April 28, 2021 | Issue 10

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Henderson

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Lance Brownfield Opinion Editor The international students of Henderson have just finished moving out of the building they affectionately named IHOP (International House of People) building. The Smith Garner House which is shared by the Comics Arts Club and Institutional Review Board is the new hangout to Henderson’s international students. The old IHOP will provide storage for Greek organizations.

This means that the international students no longer have a common living quarters. The reason for the relocation is reportedly due to the outdated fire alarm system in the old IHOP. The system was deemed unsafe for a residential building.

The move was completed the Friday before spring break, lasting pretty much the entire school year. The decision was made to vacate the building at the beginning of the fall semester.

Many of the international students on campus are crying foul, including Chiebuka Okeke, a junior aviation major from Nigeria.

“It upsets a lot of people, especially the international students,” said Okeke, the President of Henderson International Students Association (HISA). “If I’m to be honest I feel a little cheated.”

To the members of HISA, who lost their meeting place, it all started to make

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From IHOP to Greek storage Photo by Lance Brownfield

The Smith Garner House provides a new space for HISA to meet.

sense once they found out it would be used by the Greek organizations.

While the students cannot live in the new HISA headquarters, there is lots of room for congregating.

The new building has a large conference area for HISA to meet, a workspace and computer lab, kitchen, garage, outdoor space for a volleyball net or soccer goal and space for a future gaming room.

According to Blake Smith, the director of international admissions, there are talks of setting aside a block of apartments or housing for international students in the future. Before the move, IHOP housed about 30 students with a 70% to 30% ratio of foreign to domestic. Currently there are 42 students representing nations around the globe, which is down from the 50 Henderson sees in a normal year.

“That house has always had the battery style fire detectors and fire extinguishers,” said Blake.

“To be up to the appropriate code, it needed sprinklers.

Conservatively, it was going to take $50,000.”

While the number of students from other countries has declined in the last decade, they are all still Reddies. The international alum of Henderson usually leave town after graduation and there is no way for

Photo by Lance Brownfield

Henderson has over 40 students currently enrolled from all over the world.

Photo by Lance Brownfield

The old IHOP is now being used by Greek organizations as storage because it can no longer be used as living quarters.

the students’ families to send money over. The Greeks have much more fundraising power than HISA and the former residents of IHOP.

For now, they’ve had to settle for some of the other housing options Henderson has to offer, but their hope is still alive for another home of their own.

“I was very upset about it,” Alina Rudakova, a senior criminal justice major from Ukraine said. “It was my home for almost two years. But greek organizations can use it.”

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General Education Committee votes to no longer require core liberal arts electives Juliann Reaper Calendar Coordinator In January, there was a proposal to remove the Core Elective from the Liberal Arts Core requirements. Since then, there have been forum meetings and surveys sent out to the professors regarding this proposal.

The proposal was made by the mathematics and science departments because they would like to use that three-hour slot to require another class of their majors.

On Thursday, April 15, the General Education Committee voted on that proposal.

“As representatives, we do represent a particular portion,” said associate dean of Ellis College, Debra Coventry.

“But, I think, we have a greater duty in this case to the University at large.”

This suggestion seems like it would be a good idea, but, as it turns out, it may not be an option.

While the idea of three fewer hours is nice, this is not what this proposal is saying. There would be three fewer hours in the LAC requirements, but those hours would be available to the major to use as they see fit or, in the case where they do not have a use for it, for the minor. Because of the state mandate being 120 hours, the required hours for all degree plans would stay at 120 hours.

The change will not affect any current students due to them falling under the “old” catalog based on their start date. However, they can choose to use an updated catalog if they so desire. The change will only affect some of the students because they can use other classes to fulfill that requirement according to the LAC requirements.

The LAC Core Elective is a class chosen from a list

that a student might find interest in as a side class.

Still, you can also select another course from any other category that has not been used to meet any other requirements. As was pointed out multiple times in the forum and the committee meeting; this is great except that few students pick the classes on the list.

Many other worries were raised by the members as well. One statement that drew quite a bit of attention and debate was made by associate biology professor, Cindy Fuller, even though she stated she was for the proposal and voted to pass it.

“If we lose it, we can’t get it back,” said Fuller.

There was much conversation on this topic throughout the meeting.

The biggest concern is that if they decide to add a critical thinking requirement, it would be harder to do so. They would not be able to without removing something else or going over the 120 hours that the degree plans are currently set at.

Another concern with this proposal was that this would make us less of a liberal arts college.

Henderson already has many programs not associated with the traditional liberal arts, such as the nursing program and School of Business.

This brought up the topic that Henderson wasn’t always a liberal arts university.

As president in the late 1980s, Charles Dunn pressed the UAC to pass the proposal to make Henderson into “Arkansas’ Liberal Arts University.” The vote passed the UAC, which, incidentally, did not have any Henderson staff representation.

