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Henderson
Wednesday March 10, 2021
KaBryn Grayson Managing Editor On Feb. 27, the Henderson theatre department wrapped up their last performance of Lovers: Winners. The play ran for three days, Thursday through Saturday. Each performance began at 7:30 p.m. in Arkansas Hall Auditorium. The press release detailed the plot of the play by Brian Friel, as “the story of Mag and Joe, two 17-yearolds who are to be married in three weeks because Mag is pregnant. While they study and dream at the top of Ardnageeha hill, two commentators reveal the mysterious circumstances that follow their afternoon study session.” Brian Friel was considered one of the greatest living Englishlanguage dramatists. His work has even been compared to great playwrights such as Tennessee Williams. To
University
Issue 8
Vol.118
Theatre department “wins” battle with COVID and winter weather
Photo by Olive Wiseman
Senior theatre arts major Hannah Mims directs a play while following social distancing restrictions.
understand how such a legendary play was carried out you would have to ask senior theatre major, Hannah Mims. She selected Lovers:Winners as her play to direct for her Capstone 1 class. “I really love the way it approached this idea of young love as well as the anachronistic properties,” Mims said. The play’s focus changes from telling a story of two lovers as they’re sitting up on the hill and talking about life, and then it cuts to two commentators who tell the story of what leads to their tragic death. The piece explores different variables that impact a teenage relationship. “They have a lot of passion, but that isn’t always a good thing,” Mims said. “It’s like really true to
the way teenagers are when they first learn about being in a relationship.” Mims appreciate the authenticity of the relationship as the couple loves each other, yet fights, as all couples do eventually. It is inspiring to see people at such a young age be committed to each other. “It’s interesting to see how these two specifically get through those arguments,” Mims said. “They can come out of it and still love each other and want to run away into the mountains.” Many have compared this tragedy to that of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Lovers: Winners is quite different, argues Mims. The couple is supported by their families and they are far from trying to end their
lives. “It’s called the winners even though it ends so tragically,” Mims said. “They still took the chance on themselves and on their love.” Mim’s castmate, sophomore Lucy Speer, shared similar sentiments. “I hope the audience takes away that even though life is finite, it’s still beautiful and worth living.” Speer said. “It has a beautiful, albeit slightly tragic, story, and it is not like any show I’ve been in before.” Putting on any kind of production can be daunting, especially while adhering to all the current COVID restrictions. Thankfully, the theatre department was able to overcome the obstacles. “Talking about COVID
restrictions, this play is one we can kind of manipulate so that people aren’t getting too close together,” she said. “ It’s not really inhibiting the performance that we need to be masked and distanced.” The cast’s saving grace was Zoom. Of course, it was not a large stage with room to roam, but Zoom allowed them to hear each other reading lines and remember their cues. It also allowed an opportunity to sit down with the stage manager and answer questions. The cast did not experience any technical difficulties, apart from human error, like the occasional person leaving their mic unmuted. Mims said the smooth sailing could be attributed to previous use of Zoom in one (Continued on Pg. 3)
Humane Society lends a helping paw Kaela McKim Features Editor The decision to spay or neuter a pet is one that many people have to make. It can also be one of the most important petcare options. Nearly all veterinarian clinics offer the procedures, but there are other places that provide it for a much cheaper cost, such as the Humane Society of Clark County. The latest clinic was on Mar. 8 - 10, with new ones coming every two months. “You do have to preregister and pre-pay before you are able to come with your pet,” said Janie Allen, president of the Humane Society of Clark County. “The reason for this is
that the vets who do the procedures can only do so many in a day so it’s important to have a set number of pets ready to go throughout the three days available.” If someone is not pre-registered, it is not guaranteed that a spot will be available. It is also important that people pre-pay to ensure that all those who signed up show for the procedure. Local veterinarians conduct the operations at a reduced cost, so it is important to Allen and her team to not waste the veterinarian’s time and resources. “The animals do have to be around eight to ten weeks and must weigh over two pounds,” Allen said. It is recommended, however, that owners wait
until the animal is around a year of age. According to Allen, the lifespans of dogs and cats who get the procedure are much longer. The risk of getting breast cancer in females and colon cancer in males is decreased, and their temperament typically improves. “Despite all of the great reasons to get your animal fixed, one of my top reasons is to avoid overpopulation,” Allen said. “Arkadelphia has a very large problem with dumping puppies and kittens so people end up finding them and bringing them here to avoid the animals getting hurt.” With cars constantly on the road, a river nearby, animal traps from hunters, and predatory wild animals, animals who
are abandoned are at risk of disease, and worst of all, death. When people get their animals fixed, it will reduce the cat and dog population which will result in less of being dumped or surrendered to the shelter. “Our whole mission is to save and protect these babies,” Allen said. “But at times we run out of space, so it is extremely important for us and the community to reduce the animal population.” The procedure costs $80 for dogs under 70 pounds, and that also includes a rabies shot. For cats, it costs $55 with a rabies shot. The next spay and neuter event will be May 10 - 12. The Humane Society is open from Tuesday to Friday from 12 to 4 pm and
Photo by Kaela McKim
The Humane Society of Clark County hosts a spay and neuter clinic to improve their community.
Saturday 10 am to 2 pm and is currently accepting volunteers to help with day-to-day animal upkeep. Monetary donations are accepted, as well as products such as paper towels, bleach, and nonclumping kitty litter.
