CRITICAL GREED THEORY | A 2021 MUSIC ROUNDUP | COVID ETIQUETTE
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THE HARLEM QUARTET: At Ron Robinson Theater in September.
FEATURES
25 TACO ‘BOUT IT
Surveying local taco trucks for all the birria and barbacoa we can handle. By Austin Bailey, Rachael Borné, Rhett Brinkley, Guy Lancaster, Lindsey Millar, Stephanie Smittle and Jason Woods
40 MAKING METH
“Breaking Bad,” the Henderson State University version. By Debra Hale-Shelton and Benjamin Hardy, Arkansas Nonprofit News Network
9 THE FRONT
Q&A: With Cam Patterson. The Big Pic: A tour of Little Rock’s medical marijuana dispensaries.
13 THE TO-DO LIST
A 2021 Arkansas music roundup. By Stephanie Smittle
102 COVID MANNERS
Etiquette coach Kathleen Joiner weighs in on pandemic social graces.
An anniversary for Big Silver, “A By Austin Bailey Visionary Vernacular Road Trip” at UA Little Rock, The Harlem Quartet, 104 FOOD & DRINK Mutants of the Monster, soprano Hot Springs’ Best Cafe makes good on Keely Futterer and more. its name.
20 NEWS & POLITICS
Tax cuts for the rich mean bad news for everyone else. By Ernest Dumas
81 SAVVY KIDS Two sets of twins. ON THE COVER: Laura Ochoa of Lili’s Mexican Street Food. Photography by Brian Chilson.
95 CULTURE
By Katherine Wyrick
By Rhett Brinkley
108 CANNABIZ
How a security firm and contractor outfit a building for growing medical marijuana. By Griffin Coop
114 THE OBSERVER
The rewards of rural skygazing. 4 SEPTEMBER 2021
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PRIME TIME ON YOUR TIME! Monday: Mysteries & “Arkansas Week”
Tuesday: Culture and Heritage
Wednesday: Best of British
Thursday: Get Outside, Explore
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Download the Engage Arkansas PBS app to watch on the go.
Friday: Science “NOVA” “Plants Behaving Badly”
“Native America” “Lucy Worsley’s Royal Myths & Secrets”
“Wonders of Mexico”
“Secrets of the Six Wives”
“Exploring Arkansas”
WAYS TO WATCH
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THE FRONT Q&A
COVID AND CONCERT CROWDS A Q&A WITH UAMS CHANCELLOR CAM PATTERSON.
UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson’s name usually sits next to words like “cardiologist” or “Emory University School of Medicine.” Or, next to tweets that, for many Arkansans, have come to sound like a voice of reason in an environment otherwise cluttered with vitriol and disinformation. But Patterson is also an avid music lover and a musician himself. Here, he weighs in on how to navigate concerts (and social life) safely alongside the delta variant’s rampage through the South.
of the delta variant that was impacting other parts of the world. And that unfortunately just didn’t happen. This [virus] doesn’t give you a break because you have really good taste in music.
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What can venues do to make the biggest impact? Would you like to see live music venues asking for vaccination cards at the door? Or canceling concerts altogether? I hope we can find a way to do this safely. Governor Hutchinson has been very clear in his view that this is a matter of personal The images of the crowds at Phish at the responsibility, and I hope business owners Walmart AMP were hard to see. Instead of take personal responsibility, too. You know, the triumphant, liberating return to safe live asking people if they have been vaccinated or music we daydreamed about from quaranhave had a negative COVID test recently is tine in summer 2020, there’s an air of dread what they need to do to be responsible, and about this autumn’s live music events. they have the liberty and power to do that. When is a concert crowd too big for our Since we are eschewing mandates from govcurrent moment? Given our transmission ernment institutions, maybe mandates from rates and the nature of the delta variant, businesses will be the key to getting those what size of crowd makes you nervous to who are vaccine-hesitant to realize, hey, maysee outdoors? Indoors? Or am I thinking be this is the right thing to do. … I still think AGE: 58 about it all wrong by thinking about it in that we can leave our houses responsibly. terms of crowd size? The rules of the road Maybe by demonstrating responsible ways of HAILS FROM: L.A. (Lower Alabama) for good behavior in a grocery store or a hair doing that, we’ll convince people who haven’t salon apply to music venues, too. We still been quite as responsible that they need to NUMBER OF INSTRUMENTS OWNED: five need to be six feet apart from people around get on board. I also think you can walk up mandolins, four lap steels and 15-ish guitars, us. We still need to be wearing masks. And to a venue and decide not to go in. There’s including a “Mexican Telecaster that’s gold if we’re not able to do that, the crowd’s too nothing wrong with that. Another thing busiwith sparkles and makes me sound like Keith big. And I hate to say it, but until we know nesses could do would be to tell concertgoers Richards” that everyone is vaccinated, it’s just not safe that, you know, “If you don’t feel safe here, for us to be closer than that. It’s always conwe’ll give you your money back.” They should cerning to me that if you have a free-spirited not just be guaranteeing you a good musievent where there may be some alcohol involved, people may let their cal experience. They should also be guaranteeing you a safe musical guard down, and that’s precisely what creates superspreader events. experience. Just like family gatherings, just like going to church, concerts can be superspreader events if we’re not careful. Have you found moments to listen to music this year? What album(s) are you listening to right now? Of course I listen to music. I was listenI know that you’re a musician, and that you know a lot of fellow muing to the new Sleater-Kinney and I have to tell ya, if Janet Weiss were sicians. What have you heard from them during the pandemic? Most still playing drums in the band, it would have been their best album. I working musicians I know are in an impossible situation: They’re really miss her. ... You know, music hasn’t stopped. I definitely have to vaccinated and want to play shows responsibly, but can’t afford to give a shout-out to the Low Cut Connie album, which is live covers from cancel tours or shows without some sort of safety net in place. It’s their pandemic shows that they did over the internet. I think it’s a great the hardest thing, isn’t it? What’s really made this worse for my friends, way to memorialize what we all went through. Music keeps us alive. who are used to traveling nationally and internationally and playing gigs, is that they made plans three months ago, when we were all very —Stephanie Smittle optimistic that people would get vaccinated and we would get ahead Find the full interview at arktimes.com/rock-candy.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 9
THE FRONT BIG PIC
THE BAKE SALE IS ON Hashing out the Little Rock area’s medical marijuana dispensary scene. BY LEW GASNIER
The ramp-up to opening Arkansas’s medical Mary Jane industry may have been longer than Methuselah’s beard, but we’ve finally got a quorum of weed boutiques in greater Little Rock. Cardholders, blaze through a tour of the capital city’s finest greenery with help from the guide below. You’ll find the inventory similar from dispensary to dispensary, but each spot’s got its own style, setup and specials.
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Native Green Wellness (1) 26225 Arkansas Highway 167, Hensley If you’ve ever wanted to step out into the blazing sun and squint out at a grain silo and a rusty red barn in rural Arkansas, unable to tell if what you’re smelling is your bag of freshly procured medical marijuana or the cow patty in the field across the road, this is your chance. When we visited Hensley’s roadside dispensary in August of 2019, a giant glass Mason jar in the lobby offered lemon-infused water from its spigot — just above a home decor sign that read “hey y’all” in cursive — and an impeccably dressed elderly woman in the waiting room confessed coyly to the receptionist that this was her first visit. A little like being at Grandma’s house, but with weed. 10 SEPTEMBER 2021
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Good Day Farm (2) 900 South Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock With a sunlit lobby and a wall-sized slogan that reads “Plants > Pills,” Good Day Farm wraps its patrons in chill vibes before they’ve even made a purchase. Inside, when we last visited, shelves were lined with a kaleidoscope of bright edible gummies and dispensarybranded camo hats, while J. Cole’s “K.O.D.” bumped through speakers overheard. It’s slated for an eventual move to a shopping plaza at 11600 Chenal Parkway, but competes (formidably) with the prices at nearby Curaleaf for the foreseeable future. Bonus: Good Day Farm has both a dispensary arm and a medical marijuana cultivation operation, so you can get sweet deals on the strains they grow themselves.
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Native Green Wellness (3) 3720 Cantrell Road, Little Rock Can every dispensary in The Natural State be this cleverly stylish, please? Rihanna reigns over a “Girls Love Flowers”-themed collage in the women’s restroom, the sales floor wall is carpeted in lush fake foliage, and the hallway is decorated with stately portraits of stoner royalty with accompanying quotes. Maya Angelou presides over a giggly excerpt from “Gather Together in My Name,” while Ralph Waldo Emerson exhorts visitors to consider, “What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered,” and Snoop Dogg ruminates on his stash — “I got the Rolly on my arm and I’m pouring Chandon. And I roll the best weed cause I got it going on.”
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Curaleaf (4) 7303 Kanis Road, Little Rock Curaleaf has kept much of the science nerd decor that its predecessor Herbology ushered in when revamping the former Joubert’s Tavern space for an opening in February 2020. (Were we ever so young?) A glowing display case on the sales floor props up a copy of Michael Pollan’s “The Botany of Desire,” and a med school-style wall hanging nearby illustrates the endocannabinoid system. Curaleaf abandoned Herbology’s I Heart Jane online ordering system in favor of a platform called Dutchie, but you can expect the same generous loyalty points that garnered lots of repeat customers for the dispensary during the early days of the pandemic.
Natural Relief Dispensary (5) 3107 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood Though we’re still sore at them for ditching the righteous specials on whole ounces of flower they offered briefly during their pandemicadjacent grand opening, we’ll forgive Natural Relief in light of its many other virtues: ample parking, robust staffing for swift entry and exit, a huge showroom for adequate social distancing, a cute selection of topicals and tinctures, and rotating weekly specials. Bonus points for the dispensary’s charitable outreach; in July, its employee volunteer program cooked dinner for the homeless and near-homeless families at Our House and hosted a tiedye craft night at Little Rock’s Women and Children First shelter.
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BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE Vax up, mask up and support your local creatives however you can. As more and more artists — and local venues — move toward requiring proof of vaccination, make sure you have that card ready to go. Gathering safely these days is hard; be on the lookout for policy changes or date changes, and handle them with all the grace you can summon.
MUTANTS OF THE MONSTER
FRIDAY 9/10-SUNDAY 9/12. VINO’S, DREAMLAND BALLROOM. FREE-$97.
JIHAD ABDUL SABUR
This growing heavy music fest helmed by musician and organizer Chris Terry (CT, of Rwake, Deadbird), which went virtual in 2020, is back in person this year. There will be sets at the historic Dreamland Ballroom, Vino’s Brewpub and the pop-up “Heavy Metal Parking Lot,” a free open-air concert and market between Vino’s and Art Outfitters on Saturday, Sept. 11, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., with vendors, beer, pizza, art for sale and more. Performers include John Moreland, Pallbearer, Weedeater, Adam Faucett & The Tall Grass, Sumokem, Frozen Soul, Terminal Nation, Burned Up Bled Dry, Knoll, Devourment, Pantheon, Morbid Visionz, Low Spirits, Living Sacrifice, Bask, IV and The Strange Band, Atomic Bitchwax, Joe Buck Yourself, Yautja, Rebelmatic (pictured) and more. Get tickets at lastchancerecords.com, and check for updates on showtimes and lineups by following Mutants of the Monster on Facebook and @mutantsofthemonsterfest on Instagram.
BIG SILVER 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW, ADAM FAUCETT FRIDAY 9/3. WHITE WATER TAVERN. 9 P.M. $10. If you’ve garnered half as much enjoyment as we have from the clever tunes Isaac Alexander and Brad Williams dropped this past year-and-change under the name The Eulogy Brothers, chances are you’ve already got some Big Silver in your collection — and this show on your personal calendar. Alexander, whose gift for melody will be front and center at this anniversary
show for Big Silver’s album “Love Note,” brings something along the lines of an original lineup for the occasion, plus music from the ever-enchanting Adam Faucett, and in a room that’s come to love both of their voices well. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required for admission; see White Water’s full calendar at whitewatertavern.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 13
‘SOUTHBOUND: PHOTOGRAPHS OF AND ABOUT THE NEW SOUTH,’ ‘MIGRANTES’
ADAM FERGUSON
FRIDAY 9/10-FRIDAY 12/3. WINDGATE MUSEUM OF ART AT HENDRIX COLLEGE. FREE. Two fall exhibitions open at Windgate Museum of Art on Hendrix’s campus, one of which can be viewed from an outdoor walk around the gallery. “Migrantes,” a project from New York Times photographer Adam Ferguson, places a remote control to Ferguson’s large-format camera in the hands of migrants along the Mexican border, lending “keen insights of what their migration experience is like and what put them on the path to immigration in the first place,” a release states. Curated by 2021 Hendrix grad Victor Gomez, the “Migrantes” exhibits’ 5-by-4-foot photographs are visible in Windgate’s Window Gallery at all hours. Inside, you’ll find “Southbound,” a collection of 220 photographs from 55 photographers meditating on the American South, coupled with essays, poems and other responses to the imagery. See windgatemuseum.org for more “Southbound”-adjacent programming, and note that in keeping with campus pandemic protocols, masks are required for entry to “Southbound”; “Migrantes” can be viewed from outdoors, where masks are required if appropriate distance cannot be maintained.
‘BEAUTIFUL: IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER’
This multimedia exhibition at Hearne Fine Art Gallery examines the notion of beauty through the lenses of Little Rock-based silverpoint virtuoso Marjorie WilliamsSmith and a host of artists from around the country: collage artist Phoebe Beasley of Los Angeles, the late renowned printmaker and sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, Baltimore-based painter and printmaker Latoya Hobbs, mixed media artist Artis Lane, Los Angeles-based printmaker Samella Lewis, and wire mesh sculptor Anyta Thomas. Only a few days remain in the exhibit, but check out the work at hearnefineart.com or tune in to Hearne Fine Art’s YouTube channel for archived conversations with the artists. 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
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THROUGH 9/4. HEARNE FINE ART, 1001 WRIGHT AVE. 10 A.M.-4 P.M. MON.-SAT. FREE.
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EMBASSY OF SOUND
SUNDAY 9/12. THE FLOATING LOTUS, 900 NORTH UNIVERSITY AVE. 7 P.M. $25. If there were ever a year that called for placing yourself at the hands of a gong player intent on helping you release tension and anxiety, it’s 2021, yeah? Sound therapist Daman Hoffman, with a collection of delicately tuned chimes, gongs, singing bowls and other instruments, has been leading gong baths at local yoga studios and elsewhere, lulling participants into a blissful state of meditation. Visit linktr.ee/embassyofsound to reserve a spot at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, at The Floating Lotus, $25; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Copper Well Retreat at 12418 Cantrell Road, $45; or at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Sixth House Wellness Studio at 110 W. Sixth St., $25, and follow Hoffman at @embassyofsound on Instagram for details on other sound bath events. No prior knowledge or ability is needed, a recent post assures, but do bring along your own mat, pillow, blanket and water bottle.
THE QUEBE SISTERS
TUESDAY 9/7. WOODLANDS AUDITORIUM, HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE. 7 P.M. $25.
ARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: ‘CELEBRATE LITTLE ROCK, TOGETHER’
THURSDAY 9/16. ROBINSON CENTER. 7:30 P.M. FREE. Presented in partnership with the Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association, this free performance includes selections from Dvorak’s New World Symphony, powerhouse vocalist Genine LaTrice Perez performing the music of Aretha Franklin, and the world premiere of Little Rock native and pioneering African American composer Florence Price’s own orchestration of her Piano Concerto, performed by concert pianist Karen Walwyn (pictured). “The Dunbar community is pleased to welcome the music of Florence Price back into her hometown. We’re elated about all the accolades she is receiving as an iconic Black composer from people across the country and around the world,” said Angel Burt, executive director of the Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association. Masks are required while on the property for the concert, regardless of vaccination status, and tickets will be given away Thursday, Sept. 2, on a first-come, first-served basis at 10 a.m. on the Robinson Center steps.
16 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
Armed with 15 years of turning Bob Wills’ Western Swing imprint into a polished “progressive Western Swing” sound, as they put it, Dallas-based siblings Sophia, Grace and Hulda Quebe bring their triple fiddle, threepart harmony sound to the stage at Hot Springs Village’s Woodlands Auditorium in support of their self-titled 2019 record. Get tickets at quebesisters.com.
KEELY FUTTERER: ‘ON THE HIGH C’S: A ROYAL SERENADE’
TUESDAY 9/7. ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 4106 JFK BLVD., NORTH LITTLE ROCK. 7 P.M. FREE. Coloratura soprano Keely Futterer, violinist Andrew Irvin and pianist Timothy Smith are a dream team of Arkansas classical musicians and here, they perform songs by Mozart, Fauré, Strauss, Rossini, Bachelet, Dell’Acqua and Sarasate as part of the Festival of the Senses, a free concert series at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in North Little Rock. For more information, visit stlukeepiscopal.org.
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CONWAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
FRIDAY 9/17. LAUREL PARK, 2310 ROBINSON AVENUE, CONWAY. 7:30 P.M. FREE.
“TANK HEAD” BY BUZ BLURR, 2000, MIXED MEDIA.
“You supply the picnic blanket and lawn chairs and we’ll supply the 60-piece orchestra playing all your classic favorites from Bugs Bunny to Lord of the Rings.” That’s the deal Conway Symphony Orchestra Music Director Israel Getzov wants to strike with you for this annual free outdoor concert in Conway’s Laurel Park, featuring the aforementioned crowd pleasers, “Song of the Riverman” from Arkansas composer William Grant Still’s “The American Scene” and more. Visit conwaysymphony.org for details.
‘A VISIONARY VERNACULAR ROAD TRIP,’ 34TH ANNUAL SMALL WORKS ON PAPER, BUTCH ANTHONY
THROUGH FRIDAY 10/15 AND MONDAY 9/27. BRAD CUSHMAN GALLERY, MANERS/PAPPAS AND FOCUS GALLERIES, WINDGATE CENTER OF ART AND DESIGN, UA LITTLE ROCK. 10 A.M.-4 P.M. MON.-FRI. FREE. Works on loan from 18 public and private collections in Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee and Michigan make up “A Visionary Vernacular Road Trip,” curated by UA Little Rock Art Gallery Director Brad Cushman and made up of, a release states, “non-conventional work, including folk art, outsider art, and self-taught art, created by artists not formally trained.” The series, Cushman said, “features visionary makers of pictures and sculptural objects inspired by a divine spirit, as well as seemingly ordinary people making marks and transforming commonplace materials into extraordinary art to communicate messages to a keen observer.” It’s up through Friday, Oct. 15. Also up at UA Little Rock in the Maners/ Pappas Gallery through Sept. 27 is the 34th annual Small Works on Paper, a touring exhibition of juried works from artists around the state. Finally, catch the bizarre work of Butch Anthony in the Focus Gallery through Sept. 27, an Alabama native whose 80-acre compound full of animals and outdoor art — in particular, a collection of curiosities called “the Museum of Wonder” — serves as inspiration. 18 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
HARLEM QUARTET
THURSDAY 9/23. RON ROBINSON THEATER. 7:30 P.M. $25. From the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock comes a concert from the renowned Harlem Quartet, a group of decorated string players who freely mingle Debussy with Dizzy Gillespie, Prokofiev with Tania León. Violinists Ilmar Gavilan and Melissa White, violist Jaime Amador and cellist Felix Umansky have played with Chick Corea and performed at the Obama-era White House; if you’re venturing out to indoor events these days, this one is going to stun. Get tickets at chambermusiclr.com.
BALLET ARKANSAS: MOVEMENT IN THE PARKS SATURDAY 9/25. MACARTHUR PARK. NOON AND 3 P.M. FREE.
Ballet Arkansas has been as nimble with its pandemic resourcefulness as the company is with its pirouettes and arabesques. Take, for one, this new partnership with Little Rock Parks & Recreation, in which Ballet Arkansas performs at MacArthur Park, War Memorial Park, the First Security Amphitheater at Riverfront Park and Southwest Community Center, accompanied by a series of lecture demonstrations for K-12 students. “Movement in the Parks ensures all within our community have access to worldclass dance performances in stunning outdoor settings, free of charge,” said Michael Fothergill, Ballet Arkansas’s executive and artistic director. The full schedule: noon and 3 p.m. Sept. 25 at MacArthur Park; noon and 3 p.m. Oct. 16 at Southwest Community Center; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. March 12, 2022 at Riverfront Park (within the River Market Entertainment District, which means restaurant patrons can carry libations along to the performance); and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 2, 2022, at War Memorial Park. Bring a lawn chair and keep in mind that times and dates are subject to change; follow Ballet Arkansas on Facebook and at ballet_arkansas on Instagram.
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Presented annually by Arkansas Times in conjunction with the CALS Six Bridges Book Festival
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Mara Leveritt, author of The Boys on the Tracks, Devil’s Knot, and her newest: All Quiet at Mena and more; plus several local writers and poets from the Six Bridges Book Festival Come and enjoy the company of others who value writing and expression.
Saturday, Oct. 23
Stickyz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack 107 River Market Avenue Doors open at 6, performance 7-9
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NEWS & POLITICS
GAGE SKIDMORE /CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG
CRITICAL GREED THEORY
PAST EXPERIENCE BE DAMNED, ARKANSAS REPUBLICANS PLAN TO SLASH INCOME TAXES. BY ERNEST DUMAS SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: Unlike her father, who repeatedly raised taxes while governor, Sanders says she wants to completely phase out Arkansas’s income tax.
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utumn leaves are falling, so the time nears for the next great experiment with the Critical Greed Theory of economics, which we are told will this time catapult Arkansas into the promised land of prosperity and happiness that has eluded it for two centuries. Governor Hutchinson promised to summon legislators to Little Rock this fall to slash income taxes for well-to-do citizens, bringing the rate on the richest folks down almost to the level it was before Hutchinson’s old nemesis, Dale Bumpers, raised it in 1971 from 5 to 7 percent. The two leading Republican candidates to succeed Hutchinson, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Leslie Rutledge, promise to go Asa one better and direct Republican lawmakers two years from now to totally eliminate income taxes, which currently amount to $4.3 billion a year. No one doubts that legislators will do it in a nanosecond — or the earliest that the rules allow. That would cut Arkansas’s general services — which include schools, colleges, prisons, health care and law enforcement — almost in half, perhaps more if you consider that the reduced spending on health care, education and roads could also slacken the giant federal support for the Arkansas budget, which this year is $9.5 billion. But never fear. Under Critical Greed Theory, rich people like the Waltons will be so thrilled about not paying income taxes to the state that they will go out and hire scads of people at good salaries, start new lines of products, put on more shifts or double their gardening crews. Even better than that, people from California, New York, New Jersey and maybe even Texas will flood into Arkansas to 20 SEPTEMBER 2021
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live so they can avoid sharing some of their wealth with the government for services like education, health care and prisons. So many people will spend so much of their new wealth on cars, clothes, food and travel that the existing state and local sales and excise taxes will fill government coffers so full of cash that the schools, colleges and other programs will be swimming in money. It has never worked that way even once, but Critical Greed Theory says it ought to. It was tried famously twice on the federal level — in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and in 2001-2003 by President George W. Bush — and it was followed both times by recessions and ballooning debt. But those cowards never went to the lengths that Arkansas Republicans are about to go. Sometimes you can see catastrophe far ahead — it was predicted correctly a few years ago in Kansas and Louisiana when their governors implemented the Greed Theory — but shouldn’t a great-sounding theory be applied and applied until it finally works? Critical Greed Theory works this way: As people start making lots of money, they get more and more resentful of sharing any of it with the government for all its manifold services to people. Logically, the really hard-up people should be the resentful ones. Taxes — principally sales or excise taxes on everything they buy — take a much larger proportion of their incomes. Maybe the sunburned sons and daughters of toil actually do resent the small sums they pay in income taxes to the state, but they have no way of expressing it like the rich do, through campaign gifts and powerful groups like Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth
and scores of others that pump money into the campaigns of Republicans like Rutledge, Sanders and Tim Griffin. Griffin was the first one to propose eliminating income taxes, before Sanders drove him out of the governor’s race and into the one for attorney general. Thus, today’s Republicans — from Hutchinson and the candidates to succeed him down to individual lawmakers like Trent Garner from my hometown of El Dorado — jumped on the income-tax-riddance bandwagon. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s editorial page consistently illustrates the logic of Critical Greed Theory. It editorializes endlessly that, besides slashing income taxes to make life more endurable, Arkansas just needs lots more people living here, and the best way to get them to come is to pass a law that says if they move to Arkansas they won’t have to pay any income taxes to support all those services that Arkansas offers, like education, highways, police, prisons and medical services. Of course, a few Arkansans would ask, Why in the world would we want such people to come here, or more of them? Will you pardon a short history lesson? Our state has an exceptional record on Greed Theory. Arkansas in 1884 repudiated its debt, incurred when it tried to set up a couple of state banks soon after statehood. Then, at the depth of the Great Depression in 1933, although Arkansas had the lowest taxes and the highest debt among the 48 states and had sort of welched on repaying its massive debt for a second time, the new governor, Marion Futrell, slashed taxes even more. Alone among the states, Arkansas could not feed its
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starving people or pay teachers beyond IOUs or keep schools open. The federal government stepped in and did these things, until the frustrated Roosevelt administration announced it was halting federal aid to Arkansas on March 15, 1934. Fearing hungry mobs descending on the Capitol, Futrell pleaded with the legislature to raise taxes instantly. It did, introducing the first sales tax and also taxing liquor and horse racing. The Democrat-Gazette and the other champions of repealing or reducing personal and corporate income taxes always point to prosperous Texas and Florida, which do not have personal income taxes. Texas furnishes a particularly good comparison. It has a corporate tax, by another name, but no individual income tax. Texas governments get huge sums from some of the highest property-tax rates in the land — many times the average Arkansas ad-valorem burden — and Texas also levies high sales and excise taxes. It also levies a tax on the extraction of minerals — notably oil and gas — that finances a big part of Texas’s services and that is several times even the paltry tax that Arkansas decided to levy a decade ago. Texas’s 7 percent severance tax, still far short of Alaska’s 35 percent, is passed on to oil and gas customers in other states, like us. Most working Arkansans pay more of their income every year in sales and excise taxes than in income taxes, but sales taxes don’t show up on their pay stubs or their federal 1040 or Arkansas tax forms, so they hardly realize they are paying them. Repealing Arkansas’s sales and use taxes would be of greater benefit to the vast majority of Arkansans than repealing income taxes and would cost the state treasury only half as much, but it would be meaningless to those who measure their incomes by the millions. Those are the people for whom tax policy is made when today’s Republicans are running things. It could be helpful to recall the modern introduction of Critical Greed Theory. Reagan was blown away by the doodling of a California business thinker who sketched a graph on an envelope — the legendary “Laffer Curve” — purporting to show that as federal income taxes were reduced on higher incomes the beneficiaries would go out and invest their new savings in new hires or new ventures that would ignite the economy so fast that government tax revenues would actually grow rather than recede. Like Donald Trump much later, Reagan was convinced that by cutting income taxes he could soon eliminate the federal budget deficit and shrink the national debt, which was then nearing one trillion dollars. George H. W. Bush called it “voodoo economics” but became Reagan’s running mate and, one supposes, a reluctant champion of Greed Theory. Congress passed Reagan’s big tax cut in his first months in office in 1981. Arkansas Senator Bumpers cast one of the few votes against it even while voting for federal spending reductions, and he had a tough time defending the tax vote five years later, when a young Republican prosecutor, Asa Hutchinson, took him on. The deepest
recession since the 1930s — 10 months of doubledigit unemployment — followed the Reagan tax cut. Starting the next year, Reagan and Congress raised taxes a little year by year. Still, by the time he left office the national debt had nearly tripled to close to $3 trillion. In his first months in office in 1993, just as the country was emerging from the George H.W. Bush recession, President Bill Clinton spurned Critical Greed Theory and got Congress to pass a small tax package — without a single Republican vote in either house. Republicans predicted another Great Depression. Instead, the federal budget was balanced for the first time in 25 years and for a record four years in a row. The economy created 22 million new jobs, still a record for any comparable period in American history. It seemed to disprove Critical Greed Theory once and for all. A further note about the big Reagan tax cut and Gov. Dale Bumpers’s vote: Back in 1971, after Bumpers had defeated Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, he embraced Rockefeller’s first priority — to raise the state’s top income tax rate on Arkansas’s wealthiest, like himself, from 5 percent, where it had stood since 1929, to 12 percent to support Arkansas schools and health care, the weakest systems in the country. The legislature defeated both of Rockefeller’s attempts with only the tiny contingent of Republicans, joined in the Senate by only two Democrats, voting for his bills. Bumpers in 1971 lowered Rockefeller’s planned top rate from 12 to 7 percent and passed the bill. Despite Bumpers’s tax increase (he also raised cigarette and motor-fuel taxes) and contrary to Critical Greed Theory, the Arkansas economy had an instant burst of growth that added record numbers of new jobs — at least until the weird Nixon-Ford inflationary recession finally settled on Arkansas in 1975. Hutchinson announced he wanted to cut Arkansas’s income taxes when he ran in 2014, and he and the legislature have tinkered with the rates to lower them a little for lots of people. This fall, or next spring, will be his last chance to get rid of Bumpers’s tax. Lt. Gov. Griffin announced last year he was running for Asa’s job and promised to get rid of income taxes entirely, but he hedged a little, saying that he might phase them out over his eight years in office or perhaps a little longer. After Sarah Sanders ran Griffin out of the race, she and then Rutledge each said as governor they would abolish income taxes, then retreated a little and said they would spread the cuts out over a few years, maybe eight. If tax cuts produce so much good, why not reap the fruits immediately? In eight or 10 years, lots of people would die without ever enjoying the bounty of wealth and rich new neighbors from New York and Montana. Sanders’s passion for eliminating income taxes, or any taxes, could prove to be a little problematic. The endorsement of her old boss Donald Trump is her ace card, but she also may benefit from association with her daddy, Rev. Mike, Arkansas’s
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Empty plastic bottles, and jugs should go in your curbside recycling cart.
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NE WS
governor for more than 10 years and the governor who raised more taxes than any governor in Arkansas history: income taxes, sales taxes, motorfuel taxes, tobacco taxes (even chewing tobacco!), corporate franchise taxes, taxes on nursing home beds (to benefit nursing home owners), driver’s license fees and all kinds of alcohol taxes. A few people may remember the day (the video is still around) that Huckabee went before a joint session of the legislature and pleaded with the lawmakers, mostly Democrats, to raise a bunch of taxes. He said he would happily sign any tax increase they could think of to help him fatten the budget. Running for president in 2008, Huckabee denied ever raising taxes. If either Pop or daughter want an accounting, we can enumerate them in detail and by act number here. Perhaps tiring of paying stratospheric property taxes on his giant mansion on Florida’s Redneck Riviera and hoping to live in the income-taxfree utopia that his daughter plans for the Bear State, Mike has sold the massive parsonage and the great ocean view that was despoiled every night by the leavings of deviant beachgoers and returned to a more modest estate in Little Rock’s western suburbs. So will Sarah claim the mantle of one of the most liberal governors in Arkansas history, her daddy, or of the biggest presidential failure in American history, Donald Trump? (Look up his economic numbers.) Will she repudiate her daddy’s tax-and-spend and big-government philosophy (he enlarged the government workforce by 20%) and fully embrace Critical Greed Theory? Will the billionaires’ Club for Growth (Mike called them the “Club for Greed”) go after Sarah as it did “tax-and-spend” Mike in 2008 and instead embrace the incompetent Arkansas attorney general who they can be sure will govern as foolishly as she promises? Time will tell. Forlorn Arkansas Democrats — are there any other kind? — might contemplate what happened to the nearby and solidly Republican states of Kansas and Louisiana, which fully embraced Critical Greed Theory. Governors Sam Brownback and Bobby Jindal, enormously popular at the beginning, set out to get their states out of the income-tax business in phases, as Griffin, Sanders and Rutledge propose. As educational institutions and other key services of the state neared collapse in six or seven years, citizens were ready to tar and feather both men. Brownback, a former U.S. senator, got Donald Trump to appoint him to the greatly sought-after office of ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, resigned as governor and was never heard from again. Jindal, who had hoped his Greed Theory successes would make him president, was similarly chased out of office in Louisiana. In the next election, conservative voters in both states did the inconceivable in our time. They elected Democratic governors.
2.
Empty aluminum, steel, and tin cans go in there, too.
