Summer/Fall 2013 - Volume 1, Number 1
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. Shop, print, talk Drennen-Scott Historic Site Finalist for Henry Award Food Drive Responding to a need The Brothers Robidoux Ride Again In a new history book History in the Backyard An archaeological dig site
The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 1
CONTENTS Welcome to the ECHO
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Proceeding Boldly with Amos Kennedy
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Food Drive: Responding to a Need
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Nazi Hunter: Deporting To Deter
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Drømnium Receives National Honors
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Graphic Designers Win ADDYs
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Visiting Artists Enhance Learning
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The Robidoux Brothers Ride Again
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Martin Luther King Jr. Activities
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Drennen-Scott Finalist for Henry Award
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Psychology Symposium
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History in the Backyard
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‘Blind Audition’ Leads To Symphony Slot
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Summer/Fall 2013 - Volume 1, Number 1
Editors: Henry Rinne, Katie Harper Lead Designers: Ngoc Nguyen, Leonardo Padilla Designers: Lee Actkinson, Jordan Beshoner, Kristina Davis, Jose Gonzalez, Danielle Scholten, Sophie Vincent, Gwen West, Ashley White Contributors: Tim Mulvihill, UAFS Staff
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University of Arkansas - Fort Smith College of Humanities and Social Sciences 5210 Grand Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72913-3649 479-788-7000 www.uafs.edu/humanities Henry Rinne, Dean of CHaSS 479-788-7431 henry.rinne@uafs.edu
Welcome to the ECHO
WELCOME MESSAGE
I
want to introduce the ECHO, the newsletter for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. We are very proud to highlight the activities of this college, as it is one of the primary vehicles for the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith to achieve its mission of preparing students to succeed in an ever-changing global world while advancing economic development and quality of place. Many of the articles contained in this newsletter focus on how the faculty and students of the CHaSS provide enrichment to the campus, the community, and the region. Publications such as this one are very important for communicating with alumni, people in the community, colleagues at other institutions, and especially potential students. I hope you enjoy reading about the many accomplishments of our students and faculty, and I hope to see you at some of the CHaSS events in the near future.
Paul B. Beran
Photo by Zack Thomas
Paul B. Beran, Ph.D. Chancellor
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elcome to the first edition of the ECHO, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences newsletter. Through this publication, we intend to highlight the accomplishments of CHaSS students and faculty as well as future plans and events. CHaSS reaches students from all majors, offering studies in art, theatre, music, history, criminal justice, and behavioral sciences. As dean of the College, I am honored to lead a highly qualified and experienced faculty. Over 75 percent of the faculty hold terminal degrees and have published books and journal articles.
Henry Q. Rinne
Photo by Dennis Wemyss
Our college mission is fourfold: • Provide general education courses for all students. • Provide programs of study in selected majors that prepare students for graduate study and employment. • Conduct scholarly research and engage in creative/artistic endeavors, contributing to the expansion of knowledge and understanding. • Serve the community through engagement of faculty and students in activities that foster growth as scholars and artists.
Especially because this is our first issue, I welcome your comments. We hope the ECHO will convey the College’s robust and vibrant learning atmosphere. I want to thank the students in Katie Harper’s GRDS 2103 Advanced Typography and GRDS 2343 Print and Publication Design classes, who created the format for ECHO and developed much of the content. We appreciate their talent and hard work. Henry Q. Rinne, Ph.D. Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences 479-788-7431
DEAN
Henry Rinne
CRIMINAL JUSTICE Paul Kroutter
MUSIC Elizabeth Momand
Humanities
The colors above represent the academic hood colors of the various disciplines within CHaSS.
ART & THEATRE
HISTORY
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Don Lee
Robert Willoughby
Graphic Design
Geography
Psychology
Studio Art
Political Science
Sociology
Theatre
Philosophy
Anthropology
Rita Barett
Religious Religious Studies Studies
The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 3
Proceed be bold
and
AMOS PAUL KENNEDY JR.
By Frank Kelly, Public Information Specialist Note: Original article posted on UAFS.edu on Jan. 30.
