Volume 113, Issue 14, Publication Date: January 23, 2019

The Echo

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January 23, 2019 Volume 113 — Issue 14

ucanews.live TODAY’S FORECAST

Campus Life:

CONWAY

MLK Celebration: Fort Smith Mayor George B. McGill gives keynote

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FROM THE ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

by Lauren McLemore Assistant New Editor

I N T E R N AT I O N A L France fines Google Due to Europe’s new data privacy laws, Google was fined almost $57 million

by France, making it the first strike against a U.S. technology industry giant since last year when regulations took effect across the region. The General Data Protection Regulation was implemented in 2018 and began investigating Google on May 25, the day it went into effect. A more detailed look into Google’s consent policies could lead to a fine of over $4.7 billion.

N AT I O N A L Kidnapped Wisconsin teen escapes captivity Jayme Closs, 13, made a break frrom her kidnapper’s house 70 miles away from where she was last seen, 87 days after disappearing from a murder scene. Jake Patterson, 21, was arrested and charged with two counts of intentional homicide and a count of kidnapping and armed burgarly after he killed Closs’ parents in order to take her. He is being held on a $5 million bond.

CIA Officer from “Argo” rescue mission dies at 78 Tony Mendez, 78, the CIA officer who helped orchestrate the rescue of six American diplomats from Iran on Nov. 4, 1979, after Islamic militants raided the United States Embassy in Tehran, died. His story was depicted in the movie “Argo.”

He and his wife were working on a book titled “The Moscow Rules: The Secret CIA Tactics That Helped America Win the Cold War.” She finished editing the book Jan. 17 and told her husband the news.

He died the next day.

Assistant professor of general music and former UCA administrator Gilbert Baker has been charged for his alleged involvement in a scheme to influence a local circuit judge’s ruling on a 2013 case by funneling campaign contributions in exchange for a lowered settlement. Nine counts were listed in his federal indictment which was released Jan. 11.

On Jan. 18, Baker said that he will plead innocent at his arraignment which is scheduled before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia S. Harris in Little Rock at 10 a.m. Jan. 24.

Harris said Jan. 18 that Baker will be given a courtappointed attorney due to his current financial circumstances. She named Blake Hendrix as representing him at his arraignment.

It is unclear how long Baker was not being represented, but previous attorneys he had been involved with, Bud Cummins and Richard Watts, released a statement on Jan. 11 on behalf of Baker in response to the federal indictment.

Baker said the indictment in no way interferes with his responsibilities at the university.

Men’s Basketball: UCA reaches tie for third place after week of wins 4 page 7

by Marley CashPowell Editor

As the partial government shutdown continues — now the longest shutdown in U.S. history at 33 days — the effects are being felt across the nation, not just by federal employees, but also by students here on the UCA campus.

Three types of services are being delayed or complicated for UCA students: veteran services, financial aid and grants.

“Since the last big shutdown [in 2013], Trump put out an order that protects veteran education benefits and those veterans that are deployed. Directly, [the shutdown is] not supposed to affect us, but it affects some of those employees that process a

Former Razorback and Cowboys running back Darren McFadden, 31, was arrested Jan. 21 on a DWI charge after falling asleep in a Whataburger drive-thru in McKinney, Texas. He will also be charged for resisting arrest. He was booked into Collin County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bail Jan. 21.

lot of our [paperwork],” veterans service coordinator David Williams said. “In a roundabout way, it does affect us because of the slower processes right now.”

With Veteran’s Affairs employees being furloughed and departments bringing in part-time or fill-in staff, workers are performing job duties without knowing the full process on how to do particular benefits certifications. Because of this, mistakes are happening. When problems arise, phone calls are being met by automated messages at closed offices, and offices that have remained open are running at minimal staffing.

“Yesterday, the system that I put all this information in went down and there’s nobody I could call to get it up to where I could’ve gotten half of these [files] in there,” Williams said

during an interview on day 26 of the shutdown.

He motioned his hand toward the stacks of file folders on his desk waiting to be processed. Each one of those files represented a UCA student relying on assistance and deserving of benefits.

“I called other colleges and they were down just like I was,” Williams said.

However, the system was functioning again by the day following the crash.

“It’s up for right now,” Williams said. “The VA system itself is just limited on VA employees to help process our [benefit applications].”

Williams said there are files needing to be processed for

See Shutdown- page 2

Bear Village approved for storm shelter Associate Editor

McFadden posts bail for two misdemeanors

Morton, filed a motion for a new trial, on which a hearing was held by Maggio July 8, 2013.

Two days later on July 10, 2013, Maggio reduced the previous verdict to $1 million.

In January 2015, Maggio pleaded guilty to bribery. He tried to withdraw the plea to no avail and began his 10-year prison sentence in July 2017.

Maggio was previously held in a Kentucky federal prison, but according to the website for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, he is no longer in federal custody at that location.

“Mr. Maggio did something, [but] I’m not sure what it was. I bumped into his wife twice in the grocery store over the years and basically she says, ‘They had us on 30 years so that’s why we had to say that,’” Baker said.

In May 2013, Baker, who served as a state senator from 2001 to mid-January 2013, photo by Lauren McLemore agreed to assist as a fundraiser UCA faculty member Gilbert Baker convenes with his students during his 2:40 class in room 131 in the Snow for Maggio’s campaign to be Fine Arts building on January 17, 2019. Baker was indicted on Jan. 11 on nine counts of illegal activity. elected to the Arkansas Court of Appeals. Maggio announced Director of Media Relations seven counts of “honest The case was presided over his candidacy on June 27, 2013 Amanda Hoelzeman confirmed services wire fraud,” is the by former Circuit Judge Michael according to the indictment. in an email that Baker remains result of an investigation that Maggio, and a Faulkner County “I didn’t want him to run,” employed at UCA and is began with a lawsuit filed jury awarded $5.2 million to Baker said. “I didn’t really want teaching four courses of music against a Greenbrier nursing Bull’s family in damages against to help him raise money, [but] appreciation this semester. home regarding neglect and the nursing home May 16, 2013.

Baker’s indictment, which mistreatment, which led to the However, about one month lists one count of conspiracy, 2008 death of patient Martha later on June 17, 2013, the one count of bribery and Bull. nursing home owner, Michael See Charges- page 2

Ripple effect of government’s continued New campus website to shutdown felt across all campus spectrums expand media accessibility

by Emily Gist

S TAT E

‘Something Rotten!’ tour performs at Reynolds Hall.

‘Surviving R. Kelly’: LifeTime documents abuse by iconic R&B musician 4 page 6

Professor maintains innocence in conspiracy, bribery case via exclusive interview

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Sports:

Baker indicted on federal charges

Mostly Sunny

WHAT’S AHEAD

Entertainment:

UCA received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for $975,000 — 75 percent of the total cost — to build a tornado safe room in the parking lot near the Bear Village apartments.

The safe room will be constructed in the north eastern area of the overflow parking lot located at 2201 Moix Boulevard

by March 21, 2021. According to the president’s update, the shelter will house 516 people.

Grant writer Jennifer Deering said the safe room will provide the 500 Bear Village residents a closer, safer place to buckle down in the event of a tornado.

“Bear Village is across Dave Ward Drive, across the campus

Index:

proper, and it is exactly one mile away from the closest current storm shelter on campus. So when we talked about this, one of the things we wanted to prevent is the students from Bear Village trying to cross over Dave Ward Drive, either in their car or walking, trying to get to a storm shelter,” Deering said.

Physical Plant director Larry Lawrence said another concern in the case of a tornado hitting Conway would be traffic from the Bear Village apartments to the nearest campus storm shelter in the Student Center.

The increased risk for residents of the Bear Village Apartments was first brought to Deering and Lawrence’s attention after the suburb of Vilonia was hit by a tornado in 2014, which killed 15 people.

Vilonia is 14.5 miles east of

Conway.

Lawrence said the Bear Village Apartments would be at risk if directly hit by a tornado.

“Bear [Village] is what I call stick-built apartments, which means they’re framed out of wood,” Lawrence said.

“And I can tell you, and I’ll go back to Vilonia again because that’s where I’m from originally ... we had houses which were destroyed. A house is stick built, and so I don’t know if [Bear Village] would fare very well with a direct hit, like Vilonia.”

Deering said the shelter’s walls will be reinforced to withstand up to an F5 tornado.

She said the grant is primarily concerned with the safety of the students in Bear Village.

See Shelter- page 2

by Daniel Adams Assistant Sports Editor

As the new semester begins, the media outlets on campus are looking to show off their new access points for reading and watching campus-produced media.

News 6, The Scroll and The Echo have teamed up to help produce a new website for students on campus to read stories that can be found in The Echo’s and the Scroll’s printed editions and watch stories that are produced for News 6 broadcasts.

While previously the Echo had a website, the new website will allow students to eventually access all major media produced by students.

Junior Sophia Ordaz, former editor of The Echo for fall 2018, was one of the students who helped get the website up and running before fall break. The process did not come without its issues, however.

“There were some delays with getting a URL nailed down, so the website didn’t go live until November,” Ordaz said. “When I was editor, one of my main focuses was to improve the website and increase our online content, so I was very excited to hear about [the website].”

The website has had plenty of backing from the faculty of UCA’s journalism department as work continues to improve its usability.

Professor Michael Haddigan, a lecturer in the journalism department, said that Blox, the new content management system for the website, was something he came across at an online journalism conference he

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Blox gathers materials into a useful database for website visitors and is utilized by newspapers around the country, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Tulsa World and Richmond Times-Dispatch. “[In] thinking about how to move us forward in the pursuit of digital journalism as opposed to paper or radio, this seemed like a good place to start,” Haddigan said. “A good content management system [is important] so that you can keep track of all the stories.”

Haddigan said that the website still needs to finish setting up News 6 content, along with minor clean ups.

When discussing one of the things he wanted students to get out of using the new website, Haddigan said he hopes that students are able to have a digital mindset in their journalism.

“We want students to understand the online environment as well as people understand the print environment,” Haddigan said.

David Keith, the faculty advisor for The Echo, was very confident in what the website could provide for students over a longer period of time.

“One [advantage] is to have the content from various media outlets in one place so that if someone is looking for something from The Echo and also come across something from News 6 and watch it, it’s a benefit,” Keith said.

The new website, ucanews.live, will be updated throughout the semester with stories from The Echo, News 6 and The Scroll as it becomes fully operational. The Echo will continue to release print editions as scheduled.