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Wednesday March 10, 2021
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McDonald’s in Caddo Valley receives some “lovin’”
Caddo Valley is undergoing renovations to the exterior Kelly Stiles and interior of the building. Editor In Chief Other than offering a modern look, the changes to the parking lot will provide “It’s definitely what more handicapped parking McDonald’s would call a closer to the building’s major renovation,” Tim, entrance. These alterations supervisor of the Caddo are in accordance with the Valley McDonald’s said. Americans with Disabilities The McDonald’s Act (ADA). restaurant on Valley St. in Outdoor construction
Photo by Kelly Stiles
While McDonald’s is under construction, only one ordering drive-thru lane remains open.
began Feb. 22. Both the inside and outside of the establishment are projected to be completed in early April. “I love interacting with people - employees and customers,” Steve Montgomery, McDonald’s franchise owner said. Having been a franchise owner since 1987, Montgomery has endured a lot of change. He owns 10 McDonald’s restaurants in Ark., including one in Arkadelphia, Malvern, Hope, Magnolia, and DeQueen. Seven of these restaurants have already received similar improvements. “ U n f o r t u n a t e l y, customers haven’t really been able to see the new insides,” Montgomery said. “I hope that changes soon.” McDonald’s lobbies are closed to stop the spread of COVID. Montgomery is concerned about travelers who cannot sit down and eat. Fortunately for him
Photo by Kelly Stiles
McDonald’s stays open through massive renovations.
and other franchisees and employees, however, 75% of business is from drive-thru anyway. Focusing all efforts on the drive-thru has made the service more efficient. “It has its challenges from time to time,” Tim said. “But we take care of our guests as best we can.” Despite disruptions from ongoing construction, the drive-thru remains open. Only one of the two ordering lanes is available in
order to provide more space for construction workers to stay safe from moving cars. In addition, there is a chain link fence border enveloping construction zones.
Read more community news in The Oracle: Community Edition found at locations across Arkadelphia
Flying towards safety: Reddies reflect on past emergency landing Kaela McKim Features Editor On Sep. 17, 2020, aircraft Maule N79HS experienced a sudden loss of power shortly after takeoff that was likely due to carburetor ice. The plane landed on the runway safely with no other complications and no injuries were reported. There was also minimal damage to the aircraft. “Although the aircraft received little damage, the engine has been torn down to undergo inspection as a required precautionary measure,” instructor and director of aviation Troy Hogue said. “But once the engine is cleared, it will return to service.” At an on sight inspection, it was determined that all safety measures needed in order for take off were in place. All other flights were suspended as well to ensure that other planes would not experience the same incident. Although
the reason for the engine failure does not occur often, the crew prepares for it regardless to make sure of the safest landing. “Using the most recent data available from the FAA, it is estimated that there is only about a 0.00075% chance of experiencing carburetor ice with any particular flight operation in a piston aircraft,” Hogue said. To avoid engine failures in flight and other malfunctions, safety is constantly monitored on a flight-by-flight basis. The dispatchers monitor the weather conditions for each flight, automated software used in the dispatching process monitors pilot and aircraft maintenance currency, and the flight crews and mechanics also monitor all aspects of takeoff. In addition, the students in the aviation program are to report any unsafe conditions Hogue explained. Large commercial flights can also experience
Photo by Lance Brownfield
The aviation department reflects on a past emergency airplane landing in light of recent publicized airplane malfunctions.
engine failures shortly after takeoff. Within the last few weeks, two planes had to enact an emergency landing due to engine failures. On Feb. 26, a long-haul Boeing 777 plane had to land in Moscow, Russia and five
days earlier another 777 landed in Denver, CO before scattering debri over the area. No injuries were reported from both incidents, but did raise concern of the safety of large plane engines.
In light of these malfunctions, the aviation department remains focused on the safety of student pilots and their passengers.
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Wednesday March 10, 2021
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HSU and ASU unite: Will merge bring change? Cullen Smith Contributing Reporter In late 2019, both the Henderson State Board of Trustees and the Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees approved a proposal for Henderson to become an affiliate of the ASU system. The official merger occurred on Feb. 1 upon approval from Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “We look forward to continuing Henderson’s rich traditions and mission of service to students as a member of the ASU System,” interim chancellor of HSU Jim Borsig said. While the Higher Learning Commission stated that Henderson will remain a separately accredited institution within the ASU system, students and faculty are curious as to how the merger will affect campus life. “I don’t anticipate that students will see any difference at all,” vice
Photo by Kelly Stiles
Upon the adoption of HSU into the Arkansas State University System, questions arise about changes to campus life.
Photo by Higher Learning Commision
The Higher Learning Commission must approve of all university mergers, including that of HSU with ASU.
president of student affairs and student success Dr. Brad Patterson said. HSU will receive some benefits from the system in regards to legislature and
finance, but the day-to-day operation of the university will be left to professors and staff. “Henderson State University is going to
remain Henderson State University,” Patterson said. “I think that students will continue to see the kind of traditional things that they’ve seen at Henderson
State over time.” In light of major financial struggles resulting from mismanagement of funds, the college absorption is allowing HSU to heal. Since the money crisis in 2018 and 2019, the school has been forced to make difficult budget cuts. With the ASU system’s aid, Henderson’s financial situation has already improved. “The growth of the ASU System has already delivered significant efficiencies, financial savings and services to our member institutions, and the addition of Henderson will further enhance these initiatives,” president of the ASU System Dr. Chuck Welch said. “Our recent additions of information technology and strategic research expertise at the system level bring even more benefit as our institutions work together on challenges and opportunities in higher education.”
