THE
ORACLE
Henderson
Wednesday Oct. 14, 2020
State
University
Issue 2
Vol.118
Kelly Stiles Editor in Chief Chanting filled the crisp early autumn air. “No protest, no change,” a sea of people dressed in black yelled, many bearing signs reading, “Black Lives Matter.” Oct. 1, students, faculty, and community members gathered to protest the ongoing mistreatment of black people by American police forces. On the heels of controversy surrounding the murder of African American medical worker Breonna Taylor by police officers in Louisville, Ky., protesters held this
Photos by Jasmyn Gordon Students, faculty, and community members gathered to display solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Student Kennedy White proudly displays a sign reading, “To be young, gifted + black.”
Black Lives Matter: HSU unites example in the forefront of their minds. “It’s nice to see people of different organizations, colors and walks of life come together,” senior nursing major Lanee Boyd said. Participating in her third Black Lives Matter protest, Boyd enjoys seeing her fellow Reddies stand up for what they believe in. The march was led by Henderson’s Black Student Association. Beginning near the Hendrson fountain, the group walked the borders of campus, and approached the auditorium entrance to Arkansas Hall. There, the masses gathered to listen. President of BSA Kamryn Harris addressed the crowd from a microphone behind a
wooden stand. She thanked everyone for participating in the event, then proceeded to introduce BSA member Ciera Ferguson, who sang an acapella song about freedom. Chaplain of Angelic Voices of Christ brother Charles Craig II delivered a message surrounding the biblical verses of Ephesians 4:1-6 which discusses how people who worship God should be unified with each other. As Craig left the podium, Harris stepped back behind the microphone and quoted a song she had heard earlier that day, “Bigger Picture” by Lil Baby. “It’s bigger than black and white,” the song states. The event ended once president of the Student Activity Board and BSA
The “Unknown” becomes known Kelly Stiles Editor in Chief A book of cultural enlightenment and gripping characters has dwelled on Henderon campus and in the hearts and minds of faculty and students. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez was chosen as this semester’s “Reddie Read” book for freshmen in College Seminar, students in culturally related classes, and for any other faculty or student who wanted to read it. The book tells the stories from the narrative of 11 Hispanic immigrants whose lives collide when they move to an apartment complex in Delaware. Henriquez spoke to Henderson faculty and students via Zoom on Oct. 6. “Being in college, I have
Photo by Literary Arts
Renowned author Cristina Henriquez answers questions regarding the eye-opening “Reddie Read” book The Unknown Americans.
lost reading as a pastime,” senior communications and Spanish major Harley Whisenhunt said. “What really caught me was the emotion the book was able to pull out of me.” The Zoom event began with an introduction of the author and her book
from senior biology major and president of League of Latinos Diana Hernandez. The Unknown Americans was a New York Times Notable Book of 2014, an NPR Great Read, a Target Book of the Month selection, and was chosen as one of the best books of the year by
member Orlando Goodwin reminded the crowd to social distance as they left. “This is my first time at a Black Lives Matter protest,” senior sports management major Jessie Walker said. Having moved to Ark. from Calif., Walker has heard about the injustices brought against black people from the perspectives of different geographies. While he expected this march to be longer than it was, he was glad to have taken part in it. “We are bringing awareness,” junior aviation management major Clarissa Holcomb said. “It brings me hope.” For more coverage of Henderson’s Black lives Matter march, watch the video at hsuoracle.com.
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BookPage, School Library Journal, and Oprah.com; it was also longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. A summary of Henriquez’ other works and achievements can be found at CristinaHenriquez.com. Henriquez obtained much of the inspiration for her characters from her father who is originally from Panama, though raised her in the United States. Growing up, Henriquez felt that she was a Panamanian in the United States’ culture, and an American in Panama’s culture. Inside, she did not fully belong to either culture. “It’s not only about Hispanics,” Henriquez said. “It’s about all people with hopes and dreams and fears.” This inner turmoil Continued on Page 4
hsuoracle.com Garrison, Room L113D across from info desk
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Wednesday Oct. 14, 2020
Hard to “Lett” go
Photo Submitted
Cathy Lett served nearly eight years at Henderson and her kind presence will be greatly missed by faculty and students alike.
THE ORACLE
NEWS Kaela McKim Contributing Reporter Catherine Lett, an administrative specialist with the communication and theater arts department, is resigning after almost eight years at Henderson State. Once she saw that life and other circumstances were changing, she felt as though Henderson was not the place for her anymore. However, her time here left a positive impact on herself as well as professors and students. “Cathy has been an amazing team member for our department,” says Torri Ellison, an instructor of communication here at Henderson. “Our department just won’t be the same without her.” Ellison also feels that Lett is the type of person
who consistently went above and beyond. To her, she was a strong support system and is happy that she was given the chance to get to know her as a friend. The impact of working here, however, has been felt most deeply by Lett herself. “I’ve learned a lot, and the faculty in the communication and theater arts department really are the best,” Lett said. “I will miss seeing them in the office.” She also explained that getting to know the students was enjoyable as she liked watching them progress in their academic careers and being there along their journey. Michael Taylor, professor and chair of the communications department, feels as though
she was a true professional and that her smiling face was always comforting to see at the reception desk to anyone who walked by. “Everyone in the department wishes her success in the future,” Taylor said. “We are so sorry to see her go.” Lett is excited about her own future endeavours, though. “I’m looking forward to resetting and getting back to basics for now,” Lett said.
