The Forum: September 18 - October 1, 2013

VIRAL MARKETING HITS UALR

NINE INCH NAILS MAKES RETURN

TROJANS GET BACK ON TRACK

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The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Student Newspaper

September 18 - October 1, 2013

Trojan Trolley: despite budget cuts, shuttle rolls on KenDrell Collins Editor kdcollins@ualr.edu

In January 2014, the Trojan Trolley will be in operation for three years. Administrators say the trolley’s ridership is on the rise, but some students are uncertain if the service is beneficial.

Amid campus-wide budget cuts, the Trojan Trolley is no exception. Its budget has been reduced by ten percent, said David Millay, the associate vice chancellor of facilities management.

“We’re budgeted on a annual basis with $300,000 to pay the contract and fuel and so forth. Well, this year that will be ten percent less, so, it will be $270,000.”

Millay said the trolley system was initially instituted in order to address campus safety concerns. Parking lot distance and off-campus residences were also defining factors. “Students were definitely interested in the shuttle,” Millay said.

UALR has a contract with Arkansas Destinations Inc., which is renewed on an annual basis.

The Trojan Trolley system consists of three trolleys; one being kept on reserve. The two currently in use take separate routes: the Maroon Route and the Silver Route.

The Maroon Route travels on the southern end of campus, making four stops from the University Village all the way to South Oaks apartments.

Photo by KenDrell Collins

The Trojan Trolley, able to carry the entire basketball team, seats up to 25 people and can carry 45 people with combined standing and seating space. The trolley is also wheelchair-accessible.

The Silver Route travels on the north end of campus, from Lot 14 near the Jack Stephens Center to the north side of West Hall.

Each trolley rolls through campus five days a week for 48 weeks out of the year. The trolley is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day during the week except Friday when it stops at 4.pm.

Sandra Vail, Director of Facilities Management Services and Operations, said the rid-

ership of the trolley has increased.

“We’re averaging 817.60, from January to today.”

That is a weekly average between the two trolleys from January to September 2013.

“It’s really actually very good,” said Vail.

She said ridership was up to 1,370 during one week at the beginning of the 20132014 school year. The contract requires the company to report the number of people

Enrollment down for second time

who get on the trolley. Drivers keep track of this by using a hand-held counter.

When asked if she foresees any changes that need to be made, Vail said no.

“I can’t think of anything, I think it does its purpose. I don’t see anything that needs to change currently.”

UALR students Lucia Okaro and Andrea Phillips know plenty of changes they would like to see made.

Okaro, who lives in South

Oaks Apartments, frequently uses the trolley. “It’s also just weird because it takes so long.

You’re better off walking than taking the trolley,” she said.

“The only time I use it is to go to my car at nighttime,” added Phillips. “But I don’t see it that often anymore at night.”

Phillips said she wishes the trolley would make a stop at 8:40 p.m., when most night classes end. Okaro said she uses the tracker app, which shows the trolley’s movement in real time, to see where it is located.

Some students are not convinced that the trolley is actually a good use of the school’s resources.

Andrea Saavedra, a junior living off-campus who is majoring in Spanish and writing, said she’s never used the service.

“Never in my life, have I been on the Trojan Trolley. It’s not convenient to me where I park or anything,” she said.

“My class is like right over the bridge. I don’t need the trolley, our campus isn’t that big.”

Saavedra said her friend once rode the trolley but no one was on it. “She had a nice conversation with the driver though. On like the resource side of things, we’re kind of, See Trolley, page 3

Enrollment Growth In The Fall (2007-2012) 50% 45%

Officials say fall enrollment decreased by nearly 4 percent from 2012 Jacob Kauffman

Staff Writer jskauffman@ualr.edu

UALR is enacting 10 percent budget cuts, issuing a semi-hard hiring freeze, and is crafting plans for academic restructuring.

These actions are being undertaken, in large part, as a result of poor enrollment figures this fall while other state universities and the state as a whole are experiencing growth.

At this time only preliminary figures for the 2013 fall semester have been reported, but they reveal UALR lags behind most institutions in the state in terms of growth.Those figures show a drop in enrollment of 470 students which amounts to a 3 to 4 percent decrease from fall 2012. UALR claimed a 3.8 percent growth and the U of A met enrollment goals for 2025 this year. With the exclusion of 2013, UALR has experienced a growth of 7.6 precent over a five year period. However, that ranks below nearly every other four year institution in the state over the last five years. UALR has outperformed the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in this category.

At this time, the reason for a drop in growth is unclear, but several factors have been suggested. Chancellor Anderson expounded on possible factors in a memo.

A drop in freshman enrollment points to the viability of UALR’s requirement that traditional freshman live in on-

campus housing. In response to a query from the Arkansas Times, Judy Williams with UALR’s Communication Office revealed first-time freshman enrollment is down nearly 20 percent from 847 students in 2012 to 670 students in 2013.

UCA’s preliminary fall enrollment tallied claimed a 2.1 percent growth in freshman enrollment.

The freshman residency requirement is the strictest in the state, and it’s the only one to not have an exemption for student’s residing in the city of the institution. Since the release of enrollment figures, Williams said Anderson is reviewing a possible amendment to the residency requirement that would allow for exemptions within a

25 mile radius. That change would still leave students in nearby Central Arkansas cities like Conway stuck with the requirement.

A memo from Chancellor Anderson on Aug. 23 focused on academic restructuring efforts reveals he sees enrollment issues looming in the future saying “significant challenges” include “declining state support, soft enrollment, competition with other institutions, and a lingering economic slowdown.”

The memo also lists some possible solutions to enrollment uncertainty that address Anderson’s concern about a lack of state support. These options may make UALR less dependent on enrollment figures for funding levels and

“My own strong hunch is that when the dust settles, the main explanations will be improvement in the economy and changes in federal student financial regulations that include new limits. UALR’s student body is more sensitive to such changes than the student bodies of some campuses, in that our students will take a job or work more hours if the opportunity comes along.

For the same reason, their behavior is affected quickly by changes in financial aid policies that make it more difficult to finance their college education.”

Chancellor Joel E. Anderson

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could prevent sudden future cuts. Anderson called for reducing the number of vice chancellors and altering the role of chancellors to, “promote and protect UALR interests in local, state, and federal government arenas, in donor cultivation, and in other external venues.”

According to officials, it is hard to measure the effect of other factors like crime statistics and graduation rates on the minds of students selecting colleges. If they do have an effect, it could have hurt.

Reports from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education read that UALR’s graduation rate from 2007 through 2012 was 19.3 percent which falls below every other four year institution in the state and is nearly eight points lower than the next two lowest schools. Arkansas Tech and the U of A place in the top two graduation rates with 46 percent and 60 percent rates.

Final fall enrollment figures will be released Oct. 13.

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Graphic by Byron Buslig

Index Opinions News Features Entertainment Sports

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September 18 - October 1, 2013

Opinions Staff Editorial

Although President Obama generated an incredible amount of controversy when he demanded a military strike against Syria, his patience for diplomacy is praiseworthy.

Less than a month ago, a horrified world watched children, poisoned with chemical weapons, convulsing and dying.

It would be heartless to passively accept this massacre and ignore the possibility of its repetition. Given that the Syrian government has now admitted to having chemical weapons, Obama’s aggression is understandable, though not ideal.

It is good that diplomacy, and not bombs, will take the chemical weapons from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s hands. It is good that civilians will be protected from this suffocating byproduct of civil war.

Still, one wonders how many more will die, even with Assad’s concession. Though missiles may be too much, perhaps the weapon surrender will not be enough to promote peace in Syria.

Even if the threat of chemical weapons is removed, civilians in Syria may not be safe. Although gas is a very efficient, affective way to kill large numbers of people indiscriminately, it is not the only way.

Assad may find a means of cruelty that will not face international scrutiny.

There is also no way to guarantee that all of Syria’s weapons will be found and destroyed. Obama may have put deadline pressure on Assad, but there are always hiding places. Some of those hiding places may be in other countries, which could spread the weapons and put lives outside Syria at risk. There must be a mechanism for ensuring total weapons surrender.

In his Sept. 10 speech, Obama seemed confident that Assad perpetrated the chemical attacks that garnered so much publicity. Regardless, it is not the job of the president of the U.S. to determine the guilt of one man.

Photo by Sarah DeClerk

Assad must be judged to determine whether he did commit these atrocities. If he is found guilty, he must face repercussions. It seems fair to put the Syrian president through the world’s judicial system and determine his guilt through due process, a right guaranteed to all Americans.

To defend rights valued in our country, we must extend them to Assad. As horrible as his alleged crimes may be, ignoring his rights is hypocritical and demeans our conception of freedom.

As Obama said in his Syria address, the U.S. is not the world’s police. Assad’s crimes and potential guilt should not be judged by U.S. standards alone, because the Syria massacre did not affect the U.S. directly.

Rather, it is a human rights issue of

global importance. Every member of the U.N. should have a part in deciding what is to be done about Syria. If the U.S. were to act unilaterally, it would degrade the unity and potency of the U.N. It would also set a bad precedent for other countries.

The U.S. is not an exception to international law and cohesiveness. If our country unilaterally attacked Syria, other countries would feel justified in taking independent action, for whatever cause.

Furthermore, if the U.S. carried out the proposed military strike, it would degrade its image and relationship with the international community. Regardless of Obama’s assurances, we could be seen as a world police force that goes unchecked.

It sends the message that the U.S. need not

be governed by the U.N., but expects other countries to follow its standards.

It could be that Obama’s military threat encouraged Assad to give up his weapons.

Military action could be necessary if he does not fulfill his promises. However, the U.N., not the president of a single country, should give the order.

Additionally, bombing Syria may not be effective. Obama said he wants to deter Assad from using chemical weapons.

A strike could encourage him to seek aggressive action against the U.S. and its allies. It could also make his cause seem more sympathetic Moreover, it does not seem that bombing Syria would help end violence against civilians. Even the limited strike Obama is proposing could cause more civilian casualties. It would certainly damage any infrastructure that could be used to rebuild Syria after the civil war. Violence begetting violence will not bring peace.

