Vol. 2, No. 32
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020
The virus center stage: COVID-19 affecting live theatre at HSU
Photo courtesy of Lance Brownfield Pictured from left to right is: Marie Simmons, freshman theatre arts major, Dela Moore, freshman theatre arts major, Dr. Beach, theatre director and Kylee Hancock, sophomore theatre arts major. Dr. Beach is leading her class.
Lance Brownfield Contributing Reporter
Shakespeare probably never envisioned Romeo and Juliet social distancing at least six feet apart or Hamlet wearing a face mask. Plays were never written to meet COVID-19 requirements and that puts the theatre department in an interesting position this year. According to Dr. Claudia Beach, director of theatre, the current auditorium used for plays has a reduced capacity of only 29 people due to social distancing rules. Arkansas Hall’s auditorium is an option, but the auditorium is not currently conducive for the plays they usually perform. There are several other factors that
require a rethinking of the performances. While the plan is susceptible to change, the first play is set to take place on the steps of Arkansas Hall, weather permitting, to ensure that even the actors can abide by social distancing guidelines. The play will take place at the end of September. The second show, which is slated for mid-November, was specifically rewritten by the playwright to be acted out over Zoom. “At least the Zoom performance in November, we know absolutely no matter what, can happen,” Beach said. The theatre department is still planning the spring semester, but Beach has
expressed her hopes for plays to return to normal. She even said that they will try again to perform Pippin, which was cancelled last spring. Ethan Schmidt, a sophomore communications and theatre arts major, talked about the difficulty to adjust but believes that actors are well suited to playing around the given circumstances. Schmidt admitted that the main challenge is a tendency to come towards each other as actors, but the program is finding ways around this issue. Schmidt is still looking forward to the season and onward to when things return to normal. “Normal is going to feel special,” Schmidt said, “a
very bright normal.” Early on, Schmidt’s improv club Delph made the most of the situation and did skits that mainly revolved around the premise of a Zoom conference call. After a while, the troupe embraced the fact that they can use the platform for other skits that they would usually perform in person. Covid-19 has certainly changed things on stage, but there are still stories to tell. While some aspects of the season are still up in the air, the students and faculty of the theatre department are hopeful and will do what it takes to continue their craft. After all, you know what they say: the show must go on.
slowly starting to build on the roads,” Dylan Daniels, commuter to Henderson from Bismarck, said. “It’s very important for students to drive carefully around campus and while driving home.” Many high schools in Western Arkansas closed or delayed there starts due to the rising flood waters. School boards still do not have a date to return to school. According to the National Weather Service at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday the Red River’s water level in Fulton, was at 6.15ft. On the safe
side, many people did not believe the river would top its flood stage. “We aren’t expecting the Red River to top the flood stage,” Bob Harrison, Chief of Police in Texarkana, said. “We are in constant contact with our weather experts and are prepared to take serious actions if needed.” He quickly gave deep detail about how the Arkansas River was affecting many people in the Fort Smith area. Harrison also said that they were in constant contact with other police stations throughout Southern and Western Arkansas
and strongly believed they would be called if any help was needed. Friday the Arkansas River came to its crest. The water has slowly started to recede. According to the National Weather Service, as of Friday a cooler, drier Labor Day weekend was forecast, with highs in the mid-80s and lows in the 60’s. After Labor Day, Arkadelphia is expecting to have a break from rain and stormy conditions. The forecast calls for highs in the high-80s to low 90’s and lows in the high 60’s to low 70’s.
