The Forum Sept./Oct. 2022 Edition

THE FORUM Sept./Oct. 2022 The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Student Newspaper

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

UALR UPDATES

HISPANIC HERITAGE

CHOIR SHOWCASE

CAMPUS GARDEN

EAT BEAT @bambuzzleart

2 | THE 20222 - September 15, 2015 September 2 FORUM | SEPT./OCT.

NEWS

Opinions

ualr.edu/forum

By Emily Reynolds

FALL INTO OCTOBER - A MESSAGE FROM YOUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION UA Little Rock Trojans, First and foremost, on behalf of your Student Government Association (SGA), we’d like to congratulate you on completing the first six weeks of class at UA Little Rock! It’s insane to think about how much time has passed but you made it and that’s something to celebrate! We would like to update you each month on what your SGA is working on and how we are advocating for you. Additionally, we will try to include tips for navigating your college experience.

I encourage you to get to know your SGA senators and follow the SGA instagram page. We are here to advocate for you and to help your experience at UA Little Rock be positive and successful.

There are plenty of ways to get involved on campus. Whether it be on a volunteer basis or joining a student organization, there is something for everyone and somewhere to belong. There are several events and activities coming up so be sure to check out the university events calendar. Below are just a few things your

SGA is or has been involved with in the coming weeks: Pumpkin Carving Contest - October 27 at 10 a.m.

SGA has partnered with Campus Garden Alliance and Fraternity and Sorority Life to hold a pumpkin carving contest on October 27 beginning at 10:00 am. SGA is giving out free pumpkins and will have carving tools to use. Winner will receive an $80 gift card.

Halloween Costume Contest - October 31 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

The Student Experience Center has partnered with SGA to host a costume contest on October 31 from noon to 12:30 p.m. This event is a great opportunity to have fun with your peers, mix and mingle with registered student organizations, eat food and play games. Prizes will be given to students who win in the following categories: Most Creative, Scariest, Laziest, Best Duo, Most Realistic, Audience Favorite, and SGA Favorite. Top winners will receive Apple AirPods.

Discover Day - November 2 from noon to 2 p.m.

Discover day is the university’s premier college preview day for prospective students. SGA will be volunteering and will host an information table from noon to 2 p.m. Feel free to come by and visit us!

SGA Town Hall - November 8 at 3 p.m.

SGA will host a Town Hall meeting on November 8 at 3 p.m.in Dickinson Hall Room 100 and we would love for you to join. Town Hall’s are an opportunity to hear directly from you. Featured topics will include campus safety, campus dining, and campus life.

Lastly, the university is always looking for ways to improve. If you notice something on campus that needs to be repaired or replaced, please consider reporting to Facilities Management by completing the online general maintenance form. If you have a campus safety concern, please contact the Department of Public Safety at (501) 916-3400. If you would like to have an event on campus or have any issues or concerns, please let us know by emailing sga@ualr.edu.

Now let’s finish the fall semester

strong!

Best regards, Justin Washington, Chief of Staff Student Government Association P.S. SGA is interested in hearing from you. If you’ve had an amazing experience at UA Little Rock that you want to share, whether it is just being on campus with friends, a particularly great/impactful experience with faculty, or something else, please let us know by completing the “Shout-out” form linked in our Instagram. We want to hear from you! We might even share it on social media or in an article.

If you have something you would like to change around campus or have an issue/concern you’d like to share with someone who can hopefully do something about it, we also want to hear it. SGA is run by students for students and we want to advocate for you. Please let us know by completing the Student Questions, Issues and Concerns forms on our Instagram. We’ll do our best to respond.

Opinions

ualr.edu/forum

2022 SEPT./OCT. September 2 - September 15, 2015 | THE FORUM 3 |3

STUDENT RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE MUSLIM HATE CRIMES IN ARKANSAS

I

n 2021, the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock received a three-year $324,987 National Science Foundation grant.

This grant has been put toward researching Muslims in Arkansas who have been victims of harassment, discrimination, and/ or interpersonal crime as well as how this oppression has affected the victims personally.

This past summer, 10 students investigated Muslim hate crimes and anti-Muslim sentiment in Arkansas at UA Little Rock. They were aided by five criminal justice professors who served as mentors for these student researchers.

“I thought it was really amazing to work one on one with faculty members,” Murphy said. “As an undergraduate, it can be hard to get one-on-one time with professors

By Emily Reynolds

who are guiding your research and your education needs. Being paired with a faculty mentor during this program was awesome.”

These students were able to collect and analyze data, participate in experimental activities, write research on their findings, attend workshops, and take part in a final presentation for internal and external stakeholders.

“The summer program went very well,” Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, director of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology commented.

“We worked with ten exceptional undergraduate students from all over the country and one from our very own campus. They were bright, excited, passionate about advocacy work, and dedicated to advancing their knowledge in research and Islamophobia. This was a lot of work to complete in eight weeks, but these experiences enriched the learning process, and

the students were able to see their own growth and tangible outcomes from their efforts this summer.”

For the 2022-23 academic year, a cohort of 30 undergraduate students have been chosen to participate in the analysis, implementation, design, and the report of this program through the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program. “I took a crime and behavior class from Professor Molly Smith during my sophomore year, and that sparked a passion for me for this research,” said Hailey Davis, a junior criminal justice major at UA Little Rock.

“Learning about the experiences of victims of hate crimes really interested me. Growing up in the south, a lot of people don’t know about special populations. I wanted to do my part as a criminal justice major to contribute to this field of research.”

Currently, Malak Dridi, a sophomore public policy and journalism major as well as the education officer of the Arab Student Organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and other researchers have been working diligently to interview Muslim leaders throughout Arkansas. “We have been conducting interviews with leaders in the Muslim community,” Dridi said. “We are specifically focusing on experiences of victimization or hate based on their religion. We asked if they have ever felt targeted because of religious clothing or if they have ever felt unsafe in their neighborhoods.

