11/11/14 Issue

Henderson State University - Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - Volume 108, Issue 11

UN-BELIZE-ABLE

Disabilities don’t keep Kesha Pilot from exploring the coral reefs of Belize P.6 @HSUORACLE www.hsuoracle.com

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BY INVITATION ONLY

Henderson institutes new registration policy allowing student athletes to register before all others

BY MOE SKINNER

T

here is a new policy at Henderson that requires the student athletes to register for classes before non-athlete students for the 2015 spring schedule.

This requirement has sparked controversy and disapproval across campus from students and faculty alike.

As if it weren’t tough enough in the past to get pertinent and required classes, this spring Henderson will set a new precedent for students registering for future classes. The new policy will allow more than 300 student athletes to go to the front of the registration line.

Student athletes will now get their classes before any other students, including seniors.

“I think it’s ridiculous that they get priority for no good reason that I can think of,” Maverick Rudd, junior computer science major, said. “Makes no real sense why they get priority registration.”

The new registration regulations implemented on campus come from guidelines mandated by NCAA eligibility rule that states: “Division’s progress-toward-degree requirements are designed to guide student athletes through their academic journey to graduation.”

This is theoretically supposed to apply to all students who have declared a major at Henderson according to the college’s mission statement.

“The NCAA has raised their standards in the past year and we feel that this is crucial for the students,” Shawn Jones, athletic director said. “We have to make sure as an institution that we’re doing our due diligence to make certain we are following NCAA and that requires us to do things differently.”

Nowhere in the NCAA eligibility rule does it state that student athletes are required to register first. Henderson’s administration is to thank or blame for that change, and faculty voiced their opinions at the November faculty senate meeting last Wednesday.

Steve Adkison, provost and vice president of academic affairs, spoke with the senate about the changes that will start immediately.

“We had to do something with student athletes before fall,” Adkison said. “It’s not a bright solution. We’re not happy with it. It’s

Graphic by Megan Snoddy

coincidental, not accidental.”

Adkison said that advisors did not think they could handle the extra workload and that no one was happy with the solution.

The extra amount of work comes from student athletes having mandatory faculty advising as well as professional advisors. Student athletes that want to remain eligible are now required to get a compliance slip signed before they can register for classes.

The only positive change to come from this is that athletes can no longer drop difficult classes after they are registered. They are locked in to their schedules and cannot swap their classes for easier ones later.

Adkison was met with strong opposition from Carolyn Eoff, professor and chair of mathematics and computer science, and Jana Jones, assistant professor of communication and theatre arts.

Eoff objected to the new solution and clearly voiced her disapproval.

“What does the NCAA have to do with our mission statement?” asked Eoff.

“You got things out of whack with this,” Eoff said. “It’s not a federal law, it’s NCAA compliance.”

Adkison respectfully disagreed with Eoff, but failed to offer other other possible solutions for students. Jones also voiced her concerns.

“I want to make sure I don’t have to ask an advisor if I can drop them,” Jones said.

Adkison replied with an absolute no.

Adkison later said that the only reason this was originally scheduled for the week prior to the ninth was because professional advisors did not think they could get it done any other way.

The original idea was to have athletes go through the mandatory advising with faculty advisors and then sit down with their professional advisors to be registered during the regular class standing periods.

Professional advisors objected and said there was no way that they could do that because there were too many other students they needed to help.

“I understand the privileged part of this; it’s catching everyone’s attention, but the real story is they are being required to submit to very intrusive mandatory advising in registration,” Adkison said. “That’s what’s driving this. That’s the only way we feel like we can ensure what we need to.”

Student athlete Taylor Daniels, junior mass media major, agrees with the new policy. “I actually already registered,” Daniels said. “We were supposed to have a meeting with Mrs. Hooten [Chanda Hooten, student advisor] but all we had to do was meet with our advisor and turn in a piece of paper with our desired courses and she irons out the rest for us.”

Adkison said Pam Ligon, associate dean of academic services, had spoken with Adkison and said she and the professional advisors found out it’s not going to take as much time to register student athletes as Ligon and the advisors had previously thought.

So, the question still remains. What warrants the privilege of early registration to student athletes?

This new early registration policy, with no other viable solution available for students, is a contradiction and the polar opposite of Henderson’s mission statement, Henderson’s motto: “The school with the heart” and the newly released Strategic plan 2014-2020.

Henderson’s mission statement prides itself on “a century-long tradition that has distinguished Henderson since it’s founding.”

The mission continues to declare the “university care and concern, positive student response, small class sizes, and a personal friendly atmosphere-these characteristics are the heart of Henderson.”

“This is very common at many schools and it has not ever been a problem,” Shawn Jones said, “This will force them to work towards a degree and be able to get their schedule so they do not miss class and are able to attend practices and represent this institution better.”

Adkison said if three or four students are concerned about the number of classes being offered, he knows there are 30 or 40 other students that agree with them. He said he expected and wanted to hear from students about the changes.

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SPECIAL DELIVERY ROTC accepting donations for troop care packages

BY MAKENZIE STONE The second annual battle of the ravine Army ROTC Pack – A – Box for our Troops is here and ready to take donations.

