The UALR Forum: Feb. 26 - March 11

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FROZEN REVIEW

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BLUEJAYS BLUES

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THROUGH

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Gabriel “FLUFFY” Iglesias

earning television, film gigs after carving out broad fan base Jacob Ellerbee

executive editor JJEllerbee@ualr.edu

Feb.-Mar. 13th Valentine’s Spirit-Grams

12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

DSC Foyer B

17th GRE Practice

7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

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24th Donaghey Scholar Bake Sale

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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25th Study Abroad Informational Session

12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

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NEWS

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OPINIONS

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FEATURES

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Entertainment

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Sports

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omedian Gabriel Iglesias, also affectionately known as “Fluffy,” has amassed a loyal fan base over the course of his decade-and-a-half comedy career. He has more than 6 million fans on Facebook, about 2.5 million fans in his circles on Google+ and nearly 570,000 followers on Twitter.

But, Iglesias, who spoke to The Forum by telephone from Palmdale, Calif., said he took a lot of risks along the way to achieving such adoration from fans.

Iglesias, who was 21 at the time he was beginning standup, said he was living with a roommate and paying about $300 for his share of an apartment. He was working at a cell phone company and making about $4,000 per month during

this fruitful period in his life.

“For someone who is 21, who has no real responsibilities and your rent is roughly 300 bucks a month, uh, yeah I was in a really good spot.”

“And I had benefits,” he added, topping off a list of things he was prepared to throw away in favor of a pursuit to becoming a successful comedian.

“You know, life was actually good,” he said. “I had no complaints. But, it wasn’t what I wanted to do.”

Iglesias said within a few months of quitting his job at the phone company and beginning his pursuit of comedy, he got evicted from his apartment.

“All the money ran out, you know? I figured ‘Oh, stand-up is going to pay the bills.’ And it didn’t. All the money went away.”

see Iglesias, page 9 photo courtesy of Gabriel Iglesias

Little Rock Nine member visits UALR Alton Young

Editor AXYoung1@ualr.edu

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he Little Rock Nine made nationwide news when they were prevented from entering Little Rock Central high school in 1957 by the Arkansas National Guard and were harassed by a crowd of hostile anti-integrationists.

They weren’t allowed in until President Eisenhower sent the U.S.Army 101st Airborne Division as escorts.

Fifty-seven years later, Carlotta Lanier Scott (youngest member of the Little Rock Nine) was back in Little Rock, not to face an angry crowd of segregationists, but to address an eager crowd of students, faculty and guests at UALR on Feb. 20 in Ledbetter Hall.

As part of the Black History Month activities by the Office of Campus Life’s Diversity Programs, Lanier-Scott began the evening by explaining why she speaks around the country, stating that some of the history that makes the country great is not found in books.

“So I do enjoy coming out and trying to help those to understand that time in history,” she said. She recognized how she is usually busy during this time of year because of Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. She dismissed the notion that February is Black History Month because it’s the shortest month of the year by citing many reasons that it’s the appropriate month, including it being the month of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Lanier Scott also recognized Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro National History Week in 1926 which was appended to Black History Month 50 years later. Woodson, the son of slaves, was the second African American to earn a PhD from Harvard in 1912.

Lanier Scott and Woodson share their appreciation of the value of education. Though Woodson didn’t begin his for-

mal education until 20, he was able to earn his high school diploma, masters and bachelors in a few years. Lanier-Scott went to Michigan State University for two years before transferring to Colorado State College. She lamented the way that she feels the entire country, not just African Americans, has not placed adequate emphasis.

“Education is not the priority that it was,” she said. “I just don’t see the drive we used to have.”

Her own high school education was certainly atypical, but it was in more ways than the most obvious. The fact that she was one of only a handful of students at the all-white Central meant that she had to endure racism and hatred among peers and outsiders that opposed her presence, which is unimaginable for many today. However, there were other high school experiences that are normally taken for granted that she was not able to have.

“When all of the nine of us showed up at Central High School on that first day, we already knew that we would be going to class and then going home. We would not be coming back for football games, plays, dances, proms, club-meetings, band practices and so forth.

We gave up all of that when we chose central,” she said.

The psychological torment that Lanier Scott endured while attending Central did have an effect on her as she was not able to share her story for about 30 years. She didn’t want to talk about it, even with her children and family. In 2009 though, she released a book about her experiences, “A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School.”

When asked if she understood the magnitude of what she and the other nine students were doing back when she was 14, Lanier Scott said, “We were being told the magnitude of what we were doing, but at 14 all I wanted was the opportunity to go to the best school available and I had a right to be there.”

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February 26 - March 11, 2014

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Opinions

The good, the bad and the offensive Shashank Avvaru Staff Writer SXAvvaru@ualr.edu

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he recent Coca-Cola ad is one in a seemingly endless list of advertisements that has instigated uproar all around the world with its content.

From sexist to racially discriminating to even emotionally torturous, the world of advertising is plagued with offensive and controversial pieces that are abhorred, and with good reason.

In 2011 a Singapore ad promoting a popular food item from the Burger King franchise touched a new level of public disgust when it featured a woman in a compromising position along with the sub-shaped sandwich. The underlying sexual reference was as subtle as a nuclear explosion.

Not only was this ad banned and retracted weeks later, Burger King issued a public apology in an attempt to correct the fatal error committed with the release of that advertisement. But that one mistake seemingly cost Burger King a significant decrease in female customers, which leads us to an interesting dilemma: is an advertisement and its ability to potentially offend relevant?

Absolutely.

A society is only as good as the art forms produced in and by it. In the vicious cycle of society and art, one feeds off another and grows. If a movie, song, book, poster, painting can all be offensive, why not an advertisement? In the early ‘60s, a popular woman’s clothing line released an ad that showed a woman lying beside a glittering boot with the tagline reading: “show her where she belongs.”

While this ad was considered a run-

of-the-mill piece and was soon forgotten when it released, modern feminists and social researchers say this ad is considered as one of the many ‘little things’ that influenced feminine ideologies in the ‘60s. Advertisements, for better or for worse, transcend emotions, fears and ideas to the people that watch or hear them. They are, at the end of the day, still a content-filled informational entity that society will react to.

Advertisements and propaganda run hand in hand. What is the most famous poster showing Uncle Sam pointing at you and asking you to join the army? An advertisement. This poster is an epitome of patriotism and love for one’s country, but many forget that it was devised as a marketing scheme to draw young men and women into the military forces. If such a positive reaction can be induced by an ad, why is a negative reaction surprising?

Every advertisement is the product of a company. This company has a social and ethical responsibility toward the viewers and listeners. An ad released by a company is supposed to represent the views and opinions of every employee in that company.

Therefore, when a 30-second video showing the national song of a country sung in languages other than the one it was written in is released, people will be offended and rightly so. There are a number of ways in which the message that Coca Cola had intended to express with that ad could have been put across.

The way they used it was probably the worst.

The world welcomes good ads. It can live with bad ads. But what we can safely say we are done with, are ads that offend us.

Student athletes need to be punished for scandalous social media posts versity. It has been instilled into me throughout my personal college career Zachary Martin that one must be wary of social media Staff Writer and what you broadcast on it. Anyone ZRMartin@ualr.edu can see it and be offended to the point of giving grievance to university heads.

This egregious attempt at humor is racist social media post on Ina sad and sick display of disrespect and stagram sparked a wildfire of disregard to common decency, brought controversy at Drexel University about by a foolish and rude college on the first day of Black History athlete.

Punishment must be swift Month this year. One senior socand just, so that the event will not cer athlete, Jessica Sarkisian, soil the university name any more posted a picture of herself than has already been done. and a fellow African-AmeriThis delay only weakens the repcan student with a violently utation of those with offensive caption. the power to do the The comments made right thing,

by Sarkisian sailed far in the corpast a petty slip-up and crashed rect manner. straight into a malicious, thoughtWhen it really out blow to the African-American comes down to population. After the post made its it, we all know way around the web, Drexel Athwhat she said letic Director Eric Zillmer offered an was wrong apology and a promise to address and something the matter with the student. needs to happen. With This post seemed to be purposemany African-American ful and was even orchestrated by based organizations across a fellow American. It would be atrothe campus and the world, if cious to believe that it was done of igcollege athletes like Sarkisian norance and should be overlooked. Awdo not answer for what they ful behavior such as this would never say, the University will have far be tolerated in the professional world bigger problems than scandalous today. This young athlete is a face for social media posts. Riots could pothe entire university, therefore, she tentially form and a lawsuit might should face repercussions for such ensue. Yet, if the correct decision actions. An argument for ignois made on this, all could turn out rance is highly invalid with such less complicated. a potently racist comment. The We all agree that experiences of high just because students school and college are are athletes, it doesn’t eye opening for everymean that they should one, and one would be exempt from rules be hard pressed not of the common peoto learn that racism ple. Being “young and is horrible and will dumb” is thrown out never be tolerated in of the window as an such a cultured enviexcuse when the event ronment. involves something as Promises of adserious as a racist comdressing an issue as ment. Athletes across dire as this is a comAmerica have been forting statement, persecuted for their but falls short of fair unorthodox behavior judgment. In a throughout the years. professional setCollege athletes are ting, this would illustration by Zachary Tallent aspiring professional have led to immeathletes and should diate termination be treated with the same scrutiny. This of status. I believe this to be the only just idea will promote respectful behavior decision in this instance. A scholarshipholding athlete, who is admired as an and prudence in athletes. We as human upstanding student, cannot be allowed beings share this world and it is a beauto trample all over the decency of a tiful fact that many cultures exist in our university without consequences being midst. Therefore, we should all strive to anything less than cutting all scholar- uphold the equal treatment of these culships given to that student by the uni- tures so as to prevent any other heinous crimes such as this.