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mos Paul Kennedy Jr., printer, artist, philosopher and activist, conducted workshops on letterpress printing at Underground Ink on the campus of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith on Feb. 28 and March 2. Kennedy’s visit was a joint initiative of the Art Department on the UAFS campus and the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, according to Dr. Henry Rinne of Fort Smith, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at UAFS. Katie Harper of Fort Smith, assistant professor of graphic design, oversees the operations of Underground Ink, the letterpress and book arts teaching venue in the lower level of the Gardner Building. “We read road signs all the time that tell us to ‘proceed with caution,’ and that’s the accustomed instruction we live with,” said Harper. “Amos Kennedy lives by the motto ‘proceed and be bold,’ and that kind of tells you what kind of person he is.” Kennedy was a successful computer programmer for AT&T when he saw an operating antique letterpress in Williamsburg, Va., according to his biography. The process of letterpress stopped him dead in his tracks, and he changed his career at the age of 40. Today, Kennedy operates Kennedy Prints, a highly regarded letterpress poster shop. He started in a nondescript storefront operation in Gordo, Ala., and is now preparing to move his business to Detroit, where he plans to open the Detroit Printing Plant. This large facility will house printing presses, bindery
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equipment and machinery to hand make paper. Kennedy is now raising funds to complete this project. Kennedy, who is a master of his craft, uses letterpress printing to earn a living and advance the causes that resonate with his personal philosophies, according to Harper. “I think many people who come in contact with the sight, the smell and the mechanical action of letterpress printing wind up with ink in their blood,” Harper said. “Amos Paul Kennedy is the ultimate example of this.” Harper said that the mechanical action and physical forces of letterpress printing give it the capacity to produce items of wonderful beauty. She said the craft was largely fading until the 1990s, when people began to rediscover how beautiful and distinctive letterpress invitations and stationery can be. “This is a wonderful opportunity for students and the public alike to learn more about the problems and potential of letterpress printing,” Harper said. As dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rinne said he is very happy to see this project for the letterpress initiative, which he said is in its initial stages. “This is another element of the growing art and design program at University of Arkansas - Fort Smith,” Rinne said. “This craft presents employment opportunities for our graduates. Bringing Amos Kennedy to our campus is a terrific accomplishment for us. It’s another way we are giving our students experiences that they won't get anywhere else.” ■ On next page: Broadside posters printed by Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.
How Old Becomes New
The poster above was created by UAFS students at Underground Ink, under the direction of visiting artist Amos Paul Kennedy. Using two Vandercook presses, students printed with multiple layers of ink using both wood and metal type, as well as hand-brayed type. This unorthodox printing method has a spontaneous quality, resulting in a poster with a three-dimensionality that can be achieved with no other printing method.
The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 5
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Food Drive: Responding to A Need By Frank Kelly, Public Information Specialist
The UAFS Criminal Justice Club collected 1,100 pounds of groceries for the River Valley Regional Food Bank. Photo by Corey Krasko
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The UAFS Criminal Justice Club collected 1,100 pounds of food during a monthlong food drive. Note: Original article posted on UAFS.edu on Oct. 30, 2012.
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local news story about the River Valley Regional Food Bank’s need for contributions resulted in a successful food drive at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, according to Tiffany Cox of Alma, a UAFS criminal justice major. “We saw that story and thought that our Criminal Justice Club could help them,” she said. “Food banks need special help at the end of summer.”
Cox said that food banks tend to get a lot of donations around the holidays but they have serious shortages in the summer months. Lowell Cox of Van Buren, a criminal justice major, said the club has been operating for three years and currently has 30 members, most of whom have the same major he does. He said, with a membership that large, they could put a lot of resources into the drive. “Over 48,000 people in the River Valley experience food insecurity,” he said. “That’s more than 15 percent of the population. Those are significant numbers, and we thought this problem was worth our concern.” Amber Sunday, also of Van Buren, said this is the first food drive for the club. She said club members collected food on the campus Oct. 1-25. “This is going to help families in our community,” Sunday said. “We’re really grateful for the support from fellow students. We’re glad to help people who want to express their generosity in this physical way of giving food.” Sunday said the food is distributed through food banks throughout the River Valley area. Over the course of the month, the club collected 1,100 pounds of assorted groceries, which was more than a pickup truck load for the people of the area, according to club adviser Dennis W. Williams of Lamar, assistant professor of criminal justice at UAFS. To put that in perspective, Williams said the food bank told him that their citywide food drives only collect a little over 2,000 pounds. “So we did really well,” Williams said with a smile. ■
Nazi Hunter: Deporting To Deter
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
By Jeff Arnold, The Times Record. Reprinted with permission.
Eli M. Rosenbaum, the longest-serving prosecutor and investigator of Nazi criminals and other perpetrators of human rights violations in world history, spoke March 6 during a Criminal Justice Symposium at UAFS.