Photo Submitted
The door to the office where Cathy Lett was an administrative specialist in the communication and theater arts division.
Black, brown, and the challenge of dying well Teuana Smith Campus Editor On October 5, Dr. Lewis Shephard Jr. hosted the second interactive presentation titled “Black, Brown, and the Challenge of Dying Well” to discuss the adversities minorities face in the current healthcare system when facing death. The live stream is brought to you by Arkansas Hospice through a grant from the Rebsamen Fund. The purpose of this seminar is to inform minorities how to properly utilize hospice care for better pain management, comfort, and family support when reaching the end of life. Dr. Shepherd Jr., is the special assistant of the Ouachita Baptist University president to advance racial diversity. He is also a leader in education, community engagements, and the pastor
of Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Along with him on the presentation were two panelists, Rev. F.L. Smith and Vinita Marie Giles. Rev. F.L. Smith is a senior pastor, author, and lecturer. He was a former hospice chaplain who has pastored several previous churches. Vinita Marie Giles is a registered nurse, church deaconess and a hospice healthcare leader. In the talk, Dr. Shepard talks about general information concerning end of life care. Also, he proposes a series of questions from him and from citizens who sent them in. He invited the panelists to share their first encounter with hospice care as a minority. Both shared personal stories on how they hospice came into their lives. Smith was filling a pastoral duty for his father when visiting a member of the church who
had cancer. Giles went into how she had used hospice when she tragically lost her first born child. “My child was transported to Arkansas Children’s hospital and there I met the doctor who told us she’s going to die,” said Vinita Giles, healthcare professional. “[It] gave us the opportunity to second the time with her that we needed with the information we had not knowing how this was all going to pan out.” Dr. Shepard then asked, “ In your experience, how have minorities traditionally perceived hospice care?” They review the myths that some minorities may believe and the fear of being mistreated. The host and panelists then moved on to address access issues of hospice care to minorities and finding possible solutions for the care to be readily available.
Photo by Arkansas Hospice
A live stream is held discussing the adversities minorities face regarding health care, particularly hospice.
In a recent survey, over 50% of the participants did not know how hospice was paid for. “You have Medicare Hospice Benefit and also Medicaid,” said Giles. “There are some insurance companies who provide long term care as well,” said Rev. F.L. Smith, former hospice chaplain. To tie the event up, they discussed various ways or solutions on how to get more information and resources out to harder to reach communities. Also, how to navigate receiving that care in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. “People in general are kinda scared for people to come into their homes,” said Giles. “We need to make sure that they know that we are going to protect them as much as possible by following those guidelines that are set before us.” “One of the practices
that we’ve been using with the team that i work with, it may just be the nurses coming in or the aid”, said Smith. “ So myself, the chaplain, or the social worker have been communicating that we’re still gonna be here for you if you’re not comfortable with us being a part of this particular team... as long as you’re receiving the care you need.” For more information or watch the previous two live streams please visit ArkansasHospice. org or contact David Edwards at dedwards@ a rk a n sashospice.org. Everyone wanting to know more about hospice care, healthcare professionals, and media personnels are encouraged to join the next live stream. Participants can submit questions before the next panel discussion through email to contactus@ arkansashospice.org.
THE ORACLE
HALLOWEEN
Wednesday Oct.14, 2020
The dissociative horror of “The Immortal Hulk”
he must say “Hulk is Hulk.” The Hulk’s cycle of resurrection is through a mystical portal in hell called the Green Door. In the most recent issue, #37, we learned that the Leader, one of the Hulk’s oldest foes, has usurped control of the Green Door. After finally reclaiming his identity, The immortal Hulk has lost his power of immortality, and now can only resurrect at the whims of the Leader. Ewing, Bennett, José, and Mounts, along with letterer Cory Petit and the occasional guest artists are crafting an all-time classic. There are just thirteen issues remaining until the scheduled conclusion next year, and I, for one, am thoroughly excited to see where else this team takes us. You can catch up on “The Immortal Hulk” in paperback volumes 1-7 or single issues available wherever comic books are sold or digitally via purchase from comiXology or subscription to Marvel Unlimited.
Blanton Matthews Entertainment Reporter As a rule, nobody dies in superhero comics, or at least no one stays dead for very long. When writer Al Ewing took control of the Hulk in 2018, he decided to explore what it means for a character to be immortal. With a monster character like the Hulk, some amount of horror comes with the territory, but when death is not a threat, what is there to be scared of? The most obvious form the horror takes
Photo by Marvel “The Immortal Hulk” is a horror with a twist for those looking for a spooky Halloween comic.
Photo by Marvel
is transformative body horror. The Hulk and other characters are frequently subjected to grotesque transformations. Main series artist Joe Bennett and inker Ruy José really stretch the characters bodies just to the edge of recognition with detailed, intricate renderings of impossible forms, along with rich, moody colors by Paul Mounts. The Hulk spends most of issue #8 cut up and stored in pieces in jars. Issue #19 opens with a quote from Shakespeare, “I would eat his heart in the marketplace” [“Much Ado About Nothing” Act IV, Scene I] and closes with
Photo by Marvel
Bruce Banner’s ex-fiance Betty Ross—taking now the form of a giant red harpy—doing exactly that, feasting on the body of the Hulk, already torn apart by the villain Abomination. In more recent issues, Rick Jones, the once quite innocent sidekick of just about everyone in the Marvel universe, has lost structural integrity of his body and been stretched and twisted into a great, sickening archway. With this physical lack of consistency in anatomical form comes alienation. Almost no character is safe from being twisted or torn apart, and when that happens, it can be easy to
Halloween: COVID edition
3
lose a sense of self. This is exactly what is being explored in the most recent stories. In the most recent previous story arc, the monster Xemnu hijacked the collective pop-culture memory of the Hulk. Now, Xemnu was always the Incredible Hulk, a beloved hero with a children’s TV show, marketed extensively by the Roxxon corporation. The image of the Hulk was commodified, and the alienating effects of becoming a brand to be bought and sold are exacerbated by Hulk’s literal replacement by Xemnu. The Hulk must make a radical declaration of reclamation,
2. Host a Virtual Party If you’re really missing the party scene you can host your own,virtually!. Grab a costume and invite all your friends to a Halloween FaceTime or Zoom party.