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The Forum is the official student newspaper at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Forum is funded in part by the student activity fee; members of the UALR community are allowed one copy per edition. When available, additional copies may be purchased for $1.25 by contacting The Forum’s business manager. Newspaper theft is a crime. Anyone who violates the single copy rule may be subject to civil and/or criminal prosecution and/or university discipline. The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of UALR. Students enrolled in MCOM 3320 and other reporting classes sometimes serve as contributing writers for The Forum. Advertising inquiries should be referred to The Forum’s advertising office at 501-569-3319. The Forum is published 7 times in each of the fall and spring semesters, and once in the summer. The Forum’s executive editor can be reached at 501-569-3265. All material published in this newspaper is copyrighted.

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

Student Services Center Renamed in Ceremony Steven Savage

Staff Writer SRSavage@ualr.edu

responsibility of everyone within our educational community, then I

Trojan Spirit Week Tuesday, March 4 – Friday, March 7

Participants each day can enter into a drawing for various prizes, sponsored by the SGA and the Trojan Spirit Committee.

T

he Student Services Center will be dedicated and renamed in honor of Dr. Charles W. Donaldson, retired vice chancellor of UALR’s Division of Educational, Student Services, and Student Life.

The ceremony will take place in the newly named Charles W. Donaldson Student Services Center at 12 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. The public is invited to attend.

Donaldson’s vision of the Student Services Center was realized when the building was opened in the fall of 2012, providing students a central location where they can apply for admission, register for classes, seek financial aid, and receive academic counseling.

“As students and guests visit the SSC, they will no doubt benefit from Dr. Donaldson’s eye for detail, his sense of aesthetics, and a hint of panache,” said Dr. Logan Hampton, UALR vice provost for student affairs. “This building, his vision for years, fulfilled his dream to provide a place on campus where students could do all they needed to become students under one roof.”

“Always a visionary, Dr. Donaldson led the building of UALR’s first residence hall and the subsequent residential community, as well as the Donaghey Student Center, which combines a traditional student center and fitness center,” Hampton said.

Under Donaldson’s leadership, UALR’s residential community continued to expand and now includes four unique residence facilities that provide living-learning opportunities for nearly 1,000 students. Among those facilities are the University Village, a 420-bed residence complex and the Trojan Grill, a late-night dining option for students.

“If student success and life on campus have come to be understood as the

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News

(All costumes/apparel must not be overly revealing and/or inappropriate)

1. Mardi Gras Tuesday – Bring out the beads and the fun!

2. Nerdy Wednesday – We want video-

photo courtesy of UALR

believe Charles Donaldson has done a great deal to lead us to that understanding,” said Dr. Jan Austin, assistant vice chancellor for Student Life and Leadership Development at UALR. The building’s design has been renowned as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold rating facility and received the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for excellence in architecture and urban design in Arkansas.

Donaldson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Philander Smith College, a Master of Education degree in counseling from Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas), and a Doctorate of Education in counseling from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He was also educated at the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.

game characters, comic-book heroes, the good stuff!

3. Throwback Thursday – Flaunt the style of your favorite decade!

4. Trojan Friday – The more maroon, the better; go all out in support of your UALR Trojan family!

March of the Trojans What: Students will march to the Jack-Stephens

Center for each basketball game Where: Flag-pole in front of the Donaghey Student Center When: Saturday, March 8; 4:00 (girl’s game), 6:00 (boy’s game)

Black History Month to be celebrated with Overground Railroad Production Jasonya Cato

Staff Writer JQCato@ualr.edu

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ebruary is Black History month and UALR is ready to show their support. The student success services initiative will host its Second Annual Overground Railroad production in the Donaghey Student Center at 7 p.m., on Thursday, February 27.

Amber Smith described it as an “interactive, theatrical production that travels through black history from African Kingdoms to Obama’s Inauguration.”

The idea was conceived by student Roderick Henderson. Amber Smith said that Henderson conveyed the idea at a leadership meeting a few years ago.

“I love to see the students’ ideas come to life as a result of effective collaboration,” Smith said.

The Institute on Race and Ethnicity will be working with them on the pro-

duction this year, according to Smith.

“Productions are a lot of work, this is not unusual, she said” Smith added that the students worked hard to get everything done in a timely manner. Kalen Horton, Taylor Sills and Veniece Walker are student leaders on the project and Smith said they are doing an amazing job.

“As college students, the central means of learning is through books and lectures but this was different,” Horton said. “We were able to feel, touch, interact, and live vicariously for a moment immersed in history.” He also expects a better show than the successful one last year.

On the guided journey through black history, students will meet many influential people including Billie Holiday, Huey P. Newton as well as Martin Luther King, Jr.. The production will include more eras in history and as well as more characters than last year.

Come on out and see which notable figures will be in attendance.

Students from last year’s Overground Railroad production danced in a rendition of President’s Barack Obama’s inauguration.

photo courtesy of UALR

Young Democrats steadily growing, seeking to avoid ‘lame duck’ period Kendrell Collins Editor KDCollins@ualr.edu

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his year is expected to be one of the biggest in Arkansas political history. According to UALR Young Democrats leader Miguel Lopez, that’s the perfect reason to join in on the action.

Young Democrats of America is a national organization led by youths under 36 years of age, which mobilizes middle school students and college students alike to become politically active.

As of last fall, two UALR students saw the need to initiate a university chapter.

Freshman Trevor Dye and junior Miguel Lopez noticed there was a Young Republicans chapter and decided the Democrats could use representation as well.

“We’re trying to let everyone at UALR know that we have our own chapter,” Lopez said. “If you’re interested in politics, and even if you’re not, you just want something that’s going to look great on your resume, this is the perfect organization to be involved with.”

About six people attended the first meeting, Lopez said. By the second meeting, however, the number of attendees had nearly tripled.

“We’re only getting bigger,” he said.

“I feel like the stronger [and] the bigger we get, the more important and depen-

dent the democratic process is going to for what because, at the end of the day, be on us.” you have to go vote.”

Lopez recognizes that not everyone Still, a question lingers: Why should shares his enthusiasm for politics. Nev- one choose the Democratic Party? ertheless, he recommends that all have “They call the democratic party the at least some level of politi- ‘big tent’ party because everybody can cal involvement. fit under the Democratic Party,” Lopez “Politics said. “It doesn’t’ matter if you’ re affects evgay, if you’re black, if erything you you’re Jewish, if do....directly you’re a minoror indirectity, if you’re ly. It’s going poor, if you’re to affect you rich.” and the best “They put thing you can common sense do to be a smart, before anyinformed, and responsible thing, before citizen is to, at least, keep political up with some of the stuff, ideology,” some of the legislation he added. that’s being passed.”

“I think Lopez argues that no that’s a academic major or career message is exempt from the forces that anyof U.S. politics. body can “If you’re an IT marelate jor, well, what about to.” photo courtesy of Young Democrats the NSA spying on every UALR Young civilian? That affects you as Democrats is dean IT major. If you’re going to be a doc- termined not to have their organization tor, ObamaCare just passed. That’s going become another “lame duck” organizato affect you because you collect money tion, according to Lopez. Already, its from the insurances.” members have been working with poli“Even if you don’t want to be the next ticians in the upcoming political races president or a politician or a senator, like those involving senator Mark Pryor you should still know what party stands and candidate Mike Ross.

Recently, the group attended the Arkansas Democratic Caucus fundraiser event at Cajun’s Wharf restaurant, where they met several of the state’s leading public figures. They also donate canned goods to those in the community.

The perks of joining Young Democrats are not limited shaking hands with politicians and dinner parties, though.

The group is involved in volunteer work like donating can goods to those in the community. Lopez said he even had the opportunity to be in a commercial for the gubernatorial campaign of Mike Ross, who is a UALR alumnus.