Where leadership meets altruism: AKA week KaBryn Grayson Managing Editor Henderson’s Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter, Theta Eta had a reason to celebrate despite inclement weather and social distancing. Skee Week began on Sunday, Feb. 14 and concluded Feb. 19. The week showcased the sorority’s five targets, HBCU for Life: A Call to Action, Women’s Healthcare and Wellness, Building Your Economic Legacy, the Arts, and Global Impact. Each
event incorporated one of the above targets. Skee Week kicked off with the sorority getting interactive on social media. “People told us their favorite worship song and scripture,” senior biochemistry major Charria Perry said. “Where the Money Resides” was hosted on Monday. Three AfricanAmerican entrepreneurs showcased their businesses. They also provided tips on how to start your own business. The Zoom event highlighted leaders in the community and several
Henderson students. Senior Hospitality tourism and event planning major Raven Hardin was able to present her own photography business, RJ Photography, as well. “It was great to see other entrepreneurs just like me,” Hardin said. Tuesday, a Trivia Night was held in the jeopardy format that covered music from the Harlem Renaissance to now. The prize was a basketful of COVID-19 goodies such as Lysol, hand sanitizer, and snacks. An informational session about heath titled
“Health Check’’ was held on Wednesday. A Book and Supply Drive followed on Thursday. Boxes were placed around campus at places like the library for people to drop off books. HBCU Friday wrapped up the week. A handful of Historically Black Colleges and Universities were highlighted on Instagram. The schools were chosen based on Theta Eta’s region. Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and A&M College, Grambling, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Texas Southern University and Philander
Smith College were included. They also showcased members of Alpha Kappa Alpha from Grambling and UAPB. Notable alumni were included for the other institutions. Hardin was sure to include Grambling, as it’s her mother’s alma mater. “We were a bit disappointed that not as many people attended our events as we had hoped,” senior human services major LaCarol Newborn said. “But we are immensely grateful for the ones who supported us.”
Theatre department “wins” battle with COVID and winter weather (cont.)
of their plays last semester, She Killed Monsters. The Valentine’s Day snow also harmed plans to rehearse. The orchestra pit near the stage was flooded. A lot of equipment was damaged, including a large speaker. “Water pooled up there as if the pit was a baby pool,” sophomore professional advocacy
major and theatre stagehand Ethan Schmidt said. Mims said they missed one week of in person rehearsals because, “some of our people lived off campus and couldn’t get out of their houses.” They ended up missing their first technical rehearsal. This is when they practice lighting cues,
props are built, and sound is set up. No matter how many obstacles, the theatre department remained committed to putting on a show. “We stay positive by doing what we do to the fullest extent that we can in these given circumstances,” Schmidt said. “Can’t be in-person in November
for shows? Cool, we’ll do a Zoom play. Can’t have too many people onstage? Great, we’ll do a play with four characters, and have everyone, including actors, wear a mask, and space everyone out. Snowed in for a whole week? Awesome!” I think everyone can agree who the real “winners” are - the Henderson theatre department.
Find more stories about the Reddie Theatre Department at hsuoracle.com
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Wednesday March 10, 2021
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A snow story for generations to come Juliann Reaper Calendar Calendar Snow in Arkansas is rare. This year, an anomaly occurred. Some places in the state had 20+ inches of snow. Arkadelphia in particular had an average of 19 inches. During the week of Feb. 10 through Feb. 19, Henderson State University was closed for winter weather. This year, it was not ice that kept us home, but snow. The last time Arkadelphia saw snow like this was in Jan. of 1988. However, that snow only reached 10.6 inches. That is just over half of what we got this Feb. According to KARK news, the week of Feb. 10 was the coldest ever recorded in Arkadelphia. The temperature got down to -11 degrees. There have been times with large amounts of snow. There have also been
Photo by Izzy Oliver
Snow quickly piled up outside of the Reynolds Science Building.
times when it got extremely cold. But the combination of the cold and the snow is a first for our state. Kids hear stories about how the snow of 1988 was so bad and they could not
leave their houses. Future generations may be told about the snow of 2021. It snowed a lot more than it has in most of the college students’ lifetimes. A week later, it got warm
enough for people to Maybe we will see another wear short sleeves and go freakish snowpile in 20 or outside. The next weekend, 30 years. the temperature reached 70 degrees. Arkansas weather never remains the same for long.
Kind lawn care worker steps up to the plate Cullen Smith Contributing Reporter Beginning this past Valentine’s Day, Arkansas received a record-breaking amount of snow, exceeding the top five amounts of snowfall on record in the state. The snow fell periodically throughout the week of Feb 15., resulting in HSU’s closure of in-person classes and activities for the week and
then some. For the most part, the campus was snowed-in. While all of Henderson felt the effects of the winter weather, the HSU softball team was hit particularly hard as February is the primary month during its season. Their field was buried under several inches of snow, rendering virtually unusable. Henderson reached out to Nicholas Robertson of LazerLawn Care for assistance. Initially, HSU wanted to see if Robertson had any
wheelbarrows that they could borrow from him in order to clear off the softball field, but he graciously offered to meet with staff at the softball field with all of his equipment in tow. “I said, you know what, I’ll come out there tomorrow morning and meet you out there,” Robertson said. “I’ll take all my equipment out there and just help you clear all the snow off free of charge.”
When Robertson arrived, he got to work on his lawn mower. “I lowered the deck down and I used it as a snow plow,” Robertson said. “That’s how I cleared off the outfield, and then we shoveled off the whole infield with wheelbarrows and snow shovels. I used the leaf blower and blew a lot of the snow off the field.” Robertson was the only representative from LazerLawn Care to come out to
the softball field, but grateful Reddies showed up to help. “The head softball coach came out there for a couple of hours,” Robertson said. “Then some of the softball girls came out and shoveled a little bit, too.” They made relatively quick work of the formerly white field. The process took about five hours total. Putting in the time to do this, free of charge no less, is altruism that embodies the Reddie Spirit.
Photo by Nicholas Robertson
Nicholas Robertson and a few Reddies clean the HSU softball field after several inhes of snow.