3. Test Your Luck with Virtual Escape Rooms Continuing with the social distancing theme,try an escape room. If you’re interested contact your local escape room to see if they’ve got virtual options.
4. Make a Spooky Snack This is a great way to use your abundance of free time to do something productive. There are several recipes on the internet ranging in skill level. If you have no cooking skills or if you’re Martha Stewart there’s something for you.
5. Decorate Face Masks Photo by Kelly Stiles
Social distancing on Halloween can be fun with indoor activities.
KaBryn Grayson Managing Editor Just because you can’t celebrate Halloween the “usual” way doesn’t mean it is cancelled. You can still enjoy the fall holiday in the safety and comfort of your own home. Here’s a list of six options to help you enjoy Spooky-Tober!
1. Scary Movie Marathon Yes this isn’t as fun as going to a party with your friends but it beats doing nothing. All you need is snacks and maybe a few friends Movie Recommendations Classics: Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown ,Beetlejuice, Coraline Frightening: Jeepers Creepers, US, 13 Ghosts, IT, IT Chapter Two, Annabelle series, The Conjuring series, Insidious series
Spooktober: A week of fun Juli Reaper Arts Reporter Engaging activities are in store for the Spooktober week of fun. As a freshman, I was unaware of the fact that Spooktober week is a new thing. I am excited for these events and hope it leads to future Spooktober weeks. On Monday, Oct. 26, we have the “Kick-Off & T-shirt giveaway” from 11 am to 1 pm in the Dining Hall. Join SAB for a fun day of Fall treats while getting a free t-shirt. Then on Tuesday, Oct. 27, we will have the “Costume
Contest” from 7 to 9 pm in the Lecture Hall of the Garrison. Be sure to RSVP on the Corq app and enter the contest for a chance to win a total of $200. The categories included are: Scariest costume, Most Creative Costume, Best Group, Most Original, and Overall Winner. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, we have the “Pumpkin Carving Contest” from 1 to 3 pm on the Quad. On the Corq app when you go to RSVP, it says there will be free food. On Thursday, Oct. 29, there will be a movie and s’mores on the Quad at 8 pm. This is one event you do
not want to miss. A chance to watch Hocus Pocus and have s’mores, popcorn, drinks, and other snacks just sounds too good to be true. Also, if you are one of the first 100 students to RSVP for this event you will get a free picnic blanket. “Come out. All students are invited to come out and be involved with the events,” Goodwin said. “Make sure that when you do come out you maintain social distancing and wear your masks.” The final event takes place on Friday, Oct. 30 from 5:30 to 7 pm. This event has been a tradition for HSU for a long time. It’s Henderson
If you don’t want to do all the work of creating or buying a costume just decorate a face mask. The website linked shows examples made by using cricut machine which is basically a fancy cutting machine. That may be a lot of hassle for students but the designs are pretty cool and beginner-friendly so don’t feel intimidated!
If this interests you, simply grab some cheap masks,and fabric markers. Lay your mask on a flat surface and get to work!. You can design anything from a pumpkin to a skeleton on your face covering.
Halloween people. You simply cannot miss out on a chance to help with this tradition. This year is different than the past years, however. Due to COVID-19 and the threat that it still poses to many peoples’ health, the Henderson Halloween will be a drive thru down Henderson street instead of the usual event on the South Lawn. When asked what challenges he was expecting to face during Spooktober Week, Goodwin said “We aren’t really expecting to face many challenges, simply because we are prepared and willing to
Photo by Juliann Reaper Artwork colored by Arts Reporter Julian Reaper in celebration of Halloween approaching.
enforce social distancing during all events. The only challenge may be getting students to come out and participate due to COVID.”