“It’s the perfect time for us to be involved,” said Lopez. “I imagine by October and November, we’re going to see CNN. We’re going to see all of these major news sources cover Arkansas because the governor race and the senator race are gong to be that important.”

Once every two months, the group meets with other chapters in the central Arkansas area, which includes Arkansas Baptist College, Hendrix, UCA and others. Lopez said the meetings allow the students to build friendships and relationships with likeminded youth interested in similar causes.

To find out more about the UALR Young Democrats, connect with them on their Facebook page, UALR Young Democrats, or follow them on Twitter at @ualryoungdems.

4

News

February 26 - March 11, 2014

ualr.edu/forum

Diamond Cafe gets a makeover

photo by Brandon Bateman

The recent makeover of The Diamond Cafe is the first the cafe has seen in eleven years. In 2003, the entire kitchen was remodeled.

Hillary Perkins

Staff Writer HDPerkins@ualr.edu

T

he project started on December 17, 2013 and was completed January 6, 2014. Prior to the makeover, there were patches in the floors and, in some parts, the material was coming up.

Logan Hampton, the interim vice0chancellor, said that a request was sent to provide funds to remodel the floor last year. He has also mentioned that the Chancellor provided the funds through General Improvement Funds.

GIFs are funds received from the state of Arkansas to repair facilities. The ECO Construction Company remodeled the DSC floors.

According to UALR’s data for the flooring replacement, the total cost of the remodeling was $98,442. Of that amount, $82,840 was provided by GIF. The difference from to total cost and the funds provided by GIF came from the Donaghey Student Center and Sinking Funds. In the walk-in area of the DSC, the rubberized floor was replaced with vinyl flooring that looks like wood. This flooring is known as Resilient Flooring.

In the serving area, the epoxy floor coating.

The Director of Planning and Capital construction, Andrijana Vukovich led the project on behalf of the university.

She has been with UALR since 2010.

“I think it’s great and makes the space warm and inviting for our new and re-

turning students,” Vukovich said.

“This is a main concern for students because they want to eat in a nice place,” said Oliver Brown, director of the Donaghey Student Center. Brown started out at UALR as a student who worked in the housekeeping department. He supervises the conference services, environmental services, information services bookstore and dinning services and budget management. He also addresses contract issues.

Vukovich explained the process of the remodeling project. The facilities department works with whatever department is requesting a construction project to get an idea of how they want to do the project. From there, the Facilities department brings in designers to

prepare drawings from the other department’s ideas. Also, they bring in the contractors to get started on the project.

Vukovich and Assistant Director John McCain monitor the project.

Dave Millay, the Associate Vice Chancellor, said that they hired an architect to measure the floors and figure what material will be needed. He also mentioned that the amount of square foot of the floors as well as the labor of the project adds up to the amount of money estimated for remodeling the floors.

“I think it will wear well. I think the job was well done,” Millay said.

Crime Prevention Personal Property Theft

Pauline Mothu

Staff Writer PXMothu@ualr.edu

O

ne of the biggest and most common threats on college campuses today is theft. It’s not easy to spot a thief may be looking to swipe some merchandise from an unsuspecting college student, but there are precautions that can be taken.

Beyond the traditional notebook and textbook, the things students take with them to class are often of expensive value. In addition to the content of their wallets and purses, many students have cell phones, laptops or tablets they bring to class.

Although these devices seem more convenient to take notes, students bringing them to campus face a greater risk of be victims of theft.

According to Crime Prevention Officer Jennifer Sibley of the Department of Public Safety, the main problem that leads to theft is that “people keep their things lying around or in their cars.”

Students should not leave anything in their cars - especially when parked on lot 12 and 15. Even small change should be removed. “Someone will break in the car to take those pennies,” Sibley said. In many cases students get their belongings stolen because they leave them unattended, not thinking of the possible consequences.

Sibley reported that not long ago, a student parked on the parking lot near Stabler Hall and, with his warning lights on, left his Iphone and gloves on top of his car. This kind of behavior leads to theft. Fortunately for this student, someone brought both the Iphone and gloves to DPS and left a note on the owner’s car. “When this student came in my office, I told him he was blessed because it never happens.”

Studious students spend plenty of time in the library and may be tempt-

ed to leave their belonging unattended to simply go to the bathroom or take a phone call. If a students needs to step out for a moment, the best thing to do is take everything or ask someone trustworthy to watch the belongings.

Sibley has advice students who live in the dorms to lock their doors at all time.

“It seems logic to lock doors when we leave, she says, but some do not do it.”

She said that sometimes some students block the outside door open because they do not want to wait for their friend to come over and open the door.

This behavior can result in someone who does not belong to the residence hall being in there because somebody blocked the door open.

Sibley advises residents to look if someone is following them to the dorms as well. She reports that a student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville was attacked after letting another student into her residence. He was follow-

ing her and she thought he was living in the dorms as well. He was not.

In 2012, the most recent year for which there are statistics, DPS reported two cases of robbery, ten cases of burglary and three cases of motor vehicles stolen. It may not seem like much for the

whole year, but these numbers can be reduced if students remember to pay a little extra attention to their belongings and surroundings.

Illustration by Byron Buslig

5 Tips and tricks for weathering Arkansas weather

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

Features

Pauline Mothu

Staff Writer PXMothu@ualr.edu

A

rkansas can look attractive to someone who likes warm places. Indeed, according to the THV Weather Channel, the average temperature does not drop below the 30s in winter nor over 93 in summer.

However, anyone who has lived in Arkansas long enough knows that these averages are not always accurate. Arkansas weather is unpredictable. For instance, it can be warm one day and drop into the 50s the next day.

A good example of this capricious weather would be the “snow storm” that hit the state a few weeks ago. Forecasters on Friday, Feb. 7 had warned Arkansans of the snowfall, resulting in an early closing of schools and businesses.

Unfortunately, the snow was heavier than predicted and took many by surprise. As a result, many accidents were reported and sometimes took motorists an hour to go from one place to another instead of what would have normally taken ten minutes. Moreover, some drivers had to abandon their cars on the road in the hopes of retrieving them the following day.

Although this seemed to be a wise

comic by Byron Buslig

choice at the time, leaving cars behind was not a good decision for them. Indeed, it was later reported that when people went to get their car, they found out their vehicles were either ticketed or towed.

Another “snow storm” was announced for the following Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 10 and 11) but unfortunately for many who were expecting a snow day—especially students—there were not a snowflake falling from the sky on either of those days. The “snow storm” only lasted a couple of days in Arkansas.

This winter seems to be one of the coldest here in Arkansas with an aver-

age of 38 degrees according to the THV Weather Channel, considering morning lows and afternoon highs.

What should we do to get through this cold weather and stay as warm as possible? Here are some tips: when nightly temps will drop below freezing, leave the faucet water dripping to make sure the pipes do not freeze during the night place towels at the bottom of any door that has gaps or around loose windows keep your indoor temperatures relatively low (around 68 degrees) make sure to have flashlight, batteries and candles in case the power

goes off stock up non-perishable food stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water keep your head covered wear mittens instead of gloves, as they are warmer wear several light, comfortablyfitted layers instead of a single heavy one be aware of your feelings and call or hang out with friends when you get the “winter blues” Remember these tips to stay warm, save energy, and survive winter. It is not over yet.

History professor to present awardwinning book at monthly lecture Jayme Goad

Staff Writer JMGoad@ualr.edu

H

istory professor Susanah Romney will be discussing her new award-winning book, “New Netherland Connections Intimate Networks and Atlantic Ties in SeventeenthCentury America” at the next Evenings with History session on Tuesday, March 4.

“Evenings with History” is a series of lectures sponsored by the University of History Institute that include presentations from the university’s faculty members which highlight their current research. Many of these lectures include their books they have written.

Romney, from Califoria, started writing her book when she was a graduate student at Leiden University in the Netherlands. She knew she wanted to study early American history. “That’s really the most exciting time of world history,” she said. Her goal was to uncover the role of women in early America and understand the cultural interaction.

After studying the Dutch language, Romney went to the archive in Amsterdam to get the records unveiling a time period she called early day America.

The Dutch language “poses a barrier” for other historians wanting to obtain records, so the Dutch haven’t been studied much for of this reason, she said.

“Also, it makes it more exciting as a historian because you’re not just going over the same ground someone else has

gone over before,” Romney added.

Romney will be showing images and documents from her research at the March 4 lecture. Her lecture billed “Finding of the Women in the Atlantic World: Adventures in Archives,” will include how historians have put together the lives and actions of people who did not leave hardly any documents. She will also be discussing how she conducted the research to get the records of the people who did not hold much power in early day America.