The program started last year under the control of Jerusha Schofer, reserve officers’ training corps administrative specialist, and second Lieutenant Malcolm, Henderson alumni.

“Last year the ROTC program collected enough donations to fill fifteen boxes,” Schofer said. “And some of those boxes went to first Lieutenant Dakotah Mitchell, whom is an HSU alumni, and his unit.”

So far this year the Pack – A – Box for our Troops program has received four completed boxes and enough supplies to fill two or three more. However, many more donations are still needed.

If you are not sure what to donate the ROTC program has generated a list of items that they know soldiers would love.

Some of these items are photos or signed banners from your organization, miniature or regular size felt stockings or felt Santa hats,

fleece blankets and pillows, and even new or used CDs.

You can also add meal enhancers such as ramen noodles, seasoned salt, mustard, ketchup, relish, and individual hot sauce packets, quick protein items such as energy bars, tuna fish, beef jerky, and beef summer sausage. Although, if donating these items make sure the meat is labeled USDA Beef.

Some snacks that can also be added to a box or just solely donated are hard containers of chips, pretzels, nuts, cheese crackers, mi-

SETTLING THE SCORE A history lesson on Battle of the Ravine rivalry pranks

BY MADISON MACNEW For many people, November’s most exciting event is Thanksgiving or Black Friday. For Henderson students, the most exciting event to take place this November is undoubtedly the Battle of the Ravine.

Since 1895, the Battle of the Ravine football game against Ouachita Baptist University has been tradition. That tradition still lives.

On Nov. 15, the Reddie football team will face the Ouachita Baptist Tigers once again.

The rivalry between Henderson and OBU is something that lasts all year. When freshman students begin at Henderson, they are taught that “the school across the street” is no match for the Reddies. Every year at Henderson strengthens that disgust for anything Tiger-related.

“There’s nothing as repulsive to a Hen-

derson student as an OBU Tiger,” Cayden Quillin, freshman aviation major, said. “And that’s something we were taught as soon as we enroll here.”

The Battle of the Ravine is the showcase of the oldest living rivalry in Division II of the NCAA. Henderson has 42 wins, Ouachita Baptist has 39. They’ve tied six times. More importantly, Henderson has won the last four.

The game isn’t the only part of the tradition; the pranks have been epic.

Legend has it that in 1946 a group of Henderson students kidnapped the just-crowned OBU homecoming queen.

For days, the Reddies held the queen captive in a Hot Springs lake house while her friends and peers searched tirelessly to recover her.

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crowavable popcorn, and cookies.

The soldiers also love their candy and gum but make sure to avoid chocolate in case the service member is in a warm climate area. If you do include these tasty treats make certain they are put in a zip-lock bag before placing them in the box. That way, if something does melt, it will not ruin the other items in the box.

Toiletries are another great idea to add to a box or to individually donate. Things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, cotton swabs, shaving cream, disposable razors, shampoo, tissue, baby wipes, baby powder, eye drops, lip balm, lotion, and aspirin, are a few ideas.

Obviously, soldiers are on their feet a lot so items such as moleskin, medicated foot powder, athlete’s foot ointment, and 100 percent cotton socks, are very helpful for them.

Also, your service member will greatly appreciate goggle-style sunglasses if he or she is deployed in a desert area.

Even though soldiers are busy they do have some down time and they do get bored, so to keep them entertained you may donate items such as paperback books, magazines, comic books, crossword puzzles, word searches, jigsaw puzzles, foam footballs, Frisbees,

Thankfully, the OBU homecoming queen was safely returned, unharmed, to her school before kickoff.

The bronze tiger displayed Ouachita Baptist’s campus was swiped and held hostage so many times that OBU had to construct a fence around the tiger to keep it safe.

One year, a group of Henderson students painted thousands of marshmallows red. Then they used a crop duster to coat the Ouachita campus with a sweet, squishy form of the Reddie spirit.

Nowadays, due to the amount of pranks that take place during the weeks surrounding the Battle of the Ravine, both Henderson’s and Ouachita’s campuses practically go on lock-down every year.

Throughout the entire week of the game, both football fields are illuminated every night to ensure that no vandalism takes place on either turf.

When you get lost on campus because all the signs are covered with black plastic bags— that’s another precaution against vandalism.

Limiting the visibility of signs makes it more difficult for Ouachita students to identify

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hacky sacks, and playing cards.

You can even go as far as donating a portable DVD player, CD player, DVDs, CDs, and handheld electronic games. These items may be used as long as they are in good condition.

Also, if such items are donated make sure to include the batteries for them and throw some size AA and D batteries in there while you are at it. These sizes are in high demand.

“Donations will be taken until November 15,” Schofer said. “We will pack all the boxes the week before Thanksgiving and mail them out on the 24th and 25th of November.”

You may drop off donations during office hours at the department of military science, which is located on Ouachita’s campus in the Roy and Christine Sturgis Gymnasium building, room 303.

Also, cash donations are appreciated to cover the shipping fees but are not required.

If you would like to donate some cash however you may do so when you drop off your donations.

Henderson property.

