03/10/15 Issue

@HSUORACLE www.hsuoracle.com

Henderson State University - Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - Volume 108, Issue 21

WHITEOUT Persistent winter weather wrecks schedules P.6

THE ORACLE

THE ORACLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Scott McKinnon FACULTY ADVISER – Mike Taylor COPY EDITOR – Katie Brown NEWS EDITOR – Moe Skinner SPORTS EDITOR – Kaitlyn Kitchens FEATURES EDITOR – Devin Anderson VIEWS EDITOR – Dax Guilliams PHOTO EDITOR – Chris Sharp PAGE DESIGNER – Houston Fryer GRAPHIC DESIGNER – Megan Snoddy ONLINE EDITOR – Scott McKinnon BUSINESS MANAGER – James T. Allen

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PHOTO BY CHRIS SHARP

Book signing event at Huie

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER – Carmin Wills

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Have an opinion on an issue or response to what we said? Just want to rant about something for a while?

Write us at ORACLE@HSU.EDU. We want to hear what you think.

Hell, if it doesn’t suck, we’ll publish it in next week’s issue. Try to keep it between 400 and 600 words. Just like your Tumblr, we ignore anonymous submissions.

COVER: Junior studio art major Kayelyn Foote enjoys the snow on the Quad.

Photo by Devin Anderson

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PHOTO BY CARMIN WILLS

Professor Amy Aud shares her life experiences

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PHOTO BY SCOTT MCKINNON

Mid-America Science Museum reopens

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PHOTO BY KRISTINE MOORE

Baseball thrown a curveball by weather

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PROTECTED BY SMITH & WESSON Teachers may soon have the option to legally carry firearms in the classroom

STORY BY MOE SKINNER — GRAPHIC BY MEGAN SNODDY Employees at Arkansas’ public colleges and universities may soon have the ability to legally strap up and carry concealed firearms to work. The amended House Bill 1077, removing Arkansas’ public universities power to opt out of allowing employees to carry guns on campus, passed in the House with a vote of 66-25.

In 2013, Rep. Charlie Collins, R- Fayetteville, sponsored a similar bill, House Bill 1243, that included the provision to allow public universities the option to opt out and deny their employees the right to legally carry a concealed weapon on campus.

That bill passed and all 33 public universities decided not to allow deadly weapons on campus by civilian employees.

That option is now being challenged in House Bill 1077, also sponsored by Collins.

The bill now includes a provision to allow public universities to require an active shooter training program for all employees wanting to carry a gun on campus, in addition to not allowing firearms in daycares on campuses.

According to Michael Hibblen, KUAR FM 89.1 News, Collins said in debate that the proposal would serve as a deterrent to others considering committing a mass shooting.

“When somebody plans to create an event where he can be a star on TV news, get the revenge he’s after, it’s virtually impossible for all law enforcement to be at the right place at the right time,” Collins said. “The only way to [prevent] that type of situation is with something like concealed carry.”

Collins was met with by-partisan opposition during the debate session.

Rep. Kim Hendren, R- Gravette, and Rep. Warwick Sabin, D- Little Rock, both disagreed with Collins during debate.

Hendren was concerned about how police answering a shooting call will interpret who the shooter is.

“You go into these situations like this, the law enforcement people, whoever they are, they are going to be shooting the people that have got the guns,” Hendren said.

Warwick was concerned early on with the language in the amendment.

He voiced his reservations about not making it mandatory for colleges to require active

shooter training program as well as prohibiting firearms around a daycare.

“I’m asking why that is and if that can be changed so that it’s understood that we shall require a licensee to complete that active shooter training course, not may require,” Sabin said.

Many students and faculty across Henderson’s campus are also in opposition to HB1077. Teachers and students alike have talked about hypothetical situations that could arise if guns were allowed on campus and voiced their disapproval and apprehensions of teachers carrying guns on campus and even in their classrooms.

“I feel that if guns are allowed on campus things could go bad really fast,” Meghan Morphis, junior music major said. “Just imagine a student fed up with whatever, attacks a teacher and gets their hands on a gun. Things could get bad.”

Kelsey Whatley, sophomore pre-nursing major, shared her similar thoughts about guns on campus.

“This campus will not be safe,” Whatley said. “I for sure do not want to sit in class with my teacher having a pistol on their hip.”

Demarkus Swan, freshmen physical education major, expressed his fear saying he’s always worried and already scared because he is a black man.

“I would have to be extra careful and safer now,” Swan said.

Rickey Miller admitted he would feel unsafe if the bill were to pass and shared his logic on the situation.

“Professors shouldn’t carry guns, that’s what we have campus police for,” Miller said.

“Professors teach, not enforce laws.”

Several professors across Henderson’s campus also expressed their opinions about the amendment.

“I think it is very dangerous,” Mary Cooper, adjunct faculty of history and political science said.

Tom Freeman, adjunct faculty of social sciences, spoke in concert with fellow teacher Cooper’s opinion.

“If it is people who are law enforcement on this campus to start with, that’s different… that’s fine,” Freeman said. “I would feel more protected if we had people with guns who are law enforcement, but for some teachers to come in here with them…”

Freeman continued speaking about the possibilities of what could happen if teachers are allowed to start carrying guns.

“What might happen in class if a teacher got angry at a student and had that thing packed on the side of their hip?” Freeman asked.

Cooper replied and agreed with Freeman’s theoretical inquiry. “Teachers are just people too,” Cooper said .

President Glendell Jones released a statement on Tuesday explaining Henderson’s position to HB 1077.

“The HSU board of Trustees voted in May to prohibit the possession of concealed handguns on our campus,” Jones stated in the email. “That position has not changed. The safety and welfare of our faculty, staff and students remains tantamount and we cannot support any measure that would jeopardize that safety of our campus community.”