Opinion: @ucaecho The Echo

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© 2018 The Echo, Printed by Leader Publishing, Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Gillete highlights toxic masculinity and I hope it starts conversation

See page 5

2/ January 23, 2019

NEWS

Conway Hall expected to reopen fall 2019 semester

ucanews.live

Police Beat The following information is compiled from UCAPD incident reports

by Assistant News Editor Lauren McLemore

Biker found with syringe in pocket A black motorcycle with no license plate traveling 20 miles over the speed limit was stopped by officer Christopher Vasquez at the intersection of South Boulevard and Donaghey Avenue on Jan. 17. Vasquez asked the driver, nonstudent Hayden Dougan, for his driver’s license, insurance and registration. Dougan’s driver’s license also did not contain a motorcycle endorsement and he informed the officer that he did not have registration or insurance.

Vasquez informed Dougan of an active warrant out of Vilonia Police Department he had found in ACIC/NCIC Criminal Information systems. In a search, Vasquez found a syringe in Dougan’s right pocket with a wet looking substance on it. Vasquez took Dougan to Unit 2

photo by Ronak Patel

UCA Physical Plant sets up equiptment for renovations in Conway Hall on Friday, Jan. 18. The renovations are estimated to cost $3.7 million.

by Ronak Patel Staff Writer

Built in 1968, Conway Hall is one of the oldest dorms on UCA’s campus and is currently receiving its first major renovation, costing about $3.7 million. The renovations are set to be completed throughout this year and the dorm is projected to be reopened fall 2019.

Conway Hall has typically been a dorm students have tried to avoid staying in, but that shouldn’t be the case after the renovation is complete.

Junior Shivam Patel was a Conway Hall resident and later returned there as an RA. Patel enjoyed his stay at Conway Hall but acknowledged some of the issues the hall had.

“The air conditioning was controlled by the Physical Plant and we had to tell the resident coordinator to turn the heat or air on,” Patel said. “The heater would turn back on slowly and in months like November, it’s not that cold yet but we [had]

to have the heat on even if we didn’t want it on. In Bear Hall, [students] can control the thermostat.”

Not being able to regulate the temperature made it difficult for residents to feel comfortable in their dorms.

Terry Williams, the construction inspector for Conway Hall’s renovation, knew this was an issue in the dorms and plans to fix it.

“We reconfigured the pipes from a two-pipe to a four-pipe system, so students have the comfort of having either heat or air when they would like,” Williams said.

Future students and RAs will benefit from the renovation.

According to Patel, Conway Hall being run down made the job more difficult for the building’s RAs. “The tiles weren’t even clean. They had stains on them that wouldn’t come out.

Some rooms even had mildew under the sink and even by

Charges:

the windows. We were always writing work orders for things like that and the Physical Plant would come and clean it up.”

When touring Conway Hall, one of the biggest changes students will now notice is that the hall has changed its community bathroom layout.

Originally, the hall had one big room for all the showers and toilets, and the showers were in stalls next to each other, leaving residents with little privacy.

Now, however, there will be six individual rooms on each floor for bathrooms and each room will have its own shower, giving residents their own space to get ready.

According to UCA’s Physical Plant, new shower tiles, similar to the ones in Bear Hall, will be installed which will not get dirty easily and will be easy to maintain.

In addition to the dorms and bathrooms getting a makeover, students can expect the lobby and kitchen to be updated as well.

Baker speaks out about court case details

4 Continued from page 1

Judge [Rhonda] Wood asked me if I would help him raise money and raise support.”

At the time, Baker said he was also fundraising for Wood, who was running for a seat on the Arkansas Supreme Court.

According to the indictment, on May 16, 2013, Baker and Morton, who is referred to as “Individual A,” met at a restaurant in Little Rock to discuss support for Maggio. Sometime in June 2013, Baker and Morton met again in Russellville to discuss what the indictment has documented as “financial support” for Maggio and others.

Baker said he was not aware Maggio was presiding over a lawsuit in which Morton was the defendant.

“I never kept up with that stuff,” Baker said. “I just wanted to know who the medical community or nursing home community wanted to support.”

According to the indictment, on July 8, 2013, two days before Maggio reduced the verdict, Morton wrote 10 checks for $3,000 each to 10 PACs created by Baker and an attorney the indictment refers to as “Individual B.” The checks were sent in response to a facsimile from Baker asking Morton for that specific amount in campaign support for Maggio.

The checks were mailed to Baker’s home address, and arrived along with two $25,000 checks for what the indictment refers to as “Company B,” a $100,000 donation to UCA and $48,000 to Wood’s campaign.

The checks totaled $228,000.

Then-UCA President Tom Courtway returned the donation after details of Baker’s involvement in a federal investigation became public.

“I did not speak to Mr. Morton about the specifics of support for Maggio until the [lawsuit] trial was over,” Baker said. “I was going to go talk to Mr. Morton about candidates he’d be willing to support, but primarily the [Russellville] meeting was asking for money for UCA.” However, according to the indictment, on June 29, 2013, “Baker sent Maggio a text message stating, ‘Well. Your first 50k is on the way,’ which

Maggio understood to include support from Individual A [Morton].”

Morton has not appeared as the defendant in any indictments stemming from this investigation. Regarding the $48,000 he provided to Baker for Wood’s campaign, Baker said, “Inadvertently, [Morton] messed up and sent me the checks [early] for [Wood’s] race. We were just judging [the amount of ] support [we had] at the time.

He wasn’t supposed to send any money in until November.”

According to the indictment, Baker organized a fundraiser for Wood months later in November 2013, where he provided the $48,000 donation to her designated campaign representative, having changed the dates from “7-8-13” to “11-22-13.”

“I did not communicate with her campaign. I could’ve sent [the checks] back and had them re-sent or do what I did, which was put them in an envelope [until the contribution window opened].

[I] did not tell her campaign about them,” Baker said. “When the window opened to give that money, I [changed] the dates [to that] of the fundraiser where I was going to give [them over].

No law was broken there.”

Baker said that, initially, Wood was his “main fundraising opportunity,” and she then asked him to help Maggio, who the indictment says received $12,950 in PAC checks “funded by the checks written by Individual A [Morton] to the PACs on or about July 8, 2013.”

Baker said his goal was to use the PACs as an opportunity to raise more money for candidates and have several others receive those funds as well, which was mostly the case.

Additional allegations suggest Baker caused individuals to issue false invoices from various companies with the purpose of serving as reimbursements and “bonuses” for the individuals that Baker, in November 2013, asked to donate to Maggio’s campaign. One of these donors was Individual B, according to the indictment.

According to the indictment, Baker emailed

Individual B “false and incorrect addresses and telephone numbers for the individuals included in [his] handwritten list of PAC officers.”

Baker said he had asked a businessman, who had already agreed to be listed on one of the PACs, if he would ask his secretary to be listed as a PAC officer as well. Baker said she now denies being asked, but he is confident that she was.

“I don’t remember if [the secretary] was listening to the call when I was talking to him or if he simply asked her to be on the PAC. My understanding was that she agreed,” Baker said. “The phone number I gave for [the secretary] was the fax number for her office. I had no way of knowing that fax number unless the businessman or she had given it to me.”

He said that creating the PACs had been a topic of discussion for over a year. He also said Individual B had gone back and forth about wanting officer names listed on each PAC and was unsure whether or not it was legally required.

Baker said one of the PACs does not have an officer name listed and that he is not listed as an officer on any of the PACs. “I did not give false information,” Baker said. “I was trying to do what my attorney thought was best and get names for everybody.”

He said his previous attorney, Bud Cummins, responded to the indictment by calling it “21 pages of legal activities.”

“If there was something I could plead guilty to and have this behind us all, I would do it,” Baker said.

Baker still stands by his sworn statements provided to the Arkansas Ethics Commission and listed in the indictment, indicating he would not have asked for specific contributions outside the appropriate window nor was he helping Morton “buy a positive verdict from Judge Maggio.”

“I’ve never been happier.

I’ve never been more at peace than I am right now. I’m going to get to have my say,” Baker said.

He will continue to teach all four of his classes this semester until further notice.

and issued a citation. Dougan was given a copy of his warrant and a court date as requested by Vilonia PD, and the syringe was processed

by UCAPD.

Third marijuana warning to student After smelling marijuana, Officer Christopher Vasquez approached a car near the HPER center where student Ryan Faught had stepped out of the driver’s seat. When Vasquez asked Faught how long it had been since he had smoked in his car, he said it had been “about thirty minutes” and admitted there was a small bag of marijuana in the car, which was found in the glovebox. This was UCAPD’s third encounter with Faught since September 2018.

Faught, because of his cooperation

with authority, received another warning from Vasquez.

Valuable clothes stolen out of car On Jan. 14, student Dylan Carlton told Officer Phillip Boyd that items had been stolen out of his vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot east of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. Jan. 12. The stolen items included Ariat boots and Nike apparel among others. Carlton approximated the value of the stolen items at over $600. On Jan. 15, upon finding out that Carlton left his vehicle unlocked, Sergeant Mike Shaw reminded Carlton to always lock his doors and never leave valuables in his vehicle. There are no further leads, and the case is now inactive.

Shutdown: Government closure reaches record span 4 Continued from page 1

education benefits, disability checks, retirement benefits and healthcare.

“Some of the retirees that are receiving retirement checks are affected because those checks have federal tax [taken out of them],” Williams said.

Federal taxation must be processed by employees at the IRS. When and how many IRS employees are supposed to be available to do this processing has been being debated since even before the shutdown began.

On Jan. 15, the IRS announced a recall of 36,000-46,000 employees for the duration of the tax return processing season. This move has brought about much criticism from both the left and right about the morality and legality of forcing these employees to return to work without pay amid the seemingly endless shutdown.

IRS processing also affects financial aid for students.

“As of right now, as far as [the Financial Aid Office] is concerned, we’re still receiving federal aid applications from the federal processor. So, that means students are able to submit the application online,” director of financial aid Cheryl Lyons said. “We’re getting them electronically. We’re able to process them. We’re able to draw down the money from the federal government.”

Lyons said that the university plans to begin disbursing excess funds this week without issue.

She said that because problems were anticipated, the U.S. Department of Education and the federal government has allowed schools to accept alternative forms of documentation.

“Because of that, we really haven’t seen any problems,”

Lyons said.

When the shutdown first began back on Dec. 22, there were some issues with the IRS. “When students fill out the federal aid application, they can use the IRS data retrieval tool.

It will pull their IRS data. To my knowledge, that’s not currently working [properly on every attempt],” Lyons said.

She said that while they haven’t received any complaints from UCA students, she has been seeing that other institutions have students encountering problems with the data retrieval tool.

“Normally when the IRS data retrieval tool doesn’t work or someone isn’t able to use it, the federal government says that you have to get a tax return transcript from the IRS,” Lyons said. “Well, the IRS isn’t issuing those right now. So, the federal government came and said, ‘okay schools, you can just get a paper copy of the 10-40 [tax form from student applicants].’”

Schools were directed to file a copy of the paper tax return forms, then email them to the IRS. “Usually, [we] weren’t allowed to do that, but now the federal government is allowing it,” Lyons said.