This first year is essentially about establishing a better understanding of what the Muslim community is experiencing.”

At the end of the year, UA Little Rock plans to publish a report on their findings from this first year

of research. “I think this program sparked an interest in learning more about the impact of victims in hate crimes and how they respond after being a victim of a hate crime as well as the response of the communities of those special populations,” Davis said.

“We are all very grateful for the opportunity.”

BY VIVIAN ANGELES

RECORD GROWTH IN FRESHMEN ENROLLMENT, BUT OVERALL ENR0LLMENT DOWN 2.7% The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has seen an exciting growth of first-time freshmen and transfer students this 2022-23 academic school year.

First-time freshmen enrollment came across a spike of 29%, and transfers up to 8%. This is the first time in awhile that UA Little Rock has seen a growth like this in firsttime freshmen, which makes it exciting for the Trojan community.

This positive growth is connected to the affordability UA Little Rock promises first-time freshmen and transfer students.

“That scholarship supports our mission of making college

accessible to Arkansans,” said Cody Decker, vice chancellor of student affairs. The scholarships have been advertised as the “Fifty Fresh,” allowing eligible first-time freshmen students who enroll at UA Little Rock 50% off of their tuition for their freshman and sophomore years, while transfer students are eligible for transfer scholarships based on their grade point average (GPA).

With the first-time freshmen enrollment at a peak, it allows students who are choosing to stay on campus create a spike of 10% in applications and room assignments.

“Additionally, prospective students are very impressed by our campus housing. We have multiple options for students to select from, including private rooms, suites, apartments, and pod-style accommodations,” said Decker.

The UA Little Rock campus is still welcoming students who are looking for an affordable environment that also gives them the education they want.

BY JOE SANTANA

4|4 THE FORUM | SEPT./OCT. 20222 - September 15, 2015 September

News

ualr.edu/forum

LULAC EMPOWERING STUDENT LEADERS: RECIPIENTS SHARE THEIR STORIES

T

he League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) honors Hispanics going to college or a university by offering numerous scholarships.

There were 17 recipients at UA Little Rock, and they collected over $29,000 in scholarship money.

This scholarship means a lot more to these students than we will ever know, and their own descriptions of the scholarship tells us more about the impact it makes.

A detailed description of the LULAC scholarship was given

by Christine Jones, professional and technical writing graduate student, as she said, “The LULAC scholarships are for Hispanic

parents and they were beyond excited… It’s your own people that are trying to help you out. They know the struggle, they understand where you’re coming from, so it means a lot more, honestly.”

Roman’s reaction was similar as she said, “I felt happy. I was really happy.” Shocked was another emotion they felt, specifically

by Jones who said, “I was really surprised that I received this one…

It was given to me by the LULAC National Education Service Center, so that means they’ve been paying attention.”

She also added, “It means a lot to me because I grew up in a rural town that doesn’t have a lot of culture, and it’s been very hard for

lawyer. They’re like, ‘Wow.’ Just for them to see me go beyond high school is everything they dreamed of. They’re like, ‘We came to this country for you, and you’re paying off what we did.’”

Roman is also a first-generation college student and the oldest daughter. “They’re very happy about it,” she said when asked what her family thought about her college career. “It’s important to me to kind of fulfill that goal that they want me to accomplish,” she stated.

Jones’ education continuation is important to her and her family as well, and she feels that she has had a lot of support along the way.

“My kids have been my biggest cheerleaders. I have pictures of

field of family and immigration,” She also added, “For some people, this money is not a lot, but like with textbooks it stacks up so much. It helps me go and get groceries, gas.

This scholarship helped me not work for a couple of months.”

Roman is also a double major who studies accounting and finance. The scholarship has helped her pay for books and the access codes for these books.

“At the end of the day, going to school is my thing. They [parents] benefit from it but really it’s my thing, so I don’t really want to put more pressure on them that they don’t really need, “ she elaborated.

“I think it just really gives me more leeway to focus on my studies.”

the same place at the same time, we all took different paths to get there. Having taken different paths, we all have something to share with others, whether it be words, experiences, or advice.

Placing an emphasis on the Hispanic community, Roman said, “Through the recognition of Hispanic accomplishments we are able to influence others and strengthen our community.”

Adding to this, Rodriguez stated, “I’m hoping we will set the example for younger generations.

We will get a higher education, start breaking generational trauma and curses, and build generational wealth within our community.

To end off the interviews, Jones

“I feel like sometimes we have to over qualify ourselves, do the most, do more than what other people have to do in order to just get the job. I’ve had that a lot of times.” students who can demonstrate need. LULAC is very invested in the education of our Hispanic students for the purpose of them going out into the world and becoming leaders in their communities.”

Yvonne Rodriguez, junior, described it as “a really big help.

Not only financially, but just to know that your community is behind you. Any amount of money they’re able to give is always a big help.”

When Maria Roman, junior, was asked to describe the scholarship, she simply stated, “I was really happy when I heard about it.”

Regardless of the sum of money one has or if their tuition is covered, students will always be grateful to know that they are being supported by organizations like LULAC. It’s difficult to predict how we will feel or react during certain moments, especially when it concerns our academic lives. For many students, their academics not only affect them but their families as well, so it was heartwarming to hear the reactions of these three students.

“I was beyond excited,” said Rodriguez when recalling that special moment. “And I told my

me to find a Hispanic community to join up with. And to have found LULAC and the LNESC to have my back like that just blows me away.”

Regardless of whether you knew this scholarship existed or what it was, it was special seeing and hearing these recipients relive that moment, a moment in which they felt encouraged to keep going because someone, somewhere, believes in them.

Hearing each student describe their experience in college and what it felt like when they received this good news really demonstrated the passion and gratitude they have.

Rodriguez is a first-generation college student, as well as the first daughter in her family. “It was honestly a really big adjustment, because being [the] first daughter is also pretty hard in our community, and so everything rides on your shoulders and it’s such a big responsibility,” she explained.

