Volume 107, Issue 5

P ROFILE

THE HENDRIX COLLEGE

VOLUME 107 ISSUE 5

CHANGING

WITH THE

SEASONS

THE HENDRIX COLLEGE

P ROFILE

Table of contents 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16

18 19 2

Letter from the editor Co-Op Task Force Pathway to Reaccreditation

Editor-in-Chief: Marlee Bird Online Editor: Sarah Gilmour Managing Editor: Lauren Berry Photography Editor: Alice Fan Copy Editor: Peyton Coffman Layout Editor: Monica Martinez Photographer: Graydon Carter Photographer: Sarah Pickering Photographer: Samantha Huckabay Staff Writer: Trey Dyer Staff Writer: Nicola Bryan Staff Writer: Alyssa Jones Staff Writer: Julia Kraus Staff Writer: Anna Norman Staff Writer: Indigo Kroll Videographer: Mary Katherine Nail Online Editor: Sarah Gilmour

The Future of Residence Parties

Advisor Dr. Alex Vernon

Red Brick Tightens Submission Guidelines New Class on the Block Hate Groups on the Rise So Long, Farewell No Hate in My Church Modern Loathing: Senior Gift Sleep On It The Hendrix Way Forward

Mission Statement As a student-run and student-funded newsmagazine, The Profile uncovers the smart edge to campus culture: the people, places, ideas and trends that curious, confident students and faculty want, need and ought to know. By critically examining issues important to the Hendrix community, The Profile aims to act as a catalyst for change, a tool for transparency between the student body and faculty and a source of inspiration for its readers to begin thinking globally and acting locally.

The Hendrix Hiring Freeze Who is Running for President in 2020?

Record Breaking

@Hendrixprofile

The Profile At Hendrix

Spring has Sprung

hendrixprofile.com

HENDRIXPROFILE.COM

Cover photo by Alice Fan

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

MARLEE BIRD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

We all know the saying “change is the only constant in life.” Each year I believe it more, and this issue of The Profile is an especially great example of how change is an essential component of life, not only for individuals but for institutions like Hendrix.

This issue brings to light new fundamental changes at Hendrix – changes that are occurring now, changes that will occur in the future, and changes that are being proposed but are so far uncertain. Concerning these changes, it seems obvious that Hendrix continues to ask the question “How can we stand apart from our peers?” In my opinion, I think Hendrix is already doing that. We have the Odyssey Program, we offer more sports than almost any school in Arkansas, heck – we even have a sword club. It all begs the questions “Why do we need to change more?”

I won’t try to be the authority on this subject,

as I’ve only been at this school for 4 years. But I do know that these questions will be important in the future. They are asked quite often in this issue, and they should continue to be asked beyond these pages. The tension between tradition and change has always been a part of Hendrix life, however it is arguably even more relevant now than ever before.

Sincerely,

Have a question, response, or inquiry? You can reach us anytime at thehendrixcollegeprofile@ gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on the latest stories.

MARCH 2019

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NEWS

CO-OP TASK FORCE New program will impact work opportunities for students Alyssa Jones|Staff Writer Hendrix is exploring new options for student work and internship opportunities. There are several initiatives in the works, one being the co-op task force, which is currently designing a program for students to hold internships while taking courses.

“The purpose of the task force is to craft a program that will have students doing internships on steroids,” Dr. Gess said. “The opportunity to really immerse [themselves] in the working world while they are still students. It’s a way of applying what they are learning here in the classroom to the workplace.”

Co-op task force programs have traditionally been used in STEM and engineering programs at other institutions. Hendrix is one of the first liberal arts institutions to create a program like this.

“The task force is interested in exploring these co-op opportunities for all students, [including] social science and humanities students,” Dr. Gess said. “You can envision, for example, an English major that’s working in an editing role for a publisher somewhere. Co-op does not mean engineering or STEM, it actually fits very nicely with a liberal arts education.”

Hendrix’s program may take a different form than similar programs at other schools. The committee is floating ideas for a co-op compatible with Hendrix’s schedule and graduation requirements.

“The way that this looks at engineering universities would be students, during sophomore year, alternate semesters working then school, working then school,” Dr. Gess said. “Working semesters are paid by the employer, you are treated like any other employee. At engineering institutions, time is added to the length of the degrees, usually by a year—it takes five years, but students end up with tremendous experience. We don’t know what the model will look like here yet.”

“I hope this task force will be able to implement a program that will be beneficial for the lives of students by giving them real on the job experience that can better prepare them for life after graduation in the ‘real world,’” said Chad McGonigal, a student member of a co-op subcommittee.

The general reaction from people so far seems to be “cautious optimism,” according to Dr. Gess. McGonigal hopes that the program captures the attention of prospective students.

“The program this task force is working on can have a huge impact on Hendrix,” McGonigal said. “It can be a deciding factor on why a student would choose to come to Hendrix over another larger university. Hendrix is already a prestigious school and having a marquee program like this will only increase the status of our college.”

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PATHWAY TO REACCREDITATION Higher Learning Commission visits campus and receives Hendrix’s Self-Study Report Trey Dyer|Staff Writer

As part of the process of reaccreditation, a group of collegiate faculty and administrators volunteering for the Higher Learning Commission visited Hendrix on March 4 to hear from students, faculty, and staff about their experiences at the school.

The Higher Learning Commission is one of seven regional accreditation agencies in the country and the one Hendrix has been reporting to since 1924. Every ten years, the college issues a self-study report to the HLC who reviews it and decides whether or not Hendrix deserves to be reaccredited, with the ultimate goal of quality assurance and institutional improvement.

At the same time, in order for higher education institutions in the United States to receive federal funding through Financial Student Aid or Title IX, those institutions must be accredited by one of these seven federally-approved agencies.

The report that the College sent to the Commission this March was crafted over the course of two years by the Hendrix Self-Study Committee chaired by Associate Professor of Economics and Business Megan Leonard and Associate Professor of History Sasha Pfau. Others on the committee include the Chief Financial Officer, Dean of Students, Director of Institutional Research, and the Executive Vice President and Provost among others.

The process of creating the self-study involves anything from gathering copies of syllabi from Explorations classes to making sure athletic teams have written goals for their athletes.