However, if students didn’t keep a paper copy of their 2016 tax return, there could be problems.

“There are times when we can accept W-2s, but that’s only when the student hasn’t filed a tax return,” Lyons said. “Then, we would need a statement of non-file.”

Depending on these factors, for students who are filing their FASFA late, there could still be application problems affecting student aid for the spring 2019 semester; however, Lyons said that they just aren’t seeing any right now.

For students relying on grants, it’s another story. The lack of grant funding likely has the largest effect on campus during this shutdown.

“A limited number of federal agencies that fund grants at UCA are part of the shutdown,” Jeremy Bruner, a certified public accountant from UCA’s Office of Financial Accounting, said.

“During the shutdown, those agencies are not able to send any funds to UCA to cover grant expenditures.”

Bruner said that those agencies cannot authorize costs, meaning that they cannot incur expenditures for things such as salaries, supplies and travel.

“I’m sure there are researchers across the country who are in limbo right now just waiting to see what will happen, and when you think about [the growing number of days in this shutdown], depending on the research, that can have a major impact,” Jennifer Deering, a grant writer from UCA’s Office of Sponsored Programs, said.

Bruner said there are between 15-25 students on the UCA campus affected by the shutdown due to the lack of grant funds.

“Some of those students have stopped work completely, and some may be funded by the related university departments instead of their grants in the meantime,” Bruner said. “We also have a very limited number of full-time salaries and student scholarships/stipends that are affected, which the university has agreed to pay during the shutdown.”

The university has agreed to pay many of these salaries, scholarships and stipends with the hope that it will be able to recoup those expenses after the shutdown ends. At this time, it is unknown if that will be possible.

RENOVATIONS BEGIN AROUND CAMPUS

photo by Taylor Sone

Workers Billy Folsom and Clifton Reese change out jumpers on antennas for a T-Mobile tower near the Farris Center Jan. 18. UCA is currently undergoing several construction and upkeep projects.

Shelter: Grant to allow residents a safe zone in storms 4 Continued from page 1

UCA has applied for this grant twice, the first time in 2016. Deering said the process began in 2015 when students in “If something were to happen and Bear Village was caught in a tornado, those are students who could lose their lives,” Deering said. “I really want to prevent that, and that’s what this [shelter] will do,” UCA has applied for this grant twice, the first time in 2016. Deering said the process began in 2015 when Lawrence and herself joined the Faulkner

County Mitigation Plan committee. The committee aims to mitigate risks in extreme weather.

When writing the grant, Deering said she had to speak with at least 10 different agencies to obtain permission to construct the shelter, assuming UCA received the grant. She compiled a two-inch thick, organized binder containing all of the written information for the grant.

After high-speed winds

struck Conway in April 2018, damaging Carmichael Hall and Farris Hall’s roofs, Lawrence said Deering communicated with FEMA about the damage.

Several weeks later, Lawrence and Deering were notified that UCA was offered the grant.

Lawrence said, although there was no official correlation between the discussion of the 2018 damage and UCA receiving the grant money, notifying FEMA might have helped in the decision-making process.

Campus Life January 23, 2019

Around Campus:

3

MLK breakfast keeps campus tradition alive

Comedy At 7 p.m. on Jan. 23 in the Student Center Ballroom, stand-up comedian and America’s Got Talent finalist, Samuel Comroe, will entertain.

His content is intended for mature audiences only. No one under 17 years old will be admitted. For more information, contact the SAB office at (501) 450- 3235.

Something Rotten!

At 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23, Reynolds Performance Hall will host a theatrical performance of the Broadway hit play “Something Rotten.” The play is a musical comedy set in the late 16th century about two brothers who aspire to write a hit play. For tickets visit tickets.uca.edu.

Martial Arts At 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the HPER Center Medium Studio, a martial arts class will be delievered by Grandmaster Han. The class includes, but is not limited to, Taekwondo, Karate and Hapkido. For more information contact group president Abigail E. Gant at agant1@cub.uca.edu.

Art At 4 p.m. on Jan. 24, the Baum Gallery will host an opening reception for two exhibits — UCA Faculty Invitational and From I to Thou: Being Conscious of the Sacred in Nature. Both exhibits will be available for viewing until Feb. 15. For more information call (501) 450-5793.

iCulture-Inclusivity Workshop At 9 a.m. on Jan. 25, UCA Downtown will host a workshop called iCulture: co-creating a path to an inclusive community.

The worshop will focus on building a community-based culture that is diverse and includive. For more information contact the Office of Outreach adn Community Engagement at outreach@uca.edu.

Volunteer Fair

At 1 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the Faulkner County Library in Conway, a volunteer fair will be held. The purpose of the fair is to connect organizations that need assistance with interested candidates. For more information, call (501) 327- 7482.

photo by Taylor Sone

UCA alumnus Matthew Farr conducts the Sylvan Hills Middle School Vox Chorale during a prayer breakfast honoring Martin Luther King Jr. the Friday before the national holiday created for the civil rights icon. The breakfast featured several performances by the Sylvan Hills students, as well as a keynote address by the recently elected mayor of Fort Smith, George B. McGill, who is the first African American person elected as mayor of the city.

by Sarah Davis Staff Writer

Members of the Conway community and UCA students and faculty gathered on Jan. 19 in the Student Center Ballroom to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The UCA Department of Diversity and Inclusion assembled the 11th annual prayer breakfast to gather the community in remembrance of the late activist.

Junior Jalyn Pounds said she was excited to listen to speaker George McGill, a University of

Arkansas alumnus and the first African-American mayor of Fort Smith. Pounds is a transfer student, so this was her first time attending the annual prayer breakfast. She said she looks up to King because of his efforts to peacefully protest and his dedication to Christianity.

C o n g r e s s m a n French Hill opened the breakfast by describing what King meant to him.

“Nobody is more inspirational than Martin Luther King,” Hill said.

The Sylvan Hills Middle School Vox Chorale performed

Movie Night At 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 in the Student Center Ballroom, the Student Activities Board will present: Instant Family, a PG-13 Dramedy. Food and drinks will be provided. For more information visit ucasab.com.

Connections At 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 30 at the Hole in the Wall Cafe, the Women’s Leadership Network will host a luncheon. Donna Bowman will present a lecture: Action in Love: Crafting Connected Values. Register online at uca.edu/outreach/wln-events/.

was allowed to walk wherever he wanted. Nearly 200 years after the city of Fort Smith was founded, McGill’s determination paved the way for him to serve as mayor for the same city that once would not have allowed him inside city limits.

McGill’s speech was directed to young adults. He urged everyone in the room to stay determined and to not become complacent in the pursuit of his dreams.

“Young people, dream big,” McGill stated.

He urged UCA students to think about how they will be

remembered on this campus.

McGill believes the tie breaker of any situation is a person’s work ethic and mastery of communication.

McGill also explained the importance for young people to maintain a positive attitude and continue working for the betterment of society.

“Let’s not get complacent in the things we need to do to educate our children,” McGill said.

The UCA Department of Diversity and Inclusion hopes to continue this event in the future to keep the tradition alive.

VOLUNTEER

Bear Boots brush away debris during winter break

by Emily Gist Associate Editor

To aid relief efforts after Hurricane Michael, 52 students spent the first week of their winter break, Dec. 15-22, volunteering with Bear Boots on the Ground, and partnering with Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief to clear out cemeteries in Panama City Beach, Florida; community members thanked volunteers for unearthing loved ones’ grave sites.

An Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer gathered a small group of UCA volunteers who had just finished the work day at Glenwood Cemetery before they walked back to the charter bus. He stood in front of a tree that Arkansas Baptist volunteers had cut to look like a cross and told a story: Earlier that day, an older woman was going to see a relative’s grave when she realized it was buried under tree debris. The man told her the group of UCA students gave up their first week of winter break to help clear the cemetery. As he told the group that the old woman cried when hearing the news, tears filled his own eyes.

“This grown man was

crying in front of us because he was so thankful and he was so passionate about volunteering,” Bear Boots volunteer and freshman Clarissa Armstrong said, describing the event.

Bear Boots volunteers primarily worked at two different cemeteries. As the charter bus drove to each worksite, when looking out the window one could see thickets of palm trees still bowing to what had been Hurricane Michael’s 155 mph winds. Bear Boots volunteer and freshmen Makena Manes described the damage she saw.

“As we were driving to [the cemeteries], the closer we got, you could see just buildings basically flattened and a lot of people were trying to fix roofs and rebuild, so you could see how much damage had been done all through that area,” Manes said.

The work sites themselves had faced damage from fallen trees and tree limbs. A large majority of the debris was from fallen trees that once decorated each cemetery.

“I really didn’t imagine that whole trees would fall down.

I was expecting branches on some trees to be everywhere, we’d pick up little branches, but

I wasn’t expecting whole trees,” Armstrong said.

Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers used saws to cut trees into smaller pieces.

Bear Boots volunteers moved those pieces to the sides of small roads throughout the cemeteries for city workers to pick up with large cranes.

Office manager and assistant vice president for Student Services Denicha Kemp said that, originally, Bear Boots were going to help muck out homes. However, she said that work was complete, and the need changed so instead, the group helped clear out cemeteries. Over the course of the trip, community members reached out to volunteers and thanked them for the work they were doing in the cemeteries.

“We had one woman, I remember, she came out and spoke to us, told us specifically who her family members were, where their grave sites were located, and so we made it our job that day to find those grave sites and clean them up and restore those grave sites for her family,” Kemp said. “She told us how she would come out to that site and actually sit and talk to her family members and grieve for her family members.”

photo by Emily Gist

Sophomore Nykendrik Mask clears an infant’s grave with a birth and death year of 1964 that was previously crushed by a tree in Greenwood Cemetery in Panama City, Florida. UCA Bear Boots on the Ground traveled to Panama City Beach, Florida from Dec. 15 to Dec. 21 to help restore grave sites that were devastated by Hurricane Michael.

Manes told a similar story of a man who wanted to visit his relative’s grave.

“Certain people asked us if we could find certain graves,” Manes said. “A man actually went to visit a grave and he couldn’t see it because a tree had fallen on it.”

Kemp said the next Bear

Boots trip will take place in Memphis, Tennessee where volunteers will partner with Living Lands and Waters from March 17-21. Kemp said Living Lands and Waters hosts many alternative spring breaks to help clean the Mississippi river, and this year’s alternative break is set in Memphis.

SPOTLIGHT

PEOPLE OF UCA Marco Ramirez

The Heirloom Table At 4 p.m. on Jan. 26, UCA Downtown will host The Heirloom Table, a culinary workshop event. Teresa Conquest will teach attendees how to make homemade butter, biscuits and gravy.

Register online at www.uca.edu/ outreach/types/culinary-classes/.

two sets about peaceful protest and the Christian values King held dear to his heart.