When her parents learned that she would be continuing her education, they were ecstatic.

“Amazing” was how they described it.

“Especially when I told them I want to be an immigration

them as little kids standing with me while I’m standing with awards in my arms. They’ve just been my biggest cheerleaders and they’re really proud of me. I think it’s really motivated them.”

It was incredible how, when they described their plans and how they would use their scholarship funds, it involved the benefit of others in the community. Although having faced their own struggles along the way, each one of them persevered and decided that they wanted something better for their community.

“It’s hard, because we don’t really see us being represented in higher education. It’s so hard, to be like, ‘Can I make it? Can I make it above that? Because we haven’t seen anyone go beyond [that],” expressed Rodriguez.

“I feel like sometimes we have to over qualify ourselves, do the most, do more than what other people have to do in order to just get the job. I’ve had that a lot of times.”

Rodriguez is double majoring in political science and sociology, and minoring in business management: “With those two majors I’m hoping to go to law school and find the

With her education, she wants to help others in the Hispanic community. She specifically mentioned teaching her parents and other members of the Hispanic community how to invest money instead of working endless hours.

Driven by her family as well, Jones also opened up about her past, how it has brought her to where she is now, and how LULAC has been a big part of the journey.

“My biggest inspiration comes from my past,” she began. “When I first started out as a single mother I was in a homeless shelter with them [children]. They were four and six. The situation was that I was left in a homeless shelter with my boys, and it was basically up to me to make a change or go with the status quo, and I decided to make a change.”

Reflecting back on that experience, she shared, “That’s just been a motivator for me all this time. If I was able to do that, if I was able to get us out of that situation and I did that by myself, then there’s really nothing that I can’t do if I put my mind to it. And that’s basically been my motivation, is to just do better.”

Even though we may end up at

wanted to say a big thank you to LULAC Chapter 750, the parent organization, and said, “I really appreciate them and the efforts that they put forth for us.”.

BY VASTI HERNANDEZ

ualr.edu/forum

News

2022 15, SEPT./OCT. September 2 - September 2015 | THE FORUM 5 |5

WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPACT OUR FUTURE

CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL Photos provided

Have you ever wondered about the gray building on Fair Park St. on your way to school or in passing on your way home from school for the day? The sign on the building says, “UALR Children’s International,” and there is an unpainted wooden ramp leading up to it making it accessible to those who are handicapped.

Well, as a future educator I could not help but be a little nosy about it, and thought that I would take the time to fill you in on a few things just in case you were as curious as me.

From perusing the website ualr.edu/children/our-stor y/, I discovered that UA Little Rock Children’s International is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1994 as a partnership between UA Little Rock and Children International, a Kansas City, Missouri based organization.

Their purpose is to facilitate and help children break the cycle of poverty by focusing on empowering, educating, ensuring good health and teaching them to be employable.

UA Little Rock is able to achieve this by partnering with schools in the Little Rock School District serving children in the neighborhoods of Central and Southwest Little Rock. Each year 2,100 children and youth are served at this location, which happens to be the only U.S. site out of ten countries that Children’s International serves.

They are able to do this with the help of over 30 sponsors and 10,000 individual sponsors from around

the world.

It just so happens that Children’s International is currently looking for students to get involved as volunteers to tutor children in their program. They are offering workstudy and part-time positions to UALR students who are interested.

Students who are interested in applying for a part-time job can visit https://sites.google.com/ualr. edu/cilittlerock/home for more information on positions that are available.

Students who are interested in volunteering are encouraged to email Stephanie Jones at spjones@ ualr.edu.

By going to https://sites.google. com/ualr.edu/cilittlerock/home you can learn more about their actual programs.

There you will find all of the information you need, especially on tutoring and homework help! This website has in-depth information about what students would be helping with.

If you do not think that you are cut-out for something like this, but know someone who would be a perfect fit, you are welcome to share this information and help spread the word about this wonderful opportunity to impact the lives of those who will be the key to our having a healthy, educated, empowered and employable future.

BY VAL BELL

6 | THE 20222 - September 15, 2015 September 6 FORUM | SEPT./OCT.

News

ualr.edu/forum

RELIEVING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR HEALTH CARE STUDENTS What pushes students away from college is the same thing that pulls them in: money. We want that high-paying job that offers flexible work hours, but we have to pay our way there.

In the UA Little Rock School of Nursing (SON) specifically, Dr. Sloan Davidson, director of the SON and associate professor of 14 years, said, “Finances are a big challenge, as well as just the stress from trying to manage the workload of school along with their regular life responsibilities.”

Many of the nursing students that enroll in the nursing program are non-traditional.

Non-traditional students, Dr. Davison describes, “[Have] been in college before, or are a little older and coming to college for the first time and already have a family, maybe have children, a husband.

Maybe they are single parents, work, take care of parents.”

This is where a partnership like the one UA Little Rock recently established with CHI St. Vincent and Saline Memorial Hospitals plays a major role in the success of our students.

Partnering with CHI St. Vincent and Saline Memorial allows for both traditional and non-traditional students to obtain a higher level of education.

Any full-time employee at these facilities pursuing a bachelor’s degree will receive 10% off tuition at UA Little Rock. The scholarship will be awarded to 50 students and there is no minimum credit hour requirement.

Students can learn more at ualr.edu/admissions/ partnership/. According to Dr. Davidson, past partnerships have done well and received good responses from students.

This scholarship is awarded to a student of any major, but Dr. Davison believes that many will be nursing students transitioning from an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing

(AAS) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

This scholarship benefits nursing students as they continue their career in nursing after graduation.

“It’s gonna generate more bachelor’s degree nurses, for one thing,” explained Dr. Davidson.

It also gives nurses more job security and opportunities to expand in the field, such as a job in administration management and other areas.

Not only do current nursing students benefit from this, but so do other healthcare workers that are seeking a more secure job.