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THE ARKANSAS TIMES AND FOX TRAIL DISTILLERY PRESENTS
Enjoy great brunch dishes from your favorite local restaurants, Bloody Marys and other cocktails crafted by Northwest Arkansas’s Fox Trail Distillery, and mimosas!
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ILLUSTRATION MARC LANEY
A SURVEY OF DELICIOUSNESS. By Austin Bailey, Rachael Borné, Rhett Brinkley, Guy Lancaster, Lindsey Millar, Stephanie Smittle and Jason Woods
ARKANSASTIMES.COM ARKANSASTIMES.COM
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ALEJANDRO GUTIERREZ OF TACOS GODOY
When we last rounded up mobile purveyors of authentic Mexican food in 2010, there were about 15 trucks regularly found in Southwest Little Rock. Today, there are closer to 30, and that number is growing all the time.
STEPHANIE SMITTLE
ith all the talk of the Census and what population and demographic shifts mean for Central Arkansas, the Arkansas Times embarked this month on an equally important measure of the health of our community: a survey of taco trucks. Turns out Little Rock (and to a lesser extent North Little Rock) taco truck culture is booming. When we last rounded up mobile purveyors of authentic Mexican food in 2010, there were about 15 trucks regularly found in Southwest Little Rock. Today, there are closer to 30, and that number is growing all the time. Even more exciting, many of the newer entrants into the market have introduced new cuisine. There are now Honduran, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran and Venezuelan trucks. Other trucks have branched out beyond the typical taqueria menu, offering specialty plates of food you’d typically only find in a restaurant (at Sabor Latino on Baseline, you can order mojarra frita, a whole fried tilapia served with salad and fried plantains). At others you’ll find decadent ingenuity: Los Elotes sells a bag of Doritos, cut lengthwise, with cucumber salad piled high on the chips. La Autentica offers red tacos dipped in guajillo oil before they’re crisped up on the griddle. You’ll be a hero at your next party if you pick up a quesabirria “pizza” from Tacos El Gordo in North Little Rock. That’s not to suggest that there’s anything wrong with standard taco truck fare. At just about every truck on our list, you can find the humble and delicious street taco: a warm corn tortilla, topped with the meat of your choice, onions and cilantro. Most also sell tortas, burritos and quesadillas. Some have helpful photo menus; some don’t have menus at all. For non-Spanish speakers, we’ve put together a helpful glossary. No matter where you live in Central Arkansas, there’s a truck relatively close to you, but to truly experience the riches of the taco truck scene, head to Southwest Little Rock and Baseline, Geyer Springs and Stagecoach roads. We’ve divided the trucks below between those that stay in the same spot and those that move around. But a word of caution on that and the hours listed. Trucks break down. Owners get sick or go on vacation. We asked someone running a truck last week what its hours were. All day every day except this weekend, he said. Many are active on Facebook or Instagram, so check before you head out. (Several have Facebook pages with long URLs with lots of numerals in them; a quick search should turn them up.) More trucks accept cards today than they did a decade ago, but it’s still a good idea to bring cash just in case. Also, we made efforts to round up all the active trucks, but we inevitably missed some. Let us know who we overlooked — and happy eating!
EL JALAPEÑO El Jalapeño 9203 Chicot Road Perched on a concrete pad in a gravel lot next to Cloverdale Liquor in Southwest Little Rock, El Jalapeño seems to have built a following despite being in such close proximity to a gem like La Regional, a popular mercado and panaderia on Baseline Road. When we visited, a car or truck would ease into El Jalapeño’s lot every couple minutes to pass some money into the window and collect a takeout order. If you want to eat on site, though, there’s a little picnic table on the covered porch of a small trailer that sits behind the food truck. (But don’t even think about having a cigarette after your meal; those porch shelves double as a utility closet, we noticed, full of gas cans and oil and other maintenance miscellany.) And there’s a huge menu to choose from: fresh strawberries with whipped cream, chili cheese Takis, jalapeño hot dogs, tortas, duro con verdura (a cool salad served on a big puffy flatbread), street-corn-in-a-cup, enchiladas, taquitos, flautas, gooey Doritos nachos, churros, tostada de cameron, American concession stand staples like burgers and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and gigantic “machete” tacos — so named because the tortillas they come in are long and narrow, making the taco look like a small sword. Our favorite, though, were the four mild chicken tamales we ordered, generously filled and a steal at $5. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 501-772-7471. SS GUSTO CASERO
K-LIENTITOS
LA AUTENTICA
Gusto Casero 4211 Arch Street This may be the only spot to get real Puerto Rican food in Central Arkansas. The food truck is located just south of Little Rock, in the small community of Landmark, along Arch Street. A friendly couple runs this outfit — Andrea from Puerto Rico and Tanya from Mexico — and their menu reflects a delicious fusion of their respective cultures. The Mexican fare includes classic offerings like tacos, taquitos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos and tortas. The Puerto Rican dishes feature plantains heavily, both sweet and savory varieties, and lots of delightful fried starches like sorullitos (sweet corn and cornmeal fried for dipping in a mayoketchup sauce), papa rellena (fried ball of mashed potatoes stuffed with ground beef), and mofongo (fried green plantains mashed into a dense ball, served with savory broth). The truck itself is a fireengine-red trailer adorned with adorable stickers and tropical imagery. There’s shade and a picnic table for eating. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 501-4755650, facebook.com/GustoCaser022. R. Borné K-Lientitos 7123 Geyer Springs Road This is an ideal spot to start with if you’re new to taco trucks. It’s parked in a long-closed Sonic, so there’s ample parking. The tidy menu has all the standard taqueria fare listed on the side of the truck in English and Spanish. That includes a
nearly full complement of taco truck meats: asada, barbacoa, buche, cabeza, chicharron, chorizo, lengua, pastor, pollo and tripa. You can get those on tacos, tacos supreme (instead of simply meat, cilantro and onion, these come also with lettuce, cheese and crema), burritos, quesadillas, tortas, gorditas and sopes. On a recent visit, we got a pair of hefty chorizo tacos and two pastor gorditas for $10. The gorditas came with a thin layer of beans, shredded lettuce, cheese and crema squeezed between thick fried cornmeal cakes. Our lunch feast came with a smooth verde salsa and a punchy, smoky red sauce. K-Lientitos offers party platters and other catering options. No seating; you could find shade under the old Sonic awning. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sun. 501-475-6036 and on Facebook. LM La Autentica 4601 S. University Ave. Taco trucks have become something of a weekday lunch staple in Central Arkansas, but Kathy and Co. at La Autentica have your weekend munchies locked down. Tucked away in an auto repair shop lot on University just south of Asher Avenue, this truck specializes in decadent birria tacos, loaded carne asada fries and “red tacos” — puffy, crispy tacos with your choice of filling, wrapped in a tortilla that’s dipped in a housemade guajillo oil before it goes on the griddle and gets gloriously flecked with toasted bits of cheese. Because they’re only open a few nights a week, everything is crisp and fresh, down to the crunchy slices of red radish that came alongside our red tacos and the feisty bright green salsa verde we watched being carried to the truck from the adjacent building in a blender carafe, mere moments before it appeared in our styrofoam box. Also on the menu: tortas, nachos, quesadillas, plain ol’ street tacos and a California burrito whose contents include french fries. There are a few small shaded tables under the awning of a large building La Autentica parks beside, but you won’t have to worry about the blazing sun for most of the truck’s late-night hours of operation. When we visited in mid-August, the truck was scouting out a possible new location and was just beginning to try out its new Thursday hours, so your best bet is to call before you go. 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat., 5 p.m.10 p.m. Sun. and Thu. 501-734-9358, facebook.com/ LaAutentica2016. SS La Fina Express 8409 Geyer Springs Road La Fina Express has been around for years, but recently took a one-year hiatus during the pandemic. This truck is a basic taqueria, and it’s parked outside an accompanying brick-andmortar bodega that processes international money transfers and sells sundries. The menu includes a couple of special meat options, including birria. No seating or shade. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, 501-5622272, facebook.com/lafinaexpress. R. Borné ARKANSASTIMES.COM
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LA FINA
LOS ELOTES
LADY TACOS
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Lady Tacos 10120 Colonel Glenn Road “This isn’t right,” I thought as I walked up to Lady Tacos, which sits in the parking lot of Horticare Landscape & Management Co. off Colonel Glenn. I thought this was a taco truck, but the exterior featured pictures of candy bars, hot dogs, chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, barbecue, popcorn, etc. But as I drew closer, I could see the pictures of Mexican food on one window and the marker-board menu on the other, and I breathed a sigh of relief. This wasn’t going to be county fair fare after all. The menu featured the typical array of taco truck specialities. I was wanting something fairly basic, so I ordered a barbacoa burrito for myself and three shrimp tacos for my wife. My burrito was a hefty meal, stuffed with exquisitely tender meat, grilled onions and peppers, and corn, all doused with a delicious cheese sauce. It was exactly the kind of meal that you consume with great rapidity just because it tastes so great and then suddenly, upon finishing, creates the need for a nap. But the cheese sauce is so nice that you end up rooting around the kitchen for a few extra tortilla chips just to clean the plate, compounding the damage. As far as the shrimp tacos go, well, I’ll know something’s not up to snuff if my wife ever says, “Here, you can have a bite.” There were some grilled onions on the side, and as she believes onions are best applied in moderation, she did offer me those, but not a bite of the tacos. She just sat there, enraptured, chewing away and saying, “These… are… so… good. Best shrimp tacos ever!” Maybe next time, I’ll order a few for myself. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 501-410-0791 and on Facebook. GL Los Elotes 5295 Baseline Road Los Elotes aka Elotes Peter is one of four taco trucks on Baseline Road within a mile radius that I saw on a recent Friday. It stands out in part because it’s orange and because of the wide variety of street food the truck offers. Several people lined up for lunch or snacks while I was there. I saw a man on a lunch break grabbing some tacos and a mother getting her kids a couple of icy fruit drinks while she mixed up a cup of Mexican street corn for herself. There are photos of menu items on posters attached to the truck for easy navigation. Fruit cups, mangonadas, milkshakes, nachos served in chip bags, noodles and more traditional fare like burritos, tacos and tortas are on display. One thing was certain: I couldn’t go to a restaurant called Los Elotes or “street corn on the cob” and not order corn. It’s served two ways: elote corn (on the cob, slathered with mayo, parmesan cheese and chili powder) and esquite desgranado (the same but in a cup). There’s no seating at Los Elotes, so to prevent a mess in my car or on my face, I got the cup. The “Ricos Dorilicos” enticed even though it looked like a concoction of unidentifiable bite-size snacks filling up all the empty space that one finds after opening a bag of chips. The corn was a hit — sweet, piping hot, cheesy, offset by the tart flavor from the mayonnaise. The Dorilocos was healthier than I imagined. It was
essentially a refreshing cucumber salad that you have to eat in order to partake in the Doritos that await you at the bottom of the bag. I couldn’t put it down, and I also couldn’t seem to make any headway. When I finally made my way down to the Doritos, the vinegary cucumbers and cabbage mingled magically with the artificial nacho cheese. Perhaps the street food snack was invented as a way to get kids to eat their vegetables. Brilliant. The more traditional fare (carne asada tacos, pollo burrito) did not disappoint. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon., Tue., Thu.; 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Fri-Sat.; 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sun. 501-786-3733, facebook.com/1515pes. RB Los Paises 7301 Geyer Springs Road One of several taquerias huddled together on the stretch of Geyer Springs between 65th Street and Baseline, this truck serves up tacos with a great variety of meats (try the campechano, which is an asado and chorizo mix; or the suadero, which is fatty cow belly), and they’re dirt cheap at only $2 a piece. The quesadillas are also notable, and are generously stuffed with any meat of your choosing. Tacos come with three sauces: a fresh salsa verde, a spicy chipotle and a creamy avocado puree (my favorite). Los Paises advertises an amazing “taquiza” deal, a platter of 30 tacos, which they whip up with just 15 minutes notice. Definitely the catering pick for your next office party. Parked in a gravel lot adjacent to Oasis Nightclub, no seating or shade. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.Thu., 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sun. 501-298-5572. R. Borné Pupusas y Antojitos Genesis 4508 Baseline Road This is a newer food truck offering Salvadoran specialties that opened right before the pandemic hit. The truck is extremely pleasing to behold — painted orange and blue and yellow with funky lettering that heralds the word “antojitos,” which translates as cravings. The menu includes a long list of pupusa fillings, then 10 distinct dishes of varying heft and price-point. Among them: yuca con chicharrón (super starchy potato-like veggie with fried pork belly), tostadas de plátano (fried savory plantains), elotes locos (crazy corn — aka corn on the cob — smothered in queso fresco and salsas). Each dish is served with curito, the traditional Salvadoran slaw, but Genesis does it super spicy, and adds some beets in for good measure. Located in an old filling station lot, with a large shade covering. 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 501-454-0872. R. Borné Sabor Latino 7513 Baseline Road The day I visited Sabor Latino, always parked behind the Twice the Ice across the street from La Regional Panaderia, it was pouring rain. But that didn’t stop a flood of customers pulling up and scurrying to the limited shelter of the popup awning. The truck’s broad menu might have something to do with its popularity. “Sabor” means flavor in Spanish and Sabor Latino goes
well beyond typical taqueria fare with a dozen or so Central American specialities. Those include several fried plantain dishes (pollo con tajadas and tajadas locas), pupusas, a traditional Honduran breakfast plate (desayuno tradicional catracho), baleadas, Honduran tacos (rolled and fried like taquitos) and pechuga a la plancha (citrusmarinated griddled chicken with beans and rice). I got the enchiladas Hondureñas, which didn’t at all resemble their Tex-Mex cousin. These were fried corn tortillas topped with stewed chicken, shredded cabbage, sliced tomato, hard-boiled egg and avocado slivers, doused in a vinegary red sauce and served with a pile of purple pickled onions. It was a mound of food; way more than I could eat. The truck offers several different flavors of aguas frescas. The pineapple was some of the best I’ve ever had. It was sweet, but not overly so, and obviously fresh — I could taste the little pineapple chunks. No seating or shade. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 501-231-2580. LM San Felipe Food 6424 Geyer Springs Road San Felipe Food is a brand-new enterprise, opened in the summer of 2021 in the parking lot of its namesake business, San Felipe Tire Services. It’s tough to spot from Geyer Springs, so look for the bright blue auto shop on the corner of 65th Street. This Salvadoran truck has a pretty short menu, including burritos, tortas, tacos and pupusas, but everything is tasty, and the pupusas are definitely something to write home about. 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily. 501-648-6173. R. Borné Tacos Atilano 8703 Geyer Springs Road 3501 Pike Ave., North Little Rock Tacos Atilano is about to add a third location to its mobile fleet, which currently operates on Pike Avenue in North Little Rock and Geyer Springs in the Los Gallos Taqueria parking lot. As of this writing, the third truck could open in Sherwood as early as next week, an employee said. In addition to the standard taco fillings, Taco Atilano has suadero (beef belly brisket) and cabeza (beef head). These tacos are a little on the smaller side, so if you normally get three, go ahead and get a fourth. Why not? Grande burritos and quesadillas are available, as well as tortas. You can get a fourtaco combination with rice and beans for $10 or a quesadilla combo with rice and beans for $9.50. Earlier this year, Tacos Atilano began offering a “taquiza,” a party platter served in a pizza box with 25 tacos skillfully arranged with grilled peppers and onions and more than enough salsa to go around. You can order from both locations at the number listed, and the box takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes to prepare depending on how busy it is. You can order a variety of meats as we did for the office. The verde salsa is great, and if someone showed up with this spread at a postpandemic (so, 2025?) Super Bowl party, it wouldn’t matter which team wins, you’ll all win. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. 870-877-1152. RB
PUPUSAS Y ANTOJITOS GENESIS
LOS PAISES
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Tacos El Gordo 5400 JFK Blvd., North Little Rock Some of the best tacos on the north side of the river can be found in the Cupid’s Lingerie parking lot on JFK Boulevard at Jessica Villanueva’s food truck Tacos El Gordo. Villanueva’s late father Fidel Villanueva, nicknamed “El Gordo” by the grandkids, co-owned K-Lientitos Taqueria food truck on Geyer Springs, which is still in operation. Jessica Villanueva said she used to stop by her father’s food truck to help out and that’s how she learned the business. Her brother Fidel Villanueva Jr. operates the Taco Mexicano food truck on Crystal Hill Road in North Little Rock. El Gordo’s taco varieties include asada, pastor, chorizo, campechano, pollo, barbacoa, chicharrón verde y rojo, lengua, tripa and quesabirria. Other menu items include quesadillas, tortas, sopes, gorditas and burritos. El Gordo has recently started offering a quesabirria pizza ($35). It comes in a large pizza box and is served with consomme, chips, cheese sauce, sour cream, hot sauce and grilled peppers and onions. It’s the heaviest pizza I’ve ever carried. Structured like a quesadilla, a large flour tortilla is covered with a layer of birria meat and cheese, then another tortilla goes on top and the process gets repeated and then it’s topped with one more tortilla. It’s rich; one slice is substantial and delectable. If you want to be the life of the party, show up with one of these. It didn’t last long at our office. 11 a.m.8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat. 501-766-4313, facebook.com/TacosElGordo.Villanueva. RB Taco Mexicano 6012 Crystal Hill Road, North Little Rock Quesadillas are the specialty, the darling woman taking orders at Taco Mexicano told me, but there was another item on their menu that was literally calling my name. The “gringa,” she explained, is a bit like a hamburger, except that instead of buns, it uses fried tortillas. And the filling isn’t limited to beef, but can be any of the taco fillings they had on offer. An order of both dishes, plus a Diet Coke, ran $15 and was enough food for three very hungry people. The gringa — stuffed with chicken marinated in bright, tangy seasonings, with fresh cilantro and just enough cheese to hold it all together — was good. But she was right, the quesadilla was special. Enormous enough for two, it was hefty with chicken chunks and grilled to brown-speckled perfection. The zingy green sauce is made with green tomatoes rather than the typical tomatillos, which gives it a fruity flavor. It’s delicious. Be sure to ask for extra. Situated in a gravel lot next to Red Devil Liquor, this taco truck overlooking the intersection of Crystal Hill Road and I-40 makes up in convenience what it lacks in ambience. But there’s a picnic table and peppy Latin American music playing loud enough to compete with the traffic noise if you just can’t wait until you get home to dig in. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mon.Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 501-554-4327, facebook.com/ tacomexicanoNLR, instagram.com/tacomexicanonlr. AB
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SAN FELIPE FOOD
TACO MEXICANO
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Tamales Elena García 8122 Stagecoach Road The stretch of Stagecoach Road immediately east of Interstate 430 has been developing into something of a corridor of Mexican cuisine these last few years. There are a number of brick-andmortar restaurants in the area stretching from the interstate to the county line, such as La Tapatia, Las Palmas, Cantina Cinco de Mayo, La Familia Antojitos Mexicanos and La Villa Mexican Restaurant. But added to those options are now a few different food trucks, including one devoted to tamales. Tamales Elena García is a little red truck situated in the lot between ABC Salvage & Scrap Metal and Casa Blanca Granite, Marble & Tile. It can be just a tad intimidating to approach if, like me, you’ve only got a limited bit of Spanish under your belt. Although the owner speaks wonderful English, the menu is all in Spanish. I didn’t know that tamales could be broken down into such categories as tamales de elote (sweet corn tamales), tamales en hojas de platano (tamales in plantain leaves), and tamales en hojas de maiz (tamales in corn leaves). Stunned by so much variety, I simply ordered a few from each category, and then added some queso empanadas to the mix. Tamales Elena García also offers picarditas (corn masa cakes) and flautas de pollo, enmoladas, garnachas and tostadas, as well as various drinks and desserts. A very thorough menu for such a small truck. I would be hard-pressed to match what I was eating to what I ostensibly ordered, aside from the fact that I had one kind of spicy pork, one more mild chicken and one with vegetables. Each one was soft and full of its own flavors. The empanadas were fluffy, slightly crunchy, cheesy and accompanied by sour cream, tomato slices, avocado and onion. Everything was delightful. Sometimes I think I should learn Spanish to acclimate myself better to the food culture evolving in Little Rock, but I have never gone wrong bumbling haphazardly into culinary opportunities like this. Ignorance can indeed be bliss if it means picking tamales at random from a menu. There is no wrong choice here. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 501-349-04333. GL Taqueria Gloria Comida Mexicana 7315 Geyer Springs Non-Spanish-speakers, take heart. While there’s no real menu, no helpful photos nor illustrations of the food on offer — nothing, in fact, but two handwritten lists of various meaty fillings taped to the window — the delightful family that runs Taqueria Gloria Comida Mexicana has a sixth sense about these things. We simply gave our biggest smiles and read off a few of the words we recognized: camarones, asada, torta. They smiled back. Ten minutes later, we were blessed with a tall stack of styrofoam clamshells full of surprises. The asada tacos came blanketed in cilantro, enough that I felt like a good mom for providing what was certainly a full serving of leafy greens. “There’s a lot of meat in these, and they’re not
too messy,” my son reported. The box brimmed with enough filling to turn the four tacos we’d ordered into eight without stretching (each taco comes wrapped in two soft corn tortillas), and my 13-year-old scarfed down all of them, leaving only the squeezed lime rinds behind. My 10-year-old claimed the steak torta was also generously sized, probably enough for at least two. Slices of picture-perfect avocados peeked out of the sides, along with fresh and crunchy lettuce and tomato. No chunks of meat rejected for being too tough or fatty, and no toppings fished out and put to the side. He ate the whole thing. “Exquisite,” he reported. The best of our mystery boxes contained three shrimp tacos, simply done and especially tasty with Gloria’s tangy green salsa drizzled on top. If that sounds good to you, just walk up to the food truck in the Mercado San Jose parking lot, say “camarones” and smile. (Later, a colleague with more taco truck experience visited and reported that Gloria sells tlayudas, giant corn tortillas popular in Oaxaca, which come topped with meat, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cilantro and melted Oaxacan cheese. It’s like a Mexican pizza.) There are no picnic tables around, but there are plenty of parking spaces and a lawn with a bit of shade if you’re up for a picnic. Gloria has horchata to drink, but you can easily dip into Mercado San Jose for cold drinks and some of their bakery fare for dessert. Note that among all the trucks, Gloria stays open the latest on weekends. 9 a.m.-10 or 11 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-2-3 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 501-4136276 and on Facebook. AB Taqueria Guadalupana 7000 Colonel Glenn Road For the longest time, Taqueria Guadalupana was to us just “the taco truck.” Long, long before the explosion of the local food truck scene, Taqueria Guadalupana had been parked there in a lot at the intersection of 36th and Colonel Glenn, just downstream from Boyle Park. It was there when I moved to this part of Little Rock back in 2007, but a friend of mine says that this one truck has been here since the 1990s. She calls it the city’s “original taco truck.” The wife and I used to frequent it back when we moved to the area, delighted by the novelty of food we could deem more “authentic” than that offered up by many restaurants at the time. Everything we tried was excellent: tacos, burritos, gorditas, quesadillas, tortas, and more. But in recent years, especially with the rise of food truck culture in the city, we began to find our novelties elsewhere. So going back, one Wednesday evening, was like returning home and wondering why we had stayed away so long. I was after some burritos, which I remembered being particularly good here. I ordered asada for my wife and attempted to order tripa for myself, only to be told, “We are out of tripa.” This raised some questions, namely: Who the hell is eating up all the tripe? But I spared the ladies behind the
counter my interrogation and just got the chicken. Each burrito comes densely packed with meat, beans, rice and cilantro, accompanied by a side of beans, Mexican rice and a roasted jalapeno half. “I’d forgotten how good this was,” said my wife, biting into hers, and I felt the same way. This is one of Little Rock’s better burritos: the beans were a multi-textured treat, not just overcooked mush, and the rice was a perfectly textured delight. But as wonderful as this all was, it was also a lot of food, and eventually my wife handed over her plate and said those words that warm a married man’s heart: “I’m full. Can you finish this?” 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 501-247-2952, facebook.com/ guadalupanatacos. GL Taqueria Jalisco San Juan 11000-11042 W. Markham St. I needed a bottle of sparkling wine, and I needed some lunch. For these two birds, the one stone was Colonial Wine & Spirits on West Markham, in the parking lot of which stands Taqueria Jalisco San Juan. It’s probably the taco truck most familiar to Little Rock residents. Having stood there for ages, Taqueria Jalisco San Juan offers a fairly basic menu (tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and burritos) and pretty quick service. So after my liquor store run, I walked on over. Now, my wife always says the same thing: “Get me three tacos of some kind.” And she never shares her tacos. If I wanted some, I was going to have to get my own. So I ordered three campechanos tacos and three lengua tacos for myself, guessing which three she would want. Tongue can be rather chewy if done improperly, but the meat on my tacos was delightfully tender, and if not the most flavorful, did carry the salsa well. My wife did let me have just a taste of the campechanos, which was much more robustly spiced. These tacos are smaller than usual, something which has drawn the ire of several online reviewers, but they are flavorful and delivered with rapidity. Taqueria Jalisco San Juan offers the usual array of American and Mexican soft drinks, and horchata, served iced in a large Styrofoam cup. 501-541-5533 GL
TAQUERIA SAMANTHA 2
TAQUERIA LUPITA
TAQUERIA GUADALUPANA
Taqueria Lupita 4920 W. 65th Street Less than a year old, this truck is tucked away in a corner of an alignment and brake shop. It’s standard taqueria fare. The pictures on the side of the truck, of tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, taquitos and agua fresca, are the closest thing to a menu you’ll find. But owner Kevin Cartajena is friendly and voluble, and talked me into the day’s special, a fried chicken leg (drumstick and thigh still connected), to go along with the al pastor and asada tortas I picked up for a lunch meeting. Pollo, chorizo, chicharron and buche are the other meat options. The sandwiches came with a tangy hot salsa verde and a smoky red salsa cremosa, so you can mix and match. I should’ve remembered that a torta is a meal unto itself, but the chicken was still delightful hours later when I pulled it from ARKANSASTIMES.COM
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the fridge. Melon (cantaloupe) was the agua fresca of the day when I visited. It came in a massive Styrofoam cup and was a touch sweeter than my ideal agua fresca, but still delicious. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 501-551-0581 and on Facebook. LM Taqueria Samantha 2 7521 Geyer Springs Road The Taqueria Samantha food trucks have been a Little Rock favorite for more than 17 years, but even long-time customers might discover something new and wonderful on the menu. The birria tacos are a new hot seller. Tortillas stuffed with slow-cooked beef or chicken are dipped in the flavorful meat broth left over, then toasted a little longer than your average taco. After, mozzarella cheese is melted on top and accompanied by onions and cilantro. The result is glorious — both juicy and crunchy, if a little messy. And you even get your own cup of broth for dipping. Customers interested in a twist on U.S. street food can try the Mexican hot dog, topped with avocado, cheese, bacon, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and jalapenos, as well as ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard. For those pining for the old standbys, though, don’t worry. Crowd pleasers like the taco supreme and quesadillas are still available. If you have an ambitious stomach, the burritos are the size of a sack of flour, packed generously with tender meat and other fresh ingredients and wrapped in a warm, homemade tortilla. Taqueria Samantha 2 is one of three trucks in the Taqueria Samantha fleet, but the only one now in operation. 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sun. 501744-0680 and on Facebook. JW Taqueria San Diego 7216 Colonel Glenn Road This little orange box of a food truck parked in front of a defunct garage on Colonel Glenn offers standard taqueria fare: tacos, burritos, nachos, tortas and a dressed-up version of a hot dog. I chose the Chile Mexicano, which included a mix of grilled chicken, beef, peppers and onions topped with cheese, served with rice and beans and four corn tortillas. This constituted a rather hearty meal, delicious and filling. The man behind the counter had asked if I wanted it spicy, and I assured him that I did, but perhaps he didn’t believe me because I was already sweating up a storm in the late July heat. However, my wife did part with some of the red salsa that came with her trio of tacos, which offered a little extra heat for my palate. 11 a.m. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fri.Sat., 501-817-6341. GL Yolanda Kitchen 6024 Stagecoach Road The pricing at Yolanda Kitchen, located right in front of the departed but not forgotten Stagecoach Grocery and Deli, is simple — everything listed is $10. My wife went for the mole de pollo, while I got the puerco con salsa verde (pork in green sauce). Although there are a few tables set up inside the former Stagecoach Grocery, we got ours to go — and a good thing, too, because my wife was
covered in mole sauce not two minutes after we set up on our back deck. “This is so good!” she said, slurping it up, and not sharing. Her dish included two chicken drumsticks swimming in mole, while mine consisted of tender chunks of pork with a mild but nonetheless flavorful salsa verde. Each order came with a side of orange-colored rice a little stickier than the kind found at most Tex-Mex places, as well as a side of beans. But the real star of the meal was the tortillas. We each had a packet of five house-made tortillas wrapped in foil, which remained piping hot even after the short drive home. The next time I made a visit, my wife sent me with instructions to get her “some kind of tacos.” So I ordered the taco loco, which ended up being one massive tortilla loaded down with different kinds of meat, potatoes and vegetables, all topped with a grilled cactus. She had to whittle away at it some before she could even risk trying to fold up that tortilla in her hands, and by that point, she was already stuffed and so passed it my way. I had just scarfed down my order of papas con chorizo, which was a delightful mixture of very soft potatoes, grilled onions and peppers, and chorizo. Open Fri.-Tue. 501-777-2899, 501-744-7299, facebook.com/karlavale867. GL
TAQUERIA SAN DIEGO
EL SUR
MOBILE El Sur El Sur isn’t just my favorite food truck in Little Rock. I think it’s the best food in town. I try to get lunch from the truck at least once a week. When I don’t, visions of El Sur’s Honduran street food specialities float through my dreams. Luis Vasquez, a native of Honduras who came to Arkansas to volunteer for Heifer International, opened the truck in 2019 with his husband, Darren Strayhorn. They specialize in baleadas, a Honduran sort of burrito. Con todo (the only way to order it), it comes in a large flour tortilla layered with refried and pureed red beans, crema, cheese, meat, pickled onions, chunks of avocado and fried plantain. For a long time, I couldn’t order anything other than an al pastor baleada — the pork marinated in pineapple and crisped up on the griddle is perfection when paired with the con todo fixin’s. But I finally forced myself to branch out and have since become addicted to the arepas — thick cornmeal pancakes, folded and filled with ample and fresh guacamole, meat and pico de gallo. The street tacos, served on fresh yellow corn tortillas, are predictably also excellent. Al pastor, carnitas, carne asada, pollo asado, cauliflower chorizo, nopales and birria are the protein options for each dish. And look out for the specials, which have included yuca fries, fresh fruit cups sprinkled with Tajín seasoning and lime, and breakfast versions of all the entrees. Lately, Vasquez and Strayhorn have stuck pretty reliably to parking at Rock Town Distillery, Bernice Garden, The Rail Yard and the White Water Tavern Market. Bring something to read or be ready to play on
YOLANDA KITCHEN
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your phone. I’m not the only El Sur devotee; the truck gets swarmed often, but it’s worth the wait. 501-773-4311,facebook.com/elsurstreetfoodco, instagram.com/elsurstreetfoodco. LM La Casa De Mi Abuelita Maw Maw’s House La Casa De Mi Abuelita Maw Maw’s House started popping up in Little Rock last fall at The Rail Yard and Bernice Garden and was my introduction to quesabirria tacos. My first impression — mind blowing. 2021 Diamond Chef winner Geovanny Villagran, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, grew up learning to cook from his grandmother. Birria, a slow-cooked meat stew, and the foundation for quesabirria tacos, is said to have originated in Guadalajara. “The dish has been around Mexico for centuries,” Villagran told me in an interview this past spring. The tacos are constructed by dipping corn tortillas in the beef birria consomme, then they’re placed on the grill with cheese, stewed beef, pickled onion and cilantro. They’re served Instagram-ready with a side of beef consomme for dipping. When dining rooms were shut down in March of 2020, Villagran was laid off from the DoubleTree Hotel. He and his wife, Neena Villagran, started growing vegetables and raising cows, pigs and chickens so their food truck would be true farm to table. In addition to quesabirria, the truck offers cochinita pibil tacos (slow roasted pork butt), chicken tinga tacos (shredded chicken in red sauce) and grande quesadillas. We recommend the combo option because you don’t want to miss out on the rice and beans. The Villagrans have recently added a second truck built out from an old school bus. They are typically in Little Rock for lunches on Tuesdays at Bernice Garden and Saturdays at the Rail Yard and are frequently stationed in Sheridan at 424 S. Rock St. Check its schedule on Facebook before heading out. 501-231-6650, facebook.com/ mawmawshousellc, instagram.com/mawmaws_ house. RB Lili’s Mexican Street Food Perhaps Little Rock’s newest taco truck, Lili’s has already developed a devoted following since opening in May. Patrick and Laura Ochoa, the husband and wife behind the truck, describe their food as farm-to-table Mexican street food. That often translates into dishes that look as good as they taste. Vegetarians will especially appreciate the chamiñones (mushrooms) and nopales (cactus with tomato, onion and cilantro) available as protein options for tacos, quesadillas or burritos. The gluten-free crowd can sub for chickpea or cassava flour tortillas, too. The California burrito — meat or veggies with french fries, pico de gallo, avocado, crema and cheese — is a decadent delight. So are the quesabirria tacos, served with a small cup of consomme for dipping. Lili’s also offers cochinita pibil, something of a novelty in the Central Arkansas truck scene. Lately, the Ochoas have been rolling out delicious looking specials, including chile rellenos and taquitos. 501-2985600, facebook.com/lilispettaway, instagram.com/ eat_lilis. LM
Tacos de birria Mary Tacos de birria Mary was a stone’s throw away from Los Elotes, stationed along the north side of Baseline (you can’t miss it, there’s “birria” and “taco” banner flags stationed at both ends of the converted bus). Tacos Mary offers street tacos, quesabirria tacos, asada fries, burritos and quesadillas. The man working the window said the truck is at the Baseline location on Thursdays and Fridays. We tried a couple tacos and an order of the carne asada fries. The shoestring fries were covered with a modest amount of cheese, my preferred method so the fries retain their crispiness and you avoid a soggy mess. They’re also topped with carne asada, onions, tomatoes and cilantro and served with a side of sour cream. It’s a weighty dish, enough for two or three people, and would serve as a nice appetizer or side to the tacos. The menu on the side of the bus also presented some interesting drink options on weekends only, so I wasn’t able to get an agua fresca or tamarindo juice (similar to agua fresca but also flavored with tamarind — a tropical plant that produces flavors popular in Mexican candy and drinks). 323-5926104 and on Facebook. RB Tacos Godoy Next to the oil-slicked quesabirria trend sweeping the Central Arkansas food truck scene, Alejandro Gutierrez’s offerings at Tacos Godoy felt downright healthful. This kitschy turquoise food truck is a Central Arkansas favorite, appearing at Good Earth Garden Center, The Filling Station in North Little Rock and other spots in addition to its sometimes-home on Cantrell Road. When we visited in mid-August, Gutierrez was smiling through the food truck window at an open house for a charter school in the posh Wellington Hills neighborhood of West Little Rock while representatives from Alice 107.7-FM pumped music from a tent nearby. Black beans and fluffy red rice accompany the taco combos, and the family matriarch Sabina makes all the truck’s white corn tortillas by hand. We especially loved the tinga de pollo — shredded chicken slow-cooked in a mild, tangy tomato sauce, as well as the taco stuffed with calabacitas, a summery blend of squash, corn, tomato and onion. Also on the menu: aguas frescas, quesadillas and more. Tacosgodoylr.com, facebook.com/tacosgodoylr, 501-779-0806. SS Tren al Sur The best-selling items on Tren al Sur’s menu of Venezuelan cuisine are the arepas, which are sort of like cornmeal griddle cakes split open and filled with whatever your heart desires. “You can eat all food with an arepa. It is maybe the most popular food in Venezuela,” said Ricardo Delgado, who operates Tren al Sur with his father, Enerio Delgado. “Like my dad says, you can eat it for breakfast, for lunch, in the night. It’s very good for all times of the day.” Tren al Sur opened a few years ago but closed at the start of the pandemic. After reopening in June 2021, Enerio Delgado is eager to reintroduce Little Rock to food from the country where he grew up.
