THE FORUM: October 2023

THE FORUM

October 2023

The University of Arkanasas at Little Rock’s Student Newspaper

In this edition

FAULTY

PARKING

TICKETS

EAT BEAT

CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE REVIEW

+ MORE

NEWS

Dr. Julian Mirivel Releases a New Book on Positive Communication S t o r y : S a b l e H awk i n s

UA Little Rock professor of Applied Communications, Dr. Julian Mirivel, has just released a new book, titled Positive Communication for Leaders: Proven Strategies for Inspiring Unity and Effecting Change.

It was released on Amazon in July. It was ranked first 2

in the communications and business communications category, as well as the communication reference, business management, and communication in management categories Given how essential effective communication is for

getting ahead in one’s career, this book is a worthwhile purchase for college students, particularly those who are going into business.

Dr. Mirivel’s book can be purchased on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. As a senior due to graduate this semester,

it’s at the top of my list for books to ask family to get me for a graduation present.

THE FORUM, October 2023

Jacobb Nichol THE FORUM, October 2023

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NEW TECH AT DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER

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new technology model is eliminating barriers for students with disabilities at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center collaborated with the Department of Computing Services over the new assistive technologies that were designed to alleviate disability challenges that students may be facing.

This innovative breakthrough helps disabled individuals confront personal issues and engages them meaningfully in realizing their goals and ascertaining their focus studies in their educational activities through learning accessibility.

The biggest challenge in a disabled person’s life is not the disability but the barriers, which are tailored to identifying the individual’s disability.

For example, a person in a wheelchair may encounter hurdles in the way. In this situation, the hurdles are the barriers, not the disability.

If there is a ramp going from point A to point B, that’s assistive accessibility support for the disabled person. “The failing is not on the part of the

Story: Stanley Sike students with the disability; the failing would be in not providing accessibility,” says Claiborne Reed, Director of the Disability Resource Center.

The new technology is not fixing the individuals’ disabilities, but rather creating an enabling environment using new technology designs to help disabled persons adapt to their circumstances and eliminate those barriers that limit them.

Perhaps addressing the social pressure of disability, these assistive tools indoctrinate inclusive, equitable healing stimuli that improve the mind, body and mental wellbeing and proactively reinforce confidence, defiance and empowerment that make them realize their potential and strive toward academic excellence. Getting rid of the barriers by creating assistive support helps improve the lives of disabled people.

The DRC did a fine job of providing supportive technology services that address several disability issues. “We are not offering treatment for students’ disabilities; we are proactively engaging them with these new assistive tools to make learning accessible for

them,” says Mr. Claiborne Reed.

A way to start helping students with disabilities is to understand the basic approaches to the disabled person’s condition,recognize the assistive technologies available and determine how well they fit that individual’s needs.

According to Reed, “the student’s disability condition often determines which assistive tool is appropriate and the instructional framework to follow.”

For instance, speech-totext functions with screen readers aid those who have visual impairments or reading problems. The little purple puzzle tool on the toolbar, among twenty of them, provides highlighted text and uses an audio interface to inform students. It reads text with variable speed and measures speed reading, which can be adjusted.

Students who read more slowly may benefit from this function as well.

High-tech or low-tech wheelchairs are amazing assistive devices. The hightech wheelchair is a powerful device that aids people with minimal or zero mobility

in

their upper extremities.

Another tool is the speech recognition software called Dragon Naturally Speaking, which helps students who have difficulties typing or using a mouse. Students with impaired or broken arms may find this device helpful.

Students diagnosed with ADHD, who have a harder time processing information are introduced to Lexia, which helps students become more organized, focused and engaged in activities.

There’s also a dialectal cognitive-behavioral tool that aids in therapeutic healing and resuscitation skills in students.

Many disability problems have improved dramatically since the intervention of these technological supports.

Professors in the Disability Resource Center use them to help students reach their goals.

In just a tremendous change, the line between impairment and barriers is sort of a category that the DRC has dealt with.

Most people who are registered with the DRC program say that DRC utilizes these device functions to reduce or eliminate those common disability problems.

Jacobb Nichol 4

THE FORUM, October 2023

LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH S t o r y : S a b l e H awk i n s as attacks on Queerness have begun to increase once more.

An African term, from the Akan people, Sankofa, seems relevant here, particularly given how movements for racial justice and sexual liberation were intertwined.

Sankofa is a celebration of remembrance. The North Carolina State University African American Cultural Center states its meaning in the Akan language and in English: “so wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki/it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.”

While this legacy of activism has certainly not been forgotten, it must be fetched and brought back into the sunlight, to spread itself amongst a new generation of Queer people.

Via Pexels

October is LGBTQ+ history month. As a Queer person, it was difficult to write this without straying into the political, which was not my initial intention.

However, upon further consideration, it is clear that the issues of Queer history and politics are intertwined.

Many people, somewhat reasonably, think of Stonewall and the modern Pride movement as the beginning of Queer history. While not strictly true, it was a pivotal moment for Queer culture and Queer rights.

Stonewall, in many ways, defined the spirit of Queerness in a time of oppression. This conception was created in a time of flux, and we are no in a time of flux again. It is important to remember our roots.

Queer history has its roots in activism and social justice movements. Activists like Marsha P. Johnson, a Black drag queen, were integral to these movements. The spirit of queer activism was not just one that wanted to survive, but one that wanted to change society itself.

This is an attitude that has resonated with Queer people to the present, and it is one we need more and more

Biden Administration Passes Initiative to Support Mental Health in Schools S t o r y : S a b l e H awk i n s On Oct. 12, 2022, roughly one year before the writing of this article, the American Psychological Association, citing the Healthy Minds Study, reported that “more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health condition.”

The APA also reported data from another survey, the National College Health Assessment, stating that “almost three quarters of students reported moderate of severe psychological distress.”

Also in 2022, President THE FORUM, October 2023

Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities act into law. This made it possible for his administration to award 2.6 million dollars to support mental health services in schools, an action taken on Sept 22, 2023.

A press release from the U.S. Department of Education states that “Over the next five years, BSCA will invest over $1 billion in school-based mental health programs.”

Such an investment into mental health for college students has been necessary for quite a long time, particularly

since the COVID-19 pandemic worsened mental health across the board.

U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, is quoted as saying “The youth mental health crisis continues to be among the top concerns raised to me by the students, parents, families, educators and school leaders I’ve visited in 43 states across America.”

The two programs that the U.S. Department of Education has for supporting mental health care in schools and increasing the number of mental health

providers—School-Based Mental Health and Mental Health Services Professionals— will be supported by the University of Wisconsin Mental Health Evaluation, Training, Research and Innovation Center(METRICS).

This program also pays particularly attention to the mental health needs of Hispanic students through the University of California’s Hispanic serving institution, Santa Barbara’s International Center for SchoolBased Youth Development.

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Jacobb Nichol

NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH Story: Angel Hovis October is National Bullying Prevention Month.

What is bullying?

Bullying is a type of behavior that involves hurting, intimidating or dominating someone who has less power or is perceived as weaker.

Bullying can happen in many different ways, such as verbally, physically, socially or online.

There can be many reasons why people are bullied, such as sexual orientation, race and more.

Bullying does not just stop at one encounter; bullying is a repetitive act of aggression towards others.

Bullying is a widespread thing in the United States, affecting between 19% and 77% of people, according to various sources. The National Library of Medicine did a study on bullying.

They selected 1,025 students at a college. When completed, the study found that out of the 1,025 students, 4.2% had been bullied by teachers, and 24.7% of students 6

had bullied other students.