The report itself consists of 84 pages of text and over 200 links to documents needed to provide the HLC with evidence of the College’s ability to plan, implement, and improve its capacities. All of this amounts to a detailed request for reaccreditation for the next ten years.

This comprehensive report focuses on five key areas: (1) Mission, (2) Ethical and Responsible Conduct, (3) Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support, (4) Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement, and (5) Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness.

“Five is one that a lot of institutions are having issues with at

the moment,” co-chair of the committee, Sasha Pfau said, “and obviously, ours is one.” By that, Pfau was referring to the current financial struggles Hendrix faces and the very reason the College hired the consulting firm, EY-Parthenon.

The committee ensured that Hendrix’s plans for resource allocation was very careful. The recommendations made by EYParthenon and the subsequent decision by the College to adopt three of those recommendations factored into the committee’s report to the HLC. Another area that the HLC focuses on is ensuring that professors are qualified to teach. “That is not a problem for us,” Pfau said. Co-chair Megan Leonard chimed in here. “The idea is to protect students. You’re paying to come here, and you should be getting something that makes sense.”

At Hendrix, depending on the department, non-tenuretrack faculty members are required to have earned a master’s degree in their field. For some disciplines, a terminal degree is required.

Pfau said it is incredibly unlikely for the College to lose its accreditation. If that were to happen, however, an institution is placed on a kind of probation period during which the HLC monitors the school to ensure it makes the necessary changes to earn accreditation again.

“If they have real concerns about us as an institution,” Pfau said, “they’ll say, ‘We want to check back in with you. We want you to do these things to prove to us that you are actually going to be okay.’”

If an institution “on monitoring” continually fails to improve, the HLC will remove their accreditation. Most cases like those arise due to financially unsustainable practices at institutions of higher learning.

As Hendrix vies for reaccreditation, Leonard and Pfau stressed that Hendrix students should feel good about the way ahead. “We are mission-driven. We operate with integrity, and we’re dedicated to teaching and learning and pushing forward into the future. We believe it and we hope that comes across to the students.”

MARCH 2019

Photo by Alice Fan

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THE FUTURE OF RESIDENCE PARTIES

Why the rules have changed, how students will be affected by new policies

Anna Norman | Staff Writer

Hendrix parties aren’t what they used to be. Martin parties seem nonexistent, and big apartment parties are few and far between. But the college isn’t cracking down just for the sake of it, and the majority of students have likely heard whispers of outlandishly low occupancy numbers from the fire department, both for dorm rooms and the apartments. The request for occupancy numbers stemmed from an out-of-control party last semester that resulted in a Title IX report being filed. When the students responsible for the party challenged the claim of overcrowding, the college asked the fire department for the numbers, which they assumed would fall somewhere between 20 to 25 people.

The fire department placed the maximum occupancy at around five or six people for apartments and approximately three people for dorm rooms.

“I thought this was a joke,” Dean of Students Jim Wiltgen said.

The administration appealed but received approximately the same number. Now Hendrix is in contact with other universities facing the same issue. While the administration will likely not follow the fire department’s recommendation perfectly, the issue comes down to liPhoto by Sarah Pickering ability.

“It’s all about being insured as a college and, I think, candidly, that might be the most important thing for the administration,” Apartment Hall Council President Alec Zills said. “At the end of the day, being insured keeps things running.”

According to Dean Wiltgen, the college will work with legal counsel and its insurers to determine how to handle the issue.

Along with the occupancy issues, the school has cracked down on alcohol, banning it from traditional dorms. Understandably, there’s concern about where residential parties will go from here and what this means for the student body.

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“One of the great things about Hendrix is that the parties always happened. Hendrix is a tough place to be, and it’s nice to be able to have something,” Zills said.

Dean Wiltgen has been working with students to figure out the best solution and praised Martin Hall Council for their work this year to put on successful, safe events. Martin has also been working to improve the line of communication between the dorm and the administration.

“As expected, conflict of interest to some extent has been inevitable, but the relationship has progressed and continues to grow better with each encounter,” Martin President Tim Lee said, adding, “We’ve made many efforts to combat and raise awareness for sexual misconduct, collaborated with numerous organizations for events, and established legitimate change within the administration.”

Additionally Zills and Lee have been brainstorming ideas for parties in the future, including a block party, which would be like a Martin party outside, parties in Worsham that would allow for sales of alcohol to those over 21, and extending the fence in the back yard of Front Street Apartments for more privacy, although each of these present their own challenges.

“I want the events to happen and I want to support that. By and large we let the students control and manage the events. I’ll do anything I can,” Dean Wiltgen said.

Lee acknowledges that Martin has changed but does not believe that the changes are negative.

“Many of the upperclassmen will say that the Hendrix they know today is completely alienated from the Hendrix they knew as freshmen. I don’t necessarily think that this has been a bad nor unforeseen change. We’re a small liberal arts college. Of course we’re going to grow and develop as a community while adapting to new sets of standards,” Lee said.

New submission guidelines exclude students on conduct probabation

Julia Kraus | Staff Writer

The Red Brick Film Festival Committee tightened submission guidelines for the 2019 festival by only accepting submissions from students in good conduct standing, allowing a maximum of one movie per applicant, and requiring a majority of filmmakers on any one project to be Hendrix students. The committee also emphasized that it retains the right to disqualify other cases deemed appropriate.

Students not in good conduct standing are those on conduct probation. According to the Student Handbook, one can be placed under conduct probation following a “serious violation of College standards and policies.”

Sanctions against such students now render them ineligible to submit films to the Red Brick Film Festival or win prizes.

This policy change comes in the wake of last year’s walkout during the film festival. The protest was led by Time’s Up Hendrix, a student organization whose mission is to “raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual assault and harassment on our campus.”

On the topic of whether changes to the policy came based on the walkout, Red Brick Committee member Dean Wiltgen said that the change “stems from our policies about people’s abilities to participate in anything if they’re under any kind of conduct probation. It’s linked not to the Red Brick rules, but to the rules of the College.”

Multimedia Technical Director Travis Peeples said “the major changes are allowing just one movie instead of two, and not allowing submissions from students on conduct probation.”

The limit of only one movie per applicant does not restrict students from working on multiple projects but does restrict students from acting as project directors for multiple submissions. Likewise, the requirement for a majority of filmmakers to be Hendrix students doesn’t limit the number of nonstudent filmmakers, only the number as stacked up against the number of Hendrix students involved.

