Vol. 2, No. 22
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Confederate statue looms over Arkadelphia Courthouse lawn
Photo by Pete Tubbs, Interim Editor in Chief
The Confederate monument that sits in Arkadelphia was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1911. The monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
“When the last trumpet is sounded, may each one answer the roll call of the heavenly army.” This is one of the inscriptions on the confederate statue that rests on the lawn of the Arkadelphia Courthouse. According to the National Register of Historic Places registration form, the statue has been in the town for one hundred and nine years. The Harris Flanagin Chapter of the Unighted Daugters of the Confederacy raised close to $1,500 for their tribute to Confederate Soldiers. In today’s money, that is roughly equal to $40,000. The sculpture was carved in Italy from Italian marbleand measures 72”x18”x18”. The base was made of Georgia marble and
measures 21’x7”x7”. The monument was shown to the world on May 27, 1911. Those in attendance included Confederate Veterans, local residents, and out-oftowners. The Arkadelphia Southern Standard reported that “a mighty shout went up from the throng and the pulsations of old and young alike were quickened.” On the sides of the base of the sculpture itself, inscriptions read “The principles for which they fought live eternally, the Harris Flanagin Chapter, U.D.C., to the memory of the soldiers of the Southern Confederacy, whose invicible courage made a hundred battles famous and whose unselfish devotion to a principle made their cause glorious.”
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson issued executive orders today that clarify Workers Compensation Law during the public-health emergency, protect health care providers from liability, and exempt businesses from liability related to the spread of COVID-19. “I want to thank the General Assembly for its leadership in securing support for limited immunity legislation and for requesting action by the executive order versus calling a special session during the pandemic.” Governor Hutchinson said. “I also want to thank Steuart Walton and the Economic Recovery Task Force for their work on these important issues.” Executive Order 20-33 regarding employers and businesses orders that:
All businesses and their employees shall be immune from civil liablity as a result of exposure to COVID-19. Immunity does not apply to willful, reckless or intentional misconduct. A presumption that the actions are not willful or reckless if the business owner substantially complies with public health directives. Immunity does not extend to worker compensation benefits. Immunity is effective from today until the emergency is terminated. Executive Order 20-34 regarding immunity for health care providers orders that: Health care workers and providers are authorized to use crisis standards of care to respond to treat COVID-19 patients.
Pete Tubbs Interim Editor in Chief
The monument stood After the pieces for nearly eighty years w e r e c o l l e c t e d , t h e before it was registered on Arkansas chapter of the the National Register of United Daughters of the Historic Places in 1996. Confederacy paid $20,000 According t o to have the statue restored. encyclopediaofarkansas. After five years of absence, net, the infamous tornado the monument was replaced that ripped through the in August of 2002 and streets of Arkadelphia in rededicated in Oct. of that 1997 caused the statue year. to topple over and fall to Following the murder of pieces. The head went George Floyd last month, missing during the storm. there has been renewed After two years and no interest in the removal of head in sight, Clark County Judge Grady Manning offered $500 to whoever returned the head. A former Henderson State University student turned it in and collected the John Balch reward claiming that he Nashville News Leader found it at Greers Ferry No charges have been Lake which is located two- filed and officials are and-a-half hours away from releasing few details about Arkadelphia. the shooting in Delight the night of June 9 that touched off a week of racial tension. Dionne Coulter, 32, of Prescott, who is black, was arrested that night for allegedly shooting Dillon The health care providers VanCamp, 27, of Antoine, who is white, in the lower as emergency workers are leg during an incident in the immune from civil liability. parking lot of the Delight Immunity does not ex- E-Z Mart. VanCamp was tend to willful, reckless, or transported from the scene intentional misconduct. with a non-life threatening Immunity is effective injury. Coulter was arrested from today until the emer- without incident and placed in a patrol car on the scene, gency is terminated. Executive Order 20-35 which quickly grew to a large regarding workers compen- crowd with numerous law agencies converging at the sation coverage orders that: convenience store. Assures workers comProsecuting Attorney pensation coverage for em- Bryan Chesshir said Monday ployees. the incident apparently COVID-19 is considered began earlier that day in an occupational disease Antoine between Coulter and Dillon VanCamp and under the law. COVID-19 shall be an Brian VanCamp, 22, also exception to prohibition on of Antoine. Coulter was compensation for ordinary reportedly visiting a friend in Antoine and had gone to diseases of life. Delight to fuel up when the There must be a causal three men crossed paths connection between em- again. ployment and the disease. During the chaotic scene Extends during the pub- at the store following the shooting, Debbie VanCamp, lic health emergency. 47, and Jeff VanCamp, 51,
Governor Hutchinson Issues Executive Orders
Confederat monuments across the country. As it stands, there are nearly 60 monuments dedicated to Confederate soldiers across the state of Arkansas. No petition has yet been started supporting the removal of the monument. Photo by Pete Tubbs, Interim However, many people Editor in Chief have signed petitions for One of the inscriptions the removal of similar monuments in cities close found on the confederate by like Hot Springs and statue that sits looking over the town of Arkadelphia on Little Rock. the courthouse lawn.