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eporting undocumented immigrants while allowing Nazi war criminals — regardless of their age — to remain in the United States would be hypocritical, Eli Rosenbaum told a group at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. The most important reason to continue deporting Nazi war criminals, he said, is deterrence. Rosenbaum is director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy in the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Department of Justice. He spoke at the UAFS Criminal Justice Symposium. Rosenbaum said his hope is that someday, when someone is directed to murder civilians, they’ll remember the image of some “white-haired” Nazi dragged into court for crimes committed 60 years earlier and realize they will spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder. “About a dozen Nazi war criminals in the United States are currently under investigation or in some state of litigation,” Rosenbaum said. One of the most recent cases involved John Kalymon, 91, of Michigan. In 2007, a federal judge in Detroit found that Kalymon was a volunteer in the Ukrainian Auxiliary Police during World War II and participated in rounding up and shooting Jews. The judge revoked Kalymon’s citizenship and ordered him deported. Rosenbaum said the case is still on appeal. Devin Henderson, a criminal justice major at UAFS, asked Rosenbaum if it was a “slap in the face” when European countries — where Nazis committed their crimes — don’t prosecute them when they’re deported from the U.S. Rosenbaum said it was the most frustrating aspect of the job, describing it as both a “slap in the face” and a “great moral failing” of those countries. The Justice Department created the Office of Special Investigations to identify and deport Nazi war criminals living in the United States, but had no jurisdiction to prosecute wartime crimes. It wasn’t until 1988, when Congress ratified the United Nations Genocide Convention of 1948, that the United States had a genocide statute, Rosenbaum said. Even then, the statute only allowed for the prosecution of American citizens who engaged in genocide or genocide committed in the United States. So even when the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 expanded the OSI mission to include
Eli M. Rosenbaum
Photo by UAFS Staff
modern war criminals, the United States could only deport war criminals found in the United States. Before 2007, when President George W. Bush signed the Genocide Accountability Act, federal prosecutors did not have jurisdiction to prosecute perpetrators of genocide found in the United States no matter where it occurred, Rosenbaum said. Rosenbaum said the 2007 statute is yet to be used. Gwendolyn Sibley, a criminal justice major at UAFS, asked if any of the war criminals deported ever confess. Rosenbaum said only two of the more than 100 cases prosecuted — either in civil or criminal court — have resulted in confessions that harmed anyone, and none of the Nazi war criminals have ever confessed. Rosenbaum said the Nazi war criminals fight their cases very hard, despite knowing it’s very unlikely they’ll be prosecuted if they’re deported to Europe. He believes the reason is they don’t want their families to learn the truth about their criminal history. A New York native and Harvard Law School graduate, Rosenbaum did an internship at OSI when it was created in 1979, before joining the office the next year after his graduation from law school. Rosenbaum remained with the OSI until 1984, when he left to work as corporate litigator and then as general counsel for the World Jewish Congress. He returned to OSI in 1988 as principal deputy director. In 1995, Rosenbaum was named director. In 2010, the OSI was merged with another division in the Department of Justice, creating the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. ■ The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 7
ART & THEATRE
DRØMNIUM RECEIVES NATIONAL HONORS By Sondra Lamar, Director of Public Relations Note: Original article posted on UAFS.edu on March 19.
The cast of Drømnium
Photo By UAFS Staff
The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith received awards in seven categories at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s national festival April 16-20.
U
AFS theatre director Bob Stevenson of Fort Smith and a group of students will receive the awards – given for the production of Drømnium – in an awards ceremony scheduled for April 20 in Washington, D.C. Stevenson also said that UAFS is winning in more than half of the categories available to UAFS. “We aren’t even eligible to win in seven of the 18 categories possible, so we won awards in seven of the 11 categories available to us,” said Stevenson, who said UAFS is racking up additional “firsts” this year.
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“We’ve never sent anyone to nationals before, so this is a first for us,” he said. “In the past, we have been given some awards from the national selection team, but never have we been given these prestigious awards at the festival, which clearly marks us as one of the four best shows in the nation this year in college theatre.” UAFS national awards include: • Outstanding Production of a Devised Work. • Distinguished Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work: Bob Stevenson.
• Outstanding Choreography: Bob Stevenson with Ashley Behm, Ian Miller, Laura Wineland, Joseph RodriguezBarbera, Phil Whiteaker, Aron Long, and Stuart Campbell. • Outstanding Lighting Design: Hannah Yeager. • Distinguished Performance by an Actress: Ashley Behm. • Outstanding Sound Design: L.J. Luthringer. • Outstanding Performance and Production Ensemble.
A Very Special Cup
“I can’t wait for Ashley, Hannah, and L.J. to experience the national festival and attend all the workshops, present their work and get feedback from professionals throughout the field of theatre,” said Stevenson. “This is truly a oncein-a-lifetime experience. And I’ll be proud to get on stage and accept the awards for the Drøminum cast and crew, who made this whole thing possible.”
I'll be proud to get on stage and accept the awards for the Drøminum cast and crew, who made this whole thing possible. —Bob Stevenson Drømnium was first produced at UAFS in October 2012 and received numerous regional awards in early March. The storyline involves two people who are living in a loveless and monotonous relationship and, while they sleep, they enter into a land of dreams. Stevenson said the name for the acrobatic production actually comes from a Danish word which has a slash mark through the letter “o” and has a meaning related to dreams and dreaming. Stevenson said the national awards are a testament to what hard work and having a clear goal can achieve. “UAFS is now on the map as one of the preeminent theatre schools in the nation and a school that is at the head of the new devised theatre movement,” said Stevenson. Stevenson said “devised theatre movement” refers to a show generated by the cast and crew, instead of being written ahead of time. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a national organization that exists to celebrate the educational and creative process of university and college theatre. ■
Showing off the Director’s Choice Award from the regional theatre festival are Phil Whiteaker, left, a former UAFS theatre student and now volunteer physical coach for UAFS, and Bob Stevenson, theatre director. Photo by UAFS Staff
Dream scene from Drømnium
Photo by UAFS Staff
The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 9
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS WIN ADDYS
ART & THEATRE
By Sondra Lamar, Director of Public Relations Note: Original article posted on UAFS.edu on Feb. 10.