The committee retains the right to disqualify short films in the cases of questionable conduct standing or based on excessive use of graphic language, nudity, and drug use.

Even in the cases of projects unfinished as of the submission deadline, an attempt is made to get them in their final form on screen. “What usually happens is I say ‘Okay, you can have until Wednesday to finish what you present at the festival, but the judges will only see and make their decisions based on what you have that Friday,’” Peeples said.

The festival will be held April 3 at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of hendrix.edu Photo courtesy of hendrix.edu

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NEW CLASS ON THE BLOCK Dr. Barth creates new class focused on criminal justice Nicola Bryan| Staff Writer Photo courtesy of hendrix.edu

Next fall, a criminal justice course will be offered here at Hendrix. Dr. Jay Barth, M.E. and Ima Graves Peace Distinguished Professor of Politics, will be teaching the course. This course differs greatly from other courses offered at Hendrix though, as it follows the inside-out model.

The inside-out model is a type of academic program that seeks to facilitate education and dialogue across profound social differences. This model has seen much success when implemented at prison facilities, both nationally and internationally. It calls for an equal number of inside students (those incarcerated) and outside students (traditional college students) to make up a class. So, this criminal justice course will consist of Hendrix students, as well as incarcerated individuals from the Wrightsville Correctional Unit.

“There’s a great deal of intentionality about community building, and about bringing down walls between inside and outside students so that they are working together in the course,” Dr. Barth said.

The class will include traditional papers and readings but primarily focuses on small and large group discussions, as it is a discussion rather than lecture-based class. As a discussionbased class, students are forced to communicate with each other in meaningful ways within the classroom setting. Dr. Barth became interested in the inside-out program after reading James Forman Jr’s writing about the criminal justice system and its disparate impact on African-American communities.

“I had been looking for a way to have some impact, in terms of bettering the situation of those who are reentering society after being incarcerated. I was intrigued by the notion of using teaching skills to make a difference, and I was drawn to this model of engaged learning,” Dr. Barth said.

He received a teaching grant from Hendrix through the Mullen Foundation. The grant is supposed to help with curricular development work that is focused on the diversification of curriculum, as well as the diversification of Hendrix, as the course will give Hendrix students the opportunity to interact with people that are not normally in their classroom setting. The grant also allowed Dr. Barth to receive training for the program, which took place outside of Detroit. During his training, Dr. Barth spent three days in a prison and was able to see the

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model play out firsthand.

The training that he underwent prepared him to undertake an inside-out class of his own. The next step was figuring out what prison setting in Arkansas made the most sense to implement the model in, as there are not many prisons near Hendrix.

The Wrightsville Correctional Unit, just south of Little Rock, is the closest facility of the appropriate size. The prison features a men’s facility, as well as a women’s facility.

“What’s nice about that facility is that they do have a lot of programming already in place. They have good physical space for programming, which a lot of prison facilities don’t have.

They have a relationship with Shorter College for some higher education work. And they even have Compassion Works for All, which is a program focused on conflict-resolution, yoga, and mindfulness. So, it was a good facility to choose for that reason.

Although it is somewhat of a hike to get there,” Dr. Barth said.

The Wrightsville Correctional Unit is a 50-minute drive from Conway. Hendrix students will travel to the facility one night a week, when the prison has programming time available. The course will take place in the men’s facility specifically, which has approximately 1300 individuals.

“What’s interesting about working in prisons is that things don’t always happen in a predictable way. If there’s a lockdown for instance, then we won’t be able to go in. So, we have to stay on our toes and be flexible. And the cool thing is, two of my other colleagues, Dr. Maslin and Dr. Shanks-booth are also very interested in implementing this model,” Dr. Barth said.

Dr. Maslin, Professor of Politics, and Dr. Shanks-booth, Assistant Professor of Politics, will be undergoing training this summer for the inside-out model through a different diversity grant.

Dr. Maslin is interested in teaching a feminist political course in the women’s facility and is also open to teaching an American political thought course. There are numerous factors to consider when choosing a course topic for this model though, such as whether all students will have the same access to textbooks and materials, and the prior knowledge that each student will bring to the course. Dr. Maslin is aware of these factors’ influence, and she looks forward to getting feedback on what courses will work best.

HATE GROUPS ON THE RISE

14 hate groups tracked in Arkansas Indigo Kroll| Staff Writer

1,020 hate groups—that’s the new all-time high found within the United States in 2018. The number was figured by the Southern Povery Law Center (SPLC); they calculated a 30 percent increase over the past four years. The SPLC’s “Hate Map” for 2018 also allows viewers to compare the changes since 2000—when 599 hate groups were counted—but the numbers have been tracked by the SPLC since 1990. The map also shows varying amounts of “hate per capita,” which is calculated per 100,000 residents in each state. Arkansas, which has one of the highest rates, is home to fourteen hate groups.

According to its website, the SPLC is “dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society… using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy.” Since its creation in 1971, the SPLC has monitored and exposed a number of hate groups across the United States. The organization has been targeted by hate groups for their work, but over the decades, the SPLC has initiated and carried out many civil cases on behalf of clients.

They’ve gone up against hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, White Patriot Party, and White Aryan Resistance. They also were a part of a push back against a monument of the Ten Commandments being placed outside the Alabama Judicial Building.

This year, the SPLC counted 83 hate groups in California, the highest of all states, and 0 in New Mexico. However, states like Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota had the highest rates of hate groups per capita. The most common groups include Neo-Nazi, White Nationalist, and Black Nationalist. There are also a large number of anti-Immigrant and anti-Muslim groups. Arkansas itself has all of the above; while some are concentrated in differ-

ent cities, there are White Nationalist and Neo-Nazi groups that are statewide.

There’s also a large number of groups in Louisiana (21), Tennessee (36), and Missouri (24). While any number of hate groups is dismal and unacceptable, the number has declined since the mid-2000s.

PEYTON: confused about sentence below because the sentence above says hate groups have declined. There are no statistics offered to support “continuing rise.” Continuing rise in what?