Photo by Nicholas Robertson
The softball field was nearly covered with snow before the clearing process began.
Photo by Nicholas Robertson
Lawn care equipment greatly reduced the amount of time spent cleaning the field.
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Wednesday March 10, 2021
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Ignorance is bliss: A COVID tale
Nia Nelson Contributing Reporter
“Kayden had to get tested for Corona at work today,” Ana told me. “Gross, make sure he stays out of the house,” I said. “Please, at least until we know if he’s positive or not.” “Yeah, of course that’s no problem,” she replied. A little later, I heard an obnoxiously loud truck outside the house, and I knew that Kayden pulled up. I immediately hopped out of my bed and slipped on my slides before going outside. I opened the front door and stood on the porch, I already knew an argument was brewing. “I hope you know you’re not coming in this house until we get your results!” I told Kayden. “Yeah, yeah,” he said. “I know, even though I don’t have it.” This surprised me because I was prepared to argue with him about this matter, but he gave in easily. Usually, we argue like siblings no matter how big or small the issue is. He was really letting Corona get to him. “Well, we’ll let the people tell us you don’t have ‘Rona first,” I said. “Then we’ll go from there.” Over the next few days, the fact that Kayden had to get tested was in the back of my mind. I continued doing my normal activities of going to work and doing my homework for my summer classes. In the midst of my routine, I forgot that he could possibly even have this virus that shut down the entire world. Then Saturday rolled around. Quarantine drove me insane with everything being closed. My best friend, Vanessa, was also going crazy being stuck inside. So, on Saturday her cousin called her up and invited us to the lake house which we had been dying to go to. He told us to be there in an hour and we were ready in under 30 minutes, and for us, that’s a miracle. While we were getting ready, Ana texted me and asked where we were going. I told her and she asked to come along, I was excited to get her out of the house and away from her boyfriend. Ana and Kayden were in a complicated relationship, you never know if they’re on or off. When she was getting ready, I noticed Kayden was in our bathroom. Now, hindsight is 2020, and if I would’ve thought about it, I would’ve asked why he was there and what his results were for Corona. On the way to the lake house, we talked about who was going to be the DD since we all wanted to drink when we got there. Finally, Vanessa settled on being the DD since it was her car, and I was the DD last time. The road to Hot Springs is curvy and narrow, with plenty of trees on both
sides of the road to make you nervous when driving back in the dark. We get to the lake house and immediately notice the atmosphere. The energy is contagious, everyone is already having fun taking shots, and jumping off the dock. This is what Vanessa and I have been waiting to do for the past month or longer, so we were ecstatic to see everyone having a good time. We began taking shots and made mixed drinks. We were finally getting to be “outside” to have the fun Corona has robbed from us this summer. My other friend, Taylor, finally texted me back and told me she wanted to join. We all decided to wait on her before we got on the boat. When she finally arrives, she joins the party and even takes some drinks out of my Bacardi bottle. We’re all having a great time, probably the most fun I’ve had since being 21 for sure. By this time, I disregarded all things Corona related, which I wish I would’ve taken a little bit more seriously. By the end of that night, I was drunk and ready to be home in my bed. Of course, that would’ve been too easy for that to be where the story ends. We left Hot Springs and arrived safely back in Arkadelphia, where two more of my friends decided to come pick me up so I could hang out with them. One of them goes to school in Starkville, Mississippi so I never get to see her and couldn’t turn down the opportunity. Not even five minutes into being at her house, I got a phone call from my neighbor Emily. It was Ana, sobbing into the phone. “Nia, can you please come home, Kayden and I got into a big fight,” she cried. “He broke my phone and then Chloe attacked me when I went to her house.” “What?” I asked. “How did all this happen? She attacked you?” I fired off questions because none of this made sense to me, especially since when I left the house all was well. “Yes, can you please come back?” she asked me. “Sure, I’m on my way.” I told her. So, I told my friends what happened, and they took me back to my house. When I got there Ana was still in Emily’s house and Chloe was nowhere to be found. I was expecting there to be a full out brawl and the sound of screaming when I pulled up. I was very intoxicated and was now having to search the yard for Ana’s broken phone. She was still crying, which was a lot for me to handle while I was inebriated. We finally found it, and I called Chloe to get her side of the story since Ana was still drunk and not much help. Chloe came back over and explained how Ana got belligerent first and pushed her back from the porch to stop her from coming closer. At this point, it was 1 in the morning, I was over this whole day, and I told everyone to go to their respective houses because I was going to bed.
Ana went into the house and after that all was calm for the night. Sunday rolled around bright and early and Ana was definitely hungover, to the point that she thought she had alcohol poisoning. I don’t get hangovers, so I was up and ready to go. I decided to go see my sister and niece for a few hours then head back home. Ana was still not feeling well, and when I got home, she stopped me on the way to my room. “Kayden just told me he tested positive for Corona.” “WHAT?” I yelled. “Are you serious?” I was stunned by the news. “Yes, here is the text he sent me.” She showed me the text and I started to stress. “Are you sure he isn’t saying this to get to you?” I asked, “He did literally destroy your phone yesterday.” “He might be, I’m not really sure.” She told me, uneasily. “Okay, well I’m about to call him because I’ve literally been around so many people since he has been in the house.” I told her, “Matter of fact, I told you he doesn’t need to be here until after we know his results.” “I know and I’m sorry, he said he felt fine, so we just assumed he didn’t have it.” Her excuses only infuriated me because I had just been at my sister’s house with my niece who was only 2. I also had to think about the fact I went to a lake house with people I don’t know, and I went to my other best friend’s house with her family. The panic began to take over as I thought about all the people I could’ve possibly exposed. I felt irresponsible for not paying more attention to the fact he was in the house and we still didn’t know his results. Anger doesn’t begin to cover how I felt towards them for their stupidity when it came to this virus. My inner thoughts were screaming. No one knows exactly how it works, or how people can be affected by it. This will also take me out of work for two weeks which I can’t afford. Now, I’m in a full-blown panic and call Vanessa. “Ana just told me Kayden tested positive for Corona.” I told her. “No, he didn’t!” She said in shock, “He was just in the house yesterday!” “Exactly! That’s what I said, and then we all went to the lake house.” I hinted at the fact that we possibly exposed people. “Oh no, my cousin is going to be so upset if he has to call everyone because they were exposed to ‘Rona by us.” She stressed. “I need to call him, because he could be lying to Ana to get back at her,” I said. “Yeah, you should call before we start panicking for real,” she told me. We hung up and I called Kayden immediately to get to the bottom of this. I hated being drug into the middle of their drama, but this was something that now involved me and other people’s lives.