Despite this history, it was still a concern. But, the problem most likely will not be an issue as

Henderson meets the state requirements to be a Liberal Arts College.

All losing this threehour course would allow students more choice regarding their classes.

While hours are met, there are also subjects that they should cover with their requirements.

“We’ve got all these things covered, except that big area which is sort of an emorphase of critical thinking,” said Maryjane Dunn-Whitener, Associate Professor of Foreign Languages.

Another thing worth noting, anecdotal evidence exists that students choose against coming to HSU due to higher LAC requirements. Southern Arkansas University uses this to persuade students to attend their university instead of Henderson.

A couple of the representatives tried to get the proposal tabled for further discussion.

This way, they could find answers to questions that they had before making a decision. They did this not because they were necessarily against it but because they did not want to rush the voting process and decide without all the facts.

However, several representatives will be replaced as more people than usual rotate out after taking on an extra year on the committee. The head of the committee, Debra Coventry, will be among those replaced.

Dunn-Whitener explained that there are thorough notes posted on the shared governance so that they are able to easily fulfill their responsibility of reading said notes if they are brand-new on the committee. Then use those notes to figure out what’s going on, where it’s going, and then pick up.

Another argument against having to start over is, as she said, “at least two thirds of us are

Courtesy of Maryjane Dunn-Whitener

Dr. Maryjane Dunn-Whitener appreciates that she and her colleagues can diagree in a civil and respectful manner.

gonna be the same,” and those people can bring the new ones up to speed.

However, while the ability to know what is going on is the purpose of everyone having access to these notes, assistant professor of instruction, Assistant Professor and Curriculum and Instruction Christy McDowell, said that there is no guarantee that new members will read them.

McDowell then proposed that maybe they should vote no. She said that when reading through the chair statements, they supported it but not as written. So, why not send it back and let those who proposed it start over, rewrite it, and bring them something they like as written?

The sad thing is all this discussion over whether to table it was based around the fear of new members not being able to continue with the debate.

“It’s a little disheartening to think that a dysfunctional transition process, from year to year on this committee, would be a reason that we rush to vote on something so important,” mass Media Communications Professor Steve Listopad said in the meeting. “That

shouldn’t be a factor, that we can’t have continuity between committees.”

After a bit more discussion, McDowell asked the question that had been waiting to be asked.

“If we did table it, what would we do differently next year?” McDowell asked.

Tabling this issue would leave more time to figure out who all would be affected by this change.

In the end, the votes came back seven to four in favor of passing it and sending it to be viewed

by UAC in the Fall. This change will not take effect before the Fall of 2022.

After the vote, it was clear that a few individuals felt that they had not done all they should have to be prepared for this vote. Accounting instructor, Lisa Massey, told them that they could still do something about this by attending the UAC meetings with the information.

“This is not a done deal,” Massey said. “This is where they need to go back and get that data.”

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industry majors at OBU, took the lead on most songs. Kuntz’s gravelly voice was fitting for “Best of You” by The Foo Fighters. The two both had elaborate pedalboards to help them craft unique sounds.

Salmon sang “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon, because according to Johnston his “voice is perfect for it.” Salmon had never even heard of the band before taking the class. This last show was the sixth and final one for Salmon.

“We all had a really good time playing some classic songs,” Salmon

said via email. “We started running through the songs at the beginning of the semester, and each week we would meet to work on two to three.”

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Guitarmageddon: A musical marvel Lance Brownfield Opinion Editor

Five microphones, four electric guitars, one acoustic guitar, one electric bass, and a drum kit. Sounds like a show at one of the big venues in Little Rock, right?

Well, it actually took place at OBU’s Evans Student Center last Tuesday.

The showcase of students shredding and soloing was accompanied

by Dr. Bruce Johnston, a lecturer of music at the university. Johnston played drums during the hour and a half set.

“I named it Guitarmageddon because in all honesty, I expect it to be a bit on the ‘excessive/ bordering on obnoxious’ side of things,” said Johnston via email. “There is never really a need to have five or six guitars on stage at the same time.”

During the performance, the band covered hits from The Beatles, Steve Miller Band and The Doobie Brothers as well as several instrumentals.

Their rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was slightly darker and more brooding than the original on account of the thick, rich sound made by so many guitars.

Austin Murberger’s expressive tremolo picking really set the song off.

Murberger is a sophomore music major at Henderson.

Him and junior music major Zach Tabor both participated in the OBU event as Reddies.

“It’s kind of an exchange program for guitar,” said Johnston.

The event is part of a course called Guitar Seminar and is designed to get students used to playing popular songs for venues, parties and weddings. Johnston has put on the event once a semester for five years.

This time it was a special performance for the class since COVID-19 cancelled the show for the last two semesters.

Instead of performing live this last fall, the class did a recording project.

While Johnston said it went really well, they made the decision to mask up and get back on the stage this time around.