No charges yet filed in Delight E-Z Mart Shooting both of Antoine, allegedly entered the back seat of the patrol unit where Coulter was being held and assaulted him. There is a question of how the VanCamps gained access to Coulter, who was not handcuffed in the back of the car. During a peaceful protest Saturday in Delight organized by Black Leaders United, Pike County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jim Garrett addressed the question: “The crowd was getting rowdy, the deputy stepped away from the vehicle, and the way I understand it, they were trying to control the crowd, and these fanatical people got to [the car], somehow got the door open and that’s when things went badly. Immediately upon seeing someone in the vehicle, [PCSD] deputies went and took them out and ended the situation. The did the best they could do ... no one put them in there to get [Coulter] hurt, and he was then taken across the road for his safety. Nothing was done intentionally, I promise you. That’s all I can say on the matter, I am not an investigator, I am a deputy, just here trying to do my job.” Chesshir said he and Deputy Prosecutor Jana
Bradford and Pike County Investigator Wayne Epperly will be busy this week continuing to review surveillance footage of the incident, take statements and interview witnesses and that more charges are likely. “This is far from over,” Chesshir said, adding that charges could be brought against anyone seen on the footage causing trouble. “We’re not going to stand for this.” Chesshir said charges are also pending against Dillon and Brian VanCamp for their involvement in the incident. Coulter is scheduled to make a first appearance Monday, June 22 in Pike County Circuit Court on the felony charge of seconddegree battery. He was released last Wednesday on $2,500 bond. Debbie and Jeff VanCamp are also scheduled for a first appearance Monday on the felony charges of breaking or entering and terroristic threatening and misdemeanor charges of third-degree battery and obstructing governmental operations. The couple was also released from the county jail sometime last week.
2 News
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Product of our environment: life in the Natural State U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)
Some people say we’re products of our environment. I only hope that’s true for me. I’ve been blessed to spend my whole life here in the Natural State, hunting, fishing and enjoying the beauty of our wildlife. Since June is National Great Outdoors Month, I encourage you to use this time to explore new parks, lakes or hiking trails with friends and family. During my whole time in
Congress, I’ve been a member of the Natural Resources Committee, because I believe conservatives have a responsibility to both enjoy the riches of the earth and leave it in a better condition than we found it. Outdoor recreation plays a huge role in this mission. Being outdoors brings a variety of positive health benefits, both physically and mentally, especially now that many Americans have been staying indoors due to COVID-19. Organizations
like the National Park Service, the American Hiking Society, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the National Wildlife Federation and many others have put together educational resources on their websites for those hoping to learn more about the nature around them. Whether you’re visiting a favorite spot or finding someplace new, I hope you find time to be outside this month. Let’s enjoy the beauty of our state!
to establish and maintain trust. The commission certifies and decertifies lawenforcement officers and certifies all levels of training. It promulgates and enforces statewide rules and regulations. The standard for selecting police officers in Arkansas is higher, and the accountability is stricter than ever before. The role of the task force is to listen to concerns from representatives from lawenforcement and the community, and to recommend ways the commission can improve training, community policing, and accountability. I want to be clear that the task force won’t discuss defunding police agencies. Discussions about where and how we spend money are always appropriate. But we will not do anything that will diminish the vital role of police agencies or put officers in even greater peril than the risks that are inherent with their work. The chairman of the task force is Fred Weatherspoon, who serves as deputy director of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy. I appointed Fred
because his background makes him a perfect person to lead this committee of law-enforcement professionals, elected officials, community leaders, and citizen activists. After Fred earned a degree in education at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, a friend who was a member of the Magnolia police department asked Fred to join. Fred resisted that idea because of a bad experience his father had with police officers when Fred was ten. But his friend persuaded Fred that if he became a police officer, he could improve the profession through his leadership and example. That was nearly twenty years ago. Fred spent nine years in Magnolia, and he has worked at the Commission for ten years. I am grateful for the professionalism and compassion that is common to our police agencies statewide. We want to make sure that our 10,000 police officers and our 500 law-enforcement agencies have everything they need to protect Arkansans with as little personal risk as possible.
The Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Press Release
Arkansas’s Commission on Law-Enforcement Standards and Training is constantly examining ways to improve the already high quality of law enforcement in our state, and today I’d like to talk about the task force I’ve created to further that good work. I have a long history with law-enforcement, as a federal prosecutor, as administrator of the DEA, and as undersecretary at Homeland Security. I have profound respect for law officers at all levels. I have seen the danger they face. I want to do everything I can as governor to make their job as safe as possible by equipping and supporting them in their important mission to protect and serve Arkansans. A critical element in law enforcement is trust between police officers and the communities they serve. The death of George Floyd and other recent events have undermined that trust across our communities. The commission sets high standards for professionalism, which is the way
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Upcoming Events Arkadelphia Bands had planned to host its first-ever Mattress Sale Fundraiser from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., April 18 at AHS, 401 High School Road, but that’s been postponed to Aug. 1. The fundraising sale will feature brands such as Simmons, Beautyrest, and more, with on-site mattresses priced up to 50% below retail. >>> <<< The Third Annual Comics Studies Society Conference will be hosted by Henderson State University from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9. The conference exists to bring together “scolars, artists, and other members of the international Comics Studies community” to discuss topics within the area of comics. Matthew J. Smith from Radford University and Randy Duncan from HSU are the organizers. Those interested can register at comicssociety.org. >>> <<< Mena plans to stage its 45 Annual Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run from Aug. 28-29 as street rods and hot rods descend on the town. The twoday event features a street dance and three chances for entrants to put their cars through their paces. For more information, visit https://www. queenwilhelminarodrun.com/. >>> <<< The Spring Hazardous Household Waste event that was scheduled for last Sat. was cancelled as a result of COVID-19 precautions. The Southwest Regional Solid Waste Management District will continue with the Fall Household Hazardous Waste event on Oct. 17. The Southwest Regional Solid Waste Management District is the planning board that oversees solid waste management for Clark, Garland, and Hot Spring Counties. In previous years, the district has hosted two annual Household Hazardous Waste events to offer citizens of each county the opportunity to dispose of hazardous waste that sanitation departments cannot pick up as part of routine trash pick-up. Expect more details closer to the event. Ongoing The “Father’s Day Give Back” sale at Looking Good is happening now until June 20. The store has a 2 suits for $200 deal and will give a 10% donation to your local church. Their store is located at 632 Main St. >>> <<< City Council meets every first and third Tues. of the month at 5:30 p.m. in Town Hall. >>> <<< Alcoholics Anonymous hosts two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. every Tues. in the Sturgis Building at North 9 and Caddo Streets. For more information on the Arkadelphia Group Meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. every Thurs. on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-2302975 or 870-260-9277. >>> <<< Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area: - Tues. at 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9 and Caddo. 870-403-2019 - Thurs. at 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church. 870-403-2019 - Fri. at noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. 512-750-2292
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Thursday, June 18, 2020
HSU releases updated schedule for Fall 2020 Acting President Elaine Kneebone Henderson State University
Dear Campus Community, We continue to plan for a return to in-person instruction for Fall 2020, knowing that flexibility will be important in the coming months. Our fall schedule has a few changes to allow us to maximize as much classroom time as possible in the early months of the semester. We will begin classes as scheduled on August 17. Please refer to the schedule below for changes related to Labor Day, moving fall break to the week of Thanksgiving, and a transition to remote/online instruction in late November into December: Apartments open August 8
Residence hall move-in is August 11-16 Classes begin August 17 Classes meet and offices are open September 7 (Labor Day) and October 8-9 (fall break will be moved to the week of Thanksgiving) No classes the week of Thanksgiving, November 23-27 Switch to remote/online instruction, November 30-December 4 Remote/online finals, December 7-11 Virtual or in-person commencement TBD, December 11 Apartments, residence halls, and the dining hall will remain open during the fall semester. We will be ready to transition to remote/online instruction during the semester if needed. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control
and the Arkansas Department of Health will be used to formulate all plans. A decision about employees returning to campus this summer will be made based on the state’s reopening plan and conditions in our local area. We continue to urge everyone in our Henderson community to take appropriate precautions with social distancing. A detailed campus reopening plan is in progress, and we will share more information in the coming days. According to Interim Vice President of University Advancement Tina Hall, “the first day of classes for Spring 2021 is scheduled for Jan. 11.”
