give Kaepernick a big endorsement deal if he can get onto a team. There are some teams who have no reason to sign Colin Kaepernick, but there are plenty of teams who are in dire need of an experienced and talented quarterback who overlook Kaepernick due to his stance. A question I ask myself is how different would this situation look like if this was Tom Brady protesting for protecting gun rights?