The professor said she was able to show the role of women through “traces of what they did through interactions with others as part of their families,” Her book has won two awards: the as women played an important role in 2013 Hendricks Award and the 2013 building the family.

She found documents on a colonial Jamestown Prize.

“Evenings with History” lectures are woman named Sara Kierstede, who held on the first Tuesday of each month married at 14 years old. Her duties were not only limited to managing the house and her 10 children, but buying food as well. Therefore, Kierstede had to interact with the Indians because that is how the colonists received lot of their fish and corn. During the course of her interaction, she became fluent in the Indian language. Later, she became a translator for the colony and during times of war.

“Through her ordinary life, she actually ended up playing this really important role in establishing this relationship between Indians and settlers,” Romney said.

For Romney’s next project, she wants to expand her knowledge with the Dutch and look at the colony that later became New York.

University to host fourth annual science competition Rachel Wright

Staff Writer RSWright@ualr.edu

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he Olympiad has scientific challenges in five event categories: life, personal and social science, earth and space science, physical science and chemistry, technology and engineering, and inquiry and nature of science. The events are on a rotation and a new event is tested while an old event is taken out.

Twelve high schools and 14 middle schools throughout Arkansas will compete in the event categories. Each team may have a maximum of 15 students to represent their school. There are a total of 18 events. The events will take place all over campus. The Olympiad has about 150 to 200 volunteers, and about 70 are student volunteers, said State Director Eric Kaufmann.

Some of the UALR students will run the events while others will act as ambassadors for the visiting students.

The ambassadors will help teams get around campus. The events will take place throughout campus. There will be three volunteers per event.

There are 26 teams competing this year. In the first year of the Science Olympiad in Arkansas, only six teams competed. That number increased to 12, and then to 18 in the following years. Arkansas is the most recent state to have a Science Olympiad, and has more teams then several other states.

The winners are determined by event supervisors.

“There are no ties at all,” said Kaufmann. “The scores are added up and the lowest score gets first place.

First place gets an automatic invite to the national competition.” Sixty teams compete at the National Science Olympiad taking place this year in Orlando,

Fla. Kaufmann said that each event has a first, second and third place (gold, silver and bronze medals).

There are three different kinds of event categories. The first is a written test. A pair of students representing a school will collaborate and take a test.

Another is a combination of a test and demonstration of knowledge such as the “Maglev” event. In the Maglev event competitors are “tested on their knowledge of magnetism and related topics,” according to the Science Olympiad rule manual. Next, competitors must build a track and car propelled by magnets. The team that builds the track and car that goes the furthest and most quickly wins.

The third is a construction event. Students will display their knowledge of how things work though construction in events such as the “Boomilever” event.

In the Boomilever event, students construct a lever from wood and adhesive to lift large amounts of weight. Teams are allowed to enter their boomilever built before the competition. That device is impounded before the competition’s demonstration so alternations cannot be made after entry.

“A third of the events rotate out each year, so students get to see new events,” said Kaufmann. “These are trial events.”

The events and tests are written by professors and graduate students.

Each event is 50 minutes long, except the construction event which is 15 minutes long.

In addition, there is a contest for most original T-shirt design and a team spirit award.

For students interested in the competition, registration is now open. Contact Eric Kaufmann at (501) 569-8054 for more information.

Illustration by Paige Mason

at the Ottenheimer Auditorium in the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock. Refreshments are served at 7 p.m. and lecture begins at 7:30 p.m.

6

Features

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

Homecoming Queen 2014 Candidates

For full bios, check out our website at UALR.edu/forum!

Allen-Smith, Quay

Business marketing major Nominated by Housing Activities Council

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uay Allen-Smith of Conway works as a Resident Assistant in West Hall. It may not be hard to find her on campus as she is a Member of African American Female Initiative Housing Activities Council, and many other organizations on campus. She has been playing the violin since the sixth grade. She said her most peaceful sleep comes when its raining. She is also involved in intramural sports.

Her favorite restaurant is Benihana’s.

Her favorite quote is by Eleanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

Fencher, Vivien

Studio art major, marketing minor Nominated by the International Club

V

ivien-Sara Fechner first came to the United States as part of Lisa Academy High School’s foreign exchange program. Although she went back home to Germany to finish high school, she fell in love with the American culture and her host family right here in Little Rock.

Fechner returned to Arkansas for college with her host family as her only connection to the United States. She chose UALR because it is where her host sister, Stephanie Jennings, attends college. Now, Fechner is a first-year Donaghey Scholar and the president of the International Club.

Jackson, Allison

Junior biology major Nominated by the Biology Club

A

llison Jackson of Pine Bluff is representing the UALR Biology Club this year.

An alumnus of White Hall High School, Jackson is a junior biology major with chemistry minor. The 21-year-old is vice president of Biology Club, Friday Fellow, CLC scholar, member of Alpha Epsilon Delta and The American Chemical Society, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. “I am a super huge science nerd and not afraid to admit I spend the majority of my time studying or in labs doing awesome experiments or dissecting cats. I’m not even joking!” Jackson said.

Sharhonda, Kelly Senior biology major Nominated by Trojan Talk

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harhonda Kelly, a senior biology major, has been nominated by the Trojan Talk organization for homecoming queen. Trojan Talk works within the campus community to promote healthier and safer lifestyle choices.

Sharhonda Kelly was the first (and currently the only) African American to graduate as Valedictorian from DeQueen High School in southwest Arkansas.

In addition to her involvement with Trojan Talk, Kelly also serves as a peer educator for HPPE- an extension of Health Services- which deals with Health Promotion, Programs and Education. Kelly is also a mentor for the African American Female Initiative group.

Lee, Hannah

Junior information science major

Nominated by Society of Women Engineers

H

annah Jin Sun Lee will be representing the student organization Society of Women Engineers. The SWE is an organization that centers on representing women in the field of engineering. Lee is also a member of the eSports Club and the Association of Computing Machinery.

“Not many women are engineers, so we get together and go to huge national conferences. We also go to career fairs and get to know other engineers,” Lee said.

She believes SWE builds community.

“There’s a lot of networking. We raise money as a group to go to the conferences,” she said.

mcCoy, Jasmine

Junior speech pathology major

Nominated by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority

J

asmine McCoy is the distinguished elect of Alpha Kappa Alpha in the 2014 Homecoming Court. Originally from Waldo, Ark., McCoy said UALR has become her home away from home.

“UALR gave me the opportunity to take advantage of the city life while still being close to home.”

When she is not tending to her sorority responsibilities, Jasmine uses her free time to hold study parties, hang out with friends or enjoy a good movie. McCoy considers herself a well-rounded “country girl”.

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

Features

McKinney, Brittney

7

Senior sociology major, religious studies minor

Nominated by Metro Baptist College Ministry

B

rittney McKinney is representing Metro Baptist College Ministry in this year’s homecoming queen competition.

Metro Baptist Christian Ministry is an organization that helps keep students connected with their spiritual faith while attending college. “We really try to keep kids connected to their moral and spiritual values,” McKinney said.

The nominee was born in Memphis, Tenn. but moved to Little Rock when she was two months old. She plans to attend grad school after graduation.

Her dream is to work for United Nations and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) dealing with child development.

Peterson, Meghan Chemistry and Biology major Nominated by Pi Kappa Alpha

M

eghan Petersen of Killeen, Texas is a chemistry and biology major pursuing a career in pharmacy. With a strong focus on studies and athletics, Peterson maintains a 3.78 GPA. As a Trojan, Petersen has achieved multiplebests and contributed to UALR winning multiple invitations. Petersen is a second year Donaghey Scholar and is highly regarded by her peers in the program. Her spare time is occupied by serving the student body as the secretary of the UALR Student Government Association. She is a Pi Kappa Alpha “Dream Girl” and is being sponsored by Pi Kappa Alpha as the 2014 Homecoming Queen candidate. She said students can show their support by liking her Facebook page and sharing the hashtag #MNP4Queen2014.

Phifer, Gabrielle

Sophomore mass communications major Nominated by Chancellor’s Leadership Corps

A

n alumnus of Crossett High School, sophomore Gabrielle Phifer is the Chancellor Leadership Corps’ nomination in this year’s homecoming queen competition.

Phifer was born in Monroe, Louisiana and attended Crossett High School in southeastern Arkansas. She is a mass communication major and CLC Sophomore Ambassador.

The nominee explained her role as an ambassador.

“I’m a role model for incoming freshman in the program. I have done community service projects [for various programs] including the Arkansas Food Bank, park clean-ups, “Arkansas Kids Read” program, and Children International,” she said.

Phillips, Andrea Senior marketing major

Nominated by the University Program Council

N

orth Little Rock native Andrea Phillips is the University Programs Council’s 2014 homecoming nomination. Phillips, 23, is a senior marketing major. She graduated from North Little Rock West in 2009.