Douglas Gilpin, professor of theatre arts, also disagreed with the amendment.

“We don’t need guns on campus,” Gilpin said. “The universities’ presidents have told the legislators that we are not for that. We voted on that on this campus.”

In an email interview with gun bill backer Rep. Richard Womack, R- Arkadelphia, he was asked why he supported and voted for this gun bill after the responses from all public universities clearly proclaimed they did not want guns on campus.

Womack was also asked if the legislators did not trust the universities to make their own decisions and why did they feel the need to force this issue after all the objections from all public colleges statewide.

“I voted for the bill because this issue was debated in both of my last elections,” Womack stated. “Both times I made my position clear and both times, a clear majority of the people I represent are for this measure.”

The bill has been sent to the senate for further review.

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CAT VIDEOS FOR ALL FCC decision to reclassify Internet as Title II public utility seen as a major victory for an open web

STORY BY DEVIN ANDERSON — GRAPHIC COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

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hether it’s social media or cat videos, students have come to rely on the Internet for great distractions during finals week.

Though it is sometimes seen as an ultimate procrastination tool, it is also a tool that gives many students the edge they need to complete their tasks, ace their exams or plan their futures.

With the recent FCC net neutrality vote, students have been saved by the bell, ensuring that their internet is open and free to use as it pleases them.

So, what the heck is net neutrality anyway?

Net neutrality means that all data must be treated equally.

Someone’s fashion blog is just as important as someone’s business website. Your favorite author’s website is just as important as that guy who records himself playing video games. In other words, Netflix is just as important as research databases.

The tier system that would have been implemented as a result of a negative ruling would have been devastating.

To further clarify the supplied graphic, the Internet would be treated like a highway system that was divided into toll roads.

If you pay the highest toll, you get to have fairly functional “fast” Internet lane. However, if you don’t pay the toll, there would be no guarantee that your Internet experience would be pleasant or even reliable.

Imagine being forced to pay Henderson an extra hundred bucks just to have fully functioning wifi and Internet service.

But what does all of this mean for students? Some students are already experimenting with their own businesses and ideas that they need the Internet to work at full capacity.

Imagine if someone told you that you had to pay an Internet service provider to get the same and equal treatment as Apple’s website.

If you didn’t pay the fee, your website would be de-prioritized and sent to the bottom of the barrel.

In other words, your startup that could’ve become the next Instagram, Uber or Amazon is kicked to the curb from day one, all because you didn’t pay a toll to the troll under the bridge.

The FCC has now chosen to reclassify the

Internet as a Title II public utility.

It will now be regulated through the Communications Act of 1934, which means that the Internet will now fall under common carrier laws. Since it will now be a common carrier utility, that means Internet service providers are going to be subject to a lot of regulation by the government.

This works in students’ favor because it

means that Internet service providers can’t charge them excessively for poor service.

The FCC has also recommended that the new standard for broadband Internet to have a minimum speed of 25 Mbps, up from the previous 4 Mbps.

This increase would be a massive boost to the United States’ global ranking for Internet speeds.

According to internet traffic routing company Akamai’s State of the Internet 2013 report, the United States ranks tenth globally for average internet speeds.

South Korea currently ranks first with the fastest average Internet speed, with an average speed of 21.9 Mbps, versus the United States’ average speed of 10 Mbps.

Though students have dodged a major bullet from Internet service providers, the battle is far from over.

The FCC’s decision must go through congress.

With the multi-billion dollar lobbying industry breathing down congress members’ necks and legal threats from companies like AT&T and the U.S. Telecommunications Industry Association, who are preparing to challenge the decision, it will be a difficult fight to keep the Internet open and fairly priced to everyone.

So what can students take from this information?

Does it mean that all of us should take to the streets with pitchforks intimidating members of congress?

Should we begin our own Super PAC just so we can try and outbribe cable companies?

There is no clear answer as to how best fight.

All we can do is stay educated and stay informed.

So long as we control the conversation, we have a greater say in major government decisions such as these.

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SNOW & ICE HALT CLASSES Eight cancelled days in three weeks rewrites school schedule as administration tries to keep students on track academically

STORY BY ALVIN STUCKEY — PHOTO BY SCOTT MCKINNON

WINTER BLUNDER LAND — A blanket of snow covers campus and transforms familar surroundings into an isolated and frozen no man’s land.

When the groundhog showed its shadow on Groundhog Day, many blew off the notion that there was going to be six more weeks of bad weather. Boy, were they wrong.

Over the past few weeks Arkansas was hacked by winter weather. Due to the serious nature of weather and hazardous traveling conditions, the campus was closed eight times in a 15 day span.

Few remember an occasion when Henderson was closed this many times in a semester.

Since the campus has opened back up there have been some noticeable changes to the academic calendar.

Steve Adkison, provost and vice president for academic affairs, sent out an e-mail last week detailing the specific changes to the calendar.

Those changes were moving back the date for submitting mid-semester grades for freshman is now March 9-10, and the last day to drop with “W” grades is now March 20.

There have been several consequences due to the campus being closed.

“The lost instructional time has direct consequences for our faculty since they must review and revise their courses to account for the lost instructional days while maintaining the overall standards and learning expectations they have set for the courses,” Adkison said.

“Trying to adjust course syllabi and schedules while maintaining appropriate expectations for content and learning has been a real challenge for the faculty and administration.”

Meanwhile, some of the professors did not mind the excessive amount of days that

the campus was closed.

Bill Sutley, assistant professor of mass media, said that it is a good idea to go back and change aspects of the syllabus in a semester.