ILLUSTRATION MARC LANEY
TACOS GODOY
TREN AL SUR
TACO TRUCK GLOSSARY
AL PASTOR: “shepherd style” pork cooked on vertical spit.
ADOBADA: marinated pork cooked in chilibased sauce, grilled or braised. AREPAS: thick cornmeal pancakes, topped with meat and other fixin’s. ASADA: grilled or roasted steak. BALEADA: Honduran burrito. BARBACOA: slow-cooked shredded meat, typically beef. BIRRIA: stew made from slow-cooked meat, usually beef. BUCHE: pork stomach. CABEZA: beef head or cheeks. “Venezuelan food is totally different from Mexican food,” said Enerio Delgado, cousin of Tren al Sur owners Mercedes and Consuelo Jaimes. “There are a lot of people in the United States who think Latinos are only from Mexico. And south of Mexico, there’s a lot to see of Latin America. There’s a lot of variety.” The name Tren al Sur (“train to the south”) is borrowed from a popular song and came from the desire to showcase a more South American flavor. For first-time patrons of Tren al Sur, the Delgados recommend the shredded beef and cheese arepa, which they note is particularly Venezuelan. Some great empanadas are also on the menu — go for the guayaba filling if you’re feeling dessert-ish. Or, if you’re particularly hungry, try the pabellón criollo, Venezuela’s national dish of shredded beef, black beans, white rice, sweet plantains and a fried egg on top. Don’t let the simple ingredient list fool you — it’s delicious. Whatever you order, make sure to ask for both the tomato and creamy cilantro homemade salsas. The food is so full of flavor you don’t need them, but they’re so good you should get them anyway. Check facebook.com/trenalsurv for weekly schedules, 501-554-9358. JW
CAMERONES: shrimp. CAMPECHANO: mixture of meats. CARNITAS: slow-cooked pork. CHICHARRONES: fried pork skins. CHORIZO: spicy sausage. CHURROS: cylindrical fried dough slathered in sugar. COCHINITA PIBIL: pork cooked in banana leaves with oranges and spices.
POLLO: chicken.
PUPUSA: Salvadoran and Honduran griddle cake or flatbread made with cornmeal or rice flour, filled with meat, cheese, vegetables or beans. QUESABIRRIA: stewed birria meat and cheese tacos served with consomme for dipping. SOPES: fried corn-based dish with savory toppings. Like a tostada but thicker, with pinched sides. TORTA: sandwich. TRIPA: beef intestine. YUCA: starchy vegetable similar to a potato, can be steamed or fried or mashed.
BEBIDAS: Drinks and more AGUA FRESCA: cold, refreshing beverage made with fruits, water and sugar. AGUA DE TAMARINDO: drink made from tamarind (tropical fruit), sugar and water. CHAMOY: sauce and condiment made from pickled fruit. COCA MEXICANA: Coke made in Mexico with cane sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup. JARRITOS: Mexican fruit-flavored sodas.
CONSOMME: beef birria broth.
JUGO: fruit juice.
CREMA: fresh cream, similar to sour cream.
MANGONADA: frozen mango beverage with fresh mango, chamoy and Tajín (chili lime seasoning).
ELOTE: street corn on the cob. GORDITA: can differ by region, typically a small corn shell or pita that’s stuffed with toppings. Thicker than a regular tortilla. LENGUA: beef tongue. NOPALES: cooked opuntia cactus pads. PLATANOS: plantains that may be cooked ripe (sweet) or green (savory).
HELPFUL PHRASES CON TODO: served with everything. For example: baleada con todo is a Honduran burrito with rice, beans, plantains, pickled onion, crema and cheese. PARA AQUÍ: for here. PARA LLEVAR: to go. ARKANSASTIMES.COM ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 37 SEPTEMBER 2021 37
BRIAN CHILSON
MAKE PLANS M FOR TACOS & TEQUILA IT’S A MATCH MADE IN LATE-SUMMER HEAVEN.
38 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
aybe you attended the Arkansas Times Margarita Festival in June — or you tried to, but were disappointed to find it quickly sold out. Well, here’s another, similar event for you, but don’t dawdle in buying tickets; it too is likely to sell out. On Sept. 16, the Arkansas Times debuts the first Tacos & Tequila, a taco and cocktail competition. Presented by Hornitos and sponsored by Oaklawn Casino and Resort and The Library Kitchen and Lounge, the event gathers local restaurants and bars who put forward their best tequila cocktail — think margaritas, tequila sunrises and original creations — and their best taco. Your ticket lets you sample all the food and drink and vote for your favorites. Tickets are $35 at centralarkansastickets.com. The event happens from 6-9 p.m. at the Argenta Plaza on Sixth and Main streets in North Little Rock. To protect all attendees, the Arkansas Times will require proof of vaccination to enter the event. Brothers With Different Mothers, a local rock and funk cover band, will provide live entertainment. Competing restaurants include Brick & Forge (Conway), Copper Grill, Diablos Tacos and Mezcaleria (Conway), Oaklawn Racing and Tacos El Gordo. Look for many more competitors to be announced soon on centralarkansastickets.com and arktimes.com.
PRESENTED BY
See who wins the Competition for the Best Taco and Best Tequila Cocktail in Central Arkansas!
Early Bird Tickets $35. Limited Time Only Thursday, Sept. 16
(Mexican Independence Day)
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
Under the Stars at The New Argenta Plaza 510 Main North Little Rock Music by “Brothers with different Mothers” You’ll be in tortilla heaven tasting great tacos from 15 local taquerias and restaurants. Also sample original Hornitos Tequila Cocktails mixed by the best bartenders in Central Arkansas. Vote for your favorite to crown the best tacos and tequila cocktails. FEATURING: Brick & Forge Conway, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Diablo’s Conway, Tacos el Gordo, Nubbies Nibblers, Copper Grill & MORE!
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SEPTEMBER 2021 39
‘BREAKING BAD’ AT HENDERSON STATE
Two former chemistry professors will soon go on trial for drug possession and manufacturing. BY DEBRA HALE-SHELTON AND BENJAMIN HARDY ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK
40 SEPTEMBER 2021
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L
ate one October evening in 2019, Joseph Andrews and three other Henderson State University students were studying in the chemistry department of the Arkadelphia campus when Andrews became sick. “I started to fill [sic] a pain in my chest, and my arm felt numb,” he recalled in an affidavit given to police the next day. “I asked the other guys if they felt bad, [and] they said that they could smell something. I started to taste/smell iron, so I thought that I was bleeding but I was not.” About 9:30 p.m., the four began searching for the source of the odor, which another student described in his statement as being “v. sweet [and] v. pungent.” The students made their way toward a lab used by two chemistry professors, Terry David Bateman and Bradley Rowland. “I had to stop at the end of the hallway due to overwhelming sickness,” Andrews wrote. He fled the Reynolds Science Center, and the students contacted the two professors. Rowland arrived first, followed by Bateman about five minutes later. Fifteen to 20 minutes later, Rowland told the students the problem was an open bottle and that he had “fixed or capped it,” Andrews said. Student David Thompson recalled in his statement that Rowland said the chemical was a substance called benzyl chloride and that “it was all good now.” It wasn’t. The university, which serves some 3,500 students, was still reeling from the recent revelation that it was millions of dollars in debt. The financial crisis had forced its president, Glen Jones, out of office and would soon lead to the school’s merger into the Arkansas State University System. Now, a drug scandal right out of television’s “Breaking Bad” was about to bring more bad publicity to the small South Arkansas campus. Moreover, other faculty had alerted the Henderson administration to the possibility of illegal activity in the chemistry lab some 10 months earlier, according to documents reviewed by the Arkansas Nonprofit News Network. The morning after the spill, Tuesday, Oct. 8, classes began as usual in the Reynolds building. But students soon knew something was wrong. One student, a biochemistry major who has since graduated, said he arrived for his 8 a.m. class to find a chemical smell permeating the building. “Imagine something akin to an Expo marker but times a thousand,” said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I had safety concerns. I was talking to my friends before class, and I was like, ‘I don’t want to be breathing this in.’”
Still, classes continued until midday. Around lunchtime, two employees called the university’s police chief, Johnny Campbell, to report the strong odor. When Campbell got to the building, people were complaining of watery eyes and nose and throat irritation. He immediately evacuated the building and locked it down, room by room. The law enforcement and emergency response presence quickly expanded to include the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Arkadelphia Fire Department, the Arkansas State Police, a chemist from the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, and even a civil support team from the Arkansas National Guard. The Guard team was called in from Camp Robinson in North Little Rock to help police identify the chemicals spilled and to determine any potential dangers to the campus. All classes in the building were canceled and later moved to other locations. Teachers couldn’t get into the science center for laptops or other materials. Instruction was disrupted for weeks. “Please continue to make sure the building is completely secure and no unauthorized people
National Guard team noted “open, unlabeled glassware in the sinks and workbenches, most containing some liquid” and “multiple adjoining labs in equal states of disarray.” On Nov. 15, 2019, the sheriff’s office arrested both men. Bateman resigned Dec. 1. Rowland was fired Jan. 21, 2020. They are scheduled to begin separate trials this fall in Clark County Circuit Court in Arkadelphia; both pleaded innocent to charges of drug possession and manufacturing. In a July interview, Bateman’s attorney, Bill James, said he’s not convinced that meth was present in Room 304 and suggested there were “some issues with the testing methods.” After all, he said, “Most meth labs when you test them are in the woods or a trailer,” not a college science lab. “We deny he was making meth at all,” James said. Rowland’s attorney, Clinton Mathis, declined comment. The Reynolds building reopened in part Oct. 29, 2019, and a short time later in full. None of it is closed today, said Jeff Hankins, the ASU System’s vice president for strategic communications and
THE CHANGES IN THE TWO PROFESSORS’ PERSONAL HYGIENE AND WEIGHT WERE SO DRASTIC THAT THE FACULTY MEMBERS BELIEVED THE MEN WERE INVOLVED IN SOME TYPE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN ONE OF THE CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES. get access,” Elaine Kneebone, the school’s acting president, wrote in an Oct. 10 email to the school’s provost and the chair of the chemistry department. Three days after the spill, Henderson placed Rowland, now 41, and Bateman, 46, on paid administrative leave. A month later, law enforcement confirmed the rumors swirling on campus. According to a Nov. 15, 2019, affidavit from Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson, the state crime lab found both methamphetamine and a controlled substance called phenyl-2-propanone, or P2P, in multiple samples taken from the lab where the spill occurred, Room 304 of the Reynolds building. P2P is the penultimate chemical step in a common technique used to manufacture meth. Criminal activity aside, the lab was in bad shape, authorities said. A report prepared by the
economic development. Henderson ultimately spent $149,917 to clean and repair the three-story building, which was dedicated in 1999. The private, nonprofit Henderson State University Foundation reimbursed the school for the work, Hankins said. That work included, among other things, washing the walls and floors, running air scrubbers for weeks, ventilating the building and testing indoor air-quality. Room 304 was entirely gutted. Cabinets, shelves, furniture and equipment were removed and disposed of. It now serves as a storeroom for supplies. WARNING SIGNS The October 2019 spill wasn’t the first sign of trouble in the Reynolds Science Center. ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 41
THE REYNOLDS SCIENCE CENTER: In October 2019.
HEADED TO TRIAL: Bradley Nowland (top) and Terry David Bateman. Almost a year earlier, on Dec. 10, 2018, Elaine Kneebone, then the university’s general counsel, advised Sheriff Jason Watson that other faculty members had indicated to her that Bateman and Rowland “had recently exhibited marked deviation in their behavior,” according to the court-filed affidavit signed by Watson. The changes in the two professors’ “personal hygiene and weight” were so “drastic” that the faculty members believed the men were involved in “some type of illegal activity in one of the chemistry laboratories,” Watson wrote. (The affidavit does not identify the faculty who registered the concerns with Kneebone.) According to the sheriff, “Dr. Bateman and Dr. Rowland were observed by faculty and staff to be present in the laboratory during the late night and very early morning hours, were extremely guarded towards other faculty and students who came into the laboratory, questioned why such other persons were there, and would not allow 42 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
such other persons out of their sight while in the laboratory.” On Jan. 4, 2019, after Christmas break, two Clark County sheriff’s officers, one from a narcotics unit, visited the laboratory in Room 304. There, they noticed “an “overwhelming odor” that both officers recognized as a controlled substance which is “a precursor chemical often used in the synthesis of amphetamine and/or methamphetamine.” They were referring to P2P, the compound later found in the state crime lab’s analysis. The officers indicated they found no evidence to suggest any other controlled substances had been made in the lab, the sheriff said. There are multiple ways to synthesize methamphetamine, some of which involve common over-the-counter medication such as Sudafed. The so-called “P2P method,” which generally creates lower-grade methamphetamine, does not require over-the-counter drugs. This was the route used by the meth-cooking protagonist in “Breaking Bad,” high school chemistry teacher Walter White. Bateman, an associate professor of chemistry, began teaching at Henderson in 2009. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Henderson and his doctoral degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, according to a LinkedIn page bearing his name. Rowland, a Texas native, came to Henderson from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin in 2014. The two professors were co-advisors of the HSU Chemistry Club. In his first year at Henderson, Rowland gave an interview to The Oracle, the student newspaper, in which he declared his fondness for “Breaking Bad.” “I thought it was a great show,” Rowland said
in 2014. “It was spot on and accurate when it came to the science, and it has gotten a younger, newer generation interested in chemistry. I feel like it was a wonderful recruiting tool.” A CAMPUS IN TURMOIL Despite law enforcement’s visit to Room 304 in January 2019, the lack of a more conclusive finding apparently marked the end of the Henderson administration’s efforts to pursue the faculty concerns. The school was facing a crisis of a different kind. In June 2019, Henderson announced a hiring freeze and spending cuts. Officials said the school would end the fiscal year with a budget deficit. Then-President Glen Jones said the main cause was some $4.5 million in unpaid student accounts incurred over the previous year. Student debt owed to the school had ballooned from $3.7 million in the 2013-14 school year to over $10 million in 2018-19. Jones had sought to keep the financial problems quiet, but when his attempts to secure a line of credit fell through, the school was forced to ask the state for help. A review of emails and other documents obtained from the ASU System under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act turned up no other investigations or disciplinary measures taken against Bateman or Rowland during that time. Asked when Jones was first advised of faculty suspicions regarding the two professors, and for any related written communications, Hankins said, “No responsive documents are available from before the incident.” Neither the sheriff nor Kneebone returned phone messages seeking comment. Henderson’s police chief, Johnny Campbell, declined comment because he has been subpoenaed as a witness in the case.
The apparent lack of official discussion about what might have been happening in the chemistry lab was in keeping with a problematic culture of secrecy among university leadership, said Brown Hardman, a member of Henderson’s former board of trustees. The board was dissolved when the school joined the ASU System on Feb. 1 of this year. “Things were so opaque, you couldn’t see anything clearly,” Hardman said. ”I would think that if we had been as crystal clear and as open as we could be, that Henderson would not be where it is today.” When Henderson employees attended board meetings, they weren’t usually given an opportunity to speak. The trustees rarely discussed the school’s financial woes publicly, despite budget cuts and growing fears among faculty and staff. “All the signs were there. Why did this continue?” said Eddie Arnold, another former trustee. Had action been taken earlier, Arnold said, there might not have been a chemical spill. Jones resigned on July 19, 2019, less than three weeks after he secured a $6 million loan from the state. The Henderson board named Kneebone acting president, and the university entered a new fiscal year saddled with millions of dollars in unpaid student debt, a budget deficit, and the university’s own unpaid bills. The school has since repaid $250,000 of the advance, Hankins said. On July 27, 2020, a new interim chancellor was appointed, replacing Kneebone as acting president. She was recently named senior associate general counsel for the ASU System. UNSAFE LAB CONDITIONS The drug charges against Bateman and Rowland brought Henderson more of the bad publicity it had tried so hard to shut down, with headlines appearing around the country. EMTEC, a Little Rock-based environmental consulting firm, was hired to do remediation work. Workers removed windows from each floor and set up a ventilation system to flush fresh air into the building. In an Oct. 10, 2019, email to school administrators, EMTEC president John Hatchett described the labs in Room 304 and 310 as being “a complete mess” and noted the difficulty of safely disposing of so many unknown chemicals in unlabeled containers. Hatchett declined to comment for this article. The mess was such that EMTEC had to bring in a chemist to test and categorize the approximately 85 liquids that eventually had to be disposed of, according to an email Kneebone sent to trustees and others during the cleanup. (After the spill, a third faculty member, assistant professor Wray Jones, also was placed on paid administrative leave. Jones, who was Henderson’s chemical hygiene officer for its science labs, was not implicated in any illegal activity. He was reinstated on Nov. 25, 2019, but retired the next month. He died in April at age 81. The chemistry
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department chair, Martin Campbell, did not return a phone message seeking comment.) Hatchett also noted some of the labs’ ventilation hoods were either not working or not working efficiently. Vent hoods, which are designed to remove fumes from the area in which a lab operator is working with potentially hazardous chemicals, are an important part of lab safety. In a Nov. 7, 2019, email to Henderson’s board of trustees and others, Kneebone noted that the school would “need to address the lab safety program to prevent future incidents and improve the ventilation system in Reynolds.” Hankins, the ASU spokesman, said vent hoods were inspected before being returned to use for classes and now work properly. Asked if Henderson’s financial problems contributed to the labs’ disarray and faulty vents in the labs, Hankins said, “No.” The failure of the lab ventilation system, in fact, may have led to the discovery of the alleged illicit activities of the two professors. In a transcript of an interview with Rowland conducted by Henderson provost Steve Adkison on Oct. 11, 2019, Rowland said the odor identified by the students in the chemistry department on the night of Oct. 7 originated with a “tipped over bottle that had some legacy waste in it that we found stored under the hood of my laboratory.” (At the time of the interview, neither Rowland nor Bateman had been accused of a crime.) “Apparently, the hood was not in operation and it was blowing, I guess, air across the building,” Rowland told the provost. “It should have vented out the ceiling and it just spread that stuff everywhere.” Rowland’s trial is scheduled to begin the week of Sept. 27. Bateman’s trial is set to begin Oct. 26. The men are free on bond but are being electronically monitored and are not allowed to travel outside Clark County. After the ASU System took over Henderson, an ASU safety officer reviewed the situation and made recommendations for the campus moving forward. Among them was the creation of a new administrative role: a director of risk management. The school’s budget now includes the position, though Hankins said it has not yet been filled. This story is courtesy of the Arkansas Nonprofit News Network, an independent, nonpartisan news project dedicated to producing journalism that matters to Arkansans.
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more breweries to be announced and a seltzer section
food for purchase from local food trucks
tickets available at centralarkansastickets.com ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 45
Built to celebrate!
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PHOTO BY BRIAN CHILSON
SEEING DOUBLE TWINS TIMES TWO.
BY KATHERINE WYRICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON
ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 47
THE PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS EXCITED TO START ANOTHER YEAR OF AVID (ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION). AVID increases student engagement while activating a deeper level of learning in the classroom. This initiative emphasizes rigorous coursework, relevance of instruction and relationships in both elementary and secondary schools. It also prepares every student with a mindset of college potential. “AVID gives students a sense of support and belonging,” said Sylvan Hills Middle School teacher Shanon Hum. “AVID opens doors for students and provides the complete picture of a successful learning curriculum. It gives students the WHY they are at school.” Teachers are also reinvigorated by having AVID in their classrooms. Teachers who participate in AVID professional learning begin to shift their belief about teaching and learning, allowing them to cultivate a growth mindset both for themselves and their students. “I’ve had some of my best student and teaching moments through the implementation of AVID,” said Daisy Bates Elementary teacher LaRisha Nelson. “I get to witness reserved students grow into collaborative group leaders, passive students uncover hidden, intrinsic motivation, and academically challenged students reveal strengths that positively change the trajectory of their
academic efforts. Through AVID, both my students and I have tapped into a wealth of knowledge and learning experiences that cause us to excel in the classroom together! By the end of the school year, we all see ourselves as important contributors to the future!” PCSSD began implementing AVID in 2019 and continues to reach more and more students each year. Some of the strategies used for elementary students are reading and writing to learn, note-taking, and time management skills. For secondary students, teachers focus on improving study and organizational skills, strengthening writing skills, and gaining “college knowledge.”
ABOUT PCSSD Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 25 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927. PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve
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at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.
WITH SOME HELP FROM MOM EMILY, TWINS PHILLIP AND JEFFREY (9), QUINLEY (7) AND TWINS MADELEINE AND LUCAS (6) TAKE A DIZZYING SPIN AT THE PLAYGROUND NEAR THEIR NEW HOME.
W
hen we talked to Emily Stewart Hood, there was a lot happening on her end of the line. And yet she somehow remained remarkably composed, unharried even. We caught her at a particularly chaotic time — not that life with five young children is ever chaos-free. It was move-in day for the Hoods, who had just arrived in Little Rock the previous week after having bought their new house sight unseen. Emily fielded questions from the kids and the internet guy all while directing the movers. It also happened to be her and her husband Jeff ’s 10th wedding anniversary. (Not that there was much time for celebrating at that moment.) She was also trying to wrangle the family dog, a rescue lab mix, who gets “testy” with strangers and was on high alert because of all the activity. (“Hold on a second,” she said. “No, don’t let her down there; they’re scared of her!”) Multitasking comes with the territory, and Emily is adept at it. By comparison, it was quieter on my end, save the sporadic scream-barking of my mutts and the all-too-familiar bass slapping of the “Arthur” theme song. (My son was in the midst of an endof-summer TV marathon. At least it was PBS, right?) During our conversation, the movers were in the process of unloading boxes upon boxes of books — Jeff ’s extensive library — which will temporarily be housed in the garage. In addition to being a bibliophile, Jeff, or Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, is a self-described radical writer, pastor, theologian and activist. Emily added that he’s also “one of the most intriguing people you could possibly meet.” Jeff has authored more than 40 books and has been a prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as a champion of LGBTQ rights and the anti-death penalty cause. In addition to
“We’re very nonauthoritarian with them and really try to be as relational as possible—
‘Here’s why I’m asking you to do this,’
‘this is why I need you to not do that,’ and ‘what could you do to fix the situation?” ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 49
organizing and participating in protests across the country, he has worked closely with families who have experienced police brutality. He walked 200 miles from Huntsville to Austin to oppose the death penalty. It will be interesting to see what form his activism takes here in Arkansas. When Jeff and I talked a few days post-move, he was facing a different sort of challenge, albeit still a tough one — navigating the LRSD system. He was in the thick of trying to get the kids registered for school and makeing sure individualized education programs (IEPs) and 504s were in place (some of the kids have special needs). Asked how he was holding up, he laughed. “I’ll tell ya, it’s been frustrating.” He feels blessed and grateful for his big family, though he admitted, “I stay tired as shit all the time.” No doubt. A bit of backstory: Emily is originally from New Mexico, Jeff from the south Atlanta area. They lived in Denton, Texas (where Emily got her Ph.D.), before moving to Boone, North Carolina, a year ago, where Emily taught at Appalachian State University. She recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Art Education at UA Little Rock. They are parents of fraternal twins Phillip and Jeffrey, age 9; Quinley, 7; and another pair of fraternal
“Parenting is always this big experiment because you were parented one way, and some of it was good and some of it was not, and, of course, the world is also so different, right?” twins, Madeleine and Lucas, 6. Back to move-in day. As is inevitable when talking to a busy mom on the phone, there were continuing interruptions. Someone interjected a plaintive cry of, “I’m hungryyyyyyyyyy!” which Emily patiently addressed. A moment later another someone was sounding out-of-sorts, and Emily explained that one of the kids had made a big mess and was worried about it. She added, laughing, “But our house is already a mess so I don’t even care.” I was reminded that in so many situations, surrendering to “what is” often proves to be the best strategy. At some point, one of the kids cut open an oversized teddy bear and was removing the stuffing so he could crawl inside (Google giant teddy bear prank and you’ll get the idea). Emily calmly instructed, “Don’t pull all of the cotton out of the bear right now. You need somebody with you to make sure you’re safe doing that. Can you pause the project?” Though I was beginning to get a sense of it, I posed the admittedly unoriginal question: “What’s it like having two sets of twins plus another child? All 9 and under?” But I was genuinely curious as I marveled at her presence of mind and equanimity. After a quick but not harsh admonishment to one of her kids
50 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
—“Please stop kicking the lights. Thank you.” — she responded philosophically, “Well I don’t know anything different. It just happened. If you have any sense that things unfold for a reason, if you have any belief in that, then you have to go, ‘Well, this happened and so now we roll with it.’ ” “Roll with it” seems a fitting mantra for all parents, with or without multiples. Though I suspected it might be an intrusive, indelicate question, I asked, “Do twins run in your family?” A cheeky (or insulted) mom might well have responded, “Yes! All over the place! Up and down the stairs, in the street, around the yard.” But, despite the insensitivity on my part, Emily was gracious. She confirmed that, yes, both sets of twins were conceived naturally. It turns out that if you have already had a set of natural fraternal twins or multiples, then your chances of having another set of fraternal twins or multiples greatly increases. The chance of having one set of fraternal natural twins is about 1 in 90. The odds can change depending on genetics, age, height, diet and other factors. Some other tactless things not to say to parents of multiples: •“You’ve got your hands full!” or “I don’t know how you do it.” •“Better you than me.” •Any question related to how the children were conceived or delivered. (e.g., “How did that happen?”, “Are they natural?”, “Did you take fertility drugs?”, “Did you plan this?”) •“Are you going to have any more kids?” Asked about her approach to parenting, Emily explained, “Parenting is always this big experiment because you were parented one way, and some of it was good and some of it was not, and, of course, the world is also so different, right?” Too true. A wise woman once offered me this sage insight which I’ve clung to like a life raft for years: Parenting is a series of mistakes. You’re forever recalibrating and self-correcting. In other words, it’s a process. Emily continued, “We’re very non-authoritarian with them and really try to be as relational as possible — ‘Here’s why I’m asking you to do this,’ ‘This is why I need you to not do that,’ and ‘What could you do to fix the situation?’, that sort of thing. But at the same time, they literally have no fear of us ... because we don’t give them a reason to,” she laughed. “So it gets a little tricky sometimes, especially with that many people who have that much agency. One of the things I always go back to is that my family is very creative and very resilient, and those are the things that get us through ... As we encounter the next challenge and the next, we say, ‘let’s find some creative solution.’ And we adapt and we bounce back.” It’s a parenting style — and way of being — that reflects who Emily and Jeff are and what they value. “My husband and I, even prior to meeting, were people who sought out challenges. It makes life interesting. So in some way we manifested this as well.”
Sushi... the perfect date night.
2601 Kavanaugh Blvd. | Little Rock, AR 72205 (501) 660-4100 | KemuriRestaurant.com
SAVVY kids PUBLISHER BROOKE WALLACE | brooke@arktimes.com
A Q&A with Emily Stewart Hood, Ph.D. Online at SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
FIND MORE AT SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
EDITOR KATHERINE WYRICK | katherinewyrick@ arktimes.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LESA THOMAS ART DIRECTOR KATIE HASSELL ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 51
SEPTEMBER ACTIVITIES & FUN September 6
M.O.D IS NOW O.P.E.N.
We can’t wait to get our hands on those interactive exhibits and get to tinkering in that new Tinkering Studio!
NATIONAL READ A BOOK DAY
Reading should, of course, be part of a daily routine, but today is also the perfect time to support your local library. See below for September book releases that we’re particularly excited about. “Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #6)” by Ben Clanton. Ages 6-9.
September 11
LITTLE ROCK ZOO
Breakfast with a Twist — Penguins, 8 a.m. The Zoo’s African penguins are waiting to greet you with a morning bray! Did you know that they can sound like donkeys? They can also tell each other apart by their distinct voices. At this event you’ll learn about penguin calls and more while enjoying breakfast, a special keeper chat and a painting lesson. There will also be a celebration for Vinny’s birthday! Only a few spaces are left, so register now. Other Zoo happenings: Tails and Tunes ~ September Nights, every Thursday evening in September. Visit all of your favorite animals until 8 p.m. and shake your tailfeather to live music at the Civitan Elephant Stage. There will also be specialty food vendors, and beer and wine for adults. World Vulture Day is Sept. 4. Remember, they’re not dirty birds; they’re just birds with dirty habits. Wild Wines VIP Event is Sept. 17, and the main event is Sept. 18.