Many people point to the United States’ divisive politics as the cause for the continuing rise. There have been record numbers of shootings, hate crimes, and murders at the hands of extremists; 2018 was called “the deadliest year yet.” SPLC claims that President Donald Trump is to blame. According to their site, ““Rather than trying to tamp down hate, as presidents of both parties have done, President Trump elevates it—with both his rhetoric and his policies. In doing so, he’s given people across America the go-ahead to act on their worst instincts.”

Hate groups with white nationalist ideology have increased by 50% since his election.

The annual hate map never brings good news, but there are things that the SPLC is doing to fight back. They publish the “Hatewatch” blog, which “monitors and exposes the activities the activities of the American radical right.” They also share the information they track through investigative reports, law enforcement training, and expert analysis. Their “Extremist Files” database keeps record of prominent extremists and organizations, recording their histories and beliefs.

MARCH 2019

Photo courtesy of Southern Poverty Law Center

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SO LONG, FAREWELL Retiring professors reflect on career

DANNY GRACE I would like to take this opportunity to thank some folks for all their help, support and kindness. I can’t image how I might have gotten along without you. In no particular order here goes: All my Friends in Facilities. Thank you for taking care of me and Cabe Theatre.

All my Friends at Dining Services, Unsung Heroes of what makes Hendrix a great place to work and learn.

All my Friends at Bailey Library. Thanks for enriching my classroom (and all those special orders!).

All my Friends at Public Safety. Thanks for always being just a phone call away. All my Friends at Technology Services and The Help Desk. Thanks for your patience and willingness to help (even if I do have a Mac!).

All my Friends at KHDX 93.1 FM past and present. I began my career (as a student in 1973) and will end my career (as faculty in 2019) on the air. From 10 watts to the world-wide web-very cool!

All my great Colleagues (Ann) and Mentors (Rosemary, Frank, Ken and Henry). Without you I am nothing.

And of course, my Family- Especially Debbie, Cindy and David Grace.

Most of all I want to thank the students with whom it has been my great pleasure to work. A teacher’s only success is to see your success and happiness. I am pretty rich in that department.

I didn’t realize how hard it would be to leave!

See you at the Circus!

DR. STELLA CAPEK “Let the beauty that we love be what we do...” Years ago, while at Hendrix, I heard these lines, translated from Persian poet and mystic Rumi, and they still resonate with me. I love the power and beauty of words--written, spoken, sung--and their ability to cross barriers of time and space and social circumstances. My work at Hendrix has something to do with that love. I came here in 1986, a newcomer to Arkansas, trusting my positive gut feelings about this small interdisciplinary liberal arts college. I teach sociology, which shows that we’re all interconnected, how these connections fall into patterns large and small, and how once we see the patterns, we can work to change them. That, to me, is a kind of beauty. Another is being here just long enough to teach the children of my former students, and to see things coming full circle. In May, I’ll be “graduating” into a new post-Hendrix life, along with the class of 2019. Like other graduates, I’ll feel an exuberant sense of liberation along with a touch of sadness. Teaching has taken up a big space in my life, and I’ll miss seeing the world through the imagined eyes of my students when I travel or come across something interesting. I’ll also miss my colleagues and the staff at Hendrix, even as I look forward to the future. But Rumi’s next line is a good exit line: “There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” Multiple paths to beauty and meaning, and a reminder to feel gratefulness for the privilege of being on this earth. And a touch of humility, because no matter how much you know, there is more to know, and someone else who knows it. I can’t wait to continue the adventure.

DR. JOYCE HARDIN Over my years at Hendrix, I have attended 27 graduation ceremonies. The speeches have covered a variety of topics and included many wise words. Most have been excellent but, to be honest, I do not remember much about many of those speeches. A recent speaker’s advice caught my attention because it was a bit different from past speakers’ advice. As I remember them, his four points were - work from your strengths, let your fruit grow on other people’s trees, be a “servant”* leader, and finally, think for yourself.

You have heard the four points before so perhaps you wonder why I remember them at all. Together the four points created a model for his idea of successful leadership and life. I continue to think about the points individually and the synergy created by the four points together. Given our current political discourse and discord, it seems more important than ever to think about the elements of leadership and the kind of leader that you want to be– in your circle of friends, on our campus, and in your life to come. *I added the word “servant” to give you better sense of his comments.

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NO HATE IN MY CHURCH?

UMC tightens ban on same sex marriage and gay clergy Lauren Berry |Managing Editor Last month, I got the opportunity to attend the Untied Methodist Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis, where the church had a historic discussion and voted on how to move forward in dealing with the issue of gay marriage and clergy in the church.

This is something I’ve struggled with my entire life, growing up in a church that was not fully accepting and completely disagreed with my views on the world. When I walked into that arena in St. Louis, I had a way in mind that I wanted this all to end. Unfortunately, the church chose to uphold the current rules and strengthen punishment for those who break them. Now, myself and many other United Methodists around the world are stuck trying to figure out where we, as Christians who fight for LGBTQ acceptance go from here.

The United Methodist Church holds a General Conference every four years at which delegates from conferences around the world come together to vote on church business. At every General Conference since 1968, the issue of homosexuality in the church has been discussed. The current book of discipline includes what is commonly referred to as the “incompatibility clause,” which states that “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexual are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”

Growing up in the United Methodist Tradition and being a young person who has actively spoken out against the Incompatibility Clause in the Book of Discipline, I felt that it was important for me to go to this conference and show my support for what I see to be right. There were a lot of ideas on the table about where to go in our faith, but the two main plans on the table were the Traditionalist Plan and the One Church Plan.

The Traditionalist Plan was what is sounds like: it called to leave the clause in the Book of Discipline and enforce stricter policies to deter people from breaking the Book of Discipline. The One Church Plan, on the other hand, called for the removal of the clause from the Book of Discipline, and essentially allowed each church to decide how they would handle the issue of human sexuality in the church.

I arrived in St. Louis hopeful. I hoped that my church, the church that raised me and loves me so well, would make a monumental change in the way we do things. This has been one of my only big issues with the United Methodist Church’s theology, and I hoped that something big would happen. As discussion started, it became clear that was not likely.

On Monday, the General Conference opened as a legislative committee, perfecting the plans and voting to send them before

the Plenary session on Tuesday. After hours of grueling discussion, bible verses taken out of context, horribly offensive remarks by both sides, and protests, the committee ultimately voted to send the Traditionalist Plan before the body. As they revealed the votes for the One Church Plan on the screen, the arena got tense as we all realized that hope of full inclusion was no longer in the cards. I was disappointed, to say the least.