Obituaries
Kymani Grey Hall May 24, 2020 An angel in the book of life wrote down my baby’s birth, then whispered as she shut the book……….” too beautiful for Earth” Kymani Grey Hall born into heaven May 24, 2020 He was anticipated and loved deeply. God needed
Sarah Elizabeth Watson Eubanks Sarah Elizabeth Watson Eubanks, 91, was born May 4, 1929 near Tinsman, AR, to Ross and Floriece Thomasson Watson and died June 7, 2020. Sarah graduated from Tinsman High School and, MAGNOLIA, ARphia, AR, graduated with a graduated with a Bachelor Students at Southern Bachelor of Science in Engi- of Social Work degree. Cun- in 1950, from Arkansas Arkansas University earned neering degree. Breashears ningham majored in Social a degree in the graduating majored in Engineering Work from the College of class of spring 2020. from the College of Science Liberal and Performing Race Aaron Craft from and Engineering. Arts. LITTLE ROCK, ARArkadelphia, AR, graduated Spencer R. Minton from Kyeisha Moneak Soils The Arkansas ScholarCum Laudewith a Bachelor Hot Springs National Park, from Arkadelphia, AR, ship Lottery has announced of Science degree. Craft ma- AR, graduated with a Bach- graduated with a Master that the deadline to apply jored in Computer Science elor of Science in Engineer- of Education degree. Soils for the Arkansas Academic from the College of Science ing degree. Minton majored majored in School Coun- Challenge Scholarship has and Engineering. in Engineering from the seling from the College of been extended to Aug. 1 Alexandria Mary Hunter, College of Science and En- Education. with modified eligibility rean Honors College Gradu- gineering. A total of 506 SAU stu- quirements deemed necesate, from Arkadelphia, AR, Ryan Otwell from Gur- dents who received a degree sary because of COVID-19. graduated Summa Cum don, AR, graduated Cum for this Spring 2020 semesUnlike in prior years, Laudewith a Bachelor of Laudewith a Bachelor of ter.162 candidates from the students who have a suffiScience degree. Hunter ma- Science in Engineering de- School of Graduate Studies cient number of hours and jored in Biological Science gree. Otwell majored in En- and 344 undergraduate have earned satisfactory from the College of Science gineering from the College candidates were recognized academic progress before and Engineering. of Science and Engineering. from SAU’s four academic March 27 are automatically Camille Tedder, an HonWilliam Richard Wom- colleges. Due to COVID-19, eligible for the scholarship ors College Graduate, from ack, Jr. from Arkadelphia, the May commencement for the 2020 fall semester. Arkadelphia, AR, graduated AR, graduated with a Bach- ceremony was canceled, but “COVID-19 greatly disMagna Cum Laudewith a elor of Science in Engineer- graduates have the oppor- rupted our educational Bachelor of Science degree. ing degree. Womack, Jr. tunity to walk in August’s processes, particularly in Tedder majored in Biologi- majored in Engineering graduation. terms of in-person learncal Science from the College from the College of Science To learn more about ing,” said Maria Markham, of Science and Engineering. and Engineering. Southern Arkansas Univer- director of the Division of Cameron Chad Martesia Sherece Cun- sity, visit web.saumag.edu. Higher Education. “We felt Breashears from Arkadel- ningham from Gurdon, AR, it necessary, therefore, to modify the requirements for those students who might have experienced a setback through no fault of their own.” Editor: Pete Tubbs The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery provides tuarkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com ition assistance to tradi870-230-5221 tional and non-traditional
Arkansas Lottery Scholarship Deadline Extended
News 3
him more…… Survived by his father and mother, Kalin Hall and Tiana Freeman. Grandmother Tawanda Hall of Little Rock. His grandparents, Bobby, and Linda Freeman of Sparkman. Greatgrandparents, Betty Hall of Prescott, Benny, and Mary Freeman and Betty Nigh all
of Sparkman, Bill and Shirley Martin of Ocean Springs, MS; lot of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. Preceded in death by his great-grandfather Calvin Nigh. Online register is available at www.ruggleswilcox.com
State Teachers College. She taught Home Economics and several other subjects during her career as an educator in public schools. In 1954 she married Robert Eubanks and served as a pastor’s wife in churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri. Sarah enjoyed sewing, gardening, and piano. Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings Elsie, Charles, and Peter. She is survived by one sister; Peggy Watson Govan of Castalian Spring, TN, three sons; Stefan (Melissa) of Batesville, Byron (Amy) of Caddo Valley, Tim (Cyndy) of Gilbert, seven grandchildren; Kate Huskey (Josh) of Cord, Ben and Dan Eubanks of Batesville, Hannah Seaton (Shane) of Caddo Valley, Ellen McEwen (Shaun) of
Fayetteville, Tori Abernathy (Waylon)of Fayetteville, and Jay Eubanks of Fayetteville, five great-grandchildren; Aubrey, Allie and Susanna Huskey and Wilder and Calum Seaton and many nieces and nephews Graveside service will be Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Watson Cemetery near Tinsman Arkansas. The family ask memorials made to First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia, 701 Pine St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923. There will be no formal visitation so visit www.ruggleswilcox.com to sign the online guestbook. State of AR Covid 19 directives for graveside service; Maintain social distancing requirements.