McGill said he was excited to celebrate not only the life of King, but also to celebrate what we can do in our lives to make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren. He urged the crowd to never give up, and to keep dreaming about the future.

McGill grew up in a time where he experienced the struggles of unfair racial laws firsthand. He described Lyndon B. Johnson’s efforts and the first time, in 1964, that he

by Lauren McLemore Assistant News Editor

Bentonville native and enthusiastic soul Marco Ramirez has big dreams for his future in media and communication.

Ramirez is a junior, and double majoring in communications and public relations. He hopes to attend law school after graduation to study media law. Being a first-generation immigrant, he grew up speaking Spanish at home with English as his second language. From a career standpoint, he sees being bilingual as an opportunity to represent those in the field of media whose first language is also Spanish.

“I kind of want to be that lawyer for people who are coming from Cuba, Peru, Argentina, who are wanting to get into the music industry, or maybe the art scene, and maybe they are creating things and they don’t know what to do and someone could steal their idea,” Ramirez said.

“I want to be the person to protect their ideas so that no one else profits off of them.”

In November, Ramirez was one of 100 Latino college students from across the

photo by Lauren McLemore

Junior Marco Ramirez poses outside the Student Center for a picture on Friday, January 18, 2019. Ramirez is the Student Government Association Chair of the Diversity Committee and Fine Arts and Communications representative.

nation to attend the 2018 Hispanic Fund Scholar Media and Entertainment Summit.

The all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles for the fourday conference provided him opportunities to network and learn from industry professionals from places like The Walt Disney Company.

His compassion and determination to make a difference are evident with his involvement on campus.

Ramirez currently serves

as the Student Government Association’s Fine Arts and Communications representative and chair of the Diversity Committee, the vice president of the Debate and Forensics team and a career ambassador for engaged students. He is also a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and is involved with the LEAD Team.

Ramirez was a finalist in the decision for UCA’s 2018 Newman Civic Fellow (assistant director of the Center for Writing

and Communication Katherine Bray nominated Ramirez for the title) on Jan. 17. His name also appeared in a UCA News article revealing his selection, along with 3 other students,

by The Center for Community and Economical Development for the spring CED Fellowship.

Ramirez said, ideally, he would like to return to UCA one day to teach after he practices in the field of media law for some time.

The root of his

accomplishments have been driven in part by his unfailing passion to maintain and encourage diversity.

Knowing the challenges of his passion, he is an advocate for incoming students.

Ramirez said he would give the following advice to freshmen whose backgrounds are similar to his own: “There’s going to be times when you want to give up, but don’t give up. Just go through it because you’ll survive it,” Ramirez said.

While Ramirez’s stress piles up, he said he handles it by getting out of town.

He said he likes to drive to Kansas City, Missouri to escape reality for a while.

“When I was growing up, on Sundays after church, we would go to Joplin, Missouri, we would go to Tulsa, Oklahoma, we just went around,” Ramirez said. “I guess that’s something my parents loved to do that I picked up on.”

In the end, even if it means leaving the excitement and chaos of more urban states behind, Ramirez will always find his way back to his beloved home state.

“There may not be a lot going on, but I love [Arkansas],” Ramirez said.

CAMPUS LIFE

Alumnus returns to campus for poetry slam

photo by Lauren McCabe

UCA Alumnus Sidney Proctor, who performs under the stage name Yendis P, performs “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar during Theta Mu’s “Poetik Justice” poetry slam event Jan. 17 in Doyne Health Sciences.

by Lauren McCabe News Editor

As the night began Jan. 17, room 141 in the Doyne Health Science Center was filled with community and poetry favorites as the Theta Mu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority hosted “Poetik Justice.” The event encouraged everyone to share the

love of fine arts during their week of “Theta Mu’s Klassified Life Survival Guide.”

Theta Mu president and junior Kaley Dedner said new events, such as the poetry slam, are part of an initiative that aims to promote new activities, as well as campus and community engagement. One goal included supporting fine arts and

performances.

“We thought that a poetry night would be [ideal],” Dedner said. “This [semester] is our first time doing [this event], but we definitely want to keep it going for upcoming semesters.”

Current students and alumni gathered for fellowship to perform readings of famous and original poems, and sing relatable song selections.

UCA alumnus Sidney Proctor, who goes by the stage name Yendis P, visited the campus to support his fellow alumni and to perform a few original pieces of his own.

“Inspiration [for my own poems] is life,” Proctor said.

“When it [has been those] depressing parts of life, and then you go through the heartbreaks of life, you go through the love of life. You go through stories, and individuals have told me that I have painted a picture, and I want to get their story out.”

Proctor kept his guitar clasped to his side as he ascended to the stage and prepared to perform his original poetry piece “Deeper Than Color.” He also sang and “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar.

The room fell silent as members and attendees observed Proctor’s emotion and passion throughout his performed pieces.

They agreed that he should read one more of his own poems before he exited to the sound of

snapping in preparation for the next performer. “[People consider] my word play unique,” Proctor said.

“This is my first time [debuting] my poetry here, but I’ve done a couple of open mics before.

[Theta Mu] is a great organization [that is involved in] community service. If you want to be a part of something great, you should look into them and what they do.”

Those who are new to UCA, or even those who may not have known what Theta Mu is about, chose to attend because they enjoyed other events that Theta Mu hosted throughout the week, including a seminar about managing money and helpful makeup tips.

“I have friends who are in the organization, and I [enjoy listening to poetry],” freshman Miracle Terry said. “There are people here who are really good [poets] and [they] are really friendly. They make sure the atmosphere is family oriented and welcoming.”

Dedner expressed her excitement for the upcoming semester’s events and for those who want to be a part of Theta Mu’s future activities.

“We are very motivated and we take our targeted [events] seriously,” Dedner said. “Our programs take into consideration the people who attend our events. We [hope] that everyone [will have] a good time and enjoy themselves.”

January 23, 2019 /4

STUDENTS SAY What Student “Activity Fee do you

“

ucanews.live

most resent paying for?

by Christine Nichols photos by Taylor Sone

Junior Elizabeth Beavers

Sophomore Shamal Sullivan

“Cooperative Education because I don’t know what it is. Where does that money go?”

“It’s not the most expensive one but access and security. We should see more from it.”

Sophomore Mason Higginbutham

Freshman Cassidy Blatt

“Athletic fee. I work two jobs. I don’t have time to go to football games.

“I would say the athletic fee. I don’t resent it but I think it should be lower.”

ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Leadership summit speaker emphasizes being a good follower

by Marcus McClain Sports Editor

The UCA students were treated to a day of leadership advancement by the UCA Center for Leadership Development and the Student Government Association with the fifth annual Leadership Summit.

The event was held in the McCastlain Ballroom beginning at 10 a.m. and opened with an inspiring speech from UCA alumnus and New Life Church pastor Amir Rostampour. He referenced his time at UCA as an example to students who attended the summit.

“The leader I am today and the foundation that I have was built here at UCA,” Rostampour said. “Having advisors and leaders who encouraged me along the way had a great

impact on my life.”

However, instead of presenting his ideas and perspectives from a position of leadership, he focused more on the aspects of being a good follower. He said the way we follow leadership can and will affect how others follow us in the future.

“Anyone who is above being a servant is below being a leader,” Rostampour said.

This went hand in hand with one of the recurring themes of his speech: setting an example and being a model figure of leadership.

Rostampour presented his five qualities of a good follower as having initiative, being teachable, having honor, having a servant’s heart and having integrity.

He also took a different turn in his speech, discussing the need to have enough

awareness to know when we are overextending ourselves.

“When striving to be leaders, sometimes we try to do so much and be involved in so many organizations. We put too much on our plate,” Rostampour said. “One of the things I’ve learned is when you stretch yourself out too far, a lot of people and organizations get your ‘good’ but no one gets your ‘great.’”

To combat this problem, he talked about trusting others and giving them opportunities to put their leadership qualities on display by sharing responsibility, rather than placing it all on themselves.

The co-directors of this year’s event were junior Michelle Nguyen and senior Allison Chasteen. Both have been involved with the Center for Leadership Development for multiple years and attended

last year’s Leadership Summit as team leaders. Nguyen and Chasteen said their involvement in the Center for Leadership Development helped them grow and evolve as people.

“I saw a lot of people getting involved with the leadership center before I did and decided to give it a chance,” Chasteen said. “It really helped me grow as a person and expand my comfort zone.”

Nguyen also talked about this aspect and how she is now comfortable in a position she may not have been in before.

“I’m really a more introverted person than many people may think,” Nguyen said. “But being involved here and building different skills allows me to step out of that and show that even though I am introverted, I can still be a leader.”

ASPIRING SPEECH

Mental health seminar sparks discussion surrounding depression

by Macy Davis Staff Writer

The Minority Mentorship Program hosted a seminar titled “Where’s Your Head At?” that promoted mental health awareness on Jan. 14 in the Student Center room 223.

MMP was created to help increase retention rates of minorities on UCA campus.

MMP assigns new students each semester to mentors to get the new students involved in campus activities. The program’s primary purpose is to integrate student minorities into the college lifestyle. As a secondary benefit, students involved in the program are given access to educational activities, lectures and seminars meant to expand their knowledge on a variety of topics.

“The goal is to build a relationship with [minority

students] so they know they aren’t alone and to hear somebody who has been through that situation and somebody who can show them what that experience looks like, as well as having fun,” associate director of the Office of Diversity and Community Dierre Littleton said.

To start the mental health seminar, team leader Ajah Criner instructed students to form a circle and anonymously write down something that was holding them back from their individual goals. Students wrote their personal struggles on pieces of paper and threw the papers into a trash can set in the middle of the circle.

Some of the responses that were thrown into the trash were then selected at random and read aloud. The anonymous answers included financial situations, stress, fear and school obligations.

Criner then introduced UCA counselor Tina Livingston to the students. Livingston played a game of myth and truth with the students to test their knowledge about depression. The students told Livingston whether they thought each statement was true or false.

Livingston maintained a dialogue with the students.

She discussed techniques that help alleviate depression, and said it was not too late to seek professional help if anyone was suffering from a mental illness.

She emphasized that no one should ever feel ashamed to seek professional help.

“A lot of times, especially with minorities, mental health kind of gets pushed to the side.

A lot of times families will be the ones that tell you it’s not that big of a deal, and that kind of affects people a lot. So, this is important; just to be able to know that you

can talk to someone, especially on campus for free. That’s a good thing to know,” said Criner.

The seminar mainly focused on depression, since it is such a rampant issue among college students.

However, general mental health stigma was also discussed. People who are struggling mentally are frequently told to get over it, or that they shouldn’t have mental issues because of their race or sex.

“It’s so prevalent. People don’t know the signs, and some people show the signs but others don’t know what to look for,” junior Cydney Crawford said.