“I’m teaching a writing-intensive course, and you want to make sure students comprehend certain basics before moving on to more-advanced skills,” Sutley said.

Paul Glover, assistant professor of communication, also had the same thought. “Changes to the syllabus were necessary,” Glover said.

“This included due dates for projects because a great deal of my assignments involve audio and video editing software.”

Students have been able to take a much needed break from what many are calling a hectic semester. Before the winter weather blast hit Arkadelphia, the only off day that

students had was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Between then and spring break, students usually go to class nonstop. That was not the case this semester.

The outlook on the rest of the semester happens to be a positive one.

“I’m glad the mid-term was extended because HSU requires faculty to tell certain students at that point how they’re doing,” Sutley said. “I believe the HSU faculty wants to help students succeed, but we also want students to realize the work that needs to be done on their part.”

With the spring weather approaching, it is certain that Arkadelphia has had its last ordeal with winter weather this semester. Now the task on everyone’s mind is finishing up this semester strong.

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PRESIDENTIAL COFFEE TALK

Students have unique opportunity to speak one-on-on with President Jones in casual setting

STORY BY ELIZABETH LAU — PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPT. OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION Conversing with President Glendell Jones is now easier than ever. Students, faculty and the community can all come together to discuss what they please, as well as get to know Jones.

Coffee and Conversations is an event that is held for anyone who is interested. This is a big opportunity for students to interact with Henderson and its president.

This event has been held since 2013 and has been a tradition with previous university leaders in the past.

“We have a tradition of and commitment to coming together as a community,” Tonya Smith, executive director of marketing and communications said.

Students are able to make suggestions and comments about the University. The average number of attendees ranges from 50 to 100 people, but the numbers vary from event to event.

The upcoming Coffee and Conversations has been cancelled due to the inclement weather but will soon be rescheduled.

President Jones is often seen around campus and at Henderson events but this is an opportunity to get up close and personal with him. If a student has a question only Jones can answer this is a perfect time to ask.

“President Jones listens to suggestions that come to him from students in many ways – from Coffee and Conversation to email messages,” Smith said. “And [he]often discusses them with other university leaders, including our Student Government Association president.” Any questions and concerns are encouraged to be discussed.

Henderson is a college with heart. Without the students, Henderson would be just a menagerie of buildings with no purpose.

Students have the right to speak their mind, the right to communicate their problems and the right to give positive recognition where it is due.

“I think it’s a really good idea. I think it offers a kind of transparency in our school. It’s

a chance for students to talk to our president and get to know him rather than him just be a picture on the wall,” Zachary Burnett, junior mass media major said.

Getting to know President Jones is important for students. To respect and to interact with the man who empowers the heart of Henderson is an opportunity that should not be taken lightly.

This allows Jones to discover who the students are, what they stand for, what they need and what they appreciate.

This type of event also could help with keeping up with upcoming Henderson events.

Talking to President Jones could give students a sneak peek into what Henderson’s future holds.

Between new dorms, new apartments and renovations, there’s no telling what Henderson has up its sleeves.

“I’ve noticed all the new structures and apartments Henderson has been building lately. Is Henderson taking any steps to improve the quality of campus life for commuters. And if so, then how?” clinical mental health graduate student Jake Dickerson asked.

Simple questions like these could easily be answered at this event. Students do not have to let their mind wonder and have questions go unanswered.

Students will also have the opportunity to invite family and friends to give them an insight to their university.

Grandparents and parents could enjoy getting to experience with their family what it is like for their loved one to be attending Henderson.

Obviously coffee and other treats will be provided so it will add to the comforting environment.

WWNot only will family and friends be able to interact with Jones, but also other students, faculty and the community.

Coffee and Conversations will be rescheduled as soon as possible and all are encouraged to join.

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AGAINST ALL AUDS

Amy Aud shares her story with her students so they may become better counselors

STORY AND PHOTO BY CARMIN WILLS

A

my Aud is a native of Arkadelphia and graduated high school in 1985.

She grew up with, what she believes to be perfect parents.

They showed her unconditional love. But as many children do, when she completed high school she wanted to get as far away from this town as she could.

She moved to Kentucky and enrolled in Asbury College, in the counseling program. While there her parents moved to Lake Charles, La. She went for a visit and fell in love with the place. She moved again to be closer to her parents and to attend McNeese State University,

also in the counseling department.

“I was a mess,” Aud said.

She was being asked to leave college. She had been on academic probation long enough.

She was spinning out of control.

The following sixteen years were her hardest. She was doing drugs, and some of those drugs were doing her.

During those years she gained the one thing that ultimately saved her life. Her son Jacob was born. She realized when Jacob was three that she needed to stop drugs and start making a new life for them.

The family all moved back to Arkadelphia, she knew before she left Louisiana exactly

what house she wanted to live in and what she wanted to do.

There were bumps along the road and her husband at the time was too sick to make it here with her.

They moved again, back to Louisiana to have his family help take care of him. That didn’t last long and Aud packed her son up and came home again.

She reunited with the boy she fell in love with in junior high, Greg Aud. They married and he was her biggest supporter. He always encouraged her to follow her dreams.

Aud applied and went to work at Henderson in the human resources department and

enrolled in a deviant behavior class.

She felt that the lifestyle she had been leading prepared her for the classroom.

“She was a very distracted person when I first met her,” Herman Gibson, professor and chair department of sociology, said.

Gibson had Aud give presentations in class on the dangers of drug use based on her own experiences. It was at that time he saw a great potential for her to become a teacher.

She has received two degrees from Henderson. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in criminology, and her masters in community counseling.