While the show is mostly centered around the guitars, there’s no real limit to what you might see.

They’ve been accompanied by everything from opera singers to keyboard players in the past.

Josh Salmon and Ethan Kuntz, both senior music

If you missed out on the show, do not fret. You can always see the next Guitarmageddon this November in the Evans Student Center at OBU.

Photo by Lance Brownfield

OBU senior music industry major, Josh Salmon sings a song at his last Guitarmageddon Tuesday, April 20.

Photo by Lance Brownfield

On Tuesday, April 20, guitar seminar students from OBU and HSU played their first Guitarmageddon since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Bird Island: Arkansas’ secret wonder Kelly Stiles Editor in Chief The sound of soft waves and chirping birds fills the warm summer air. As the sun drops below the mountainous horizon, orange, pink, and blue shimmer off the lake water.

Thousands of birds swarm the sky in artistic display.

This is a typical July evening at Bird Island.

“It’s a God thing,” Dad said. “It’s such a miracle.”

In 1965, my father Lamar Currington first saw the birds when he was six-years-old. He and my Papaw Charles came across the island while fishing on Lake Ouachita, the cleanest lake in Arkansas. The manmade lake became available to the public in 1956, three years before my dad was born. The pristine waters have been my father’s summer home since infancy.

“It’s better seeing your kids experience it,” Dad said.

As an adult, my dad found himself wanting more than summer visits.

In 1986, he bought a piece of land right off the coast and lived in a tent until he finished building a house.

Born and raised on the water, Bird Island is a part of me, a part of my family.

My older sister and I would lie on the hard top of Daddy’s pontoon and name the birds above us. We would follow our named birdies until they eventually got lost in the darting mess of black dots.

“Around dusk they come from all directions and swirl like a loose tornado before settling down, wing-to-wing, for the night,” Dan Scheiman, bird conservation director of Audubon Arkansas, said.

Bird Island is Arkansas’ largest known Purple Martin roost. The patch of Bald Cypress is located

Photo by Karen Segrave

Birds swarm the sky as the sun sets behind the clouds.

in the middle of Lake Ouachita. It is 1,260 feet long, and about 100 feet at its widest point. Much of the land beneath the trees may be submerged when the water level is up, but trees are all the birds need.

“At less than a tenth of an acre, Bird Island’s size is disproportionate to its huge importance for Arkansas birds,” Scheiman said.

The island is about a mile from the nearest mainland shoreline. The closest boat launch sites are Brady Mountain Use Area and Buckville Use Area.

Bird Island is dubbed an Important Bird Area by the Arkansas Audubon Society because it is one of a handful of migratory roosts in Arkansas that consistently hosts a large number of Purple Martins.

Cattle Egrets and possibly Little Blue Herons nest on the southern end of the island as well.

An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 Purple Martins have roosted on Bird Island at the end of June and beginning of August every year.

My father argues that these Purple Martins are actually Great Swifts, a species that looks quite similar from far away, but is easily distinguishable from up-close. He has seen some of the birds wear a ring around their neck that is characteristic of Great Swifts. Also, he believes that the dark color of the birds better aligns with the black Great Swifts versus

the dark purple Purple Martins.

Most experts agree, however, that Purple Martins are indeed the primary hosts of Bird Island.

The sheer numbers, constant influx and movement of birds, tree cover, and fading light make counting Purple Martins a daunting task. Students from the Mountain Pine High School Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) program experimented with several techniques, including photographing the sky through a fisheye lens and later counting all the birds in the photo, as well as counting the birds on a branch and then multiplying by the number of branches and trees.

Birds roosting on Bird Island have been disturbed by boaters using fog horns and floodlights, and visitors leaving trash behind.

The Arkansas Corps of Engineers and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission were told of the disruptions, so they allowed EAST students to post signs at access points around the island to reduce interference.

Preventing foot traffic during roosting will protect the birds who are already at risk due to the lack of natural roosting environments.

Occasionally, the birds will make their home on a nearby island similar in size and amount of trees. One year, the water level was so

high that both islands were completely submerged, so the birds chose to inhabit a piece of land near Brady Mountain Marina.

In preparation for their arduous journey to the Amazon Rainforest, the Purple Martins congregate for about a month at places like Bird Island because there are plenty of bugs to eat.

“They build up enough fat to fuel them for their migration south,” Joe Siegrist, president and CEO of the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA), said.

About 80-90% of Purple Martins breed east of the Rocky Mountains during the summer. They only eat flying insects, so the birds leave the area when winter comes to drive away their food.

Purple Martins are quite social; they breed colonially in groups anywhere from as few as 20 birds, all the way up to 50,000. In the morning, the birds disperse up to 100 miles in different directions, swooping and diving to catch insects.

They arrive back at their roost close to sunset to rest in the crevices of trees or other tall objects.