On Tuesday, the day started with a minority report to substitute the One Church Plan for the Traditionalist Plan, and as people gave passionate speeches in favor of both sides, everyone in the audience sat at the edges of their seats. Ultimately, the minority report failed, and the Traditionalist Plan passed. The United Methodist Church has effectively tightened the ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and marriages in the church.

I left the arena on the verge of tears. I realized that my church, my home, that has loved me and nurtured me and been my second family through it all won’t allow itself to be that for everyone. People who feel a call to ministry won’t be able to live that out because of who they love. My LGBTQ+ friends that I grew up with in youth group won’t be able to get married in their own church. JJ Warren, a young, gay man seeking to be on the path to ordained ministry from the Upper New York conference said during a profound speech “They have not heard this message before. They didn’t know God could love them, because their churches said God didn’t.” This breaks my heart.

That being said, it’s not lost on me that the minority report received 13 more votes than the One Church Plan did during committee. That’s 13 people that sat in their chairs and listened to other United Methodists speak out against the Incompatibility clause that had a change of heart. It wasn’t enough to flip the vote, but it doesn’t go unnoticed.

So, what do we do now? Many people in the UMC have talked about leaving the church. While that has crossed my mind during my processing period, I’ve realized that this is about something bigger than me. I will continue to love all of my brothers and sisters as my church taught me to do, and continue fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in the church. Ultimately, I hope and pray that my children and grandchildren will know a church that loves everyone, no matter who they love.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, said it best: “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”

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MODERN LOATHING: SENIOR GIFT Peyton Coffman| Copy Editor

This year, Hendrix’s tuition and fees for on-campus, full-time students fall between $58,074 and $58,796, depending on one’s housing and meal plan. Last year, fees fell around 57. For the ’16-’17 year, fees fell around 54k. For the ’15-’16 year, tuition and fees came out to $52,114 for freshmen living in dorms and subscribed to an unlimited meal plan. Which is to say that the current Hendrix senior has ostensibly been charged around $221,000 over the last four years. Of course, very few students, if any, pay Hendrix’s sticker price (going to Hendrix is like going to JCPenney, buying a $10 shirt that’s been marked up to $60 and back down to $10, and thinking you got a deal). Despite the grants and scholarships, most students (and/or their families) pay a lot of money to attend Hendrix. The school’s website boasts that the average financial aid package is “well over $100,000 over four years.” If “well over” means, say, $105,000, then the average Hendrix senior has been billed $116,000 since 2015. Which makes me wonder: why are we, the Hendrix class of 2019, obligated to give Hendrix a gift upon our graduation? That is the opposite of how graduation gifts work. I am not opposed to giving gifts, and I don’t mean to be selfish, but this year’s senior gift—a crosswalk between Front St. and the Hardin/Ellis lot—seems like the college is using seniors to pay for something that it should pay for itself. The crosswalk is not a nice-yet-unnecessary gift from current seniors to the next generation of Hendrix students, as the best senior gifts are. Here’s my breakdown of the situation: A crosswalk is necessary to students’ safety, therefore Hendrix should pay (or should have already paid) for one itself. or A crosswalk is not necessary to students’ safety because we all know how to look both ways, and brokeand-soon-to-be-even-broker Hendrix seniors should not be responsible for buying one to relieve the college of liability.

Here are fifteen potential senior gifts that Hendrix could have paid for instead of launching a new mascot but would still be better than a crosswalk: 1. Grass 2. Library printer 3. Landscaping for Huntington 4. Showers in Martin 5. Mold removal 6. Working smoke alarms 7. Working AC in dorms 8. Gazebo on village lawn 9. Washers that wash 10. Dryers that dry 11. Earplugs for everyone who lives in Village North and doesn’t want to be awoken at 4:00 every morning by the Panera delivery truck.

12. Money toward a remodel of the bridge over Harkrider as was depicted in renderings of the Welcome Center 13. Stipended positions for students to manage a recycling program 14. A statue of Duke 15. A bench in the shade

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SLEEP ON IT

FEATURE

Learn to prioritize sleep

Photo by Samantha Huckabay

Indigo Kroll | Staff Writer It’s 2:30AM on a Monday morning, and I have class at 9:00.

Instead of being in bed, though, I’m dragging myself across campus to the Snoddy Computer Lab, which is open 24/7. It’s quite convenient for students like myself who spend their nights (and early mornings) finishing essays and homework, and on any given day, it’s not uncommon to see other tired, glassy-eyed students on the verge of napping on their keyboards.

Sleep deprivation is prevalent in college culture, but many students don’t take it seriously. Maybe the disregard for healthy sleeping habits comes from one of the most popular archetypes of college students in movies: a person in sweats and a hoodie with heavy eyelids and an energy drink in hand, or half-awake and drooling on their textbooks in the library. If finals are approaching in such movies, the library is packed with students studying under blankets and with a variety of energy shots and protein bars scattered around them.

College students and a lack of sleep seem to go hand-in-hand, and I’ve been warned of the negative effects by informational posters and bulletin boards. So why do students still view sleep as a lesser priority?

Many students say that they stay up late to finish homework, some because they’ve procrastinated, and others because they have so many tasks piled on top of each other. Some students are taking time away from sleeping in order to relax; they’re watching Netflix and Hulu or playing videogames. Still others say that even when they aren’t awake for any particular reason, they know the minimum hours of sleep they can get by with the next day. I myself rely on generous naps throughout the day in order to get things done after class and into the night. Sleep isn’t made out to be a necessity in college. There are always more pressing matters to

take care of, and if we don’t know what we’re really sacrificing, the importance of sleep takes a back seat in our minds.

Professors and students at Hendrix have worked on their own sleep lab for years; the psychology departments page describes their work as, “examining the relationship of sleepiness to a wide variety of other things: hunger, burnout (severe stress responses), social cognitions (such as blaming others when things go badly for you), moral decisions, academic performance, mating choices, and the way we process information.”

Furthermore, they note that sleep is important because it’s something we spend 1/3 of our lives doing. Students’ sleep tends to get worse as they enter college, and it stays that way. It’s also been found that poor sleep leads to a decline in GPA. Any student that’s had trouble getting to class after staying up all night knows that poor sleep impacts academic performance. It obviously isn’t the only factor that determines how well students do in class, but it’s a simple necessity that many of us take for granted.