Area Students graduate from SAU
Arkadelphia Dispatch
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students attending universities and two-year colleges, public and private, in the state. Since its inception in 2009, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has raised more than $954 million in scholarship proceeds and awarded more than 542,000 scholarships to students. “The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery was started with the primary goal of helping Arkansas students realize their higher education goals,” said Bishop Woosley, director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. “We have never deviated from that mission and are proud that more than 92 cents of every dollar raised through the sale of lottery tickets goes to scholarships, prizes, retailer commissions and other expenses.” Traditional students must score at least 19 on the ACT to qualify for the scholarship. The latest ACT score accepted by Arkansas Department of Higher Education will be from the July testing. Students who have
yet to achieve a score of 19 on the ACT may take the Accuplacer test remotely as a substitute. Freshman students at four-year colleges receive $1,000 from the scholarship. Second-and thirdyear students receive $4,000, and senior level students are awarded $5,000 per year. At two-year colleges, first-year students receive $1,000, while secondyear students are awarded $3,000. To maintain eligibility, students must keep a 2.5 GPA. Additionally, students seeking certification for high-demand occupations such as in healthcare and information technology may apply for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship, which is also funded by lottery revenue. Students must apply at least 30 days before enrolling in an eligible program. Students may apply online for both scholarships at scholarships.ADHE.edu.
Check out Arkadelphia Dispatch stories this week at hsuoracle.com
4 News
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
“The Good Place” star D’arcy Carden drops in for Zoom call with OBU class
Photo courtesy of Brady Barton, a junior graphic design and political science double major at Ouachita Baptist University
Actress D’arcy Carden (second from left on top row) dropped into a Zoom call for a Goodson Honors Program seminar class after student Brady Barton reached out to the cast of “The Good Place” to chat about her time on the hit NBC show. Brady Barton OBU Student
The ending of this spring semester was anything but a typical Ouachita Baptist University finals week. Instead of studying with friends and late-night cinnamon rolls in the caf, students were preparing for tests from their childhood bedrooms and chatting with classmates over Zoom. It definitely was not how I expected to finish out my junior year at Ouachita, but these unexpected circumstances created a unique opportunity for me and some of my fellow classmates. As a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, I have the opportunity to take Honors sem-inar classes that cover a variety of topics. My spring 2020 seminar was over the hit NBC TV series “The Good Place.”
If you are unfamiliar with the show, it is a comedic take on morality and different schools of philosophic thought. I have always been a huge fan of the show, and when I saw that this was an honors option, I knew I had to sign up. The class itself was a pass/fail seminar that met once a week. We were required to watch three episodes of the show each week and write a short response to what we viewed. The seminar focused heavily on the moral philosophy presented in the show and was taught by Dr. Matt Douglass and Dr. Sara Hubbard. About a week before our final Zoom session of the semester, I had a crazy idea. I decided to try and reach out to the cast of the show to see if anyone would be
interested in joining our class Zoom and chat with us about their time on the show. I typed out a message explaining the class and sent it to the Instagram direct messages of each of the cast members. After I hit send, I didn’t really give it a second thought. I never would have expected an answer, but about a day later, I got a response from one of the main cast members, D’Arcy Carden, who plays Janet on the show. D’Arcy was kind enough to say yes to the request – I guess celebrities’ calendars are as empty as the rest of us at the moment. Once she responded, I had to email my two professors, tell them what I had done and then hope for their permission to go through with the plan. Luckily, they were proba-
bly more excited than even I was, so we got all the details worked out for her to join us for a 30-minute chat during our final class together. The class prepared for our session with D’Arcy by compiling some questions we could ask her. I was so nervous the whole morning just hoping it would all go smoothly! It ended up better than I could’ve imagined! D’Arcy was genuinely so interested in having a fun conversation with us, and she also was hilarious. She told us about some of her favorite memories working on the show and even showed us some of the props she kept from their time filming. The whole class was star struck and loved getting to speak with her. The experience was definitely the highlight of my shelterin-place studies.
Photo courtesy of Brady Barton, a junior graphic design and political science double major at Ouachita Baptist University
In addition to starring in “The Good Place,” which ended this year after four critically acclaimed seasons, Carden also has a starring role on HBO’s “Barry” which also stars Bill Hader and Henry Winkler.
So, while being away from the community of Ouachita has been hard, I am so thankful to have had the chance to organize this for my classmates and myself! I guess my take away from all this is to reach for the stars – even if it is just
reaching out to TV stars on social media. You never know what might happen. Thank you to D’Arcy for taking time to meet with us, and also to my professors, the Honors program and to Ouachita for making opportunities like these possible.
“We realize this change raises questions about move-in, social life, the classroom environment, athletics and many campus events,” Sells noted. “Your university is diligently working to prepare for oncampus classes in this COVID-19 environment with two overarching goals in mind: supporting the health and safety of our Ouachita community and facilitating
the kinds of relational experiences that make Ouachita, Ouachita.” For students pursuing fully online courses at Ouachita, the schedule is adjusted as follows: Online Fall Term 1 classes will run from Monday, Aug. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 11; Online Fall Term 2 classes will run from Monday, Oct. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 6.