And of course cars parked on campus are at risk of being egged during the week of the Battle of the Ravine.

The Reddie band members also take one for the team and guard the fountain at the entrance by Womack. Without their special night-watch over the fountain, Ouachita students might add a mixture of dish soap or purple dye like they did in the late ’80s.

One of the most cherished traditions of all students, fans and athletes is the Reddie walk.

With a distance of only a hop, skip and jump away, the “away” team gets suited up in their locker room and head over to the home team’s stadium.

This year, however, the Reddies play in their own Carpenter-Haygood Stadium and Ouachita will be the ones to walk across the ravine.

Come to Carpenter-Haygood stadium to watch the Reddies take on the Tigers on Saturday Nov. 15. And don’t worry, all the eggs will be thrown by then.

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DARK DISCOVERIES Biology students discover bacteria unknown to science

BY JAMES JACKSON To most people, the mention of the word “cave” conjures images of deep, dark places full of bugs and bats. To Dr. James Engman, professor of Biology, caves are full of mysteries that he and his group of cave researchers intend to solve.

It began with a spring break trip in 2009 to Blanchard Springs Caverns in the Ozark National Forest. The guides offer standard tours, but the group was curious and brave enough to take a “wild tour.”

These are tours to the parts of the cave that have not been modified by human hands, parts where there are no hand rails and safety features aside from what nature has provided.

They do make sure that people have helmets, knee pads and a safety expert on site.

After gathering and taking some samples

back to the lab they discovered that this could be something big. Engman describes his first trip as “exciting and new.”

They started out just taking samples of bacteria from rocks that formed in the caves.

As time went on they watched it grow, handling the specimens carefully because, as Engman explained, any mistreatment could manipulate or destroy it.

He credits professor of communications Michael Ray Taylor with helping to spark his interest in caves. Taylor is the author of two books describing exotic microbes living in caves. One of those books, “Caves,” focuses on Hazel Barton, a noted cave microbiologist.

Engman said his first group of students to conduct research in caves was able to Skype with Barton after reading Taylor’s book and

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watching a related video.

“This really got the group focused and excited and doing more and more research,” Engman said.

As students come and go they add to their predecessors’ research.

The pool of scholarship led to national recognition.

The group received their first National Science Foundations (NSF) grant in 2010. They received NSF grants the two following academic years.

They have even found new bacteria and microorganisms previously unknown to science.

The Council on Undergraduate Research invited the 2011 group to present their research in Washington D.C. They were one of 18 project groups invited to the nation’s capital.

“This is one of the best parts of the job,” Engman said. “Getting to watch and do research with my students.”

He forms the research groups by carefully selecting students he feels are up to the task of

devoting countless hours to keep the research going. He chooses them by his classroom experience.

He needs people who he can count when he isn’t around.

“Being department chair I really don’t have the time to always oversee them,” Engman said. “This is why I choose people who I can count on and do very well in my classes.”

This year’s group consists of four female students: Taylor Lee, sophomore, Charlotte Wetzlar, senior, Itzela Cruz, sophomore Leah Efird, junior, all biology majors.

They learned from members who have since graduated and will in turn teach the incoming members.

This research group went to Fayetteville Friday and was one of only six projects that were invited to orally present their research.

They will present the progress of their research and their new findings.

Engman plans to return to the cave Nov. 15 for a zoology project.

They visit only once a semester so they must gather as many samples as they can.

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She is also a clinical and course coordinator.

Photo courtesy of Nikol Hamilton

NURSING HENDERSON’S NURSES Henderson’s new lecturer speaks of her personal history

BY ADRIANNE WILLIAMS Nikol Hamilton is the new lecturer of nursing for bachelor students.

Growing up in Crossett, AR, Hamilton credits her rural background with helping her learn to be independent.

“Living in rural Arkansas really taught me a lot about what you don’t have as far as even health care resources,” Hamilton, said. “So that really molded what I have done in my own nursing career to advocate for better services and health care options, just from the lack of stuff from where I came from.”

Hamilton’s sister was killed at the age of 16. Her sister had always wanted to donate her organs when she passed, but her father would not acknowledge her wish.

Hamilton and her family had to go through legal channels to be able to grant her sister’s wish.

Hamilton was influenced by the choices that her family had to make.

When she went to nursing school, she was able to attend many legal and ethics courses.

She became fascinated with preventing death and with what happens when one has a chronic illness or trauma.

Hamilton earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Mcneesse State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2009 with a master’s in nursing.

At Henderson, Hamilton now teaches basic concepts, nursing, and nursing as a profession.

Next semester, she will teach research, and will develop the left legal ethical course and adult health course.

Hamilton previously worked at Henderson in 2008, but left due to her husband’s death from colon cancer.

She moved back to Hot Springs this summer, and was very excited when the position at Henderson became available.

She believes that Henderson is a great institution to work for, and she loves to teach in general.

Hamilton wants to show students that the nursing profession gives people many opportunities.

“It keeps me motivated, just seeing all of the new people wanting to get in to the profession and being able to teach them fundamentals, and help them realize that the world is your orchid with nursing,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton is excited about the collaboration with National Park Community College.