Bird Island has filled generations with awe. I look forward to experiencing the feathered flyers through the eyes of my children and grandchildren. Until then, I hope to share this wonder with you.

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Take the stress out of post-college life Kaela McKim Features Editor

Jumping into the real world right after your college graduation can be stress inducing. Many wonder about what they

need to do, what they like to do, where they can find a job, where they are going in life, and so on and so forth. While these thoughts

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may seem like the end, it is not. The time you have after graduation can be spent however you see fit.

Go right into that job, learn

a new skill, take a gap year (or two), or volunteer. The possibilities are endless, but here a few ideas.

Give yourself time.

Not knowing what exactly it is that you want to do means nothing., and comparing yourself to those around you who seem as though they have it together does not help. At the end of the day, you are the only one who chooses your path. Allowing yourself that time also gives you the opportunity to learn new things and get experience under your belt.

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Do not stress about following the world’s expectations.

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Do not take life too seriously.

The pressure that people feel after graduating college is tremendous. The push to go to work or get an internship seems to never stop. For some, that is the path they want to take, but for others, it is not. It is important to remember that life does not have to be taken seriously all the time. It is okay to let go and enjoy the moment.

Take a gap year.

A solution that combines the previous two is taking a gap year. You are allowing yourself time, you are not supposed to take life seriously, and you are enjoying the moment. This can also be the perfect opportunity to get to know yourself better. Picking up a new hobby, saving up money, or simply relaxing are all options for you.

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Traveling, part-time job, or both?

Figuring out what to do after college, or even within the gap year, can be hard to figure out, but it is not impossible. If you have ever thought about doing anything, this is the time to do it. Wanted to work at an animal shelter, but never had the time to? Do it. Wanted to go to Costa Rica, but never got the chance? Do it. It may require time to save up, but the chance is there. There are also organizations that allow you to travel, make money, and make a difference. Globe Vision International is a good place to start.

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Get an internship

If you are not sure what you want to do or you are on the path that you know you are meant for, apply for internships. This opportunity will allow you to gain more experience, knowledge, and ultimately if that job is for you. What is great about this option is that the internship does not have to apply to your major or field of expertise. If you are interested in anything and can see yourself making a career out of it, there is an internship just for you.

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Update your resume.

Whether you apply for your dream job (full or part-time) or an internship, a resume is required. Hopefully you have kept tabs on all accomplishments, milestones, and skills. But if not, make sure you allow yourself time to make a list of who you are and what you have done in college, sometimes even high school, and make a well written resume. There are templates that can be found online.

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Make connections.

Knowing people that work in your major can go a long way. Getting yourself acquainted and familiar allows for the chance to get your name out there. Those people can be the stepping stone for a bright future. They can mention you to a higher up in your field, give great letters of recommendation, and keep you posted on opportunities that arise. It is a foot in the door for when you know what you want to do

Clay masks are currently scattered across the south lawn of Henderson’s campus as a part of an anonymous student’s art project. The following message is printed underneath some of the masks.

“This artwork is an installation that is a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. I created this work because I wanted to call attention to

the new pandemic and the pandemic society has been struggling with for years-littering. This work is made from fired stoneware clay, which has a permanence like littering does in our landfills. My goal is to make individuals analyze where their waste is going and become more conscientious about their actions.”

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Disney’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” soars Sydney Bowman Contributing Reporter Phase Four of the acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) began on Jan. 15, 2021 with the franchise’s first Disney+ original series, “WandaVision.”

Hailed as one of the most unique and emotional installments of the MCU, “WandaVision’’ enjoyed success as it functioned as a character study that explored the aftermath of the groundbreaking “Avengers: Endgame.”

Only two weeks after the release of the ninth and final episode of “WandaVision,” the MCU continued with its next series, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” A markedly different show in terms of style and tone, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” tells the story of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes as they struggle to find their place in the world after the departure of their mutual friend, Steve Rogers (Captain America).

From its first episode, it is immediately clear that “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” is shot far more artistically than any other project in the MCU. Director Kari Skogland and cinematographer P.J. Dillon has ensured that the show is beautiful to look at while also conveying the

emotions of the characters through each shot. A particular stand-out series of shots occurs in episode one where a scene of Barnes speaking to his therapist is presented through extreme close-ups that perfectly sell a claustrophobic discomfort.

As with all MCU projects, the cast is stellar in the series. Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Daniel Brühl (Helmut Zemo), and Wyatt Russell (John Walker) all give outstanding performances. For Mackie and Stan in particular, this series is the first instance that their characters have been given proper screen time to develop, and both actors shine as the show’s leads.

Of course, the most important aspect of any MCU project is the story it tells. “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” features a three-way conflict between Wilson and Barnes, new federal Captain America appointee John Walker, and the anti-nationalist group known as the Flag Smashers. Walker is given the mission to control the Flag Smashers, who are radicals that wish for equality for displaced refugees.