Syria would benefit more from a plan for peace than a planned strike. If Assad loses power, who will be in charge?

Obama has seemingly sided with the opposition, but there is no way of knowing whether they will make a more positive impact than Assad did.

Deeper considerations involve bringing refugees home, and making sure that home is worthwhile. This is not a simple matter of destroying chemical weapons.

The war must end, and then Syria must be rebuilt. All the industries and social services destroyed by war must reemerge for Syria to survive and, hopefully, thrive.

These are all very muddy issues, so perhaps it is fortunate that it is not up to the U.S. to decide them. It seems all discussions about Syria are spoken over the heads of the Syrian people. Everyone listens to presidents, world leaders, Syrian officials and even opinions from the news media. Perhaps instead, people should listen to the Syrian people.

How You See It Comments and Tweets from our readers on social media

What are some of your biggest classroom pet peeves?

When other students are carrying on a conversation while the instructor is lecturing. It’s incredibly disrespectful to the instructor and the students who are trying to listen.

That attendance factors into grades, sometimes. It means that people show up to class who don’t want to be there, and they talk and text and are distracting to others.

- Amanda James-Sweeney

- Amy Burkett Frets

When I’m in a history class, an elderly student speaks up: Students that pedantically feel what they have to say in class room discussions is not only more valuable than anyone else’s but also more enlightened that the teachers as well.

- Trevar Dye

“That’s not what happened, I was there!”

Everyone loves a good primary source, haha.

- Mason Qualls - Marcus Gray

When there’s multiple people in the class who think they have to answer every single question, tell the professor everything that comes to their head, and use big words to try and impress them. I would just rather them listen because it’s so distracting.

when someone CONTINUES to sniffle and cough...GET OUTTT!!!

- Sharhonda Kelly

When someone pops their knuckles all class period. It’s like, “stop, please!”

- Brady Jackson

How bad have you had to rough it while waiting for your refund?

Had to start flying first class instead of private.

Ate leftover ramen noodles one time...

- Mason Qualls

- Matt Bohannan

We want to Hear From You Managing Editor

Get in touch with The Forum on social media. Your comment/tweet may be printed in the next edition!

Facebook: comment on our posts that have links to our stories Twitter: tweet to @TheUALRForum, using the hashtag: #myUALRopinion

**Those who comment/tweet on our stories will be eligible for giveaways.**

Liz Fox

Walked 25 miles to and from school everyday in scorching heat!

- Win Lubana

Executive Editor Jacob Ellerbee

Oh man...my entire family has gotten used to ramen noodles and grilled cheese sandwiches...

- Kayla Johnson

Features Editor Sarah DeClerk

News Editor KenDrell Collins

Sports Editor Alton Young

Business Manager Jonathan Dick

Advertising Manager Steven Wells

Photography Editor Dallen Shields

Adviser Sonny Rhodes

Chief Graphic Designer Byron Buslig

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

News

September 18 - October 1, 2013

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Research student published, contributes to nanotechnology studies Steven Savage

Staff Writer srsavage@ualr.edu

Omar Abdulrazzaq, a doctoral student in the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences, had his research on organic solar cells published in the August edition of Energy Technology.

“I’m very proud that my work is published,” he said. “My advisor was so proud because this is a high writing journal. This is the first time people used polyaniline as a hole-trans-

Abdulrazzaq

that are connected to each other creating a very long chain. The polymer is like a huge molecule, it has thousands of atoms. Polyaniline is one of those polymers or plastics.”

“Our research is devoted to develop some of kind of new solar panels that are made from polymers or plastics,” he said. His research was based on developing a “new generation” of solar cells called organic solar cells.

According to Abdulrazzaq, the plastic material of organic solar cells has features against conventional silicon solar panels. For example, silicon is a synthetic that is brittle, easy to break, stiff, and very expensive. In contrast, organic solar cells are lighter, flexible, inexpensive, and easier to produce.

“In the future, we expect all the silicon panels will be replaced by polymers.” he said. “It’s not available commercially yet because it’s a new field of research.” he said.

Photo by Steven Savage

port layer, so it’s like original work.”

Abdulrazzaq’s research focuses on an organic compound known as polyaniline. To explain polyaniline, he said, “An example of polymers would plastic, when you go to the grocery store you get the plastic bags. You can either say plastic or polymers. Meaning polymers are a series of atoms

Photo by Steven Savage

Photo by Steven Savage

Abdulrazzaq explained solar cells convert the energy of sunlight into electrical power.

“It’s not like when you burn gas when you turn on your engine, you can add carbon dioxide to the environment,” he said. “Solar cells are a very clean source that just absorbs the light and converts it into electrical energy directly, without any side additives.”

Global warming and issues with the environment have caused many people to resort to “going green.” Abdulrazzaq said using the energy of the sun as a green source of energy.

He said researchers are looking forward to finding key sources of energy, which is why people are turning to solar cells as an alternative to oil.

Before he came to UALR, Abdulrazzaq worked for 15 years on solar cells.

He used to work on conventional solar cells, fabricating silicon solar cells as mass production for consumers.

When he arrived at UALR, he said he

wanted to continue working on solar cells. He said he had to find a new topic because there was already so much research on silicon solar cells.

He knew there was some additional research on organic solar cells and he wanted to find a solution for its problem.

“I’m not the first to work on polyaniline,” he said. “I got a lot of help from my colleagues. They set the standard on how to synthesize polyaniline.”

Abdulrazzaq shows no signs of stopping his contribution to the energy industry. “I usually tell myself that I’ve just started,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of things to do and my work being published in Energy Technology is a first step towards a bigger work called tandem solar cells.”

According to Abdulrazzaq, tandem solar cells are a stack of solar cells.

He said he is thinking of using polyaniline as another application to connect the cells. “Researchers focus on tandem solar cells because they give more power efficiency compared to silicon solar cells because it has several cells connected together and each cell contributes more power,” he said.

“The problem is how to connect these individual cells and my goal is to use polyaniline because of its characteristics.”

Abdulrazzaq said he is confident to use polyaniline successfully as a buffer layer to connect all of the individual cells to build his tandem cells in the future, which should be next year.

National Science Foundation City of Little Rock to host gives UALR $108,000 grant inaugural gay pride parade Mehr-Zahra Shah Staff Writer mbshah1@ualr.edu

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been awarded a $108,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Shucheng Yu, assistant professor of UALR’s Department of Computer Science, is the grant’s principal investigator. Yu, along with co-investigators Drs. Mengjun Xie, Kenji Yoshigoe, and Chia-Chu Chiang, received funding from the NSF for their project on “MRI: Acquisition of a Cloud Computing Infrastructure for Research and Education.” The cloud computing device obtained from this funding will be the first cloud computing instrument, in the entire state of Arkansas, dedicated to research and education.

Simply put, cloud computing is a network of shared computers that is able to run the program simultaneously. By using the shared, unused resources of all connected devices, cloud computing can solve intensive problems that devices alone cannot withstand. Although some high performance computers are able to handle such processes, the cloud allows for more flexibility.

At UALR, high performance computer users need to go through administrative processes, users themselves have limited access to monitor a task.

The purpose of cloud computing is to support high performance computer anywhere and anytime. With the cloud system “everything is under the control of the users, this is the magic difference between the cloud and the high performance computer,” Dr. Yu said. The cloud allows users to perform and manage a task all the way through, by themselves.

While students may be able to create their own cloud network, the development of a cloud from this funding will allow students to create, manage, and improve clouds on a larger scale—a feat students do not have private access to. By making this cloud accessible to students, Dr. Yu wants “to provide these students a new experience with large scale infrastructure.”

The cloud computing infrastruc-

ture will benefit students from the very start of the project. Dr. Yu plans to engage students during the development of the cloud itself. “For the cloud, we need to install software and hardware, and during this process we want to get students involved especially those interested in research,” he said. Students will also be able to participate in the management process, which provides students with hands-on experience, giving students an edge that many other university students do not have.

The university curriculum itself is enhanced through the cloud computing system. The computer science department has courses such as security classes and software engineering related to cloud computing infrastructure. Now, because the cloud infrastructure is dedicated to education and research, professors and students can use the infrastructure to create unique class projects that will enhance the class’s learning experience.

This infrastructure does not just relate to security and software engineering. Any field that generates big data and needs large-scale infrastructure to handle the amount of data can make use of cloud computing. As a result the cloud is applicable to areas as diverse as social networking, bioinformatics, and cryptography. With the cloud computing system, Dr. Yu also hopes to collaborate with outreach programs and provide some training opportunities to graduate, undergraduate, and even high school students.

In a press release, UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson said, “With the revolutionary technology of cloud computing, this instrument will significantly boost research at UALR and across the state of Arkansas.”

Dr. Yu hopes with further development of the infrastructure to invite students from all over the country to come and conduct research with this novel cloud system devoted to the purpose of education and research.

More information about this computer science project is available on the Department of Computer Science website.

Sarah DeClerk

Editor sedeclerk@ualr.edu

Little Rock’s first gay pride parade will take place downtown Oct. 5 at 2 p.m., said Jennifer Pierce, parade committee chair. The parade is sponsored

by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and by Central Arkansas Pride.

The lineup begins at 1 p.m. The parade will start at the intersection of Fifth Street and Ferry Street and travel west before going north on Scott Street.

The parade will continue through the River Market and the William J. Clinton Presidential Center parking lot.

The parade involves eqaul rights organizations across Arkansas as well as local churches and businesses, Pierce said. There will also be a float contest, the winner of which will receive $100, the CAP website said.

Pierce said the event will be familyfriendly and she hopes many parents and children will be there.

The parade coincides with the Main Street Food Truck Festival, which lasts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pierce noted.

After the parade, there will be a reception at Recreation Studios, located at 608 Main St. There will be promotional booths by equal rights organizations as well as live music, Pierce said.

She said that the parade is looking for volunteers. Parade applications, rules and volunteer information can be found at centralarkansaspride.com. Applications for the parade are due 5 p.m.

Sept. 25.