Updated OBU Fall 2020 Class Schedule Ouachita Baptist Press Release
Ouachita Baptist University will begin classes on campus for the 2020-21 fall semester on Aug. 17, eight days earlier than originally scheduled. Additionally, inperson instruction will be compressed, and students will not return to campus following Thanksgiving. “While this semester will not be normal, we are committed to making it meaningful,” OBU President Dr. Ben Sells said in an email to students, faculty and staff. “The challenges presented by COVID-19 give us the opportunity to be innovative and imaginative while also making careful preparations.” Move-in for all students will be Thursday through
Saturday, Aug. 13-15, on a staggered schedule to minimize crowds. In-person classes will begin Monday, Aug. 17, and end Tuesday, Nov. 24. Final exams will be administered remotely after Thanksgiving. Additionally, classes will be held on Labor Day Sept. 7, and the previously scheduled fall break Oct. 8-9. This maintains the needed number of instructional days in the semester while compressing the overall time spent on campus, Sells said. “We know from data I’ve collected over the last dozen years that cases of the flu increase the most on our campus in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Dr. Wesley Kluck, university physician and vice president
for student development. “Avoiding students returning to campus following the Thanksgiving holiday, spent with family and friends across the country, is among the best things we can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19.” Kluck also chairs the university’s Health Monitoring and Action Team (HMAT), which is providing leadership on campus for devel-
oping plans and protocols related to COVID-19 for the fall. In addition to collaboration with other leadership groups on campus, HMAT utilizes guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arkansas Department of Health and American College Health Association, as it develops recommendations for the campus response.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
News 5
Thursday, June 18, 2020
“Da 5 Bloods” and “The King of Staten Island” bring timeliness, honesty Pete Tubbs Interim Editor in Chief
In perhaps one of the best examples of timing of the past decade, Spike Lee’s newest film “Da 5 Bloods” exploded onto Netflix last Fri. The two-and-a-half hour epic stars Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, and Norm Lewis as Vietnam vets who return to that once wore torn country to retrieve the bones of their fallen troop leader. Over the past month, the country has been riddled with riots and controversy over the killing of George Floyd. Millions of people of all races have shown their support of the black community with marches and demonstrations across the nation. Spike Lee has never shied away from addressing controversial topics in the past. Films such as “School Daze,” “Summer of Sam,” and “Do the Right Thing” have all featured undertones and overtones that directly relate to topics many people find hard to discuss. With “Da 5 BLoods,” however, Lee has managed to display the rage of black Americans in a way that has seldom been seen in the past. “Bloods” uses the backdrop of Vietman to look at how African Americans experienced that harrowing war overseas while black Americans left at home were fighting their own war. One of the most affecting scenes shows the troop hearing the news of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and their realization that they are fighting for a country that seemingly isn’t fighting for them. Flashbacks of this sort are filmed in 1.33:1 aspect ratio with 16 mm reversal
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
Veteran director Spike Lee has made his most urgent film in years with “Da 5 Bloods” which premiered on Netflix last Fri.
film stock. While at first switching from wide screen Ultra HD to grainy film is distracting, Lee expertly trains the viewer to not even think about the transition to this “old timey” sort of filming. One of the contributing factors to making this so successful is the use of the older actors to play their younger selves. “Da 5 Bloods” isn’t “The Irishman.” Lindo and co. play 20 year old versions of themselves in scenes set during the war with no deaging whatsoever. While this may seem like an odd choice, it allows the actors to play characters who have some of the most vibrant and flavorful arcs seen on film in years. Speaking of the actors and their arcs, every one of the “Bloods” deserves award recognition, but Lindo steals the show in what is the best performance on screen of 2020 so far. While one may not understand some of the actions he takes, he conveys that many people won’t ever understand what soldiers of Vietnam, or black people in
America, have experienced. This movie is at once about the horrors of war and the horrors that African Americans face on the homefront every day. Real historical footage spliced into the film shows atrocities being committed both overseas and in the US. This shows that while Americans are free, our country is not free from discrimination and oppression of its own inhabitants. America is only a couple of steps away from becoming just as bad as other war torn countries, and it’s about time everyone tried to understand that. While it would have been impossible for Lee to have known that his movie would premiere in such a time of unrest, it’s hard to deny that “Da 5 Bloods” couldn’t havfe come at a better time. With his latest, Lee uses outlandish plot points, garish violence, raw emotion, and dark comedy to convey the rage that oppressed people have felt for years. It’s one of the most angry films I’ve seen in some time, and it’s hands down the best film I’ve seen this year. “Da 5 Bloods” is Lee’s latest masterpiece, and it’s tantalizing to think what he’ll do next. Although his career has lasted decades, with this film he’s proved that he is one of the most urgent and important directors working today. On quite a different note, Judd Apatow’s first film in five years, “King of Staten Island,” was released on VOD Fri. as well. It stars Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, and Maude Apatow. I am a huge fan of Saturday Night Live. I remember staying up much later than