Bullying is not only done by peers, as you can see.

Bullying can have longlasting effects on the victim.

Physical injuries, social and emotional distress, self-harm and worse can be the result of bullying.

Bullying can also increase the risk of depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, a decrease in academic performance and suicidal thoughts.

This can also lead to an increased risk of substance abuse.

Bullying doesn’t only affect the victim; it can also affect the perpetrator of the negative encounter and bystanders who witness the negative encounter— the bystander effect.

But there are ways to decrease bullying. A way that schools can decrease bullying is by communicating bullying policies at their school and the consequences if it happens.

Schools can also monitor spots where bullying may be occurring frequently.

Teachers can help by modeling

kindness, inclusivity and respect in their classrooms.

Giving students a positive environment can help protect them from bullying and other negative behaviors.

Parents and peers can help decrease bullying by being aware of the signs of bullying. These different signs can be unexplained injuries, missing items or a change in the student’s overall mood and performance at school.

Another way that parents and peers can help decrease bullying is by informing people about bullying.

Informing people about bullying can not only let them know what not to do but can also let them know if they ever encounter bullying or that they are experiencing bullying.

A third way that parents and peers can help decrease bullying is by helping the victim become more assertive. Building the person’s assertiveness can help them stand up against the bully. Parents and peers can also help decrease bullying by helping the victim find

good coping strategies if the situation affects them.

Lastly, a way that parents and peers can help decrease bullying is by advocating for the person.

If the person ever does come into contact with bullying, let them know that they have someone there to talk to, whether that is just a parent or going further and seeking professional help.

People who experience bullying can help themselves by reaching out to a trusted adult to talk about the situation and get some support.

If they feel capable of it, they can stand up against the bully by themselves or with a support group. If they come into contact with cyberbullying, they can block the perpetrator, take screenshots and report them.

Being able to address and stop bullying can prevent other forms of violence. While bullying can be difficult to stop, it is important to try to lessen the problem by educating others on the issue, ways to stop it, and how to build THE FORUM, October 2023

UA Little Rock Business School Holds Hands-on Business Etiquette Lunch S t o r y : S at h i G u l l e d g e their personal experiences and offered practical tips on how to succeed in the business world. The exchange of knowledge was both insightful and inspirational, leaving students with a newfound understanding of the nuances of the professional world.

Beyond the classroomstyle instruction, students had the chance to put their learning into immediate practice. As they dined at the Brave New Restaurant, they applied their newfound knowledge of etiquette and professionalism.

It was a transformative experience, as they seamlessly navigated through the meal while conversing confidently and observing body language subtleties.

Moreover, the food at the Brave New Restaurant was not just educational, but also delicious. Students enjoyed a delectable meal that perfectly complemented the day’s lessons.

The menu offered a diverse array of culinary delights, and the experience was further enhanced by the breathtaking view of the Arkansas River, which provided a picturesque backdrop for the occasion.

Professor Gwinn, Dr. Gaurav Kumar and Professor Sarah Clements played pivotal roles in orchestrating this enriching event. Their engaging presentations and expertise further enhanced the students’ understanding of the importance of professional demeanor and the impact it has on their future success.

The overarching message of this event was clear: success in the business world extends beyond qualifications; it hinges on how one presents themselves in professional environments.

Thanks to Shanon Gwinn’s expert guidance at the Brave New Restaurant, students left the event with a competitive edge, well-prepared to excel

in their forthcoming careers.

This hands-on learning experience will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the students of the University of Arkansas Little Rock’s School of Business, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the evercompetitive business landscape.

Sathi Gulldge

On Friday the 13th of this October, the University of Arkansas Little Rock’s School of Business students had a remarkable hands-on learning experience. This memorable event took place at the Brave New Restaurant in Little Rock, where students were given a unique opportunity to delve into the world of Business Etiquette and Dining Masterclass.

The day began with expert faculty and professors guiding students through the intricacies of professional conduct in business settings.

From the art of making lasting first impressions to mastering the delicate skill of small talk, the students received valuable insights that are crucial for their future careers.

In addition to the academic guidance, the event provided a platform for students to learn from seasoned professionals representing various companies.

These industry experts shared

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UA LITTLE ROCK ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT: MORE THAN BONES S t o r y : S k yl e r B ro o k s

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as well as can help with the preservation of such material.

It can also include lab work where you sort and identify samples of material. Cultural anthropology generally centers around investigating different modern cultures and societies.

These are the people who write ethnographies, which are systematic studies of civilizations- AKA, bringing you different narratives on the experiences and

early 2000’s. A lot has changed since then, but the program has held strong against time.

In fact, it continues to expand in opportunities offered!

The Anthropology department offers a variety of classes, covering cultural, biological, and archaeological anthropology.

It boasts several classes that help students learn practical skills for the field, as well as unique and interesting

Paige Blair working at the Arkansas State Crime Lab and Anthropology Club President Tosha Aleck to work at the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion under the Mayor of Little Rock.

perspectives of different places.

These people often go into fields bridging the gap between different people, emphasizing connection and respect of people. Last is linguistics, which are people who study language in relation to different cultures and societies. They investigate how language is influenced by and how it influences society.

UALR has offered a B.A. in Anthropology since the

experiences. It also encourages students to attend field school to get hands-on experience on an anthropological or archaeological project, and it even has a specific scholarship fund just to help pay for that.

A consistently offered class is the Anthropology internship, which has allowed students to work within their interested fields.

A few examples include

archaeological work- including lab work as well as field work on a site here at UALR! The site, located near the Campus Garden, allows for students to get real experience in an easily accessible manner.

The department plans to extend this project throughout classes in the upcoming semesters, and hopefully develop it into a community project. Starting in Fall 2024, they plan to

This semester, the Anthropology department is offering “Archaeological I n v e s t i g a t i o n ” .

This four credit class offers students practical experience on

Skyler Brooks

When a lot of people hear anthropology, they light up with their best guess“You study dinosaurs!”

While dinosaurs are cool, anthropology has a different focus. It studies humanity and civilization throughout time, in several different ways.

The field is a lot more diverse and intertwined with everyday life than you might think. Some of the things it encompasses are: Making sure buildings aren’t built on any archaeological sites (this is required by law!)

Gathering the material you see in museums and/or deciding on how to display them I n v e s t i g a t i n g different civilizations to bring you interesting narratives and perspectives Working within businesses in roles such as Human Resources Specialist, Diversity Manager or in Public Relations Identifying skeletal remains Working in research facilities (studying primates or humans) In social work or non-profit organizations, as well as law & politics And so much more. There are four main categories within anthropology: biological, archaeological, cultural and linguistics.

Biological anthropologists are concerned with biological aspects of humans, their ancestors and primates, a lot of the time from an evolutionary perspective. A lot of people involved with biological anthropology also go into forensic or research fields.

Archaeological anthropologists work to survey land, seeking out cultural materials or (as an anthropology course deems it) Buried Cities & Ancient Lives.

They report their findings and can help with the creation of Historic Sites,

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in

the ArcheOlympics.

They placed third overall out of eleven teams from across the state and Anthropology club officer Jesse Lewis won first place for longest spear throwing distance using an atlatl!

Anthropology is definitely an interdisciplinary field and several students’ degree plans demonstrate this.

Yasmin Hamad Basilio is a double major in Anthropology & Political Science and has minors in Religious Studies & Middle Eastern Studies; Cole Dwyer is a Biology major with a concentration in molecular biotechnology and a minor in Anthropology; Tosha Aleck is a pre-law student majoring in Anthropology & minoring in biology; and Skyler Brooks Davis is a triple major in Anthropology, History, &

Sociology. The list goes on!