Wilson and Barnes have also taken it upon themselves to stop the group, but they quickly collide with Walker.

This plot is inherently

Photo by Wikipedia Commons

Sebastian Stan (left) and Anthony Mackie (right) hold Captain America’s shield, which the Falcon uses in Disney’s hit show “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”

interesting and carries the first four episodes of the series quite well as various side plots are introduced featuring both new and returning characters. Much of the story’s energy is found in the banter between Wilson and Barnes, the superb pacing, and the fleshing out of previously one-note characters.

However, by the show’s fifth episode, plot threads begin to be formulaically checked off one by one to limit what the story must deal with in its finale.

This results in a somewhat lack of unity among the side story beats. Only the major conflict with the Flag Smashers is left by the sixth and final episode, making for a spectacular fight sequence but underwhelming (yet satisfying in the sense that it is conclusive) plot ending.

This is largely because

the Flag Smashers are not characterized well and feel hilariously unthreatening for the amount of weight the story places on them.

A surprising stand out character is Walker.

From his reveal in the first episode, the show’s fanbase was rife with hatred for the character (actor Wyatt Russell has even received death threats from toxic fans), who is perceived to have taken the Captain America mantle despite Steve’s own intent for Wilson to take it. However, audiences quickly discover that Walker is an incredibly complex antihero that is unlikable as a person but exceptionally well-written. He is a sympathetic character that is fundamentally flawed, rendering him as someone that fans love to hate.

One element that remains at a constant level of strength throughout the

show is its commentary on systemic racism in America. Wilson, who is a black man, has complicated feelings on being chosen to take the mantle of Captain America while the country views his replacement, Walker (a white man), as the true hero despite Wilson’s status as an Avenger.

There are also depictions of racial profiling by law enforcement as well as unjust and inhumane practices against people of color throughout history.

This is the first true instance of the MCU speaking on current social issues, and it pays off enormously in a time of great change and reform.

Despite its flaws, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” succeeds where it needs to. It gives two underdeveloped MCU characters much-needed focus, introduces one of the most interesting figures in the franchise with Walker, and conveys its timely themes consistently. While the MCU’s second outing on Disney+ is not quite as solid as its first (though it is difficult to even compare “WandaVision’’ and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” due to their stark differences), it adds to the promising start of Phase Four, which will continue with “Loki’’ in June.

All episodes of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” are now streaming on Disney+.

Twilight Saga’s “Midnight Sun” met with controversy Juli Reaper Calender Coordinator The Cullen family is trapped repeating their lives over and over again in different places as they are vampires who move periodically to keep their secret under wraps. Many young people spent their younger years falling for these characters of Stephenie Meyer’s.

After the manuscript was leaked in 2008, many fans believed they would never see the rest of Edward’s story. Now that “Midnight Sun” is out, it has fans and skeptics alike wondering, “Is this really a good message to send?”

In the original novels and in the Twilight Saga films, we experienced scenes from Bella’s perspective as Edward watched over her and did his best to keep her safe. It was weird that he would follow her without her knowing, but he had good intentions, right?

With the official release of “Midnight Sun” back in Aug. 2020, things no longer seem entirely innocent.

Edward is constantly battling with the desire to kill Bella. Although fans know this from what he had told Bella in the previous books, it is still far beyond reasonable (even for a vampire.)

Photo by Wikipedia Commons

“Midnight Sun” by Stephanie Meyers takes the reader through the Twilight Saga from the perspective of the vampire character Edward Cullen instead of his beloved Bella Swan.

When he sees her in their school cafeteria, it is more or less just curiosity about not being able to read her mind that initially gets his attention. However, in the

biology classroom--their first up-close encounter-Edward shows readers just what he is.

“I knew what had to happen now,” said

Edward in the novel.

“The girl would have to come sit beside me, and I would have to kill her.

The innocent bystanders in this classroom, eighteen

other children and one man, could not be allowed to leave, having seen what they would soon see.”

The scene is no longer just him looking angry like in the first book.

It is a terrifying moment.

Looking at all the things that happen in both the original book and this one, the situation would be a significant issue if it were not in the fantasy world of Bella and the Cullens.

He follows her around without her knowledge, he is controlling, and he even uses the famous line, “Nobody will believe that, you know.” It is easy to see why some people are worried about young girls trying to use this as a guide for a relationship.

Fans have always been all for Bella being with Edward or Jacob. But neither one is an example of a healthy relationship.

Edward is controlling and fights a constant battle with his inner desire to kill her.

Both Edward and Jacob lose their cool and become violent because of their terrible tempers.

As a fan, it can be hard to acknowledge these truths, but they do not mean you have to stop loving the books. Just be aware that it is not a healthy thing to base real-life relationship expectations on.

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Education in the E.U.