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Wednesday Oct. 14, 2020
FEATURES
Local elections: What’s happening? “If I were a college student, I would be very concerned with how this election goes,” chairman of the Clark County Republican Party, Eddie Arnold said. Less than a month until Election Day and it’s looking like a one sided contest. Trump, unable to hold rallies due to his contraction of COVID-19, falls behind Biden in the polls. Typically the ballot holds more than just the presidential candidates. A race for justice of the peace, District 5 between Republicans Tracy Rider and Gregory Vardaman will be on the ballot for Clark County voters. Voters will also have to decide on issues one, two and three. Issue one proposes a half cent tax for roads. The current tax, which
is temporary, is expiring and the proposal would replace it with a permanent tax. Issue two deals with term limits for the General Assembly. Issue three aims to amend the process for ballot initiatives. If you are registered to vote in another county or state, there are sure to be other races and issues on your ballot. This year many people are opting to vote by mail because of the pandemic and this may be the best way for students from out of state to cast their votes. The deadline to register to vote in Arkansas was Monday, Oct. 5, but other states may have different deadlines. On Sept. 24 and 29, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta held an event registering students to vote. Over 25 students were registered because of the joint effort. “There has been a lot of controversy around
“Rocket League,” and “Fortnite.” The Esports lab, which resides on the second floor of Garrison, is full of computers and other gaming equipment, yet can safely hold only three people who are six feet apart considering COVID-19 guidelines. While students occupy the room from time to time, most meetings take place virtually via Discord or other communication platforms. Unfortunately, this means that each student involved has to have personal access to a computer or gaming console to participate. Esports’ competition platform, called the Peach Belt conference, is much like other traditional sport conferences in which the top teams in the United States compete for a championship title. Thankfully, COVID-19
has not affected HSU’s involvement in the Peach Belt as there is no traveling involved in participating. “My closest friends have been made through Esports,” Brown said. Brown is an active member of the “Overwatch” team which is currently competing in the Peach Belt. Every Sat. at 2 pm, the team competes online with a different college team, unless another time is decided because of time zone related scheduling issues. Competing in the game “Overwatch” consists of three rounds wherein the best of three wins. The shortest round that Brown has competed in lasted 10 minutes, and the longest one lasted one hour. The game is fastpaced and requires a great deal of teamwork. Brown typically plays a supportive
Lance Brownfield Opinion Editor
Photo by Lance Brownfield
The deadline to register to vote in Arkansas was Monday, Oct. 5.
Esports: A team like no other Kelly Stiles Editor in Chief Noted for its warmth and supportiveness, the Henderson Esports team continues to thrive in the face of a pandemic. Formed three years ago, the club increases in size each year, containing over 50 active members this semester. “There is a lot of diversity,” Esports sponsor and assistant communications professor Dr. John Price said. “Everyone can be involved in Esports.” Esports are video games, typically online and multiplayer, where students compete from across the United States and often the world. Common games include “Overwatch,” “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” “League of
Legends,” “Rocket League,” “Rainbow Six Siege,” “Fortnite” and many more. “Even with COVID, we are really accepting of new members,” Esports member and middle education major Abigail Brown said. Upon meeting students interested in joining Esports, team members strive to make them feel welcome by including them in activities. If a team member needs help with something outside of Esports, fellow members are quick to help. “We are there for each other outside of gaming,” Brown said. Within the collective Esports team are several sub-teams divided by different video games. Subteam sizes and practice times vary from game to game. The three most active teams play “Overwatch,”
The “Unknown” becomes known continued... also drives the traits of her characters, especially one of the lead characters, a teenage boy who was raised by Panamanian parents that raised him in the United States. The boy falls in love with a girl who moves to the United States from Mexico with her parents, who strive to find better care for her as she has a disability. The book predominantly describes the events surrounding these two families, but also includes the accounts of several other immigrant characters relaying their experience moving to the United States. Henriquez is clear that her point in writing this book is not political; it is just about people “It is about immigrants, not imigration,” Henriquez
said. Whisenhunt led the events’ questioning, having worked with instructor of communication Torri Ellison, Huie Library assistant librarian Lacy Wolfe, and Huie Library outreach and instruction assistant Susie Kirk to gather questions of students and staff who had read the book. “[Henriquez] was just so down to earth,” Whisenhunt said. “She was warm and easy to talk to.” W h i s e n h u n t ’s experience working for Henderson Television helped make her comfortable being on a screen viewed by approximately 100 people. Originally pursuing a degree in order to become an english teacher,
Whisenhunt is quite interested in literature as well. Her knowledge of Spanish from pursuing her current degree also increased Whisenhunt’s interest in this event. Whisenhunt notes that the impeccable writing of Henriquez caused her to laugh out loud and tear up. Having so much required reading in college, Whisenhunt appreciates that this book reminded her of her love for reading. Since the book covers communication and Spanish related subjects, she did not finish the book without learning a great deal. “Interestingly enough, it did line up with what I study,” Whisenhunt said. Whisenhunt was able to speak with Henriquez
about 15 minutes before the event started. This helped Whisenhunt feel more comfortable during the live questioning. “I would get so enthusiastic and lost in our conversation because I was so excited and comfortable,” Whisenhunt said. Henriquez’ novel includes memories that her characters have of their old life in their native countries. Looking back to memories of her own from visiting family in Panama, she is able to create a colorful experience with her writing. The novel contains some Spanish phrases to add an authentic feeling to the characters’ culture. “The details are almost a 13th character,” Henriquez said. “The smell of garlic from grandma cooking in the morning, the sound of
THE ORACLE the presidential election,” Kristen Washington, junior criminal justice major and Zeta Phi Beta member said. “Regardless of the results their vote still matters. If we don’t vote, we don’t get to see the changes we’d like to see happen.” Even with all the efforts to register students to vote, there may be less students at the polls on Election Day than there were in 2016. Students are tired of the idea of voting for the lesser of two evils and often feel disenfranchised when they vote and still don’t see results. “Frankly I’m not hearing as much talk amongst the students about voting as I did four years ago,” Clark County Democratic Party chairwoman, Dr. Claudia Beach said. “They really would realize how much power they have if they would get out and vote. They outnumber us ‘dinosaurs’.”