The professors are as equally as amazing. When discussing with several staff and students, there was an emphasis on how amazing everyone in the department is- there’s difficulty narrowing it down when there’s so many people doing amazing things!

If you want to get involved, the anthropology program is open for anyone, even those outside the major.

In fact, you can count two of the classes towards your core credits! These classes are Understanding Cultures (ANTH 2316) for social science credit and Physical/Biological Anthropology (ANTH 1415) for science credit.

They have an office & lounge in 405 Stabler Hall and their email is ANTH@ualr.edu.

This semester, the Anthropology Club has meetings every week in their lounge (405 SH) on Tuesdays at 3 PM. They also have an active Discord that anyone is welcome to join, where opportunities and interesting articles are shared, which is linked in the anthropology club instagram (@anthropology_club_ualr).

Anthropology loves seeing students from every discipline, so feel free to reach out!

Skyler Brooks

begin offering a Certificate in Applied Archaeology. This is a 18-20 credit certificate that requires classes such as Applied Archaeology, a class in Cultural Area studies and a Geospatial Technology class.

Some of the required classes will be through other departments and the requirements are based on feedback from professionals in the Cultural Resource Management field.

This means students will receive interdisciplinary and practical experience that will help with job security in a growing market.

There are also opportunities to have fun. For example, on October 14th, students Ellen Wellman, Yasmin Hamad Basilio and Jesse Lewis, as well as Assistant Professor Dr. Levin participated

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STUDENTS FACING FAULTY PARKING TICKETS WORK HARD TO APPEAL CAMPUS POLICE MISTAKES

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tudents at UA Little Rock have recently come forward in regards to receiving tickets from campus police by no fault of their own.

A UA Little Rock student, who wishes to remain anonymous, has come forward about his experience when he received a ticket in the fall semester of 2022.

The ticket was given to him for parking in lot 8, an engineer in training reserved lot, that had a wide open gate and no sign indicating a no-park zone.

Upon returning to his car and seeing the ticket, the UA Little Rock student was confused because he had a general parking pass and the gate was wide open, leading him to believe he could park in the lot.

After calling the campus police number provided on the back of all campus tickets, the student was informed by police that the gate was broken and that there was a sign up to indicate so. However, there was no sign to inform students that the gate was open due to needing repairs and that it was a reserved lot that required a specific parking pass.

When he informed the police that there was no sign posted, they said that there should have been one and it must not have been put up. They then told him that THE FORUM, October 2023

S t o r y : M a d i s o n S t o l z e r - C ava n au g h he would have to appeal the ticket to get it resolved without paying the $25 fine.

“It is not fair that they say one thing, and when they are disproven, they just tell you to appeal it,” the student said.

Over the past year, the ticket appeal process at UA Little Rock has not been as easy as campus officers make it out to be.

After months with no appeal in sight, the student who requested to remain anonymous reached out to campus police again regarding why his ticket had not been processed yet. He was informed that ticket appeals go through the Student Government Association (SGA).

After contacting SGA, he was told that his ticket had not been reviewed by the SGA. “It seems unfair to propose this solution to students when no one plans to do anything about it,” said the student.

The student ended up paying the ticket to get a hold removed from his student account. After a year, things took a turn in early October when he was refunded his $25 from SGA for his ticket.

SGA’s most recently appointed student body has become aware of the high demand for ticket appeals because of current student complaints. SGA Senator Alexa Kincade has spoken

out on behalf of SGA and the ticket appeal process.

“Our Chief Justice, Tyrese McGhee, has finally started receiving ticket appeals this past week,” Kincade said in early October. “It is something that does have our top priority.”

SGA has received many appeal complaints from students but has not had the right resources to complete appeals until recently.

Kincade is unsure how long these appeals have failed to be properly reviewed. It was not until she joined SGA this past summer that she became aware there was an issue with receiving appeal forms.

“The issue is that we cannot appeal tickets without appeal forms; if we don’t have the forms, we cannot appeal tickets,” said Kincade.

When reaching out to Campus Police for comment on the issue, Assistant Chief Rommel Benjamin spoke out over email on behalf of the department.

According to Assistant Chief Benjamin, he was unaware that students at UA Little Rock are receiving faulty tickets. He also clarified how the appeals process works.

“Students file an appeal online or by paperwork first.

The appeal is processed at the department and sent to the Student Court, which reviews traffic appeals for

UA Little Rock students,” Benjamin said over email.

There are two ways students can file an appeal form: fill out an online request or fill out a request in person at the Campus Police Station, located at 5800 Asher Ave. Either way, your appeal does not go directly to SGA for review; it must first be processed by the department. The official process could explain why there has been a delay in appeals over the past year.

The difficulties of appealing a ticket are known amongst many of the students on campus, resulting in students who receive faulty tickets not attempting to get the issue resolved.

UA Little Rock student John Reed has received parking tickets on school grounds in the past but has never filed an appeal after hearing about the tedious process from fellow students.

“There are many students whose money runs thin, and then they get a ticket that they shouldn’t have,” Reed says.

“Appealing isn’t even an option because no one ever hears back, and they have to pay anyway.”

SGA has assured that they are working hard to grant appeals in the upcoming months. If the right resources are granted, an improvement in the appeal process should not be too far behind.

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CRIME BEAT Story: Rian Newman

Criminal Trespass West Resident Hall On Sunday, September 3, 2023, Corporal Eric Woods and Officer Rodney Barnes were dispatched to West Hall because of a subject who attempted to enter the lobby.

The incident was reported by a student at West Hall.

Corporal Woods searched the area around the Baptist Student Union. He came across an individual that fits the description of the subject given by the student. Sergeant Barnes arrived to assist and they made contact with the subject.

The individual is not a student and stated he tried to enter West Hall to charge his cell phone. Dispatch notified the officers the subject had trespassed on campus before and had a warrant out for failure to appear in court out of Little Rock. The subject was transported to Pulaski County Regional Detention Center and charged with criminal trespass by the UA Little Rock Police Department as well as being held for a warrant.

Property Stolen at Donaghey Student Center On September 12, 2023, a front desk worker at the Donaghey Student Center called in regarding the theft of multiple phones from the basketball court. When Officer Kenneth Woods arrived on the at

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scene, he met with the four victims. The four victims were all on the basketball court from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Victim 1 stated that his debit card was also stolen from his shoe.

The other three victims stated only their phones were taken.

Three of the four victims made written statements. Two hours later a fifth victim came in, also stating that his phone was stolen. He reported that he was playing basketball with a man in a white and black shirt with a short haircut.

The victim believes he took the phone around 5:00 p.m.

There is no other information at this time.

Drug Paraphernalia and Criminal Trespass On September 12, 2023, Officer Aaron Birmingham was advised that campus security saw two white males coming out of the woods along the Trail of Tears. Officer Birmingham made contact with the two males north of Lot 14.

The two individuals claimed they were simply resting on the side of the trail before they continued walking.

Subject 1 was pushing a wheelchair and had a backpack and tote bag with him.

Subject 2 was pulling a wheeled duffel bag. After identifying them, Officer Birmingham ran them through the Arkansas Crime Information

Center. Subject 1 came back with a warrant out of the North Little Police Department for a failure to appear in court and a no-bond warrant out of Parole and Probation.

Officer Birmingham placed Subject 1 in handcuffs, searched him, and placed him in the back of his patrol unit.

Subject 2 stated he could take possession of Subject 1’s wheelchair, but the bags were too heavy to carry.