Heavy rain plagues Arkansas Andrew Cobb Contributing Reporter
Last week many parts of Arkansas were drenched by heavy rain. According to The National Weather Service Hot Springs and Arkadelphia saw close to two inches of rain with minor flooding. This rain affected many different people in many ways. Early on Wednesday, water slowly started to build up on the roads. This caused treacherous driving conditions for students commuting to campus. “Honestly, it doesn’t look like it’s going to rain that much, but water is
OBU Elrod Center recieves Celebrate Literacy Award Mindy Halbert Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University’s Elrod Center for Family and Community received the Arkansas Literacy Association’s (ALA) Celebrate Literacy Award this summer for its America Reads/ America Counts, Peake Partnership and Homeschool/ After-School tutoring programs in Arkadelphia. Leigh Anne McKinney, assistant director of the Elrod Center, attended a virtual ceremony in July hosted by the ALA Council Leadership Institute to accept the award. “The Elrod Center’s partnership with Arkadelphia Public Schools has been in place for over 23 years now,” McKinney said. “We are so thankful for the opportunity to work with administrators and teachers in order to identify children who qualify for our programs, to schedule tutoring sessions and to provide proper tutor training. The Elrod Center could not do the work it does through tutoring without the wonderful cooperation of our school district.” “When we started the America Reads/America Counts Program 23 years ago, we were uncertain as to its long-term sustainability,” said Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international relations. “Thanks to Jan Bass, who was involved in the early years, and to Leigh Anne McKinney’s strong leadership, it has grown into a valuable and enriching relationship with the Arkadelphia Public Schools.” While the ALA Celebrate Literacy Award usually is given to only one agency in the state of Arkansas, the Elrod Center and Goff Public Library in Searcy, Ark., both were chosen this year for championing literacy in their respective communities. The ALA is an affiliate of the International Literacy Association and, according to its website, is “a professional organization of individuals, institutions and councils dedicated to promoting reading and developing literacy.” Each year, about 100 Arkadelphia Public School children meet weekly with Ouachita students through the Elrod Center’s America Reads/America Counts, Peake Partnership and Homeschool/After-School
programs. Ouachita student tutors meet with elementary-age children on their public school campuses to offer convenience and consistency, and they meet with middle school, high school and homeschool youth at the Elrod Center in order to offer older students the opportunity to experience a college campus. “We are aware that any strong partnership must be mutually beneficial, and this program realizes that goal through its positive impact on both tutors and students,” Cosh said. “The give-and-take of the teaching experience is fulfilling for the college student and enriching for the student being taught.” McKinney noted that the stigma many children associate with tutoring is alleviated when they begin to meet regularly with and form a relationship with college students. “Although standardized test scores and a marked change in classroom performance indicate that our programs are very beneficial to the children we tutor, we believe that our greatest impact goes far beyond test scores alone,” she said. “What was once a negative now becomes a positive. We often have the joy of witnessing an increase in confidence, improvement in behavior and overall outlook toward school, as well as a new excitement about learning, in many of the children we tutor. Students who are excited about coming to school are more likely to stick with it.” “The Arkadelphia Area Reading Council felt the Elrod Center was more than deserving to nominate for the Celebrate Literacy Award because the center works so hard to help our community and support our schools with the many programs that are offered,” said Jodie Daniell, instructional facilitator at Peake Elementary. “Although we won’t be able to have student tutors in the building at this time due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Elrod Center is still supporting our students and staff with encouraging notes, treats and helping staff complete projects,” Daniell continued. “We are so grateful for this support and partnership in our district!”
Captain Express Hawaiian Barbeque & Japanese Opens
HSU Panhellenic Bid Day held virtually Julia Young Dispatch Reporter
Events on Henderson State University’s campus look a little different this year. Panhellenic Bid Day, which is normally held on the campus quad, took place virtually on Saturday, Sept. 5. In lieu of a traditional meeting, everyone joined together on a Zoom call. Current members kept their cameras off — in place their profile pictures showing off a logo of their sorority. When it was time for the big reveals, prospective members were let into the call in small groups of five or six. They opened cards to see who they got a bid from and were welcomed into the group by current members who turned their microphones and cameras on. Elizabeth Adair, junior
Vice President of Community Relations and Director of Philanthropy for Alpha Sigma Tau, promises that despite the less than usual circumstances, it was a success. “It was definitely different, but you could still feel all the excitement!” Adair said Like a lot of big events
in 2020, the original plan was to meet in person while wearing masks and social distancing. In an effort to maintain the safety of the students, though, sororities ultimately made the decision to move it online. “I know a lot of people in lower classes are really feeling like they’ve lost a lot of the college experience,”
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Adair. For the first time ever, HSU’s Panhellenic Bid Day was held virtually.
Adair said. “But I think as long as we keep maintaining the safety and abiding by guidelines we can get through it and hopefully have a more normal spring.” To ensure that the class of 2024 gets to experience as much as possible, it was important for this event to go smoothly. Beyond that, it was important that this event feel just as special for incoming members as it did for others in the past. “Bid day is always like a symbol for new beginnings,” Adair said. “My bid day was the day I ran home to the organization that made me feel more at home than ever before, and every bid day after I have gotten to meet new girls who feel the same way! It’s like growing our family every year, and it’s easily our favorite day!”
Haylee Dinger Dispatch Reporter
Near downtown Arkadelphia, the doors to Captain Express have opened. Owned by Rudy Bong, the Hawaiian barbecue and Japanese fusion restaurant is spreading its cultural influence by sharing its cuisine with the town. He sees opportunity here, in that there are little to no HawaiianJapanese restaurants in the area. The restaurant’s opening has been about two months in the making, and Bong has high hopes in what he can do to show appreciation to the community. “What we give to the com-
munity, we want to give back,” said Bong, “We want to support the community, the police and fire station, and especially the students.” Soon enough, Captain Express will be offering a 10% discount to Henderson and Ouachita students who present their student ID. Focusing on the “express” aspect of their name, Captain Express packages everything to-go, but there is a dine-in option. Menu favorites so far are shrimp yakisoba, fried mani-mani, and the seafood combo. For more information, you can find them on their Facebook page at “Captain Express”.