Even if we know that we need a healthier routine, it can be hard to prioritize sleep.

Over the past semester, Dr. Kennedy, Dr. Peszka, and Jane Henderson have worked on the Learn to Sleep Well, Sleep Well to Learn workshop. It is a process that occurs over six weeks, and it aims to help students improve their sleep. The second wave of the workshop will continue this semester, starting March 10. The first meeting is at 2:00-2:30 pm in Worsham, and other than being over 18, they say the only requirement is a desire to improve sleep quality. If you’re like me, you know that you should be sleeping better—the workshop is a chance for students to find a feasible way to do so.

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THE HENDRIX WAY FORWARD With help from a consulting firm, Hendrix creates a plan of action for coming years In the Fall of 2018 and in anticipation of the Higher Learning Commission’s reaccreditation, Hendrix called in a consulting firm to address the college’s financial stress and dropping enrollment numbers. After reviewing the institution’s performance and current status, the firm suggested dozens of potential remedies. Now, the college has decided on a plan of action that “suits Hendrix’s character” and is economically feasible.

Hendrix has found itself in the same position as numerous private liberal arts colleges around the country. It’s experiencing falling enrollment numbers and a subsequent shortfall in revenue.

According to official semester enrollment reports and common data sets found on their website, the college’s total enrollment numbers have slowly dropped since at least 2011.

In the Fall of 2011, total enrollment rested at 1,388. Six years later in the Fall of 2017, that number was 1,249. Last semester’s official total enrollment was 1,209. This meant that the college was losing revenue and could not operate on its own budget effectively.

To address the challenges facing Hendrix, the administration hired EY-Parthenon, a management consulting firm that strategizes to find ways of optimizing business practices and advises companies and organizations in creating sustainable and innovative solutions.

After reviewing Hendrix’s performance and current operations, the firm explored 38 ideas that might increase revenue while keeping the school’s budget in check. Hendrix’s President Tsutsui called some of these suggestions “wacky” like creating a campus presence in Northwest Arkansas. It was even suggested that Hendrix dive into Division I sports, but Tsutsui pointed to other institutions and their attempts to start those kinds of sports programs saying, “that’s just not Hendrix.”

Others, he said, were more practical like online courses, one-year masters programs, or an increase in the number of majors offered. Ultimately, these suggestions didn’t make the cut when put before a steering committee of Board of Trustees members, administrators, and faculty. When asked why online courses wouldn’t be a good fit for Hendrix, Tsutsui explained that Hendrix is more about “talking to a person, not a computer screen.”

In deciding which proposals would be accepted

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and put into action, Tsutsui said that each had to satisfy three criteria: does the plan fit Hendrix’s character, will it increase revenue, and is it financially and logistically possible? Eventually, it was decided that three of the proposed ideas would be implemented.

The first idea is meant to address the vacancy left by Arkansas Governor’s School, which had occupied Hendrix’s campus over the summer for the past 38 years. Tsutsui described a number of possible replacement programs from AGS-like curriculum to day camp for middle school students.

Summer language programs were also suggested along with MCAT prep courses.

“AGS was good income for cafeteria staff, so we’re trying to find a way to keep them employed over the summer.” Tsutsui said. The development of these summer programs, whatever they may be, will be in the hands of Associate Director of Career Services and Employment Connections Coordinator Timothy Purkiss.

The second part of the college’s plan is to increase its social media presence. As it stands, Tsutsui said the college doesn’t have a large enough image on social media and hasn’t engaged in effective online campaigns that work to attract the attention of prospective students. Rob O’Connor, Vice President for Marketing Communications, will take the lead along with Sam Nichols, Vice President for Technology Services, in increasing online activity that works to utilize the power of social media platforms to recruit students.

Not only does Tsutsui think a more active Twitter feed would be good to attract high school graduates, but it could also be used to recognize current students and their accomplishments here on campus.

The final part of the plan and perhaps most appealing to future students of Hendrix is the launch of a co-op education program. “They’re essentially super internships,” Tsutsui said, “except you’ll be getting paid and you’ll earn course credit.”

While there are over 900 intensive internship programs around the country, Hendrix’s will be one of only a few co-op programs offered on such a large scale. These intensive paid internships could theoretically be tailored to any major. “Even a history major could find a position in a co-op program.” Tsutsui said.

Trey Dyer | Staff Writer Leigh Lassiter-Counts, Director of Career Services at Hendrix, said that Hendrix’s co-op will look less traditional than the normal co-op program, which was originally designed for engineering schools. “It’s our chance to make co-ops ‘Hendrix-y’ and put our spin on it (and be one of the first Liberal Arts colleges in America to do so).” she said by email.

In designing the program, Lassiter-Counts said they’re focusing on three different areas: admissions, academics, and employer/partners. Excited for what this co-op could provide Hendrix students, Lassiter-Counts said, “I’ve seen the impact an internship can have on students’ lives – not just academically, but holistically as they think about what kind of people they want to be in the world, what kind of impact they want to make, what kind of problems they want to solve.”

The next step for the co-op program lies with a task force recently formed to design and implement it, the chair of which is Associate Professor of Politics and Associate Provost for Engaged Learning Dr. Peter Gess. This task force will issue a preliminary report later in the Spring. The goal is to implement the co-op program by the Fall of 2021.

When asked whether a tuition reset, a dramatic cut in the cost of tuition to make the college’s “sticker price” more attractive, was ever considered, Tsutsui said yes, that they had been “studying it last year,” and that one could happen in the next couple years or so.

Despite the troubles facing Hendrix, Tsutsui stressed that we are not alone in our struggles and that Hendrix will continue to progress. “The Creative Quad is now entirely paid for by donors and the dorm renovations will keep going.” he said.

Schools like Hendrix are facing a reality where there are fewer high school graduates and fewer international students. At the same time, Tsutsui points out, “we face an image problem.” Arkansas isn’t the most appealing place to many prospective students, so Hendrix has to fight that perception.

At the end of the day, Tsutsui thinks Hendrix is at the “front end of change.” The biggest question for liberal arts institutions, he said, is “how in the age of changing families and demographics we overcome a revenue shortfall because with communities changing all around us, the world needs places like Hendrix.”