Photo by Abigail Brown Middle education major Abigail Brown finds community in her Esports teammates.
role, healing her teammates when they are wounded. “We are a community,” Price said. “Students care about each other.” All students can join the Esports team regardless of experience. For any questions, contact Price at esports@hsu.edu. Visit hsuoracle.com for updates on Henderson’s participation in the Peach Belt.
the roosters in the backyard, the humid air.” Henriquez currently lives in Illinois as a mother of four kids who is helping homeschool due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is in the midst of writing another book, but is hesitant to share details of it yet, as it is not close to being finished. Before the onslaught of COVID, one of Henriquez’ favorite things to do was to attend book signing events where she could have deep conversations with readers of her books. “It felt like I was talking to a friend about a favorite book,” Whisenhunt said. Students and faculty have a free paperback copy of The Unknown Americans by visiting Huie Library. A recording of the Reddie Read Zoom event will be posted to hsuoracle.com.
FEATURES
THE ORACLE
Wednesday Oct. 14 , 2020
Puppy playtime with pre-vets Kelly Stiles Editor In Chief
Happy faces and high-pitched barks enlivened the Quad on a sunny early autumn afternoon. On Oct. 1 the Pre-Vet Club hosted “Puppy Playtime with Pre-Vets” where several puppies were brought from the Humane Society of Clark County for students to play with. Students took turns holding the puppies and playing with them on the grass. “This makes me feel so relaxed and happy,” sophomore accounting major Erica Jaggernauth said. Having heard of the event through her friend, freshman nursing major Tori Johnson, Jaggernauth did not want to miss out on an opportunity to see
puppies. “This is the best thing,” Johnson said as she pet a puppy’s head. Pre-Vet Club members set up small fenced-in areas where puppies could remain if they were getting uncomfortable with the excitement of so many people. Several bowls of water laid strewn about the area so the dogs could stay hydrated. “This makes me feel at home,” freshman pre-vet major Callie McKim said. A nervous puppy found shelter in McKim’s lap as he was anxious around other dogs. Not leaving her side, the small dog nervously barked as other puppies passed by them. Having six dogs, four sugar gliders, two cats, and two bunnies at her parents’ houses, McKim is wellacquainted with animals
and misses having them around now that she lives in a dorm on campus. She feels so comfortable with animals that she wants to be around them for the rest of her life. Growing up, McKim remembers the graceful way in which veterinarians would care for her animals, and wants to make other owners happy by doing the same. “I was stressed,” McKim said. “This distressed me big time.” The Humane Society of Clark County is currently accepting volunteers everyday of the week except Sundays and Mondays. The society also accepts donations and is particularly in need of Purina Puppy and Kitten Chow, Mr. Clean antibacterial disinfectant, and paper towels.
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Photo by Kelly Stiles
Freshman pre-vet major Callie McKim holds a dog in her lap, enjoying the beautiful day.
Mental health of students in a time of uncertainty Kelly Stiles Editor In Chief You are trapped in a tank of deep water. As you tread water for a long time you start to get tired. It feels like you are wearing full body armor made of lead. You feel like you left something at home. You are not sure what it is though. You check your pockets and everything appears to be in check, but regardless you continue to ruminate. What do these things have in common? They are all metaphors for mental illnesses. Extreme fatigue is a common symptom people who experience form depression suffer from. Simple daily activities require tremendous effort. People suffering with anxiety, often have a continuous feeling of dread, i.e. continuing to feel nervous after a big test is over. Senior nursing major Lanee’ Boyd has experienced these struggles first hand. After receiving her diagnosis of two major mental illnesses in 2019 she has become an advocate to end the stigmas around mental health conditions as well as bring awareness.\ She says the negative stigmas surrounding mental health disorders are one of the main reasons people aren’t open about their struggles. “Growing up I saw movies and television shows with people in mental hospitals with crazy hair and stilted speech or straight jackets and those images are what I associated mental health conditions with,” Boyd said. “For a lot of people I’m sure this was their experience as well. When I got a diagnosis the first thing I felt was shame. I didn’t want my friends or family or professors or employers to know that I
was “damaged”. Boyd credits her friendships as something that has encouraged her,“knowing that I wasn’t alone or had someone to lean on has definitely helped me to get out of bed some days. My friends are amazing in the sense that I can disappear for weeks because I’m overwhelmed with life and our friendship will resume as if nothing happened.” Her advice to those whose friends have mental illness is simple,”listen without judgement if they choose to open up to you and check in regularly with them.” Boyd noted, “ it’s important for the person suffering from the mental health condition to reciprocate. I often check in on my friends to make sure that their mental and physical well-being are both okay.” COVID has brought a new set of challenges for everyone, Boyd says that due to the pandemic she knows a lot of people who are, “struggling with the loss of loved ones from COVID, the loss of work, and the loss of freedom since they can’t leave home or attend events freely.” Those who are suffering from mental illness,are being affected incredibly hard due to the virus. Boyd finds it difficult to stay in good spirits as, “the political climate is heated and I always see so much negativity everywhere.” Boyd goes on to say, “there’s a lot of uncertainty right now for everybody and I know that can have a negative impact on everyone’s mental health.” Many of the people who struggle with mental illness are fortunate to have a support system,or an outlet.For many it’s their family,friends or therapist. However with new restrictions and guidelines, they aren’t able to visit
Photo from Pixabay
Isolation during a pandemic can have lasting effects on mental health.