After she received her degrees, she got the chance to become a teacher, the chance that she gladly took. Aud took some of the late Shanta Sharma’s classes when she became ill.

“Those were hard shoes to fill,” Aud said.

She recalls the first day standing in front of her class welcoming her students and passing out the syllabus, a young girl raised her hand and told her that she did not know what a syllabus was.

“That’s when I realized that I could be the first face of higher education that some of these students see,” Aud said.

Aud takes her teaching responsibility as a way to reach students, to help them through some of life’s struggles, to be what her husband and her parents have been to her, support and encouragement.

“I would say without a doubt that Mrs. Aud has been the kindest, most compassionate professor I have ever had,” Kallie Pritchard, junior prelaw major, said.

At this time Pritchard was going through her own hard times, she was a full time student and the sole caretaker of her terminally ill father.

Pritchard said Aud went out of her way to help her. She said she has no doubt that she would have done that for any of her students.

“She is an amazing role model,” Pritchard said.

Aud puts her finger on all of her student’s pulse and doesn’t let go. She can be described as a mother hen teaching and taking care of her chicks.

She explained that’s what Sharma did for her and she plans to carry on that tradition.

Aud has future plans to work towards her Ph.D. in criminology, a commitment she made to herself back in 1999.

She hopes to continue to be a positive presence in the classroom for years to come, and eventually become a full time teacher.

“If I am nothing else, let me be hope,” Aud said.

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EXOTIC GOOD EATS Henderson gets a taste of international student’s cuisine at the annual International Food Bazaar

STORY BY CALEB WILLIAMS — PHOTO BY SCOTT MCKINNON

E

ver walked into a giant room and gotten hit with a million scents at once?

The smells of food from foreign countries such as Africa, Europe, Ocenia, Asia and even our own country, America, filled the banquet room on campus Friday night. It was a “smell-rific” explosion.

This year the Henderson International Students Association (HISA) held their nineteenth annual Food Bazaar in the banquet room inside the garrison center.

Many students participated in this year’s bazaar by not only sharing food from their home country, but dancing and singing songs from their native home.

Of these few performers was senior music major, Haley Patillo. She was asked to perform a foreign piece for the event. She sang an aria from an opera written by composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

“It may be strange to some people that this is an Austrian opera, but it’s written in Italian,” Patillo said. “But this is because supposedly Italian opera was the only cool opera at that time.”

The comical Patillo was not the only one to perform though. Many of the members of HISA performed West African, Fiji and Solomon Island dances from their native country.

During these performances, the audience sat and watched in awe as they ate. They truly felt the themes of each country move in the room.

Along with the talented performers there was even a coconut shredding demonstration that was shown by one of the students from Fiji.

You would think an event such as this might not attract many people other than students, but people from all over Arkadelphia came to enjoy the rich food and priceless en-

tertainment.

“I feel like this event is special because it offers culture diversity on campus,” Director of International Programs Drew Smith said.

“Students can come and see the different cultures on campus. I would even go so far as to say that this event is one of the more significant events on campus. There’s usually a good turnout of about 200 to 300 people.”

The event offers a great opportunity for college students to enjoy delicious foreign food from many countries, and also see and feel the atmosphere without having to travel the distance.

“I love the different cultures in general, and to see that all in one room is awesome,” freshman Lola Desjardins said.

The food was prepared by many of the students of HISA. “I made an American dish called mini French silk croissant pies,” Desjardins said.

“I made Curry Chicken, but the food or the bazaar for that matter is not the only thing special about HISA.” sophomore biology major and president of HISA, Nwakoby Chukarerones said.

“Every student from different countries comes together, has fun, shares and learns to live in America,” Chukarerones said. “It’s especially helpful when we get homesick.”

“It’s really a great event no matter the turn out. Plus the flags from all the different countries always look great in the ballroom,” Smith said.

If students are interested in HISA, they meet at 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday in the community room at the International House.

All students are encouraged to be involved in the organization and put some spice into their college experience.

Umid Khasanov, MBA student, serves up some of his traditional Uzbek cuisine to one of the hundreds of guests at the event.

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I

NEWS

t all began on an icy Friday morning. Cars began to pull in around 8:15 a.m., fifteen minutes after registration began.Within an hour or so, what was once an empty fine arts building became a hive for all things music.

Composers came from all around the country. Some hailed from Michigan, others from California and Utah. Our very own Russel Fine Arts building was shifting into a musical embassy, a safe-zone for musicians and composers to experience daring, new music.

By about 9 a.m., I encountered Gerald Warfield, general manager of Society of Composers Incorporated.

During a brief exchange, he told me that after studying under Milton Babbit at Princeton (a big name in serial and electronic composition) he decided to become a science-fiction writer.

This encounter revealed a refreshing look at the conference. It wasn’t just for composers,

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COMPOSERS CONVENTION Regional conference gathers composers from all walks of life

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEVIN ANDERSON

it was for music lovers from all walks of life.

The purpose of the conference is to foster a greater appreciation for the work of living composers. One of the ways this is accomplished is through the performance of their pieces.

Not all pieces submitted get performed however. When they are submitted for the conference, the individual performers (or ensemble directors) choose which ones they like best. Those selected get performed.

The first concert was held at the First United Methodist Church in Arkadelphia. The ensembles were just as diverse as the music.

Composers wrote works for flute choir, sax-

ophone quartets, and even solo violin. With the acoustics of the building enhancing instruments’ resonance, the composers’ pieces were given a fleshier form, breathing new life into what was once ink on paper.

With each sound an audience member could get a glimpse into a distant world. Keeping in mind the individual aesthetics of each composer, it was a chance to see the tamed wilds of a composer’s mind.