I should have been when I was quite young to catch the show on Sat. nights. No matter my reverence for the show, though, I’m the first to admit that I’m not a fan of all of its stars. Before I saw “King,” Davidson wouldn’t have made it into my ranking of even the top fifty SNL cast members. When I heard that Davidson was teaming up with Apatow, I was at once hesitant and excited. I’ll see almost anything with Apatow’s name attatched, but I wasn’t convinced that the young SNL star could carry his own film. After “King” was over, however, I was proven completely wrong. “The King of Staten Island” is a semi-autobiographical film that follows Davidson’s Scott as he navigates his slacker life. He has a host of mental problems, Crohn’s disease, and a possible drug addiction, all of these (except Crohn’s of course) stem from his father having been killed while fighting a fire when Scott was seven. Davidson’s own father was a firefighter who was
killed on Sept. 11. He is also not shy about talking about his mental problems and affinity with marijuana, so this film was perfect for him. While it may seem as though it would have been easy for someone like Davidson to take on a film that hews so closely to his life, this SNL star does something truly special in his first leading turn. The character of Scott would have been easy to dislike in the wrong hands, but Davidson makes you care for him in a way not many comedies can pull off. Most films have a blase and artificial way of confronting mental illness, but “King” does it with such honesty and forthrightedness that’s it’s impossible to ignore. In one early scene, Scott explains that he doesn’t want to be involved in a relationship because he knows he’s not alright in the head and he doesn’t want to hurt her or himself with his actions. While “King” is stuffed with heavy observations about addiction, pain, and guilt, it’s also an uproariously funny movie. Burr,
Buscemi, and others help create a believable cast of grounded characters that speak in classic Apatow form. A lot of the dialogue seems improvised, but in a good way. While there are visual gags, most of the laughs come from just how clever the screenplay is. In a year such as this that’s been so screwed up by the pandemic, I don’t think it’d be hard for Apatow to pull off a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination come next year. Not many writer/directors are talented enough to make a cry out loud dramedy this emotionally draining, but this tightrope is one that Apatow is adept at walking. Last Fri. was a great day for film. “Da 5 Bloods” and “King of Staten Island” are two of the best films of the year. Neither are easy watches, but both strive to help people understand things that are hard to talk about, and both are incredibly successful at doing so. “Da 5 Bloods” is on Netflix and “The King of Staten Island” costs $20 on any Video on Demand service.
Photo courtesy of Apatow Productions
Pete Davidson proves he has the stuff to become a bona-fide movie star in “King of Staten Island.”
Arkansas COVID-19 Update by Department of Health AR. Department of Health
According to the Arkansas Department of Health Administration in its COVID-19 update, a total of 182 deaths have occurred in the state as of June 16. In reference to ADH’s graph, there are a total of 12,917 cases with 4,383 active and 8,352
recovered. The counties are colored by light to dark in terms of density of cases. The Dispatch will post an updated version of this graph weekly according to what is available from the Department of Health and state officials.
6 Sports
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Outdoor fun to be had at Wolf Pen Gap ATV Trails Brian Bagwell Outdoors Columnist
Located approximately seventy-five miles from Arkadelphia lies an outdoor adventure for the entire family. Wolf Pen Gap ATV trails are located in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains and offer families over 35 miles of marked trails. Opened to the public in the early eighties, these trails offer stunning views, and riders have options of easily accessible or challenging trails. Pulling into the North trailhead, we unloaded the ATV and UTV and began our day. Music blared from the speakers as we began our climb. Under the thick canopy of giant trees, we barely noticed the heat beaming down from the June sun. Other family’s wave as we meet on the trail, a black bear sits quietly nestled in a large Pine tree. Climbing over rocks and crashing through streams we continue with our day. A large pool of water catches our eye and we decide to break for lunch. Sandwiches from the ice chest provide our meal and the crystal clear, cold running water
Photo courtesy of Brian Bagwell The Bagwell family enjoy their time at Wolf Pen Trails approximately 75 miles outside of Arkadelphia.
from a mountain stream refreshes our bodies. Continuing, we spot a bald eagle flying majestically below the overhanging clouds. After a fairly steep climb, we motor to the top of the mountain understandably named “high point”, the view is spectacular. You can see for miles as you overlook the scenic Ouachita Mountains. Back down the mountain,
we make our way to Little Missouri Falls before heading back to the truck. Knowing we only scratched the surface, this is a family day trip we will be making again soon. Wolf Pen offers camping areas and cabins where you can wake up and ride without the need for trailering. Bathrooms are available at most trailheads as well as free trail maps. For
more information, a quick Google search will provide all the details. Other ATV trails and parks in AR. include the Hillarosa ATV Park in Blevins, Carter Off-Road Park in Alexander, , Mill Creek OHV Trailhead, Hot Springs ORV Park, and Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch & Adventure Park in Kingston.