friends as frequently if at all. Boyd has found that one thing that has comforted her during this time is hobbies. “My therapist suggested journaling and I can definitely say that it is something that definitely helps me. Writing down my feelings and thoughts or just being able to put my emotions into words helps me to better understand them.” Boyd said. “I also really enjoy baking. I’m not good at it but I spend a lot of time in my kitchen mixing up random recipes that I find online. For me it’s soothing.” When it comes to Henderson better serving students who have mental illnesses,Boyd recommends they simplify the process. She shared her less than stellar experience, “I received an email about the new scheduling system that they have for the University Counseling Center and in order to complete the forms from my phone (which were just the old forms that they scanned into the system). I had to download an app and it was so time
consuming and tedious that I never completed it.” Boyd went on to add, “a google form or something else simple that can be filled out without a 3rd party app would be helpful for students to schedule appointments.” Senior English and History major Christine Bostian shares some of the same sentiments as Boyd. “I think some people aren’t open about their struggles with mental health for a few reasons. They don’t want to seem weak or appear to have problems” Bostian said “maybe they don’t want to be judged or they may not want to actually own up to it and address it.” Bostian also uses hobbies as an outlet “some things that I do to improve my mental health are running and working out because it helps to serve as an outlet. I also like to do little arts and crafts things, like macrame or painting which sounds silly but I find it very relaxing and it’s nice to do something just for fun and not for school or anything like that.”
When it comes to how effective Henderson’s resources are, Bostian thinks, “ HSU has good resources in regards to mental health”. Her only suggestion is making those resources more visible, “I feel like most students aren’t really aware of them. I think they need to make sure they know what resources are available to them and who they can talk to.” If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call the Counseling Center at 870-230-5102, the University Police Department at 870-2305098, a Residence Assistant or 911 immediately. If you are concerned about someone on campus,email personofconcern@hsu.edu. Copy Editor
Need help?
If you have depressive or suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 Kalijah Smith 870-904-6288
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Wednesday Oct. 14 , 2020
ENTERTAINMENT
COVID cares not of fame
Kaela McKim Contributing Reporter As the coronavirus roars on, it has shown that even people at the top of the charts are just as susceptible as everyone else in contracting the virus. The same symptoms, the same fear, the same sickness, it is all similar. Among those sick are Kanye West, Tiffany Haddish, Tom Hanks, Robert Pattinson, and now even the President of the United States Donald Trump along with countless others and more to come. “It’s hard to see everyone be affected by this, even celebrities.” says Jessica Davis, clerk for the city of Arkadelphia.
Photo by NY Daily News
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, COVID survivor, now advocating for people to wear masks and stay safe.
“No one should have to go through that no matter who they are.” Davis was among the first to contract the virus in early March before information on what was happening came to light.
Not only that, but she contracted it again months later. She had a fever, chills, lost the ability to smell and taste, and for a while lost human contact due to the fast spread of the disease both times.
“I’m really not surprised to hear of these famous people getting it,” says Thomas McKim, a computer engineer in Dallas, Texas. “I can’t go back to my office until the first of the year even when I have never had it and I am following all of the guidelines. It’s irritating to see them out and about and with much better treatment than a majority of the people in the world.” However, there are a handful of celebrities who have contracted the virus but are also using their platform to spread awareness of the dangers that come with it such as Dwanye ‘The Rock’ Johnson. In a video he posted to his Instagram
THE ORACLE account, he shared with his followers that his family contracted the virus and it has been a challenging experience. “With my age and health issues I can’t do much now with what’s going on.” says Steve Jordan, a retired resident of Arkadelphia. Through it all, however, Johnson expressed that this is a teaching moment and wants to be used as an example to wear a mask no matter where someone is from or their situation. “But I’ll look through the news and read articles and see these celebrities attempting to use their power for good,” Jordan said. “It’s nice. And I hope it works.”
X-Men meets sci-fi in ambitious new comic omnilingual mutant, whose replies are in English, and the variation in size and shape of letters between them enhances the visual representation of the language barrier only that character can pass. Introductory and explanatory data pages expand the story and allow new readers to dive right in to the story, so I can recommend this comic to just about anyone with even a passing interest in Marvel’s merry mutants. “X of Swords: Creation” #1 is available now in comic
Blanton Matthews Entertainment Reporter
Last summer, we slept, and the world changed. The X-Men charted a new path, creating for themselves a mutant nation on an island called Krakoa. Fan-favorite writer Jonathan Hickman (“House of X”, “Powers of X”) and the fresh voice of writer Tini Howard (“eXcalibur”, “Euthanauts”) have joined superstar artist Pepe Larraz (“House of X”, “Uncanny Avengers”) to kick off the X-Men crossover event of the summer (or autumn now, thanks to COVID delays) with the triple-sized 66-page one-shot issue “X of Swords: Creation” #1, along with colorist Marte Gracia (“House of X”, “Powers of X”) and letterer Clayton Cowles (“Mister Miracle”, “Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen”). In this first chapter of a lengthy crossover, Hickman and Howard combine their respective futurist and fantasy approaches for a high-stakes swordfighting tournament, ten combatants presumably fighting to the death. “X of Swords: Creation” continues Hickman’s exploration of mutant past and future, as well as Howard’s showcasing of the magical realm of Otherworld. In this blending of superheroes with both futuristic sci-
Henderson’s Ramsauer House just received the installment of a new green screen studio. At first, students and faculty thought painting the wall would do the job for their new green screen, but that was not the case. The new green screen was built by integrated media practicum students in the spring semester last year. Sadly, when campus shut down last year due to the outbreak of COVID-19,
book stores and digitally on comiXology.