Photo by Wikipedia Commons
COVID-19 drastically impacts the lives of Nia Nelson and her loved ones.
“Hello?” he answered. “Do you have ‘Rona, yes or no?” I got straight to the point. “I mean technically, I didn’t get the letter back yet but—” “Then WHY WOULD YOU TELL ANA YOU HAVE CORONA?” I screamed at him. “Because—” “I don’t care about your petty drama, this isn’t anything to play about!” I cut him off again, because this sent me to a new level of anger. “Well, I –” “Bye,” I hung up in his face after cutting him off a third time. I told Ana that I thought he was just trying to get back at her for their fight and that he might not actually have it. She was pretty relieved but still felt terrible, so she decided to just lay down for the rest of the day. The next day, Ana came into my room to tell me Kayden actually did test positive for Corona. Once again, I was in full panic mode. I immediately retraced my steps and tried to rethink where I had been and who all I had been around so I could call them to tell them I was exposed. It didn’t seem like a big deal at first, but then Corona came into my life and I realized how serious this was. The first thing I did was make an appointment to get tested, there was always the chance I might not have the virus. The clinic told me they can get me in at 1:30 the same day. I was nervous on my way to get tested. My hands were sweating while I was driving to Baptist Health Clinic. I got there and had to call them to come to my car since I could possibly have COVID-19. They came out in full protective gear complete with a yellow gown, face mask, and goggles. The test wasn’t the worst pain I have ever experienced but it was uncomfortable to the point of pain. My nose felt like it had been busted open. I thought something was going to fly up there for about 10 minutes then it was normal again. As I waited for my results, I called any and everyone I had been around to tell them I got tested. I told them what happened and of course apologized because if I would’ve stayed home like how we’re being told to, then they wouldn’t have even been exposed by me. Everybody
was understanding and told me to keep them updated when I got my results back. I felt like those two days were the longest two days of my life waiting on that test result. I finally got the call and they told me I’m positive. I felt myself spiral down into a slight depression as soon as their words hit my ear. Any hope that I somehow got lucky and avoided catching the virus disappeared. I had now possibly exposed other people, or even people I didn’t know, by going to Walmart. The guilt was heavy on my mind. When I received my positive COVID-19 test, I was prescribed my very own nurse who checked on me and was there for any questions I may have had. My COVID nurse called me that Wednesday, on May 6th, to talk to me about how to isolate and when I would be free from isolation. She asked me if I had any symptoms, which I did not, and she told me to take my temperature twice a day. Then I was set up with an alert reminder that texted me every day to see if I was still doing okay, she explained to me if I don’t text back someone will come to check on me to make sure I haven’t croaked. “So, I will be stuck in the house for fourteen days?” I asked my COVID nurse. “No, actually it’s ten days when you’re positive,” she told me, “You stop shedding the live virus ten days from when you first had symptoms or tested positive.” “I can’t even walk my dog around the block with a mask?” I asked. “No, you are in complete isolation for ten days and shouldn’t leave for any reason,” she informed me. I almost went insane those next ten days. I didn’t have that drained feeling most people get when they’re sick. I felt fine besides an agonizing headache I got after having to tell everyone I came back positive for Corona. I assumed my headache was from the stress of the situation, but I had never experienced a headache like this before. It was like my brain was trying to escape from my skull. The only way I could make it stop was to sleep, so that messed up my entire sleep schedule. I felt so off. I didn’t know how to describe it then or even now, it was just a feeling of knowing something wasn’t right with yourself. These (Continued on Pg. 7)
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Wednesday March 10, 2021
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Gone in a Flash: The Player perishes Lance Brownfield Opinion Editor 2020 was a tragic year indeed, but for websites like onemorelevel.com and addictinggames.com it may be the end. On Dec. 31, Adobe stopped supporting Flash Player, a software used to play countless games on the internet. The company has blocked further use of the software and recommends users to uninstall. “Flash really exploded as a medium when I was in high school and middle school in particular,” Dr. John Price, director of Esports at Henderson said. “So we’re talking years of 1999 to 2006 or so were some huge years where flash was a massive driver for any game.” One of the problems with the aging program was old code that only gets
Photo by Lance Brownfield
Flash game sites like onemorelevel.com are no longer usable as Adobe stopped supporting Flash in Dec.