“It’s important to show LGBT youth and people how much support is out there for them,” Pierce said. She added that she wanted to relieve stereotypes about LGBT people and straight allies.

“We want to show people we’re just like

everyone else,” she said.

Pierce added that although some automatically assume equal rights activists must be gay, she would be happy if there were as many allies as LGBT people. She herself is an ally, she said.

Although the South has a reputation for mistreating the LGBT community, things are changing, Pierce said. “People think that maybe our state is not progressive enough, but I think this is past due.”

So far, the parade has not received any negative feedback, according to Pierce. She noted that the Conway pride parade had a lot of opposition at first, but that it died down. “That’s why we’ll have police there,” she added.

Pierce came up with the idea for the parade in February, she said, and spoke with pride groups around Arkansas. “I decided we needed one and worked to get it done,” she said.

Parade applications, rules and volunteer information can be found at centralarkansaspride.com. Applications for the parade are due 5 p.m. on Sep. 25.

Trolley, continued from page 1

like, wasting [resources],” Saavedra said.

Even trolley driver, Sandra McCoy, thinks there are some needed alterations. She gets complaints from her riders that the app does not always function properly, she said in an interview aboard the trolley.

She did notice, however, that ridership seems to be picking up lately. “It seems like more people this year.” She said she carried forty to fifty riders to a flag football game the previous night.

However, her concern is the fact that ridership is significantly lower during the summer months.

“It was dead,” said McCoy. “And they had us driving around. It was a few people here. And it don’t be that many students during the summer.”

The peak times, she said are during graduation and basketball games. Occasionally, students ride for fun. Ayla Jones, one of four riders on board at the time, said she

was just riding to pass time but does use the trolley often.

“It gets me where I need to go without walking,” Jones said.

McCoy said a major issue is that students simply do not know where the trolley stops. “They used to have like trolley stop signs and they stopped, they took them all down,” she said. The signs were placed at each of the designated loading areas for the trolley.

Though it provides added safety and convenience to campus walkers, there are those who believe that the trolley system needs a few adjustments.

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News

September 18 - October 1, 2013

ualr.edu/forum

Professor adds contribution to Martin Luther King legacy New student group to focus on business, marketing prospects Alton Young

Editor AXYoung1@ualr.edu

UALR professor John A. Kirk released a new book on Aug. 30 titled “Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement.” The 50-year anniversary of the march on Washington and Dr. King’s famous speech serve as an appropriate backdrop for the release of a new book about the civil rights leader.

The sixth published book by the Donaghey professor is the second he has written since becoming chair of the History Department. Some of his past books have focused on the civil rights history here in Arkansas. The subject of King is not a new one for Kirk though, having previously written two books about King.

The allure of writing about King was instilled in him in the United Kingdom, where he was born in the city of Rochdale, Lancaster, and where there is still a great appreciation for King’s legacy. The book was released in the U.K. nearly a month ago. “Martin Luther King is an iconic figure internationally. Americans see him as an American hero, but he is, in fact, an international hero and somebody that people look to as an important figure in American history,” Kirk said.

“People see King as an important window into American society and culture and my own interest came through being an undergraduate in American Studies at the University of Nottingham, “ he said.

Kirk earned his Ph.D from the University of Newcastle where he completed his post-graduate work on the Little Rock school crisis.

The process of writing the six books has been different each time. The books that he’s written on King include a biography and a book of thematic debates, but his latest required a different approach. The new book, which Kirk refers to as part narrative, part documentary reader, is shorter than the biography and includes what Kirk calls primary documents, such as some of King’s speeches.

Sarah De Clerk

Editor Sedeclerk@ualr.edu

Photo by Alton Young

Kirk is pictured above holding a copy of his book, “Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement.” The book is his third on the civil rights leader.

“For this one, it was a question of both writing and revising the book’s narrative to make it shorter and more concise and also adding in those documents,” Kirk said. “That was a slightly different process.”

Kirk taught at the University of London for 12 years while writing some of his previous books. Since coming to UALR in 2010, Kirk has served as chair of the History department. With the added demands of the position, he finds that the closer proximity to the subject matter of his books doesn’t make it any easier to complete them.

“Coming here has been a trade-off,” he said. “I’m closer to the sources, but I have less time to use them.”

Professor Deborah J.Baldwin, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences spoke of the importance of the Kirk’s new book to the history of King. “Professor Kirk’s book adds depth to our knowledge about the relationship of the man to the movement he inspired,” she said.

The book is part of a series called Seminar Studies History and according to Kirk would provide an good entry point into the study of Martin Luther King, who has a dense amount of work devoted to his life and impact. “That’s

the point of the text, it’s an ideal entry level text. The idea is to make it a very simple, straight forward introduction to the life of King that anybody can pick up not knowing anything about the man and the movement before,” Kirk said.

A helpful feature of the book is a glossary that gives descriptions of key terms and concepts such as disenfranchisement, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, or Brown v Board of Education. This will assist readers who may be unfamiliar with terminology used in the text.

For those who may think they already know the King story, Kirk offers another take on the book. “It’s not just repeating the stories that you’ve heard time and again. It will challenge some of the ideas that you have about Martin Luther King and help you to see him in a different light,” he said.

“A lot of people know who Martin Luther King is, but they know the Martin Luther King that is shaped by popular culture and the media,” he said.

“This [book] helps to bridge those perceptions to a more critical look at King, grounded in the sources, grounded in the authority of scholarship, but written also in an easy to understand way, which people can engage with.”

Crime Prevention Kezia nanda

Staff Writer kananda@ualr.edu

Rape is a serious problem. A woman is raped every five minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice in 1994. UALR’s Crime Prevention Officer, Jennifer Sibley, added that rape happens more on campus than anywhere else. A program to combat sexual assaults called RAD or Rape Aggression Defense stated that 74% of the time, an attacker will leave if the target uses a self-defense technique.

Mastering self-defense techniques does not mean that you need to be like Jackie Chan or get a black belt in Taekwondo. Sibley, a certified RAD, said, “90% of self-defense is knowing how to not put yourself in a bad situation.”

Sibley gave out some of the most essential defense methods for Forum readers. Staying safe includes not taking so many chances, not walking out alone at night, and not being on a cell phone when walking alone. Paying attention to your surrounding, asking a UALR police officer to escort you, and knowing exactly where you are and where you are going are all considered self-defense.

Self-defense stance is the first move anyone should do when an attacker is close by. It consists of a steady stand with the strong leg slightly behind the other, both hands raised to cover vulnerable points, and a readiness to hit and yell. If someone touches, pushes, or comes towards you aggressively, then you can hit him or her. Punching someone just because he or she looks scary is not a self-defense. Before that, the best thing to do is to be in selfdefense stance and to yell the word “No!”.

Yelling “No!” has several benefits.

In Arkansas, not saying “No” is considered as giving a consent. Yelling can also attract witnesses and the more witnesses, the less chance that the attacker will rape you. There is a chance the attacker will look around to see if there is a witness, and that is the time for you to hit him or her. According to Sibley, who has worked in prison, most of the time, women who plead and beg innocently will get raped.

Making eye contact is very important. This can help you identify the attacker to the police. Tell the police immediately when someone seems to be stalking you or keeps looking at your window. This may not only help you, but also other targets and the attacker himself or herself. It may stop him or her from raping someone and going to jail.

One UALR student, who requested anonymity, has been followed by two men in her hometown. She was with her two female friends at an unfamiliar place. They immediately realized that they were in danger when one of the two men started to grab her hand and tell her that they wanted to “hang out” with her. She started to run away and pull her two friends with her. The two men ran after them. Fortunately,

these girls saw a policeman and asked for help. The policeman asked them to hide behind some shelves and he called another policeman to stop the two men and interrogated them. Sibley mentioned that running away is not a good option, especially when someone is at an unfamiliar place, because the attacker hopes that the target would make a wrong turn to a hidden road. Attacker are also more familiar with the area.

Since self-defense is not a class at UALR, Officer Sibley is willing to come to resident halls or other place on campus to teach self-defense techniques to anyone at UALR for free. She said anyone can call her and schedule a lesson with her at their convenience. Sibley said there are no drawbacks in knowing how to defend oneself.

“I love seeing very shy, timid women, come out being confidence. It’s a great feeling to know that you can take care of yourself. I’ve had phone calls from

three to five a.m. in the morning from students saying it worked,” said Sibley.

After learning some techniques, according to Sibley, it is important to learn particular technique and be really good at it. Few UALR students revealed their best technique. A sophomore, majoring in Theatre said that she puts her keys between her fingers when she is walking alone at night. A freshman, majoring in Computer Science, said her favorite self-defense move is to palm someone on the face or throat.

Sibley said one in four women and one in six men are rape victims. She does not want UALR students to be bystanders, but rather take care of each other like a family. When you see something happening to other people, report it right then. Think and ask yourself, “What if it was my sister?”

Illustration by Byron Buslig

Although the Student Marketing Association is a departmental student organization, it may soon become a familiar name across campus. Since spring, it has seen incredible growth, and its officials said they will continue to brand and expand the organization.

The SMA is open to all students. It is divided into three committees: membership, public relations and special events. The membership committee is in charge of SMA recruitment tables and is geared toward sales students, said SMA President Whitney Burgess, a senior marketing major. Public relations develops flyers and press releases and is a great option for advertising students, said SMA Vice President Trey Woodruff, a senior marketing major. Special events works with the College of Business’s Professional Edge series and helps promote events that will help students succeed professionally. It is favored by marketing students, Burgess said.

Burgess and Woodruff took over leadership of the SMA in August. The organization was resurrected in the spring semester with 30 members, Woodruff said. Now there are close to 70 members, Faculty Adviser Mark Funk said.

“What we want to do this semester is develop a following,” he said.

Burgess said she wants to develop a presence in the College of Business.

She said she hopes to collaborate with other departmental clubs. If the SMA can provide services for them, it will give its members a broader range of experience, she said.

The SMA recently helped promote itself and other student organizations in the College of Business when it organized the Carnival of Clubs. At the event, students had the opportunity to learn about the organizations while playing games and winning prizes.