Officer Birmingham began an inspection of Subject 1’s property. Captain Marilyn Thompson checked under the cushion of the wheelchair and found two fixed-blade kitchen knives in makeshift holders and a sharpening stone. In the side pocket of Subject 1’s backpack, Captain Thompson found a capped syringe. Subject 1 claimed the knives were for his protection since he lived in the woods.

Subject 2 came back with absconder status out of the Parole Board. This means that he has been released from a correctional facility but has not complied with the terms of his release and has gone missing. His parole officer advised Subject 2 to make inperson contact immediately.

Subject 2 had previously been told to stay off campus or he would be arrested for criminal trespass, so he was

cited for criminal trespass and told again to stay off campus.

Once they arrived at the police department, Subject 1 was placed in an interview room and Captain Thompson and Officer Birmingham finished the inventory of the subject’s bags. According to Captain Thompson’s narrative, she found a plastic grenade-shaped device.

It opened up to reveal a glass pipe that appeared burned at one end. A white pill bottle with a crystal-like substance inside suspected to be methamphetamine was also found. The suspected meth, pipe, syringe, and knives were entered into evidence.

Subject 1 was charged with possession of meth less than 2 grams, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a weapon, and criminal trespass. He was transported to Pulaski County Jail and booked.

Makeshift Homeless Shelter on UA Little Rock Property On September 16, 2023, Officer Jesse Ball was conducting a routine property check of the William H. Bowen School of Law. As part of the protocol, he also checked the Bylites building that is owned by UA Little Rock. According to Officer Ball’s narrative, he walked up the stairs to the THE FORUM, October 2023

main entry on the southside and noticed that one of the doors was open and had some damage on it. He pulled on the door and it came open easily.

Officer Ball immediately radioed dispatch and waited for backup to arrive to clear the building.

Captain Aaron Birmingham arrived and both officers cleared all floors and found no one else in the building. In the basement loading zone area, according to Officer Birmingham’s narrative, several walls were broken as though someone was attempting to remove copper wiring inside the walls.

On the bottom level, curtains and set panels that were left by the company had been hung. Behind curtains, string lights and two box fans were on and running. In addition, there were two couches and a floor rug set up as a makeshift room.

In the workshop area, there was a cardboard sign attached to a chair that said, “Welcome to Mark’s Place under The Bridge.

The most comfortable homeless shelter in Little Rock.”

Officer Birmingham contacted Facilities Management to get the building secured. Joe Abbate arrived with a contractor from Murray Construction. They chained the south doors and bolted the metal gate shut on the Northeast door. Once Murray Construction left, Officer Birmingham entered the north door between the workshop and warehouse and attempted to arm the alarm. It was finally THE FORUM, October 2023

armed after two attempts.

Facilities Management was also notified about the difficulty arming the alarm as well.

Loitering at University Plaza On September 20, 2023, Dispatch advised that Sergeant Christopher Rodgers called in about two males loitering in the University Plaza parking lot. Officer Aaron Birmingham arrived at the University Plaza parking lot, made contact with the two males, and identified them. Subject 1 stated he was charging his cell phone using one of the external outlets.

His car broke down on Colonial Glenn and this was the only outlet he could find.

Sergeant Rodgers asked them for their ID and ran them through the Arkansas Crime Information Center.

Chief Detective Roy Mayo arrived to assist.

Subject 1 had a warrant out of Probation and Parole and Officer Birmingham was advised if the jail won’t hold on the warrant, have Subject 1 come to the office immediately.

Subject 2 had a warrant out of Bryant Police Department for a Failure to Appear in court. They advised him of his court date and provided him with the address.

Both individuals were advised they would be arrested for criminal trespass if they returned to campus and they were informed of the campus boundaries. Their pictures were taken for the database.

Criminal Trespass at Dickinson Hall On September 20, 2023,

Officer Benjamin Rommel was dispatched to Dickinson Hall about an older black male subject displaying erratic behavior going into the men’s restroom and staying in there for 45 minutes. After arriving at Dickinson Hall, Officer Rommel noticed the subject talking to the complainant in the hallway and made contact.

Officer Rommel recognized the subject from a picture from another incident.

The subject claimed he had contact with county deputies and they had his belongings. Officer Rommel told the subject he would have to come with him to talk about what happened at his unit. The subject complied and provided his name. It was the same name given from another incident of criminal trespass. After checking, Officer Rommel told the subject that the department did not have his belongings and that nothing was taken from him. He gave the subject a citation for being back on campus for criminal trespass because he was told by another officer to not be on campus. The subject left campus and Officer Rommel returned to service.

Arrest on Warrant at University Village On September 21, 2023, Officer Rodney Barnes was dispatched to the University Village Coleman Court regarding a subject lying by the stairwell. After making contact with the subject, she explained that she was trying to find a warm place to sleep. Officer Barnes warned her of criminal

trespass, but the subject also had warrants from North Little Rock Police and Pope County Sheriff’s Office. The North Little Rock Police Department gave a court date and the subject was transported to Pulaski County Detention Center for the warrants from Pope County.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact the University Police Department at 501-916-3400.

Stay pretty and stay safe, Forum Readers.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Should “The Exorcist: Believer” Be Your New Go-to Scary Movie?

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alling all h o r r o r movie buffs: the newly released “Exorcist” film has finally surpassed box office milestones among receiving low ratings and a slow start upon its release. Is it worth the watch?

The new “The Exorcist: Believer” movie was released Oct. 6, making it the sixth film in the “Exorcist” franchise.

As of recently, the movie brought in $108 million globally at the box office.

Although receiving good sales, the film has not received the best reviews as it has a 22% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.1 out of 10 on IMDb. About The Film: “The Exorcist: Believer” begins following Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Sorenne Fielding (Tracey Graves) on a family vacation to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, before they welcome their baby girl into the world. Disaster 14

S t o r y : M a d i s o n S t o l z e r - C ava n au g h strikes when an earthquake demolishes the hotel Mrs. Fielding was in, leaving Mr. Fielding with the life altering choice of saving his daughter’s life or the life of his dying wife.

Thirteen years later, Mr. Fielding is raising his daughter Angelia (Lidya Jewett) in Georgia. When he drops her off at school one morning, she vanishes after joining her friend Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) in the woods.

Both girls go missing for three days until they are discovered 30 miles away from where they disappeared, and are confused and oblivious about what happened to them.

Once home, the girls start to develop signs of demonic possession, leaving Mr. Fielding at a loss due to his unbelief in the supernatural.

By the guidance of Katherine’s parents, Miranda and Tony, his nosey neighbor Ann and his religious friend Stuart, Mr. Fielding realizes the extent of his daughter’s

possession, resulting in him contacting a famous exorcism book author, Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), for help.

Communities and families come together to try to save the girls before it is too late.

Personal Opinion: 3/5 The first thing that caught my attention when watching “The Exorcist: Believer” was the cast. This cast is amazing based on recognition alone.

The talent showcased in this film was beautifully captured.

From the opening gentle hearted scenes, to the more nerve wracking intense moments, you could feel every emotion through the screen.

Usually, acting alone has the biggest sway in my opinion. However, as a horror movie buff, I was disappointed in this film as a whole.

To the average movie-goer, this film might have you looking over your shoulder once you’ve left the theater. As someone who knows the franchise and has watched the original 1971 film

many times, I expected more.

It is apparent that the director and co-writer, David Gordon Green, took inspiration from the first “Exorcist” when crafting the movie. Although, to me, it seems as if this movie does not have much to set it apart from all other demonic possession films. It would do well on its own, but it doesn’t add anything to the franchise like others out there.