“It could also be for someone that’s a nursing assistant that’s working at those facilities that wants to be a nurse,” said Dr. Davidson.

“They’re trying to work as a nursing assistant making barely above minimum wage, and they really want to pursue that dream of being a nurse. Then that might be an opportunity to give them enough of a break financially to be able to afford to do that.”

The financial challenges are just part of the battle that students in general face.

School alone can affect multiple aspects of one’s life, putting immense amounts of stress and pressure on the student which can potentially place them in a difficult, or even dangerous, situation at home. Adding the financial burden makes it all the more difficult to graduate.

“A lot of our students have other life stressors besides money,” said Dr. Davidson.

“We’ve seen homelessness, food insecurities. All those things are problems that our nursing students face.”

Students, Dr. Davidson realizes, may not know how to ask for help or be aware of the resources they have available.

Other resources include access to UA Little Rock’s food

pantry to contacting Mia Polk, a student support specialist at UA Little Rock, for housing and counseling needs.

“She’s excellent,” Dr. Davidson added when describing Polk’s role. “We’re fortunate to have her, and she can offer many grants.”

These grants could help students in situations where they are not able to pay for electricity, and many other circumstances.

The SON also has some resources available. Every year they host a used-scrub sale from which profits go to help students in emergency situations. An example Dr. Davidson used was if a student approached them needing money for diapers for their baby, the SON could loan them $20, or however much they needed depending on the situation.

“The biggest thing is we have a lot of resources, but a lot of the time students don’t know about them. So it’s putting that word

out,” explained Dr. Davidson.

Overall, Dr. Davidson believes that this scholarship will receive a nice response.

“This might be an incentive,” she says.

“This might be that extra little push that someone needs to say, ‘You know what, maybe I can afford that right now while I’ve got this opportunity.”

She wishes that no student had to work throughout school, especially in nursing school, and knows what that stress is like.

She wanted to emphasize that “we’re [faculty] not here just for ‘how to take a test.’ If you’re having problems at home, I’m not a counselor, but I know where I can get you one.”

The SON encourages students to apply for scholarships and ask about other available resources, and to not be afraid to ask for help when the time comes.

BY VASTI HERNANDEZ

“A lot of our students have other life stressors besides money.

We’ve seen homelessness, food insecurities. All those things are problems that our nursing students face.”

News

ualr.edu/forum

2022 15, SEPT./OCT. September 2 - September 2015 | THE FORUM 7 |7

ENTERTAINMENT HEALTH: CAN LISTENING TO MUSIC REDUCE STRESS

F

or many of us, music holds an important role in our lives. It can be a passionate hobby, a college major and even a career. Whether it be in the shower, during a commute, while studying or just hanging out with friends, music is likely being played. People also tend to use music to cope with stress, but does listening to music actually reduce stress in a significant and measurable way?

Let’s see what the research has to say.

One of the ways that stress is measured is through analysis of cortisol levels (usually collected through saliva). Cortisol is a hormone that is secreted during stress and involved in regulating “the fight or flight” response. Longterm stress can lead to extended secretion of cortisol, which can

lead to increased blood sugar, increased inflammation and other problems.

In a study conducted at a neonatal intensive care unit, researchers found that premature newborns had significantly lower cortisol levels after listening to music than before listening to music. In another study, undergraduate students completed a stressful task (designed to increase cortisol) and then either sat in silence or listened to music.

The cortisol levels of those who listened to music declined more quickly than those who sat in silence, indicating that listening to music after a stressful event can lead to faster recovery. One study found that patients who listened to music after receiving stressful information about a surgery had

lower cortisol levels than patients who received the information and did not listen to music. A study on depressed older adults found that music led to significant improvements in self-esteem, mood and depression. These improvements lasted for several months.

Listening to music may also lead to better grades. In one study, 112 nursing students were randomly assigned to one of two groups before taking an exam: an experimental group that underwent muscle relaxation and music therapy or a control group that received no therapy before the exam. The control group had higher cortisol levels and heart rates than the experimental group. Furthermore, there was a higher percentage of exam failures

in the control group than the experimental group. These results suggest that the stress relief gained from music therapy and muscle relaxation may lead to improved exam scores.

Your reason for listening to music may also affect stress.

For example, a study of college students found that not only did listening to music reduce stress levels, but when “relaxation” was the reason for listening to music, the decreases in stress levels and cortisol levels were far greater.

So, if you listen to music with the specific intent to relax, you may experience greater stress relief.

Research on the effect of music listening on stress supports the claim that listening to music can decrease stress. Next time you feel stressed out, try listening to

some of your favorite music. It may help you decrease your stress and recover faster. Furthermore, consider listening to music before an exam to reduce pre-exam stress and potentially improve your performance. A nice place on campus to listen to music is Starbucks, where you can relax with a cup of coffee while talking to friends and hearing great music.

BY AHAD NADEEM

STUDENTS VISIT SPAIN OVER THE SUMMER

O

n Aug. 31, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock held a free community panel, titled “Together Little Rock”, where a group of students sat down to share their experiences on their study abroad trip to Spain.

Additionally, a few community members were present in order to discuss their experiences with bias as well as their efforts to promote religious tolerance in Arkansas.

Accompanied by Dr. Rebecca Glazier, professor in the School of Public Affairs, the group of

students spent twelve days in Spain this summer where they visited various spots in Toledo, Granada, Salobreña and Madrid. They were able to connect with Arco Forum, a nonprofit organization in Spain. The organization has built numerous cultural programs and efforts to aid other Muslim refugees integrate to Spain.

“Most of them had never been out of the country, and some hadn’t even been on an airplane before,” Dr. Glazier said. “I’m glad they were all able to come. We went deep and saw much more than just

the top tourist attractions, and it was a unique experience that the students wouldn’t have gotten by themselves or with a tour group.”