September 18
THE ACTON CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR
This one-day market inspires kids to discover their inner entrepreneur and offers them the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses. Each participant develops a brand, creates a product or service, builds a marketing strategy and then opens for customers. There will be 15 booths at CALS Williams Library located at 1800 South Chester St., 10 a.m. –2 p.m. Apply here childrensbusinessfair.org/littlerock-williamslibrary.
CLINTON CENTER
The Clinton Center recently announced its educational programs for the 2021-22 academic year. Created for students in Pre-K–12th grade and educators, the diverse offerings are designed to inspire civic engagement and service. The Clinton Center remains closed to all visitors due to COVID-19, so all tours and programs are virtual. Check out the full catalogue here: clintonpresidentialcenter.org/education. 52 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
SALINE COUNTY LIBRARY September 1
Kindness Rocks Paint Party 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM All ages Drop by the Benton branch to paint a kindness rock for the “Kindness Rocks” project. The goal: to hide painted rocks with encouraging messages around the community!
September 2
Outdoor S.T.E.A.M. Storytime 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM (Benton) Ages 3-6 Join Mrs. Wendy and Ms. Jordan each week outside under the tent for a fun S.T.E.A.M.-based storytime. This program is designed for 3-6 year olds, but older and younger children may also enjoy it. Each week, the kids will sing songs, read stories and enjoy fun activities that encourage early learning. Registration is required and space is limited. One registration per child. Bring a towel or blanket with you to sit on. Register here: bit.ly/3my6wjg. In the event of rain, outdoor programs will be cancelled.
September 3
Preschool Yoga Storytime 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM (Tyndall Park) Ages 3-6 Preschool yoga storytime is a special interactive program designed for children ages 3-6 and their caregivers. Each class includes playful yoga- inspired movement, stories, music, breath work and relaxation techniques. This storytime provides an opportunity for children to explore themselves, the world around them and their imaginations through mindful movement and literature. Off-site location at Tyndall Park, E. Sevier St. side. Registration required; bring a blanket, towel or yoga mat for yourself and your child. Find more events online at SAVVYkidsAr.com
That’s why we are available anytime from anywhere, offering all our services in the safest possible manner – Telehealth for: • Outpatient and school-based counseling • Kaleidoscope Grief Center group support • Methodist Behavioral Hospital physician services, family therapy, visitation through Arkansas Division of Child and Family Services, and court appearances • In-person psychiatric testing with plexiglass screen and PPE
Call 877-778-1197
info@MethodistFamily.org
R E V O C S I D THING NEW
CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK
SOME T
Looking for new adventures for your family and friends? Come together at Arkansas’s 52 state parks and experience endless possibilities.
TOT COS SA ATE T RIVER S K R A P
Pick up your FREE PASSPORT at the nearest state park today.
Plan your adventure at
ArkansasStateParks.com. ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 53
reopened!
explore how everyday ite ms are manufactured in this exhi ition inspired y m ister rogers' factory tours!
tinkerfest 9.18.21
built by museumofdiscovery.org
A GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE NATURAL STATE Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
2019 COLLEGE GUIDE 2021 COLLEGE GUIDE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS
DR. JAMES SHEMWELL DR. STEVE COLE, CHANCELLOR DR. ROBIN E. BOWEN DR. JUDY I. PILE, CHANCELLOR ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ARKANSAS TECH BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE COSSATOT UNIVERSITY LITTLE ROCK “We are very proud of the Arkansas “We know you have choices in life—choices “Arkansas Tech University empowers “BHCLR is a unique institution guided by Northeastern College’s reputation for about your friends, your music, your life. We students to apply their grit and transform the health care workforce needs in Arkansas. both personal attention and excellence in would love to be your choice for education. their lives for the better. We rank No. 1 in We offer one-year programs, associate teaching; however, we are especially proud We refuse for UA Cossatot to be an old Arkansas and among the top 10 percent degrees, and bachelor degrees through of the individual achievements and successes and stale college. We love technology and of colleges and universities nationwide in several university affiliations. Our outcomes of the thousands of students who comprise are always looking for ways to make our providing students with access to upward in retention, board/registry passage and our history. ANC is a two-year institution of college fresh. Our textbook program is social mobility after graduation. Over 93 graduate placement are competitive and are higher education, which boasts the lowest really cool;gone are the days where your percent of our more than 12,000 students available on our website. BHCLR offers rich cost of any college in the state while its books cost more than your tuition. We offer are from Arkansas, and approximately one clinical experiences and a Christian environgraduates earn the most. ANC graduates go textbook rentals for a small fee and many of every four ATU students comes from a ment. Individuals who fit well in health care on to become doctors and lawyers, business classroom materials are completely free. If diverse background. We are tenacious, yet have a natural tendency to care for others, owners and corporate managers, steel you are looking for a job, we have many supportive; competitive, yet compassionate enjoy learning and challenges and exhibit KYLEtechnicians D. PARKER, JD,nurses PRESIDENTtechnical options thatDR. SHEMWELL DR. leading-edge STEVE COLE, CHANCELLOR ROBIN E. BOWEN DR. STEVEprofessionalism ROOK inDR. DR. JAMES SHEMWELL industry and welders, willJAMES get you trained and caring. Innovative, and all areas of their lives. The AND CEO ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ARKANSAS TECH ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ARKANSAS and EMTs—the possibilities are plentiful. OF HEALTH quickly. If you are looking for a university NORTHEASTERN forward-thinking—we are Arkansas Tech field of health care is dynamic and growing ARKANSAS COLLEGES NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE COSSATOT UNIVERSITY THREE RIVERS COLLEGE Technical certificates and training programs college experience, enjoy the community University. Learn more at www.atu.edu.” there are many avenues tois an incredible to EDUCATION StateandUniversity Three RiversTech committed “We are very proud of the Arkansas Northeastern very oftothe Arkansas “We know you have“Arkansas choices in life—choices “Arkansas University empowers provide relevant skills forofentering college life first and“We thenare make theproud leap career. Visit our website to learn more at “Arkansas Colleges Healththe Education (ACHE) is changthe lives of the residents communities College’s reputation for bothfor personal attention andyour friends, improving Northeastern College’s reputation about your music, your life. We studentsintoour apply their grit and transform workplace with betterofearning potential—in a four-year We are excited about www.bhclr.edu.” ing the direction healthcare in Arkansas and beyond college. excellence we serve. For 52 years, the College has been committed in teaching; bothand personal andhowever, excellencewe in are especially wouldproud love to be your choice for education. their lives for the better. We rankto No. 1 in one year orthe less,power in many ANC canWhether youanother hope toattention be your through of cases. education. pursueawesome year making a positive difference in people’s of the individual achievements and successes of the teaching; however, we are especially proud We refuse for UA Cossatot to be an old Arkansas andlives. amongASU the Three top 10 percent becoming a physician, physical therapist, occupational provide the foundation for future academic choice for higher education!” of students Rivers ensures you have the opportunity to achieve your thousands who comprise our history. ANC is a of the individual achievements and successes and stale college. We love technology and of colleges and universities nationwide in therapist, or achieve a master in biomedical science, ACHE studies, training for career advancement, or educational goals by providing programs and services two-year institution of higher education, which boasts the oflowest the thousands of students who comprise are always looking for ways to make our providing students with access to upward DR. STEVE ROOK a reality. Our mission to edis ready make dream skills for a to whole newyour career. Join us at the designed for our students who plan to seek immediate cost of any college in the state while its graduates COLLEGEgroup OF THE of OUACHITAS our history. ANC is a two-year institution of college fresh. Our textbook program is social mobility after graduation. ucate and train a diverse highly competent and employment, transition to a new career, or earn a four Over 93 earn the most. ANC graduates go on to become doctors Arkansas Northeastern “College Collegeoftotheprepare Ouachitasfor is changing the compassionate healthcare professionals to improve the higher education, which boasts the lowest really cool;gone are the days where Visit your us at One College percent ofCircle our more than 12,000 year degree. in Malvern or students and lawyers, business owners and corporate managers, lives of the residents of Hot Spring, Grant, a better future.” lives of others is theDallas, driving force the50 outstanding cost any college in the stateand whilewelders, its cost more than tuition. We offerAt ASUTR, are approximately one Saline, and Clarkbehind Counties. For at your www.asutr.edu. youfrom will Arkansas, discoverand a Higher steelofindustry technicians nursesbooks and EMTs years,make COTO hasupbeen committed to making faculty and staff that ACHE.” graduates earn the most. graduates go certificates textbookand rentals forDegree a small fee and many of every four ATU students comes from a of You!” — the possibilities are ANC plentiful. Technical a positive difference in people’s lives. COTO myfuture@walton.uark.edu training programs provide relevant skills for entering the on to become doctors and lawyers, business classroom materials are completely free. If diverse background. We are tenacious, yet ensures you have an opportunity to achieve workplace with better earning potential—in one or for a job, we have many owners and corporate managers, steel youyear are looking supportive; competitive, yet compassionate your educational goals by providing programs and services designed for students who plan less, in technicians many cases. can nurses provide the foundation industry and ANC welders, technicalfor options that will get you trained and caring. Innovative, leading-edge and to seek immediate employment, transition to future academic studies,are training and EMTs—the possibilities plentiful.for career advancement, quickly. If you are looking for a university forward-thinking—we are Arkansas Tech a new career or a four-year degree. Nowhere or skills certificates for a whole career. Join us at thecollege Arkansas Technical andnew training programs experience, enjoy the community University. Learn more at www.atu.edu.” else in Arkansas will you find the state-ofNortheastern College to prepare for a better future.” the-art technical programs with cutting-edge provide relevant skills for entering the college life first and then make the leap to technology to prepare you for today’s highworkplace with better earning potential—in a four-year college. We are excited about tech world. Visit us at One College Circle in one year or less, in many cases. ANC can DAMPHOUSSE another awesome year and hope to be your KNEEBONE, J.D. Malvern or on the web at www.COTO. edu. DR. KELLY ELAINE DR. JOHN A. HOGAN PLAN YOUR VISIT: At College of the Ouachitas you will discover provide the foundation for future academic choice for higher education!” ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY OBU.EDU/ADM IS S IONS NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE a Higher Degree of You!” studies, training for career advancement, orevery high school senior in our 1.800.DIAL.OBU “I want “At Henderson State University, we “There is a lot to get excited about at At Ouachita, we do more skills for a whole new career. Join region us at the to know that he or she has a placethan at believeWein do the ability of every student to National Park College. Join Nighthawk Nation Arkansas Northeastern College to prepare for university. I want our faculty learn together. DR. CATHIE CLINE CLINE their research extraordinary. We offer more than 65 DR. CATHIE life together. As be a nationallyand be a part of amazing student life, a better future.” DR. JIMtop-tier BORSIG EAST ARKANSAS ranked, university, and graduate programs to EAST ARKANSAS and staff to know they are respected and undergraduate athletics and campus organizations. NPC we pride ourselvesSTATE HENDERSON UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY COLLEGECOLLEGE COMMUNITY their ideas matter, and that we all share prepare youinfor the career of your dreams. has NJCAA teams for men and women’s offering high-impact learning “At Henderson State University, we offer than 65 “EACC’s career-ready transfer-ready programs provide “EACC’s career-ready andand transfer-ready the same goal of helping our students experiences reach you want to study withmore our highly thatWhether will prepare basketball, men and women’s cross country, undergraduate and graduate programs to prepare you for students with the best and most economical education programs provide students with the best and for your futureranked career.education, Our their highest aspirations. Most of all, you I ahope nursing, baseball and softball. We offer more than rewardingtocareer. you wantortobusiness study with our available, complemented by the comhighest degree of percommitment a love ofWhether God most economical education available, for a university community that truly believes programs or take flight with Arkansas’s transfer degrees and if your ACT is 19 highly ranked education, and love of learning means nursing or business programs or sonal service. holddegree paramount the goal of75providing plemented by theWe highest of personal that ‘Every Red Wolf Counts.’ ” only professional pilotprofessional degree, we invite you’ll leave here ready to only DR. KELLY DAMPHOUSSE take flight with Arkansas’s pilot degree, or higher, you may qualify for scholarships. students quality opportunities, and our service. Wewith are small butlearning mighty, and we engage with theto world and you to –visit our campus. Henderson State ARKANSAS we invite you learn more about Henderson. We encourpercent of NPC students receive STATE institution offers students the opportunity to Nearly select 70 from make a difference in it. deeplymenu about of ouroptions. students. Our recent DR. W. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY-JONESBORO University encourages scholarly and creative age scholarly and creative activities in a caring, personal acare diverse We(JOEY) are KING dedicatedfinancial to serving aid and scholarships. Last year, NPC COLLEGE that is merger has resulted in LYON aninstitution institution “I want every high school senior in our region to know atmosphere that reflects the university’s motto for more activities in a caring, personal atmosphere our students and our has an unparalleled students received over $7.5 million in grants “Lyon College leads the way in preparing Come see how Ouachita better than ever. All programs continueworkforce. in onlyThe goal that hePark or she has a place at their research university. I than a century, ‘The School a Heart.’ that reflects theWith university’s mottoDiscover for morewhat it commitment to student success. to help At National students for today’s Our skillsandisscholarships. College, invest in you. DR. KELLY DAMPHOUSSE want our faculty and staff to know they are DR. respected Live Reddie at hsu.edu.” the new institution, students the thinking, you can have a full college JOHN A.and HOGAN means tocan sought goals.” by employers--critical our students reachoffering their than alove century, experience– We would to ‘The School with a Heart.’ ARKANSAS STATE their ideas matter, and that we all share the same goal leadership, collaboration--are those in which opportunity to select from a diverse menu NATIONAL PARK COLLEGEshow you Learnaround! what it means to Live Reddie at UNIVERSITY close to home–at lessofthan half theourcoststudents reach their highest aspirations. our graduates excel. Small class sizes foster helping “I want every high school senior in our of options when developing their educational “There is a lot to get excited about at hsu.edu. mentoring between students and facultyof the average four-year university. Most of all, IOur hope for a university community that truly region to know that he or she has a place at plans. Our goals remainin the same: to National Park College. Join Nighthawk Nation an interdisciplinary liberal arts program experienced faculty andbelieves staff arethat committed ‘Every Red Wolf Counts.’ ” CATHIE CLINE their research university. I want our faculty improve students’ lives where and experiential strengthenlearning our and a cultureto ofyour success in theDR. and be a part of amazing student life, workforce. Find your EAST ARKANSAS innovation are embraced. We are committed and staff to know they are respected and community.” athletics and campus organizations. NPC to a diverse and inclusive residential path at np.edu.” COMMUNITY COLLEGE their ideas matter, and that we all share has NJCAA teams for men and women’s community focused on educating the whole “EACC’s career-ready and transfer-ready the same goal of helping our students reach person. Campus priorities include restoring basketball, men and women’s cross country, A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF THE ARKANSAS TIMES 2 AUGUST 2019 ARKANSAS TIMES programs provide students with the best and a computer science major and the addition their highest aspirations. Most of all, I hope baseball and softball. We offer more than of a film and media studies minor. We have most economical education available, comfor a university community that truly believes 75 transfer degrees and if your ACT is 19 also expanded varsity and club sports, and PUBLISHER Alan Leveritt ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES plemented by the highest degree of personal that ‘Every Red Wolf Counts.’ ” Brooke Wallace, Lee Major, have a professional gamer to coach the new or higher,Terrell you may qualify for scholarships. GUIDE Jacob service. COLLEGE We are small butEDITOR mighty,Lindsey and weMillar Nearlyand esports program, offering another “only at 70 percent of NPC students receive PUBLISHER COLLEGE GUIDE EDITOR ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lyon” experience. A ROTC military science CREATIVE DIRECTOR Keener DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING ASSISTANT care deeply about our students.Mandy Our recent ALAN LEVERITT DWAIN HEBDA PHYLLIS A. aid BRITTON financial and scholarships. Last year, NPCBROOKE WALLACE, LEE MAJOR, Hannah Peacock concentration is planned, along with an merger has resulted in an institution that is JACOB AND exercise science major and minor, pending received over $7.5 million in grants TERRELL DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY Jordan Littlestudents ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER KAITLYN LOONEY better than ever. All programs continue in final approval by the college’s accreditor. Roland R. Gladden and scholarships. At National Park College, ART DIRECTOR Mike Spain Lyon is the only pet-friendly campus across the newADVERTISING institution,DESIGNER offering students the GRAPHIC Katie Hassell IT DIRECTOR you can have a fullRobert collegeCurfman experience– the region, and a newly opened dog park CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Anitra Hickman opportunity to selectOFfrom a diverse menu SpecialDIRECTOR Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times ADVERTISING CONTROLLER Weldon Wilson 56 SEPTEMBER 2021 is oneARKANSAS TIMES of many spots where students find close to home–at less than half the cost Phyllis Britton BILLING/COLLECTIONS Linda Phillips of options whenA. developing their educational respite. Come see what has made Lyon of the average four-year university. Our College such an exceptional place for nearly plans. Our goals remain the same: to ARKANSASTIMES.COM
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS
2019 COLLEGE GUIDE
2021 COLLEGE GUIDE ARKTIMES.COM
Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 57
2021 COLLEGE GUIDE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS
HE PRESIDENTS
CELLOR DR. ROBIN E. BOWEN E. BOWEN RKANSAS DR. ROBINARKANSAS TECH ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY “Higher education is a pathway to a better life for you and oices in life—choices “Arkansas Tech University empowers your family. Independent research by CollegeNET r music, your life. We students to apply their grit and transformshows that Arkansas Tech University ranks No. 1 in Arkansas choice for education. lives for thethebetter. We rankposition No. 1 inof its when it comes their to improving economic tot to be an old Arkansas and among the top 10 percent students. It’s a ranking we’ve been pleased to hold for ove technologyseven and consecutive of colleges and universities nationwide in on years because it reflects our focus ways to makestudent our access providing students with access and student success. Investtoinupward yourself. ook program isInvest in your future. social mobility graduation. 93 Chooseafter Arkansas TechOver University. Learn more at www.atu.edu.” e days where your percent of our more than 12,000 students our tuition. We offer are from Arkansas, and approximately one mall fee and many of every four ATU students comes from a e completely free. If diverse background. We are tenacious, yet ob, we have many supportive; competitive, yet compassionate will get you trained and caring. Innovative, leading-edge and ng for a university forward-thinking—we are Arkansas Tech oy the community University. Learn more at www.atu.edu.” en make the leap to e are excited about and hope to be your tion!”
DR. JUDY I. PILE, CHANCELLOR BAPTIST HEALTH COLLEGE COLLEGE BAPTIST HEALTH LITTLE ROCK LITTLE ROCK “BHCLR isisa aunique institution guidedguided by by healthcare work“BHCLR unique institution the health careinworkforce needs Arkansas. force needs Arkansas. Weinoffer one-year programs, We offer one-year associatedegrees through several associate degreesprograms, and bachelor university Check out our wide variety of degrees, andaffiliations. bachelor degrees through programs and our outcomes our website. BHCLR offers several university affiliations. Our on outcomes rich clinicalboard/registry experiences passage and a Christian environment. in retention, and Individuals who fit well in healthcare have a natural graduate placement are competitive and are tendency care for others, learning and challenges available ontoour website. BHCLR enjoy offers rich and exhibit professionalism in all areas of their lives. The clinicalofexperiences Christian and environfield healthcareandis adynamic growing, and there are ment. Individuals who fit well in health care Visit our website to many avenues to an incredible career. have amore naturalattendency to care for others, learn www.bhclr.edu.” enjoy learning and challenges and exhibit professionalism in all areas of their lives. The field of health care is dynamic and growing and there are many avenues to an incredible career. Visit our website to learn more at www.bhclr.edu.” DR. JUDY I. PILE, CHANCELLOR
2019 COLLEGE GU
MESSAGE
DR. MARTIN EGGENSPERGER
DR. RANDY ESTERS BLACK RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE NORTHCollege ARKANSAS “For almost 50 years, Black River Technical has COLLEGE “North Arkansas College offered thousands of individuals a new pathway to their ranks as the 17th Best future—a true gift to Arkansans. In those sameCommunity years, College and the 24th Most Affordable BRTC also helped Arkansas face the challenges of its fu-Community Colleg that Offers Degrees in the nation ture. If you ask BRTC employees, alumni, and Online supporters to name aspects of which they feel the most proud, Black a new online We’re excited to announce River’s heritage of producing leaders,hybrid craftsmen, and of our Medical La format delivery heroes rises to the top. This list is both wonderful(MLT) legacy torya Technology program. Course and an inspiring challenge for the next 50 years. at is completed in is online and theWeclinical BRTC invite you to answer the call.” a facility near the student’s home. We’v added four university partnership agreements: Arkansas Tech University, John B University, the University of Arkansas Sa M. Walton College of Business, and Evan University recently. Internships with FedE Freight, Tyson Foods and Pace Industries enable students to get hands-on experie while they pursue their education. We are a nationally recognized college with small-town feel. I’d like to extend a per invitation to you to visit us in Harrison a tour Northark for yourself. We are prou be Pioneers!”
DR. JOHN A. HOGAN DR. RICK MASSENGALE NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE “There is a lot to get excited about at National Park “North Arkansas College is focused on the future by College. Join Nighthawk Nation and be a part of amazing continually providing new opportunities for students. New student life, athletics, and campus organizations. NPC has programs like Turf Management connect students with NJCAA teams for men and women’s basketball, men and employers, providing paid apprenticeships. Academic prowomen’s cross country, men and women’s soccer, baseball grams receive national recognition. The LPN Program was and softball. We offer transfer opportunities to universinamed the “8th Best in the Southeast” (NursingProcess. ties across Arkansas,ELAINE and ifKNEEBONE, your ACTJ.D. is 19 or higher, you org) and our online Accounting Certificate was named the DR. KELLY DAMPHOUSSE may qualify for scholarships. MoreSTATE than UNIVERSITY 70 percent of “Most Popular Undergraduate Accounting Certificate in JASON L. MORRISON, ED.D. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY HENDERSON LLEGE NPC students receive financial aid and scholarships. Last Arkansas (Business Degree Central). On-campus housingSOUTHERN ARKANSAS “I want every high school senior in our “At Henderson State University, we ited about at year, NPC students received over $8.5 million in grants will further enhance the college experience when the UNIVERSITY TECH region to know that he or she has a place at believe in the ability of every student to in Nighthawk Nation and scholarships. At National Park College, you can have their research university. I want our faculty experience be extraordinary. We offer more 65half first residence hall, Pioneer Villas, opens in fall of 2022.“SAU Tech is moving forward at a fast p g student life, a university – close to home – at lessthan than The Pioneers enjoy a new ESPORTS team in addition to with the inclusion of NJCAA softball for and staff to know they are respected and of the average undergraduate graduate Our programs to anizations. NPC the cost four-yearand university. faculty baseball, softball, men’s, and women’s basketball. We 2019. The Rockets’ first basketball seaso their ideas matter, and that we alland share preparetoyou forsuccess the careerin oftheyour dreams. staff are committed your workforce. n and women’s pride ourselves in providing a family atmosphere while went beyond expectations and we are e the same goal of helping our students reach path at np.edu.” Whether you want to study with our highly Find your giving you a high-quality education at an affordable to gear up for another year. Next summ men’s cross country, their highest aspirations. Most of all, I hope ranked education, nursing, or business price. Online fees for students are waived for Fall 2021, we will be adding an addition to our he e offer more than for a university community that truly believes programs or take flight with Arkansas’s and Spring 2022 semesters. I’d like to extend a personalcare lineup and this fall we have added if your ACT is 19 invitation to you to visit our campus and tour Northark for that ‘Every Red Wolf Counts.’ ” only professional pilot degree, we invite fy for scholarships. non-destructive testing to our industrial yourself.” you to visit our campus. Henderson State C students receive technology area of study. SAU Tech cont University encourages scholarly and creative hips. Last year, NPC to grow with student housing and exten activities in a caring, personal atmosphere 7.5 million in grants student support services. Our business a that reflects the university’s motto for more onal Park College, industry partners share our excitement a than a century, ‘The School with a Heart.’ ge experience– they are supporting our efforts as never Learn whatAdvertising it means to Live Reddie at of the Arkansas Times Special Supplement han half the cost before and our team of faculty and staf 58 SEPTEMBER 2021 ARKANSAS TIMES hsu.edu. university. Our are looking forward to a busy and succe staff are committed 2019-20 academic year. Be Great! Be T
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DR. KEITH PINCHBACK RODERICK L. SMOTHERS SR., PH.D. DR. JEROME GREEN PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND CEO SHORTER COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PHILANDER SMITH “Shorter is committed to its motto, ‘Your Path to ARKANSAS “While life as we have known it has been drastically Possible.’ We are graduating students that are capable “I am very excited about the upcoming year and the altered in recent months, it remains true that Philander and equipped to compete not just within the state of great things that it will bring to Phillips Community ColSmith College is a beacon of hope for those with a thirst Arkansas, but nationally. Since our founding, Shorter andRODERICK to you!L.InSMOTHERS, today’s SR. College has been in the business of transforming lives for EVELYN knowledge and big dreams of scholastic achievement. DR. E. JORGENSON DR. BEN R. SELLSlege of the University of ArkansasDR. fast-paced world, change has become one of the most Our guiding principles of caring for our community, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGEby providing our students with a premier, quality higher important factors in our lives. With new programs and remaining student-centered and mission-focused, and education. One of our primary goals is to enrich COMMUNITY COLLEGE “Ranked by Niche.com as the top private “For 142weyears, Smith College ongoing improvements to our facilities, are Philander committed executing in operational excellence are leading us in the academic “NorthWest Arkansas Community College university in Arkansas, Ouachita you is a for active participation has beenininspiring and educating the next instructional programs and student services to to preparing an ever-changnew normal — providing inspiration endow students with the knowledge, skills and abilities seeks to empower lives, inspirethe learning and for our commitChrist-centered learning community that pregeneration of leaders who seek to enact ing economy with training and skills that will benefit you ment to produce world-class graduates who are making to become scholastically and professionally productive strengthen paresof students forforongoing intellectual andis the oldestchange in our communities, nation a lifetime. PCCUA community college in state, in a positivecommunity differencethrough in theaccessible, world. Through the lens today’s global society. Shorter has remained steadfast affordable, quality education at locations spiritual growth, lives of meaningful work, and world. Our legacy of providing Arkansas, which means we have more experience doing a global health pandemic in the midst of civil unrest in ina quality ensuring that our students are receiving all of the throughout Benton counties. and reasoned engagement the world. liberal arts curriculum, on social tools required to effectively complete their what we with do than any other community college in thewith a focusnecessary our country, andand 144Washington years after its founding, Philander Ourinnovate three locations in DeWitt, Helena, and Stuttgart We focus—onwith providing what arts our learners to further and justice, has withstood the test of time and Smith its liberal curriculum and focusOuachita on is risingstate. educational journey. We are supplying our students with combine state-of-the-art need, basic education, achieve so that the studentstraditional of today willcollege be experiences, asserted Philander as an educational pillar inand mobile hotspots at no out of pocket cost. As socialwhether justicethat’s — hasadult a steadfast position as an educational laptops unique our acampus new skills today’s workplace,ofor leaders the abletoto meet thetechnology, challenges andand embrace theDelta heritage, Arkansas.and Though small, private institution, pillarjobfor thefornext generation who desire we continue to move the college forward, it is imperative life provides a unique studies with multitude foundation to pursue a into four-year degree more diverseopportunities of tomorrow. Students benefit balance of PSC dreams big.aOur dreams includethat making move us FORWARD a healthier, and we work together to build on our past achievements of recreational activities. to maintaining equitable future.” andhave plan and post-graduate study. NWACC creates an from the university’s liberal arts tradition and In addition education accessible to high students who a for continued successes.” standards and achieved accreditation, will provide environment that inspires students and enunique high-impact learning opportunities, desire PCCUA for knowledge and academic achieveyou with committed faculty who are dedicated to your courages them to maximize their potential.” which afford valuable perspectives and ment. As we celebrate this great milestone individual success. We truly believe that the quality and experiences in their respective fields. With a in our history, we know value of an education at PCCUA will help prepare youour forgreatest assets 99 percent placement rate for new graduates are our students and our highly successful roles in your future. We are eager to faculty and staff. and record retention current students, is with a student-centered helpforyou begin and complete yourIt educational journey. approach to Ouachita is committed to providing students learning and a steadfast dedication to Let’s get started!” with a college experience that shapes their helping our scholars thrive that we continue lives and sets them on a trajectory for to move FORWARD into the future.” success. At Ouachita, our students are truly known–by the dedicated faculty and staff who take a personal interest in them, and the close-knit campus community they do life with.”