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith employees and students brought home 47 awards during the 2013 ADDY Awards, presented by the American Advertising Federation - Fort Smith Chapter.
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“rotary perfecting press.” history Wired. 26 nov 2012. <http://historywired.si.edu/object.cfm?Id=401> . bennard, Juanita. “William a. bullock, Inventor.” 26 nov 2012. <http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/nygreen2/william_bullock.htm> . “printing yesterday and today.” harry ransom center. 26 nov 2012. <http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/educator/modules/gutenberg/books/printing/>
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ach year the American Advertising Federation, a notfor-profit industry association, sponsors a nationwide competition known as the ADDY Awards. The AAFFort Smith Chapter, which is part of District 10 of the American Advertising Federation, held its awards ceremony in the spring of 2013, with entires judged on creativity, originality and creative strategy. In both professional and student categories, UAFS students were among the biggest winners. Colin McLain, an assistant professor of graphic design, received the first-ever Outstanding Educator Award, given for his contribution to the Fort Smith advertising industry by being instrumental in the building of the graphic design program at UAFS. Kelby Franklin won the Student Best of Show Award for her Mothers Against Drunk Driving campaign. Special Judges Awards went to Jeremy Teff for his American Proud Poster Series; Becky English for her Rotary Perfecting Press Infographic; and June Pham for her Edward Scissorhands Title Sequence animated piece. Other award winners included Steven Barker, gold award for The Wizard of Oz Ballet Poster; Jeremy Teff, gold for Ardent Cycles Promotional Packaging, gold and Special Judges Award for American Proud Poster Series; June Pham, gold for Ad Council Campaign, gold and Special Judges Award for Edward Scissorhands Title Sequence; Kelby Franklin, Student Best of Show and gold award for MADD Campaign; Zane Kaiser, gold for Chippewa Chicks; and Jessica Wooden, gold for No Word Billboard Ad for Adidas Deodorant. ■
Top row: The Wizard of Oz Ballet Poster by Steven Barker, left, and Rotary Perfecting Press Infographic Poster by Becky English Middle Row: American Proud Poster Series by Jeremy Teff Bottom: One of a series of posters for MADD by Kelby Franklin
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ADDY winners from UAFS
Photo by Jessica Wooden
VISITING ARTISTS ENHANCE LEARNING
ART & THEATRE
Dennis O’Neil Printmaker Dennis O’Neil is chair of Fine Arts at the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C. O’Neil’s professional practice includes his own projects and working with local, national and international visual artists, engaging in experimental and innovative print related projects and programs. His work is in collections all over the world. At UAFS, O’Neil’s hands-on workshop in March 2013 focused on unusual screen printing techniques, including finishing prints with the addition of polished wax or sanded surfaces. “The experience of working with Dennis O’Neil taught me a lot about printmaking while also teaching me how to get the most out of a concept. I also learned that even with modern technology at our fingers, we can’t forget our basic fundamentals.” —Leo Padilla, class of 2014
Ken Kewley Figurative painter and Jerusalem Studio School founder Israel Hershberg said that Ken Kewley reveals a “serious and profoundly comprehensive engagement” with the art and act of picture making. “His work is possessed of a most astonishing quality: a primal joy, a continuing infatuation perhaps, with the very purpose of being the painter, of looking at art and making pictures.” Ken Kewley returned to UAFS in March 2013 to work with painting and color classes. His advice to the students: “It is all about having a passion for color. This passion gives one an unlimited vocabulary. Color is use to create steps to direct the eye around the painting parallel to the vision of the artist. Along the way, like a song writer, rhyming words that do not really rhyme, we invent color relationships to get at the surprising juxtapositions that are found in nature. It is a way of staying excited, staying in love.” “Ken Kewley had a particular way of explaining how we, as artists, should view subjects as shapes and planes. This has really affected how I will tackle future art and design projects.” —Danielle Kling, class of 2015
Lesha Shaver The founding owner of Little Mountain Bindery in Fayetteville, Lesha Shaver has been a practicing bookbinder/book artist for many years. She is an active member of a dynamic international community of working book artists. She runs Little Mountain Bindery as a professional production binder as well for limited-edition designer binding and sculptural works. During Lesha’s visit to UAFS in February 2013, she worked with students in the Fine Printing and Bookmaking class to make multiple-signature, case-bound books. “Working with Lesha was a wonderful experience. Whenever you can work with someone who is so knowledgeable and passionate about a craft such as bookbinding it is truly inspiring.” —Jeremy Teff, class of 2013 The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 11
HISTORY
THE ROBIDOUX BROTHERS RIDE AGAIN
Robert J. Willoughby, associate professor and chair of the Department of History, publishes his third book, The Brothers Robidoux.