The students who attended the trip to Spain included Steve Abouem, Armando Arellano, Madison Ellis, Scott Filek, Owen Hayes, Nicholas Junker, Kenedy Kuchinski, Torri Richardson, Misty Roberts, Alexander Shahegh, and Isaac Thomas. Apart from their experiences, the students shared photos and souvenirs with the audience.

The panel’s community

members included Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Dr. Sara Tariq, co-founder of the Madina Institute and board member for the Interfaith Center, the Hon. Annabelle Imber Tuck, board member for the Interfaith Center and Congregation B’Nai Israel in Little Rock and the first woman elected as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, and UA Little Rock students and study abroad participants Torri Richardson and Nick Junker.

“The students had a lot of fun, but the trip also opened their eyes to Islamophobia and prejudice in

the country and around the world,” Dr. Glazier said. “This event will be a good way to open that conversation here in Little Rock and ask what we can do better and how we can better connect with their community.”.

BY VIVIAN ANGELES

8|8 THE FORUM | SEPT./OCT. 20222EDITION September - September 15, 2015 MARCH 2021

Campus Life NEWS

ualr.edu/forum LIFE.UALR.EDU/FORUM

LONCHERA RODRIGUEZ: BRINGING AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD TO THE CAPITOL BUILDING

EAT BEAT THE GRATEFUL HEAD WAS GREAT Over the weekend, I was in Hot Springs with my family, where we ate at a pizza place called Grateful Head.

It is located at 100 Exchange Street, just behind all the tourist shops on Central Avenue. It is built into the side of the mountain, and has beautiful outdoor seating.

Unfortunately, it was almost 100°F the day I went, so I chose the seating inside.

The menu items have creative names relating to the Grateful Dead, like the Shakedown Salad, the Dire Wolf Pizza, and the Cosmic Charlie Pizza.

They have other salad and pizza options, as well as cheese sticks,

wings, beer, and the option for a gluten-free crust.

My boyfriend and I got a Psychedelic Supremo that had sausage, hamburger, Canadian bacon, mushroom, bell peppers, red onions, and black olives. It was delicious.

The crust was buttery, and had the perfect crunchy, yet chewy texture.

The veggies were cooked perfectly, to where they were still crisp and flavorful. I love olives, so I really enjoyed that the olives on the pizza were whole instead of sliced.

My dad and my brother split a Dire Wolf, which is sausage, pepperoni, bacon, hamburger,

canadian bacon, and salami. Both pizzas smelled amazing.

The staff was incredibly nice and helpful, and there was old rock music, including hits from Grateful Dead, playing, and groovy decorations that added to the atmosphere.

At the end of your meal, you can keep the souvenir cup that your drink comes in. It is a bit pricey, but I think it’s worth it as a vacation meal.

I will definitely be going back when it’s cooler out and I can enjoy the mountainside patio.

I recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Hot Springs.

BY EMILY WELLS

To survive as a Mexican restaurant in Arkansas, it seems that certain concessions must be made.

Instead of cilantro and onions, shredded cheese and sour cream are often plopped on top of ground beef tacos with reheated tortillas.

Beans come from a can. The rice has light seasoning and often lacks the iconic orange tint in Mexican rice. Chicken fingers and macaroni may be seen on many menus for children. Usually, these restaurants reference indigenous Mexican titles, such as The Azteca.

But restaurants do just fine with this formula that some have referred to as “Tex-Mex.” It seems every small town in AR seems to have a similar food spot within 20 miles. It is widely thought that this form of food is more palatable to Americans. Food chains like Taco Bell and Qboda have built an empire from this model.

Jonathan Rodriguez of Lonchera Rodriguez believes that the concessions are limitations and is proving that the classics can keep up from a food truck in front of the Arkansas Capitol Building.

A tent offers and a cooler of water offers relief to patrons from the summer heat while they wait for their order. After they have left, I speak with Jonathan Rodriguez as we sit under the tent, and he smokes a cigarette.

He tells me his mother-in-law’s recipes are what they use the most, that a dedication to authentic Mexican food is what drives their menu choices. There of course are some foods that simply do not survive the menu, such as lengua (beef tongue) and tripa, or tripe. He hates to remove those items from the menu, but he understands that not all Mexican foods sell—either because patrons do not know what the foods are, or they are simply unwilling to try such a departure from meats typically consumed in the United States.

He does share that he is excited to begin selling tamales during the fall season again—chicken, pork, and rajas. Tamales are more

often consumed during the colder months.

Lonchera loosely translates to ‘lunchbox’ in Spanish, which is appropriate as the truck is open exclusively for the lunch rush: between 11am and 2pm. Jonathan works at a parking lot in Baseline before and after the food trucks hours.

His wife, mother-in-law, and son help him by cooking and managing the truck’s social media pages.

He described his experience with the food truck as being rather organic. He used to be located on in South Little Rock, but he moved downtown once the lot on Capitol Ave was made vacant.

He recently bought a larger truck to expand the menu and replace the fryer. He immediately added loaded fries on the menu to test how well they would be received—crinkle-cut French fries covered with queso dip, beef, onions, cilantro, and onions. They immediately sold out within days.

When I asked Jonathan which items sell most, he says all the menu items tend to sell equally as often.

Lonchera Rodriguez is unique because the food has a specific vision: it sets out to make classic Mexican food accessible in a location where it may otherwise not be found.

The limited menu enhances this experience: tacos, burritos, tortas, and quesadillas. They know what food they want to make, and they make it well. I have had the barbacoa, carne asada, and al pastor tacos. All are incredible options. The meat is juicy and seasoned perfectly, and the salsa verde has a kick that is rare to find in central Little Rock. The beans are freshly made, and the rice is colorful and cooked just right.

Best of all? The onions and cilantro are generous.

You can find Lonchera Rodriguez at 1222 W Capitol Ave. Orders can be called in at (501) 626-6569.

BY BRYAN HERNANDEZ

ualr.edu/forum LIFE.UALR.EDU/FORUM

Campus Life NEWS

2022 SEPT./OCT. September 2 - September 15, 2015 | THE FORUM 9|9 MARCH 2021 EDITION

WHAT’S UP WITH UA LITTLE ROCK’S PEP BAND?