DR. TERISA C. RILEY, DR. CHRISTINA DRALE, CHANCELLOR DR. TERISA C.CHANCELLOR RILEY, CHANCELLOR DR. LAURENCE B. ALEXANDER, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS CHANCELLOR AT LITTLE ROCK FORTFORT SMITH SMITH AT UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS “UA Little Rock is a comprehensiveDR. metropolitan “The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith offers students TREY BERRY university AT PINE BLUFF “The University of Arkansas–Fort Smith that connects its students with professional opportunities from walks of life aeducational transformational educational “Access and opportunity are the foundations of the SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY offers all a transformational in the capital city and beyond. While a strong experience. Highly trained in state-of-the-art “Overmaintaining the past six years, Southerneducational Arkansas experience at the University of Arkansas at experience, where students learnprofessors from Rock offers under- record Pine facilities prepare students to excelart in high-demand careers liberal arts core education, UA Little Bluff. Since our inception, UAPB has educated and University has experienced enrollment highly-trained professors in state-of-the DR. ANDREW ROGERSON graduate and graduate degrees that meet the demand for and top-tier graduate schools. UAFS lives up to the inspired and growth. New academic programs in cy- some of the world’s greatest minds to reach facilities. UAFS lives up to the promise of UNIVERSITY advanced-level OF ARKANSASpreparation in areas of critical need for promise of providing deep and beyond ber criminology, publicprohealth, game designtheir circumstances and be who they want to be. providing both a deep andstudents rich knowledge in rich knowledge AT LITTLE ROCK local, state and regional development. Our location in their area of study as well as a welcoming, engaging UAPB’s and ofanimation, poultry science, musical the-designation as an 1890 land-grant institution a major area ofthat study as wellthem as engaging critical access to a wide variety internship, field “As chancellor ofvides the University of Arkansas community enables to learn to think critically, means that our mission to serve a diverse student and engineering have attracted students students so that expertly, they learn toand think critically, and research opportunities inaterbusiness, government, communicate work with diverse teams. at Little Rock, I work invite students to consider population and foster learning, growth and prosperity and have transformed SAU into a will truly never global change. Our core values of empowerment communicate expertly to andproviding work with an diverse healthcity, care, education and high-tech organizaWe are committed affordable education an education in nonprofit, the state’s capital campus. The School of Graduate Studies teams. Our graduates are prepared to tions. By offering a large number of merit and need-based by offering exceptional scholarships and grants that and accountability drive our tight-knit community of where access to many research, internship, has affordable, also grown dramatically a and learners. Strong support from faculty competegraduates nationally for jobs intotheir chosen we provide access to an quality and offers allow of UAFS take out less debt thancommunity their and scholarships educators employment opportunities wide variety of programs, both online and education for a diverse student body. UA Little Rock can careers, UAFS and gain admission to someofofaccess, opportunity, peers. is truly the home and and administration and a familial atmosphere create are just minutes away. We are dedicated to be part of your success story.” on campus. Our primary mission attheSAUoptimal is the world’s top graduate programs. We are success.” environment for student success. And our providing an affordable, quality education to to serve students, and our culture1890 of caring committed to providing an affordable eduland-grant designation continues to pave the way Arkansas students to ensure they graduate for innovations in technology, agriculture, medicine and has new and current students and alumni cation, providing students with exceptional with as little debt as possible in their pursuit business. UAPB shapes minds that go on to reshape the throughout the state and nation saying SAU scholarships and grants which allow graduof higher education. Our goal is to see them world.” ‘feels like home.’” ates of UAFS to take out less debt than their through to a timely graduation and ensure peers. UAFS: Excellent Education, Affordable the appropriate skill sets are acquired so Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times Investment, Invaluable Opportunities.” ARKANSASTIMES.COM SEPTEMBER 2021 59 they are career-ready. We are proud to be an engine of social and economic mobility
JOE STEINMETZ, CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS “The University of Arkansas is proud to have students from every county in the state. Helping them maximize their potential and advancing Arkansas together has been a part of our mission for 148 years. We are also the most academically comprehensive university in the state with nearly 240 different degrees and certificates available. Nowhere else in Arkansas can you find the range of majors, classes, research opportunities and access to world-class faculty. That’s helped more than 300 U of A students win nationally competitive scholarships, DR. TREY BERRY grants and internships over SOUTHERNfellowships, ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY the last academic year. Our graduates “SAU’s culture of caring andgovernors, commitment academic are state Fortuneto 500 CEOs, excellence was even more evident this past year amidst a scientists and novelists. They’re nurses, global pandemic. During a continuous period of monitor teachers, goals architects, lawand adjust, SAU exceeded and engineers achieved and many yers. We’re routinely recognized as one of firsts. Our students, faculty, and staff may have learned best values highermethods, education,butand to interact with onetheanother usingin new the Muleriderstrong spirit remained constant throughout Fayetteville has been ranked among the the process. Our nursing achieved three-year nation’sstudents best places to live. aI encourage average on their national exam (NCLEX) above 97%. Also, you to come see why.” our pre-med students earned a 100% acceptance rate into
DR. HOUSTON DAVIS Dr. Laurence B. Alexander, Chancellor UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF “At the University of Central Arkansas, “Access and opportunity are the we are committed to the success of foundations of the University of Arkansas our students and helping them reach at Pine Bluff. Since our inception, UAPB their degree goals. We are proud of our has educated and inspired some of the vibrant and diverse student body that world’s greatest minds to reach beyond is excelling inside and outside of the their circumstances and be who they want classroom. UCA students are part of a to be. New to our campus this fall, UAPB dynamic and growing university that launches its first engineering program— aims to set students up for success in agricultural engineering—the hospitality their careers and lives after graduation. and tourism management degree proUCA is recognized nationally as the most gram and the associate-to-bachelor’s beautiful campus in Arkansas and when degree program, in partnership with you combine that with some of the best SEARK College. UAPB’s designation as an CHARLES ROBINSON, INTERIM DR. JASON MORRISON, faculty in the nation, you get a complete 1890 land-grant institution means that CHANCELLOR CHANCELLOR collegiate experienceUNIVERSITY that is second to OF ARKANSAS SOUTHERN our mission to serve aARKANSAS diverse student ATstudents FAYETTEVILLE none. It is our goal that will UNIVERSITY TECHgrowth population and foster learning, “The alumni University of Arkansas is proud to have students “The fall 2021 will academic year brings students back soon jointothe outstanding of UCA and productivity never change. fromdifference every county in the state and every state in the our campus and we are all excited about having themaking a huge who are in Our core valuesto ofprovide empowerment country. We are a destination school for students in state opportunity trainingand and instruction to our and beyond.and Go out Bears!” accountability our tight-knit com-This year, Arkansas because we have the most comprehensive range students and drive workforce partners. our new munity of educators and learners. of majors, classes, research and artistic opportunities, and Arkansas Fire Training AcademyWhat Residential Hall will world-class faculty. We also provide nearly 240 different be andstand a second historical grant is providing trulydedicated makes UAPB out—strong degree and certificates at a quality and cost that routinely funds to renovate the former barracks that housed support from faculty and administration has us recognized as one of the best values in the country. civilians and military personnel in the 1940’s and 50’s. and the familial atmosphere—create the For 150 years the U of A has been at the center of higher New things are on the forefront in athletics with NJCAA optimal Baseball environment for student education in Arkansas, and we’re just getting better. If Rocket starting in fallsuccess. 2022. SAU Tech is a And our 1890 land-grant designation you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that growing, vibrant community for students to experience continues pave the of waycollege for innovations sets you up to achieves lifelong success, then I encourage their firsttotwo years and we are looking you come check us out. I think you’ll find you belong.” forward to theagriculture, future! Wemedicine are theand Rocket Nation.” in technology, business. UAPB shapes the minds that go on to reshape the world.”
2021 COLLEGE GUIDE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS
medical school. Thanks to the efforts of our Advancement team and the unwavering support of Mulerider alumni and friends, SAU recorded its most successful fundraising year in its 112-year history. And although many student activities were affected by the pandemic, several students earned special individual honors and three of our athletic teams had championship seasons. Our primary mission at SAU is to educate students while providing them the complete college experience, and we are proud to have remained focused on our mission during this past year. We invite students across the state and globe to come see why SAU continues to Feel Like Home.”
DR. RICHARD DAWE OZARKA COLLEGE “Ozarka College has been committed to our students for more than 40 years and we continuously strive for ways to enhance our students’ experience and to offer the highest quality education at affordable rates. We are passionate about providing excellent educational opportunities to help students succeed in their careers and in life.”
DR. HOUSTON DAVIS
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS “At the University of Central Arkansas, we are committed to the success of our students. Our dynamic and growing university aims to set students up for success in their careers and lives after graduation. We are proud of our vibrant and diverse student body that is excelling inside and outside of the classroom. UCA has been recognized nationally as the most beautiful campus in Arkansas, and when you combine that with some of the best faculty in the nation, you get a complete collegiate experience that is second to none. It is our goal that students will soon join the outstanding alumni of UCA who are making a huge difference in Arkansas and beyond. Go Bears!” 60 SEPTEMBER 2021
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DR. KARLA HUGHES, CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT MONTICELLO “UAM is a place where opportunity abounds. Students come to UAM for small classes where faculty know who they are and care about their success. Life-long friendships are developed while students pursue an academic path that DR. MARGARET A. ELLIBEE DR. MARGARET A. ELLIBEE MICHAEL MOORE, PH.D. will change their future. We haveACADEMIC/OPERATING more UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS CHIEF OFFICER UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS than 70 distinct programs for students at OF ARKANSAS PULASKI TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE COLLEGE threededication southeast Arkansas campuses–our “UA Pulaski Tech’s longstanding reputation for SYSTEM EVERSITY “UA-Pulaski Tech’s longstanding reputato student achievement is a direct result of the “Young should have the opportunity to go off maindedication campus in Monticello andpeople our techtion for dedication excellence to student achieveand professional our faculty and nical staff campuses bring to in McGehee to college take in all of the things that make the and and Crossett. mentstudent is a direct result of the dedication the experience. UAPTC’s students digUAM deeper to university so enriching and memorable. is a unique university in thatexperience we find value and excellence within themselves. Our job is to and professional excellence our faculty Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way for offerpursues a broadarange ofeveryone. opportunities give thembring the to tools do it. experience. Whether a student I’m for honored to be a part of the state’s only 100 and staff the tostudent learning from certificates of proficiency university-transfer degree or needs cutting-edge technical percent online university, which was created to provide an UA-PTC’s students dig deeper to find to find undergraduate degrees to master’s training, it’s the personal touch he or she will here affordable and high-quality University of Arkansas System valuemakes and excellence within themselves. that the difference.” option to those who simply can’t make it to a campus. The degrees. With hundreds of scholarship Our job is to give them the tools to do UA System eVersity uses world-class faculty and resources opportunities, an affordable education it. Whether a student pursues a universifrom all of at UAM is a great first step towardtheyourUA System institutions to provide a comty-transfer degree or needs cutting-edge pletely online and unmatched experience. In the midst of professional goals. We’re to invest suchready uncertain times, eVersity was built to support your technical training, it’s the personal touch in you and your success. Go Weevils!” educational needs with award-winning courses that were that makes the difference.” designed from the start for online delivery. We’d love to help you stay safe and earn credits without compromising quality or your budget. See how we do college differently by visiting eVersity.edu.” A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF THE ARKANSAS TIMES
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870-574-4558 SAU Tech offers it all! Experience our student housing, NJCAA Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Cheer, Choir, & Scholars program. sautech.edu - sautrockets.com
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2021 COLLEGE GUIDE
PAYING FOR COLLEGE Investing in higher education is an investment in yourself, but you still want to be smart about it. Paying for college starts with understanding what’s available -- so read on. ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE Nine out of 10 students at Arkansas Northeastern College receive financial aid in some form. In addition to traditional financial aid programs such as the federal Pell Grant and state-funded Arkansas Challenge, Future Grant, Workforce Challenge and Career Pathways, the school supports institutional awards such as Board of Trustees, Great River Promise, Foundation, TOPS, Public School Teachers, Performing Arts and Early College. The Nucor Diploma Squared Scholarship, sponsored by Nucor-Yamato Steel and Nucor Steel Arkansas, provides up to $75,000 per year. Because of Nucor’s support and partnership with Arkansas Northeastern College, this program allows students to take ANC classes for only $10 a credit hour, saving them time and money in their quest to earn a college education. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Arkansas State is committed to educating students and their families in how to limit debt and make college affordable. A full 90 percent of the student body receive some type of financial aid. For the third year, the Scarlet to Black program is available for students to learn how to budget, manage a checking account, manage student borrowing and navigate credit cards. The university has also created a new 870 need-based housing scholarship for this year’s recruits. In addition to traditional federal student aid programs, A-State has committed an additional $1 million in need-based scholarships. The school has also created new scholarships for students from neighboring states. Traditional offerings include Pell Grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans, Federal Unsubsidized Student Loans and Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). A-State also participates in all state-funded programs such as Academic Challenge, Distinguished Governors and others. The A-State Scholar program is a competitive scholarship which can provide up to $14,000 per year for those who are selected. This is a competitive scholarship and requires a separate 62 SEPTEMBER 2021
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The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is growing fast even through the pandemic. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is growing fast even through the pandemic. application. Selections are made in February of each year. Merit-based scholarships valued up to $8,000 are available to students who have obtained at least a score of 23 on the ACT and a high school GPA of 3.00 or better. Transfer students with a 3.25 or above and 24 transferable hours or more may be eligible to receive a scholarship valued up to $4,000 per year. Students with an associate’s degree from an ASU System campus can receive up to $5,000. Private scholarships valued at $250 and up are available to students who meet required criteria. Need-based scholarships like the A-State Heritage, valued up to $3,000, are available to those who meet certain guidelines. A-State offers scholarships to students who have excelled in many different areas, such as athletics, the arts and music, as well as academic and merit scholarships. In the past two years, A-State has created new programs targeted at first-generation students and students seeking need-based aid. A-State offers a variety of financial aid awards and has one of the lowest default rates in the state at 3.30 percent. For full details, visit www.astate.edu/a/finaid/. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY THREE RIVERS All student loan borrowers must complete federal Entrance Counseling before receiving loan funds, which includes information about budgeting, college costs and debt. A Net Price Calculator and estimated Cost of Attendance Information are available on the ASUTR website. ASU Three Rivers TRIO office offers a financial literacy presentation to students, which is available anytime on our website. The Division of Student Affairs offers advising to all students on a variety of areas including Financial Literacy. About 80 percent of ASUTR students receive financial aid, and the university also provides employment opportunities in the form of one of 10 Federal Work Study positions, as well as Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
employment with the institution. Textbooks may be bought or rented. ASU Three Rivers offers a variety of scholarships connected to academic performance and field of study to students involved in the Student Government Association as well as the Honors College. The school also offers scholarships to local law enforcement officers. ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY According to LendEDU, Arkansas Tech is the statewide leader in helping students at public universities fund higher education. Need-based financial aid accounted for the majority of the institution’s overall score (60 percent), while non-need-based financial aid (34 percent) and international student financial aid (6 percent) made up the remainder of the score. By that standard, Arkansas Tech ranks No. 1 among all public universities in Arkansas when it comes to providing access to student financial aid. Scholarship consideration begins with an ACT composite score of 17; the application for undergraduate admission serves as the scholarship application. Admission status is required, and students’ admission files include an application for undergraduate admission and a current high school transcript with a qualifying grade point average and ACT/SAT exam score. Athletic and music scholarships are among the specialized types of financial aid that are offered to Arkansas Tech University students with a particular talent in those areas. In addition, each ATU student who participates in the Miss Arkansas competition receives a $1,000 per semester award. Scholarship opportunities also exist for transfer students, graduate students and students at ATU-Ozark campus. To apply for ATU Office of Admissions scholarships, there is a priority scholarship deadline of Nov. 15 and a regular scholarship deadline of Feb. 15 of the current award year. Visit www.atu.edu/honors to learn
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more about the University Honors program. Students receiving academic scholarships must be U.S. citizens. Tech $ense, a student resource offered through the ATU Office of Financial Aid, is a one-stop shop for financial literacy. Located at www.atu.edu/finaid/techsense, the website helps students plan for college, pay for college and make sound financial decisions. Learn more at www.atu.edu/scholarships and www. atu.edu/finaid.
Choices can be tough!
BLACK RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE Eighty percent of the Black River Technical College student body received some type of financial aid. Some institutional awards include: Academic Distinction Scholarship Covers full tuition, up to 16 credit hours, for up to two years. Open to traditional first-time entering freshmen graduating from an accredited Arkansas high school who have an ACT superscore of 24 or higher or graduate in the Top 10 percent of their class. Academic Incentive Scholarship Awards $250 per semester for up to two years to be applied toward tuition and fees. Open to first-time entering freshmen graduating from an accredited Arkansas high school who have an ACT composite score between 19 and 23. The college also offers a significant number of privately funded scholarships open to all students, whether first-time entering or returning.
Classes forming
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DeWitt Helena Stuttgart
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pccua.edu
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HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY Henderson State University offers a wide variety of academic scholarships for incoming and transfer students. The application for undergraduate admission serves as the scholarship application. Students and parents meet with academic and financial advisors during orientation to help steer each student toward the programs and resources that will help them graduate on time. Financial Aid offers a variety of options to fit the valuable education we offer into the student and parent budget. Student Accounts offers payment plans for students with a remaining balance after aid is posted. Academic scholarship types and requirements are available online, as are awards offered through the Henderson State University Foundation. Foundation scholarships are made possible by contributions from private donors, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, campus organizations and corporations. In addition, scholarships are available for a variety of activities, such as e-sports, athletics, band, choir, theatre and ROTC. Approximately 84 percent of Henderson students receive financial aid, and federal and institutional work study is available. NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE National Park College (NPC) works hard to keep higher education within reach of everyone, with tuition and fees that are less than half the cost of the average university. Students who earn a GED at NPC qualify for a half-tuition scholarship. As well, a full 95 percent of National Park College students receive some form of financial aid — more than $8.6 million in scholarships and aid last year. NPC offers scholarships for students who Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
have the potential to excel in college, as NPC views students as more than a test score. The Academic Achievement Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship for two semesters. It requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 19 or higher on the ACT for students enrolling within one year of high school graduation. Maintaining the scholarship requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA and enrollment in a minimum of 12 credit hours each term with an option for a second year of funding. NPC’s President’s Scholarship is a full tuition and fees scholarship and is renewable for up to four semesters. It requires two of the following criteria: 3.25 cumulative GPA, 24 or higher on the ACT or rank in the top 25 percent of the student’s graduating class. To maintain the scholarship, students must have a 3.25 cumulative GPA and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each term. The college also offers the National Park Promise scholarship to senior students graduating from the National Park Technology Center. These students will receive assistance to fill any gaps in tuition and fees not covered by other federal, state, private or institutional aid. NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE Northark offers four tiers of award amounts based on ACT scores: Bronze (ACT 21-22, $500 per semester); Silver (ACT 23-24, $1,000 per semester); Gold (ACT 25-29, $1,500 per semester); Platinum (ACT 30+, covers tuition and fees for up to 18 hours per semester). The Presidential requires an ACT score of 21 or higher and is open to high school graduates of Arkansas and of Missouri contiguous counties beginning the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. Students are eligible for this award for up to four semesters if renewal criteria are met. Eighty-five percent of Northark students receive financial aid, and work-study programs are available. The college also provides tools on its website such as a Net Price Calculator to assist students and their families in better understanding the costs of attending; a budgeting worksheet to help students determine the amount of loan funds they need; and financial coaching made available through Northark Help. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY TECH SAU Tech’s Financial Aid Office staff provides assistance with every aspect of paying for college. Even if a student is not sure they will be attending SAU Tech, staff members will help the family complete the FAFSA. In addition to holding the line on cost of attendance, the college offers work-study, regular extra help, campus housing and textbook rental programs as well as a variety of financial aid to more than 90 percent of the student body. Federal Pell grants, subsidized loans and various scholarship programs make up the college’s catalog of aid. Scholarships are awarded based on performance in athletics, academics, choir, cheer and degree-specific areas of study. Each award carries its own specific requirements. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS The University of Arkansas offers a wide variety of scholarship programs for students, including for new freshman, transfer students,
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currently enrolled students, those in the military, honors fellowships and college and departmental awards. The majority of scholarship funding is merit-based and competitively awarded based on written applications, special talent, test scores, high school GPA, and/or college GPA, and considers the entire applicant pool. The university offers a number of scholarships to students with special talent in areas like band, music, art and athletics. Some scholarships require enrollment in a certain college or certain major. Other scholarships might target students who represent an underserved community such as first-generation college students, students from underrepresented ethic or minority groups or students who reside in an underrepresented county in Arkansas. In addition, Advance Arkansas scholarships support new, returning and transfer students from Arkansas who exhibit financial need, a record of academic success and a strong desire to complete their degree. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK UA Little Rock has begun to move away from dependence on test scores to determine eligibility; merit scholarships require a 2.0 and are based on high school GPA. The higher a student’s GPA, the higher their financial award. UA Little Rock has also moved from accepting only the composite ACT score to accepting the superscore for merit scholarships. The superscore allows students to take the highest score on each ACT subsection, across multiple tests, and use those to determine their score.
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This provides most students with an increase in ACT score. The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships worked with Campus Logic to implement new scholarship software this fall, the most exciting feature of which is the availability of outside, third-party scholarships within the system. ScholarshipUniverse contains thousands of scholarship opportunities from many sources, and UA Little Rock students will have the opportunity to search and apply for scholarships based on academic merit, academic program, financial need or even their personal interests. ScholarshipUniverse is a one-stop shop for scholarships, including external, institutional and private scholarships. Students have a variety of employment options available at UA Little Rock. The Federal Work Study program enables students to earn money toward college expenses by working on campus up to 20 hours a week during the school year. UA Little Rock is also excited to implement Trojan Works, a campus-based program for student employment. Students who are not eligible for federal work study will be able to apply for and receive on-campus employment. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offers a wide array of scholarships and other financial aid, assisting 99 percent of the student body in some form. Scholarships include performance-based awards in band, cheerleading and choir, and in 12 university sports Other scholarships are offered to students in a particular field of study, such as an institutional art scholarship and the Windgate Scholarship for students in the Department of Art and Design. Various departments offer scholarships to students enrolled in particular majors; for example, the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences currently offers a scholarship to students majoring in agriculture and meeting specific academic standards, as well as scholarships in the area of computer science for those who will lead the way for the world’s next technological revolution. In addition, UAPB offers military scholarships for those who have served their country, as well as awards independent of the university, including the Arkansas Rehabilitation Grant assisting students with outlined disabilities and a Workforce Grant assisting non-traditional students re-entering the workforce. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS The University of Central Arkansas supports a robust set of financial aid options to help students afford the cost of higher education. About 85 percent of UCA students receive some form of financial aid, including nearly 97 percent of first-time undergraduate students. UCA students are eligible to apply for federal, state and institutional aid programs, including scholarships, grants, loans and work opportunities. Also available are a number of performance-based scholarships available to entering and continuing students in athletics, cheer, dance, band, music and other specialty areas. In addition, the UCA Foundation has scholarship opportunities for students based on Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
specific donor criteria such as field of study, hometown, volunteerism, special interests and other factors. The Student Financial Aid Office’s website includes calculators and budgeting tools to help students and their families plan ahead. In addition, prospective students and their families can review information about federal, state, institutional and private funding opportunities for students.
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SPOTLIGHT: SHORTER COLLEGE Shorter College is a private, faith-based, two-year liberal arts college located in North Little Rock. Founded in 1886 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Shorter College is one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the only private, two-year HBCU in the nation. There was a time in the nation’s history when HBCUs were the only place for African Americans to obtain a college education. And while options for students of color have multiplied over the years, HBCUs are still leaders in championing the education of African Americans, historically disadvantaged and disenfranchised populations, and traditional and non-traditional students of all races, classes and ages. Shorter College has benefited from this renaissance and is the fastest-growing campus in Central Arkansas. The school offers yearlong open enrollment, allowing any person to get started exactly when they are ready. The Entrepreneurial Studies Program offers enterprising students a baseline of practical skills that can be put to use immediately. The Computer Science Program is supported by two grants, one from IBM and one from Apple. The program supports traditional study, but also offers extensive training and certificates in ready-to-work skills in current technology such as cyber security and coding. The greatest misconception about an HBCU education is that it does not match the quality of a non-HBCU. This is based on many false narratives. While Shorter College does not shy away from the reality of the situation some students endure before they enroll, the focus remains on showing the path to what’s possible, supporting learners’ every step from enrollment to graduation. Notable Shorter College alumni: *Daisy Bates (1913-1999), civil rights activist, newspaper publisher, mentor of the Little Rock Nine. *Scipio Africanus Jones (1863-1943), educator, politician, defense attorney for the Elaine Twelve. *Robert Stanton (1902-?), dentist and state politician, one of the first two African Americans elected to the Indiana lower house in the 20th century; helped organize African American support for the Democratic Party in Lake County, Indiana.
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TWO YEAR COLLEGES Across the country, two-year schools are
growing in popularity thanks to lower cost to attend, shorter completion times and a bevy of degrees that can be put right to work in a variety of well-paid professions. ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE National surveys have shown that students are more interested in short-term educational programs that allow them to finish sooner and begin earning money faster. Arkansas Northeastern College offers many short-term programs taking only a year or less, resulting in high-paying careers. In fact, ANC associate degree holders enjoy the highest average starting rate of pay of any Arkansas institution’s alums except medical schools. ANC offers the lowest tuition in the state, and through the Emergency Training Programs Grant, ANC is offering the Construction Technology Program for free to all students. This one-semester program produces graduates earning $57,769 in their first year of employment following completion of the program per the 2019 Economic Security Report. The school is well known for its nursing programs administered through the state-of-the-art Angela Wren Nursing and Allied Health Building. ANC is also renowned for its Steel Industry Technology program, the only such program in the state. The faculty and staff of ANC take pride in all aspects of the college experience and adhere to our mission of offering lifelong learning opportunities to our service district. Extracurricular and cultural involvement opportunities are integral to the learning process, developing better team players, fostering a love for learning and producing a citizen who is well prepared for tomorrow’s workplace and society. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY THREE RIVERS ASU Three Rivers is a comprehensive community college serving the educational needs of a diverse population. In addition to transfer degrees, the college offers programs designed to prepare students for direct entry into various career and technical fields, including business, industrial maintenance, computer networking, cosmetology and practical nursing. The college offers dual high school/college credit through a Concurrent Enrollment Program, which provides coursework in the high school classroom, commingled with ASUTR campus sections or online. College credit is offered for specific career and technical programs (CTE) through the Career Center on our Malvern campus as well as at our newly con68 SEPTEMBER 2021 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
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Two-year schools, such as Shorter College in North Little Rock deliver quality for less. structed Saline County Career Technical Campus, opening in Fall 2021. Students who choose to attend ASUTR either instead of or before starting a four-year program will find several advantages such as central location, smaller campus size and instructional flexibility, while not sacrificing instructional quality — all at a price that is much more affordable than many schools. The college is dedicated to increasing diversity on campus while also providing programs and services to meet the needs of a varied group of people. Resources and opportunities for students include dedicated services for first-generation students, parents of young children, students with disabilities, veterans, honors students, degree-seekers and workers who seek to enhance their skills in order to advance or broaden their professional options. BLACK RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE Black River Technical College students receive a quality education in a fraction of the time and cost of a four-year program. This means BRTC students are job-ready within one to two years and well-positioned to start earning higher wages in their chosen field. The college has invested heavily in state-ofthe-art technologies to prepare students for real-world experiences. More and more students are converting to online or hybrid online programs, and BRTC continues to expand these courses to meet this growing demand. In addition, students who attend two-year schools in their community tend to stay in their community. BRTC offers academic degrees and programs in areas such as machine tool technology, welding, auto service and auto collision, as well as degree programs for professions including business, agriculture and public service. BRTC is known for developing students into skilled craftspeople through educational training in its Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
quality technical programs. One of BRTC’s latest additions is the University Center, where students may complete four-year degrees without leaving home. These degrees are offered through agreements with four-year universities and allow students the convenience of using BRTC technology and classrooms. One of the more innovative programs is BRTC’s gunsmithing program, the first and only one in the state of Arkansas and one of seven college-based programs in the United States. In addition, BRTC’s eleven-week firefighter essentials training program allows students to complete their required training in an accelerated time frame. SHORTER COLLEGE A two-year degree from Shorter College is one of the lowest-cost degrees in the state. There is also an extensive network of support, including Success Coaches and tutoring to aid students with their progress. Shorter College offers access to additional job-ready skills training and certificates that students can complete while working on degrees to prepare them for the workforce. Degrees include an associate of arts in child development, Christian leadership, criminal justice, general studies, entrepreneurial studies and computer science. One of Shorter’s programs offers a chance at education for the incarcerated, and these students access the college through the Second Chance Pell program or transitioning out of incarceration via the Reentry program. Meeting the needs of people looking for ways to improve their situation will always be part of Shorter College’s heartbeat. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY TECH SAU Tech University prepares students to start a career in as little as one year. For stu-
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dents who want to earn a bachelor’s degree, the school offers the first two years of the exact same curriculum as a four-year university, but at a lower cost. SAU Tech features campus activities such as NJCAA athletics, cheer, choir and a full student-life experience for our students, in addition to student housing. Students and their parents are more cost-conscious today, making two-year degrees particularly attractive. These families value the fact that their graduate has less debt and a degree that has nearly guaranteed employment. The school offers a wide range of degrees to meet the needs of local business and industry partners in the field of aerospace defense manufacturing/advanced manufacturing. The local defense industry, including Lockheed Martin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Armtec, General Dynamics and others, looks to SAU Tech to provide jobready training to this industry sector. A degree in nondestructive testing, for instance, gives students a career path where average pay is $100,000 a year. SAU Tech offers quality instruction and facilities in many other academic areas, including its Professional Cosmetology Academy, Welding Academy and a new cybersecurity program. On the horizon are expanded allied health offerings, including pharmacy tech, phlebotomy and sonography. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE The University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock offers a diverse and challenging education that is unique in central Arkansas. Associate degree programs are designed to transfer seamlessly to area four-year institutions, while associate of applied science degrees and related certificates are designed to facilitate entry into the workforce. “AT UA-PTC, we provide the online and flexible hybrid classes our students require, while still attending to individual instruction and attention,” said Tim Jones, director of Public Relations and Marketing. “We are offering virtually all of our student support services online, such as counseling, advising and tutoring.” Transfer agreements like the 2+2 agreements with UA Little Rock and others ensure that students can map out an educational journey from start to finish, saving time and money. “Last year, UA Fayetteville began offering the Arkansas Achievement Transfer Scholarship, which allows students from the UA System’s two-year institutions to attend junior and senior years at Fayetteville for the same tuition cost they paid where they received their associate degree,” Jones said. “This is an enormous cost savings to UA-PTC students as they continue their education.”
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HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SPOTLIGHT: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF In 1873, state Sen. John Middleton Clayton sponsored a legislative act calling for the establishment of Branch Normal College, the primary objective of which was educating Black students to become teachers for the state’s Black schools. The first class at the Pine Bluff school consisted of seven students. Between 1882 and 1895, 10 students would receive a bachelor of arts degree before the reduction of the collegiate program at Branch Normal. In 1927, Branch Normal College changed its name to Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College (AM&N), adopting the lion mascot a year later. In late 1929, the campus relocated to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s current site. Eight new buildings were constructed. In 1972, AM&N joined the University of Arkansas system, thus becoming the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The long list of notable alumni includes: Dorothy M. Hoover, a pioneer in the field of aeronautical mathematics and research. The granddaughter of slaves, she overcame the significant obstacles facing African American women to earn advanced degrees in physics and mathematics. Her life story was largely unknown until she was mentioned in the highly acclaimed book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race” (2016) by Margot Lee Shetterly. Kevin Earlee Cole, a Pine Bluff native who became one of the country’s most renowned artists. His works are widely collected, and he has completed more than 35 public art commissions, including the Coca-Cola Centennial Olympic Mural for the 1996 Olympic Games and “Soul Ties That Matter,” a 55-foot-long installation created for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2018. The artist’s work is also included in more than 3,600 public, private and corporate collections throughout the United States, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Dr. Mamie Parker, an African American biologist, environmentalist and administrator. She began her career as a fishery biologist at a national fish hatchery in Wisconsin and became the first Black person to serve as a deputy regional director and regional director in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Among her conservation successes was listing the Atlantic salmon as an endangered species. She also led the effort to create the first Arkansas Ecological Services field office, in Conway.