Lance Brownfield Opinion Editor If you’re a student from another state, or if you’ve considered attending a university far off, then you know about out-ofstate tuition. While some colleges like Henderson will waive the higher price for nearby states, residents from most states have to pay $320 per credit hour as opposed to the $240 for instate students.

Take UCLA for example.

In-state tuition is $13,240, while out-of-state comes in at a whopping $42,994.

That’s over triple the cost.

Even with a higher cost, California residents can save money by attending college in states like Arkansas. Do we have to accept this practice, though?

While there are some agreements between states in different regions, these come with restrictions.

For students in the south, their desired program must not be offered in their home state to qualify for in-state prices. Even so, it can be difficult to attend a university across state lines without paying extra.

So, why can a student from Italy study in France for the same price as a French citizen? How come a person from Hungary can attend a university in Belgium and pay the same exact bill as a local?

These are different countries and yet, their education system is more interconnected than the 50 states of our one nation. In countries like The Netherlands, you can sign up for classes at any university in the nation on one single website. Imagine

if the U.S. had a website to sign up for classes no matter where you live.

Citizens of the European Union (EU) are free to travel across what is known as the “Schengen Area.”

The 27 nations that make up the union have many agreements that make life, trade and travel much easier on the continent.

One such agreement is that an EU citizen studying in another EU country “cannot be required to pay higher course fees.”

I believe that America should get with the program. European nations regularly place at the top of the list of most educated countries. In countries like Finland and Norway, it is normal for high schoolers to graduate knowing four or five languages. In many European countries, students have the option to get more specific knowledge of their career field before the age of 18.

Instead of taking another math course, they could learn a trade if they know what they want to do with their life.

It is sad that a student in Nebraska might have to worry about how to pay for their degree because studying marine biology requires a school by the coast. Whereas our European counterparts need only to worry about learning the local language of the school of their choice.

Instead of eeking out every bit of profit, we should be more concerned with what goes on in the classroom. The world needs innovation. America needs to compete globally.

Many Americans have sought out their education at institutions in Europe because they are cheaper and comparable to the

schools back home. At select universities in Germany, students from around the world are able to pursue a higher education for free. There are certain requirements, however, like reaching the B-2 level of German.

America could do so much better with our education. We do not have to learn a second language to move across North America. That means that we could focus on learning the material and not the culture shock. If linguistics is your desired field, moving to the Southwest, Maine or Louisiana could be an option for in-depth studies without going abroad.

Instead of student loan debt, the students of this country could graduate with the knowledge to enter their career field and a greater respect for the 50 states. Arkansas, like most states, sees about 90% enrollment from out-ofstate.

Why don’t we incentivize more students seeking to fly the nest to come to our state? Arkansas could lead the way by getting rid of out-of-state tuition altogether. The education you get isn’t any better just because you pay more for it.

The reason that outof-state tuition costs so much more is because the students do not pay taxes to the state that the university is located. One way to look at it is that in-state students have a lower bill because they’ve been paying taxes that pay for the schools the entire time they’ve been a resident of the state. So, in a way it’s like the out-ofstate student is making up for taxes they never paid to a state they never lived in.

To me this seems unfair.

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Photo by Lance Brownfield

Europe’s education system is much more interconnected than ours here in America despite barriers like language and international borders.

Shouldn’t they get a break on the taxes in their home state since they aren’t attending the universities there? Well, they don’t and they certainly don’t get a refund for all they’ve paid in.

This issue borders on taxation without representation.

If the student only goes back home during the summers, they still pay a full year’s worth of taxes to their home state. In Europe, education is seen as a right and not a privilege. The citizens pay the taxes to

keep the institutions open for everyone, not just the people who live nearby.

I suggest we start thinking about this prospect. As the world and our country gets smaller and smaller, we need to consider becoming more connected and stronger in our education. We’re being left behind in many ways by Europe’s education system.

Traveling and seeing America is an important part of many young people’s educational journey. We need to foster this growth and exploration.

Newberry nonsense: Roaches, dirty bathrooms, and faulty thermostats Cullen Smith Contributing Reporter

This was my first year on Henderson State’s campus, and I got stuck in the Newberry dorm.

I had heard some notso-nice things about the dorm, but I reserved a shred of optimism that the

Photo by Kelly Stiles

Newberry hall is no stranger to pests and ongoing malfunctions.

rumors were blown out of proportion. Unfortunately, the rumors were quite accurate.

My room was fairly unclean upon my arrival.

There were dust bunnies and bits of paper all over the floor. Additionally, there seemed to be some cables sticking out of the wall due to some botched maintenance.

The state of the bathrooms and showers was horrendous. While there was a crew that came in semi-regularly to pressure wash the floors, the times in-between these cleanings were not enjoyable.

Additionally, only about three out of the five showers worked at any given time.