The timbres (sound colors) were always nice to latch onto as an audience member. Audience members found their favorite familiar and unfamiliar sounds just like one goes to a buffet looking for something savory.

One could merely be an observer into the micro-universe that was the stage. The performers’ chemistry with each other was dynamic and powerful.

As each composer stood to be recognized by the performer, showered in the audience’s gracious applause, you could see satisfied smiles dart across their faces.

After the performance, I was able to catch Frank Nawrot, a composer who had his sax quartet performed by Henderson’s student sax quartet at the church.

He enjoyed their interpretation of his work, saying, “They had the rock and roll spirit [in their performance.]” Frank and three of his fellow graduate students from Central Michigan University came to hear their pieces performed.

Their enthusiasm and excitement reflected the same abundance of energy other composers had as they heard their pieces.

Composers soon found themselves back

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in RFA for more music delights. Some mingled in the lobby, exchanging jokes and handshakes. Some grabbed snacks served by the various music fraternities and sororities.

The Sigma Alpha Iota colony, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma and Phi Mu Alpha organizations collaborated in a huge way this past weekend.

They worked around the clock serving refreshments and even assisted with staging for the performers. To top off these heavy responsibilities, some of the members were also major performers in the conference.

Performances are not the only things that happen at conferences like this. Another key component to conferences is the guest lecture segment.

A handful of speakers from different walks of life spoke about matters of music almost like a state of the field speech. Some topics discussed included, music business,

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composition pedagogy, experimenting with different types of music notation and coping with depression as a composer.

If it weren’t for these kinds of sessions, some composers would have missed out on the opportunity to discuss a secret pain or trouble they had professionally. These sessions gave opportunities to everyone who participated to have an open forum discussion and critically assess what the speaker brought to the table.

Sometimes at these events you encounter a familiar face. Henderson’s first black music composition graduate, Marsalis Weatherspoon, attended the conference.

After catching up a bit, he mentioned that since completing his undergrad he pursued his Masters of Liberal Arts degree at Henderson.

He also accepted his call to the ministry, to which most of his time was devoted this semester and is in the process of trying to estab-

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lish a performing arts school.

“There’s definitely a spirit of comradery here” he said, commenting on the atmosphere the conference engendered. “It is also an opportunity to enrich yourself,” he continued, indicating that conferences like these are what develop good musicians into great musicians.

It is no secret that composers don’t really socialize too much. Their nature is that of a hermit. But, when events like these take place, the hermitage is temporarily broken. To further quote Marsalis Weatherspoon, “Composition is just as much collaborative as it is personal.”

Like their pieces and their performances, they open up and blossom with the constant musical energy around them.

Understanding this, even an outsider observing the conference would understand that this was more than a celebration of music, but of an appreciation for a lifetime of learning.

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Left Page: The Wind Ensemble appears on stage before a performance.

Left: Kaitlyn Mahaffee attends the recital evening.

Top Right: The Henderson Sax Quartet poses on stage with the composer.

Bottom Right: Hunter Mabry practices a piece on piano.

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HOCKING HANCOCKS

Henderson professors and alumni sign copies of their new books during a special event at Huie

STORY BY KATIE SMITH — PHOTO BY SCOTT MCKINNON

LEGENDARY— Professors Travis Langley and Randy Duncan sign books for their adoring fans Huie Library hosted seven campus authors, along with two Henderson alumni, for a book signing on Tuesday. Authors were given a chance to introduce themselves and their books before given time to talk with fans and sign their books. Copies of these works were available for sale and refreshments were provided.

Among those present was Drew Smith, director of international student programs. His book, “Reframing a Relevant Faith,” is a progressive liberal’s thoughts and reflections of Christian values and modern culture. The idea for the book came from the blog he started in 2007.

In it he discusses what the Bible really is, including when and where it is written, and how that context is important to our understanding of it. Smith said modern day Christians need to look at Jesus’s life and teachings and that Christians should be more welcoming to other

faiths, while being critical of their own.

Also in attendance was Cadra McDaniel, adjunct instructor of history. She was signing copies of a book that began as her dissertation, “American-Soviet Cultural Diplomacy: The Bolshoi Ballet’s American Premiere.”

She explained that cultural diplomacy was seen as a way for communist Russia and the capitalist United States to overcome their differences.

She hopes her book will get individuals to reexamine the Cold War from different viewpoints, including that of the Soviet Union. She believes the other half of the story needs to be told to have a complete understanding. Her book is the first complete study to examine Soviet cultural diplomacy in detail.

Donna Smith, a literary specialist at Lake Hamilton and three-time Henderson alumna, signed copies of her novel, “The Adventures of Peabody Rich.” She intended the book for

mid-level students, making the main character “a likeable hero.”

Peabody Rich is an average boy who remembers everything that he sees, both good and bad alike. He has a mentor with the same condition. The book is all about him working through different struggles which appeal to a middle school mind.

Smith had known for a while that she wanted to write a novel. She also knew that she didn’t want it to just be the same old story.

One night, her husband dreamed the title for the book. She said the ideas just started flowing after that.

During the writing process, when Smith would finish a chapter, she would send it to a sixth grade class in Bismarck. They got to review it and give her feedback. The kids’ signatures are on their own page in the front of the book.

She is currently working on a second book

of adventures for her hero.

The Special Topics: Batman professor and his book, “Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight” were there as well. He introduced himself, “I’m Travis Langley. I like Batman.”

Langley, whose official title is professor of psychology, said he uses fictional characters to talk about his field of study.

He focuses on the good side of people and takes an interest in what inspires them. He enables readers to get inside the mind of their favorite superhero.

His book was intended for general audiences first. However, it is currently being used as the text for his special topics class, which he says he only teaches at the worst time possible so people can’t use it to fill their hours.