Phillips is a member of both University Programs Council and Student Marketing Association. In her free time, Phillips enjoys sewing, designing and sketching clothing. After college, she hopes to get a job in sales, which will be just a stepping stone to her long term goal: to eventually open her own clothing store for tall and petite women.

Stogsdill, Haley

Psychology major and biology minor Nominated by Kappa Delta

H

aley Stogsdill from Little Rock enjoys traveling, painting, and spending time with her friends and family when she has down time. When she isn’t at school, she works as a Cosmetic Consultant for Merle Norman Cosmetics.

Stogsdill currently serves as president for the Eta Sigma chapter of Kappa Delta and they are involved with two organizations, Girl Scouts and Prevent Child Abuse America. The Girl Scouts are not the only ones that benefit from Kappa Delta, Stogsdill said; seeing the difference they make in those young girls’ lives impacts the women of the chapter. They also raise money for Prevent Child Abuse America.

Stogsdill said Kappa Delta is her passion. She is also active in Psychology Club. After graduating, Stogsdill hopes to attend medical school to pursue a career as a psychiatrist.

Treml, Alexa

Sophomore double major: music performance and biology (pre-med)

Nominated by Music Student Association

A

lexa Treml, a sophomore majoring in music performance and biology, comes to UALR by way of Cabot High School. The Music Student Association has nominated her for homecoming queen, where she also serves as president.

Treml has been playing the clarinet for nearly 9 years and has been dancing for more than 10. Treml can frequently be found performing with the pep band at Trojan basketball games.

Troillet, Hannah

Marketing major, emphasis in professional selling Nominated by Chi Omega Council

B

orn and raised in Conway, Hannah Collette Troillet graduated from St. Joseph High School in 2011. Troillet is a Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Scholar and campus orientation leader for new students. She served as President for the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Chi Omega for the 2013 year. During her presidency, the women of Chi Omega were able to grant a wish through Make-A-Wish, a foundation the women of the chapter volunteer and raise money for.

Williams, Tuesday

Senior science major Nominated by Delta Sigma Theta

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uesday Williams plans to graduate May 2014 with a bachelor in science. Giving back to her community and the younger generation is one reason she joined that Crimson and Cream of Delta Sigma Theta. Williams is currently a basketball coach for Upward, where she’s been involved for two years.

Williams is from Stuttgart, Ark., where family and friends are the most important things to her. Aside from that, she often reads books in her spare time.

8

Entertainment

February 26 - March 11, 2014

ualr.edu/forum

Smiles and songs will warm your heart in ‘Frozen’ flick Alyssa Causey

Staff Writer ARCausey@ualr.edu

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he UALR Office of Campus Life will be showing one of Disney’s newest animated features, Frozen, on Monday March 10th at 6 p.m. The movie will be played in Donaghey Student Center in Ledbetter Hall. Being rated PG, Frozen is the University Program Council’s pick for Famliy Movie Night.

Naturally, what you can expect from Frozen is an abundance of singing. If you’re a fan of animated Disney movies, you should give Frozen a watch. If you can tolerate singing, you will enjoy this movie. If you enjoy movies with lots of singing, you will love this movie. You won’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of singing, though. The songs are catchy, relevant, and will most likely be stuck in your head.

Sister princesses, Anna and Elsa, once very close, grow apart when Elsa isolates herself to protect her sister from her magic. Through a turn of magical, icey Disney-esque events, their kingdom of Arendelle is plunged into a perpetual winter. Along with a snowman friend Olaf and ice harvester Kristoff, Anna sets off into the mountain in search of Elsa and to save the kindom.

Name any Disney movie with princesses. Most likely, love and romance permeate the film in every possible facet. Frozen is no different. However, Frozen integrates other kinds of love along

with the romance. Familial love is heavily present. Sisters Anna and Elsa share a deep bond and sisterly love. Love among friends, like Olaf, the snowman created by Elsa, is innocent and pure.

Princess Anna is voiced by Kristin Bell. Her character is charmingly clumsy, playful, and mildly goofy. Anna is a character that most girls, young and old, can relate to because she’s not perfect and doesn’t pretend to be. Queen Elsa is voiced by Tony Award winning Idina Menzel. Menzel is an experienced singer, starring in Wicked and Rent. Her character, Elsa, is complex and powerful. She struggles with containing both her magic and her emotions. Elsa is also a relatable character because though she grapples with repressing her emotions, she inevitably embraces not only her emotions but herself as a whole.

The colors and animation are astounding. Animators stuck to the “frozen theme” and use abundant cool colors. Characters wear blues, purples, and greens. And the snow. There is so much snow. You may find yourself wondering if you, too, are traipsing across frozen tundras and snowy meadows.

I can guarantee that even if you like the movie or not, you’ll walk away from watching this movie with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

photo courtesy of Disney

Choose Your Representatives

SGA

Vote March 3rd and 4th visit ualr.edu/sga

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

Entertainment

9

Interview with Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias

photo courtesy of Gabriel Iglesias

Continued from page 1 After receiving an eviction notice, it was somewhat of a downward spiral for Iglesias.

“The next thing I know, the repo-man is looking for the car.”

“The next thing I know, I’m living on my brother’s balcony- of all places,” he said.

“And the next thing I know, I’m on my sister’s couch. So, it was going really good!” [laughs] Throughout his time of couch surfing and sleeping on his brother’s balcony, he said he hit a pretty low point. “[I started] thinking, maybe I shouldn’t have quit that job. But, at least it freed me up to pursue stand-up 100 percent [of the time].”

After a string of successful gigs doing stand-up, Iglesias started to generate an

income and became more confident. He was making enough money to get his own apartment, which he says is when he felt like things were beginning to look good.

After performing in biker bars and similar venues, he had enough money saved up to pay for a year’s worth of rent, which he did, just in case something happened and he couldn’t do stand-up.

“I said, you know what? I’m not going to take a chance on getting kicked out of here. So, I paid a year’s worth of rent and I had money set aside for utilities and everything. So, if something happened, I was covered for a year.”

In 2006, Iglesias received a lot of exposure on season 4 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing.

His appearance on Last Comic Standing, in addition to his DVD specials, which featured some of his stand-up

routines, helped thrust him into the mainstream comedy scene.

Iglesias has been working his way up the comedy ladder since April of 1997 and in that time, he has been a part of an evolving comedy scene that can reach every sector of the entertainment industry.

“I think there are a lot more opportunities for comics to work in a clean style versus a dirty one, now,” he said.

“So, I think in the beginning, a lot of people just wanted to be dirty. Like, I wanted to be dirty. And now, I’m finding that the route that I took, which was staying family-friendly, was the way to go. I think a lot of people are starting to notice that and starting to go that route.”

The “people” Iglesias is referring to are television and movie producers, who have heard his dynamic performances and enlisted him in various television shows and blockbuster films.

Iglesias currently hosts a show on Comedy Central, Gabriel Iglesias Presents: Stand-Up Revolution, which began airing in October 2011. The show’s third season is set to air later this spring.

Iglesias has credits to shows like Family Guy and The Annoying Orange. He has appeared in or done voice work for films such as Magic Mike and Disney’s Planes. He is set to appear in El Americano and A Haunted House 2 later this year.

Iglesias attributes his recent appearances on the small screen and the big screen due to his family-friendly standup and his broad fan base that he has built.

“I think in my case, I think the comedy is the reason why the films are happening,” he said. “Versus, you know,

somebody that’s an actor or whatever and then he’s trying to go out on the road.”

Iglesias is set to perform in Little Rock at the Robinson Center Music Hall March 14 at 8 p.m., but his last stop in Little Rock was a memorable one, he said.

“The last time I was there in Little Rock, I got drunk at a bar two blocks away. I forget the name of it, but there’s a giant shamrock on it,” he said.

“I remember getting very very drunk there and I ran out into the street and fortunately I didn’t get hit by the car that was coming. But I remember: ‘ooh!

Almost died in Little Rock!’ [laughs] Yeah, we partied a little hard that night, but it wasn’t enough to take me down.”

Iglesias’ hard work is not just evident in the good times he has after performing a set, but in his loyal fan base that supports him in just about every venture.

Forbes published a list of the topgrossing comedians of 2013 and Iglesias shared ninth place with Daniel Tosh, each earning $11 million last year. He brought in slightly less than Louis C.K. ($16 million), Kevin Hart ($14 million), Larry the Cable Guy ($13 million) and George Lopez ($12 million).

You can read our entire interview with Iglesias by going to our website, ualr.edu/forum, where you can find out how Iglesias handles hecklers, who his influences are as a comic and what he plans to do next.