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riting in a unique biographical format, Robert Willoughby interweaves the stories of six brothers who shaped the American trans-Mississippi West during the first five decades of the nineteenth century. After migrating from French Canada to St. Louis, the brothers Robidoux—Joseph, Francois, Antoine, Louis, Michel, and Isadore—and their father, Joseph, became significant members in the business, fur trading, and land-speculation communities, frequently interacting with upper-class members of the French society. Upon coming of age, the brothers followed their father into the fur business and American Indian trade. The oldest of the six, Joseph, led the group on an expedition up the Missouri River as Lewis and Clark had once done, designating a path of trade sites along their journey until they reached their destination at present-day Omaha, Neb. Eventually the younger brothers set out on their own westward expedition in the mid1820s, reaching both Colorado and Santa Fe, N.M. Joseph eventually became a town founder in northwest Missouri near Blacksnake Creek. Antoine and Louis traveled as far as California, finally settling in Santa Fe where they became prominent citizens. As a trapper and trader, Michel endured many hardships and close calls during his journey across the West. Francois and Isadore made their home in New Mexico, maintaining a close relationship with Joseph in Missouri. Though frequently under contract by others, the brothers did their best work when allowed to freelance and make their own rules. The brothers would ultimately pass on their prosperous legacy of ranging, exploring, trading, and town-building to a new generation of settlers. As the nature of the fur trade changed, so did the brothers’ business model. They began focusing on outfitting western migrants, town folk, and farmers. Their practices made each of them wealthy; however, they all died poor. To understand the opening of the American West, one must first know about men like the brothers Robidoux. Their lives are the framework for stories about the American frontier. By using primary sources located at the Missouri Historical Society, the Mexican Archives of New Mexico, and the Huntington Library, as well as contemporary accounts written by those who knew them, Willoughby has now told the Robidouxs’ story. ■
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ROBERT J. WILLOUGHBY is associate professor and head of the Department of History at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith and the author of two books, Robidoux’s Town: A Nineteenth Century History of St. Joseph, Missouri, and The Great Western Migration to the Gold Fields of California. He lives in Fort Smith.
Martin Luther King JR. Activities Held
HISTORY
By Sondra Lamar, Director of Public Relations Note: Original article posted on UAFS.edu on Jan. 18.
Speakers extolled the necessity of keeping the dream of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alive during activities held Jan. 21 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – at UAFS.
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niversity of Arkansas - Fort Smith and the local Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Planning Committee sponsored a breakfast, educational sessions and a march in celebration of the life of King, a 1964 Nobel Peace Prize recipient who was a leader in the civil rights movement, a movement aimed at nonviolence and equality. Dr. Paul B. Beran, UAFS chancellor, reminded those attending the breakfast that King sought to create common ground where people from all walks of life join together to resolve issues, strengthen communities, reduce poverty and acknowledge dignity and respect for all. “He had a dream,” said Beran. “You know his ‘I have a dream’ speech. We all share in that dream by being here this morning. It’s important to keep his dream, our dream alive.” Beran also said it was equally important to keep the dream alive through educating succeeding generations of the injustices King fought. He encouraged the audience to attend educational sessions slated during the observance event. Topics offered through the sessions included “MLK’s Philosophy on Conformity,” by Dr. Steven Kite, associate professor of history at UAFS; “Fort Smith Public History: Connecting with Martin Luther King Jr.,” by Dr. J. Michael Crane, UAFS assistant professor of history; “Freedom Riders and Personal Perspective on Civil Rights,” by Euba Harris-Winton, who served as executive director of the Mallalieu Community Development Center for 20 years and has been active on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee; and “Sitting at the Table of Brother-
UAFS chancellor Dr. Paul Beran and state Rep. George B. McGill prepare to lead the march around the campus. Photo by UAFS Staff
hood: The Slavery Question and the Drennen-Scott House,” by Tom Wing, UAFS assistant professor and director of the Drennen-Scott Historic Site. Following the march to the center of campus and the bell tower, Beran charged those attending to keep King’s dream alive all year, not just on the annual federal holiday. “Dr. King’s dream, our dream, will wither if our resolve begins and ends with a symbolic march once a year,” Beran said. “Getting together once a year on MLK Day will not preserve the dream — only constant vigilance through providing education and opportunity will make Dr. King’s dream, our dream continue to grow. Education remains the key to growing compassion and humanness.” Other participants in the day’s program included Karen James, chair of the MLK Holiday Planning Committee; Dr. Leroy Cox, an associate professor and department head for the UAFS Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership programs, as well as a member of the
MLK committee; Rev. U.C. Washington, pastor of Mission United Methodist Church; a UAFS drum line, led by UAFS percussion instructor Josh Knight; and Dr. Stephen Husarik, who manned the bells in the UAFS bell tower, starting the march with 27 tolls in observance of the years that the MLK committee has existed, played during the march, and concluded the celebration with a bell peal. The American Democracy Project, a national initiative designed to foster responsible citizenship at all levels, was also represented at the event and conducted a voter registration drive in the Campus Center. Dr. Amy Jordan of Fort Smith is chair of the ADP at UAFS. The ADP and the MLK Holiday Planning Committee are sponsoring another MLK event, scheduled for Jan. 22. A panel of community leaders will discuss King’s contributions to a changing society under the theme of “Unsung Heroes – Fifty Years of ‘I Have a Dream,’” followed by awards to a group of students at UAFS who are considered unsung heroes. ■ The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 13
HISTORY
DRENNEN-SCOTT HISTORIC SITE
FINALIST FOR
HENRY AWARD By Sondra Lamar, Director of Public Relations Note: Original article posted on UAFS.edu on Dec. 16, 2012.