More information about the Minority Mentorship Program can be found at uca. edu/diversitycommunity/ mentorship-program, and a link to UCA counseling information can be found at uca.edu/counseling.

Sophomore Layla Alhajjaj

Sophomore Ismael Enriquez

“All of them. I started out with no debt but they raise all of the fees every semester. They’re like ‘well it’s not really tuition,’ so they’re just raising everything by multiple dollars under the radar.”

“The highest one — the athletic fee. I never go to any of the events, so....”

Freshman Kylen Williams

Junior Katelyn Jones

“The facilities fee. We already pay for tuition.

That should already be included.”

“Probably the HPER because I never go there.”

F U L F H E E L’ D

High-heeled dance class lead by UCA alumna encourages new levels of confidence in amateur, skilled dancers

by Dy’Kajeon Brown Online/ Social Media Editor

Photo by Dy’Kajeon Brown

The participants of the Jan. 14 dance class all stand in front of the mirror in Farris Center behind lead choreographer Nina Jordan as she breaks down a dance into several eight-counts. Jordan expressed how she was pleased with the turnout of the heel class, and hopes to continue the class throughout the spring semester.

With the spring semester beginning, new and returning students had an opportunity to occupy their time outside of class with a high-heeled dance class on Jan. 14 in Farris Center room 210, hosted by UCA alumna and vice president of Dancers United Nina Jordan.

Dancers United is a organization founded by UCA alumna Brittany Kimbrough in 2009, which originated from two different dance teams — Top Notch and Unlimited. Dancers United events during the fall semester included performances during the Homecoming pep rally, the Homecoming Greek show, as well as hosting their own

fall show which took place in Ida Waldran.

This dance class was unique from other UCA dance classes, such as Zumba and hip hop, that are offered in the HPER because it involved wearing high heels.

As a member of Dancers United, Jordan always showed interest in expressing herself through dance, and she decided to use her choreography skills to lead a small group of dancers, naming the class “FULFHEEL’D.” Jordan decided to focus the choreography on a slow and sensual style of music, so she picked the musical genre R&B to help capture the essence of sensuality and seduction.

“Basically to give anyone who wants to try new things, or even just likes to dance but can’t commit to a team like Dancers

United, a chance to come into a fun environment without having to worry about if they look off or if they’re doing something wrong,” Jordan said regarding why she wanted to create the dance class.

She said the class gave dancers a place where they could build confidence and allow themselves to feel sexy and free.

Upon entering the heel class, Jordan and the other girls greeted participants with a warm welcome.

The dances were very simple and broken down into eight counts as Jordan helped walk everyone through each segment step by step. She ensured everyone was comfortable with the learned dance moves before moving on.

Freshman Jayda Farmer

said how she heard about the heel class, and described her experience.

“It sounded interesting and fun, and Nina is such a positive figure around campus that I wanted to support [her],” Jayda said. “I really enjoyed [the class], and it was definitely a new experience for me.”

Jordan’s willingness to work with the attendees while maintaining a positive attitude and pushing the dancers past their mistakes was the highlight of the night. Jordan is currently planning new material for her next heel class while continuing her involvement with Dancers United for upcoming shows.

To learn more about upcoming Dancers United events, follow their instagram @uca_du.

Opinion

5

ucaechoeditor@gmail.com

January 23, 2019

The Voice

Shutdowns should not occur in government

The Echo Staff Marley Cash-Powell Editor

Emily Gist

Associate Editor

Lauren McCabe News Editor

Lauren McLemore Assistant News Editor

Aysha Dixon

Campus Life Editor

Christine Nichols

Assistant Campus Life Editor

Ryan Bradford Opinion Editor

Caela Rist

Entertainment Editor

Marcus McClain Sports Editor

Daniel Adams

Assistant Sports Editor

Dy’Kajeon Brown

Online/ Social Media Editor

Taylor Sone

To men upset at Gillette’s commercial: grow up A smile was brought to my face when about being called misogynistic than they I saw the new “We Believe: The Best are about actual misogyny happening in our Men Can Be” Gillette commercial. The society.

One of the issues Gillette highlights is commercial does a great job showing the microaggressions that have led to toxic how men objectify women as a result of how women are sexualized in pop culture. The masculinity.

Many people deny toxic masculinity or commercial shows how this leads to men simply don’t understand what it is. When viewing women as objects that they must I saw this commercial, I thought it would obtain and how that in turn leads them to aggressively pursue women, which help people understand what toxic leads to sexual harassment. masculinity is and that would initiate Men failed to see that this toxic productive conversations about masculinity is ruining the lives of how to combat it. Unfortunately, women. Men turning a blind eye my smile was wiped away when to these behaviors just shows their I checked social media and lack of empathy toward women. saw people’s reactions to the Many men simply deny that sexual commercial. harassment is a result of toxic Many men were masculinity or deny sexual outraged by the assault even happens. commercial because This allows those men they felt it portrayed

by Ronak Patel to continue their toxic men as misogynistic Staff Writer behaviors. douchebags. As a man, According to NPR, “77 I had no issue with percent of women [have] men being portrayed in this light; to be honest, we deserve it. Men experienced verbal sexual harassment, and interpreting the commercial as an attack on 51 percent [have] been sexually touched them reveals how many douchebags there without their permission. About 41 percent said they [have] been sexually harassed really are out there.

Being portrayed in a negative light by online.” There are many men who feel that the media is something women have always toxic masculinity is just some term coined by been vocal about and men have dismissed women to make them seem bad when that women, claiming they were being too isn’t the case. Toxic masculinity is a real issue sensitive. The outrage men displayed that men need to acknowledge.

Any man offended by this commercial over the commercial highlights the very toxic masculinity in them they refuse to should be ashamed that they have failed to see the bigger picture of how their behaviors acknowledge.

Men have dismissed or even cracked are ruining the lives of women and even other jokes about women being portrayed as men. I hope that the men who are offended sexual objects in the media, but when Gillette and dismissive of the Gillette commercial calls them out for being misogynistic, they watch the commercial again and take the take offense? It is sad that men fail to see time to look at the message and do some this hypocrisy. Men are more outraged introspection into their own toxic behaviors.

Photo Editor

Ricky Rivera Cartoonist

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The solution to the shutdown lies in compromise At the time this article was written, the Among the 800,000 federal employees United States government was on day 26 affected by the shutdown, 380,000 have been of a partial government shutdown with no indefinitely furloughed without pay. The rest clear end in sight. are still working without any pay. The Coast President Donald Trump is demanding in Guard missed its first check yesterday. All excess of $5 billion for a border wall between political leaders involved in this atrocious the United States and Mexico and has predicament are doing exactly the opposite hinted at declaring a National Emergency. of what we elected them to do.

Your average college freshman will tell As for myself, being neither a liberal nor a conservative, I am not you that compromise plays a huge part in going to bash the President, a politician’s life. Duh… Political Science the Democratic Party or the 101. The parties must work together Republican Party. I have never and set their egos aside. To me, there seen our beloved country at is no excuse good enough to hurt such odds and inasmuch the very citizens who elected these peril as with the situation at people into office. Politicians hand. vowed to protect this country and its citizens from I believe in earnest that all parties in Washington atrocities such as this. are acting like brats.

This is affecting This is not what we America in many negative elected them to do. We ways. There is no excuse

by Lisa Sullins trust these politicians for our leaders to allow Staff Writer to run our government the shutdown to last this responsibly and to not long. I have talked to run it into the ground. students who, like myself, What is so perplexing to me is the lack of are concerned about receiving financial aid, cooperation between President Trump and tax refunds and future jobs. the leading parties. Washington is playing Ultimately, my stand on the matter chicken with not only our country, but our is for politicians to put their big girl and big very livelihoods. boy pants on, gather at the conversation table I don’t believe President Trump will and fix this. The United States of America back down, nor do I see much hope with must become the strong superpower it once Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and others. was. I still believe democracy is the finest Both parties must sit at the table, refuse to form of government; the rest of the world leave and work through the nights until they should witness our democracy at its finest have found a solution that both parties can and not this horse and pony show. accept.

The United States government has shut down once again. We are now over a month into the shutdown, which begs the question: why is our government even allowed to shut down?

Government shutdowns have happened in the past. There have been 21 since 1976. This is also the third government shutdown under President Trump — the record holder for most shutdowns being President Carter with five. However, the current shutdown has set a record of its own as it is the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and Trump has said it could last for “years.”

Unsurprisingly, running a government costs money—and a lot of it—but when Congress fails to pass bills that fund federal agencies and government operations, or when the president refuses to sign such bills, the government shuts down.

This means that hundreds of thousands of government employees are working unpaid. According to Vox, many government departments are affected by the shutdown such as the Departments of Justice, Transportation, State, Treasury, Commerce, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development and Homeland Security. Congress has fully funded the departments of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and the military, excluding the US Coast Guard. When the government shuts down these departments, many of the agencies within them, have their own contingency plans. Generally, they send employees they deem nonessential home without pay and force employees deemed essential to stay and work, also without pay.

This can cause a number of problems.

For example, many TSA agents are refusing to work, thus making airports and airplanes less secure.

Other issues include a lack of funding for highways and transit, a pause in routine food safety inspections and a stall of civil cases. The USDA has said that food stamps are still being funded through February, but it is unclear if the program will be funded after that.

While Congress has passed a bill that guarantees all federal employees their pay after the shutdown is over, it doesn’t exactly help the 800,000 or so who are currently unpaid. Some are fighting back.

The American Federation of Federal Employees has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for forcing government employees to work without pay Vox reported. One such lawsuit was filed during the 2013 government shutdown and guaranteed the workers that participated in the lawsuit twice the pay they were previously owed.

Other countries do not have to deal with this problem. It is a uniquely American ordeal. Take, for example, a parliamentary system, which is used by most democracies throughout Europe and Asia. In a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister will prepare a government budget and submit it to parliament for a vote. If parliament rejects the budget it is seen as a sign that the government no longer has parliament’s confidence and must resign.

If this happens the country will be put under a “caretaker government” until new elections are held. Even when these countries function without government, many government services can still operate. This is what happened in Belgium. For 589 days, from April 26, 2010 to December 6, 2011, Belgium had no elected government according to the Economist. But for Belgium, this “caretaker” coalition presided over the country, allowing money to flow to federal agencies so the government could continue its functions.

The U.S. government should implement a system that allocates funds so federal agencies can operate independently. It is frankly unacceptable that our government is allowed to shut down, and this is a problem that needs to be remedied for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who suffer because of it.

Other countries do not have to deal with this problem.

It is a uniquely American ordeal.