“You had all this fun going on around you, and then you had people asking really serious questions,” Woodruff said.

The relaxed atmosphere made professors, deans and senior students seem more approachable, Burgess said, and gave students a chance to network.

The SMA has events planned every month, as well as biweekly meetings.

The organization is running a campaign called SMArketing, in which members learn to market themselves better and grow their own brand. The campaign teaches skills like including buzzwords on resumes, making interviews more conversational and selling your personal brand in one minute, Burgess said.

“We want everyone to be a SMArketer, because you know how to market yourself smarter, which is what it stands for,” Woodruff said.

Next semester, Woodruff said he plans to bring in advertising professionals who can talk with students about what employers look for in potential hires.

Burgess said other benefits to members include networking with professors and other students and learning to apply skills used in the business world on a smaller scale. The organization also offers accreditation through the American Marketing Association, she said.

“Our next step is trying to get better known on campus,” Burgess said.

Although he doubted if he would see this in his time at UALR, Woodruff said he would like the SMA to eventually market the College of Business to the community. He added that if businesses have worked with the SMA in the past, they will be more likely to hire its members.

“We want to build the brand of the SMA to the point where it has a very high quality and a very high output.”

ualr.edu/forum

September 18 - October 1, 2013

Features

5

Digital marketing takes over university, world Sarah DeClerk

Editor sedeclerk@UALR.EDU

Imagine yourself browsing on Facebook. You see an interesting post your friend shared, perhaps some catbased meme. You think the post is pretty funny, so you share it too. Then several of your friends see it on their newsfeed, and share it as well. Congratulations – you have just participated in the viral phenomenon.

Material goes viral on the Internet when it is passed from user to user until it has reached a mass audience. Viral videos and memes are popular, but increasingly companies, schools and other organizations are working to make their content go viral. The product of this is viral marketing.

“Before, a company would release a product and hire sales staff to go to different houses door-to-door and say ‘I have this product, this is what it does, and I just sold one to your neighbor.

You should buy one too.’ Viral marketing cuts out the middle man,” said Ryan Guinee, a senior marketing major and digital strategist for the College of Business.

Viral marketing is not a new phenomenon, he added, saying “everyone wants their information to be spread if they have something to say.” What has changed is how quickly and how far the information can spread. The Internet allows a message to rapidly reach a huge audience. Although people have been sharing product information for a long time, they have been restricted by the medium, Guinee said.

There are many reasons why organizations are using viral marketing. Their product can receive a great amount of publicity at very little expense, he said. If users share the advertisement because they think it is funny, they create more awareness of the brand. “When done inexpensively, you can see a great return on your investment,” he said.

Another benefit is that viral marketing campaigns allow companies to reach a younger audience. “If your target market grows with you, you are not doing something right,” Guinee said.

“You want new people coming in. Young people enjoy memes, and companies want to meet them on that level.”

Viral marketing also has drawbacks. Many users want to keep viral content user-generated and do not wel-

come corporate interlopers, Guinee said. Authenticity is crucial for a viral promotion to succeed, he said.

Viral marketing works very well when businesses are trying to reach consumers directly, he said. It is not as successful when they are marketing to other businesses, however.

The way consumers behave has also changed. Most consumers like to do their own research when buying a product, rather than listening to a sales pitch, Guinee said. If they are aware of a brand, they can seek it out when they need a product.

Traditional marketing mediums tend to be very passive, he said. People were fed information through a television or radio advertisement. The Internet allows consumers to be more active.

“What we have now is consumers telling marketers who they are, not marketers telling consumers ‘this is who you are,’” he said.

A popular way to transfer the viral material is through Facebook, a platform on which corporations and other organizations are developing an increasing presence.

“If someone checks something 10 times a day, you are going to pay money to make sure you are on their page,” said Trey Woodruff, senior marketing major and Student Marketing Association vice president. “Making something go viral on Facebook is the way to get them, and once they like your page, it takes a lot of time and effort to de-like your page, so you will be on their newsfeed as long as they are there.”

“We also have your email address so we know how to contact you later.

We can direct message you and do all kinds of things,” added Whitney Burgess, senior marketing major and SMA president.

The Internet has fostered direct marketing, in which companies gauge users’ potential interest in a product and fit their message to meet the interests of a specific user. Companies customize what products they advertize to users by monitoring their browsing patterns, Facebook likes and locations, Burgess said.

“As advertisers, we want to control our message as much as possible,” Guinee said.

The SMA uses direct marketing to efficiently connect to its members through software, Burgess said. They use MailChimp to manage their email lists so their members receive only the information they need. More active members can receive event informa-

Illustration by Paige Mason

tion, while less-involved members may receive only job listings and emails from general meetings.

The SMA also uses SurveyMonkey to receive feedback from their members. Additionally, the SMA is utilizing EventBright to publicize their events.

The software also allows students to sign up for the SMA anytime, anywhere, Burgess said.

UALR also employs digital marketing. Social and Digital Content Strategist Meaghan Milliorn manages the university’s social media. She uses paid, promoted posts on Facebook, as well as Facebook advertisements, to market UALR. Her content usually focuses on enrollment or events happening on campus, she said.

She said that using Facebook she can reach many people inexpensively.

Although television advertising is important, she said, it can be costly and you have to determine when to run an advertisement based on viewer statistics. With print media there is no way to tell who is reading the promotion.

On Facebook, however, she can tag

posts and advertisements to tell how many people are clicking on an ad. It is uncertain, she said, which posts will be popular. Milliorn said if she sees that something is not successful, she can change it at any time.

“I love that, because with TV your ad is locked in. You cannot change it as daily – it is not fluid. With Facebook and other social media advertising, it is all easier,” she said.

Milliorn said her posts represent the university as a whole in a positive way. The information she posts comes from across campus, she said. Students can look at the university’s social media to get updates on situations like inclement weather.

She added that she wants the social media to foster communication with students. “It is really important to me that they [students] know that if they ask a questions, we are going to respond,” she said.

Rankings that matter Polite cell phone use limits

distractions while studying Hillery Perkins

Staff Writer hdperkins@ualr.edu

You can get there from here.

• • • • • • • • •

Top 10 Legal Writing Program by U.S. News and World Report (2012) Top 20 Innovative Law School by PreLaw magazine (2012) Named a Best Value Law School by National Jurist magazine (2012) Top 15 school for training students for public service by National Jurist magazine (2012) Top 40 for nine-month graduate employment by U.S. News and World Report (2012) Top Five Law School for Black Students in the southern region by On Being a Black Lawyer (2012) Best mid-size city by Kiplinger (2013) One of the best cities for a healthy lifestyle by Outside Magazine (2013) One of the best cities for business and careers by Forbes Magazine (2013)

WILLIAM H. BOWEN SCHOOL OF LAW

ualr.edu/law/GetThere

Having a cell phone at UALR is not a matter of prohibition, but of respect.

The cell phone policy at UALR is totally different compared to the cell phone policies in high schools.

In some high schools, cell phones are not allowed. The security guards could do a scan where they go into classrooms and search students for cell phones.

Tanisha Johnson, a junior finance major, said that when she was in high school, it was all right to have cell phones as long as they were kept in students’ lockers. The reason for this could be because younger students are thought not to be mature enough to be considerate of others in the classroom.

At UALR, there are no cell phone scans.

However, many professors have a policies where cell phones must be turned off or set to vibrate during class.

“There needs to be some civility in using cell phones,” said Susan Bowling, reading instructor with the academic success center.

A big drawback to cell phones is when they go off in class. It can also be a distraction when students talk loudly on their phones in class or the library. That can disturb other students who are trying to concentrate on class material.

Cell phone can also make it easier

for students to cheat on tests. For example, students can use their phone to take a picture of the test and send the copy of the test to anyone who wants to.

Ernesto Velazquez, student success services counselor, said there is nothing innately wrong with having a cell phone on campus. “Having an instrument on campus is not a disadvantage; it’s how you operate it,” he said.

Cell phones have surpassed public phones, pay phones and house phones in popularity and sophistiaction. Through applications, smartphones can be as useful as computers.

“They’re a great convenience for students and teachers if they are trying to get in contact with family or friends on campus,” said Dr. Thomas Kaiser, history professor.

Cellphones can promote safety. If students and proIllustration by Byron Buslig. fessors are in danger on campus, they can contact the authorities.

Having a cell phone on campus can also be beneficial to those with certain needs. For example, international students can have translators on their phones so that they can function better in class.

Simply having a cell phone is not an issue. It is cell phone etiquette that poses a problem. Most students are adults who have the right to use cell phones for their own purposes, and the responsibility to use them politely.

6

Features

September 18 - October 1, 2013

ualr.edu/forum

Student organization to screen film about Korean refugee Liz Fox

Managing Editor elfox@ualr.edu

Since political activism became commonplace on college campuses, several organizations have taken to advocating different viewpoints on everything from greenbacks to bombings. A number of organizations at UALR adhere to this type of thinking, and while Young Americans for Liberty is hardly different in this vein, it strives to raise awareness of issues that might not always hit the daily news.

UALR’s chapter of YAL holds just over 10 active members, its core constituents are no less devoted that of the largest chapters in the nation. Co-founder and President Jessica Cone, who founded the organization in fall 2012 after the dissipation of UALR Students for Ron Paul, aims to keep tabs on relevant political issues as well as promote outreach on campus and beyond.

“A lot of what I’ve been aiming it towards is awareness of the issues,” Cone said. “A lot of it is even just getting people to talk about the issues. … With the international focus that I’ve put into it specifically for the large number of international students on campus, there’s been discussion of foreign affairs as well.”

While YAL’s status could be consid-

ered little more than burgeoning, its growing membership matches the dedication of larger student organizations.

Cone and her fellow officers have taken to hosting events on campus, including a “No War in Syria” rally and a future screening of “Danny From North Korea,” a documentary showcasing one refugee’s universal journey to escape poverty and oppression in his native country.

The film, created by the Californiabased organization Liberty for North Korea, is just one of many movies that, according to Cone, showcases YAL’s devotion to promoting awareness of sociopolitical injustices.