The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism honored state tourism professionals and supporters at its annual Henry Awards Banquet, part of the annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The awards honor individuals and organizations that have made contributions to the state’s tourism industry.
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he Drennen-Scott Historic Site, along with a Fort Smith man and a Fort Smith monument, are finalists for Henry Awards, considered some of the most prestigious tourism industry awards in Arkansas. Several categories of these awards are given through the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism in honor of Henri de Tonti, the man historians hail as among the first “Arkansas Travelers,” and will be revealed at the 39th Annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism, slated for March in Hot Springs. The Drennen-Scott Historic Site, operated by the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, is vying for the Arkansas Heritage Award, presented annually to an individual, organization or community that has made a significant contribution toward the preservation of some aspect of Arkansas’s natural, cultural or aesthetic legacy. UAFS operates the site, located at 221 N. 3rd St. in Van Buren, as a museum and as a teaching classroom and lab. Other finalists are Civil War Helena and the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. T. Baridi Nkohheli of Fort Smith, who regularly portrays legendary U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, is a finalist in the Out-
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standing Volunteer Service Award category, presented in recognition of outstanding volunteer spirit that has resulted in a substantial contribution to Arkansas’s tourism industry. Other finalists are the Arkansas Master Gardener Program of Little Rock and Donnie Crain of Jasper. The Bass Reeves Legacy Monument in Fort Smith is competing with Great Arkansas Cleanup in Little Rock and Rohwer Relocation Center National Historic Landmark in Rohwer for the Natural State Award. This award recognizes unique appeal, media coverage, creative approach or enhancement of community pride, benefiting the state’s quality of life. Only one finalist in each category receives a Henry trophy. The other finalists are presented a framed and matted finalist certificate. Dr. Henry Rinne, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at UAFS, said he is extremely proud of the University’s efforts to fulfill its obligation to the people of Van Buren and the state to preserve this significant piece of Arkansas history. “This project has always been a team effort, however, not only on campus from the Chancellor’s Office to the Business
Office to the Department of History, but also the state agencies that helped fund the project, and especially the local A&P Commission for its continuous support,” said Rinne. Tom Wing, director of the Drennen-Scott Historic Site and assistant professor of history at UAFS, was thrilled with the recognition.
I’m extremely proud of the University’s efforts to fulfill its obligation to the people of Van Buren and the state to preserve this significant piece of Arkansas history. —Henry Rinne “It is an honor just to be a finalist,” said Wing. “For UAFS along with other worthy nominees to be recognized as a leader in preserving and promoting Arkansas history and heritage through the Drennen-Scott Historic Site is especially rewarding. We operate a site that is significant not only to Van Buren and Western Arkansas, but also the entire state. Reaching the finals in the Henry Awards is evidence of this.” During the Henry Awards ceremonies, inductees in to the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame and the Tourism Person of the Year will also be announced. UAFS received several grants which covered the purchase of the Drennen home and acreage as well as funds to complete the work on the home. In all, UAFS received more than $5 million toward the project. The home was purchased from descendants of John Drennen and Charles Scott “Caroline Bercher of Lavaca, Scott Bulloch of Van Buren and Drennen Bulloch of Little Rock. The three are fifth-generation descendants of the home’s original owner, John Drennen. John Drennen was a founder of Van Buren, politician, Indian agent, landowner and businessman. Charles Scott was Drennen’s business partner who eventually became interested in seeking Drennen’s eldest daughter’s hand in marriage. Charles and Caroline Scott inherited control of the estate after Drennen’s death in 1855.■
Inside the Drennen-Scott House. Photos by Kristina Davis
Awards The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas honored the Drennen-Scott Historic Site for Excellence in Historical Restoration. Director Tom Wing had previously been recognized for Outstanding Service in Preservation Education. John Mott, principal architect of the project, nominated the project for the award.
John Mott, principal architect of the DSHS project, and Tom Wing, director of the Drennen-Scott Historic Site, at the award presentation dinner which was held in the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, January 2012 Photo by UAFS Staff The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 15
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY SYMPOSIUM By Sondra Lamar, Director of Public Relations Note: Original article posted on UAFS.edu on Nov. 1, 2010.