She hopes to develop the department of nursing into the school of nursing.

She also hopes to develop a few different certification programs based on her specialty practices.

Along with other certifications, Hamilton has an advance practice role in forensic and legal nursing, and in faith community nursing.

She enjoys her forensic nursing practices, as she wants to focus on understanding death, grieving, bereavement and helping people in crisis.

Aside from teaching Monday through Thursday, she does public speaking, mostly on Friday’s.

She speaks on topics such as colon cancer advocacy, death investigation for pediatrics and consultant work with legal issues and health care.

People are able to find out about when and where she will be speaking by following her Facebook page or hash tagging certain topics on Twitter.

In March, she will be helping to host the first “Get Your Rear in Gear.”

This event is a 5k run that works to promote colon cancer awareness to the public.

She also continues to ride barrel horses in her spare time.

Despite all of the trials and tribulations in Hamilton’s life, she has manages to continue her career with passion.

She is glad to be back at Henderson where she can share her passion for nursingwith students who have an interest in nursing and saving lives.

Photo courtesy of Claudia Beach

PRELUDE TO A KISS A preview of the production of the “Impossible Marriage” play

BY MONICA RODRIGUEZ “Impossible Marriage,” is a play set in present-day Savannah, Georgia. A young girl named Pandora is preparing to marry a much older man named Edvard. Pandora’s sister, Floral is going crazy and tries to prevent the wedding while their mother, Kandall tries to keep everything calm.

“The play starts with everyone reacting to Pandora wanting to get married to this older gentleman,” Tippitt said.

Madii Gallagher, senior theatre major, is this production’s costume designer. She decided to put the characters in elegant yet colorful clothing. “For the costume design I kind of went in a direction that was like flowy and backed by a mystical feel,” Gallagher said.

“Throughout the whole play I’m trying to keep the scandal down,” Andrea McDaniel, junior theatre major said. McDaniel said that there is so much going on in this play that the audience can’t help but be entertained. “We kind of get the best of both worlds, we get to be very serious and have these moments,” McDaniel said. “But we also get to be over-the-top dramatic, funny and crazy.”

Opening night for “Impossible Marriage” will be at 7:30 Nov. 13 at Arkansas Hall Studio Theatre and will wrap it up on Saturday, Nov. 22. The box office will be open Monday, Nov. 10 to purchase tickets and reserve seats. Non-student tickets will cost $8. Henderson students will be admitted for free using their student ID.

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UN-BELIZE-ABLE Disabilities don’t keep Kesha Pilot from exploring the coral reefs of Belize

BY ASHLEY BLES Few things can stop Kesha Pilot. Two years ago a car accident tried when it cost her the use of her legs, but this summer Pilot proved not even that could get in her way. She went to Belize on a school marine biology trip, making her the first paraplegic to do so.

“Going abroad is going to be an experience for anyone,” Pilot said. “But for me it was an even bigger deal.”

Belize, a small country about 1,200 miles away from Henderson on the coast of Central America, is home to the second largest coral reef in the world. The trip is one of two that James Engman, professor of biology and department chair, leads abroad each summer.

Engman has been organizing study abroad trips since 1999, but this was his first time making accommodations like the ones Kesha needed. Fortunately, they had time to prepare.

To begin, there was the issue of money.

Pilot would need to be accompanied by her husband Clay, which would double the cost of the trip. Engman granted her a full scholarship for the trip from a tropical studies scholarship fund granted by the Henderson Foundation.

The trip was heavily focused around snorkeling, which was another problem: how could they give Pilot mobility? The answer came in the form of a scuba scooter.

“Actually, getting the scooter was the easy part,” Engman said.

Pilot and Engman went to the disability resource center, where general legal counsel Elaine Kneebone arranged for the scooter to be purchased. Once the scooter was in, Pilot spent hours in the campus pool practicing with it.

“Being in the water was really liberating,”

Photo courtesy of Jeffery P. Gilmore

DECAY THAT NEVER FADES An impression of Amber Perry’s senior art exhibition

BY JASMINE THREATT With the end of the Halloween season, the senior art exhibition of Amber Perry, senior art major, came just in time. “Decayed” is the title of this dramatic, dark, chaotic exhibition.

Perry’s sea green eyes, which match the sea green streaks in her dark hair, added to her allblack attire give the viewer a glimpse of the artist’s perspective on life.

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Pilot said. “I was able to go somewhere without my chair for the first time in two years.”

Getting the scooter (and its 20 pound lead acid battery) aboard the plane to Belize proved to be another challenge.

After plenty of emails, phone calls and meetings with Delta Airlines and their disability hotline, Tropic Air Belize airlines and the director of the TSA at Little Rock’s airport, the scooter made it safely. The group focused particularly on studying the preservation of the reef, which is very carefully protected and is one of the only remaining completely alive sections of coral reef in the world.

The Belize Tropical Research Education Center, the lab that hosted and housed the fourteen visitors including Engman and Clay (Pilot’s husband), has been hosting study abroad students for twenty years and Pilot was their first visitor in a wheelchair. Belize does not have the same accessibility requirements of the United States.