THE HENDRIX HIRING FREEZE

Photo by Alice Fan

Shifting student enrollment numbers affect hiring demands

Nicola Bryan | Staff Writer Hendrix is experiencing a hiring freeze across its academic departments, meaning that no tenure track positions are being filled at the moment. This freeze in hiring efforts can be attributed to a drop in student enrollment, the retirement of tenure professors, and the hiring of professors in term positions instead.

“In general, hiring freeze really just describes how we’re approaching specific types of positions right now. When you think of a freeze, a lot of times people use that word to mean that there’s absolutely no hiring occurring at all. But that’s really not the case,” said Dr. Bonebright, Executive Vice President and Provost and Professor of Psychology.

Positions that are considered frozen are ones where there has been the retirement of a faculty member but the college is not actively searching to fill the open position. Most of the frozen positions are due to professors in tenure track positions retiring and leaving Hendrix. A tenure track position is one that is permanent, and offers employment for an indefinite amount of years. There was a freeze on tenure track positions last year as well. The college hired term positions, which is when a professor works for a set amount of years rather than an indefinite amount, where they were needed instead.

“When you’re hiring faculty for tenure track positions, you’re really making a long-term commitment to that person and to that particular specialization. It’s a commitment for 30 to 40 years at least. If you’re going through a period where there are changes in the curriculum or changes in the number of students enrolled, it’s really not appropriate then to make that kind of long-term commit-

ment,” said Dr. Bonebright.

In the past, Hendrix’s student enrollment was at approximately 1000 students. It has since reached a total of approximately 1450 students, but recently dropped back down to historic numbers and is currently at around 1100 students. A drop in student enrollment numbers means a drop in demand for faculty positions, and decreased pressure to fill open faculty positions.

In addition, a drop in student enrollment typically leads to a change in student interests across all subject fields. The filling of open faculty positions is directly related to the demand that students create for courses within each department. The curriculum for each major is also influenced by student interest, and changes accordingly, which in turn affects the need for certain faculty positions to either be filled or created.

“During the time frame when we had a larger number of students enrolling, we hired more professors. There are changes across time in terms of curriculum, whether that’s due to what students are interested in or due to what courses are a part of the major. Hiring what we make in certain areas is based on student interest and student enrollment in particular majors,” said Dr. Bonebright.

Hendrix’s administration is doing what they can to respond appropriately to the student demand for professors and to the decline in student enrollment. The administration is making adjustments to the size of the staff and faculty in response to these changes how they see best fit.

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WHO IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020?

We are only three months into 2019, and so many people are already throwing their hat into the presidential ring that it is hard to keep up. Here are some that you should know

Anna Norman | Staff Writer Joe Biden The former Vice President has yet to announce his candidacy, and yet he is leading in virtually all of the polls. With the democratic party lacking a true face, Joe Biden could be what it needs to make it all of the way to the White House. If he does decide to pursue the democratic nominee, and he likely will, he is clearly a front runner at the moment, but many think a white male nominee would not make for the best optics for the party emphasizing diversity. Additionally, his role in the Anita Hill hearing has not aged well, and although he has already voiced his regret, this will still likely be an issue in his campaign.

Bernie Sanders This long time Independent senator from Vermont gained a large cult following during and after the 2016 Democratic Primary, and is doing pretty well so far. He typically only falls behind former Vice President Joe Biden in the polls, and his campaign raising a whopping $5.9 million within the first 24 hours after his announcement. His progressive policy stances- medicare for all, higher federal minimum wage, free college, and higher taxes for the wealthy, among many others, have fairly widespread appeal, but some feel that his campaign, and especially his staffers, are not inclusive of people of color and women, which will likely prove to be a hindrance to him during the democratic primary.

Kamala Harris California’s Junior Senator since 2017, many people believe that Kamala Harris is exactly the face that the democratic party needs, and she typically falls behind Bernie and Biden in the polls. As a member of the judiciary committee, her prosecutorial past helped her come out of the Kavanaugh hearing looking strong, and a more than worthy adversary against Trump. In her announcement, she mentioned medicare for all, universal pre-k and debt free college, cybersecurity, veterans, and police brutality. Her less than progressive criminal justice record as Attorney General of California has already received intense scrutiny, and will be something that she will have to answer for throughout the campaign.

Beto O’Rourke Some people are extremely impressed that this former Texas

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Representative had the kind of support he did in his race against Ted Cruz in the Texas senate race. Others say the fact that he could not even beat Ted Cruz, one of the most disliked members of the United States Senate, is a bad sign. Regardless, he has garnered national attention, and although he hasn’t announced yet, he says he has made a decision and we will likely be hearing something very soon. He has lost some of the momentum he had immediately after the midterm election, but his Obama-esque charisma have some thinking he’s the real deal.

Elizabeth Warren Warren is the most liberal of the Senate, and officially announced her candidacy on February ninth. Her platform focuses on washington corruption, the middle class, and criminal justice reform.

Her brawl with the president and subsequent release of her DNA results showing a miniscule amount of Native American Heritage did not make for the best optics, and she currently falls behind Harris in most polls.

Cory Booker Senator Booker has served in congress since 2013 and was formerly the Mayor of Hoboken. He was supposedly on the shortlist for Hillary Clinton’s Vice President in 2016. He recently received flack for his “Spartacus” moment during the Kavanaugh trials, and the fact that he gets more money from Wall Street than any other senator will likely prove to be an issue for him moving forward.

Amy Klobuchar This moderate Senator from Minnesota is campaigning to stop divisive politics. She easily won reelection last year, and Klobuchar earned some fans after her poised response to Brett Kavanaugh’s cruel rebuttal during his hearing. Her campaign announcement received a relatively subpar response, and she has come under fire for her harsh treatment of congressional staff, resulting in the highest staff turnaround of the senate.

Sherrod Brown Senator Sherrod Brown won reelection in Ohio in a swing state, and this could help secure some voters in 2020, and although he has yet to announce his candidacy, his announcement is likely to come soon.

Photo courtesy of New Times Michael Bloomberg The billionaire and former mayor of New York City has said he would likely run as a democrat, but he tends to disagree with many of its progressive stances. Bloomberg said he would announce in January or February, although he also said that he’s in no rush, so it is possible that the announcement will be coming soon.