The worst part was the insect problem. Namely roaches. I killed quite a few of them last semester--too many. I could handle the

cleanliness problem, but I figured that the building would at least have put in the effort to prevent roaches crawling out of the walls.

Possibly the least problematic issue was that the thermostats in each room had one setting depending on either the seasons or where we were in the semester, I’m not sure.

Basically, the dial on the thermostat had a range of temperatures, but you could only set it to hot or cold depending on the climate.

This ended up being very irritating considering the inconsistent weather in Arkansas.

Newberry is one of Henderson’s oldest dorms and its residents suffer from its outdated infrastructure.

Roaches and basic cleanliness is not something that paying college students should have to worry about.

7

Wednesday, March 28, 2021

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Comic by Blanton Matthews

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is a fulfilled promise but disappointing cinema Sydney Bowman Contributing Reporter L e g e n d a r y Entertainment first kicked off the franchise that would eventually be known as the “MonsterVerse” in 2014 with a reboot of the classic series of monster films, “Godzilla”.

After a generally positive critical reception, 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island” and 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” were released to positive and negative reviews, respectively.

Now, in 2021, a fourth film has been released for the franchise, “Godzilla vs.

Kong”. This film features iconic monsters Godzilla and Kong in a brutal, CGI-laden battle as a new threat rises in their wake. The film has garnered generally positive reviews from critics and is notable for having the most successful box office debut since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film certainly delivers on its promise to showcase two gigantic monsters fighting for the right to be called “king.” There is a monster present in almost every scene of the film, and the climactic brawl between Godzilla and Kong is all of the joyful spectacle with zero regard for human life that fans of the franchise could have possibly hoped for.

Supporters of Team Godzilla may be a bit disappointed to see Kong’s side of the story completely outshine the giant sea monster ’s both in terms of screen time and complexity, but Godzilla does receive his fair share of action toward the end of the film.

Of course, as with all of the “MonsterVerse” films, the glaring weakness of “Godzilla vs. Kong” is its total lack of effort in developing interesting human characters. In the few scenes where Godzilla or Kong is not on screen, the movie grinds to a complete halt as flat, one-note characters stand around in a room spewing mundane exposition.

There are fewer of these scenes than in past films in the franchise, but the characters here are perhaps the worst that have ever been in a “MonsterVerse” movie.

Unfortunately, viewers will absolutely feel this frankly boring slog of bareminimum plot and character establishment, leaving them pining for the moment that the titular beasts return.

This problem is the most disappointing aspect of “Godzilla vs. Kong” and the franchise altogether. These films simply mean nothing.

The argument can be made that audiences are just not watching these movies for compelling characters or themes. That is probably true, but that should not stop the filmmakers working on these movies from trying altogether.

What makes the situation worse is that the potential is clearly there for a very interesting exploration of humanity’s hubris. In the very first film of the “MonsterVerse”, “Godzilla”, the writers were on the cusp of touching on something interesting, namely the carelessness humanity has come to with the testing of nuclear weapons as well as its hostility toward the world’s nonhuman creatures. Several characters state, albeit in passing, that Godzilla was initially only awoken due to several attempts to kill him years before the events of the film.

Even during the movie, the terroristic monsters (called MUTOs) feed upon nuclear waste and radiation leftover from various detonations and power plants. However, these themes are never fully tackled as the film descends into the mayhem of fighting monsters.

More success comes in “Kong: Skull Island”, where themes of environmentalism and revenge are tackled.

Much like in “Godzilla”, Kong himself only attacks the invading humans when they begin bombing the surface of Skull Island. In addition, Kong is portrayed as an apex predator that keeps the entire island’s populations in order.

Half of the characters wish to kill Kong to avenge the deaths of their friends, while the other half insists Kong must live so as to avoid awakening a more vicious monster. This immediately gives the humans some level of interest while hinting at a larger picture. Of course, these themes are not delved into very deeply, but they are

at least present.

“Godzilla: King of Monsters” sees the complete disposal of what little thematic intrigue there was, resulting in horribly uninteresting characters and a quite abysmal movie when Godzilla is not present.

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is much the same.

Many critics have praised “Godzilla vs. Kong” for fulfilling its promise to showcase exciting monster action between two beloved beasts, cutting remarkable slack with every other element of the film being hilariously weak. Indeed, the audience gets exactly what it wants, but why should it not receive even more?

Potential themes for the “Godzilla vs. Kong” could have again been complacency regarding nuclear weapons, environmentalism, and human arrogance, but with this film in particular, topics like humanity’s ultimate lack of control, society’s failure to

protect its people, and the extent to which countries are even able to rebuild after a disaster could have been addressed while retaining the epic monster action.

There is enormous carnage as Godzilla and Kong fight in the middle of a well-populated city, yet no one in the movie seems to care in the slightest.

This results in a huge tonal disconnect that could have easily been avoided.

The “Godzilla” franchise in particular is not even a stranger to thematic commentary on society’s happenings and the human condition.