Spending spring break in the natural state, without breaking the bank Victoria Hickey Staff Writer VXHickey@ualr.edu

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ome people choose to travel to exotic locations for their Spring Break; however, it is easy to have a fantastic Spring Break right here in the Natural State of Arkansas. With over 50 national and state parks and numerous museums, it is easy to find an adventure that is right for you.

Hot Springs National Park, located in Hot Springs, has quite an assortment of activities for people of all ages. Perhaps what they are best known for, is Bathhouse Row. Consisting of eight different bath houses, Bathhouse Row is where visitors can go to soak in the natural thermal waters of the hot springs, which are believed to have therapeutic qualities. In addition to the bathhouses, there are over 26 miles of trails within Hot Springs National Park, ranging in length from about 500 feet to about 2 miles. For hiking enthusiasts, perhaps a longer trail, such as Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail or Goat Rock Trail would suit you best. For those looking to hike a shorter distance, there are shorter trails such as Grand Promenade, Peak Trail and Tufa Terrace Trail. Camping is also an option at the Gulpha Gorge Campground, located within the park.

It only costs $10 per night and camp-

UALR GIRL

A comic strip

by Paige Mason

sites are available on a first come, first served basis.

Petit Jean State Park, located in Morrilton, is another great destination for outdoor lovers. With more than 20 miles of trails, there is a lot to explore.

The easy trails, according to park officials, include Bear Cave Trail and Rock House Cave Trail, which are both about a quarter of a mile. For a longer trail, you could take the Steven Hollows Trail, which is about 4 1/2 miles. For those who are experienced hikers, the 12 mile Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail is there for you. Cedar Falls, a 95-foot waterfall is also located within Petit Jean State Park and provides a gorgeous view and makes for a great photo-op.

Mount Magazine, located off Scenic Highway 309, has numerous trails as well as other outdoor adventures. Some of the shorter trails include ones like Bear Hollow Trail, Benefield Loop Trails and Signal Hill Trail. If you are interested in standing at the highest point in Arkansas, perhaps you’ll want to take Signal Hill Trail, which will lead hikers 2,753 feet above sea level. The longest trial within Mount Magazine State Park is the Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail, which covers more than 34 miles and is open to hikers, horseback riders and motorized vehicles. Mount Magazine also offers a wide variety of adventure activities such as rock climbing and hang gliding.

illustration by Logan Sturgill

For those who are not into the outdoorsy adventures, there are a number of nationally-renowned museums located throughout the state as well. Some of the most notable include—Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources and Arkansas State University Museum.

Most of these museums have a very low admission price and some are even free.

The critically acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is located in Bentonville and the admission is free, despite there being more than $1 billion in assets in the museum. There are numerous art exhibits that are permanent and always open, and they also

have temporary exhibits.

The Arkansas State University Museum is located in Jonesboro and also boasts free admission. Some of their permanent exhibits include The Arkansas Frontier and Crowley’s Ridge Mastodon. They also have temporary exhibits such as Crowley’s Ridge: A World of it’s Own, which includes a summary of the Ridge’s natural history.

If you are planning to stay in the Natural State this spring break, it is easy to find things to do, you just have to know what’s in your own backyard.

For more information on parks and events occurring this year, visit arkansasstateparks.com or arkansas.com.

10

Sports

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

“Timeout”

Trojans go down again, but not without a fight

By Alton Young axyoung1@ualr.edu

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photo by Alton Young

Sophomore Josh Hgins goes up for a shot over the defense. Hagins, who led the team with 21 points on 9 for 18 shooting, started the second half for the Trojans.

Alton Young

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Editor AXYoung1@ualr.edu

he Trojan men’s basketball team suffered its third-straight home loss, this time coming against the UT Arlington Mavericks. The Trojans not only lost the game 75-71, but also lost leading-scorer and rebounder Will Neighbour to injury.

The Trojans have now lost five in a row, dropping to 12-15 overall and 7-8 in conference play, with only three games remaining in the season before the Sun Belt Tournament begins in New Orleans.

The injury to Neighbour comes just after he returned to action after missing two games with a high-ankle sprain.

He left the game clutching his shoulder, which was injured two seasons ago.

The first half was close, with no team leading by more than four before the Mavericks hit a three, to stretch it to 3933 late in the first half. Redshirt freshman Mareik Isom hit a three-pointer to bring the Trojans within three and make the halftime score 39-36.

The second half started with a threepointer by UT Arlington’s Brandon Edwards, who had 17 points in the game.

His three was part of an 11-0 Maverick run that put them ahead by 14, only two and half minutes into the second half.

The Trojans trailed by 15 when Neighbour was hurt.

He injured his shoulder on a spectacular put-back dunk, which cut the lead to 13, with about 16 minutes left in the second half.

The sight of one of its leaders being hurt would have been a valid excuse for the team to fold, but it seemed to have

the opposite effect.

Sophomore Josh Hagins, who led the team with 21 points, thought seeing a teammate go down was the spark that ignited a comeback that fell just short.

The Trojans came all the way back to cut the lead to three at 63-60.

“I really think it was Will getting hurt, seeing him go down, seeing all these guys go down,” Hagins said, naming some of his teammates that have missed games this season. “Having some fight to us and doing it for the people who can’t.”

The team’s resiliency was on display with Hagins and junior Devonte Smith hitting threes and junior Gus Leeper and senior Leroy Isler hitting the offensive boards once Neighbour left the game.

The Trojans just couldn’t overcome the 10 total three-pointers from the Mavericks. UT Arlington shot 41.7 percent from distance (including 5-11 in the

second half), while the Trojans shot 38.2 percent from the field and only 25 percent from three.

UALR head coach Steve Shields, never one for excuses, wouldn’t use one this time, but he did like the way the team got back into the game.

“They’re a very good three-point shooting team. I thought our guys did a good job of fighting back,” Shields said.

“This team’s not going to quit. We’ve faced adversity many times, like all teams do, and you really find out the character of your team when you face adverse situations,” he said. “There’s no quit in that locker room.”

The Trojans will play their final road game of the season against Troy on Thursday Feb 26. At press, the extent of Neighbour’s injury was not known.

Neighbour was recently named a finalist for the Arkansas Star of Tomorrow award.

Isler brings football toughness to the basketball court Alton Young

Editor AXYoung1@ualr.edu

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he story of Leroy Isler starts in New York – that much is true. But what most people don’t know is that the story didn’t exactly begin where his Trojan bio states.

“Actually, I was born in Harlem, but I was raised in Brooklyn so I claim Brooklyn,” Isler said. “Nobody knows that about me. Everyone thinks I was born in Brooklyn.”

Isler’s path has taken him from New York to Lee College (a junior college in Texas) and then finally UALR, where he has become an important part of the Trojan basketball team.

The decision to attend school so far from New York gave him a sense of independence and toughness.

“I’m glad I got to live on my own, to try to do things on my own and not depend on other people. I think that’s the reason why I’m tough, cause I did it by myself. I didn’t have to ask or beg anybody for anything,” he said.

UALR head coach Steve Shields knows what Isler means to the team.

“Leroy was voted by his teammates as a captain. I think that speaks volumes about the way his teammates feel about him,” Shields said. According to Shields, Isler has defended the opposing team’s top perimeter threat for past two years.

The senior guard is known as the team’s best on-the-ball defender - a role that he doesn’t take lightly. “A lot of people don’t want to play defense; ev-

erybody wants to score,” Isler said. “I know that I can score the ball, but that’s not my job.”

“I’d rather shut somebody down that was averaging 30 and hold them to 10, than score 30 and give up 40 from them.

I’d just rather play defense,” he said.

Isler’s penchant for defense can be traced to his love of football. As a young child, Isler lived with his mom and moved multiple times from New York to Georgia and back. It was while living in Georgia that Isler started playing football and discovered his desire to defend.

Isler played safety and cornerback on defense.

“I loved playing defense. That’s how I got motivated - by getting stops,” he said. It’s what gave him the passion for defense.

As for his feelings about being labeled the team’s defensive-stopper: “I wouldn’t mind having that label. It shows toughness, courage,” he said.

In his junior year of high school, Isler moved to New York permanently with his father and focused on playing basketball, not by choice, but because of regional differences between Georgia and New York. Isler was told that he should play basketball.

“Because football is not big in New York like it is down south, so I switched over to basketball,” Isler said.

After two years of high school basketball and two years playing at a junior college, Isler made his way to UALR last season. Isler averaged 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds last season.

The Trojans will need Isler’s defense and toughness to get them prepared for

photo by Alton Young

Senior Leroy Isler warming up before the Feb. 22 game against UT Arlington the upcoming Sun Belt Conference tournament and to end the season on a positive note. “I just want to win. It’s my job stopping the best offensive player on the opposite team from here on out,” Isler said.