I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a fun semi-scary movie with compelling acting, but do not go into it expecting to be blown away.

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BACK TO THE WINDY CITY: UA Little Rock Students Take on Eisenberg Career Day in Chicago Story: Adison Cummings

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Eisenberg Foundation’s Annual Real Estate Challenge, of which the UALR team were – spoiler alert – the reigning champs.

That’s right, Cummings, Townsend, Jake Anderson, Paige Goodale, Victoria Temples, David Mendoza and Mika Berry, along with other UALR alumni, competed against schools such as Notre Dame and Marquette.

They swept them all off their feet in a competition where everyone is giving the same property in the greater area of Chicago, and they have

to come up with a development plan. They have to consider the surrounding area and its demographics, if it is financially feasible and so much more.

What was so special about the Career Day was not the tips received, or the tours given, but the connections made with fellow college students and individuals who have worked in the real estate, construction, finance and other fields for a long time.

The networking was one of the highlights of the convention, because people of

all walks of life come together in one conference room sharing similar goals. Although with widely different experiences, they all get to interact and connect with one another. That’s the beauty of the Eisenberg Career Day, and the students are so grateful they got to attend.

Adison Cummings

Chicago, Illinois, has become a regular destination lately for a few UA Little Rock students. Lamar Townsend, Jade Geraci, Ashlin Graveline and myself, Adison Cummings, recently flew out to the windy city to attend the Eisenberg Foundation for their annual Career Day, or really, days.

They stayed in downtown Chicago, and got to experience the real estate world that exists in the urban area. Industry leaders and executives stopped by to visit with students; allowed them to ask questions; gave tips for LinkedIn Profiles, interviews and resumes; and shared more helpful advice.

The students flew out of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock early Thursday morning to arrive in Chicago for the first activity that would begin later that afternoon.

This activity would lead to the students getting divided into groups to meet with professionals and receive resume advice, tips on formatting a LinkedIn Profile, the job interview process and how to handle oneself professionally in a business setting.

They then got to tour a local development, and heard from professionals within the real estate industry on how they made it to where they are now, the problems they overcame and advice for the students interested in finding a job in real estate.

On the final day, the event ended with a career fair for the students to interact with local companies and find potential internships or future career paths.

This is not the first time UALR students have visited Chicago. In March, Cummings and Townsend were there for the

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I WATCHED ALL THE SCREAM MOVIES—HERE’S MY THOUGHTS (SPOILERS AHEAD!) S t o r y : E m i ly We l l s

Photo via Pexels 16

“Do you like scary movies?”

Over the summer, I watched all of the movies in the “Scream” franchise.

Here are my rankings: 1.

“Scream” (1996) Overview: Obviously the first “Scream” is ranked at No. 1.

“Scream” came out in 1996 and revitalized the slasher genre.

Part of the reason that “Scream” is so enjoyable is the way it calls out horror movie tropes, often while it’s happening.

There’s even a character that is a “horror movie expert,” who explains the rules of a horror movie and how to survive it.

It uses the audience’s knowledge of the slasher genre, and the horror genre overall. It opened the door for modern meta horror movies that deconstruct the “rules” of horror films.

Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott redefines the requirements of being a “final girl” in this film, and for future films.

Billy Loomis and Stu Macher are arguably the most iconic Ghostface killers.

They weren’t the most subtle, but they created a legacy and they are referenced in every movie.

It’s also important to note that statistically, a woman is more likely to suffer violence from a romantic partner.

Some of the Ghostface killers are a little more unrealistic, but intimate partner violence is very real and very scary.

The film also contains the most iconic scene out of the entire franchise – Drew Barrymore’s phone call.

2. “Scream V” (2022) Overview: I didn’t expect this one to rank so high, but it is a fantastic “requel,” as it is coined in the film.

It sticks to the ideas presented in the original and brings back several legacy characters, while still managing

to bring something new to the table. It introduces two new heroines – Jenna Ortega’s Tara and Melissa Barrera’s Sam – as well as a new friend group, made up mostly of relatives of legacy characters.

This film is also very meta and explores the rules, not only of horror movies, but of the “Stab” franchise (the franchise within a franchise).

It has a perfect balance of

favorites. After an absolute rollercoaster of an opening, Sidney’s cousin, Jill Roberts, and her friends are introduced as the focus of the film.

Sidney is back in Woodsboro on her book tour and Sheriff Dewey and Gale Weathers are married and living in Woodsboro.

The film was not that well-received, but it’s actually pretty clever. It’s all about

nostalgia and originality.

Richie Kirsch is the first Ghostface killer since the first film to be the love interest. It’s tradition to suspect the love interest at the beginning, but I have to admit, I did not see it coming. Amber Freeman is brutal as Ghostface.

3. “Scream IV” (2011) Overview: This may be a little controversial, but this one is one of my

trying to live up to what came before, and the awareness that that is not possible, and this idea is reflected in everything, even the casting.

Emma Roberts (Julia Roberts’ niece) is cast as Sidney’s cousin, Jill, who is struggling in Sidney’s shadow.

Rory Cullkin (Macaulay Culkin’s brother) is cast as Charlie Walker, the president of the school’s film club, who

complains about franchise installments struggling in their predecessor’s shadow.

Charlie is actually pretty forgettable, but Jill Roberts was one of the most interesting Ghostface killers of the franchise. Her motive is that she wants her “15 minutes of fame” and goes to extreme lengths to achieve it.

4. “Scream VI” (2023) Overview: I thought this was a good follow-up to “Scream V.” Like “Scream V,” it follows the ideas of the film it is supposed to be rebooting (in this case, “Scream II”), while still being original.

In fact, it outshines “Scream II.” Like in “Scream II,” the killer is a parent avenging their child, who was the Ghostface killer in the previous movie. Also like “Scream II,” it is set at a college.

Campbell does not come back as Sidney in this film due to a pay dispute, but interestingly, in “Scream V,” it is said that Sidney is in all the “Stab” movies but the last one.

This is purely an accident, but it is kind of cool how it played out. There are tons of physical callbacks to previous films, such as all the original masks and robes. This film has the most Ghostface killers out of the franchise, with one of them being revealed right off the bat.

The first killer is a film student named Jason Carvey who kills one of his professors over a bad grade, and then plans to kill Sam and Tara to finish the movie Richie started.

The other three killers are Ethan Landry, Quinn Bailey and Detective Bailey. Quinn fakes her death as her alibi, while Detective Bailey uses his police connections to cover his tracks and lull Tara and Sam into a false sense of security. Ethan is kind of just there. Detective Bailey is Richie’s father and Ethan and Quinn are Richie’s siblings.

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5. “Scream II” (1997) Overview: Franchises have proven time and again that the sequel just never fully lives up to the original.

While that’s true here as well, “Scream II” is still enjoyable.

Sidney and Randy are at college, where they have made new friends and Sidney has a new boyfriend.

A new movie called “Stab” has been released, based on Gale Weathers’ book about the Woodsboro Murders. In this film, we get a close look at the deep-rooted trust issues Sidney has after the events of the first movie, as well as a rendition of the rules of sequels of Randy.

The two killers have very different motives. Nancy Loomis wants revenge for

her son’s death, which is very “Friday the 13th”-esque.

Mickey Altieri just wants to kill people. He wants to be caught and blame violence in cinema for his crimes. He is unique in being the only Ghostface killer who wanted to get caught.

6. “Scream III” (2000) Overview: Before I get started on this one, I will say it has its good moments, and some really relevant themes. In this film, the events are taking place in Hollywood, on the set of the in-universe “Stab 3.”