Panels of alumni and professionals exchange information about career opportunities in the field of psychology.
A
n inaugural Psychology Symposium at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith included two panels – one of alumni and one of professionals sharing information on career opportunities – in an event that also included a group of presentations by UAFS students. Dr. Rita Barrett of Fort Smith, head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences, said the symposium’s purpose was to assist psychology majors and minors in understanding the requirements of acceptance in graduate and professional schools and in developing a perspective on the different career choices in the field of psychology. A panel concerning preparation for graduate and profession training was made up of five psychology alumni and Miriam Schwartz from Kaplan Test Prep and Administration in Fayetteville. Dr. Barrett said the alumni spoke about their experiences in transitioning to graduate school and the challenges in choosing a graduate program and in taking graduate entrance examinations. “They addressed differences in the demands of graduate versus undergraduate study skills,” she said. “They also spoke about life challenges which could have impeded their progress and how they overcame them.” She said the alumni also gave suggestions on managing time, work, school, children and family. The alumni, all non-traditional students, were Melanie Taylor of Fort Smith, class of 2010, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, rehabilitation counseling master’s program; Jessica Kursh of Fort Smith, class of 2009, John Brown University, marriage counseling and family therapy, two master’s programs; Judy Skerbitz of Gans, class of 2008, UAF, rehabilitation counsel-
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Dr. Ray Wallace giving a video welcome
Photo by Adrianna Carter
ing master’s degree earned in 2010 and completing licensure for Licensed Professional Counselor; Taylor Mitchell of Fort Smith, class of 2008, University of North Dakota, forensic psychology master’s program; and Kevin Edwards of Cameron, class of 2008, Walden University, counseling master’s program. Dr. Janet Sanders of Poteau, UAFS associate professor of psychology, moderated the discussion. The career opportunities panel discussion included panelists Miriam Schwartz of Kaplan; Bethany Ritter, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, MO; Greg Smith, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, School of Social Work program; Raymond Ortega, UALR, rehabilitation counseling doctoral program; Brent Williams, UAF, rehabilitation counseling doctoral program; and Gregg Roberts from UAFS, Licensed Professional Counselor and instructor of psychology, who also spoke in a separate event session on “Professionalism, Boundaries
and Personal Identity at Work.” Moderator of the career opportunities panel was Dr. James Benjamin, assistant professor of psychology at UAFS. Students making presentations included Shelby Hicks of Glenwood, who presented a paper titled “Speak My Color.” Psychology Club students who worked during the event were Russell Howard, Arkoma; Alexander Wyrick, Booneville; Aimee Talavera, Charleston; Amanda Hudson, Fort Smith; Jennifer Pegg, Fort Smith; Melissa Milburn, Hackett; Michael Martin, Mena; and Mary Elissa Johnson and Madison Simon, Van Buren. More than 100 psychology majors and 20 psychology minor students attended the Oct. 28 symposium, which also included a networking event with representatives from 15 agencies and graduate schools. ■
HISTORY IN THE BACKYARD
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
By Ashley White
Students enrolled in Introduction to Archaeology get firsthand experience at an archaeological dig site at the Drennen-Scott Historic Site in Van Buren.
T
im Mulvihill, head of the UAFS Research Station with the Arkansas Archeological Survey, worked with students at the Drennen-Scott Historic Site in Van Buren. Archaeological investigations began in 2006, shortly after the site was acquired by the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. Archaeology is the scientific study of past humans and societies, primarily through their material remains. Students learn about theory, methods and actual practice of archaeology while establishing a grid on a site, mapping, excavating in levels, and recording everything found. Mulvihill and students used geophysical surveying to map out the backyard of the Drennen-Scott Historic Site. Geophysical survey uses groundbased physical sensing techniques to show areas of resistance within an area and measure differences in the physical properties of the soil. Sites for archaeological study are arranged in a grid and are carefully excavated at 10 cm levels. Items found are identified by students and noted of the position within the site. The purpose of this archaeological dig is to find the remnants of the Drennen-Scott house such as outbuildings, detached kitchens, smoke houses, animal bones, and everyday items that were a part of 19th Century homesteads. Archaeology can help answer questions about the life in the 1800s that cannot be found in written records. This opportunity by the Arkansas Archeological Survey allows students to get firsthand experience in the field of archaeology. â&#x2013;
Vy Nguyen excavating the Drennen-Scott Historic Site Photo by Kristina Davis
Tim Mulvihill showing geophysical mapping
Excavating a bottle
Photo provided by Tim Mulvihill
Archaeology exhibit in Boreham Library
Photo by Kristina Davis
Photo by Kristina Davis
The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 17
‘Blind Audition’ Leads To Principal Symphony Slot
MUSIC
By Scott Smith, The Times Record. Reprinted with permission.
David Carter, assistant professor of music at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, has won the principal clarinet position with the Tulsa Symphony. Carter joined the UAFS staff in 2009.