“What’s profound about [the documentary] is that it’s one story among thousands,” Cone said. “There are thousands and thousands of North Koreans that come out of that regime every year, and they’re not safe in China. China will send them back, and if they can get to South Korea, it’s a hard journey. It’s even rarer that they’ll even get to the United States or Canada.”

Cone also noted the fact that LiNK presents this dilemma on another level than YAL as a whole, which shines new light onto the continually pressing nature of the North Korea issue.

“Given the fact that the campus group and the nonprofit group align

Photo courtesy of Youtube.com.

themselves very well because they talk about the same issue from two different perspectives, I thought it would be relevant to bring them on campus.”

Documentary screening aside, UALR’s YAL chapter also wants to focus on other issues. The No War on Syria rally, held last Friday in the Donaghey Student Center, drummed up much support for anti-war opinion. But according to Cone, awareness of issues is the key takeaway for any and all Young Americans for Liberty events and discussion.

“We are a cosmopolitan campus and I want to run this as a cosmopolitan

chapter. We are not going to limit ourselves in our scope or our activism just to domestic issues. … We can’t do that with the type of school this is.”

Young Americans for Liberty meets bi-weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays. The screening of “Danny in North Korea” will be held Monday, Sep. 30 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in DSC 205-G. More information about the national organization can be found at yaliberty. org. Those interested in joining the UALR chapter of YAL can find the group at their Facebook page: Facebook.com/ UALRYoungAmericansForLiberty.

Carrying slogans of peace, protesters gather at the Arkansas State Capital Aug. 31 to denounce U.S. military intervention in Syria. Photo by Sarah DeClerk.

Get to Know Your SGA Rep: Trey Gibeault Name: Trey Gibeault

Classification: Senior

SGA Title:

When I’m not working on SGA-related things, I like to....

Recently, I picked up golf and really enjoy playing it with friends. I also like anything outdoors, particularly going to the lake and playing with my dog, Jack. Nonetheless, I most enjoy spending my time with friends and family.

Vice President

Favorite Home-Cooked Meal: Tough one… Smoked BBQ with Mac and Cheese most likely!

I ran for SGA Office because...

I decided to run for an SGA office for the opportunity to serve the student body and effectively represent their interests on the decision-making process of the University. These opportunities to represent something bigger than yourself are challenging, yet rewarding experiences.

My biggest role model is: There are a few people I look up to, but my biggest role model would be my mother. Her determination and commitment to providing for her family is inspiring.

Her strong appreciation for others allows her to never meet a stranger, and not to mention she is a fantastic cook. All of which I look up to… even the cooking.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

I plan to pursue a career in the financial services field, particularly in banking or financial management.

However, as new opportunities surface over the year this is subject to change.

One thing I’d like the UALR community to know about SGA is...

We are constantly searching for innovative ways to improve communication among and the relationship between students, student organizations, and faculty/staff. We are always open to suggestions, comments, and concerns as to fulfilling this mission.

The hardest part of being a college student is...

For me, balancing work, studies, social life, and family is the toughest part of being a college student. Especially with the temptation to procrastinate.

Unexpectedly, I have the additional responsibility from joining student organizations helps keep me motivated and involved.

What is the best part of being involved in SGA? As a student, although having the ability to positively impact our campus and community is incredible, the relationships you build with fellow students, SGA members, and faculty/staff is truly a great part of being involved in SGA

ualr.edu/forum

Features

September 18 - October 1, 2013

Student jobs available to suit variety of interests

7

French Pressed Life in America from the perspective of a French foriegn-exchange student

PAULINE MOTHU

Rachel Wright

Staff Writer rswright@ualr.edu

Students employed by the university are seen all over campus, working as Resident Assistants, in the library and at food service centers, offices and numerous locations, but how did the students get those positions? Can any student apply for employment on campus? Does is have to be through a work study or scholarship program? Let’s find out.

Resident assistants (RA): Resident Assistants are charged with maintaining dorm life and are responsible for helping students who live on campus. Each RA is assigned a floor or certain number of rooms with residents to assist and guide while living on campus. The Resident Assistant will organize floor or housing events in which students living on campus can meet other students while having safe fun. RAs go through an intense training course to learn how to handle situations ranging from simple lockouts to fires and domestic disputes.

“It’s a thrill, a real adrenalin rush, when the on-call phone rings and it’s not just a lock out,” an RA Regina Lewis said. (The on-call phone is a cell phone students living on campus may call to contact an RA when the student needs help pertaining to a housing emergency.) During an interview with her, the on-call phone rang. A student had been locked out of the room and needed back in. To be let back into to the room, she and student had to fill in a lock out request form and pay a $10 fee.

After Lewis unlocked the student’s room, she received a call about a domestic dispute, for which she called the Department of Public Safety.

Training for an RA position begins in the spring semester into the summer, and flyers will be posted around campus telling when and where students can pick up an application. When applications are reviewed, students will be called in for Super Saturday to begin training.

Lewis said she would recommend the job. “If students are looking for leadership, yes. If they are looking for a great resume builder, yes. Looking to be seen, definitely,” she said.

Library: The Ottenheimer Library is where students go to research,

study, use a computer or just check out a reading book. Student librarians interact with a large majority of the campus. Scholars from different colleges around campus go to the Ottenheimer Library requesting information, and the librarians point them in the right direction.

The librarians are trained to use the Library of Congress classification system when placing books on the shelves, because this is thought to be a more organized system when doing research. Prior knowledge of the Library of Congress Classification System is not needed when applying for a position at the library, just the willingness to learn.

Student librarians may enhance their social skills because of all the people they come in contact with, “My ASL (American Sign Language) skills have greatly improved, because when friends come in and have a question, they sign it to me and I translate it to help them,” student librarian Lesley Thomas said.

To apply for a job at the library, ask for work study when filling out FASFA information, or click on student jobs at the bottom of the UALR home page.

Food service: The workers preparing the food on campus are a mix of students and staff. The university works with the students’ schedule to set aside time for them to work, so they can balance classes and food preparation. Students do not need work study to work for food services.

“I saw a sign that said ‘now hiring’ and went and asked for an application” said Caila Decose, who works at a Starbucks on campus. Students can ask for an application at the Starbucks, Quiznos or Taco Bell counters. Workers change stations if one area of service is understaffed, allowing them to experience diversity on campus. Workers also receive on-the-job training when they learn how to work the registers and prepare foods.

Office jobs: For students who work in offices all over campus, it is a networking experience and resume builder. To apply for an office position, students can go to the college of their major and ask a professor or the department chair if any positions are available. Students can even get credit for interning. The departments will work with students’

NOW HIRING for the

Fall Semester

Illustration by Brady Jackson.

schedules and provide them with time sheets. Office work includes copying documents, filing papers, taking scholarship applications, answering phone calls and scheduling appointments. Students are able to do homework or study while working in some offices, as long as it does not interfere with the job at hand.

“I love my job,” said Yusra Baig, art department office worker. “There is nothing to hate about it. The environment and people I work with are really good and easy to work with.”

Students working in the offices meet other students of their major or members of that department. Employees are paid at midterm and end of semester and receive minimum wage.

Chancellors Leadership Corps ambassador or junior mentor: To become a CLC ambassador or junior mentor, a student must be part of the CLC scholarship program, which they apply for in the spring semester of their freshman year. A CLC ambassador are sophomores who guide students entering the scholarship program. They are a friend and counselor to the freshman in their group, and help students make the transition from high school to college. They work in the CLC office and also provide volunteer opportunities to help students maintain their scholarship.Training to be a CLC ambassador will begin in February.

Junior mentors started out as CLC ambassadors and supervise the upcoming ambassadors. They help ambassadors with their students and work in the CLC office.

“I really enjoy doing this for the students…being here and giving them the wisdom, I’ve learned, helps them,” Junior Ambassador Kelsay Williams said.

Student jobs on campus can provide opportunities to get experience in in a student’s field of study, network, socialize, diversify and make extra money. Students living on campus have expressed the convenience of not needing a vehicle to get to work.

“Do not procrastinate,” Junior Mentor Caprice Phillips said.

“Always put school first - you have your whole life to work,” Decose said.

Contact Executive Editor Jacob Ellerbee at editor@ualr.edu for more information

Two years ago, I came to UALR for the first time, and I was supposed to stay only a year, but I decided to come back and graduate from here with an English degree. Many students and friends ask me why I left France to end up in Arkansas, and I simply answer that I like this school and the people I’ve met.

Even though I had no interest whatsoever in studying in Arkansas, my home university sent me to UALR. I don’t regret coming here at all. I like feeling that I’m part of a school community, which was not the case back home.

Indeed, most French colleges do not have sport teams, or if they do, only students in the sport department come see them play. Team spirit does not exist like it does at UALR. Here, students seem to be proud of their college: they wear gear with the name of the school on it and buy cups, notebooks and gadgets with UALR written on them. I like how everyone cheers for the school during the basketball games - this is pretty impressive for a not-sobig university!

We also don’t have clubs or organizations at my home university (except a student union that is supposed to represent students’ rights), and I believe we should have some. I think clubs and organizations bring students together; they are a way to meet people who share the same interests. At UALR, there are clubs for everyone.

No one is forgotten, and this is a good thing. Whether you are an international student or someone who likes writing, art or biology, there is a club for you! I wish my home university in Orléans had clubs that bring students together.

Like sports teams and clubs, French universities do not have fraternities and sororities - this is typically American! When my French friends and I saw fraternities and sororities for the first time, we all thought, “Wow, it actually exists! It’s like in the movies or TV shows about college students!” I think it is really good to have these kinds of communities where everyone supports each other and attends events as a group.

I am not saying that French students don’t care about their peers, or don’t attend events like concerts as a group, but it is different. We usually go out with a couple of friends only, not many more.

The other aspect I like about UALR and that differs from my university in Orléans is that UALR organizes events through the campus life office. This brings students together even more (and who does not like free items and food?). I particularly like Welcome Week, which allows students to learn more about the university and its activities (movies, plays, sports, etc.). Having speakers is also a good initiative - it lets students to learn more about some recurring or current events, or simply learn something about their majors.