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Entertainment

6

January 23, 2019

New This Week Movies

Jan. 24 — The Final Wish (R), directed by Timothy Woodward Jr., starring Lin Shaye, Michael Welch, Melissa Bolona Jan. 25 — Serenity (R), directed by Steven Knight, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Djimon Hounsou Jan. 25 — The Kid Who Would Be King (PG), directed by Joe Cornish, starring Rebecca Ferguson, Tom Taylor, Patrick Stewart, Rhianna Dorris Jan. 25 — In Like Flynn (R), directed by Russell Mulcahy, starring Clive Standen, Nathalie Kelley, Isabel Lucas, William Moseley

Music Jan. 25 — DNA — Backstreet Boys Jan. 25 — Get Tragic — Blood Red Shoes Jan. 25 — amo— Bring Me the Horizon Jan. 25 — new breed — DAWN

Jan. 25 — Almost Free — FIDLAR Jan. 25 — Prismism — Keuning Jan. 25 — Treat Myself— Meghan Trainor Jan. 25 — Stay Human, Vol. II — Michael Franti & Spearhead Jan. 25 — Power Chords — Mike Krol Jan. 25 — Nowhere Now Here — Mono

Jan. 25 — Feral Roots — Rival Sons Jan. 25 — Oliver Appropriate — Say Anything

Netflix Jan. 24 — Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, created by Joe Berlinger Jan. 24 — Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez Jan. 25 — Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Season 4 Part 2, created

by Robert Carlock, Tina Fey Jan. 25 — Black Earth Rising, starring John Goodman, Michaela Coel, Noma Dumezweni Jan. 25 — Club de Cuervos, Season 4, starring Luis Gerardo Méndez, Mariana Treviño, Antonio de la Vega

Five Things to Avoid in an Interview List compiled by Lisa Sullins Staff writer

‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Lifetime docuseries exposes the monster behind the music

by Marley Cash-Powell Editor

In the “Surviving R. Kelly” docuseries, Lifetime managed to condense, then unpack, an all-too-common pattern of abuse prevalent in the entertainment industry by establishing a cohesive timeline of predatory behavior that spans from the digital age’s infancy in the 90s well into the new millennium.

The series details abusive acts that were allegedly perpetrated by R. Kelly, one of the most iconic and prolific musical minds of modern American culture, and how these acts were fueled by the power given to Kelly as an artist and a celebrity.

The series aired as a three-night event earlier this month, airing two parts each night. The six parts include over 50 interviews with celebrities, Kelly’s ex-wife, two of Kelly’s brothers, several of Kelly’s accusers and their

photo courtesy of http://thesource.com

family members, psychology experts and abuse victim advocates.

If you haven’t watched it yet, you should. These stories need to be known. But be warned: it won’t be easy to listen to, especially if you are a fan of 90s R&B. Be prepared to spend nearly six hours flipping back and forth between slack-mouthed and wide-eyed astonishment to feeling angry, perplexed, disappointed and betrayed.

As John Legend put it, Kelly’s music has been the soundtrack in the background of our lives for the past thirty

years. His creative influence has been far-reaching and well received across demographic lines. His career has been a huge success.

However, after watching this series, most people are left wondering how many people had to remain silent — how many people had to know what was happening and didn’t stop it — for these thirty years. How many countless victims flew under the radar?

It’s a lot to digest, and this documentary begs more questions than it offers answers. One of the largest questions addressed to us as a society is: Does art transcend

the artist’s actions? I think that largely, we don’t want to acknowledge the fact that, according to our actions, the answer to that question is yes.

We have consumed his art without prejudice. Our culture has a history of turning a blind eye to famous men targeting young girls, even when they write songs about it.

This docuseries puts all the allegations against Kelly into a cohesive timeline.

The survivors’ stories are harrowing. The allegations include physical, sexual and emotional abuse of girls as young as 12 and as old as 35.

Worse still is how he targeted black girls because society has consistently cared less about them.

Kelly established control over his victims in well-worn steps. Many claimed that Kelly isolated them from their friends, family members, other people in Kelly’s inner circle and the outside world. They claim he controlled how long they went without food, when

LEGAL LEGEND

they used the restroom, who they spoke to and where they looked.

The producers were careful not to portray Kelly simply as a monster. Kelly was a victim of sexual abuse from the ages of 7 to 14. He has dyslexia which affects his ability to read and write. He was raised by a single mother in a struggling black community in Chicago.

I think it is important that the producers acknowledged these things. Like Kelly, most monsters are made; few grow naturally.

This series makes it evident that Kelly is a predator, and according to interviews as late as November 2018, he is still harboring a harem of unstable women to this day. This series sheds light into the black room of Kelly’s past and all the closets it contains. Now that we see, let’s hope that justice comes with the light from the new day.

“Surviving R. Kelly” is now streaming on Lifetime at www.mylifetime.com/shows/ surviving-r-kelly.

MUSIC

‘On The Basis of Sex’ explores gender expectations ‘Tallies’ debutes 11-track album

by Lauren McLemore Assistant News Editor

An empowering account of the life of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, “On the Basis of Sex” tells the story of a determined Harvard Law School student’s journey to becoming the U.S. Supreme Court Justice she is today.

Set in the 1950s, the movie begins with a young adult Ginsberg (Felicity Jones) striving to keep focused despite being one of only a few other females at her university.

In one scene, the women are seated around a table at a formal gathering where the dean of the school, Erwin Griswold (Sam Waterson), stands during the meal and asks them to share why they chose to attend Harvard and take up the spaces of men who could have been there instead.

While the women may have had the right to attend, they hadn’t yet earned the kind of respect so effortlessly awarded to the men.

Marty Ginsberg (Armie Hammer), Ruth’s husband, was also a Harvard student and had started attending the school a year prior to his wife.

Marty and Ruth’s marriage was an inspiring harmony where discrimination didn’t exist. Ruth helps her husband

complete his degree when he unexpectedly falls ill and when a sexist society leaves no law firm wanting her because she’s a woman, he’s there to keep lifting her up.

In fact, after she’d secured a teaching job at Rutgers, he was looking over a case of his own expertise in tax law when he noticed an underlying component of gender discrimination against the defendant and realized it could give his wife a chance to shine.

After taking care of his mother and then finding out that he had been denied tax benefits commonly provided to female caregivers, Colorado resident and defendant, Charles Moritz (Chris Mulkey), became Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s top priority.

Ginsberg, her students, her family and the often skeptical American Civil Liberties Union legal director, Mel Wulf (Justin Theroux), all became intimately involved in a history-making case ruling.

After Ginsberg and her daughter, Jane Ginsberg (Cailee Spaeny), tracked down another lawyer, Dorothy Kenyon (Kathy Bates), the woman, also an activist for equality, proves to be another significant figure in Ruth’s preparation to present the case before the all-male

judge’s panel.

Ginsberg, who was typically strict with her daughter, experienced a revelation of sorts when they were leaving Kenyon’s office and a construction worker cat-called from the street directed toward Jane and her mother. Jane responded back while Ginsberg kept her head down and walked away.

Seeing how her daughter was able to stand up for herself, a luxury that hadn’t always existed, time helped Ginsberg realize just how much changed and now it was time for the law to do the same.

If not for her daughter and the fact that Ginsberg’s daughter was living in another generation and society, Ginsberg may have never kept going. The now U.S. Supreme Court Justice could’ve given up if she didn’t consider the future of women and the bravery of her daughter.

While nothing could truly do justice to the life of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, this movie, directed by Mimi Leder, is a striking portrayal of an influential woman who played a role in dismantling the laws that discriminate on the basis of sex.

NEW SHOW

Netflix releases ‘Sex Education’ with provocative content

by Daniel Adams

by Shane Brierly

adolescence, recounting childhood lessons learned and dealing with anxiety.

Tallies’ self-titled debut album, released on Jan. 11, checks all the boxes that make a quintessential dream-pop album — sparkling guitar riffs, melodic bass lines, upbeat drumming and fluttery vocals.

Toronto-based Tallies is composed of Sarah Cogan (rhythm guitar, vocals,) Dylan Franklin (lead guitar, producer,) Cian O’Neill (drums) and Stephen Pitman (bass.) Released via Kanine Records in the U.S. and Hand Drawn Dracula Records in the U.K., Tallies’ debut album is starting the band off on the right foot.

While the instrumentation is as cheery as can be, the lyrics, at times, can be jarringly bleak.

On “Giving Up,” Cogan, with some slight samba influence, belts out a message about global warming and how many people have seemingly given up on the environment. The catchy hook, “A world less blue each day,” helps her deliver her message swiftly without coming across as preachy.

Staff Writer

After releasing two extended plays in 2015 and 2016 under the name Thrifty Kids, the band decided to pursue a different sound, and with that, a new name. After relocating from Ontario to Toronto early last year, Tallies opened for bands such as Mudhoney and Hatchie. Over the course of 2018, the band released four singles, “Mother,” “Beat the Heart,” “Trouble” and “Easy Enough.” All of these singles made it to the final cut of the album as well.

The 11-track album is soaked in the influence of bands like The Cocteau Twins, The Smiths and The Sundays. While Tallies’ sound is inspired by these bands, it is by no means a carbon copy.

Pitman’s driving bass grooves and Cogan’s vocals, as well as O’Neill’s tight drumming and Franklin’s guitar/production, set them apart from the rest.

The entire album just feels bright, vibrant and sunny.

how serious abortion is, and informs the viewer why people might be protesting.

One of Netflix’s newest series, “Sex Education”, certainly has the content to live up to its name. However, viewers are not forced to watch the educational programming saved for middle school.

Rather, Netflix delivers an interesting series of episodes that can only be described as... an experience.

Sex Education takes place in England and gets off to quite the start. Quick warning: if you’re not the biggest fan of mature content, then the show might not be for you. The series is packed full of mature content, and at times can surprise the viewer with how openly it relays information.

The series stars high school student Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield), the son of sex therapist Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson.)

We’re gradually introduced to the other main characters, such as Otis’s friend Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa) and the resident punk girl of the school, Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey.) Gradually throughout the first episode, we’re introduced to your usual

high school tropes. There’s the bully, Adam, the popular kids known as “The Untouchables,” the new Head Boy Jackson and the revolving door of guests dropping by Otis’ house to see his mom for sex therapy.

The series sets up episodes in an interesting way as it centers around Otis and his attempts to provide sex-related advice to his fellow classmates.

As every episode begins, we’re given a glimpse of a student, or students, whose sexual problems end up playing a part in that episodes plot. It shows the viewer what Otis will end up handling on the sex therapy side while dealing with his own personal issues outside of his work. The show doesn’t hold back its mature content as episode topics range from abortion to drug use to LGBT related issues.

However, these often taboo topics don’t negatively affect the serie’s quality. On the contrary, the show takes sensitive topics and works with them in great ways. It doesn’t try to portray them in humorous ways or treat them lighter than they are. The show makes the viewer aware of how serious the situation is, such as

“Sex Education” is, overall, a well-rounded show that takes viewers into the lives of teenagers as they’re trying to figure out sexuality and their evolving comfort levels within that sexuality. If you can stand the borderline provocative content presented, then I highly recommend checking this out. “Sex Education” is now streaming on Netflix with all eight episodes available. It is rated TV-MA.