I

t’s about that time to strike up the band and Dr. Justin Bunting is the man for the job. As the UALR Trojans Basketball season is gearing up to begin, the pep band is forming and will be as big as ever. During the pep band interest meeting about two weeks ago, the band room in the Fine Arts Building was filled to the brim with almost standing room only, as over 50 musicians answered the call to come meet about and show their interest in the pep band this year.

Dr. Bunting was well prepared to answer questions and had the schedule projected on the screen showing the dates of 28 games that will be played. As he called out the instruments that would be played, several people stood up for almost each and every one of them. When asked about his ultimate goals for the pep band

Bryan Hernandez Photos

this year, Dr. Bunting replied, “my goal is for the band to be bigger, louder, and more electric than ever before. I think we have that kind of potential. We are an integral part of the gameday experience. I have had discussions with Athletics, the Dance Team, and the Maroon Mob, and we all agree that increased collaboration between all aspects of that gameday experience is a positive for fans and the basketball teams.”

He went on to say, “The louder and more energetic games are, the more students will want to fill the stands. We are a big part of that energy. We will have new branding, uniforms, and some new tunes in the music binder to make as much noise as possible. Also, the more students we have in the band, the more word of mouth gets out about how awesome it is to come to a basketball game and cheer for the

Trojans!”

Uniforms have been ordered, instruments organized and rehearsals start in four days. Those who diligently play with the pep band will be eligible to travel with the UALR basketball teams to the Ohio Valley Conference in February of next year. The whole student body at University at Little Rock is strongly encouraged to come join the UALR pep band, dance and Maroon Mob as they support our men and women’s basketball teams this school year.

Go Trojans!!!

BY VAL BELL

Val Bell Photos

10 |10 THE FORUM | September SEPT./OCT. 2022 2 - September 15, 2015

“I DIDN’T ASK TO BE BORN LATINX, NOMAS TUVE SUERTE” HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH “Our culture has been enriched by the rhythms, art, literature, and creativity of Hispanic peoples,” President Joe Biden said in his Proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2022.

“And our deepest values have been informed by the love of family and faith that is at the core of so many Hispanic communities.

All of these contributions help us realize the promise of America for all Americans.” From September 15 to October 15, Americans observe and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Originally, Hispanic Heritage Month began as a one-week celebration. It was commemorated

by Congressman George E. Brown in June of 1968. As a result of the Civil Rights Movement as well as the multicultural groups rapidly growing throughout the United States, there was a need to recognize the contributions of the Latinx community too. Brown sought to highlight the vital roles the Hispanic community has played in American History.

In 1988, the recognition of the Latinx community extended to an entire month by President Ronald Reagan. The celebration begins in the latter half of the month in order to recognize the independence of several countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15; Mexico on September 16; and Chile on September 18. Since then, “From September 15 to October 15,” begins National Today. “Americans celebrate National Hispanic Month by appreciating the community’s history, heritage, and contributions

of the ancestors of American citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and Southand Central America.”

This 2022, the theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Building Prosperous and Healthy Communities. “This month, we carry on the important work of honoring Hispanic heritage,” continues President Joe Biden.”

Let us give thanks to the many generations of Hispanic leaders who have helped build this country and continue to fight for equality and justice. Let us pledge to invest in the next generation of Hispanic men and women who hold the destiny of our Nation in their hands.”

BY VIVIAN ANGELES

Features

ualr.edu/forum CARNAVAL Joe Santana & Jacobb Nichol Photos

Features

ualr.edu/forum

CARNAVAL Hispanic Heritage Month in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, started off with laughter and smiles from many students.

So many faces got together at the DSC fitness center to participate in the Carnaval. Hosted by MC and HLI, The Carnaval took place on September 15th from 5pm to 7pm, and offered many Hispanic-based activities to show appreciation for. Everyone was allowed to get a taste of Spanish-based treats to enjoy like Gansitos, Paleta Payasos, Duvalins and so much more. The Carnaval also offered many fun mini games like Jenga and musical chairs to Bad Bunny.

Students also got to jump in the bouncy house and take pictures in front of the fun, colorful backdrop.

Face painting was also one of the best attractions at the Carnaval.

Allowing students to get their face painted to Hispanic culture.

It was also very heartwarming to see a Chihuahua marching around greeting students, who goes by “Chiquita” which is Spanish for little girl and/or cutie!

It was certainly a great time at the Carnaval and students should expect more event announcements from UALR.

BY JOE SANTANA

If you’ve ever heard of Viola Davis, you just might be familiar with her previous works as an Oscar-winning actress. To name a few, there is How To Get Away With Murder (2014-2020), which was an American legal thriller TV series produced by Shonda Rhimes (Scandal/Bridgerton), herself, and a host of other executive producers; The Help (2011), directed by Tate Taylor and even a Tyler Perry production that was adapted from stage to screen entitled “Madea Goes To Jail” (2009).

The Woman King, produced by Viola King and her husband Julius Tennon, is her first production to hit the silver screen.

The cast is predominantly black women, consisting of top listers, such as Sheila Atim, who was born in Uganda but grew up in London.

She is an amazing actress that one may remember seeing in other movies such Halle Berry’s Bruised or Game of Thrones.

You may also recall another talented British actress by the name of LaShana Lynch who was in the cast of the most recent Bond movie, No Time to Die and also played the character Rosaline in Shonda Rhimes American period drama Still Star Crossed.

Another cast member I must not fail to mention is Thusa Mbedu, a South African actress who has been

2022 SEPT./OCT. September 2 - September 15, 2015 | THE FORUM 11| 11

WE SURVIVE IN OUR OWN WAY: THE WOMAN KING MOVIE REVIEW

making waves on the Hollywood scene since at least 2009 with Shuga all the way up to last year (2021) in The Underground Railroad Limited Series on Amazon Prime.