For instance, last year I went to a reading by an African-American poet, and it was amazing. I am glad I was able to attend this through the school. I also experienced living in the dorms, and I liked having activities proposed by our RA every month; it allowed us to know each other better. I have never lived in the dorms in France so I cannot compare, but I do know that there is no RA or supervision.

I liked my university in France, but I think it could be improved by having events, clubs and sports teams - going to college would be more fun!

A bientôt pour de nouvelles aventures! (See you later for other adventures!)

8

Entertainment

September 18 - October 1, 2013

Famed sculptor to bring knowledge, experience through UALR workshop Rachel Wright

Staff Writer rswright@ualr.edu

Photo courtesy of case.edu

Deming, a well-known artist and former art school administrator, has work displayed prominently throughout the campus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

ualr.edu/forum

The UALR Artworks 2013 Visiting Artist Program will feature renown sculptor David Deming in a portrait workshop on Sep. 20 and 21 in the Fine Arts building.

Deming earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1967 from the Cleveland Institute of Art and went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts degree at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. As a professor, he taught sculpture, drawing and design in El Paso, Texas for two years before relocating to Austin to embark on a 26-year teaching career at the University of Texas.

The artist has also spent time as an administrator in higher education, serving as president and CEO of his alma mater for a 12-year period before retiring in June 2010. During his tenure, Deming was known for implementing the school’s first digital arts department and pushing for renovations of an old car factory building, which later became illustration studios for art school students.

Deming’s work, which varies from abstract images to full-size statues, has been shown in competitive exhibitions, group shows and private collections nationwide. Among examples are his September Tri Pod piece and a bronze

statue of Texas running back Ricky Williams, which is on display at Texas Memorial Stadium.

“I am a rare bird in terms of sculpting, classic figurative realistic to abstract work,” Deming said. “I enjoy it all.”

Deming will be attending an oncampus dedication to John Larson, the UALR’s first president and founder, and will unveil a bronze bust that will be placed on the first floor of the Student Services Center. Deming will also give a lecture presentation on Sep. 19 in Fine Arts 157 on “Classical Figure and Abstraction,” followed by a portrait workshop on Sep. 20 and 21.

The workshop will cover types of clay most often used, measuring techniques, the assistance of photography, modeling tools, analysis of the subjects form, proportion, and characteristics. This will be a hands-on event, and students may bring modeling tools, even though clay will be provided.

Deming said he encourages different students to attend, especially those who are unsure of what their creative focus should be.

“Deciding between painting and sculpting is usually something inside you,” Deming said. “Take classes if you like to create things.”

Students who are interested can register or receive more information by contacting Michael Warrick at mrwarrick@ualr.edu.

Nine Inch Nails hammers back to basics with new album, members Liz Fox

Managing Editor elfox@ualr.edu

Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has made himself known for things beyond his diverse catalog of post-industrial takeaways. The aging vocalist has intentionally leaked concert recordings, carried on heated feuds with major labels and on one occasion, angered pundits over at Fox News by issuing a foul-mouthed cease-and-desist letter. Albeit interesting and massive in scope, the material released under the NIN name over the last decade has remained two steps’ behind Reznor’s independent escapades. But with “Hesitation Marks,” the band’s latest release on Columbia, Nine Inch Nails thrashes back with sounds that attempt to win back their loyal fanbase.

Reznor, a Cleveland native, initially founded the group as his personal foray into industrial rock. “Pretty Hate Machine” (1989) saw qualities from pioneering groups of the genre, the avantnoise of Ministry and metallic sounds of German act Einstürzende Neubauten made accessible by Reznor’s seething vocals. But this profile grew tiring for the songwriter, who later developed tastes for electronica, classic alternative and, with 2008’s “Ghosts I-IV,” post-rock and ambient soundscapes. This attention-deficit behavior has resulted in Reznor being the only consistent member throughout the group’s 25-year history, but the metamorphoses have also filled the back catalog with ear candy, and “Hesitation Marks” is hardly a mere notch in the belt.

This light of positivity, which dimmed as a result of “The Slip” (2008), stems

from reversion to the original Nine Inch Nails sound. During the band’s infancy, Reznor often translated as aggressive and primal, weaving intricate tales of death, destruction, fear and loathing.

These same sounds populate “Hesitation Marks” while melding with life lessons Reznor has picked up in his musical repertoire. “Copy of A,” the album’s second single, melds pulsing, analog synth beats with Reznor’s outspoken views. Several deep tracks, namely “Satellite” and “Running,” follow in similar fashion.

But the album’s vibe doesn’t generate feelings of tiresome monotony. “Hesitation Marks,” like bits from NIN’s heyday, is eclectic enough to keep the listener from eagerly reaching for another title or hitting “next” on Spotify. But what makes this album so impressive - music aside - is the ethic it presents. For years Reznor’s material felt pitiful and void, a product of a songwriter trying to keep going despite a calling to temporarily cease operations for a time of reflection.

The group’s 2009 hiatus came reluctantly to Reznor, who resigned himself to film soundtracks until he was able to fill his signature group with new faces. No matter how much the silence may have disillusioned the fanbase, “Hesitation Marks” is evidence of the band’s muchneeded rejuvenation.

Contrarians have already pointed out that Reznor may have plans to recycle the act’s old sounds, but many believe this return to form represents a new renaissance for the noise-inspired behemoth. After stress, non-music affairs and creative stagnancy forced the group to founder, Nine Inch Nails has finally come up for air. And what a breath it is.

Photo courtesy of Columbia Records

Local radio station celebrates 10-year anniversary Music festival brings pioneering hard rock, nu-metal acts to Little Rock crowds Jacob Ellerbee Executive Editor editor@ualr.edu

After more than 10 years of bringing the latest hard rock and metal music to the masses in central Arkansas, local radio station 100.3 The Edge is hosting a concert to celebrate the past and help introduce some of the most promising acts in heavy music.

Since the station’s inception, The Edge has played host to some of the genre’s biggest acts, featuring bands like Metallica, KISS, Foo Fighters, Avenged Sevenfold, Marilyn Manson and Slipknot. To celebrate their 10-year anniversary, the station is highlighting acts that carry the torch for the next generation of rock and metal bands.

The “10 Year Bash” music festival will feature an eclectic group of bands, with some currently topping the rock radio charts and some teetering on becoming a breakthrough group. Domestic acts like Sick Puppies, Nonpoint, SOiL and Devour the Day will dominate the stage alongside internationally known bands like Asking Alexandria and Heaven’s Basement.

Many groups in the spotlight boast

chart-topping releases to their credit.

Asking Alexandria’s latest album, “From Death to Destiny,” topped out at number 5 on the Billboard charts this August, and Sick Puppies also secured a place at number 17 with their latest offering, “Connect.”

Headlining the event will be All That Remains, a Massachusetts-based band perhaps best known for its album “The Fall of Ideals” (2004).

Vocalist Phil Labonte, who spoke to The Forum while on the road in Utah, said his band is looking forward to making a stop in front of a diverse crowd in Little Rock after being one of the featured bands on the “Rock Allegiance” tour alongside Volbeat, HIM and Airbourne.

After earning success with their latest album, “A War You Cannot Win,” which reached number 13 on the Billboard music charts, the band is continuing its push into mainstream music.

“We’ve toured with Five Finger Death Punch, we’ve toured with Dethkolk. I mean, it really is the fact that we’re just trying to get in front of as many different types of people as we can possibly get in front of,” Labonte said.

Labonte noted that when he goes on

stage, he asks the crowd if they’ve ever seen the band perform live.

“The response we’re getting and the way the crowd is reacting and the things we see on social media, it’s starting to feel like this is a really really great opportunity and a good tour,” Labonte said. “We play our songs and hopefully people dig it and if that happens, it’s a win-win.”

Jeff Cage, who serves as The Edge’s programming director, said the “10 Year Bash” is as much a celebration of rock music as it is a celebration of its dedicated and loyal listeners, also known as “Edgeheads.”

“The Edge is excited to party with Edgeheads at our 10 Year Bash,” Cage said. “It’s hard to believe we’ve been at this for 10 years, and we owe it all to our listeners!”

Cage also said the event, which was originally scheduled to be held indoors, will now be an outdoor event.

The “10 Year Bash” will take place Sep. 20 at the Clear Channel Metroplex in West Little Rock.

More information about the event can be found at The Edge’s website at EdgeLittleRock.com.

Photo courtesy of Prosthetic Records

Trojan sports. Now. ualr.edu/forum

ualr.edu/forum

September 18 - October 1, 2013

‘Riddick’ sequel disappoints as misfortunate mess in monochrome Caleb Mitchell

Staff Writer cfmitchell@ualr.edu

When I heard that Vin Diesel’s testosterone-laden action franchise “The Chronicles of Riddick” would be getting a long-awaited sequel, I, unlike a lot of people, could not have cared less. I have never watched a single “Riddick” film, nor had any interest to, as the films were a favorite of my younger brother, with whom I’ve come to blows in terms of taste. By direct correlation, he likes a film series such as “The Chronicles of Riddick”, and I automatically lose any interest in it.

That said, I of course ended up seeing the movie anyway, and dear god, it was worse than I ever imagined. Quite frankly, I’m appalled that in 2013 a film like “Riddick” could even get past the drawing board. “ I could easily write a novella of things wrong with “Riddick”, so instead allow me to present with a small list of things that stood out the most.

•

The CGI: Is that the wind rippling in the background of every single frame, or the green screen?

•

The acting: I think in one scene I might have heard some inflection in somebody’s voice... maybe.

•

The plot: Or rather, the lack thereof.

•

The stereotypes: Wow, there’s only one female on the entire planet? Hmmm…she’s rather masculine. Oh, of course, she’s a lesbian!

•

Entertainment

9

The visuals: Every single frame is the same five shades of yellow and/or brown. Every. Single.

Frame. This film looks absolutely hideous.

But did “Riddick” have any redeeming features? The answer is “yes,” but the idea of me racking my brain for a solid 15 minutes to think of any positives does not bode well for director David Twohy, who also created the film’s predecessor . While it does start off mind-numbingly boring - I was repeatedly falling asleep through the first half hour - “Riddick” picks up about midway and becomes marginally watchable.