Fair Pay to Play Act goes into effect on Jan. 1 2023 Hannah Hodge Sports Reporter
Back in Oct. of last year rumors of college athletes being able to be paid in endorsement deals were emerging from news sources on the possibility of a bill getting passed. Then, in March, only two states; and Colorado stepped up to be the first to make the historic change for college athletes. California was the first state to officially pass the bill with the help of the allstar athlete Lebron James. The bill is called the “Fair Pay to Play Act” and will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill which now has paved a way for other states and college athletes to be able to make money through endorsement deals. Due to the abundant amount of time between now and 2023, the NCAA and Congress will have time to evaluate the bill
before it becomes a law. The NCAA administers about 450,000 athletes, meaning that the possibility of the bill becoming a law would have an enormous impact on not just the college athletes but the face of the NCAA. Colorado came right after California in passing their bill by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. This law is also set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023 along with California. Although in most recent events the third state to follow the footsteps of the other two states is Florida. Recently, Florida Governor Ron DeSaints signed a bill that will allow college athletes in the state to accept money from endorsement deals. Unlike Colorado and California, Florida has expressed their seriousness for the NCAA to act due to its effective date set in July of 2021. This is a year and a half earlier than the other two states which adds pressure in receiving
a response from the NCAA. This also impacted about two dozen more states to begin working in similar legislation for the bill to be passed in all states. Then, the NCAA took their significant step toward allowing college athletes to begin earning money for endorsements and promotions. The NCAA Board of Governors announced that they have approved recommendations. These recommendations include that studentathletes could receive income for third-party endorsements. College athletes could also accept social media opportunities, other business ventures, and personal appearances that fall within certain guidelines. “We must embrace
change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes,” Michael Drake, chairman of the Board of Governors and president of Ohio State University, said in a statement. “Additional flexibility in this area can and must continue to support college sports as a part of higher education. This modernization for the future is a natural extension of the numerous steps NCAA members have taken in recent years to improve support for student-athletes, including the full cost of attendance and guaranteed scholarships.” The NCAA also emphasized that it will need help from Congress to avoid confusion of state laws. The NCAA wants its legislation ready for a vote in Jan.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Curry named 2020 PreSeason All-American Hannah Hodge Sports Reporter
“Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” — Vince Lombardi, Head Coach, Green Bay Packers (195967), Washington Redskins (1969). Catching perfect passes is a rare sight in the game of football, but when it comes to catching excellent passes, incoming redshirt senior L’liott Curry is very familiar with. It might be the fact that he also happens to have the last name of a definite candidate for the NBA Hall of Fame, but that’s just a coincidence. However, the last name Curry has made huge noise for the Henderson State Reddies football program. L’liott Curry started his college journey in Central Oklahoma located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Although, his first steps on the field were not in his freshman year as Curry redshirted and sat out. Then, entering his redshirt freshman year the continuous momentum for improvement and raw talent flourished. In 2016 L’liott started on special teams at the beginning of the season, but just after just a few games, Curry became a target. In the season L’liott grabbed two catches for seven yards against Missouri Southern. Curry’s best game in that season was the following week against Central Missouri and obtained his first collegiate touchdown and thre e catche s for 60 yards. It’s also worth mentioning at the end of the season Curry finished with two catches for 30 yards to help the Broncos win the President Cup over Northeastern State. The target on his back only increased entering his sophomore season. Curry played in all 12 games as the starting wide receiver. Obtaining 32 catches for 600 yards, that’s 18.8 yards per catch, and hauled six touchdowns. L’liott’s longest drive was a 64-yard bomb against Central Missouri. T h e B r o n c o s homecoming game against UCM was Curry’s highlight in the season with six catches for 133 yards and
two touchdowns. Another noteworthy achievement is five-straight games with over 50 receiving yards. All the way to cap the season with 48 yards and a touchdown in the Corsicana Bowl win against Tarleton State. In his final season at Central Oklahoma Curry finished with 15 receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns through four games. However, in 2018 an injury put a halt to the considerable progression of L’liott’s collegiate career. However, this injury was just a hurdle that Curry easily jumped over. Next, L’lliott took his talent to a new state, Henderson State University located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Entering new territory the target on his back was the same but not known in Arkansas. Curry set the bar high entering his junior season in his first game against Oklahoma Baptist. Having the same intensity before L’liott achieved eight receptions for 178 yards and a career-high of three touchdowns. At HSU Curry only outdid himself by finishing the season with 84 receptions for 1,167 yards and 14 touchdowns. Adding to the achievements in the season catching touchdowns six straight games in a row from Oct. 5 to Nov. 9 and posted over 100 yards five times. Curry also entered the Reddie’s history book with his 84 receptions being the second-most by an HSU receiver in a single season. In total Curry accounted for 40% of Henderson’s passing offense which took the second spot in the GAC and Top 35 in NCAA DII. Over his career, L’liott has been selected to receive many awards. However, L’liott’s most recent award was being named a 2020 Preseason DII All-American by Lindy’s Football Magazine. The last HSU athlete that just happened to have had the same number as Curry (#15) was Quarterback Kevin Rogers in 2014.