harder to work with as time passes. According to Price, as programmers of Flash have come and gone, they leave behind “massive code that no one knows.” Flash made it possible for regular people to make
animations, games and many other forms of content with ease. The software was a forerunner of YouTube and the mobile games we play today. Popular games like “Bloons TD 5” and “Plants Vs. Zombies”
were first conceptualized through Flash Player. With the rise of games on the app store, Steam and other platforms, flash game sites fell by the wayside. Mostly used by students trying to kill time in class, these sites have been declining for years. Domains like agames. com now redirect to newer game sites with 3D and .io games. Instead of taking their animations to newgrounds.com, people would showcase it on YouTube instead. Making videos on Vine and TikTok is much easier and quicker than animating, thus these apps became far more popular. “It was readily available and overall not too hard to learn,” Price said. “But it crashed all the time. There are entire animation series about Adobe Flash crashing and literally not compiling entire animations and people pulling their hair out.” Perhaps one day there
will be a museum exhibit dedicated to Adobe Flash Player and its role in the early internet. It won’t be long before a generation of internet users has no idea what Flash was or what it was for. All is not lost, however, as there are some efforts underway to save the Flash games that are going extinct. Aptly titled, Project Flashpoint is made up of internet historians working to preserve different parts of the web. The team has over 67 thousand Flash entries already. To access the animations and games, you must download Flashpoint from their website. There are two main download sizes, 532GB Ultimate and 2GB Infinity. “Flash was a stepping stone and an introduction for a lot of people,” Price said. “There’ll be something else. Maybe it’ll be Unity for this generation or what have you.”
“Celeste”: Scaling the mountain of depression Izzy Oliver Contributing Reporter “Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life.” With these statistics from the American Psychiatric Association, it is no wonder that depression has appeared in the media in many ways throughout the years. Rather than a movie or TV show, “Celeste” utilizes the video game format to tackle this complex subject. “Celeste” was written, directed, and programmed by Maddy Thorson, with a team of seven helping her develop the game. It was released initially as a small, four-day game jam project made by Thorson and Noel Berry. However, she later decided to make it into the fully fledged platformer we know today. While these two versions differ wildly on every level, the critical difference is the addition of a story. In “Celeste,” we follow Madeline—a determined yet troubled young woman set on climbing Celeste Mountain. Fighting any mental illness can feel like climbing a mountain, so making the game center on this struggle sets up a physical metaphor that mirrors Madeline’s growth. Near the beginning, after setting camp for the night, we are introduced to “Part of Me” (also known as Badeline by the fanbase). She is a part of Madeline’s subconscious that escaped in Madeline’s dream through the mountain’s magic, and is this game’s representation of her
Photo by Wikipedia Commons
The 2018 video game “Celeste” delves into the sensitive yet ever-present topic of depression.
insecurities and depression. Following her breakout, she confronts Madeline. Badeline expresses concerns, albeit passive-aggressively, about Madeline’s capability to climb Celeste. She chases Madeline after being rebuked, trying to get her to give up and go home. This segment firmly establishes Badeline as the main obstacle for Madeline to overcome. After this point, we
start getting hints that Madeline has depression. She showcases low selfesteem and feelings of worthlessness and guilt, and indications that her home life was not a happy one. With this, we also see Badeline’s interference with Madeline’s progress. The way Badeline interacts with Madeline through the climb mimics how depression attacks. She is volatile, highlights Madeline’s flaws, and
underestimates her. Those with depression do the same to themselves, which leads to the lack of energy and unstable emotional state that is often associated with depression. At first, Madeline tries to ignore and run away from Badeline, in the way those with depression can embrace denial. While she does learn a coping mechanism and grows as a person during her travels, she still does not confront
her depression directly. It is not until Madeline runs into a character that she opens up about her issues. This character gives her the thought that Badeline is just a destructive coping mechanism given form by the mountain. Taking this into consideration, Madeline finally decides to try and set her mind free of torment. But when she confronts Badeline, she is cast down below her original starting point. Madeline is understandably frustrated. She worked so hard to get where she is, and she was so close to the summit. In reaching rock bottom, she is forced to reflect on how this came about. Madeline ultimately realizes that Badeline is part of her, whether she likes it or not. Running away or denying her depression is not going to work; it is just going to make things worse. This finally lets Madeline consider talking with her to try to work with Badeline and confront those fears. Thorson and her team put a lot of care into the production of “Celeste,” from its story to the gameplay. It provides a good challenge and has many tools to make it accessible to all kinds of players. Its soundtrack and art add to the game’s charm. The characters are fantastic, and the narrative does an excellent job of portraying Madeline’s struggle. “Celeste” can be found on Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch for $19.99.