And though the dialogue is painfully cheesy and filled with cringe-inducing one-liners, the occasional moment of humor or a rare, witty comeback briefly shines through the rest of this sordid affair with a glimpse of hope that things will soon pick up.

If you haven’t gotten the bigger picture by now, allow me to summarize my thoughts with this final paragraph: “Riddick” is bad. It is very, very bad. The reward for watching this 1 hour and 59 minute-long pile of dreck leaves nothing but a lingering feeling that you just wasted valuable time that could’ve been better spent doing anything else. I’m all for the occasional mindless action flick, but “Riddick” is so offensively stereotypical and dull that I can’t recommend it to anyone, save for the hardcore franchise fans or individuals overwhelmingly desperate for their next sci-fi fix.

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

Student finds passion, music in home stretch Hunter Spence

Contributing Writer hsspence@ualr.edu

Local bakery provides fresh, delectable eats to Little Rock Rachel Wright

Staff Writer rswright@ualr.edu

Rosalia’s Family Bakery, a new staple of one of Little Rock’s hippest neighborhoods, offers a selection of irresistible, delectable treats one can’t find anywhere else.

The business is not the first venture for Don and Rosalia Monroe, who have had considerable success with Cafe Bossa Nova in Little Rock’s Hillcrest district. After their restaurant became known for its well-received cheese bread, the duo took it upon themselves to open a small operation adjacent from their veteran restaurant. Since its opening in 2011, the bakery has seen considerable success with its cakes, pastries, imported coffees and daily production of fine, homemade breads.

When I walked into Rosalia’s, I came upon a glass case filled to the brim with assorted treats. For an instant my eyes glazed over, not unlike the strawberries on top of Rosalia’s well-known “Chocolate Cream Cup.” The helpful man behind the counter, who later revealed himself as cake decorator Ian Parker, recommended the “Four Layer Pie” - a graham cracker and crushed walnut crust under vanilla custard, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream topped with chocolate shavings.

Upon additional recommedations, we ended up getting six different slices of

cake along with an iced chai latte and a Cafezinho coffee.

The Tiramisu Coffee Cake, a light and fluffy dessert dusted with cocoa powder, was perfectly matched with the Cafezinho, a Brazilian coffee blended with milk served in an espresso cup. The Kahlua Cake, a pastry infused with the famous coffee-flavored rum, also complemented the caramel cone, a flakey pastry sprinkled with powdered sugar. Another great selection was the “Gourmet Swiss Roll,” a cake wrapped around whipped cream and a strawberry filling with a rich, delicious cocoa taste.

Monroe said the majority of her ingredients are imported from Brazil to give her customers a real taste of her home country. The bakery also reflects this idea, the walls decorated with pictures of Brazil as well as items for purchases, such as organic coffee beans, syrups and chocolate biscuits. The atmosphere, perfect for a cake-and-coffee break, features incandescent light and free Wi-Fi. For college students looking to save a few bucks, there are frequent posts on the Rosalia’s Facebook page with instructions of how to win a gift card to the bakery.

Rosalia’s Bakery is located at 2701 Kavanaugh in Little Rock. The cafe is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. until 2:oo p.m.

Michael Stramiello is not only a UALR student, but also an aspiring, multi-talented musician.

Born and bred in New Jersey, Michael was an ordinary kid with a love for basketball. After moving to Arkansas he attended Abundant Life Schools in Sherwood, where he continued his fledgling career in sports. He had high hopes to earn a scholarship by the time college rolled around, but he unfortunately suffered a torn ligament in one of his knees.

But it was during this time of recovery, he said, that he really fell in love with music.

His musical repertoire, which started with guitar, has grown to include banjo, bass, mandolin, piano and drums. The versatility of picking up several instruments led him to play in the music program at Grace Church in Bryant, ultimately forming a group known as Good Morning Revival. The band soon became involved in the community, playing at venues like Vino’s and Juanita’s in downtown Little Rock. They also participated in Battle of the Bands, during which they won first place.

Good Morning Revival has recently taken a break, allowing Stramiello to concentrate on his solo career. While still being involved in what he deems a “great position” at his church, he is spending time writing and recording at Lion’s Den Studios. As for album plans, he hopes to debut his solo record before

the end of the year.

Stramiello’s music can be best described as rock and roll with an indie feel. Bands like Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, and Foo Fighters serve as inspiration for his songwriting.

Physical recovery not only led to his passion for music, but it has also guided him to his career choice. While his knee was healing, he came in contact with medical professionals in the orthopedic field. The doctors, physical therapists and nurses showed him a path that proved dear to his heart.

Although the life of a traveling musician is ideal, Michael said he wants to become an orthopedic physician assistant, an individual who deals primarily with the human foot. He is studying biology with a minor in psychology, and plans to continue his education at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

In this occupation, he can impact the lives of those who endured what he did.

“In a way I’m glad I hurt my knee, because it led to bigger things,” Stramiello said.

In the meantime Michael said he will continue to study and prepare for Physician Assistant School, as well as continue on his path as a songwriter. The future may appear predictable, but, according to Michael, the prospective musician and medical professional is ready for whatever the world has to offer and is determined to be successful in any way.

UALR GIRL: A COMIC STRIP BY PAIGE MASON

10

Sports

September 18 - October 1, 2013

Men’s basketball faced with challenge at season’s start Sports Editor Axyoung1@ualr.edu

UALR Trojan Senior Will Neighbor averaged 10.7 pts last season.

year’s familiar location of the Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark., which had been the home of the SBC tournament since 2009.

The team will also participate in the Tropical Shootout tournament in the Virgin Islands in December, before gearing up for their first conference opponent in January. The team will be well tested by the start of the conference schedule. “It’s a tough stretch for our team, but I do think it will prepare us for conference play,” Shields said.

Photo courtesy Nelson Chenault

The Trojans finished last season with 17 wins while having one of the youngest rosters in the country and will return with a year of experience that could pay off during a tough early season schedule. “Our guys will be excited about this year’s schedule,” Shields said.

“I think this schedule will challenge our team and we’ll find out a lot more about ourselves early in the season,” he said. “I always say that every team’s ultimate success will be determined by the way they handle adversity.”

Photo by Antonio Gayden

Senior sprinter Ashley Boykin ran the second fastest 400M Hurdles in school history at last season’s championships.

Trojans take off on right track with new season Antonio gayden Staff Writer axgayden@ualr.edu

Run Trojan run. Track season is here.

The track teams began their seasons on Sept. 14 at the UT Arlington Gerald Richey Invite in Arlington, Texas, where the men’s team finished in first place and the women’s team fourth. This season, the teams have extra motivation.

Head coach Milton Williams was inducted into the 2013 Track and Field Hall of Fame over the summer.

The Trojan men’s cross country team was voted by Sun Belt conference coaches to finish second in the conference.

The team fell only four votes behind UTArlington, who is new to the league this year and is predicted to finish first. The Trojans men’s team won the Sun Belt championship in 2012. The woman’s team is predicted to finish in sixth place and received 48 points in the preseason poll.

The track and cross country team added a total of 15 new players to the 19 returnees.

Returning for the men’s cross country from its 2012 championship team is senior Markus Pearson, senior Felix Maritim, senior Shaun Koehn and sophomore John Vodacek.

All four made their way to the top

“Timeout” ALTON YOUNG

Alton Young

The 2013-14 UALR Trojan Men’s Basketball team will open their season with a challenging non-conference schedule that head coach Steve Shields hopes will help them later in the year.

“When you put together a nonconference schedule, you want it to prepare you for conference play and I think this one certainly will,” said Shields. The sweeping schedule, that takes the team from Louisiana, to Florida, to the British Virgin Islands and back, begins Nov.11 at home here at the Jack Stephens Center against Sun Belt Conference rival North Florida.

Highlight non-conference matchups to begin the season will be at the Florida Gators Nov.16, at the Oklahoma Sooners Nov.29, at the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Dec. 7, and at the Memphis Tigers on Dec. 13.

The game against the Tigers will be the first contest between the teams since the 2009-10 season when they defeated the Trojans at Verizon Arena.

The Trojans dominated at home last season with an impressive 13-3 record.

The team will look to continue that scorching pace at home and improve their road play, which will be especially critical as the SBC tournament will be played at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans for the first time since 2002.

The setting in the “Big Easy” will pose a new and different challenge from last

ualr.edu/forum

seven at the conference championship race in 2012, with Pearson coming in seventh overall and Maritim finishing eighth. Both were named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team. Koehn took 13th at that race and earned a spot on the Sun Belt Third Team.

The track team is coming off 10th (men) and 11th (women) place finishes to end the season at the Sun Belt outdoor championships last May in Miami.

Every team has the ultimate goal of a championship. To reach that goal will take the whole team coming together collectively. One person who has this instilled in her is Ashtin Boykin a senior sprinter from Little Rock who plans to major in Early Education.

“I want us to work together,” Boykin said. “Realizing there’s one goal and representing UALR in a positive way.”

Prior to UALR, Boykin attended Coffeyville Community College where she was named to the 2012 NJCAA All-Academic Team. At the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships (May 10) she ran the second-fastest 400m Hurdles in school history to finish ninth with a time of 1:03.03. Her personal goal for the upcoming season is to break that record and see her hard work place her at the number one spot.

To keep her on track, Boykin looks to one of her favorite quotes from Steve

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Prefontaine who said, ‘To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the give.’

In addition to the the Hall of Fame honor for coach Williams, both the men’s and women’s teams were also recognized as All-Academic Track and Field Teams by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Association.

The team’s next meet will be the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 5 at Fayetteville, Ark.

Several major sporting events recently took place that I could discuss here, like the weird NASCAR cheating scandal, or the Alabama versus Texas A&M football game, or the Mayweather/Alvarez bout, or even the so-called “Manning Bowl.”

I want to talk about the people who were present at every one of those events, cheering or booing to their heart’s content. That’s right, today I break down The Fan. Okay, let me get this out of the way first. This is in no way meant to offend, so if you’re offended - too bad. I’m probably talking about you and I’m mostly joking. Mostly.