Pilot says the other students were very inclusive and helpful to her. They carried her up and down stairs, pushed her across sand and helped her in and out of boats.

In fact, the only part of the trip that Pilot

wasn’t able to join in on was cave exploration.

Instead, she got to go zip lining. Pilot said that although there were challenges and difficulties to overcome, she hoped she could help clear the way for others with disabilities to also be able to go on such trips.

Sarah Wolven, a sophomore business major from National Park Community College, also went on the trip to Belize and says Pilot’s confidence, willpower and smile were an inspiration during the trip.

“I wish every person in her situation could experience what she did with us, because it would show them that they can do it,” Wolven said. “She truly puts meaning to the words ‘yes I can.’”

Pilot said it’s not at all about feeling like a burden. Instead it’s about getting out there.

“It really is liberating,” Pilot said. “Everyone really did a lot to make sure I was included.”

Pilot also said the lack of accessibility in Belize made her more thankful for her situation in the United States.

The study abroad trips for the summer of 2015 will be to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Pichu in June and Belize in July.

Her passion for exploring the darker side of humanity touched the minds of students as they viewed her show at its opening on Nov. 5.

Perry mentioned she always looks to artists from the past, like various German expressionists, for inspiration. She particularly admires a painter and collage artist named Robert Rauschenberg.

All of her pieces in “Decayed” represent the exhibition’s title with dark colors and intricate, chaotic drama.

“Each one is like a different part of me,” Perry said. “The piece “Anxiety” reflects my everyday dealings with stress and social situations using the image of an insect being devoured by ants.”

“Anxiety” is a look at the scary and hard parts of life. “Anxiety” also features the face of a young girl, like the faces seen on campus during finals: scared and in pain. She’s grabbing this struggle and transforming it, giving the audience a glimpse of her unique vision.

Another piece in the “Decayed” exhibition is a life-sized sculpture made from recycled materials. The sculpture, which resembles the Grim Reaper, consists of some newspapers, sheets and rags used in printmaking to wipe off excess paint. She spent a lot of time on this sculpture — two and a half months.

“Decayed” is an exhibition using an eclectic

mix of media showing off the artist’s versatility. Perry displayed a linoleum relief print titled “Cyber Trap” and a mix of cyanotype collages and watercolor paper. “Omen,” “Growth (Open Doors)” and “Death” are mixed media collages which continued the dark, gothic theme of the exhibition.

Perry also included two acrylic paintings in her exhibition. “Rotten” was painted on a canvas, and “Plagues” was painted on plywood.

The second floor of the library was full of students, faculty and staff supporting Perry as she revealed her senior exhibition. Not only did the audience get to see a beautiful, but dark, exhibition, but they also saw the part of Perry she puts into her work. A part of herself that she is passionate about. The part of Perry that experiences and observes pain and darkness and then works so hard to interpret and express them through various media.

“It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort,” Perry said. “If you want your art to be great you need to put that effort in. I spend so much time doing it — it just helps me say everything I need to say without words.”

“Decayed” expressed the Amber Perry that we see around campus who has experienced pain, struggles, and growth. This exhibition let viewers look into the heart of the creative green and black haired artist.

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HARMLESS FUN? Pranks between Henderson and OBU may return for the Battle of the Ravine

BY DAX GUILLIAMS Harmless pranks between rival schools is a tradition all across the nation. However, that tradition is dying on our campus and the campus of our rivals, OBU. We used to pull amazing pranks on one another and now if you even step on OBU’s campus at night, you’ll be forced to leave and you may possibly be arrested.

What happened to harmless pranks between rivals? I remember hearing stories about all the things we would do against each other.

Even last semester OBU egged a lot of cars parked on campus. It’s nothing big, but it was something.

Rival Schools should do that to each other.

It’s fun, but as long as no one is harmed.

But that’s exactly why it should be allowed because no one is harmed.

While I applaud OBU egging cars, mine included, they did something last year that I didn’t and still don’t approve of.

A group of students used chalk to write on windows over at OBU’s campus and students over there blocked those Henderson students from leaving. They then went on to call the police on the Henderson students.

For what? Chalk writing?

That’s just not ok. All those Henderson students were doing was having fun by pulling a prank on OBU. Those Henderson students could have done so much worse. It was just chalk on win-

dows.

Rivals are supposed to pull acts like that on each other. It’s why they’re rivals.

I believe more pranks should be pulled on OBU and I think they should pull more pranks on us.

The Battle of the Ravine shouldn’t be the only time to do these pranks. They should be done at random times of the semester, each semester.

It would be fun as long as one side doesn’t go too far. Egging the cars on one of the campuses at a random time might be a bit much for a spur of the moment prank, but other kinds of pranks would be alright.

Putting marshmallows on football fields, spray painting walls or drawing porn on the girls dorm.

What are our schools afraid of ? They are taking so many precautions to make sure we can’t do the slightest thing.

But we should be doing more than the slightest thing. These pranks need to be memorable and creative.

For us Henderson students, maybe put a few condoms around the OBU tiger. For you OBU students, maybe cover our bridges in fake spider webs.

No one gets harmed but we still have our fun and we still get to say that we got one another. So stop being boring, Henderson and OBU, and start leaving dead bees in each others art departments.