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7
Wednesday March 10, 2021
OPINIONS
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Comic by Blanton Matthews
“WandaVision” leaves Marvel fans “Wanding” more Sydney Bowman Contributing Reporter The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has enjoyed quite an impressive track record throughout its nearly 13 year run, releasing critically acclaimed hit after hit with even the less than stellar projects in its arsenal being only “average” at worst. Despite Martin Scorsese’s laughably misinformed claims regarding the artistic validity of the franchise, the MCU has proven over and over that it is a series of cinematic and thematic intrigue. Yet, with all of its glorious characters and stories, it is hard to deny that the MCU is somewhat derivative of itself. Many films contain different stories but boil down to recurring plot elements. For example, “Iron Man” and “AntMan”, despite how beautifully each is crafted, basically tell the exact same plot with different embellishments. Somewhat making up for this feel of “sameness” across the franchise is the superb, enthusiastic performances of the films’ casts. The actors truly bring a lot to the MCU, which Marvel Studios recognizes itself considering the decision to recast certain characters due to disputes over portrayals, most notably Edward Norton as Bruce Banner (replaced by Mark Ruffalo). Each character feels unique and alive, likewise helping even the most
uninspired plots stand out in some manner. The MCU’s most recent installment, the Disney+ series “WandaVision”, is certainly an anomaly. The series is unlike anything the MCU has ever presented with the usual inclusion of the stellar cast and themes, making it somewhat of a juggernaut of storytelling within this franchise. “WandaVision” features Avengers Wanda Maximoff and Vision attempting to live a normal existence between the events of “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home”. The series is half sitcom parody and half cinematic experience, with each subsequent episode taking inspiration from a particular decade of American television while also offering glimpses of the world outside of said reality. Immediately, the wacky premise gives “WandaVision” its own niche in the MCU. The sitcom segments of the show really do feel like classic series like “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, “Bewitched”, and “The Brady Bunch”. Complete with black-and-white visuals for the ‘50s and ‘60s, a live studio audience, appropriate aspect ratios, and acting styles tailored to fit each decade, the parody is startlingly authentic. The “outside” segments of “WandaVision” feel much more in line with what audiences have come to expect from the MCU. It is delightful to watch the aspect ratio slowly shift from 4:3 or 16:9 (depending on the sitcom decade) to the cinematic 2.39:1 widescreen,
knowing that what is about to be seen will either answer questions or create new ones. While at times, especially in the first three episodes, the sitcom segments can feel a bit too slowburn, the cinematic scenes almost always balance them out quite nicely. However, the true standout feature of the series is its surprising willingness to border psychological horror with some of its content. This is a first even among the MCU films’ wide variety of genres. In a split second, the tone of the show will switch from upbeat to dark, disturbing, and mysterious. There are scenes of characters choking while others maniacally laugh, a mutilated corpse, and suppressed consciousnesses. Even heavier scenes involve characters crying in fear for their own and their loved ones’ lives and a character spiraling into grief-driven mental illness.These tonal shifts drive the mystery of the story, continuously making audiences ask themselves, “what exactly is going on here, and why does it feel wrong?” Underneath all of the impressive cinematics and writing is a deeply sad story revolving around themes of loss, depression, denial, suffering, and insanity. Ultimately the series is about a refusal to face reality—to cope with the harshness of one’s own life—and the devastating effects such unwillingness can have. The series is obviously part of the larger MCU, but in many aspects this story feels
Photo by Wikipedia Commons
The hit show WandaVision premiered on the streaming service Disney+ in Jan.
like the most intimate of the franchise thus far. Of course, part of the strength of the series is the cast that radiates energy every second on screen. Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff) and Paul Bettany (Vision) give some of the best performances of their careers while Kathryn Hahn (Agnes) and Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau) shine in supporting roles. For a series requiring actors to switch between essentially different versions of their characters at a moment’s notice, having actors truly onboard with the premise is very important, and “WandaVision” boasts
incredible talent. “WandaVision” more than proves itself as a worthy— perhaps even among the best—installment in the MCU. Each week, discussion runs rampant over social media following the release of a new episode, signaling just how much excitement this series has sparked following an entire year of no MCU content at all due to COVID-19 delays. “WandaVision” was clearly the right place to begin the next phase of the franchise, with its charm, heaviness, and uniqueness capturing the hearts of many fans from the very beginning.
Ignorance is bliss: A COVID tale (cont.)
were the only indications that I had COVID. “Nia, you are free!” my COVID nurse informed me. “I’m sending the paperwork over to you now.” “Thank God,” I told her, “I think I almost went insane in this room for ten days.” “I definitely understand that, everyone feels that way after isolation.” “So, I’m free to go to Walmart or Wendy’s just because I can?” I asked her. “Yes,” She laughed, “You can go wherever you want, I would just advise you to wear a mask.”
“Am I able to get Corona again?” “No, so far no one has gotten COVID-19 twice, so if you get it again, you’ll probably be getting people knocking on your door.” She told me, laughing. “Well, I’m going to just avoid getting it again and call it a day.” I laughed with her. “Please do, make sure you take care to wear a mask and be careful,” she told me, “Your immune system just took a huge hit so you’re more susceptible to all viruses.” I never thought I was going to get to leave that
house. When I first got released, I just drove around with my dog, Nala. I was so happy to be free. I didn’t care where I went, I was able to get my own food instead of someone having to drop it off at my doorstep. I was craving some human interaction after 12 days of seeing no one. Most people were nervous to be around me, so I immediately called Vanessa to hang out since I didn’t get to see her either during her isolation. We were honestly still in shock that out of all the people we knew, COVID took us down first. Luckily, the
only symptoms I had were the headache for about 4 days and I ended up losing my sense of smell for a while. I didn’t notice when I lost it since I wasn’t leaving my house, I thought I was just becoming nose blind to things. My experience with COVID wasn’t terrible, symptoms wise, but mentally it was very draining. Not being able to go anywhere for ten to twelve days took a toll on me. Luckily, my other friends didn’t get it besides Vanessa and Ana who had the most contact with me and Kayden. Even Taylor, who
drank out of the same bottle as me, tested negative. I didn’t really understand how that was possible, but this virus is honestly an enigma. I definitely learned my lesson to be safe and not go around any large groups. The new normal was an adjustment for everyone, and I learned the hard way. Of course, even then, I had to quarantine two more times from being exposed to Corona. I could tell from then on, 2020 was going to be the longest year of my life.