This is the only film in the franchise to not have a setting related to a high school or college, and I later found out that the original script was changed to have no relation to school violence after

Columbine, which makes sense.

The film deals with the still relevant topic of sexual abuse in Hollywood, and was produced by…Harvey Weinstein? Not very fitting.

“Scream III” is just a little too campy to fit into the franchise, and the random dream sequences with Sidney’s mother were almost too much to handle. And don’t even get me started on Gale Weathers’ baby bangs.

One thing I do love from this film is Parker Posey as Jennifer Jolie as Gale Weathers in “Stab III”. It’s very campy, but I think she gives a performance that pulls it off.

The killer is Roman Bridger, the director of “Stab 3” and Sidney’s half-brother.

He claims that he inspired Billy and Stu, and therefore started the whole thing. It all feels a little cheap and poorly planned, and a little too much like a soap opera episode.

Overall, it holds up as a franchise. I have trouble getting through a lot of franchises because they just decline so steeply in quality over time. Although “Scream” does have weaker installations, there’s not a huge drop in quality at any point.

UA Little Rock Art Studnts Draw Live Animals Grace Johnson THE FORUM, October 2023

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“CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE” IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

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Photo via Netflix 18

or October, I decided that, rather than watching a horror movie, I would watch the sequel to a series I’ve loved for the past few years. I had only seen the first Netflix series, so I thought to give its descendant a chance because “Castlevania” was simply amazing. Turns out, I made the right choice! As someone who is easily spooked, watching “Castlevania: Nocturne” filled me with the same amount of anxiety as a scary movie would.

“Castlevania: Nocturne” is the stand-alone sequel to the animated series titled “Castlevania.” “Nocturne” is a dark fantasy, action-adventure horror based on the video game series of the same name.

This series was written by Clive Bradley and produced

by Kevin Kolde. “Nocturne” is both a spin-off and a standalone work, and the series specifically draws inspiration from “Rondo of Blood” and “Symphony of the Night.”

“Nocturne” follows Richter Belmont, the descendant of Trevor (the main character in the original series) and member of the vampire hunting Belmont Clan.

In the first season, 19-year-old Richter struggles to uphold his family legacy, avenge the death of his mother Julia and manage the PTSD he has surrounding his mother’s death at the hands of the Aztec vampire Olrox.

Simultaneously, he teams up his adoptive sister Maria Renard, his aunt Tera, revolutionary witch Annette and opera singer Edouard to combat the rise of the Vampire Messiah, Erzsebet Báthory, and the vampires’ attempts to take over the world.

Set in Machecoul, France, during 1792, the team must fight against an upcoming vampire uprising amidst the

S t o r y : K a i t l i n Ja c k s o n

French Revolution and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The aristocrats are vampires, the slave owners are vampires and the corrupt church members are working with the vampires too. There’s a lot going on.

I found the general plot of “Castlevania: Nocturne” to be very entertaining and enjoyable, if not a bit overwhelming.

Once things began to take focus, it made more sense. I do think that it would be good to have some idea of history due to the references “Nocturne” includes, such as its depiction of the Haitian slave revolts, the Bastille Day celebration and the show’s depiction of the French Revolution outside of Paris.

While I wouldn’t say that it’s necessary to pull out a history book before watching, I think even general knowledge of what occurred during the 1700s enhances the storytelling while it’s relevant.

The Vampire Messiah storyline takes up the plot,

so the initial points about the revolution and slavery are less and less touched upon as the season continues.

I kind of hoped that both plot points would remain relevant, even if having a clear goal was nice as well. I also would have liked to see how the current historical events and the dark fantasy tropes in the show interacted, especially with the whole “the slave owners are vampires” anecdote.

You can’t tell me that slave owners and rich people are vampires and not keep elaborating on that concept regarding the setting and character goals, especially since Annette was formerly enslaved and Eduoard helped to free slaves and supported rebellions.

I will say, the entire first season felt incredibly rushed: It all takes place within eight episodes, but the plot moves as if the writers wanted to pack the trauma and sad backstories in now so that they could move

on to something else later.

I found that there wasn’t much time for me to get used to anything that was going on, and I often found myself thinking, “There’s so much happening” or “Why is there so much going on right now?”

Knowing that there was a second season confirmed only made the quickness of the first more confusing, and it makes me wonder if things will continue to move so quickly in the future.

I really think more episodes, slower pacing or both would have improved the plot for “Castlevania: Nocturne.”

One thing I absolutely have to talk about is the use of magic as a fantasy series in “Nocturne.” For example, most of the magical abilities shown throughout the series are not explained. This is typically demonstrated wonderfully.

For example, Maria’s animal summoning powers are self-explanatory and, although there is an accompanying explanation, Annette’s power over earth and metal is animated well.

There is some cool lore surrounding how Annette’s powers are tied to Yoruba mythos, with her magic being tied to Ogun, the god of war and iron.

If you’re looking for an in-depth explanation, however, you need to get over yourself or you’ll be disappointed. I don’t think that’s happening anytime soon.

I like this aspect of the series though: magic seems to be an individualistic thing, and I think it being showcased or used to explain fantastical things is more enjoyable than being accompanied with an in-depth elaboration in the middle of the show.

When thinking of the impressions the characters made on me, I realized that I had some trouble even

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remembering who they were outside of what they do, their backgrounds or their abilities.

Whatever their personalities were, they were motivated and their actions seemed consistent with their personalities. I may have thought “Why did they do that?,” but I never wondered “Why did this person specifically do that?

That doesn’t make sense for them!” Most characters are fierce and badass, with a few

differentiating traits, but that’s about all I could muster up.

Honestly, their personalities could probably be summed up with a single adjective: traumatized. Part of me wonders if their seeming lack of personality stems from the characters always going through something.

There’s problem after problem, and there aren’t many chances to see who the characters are outside of

constant vampire hunting and conversations about someone’s trauma. Because of this, the character development the protagonists do have also come off as rushed; other times, it felt as if the development wasn’t truly present. The character designs were wonderful though. The characters looked amazing, each one stands out, and nothing seemed too out of the ordinary for the setting.

Overall, I found

“Castlevania: Nocturne” to be incredibly enjoyable. Although there were issues with rushing the plot, I think the show should be given time for any future improvements. As more episodes are released, I’m sure things like personalities and more clear motivations will reveal themselves. In spite of its flaws, I think the first season is entertaining and well-written enough to keep an eye out for the second season!

Spotlight on Students The “Games of Chance” Cast and Crew S t o r y : Va l B e l l - O

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To get the word out, and to make sure all who are interested are aware of what’s about to take place, I took it upon myself to do some impromptu interviews with some of the cast and crew.

When I asked for a description of what the opera and musical theater production “Games of Chance” is about, Assistant Stage Manager Emily Wells described it as a, “blend of beloved songs from operas and musicals all coming together in a casino.”

Mya Little, who plays Lady Luck, described it as, “a melting pot of cultural arts that validates the need for collaboration to tell all sides of the story.”

Analise McKenzie, who plays Frasquita in Carmen, agreed with Wells and Little saying, “Games of Chance is an opportunity for singers and actors to come together in an artistic way to blend opera and musical theater into one using a casino theme.”

McKenzie went on to say that, “bringing all the different types of talents together has given me, and I’m sure others, a different perspective to truly appreciate different styles of music.”