O
ne Fort Smith musician’s talent is being felt all the way in Tulsa. David Carter, assistant professor of music at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, has won the principal clarinet position with the Tulsa Symphony following a “blind audition” and a main-stage assessment. The 36-yearold musician said he was “definitely excited” when told he obtained the organization’s top clarinet position. “The Tulsa Symphony is a professional ensemble that does seven main-stage concerts every season, and three recitals as part of a series,” Carter said. “The Tulsa Symphony also serves as the orchestra for the Tulsa Ballet, which is nationally recognized, and the Tulsa Symphony brings in renowned conductors and soloists.”
The Tulsa Symphony is one of the only musician-run orchestras in the country. —David Carter Carter, who has played with the Tulsa Symphony since 2006, also acts as an artist and board member with Tulsa Camerata, a chamber music group, and performs second-clarinet parts with the Tulsa Opera Orchestra. “It’s exciting because the Tulsa Symphony is one of the only musician-run orchestras in the country,” he said. “A lot of the Tulsa Symphony members used to be in the Tulsa Philharmonic. The Tulsa Philharmonic went bankrupt about seven years ago when the economy tanked, and so many of those members formed the Tulsa Symphony.” Carter admitted that one of his earliest childhood memories was feeling the tug of symphonic music. “When I was young, I told myself, ‘That is what I want to do,’ ” he said. The former principal clarinetist of the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra and the Dearborn (Mich.) Symphony Orchestra, Carter has performed with the Fort Smith Symphony, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and the Orquesta Sinfonica de la Universidad de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. Before being hired at UAFS in 2009, Carter worked as an adjunct instructor of clarinet at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. At the Shawnee, Okla.-based Oklahoma Baptist University, he was an adjunct instructor of clarinet, woodwind techniques, saxophone and Western culture. Carter, who spent eight seasons teaching as an artist faculty
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David Carter
Photo by UAFS Staff
member of the International Music Camp in the International Peace Garden near Manitoba, Canada, said he thrives on long rehearsals. “It’s exciting for me to study this great literature that has been around for many, many years, and I get to learn this new repertoire all of the time,” he said before laughing. “A lot of our research here at UAFS is rehearsing and learning new repertoire. Many times, my students will walk by and see me rehearsing and learning new music in a room.” Practicing clarinet keeps Carter inspired and grounded. “I love to practice,” he said. “I didn’t always love to practice, but as I’ve gotten older, I have identified those things that move me forward.” ■
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Criminal Justice Club - Help students explore the world of criminal justice. Psychology Club - Provides psychology majors and other interested students an opportunity to exchange ideas and network within the field. Drama Club - Enriches the cultural aspects of the campus through theatrical performances. Graphic Design Association - Addresses educational, cultural, recreational, and social issues relevant to students of graphic design. GDA also promotes extracurricular involvement with the arts and graphic design. Percussion Club - To have a better understanding and appreciation of the world of percussion in all of its forms through instruction, concerts, travel and guests.
Kappa Kappa Psi
Photo by UAFS STAFF
Kappa Kappa Psi - Serves and promotes the existence and welfare of the UA Fort Smith band. Coalition of Studio Artists - To promote appreciation and knowledge of the visual arts in all its forms for the benefit of art students and others interested in the visual arts by means of presentations, lectures, workshops, visiting artists, field trips, and exhibitions. History Club - To learn from the past to improve the future, to take pride in honoring the legacy inherited, and to make history exciting every day we make it. Percussion Club
Graphic Design Association at the homecoming festivities
Photo by UAFS STAFF
Photo by DANIEL WIGGINS
The ECHO Summer/Fall 2013 - 19
AUGUST
NOVEMBER
Aug. 18: New Student Convocation
Nov. 7: Psychology Symposium
Aug. 19: Fall Classes Begin
Nov. 19: Season of Entertainment Jazz Concert
Aug. 23-24: Theatre@UAFS Something New
Nov. 21-24: Theatre@UAFS Women of Manhattan Nov. 27: Fall Break: No Classes
SEPTEMBER Sept. 2: Labor Day: Campus Closed
Nov. 28-30: Thanksgiving Break: No Classes
OCTOBER
DECEMBER
Oct. 12: Drennen-Scott Historic Site Civil War Commemoration
Dec. 1: Thanksgiving Break: No Classes Dec. 2: Seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greetings Concert
Oct. 14: Season of Entertainment Symphonic Band Concert
Dec. 3: Last day of Fall Classes
Oct. 17-19, 21, 22: Season of Entertainment Theatre@UAFS Lend Me a Tenor Oct. 24: Season of Entertainment Choral Concert
How to Give to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Gifts to the College may be made in a variety of ways, ranging from outright, one-time cash gifts to carefully planned annuities and trusts. In fact, you have dozens of ways you can make a gift that will impact the College, its students, and the greater Fort Smith community. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready, please call us at 479-788-7031. The University Foundation staff will be happy to assist you with further information about any of the giving options. Whatever your interests, whatever your capacity, we welcome your support.