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2021 COLLEGE GUIDE
THE RIGHT JOB REQUIRES THE RIGHT TRAINING The job market right now is hungry for employees across all industries. But to land that dream job, students need to demonstrate the right skills and training. Arkansas’s colleges and universities partner with local industry to ensure educational programs are ready to be put to work right away. ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE According to the Economic Security Report, Arkansas Northeastern College ranks highest among all Arkansas colleges and universities in terms of average full-time wages for associate degree graduates. These alums earn an average full-time wage of $49,706 in their first year of employment, better even than the average first-year wage for bachelor degree-holders in Arkansas, aside from medical school. Some of the high-demand fields (and average yearly wages) for which Arkansas Northeastern College is preparing students, many in a year or less, include construction trades ($57,769); industrial electrical systems ($98,902); emergency medical technician ($47,271); paramedic ($49,611), and heating, ventilation and air conditioning ($50,365). ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Graduates from A-State have always been in high demand, especially in the health care fields. “Graduates have had no difficulty finding jobs in or around our region, and salaries are competitive,” said Sarah Davidson, interim dean of ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. “All health care fields are in demand, but particularly nursing. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing predicts an intense shortage of nurses in the United States, particularly in the South and West.” The College of Nursing and Health Professions offers a variety of associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees, training students for careers in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, athletic training, clinical laboratory science, medical imaging and radiation science, nutrition, social work, disaster preparedness and emergency management. ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY Arkansas Tech University offers a diverse curriculum that provides learners with multiple access points to higher education, ranging from 72 SEPTEMBER 2021
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Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas’s trucking students are in high demand.
the technical certificates, certificates of proficiency and associate’s degrees offered through its Ozark campus to the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as a specialist and a doctoral degree available through its Russellville campus. The school has developed into a leader for STEM education in Arkansas. Programs offered through the College of Natural and Health Sciences include biology, biology with biomedical option, chemistry, fisheries and wildlife science, nuclear physics and nursing. The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers STEM-related programs in computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity and mechanical engineering. In the College of Business, business data analytics is the first program in Arkansas that approaches data analytics from a business perspective. Graduates of the program are prepared to analyze data in a way that allows firms to determine strategy and solve problems. BAPTIST HEALTH SCHOOLS, LITTLE ROCK Baptist Health Schools, Little Rock is dedicated to working directly with the Baptist Health System and other health care systems in Arkansas in staying current in health care trends and producing quality graduates ready for the workforce, including: Licensed Practical Nurse – Baptist Health Schools Little Rock offers a one-year program with two prerequisites for students interested in practical nursing. Registered Nurse – Baptist Health Schools Little Rock offers a three-semester program with nine required prerequisites for students interested in registered nursing. An accelerated two-semester track with nine required prerequisites is also available for qualified individuals. Sleep Technology, also called Polysomnographic (PSG) Technology – PSG techs operate a variety of electronic monitoring devices, recording brain and cardiac activity and other physiological events during a sleep study. Baptist Health Schools Little Rock offers a one-year Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
program with no college prerequisites for students interested in Sleep Technology. For more information on individual program requirements, visit our website at www.bhclr. edu. To schedule a tour, call 501-202-7951 or study@bhclr.edu. BLACK RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE Allied health-related career positions have remained strong for the last five to seven years. Black River Technical College has a large array of allied health care and allied health business degree offerings, including respiratory care, practical and registered nursing, phlebotomy, paramedic/EMT, nursing assistant, nutrition and dietetics, medical transcription, medical office administration and medical coding. BRTC strives to offer state-of-the-art simulation labs and equipment to students, especially in the trades and technical programs. The college also offers a robust slate of career services in order to prepare students for the transition into their chosen career field after graduation. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY Henderson State University provides comprehensive career services to help graduates land in high-demand roles, such as teachers, nurses, pilots and, in Henderson’s case specifically, aviation workers. Henderson State includes tracks for professional pilots as well as aviation management and maintenance, offering the only aviation degree in the state of Arkansas. To assist students in finding a job, the Center for Career Development utilizes a system called Handshake. Handshake, an early talent recruiting platform, connects employers, talent and the university all in one place. The system connects employers to students, which allows employers to post jobs, view students’ resumes, filter candidates and schedule interviews. NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE National Park College’s Career Services offers career planning, resume assistance, job search activities, mock interviews and intern-
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ships. Several of NPC’s programs boast 100 percent placement rates of those seeking employment within six months of graduation, including allied health, automotive repair, business management, criminal justice, hospitality, industrial technology, marine repair technology, nursing and welding. NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE North Arkansas College programs maintain relevance in today’s market needs through collaboration with multiple external bodies such as specialized accreditors, advisory councils, ADHE, HLC and industry partners. “Northark continues to enjoy partnerships with local industry that result in sponsorship of machinery, equipment, robotics, simulations and other hands-on learning opportunities,” she said. “We routinely place education students in classroom practicals and observation roles through agreements with schools. Likewise, we partner with area hospitals and clinics to provide clinicals, practicals, observations and career mentorship for health profession students.” PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS The truck driver shortage in the United States has made Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas’s CDL/Truck Driving program extremely attractive. In the past four years, PCCUA has graduated about 150 truck drivers from the 17-credit-hour program. Welding is another in-demand, high-wage occupation. PCCUA has three Certificates of Proficiency in general welding, inert welding and mild steel welding. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Technological advances in all the fields of engineering are driving enrollment in the College of Engineering, where the most popular majors are computer science, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering. These majors see a 76 percent placement rate with salaries ranging from $60,000 to $67,000. Walton College of Business graduates are also in high demand. The average salary for a Walton undergraduate business major is close to $53,000. MBA graduates’ median salary is $69,000 and 85 percent of these students land a job within three months of graduation. Teaching continues to be a career choice in high demand and the College of Education and Health Professions has expanded its offerings in teacher education. Elementary educators can expect to earn about $57,000 a year. Students are supported in their career search by the Career Development Center, which provides education, resources and events for undergraduate, graduate level students and recent alumni. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s School of Nursing offers a traditional associate degree that leads to RN licensure, a transition program that puts an LPN or paramedic on the fast-track to becoming an RN, and a BSN completion program. The Center for Simulation Innovation continues to add new technology that immerses the student into the role of the nurse. 74 SEPTEMBER 2021
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UA Little Rock is offering a new bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity this fall. Arkansas has more than 25,000 unfilled positions in cybersecurity, and developing a cyber workforce in the state will be critical to attracting and growing industry. This year, UA Little Rock expanded its policies for awarding prior learning credit so that students can now apply for academic credit for learning they have achieved at work. Currently, 72 percent of UA Little Rock undergraduates work at least part time. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that general/operations managers, registered nurses and software developers remain top career choices for individuals with a bachelor’s degree; these roles have been in high demand since 2016. The University of Central Arkansas offers multiple degree plans in these fields. Robyn Williams, UCA associate director of Career Services – Cooperative Education, said the school stays in touch with more than 500 organizations in the business community to ensure educational programs are producing workready employees upon graduation. Six career fairs are held during the academic year, four of which target jobs in specific industries such as health, STEM/graduate school, nursing and teaching. Career Services helps students prepare for opportunities after college through mock interviews, resume/cover letter assistance, career coaching, on-campus interviews, networking events and a career closet.
ACHE’S MEDICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE GROWING The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is a private, not-for-profit institution located on 573 acres in Fort Smith. ACHE is the first and only private institution in Arkansas that is dedicated solely to health care and wellness. ACHE’s first college, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, welcomed its fifth class of osteopathic medical students in July 2021. ACHE opened its second building during the summer of 2021. The 66,000-squarefoot facility is home to the School of Physical Therapy, which welcomed its first class in June, and the School of Occupational Therapy, which will welcome its inaugural class in January 2022. Both the ACHE PT and ACHE OT are doctoral-level programs. ACHE recently announced a $32.3 million gift to go toward renovation of the ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center, as well as the implementation of a variety of health and wellness programs that will be housed in the 317,000-squarefoot facility. For more information about the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and its programs, visit acheedu.org.
NAMED A 2021
“BEST COLLEGE” Lyon College offers a well-rounded education that prepares graduates both to succeed in their careers and to contribute to society as productive citizens. The College fosters each student’s development through meaningful mentorships with faculty and staff in an inclusive learning environment. See why U.S. News & World Report named Lyon College a 2021 "Best College" at lyon.edu/visit.
#1
Top biology program among private colleges in Arkansas
2x
Lyon grads are admitted to medical school at a rate more than double the national average
12:1
student-to-faculty ratio
99%
of grads are employed or in grad school within six months of graduation
L Y O N . E D U • B AT E S V I L L E , A R
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TECHNOLOGY RULES ON CAMPUS From distance learning to high tech in the classroom, today’s college experience is rich with technology. ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE Arkansas Northeastern College has been offering fully online degrees for the past decade. That innovation has evolved into an ANC YOUR WAY menu of class offerings known as Multi-Modal. Multi-Modal allows students to take classes as they prefer on any given day: in-person, through Zoom or online. The college is investing heavily in classroom technology; currently, 28 academic classrooms and labs are being upgraded to enhance academic teaching and learning at a cost of almost $1.2 million. Resources are provided to students in need, including loaner laptops and help with Internet service. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY THREE RIVERS Arkansas State University Three Rivers offers completely online, hybrid and webcast classes. The university has offered webcast courses for three years and online classes for approximately 20 years. In 2020-21, 30 percent of ASUTR students chose the e-learning option. ASUTR’s Computer Information Science and Mechatronics degree programs are designed to prepare students to become thought leaders in a technological environment. E-learning students have access to all student services, free online tutoring and the library’s extensive collection of online and other resources.
a range of medical scenarios in a realistic health care environment. Aviation students gain valuable experience in the Redbird FMX simulators as part of their path to live flights with an instructor at the airport. PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PCCUA offers a fully accredited, online Associate of Arts degree and has been a leader in e-learning since the early 1990s. The college embraces technology and e-learning to allow students who cannot come to campus an opportunity to further their education. PCCUA uses a variety of e-learning technologies to enhance learning, optimize communication and engage students. Students in e-learning classes are offered the same resources as on-campus students, including tutoring services, library services and advising. The college offers orientation to e-learning and provides assistance to students having difficulties with technology and access. Each campus has at least one open technology lab for students. PCCUA provides online tutoring, college engagement activities and discussions via Zoom.
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY Arkansas Tech University offers a wide-ranging curriculum that can be completed online, including 12 bachelor’s degrees, six associate’s degrees, nine master’s degrees and one specialist degree. ATU also offers four certificates of proficiency, three technical certificates, four endorsements and two graduate certificates. Interdisciplinary Project Based Learning (IPBL) brings together student teams from varied major fields of study, allowing them to work on real-world problems. Examples of these classes at ATU include Collaborative Solutions, which tackles such topics as global warming, artificial intelligence and human migration.
SHORTER COLLEGE Shorter College uses the Canvas LMS for all assignments, whether instruction is done remotely or in person. This was implemented in the summer of 2020, allowing all students to pursue success, whether studying remotely or on campus. The college’s e-learning solutions allow non-traditional students to complete classwork on their own schedule. The web-based application offers supporting apps for iOS and Android. Shorter College’s Entrepreneurial Studies Program focuses on technology and understanding trends to enable students to take advantage of opportunities in real time. The Computer Science Program focuses on transferring real-world skills to students quickly and efficiently.
HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY The university offers a number of online classes for undergraduate and graduate students as an option for working adults who want to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree on a more flexible schedule. Online learning joins an already technology-rich learning environment at the university. The Innovative Media Department gives students hands-on opportunities to develop products in new and rich media. The nursing program introduced “Nursing Anne” and “Sim Baby” simulators, allowing students to address
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS The university offers a robust online program through online.uark.edu. Online students are full-fledged members of the University of Arkansas, which is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public research universities and best values. The university offers the same options to distance learners that it offers to on-campus students, including true classes, tutoring, library support and scholarship opportunities, thus providing the same potential for educational growth and advancement.
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Because of COVID-19, many traditional in-person classes were offered through hybrid options this past year. The university returned to in-person classes this year, but officials continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Arkansas Department of Health to keep all students safe. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK With the demand for more online offerings each year, 61 percent of all UA Little Rock students were taking at least some courses online prior to the pandemic. The university offers a suite of almost 70 fully online programs. UA Little Rock is an Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) Partner and part of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges. Online military students have access to the Military Student Success Center, are exempt from the application fee and receive discounted tuition. Ottenheimer Library works closely with online students to provide access to scholarly journals and databases. The library has an eLearning librarian who works with online students via the library reciprocity program, ARKLink. This allows students to access library privileges from across the state. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF UAPB’s online degree program has attracted a wide demographic of students, and more than 5,000 current students choose this option to pursue their education using the distance learning platform. All majors in all departments utilize technology to teach the fundamentals of “what’s next,” promoting research and advancement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Office of Career Services ensures students are exposed to Fortune 500 companies by providing internships that yield future employment opportunities. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS In 2015, the university launched UCA Online to develop high-quality online degree programs. UCA offers six online undergraduate degree completion programs in business, health and safety, addiction studies and other fields. UCA’s online instructors are trained to develop high-quality, innovative online courses, supported by UCA’s Center for Teaching Excellence. The Center has risen to the challenge by training faculty to develop the technical and pedagogical skills needed to deliver quality online instruction. Student support units have worked hard to move their services online. As UCA begins the fall term, nearly all courses will have sections offered fully or partially online.
EXPECT MORE It’s time to expect more from yourself – and your college experience. UA Little Rock offers over 100 academic programs including Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity, Engineering and Nursing. With more than 90 campus clubs and organizations, there are plenty of exciting ways to grow as an individual and as a leader. Expect a complete college experience with exciting athletics, state-of-the-art residence halls, and abundant internship and job opportunities around Little Rock.
ualr.edu Expect to be welcomed. Expect to be challenged. Expect to be amazed. Scan to apply for admission. We’ll even match you with scholarship opportunities.
ualr.edu
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SCHOOL-LIFE BALANCE College is a fun, vibrant time but it can also be stressful without a
network of services addressing health, wellness and providing opportunities to get involved. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY The Red WOLF Center is a full-service fitness facility offering equipment, virtual/face-to-face group workouts and intramurals. Club Sports are offered through the center, providing an opportunity for students to participate in competitive sports. The campus Counseling Center offers individual and group counseling sessions and personal development outreach programs targeting student mental wellness. The CARE Team supports the campus community by connecting students with appropriate campus services to assist them in overcoming obstacles. A variety of student organizations exist to meet academic, social, athletic and religious interests. Students are encouraged to select at least one co-curricular opportunity to enhance the campus experience. ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY Eleven cooking stations in the Chambers Cafeteria dining hall and convenient quick service options at Baswell Techionery help provide nutrition for students on the move. Tech Fit provides a workout space and indoor walking track for Arkansas Tech University students, faculty and staff. Outdoors, the Tech Connect trail on the western boundary of campus gives access to a network of bicycle and pedestrian trails that includes Bona Dea Trails and Sanctuary. The Doc Bryan Student Services Center provides health/medical resources for the university community. ATU Counseling Services provides a wide range of free and confidential counseling, consultation and outreach services. BLACK RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE The campus offers intramural sports consisting of flag football, volleyball and basketball, and has launched an Esports program, allowing students to compete with other colleges/universities. The Director of Student Development presents classes to all nursing, respiratory care and freshman students on the topic of mental health and setting personal and professional boundaries. This presentation addresses coping with anxiety and performing self-care. Mental health and behavioral health are addressed in all-new student orientation sessions. BRTC’s Early Alert program allows faculty and staff to refer students to the Dean of Students Office as concerns arise. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY Henderson State University’s Student Health Center provides primary health care for illnesses and minor injuries on campus. The Student Counseling Center is available to help students with a variety of concerns, including roommate difficulties, anxiety, depression and interpersonal conflicts. 78 SEPTEMBER 2021
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NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE Northark provides a workout room for students, competitive sports and physical education courses designed to increase activity. The college partners with the Arkansas Department of Health to provide flu immunizations and also partnered with a local hospital to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. A Behavioral Intervention Advisor is available for crisis assessment and emotional support, and assists students in obtaining professional help through community agencies. Faculty and staff are trained in how to help students in distress, as well as in suicidal prevention and mental health first aid. PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Many students look to PCCUA for assistance while enrolled in classes. Food pantries are one important service, especially when the pandemic hit and many lost their jobs. Ridge Runner Food Pantries were formed last spring to provide an assortment of canned food, dry goods and boxed foods to individuals taking classes at PCCUA or who work for PCCUA. Debbie Hardy, PCCUA Director of Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness, said, “The food we provide helps sustain our students and their families. Many college students have to cut back on work hours in order to attend classes and we are proud to be able to continue to provide this service for our students this fall.” SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY TECH Southern Arkansas University Tech has an activity center and food services, and it provides students with access to medical, dental and mental health services with off-campus providers. SAU Tech also has a licensed counselor on staff and strong relationships with community mental health providers. Students are educated about these resources in freshman seminar classes and each fall at the college’s Health and Wellness Fair. The fair hosts providers of all kinds of health-related services. Faculty and staff are trained to recognize the signs of depression and to refer students to the campus counselor. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS The Pat Walker Health Center’s counseling and psychological services offer clinical consultations, group therapy and psychiatric services for a range of health concerns, including depression and anxiety, among others. Available health care options include wellness classes, nutrition consultations, orthopedics and immunizations, among other services. Since the onset of COVID-19, the health center has also provided testing services for students, faculty and staff who demonstrate symptoms or who have been in contact with an infected person. The center also provides vaccinations for campus community members. Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
The Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building offers comprehensive fitness and recreational opportunities for all students. A second, smaller facility in the Arkansas Union offers weights, elliptical bikes, treadmills and a workout studio. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK The university’s fitness and aquatics center provides opportunities for group fitness classes and work with personal trainers. Students can also rent camping equipment for outdoor adventures, and they have access to massage chairs on campus. Health Services provides outpatient clinical services, while Counseling Services promotes mental health and wellness. UA Little Rock provides “safe zones” where individuals affected by prejudice, hateful acts or sexual violence can safely go for support and assistance. Intramural sports, Greek life and numerous student organizations are available to all students. A gaming lounge offers TVs with Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and games for checkout. The campus garden offers students a chance to learn about urban agriculture, with much of the produce donated to the campus’s Trojan Food Pantry. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF The UAPB Fitness Center provides exercise equipment, group fitness classes, water aerobics and weight training in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) Center. Student Health Services uses a collaborative approach toward student development. The Student Counseling, Assessment & Development (SCAD) Center provides counseling and psychosocial support. The university makes a Lactation Room available to students, faculty and staff. UAPB’s Student Success Center is a one-stop shop for academic support services, open to all university students living on and off campus. The UAPB Office of Student Involvement & Leadership develops co-curricular experiences for leadership development, civic engagement and social enrichment. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS The Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Center is outfitted with a 10,000-squarefoot weight room, an indoor pool, group exercise classrooms and a ropes course. Students can also sign up for personal training sessions and virtual/in-person group exercise classes. Students can check out kayaks, canoes and bicycles for outdoor adventures. Healthy dining options are available through Christian Cafeteria, accommodating a variety of dietary needs. The Student Health Clinic offers patient-centered health care, telehealth appointments and COVID-19 testing. The UCA Counseling Center provides mental health services, including teletherapy and in-person sessions, to current UCA students.
We’re Determined... To make a difference Dedicated, creative people come here for innovative learning opportunities that make anything possible. For the last 150 years, our unique traditions and welcoming community have made the U of A a destination for those who are determined to make a difference. As Razorbacks, we’re building a better world...It’s our calling.
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eVERSITY A nationally recognized leader in online education T
The state’s first all-online university continues to break new, innovative ground when it comes to the structure and effectiveness of its educational programs. The University of Arkansas System eVersity was launched to help individuals complete college degrees in a time-conscious and cost-effective manner. It has succeeded in its mission by constantly improving its coursework and online delivery to meet the learning styles of students. “The principles of good instruction are not really about how content is delivered,” said Dr. Michael Moore, chief academic and operating officer. “Anyone who has gone to high school or college knows they had fantastic teachers and they had not-so-good teachers. That doesn’t have anything to do with the delivery of the materials, it has to do with people who are really thoughtful and mindful about their instruction.” “The truth of the matter is the vast majority of people who teach at the college level don’t take any classes on how to teach in their curriculum. Unlike K-12 teachers who go to school specifically to learn how to teach, college is remarkably different. Faculty members in higher education are hired because they’re subject matter
to navigate the system, access reference materials and feel comfortable asking questions. No one gives you a college degree. A college degree has to be earned, so we want students’ focus on the content and not on a system that gets in the way of learning. That, to me, is really what sets our approach apart at eVersity from most of the other online schools that are out there.” This philosophy is one big reason eVersity continues to receive high marks from students and win awards for its course design. But, as Moore said, that alone is not enough; it also takes the grit and determination of the student to leverage opportunity and resources to follow through to their goal. “As somebody who’s spent his entire professional career in higher education, the most important part of pursuing a college degree is students learning to fight through the obstacles that come up,” he said. “Everybody’s going to have them; it might be a health issue in a family member. Maybe somebody in the family had a child or they lost their job. For others, it might be financial challenges.” “For that traditional 18-22-year-old now,
“MY MESSAGE TO ALL STUDENTS IS TO NOT LET AN UNANTICIPATED OBSTACLE GET IN THE WAY OF PURSUING A COLLEGE DEGREE.” —DR. MICHAEL MOORE, EVERSITY experts and they’re crazy smart. But they’re not always the best at thinking about how to design curriculum.” Moore said this often creates a situation by which professors miss part of their students’ educational needs. Someone who has been out of the college classroom for 20 years may need a refresher on writing style or how to footnote a term paper. Or, they have more life and work experiences and demand classroom learning that stresses the practical, something they can apply to their jobs right away. Throughout its existence, eVersity has never lost sight of the fundamental needs and demands of the student body. “What we believe strongly is the way to design the best class possible is to pair the faculty member with an instructional designer,” he said. “And we listen; the first time a course is offered we always have revisions. We always go back. We look at student feedback, what worked, what didn’t work. It’s not uncommon the first time out to say we tried that and that didn’t work. Or, we tried it and we can now see a better way of doing it.” “Why do we do that? Because we want to make things as easy for the student as possible 80 SEPTEMBER 2021
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it might be COVID and they feel uncomfortable going to a brick-and-mortar campus, or, because of the impact COVID has had on so many people’s finances, they feel they can’t afford to go to school. My message to all students is to not let an unanticipated obstacle get in the way of pursuing a college degree.” eVersity helps students meet many of these challenges. With flat-rate pricing and no books to buy, the online university is one of the most affordable options for higher education in Arkansas. The online format fits into any work or family schedule, and support from academic advisors and professors is just an email away. All in all, Moore said, it’s a better, smarter way to go to college. “The affordable, high-quality degrees that we have at eVersity focus on real-world relevancy and degrees that help people advance in the workplace,” he said. “The vast majority of jobs in the future are going to require a college degree, and if you feel that you need access to something that is flexible to deal with a job, family or the changing circumstances around COVID, you need to look at eVersity.” Learn more about eVersity at eversity.edu. Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
ARKANSAS DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION Establishing your online presence OR Establishing your online presence with SMACtalk You might be wondering — do colleges and potential employers check your social media? They do! Your digital reputation, even as a young teenager, can impact your potential success. Our digital footprint is a record of all our online activity, and we all need to be aware of what that activity looks like. The Social Media Awareness Campaign (SMACtalk) from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has developed resources to help students, parents and teachers engage in conversations about navigating online presentation. The following recommendations will help you get a start on improving your own online presence: search your own name online (and subscribe to alerts), monitor social media posts you are tagged in, and review your followers and who you are following. Your digital footprint can impact your reputation and even your future employment, so it is wise to be intentional about trying to make your online presence positive. Cleaning up your social media accounts by removing negative posts or pictures — and by creating authentic, positive posts — can go a long way in establishing a favorable online presence. Colleges do not just want to know about your grades; they also want to know what kind of citizen you are and how you contribute to your community. Part of that community is online. Think before you post. Recognizing that your digital footprint is an important part of your resume will help you prepare your social media accounts for viewing by colleges and employers. Visit DESE’s smactalk.info/ footprint for more help in establishing your online presence. Happy college hunting, and keep that digital footprint stepping in the right direction!
THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR JOURNEY! Whether you pursue becoming a physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or achieve a master's degree in biomedical science, ACHE is ready to prepare you for your next step.
arkansas college of osteopathic medicine master of science in biomedicine
school of occupational therapy school of physical therapy
admissions.ache@acheedu.org | acheedu.org 7000 Chad Colley Blvd., Fort Smith, Arkansas
WHERE You’ll Graduate With Not Just a Diploma, but a Resume. uafslions.org
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CAMPUS NEWS There’s a lot going on with Arkansas’s
colleges and universities. Read below to see a little bit of what’s on campus. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Arkansas State University held the line on tuition for the second consecutive year (and for the third year in the past four). ASU is committing $1 million in need-based institutional financial aid to students and has also adopted new admission standards that make standardized tests optional for admission. “A-State now has an ‘or’ admission policy, not an ‘and.’ ” said Chancellor Kelly Damphousse. “If a high school student has a 3.00 high school GPA or a 19 on the ACT or ranks in the top 20 percent of their graduation class, they’re admitted.” The university has redoubled its effort to keep students, faculty and staff safe as the new school year begins. ASU requires the wearing of masks by all individuals for any indoor location where six-foot social distancing is not practical, including classrooms, offices or meeting rooms, or in any confined space such as an elevator. ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY Arkansas Tech University President Dr. Robin E. Bowen announced that it is the intention of Arkansas Tech for its campuses in Russellville and Ozark to resume normal in-person classes and activities in time for the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. In August, ATU developed a COVID-19 Management Plan whose guidelines align with current local, state and national legislation, including guidance and best practices from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), and the American College Health Association (ACHA). Arkansas Tech University was again No. 1 in upward social mobility among all Arkansas higher education institutions. Arkansas Tech University has also earned a place in the Colleges of Distinction 2021-22 cohort. ATU is the only Arkansas university to earn the Colleges of Distinction military support honor for 2021-22. For the first time ever, the Wonder Boys are national champions. Andre Jacobs’ one-stroke victory in the fifth and final match of the day gave the ATU men’s golf team a 3-2 victory over Georgia Southwestern University in the finals of the 2021 NCAA Division II Golf Championships in May. BAPTIST HEALTH SCHOOLS, LITTLE ROCK This year, the institution celebrates 100 years of health care education. The school was incorporated February 16, 1921, and that year produced the first five graduates of Baptist State Hospital School of Nursing. Over the coming decades, the scope of the nursing school expanded rapidly, adding the school of radiology (1953), practical nursing (1964), medical laboratory science (1965), histotechnology (1976), 82 SEPTEMBER 2021
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nuclear medicine (1979), coding technology (1985, operating until 2007), medical transcription (1987) and surgical technology (1999). Since 2001, the school has offered general education and science courses through a partnership with University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College as well as a clinical facility for Texas Wesleyan University, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist School. Since then, it has also formed partnerships with Arkansas Tech University and UA Little Rock to offer a seamless Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree completion track to registered nursing graduates. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY The Charles and Anita Cabe Student-Athlete Success Center was completed earlier this year, providing a spacious academic facility connected to the Formby Athletic Center. It includes a study room for groups, a computer lab, a study lounge, a new office for the academic advisor, private study areas and a full-sized classroom. The Reddies baseball team won the 2021 Great American Conference Tournament championship in May. Henderson State’s women’s golf team won the 2021 Great American Conference golf title, earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Central Regional. LYON COLLEGE Lyon College received a gift commitment of $1 million to create the endowed Michael E. Wilson Professorship of Business, Management and Social Entrepreneurship. The gift will serve as the foundation for the college’s Institute for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and will establish a comprehensive business incubator to combine academics with applied entrepreneurship for northeastern Arkansas. Lyon College built the multi-purpose Dr. Mark Schram Memorial Outdoor Classroom this spring, offering students a safe class space surrounded by the campus’s beauty, as well as providing a central location for meetings, gatherings, yoga classes and more. Jasmine Hernandez became Lyon College’s first national champion this year when she won the 123-pound weight class in the NAIA National Wrestling Invitational in March. The basketball program made Lyon College history this February when both the men’s and women’s teams won the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Regular-Season Championship. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Last year, the cumulative grade point average for all University of Arkansas student athletes was 3.25, with 78 student-athletes earning a 4.00 for the spring term. The university added a new Department of Strategic, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation offering major, minor and doctoral degrees. The university’s Tesseract Center for Immersive Environments and Game Design won second place in the Higher Education category for its entry in the 2021 International Serious Play Awards competition. The award recognizes interactive virtual narratives that center on the U.S. civil rights movement in 1963-64. The university also won the national Bike Month Challenge during May with campus members outdistancing the second- and third-place teams Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
University of California Santa Cruz and the University of Wisconsin. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK In 2020, UA Little Rock received a $25 million gift from an anonymous donor, the single largest gift in the university’s 93-year history. A Student Success Endowment fund will receive $10 million, while $15 million will go toward student scholarships over the next five years. The men’s basketball team is the 2020 Sun Belt Conference champ, and head coach Darrell Walker was named the Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year. Women’s head basketball coach Joe Foley was named among the 100 most influential people in women’s basketball. UA Little Rock catcher Kale Emshoff signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals, the 28th Trojan to sign a deal with a Major League Baseball program. Trojans can now embrace the best of on-campus and online learning through a new flexible MBA program, which offers students the ability to take any class on campus in classrooms outfitted with advanced technology or via Zoom video conferencing. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff congratulated two of its graduate students selected to participate in the National Board for Certified Counselors’ Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors. Erika Franklin and Pamela Waters were among 40 fellows selected from 450 applicants. Synchrony Foundation awarded $500,000 to the university to advance education equity and economic opportunity. The grant will help low-income and underrepresented students graduate from college and offer guidance for future career endeavors. Major honors achieved by UAPB include ranking first on College Navigator’s list of average net price (lowest among Arkansas public four-year colleges) and ranking second on Best Value School’s 15 Best Value Colleges & Universities in Arkansas. The university also ranked seventh in the 2019 Best Regional Colleges-South by U.S. News and World Report, and the football team was crowned SWAC Conference Champions for 2021. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS The University of Central Arkansas’s athletic department won the SLC Academic Performance Award, which is presented annually to the member institution compiling the highest academic progress rate average. The university also totaled more than 200 student-athletes on the SLC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. UCA’s more than 425 student-athletes maintained a combined 3.20 overall GPA. UCA launched the public phase of the largest fundraising effort in university history. The UCA Now: Impact Arkansas and Beyond campaign has a goal of raising $100 million. The university has earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly® School designation from both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-22 survey, with 747 earning the designation.
A R K A N S A S S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y
What will you become? AGRI-BUSINESS ACTUARIAL SCIENCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT NURSING & HEALTH PROFESSIONS MANUFACTURING & DATA ANALYTICS SPORTS MEDIA PRODUCTION VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MATERIALS HANDLING POPULATION HEALTH ART + DESIGN
OR ONE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER CAREER PATHS...
BECOME Schedule a visit and see for yourself at Visit.AState.edu
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GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT Colleges and universities across Arkansas emphasize new
student orientation and other programs as a way to get students off to a fast start. ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY TECHConnect is a comprehensive orientation for all incoming students. The TECHConnect experience includes an online pre-orientation, virtual summer workshop series and a four-day on-campus orientation held just before classes begin in August. The APEX Tutoring Center at Arkansas Tech University offers free one-on-one peer tutoring for ATU Russellville campus students in more than 50 subjects. Group study sessions for courses such as Calculus I, Calculus II and Quantitative Business Analysis are also available. Tutors staffed through the APEX Tutoring Center are trained according to College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) ethics and standards. Tutoring is also available through distance technology. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY Henderson State University offers a series of Heart Start sessions each summer for incoming freshmen and their families before the fall semester begins. Throughout the day, students create their class schedules, learn about student resources, visit with financial aid representatives, receive their student IDs and explore the campus. Welcome Week activities enable new students to meet and connect with classmates. Among the events are a pep rally, street dance and street fair. Students can also get involved with Henderson’s Greek community, sign up for intramural sports and join a variety of organizations. Henderson’s team of academic advisers in the Academic Advising Center is committed to student success. These advisers focus on the individual academic needs of each student and steer them toward the programs and resources that will help them graduate. NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE National Park College sponsors a mandatory NPC Orientation for all new students in on-campus and online formats. In addition, NPC offers Welcome Week activities for all students, with representatives from every student organization, student club, and service program. NPC offers a fully staffed Academic Success Center for tutoring and study support. Online tutoring is available for every academic subject taught at NPC, and in-person or virtual tutoring are available in most subjects. For undecided students, NPC offers a Career Services Center 84 SEPTEMBER 2021
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in which students can research various career fields and complete a career fitness survey. NPC partners with approximately 20 area employers to provide internship opportunities for students. NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE Northark hosts Welcome Week for students each fall, featuring fun events and activities to provide opportunities for students to get to know each other. Northark resources include the Learning Resource Center, which provides tutoring; Pete’s Food Pantry, which provides food for students with food insecurity; and many student organizations. Academic tutoring through the Learning Resource Center can be face-to-face or can be conducted through Zoom sessions if the students prefer. Advisers also provide career coaching to students to help determine majors, information about internships or help with transfer to another institution if appropriate. PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas provides mandatory student orientation for the fall semester for all campuses. All new and returning Ridge Runners on the Helena-West Helena, DeWitt and Stuttgart campuses who are enrolled in six or more hours are required to attend a student orientation class, offered free of charge prior to the beginning of classes. When students register for fall classes, advisers will add the orientation class to their schedule of fall classes. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY TECH All students take freshman seminar classes and go through an orientation process during their first few days on campus. The university sponsors various social events at the beginning of the semester for students to get to know each other and the college staff. SAU Tech also provides advising, career planning, and tutoring for all students. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS First-year students are required to attend an orientation prior to their first semester and a one-hour University Perspectives course during their first year. Both of these provide an in-depth look at how the university operates, where to find guidance and what to expect during their college years. Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
Traditional freshmen are required to live on campus their first year unless living with a parent or guardian. Throughout the school year, the Office of New Student and Family Programs offers events throughout the semester to make first-year students feel more at home and also offers opportunities for family members to join in on specific occasions. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK New students’ first-year experience begins with orientation and Welcome Week, a full week dedicated to having fun, receiving giveaways and learning how to become a Trojan. This year, UA Little Rock launched a new online orientation platform which gives students access to orientation content throughout their academic career. The Student Experience Center covers Greek Life, student organizations, the Student Government Association and student activities throughout the year, which gives students ways to get involved on campus, network and make new friendships that will last a lifetime. UA Little Rock’s Care Team provides abundant support to students to help them navigate the campus environment. Licensed Clinical Social Workers on the Care Team help students with any emotional, social or financial stressors they may experience. Additionally, the university offers counseling services to students to address anything that might be going on in their lives. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS Freshmen begin their orientation to UCA through events such as Bear Facts Day preview, Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) and Welcome Week, held the week before classes begin. Freshmen are also required to enroll in a first-year seminar course that fulfills a UCA core requirement. All new freshmen must attend a SOAR session, during which students meet with an academic advisor as well as peer mentors and classmates.Welcome Week in August includes academic preparation sessions as well as many social activities. UCA also offers a variety of peer support programs, including academic tutoring in all core subjects, writing support and peer coaching in areas such as time management and study skills. Finally, students have access to the UCA Counseling Center for one-on-one counseling, group programs and telecounseling services.