Mary Conley, who plays Sally in “A Hand of Bridge,” when asked what her thoughts were about the collaboration

of theater, vocal majors and wind ensemble musicians in the production for “Games of Chance” stated, “Combining departments is an opportunity to showcase our university and to provide real life depiction to those desiring or considering becoming a part of the Trojan family. It is a place for everyone to belong.”

There are many like Wells, Sain and Dr. Lawrence who are working behind the scenes to make this production one to be remembered for years to come, from the designing and creating the set; planning, sewing and altering costumes; and teaching choreography.

One of whom is Myles Mitchell, the production stage manager.

When I asked what all he does in the process of producing the upcoming show, he replied, “I send out the rehearsal schedule, make sure people show up on time and write notes from the directors such as clocking notations, and as well as things that the designers need to know. Make sure that rehearsals run smoothly and when it is time for the show to open, that the cues are called, so you guys get your lighting cues and, or, sound cues. That barely scratches the surface and my experience so far, is that it

is a new experience for me as a first time PSM. So there are things that I’m learning as I go.

So far it has been fun seeing how you guys are growing and bringing the show together.”

Mitchell said, “You guys,” to me, the interviewer, because yours truly will also be in this production as Treemonisha, and as a part of the ensemble in songs that will be sung such as “Luck be a Lady,” “Maybe this time” and “Politics and Poker.”

When asked what their favorite song was in the production thus far, McKenzie responded, “‘Luck Be a Lady’ is my favorite ensemble song because it has so many moving parts and really sets the stage well.”

Little, whose character is Lady Luck, describes her as a weaver and a sort of spirit throughout the production.

Much hard work and planning has and is being put into this production, and it is our hope that the whole student body, faculty, family and friends come out and support this endeavor.

Provided

If you haven’t heard already, something really special is about to take place on campus next month, something phenomenal that you will not want to miss. On the nights of Nov. 14-16, you will have the opportunity to view musicians, actors and singers come together in a production entitled “Games of Chance” presented by the School of Literary Performance and Arts.

Students majoring in music (vocal and instrumental) and theater will be showcasing their talent in a variety of ways. This event will be held in the University Theater in the Center for Performing Arts at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The production will feature a live orchestra that will not only include UA Little Rock student musicians, but also musicians from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

It is directed by Dr. Nickolas Doshier, director of music education, and accompanied on piano by Dr. Rolf Groesbeck, professor of music history/ musicology/ethnomusicology.

Co-Directors include Dr. Lawrence Smith, associate professor of theatre arts and dance, and Kate Sain, course instructor for private vocal lessons and opera performance.

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Jacobb Nichol 20

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BBQ @ BAILEY Story: Angel Hovis

UA Little Rock hosted its annual BBQ at Bailey’s on Oct. 4. Due to rain, though, the event was moved to the Fitness Center in the Donaghey Student Center instead of the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center.

The event lasted from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and was filled with an upbeat environment.

There was an overwhelming amount of students, faculty and alumni filling the center.

The UA Little Rock dance team also attended the event to bring in the school spirit.

Because of the rain, many staff members were worried that there would not be a lot of people attending the event.

It was quite the contrary

with the estimated number of people being more than 1,000. Peter Stuckey, database administrator with IT Services, who volunteered to serve lunch, recalls being surprised by the large and enthusiastic crowd.

When arriving in front of the Fitness Center doors, attendants would checkin with staff at the doors and then enter the doors to where there would be many lines for the food serving.

Against the walls outside of the center sat tables with little slips where students could design a brick for themselves that would be placed in the alumni plaza, and list reasons to join the UA Little

Rock Alumni Association.

When entering the doors, you were greeted by music, smiling faces and an all around welcoming and friendly environment. The lunch was catered to by Hog Cafe and they provided pulled pork, pulled chicken and veggie patties with multiple barbecue flavors, potato salad, coleslaw and barbecue baked beans.

The Community Bakery provided dessert with it being cookies. There was a table being run by Don O’Donnell, letting people know about the Staff Senate Helping Hands Committee and the events that they were having during the month. Throughout the event

many people would gather and dance on the gym floor, smile and laugh and just have a good time. The event was a major success and it all around was an amazing experience.

Rooftop Screening of Hocus Pocus in Downtown Little Rock On Oct. 18, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership hosted a showing of “Hocus Pocus” on top of the parking lot at Sixth and Scott Street.

“Hocus Pocus” is one of my favorite movies, but I was initially somewhat skeptical about this particular showing. It wasn’t quite sunset when it started so the screen

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was a bit difficult to see.

However, once the sun set and more people arrived, it took on a perfect Halloween ambiance, complete with candy.

And while we waited for the movie to start, the sound system played classic Halloween songs, such as “Thriller” and “Ghostbusters.”

All together, it added up

to a quite enjoyable event.

The campiness of Hocus Pocus always makes for a thrill, particularly given The Divine Miss M’s performance as Winifred. Her character reminds us what we all love about Halloween: delighting in the spooky, the supernatural and the weird, all with more than a touch of showmanship.

Cassi Pinnon

S t o r y : S a b l e H awk i n s

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UA LITTLE ROCK DOWNTOWNS NEW STUDY GROUP S t o r y : G a b r i e l a R a m i re z Need a new change of scenery when you study?

“Instead of sticking to one study location, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention,” stated Psychologist Robert Bjork in this New York Times article: https://www. nytimes.com/2010/09/07/ health/views/07mind.html

Gabriela Ramirez

At the beginning of the 2023 fall semester, UA Little Rock Downtown created a Student Study Group program available every Monday from 2-4 p.m. It is located at 333 President Clinton Ave. This is a scheduled time for students to come and have a new quiet space to study. Students can come and go at any point within the frame time. A student can have their own self-study time or come in with a group.

When walking into the UA Little Rock Downtown office, Programming and Administrative Assistant Emily Housdan greeted students with a warm welcome. The place has plenty of spacious room and many clean desks aligned in the center.

The environment is 22

quiet and filled with soft lighting. There are large glass windows to the side that give a beautiful view of the outside streets nearby.

The study group is open to all students at both undergraduate and professional levels. It is also open to students at other professional schools in the area, including UAMS and the Clinton School of Public Service.

For instance, they would love it if there was a graduate student or UAMS student at the study group in a field similar to an undergraduate student, in which they would be able to learn and connect with each other. Similarly, it would also be a great opportunity for students of different backgrounds and fields of study to meet and engage in discussion, to learn from each other and foster community connections across disciplines. ​UA Little Rock Downtown strives to serve as a place where the university can

connect with the city and the Little Rock community.

They believe inviting their students to their space can

encourage students to connect with the city and our neighbors,

such as the UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture, the Clinton Library, Historic Arkansas Museum, the Central Arkansas Library System and so much more.

It is important for them to provide students with easy access to the city center. For this reason, they provide parking validation stickers for the CALS parking lot and deck, making it free for students to avoid paying for parking.

They also want to promote the university’s partnership with Rock Region METRO, which grants employees and students access to ride the city bus for free, using the Trojan’s U-Pass.

Students can take the bus from campus to Second Street and Rock Street (CALS Main Branch Stop) location, where they can take a short walk to UA Little Rock Downtown.

For more information on the Trojan’s U-Pass, a student may pick one up at the ID Card Office in Room 11 of the Donaghey Student Center.

With the convenience of UA Little Rock Downtown’s

location, there are a variety of food shops surrounding UA Little Rock Downtown to choose from for when students need a quick break in between study sessions or want to grab a quick dinner before leaving.

To name only a few, those include Nexus Coffee & Creative Cafe, Flying Fish, Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken, Kilwins ice cream and so much more.