Photo courtesy of Trevor Huxham

PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER 1? — If you were to see a statue of a tiger similar to this one, it would be a great shame if you were to break its tail off or paint it a funny color. You should absolutely never chalk the sidewalks or throw glitter around the campus. These childish and immature actions would reflect poorly on our great university and live in the annals of school infamy. Did you know they also have a fountain? That fountain should definitely never have pounds of red Kool-Aid powder dumped in it.

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WHAT SOME STUDENTS THINK OF THE POLICY Savannah S. - freshman math major “I don’t think it’s fair. Athletes shouldn’t get special treatment just because they’re athletes.

They shouldn’t get to register in front of other people that have put a lot more time and effort into their education just because they’re ‘something special.’”

Photo courtesy of iStockPhoto

EEEHHH — An artist’s approximation of a “student athlete” “registering” for classes under the new policy.

JOCKS WIN...AGAIN

Jackson A. - junior biology major

“Decidedly negative. It’s hard enough to get good classes as is.”

Students are outraged over athlete pre-registration

BY DAX GUILLIAMS Student athletes work hard, but do they work hard enough to be allowed to register for classes early?

A new policy is being introduced this semester that allows student athletes of any classification to register for classes before other students.

This affects students in a very negative way. Imagine that you’re a senior, unless you already are, and you need to register for specific classes in order to graduate. Because athletes get to register before you, there are less seats available for you. Some classes get filled so quickly that by the time most students are allowed to register for them, they’re already filled up. Now those classes are going to get filled up even faster, making it harder for non-student athletes to get in the classes they need.

Personally, I think this new policy is a horrible idea. As a Mass Media major, many of my classes get filled very quickly and I’ve already taken all of my basics.

The only classes I have yet to take that I need are Mass Media and Communications classes. Many communications classes get filled very quickly and that was without student athletes getting to claim them first.

My major isn’t the only one that has class-

es that fill up so quickly. This policy affects any major that have classes that are so high in demand.

Student athletes should be allowed certain privledges, but this shouldn’t be one of them.

They do need to keep certain hours in order to keep their scholorships, but this is going too far.Athletes that have less hours than that of a senior or junior get first dibs on any class while the senior or junior have to wait and possibly not get the class they need.

It’s policies like this that make me wish that Henderson’s students had more of a voice. We didn’t get to vote on this, it was just introduced and now we have to deal with it. I don’t think we should have to deal with it, I think it shouldn’t go into effect. I’m also not the only one who thinks this way.

On Sunday, I stood outside the HUIE Library and the cafeteria to interview my fellow Henderson students and get their opinions on this matter. Plenty of you were more than happy to tell me what you thought. There were two people who was for the new policy, two who did not mind the new policy and everyone else I talked to was against it.

Maybe since so many students are against this, Henderson’s administration will listen and get rid of the policy.

Claire C. - senior art major

“I think it’s unfortunate that the administration sees fit to privilege athletes over their fellow classmates. Way to demonstrate how much the actual education here matters. Athletes should have to work for their priority academically like everyone else.”

Xavier S. - physical education major “[I’m] not offended.”

Brianna G. - senior psychology major

“I don’t think they should have this advantage. If they do, though, I think only those who’ve established their majors should.”

Bobby H. - sophomore music performance major “I don’t have a problem with it.”

Samuel C. - freshman undeclared

“I feel that it is entirely unfair for athletes to be allowed to register for classes before everyone else.

What makes them more special than anyone else? Athletes always seem to get special treatment compared to non-athletes.

Camryn S. - junior music major “I don’t feel that it’s fair seeing as It’s time for that to end.” many other students would like to graduate on time or early.”

Julie N. - senior dietetics major Jake L. - junior mathematics major “I am against it.”

“Athletes should only get to register due to the number of hours they have like everyone else.”

NOVEMBER 11, 2014 Dylan P. - junior history major

“I do not think athletes should get priority over everyone else, especially since they could fill up classes other people need if they are upper classes.”

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“It’s unfair that a freshman football player gets to register before seniors and juniors or before anyone else. It seems to me that they are giving the athletes a chance to fill the easier classes before anyone else. What type of education is that? Are they even fairly earning a degree? They didn’t consult with anyone about that change and even some faculties are mad about it. Athletes shouldn’t receive favoritism.”

TO THE EDITOR

“It’s good because some student athletes need to know what classes to take.”

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.

Keaton S. - freshman business major, athlete

“I like the pre-registration policy for athletes because it benefits us because I can get the times and teachers that will work best for me.”

Joshalyn M. - junior dietetic major

“Don’t like it. They are just like us and shouldn’t have privileges just because they play a sport.”

“[I’m] appauled because it is [supposed] to be by hours not by athletic ability.”

ORACLE STAFF Editor-in-chief Stephanie Malcolm sh170973@reddies.hsu.edu

Photo courtesy of Media Relations

Jamie B. - senior computer science major

“It’s fine if they don’t register before all other seniors because they have more demanding schedules. If they register before other seniors, that seems like favoritism. I’m not okay with that.”