Isler has hopes that the team will come together for the end of the season.

“When we play together, we’re a pretty good team.”

Drawing the tough defensive assignment is a role Coach Shields said Isler has embraced. He has brought intensity, work ethic, toughness and leadership to the team, Shields said. But what Shields is most proud of, is how Isler has represented the program over the past two years.

“He’s on track to graduate in May. That’s not always easy for a junior college transfer to do. It shows the type of character that he has,” Shields said.

have to hijack this column once again this week to write about a serious topic. For those looking for my usual sports-themed levity, tune in next issue.

I watched a special this weekend on the use of the “n-word” in sports.

The ESPN special was framed as a Black History Month program (which, to me, is sad in itself). I felt that I had to respond with my perspective in this final week of Black History Month.

The conversation has been sparked by the NFL’s consideration of possible rule to enact a 15-yard penalty for the use of the word on the field. The argument of most people seems to be that it can’t be legislated by officials or by the NFL. The special cited Miami Dolphins players Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin and their situation as a catalyst for the rule consideration.

I can’t discuss the entire situation between Incognito and Martin in this column, but it involved a white player (Incognito) calling a bi-racial player (Martin, who is black and white) the “n-word” on many occasions, such as in the locker room and through text messages.

The panel that was on the ESPN show was a mix of African-American journalists, an athlete, a rapper and others, who each had their own perspective to add to the conversation. The problem with trying to solve this in an hour-long television show, is that it can’t be wrapped up in that amount of time.

Unfortunately, this is not something that can be solved in television debate and the surface wasn’t even scratched in my opinion.

I also know that this isn’t something that I can solve right here in this column, but I can add a few of my thoughts on the issue.

First of all, I am an AfricanAmerican male and I do not, have not, and will not use the “n-word.”

It’s not something that is in my vocabulary and I have always chosen to stay clear of the word. I was always taught to find other ways to express myself other than use words that were vulgar or coarse and that word is the worst that I know.

The argument here is that the word has been re-appropriated in modern African-American culture to mean something else, which has always been a hollow argument to me. I will not ever use the word, although it’s in hip-hop music that I listen to and it’s in movies that I watch. Of course, I have heard people that I know- both young and old- use the word on a regular basis.

I’m not going to tell anyone what they can or can’t say in private conversation, but I will implore anyone who uses any word to find out more about its origin. Before hip-hop became mainstream and it became a part of the vocabulary of non-African Americans who think that it means something inclusive to call each other that, it was used to degrade, demean and destroy the will of a group of people who were thought of and told that they were less than human. Ask yourself how the cowards on social media are using the word still to this day.

In other news, Jason Collins became the first openly gay athlete to compete in any of the four major professional sports. He signed a 10day contract with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets Feb. 23 and played in the game later that evening with his new team. His stat line was pretty much typical of the numbers that he put up in his last few seasons in the league: zero points, three rebounds, one steal, and five fouls – pretty much what he was signed to do. It was a great day for him and for the gay community at large, but I hope the day will come soon when it is not news and he is only a person doing his job.

Lastly, I’m not big on the Winter Olympics, but if you think that Russia’s medal total has nothing to do with it being the host country, I have that same swamp land in Florida that somebody tried to sell to me the other day. I didn’t buy it, but you can.

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

Sports

Swimming and diving breaks six school records, earn two honorable mentions during MVC championships Jacob Ellerbee

executive editor JJEllerbee@ualr.edu

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he UALR swimming and diving team wrapped their first-ever appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference championship, shattering six school records and bringing back two honorable mentions to the Donaghey Aquatics Center. The three-day meet took place in Carbondale, Illi. Feb. 13-15.

On day one of the championship meet, freshman Jinson Kang broke the school record for the 200-yard individual medley, a record that she previously set two months ago, according to the UALR department of athletics. She broke her old record by 62 hundredths of a second, for a time of 2:09.33.

The 400 medley relay team of senior Kara Raney, freshman Erin Trumbach, freshman Courtney Coe and sophomore Valeriya Teplova set a new school record on day one of the championship

meet. The group’s time of 3:52.39 bested the previous record holders’ time of 3:52.75, which was previously set by Raney, Audra Stalzer, Amber Kelly and Lexie Keller in 2012.

Three school records fell during day two of the meet, including one that Kang bested by more than seven seconds.

Kang set the new standard for the 400 individual medley, touching the wall at 4:32.14, shattering the previous record set by former swimmer Ana Tormo (4:39.48), besting it by more than seven seconds.

Trumbach set the new school-best record for the 100-yard breaststroke twice during day two. During the prelims, she finished at the 1:06.34 mark, only to outdo herself later in the day during the finals, where she touched the wall at 1:06.15.

The 200-medley relay team of Raney, Trumbach, Coe and Teplova finished with a time of 1:45.30, which about two seconds faster than the previous record holders. Raney, Stalzer, Kelly and Jenna Rutecki were the previous record hold-

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photo by Jacob Ellerbee

Sophomore Megan Scott, pictured here at UALR during the senior meet Jan. 18, earned AllMVC Honorable Mention during the MVC Championships Feb.13-15 in Carbondale, Illi. ers, setting the mark at 1:47.57 in 2011.

The third and final day of the meet saw Trumbach break the school record in the breaststroke twice, again. Just as in day two of the championship meet, Trumbach broke the school record in the prelims and then again in the finals.

She touched the wall at 2:25.11 in the prelims and then 2:24.20 in the finals.

On the diving side, sophomore Megan Scott earned a score of 216.10, enough for 16th place in the 1-meter category. She later returned to compete in the 3-meter category, earning a score of 257.55, enough for 7th place.

At the end of the championship, UALR accumulated 218 points in the MVC championship meet, placing sixth out of six schools. Missouri State took home top honors with a score of 945.5.

Impressive performances by Trumbach and Scott earned them each a spot on the All-MVC honorable mention list.

With the 2013-14 season now in the books, seniors Hope and Holly Myers and Raney have exhausted their eligibility and are all set to graduate in May.

Raney concludes record-breaking career on UALR swim team Clayborn Waters Staff Writer CWWaters@ualr.edu

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photo courtesy of UALR Sports information

Senior Kara Raney has set several school records in her four year career on the UALR swim team, including a school record time of 23.70 in the 50 at last season’s SBC Championships

enior Kara Raney accomplished many goals and set several records before the end of her swimming career at UALR. Raney competed in sprint, freestyle, and backstroke competitions for the UALR swimming and diving team from 2010 through 2014.

Raney is from Houston, Texas, where she was born April 15, 1992 to Ken and Cathy Raney.

Kara explained how the school’s atmosphere and great coaching influenced her decision to come to UALR. “I’m familiar with Little Rock,” Raney said.

My grandparents live here. So when I came here, it seemed familiar. I really like the team and the small school kind of atmosphere. I mean money had a lot to do with it. They’re helping pay for my school, but I really do like the team and coach is great. She’s awesome, Raney said referring to UALR head coach Amy Burgess.

Raney attended Kingwood Park High School in Kingwood, Texas, a Houston, Texas community. She competed for the school’s swim team and was named MVP for three-straight seasons (200810). During her senior year, she was named District Swimmer of the Year, after she won the regional championship in the 50-yard freestyle event, and was a state finalist in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle events.

In her first year at UALR, she won her first competition in the season opener against Ouachita Baptist. She won the 50-yard freestyle event and finished second place in the 100-yard freestyle event. She was also named to the Sun Belt Conference’s Honor Roll after achieving over a 3.0 GPA. She also reached the honor roll last year after achieving between a 3.0-3.49 GPA. Raney was named Sun Belt Conference Swimmer of the Week on Oct. 18, 2011 during her sophomore season.

This award made her the first swimmer at UALR to win since 2006.

Last year, she set two new records for the UALR Swim Team that included two backstroke records. She also had a season-best time of 52.38 in the Sun Conference Championship that tied her for 13th for 3.5 points in the 100-yard freestyle event.

On Feb. 15, Raney participated in the final event of her UALR career when the team competed in the Missouri Valley Championships in Carbondale, Ill. Raney, a mass communications public relations major with a minor in health science, is set to graduate in May. After graduation, Kara plans to go into public relations, but she’s not going to stray too far from sports.

“I would really like to go into sports public relations, but I want to go into the social media side of public relations.

I think that it’s more creative,” Raney said. I like the way you can be creative and I can also have sports, which I love, and can put into my career, she said.

Lady Trojans’ strong second half nets fourth straight win Alton Young

Editor AXYoung1@ualr.edu

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wo teams heading in different directions met and then continued on their respective paths Saturday evening as the UALR Lady Trojans defeated the UT Arlington Lady Mavericks 69-60 Saturday Feb. 22 at the Jack Stephens Center.