8
Wednesday March 10, 2021
SPORTS
THE ORACLE
Glory on the greens: The Rattler Invitational Donovan Lee Sports Editor ARKADELPHIA, AR-As the season on the greens got into full swing, HSU Golf took part in the action. Their first stop of 2021: the Rattler Invitational in San Antonio, TX. Hardware returned to Henderson by way of senior Mitchell Ford, who earned the top spot of the two-day event with a 68 score, shooting four under par. Collectively, the Reddies finished fourth out of twelve teams who competed in the event. Ford’s success sent shockwaves both across the conference, who named him GAC Golfer of the Week after his victory, and within the team. The following week,
golfer Josh McNulty gave a standout performance at the Natural State Classic, hosted by Harding in Cabot, AR. McNulty began the last round of the tournament sitting at 10th on the leaderboard. Ford’s fourunder 68 score was outdone by McNulty, who finished atop of Bisons’ event with a five-under 67. The GAC had no other choice but to award him with the same conference honors the following week of Ford’s feat. In an interview with Mitchell Ford, he was asked about his individual successes, as well as the team’s successes up to this point and what their expectations as the season progresses. “Two wins in a row and being in the Top 25 is huge. I hope the rest of the guys are
excited as I am to compete for a couple championships this Spring. We hope that our ranking is just a glimpse of what we are actually capable of, and I know our goals are much bigger than our ranking.” “One of our team goals is to win another GAC Championship. We had a bitter end to our 2018-2019 season, and I know that is still fresh in our minds. I think the biggest goal is to make it to the NCAA Tournament. I know the guys have a lot of individual goals we have set out, and I hope we accomplish as many as we can.” “I think one of my biggest takeaways [so far this season] is to focus on the little things… they end up impacting the outcome way more than you think.”
Photo by Mitchell Ford
Mitchell Ford took home an individual win at the Rattler Invitational.
In full bloom: Reddies vs. Blossums Haley Spicer Sports Reporter Coming off of a series versus 19th-ranked Angelo State, Reddies softball (1-8, 0-3 GAC) needed to get that first win against a conference opponent. Their next targets were the Blossoms of Arkansas-Monticello (1-3). The first of a three-game weekend series began with no action through one inning. It was not until Reddies third baseman Addie Jordan recorded the first hit of the game that mistakes from UAM put the runner in scoring position. Jordan was sent across home plate off a Monica Monreal RBI-double. The swings began to
Photo by Tessa Wagner
Reddies get first conference win of the season against UAM.
connect for both teams from the second inning on. Effective fielding left batters stranded on base in the top and bottom of the inning. Henderson State’s defense even came up with a huge double-play on a UAM single. The Blossoms went
into full bloom late in the game. UAM dominated in the fifth and sixth innings with a combined eight runs, including one home run in each inning to take the first game by a score of 9-1. In the second game of the Saturday doubleheader,
Mallory Brewer worked on the mound for Henderson State. The junior pitcher from El Dorado went through six innings, but only struck out two batters in the 25 she faced. UAM scored a run in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead that spanned two whole frames before another run sent the Blossoms up 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth. Thanks to Morgan Reeves, the Reddies’ freshman first baseman from Frisco, Texas, and her power hitting, HSU would avoid the shutout in game two courtesy of a solo shot out of Alvy Early Field, ending in a Blossoms 3-1 win and a 2-0 day for UAM. A Sunday afternoon special capped off the weekend in Monticello. This time around, things looked
up for HSU head coach David Martinez and the visiting team from Arkadelphia. Confidence exuded from the bats of Henderson State, mainly from freshman contributors, in the final game of the series to produce a three-run second inning. Freshman third baseman Addi Jordan crossed home plate twice, while freshman catcher Kaitlyn O’Quinn performed well at the plate, going three for four with an RBI. On the mound, first-year pitcher Leann Beasley got the win, bringing her season record to 2-1. HSU will return to Dee White Field for the Battle of the Ravine doubleheader with Ouachita Baptist on March 9.
Agonizing defeat ends chance to repeat BETHANY, OK-- The tournament run this season. defending GAC champs After getting back on track had a different start to their to finish the regular season, Henderson State (11-8, 9-8 GAC) tied up the third-seed spot in the postseason. By defeating the Bisons and the Crimson Storm in the first round and quarterfinals, respectively, the Reddies were pitted against their most difficult competition of the 2021 season: the ArkansasMonticello Boll Weevils (14-4, 12-4 GAC). UAM had HSU’s number during the regular season, winning all four contests against the Arkadelphia competitors. The semifinal matchup began with rapid fire from the Reddies, producing a 9-0 run to begin the game. Shots started sinking for the Weevils as the first half progressed. Henderson’s largest lead was as big as its early-game scoring run. By the end of the first half, Photo by Reddie Athletics Reddies fall at UAM, ending their hopes of becoming repeat UAM got their deficit down
Donovoan Lee Sports Editor
conference champs.
to a single point, trailing 3130 at the intermission. All-GAC selection and HSU senior forward Raekwon Rogers came out of the locker room and recorded his 1,000th career point. Rogers finished the contest with 25 points and 14 rebounds. On the opposing roster, Rogers seemed to be going head-tohead with UAM’s DaJuan Jones, who came through when it mattered most for the Weevils. The Boll Weevils received a surge of energy in the second half, staying in close proximity to HSU, only trailing by as many as four at 54-50 and exchanging leads with the Reddies throughout the second twenty minutes. The presumed highlight of the game for HSU was from senior guard Xavier Davenport, who scored the bucket to give the Reddies a two-point lead in the final seconds of regulation. The 64-62 lead would last but for
a moment, thanks to UAM’s Jones who laid in the ball on a drive to the paint as the seconds ticked off the clock. His bucket sent the game into overtime, tied at 64. An extra five minutes of action was not what the defending champs were hoping for, but in order to advance, it was deemed necessary to decide who would appear in the 2021 edition of the conference title game. The overtime period was owned by Jones, resulting in the shattered dreams of a possible title repeat by Henderson. The Weevils defeated the Reddies, 80-70, ending the season for the visitors from Arkadelphia. At the conclusion of the tournament, Raekwon Rogers was announced as a GAC All-Tournament team member, averaging almost 19 points and seven rebounds.