Listening to this album transports me to the coast, to lying on the beach in the middle of summer. Although, in reality, it’s the dead of winter.

The spacey, slow tempo has an almost woozy and surreal feel to it. Several songs start with a sonic fuzz that either smoothly blends into the instruments or abruptly cuts into them, which, when not overused, can leave the band with a unique and interesting sound.

Thankfully, Tallies know when to use it, and they use it well. The album covers a wide variety of relatable topics, such as moving on from past relationships, leaving

1. Avoid, at all costs, being late to an interview.

Lay out your clothes, accessories, keys and other items you will need beforehand to assure that you waste no time in getting ready. Set your alarm to wake up half an hour to an hour early. Make time to prepare yourself mentally for your interview. Review the questions your interviewer might ask and your answers for those questions. Do what you need to do to calm and ready yourself. You also want to leave at least 30 minutes early if you are facing heavy traffic. If there has been an delay, immediately call your interviewer.

2. Do not attend under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

You may believe that it will make you less nervous and take the edge off, but it will probably cost you the job. It does not matter how many times you gargle mouthwash.

In your mind, you may believe it will influence you to be braver and in more control — that you will feel more comfortable and relaxed. But to the person who is interviewing you, you will appear unprofessional and underprepared.

They are not seeking an employee who needs a crutch to get through an interview, even if you do offer to share.

3. Never nod-off, or struggle to stay awake.

Do not stay out late trying to win the “who can do the most shots and remain standing” game. You don’t have a second chance when going to an interview. Make sure the interviewer sees your most attentive and alert self. Falling asleep or struggling to keep your eyes open in an interview is a big no-no. The very best advice is to stay home, relax, think — but do not overthink — about how to make this interview a success. Also, be sure to set your alarm so you arrive on time and go to bed early.

4. Choose your interview attire carefully.

Have you ever heard the saying, “clothes make the man/ woman?” The most important principle to remember is to dress conservatively. This also includes conservative colors such as black, navy, gray, dark brown and or any other neutral colors. If you walk into an interview wearing hot pink with a matching hat and feather sticking out of it, you better be applying for the job of a flamingo in the local zoo.

The same rule applies to your shoes and socks. Just stay away from bright, distracting colors in general.

Assistant Sports Editor

As the series progresses, the bonds between characters grow stronger and stronger.

The dynamics between Otis and his friends change, but the show also demonstrates the changing relationship between Otis and his mother.

At the same time that we’re given an in-depth view into Otis’ struggles to help his friends, the audience is also treated to the backstory of a mom with an oddball occupation who juggles raising a son through the “fun” of puberty.

In one of the best tracks on the album, “Midnight,” Cogan battles with herself over whether she’s a burden due to her anxiety, saying “I’m no burden, I’m just shy.” This track also stands out due to the use of a 12-string guitar, which adds a great deal of diversity to the reverb-heavy guitars.

The sixth song on the album, “Trains and Snow,” is a great halfway point, starting with a wall of fuzz that cuts into Franklin and O’Neill’s thunderous guitar and drums.

This is one of the best tracks lyrically, with a punching chorus of, “Even though I know I’m growing old, lights on cars take me home.” After “Trains and Snow,” the second half of the album slightly increases the tempo, which helps keep the sound fresh. The tenth track, “Rocks,” reminisces about the blissful ignorance of childhood, spending summer days skipping stones.

By the end of the album, its 45-minute running time is definitely felt. It makes listening to the entire album in one sitting a bit of a chore.

If the artist had cut a few songs or shortened the length, an already solid album could be improved.

Despite its length, “Tallies” is a well put together, light-hearted debut effort from the Toronto-based indie/dream pop group.

While the running time detracts from the album, great instrumentation and catchy hooks back it up. Led

by Cogan’s killer vocals and rhythm guitar, Franklin’s tingling lead guitar, O’Neill’s simple but efficient drumming and Pitman’s beautiful bass riffs, the only way is up for Tallies. Their already distinct sound is sure to evolve before their next release, and I’ll be looking forward to it.

5. What else is there to celebrate in September?

Bite your tongue until it bleeds if you are tempted to tell your interviewer about your nine cats, or your hoarder of a sister. Believe me, no one cares. While it is important not to appear too quiet and shy, you should not dominate the interview. Instead, listen to the questions asked, make excellent eye contact and answer the questions as directly as possible.

In other words, when it comes to you talking, find your middle ground. If you can accomplish this, you may very well land that job.

Sports

7

January 23, 2019

Upcoming Games

ROAD TO THE GOVERNOR’S TROPHY

Men’s Basketball

7 p.m., Jan. 23, vs University of New Orleans Women’s Basketball

7 p.m., Jan. 23, at University of New Orleans Men’s and Women’s Track

Jan. 25, at University of Kansas

Editor’s Take

photo by Marcus McClain

by Marcus McClain Sports Editor

Enes Kanter wrongly labeled a terrorist in home country of Turkey

by Daniel Adams Assistant Sports Editor

Politics and sports have been a touchy subject over the past few months. Something that stands apart, however, is the situation between Enes Kanter and the Turkish government. Kanter is the center for the NBA’s New York Knicks and is also an extremely vocal critic of Turkish president Recep Erdogan. Erdogan’s regime is one of the harshest in the world and has reduced the press’ freedoms and instigated protests in Turkey.

As the Knicks traveled to London to play the Washington Wizards on Jan. 17, Kanter stayed home in the United States because he feared what would happen if he left the country. On Jan. 16, the Turkish government accused Kanter of belonging to a terrorist group who attempted a failed coup d’etat in 2016.

In an interview with Players Tribune on May 23, 2017, Kanter said, “I hope people around the world will open their eyes to the human rights abusers.

We don’t know everything that is happening inside Turkey, but we do know some facts.

Newspapers and media have been restricted. Many people have been imprisoned without any real charges.”

I bring this up because the Colin Kaepernick-related movement has stirred up controversy all over the country. Yet, while people have called him a traitor and anti-American, no one has wanted Kaepernick to get arrested. There has been no clear evidence that Kanter is a terrorist.

Kanter’s story is troubling.

In the modern age, where activism appears in the forms of things such as the national anthem protests, Kanter’s predicament is an example of athletes losing the ability to voice their own opinions. Up to this point, the closest we’ve come to regulating speech has been over whether Kaepernick should play in the NFL or how athletes choose to protest certain issues. No one has had to go through Kanter’s turmoil.

Since 2016, Kanter has had his passport canceled, has been disowned and has been threatened with several arrest warrants from Turkey. He’s a man who’s perpetually stuck because he spoke his mind about his home country.

Hopefully, Kanter can find safety and continue his NBA career without further issues from his home country.

Sport

Location

Pts.

Result

Oct. 14

Women’s Cross Country

Little Rock

2

UCA wins LR 1.5 UCA 12.5

Oct. 22-23

Men’s Golf

Little Rock

2

LR wins LR 3.5 UCA12.5

Oct. 28-30

Women’s Golf

Hot Springs Village

2

UCA wins LR 3.5 UCA 14.5

Nov. 28

Men’s Basketball

Conway

4

UCA wins LR 3.5 UCA 18.5

Dec. 4

Men’s Basketball

Little Rock

4

UCA wins LR 3.5 UCA 22.5

Mar.12

Baseball

Conway

3

-

April 6

Women’s Track and Field

Little Rock

2

-

April 6

Men’s Track and Field

LittleRock

2

-

April 13

Women’s Track and Field

Conway

2

-

April 13

Men’s Track and Field

Conway

2

-

April 16

Baseball

Little Rock

3

-

TBD

Baseball

DickeyStephens Park

3

-

Sophomore center Hayden Koval fires a three-point shot Jan. 19 against Nicholls State University. Koval was one of only four Bears who made a triple in the game and led the team in scoring.

Bears move into tie for third, winning streak reaches three photo courtesy of The New York Times

Date

The UCA men’s basketball team (9-10, 4-2) moved into a tie for third place in conference with the University of New Orleans after a week that featured wins over the University of Incarnate Word (6-12, 1-4) and Nicholls State University (10-9, 3-3).

The Bears’ first victory came by way of a forceful second half on the road against UIW. After a closely contested opening half where UCA managed to hold onto a 4-point lead, the game was blown open with the Bears lead expanding as large as 24 points.

The 77-60 win came in direct relation to an imposing defense, holding the Cardinals to just 24 percent from the arc while also forcing 17 turnovers.

UCA took advantage of those turnovers, converting them into 15 points while also creating a distinct advantage on the inside.

The Bears scored 40 of their points in the paint and

only allowed 28 points for UIW. Freshmen forward Eddy Kayouloud and sophomore center Hayden Koval played a key role in obtaining this advantage in both contests, leading the team with 18 and 13 points respectively.

Despite not having their best shooting game form the perimeter, the Bears also created an advantage on the outside.

They held the Cardinals to only 24 percent from deep, while connecting on eight themselves.

Five different player converted on a triple, including three made by Kaylouloud.

However, the Nicholls Colonels were much better suited in combating the Bears’ offensive attack with some red-hot shooting from the three-point line themselves. The Colonels connected on 15 shots from deep, shooting 45 percent for the game.

Many successful shots originated from graduate student Gavin Peppers, who

lead the team with seven triples leading to 26 points, and junior guard Elvis Harvey who nailed four shots from the arc, finishing with 12 points.

All but seven of the Colonels 28 first-half points came from three-point land in the opening half, and they were able to improve their shooting in the second frame by raising their percentage from 39 to 53.

On the other hand, the Bears were cold from deep for most of the game, shooting only four of 20 from the arc. However, UCA made up for its cold shooting with a strong inside game.

The Bears finished the game with 32 points in the paint as opposed to only 10 for Nicholls.

Koval finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and six blocks for the Bears, while Kayouloud added 16 points and four rebounds.

However, the Colonels’ multiple defensive schemes appeared to keep the Bears out

table by Marcus McClain

See Basketball- page 8

RECORD SETTING photo by DJ Jones

Senior guard Kamry Orr sets up to dribble past Incarnate Word defender on Jan.16 at the Farris Center. Orr finished the game with a team-leading 14 points.

Sugar Bears win first SLC game, fall to Nicholls State

by DJ Jones Staff Writer

photo courtesy of UCASports

Junior Ajah Criner runs in the 60-meter dash at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where she placed first in the semifinal, tying the UCA school record.

Women’s track finds success at Samford Open, Criner ties school record in 200-meter dash

by Matt Smothers Staff Writer

The UCA women’s track and field team had their third meet of the season at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama Jan. 18-19.