It was the fourth consecutive win for the Lady Trojans and the fourth loss in a row for the Lady Mavericks. The win improved the Lady Trojans record to 14-10 overall and, perhaps more importantly ,gave them a three-way tie for second place in the SBC conference with a 9-5 record.

The Lady Mavericks led most of the game, but the Lady Trojans played steady in the second half, chipping away at the lead which was as much as 11 points in the first half. The Lady Trojans finally took the lead with about seven minutes left in the game. The final lead of nine points was the largest of the game for Lady Trojans.

Junior Taylor Gault pumped in a season-high 29 points to lead the Lady Trojans, junior Kiera Clark added 13 points and 7 rebounds and sophomore Shanity James had 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Gault also led the team with six steals and four assists as she effected both ends of the floor and kept her teammates engaged. The team is better when that happens according to Clark.

“When [Gault] gets everybody involved, we feed off of that. We just

The Lady Trojans won four straight games for the first time this season. The win pulls them within 2 and half games from first-place Arkansas State. click,” Clark said. The win was not a perfect game for the Lady Trojans, which UALR women’s basketball head coach Joe Foley acknowledged during his postgame press conference.

“Hopefully we learned a lesson and still won the ball game- that’s always a plus if you can do that. But as far as everything being good just ‘cause you

won, everything wasn’t that good,” Foley said.

“The first half we kind of struggled defensively,” Clark admitted. The Lady Trojans allowed the Lady Mavericks to shoot 52.4 percent from the field in the first half, which included giving up five three-pointers, resulting in a 37-30 halftime deficit for the Lady Trojans.

photo by Alton Young

The team has four regular season games remaining before the Sun Belt Tournament, including tonight’s game against Troy, the final road game of the season. The team’s final three games will be played at the Jack Stephens Center.

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Sports

ualr.edu/forum

February 26 - March 11, 2014

Trojans sweep the Bluejays in season-opening series

The UALR baseball team in action against the Bradley Braves Sunday. The Trojans lost 8-5, making them 5-2 this season

Maggie Rogers

Staff Writer MJRogers1@ualr.edu

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he UALR baseball team started the season on a positive note by defeating Creighton on opening weekend at Gary Hogan Field.

Game one of the series was on Valentine’s Day, but no love was shown between the two teams. These players had one thing on their mind: victory.

Travis McDonald took to the mound as the starting pitcher for the Trojans. McDonald impressively lead the Trojans five

innings before Creighton tied up the game during the top of the fifth, making the score 1-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, a single was hit which allowed a run to be scored. The score became 2-1 Trojans. Pitchers Jesse Harbin and Tanner Rockwell didn’t let Creighton score for

photo by Dallen Shields

three innings. There was excitement during the bottom of the eighth inning when the Trojans scored three runs to make the score 5-1. At the end of the game, UALR took game one of the series, 5-1.

UALR was firing on all cylinders in game two of the series

on Saturday- a game in which the offense and defense played a big role in picking up the win against Creighton.

The Trojans scored three runs in the first and second innings, making the score 6-0.

UALR scored a run in the fifth inning, which made the score 7-0. During the sixth inning, Ethan Schlechte threw a pitch that put Creighton on the scoreboard. After a homerun was hit, the score became 7-4. After that, the Trojan relief pitchers kept Creighton scoreless during the rest of the game. The Trojans won 7-4, now leading the series 2-0.

The final game of the threegame series came on Sunday, where the Trojans beat Creighton 7-1. Justin Steelmon hit a single that drove in two runs during the first inning, making the score 2-0. In the third inning, Mitchell Scheuler hit a homerun and that put the Trojans ahead with a 6-0 lead.

The only run scored by Creighton came during the second inning. To make the score 7-1, the Trojans scored again in the seventh inning. Starting pitcher, Cameron Allen, gave an impressive performance, only surrendering three hits, while striking out six batters in a seven-inning period. At the end of the game, the Trojans got a 7-1 win.

The UALR Trojans swept the series 3-0, sending Creighton back home with an overall record of 3-0, sending Creighton back home after a losing weekend.

UALR women’s golf team ready to win Victoria Hickey Staff Writer VXHickey@ualr.edu

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he 2013-2014 golf season here at UALR brought many new players to the course for the Lady Trojans women’s golf team. With four new players and only two returning, the team felt they were a little shaky last semester.

However, women’s head coach Bridgett Norwood says her team is “very, very dedicated and they really want to win... they know now what they need to do to win.”

Last semester, the Lady Trojans were invited to play in the Golf Week Challenge, which brought in the top teams from each conference. The Lady Trojans placed 12 out of 18.

The women placed fourth at the Oral Roberts Shootout in Tulsa, Okla. For this semester, the team wants to win as many tournaments as possible so that

they can make it to regionals.

Coach Norwood says they also hope to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

Senior Sofia Berglund says they have a really good team and she is looking forward to winning tournaments and hopefully playing in the conference championship. Berglund believes that the Lady Trojans have a good team and have gained a lot of new experience with all of the new players added to the roster last semester. Last semester, Berglund, a member of the team for 3 years, captured four top-15 finishes and last month she was named Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Student Athlete of the Week.

For junior Sofie Kvarnstrom, this will be her second semester as a Lady Trojan. Kvarnstrom wasted no time getting serious last semester. She won her first tournament at the Oral Roberts Shootout, taking home her third first-place finish in her college career. Kvarnstrom

says she had a fun experience last semester, meeting all the new people and she knows the team has a lot of player potential. She is looking forward to winning more tournaments and hopefully making it to regionals.

Coach Norwood is in her 11th year as head coach for the women’s golf team at UALR. When asked what her favorite part of being a coach is she responded, “You know every coach would love to say winning, but really that’s not what all it’s about. It’s about taking a young woman and helping her achieve the goals she wants to achieve.” She continued talking about how it is fun to be a part of this chapter in the player’s lives and seeing how much they change over the years.

On March 24 and 25, the team is hosting a tournament at Diamante Country Club in Hot Springs Village. There will be 17 teams competing in the 36-hole tournament. Everyone

TROJAN TRIVIA

Did you know?

Before the Jack Stephens Center was built in 2005, UALR “home” basketball games were played at the Verizon Arena (then known as Alltel Arena)

SPORTS UPDATE

BASEBALL: The Trojans started the season 3-0 at home and 5-0 overall before losing two in a row. The team has a full week with five games scheduled, including three home games this weekend.

TRACK: The team closed out the season at the Missouri Valley Championships with freshman Erin Trumbach breaking school records for both the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke.

SWIMMING: The season-ending MVC will be the final meet for the team’s three seniors Kara Raney, Hope and Holly Myers.

BASKETBALL (W): The women have won four in a row and with four games left on the schedule still have a chance to grab the no.1 seed in the conference.

BASKETBALL (M): The men have lost five games in a row for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Three regular season games remain, with two at home, before the conference tournament.

GOLF (M): The men played in the Wyoming Cowboy Desert Invitational last weekend. The team is off until the Argent Financial Classic in March.

GOLF (W): After finishing 4th in the Jim West Challenge in Texas on Feb. 17-18, the women played Monday and Tuesday at the USA Women’s Invitational in Ala. SOCCER: The Trojans will have their College ID Soccer camp Feb. 28 – Mar. 2 for 9th through 12th grade players.

Statistics good as of Feb. 23

photo by Nelson Chenault

Front Row (Left to Right): Stina Resen, Melodie Jean Dit Berthelot, head coach Bridgett Norwood, Sofie Kvarnstrom. Back Row (Left to Right): Sofia Berglund, Iben Thuroe, Katie Reid. is welcome and encouraged to come out and support the Lady Trojans. UALR students will get

in free when they show their student ID.

SPORTS SCHEDULE FEB.26-BASKETBALL(W) UALR AT TROY @ 7P.M.

FEB.26-BASEBALL

UALR AT LOUISIANA TECH @ 6P.M.

FEB.27-BASKETBALL (M)

UALR AT TROY @ 7 P.M.

FEB.28-MAR.2-BASEBALL* UALR VS IPFW

MAR.1-BASKETBALL (W/M) UALR AT ARKANSAS STATE @ 4:30P.M.

MAR.4-BASEBALL

UALR AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN @ 6:30P.M.

MAR.4-BASKETBALL(W)

UALR AT GEORGIA STATE @ 7 P.M.

MAR.7-9-GOLF(W)

UALR AT RIO VERDE INVITATIONAL

MAR.7-9-BASEBALL

UALR AT OLE MISS.

MAR. 8-BASKETBALL (W/M)*

UALR VS ULM @ 4:30 P.M./ 7 P.M.

MAR.10-11-GOLF(M)

UALR AT ARGENT FINANCIAL CLASSIC *Home Games