The original Japanese franchise featured metaphors pertaining to the national attitude following World War II. “Godzilla vs. Kong” is undoubtedly a fun movie to watch. Seeing a giant ape punch a giant lizard with atomic breath is so ridiculous that it is immensely exciting to see play out on screen.

The film thankfully does not take itself seriously at all, and this will leave many viewers entertained and satisfied enough. With its unprecedented box office success, the “MonsterVerse” will very likely receive more installments in the future, which is only a good outlook for fans.

Still though, there will always be a hint of disappointment associated with the viewing of this film.

It truly makes zero effort to be more than what everyone knew it was going to be.

The movie will make for an enjoyable experience, but seeing the potential present, some of which has almost been fulfilled in past movies of the franchise, leaves the film ultimately ringing hollow.

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max through April 30.

Photo by Wikipedia Commons

“Godzilla vs. Kong” is not the only time the two iconic monsters have faced off on screen.

1962’s “King Kong vs. Godzilla” first featured a battle between the two.

8

Wednesday, March 28, 2021

SPORTS

THE ORACLE

Bisons ruin Reddies’ title hopes Donovan Lee Sports Editor

BENTONVILLE, AR— The ladies of Reddies Tennis packed their gear and

headed to northwest Arkansas to compete in the 2021 edition of the GAC tournament.

Photo byReddie Athletics

The Reddies tennis team defeats Harding Bisons.

Coming off a sweep of Oklahoma Baptist, the five-seed HSU met four-seed SAU in the quarterfinal round.

For the third time this season, the Reddies and Muleriders battled it out on the clay. With the series split at one game apiece, it was only right that the one for all the marbles be in the conference tournament.

The defending champion Muleriders were blindsided by the remarkable play of Henderson State and were eliminated from title contention in a 4-0 defeat.

After collecting their first postseason win in four years and their second one in the GAC era, HSU advanced to face the top-seeded Harding Bisons, who entered the postseason undefeated against conference foes and holding a 5-2 victory over the Reddies during the regular season.

Because the matches are only played up to the point when a team clinches the win, the duo of Franny Nyarko and Mulan

Kamoe were unable to get the Reddies on the board before the Bisons claimed four wins in the match over HSU, ending the Reddies season at the quarterfinal round.

Despite the defeat, the doubles duo of Nyarko/Kamoe, along with Georjema Row, were named to the AllGAC teams for 2021.

Kamoe is the fourth Reddie in four years to be named to AllGAC First Team. Both Nyarko and Row were selected as members of the Second Team after their performances this season.

The Reddies finished the season with a 5-7 record, going 2-4 in conference play, and winning their first playoff match since 2017.

After 28 years, HSU Tennis head coach and cross country coach Brenda Joiner announced her retirement from the Reddie Athletics program. She served in the program for 28 years. Plans to commemorate her career are being discussed and planned for this Fall.

Queens of the greens Donovan Lee Sports Editor HOT SPRINGS, AR— With the conference title on the line and an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals, Henderson State women’s golf took part in the GAC tournament, hosted by the Hot Springs Country Club.

Day one for the Reddies presented challenges early on, with HSU trailing the leaders by nine strokes as a team just halfway through the first eighteen holes.

Freshman golfer Karen Lee propelled Henderson back within reach of the top spot, shooting one-under 71 through 36 holes.

Lee’s scores for day one helped the Reddies into second place ahead of day two and put Lee in a tie for first place individually with Katie Whitfield, a golfer representing tournament leaders Arkansas Tech.

ATU entered the tournament as the defending champs for six consecutive years.

With a chance at championship hardware on the line, HSU geared up for the second day of action. After getting a

Photo by Wikipedia Commons

HSU Reddies and ATU Golden Suns make GAC history.

glimpse of the lead on day one, they returned to the coveted top spot in round one of day two, leading by four strokes at one point nine holes in.

However, keeping things interesting was ATU, who regained their lead by the same margin as HSU led by. The Golden Suns held that lead going into the final round of the tournament. The final

eighteen holes would not be enough to determine a definitive winner. The two front-running teams of the event, HSU and ATU, needed playoff holes to decide a conference champ.

A first-ever instance in GAC history, the playoffs began with another standstill as both teams completed the par-3 15th hole in par-4. Lee completed a huge birdie putt for

Henderson on the second hole of the playoff, along with par putts from Gracie Blount and Allie Bianchi, whose putt clinched the victory for HSU. With Lee and Bianchi tied for the tournament at 7-over 223, giving them fourth-place finishes. Both players were named to the All-Tournament team after their performances on the green. Four Reddies

finished inside the Top10 individually for the tournament, and a fifth Reddies golfer placed in the Top-15.

HSU punched their ticket to the NCAA Central Regional, which will be played May 3-5 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

This is their eight berth in the NCAA Regional tournament.