Photo by Marvel
“X of Swords: Creation” created by Johnathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Pepe Larraz, and Marte Garcia is an exciting X-Men and sci-fi crossover.
fi and magical fantasy, Hickman and Howard are scripting something ambitious and unique in the current landscape of mainstream comics. The real stars here are the art team of Larraz and Gracia, who have not worked together much since last summer. In this book, Larraz displays harsher shade and contrast than in previous work, and with Gracia’s rich hues adding further depth, this is one of the most visually striking
comics of the year. Their deftly rendered textures allow for the genres to blend more seamlessly, with magic towers that shine as brightly as space stations and computer lights. Cowles employs mixedcase lettering, a polarizing move in some circles, but it allows for some interesting creative flourishes that standard lettering would not, including a moment that displays a creature speaking in a fantasy language with an
Photo by Marvel
“X of Swords: Creation” created by Johnathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Pepe Larraz, and Marte Garcia is an exciting X-Men and sci-fi crossover.
Pristine green screen in Ram House
Andrew Cobb Contributing Reporter
Photo by Marvel A dark world is depicted in the comic artwork of artist Pepe Larraz and colorist Marte Garcia.
the project was halted. To finish the green screen before next school year, some of Henderson’s faculty kept the job moving. Lighting is still being added to the Ram studio, but the project is almost complete. “The whole point of having our own green screen and studio is so students that want to film in front of the screen don’t have to access the TV studio in Arkansas Hall,” Scott McKinnon, Henderson professor said. “We wanted to provide a second, smaller space for quick shoots to
IM students.” He also said that adding the new green screen enables students to capture virtual reality gameplay. Doing this will help students create content in a well suited space, and most importantly, in a professional way. Students believe that the new green screen and studio will improve their work in a big way. Now with both the Ram Studio and the Arkansas Hall TV Studio on Henderson’s campus, students have two Photo Submitted A second green screen studio joins the Henderson campus. spots to create content.
OPINIONS
THE ORACLE
Wednesday Oct. 14 , 2020
Music department faculty “shows off” Juli Reaper Arts Reporter At the Music Department’s Faculty Showcase, I saw a wide variety of instruments. Everything from a simple claranet to an instrument called the alphorn that I had never seen before. There was singing and a little bit of comedy when one of the professors altered a song from Hamlet and made it about COVID, encouraging people to wear their masks. The day after the showcase I got to do an interview with the lovely Dr. Dimond. He played multiple different instruments in the
showcase, which shows that he has talent not only with one but with multiples. The showcase, while it was beautiful, Dr. Dimond agreed with me on the fact that it would have been better had they not had to do it outside. Due to COVID, the music department had no choice in the matter. The wind, a random car alarm, and birds were all effects of being outside that weren’t really part of the showcase. While the conditions were not perfect, Dr. Dimond told me that the musical performers are “craving opportunities to play ‘’ during this covid. Everyone has shut down for the season. He said that he thought the showcase went well and
Photo by Kelly Stiles
Student s and faculty gather on the Quad to experience a COVIDsafe musical event.
that the audience definitely seemed to like it. Audience member Breanna Weeks certainly agreed with him. “I was pleasantly
surprised by the twist on the pieces,” Weeks said. “I particularly liked Bewitched because while I have heard other renditions
Presidential debate: We need more choices Lance Brownfield Opinion Editor
“Keep yapping, man,” former Vice President Biden said to President Trump during the first presidential debate Tuesday. The hour and a half debate was more like two siblings arguing in the back seat of a car than a serious political discussion. With the first debate in the books, I can’t help but imagine a world in which there are more than just two main candidates for the office of President of the United States. Other modern democracies like Canada, France and Germany with multi-party systems tend to be less divided than America. They typically field more than just two parties in the running for the top office. The last time a party other than the Democrats or the Republicans won any electoral votes was in 1968 when George Wallace ran under the American Independent Party against Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat Hubert Humphrey. Wallace won 46 electoral votes against
Humphrey’s 191 and Nixon’s 301. He managed to take the majority of the states in the southeast including Arkansas. There are several minor third parties in America like the Green, Independent and Libertarian parties. Although these parties enjoy success in local elections, the two major parties have won every presidential election since 1852. In the current political climate, I feel as though Republicans and Democrats have become the new Bloods and Crips. They both control their own territory and focus on attacking each other rather than building up the community. A responsible voter votes based on the issues and not their favorite color. The benefit of having a multi-party system is the number of options to align yourself with. This makes voting more dynamic and less divisive. Instead of living your whole life dedicated to a particular party, you can move from party to party as the issues change.
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of it before it was quite unique.” There is another showcase that will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 12:20 pm. It will be at the RFA patio next to the Quad and masks and social distancing will again be required. I personally plan to attend. “I will most definitely be attending other musical events on campus,” Weeks said. Again, there was a wide variety of musical talent and I believe there was something there to suit most people’s taste. The music faculty did an amazing job and I look forward to whatever is in store for us at the next event.
Photo by ABC News
The recent Presidential Debate arouses the idea of including three political parties in future political debates.
Our country has a past of being divided and the past several years have felt like a reprise of that time in our history. Frankly, the thought of people going to the polling booth with an “us against them” attitude scares me. One problem America’s third parties face is that the two major parties make a practice of usurping the platforms of third parties. This would be fine, except it does not leave room for a person to deviate from one of two ideologies. People
and issues are complex, and we cannot run our country as if everything is black and white. For instance, if a person were to be pro-life and believe in green energy and legalizing marijuana then it may be hard for that person to find a candidate. Voting for the better of two evils can lead voters to feel cheated. According to Stanford Social Innovation Review, switching to a multiparty system could increase voter turnout. For many college
students around the country, this will be the first election they’ll be able to participate in. Unfortunately, it is too late for a third party candidate to find any real backing in this race. We can start acting now towards a multiparty system, but for the time being we are stuck with Biden or Trump. Left or right. Blue or red. The next presidential debate will take place 8 p.m. Central time, Thursday, Oct. 15.