John Delaney John Delaney of Maryland gave up his seat in the House to continue his campaign, which was announced all the way back in June 2017.

He has dedication, but virtually no name recognition, despite how long he has been running and people probably won’t be learning his name any time soon.

Tulsi Gabbard Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard officially announced her campaign for president in early February but quickly came under fire for her past anti-gay remarks, so it’s unlikely that she would be able to secure the democratic nomination.

Bill Weld The former Massachusetts Governor is the first republican challenger to Donald Trump. He tends to support more liberal social issues, like abortion and same-sex marriage, but remains very conservative on economic issues.

Julian Castro Julian Castro, the former Mayor of San Antonio and the youngest ever Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Obama Administration, officially announced his bid for president on January 12. He’s polling at the bottom of candidates with any sort of chance, and will have to compete with Beto O’Rourke for Texas democrats, but he shouldn’t be discounted just yet.

Howard Schultz The former Starbucks CEO has not yet officially announced his presidency, but would run as a centrist independent, as he says the two party system in America is broken. He has received a lot of flack and harsh criticism for potentially taking votes away from a democratic nominee and giving the election to Trump.

Kirsten Gillibrand The Senator from New York announced an exploratory committee on January fifteenth on Stephen Colbert, but hasn’t really showed much popularity in the polls. She has become much more liberal in recent years switching from an A rating from the NRA ten years ago to an E,, and is known for her outspokenness in calling for Al Franken’s resignation following sexual assault allegations.

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SPORTS

RECORDBREAKING

Winter warriors make big strides, swim and basketball receive recognition Julia Kraus |Staff Writer Winter athletics proved eventful for Hendrix students with both men’s basketball and swimming receiving recognition from the Southern Athletics Association (SAA). In swimming, both men and women set new school and program records with Coach Tony Marleneau named the SAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year, and, in basketball, Seth Stanley received SAA newcomer of the year and was named to the 2019 SAA Tournament Team.

Swim team co-captain and senior Sam Melhorn received SAA Swimmer of the Week during the 2018-2019 season and attributed the team’s improvement to the new head coach Tony Marleneau, and a greater atmosphere of improvement. Melhorn said, “We were so successful because of some new training aspects that the head coach brought in, and then, also, the team atmosphere was more hyped up, trying to do better, which helped me.”

Melhorn attributed the culture change in part to the team’s incoming freshmen. “The freshmen we got coming in this year were already pretty fast, so they were all really excited to swim in our conference and to swim fast. They were all focused on swimming fast and winning, whereas some of us who’d been here a while had gotten used to everything,” Melhorn said.

Junior Lyle Alford participated in three relays setting school records this past season and agreed the team improved and the freshmen had something to do with it. Alford said, “We’ve been last since we became a division III school in swimming, this year

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was the first year where we’re almost not last. We almost beat Sewanee, we were lacking five points, but that’s almost nothing compared to the hundreds of points that we used to be behind.” Specifically on the freshman Alford continued, “They’ve recruited more and more each year which has added depth, which means we can do better in general.”

He also agreed that Coach Tony Marleneau contributed to the success of the team. “Tony’s training style fit more with what I need as an athlete and person to be competitive. It matches well with how I swim,” Alford said.

Swimming isn’t the only winter sport to experience a lot of change this past season. In basketball, the SAA awarded freshman Seth Stanley 2018-19 Newcomer of the Year and a spot on the All-SAA Second Team. He was the only Hendrix student to receive the latter award. Stanley is enthusiastic about his performance, “It’s good for my confidence, just starting in college athletics to do well,” he said.

However, Stanley attributes his success to his teammates and sheer practice. “It’s really a testament to how the older players took me under their wing and taught me quickly everything they knew about the game and what to expect. That was big in accelerating my learning curve,” he said, “The biggest part of my success was the way I practiced before. Leading up to games, I tried to take it very seriously, so I didn’t have to think as much when I went into the situations where I had to perform.”

CULTURE

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

How to enjoy the springtime in Central Arkansas Alyssa Jones |Staff Writer Conway, Arkansas is a college town that may seem to be lacking in the arena of activities. As we escape these bitter times of cold and rainy weather, spring is arriving. Typically, students will begin to creep out of their dorm rooms and find themselves lounging on a blanket in the middle of campus to celebrate the sunny days.

With spring comes midterms and final seasons. This includes many study breaks to escape the daunting textbooks and notes. Conway has a few great places to venture out and visit before the lovely spring weather ends.

FREE: With the beautiful weather to come, it is the perfect opportunity to be active. The City of Con-way has paired with Zagster to offer the locals a chance to bike share around the town. Zagster’s website includes a map of these bikes’ locations, scattered around Conway.

The Bailey Library has bicycles available for rent for up to three days.

Cadron settlement park offers graffitied rocks and a lake that sparkles under the sun. It tends to be a quiet setting where students can connect with nature.

Pinnacle Mountain provides a location where anyone can come hike and enjoy the weather.

Visitors to Petit Jean State Park can travel down the trail to a waterfall.

In May, Conway will host the annual Toad Suck Daze festival. The best part about this event is free admission. The festival offers rides, crafts, toad races, and music.

PAID: At Hogwild Family Fun Center, you can ride go karts and bumper carts. If you want to make a whole day of it, you can also play laser tag, mini golf, or visit the arcade.

Escape rooms are a fun and innovative way to use your brain. There are three escape rooms here in Conway: ‘Bank Job,’ ‘Serial Killer,’ and ‘The Motel.’

The Cinemark Town Centre and XD is always a great getaway. Nothing beats $5 movie Tues-days. If you enjoy the stage more than the silver screen, tickets to see the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre are available through the Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA. The Little Rock Zoo is always open to the public. During the spring, all of the animals are nor-mally out and about.

Arkansas Skatium is a great place to show off your skating talents. This skating center offers both roller and ice skating. Just visit arkansasskatium.com to access their schedule and prices.

For a great meal between nature hikes, the Streetside Crêperie is a nice stop—just get there be-fore 2pm.

Frida: Portraits of Frida Kahlo Photographing is on exhibit at the Arkansas Art Center. On April 4, the center will host a latenight event that closes at 9pm.

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1600 Washington Ave. Conway, AR 72032