Langley announced psychology books for Star Wars and the Walking Dead are coming soon.

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CULT GAMES PROFILE

OPINION BY DAX GUILLIAMS — IMAGE BY HOUSTON FRYER

I

n the gaming industry, not all titles can be monumental successes. Not every title is going to sell as well as most AAA titles nor will they have large fanbases.

However, some titles can be so unique and so charming that they capture a cult following and I am a member of several of those cults.

There are just so many of these cult games that provide entertainment that I have to talk about them and give them the praise they rightfully deserve.

Because I discussed Indie games earlier this semester, I’m going to keep any indie games out of this article. Most of the time, indie games can be labeled as having cult followings since they usually don’t get much press, but still have dedicated fanbases.

When discussing cult classic video games, the discussion has to include Deadly Premonition, the definitive cult game. Deadly Premonition is actually in the Guiness World Records as the most polarising video game. You either love this game or hate it and I cannot

help but love it. The game was originally released in Japan under the title Red Seeds Profile and it was developed by Hidetaka Suehiro, also known by his nickname, Swery.

It is easily one of the most abstract games of all time. So much of the game resembles the tv show, Twin Peaks, that Swery had to have used it as his main influence. At the beginning of the story, it is revealed that a woman named Anna Graham was murdered in a small town named Greenvale and the case caught the attention of FBI agent Francis York Morgan.

But then the game breaks down into a surrealist, open world, survival and comedy horror game with quirky characters and it’s just so oddly loveable.

While the game has its flaws, such as multiple framerate issues, a terrible map and audio issues, the game is just so much fun to play for the story and the characters. I think Francis York Morgan is the greatest video game protagonist of all time. He spends most of the game making references to movies like Jaws

and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, seeing the future in his coffee and talking to his imaginary friend, Zach.

He’s such a confusing person, but out of any character I’ve ever played in a game, he’s easily the most interesting. Two cult classic game that many forget about are the two Shenmue games. This game series is mostly known for being the inspiration for the Yakuza series and for a fanbase that desperatly want a third game.

Shenmue is, in my opinion, the best example of an open world game because its world just feels so alive. Each and every character in the game has their own unique features and there’s just so much to do even if some of those things are weird like racing forklifts.

The story for Shenmue begins on November 29, 1986 as the main character, Ryo Hazuki, returns home to find his father being killed by a man named Lan Di. Ryo spends the game searching for Lan Di to get his revenge.

While most of the game is spent travers-

ing the city, combat is one of the game’s main features. Shenmue is a brawler in every sense of the word as the combat is centered around hand-to-hand fighting.

My appreciation for the series comes from the combat, not because it’s good, which it is, but because even if you lost fights, the game wouldn’t always end. Losing fights could still continue the story and it would actually cause certain things to change as a result. The second game in the series is even better and it continues right where the story in the first game ends.

Good luck playing these games, however, because it is hard to find copies as the easiest to find is Shenmue 2 for the original Xbox.

Also, one of the best cult games happens to be my favorite game of all time, Steambot Chronicles. This game is so rare and obscure that even most fans of cult games have never even played it.

Steambot Chronicles’s story, setting, characters and gameplay is just so good that it makes me sick knowing that it didn’t sell well.

The setting takes place in this cool, kind of steampunk style world where, due to pollution, an alternative to cars were invented. These alternatives are called trotmobiles, large, piloted robots that are used for many purposes.

Even the opening of the game was great.

The game asks you a series of personality questions before putting you in control of the main character, Vanilla.

Vanilla begins the game by waking up on a beach after the ship he was on wrecked and he is found by a woman named Connie. Connie turns out to be the lead singer of a band and Vanilla chooses to travel with them.

That’s basically all of the story. The rest of the game is you just doing whatever and it couldn’t be more entertaining.

While main characters with amnesia is overdone in video games, this game does it well by allowing you to determine what Vanilla’s backstory is and it also let’s you choose most of his dialogue. It’s only available for the PS2 right now, but I pray that it will get put on the PSN. There are many more cult games out there that I enjoy, but sadly, I can’t cover them all in a single story. But I will always praise the games that are good despite not getting the credit they deserve.

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MID-AMERICA MUSEUM REOPENS

Multi-million dollar grant helps museum remodel and revemp exhibits for a new generation of visitors STORY AND PHOTO BY SCOTT MCKINNON

F

ollowing seven long months of work, Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs took the wraps off of its renovations with a grand reopening on Saturday, March 7.

Thanks to a $7.8 million dollar grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Center, a national philanthropic organization that runs the Children’s Discovery Network, the museum was able to completely overhaul and remodel the museum.

“It was obvious to our trustees that the Mid-America Museum Board and leadership staff made maximum benefit of their planning grant in preparing their capital grant applica-

tion,” stated Fred W. Smith, Chairman of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. “With the award of this capital grant they will be able to refresh their visitor experience, enhance their capability to promote informal discovery learning and continue as a strong member of the Donald W. Reynolds Arkansas Children’s Discovery Network.”

Since opening in 1979, Mid-America has been a landmark attraction for Hot Springs.

The museum has frequently been recognized as a leader in museums.

It was awarded the Henry Award from the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in 1982, the Parent’s Choice Award as Best Museum

for Families in 1995, was named the Star Station One site for Arkansas as a partner with NASA for space education and was selected as Smithsonian Affiliate in 2001, one of 19 in the country and the only in Arkansas.Mid-America joined the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation’s Arkansas Children’s Museums Discovery Network in 2003.