Lastly, (I promise) I would be remiss not to mention John Boyega (Star Wars) who plays the king.

In her interview with the hosts of The View on September 15th, Viola described this film as her “magnum opus” and went on to say, “that as much as this is an action movie, it is a very human story.”

She discussed how directors were terrified to touch the movie because it consisted of “black females who have never led a box office.”

This movie was phenomenal from beginning to end; it will be hard for me not to be a spoiler and tell you all the ins and outs of it but I won’t.

What I will do is include in my review quotes of what was said in the movie and if you are so inclined to check it out for yourself, which I really think you should, maybe you will hear them and get my drift of what I was able to take away from this film.

“To be great you must focus, there can be no distractions.” This true story was about African women who fought for and protected the king and his kingdom in the region

of Dahomey which is now Benin.

It was a lifelong commitment that came with life altering stipulations such as not being able to marry, have children or even sex for that matter.

For them there was no room for love but you will find a love story within this historical recounting of what happened during the time slaves were being sold to European slave traders by rival tribes.

“We survive in our own way.”

One of the main characters in this cast had her own way of surviving and winning at war and in difficult circumstances.

She did not follow the instructions of her mentor and in her own way looked out for others as she made her way to becoming recognized as a formidable warrior.

I won’t do what one loud person did in the movie theater room I was in. She spoiled that part of the movie for everyone who didn’t pick up on something interesting about this particular character, but that will be for me to know and you to find out.

While walking out of the theater, with the knowledge that I would be writing this review of the movie, I must confess I eavesdropped on a few conversations of others who were in the same theater with me as they were making comments regarding their own takeaways

from the movie and what I heard from them I will echo.

This movie is a story of courage, love, rejection and reconciliation. It is filled with action from beginning to end and is very impactful.

“Your tears mean nothing, in order to be a warrior, you must kill your tears.” To be an Amazon Agoji warrior took power in mind and unity. There were so many scenes in the movie that enacted the truth of this statement. Viola went on to say during her interview on The View that if there is any message in this movie it is for women to “tap into” the warrior spirit within themselves and to control their own narrative.

Okay, now I know that you probably have heard or read some good and some bad things about this movie; the good being it has a 94% rating according to Rotten Tomatoes and the bad being that some say that the storyline is not totally accurate.

I will just say that this is an account of a true story which is that African tribes sold their rivals to slave traders. This happened and the movie shows you how it could have happened.

Check it out, you will not be disappointed.

BY VAL BELL

12 |12 THE FORUM | SEPT./OCT. 2022 September 2 - September 15, 2015

Features

ualr.edu/forum

A NIGHT ON BROADWAY: CHOIR SHOWCASE

The UALR choir is back and better than ever. With a large group of newcomers, the music department is filled to the brim with talent. Patrons streamed in, smiles on their faces, ready to indulge in the musical performances of the evening.

The Broadway showcase, which took place on Sept 24, 2022, started with Night Shift. This small vocal ensemble focuses on music genres such as vocal jazz, pop, musical theatre, and madrigals. They start off the show with “Lullaby of Broadway”, a jazzy piece with lots of swing. The singers include Christian Waldron, Kyndal Collins, Hannah Blacklaw, and Brent M. Foster II. They set the mood for the show.

A comedic, but joyous performance of “Don’t Let Me Go” from Shrek the Musical by Andrew Battie, followed. I asked the freshman why he chose this piece and he said, “I chose “Don’t Let Me Go” because I believe myself to be a person that is all over the place and that song is a perfect example of my energy in the real world.”

Bri Gibson was next singing “Once Upon a December” from Anastasia. The musical Anastasia follows the story of an amnesiac princess, raised as an orphan in 1920s Russia. She sets out on a journey to find where she is truly from. The song Bri sings takes place at a point in the musical when Anya finds a music box and memories of her life as Russian royalty flood back in. Bri’s beautiful falsetto took you to another place.

This heartwrenching moment in

the musical came to life.

After a flawless performance from Brianna, we see Christian Waldron on stage again to sing “She Cries” from Songs for a New World.

This witty number showcased Christian Waldron’s musical theatre background and drew the audience in from the moment he walked on stage. When asked why he chose this piece the musician said, “In Summer 2021, I got to music direct the production of Songs For a New World which this song came from. It was the first production in Central Arkansas since COVID19 and it’s just only one of my favorite song cycles to perform.”

The musicians in the department have a connection with the music they perform, only making it more entertaining to watch.

Next, Jessica Davis sang an emotional and heartfelt piece called “Everything I Know” from In the Heights. In the Heights follows the stories of multiple people in the neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. One of the characters, Nina sings this song.

She returns to the neighborhood after her freshman year at Stanford, to find out that the matriarch of the neighborhood, Abuela Claudia suddenly passed. Nina is going through Abuela’s things, finding keepsakes she has held onto all these years. Jessica Davis perfectly portrays the feelings of nostalgia, but also the sadness of missing someone as she performed this song. It was beautiful to watch.

Next up is Joshua Warren, his head donned with a cowboy hat, singing, “Oh, What a Beautiful

Mornin’” from Oklahoma!. The performance was full of charm and light. I asked the performer why he chose this particular song. He said, “I chose “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” because it is recognizable and fun. Most people know of this song or have heard a pop culture reference to it or the musical it is from. Mainly, I wanted something fun I had heard before.”

Yvonne Melendez was next singing “Journey to the Past” from Anastasia. The performance was sweet, but wistful; full of wanderlust. Stars could be seen in the singer’s eyes as she performed.

It perfectly captured the essence of the musical, as at this point Anya, has decided to leave the orphanage and begin her trek to find out where she is truly from.

Next, we have Analise McKenzie, a new, but powerful addition to the music department. She sang, “She Used to Be Mine”, from the musical Waitress. A hush fell over the audience when she sang, and her pure tone filled the auditorium.