THE ORACLE
SPORTS
Wednesday Oct. 14 , 2020
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Ford trudges on to victory in Hot Springs Donovan Lee Assistant Sports Editor
Last weekend, the Hot Springs Country Club hosted an Amateur Invitational tournament. Several Reddies golfers participated in a chance to take home that trophy. The 36-hole tournament kicked off on Saturday with the first round and would wrap up Sunday
afternoon with the final 18. Reddie Golf participants included Senior standout Nick Shapiro, along with redshirt Senior Stuart Krog, who finished third overall, redshirt juniors Mitchell Ford, Kasoma Paulino, and Grayson Jones. Freshmen players in the tournament included redshirts Jackson Cole and Josh McNulty, who finished the weekend in the Top 10 standings, Brady Perkins and true freshmen Nathan Cossement, and Miller
Photo Submitted
Senior Mitchell Ford becomes champion at the HSCC Amateur Invitational.
Harris. All Henderson golfers would be Top 25 finishers for the Amateur Invitational. However, it would be Little Rock native and Reddies Senior Mitchell Ford who would bring home the title of champion. Ford shot his weekend’s best 67 on Sunday and would complete his title run shooting 8-under par to secure the trophy by a couple of strokes over the tournament runner-up. Although the Reddies
Golf team will not be having a season for the Fall 2020-2021 semester, their participation and results in the HSCC Amateur Invitational will give the Henderson hopefuls something to look forward to in the months to come. Tournaments like these give the players a chance to stay fresh on the green during this stoppage of play. Congratulations to Mitchell on his victory!
Did someone say Scrimmage? Teuana Smith Campus Editor Halloween season is approaching, leaving many football players and fans reminiscing about the previous season when the Reddies went undefeated in the entire month of October. HSU accomplished a four game winning streak and then went on to win in two more games in the first week of November. Henderson’s football season has been postponed but the players are staying on top of their skill set since the beginning of the
season. Last Thursday, the team had their second scrimmage game of the year. The scrimmage was on the field at CarpenterHaygood Stadium. The Reddies were dressed in full pads and practice jerseys for the scrimmage. “The scrimmage was pretty good,” said quarterback and redshirt sophomore, Kevin Dick. “Definitely from the offense side, I thought we did a lot better than the first scrimmage.” “We have a lot of people injured right now, so we’re taking this week off to recover,” said offensive linemen and sophomore,
Robert Dunham. “So next week, we will try to pick up where we left off.” In order to play, players must abide by the Coronavirus precautions. They had to get tested before returning to the school’s campus to check for any positive tests. Everyone involved must wear a mask around campus, especially inside campus buildings. The faculty and team makes sure the weight room stays sanitized and if anyone is feeling ill or tests positive, their entire group must quarantine. “During weights we have to spray the bars down and disinfect everything
Photo Submitted
Henderson football players continue to sharpen their skills in the midst of a pandemic with a scrimmage.
before anyone else touches it,” said Dick. The players are excited about having the opportunity to get out on the field in any way they can. Their only concern is with the possibility of testing positive for COVID-19 and
not being able to play. “Our main focus is just getting better at everything and just making the best of what we have and the time we have still on campus,” said Robert Dunham, left tackle.
The passing of a legendary Yankee, Whitney Ford Teuana Smith Campus Editor According to the Associated Press, a family member reported that Hall of Famer, Whitey Ford had passed away on October 8th. Ford was 91 years old and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. He was the pitcher for the New York Yankees for 16 seasons. Edward Charles “Whitey” Ford was born on October 21, 1928, and made his major league debut with the Yankees team in the 1950s after growing up in Queens. He quickly made his mark, not only on
his team but in the entire league. Ford led his team to win six World Series titles and 11 American League pennants across his entire career. His peak years were 1961 and 1963. In 1961, he won the Cy Young Award and the World Series MVP after leading the team with 25 league wins. Two years later, he gained 24 wins putting him at the top of his league once more. Ford set the winning record for the Yankees with a total of 236-106. Over his time playing, he set the record winning percentage of .690, making him one
of the best pitchers in the league. He deserved the title rightfully so, with his expert reputation within the World Series. He won the series ten times while being chosen as the Game 1 pitcher eight of those times. His skill broke down Babe Ruth’s consecutive scoreless innings with 33 and twothirds pitches. Needless to say, Ford became a legend in MLB and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1974 along with Mickey Mantle. His number 16 jersey was retired that same year. Whitey Ford spends his last moments of life surrounded by family
and watching his beloved Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the ALDS. He died peacefully in his Long Island home that night. He still holds the record for 22 World Series starts, 146 pitched innings, and 94 strikeouts. The New York Yankees released a statement on Twitter stating: “The Yankees are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Whitey Ford. Whitey spent his entire 16year career as a Yankee. A 6x WS Champion and 10x All-Star, The Chairman of the Board was one of the best lefties to ever toe the
Photo By NY Times
Whitey Ford of the Yankees dies at 91.
rubber. He will be deeply missed.”