Mid-America embraced the idea of a handson museum. The idea is apparent as soon as visitors walk in. The first thing guests will see is the all-new Marvelous Motion Gallery, where wave motion, kinetic energy and gravity are explored through hands-on experimentation.

The biggest additions are the Oaklawn Foundation Digital Dome Theater and the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk.

The Digital Dome Theater immerses guests in 180-degree cosmic exploration. The theater will begin with two shows. “Back to the Moon For Good” examines the history of lunar exploration and the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition that has encouraged private companies to join the Space Race. The second film, “Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope” takes viewers on a trip through the history of the telescope from Galileo to Hubble and beyond.

The museum also expects to show travelling exhibit content in the Digital Dome, as well as planetarium-style stargazing.

The Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk, sponsored by the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission, will take visitors outside the museum to explore nature as it’s intended to be. A tree house pavilion set 32 feet above the ground will allow for a whole new perspective on the land around Mid-America.

Exhibits installed on the Skywalk, like the teleidoscope and musical bench, will compliment the treetop experience for guests.

Back inside, four large workshop areas, Animation, Rhythm and Patterns, Force and Energy, and Fluid Motion, were created for guests to explore and examine science at work.

In the Animation area, guests can create their own stop-motion animated videos and learn about how stop-motion animation works through a variety of zoetropes.

The Rhythm and Patterns area is anchored by the massive Gyroid Climber that allows little visitors to crawl through a massive geometric

pattern exhibit.

Visitors can see a vintage steam engine at work, play with high-resolution thermal image cameras or use the gravity tower in the Force and Energy area to learn about the relationship between the two.

A massive two-story water sculpture in the Fluid Motion area allows visitors of all ages to get their hands wet and explore properties of water and physics. Mid-America partnered with Global Studios at the Exploratorium in San Francisco to build many of these new exhibits for guests to enjoy.

The museum was mindful of sentimental attachment to some of the original exhibits that helped make it a memorable attraction.

Most notably, the famous works of motion art by Rowland Emett, best known for his creations featured in the movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” remain scattered throughout the museum. The fossilized mastodon, shadow trapper room, tornado simulator, Tesla Show and other hands-on activities remain from the early days of the museum.

The museum’s goal is advancing scientific discovery for visitors of all ages, while having a fun and memorable time. “Mid-America has always been a museum for people of all ages,” Jim Miller, director of marketing, said. “The additions that have been made really engage people of all ages and interests. There’s something for everyone here.”

Mid-America Science Museum is located at 500 Mid America Blvd. in Hot Springs.

Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for children 3-12, seniors 65 and up, teachers with school identification and all military. Children under 2 are free.

Admission to the Tesla Show is $3 per person and tickets to the Digital Dome Theater are $6.

Memberships are available for $60 per person, or $85 for a family of up to five members.

Off-season hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

During peak season, hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m.

Sunday.

For more information about Mid-America Science Museum, visit their website at midamericamuseum.org or call their information line at 800-632-0583.

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HOT SPRINGS HAPPENINGS ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL STATE BASKETBALL FINALS Bank of the Ozarks Arena, 134 Convention Blvd.

Thursday, March 12 through Saturday March 14 $8 per day, children 4 and under free

Thursday and Friday - Doors at 2 p.m. and games played from 3:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Saturday - Doors at 9:30 a.m. and games played from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Tournament brackets and schedules can be found at www.ahsaa.org.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

THE RHYTHMIC INTERACTIVE PERCUSSION EXPERIENCE The Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs, 626 Central Ave. Every Sunday in March from 4 to 8 p.m. free

Come take part in a drum circle led by True Alisandre. The public is invited to play world percussion instruments with artists and musicians. Many percussive instruments are available including, drums, tambourines, rattles, and found objects that have interesting musical sounds.

Musicians are encouraged to complement the ensemble with their preferred melodic instruments.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, details courtesy of hotsprings.org

12TH ANNUAL WORLD’S SHORTEST ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE Downtown Hot Springs Tuesday, March 17, begining at 4:30 p.m. free

Join grand marshall Mark Martin, NASCAR legend, at the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Bridge St. in downtown. Festivites kick off at 4:30 with the Blarney Stone kissing contest, before the pre-parade events get underway at 5:30. The actual parade will commence at 6:30, followed by a concert by NBC’s “The Voice” finalists The Swon Brothers at 7:30.

Image courtesey of Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau

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SENIORS END ON A LOSS Lady Reddies play in the Great American Conference tournament, but fall in the first round STORY BY MARIAH DELAVEGA— PHOTO BY KRISTINE MOORE The Lady Reddies made it to the Great American Conference Tournament, but they couldn’t pull through by a 13-1 run by Arkansas Tech University midway through the second half on Thursday, March 5.

HSU lost 96-84 in the opening round of the Great American Conference Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla.

The Lady Reddies struggled offensively at the beginning of the game as ATU jumped out to a 19-6 lead.

Arkansas Tech went into the game strong and hit nine of their first 11 shots, while the Lady Reddies converted on 2 of 9 shots to begin the game.

In the first half of the game the score was 17-4 at 15:34. Fatima Adams helped her team out with making her shots in the first half.

The first half ended 50-39 with Arkansas Tech in the lead.

“We just had a tough time getting started, outside of Jasmine, we could not get into any offensive rhythm,” Coach Jill Thomas said.

In the second half of the game HSU caught up to Arkansas Tech with the score of 64-62 at 12:05 with ATU still in the lead.

Settles scored 11 straight points for the Lady Reddies and made three 3-pointers. Victoria Stewart made a two point game with a 3-pointer as well.

Arkansas Tech didn’t let the Lady Reddies catch up to them. When the time was at 8:50, the Lady Reddies couldn’t score anymore points with the score at 75-62.