I asked the singer why she chose this piece. She responded, “So I picked my song because there is such an emotional connection with “She Used to Be Mine.” I had a hard time connecting with this piece at first but once I sat down and just listened to the lyrics and the story behind [it] I realized how much I relate to it. This song brings forth something deep inside from not only the performer but also the audience and it creates an emotional connection with your audience and it was just a wonderful experience.”

A beautiful rendition of “Her Voice” was performed by Brent Foster II. The song, which came from The Little Mermaid, is one of wistfulness and longing as Prince Eric looks for the person that saved him from that terrible storm.

Brent Foster perfectly captures this emotion. As Foster looks upon the audience, he gazes far beyond as if really looking out on the ocean.

Powerhouse vocalist Kyndal Collins took the stage next with her rendering of “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. Her voice told the story of a woman that has suffered abuse her entire life finally coming to love herself. This song is one of strength and perseverance.

Hannah Blacklaw was next singing “Pulled” from The Addams Family. Blacklaw “pulled” the audience in the moment she stepped on stage. Her cold and lifeless exterior warmed up embodying the character Wednesday as she sang about changes and her true feelings for a boy she likes.

Evan Smith was on stage next, or rather Charles Guiteau, an assassin responsible for the death of President Garfield. This song is called “The Ballad of Guiteau” from the musical Assassins and takes place at Guiteau’s execution.

Evan Smith told a story, filling the stage with his presence. He was animated and the performance was unnerving but exciting to watch. He left you wondering what he would do next. It was an astonishing performance from another newcomer to the UALR Music Department.

The performances finish out with two pieces from The Greatest Showman. Mya Little performs “Never Enough”. Her rich tone was captivating and captured the true essence of the song. All the money and fame don’t matter if you don’t have true love. Her performance was awe-inspiring and a perfect way to begin to close out the show.

Last, but certainly not least, the UALR Concert Choir sings “A Million Dreams” which brought about the spirit of the night. As people trickle in from different parts of the auditorium, the audience looks around, wondering where these new voices are coming from. The performance was joyous and full of hope. You could see in each of the choir member’s faces there’s nowhere they would rather be than in the presence of music.

The song sent chills through the crowd and finished a magnificent evening of performances.

All of this would not be possible without the musical direction of Director Lorissa Mason. Another star of the show that can never be forgotten is Leann Jones, the collaborative pianist that played with each of the performers of the show that night. Her gift of piano playing is a gift to the Music Department.

The Broadway Showcase was a great kick-off to the school year. It welcomed people to the talent the UALR Music Department has to offer. If you are interested in joining the UALR Choirs, please contact Dr. Lorissa Mason at ldmason@ ualr.edu.

BY RIAN NEWMAN

Rian Newman Photos

ualr.edu/forum

Features

2022 SEPT./OCT. September 2 - September 15, 2015 | THE FORUM 13| 13

CAMPUS GARDEN VOLUNTEER DAYS

Jacobb Nichol Photos

14 |14 THE FORUM | September sept./oct. 2022 2 - September 15, 2015

STAFF 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. The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of UALR. The Forum is published 7 times in each of the fall and spring semesters. The Forum editor can be reached at editor@ ualr.edu.

The Forum welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. Letters must include the author’s name, classification, major or position and a contact telephone number for confirmation. Letters are subject to editing to meet space limitations. Please limit letter to 500 words or less. The staff will not alter

Sports

ualr.edu/forum

the meaning of the letter, but will correct spelling and punctuation and edit to conform to Associated Press and news style. All letters are subject to publication.

The editor has the right to EXECUTIVE EDITOR ASST. EDITOR reject any letter especially those letters that are libelous, Bryan Hernandez obscene or incoherent, as @prettyfly_bryguy well as comments on our news coverage and editorial position.

Letters should be emailed to editor@ualr.edu or sent to: The Forum, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Donaghey Student Center, Suite 116, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204

Chloe McGehee, @chloeamkbs

All material published in this newspaper is copyrighted.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Adrian Rogers,

ASST. EDITOR

, Vasti Hernandez,

ILLUSTRATOR

Andi Benbrook, @togepimaster19 @bambuzzleart

@iamvastihernandez

ILLUSTRATOR

Duckie Sullivan, @interstate.highway

CONNECT WITH US Instagram: UALITTLEROCKFORUM Twitter: UALITTLEROCKFORUM Facebook: UALITTLEROCKFORUM

WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHER

@imjoesantana

@stonerplazaxx__ @55kylar

Joe Santana,

Jacobb Nichol,

DESIGNER

Skylar Boone,

Sports

ualr.edu/forum

2022 sept./oct.

September 2 - September 15, 2015 | THE FORUM 15| 15

University of Arkansas At Little Rock

15th April, 2022

THE FORUM

JOIN OUR TEAM WE'RE HIRING We're looking for

ASST. EDITOR

Emily Wells, @emlywlls

HEALTH

Ahad Nadeem, @_ahadnadeem

WRITER

Vivian Angeles, @vivian.angeles

Writers Editors Photographers Designers Illustrators

WHY JOIN THE FORUM? Joining The Forum, UA Little Rock's awardwinning, student-led newspaper, will give you a chance to improve your writing skills, develop your portfolio, meet new friends, and connect with the UA Little Rock community.

EMAIL OR DM TO JOIN

MARKETING/WRITER WRITER

ILLUSTRATOR

@rian_willow

@macreignal

Rian Newman,

Val Bell,

@valerisse4real PODCAST

Josie Edird

ADVISOR Carlton ‘Sonny’ Rhodes,

@sonny_rhodes

Emily Reynolds,

Editor@ualr.edu

@UALittleRockForum

The Forum welcomes writers and artists from all different backgrounds, cultures, and levels of experience. We have weekly meetings, a group chat, and award opportunities. Have we also mentioned you get paid? So, what are you waiting for? Apply today!

CHECK OUT OUR PAST EDITIONS