If students want to take a quick eye break from studying, there are many locations for sight-seeing and shopping. Those include the Little Rock River Market, Straight Lines on a Round World, Historic Arkansas

Museum and many more.

UA Little Rock Downtown hopes that in doing this, it will give the students at UA Little Rock an opportunity to meet and interact with other students in the Little Rock Community, as fostering community connections is an essential part of their mission.

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Have a Taste of Italy at the Italian Coffeee Corner S t o r y : E m i ly We l l s Not to be an annoying stereotypical study abroad student, but study abroad was life-changing in multiple ways. But the thing I want to talk about today is food. How can you go back to American coffee and pastries after having them in Italy? Never fear, the Italian Coffee Corner is here.

The Italian Coffee Corner is located in Simmons Bank.

Because of this, they are only open on weekdays from 8 a.m.3 p.m., which is why it took me so long to try it. But, I’m telling you, it is absolutely worth it.

I had a rare week day where I didn’t have anything that I needed to do, so I decided that it was time for me to try it.

It took me a second to find it, but there were signs in the building directing to the coffee shop. It had a very welcoming atmosphere. There was soft Italian music playing, and there were two very friendly Italian men running the shop.

There were so many pastries to choose from, but I knew I had to get one of their danishes, so I picked the blueberry and cream cheese danish.

One of the workers recommended their cinnamon rolls, saying that it was the best thing they have, so of course I had to try one. I also ordered a hazelnut (nocciolato) latte, THE FORUM, October 2023

which was topped with whipped cream and chopped hazelnuts.

My boyfriend ordered a latte and a maple pecan pastry.

Our order was brought out pretty quickly, and the worker insisted on bringing it to where we were sitting.

We decided to sit at the little bar looking out the window. I have to admit, the view left something to be desired, but the real view was the mug of coffee and the plate of warm pastries. Who needs scenery when you have that?

The blueberry and cream cheese danish had the perfect ratio of sweetness to tanginess. I am usually a little disappointed by cheese danishes because I find them to be too sweet, but this one was perfectly balanced, and the blueberry compote balanced the richness of the cream cheese filling.

The nocciolato latte had the stronger espresso taste that I learned to love, without being overwhelming. The chopped hazelnuts took a little getting used to, but I enjoyed them.

I also sampled a small bite of the maple pecan pastry and found it delicious. It was like a pecan pie with a croissant instead of a pie crust.

The cinnamon roll was fantastic. My mouth is watering just writing about it. The

dough was closer to that of a croissant than a traditional cinnamon roll, so it still had that soft, gooey inside associated with cinnamon rolls, but the outside was more flaky.

I ended up getting a little to-go box for my food. When we were preparing to leave and bring our dishes back up to the counter, the workers insisted that we stay put and they would get our dishes.

They warmly invited us to

come back again any time.

The Italian Coffee Corner has happy hour from 12-3 p.m., where all items are 10% off. If you don’t get a chance to visit their downtown location, they have a location in Maumelle that is open on weekends as well.

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Arkansas Film Festival: “The Bikeriders” Premiere S t o r y : E m i ly We l l s

On Oct. 15, 2023, I had the opportunity to attend the Arkansas premiere of “The Bikeriders” at the 2023 Filmland Festival. Filmland is sponsored by the Arkansas Cinema Society and was hosted this year by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.

“The Bikeriders” was directed by Little Rock native Jeff Nichols. He is an alum of Little Rock Central High School and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

He is one of the co-founders of the Arkansas Cinema Society.

“The Bikeriders” stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and

the audience did as well. The audience was very engaged and reactive throughout the duration of the film.

The premiere was followed by a Q&A interview by Variety Critic Peter Debruge and Nichols, where the audience learned more about the process of making the film, the casting process and the inspiration behind his choices. At the end of the interview, the floor was opened to audience questions.

One person asked about the marketing for the film, which led to a conversation about the making of the poster for the film. The marketing team

Emily Wells

Tom Hardy in the tale of the rise and fall of a Midwestern motorcycle club in the 1960s.

It is based on the book of photography of the same name

by Danny Lyons. It is visually stunning, with a phenomenal sound design and fantastic performances from all of the actors. The scenic and costume designs were particularly impressive. I really enjoyed the film, and I could tell that

24

wanted to create a poster that had the likeness of all three of the leads on it, but they had to use photoshop in order to make that happen. Nichols said that he wanted the film to feel authentic in every aspect, so the photoshopped images were scrapped and they went with the gorgeous shot of Austin Butler on his bike. Nichols also discussed the importance of the SAG-AFTRA strike,

and revealed that if it hadn’t been for the strike, Austin Butler would have attended the event. The audience nearly rioted when they heard that.

After the Q&A, dinner was served. Dinner was catered by local restaurants like Lost 40

favorites. He is a very talented musician, and I am glad I was introduced to his music.

There was a fundraising auction held with items like signed posters, signed unreleased photos from set, unreleased photos of the

Brewery, Camp Taco and The Root Cafe. Everything was absolutely delicious. There were bikes from the film displayed for photo opportunities.

I ran into my professor, Chris Robinson, who introduced me to Jeff Nichols, as well as other filmmakers and producers at the event.

I am very grateful to go to a school where the professors truly care about their students and helping them succeed.

Professor Robinson was actually the first professor I had in the Mass Comm department, and he and his class made me feel sure that I was in the right major.

After dinner, we were treated to the musical stylings of Ben Nichols, Jeff Nichols’ brother. He played some songs that have been featured in Jeff Nichols’ previous films, an original song from “The Bikeriders” soundtrack and some of his personal

real people the movie is based on from photographer Danny Lyons and the original script for the film.

The Arkansas Cinema Society did a wonderful job putting together Filmland Arkansas this year. I wish I could have attended more events, especially the directing workshop with Jeff Nichols, but I enjoyed what I was able to attend. I am excited to see what Filmland has to offer next year!

THE FORUM, October 2023

SPORTS

LITTLE ROCK GOLF SWING TOWARD THE END OF THEIR SEASON S t o r y : K at e B e n n e Little Rock Golf is teeing off their final tournaments of the Fall season on Sunday, Oct. 22 to Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The women will be competing in Hot Springs Village, Ark., while the men travel to Tulsa, Okla. Both teams have had a successful season so far with many standout performances, both individually and as a team.

On Oct. 19, the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) announced Anna Dawson as the conference golfer of the week.

Dawson tied for first place at Sage Meadows Country THE FORUM, October 2023

Club but later lost a playoff that lasted four holes. The Ireland native’s tournament trip consisted of 12 birdies, with five in each of the first and third rounds. Dawson currently holds second place in the OVC with a 73.1 stroke average. She is just .4 behind the conference leader.

Dawson helped Women’s Golf place fourth- their highest finish of the season so far, with a second-round team score of 284 on Monday, Oct. 16, the second-lowest score in program history. This score is also the lowest recorded

in

the OVC this season.

On the other side, Men’s Golf has finished in the top ten of every tournament they have played in so far this season.

Their most recent tournament was the Everett Buick GMC Classic, held at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock on Oct. 16-17. The Trojans finished 12-under, putting them in third place overall. Lousiana State University took the overall team title with 22-under and old Sun Belt rivals, Troy finished second with 13-under.

Magnus Lomholt placed

the highest out of any Little Rock golfers by tying for ninth place. Lomholt entered the final round at 1-under, but his six birdies helped lead the Trojans into their Top 3 finish.

Following the Trojan’s last tournament in October, they will return to action next year in February 2024, with Women’s Golf heading to Puerto Rico and Men’s Golf traveling all the way to Hawaii.

25

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