Stewart made one of her free throw shots and got HSU one point.

When the clock was at 5:06, Arkansas Tech had a big lead, the score was 81-66.

The Lady Reddies tried catching up with Arkansas Tech but HSU ran out of time.

The Lady Reddies lost 96-84.

“The game was a struggle to gain the lead, we cut it to a two game possession several times but couldn’t get enough defensive

stops,” Aungelique Sledge said.

This was the last game for the three seniors Vanessa Pieper, Jasmine Settles and Sledge.

“I definitely enjoyed my last season here.

Entering HSU as a freshman in 2010, this is the exciting moment you always look forward to when you go off to college and as a student athlete,” Sledge said.

Settles ended her career record setting a HSU and GAC record for points in a game with 44. Settles broke Krystal Beachum’s mark of 41 points to set the HSU record.

Sledge ended her career in the HSU history in scoring 1339 points and ranked third in the GAC in scoring 20.8 points per game and she is seventh in the league in rebounding at 7.3 boards per game.

Sledge totaled 58 steals and averaging 2.2 per game this season.

Sledge made first team all-conference, defensive player of the year and she made first team academic all American.

“We accomplished a lot this season, we have had people break records and accept great awards this year,” Dulincia Keener said.

Keener will be a senior next season and is ready to break some records of her own.

“The seniors have been here since my freshman year, so now that I will be a leader next year instead of them I have a lot more improving and growing up to do as a senior,” Keener said.

“We got to fix some things for next year,” Thomas said. “I am proud of this team and really proud of what these seniors did for our program.”

Keener says that she has faith in her team next year and faith in her coach to bring in great players for next season.

“She is a great coach and I am happy to be under her, but I am excited for next year and looking forward to great things next season,” Keener said.

Additional reporting by Troy Mitchell.

DEFEND TILL THE END— Senior Aungelique Sledge secures the ball in the Battle of the Ravine game where the Lady Reddies won 98-86.

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NATURE IS AN ICE

COLD MOTHER

Winter weather causing major delays for sporting events STORY BY KAITLYN KITCHENS

HOME SWEET HOME— Sophomore catcher Hayden Lessenberry catches in the series against Harding.

REDDIES SPLIT WITH OBU The Reddies faced Ouachita Baptist University in a non-conference doubleheader where they split wins STORY BY JOSEPH NEWMAN — PHOTO KRISTINE MOORE Winter weather has taken an icy grip on the state and the Henderson State Baseball team is feeling its bite.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, Henderson traveled across the street to take on its local rival, the OBU Tigers in a non-conference doubleheader to decide who is the greatest of the ravine.

The teams split the wins with HSU taking the first win and OBU winning the second.

Henderson entered the game being 8-2 overall and looked to preserve its number five ranking but waiting for them were the 7-4 OBU Tigers.

OBU led a majority of the first game thanks to great hitting and fielding, but they could not keep Henderson off the board.

In the top of the sixth, Henderson put up two runs led by Jordan Taylor and AJ Kruzel’s RBI’s to tie the game at 2-2, which would lead to extra innings.

The Reddies loaded the bases in extra innings when Kruzel was hit by a pitch and Conner Brackhan reaching safely on a fielder’s choice. HSU had two outs and all three runners were able to advance with Luke McGuire scoring to win the game 3-2.

In game two, Henderson jumped out to a 1-0 when Lance Fields crossed home thanks to Ashton Roberts single, but the lead would not hold.

OBU scored three unanswered runs in the fourth-inning to take a 3-1 lead.

Henderson would finish the game putting one more run on the board late in the fifth, but they could not muster any more offense and game two ended with a score of 3-2 OBU. Both teams had five hits in the games with Roberts having two and Kruzel adding a double for the Reddies.

The Reddies were slated to start a five game

home stretch by first playing Rogers State University on Monday, but due to poor field conditions and the threat of rain the game was canceled until further notice.

Coach Cody Hooten announced that the game against LSU-Shreveport has been rescheduled due to poor field conditions.

The game will instead be played as part of a doubleheader in Shreveport, La. on April 7.

The Reddies were able to play against East Central University in Ada, Okla. on March 3 where Henderson fell 7-3. The game was supposed to be at home but the team was forced to go on the road because of poor field conditions. The series was going to be a three-game series with two games being played on Sunday but was canceled due to inclement weather.

The Reddies will next travel to Conway, Ark. to face Hendrix College at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.

Three of the Henderson State University sports have been affected by the recent weather storms over the past few weeks.

The Lady Reddie softball team had three events canceled due to inclement weather including the two-day doubleheader against the University of Arkansas at Monticello, which was supposed to be played on Feb. 27 and 28.

The team also had to cancel their second game against Southern Arkansas University on Sunday, March 8 due to poor conditions on the field. The Lady Reddies were able to play against SAU in Magnolia, Ark. on March 7 but was not able to finish the tournament on Sunday. The Lady Reddies split the doubleheader on Saturday falling 7-2 but coming back in the second game winning 6-2.

The Reddies baseball team had to cancel the Rogers State University game, which was supposed to be held in Arkadelphia, Ark. They also had to reschedule the LSU-Shreveport game that will be made up on April 7.

The team was supposed to host the East Central University series but was forced to travel to Ada, Okla. and was only able to play one game on March 7 where they lost 7-3.

They were supposed to play on at noon and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8 in a doubleheader against East Central but due to weather they had to postpone the series.

The tennis team was also affected by the weather with three matches canceled. Two matches that were supposed to be played on Feb. 28 were against Southwestern College and Seminole State College in Seminole, Okla. The match that was scheduled to be played in Arkadelphia, Ark. was against Harding University and was also canceled due to bad weather.