O’Dell J. - junior mass media major “It’s lame. Athletes should not be able to sign up just because they’re athletes. If there is some kind of emergency, then go ahead.”

If you are also concerned please contact our Provost, Dr. Steve Atkison with the information found here

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Trei C. - freshman undeclared major, athlete

Cheyenne C. - sophomore nursing major Itzela C. - junior biology major

SPORTS

If you have questions or concerns about this policy: Now, I was not able to interview each and every student on or off campus, but there is still a way for you to let your opinion on this policy be known. Like always, you can email a story to us or you can do a more direct approach.

You can contact Stephen R. Adkinson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. As provided by his business card, his email is sadkison@hsu.edu and his phone number is 870230-5404 or you can also call him at 870-345-8916.

His office is on the third floor of Womack Hall if you would like to speak with him in person.

Students, let your voices be heard so your college experience will be as enjoyable as possible.

It is up to all of us to give the administration our opinions over matters such as this.

Faculty adviser Mike Taylor taylorm@hsu.edu Copy editor Josh James joshjames669@gmail.com News editor Moe Skinner ms191999@reddies.hsu.edu Sports editor Kaitlyn Kitchens kk175413@reddies.hsu.edu Features editor Devin Anderson da176236@reddies.hsu.edu Views editor Dax Guilliams dg172468@reddies.hsu.edu Photo editor Jeffery P. Gilmore jgilm123@gmail.com Page designer Houston Fryer hf179598@reddies.hsu.edu Graphic designer Megan Snoddy megan.snoddy@hotmail.com Web designer Scott McKinnon jm146683@reddies.hsu.edu Business manager James T. Allen ja165078@reddies.hsu.edu Distribution manager Carmin Wills cw195138@reddies.hsu.edu

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NOVEMBER 11, 2014

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SETTING UP THE SHOT The mens basketball team is preparing for their upcoming season and plan to win the conference championship this year

BY MARIAH DELAVEGA It’s about that time for basketball season to start. Coming off a good season last year, they want to do even better this year.

Last season they made it to the conference championship, but they fell short to Harding in double overtime in the championship game.

This year Doug Nichols, the head coach of the basketball team wants to get a championship ring.

“Our goals every year are pretty much the same, we want to compete to win a conference championship, and I think we have the guys to put us in the position to do that, but still it’s a long way to go as far as growing together and learning what we need to do to win,” Nichols

said.

The team started their first official practice on Oct.15 in the Duke Wells Gym. They have 23 players on the roster.

“I like our group of guys,” Nichols said.

“We have a good mix of returning players and new players, it’s still so early in the process as far as them gelling and getting to know each other on the court, we have a long way to go but I think our potential is very good.”

Nichols hosted a basketball tryout earlier in the season.

“Campus tryouts went well,” Nichols said.

“We had a good group of guys come in. What I told them for walk-on tryouts was that it was

BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR The Reddie volleyball team ends their season with a 4-27 record for the year

BY JACOB LANKFORD On Thursday, Nov. 6 the 4-26 Lady Reddie volleyball team played host to the 12-17 Southern Arkansas University Muleriders at the Duke Wells Center for the last game of the regular season, and Southern Arkansas came out on top.

Before the game began the Lady Reddies took to the court to pay tribute to their senior teammates Jessica Moss and Sophia Cansigno.

When SAU used their second timeout of

the game there was only a one-point difference in the score at 22-21. Southern Arkansas maintained their lead and took the first set 2522.

Southern Arkansas held on and won the second set 25-19.

HSU led 13-10 as SAU took their first timeout of the third set. The Lady Reddies won the third set 25-21.

SAU won the fourth set 25-19.

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kind of a tough year for them because we already have a lot of guys on the roster, so we didn’t take anyone from those tryouts.”

There are eight returning players, six seniors. “We have a lot more seniors this year so there’s more maturity and we have better leadership then we did last year,” Andre Prince, senior shooting guard said.

Prince has been at Henderson for two years. His goals for this year’s team are to win the conference tournament and to play together as a team.

“I think the biggest difference is our depth in practice with all of those guys sitting out for the year,” Nichols said. “We have possibly four guys that could start on this year’s team that are sitting out redshirting, so being able to battle those guys every single day makes the other guys better.”

Nichols says that the high points for this year’s team are his returners that have come back as better players and are tougher minded.

“We move the ball real well and we play good together, we also play with a lot more heart and hustle, there’s more enthusiasm than last year,” Kevin Kozan, sophomore shooting guard said.

Kozan says that the team is looking good and that there are a lot of new faces. He wants to win more games than last year’s season, and to make the NCAA tournament.

“What we’re preaching to our guys is that there is two ways that we can make post season,” Nichols said.

“One is to have a really good regular season and the other is to win the conference tournament, the best way to do it is to rate your season to be successful where you can continue to play no matter what happens, and that’s what we’re looking forward to for this year and it’s about to get started here soon.”

The Reddies first home game is against Southeastern Oklahoma State University at 7:30 on Nov. 20, in the Duke Wells Gym.