A UNIVERSITY
EXPERIENCE
AT HALF
THE COST np.edu
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SEPTEMBER 2021 85
2021 COLLEGE GUIDE
WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUS In an effort to meet the changing needs of the student body, many colleges have invested considerable time and resources to improve campus facilities. Here’s a look at some of those projects.
Students at Arkansas Tech University enjoy participating in eSports ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY THREE RIVERS Saline County Career Technical Campus Work began in December 2019 on the 134,000-square-foot, $45 million technical classroom facility located near Benton. The state-of-the-art technical education facility, which is designed to accommodate 1,100 students, is set to be completed in August 2021. Historic Ritz Theatre renovation ASU Three Rivers is leading the comeback of the historic Ritz Theatre, for years a fixture in the community of Malvern. The $2.5 million project, which began in 2019 and is expected to run through spring 2023, will create a 470seat performance event center for the campus and community. Improvements include all-new HVAC, plumbing, electrical and security systems, as well as other enhancements. ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY ATU Hull Student Union The new ATU Hull Student Union inside the Hull Physical Education Building opened in November 2020. The student union provides students with access to table tennis, billiards, the latest Xbox and PlayStation video game systems, seating areas designed to encourage interaction and space for musical performances and presentations. The Hull Student Union also has a patio that will provide an outdoor seating option. The patio includes a fire pit, which was lit for the first time by Jacob Loomis, a senior from Bryant and representative of ATU’s Student Government Association, and Dr. Robin E. Bowen, ATU president, during the grand opening ceremony. The 17,000-square-foot student union also includes a smoothie and gourmet coffee station operated by Chartwells, the food service provider at Arkansas Tech. The south side of the student union provides a view of Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field, home of Arkansas Tech football. ATU Esports Members of the Arkansas Tech University Esports Club and students who reside in ATU’s living and learning community for gamers now 86 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
have a new space to call their own. The ATU Esports lab opened on the first floor of Paine Residence Hall in late January, open to ATU Esports Club members and residents of the living and learning community for gamers to utilize during team practices and matches. Arkansas Tech students represent the ATU Esports Club on 11 teams that compete against gamers from other universities and colleges. ATU Esports Club teams participate in popular games such as Overwatch, Rainbow Six Siege, League of Legends and Call of Duty. The living and learning community for gamers and the ATU Esports lab were made possible through collaborative efforts by the ATU Department of Campus Life, the ATU Department of Residence Life and the ATU Office of Information Systems. Arkansas Tech also began offering a bachelor of fine arts degree in game and interactive media design in 2016. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY Charles and Anita Cabe Student-Athlete Success Center Completed earlier this year, the center provides a spacious academic facility connected to the Formby Athletic Center. It includes a study room for groups, a computer lab, a study lounge, a new office for the academic adviser, private study areas and a full-sized classroom. Technology Upgrades Henderson’s IT Infrastructure Team is improving internet accessibility to residence halls with new fiber-optic connectivity and wi-fi upgrades. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Student Success Center The $45 million Student Success Center will house all student success programming and initiatives. The center is planned to have 77,000 square feet of space, including a variety of advising studios and tutoring and mentoring spaces. Grady E. Harvell Civil Engineering Research and Education Center The 35,500-square-foot, $13.8 million projSpecial Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
ect will serve the College of Engineering to allow advanced physical testing of infrastructure and provide hands-on student training. Windgate Studio and Design Center The Windgate Studio and Design Center is funded in part by a $40 million gift from the Windgate Charitable Foundation. The four-story, 154,600-square-foot state-of-the-art building, triples the size of classrooms and work areas for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Mullins Library Renovation The first phase of renovation for Mullins Library, the university’s main research library, will allow for an additional 1,900 seats to serve more students, faculty and staff. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS The University of Central Arkansas continues to improve its campus through various ambitious building projects. These include: Integrated Health Sciences Building Serving students of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, this 80,000-squarefoot, four-story structure was completed in April 2021. The first floor features an innovative, state-of-the-art teaching clinic. Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts Serving the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, this showpiece center, which will feature a concert hall, black box theater and 3D Arts building, will encompass 104,000 square feet. The project began construction in September 2020 and is estimated to be completed in fall of 2022. Lewis Science Center Annex Completed in December 2020, the annex features five new lab classrooms, serving students in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. State and Carmichael Hall Renovations Improvements made to two major residence halls on campus were finished in December 2020. The residence halls now feature private restrooms, all-new LED lighting, all-new HVAC systems, new flooring and fresh paint.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 87
2021 COLLEGE GUIDE
SAFETY Parents rank the safety of the campus
Student safety is a top priority on campus, like here at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
environment as among the highest priorities when choosing a college or university for their child to attend. Safety features have never been more important than they are today. ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE Arkansas Northeastern College offers several programs to assist those who have additional needs, such as the Career Closet, a food pantry, a mentoring program and more. The ANC Opportunity Bus provides transportation for county residents to and from ANC. The Career Closet provides ANC students with free professional attire for those in need of such items for interviews, career fairs and work. Arkansas Career Pathways, along with ANC and the Department of Workforce Services, helps parents move forward economically through education and training, reducing the need for public assistance. Career Pathways students can receive free tuition, childcare and gas vouchers. Hunger is a real issue for some students, which inspired the creation of ANC food pantry, which provides a variety of foods and meal stipends through ANC’s on-campus Sunshine Grille to students who are enrolled in at least one specified program and those participating in the SNAP and SNAP E&T benefits. ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY The Arkansas Tech University Department of Public Safety is a service-oriented agency promoting respect for the individual rights and dignity of all. ATU Alert is a communication tool operated by the ATU Department of Public Safety that reaches Arkansas Tech faculty, staff and students with important information in an emergency. Additional ATU Department of Public Safety programs include Tech Safety Transport, an on-campus transportation service to ensure no student, faculty or staff member has to walk alone on campus at night. All new undergraduate and graduate students at Arkansas Tech University participate in online training as part of an ongoing and proactive educational campaign aimed at keeping students safe and well-informed. Jerry Cares is an initiative that disseminates helpful information about keeping Tech safe for all. BLACK RIVER TECHNICAL COLLEGE Black River Technical College was ranked the fourth-safest community college in the U.S. in 2020, according to StateUniversity.com. BRTC campus police officers provide a visible presence that serves as a deterrent to those who would seek to commit crimes. 88 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
BRTC developed a 19-member Emergency Management Committee responsible for addressing all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This group assessed campus safety needs, set operational and cleaning protocols and incorporated updated guidance from the state and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The college supports a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Team consisting of trained nursing faculty, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a campus safety officer. Campus safety is addressed in each new student orientation session, with campus police officers as presenters. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY Alertus and Rave notification systems provide emergency notification via an outdoor warning system, text messaging, a mobile app, email and desktop notifications. Reddie Rides, an oncall ride-home service, is available, and there are 10 outdoor emergency phones across campus. Henderson State prioritizes the health and well-being of the campus community, and follows guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arkansas Department of Health. The school provides training and resources related to Title IX as well. SHORTER COLLEGE The security team, composed of security guards and police officers, patrols buildings and grounds to make sure that everybody is safe. During orientation, held a week before the semester starts, the chief security officer gives out information about the security team and ways students can help keep the campus safe. The college has also evolved certain processes during COVID-19 to help keep all members of the campus community safe. Among these changes are requiring all to wear a mask and providing safety barriers in various offices that allow interaction without contact. Shorter College also allows for class registration over the phone and offers online classes to help prevent infections. Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS The health and safety of the campus community guide the university’s COVID-19 decisions and direction. The U of A will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State of Arkansas and Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Campus functions will operate in a manner that prioritizes caution and safety. COVID-19 educational efforts focused on safety precautions, testing and vaccination will continue. Employees should continue to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms prior to coming to campus. Masks are required indoors – regardless of vaccination status – when at least 6 feet of social distancing can’t be maintained. Centrally managed cleaning and sanitizing services and procurement will continue as needed. Personal hygiene kits and workspace cleaning kits are available by request. Wearing masks is required in all classroom settings regardless of social distancing. Wearing masks and social distancing continues to be required under state law, regardless of vaccination status, in health care facilities and while using public transportation UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK UA Little Rock was named the safest college campus in Arkansas by Your Local Security’s 2021 Safest College Campuses in America report. The campus security force consists of three security officers and 25 police officers who patrol buildings and parking lots. The UA Little Rock Police Department provides escort service to students and employees who live in campus-owned residences. The university utilizes the Rave Alert System to send emergency messages on campus. Educating UA Little Rock students to practice informed self-care is a joint effort among such offices as Campus Living, Counseling Services and Health Services. In the middle of a pandemic, Health Services is key in the campus efforts to provide education, medical consultation and
assistance in mitigating the spread of the virus. At UA Little Rock, face masks and hand sanitizer are available in all public spaces. Health Services provides COVID-19 testing for symptomatic individuals and those deemed close contacts for the UA Little Rock community. In addition, the vaccine is available at no charge to students and employees in Health Services. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF The Department of Police and Public Safety is composed of commissioned law enforcement officers, sworn and delegated with the authority and powers to enforce all state laws and respond to violations of university codes and ordinances. The officers provide 24-hour safety and security services to assist the UAPB community with emergency calls and other service requests. The university provides shuttle services to and from classes, and officers are available to provide after-hour safe rides to student dorms if needed. UAPB has partnered with Rave Mobile Safety to provide the AlertUAPB emergency system and Rave Guardian during natural disasters or other emergencies taking place on campus. Public Safety and Residential Life provide campus safety and security information to all freshman students during orientation. Topics include where and how to report crimes, situations to avoid and how to register for AlertUAPB and Rave Guardian. The Student Success Center Peer Mentoring Program is designed to cultivate relationships between first-year students and upperclassmen. The Student Success Center provides opportunities for participants to engage in group activities and create ongoing, meaningful relationships between mentors and peers. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS The University of Central Arkansas Police Department has 25 full-time officers, all with arrest authority. The department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has a 911 communication center. The UCAPD offers safety escorts across campus, motorist assistance and education and safety classes. UCAPD utilizes the Safe@UCA app, helping all students, faculty and staff stay safe while on campus. The app offers a quick and easy way to summon the Bear Patrol Safety Escort. The UCAPD also provides all officers with an Opioid Overdose Naloxone Kit and training to handle a suspected opioid overdose. Blue Light Emergency Phones are available near building entrances and exits, stairwells and elevators, as well as on “blue-light” poles across campus. There is also a mobile “bluelight” feature in the Safe@UCA app to request assistance. Peer Success Coaches live in each first-year residence hall to provide students with support in developing study skills and learning to manage their time. Commuter students work with Success Coaches in the Coaching Lab in Old Main. UCA also provides peer mentoring through the Residential College program and the Office of Diversity and Community for firstyear students.
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2021 COLLEGE GUIDE
COVID-19, TECHNOLOGY ARE LEADING CHANGE AGENTS FOR HIGHER ED BY DWAIN HEBDA
I
n many ways the 2021-22 college year looks and feels like normal, but behind the scenes, innovations in technology, distance learning and on-campus safety are all on ready display as higher ed moves along the continuum between BC (before COVID) to AD (after Delta). “I believe COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on delivery and attendance for the new academic year,” said Steve Rook, chancellor of Arkansas State University Three Rivers. “For the 2020-21 year, students were reluctant to enroll due to concerns about the virus. This latest surge could very well cause another dip in enrollment.” Fallout from COVID-19 will be felt not only at schools but also in the workforce, Rook explained. “We are in serious need across the country for mechanics, truck drivers, plumbers, electricians, nurses,” he said. “Students see the benefit of our combination of affordability and the high average starting salaries of our two-year graduates of around $45,000 annually. More emphasis will be placed on technical education as a result.” Kimberly Coker, dean of communications and public relations for SAU Tech, agreed, saying the demand for practical skills has never been higher. “Higher education instruction is slowly moving toward skill-based outcomes,” she said. “Instead of learning theory and taking classes that were once considered necessary for a ‘well-rounded’ education, curriculums are being tailored to apply to the field of study.” Coker said the nature of degree programs is also changing, with employers placing more value in demonstrable skills than in where the student attended college. “Instead of earning a four-year degree in marketing, a student can earn a certification in our digital marketing or social media marketing,” she said. “These courses are taught by professors from notable institutions, and the cost is drastically lower than a traditional college program. This is the future of education.” Technology’s role has changed, in that it’s not just a teaching tool but more recently has become a means to keep students safe during the pandemic. Karen Liebhaber, vice president of Institutional Advancement for Black River Technical College, explained, “BRTC has invested heavily in virtual hands-on and live-action simulation equipment, such as virtual and augmented reality equipment that provides students with experiential learning opportunities. For programs like nursing and welding, where education must be hands-on, BRTC has increased the use of these simulated experiences. Simulation reduces the
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amount of time students would be at clinical sites in the health care programs, such as hospitals and nursing homes, thus helping to keep students and employees safe.” A desire to put the consumer in control of their college experience has led schools to deliver content in a more responsive, higher-touch manner. “College students expect better engagement with their instructors than they did a decade ago,” said John Payne, operations support manager for Shorter College. “They also expect more flexibility with their schedules, as more students are on non-traditional life paths. The need to compete with institutions for students forced all institutions to up their game with flexible and simple-to-navigate online instruction options.” “Shorter College has been working with non-traditional students with various needs for decades. We work to make sure students have as much access as possible to instructors and work with students who have family and occupational needs that could not allow for a traditional class schedule.” In some cases, this philosophy has changed the very nature of what it means to go to class. “In light of the COVID pandemic, a major buzzword in higher education instruction is ‘hyflex’ course delivery, where students have the option on any class day to attend the class in-person, synchronously via Zoom or asynchronously through a recording of the day’s class session,” said David Montague, executive director of Online Learning at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “UA Little Rock has invested in a number of hyflex classrooms across campus and is training faculty in evidence-based best practices in hyflex teaching. Our class schedule also offers courses in a variety of delivery formats from in-person to hybrid in-person/online, synchronous online, asynchronous online, and hyflex.” Kurt Boniecki, associate provost for Academic Success with the University of Central Arkansas, said students are also not content to simply have content force-fed to them, be it live or virtually. “As students continue to expect a college degree to improve their future employment opportunities, institutions are working to ensure that their graduates leave not only with knowledge but with skills and hands-on experience needed for a fast-changing, competitive employment environment,” he said. “This year, UCA launched the Bear Experience program, a campus-wide initiative to promote and document experiential learning beyond the classroom. Through this program, students can engage in co-curricular activities and document those skills on an official univerSpecial Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
sity transcript that can be shared with potential employers.” For all of these new advancements on campus, the tried and true elements of higher education are still just as important, said Robert Carr, Jr., provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, which posted double-digit enrollment increases despite the pandemic. “Our university utilizes a Student Success Center with experienced coaches who are assigned to students and work one-on-one with students to assist them in a personal crisis and with academic matters,” he said. “Students are becoming more aware of career options and are shopping for new ways to complete their degrees. Therefore, we are planning to offer accelerated programs, online degrees and competency-based certificate programs to accommodate various learners. “College still matters because knowledge is the essential ingredient to solving problems in today’s highly technological world.”
COVID-19 IMPACT ON ENROLLMENT A MIXED BAG
COVID-19 reduced the number of college students in Arkansas last fall, but not as severely as thought and not across the board. According to numbers published by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education, 133,454 students enrolled in public and private fouryear, two-year and nursing colleges in Arkansas in Fall 2020 (excluding concurrently enrolled high school students). This represents a decrease of 3.3 percent compared to 2019’s final enrollment. The bright spot in the report was the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where enrollment jumped nearly 12 percent to 2,793 students, its highest total since fall 2016. University officials cited rising graduation rates and more consistent communication with students and their families as two big reasons why. The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, the state’s two largest schools, had nominal decreases. The University of Central Arkansas in Conway and Arkansas Tech University in Russellville got harder hit, down 400 and more than 650, respectively, to start the 2020-21 school year, per the report. Suffering the most were the state’s community colleges, which as a category were down 10 percent in enrollment for the 2020-21 school year, per ADHE.
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4 YEAR SCHOOLS 2 YEAR SCHOOLS
SCHOOL
CITY
PHONE
ENROLLMENT/SEM
HRS/SEM
TUITION/SEM
HOUSING/SEM
Arkansas Baptist College
Little Rock
501-420-1200
878
12-18
$4,380
$4,412 (double occupancy: 16 meals/week)
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro
870-972-2100/800-3823030 (in-state only)
13,,,,410
12 (full-time undergraduate)
$2,616 (in-state)
$4,435 (room & board)
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville
479-968-0343/ 1-800582-6953
10,866
15
$3,585
starting at $3,374 (includes meals)
Central Baptist College
Conway
501-329-6872
605
15
$7,800
$3,750
Crowley’s Ridge College
Paragould
870-236-6901
200
12 or more
$6,325
3250 (includes meal plan)
Harding University
Searcy
800-477-4407
4,621
15
$10,845
$3,859
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia
870-230-5000/800228-7333
3,100
12
$2,940
$3,570(room & board)
Hendrix College
Conway
501-450-1362/800277-9017
1,076
4 courses/sem
$16,675 (including fees)
$6,600 (including meals)
John Brown University
Siloam Springs
877-528-4636/479524-7157
2,343
12-18
$13,831
$4,777
Lyon College
Batesville
870-307-7000
700 est. *census date Sept. 1, 2017
12-17 (including tuition costs)
$14,395
$4,565 (for freshmen)
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia
870-245-5010/800-DIAL-OBU
1,538
up to 18
$14,740(including fees)
$4255 (room & board)
Philander Smith College
Little Rock
501-375-9845
800
12-16
$5,902
1st/2nd-yr $2,596/upperclass suites $2,954; board/sem $1,528; room reservation $235
Southern Arkansas University
Magnolia
870-235-4040
4468 (Fall 2018)
15
$3,210
$3,208
University of Arkansas Cossatot
De Queen
870-584-4471/800844-4471
1,550
12
72/hr (in-county)/$102/hr (out of state)
N/A
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock
800-482-8892
9,000 (Fall 2020)
12
4764.30 (tuition & fees, 15 hours)
$3,502.50 (including room & board)
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello
870-460-1026/800844-1826
3,643
15
$150/credit hr
$1,320-$2,260
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff
870-575-8000
2,579 (Fall 2018)
15
$2,565 (AY 2019-20)
$4,236 (20 meals)
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville
479-575-5346/800377-8632
27,562
15
$4,787 (including fees)
$5,971 (room & board)
University of Central Arkansas
Conway
501-450-5000
10,335
15
$4,782
$3,386
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
Fort Smith
479-788-7000
6,626 (Fall 2017)
15
$166/credit hr (in-state); $461/credit hr(out-of-state)
$2,208-$3,506/sem + meal plan
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville
479-979-1227/800264-8636
836
18-Dec
$12,475
$1,800
Williams Baptist University
Walnut Ridge
800-722-4434/870759-4120
600
12-17
$8,550
4,275/735 ageneral fees
Arkansas Northeastern College
Blytheville
870-762-1020
1,400
15
$72/hr
N/A
Arkansas State University - Beebe
Beebe
501-882-3600
2,017
15
$102/hr
$2,800(double); $3,225 (single)(including meals)
Arkansas State University Mid-South
West Memphis
870-733-6722/866733-6722
1203 (Fall 2020)
1-18
$95/hr (in-county); $115/hr (out-of-county/in-state); $155/hr (out-of-state)
N/A
Arkansas State University at Mountain Home
Mountain Home
870-508-6100
1,345
15 to 18
$2,304 In-State Plus Books and Fees/$3912 Out-of-State Plus Books and Fees
N/A
Arkansas State University- Newport
Newport
870-512-7800
2,362
15
$96/hr
N/A
Arkansas Tech University Ozark
Ozark
479-667-2117
1,995
15
$12,820
N/A
Baptist Health College Little Rock
Little Rock
501-202-6200
700
Varies by program
Varies by program
No Campus Housing
Black River Technical College
Pocahontas
870-248-4000
1476 (Fall 2019)
12
$160 Instate per credit hour with fees
N/A
Arkansas State University Three Rivers
Malvern
800-337-0266/501337-5000
1,243
12
$102/hr
N/A
East Arkansas Community College
Forrest City
870-633-4480
1047 (Fall 2017)
12
$85/credit hr (in-county); $95/hr (out-of-county); $113/hr (out-of-state)
N/A
National Park College
Hot Springs
501-760-4159
approximately 1900
15
$90/hr, $1,350/semester max in district; $100/hr, $1,500/semester max out of district
N/A - Varies by floor plan
North Arkansas College
Harrison
870-743-3000/800679-6622
1,786
12
$888 (in-county)
N/A
North West Arkansas Community College
Bentonville & Springdale
479-986-4000
8000
15
$1,125 in-district ($75/credit hr); $2,025 out-of-district ($135/ credit hr)
N/A
Ozarka College
Melbourne
870-368-7371
1,120
12-15
$90/credit hr
$1800-$2000
Phillips Community College
Helena
870-338-6474
1,540
15
$73
N/A
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock
501-812-2200
5591 (Spring 2019)
Varies
$134/credit hr, in-state
N/A
University of Arkansas Rich Mountain
Mena
479-394-7622
798
15
$1,245
$2,500
Shorter College
North Little Rock
501-374-6305
N/A
12
$2,052
N/A
South Arkansas Community College
El Dorado
1-500-955-2289
1,255
15
$1,260/$1,455/$2,580
N/A
Southeast Arkansas College
Pine Bluff
870-850-8605/888-SEARKTC
1,400
3-18
$96/hr
N/A
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Camden
870-574-4500
1,800
15
$108/hr (in-state); $156/hr (out-of-state)
$1958/sem double (on-campus); $1758/sem double (off-campus); $1958/SEM SINGLE (all housing costs include meal plans) Meal plans are additional.
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
Batesville
870-612-2000
1,479
15
$75/hr (in-district); $87.50/hr (out-of-district)
N/A
University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
Hope & Texarkana
870-777-5722
1,500
12
$66/credit hr (in-district); $74/hr (out-of-district)
N/A
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
Morrilton
800-264-1094
1,836
12
$92/hr (in-district); $102/hr (in-state)
N/A
92 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
TOTAL SEM COST
FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE
%ONAID
SCHOLARSHIPDEADLINE
REQUIREDEXAMS
APP DEADLINE FEE
$9,033 (Tuition + room & board)
June 30th
97%
None
ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
Open Enrollment
$7,051
June 30th
90%
July 1st
ACT/ASSET/SAT
1st day of classes/$15-Undergraduate; $30-Graduate/Masters Specialist; $40-International Students; $50-Doctoral
$8,311.25 (not including books)
Open
75%
Nov. 15 Priority, Feb. 15 Final
ACT/SAT
Open/No Fee
$11,550
July 31st
90%
N/A
ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
10 days prior to first day
$10,875 for boarding students
Open
80%
Aug. 1st
ACT/SAT
Aug 1st
$14,974
Open
95.0%
Open
ACT/SAT
Open/$50
with fees, approx. $7,350
April 15th Priority
90%
Nov. 1st Priority
ACT/SAT
None
$23,275
Jan 15 Priority
100%
Feb. 1st for most scholarships, however scholarships are awarded through all application deadlines.
ACT/SAT
Early Action I - Nov. 15, Early Action II - Feb. 1
$19,239
Mar. 1 Priority
90%
Mar. 1 Priority
ACT/SAT/CLT/Test-Optional
Rolling/$25
$18,960
Rolling, but priority consideration by Feb. 1st
99%
Rolling, but priority consideration by Mar. 1st
ACT/SAT
Early Action 1 - November 15, 2018, Early Action 2 - February 15, 2019, Regular Decision - April 1, 2019
$18,995
June 1st
97%
Dec. 1 Priority
ACT/SAT
Open/No Application Fee
$10,459
Mar. 1st
98%
Rolling Deadline
ACT/SAT
Open/$25
$7,698
May 1st
81%
Mar. 1st
ACT/SAT
Open/No Fee
$1100-$1500
Fall- None, Spring- None, Summer- April 15
75%
Apr. 1st
ACT/ASSET/COMPASS/SAT/ ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
$9166.80 (est 15 hrs tuition/fees, rm/brd, books/supplies), $9166.80
February 1 (Priority), July 1st (Preferred) November 1 (Final Deadline)
85%
March 1 Mentor Programs, Aug. 2 Merit and Need-Based Scholarships
ACT/SAT
Freshman admission and credential deadline is one week before classes begin. July 15 International Students
$8,503 including campus room & board
Rolling
83%
Mar. 1st Priority
ACT/ASSET/SAT/COMPASS/ ACCUPLACER (for placement)
Rolling/No Fee - Except for international applicants
$8,268 (based on 15 hrs/sem)
Rolling Basis
90%
Mar. 1st/ April 1st
ACT/SAT
Open
$10,758
March 1st
75%
Nov. 1st (Freshmen), Apr. 1st (transfers)
ACT/SAT
Aug. 1
$8,730
Open
84%
24-Jan
ACT/SAT
None
Varies
June 15th
96%
Nov. 15
ACT/COMPASS/SAT
Open/No Fee
$16,975 (including meal plan)
Feb. 15 Priority
99%
April 1st Priority
Test Optional
May 1st Priority
$13,560
May 1st
97%
None
ACT/SAT
Open/No Fee
plus fees $1,350 plus fee
Open
86%
Apr. 1st Priority
ACT/ACCUPLACER
Open
$1,830 tuition/fees
Priority dates April 1
90%
June 1st
ACT/ASSET/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
Approx. $2,500 but varies depending on academic/technical program (does not include transportation, personal expenses, housing).
Open. Spring 2022 priority, Dec 7, 2021; Summer & Fall 2022 Priority, April 25, 2022
Approx 75%
Dec . 1 (Spring 2022), May 2 (Fall 2022)
ACT/ASSET/SAT/ACCUPLACER
Open
Priority Consideration Deadline - June 1st
85%
Mar. 15
ACT/COMPASS/SAT/ ACCUPLACER CLASSIC/ ACCUPLACER NEXT GEN
Open/No Fee
$2,610 (plus books & fees)
Open
72%
June 1st
ACCUPLACER/
Open/No Fee
$2,820 (not including books or applicable course fees)
Open
69%
June 15 (Fall)/Nov. 15 (Spring)
ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
Varies by program
May 1 / Oct 1
85%
June 1st/Dec. 1st
ACT/SAT
Varies By Program/No Fee
Varies
Open
65%
Mar. 1st
ACT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
$1,224 plus books & fees
Priority Consideration Deadline June 1st
86%
May 1st
ACT/ACCUPLACER/SAT
Open/No Fee
N/A
July 1st
76%
Varies
ACT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
Varies
Open
78%
Open
ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
N/A
Varies
93%
June 15th
ACT /COMPASS
Open
$2,325 in-district, $3,225 out-of-district (tuition/fees/books)
1-May
55%
25-Feb
ACT/ACCUPLACER/SAT
Open
Varies
Priority deadline June 1
80%
Apr. 1st
ACT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
$1,510
Call 870-338-6474.
75%
Call 870-338-6474.
ACT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
The average cost of tuition and basic fees for a full-time student taking 15 hours is $2,835 per semester.
Fall-May 15, Spring-Oct. 15, Summer-Mar. 15
72%
Open
ACT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
$1,245 including fees & books
July 1st
Nov. 15 & Apr. 1st
ACT/SAT/COMPASS
Open/No Fee
$3000 including books
Open
95%
Open
ACT/SAT/COMPASS/ ACCUPLACER
Open
Varies
July 1st
70%
Mar. 1st Priority
ACT/Accuplacer/SAT
Open/No Fee
Varies
Apr. 15 priority
85%
Apr. 30th
ACT/ACCUPLACER
Open
Varies
Varies
59%
Mar. 1st
ACT/ASSET/COMPASS/SAT/ ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
Varies
Open
Varies
Contact Financial Aid
ACT/ASSET/SAT/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
$1,350 (including textbooks)
Open
87%
Apr. 1st
ACT/COMPASS/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
$2,000
June 30 Priority
68%
Nov. 1st/ Apr. 1st
ACT/COMPASS/ACCUPLACER
Open/No Fee
To compile this, forms were sent to every qualified college and university with instructions to return by a specified deadline. Those schools not meeting the deadline were repeated from last year. Every attempt is made to gather and verify the information. The Comments section was removed due to lack of space.
Special Advertising Supplement of the Arkansas Times
ARKANSASTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021 93
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94 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
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CULTURE
GOOD NOISE FOR A BAD YEAR A 2021 MUSIC ROUNDUP. BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE
D
epending on their disposition, your favorite local musician may or may not be letting you see them sweat. Rest assured, though, it’s happening. Just as vaccines were unveiled and it seemed safe to start booking late-summer shows, working musicians, venue owners and bar staff found themselves once again mired in quandaries both moral and financial. Should they cancel the dates they scheduled when things were looking less grim? How will they draw a lively crowd yet avoid making concerts into superspreader events? And now that all the safety nets like unemployment insurance and stimulus funds are gone, how do they make a living if they can’t perform? Those questions don’t have any tidy answers, or at least none were within sight when we went to press. Meanwhile, Arkansas musicians keep finding ways to create, and we all keep listening — maybe even with renewed reverence. Here are 32 releases from Arkansas-connected musicians that caught our ears thus far this year.
ARKANSASTIMES.COM
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607, “WAT2BAT” In this interview series, short for “What a Time 2 Be a Tribe,” rapper/thinker 607, aka Adrian Tillman, talks with gearheads, producers and other professionals about sound engineering tech and broader topics in the interest of, as he puts it, “bringing the sauce to the world, to make the world sound better.” With his rich bass voice and razor-sharp observations, Tillman is making this corner of the world sound pretty damn good.
Bankroll Freddie, “Big Bank” Helena-West Helena native Bankroll Freddie made his 2020 debut on formidable southern hip-hop label Quality Control, and the 26-yearold’s 2021 mission statement, “Big Bank,” features the likes of Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and Megan Thee Stallion. Filmed on historic Cherry Street in downtown Helena, the video for “Add It Up” is equal parts fashion show, hometown tribute and tutorial on how to balance a bill counter machine on your car’s center console.
Banzai Florist, “Love Me Back, Clairo” Though “Love Me Back, Clairo” technically came out before we rang in the horror show that is 2021, we’d be remiss not to note that this track — part of a splendidly surreal catalogue from Hot Springs’ Harry Glaeser — landed on Hulu’s “Shrill” this year in its (tragically) final season. (And in the “barbecue butthole” episode, no less.) In my wildest dreams, the show returns and BF’s “makeout!!” plays during the opening credits, with BBQ sauce blissfully absent from the plot.
Affection, “Affection” Released on Drawing Room Records almost two decades after it was recorded, this ninetrack time capsule is bouncy and frenetic, in part because there’s a ton of air and space between beats — a testament to the cohesion between creators Jeremy Brasher, Andrew Morgan and Lloyd Benjamin. It’s both smart and wholly danceable, and Lee Tesche’s crisp album art is a fitting package for an old record that feels prescient and new.
Bantunauts, “Compositions by Charles R” DJ Charles Ray, who co-hosts with Bibi Mwamba the mighty Bantunauts RAYdio show on KABF-FM 88.3 (and KOBV-FM in Bentonville, etc.) late Saturday nights, has been busy not only at the radio boards, but also making beats. This instrumental collection of brief percussion meditations raises and lowers the bass floor often enough to keep things varied, and the result is something between dance and trance. Current favorites: “Covenant” and “Dust Daughters.”
Bic Fizzle, “TrapMania” Who had “870 area code shoutout leads off a Gucci Mane track” on their 2021 bingo card? Yeah, me neither. But that’s “TrapMania,” an August 2021 track from Jeremiah “Bic Fizzle” Northern, 18-year-old quarterback for Blytheville High School and the newest member of Gucci Mane’s The New 1017 roster. Watch “Bandit” for a sense of Bic Fizzle’s hometown vibe, then cue up “Supafly” to see how his crew looks in suits and bowties aside a vintage Chevy Caprice.
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Bones of the Earth, “II. Eternal Meditations of a Deathless Crown” Available on transparent red cassette from Fayetteville label Tape Dad, this crushing six-track release from Fayetteville metal makers Bones of the Earth traverses broad territory within multiple heavy music idioms: deep-seated demonic vocal growls, highsoaring clean guitars, throbbing slow riffs and drumless interludes. Lest it start to feel too serious, grab some levity with the video for “Peacekeeper,” peppered with goofy D&D references and Miller High Life.