Fans come in all different sizes, sexes and nationalities, but they only fall in four different categories.

Since you are reading this in the sports pages, let’s assume that you fall somewhere on this list. Hit the red buzzer when we get to your category. So without further delay, here are the four major categories of fans (according to me): First is the Non-fan: People in this category look at sport fans like they have some sort of condition. They wouldn’t know a touchdown from a safety and are indifferent to sports in general. I’m a sports guy, so it pains me to say this, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way these people feel. After all, they are only sports.

(I can’t believe that I just said that.)

A sub-category of the Non-fan is the “I hate sports” guy. This guy not only hates sports, but hates you for liking them. I hate that guy.

(Okay, that’s more like it.)

Next there’s the Casual Fan: Most fans fall into this category.

They typically like to watch the big games in a social setting. The game can be an excuse for tailgating and something like the Super Bowl is typically a backdrop for a Super Bowl party. They may or may not have a favorite team and win or lose, they are usually ok with the outcome. The bandwagon fan is a sub-category here. These guys jump in with the hottest team or even the team that’s winning right now. As long as these fans realize that they just got there (on the bandwagon), it’s fine. Unfortunately, these fans are usually some of the loudest and seem to know the least about the team that they’re cheering for. Remember, they did just get there.

Then there’s the Loyal Fan: Now it gets interesting. These guys know the players, wear the jerseys, and are really into the game.

They will argue with the referees, the coach, and you, if you question their team. They know the stats of their favorite players and are actually depressed when their team loses, especially a big game like the playoffs, when their team is eliminated for the season. These fans are there for all the bad times, so they truly savor the good times. L.A. Clipper fans, I’m looking at you.

Finally we have the Fanatic: These are the fans who swear that their team is winning the championship every year, whether their team is good or not. Most of them are clearly delusional and there can be no winning an argument with them about their team. Weird face or body painting and even weirder costumes can be the uniform of these fans.

Unfortunately, there is a sub-category here that includes the fans we all know and loathe - the drunken jerk guy. It is, apparently, his mission in life to start a fight with anyone who dares like a different team than his.

Don’t be that guy.

Whatever sport you enjoy. Wherever you fall on my chart, which is no doubt the final authority on the subject. Whether you’re watching a game at home or supporting our teams here on campus, remember this, you are a part of something bigger than yourself. You are a Fan. Either that, or you think the rest of us are all infected. Like a zombie apocalypse…with cheerleaders.

ualr.edu/forum

September 18 - October 1, 2013

11

Sports

Youth hopes to serve up competition Jaime Hall

Staff writer JLHALL@ualr.edu

At first glance at the lady Trojans volleyball team, you would think that they were too young to do much damage. With five juniors and no seniors, you would think they probably won’t come through, but that’s not what the lady Trojans believe.

Marleen de Zoete, a junior setter from Camas, Wash., said, “Just because they are young doesn’t mean that they don’t have the experience. Never underestimate the underdog.”

When you have players like middle hitter Adisa Hodzic and outside hitter Edina Begic, both juniors from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hertzgovina, who have played since they were ten and eleven, then there is reason to think that their experience can help motivate the younger lady Trojans to push through. Head coach Van Compton believes that it is only a matter of time.

“The ladies will be best at the end once they get a few games under their belts.

The ladies improve every game, it’s just going to be a process,” Compton said.

The ladies began their season in the Maroon Classic in Starkville, Mississippi where they played their first tournament of the season. The Trojans played Southeast Missouri State in the first game and lost a hard fought battle of five games, and then they had to almost immediately play Mississippi State and lost a close three games.

The next day the lady Trojans played

Mississippi State again where and pulled out a three to one win against the lady bulldogs. Edina had an amazing 15 kills and 18 digs.

“After the five game match against Southeast Missouri State the first game and having to turn right around and within 45 minutes playing Mississippi State, the ladies never had time for their bodies time to rest and the dust settle before they were thrown back out there to play a fresh team,” Compton said.

“After a night of rest, they came back fresh the next day and the ladies pulled off a much needed win,” she said.

Both Begic and de Zoete have won SBC weekly honors this season.

The lady Trojans were in Las Cruces, N.M. where they played in the New Mexico State Tournament on Sept.13 and 14, sweeping all three games against Northern Illinois, New Mexico State, and Southern Utah.

The team will play next in the Tiger Invitational in Memphis, Tenn. before conference play starts on Sept. 27 in Mobile, Ala. against the South Alabama Jaguars.

The team’s first game at the Jack Stephens Center will follow on Sept.

29 against the Georgia State Panthers.

The Sun Belt Conference Tournament is Nov. 21-23 at Troy, Ala.

2013-2014 Lady Trojan Volleyball Team

Photo By Nelson Chanult

SPORTS SCHEDULE VOLLEYBALL

SEPT. 20-21

SOCCER

SEPT. 20

SOCCER

SEPT. 22

GOLF (W)

SEPT. 23-25

VOLLEYBALL

SEPT. 27

VOLLEYBALL

SEPT. 29

SOCCER

SEPT. 29

GOLF (M)

SEPT. 30-OCT. 1

GOLF (W)

SEPT. 30-OCT. 1

TIGER INVITATIONAL

UALR VS. UAB

UALR VS. OLE MISS

Coach Blewitt has a captive audience in during a practice session.

Antonio gayden Staff Writer axgayden@ualr.edu

With conference play approaching, finding a level of consistency is the main focus of head coach Adrian Blewitt. The Trojans have started the season 3-4 and look to have the kinks worked out before conference play begins. The first conference game is on September 29 against Arkansas State.

Coach Blewitt is still searching for the right mix on the field. “We’re trying to find out what our strongest starting 11 is, what our best formation is and some of the inconsistency we have is because of that” Blewitt said. “We are a growing program and we do have inconsistency and very good teams have a lot more consistency.”

photo by Alton Young

The Trojans currently find themselves in 5th place and having already surpassed last year’s win total. The team had a 1-10 conference record last season and will have to continue to improve to turn that around this year. That challenge is nothing new to coach Blewitt, who has a reputation of doing just that with his programs.

The SunBelt conference coach’s poll has the Trojans slated to finish 8th overall in the conference. The Western Kentucky Lady Toppers are picked to win the conference. The two teams won’t meet until October, in a game here at home.

That may give coach Blewitt the time he needs to find the consistency that he wants. The Lady Trojans next face UAB, Friday at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex.

GOLF WEEK CHALLENGE

UALR VS. SOUTH ALABAMA

UALR VS. GEORGIA STATE

UALR VS. ARKANSAS STATE

HUSKY INVITATIONAL

ORAL ROBERTS SHOOTOUT

MEMPHIS, TENN.

5 P.M., HOME

OXFORD, MISS.

WOLCOTT, COLO.

MOBILE, ALA.

12 P.M., HOME

JONESBORO, ARK.

MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS

TULSA, OKLA.

International player owes family for ‘Swede’ swing C.j.waters

Staff writer CWWaters@ualr.edu

Junior Sofia Berglund wants to make sure she leaves her mark with the UALR Lady Trojans Golf team.

The psychology major started off the season by helping lead the Lady Trojans to a second place finish in the first tournament of the season, the Chris Banister Golf Classic. Berglund took fifth place with a +11 finish and an average score of 75.67. The Lady Trojans will play next on Sept. 23-25 at the Golf Week Challenge in Colorado.

The Varberg, Sweden native is in her third season for the Lady Trojans Golf Team. As a freshman, while playing in 10 events, she totaled 2,345 strokes over 30 rounds for an average score of 78.17. Last season, she ranked 5th place for the Lady Trojans and 24th for the Sun Belt Conference after averaging 77.68 strokes in 28 rounds.

Sofia graduated from Peder Skrivares Skola in 2011 and began her freshman year that fall at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “I was looking at a lot of different schools and I came for a visit,” Berglund said. She went on to talk about how the coaches and the weather effected her decision

to attend UALR. “I liked the coach (Bridgett Norwood). She was very nice to me during my visit and I liked the weather. I’m from Sweden. It’s super cold, not very golf friendly. So, here we can play all year around. It’s perfect conditions for a golfer.” Sofia said that the coach took her to different golf courses in the Little Rock area.

Berglund compared the differences between Sweden and the United States. “They’re both Western cultures, so it’s not that big of a difference. But it’s still like a big change to move out from your family home and live in an apartment by yourself, and take care of yourself, and study and stuff, but I adapted well. So, I haven’t had any hard times adjusting,” she said.

While being away from home, she texts or Skypes with her family and visits them during Christmas and summer breaks. “Well, I talk to them a lot,” she said. She explained that the time difference could make it harder for them to contact each other. “We manage to work around that, because it’s seven hours. So when I come home for lunch, they eat dinner at night. It works out. We never had a problem.” Her family checks on her to see how she’s doing in school and in the golf season.

Sofia started playing golf, with her

parent’s encouragement, when she was 11-years-old. They placed her in a golf camp every summer and practiced it themselves during the week every fall. “My mom and dad got me to the golf course when I was very young. I didn’t play a lot then, but I was there,” she said.

She competed in high school and took a youth exchange to Texas in her junior year. She fondly remembers playing on her high school team.

“In Sweden, golf is very individualistic. We don’t play as a team a lot.

But in high school, I played on my high school team and that was a lot of fun,” she said. Many of her high school teammates went on to play college golf, which motivated her to do the same.

As a student-athlete, she said it’s very busy. She’s very close to her team and enjoys spending time and taking trips with her teammates. As well as hanging out with other sports players at the school. Sofia will be graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in May 2014.

“I’m really excited, but it’s going to be sad to leave this place, but I’m also ready for the next chapter to move on,” she said. This summer, Berglund will be playing on a golf professional tour. She also plans to apply for medical school in March for the fall

semester in Sweden.

“It’s kind of like a milestone in life. I have to make some decisions that I’m not too excited about, but it’s going to be fun, because I’m going to make new friends, but it’s going to be hard at the same time.”