“We had a lot of ups and downs this season,” Jessica Moss, senior physical education major said. “This team was the most improved team out of all of the years I have played and I believe that we ended on a good note. “ While the Lady Reddies fought hard, they came out of the final game of the season with a loss and a total of one set won (25-21) bringing their record to 4-27.

“My favorite thing about this season has been this team’s chemistry,” Sophia Cansigno, senior Spanish major said.

Andjela Reljic finished with 20 digs while Colunga had 14. Sophia Cansigno and Zara Loye also had nine digs each and Ryleigh Thompson had eight.

“Going into the offseason I need to add a

couple of positions,” Rhonda Thigpen, head volleyball coach said. “There’s always room for improvement and after the team has started to show some improvement I hope to start working and focusing on strength, conditioning and chemistry.”

“I believe that there is nowhere for this team to go from here but up,” Moss said.

Thigpen announced her retirement Friday after being the head coach for the Reddie volleyball team for 25 years. She has compiled a record of 482-415 during her time at Henderson and is ranked 19 out of the NCAA Division II active coach wins.

A national search to find the next volleyball head coach will begin immediately.

Additional reporting by Troy Mitchell.

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BACK IN THE GROOVE Reddies recover from their first conference loss two weeks ago by shutting down Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas

BY TAYLOR DANIELS Recovering from their first season loss in 30 games against Harding, the Reddie football team got back in their groove by winning their past two games.

HSU defeated University of Arkansas-Monticello at home on Nov.1. This past Saturday HSU routed Southern Arkansas in the Murphy USA Football Classic.

The Reddie offense put up 49 points with Kevin Rodgers throwing three touchdown passes and passing for 300 yards for the 24th time in his career. Rodgers became the Arkansas state front-runner in career total offense exceeding Ryan Aplin of Arkansas State.

He finished the game to 12,813 offensive yards.

Dustin Holland became the third player in HSU history to record 2,000 career receiving yards and caught his season-best seven passes for 100 yards along with a 45-yard touchdown.

Darius Davis also made history becoming

the first player at HSU to post back-to-back seasons with 1,000 receiving yards. Davis set the HSU career scoring record running career total at 290 points.

UAM scored its only touchdown midway through the second quarter.

After JaVante Mack returned a kickoff 34 yards, Rodgers connected with Holland for a 45-yard pass.

Defense was a monster, forcing 16 tackles for a loss of UAM yards while eight of those were quarterback sacks. Blake Lopez had 7 tackles, 2 for losses and a forced fumble.

Glennon Bobo had 3 tackles for negative yardage, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hurries.

5,000 fans watched the Reddies thump UAM at home in Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, with a final of 49-7. Then they looked forward to their next game against Southern Arkansas University.

Photo by Jeffery P. Gilmore

RUN FAST—Freshman Rodney Brison rushes the ball in the Murphy USA Classic game. Brison lead the Reddies in rushing yards with 76 yards total.

The Murphy USA Football Classic, featuring HSU and SAU was held at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado, Ark at Southern Arkansas University.

Both teams put up high numbers while the Reddies fought a little harder, winning the Murphy USA Football Classic and bringing home a trophy for HSU. Kevin Rodgers passed for over 500 yards for the fourth time in his career, and completed five touchdown passes while throwing over 3,000 yards in the last three years of his career.

He also carried the ball four times for an additional 32 yards giving him 541 gained yards for offense.

Three receivers went over 100 yards for the second time in HSU history, Darius Davis (173), Joseph Snapp (139) and James Jackson (103).

Davis broke his own HSU single-season record for touchdown receptions with his 18th of the year while the last was set at 16.

Along with his 173 yards receiving, Davis had 99 return yards giving him 272 all-purpose yards for the game.

Snapp had a career-high with eight receptions and a touchdown.

Jackson recorded his first career touchdown on a 62-yard pass from Rodgers to open the game and give HSU a 7-0 run.

Defensively Josh Davis had a career-high 14 tackles to lead the Reddies. The El Dorado defense had two tackles for lost yardage, a sack

and three quarterback hurries.

Southern Arkansas then tied things at 7-7 as the Muleriders took advantage of a failed fake punt. From the Reddie 28, Blackshire connected with a wide-open Weisheit in the last half of the first quarter.

After two more Reddie touchdowns and a SAU touchdown, Houston Ray tapped in a 30-yard field goal then followed by another touchdown by Davis to make the score 31-14.

After two HSU turnovers and three pass interference calls, SAU rushed for 16 points in the third quarter.

Before the third quarter could end, Rodgers connected with Davis for a 52 yard touchdown ending the third 38-30.

After a touchdown and a two-point conversion by SAU’s Blackshire, Ray kicked in a 27-yard field goal to clutch the lead again for HSU. SAU answered back to Ray’s kick as Grems booted a 29-yard field goal tying the game at 41. Once Snapp and Dustin Holland pushed the football down the field to the SAU 2-yard line, Ryan McDonald ran a touchdown to make the scoreboard read 48-41.

The Reddies got the one-up they needed as Lawson Schulz forced Blackshire to fumble with Cameron Devereaux recovering the ball.

Henderson’s last regular season game will be at home at 3 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 15 against Ouachita Baptist in the Battle of the Ravine for their 88th time.