Brae Leni, “Make Sho” Leni is among the most prolific musicians in Arkansas, so if this one doesn’t suit your funkloving fancy, odds are you’ll find something in his vast discography that does. For me, though, this is the soul singer in his absolute element, in complete control of his falsetto, at home with the microphone as an instrument in its own right, a master of emoting (even when he’s doing it from a schoolhouse desk, as in the NPR Tiny Desk version) and in command of a solid backing band.
Diamond States, “Unbroken Heart” This February 2021 gem from painter/musician Bryan Frazier’s new project Diamond States was recorded at Capitol View Studio with soundmaster Mark Colbert — a single for a forthcoming full-length release. Paired with Tim Hursley’s haunting cover image, it’s a song that implies a feature-length story behind it. Speaking of film music, check out the cover of Johnny Hates Jazz’s “Shattered Dreams” the band recorded for an eponymous film.
Bonnie Montgomery, “Boat Songs 2002” This piano-centric album, a collection of 2002 tunes and ruminations from White County-born, Austin-based composer Bonnie Montgomery, spins visions of sticky tropical air, the pristine Aleutian Islands and the heady electricity of romance’s first spark. A balm for the landlocked in a prime period of pandemicinduced wanderlust, the album’s theme of being adrift at sea felt like it was tailor-made for 2021, when it was reframed as a lo-fi musical travelogue.
Collin vs. Adam, “All the Luck” Created from home during the pandemic, this strangely affable dance record strikes an ominous tone even when communicating purportedly sunny things, casting the line “turn it up and dance with me/We’re gonna drip dry under the sun” as less of a beach romp and more like the beginning of a psilocybin trip, or giving the singsong treatment to the earnest “Tender-hearted, that don’t mean that we are fools/We’re not basement dwelling, that’s just where we keep the tools.”
Depression Expression, “Emily” In a time when small gestures of kinship have taken on outsized importance, this lo-fi bedroom lament from Conway-based Depression Expression about a “best friend that could have been” resonates. Lyrics that eschew romantic longing for the platonic variety? Yes, please, a la: “My abandonment issues always get in the way/for every single person that has ever been nice to me/and that’s why I remember the way you smiled in me in 2017/and that’s just how it stays.”
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Elise Davis, “Anxious. Happy. Chill.” When Elise Davis sings the words “I wanna know what it feels like for someone to not be able to get a hold of me. … Don’t wanna see another picture of an old friend’s brotherin-law’s brother’s new wife’s kid,” it makes me want to throw my phone in the river, too. Ever a master of the confessional, Davis on this 2021 record is clear-eyed, compelling and aglow with a sense of groundedness that her song’s narrators have so often eschewed (pined for?) in albums past.
Joan, “So Good” A colleague spotted this duo in a People magazine article about artists turning their bedrooms into studios during the pandemic, and “So Good” was stuck in my head for days, delightfully, making me want to dot my lowercase i’s with hearts and put my hair in a Scrunchie. It was May — the heady post-vaccine, pre-delta variant days — and it seemed totally plausible that I’d be cranking up this sugary boy band sweetness poolside for summer parties. (Sigh. So Good, tho.)
Jose Holloway, “In His Time” It’s not that often that a contemporary worship album lands in my streaming rotation, but then again, most contemporary Christian songs don’t come laden with bylines from local jazz/R&B jewels like Jose Holloway, Bri Ailene, Philli Moo and Gavin Le’Nard, much less an attitude of self-examination like that in “Is There a God”: “Open the doors to the church, get hit with hypocrisy/Come as you are, come as you please/Bring your family but don’t show up in jeans.”
Erin Enderlin, “Somebody’s Shot of Whiskey” It seems impossible, hearing Erin Enderlin sing “it’s a Blue Ribbon morning, after a black label night,” that she ever writes for a voice other than her own. But the Conway native’s carved a niche out in the mainstream country scene penning tunes for the likes of Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack, so it’s a joy to get to hear her sing her own work — this tune, for one, which she calls “a honky tonk song about being yourself and finding ‘your people’ that love you just as you are.”
Joe and the Feels, “Unsupervised” Like Joseph Yoder’s music with Little Rock outfit The See, this band’s debut is marked by melody-driven pop rock anthems made for howling along to in a sweaty circle of friends at a concert — were they not concocted in a concertless era. It tussles with ideas about mental health, family bonds, capitalism and consumerism, and is buoyed by some sparkling keyboard work, gorgeous guitar tone and Yoder’s candor about his own life’s trajectory.
The Libras, “Faded” Concocted in a handful of home studios across the country and featuring work from some heavy-hitting touring musicians who found themselves decommissioned and stuck at home for the last year or so, Jason Weinheimer’s new project under the Libras moniker boasts some badass horns, clean harmonies, mellow melodies, a timely Dire Straits cover and maybe — as is always possible in Weinheimer’s work — the ghost of Jim Dickinson.
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Maya Ellington, “On” Little Rock singer Maya Ellington’s August 2021 single, recorded at Grim Muzik Studios, is likely the sexiest thing on this list. “On” is chock-full of the good stuff: effortless vocal runs, a layered, mellifluous breakdown and a glorious blend of the dreamy and the downright dirty: “He get it cuz he gets it/ Doesn’t complete me, I’m completed … Down with the vision and he helps me build it/No gag reflex, I don’t choke but I’ma do it anyway cuz it turns my man on.”
Modeling, “Nothing Unexpected” Swaddle me in synthesizers and transport me to whatever world this song came from. Could be the year 1987? Or 2077? I’m not counting. Northwest Arkansas outfit Modeling shot this stunning video mostly in an apartment, with help from Nick Hargett and avant-garde cellist Christian Serrano-Torres, and it testifies to the ways in which the pandemic has asked musicians to create much from little. I’m dreaming of dancing to this someday under disco lights.
Osyrus Bolly, “Friends” You might well know Bolly’s name from his activism; Bolly has long been instrumental in organizing demonstrations in Little Rock around a number of social issues. Let this party bop introduce you to his musical side. “Friends,” produced by Duke Stigall, features Bolly’s son Brodie in an adorable cameo, leading into a vibrant, retro romp (with art from Vallejo Lee to match) through “the struggle of maintaining friendships” during a time that demands distance.
Melissa Carper, “Daddy’s Country Gold” This solo record from Melissa Carper (Sad Daddy, Buffalo Gals) is real-deal country music, the kind that dabbles freely in blues and jazz and swing, and it funnels every ounce of charm and honeysuckle that Carper lends to her ensemble work with help from bandmate Rebecca Patek and amplifies it exponentially — with assists from dazzling Nashville players like Chris Scruggs, Lloyd Green, Brennen Leigh and Sierra Farrell.
Nick Shoulders, “Home on the Rage” Skirting irony and flirting dangerously with tradition, this record from Northwest Arkansas crooner Nick Shoulders is, if you ask me, an utter tour de force. I love the mischief he makes with consonants and culture alike. I love the dark elements that form the underbelly of these cowboy poems — the brutal history behind lines like “torched the prairie for plantation, broke the mountains for coal.” I love the high-lonesome treble of his whistle and his yodel, ever playful but never insincere.
Patti Steel, “Quarantine 2020” This Fayetteville-based, cat-ear-wearing alto and multi-instrumentalist plays everything from the mandolin to the nose flute to the clarinet, landing on our radar as the mean machine behind a band called Trashcan Bandits. Here, she’s paired up with Dominic B. Roy in a mellow mission statement for pandemic times: “Can’t do this, can’t do that/ Social distancing is where it’s at/What can I do to pay my rent/The rent is due and my money’s spent.”
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Pharoah Sanders, “Promises” This 46-minute, nine-movement piece that came out in March 2021 on David Byrne’s label Luaka Bop positions Little Rock octogenarian and free-jazz legend Pharoah Sanders’ saxophone as protagonist, soaring above and around an ethereal backdrop of celeste, harpsichord and electronics from British composer Sam Shepherd, and underpinned by strings courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra. Meditation/time travel album of the decade right here.
Reward Center, “Happiness Juice” There’s an effervescent sort of alchemy to the musical (and marital) partnership between Madeleine Robinson and Josh Wyatt — two Little Rockers who just set off for New York to, as their website puts it, “see if the world is as big as everyone says.” Robinson’s ethereal voice and Wyatt’s beatboxing cast a spell on a recent crowd at Wednesday Night Poetry in Hot Springs, just before the couple’s departure. Keep an eye on these two and they’ll cast it on you, too.
Turquoise Tiger, “Seance” This project from Kyle R. Goff and Tristan Bethea has been hurling glittery guitar-laden tunes at us all year, not the least of which are those on the full-length “Seance.” Expect a plot twist after the title prelude and a shift into the bouncy “Looking at You,” which should have been our hot vax summer anthem but is instead our soundtrack for muggy evening walks around the neighborhood. Bonus: Check out the supremely chill-slash-paranoid “Shower Song.”
The Phenomenal Self, “Satori” With a knack for nimble meter changes and a rock theater sensibility, The Phenomenal Self’s 2021 full-length pop record ditches the slow build with “Chevalier” and never lets up after. The bass lines are beastly and vocalist Michelle Levy can wail, alternately delicate and menacing, unafraid to treat her voice like a rhythm instrument when she wants, or to leap into a high-register tightrope act like she’s channeling Kate Bush. Current favorite track: “Whalewolf.”
Tiffany Lee, “Grave Garden” Even without the depths of the story behind it, I could listen to Little Rock native Tiffany Lee’s many-colored voice forever and never grow tired of it. This sophomore EP and New Year’s Day release is a hard-won triumph; a battle with Graves disease had Lee “under the knife to have my thyroid removed, unsure if I’d ever be able to sing again,” she wrote on Facebook the week she tracked vocals on the EP. It’s ravishing pop meets well-earned wisdom, and I’m here for it.
Willi Carlisle, “Boy Howdy, Hot Dog” Filmed at the White Water Tavern and released in July under GemsOnVHS, this Willi Carlisle tune is an assemblage of “hillbilly portmanteaus,” a mosaic of fragments seemingly garnered from front porches and truck stops across middle America. Lines like “Thick as a forest and a cavalry of bushwhackers, never seen a baldknobber that bullets didn’t scatter” bear witness to Carlisle’s love affair with circuitous rhymes, the “talking blues” style and the weird South itself.
100 SEPTEMBER 2021
ARKANSAS TIMES
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William Stuckey, “Love of Mine” Rescued from mold and obscurity by a Scotland-based record label, this funky 1979 re-release is a testament to the talent of William Stuckey, a multi-instrumentalist who got his start at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock. “Country People” is an empowerment anthem for the ages, and minimalist loops transform “Just Around the Corner” from a feel-good groove to a surrealist trance moment, belying the album’s predominantly cavalier attitude.
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Yuni Wa, “Context 4” Violins in zero gravity, horror movie soundtrack fuzz, 8-bit video games with reverb, electric church organs, futuristic skating rinks, computers talking to each other. These are what Yuni Wa’s 20-track April 2021 release sounds like to my ears. “The pandemic’s brought, he told us, “burnout and stress from not being able to really perform live.” Nevertheless, the prolific composer will likely have another space anthem out by the time you finish reading this.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 101
COVID ETIQUETTE
H
TIPS FROM LITTLE ROCK’S QUEEN OF COMPORTMENT.
BRIAN CHILSON
BY AUSTIN BAILEY
MANNERS MAVEN: Kathleen Joiner tells us how to be polite during a pandemic without sacrificing our health.
102 SEPTEMBER 2021
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andshakes. Reassuring pats on the arm. Warm and welcoming smiles. So many of the traditions and gestures we’ve always relied on to convey kindness and goodwill are out of bounds now due to COVID-19. And not everyone is on the same page when it comes to pandemic protocols, which can make for some uncomfortable situations. What do you do when you’ve been painstakingly social distancing for a year and a half and a stranger swoops in to shake your hand? How does one politely request that someone put on a mask? Can you wait for an empty elevator without offending anyone? These are the unchartered waters in which we find ourselves drowning. Luckily, Little Rock’s undisputed queen of all that is right and proper is here. As director of the Little Rock Junior Cotillion since 1986, Kathleen Joiner has helped an untold number of Central Arkansas youth achieve grace and polish. In this time of uncertainty, adults are equally in need of her deft advice on how to navigate an awkward new world. Joiner offers this thoughtful, sensible advice to keep us as healthy and as at ease as we might hope for in 2021: THE NO. 1 RULE DOESN’T CHANGE “First of all, since pre-pandemic social graces have been turned upside down, we should remember that the basis for all good manners is treating others like they want to be treated, with kindness and respect. That said, we now are having to say and do things that would have been unusual or even rude two years ago. Actions like refusing invitations because attendees will not be masked, not shaking hands, passing on a full elevator and asking someone to give you more space can be uncomfortable.” YOU CAN BE SAFE AND RESPECTFUL AT THE SAME TIME “Everyone should be honest about their cautions and needs — your safety is paramount. However, taking care of yourself should be done with respect to the other person. You can accept the other person’s status and then modify your own behavior. Do not get angry at them or preach to them. Just do what you need to do to keep yourself safe. A gentle reminder like, ‘Oops, it looks
like your mask has slipped,’ may help. If not, move on unless their actions are causing harm to you or others. Then, you should ask a manager or employee to handle it.” ABOUT THAT HANDSHAKE “If an unmasked person wants to shake hands, say, ‘I am still not hugging or shaking hands, but it is so good/ great/wonderful to see you.’ If someone is standing too close to you, say, ‘I am still distancing, so I will stand back. Always put the modified behavior on you and don’t blame the others for not following the rules. This is often hard to do, because unvaccinated people not wearing masks are perceived by others as a threat to society.” VACCINES: DO ASK, DO TELL “A few years ago, no one would think of asking about a person’s vaccinations. Now it is OK to ask. Try saying, ‘May I ask if you have been vaccinated?’ Their answer will tell you what you need to know to make the correct decision for you and yours. Now it is gracious to ask, ‘Are you comfortable eating inside?’ or ‘May I take my mask off?’ The responses will tell you what to do.” ETIQUETTE IS MORE ADAPTABLE THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT “Like science, etiquette rules are not static. They change with the times and location. Most likely, new etiquette rules will come out of this time and old ones will fade away. One example is the handshake. The older generation will likely return to handshakes when safe. Younger generations may continue the pandemic ways of greeting — hand over the heart, friendly wave, namaste, selfhugs and more. Masks will continue to be worn by some even when/if COVID is conquered. We realized that there was less flu and allergies when people wore masks.” WHEN IN DOUBT, REMEMBER THE PLATINUM RULE “Good manners are a guide to how we should act and treat others; not a way to judge others. You have heard many times that we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control our reactions. We should always be respectful and kind. And always follow the platinum rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated.”
SEPTEMBER 3 Buh Jones Band 4 Delta Project 10 Family Dog 11 Big Shane Thornton 17 Eric Sommers 18 Ed Bowman and The Rock City Players 24 Psychedelic Velocity 25 All in Band
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SixBridgesBookFestival.org The Six Bridges Book Festival, a program of the Central Arkansas Library System, is supported in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council and made possible in part by the Arkansas State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The unior League of Little Rock Little Readers Rock is a partner for the Festival’s family events.
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FOOD & DRINK
BEST CAFE LIVES UP TO NAME HOT SPRINGS MOTOR COURT RESTAURANT A DESTINATION. BY RHETT BRINKLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON
BAKED, DIPPED, GRILLED AND TORCHED: The Creme Brulee French Toast at Best Cafe. 104 SEPTEMBER 2021
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I
’m paid to write about food and restaurant news. So you can imagine the humiliation I felt when it was reported in March, both nationally and by Max Brantley at Arkansas Times, that celebrity couple Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers quarterback, “Jeopardy” guest host) and Shailene Woodley (“Big Little Lies” actress, environmental activist) enjoyed a nice breakfast at Best Cafe and Bar in Hot Springs, a brunch spot I didn’t know existed. I think of my failures in terms of headlines now: “Hot new celebrity couple comes to town and informs local food writer on where to eat.” Turns out Rodgers and Woodley were at the vanguard of Best Cafe fandom. The restaurant had just opened when they visited. As usual I’m six months behind. Best Cafe is part of Best Court, a motor court that opened in 1933 and was revitalized in 2017. The corner suite, No. 11, where Rodgers and Woodley stayed, once hosted Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, according to hotel lore. Rick Williams and Mark and Rhonda McMurry co-own the hotel and cafe. The McMurrys oversee the cafe and recently restored the historic W.C. Brown House mansion at 2330 Central Ave. and turned it into The Reserve at Hot Springs, a luxury boutique hotel. They brought in chef Joshua Garland to be the executive chef there and at Best Cafe. A Little Rock native, Garland attended culinary school in Las Vegas after graduating from high school at Arkansas Baptist (now Baptist Preparatory School). “I’ve been traveling pretty much for the last 10 years,” Garland said. After cooking stints in Alaska, Idaho, Singapore and Martha’s Vineyard, Garland spent the last two years in Florida, most recently working at Windsor Country Club in Vero Beach. The McMurrys knew Garland because he went to high school with their son. “That’s where the connection came,” Garland said. “They knew I was a chef, and they flew me out and did a tasting and that was pretty much it. I decided to come home.” Best Cafe opened on March 1, and despite the celebrity plug and the mouthwatering, chic food pictures on its social media pages, it still feels like a hidden gem. We visited on a recent Saturday morning expecting a long wait. The restaurant is small and quaint; in fact it looks like a cottage itself from the outside. The mid-century interior — black and white checkered flooring, creamcolored walls and retro chairs — pairs nicely with the old photographs of the motor court. The cozy bar area charms with a white bar top, quilted maroon leather on the underside and green high-back bar stools. As inviting as the inside was, we were determined to sit on the adjacent patio because we’re avoiding indoor dining right now due to the delta variant. To our surprise we only had to wait about
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15 minutes for an outdoor table. Shade from large umbrellas meant that the heat wasn’t too unbearable. My dining companion ordered a delightful “Cheek to Cheek” mimosa ($9) with St. Germain, prosecco and orange juice. Other mimosa flavor options: blood orange, pink guava, pomegranate hibiscus or green apple. Flights are available for any combination of four for $16. I made the mistake of ordering a cup of hot, black coffee despite the 90 degreeplus temperatures. I was recently inspired by something my editor said about an ideal decadent weekend breakfast needing to be paired with “strong, black coffee.” Our server had every reason to question what I was thinking, drinking piping hot coffee outside on a brutal summer day (slightly hungover, even). But I did not make a mistake ordering the Creme Brulee French Toast ($13). The single slice of French toast occupied almost the entire circumference of the dinner plate. My response after the server set the dish down: “Oh, wow.” I’m sure there have been many similar reactions. It was the biggest slice of French toast I’d ever seen, served with a generous scoop of salted molasses butter on top along with macerated berries and granulated sugar. The texture was amazing, soft inside with a nice crunch on the outside from the bruleed sugar. The berries provided a refreshingly sweet finish. Garland told me that French toast was his favorite breakfast as a child and one of the first things he learned to cook. “I was like, if I’m going to open a breakfast spot, I want to have French toast and it has to be something different. Creme brulee is one of my favorite desserts. French toast is one of my favorite breakfasts, so let’s combine them.” The brioche bread is made in-house. “We make it large,” he said. “It’s not your typical bread loaf.” It’s soaked in creme brulee batter for five to 10 minutes then grilled on both sides. Raw sugar is sprinkled over the top and then it’s bruleed with a torch. I consumed the entire piece after confidently saying that I wouldn’t. I ordered it with housemade breakfast sausage that wasn’t greasy like typical breakfast sausage and had an almost clean taste with nice notes of fennel. It was honestly my favorite of all the breakfast sausages I’ve ever had. My companion ordered the Best Cafe Eggs Benny ($14) served with breakfast potatoes and a grilled tomato. The generous portion of shaved smoked ham atop the grilled English muffin was delicious and the hollandaise and poached eggs were just right. I visited again recently to try the burger on the lunch menu because I wanted to know what a $21 burger in Arkansas tasted like. Once again, the presentation was impressive. Served on an oblong platter with house-made chips, the burger looked ready to be shot for an ad. The brioche bun was house-made and 106 SEPTEMBER 2021
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VINTAGE HOT SPRINGS BRUNCH: Best Cafe is part of Best Court, a motor court that opened in 1933 and was revitalized in 2017.
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topped with a half-pound burger with bacon, a roasted poblano pepper, smoky tomato jam and a thick slice of pepper jack cheese with a pickle toothpick-speared to the top of the bun. It wasn’t a traditional burger, but the flavors fused together palatably. Would I enjoy the same burger more if it were instead topped with American cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion and mayonnaise? Maybe. But it was impressively put together and large enough for two servings. Garland said when the restaurant first opened it received some flak about the price of the burger from locals and Facebook foodie pages, but that as people have come in and tried the burger, “it was never a problem again after that.” Garland’s recommendation for people visiting the restaurant for the first time: the “Confit Duck Hash” ($19). “It’s something you would never really see on a menu,” he said. “It has a lot of flavors.” Those flavors include five-spice duck, smoked corn puree, sweet potato, onion soubise, poached eggs and togarashi, a Japanese spice mixture. When asked how difficult it is to manage two locations, Garland credited his team that he recruited from “all around the country.” He brought in a chef from Colorado, a friend from culinary school and a chef from Pennsylvania, and his front-of-house manager is a woman he worked with at his former resort in Florida. “[They’re] used to working at high-level resorts,” he said. Garland said his goal was to bring a unique breakfast to Hot Springs. “Not to say that there aren’t any great breakfast places here in town,” he said. “I just wanted to do something different, put a little twist on it. And it’s a very fun environment, an old-school-diner-feel with more modern plating. So yeah, I just wanted to try to make a mark on this community and try to help out as much as I can.”
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CANNABIZ
‘A CLIMATECONTROLLED RAINFOREST’: Ashton Harper’s family business creates state-ofthe-art buildings for the medical marijuana industry.
BRIAN CHILSON
A
BUILDING GREEN CONTRACTOR AND SECURITY FIRM DISCOVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA NICHE. BY GRIFFIN COOP
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new kind of green construction has brought some unexpected business to one Central Arkansas company. HARCO Constructors, a family-owned general contractor in Maumelle, has built two medical marijuana cultivation facilities and three dispensaries. When a third cultivation facility is completed this year, HARCO will have built three of the state’s maximum eight cultivation facilities. The projects have been good for business at the firm, but it’s not something project manager Ashton Harper ever imagined he’d be involved in. “Not in my wildest dreams,” said Harper, son of one of the company founders. HARCO’s first medical marijuana project was the cultivation facility for Natural State Medicinals in White Hall. The project was a learning experience, Harper said. Harper likens the cultivation projects to building a “climatecontrolled rainforest inside a metal building” with technology that can control the temperature and humidity to a fraction of a degree. When state regulators awarded the first licenses for medical marijuana cultivation facilities in 2018, HARCO Constructors was out of luck. None of the applicants who had planned to use them for construction had been awarded a license, but some of the applicants that did receive licenses were impressed with HARCO and heard good things about them from the other applicants. “That kind of got our foot in the door and we hit the ground running from there,” Harper said. Founded by brothers Chuck and Keith Harper in 1985, HARCO is a general contractor with about 25 employees at its Maumelle office. The company takes the lead on construction projects but hires subcontractors to perform nearly all of the trades. As the project manager, Harper keeps a close eye on the timeline and the budget. “The central focus is getting the client in operation as quickly as possible and staying within budget,” he said. The buildings contain state-of-the-art systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and have high electrical demands. “These cultivation facilities require quite a bit more juice or power than your typical building would,” Harper said. HARCO has also built the Delta Medical Cannabis Company cultivation facility in Newport, Purspirit Cannabis Company dispensary in Fayetteville, Delta Cannabis Company dispensary in West Memphis and Custom Cannabis in Alexander. Some of the projects have been renovations, while others have been new builds. The Carpenter Farms Medical Group cultivation facility should be completed in two or three months, according to owner Abraham Carpenter Jr. HARCO’s experience in building medical
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MARKETPLACE Business Systems Developer Intermediate for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to work at our Little Rock, AR loc. May telecommute as necessary. Understand project reqs to translate to app features. Dev specs for new apps. Design prototypes according to specs for simple + complex apps. Write source code to program apps w/in deadlines. Perform unit + integration testing before launch. Conduct functional + non-functional testing. Troubleshoot + debug apps. Eval existing apps to reprogram, update, + add new features. Dev tech docs for app designs + codes. Dev app architecture for use in disaster recovery or catastrophic sys failure. Understand current web tech + programming practices through continuing ed, reading, + participating in professional conferences, workshops + groups. Must have Bach’s in Comp Sci or rel field and 2 yrs rel exp in all phases of the software development life cycle, developing user interfaces, and use of relational databases. Also requires skills (2 yrs exp) in: C; C++; C#; coding in UI; HTML; CSS; JavaScript; JQuery; Angular JS; AJAX; Kendo UI; Node JS; React JS; Bootstrap; Git; Azure DevOps; and SEO principles. Apply is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with online at http://jobs.uams.edu/. UAMS disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence.
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marijuana facilities has been a benefit to building the new facility in Grady, according to Carpenter. “[HARCO’s experience] is certainly a plus, because they’re able to identify any potential problems,” Carpenter said. When Ashton Harper’s father told him he’d be working on a marijuana project, he thought his dad was joking, but he said doing construction in the new industry has made for interesting work and it’s brought in a lot of new business to the company. “It’s very exciting to go to work every day,” Harper said. “Being able to build a medical marijuana cultivation facility is an interesting thing to get to do every day and I love my job.” Security One of the most advanced features of the state’s medical marijuana facilities is the security. The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division places strict security requirements on the facilities. Much of the facility must be under constant video surveillance, including “any room used to grow, process, manufacture or store marijuana,” according to ABC regulations. That means every square foot of the grow operation must be seen by cameras at all times. While building their first facility for Natural State Medicinals, Harper said he learned just how comprehensive the surveillance cameras need to be. “[ABC agents] have to walk around the entire building and not be lost [by surveillance cameras],” Harper said. “There can’t be one foot where they are not surveilled by the cameras.” Progressive Technologies, a Memphis-based electrical and security firm with offices in Sherwood and Rogers, has worked with more than five Arkansas medical marijuana facilities, according to Rodney Jackson who works in business development for the company. (Jackson said he could not name the exact facilities because of nondisclosure agreements). The company has helped meet the security needs of the facilities as well as install the technology. Jackson said Arkansas has strict security requirements for medical marijuana facilities but advancements in technology like wide-angle lenses and 360-degree cameras have made it easier to satisfy those requirements. “We can drop a 360 camera in a room and cover every inch of the room,” Jackson said. The security needs of Arkansas’s marijuana facilities aren’t necessarily different from Progressive’s other clients, such as schools, but they do require a lot more of it, Jackson said. For instance, marijuana facilities need security cameras that run constantly rather than only when they detect motion. The facilities also have many intrusion-sensing devices, such as glass break sensors and cameras, so the detection of an intruder would be instantaneous. The security features required by ABC also include biometric data, such as fingerprints, as part of access control within the facilities, Jackson said. “Arkansas facilities, from what I’ve seen throughout the country, are probably more secure than any other state,” Jackson said. “These facilities are very secure.”
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SEPTEMBER FINDS
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THE OBSERVER
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PERSEIDS AND PERSPECTIVE
ot terribly long after The Observer pestered the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society’s admin email for advice on how best to see the Perseids meteor shower this year, an invitation appeared in my inbox. Would I like to come set up a lawnchair and watch the Perseids from River Ridge Observatory, where the society observes the cosmos with fancy telescopes from the middle of nowhere in Perry County? Yes, I would. And was I fully vaccinated, by the way? And willing to wear a mask if entering one of the facilities? Even better, I thought. So that was how I ended up booking it to Bigelow around sunset in the middle of August, my car loaded with a companion, a picnic blanket, a pillow, a cooler full of the fanciest snacks I could conjure from the contents of my pantry (stargazing deserved raspberry seltzer water and hunks of mozzarella with Krogerbrand prosciutto, I determined), two bottomshelf headlamps that emitted low-power red light, plenty of mosquito repellent and the pair of camp chairs that have taken up permanent residence in the back hatch of my car since I forget when. A few observations, astronomical and otherwise: Adjusting your eyes to the dark — and keeping them there — is way more important than I’d realized. I know, I know, every set of guidelines about stargazing tells you exactly this. Problem is, it’s really hard to do unless you’re pretty intentional about it, or unless you’re surrounded, as I was, by a handful of folks who know what they’re doing. Maybe you’re watching from your backyard and find yourself going inside for bathroom breaks, where harsh 114 SEPTEMBER 2021
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white lights undo any adjustments to the dark you’ve taken time to make. Or you’re camping out and need to turn on your flashlight to find your Off! Deep Woods. Or, more likely, you’re picking up your cell phone to google “where is the Big Dipper,” and unless you’ve made some adjustments to your device’s brightness, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Do some research beforehand on where in the sky to look for a particular constellation so you don’t have to pick up that phone. Adjusting your eyes takes awhile, and you’ll see a lot more if you can keep the light around you at an absolute minimum. River Ridge’s clubhouse and bathroom facilities have low red overhead lighting for this very reason. The astronomers at the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society consider what they’re doing “amateur astronomy,” which to true novices like me just means “We’re not NASA.” It may be, technically, amateur astronomy, but make no mistake about it, the members of this group are pretty dang serious about it. (Type caasastro.org into your browser window for a taste.) Our brief tour of the grounds, courtesy of longtime member and tech guru Jim Dixon, came complete with definitions of the three types of telescopes, all of which are represented among the individual members’ equipment. One of those is a robotic research-class telescope that the group operates at River Ridge in partnership with Arkansas Tech University. At the Zoom meeting I attended last year, much of the camera and telescope jargon was way over my head. Don’t let a lack of tech savvy or science background dissuade you. The stars belong to everyone, and intimate knowledge of fish-eye lenses and sky-tracking
software is not a prerequisite for getting into astronomy. The demands of skywatching are antithetical to the way we live in 2021, and it is simultaneously one of the most humanityaffirming things you can do in the middle of an abysmal year. Stargazing is not, generally speaking, productive. It doesn’t produce any tangible commodity and it doesn’t grow the economy or create a lot of jobs or directly solve any of our current social ills. When I arrived at River Ridge, longtime member Bruce McMath was giving his family — and a couple of us within earshot — a “constellation tour” using a tiny laser pointer to point out stars in the sky. First, Lyra. Then, gargantuan Scorpio and Sagittarius’ little teapot, with the “steam” of the Milky Way emerging from its spout and spilling across the ether. Because it was dark, the instrument itself was imperceptible, and it seemed for all the world like his extended hand was connected to the sky itself by a thin, perfectly straight green string. He showed us the hazy M-13 and the Ring Nebula star clusters on a telescope and told us the story of Cassiopeia and Andromeda. One of the family’s younger subset asked earnestly, after an explanation of the life cycles of stars, “Why doesn’t the sun blow up, too?” “Because it’s not old enough,” McMath replied. If he knew how poetic that reply was, he didn’t show it (or, more accurately, his expression couldn’t be seen in the dark), but it was a dose of perspective that the kid probably needed. (And by “the kid,” I mean me.) The Perseids are in the rearview mirror now, but if you can find a time to recline on a blanket and stare at the night sky for a few hours — tonight, next week, two months from now — I doubt you’ll be sorry you did.
Arkansas Times local ticketing: CentralArkansasTickets.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEP 10
Five-Course Wine Pairing Dinner with The Croissanterie and Andy Renda from the The Wine Thief Sunset Lodge at Rusty Tractor Vineyards
SEP 23
Play Reading: Life Sucks by Aaron Posner The Studio Theatre
OCT 3
Dessert Before Dinner with Bubbles and Bons Fundraiser Garvan Woodland Gardens Pavilion
SEP 16
Arkansas Times Presents Tacos and Tequila 2021 Argenta Plaza
SEP 28
Thelma and the Sleaze Four Quarter Bar
OCT 9
The Arkansas Times Blues Bus to the 35th Annual King Biscuit Blues Festival Bus Trip Parking (UAMS)
SEP 18
Improv 101 for Teens The Studio Theatre
OCT 3
Arkansas Times and Fox Trail Distillery Presents Bloodies Bubbles and Brunch Argenta Plaza
OCT 15
Arkansas Times CraftBeer Festival 2021 Argenta Plaza
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