Junior Ajah Criner tied the school record in the 200-meter event with 24.72 seconds on Jan. 18. The following day, Criner ran a personal best of 7.45 to place fourth in the 60-meter dash.

Freshman Z’Kiah Kuykendall and sophomore Tyler Rose placed 31st and 33rd respectively in the 200-meter event with times of 26.60 and 26.62.

Kuykendall finished seventh in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.77 and was the only freshman to compete in the final heat of the event.

The UCA relay team, composed of Criner, sophomore Tyler Rose, senior Victoria Campfield and senior Aliyah Robinson, finished second in the 1600-meter relay with a time of 3:57.26.

Junior Erin Woodward and freshman Kennedy Timmerman finished 12th and 13th respectively in the 1-mile run.

Woodward’s finishing time was 5:29.80 and Timmerman’s time was 5:33:10.

In the 1,000-meter run, Woodward placed seventh with a time of 3:05.57 and Timmerman placed 13th with a time of 3:17:72.

Sophomore Teshuna Sheppard placed third in the triple jump with a 37-foot-3.25-inch performance.

Sophomore Taylor Coleman placed three spots behind her with a distance of 36 feet, .25 inches.

Of the 48 athletes competing in the 400-meter dash, two UCA athletes finished in the top 13.

Rose placed 11th and Robinson placed 13th with times of 59.05 and 59.39 respectively.

Sophomore Demicya Griffin placed 40th in the event with a time of 1:05.49.

UCA’s women’s track and field also had two athletes finish in the top seven of the high

jump event.

Senior Hannah Noble placed fourth with a height of 1.60 meters and junior Rickeya Martin finished seventh with a height of 1.55 meters.

Senior Kylee Kirk placed 13th in the women’s weight throw event with a distance of 14.46 meters.

Coleman recorded a distance of 5.33 meters in the long jump event to place seventh.

Freshman Haley Morton placed 39th with a distance measuring 4.52 meters. Morton also competed in the high jump, but finished with a no height (nh) recorded.

“The sprinters had a strong return from the holidays,” women’s endurance coach John Jones said. “We’re looking forward to the conference championships in five weeks.”

The team’s next meet will take place Jan. 25 and 26 at the University of Kansas in

Lawrence, Kansas. The team will be back in Birmingham for the conference championships on Feb. 24-25.

The UCA Sugar Bears defeated the Incarnate Word Cardinals (1-15, 1-4 SLC) 74-43 on Jan. 16 in the Farris Center.

The big win over the Cardinals gave UCA its first conference win of the season and snapped a four-game losing streak.

UCA was in control of the game through all four quarters.

The Sugar Bears went on a 13-0 run, and built a lead as large as 15 points in the first quarter.

During the second quarter, UCA outscored the Cardinals 20-9 and went into the halftime break with a 40-16 lead.

In the third quarter, the Cardinals fought back and outscored the Sugar Bears 18-15, cutting the lead to 55-34 going into the final quarter of play. During the fourth quarter, the Sugar Bears were able to outscore Incarnate Word 19-9 to close out the game with a 31-point win.

The Sugar Bears shot 47 percent from the field, 42 percent from behind the arc and 63 from the free throw line.

The cardinals committed 21 turnovers while the Sugar Bears only had 12 throughout the game. The Sugar Bears also had 14 steals while only allowing the Cardinals to get four.

Senior guard Kamry Orr led the way for the Sugar Bears by scoring 20 points, shooting 7-20 from the field. Orr earned 17 of her 20 points in the first half, outscoring the Cardinals’ entire team. Orr also added in six rebounds, four assists and two steals. This game gave Orr her fifth 20-point game of the season.

Sophomore forward

Hannah Langhi was next in scoring for the Sugar Bears with a season high of 16 points, shooting 8-11 from the field.

Langhi also pulled down eight rebounds with two assists and a block. Junior guard Maddie Goodner pitched in 10 points and also had a team high of three steals for the Sugar Bears.

Junior guard Imani Robinson and freshman forward Starr Omozee led the Cardinals in scoring with 13 points each. Omozee also grabbed nine rebounds for the Cardinals.

Senior guard Gabbie Bowie added in 6 points and two rebounds for the Cardinals.

Junior guard Taylor Sells said that this game was huge for UCA because it gave the Bears more confidence.

“I think this game will open up for us to get more conference wins,” Sells said. “Now that we have our first one under our belt, we can now get on a roll and try to finish out conference strong to earn a spot in the SLC tournament and try to win out from there.”

Sells went on to say she’s excited to get back in the winning column and she would love to make a run to win the conference tournament.

Senior guard Alanie Fisher said the team’s first conference win meant a lot and it was great to pull it off at home.

“It meant a lot to pull off this win at home,” Fisher said.

“We needed this win to get going and our fans really helped us pull out the victory.”

The Sugar Bears also lost in a close game against Nicholls State University (10-8, 4-2 SLC) 64-60 on Jan. 19.

See Sugar Bears - page 8

ucanews.live

SPORTS

8/ January 23 , 2019

SPORT

UCA STATS CORNER RESULT

RECORD

Nicholls State University

74-68 (W)

(9-10, 4-2)

Women’s Basketball Nicholls State University

60-64 (L)

(6-10, 1-5)

3-4 (L)

(2-1)

Men’s Basketball

Tennis

OPPONENT

Auburn University

photo by Taylor Sone

Freshman guard Owootomo Kayeddess Kayouloud is a true freshman starter for the Bears basketball team. Kayouloud has averaged 10.7 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game for the season.

Freshman guard adjusts to new environment

by Taylor Sone Photo Editor

For freshmen Owootomo Kayeddess Kayouloud who goes

by Eddy, basketball has always been a huge part of his life.

“I started playing basketball when I was six years old,” Kayouloud said. “My dad is a coach. It’s kind of a family thing.”

This is Kayouloud’s first season with the Bears, and he has worked his way off the bench to a position in the starting five. Kayouloud has had an impressive season so far. The 6-foot-7-inch true freshman is averaging 10.4 points per game at the guard position, with 3.8 rebounds per game.

His most impressive performance came last November during a contest against Troy University. He finished the game with 30 points, shooting 12 of 16 from the field including five

3-pointers.

The Bears are currently tied with the University of New Orleans in the Southland Conference, with an overall record of 9-10 and 4-2 in conference play. Kayouloud said his teammates stay focused on each upcoming game, but they also keep the postseason in mind.

“Our goal is to win the championship,” Kayouloud said.

Kayouloud is from Paris, France. He arrived in the U.S. three years ago, and attended high school at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, where he also played basketball. Of the many differences between living in France and the U.S., he said one of the most apparent differences is the necessity of owning your own car.

“There’s lots of transportation in France,” Kayouloud said. “Here, you need a car to go to the grocery

store, to the movie theater and to hang out with friends.”

Kayouloud hasn’t declared his major yet, but he said he is interested in business.

“I think I’m leaning towards a business major, because I’ve always been interested in math,” he said. “I’m thinking about becoming an accountant.”

A normal day for Kayouloud starts at 7 a.m. with basketball practice for about two hours.

After that, he attends classes until about 2 p.m., and then has his afternoons free to do as he wishes.

In his free time, Kayouloud enjoys playing guitar and watching Netflix and videos on Youtube.

He said one of his favorite guitarists is the Italian composer and classical guitarist Ferdinando Carulli, and that he has recently been making his way through the Netflix original series “The Magicians” and “The Punisher.”

TO U G H F I G H T

Tennis claims two wins at Auburn University

by Logan Howell Staff Writer

While many UCA students enjoyed the cold and snowy weekend indoors, the UCA tennis team traveled to Auburn, Alabama where they competed in three matches — two on Jan.19 and one on Jan. 20. The Bears triumphed in two, but suffered a narrow defeat in the Jan. 20 match against Auburn.

The Bears earned a score of 7-0 against Alabama A&M in the opening match. This set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

Senior Rada Manataweewat earned the first individual win for the team with a score of 6-1 in both sets against Bulldogs freshman India Wood.

“I feel great when I am on the court. I always feel excited,” Manataweewat said — she has played on UCA’s tennis team since her freshman year.

Freshman Fuka Nonoyama, senior QiLi Ma, senior Marli Van Heerden and sophomore Yada Vasupongchai were all similarly victorious in both sets, earning wins in all of their matches.

Freshman Mei Ishimura was defeated during her first set 2-6, but didn’t let this dishearten her, as she won both of her next sets 6-1.

The Bears were just as successful during the doubles

portion of the competition with a final score of 7-0.

The match against Mercer proved to be a test of the Bears’ strength, but despite the difficulty, UCA earned a 4-1 win.

In the singles matches, Manataweewat earned her team its first singles point with a score of 6-3 in both sets.

Ishimura kept up this pace, earning a solid score of 6-2 in both sets. In a much closer match, Ma earned a score of 7-5, 6-4. Mercer’s one point of the night resulted from Van Heerden’s defeat with a score of 7-5, 6-2.

In the doubles portion, the Ma-Manataweewat pairing completed a smooth game, earning a 6-1 win. The rest of the doubles portion of the competition was no walk in the park. Ishimura and Vasupongchai earned a 6-4 win, with Van Heerden and Nonoyama finishing it out, earning a 7-6 victory against Mercer.

The Jan. 20th match against the Auburn Tigers turned into the most heated match of the weekend, with Auburn earning 4 points and UCA earning 3. The Bears didn’t earn this victory easily, though.

The Bears struggled in the doubles matches. Ma and Rada obtained a 6-2 victory over

Auburn, but the rest of the Tiger duos were sure to put up a fight for the rest of this match. The Ishimura-Vasupongchai duo was surmounted by Auburn, with a score of 0-6 giving Auburn the game.

Van Heerden and Nonoyama fought hard against the highly ranked duo composed of freshman Sophia Graver and junior Taylor Russo, but ended up with a score of 6-1. Having won two games, Auburn gained an advantage with a score of 1-0 to kick off the doubles matches.

“It’s not easy when you feel like you’re behind, but I try to have my players think about the effort and not the score,” UCA tennis coach Casey Wharton said.

The singles matches were intense and the Bears fought hard for a victory, with both sides earning 3 points. Due to the early advantage the Tigers earned from the doubles matches, they narrowly won the competition.

Looking forward, Wharton said, “I’m optimistic, but not thinking too far into the future.

We are going to keep practicing and working so that we can keep doing well for the rest of the season.”

UCA’s next competition will be Feb. 2 when they travel to Tulsa to face Oral Roberts University.

TA K I N G N O T I C E

Duncan named Marvin Delph Award recipient

by Marcus McClain Sports Editor

This year, UCA men’s soccer coach Ross Duncan was presented with the award Jan. 20 at a luncheon in Central Baptists College’s Student Center.

The Marvin Delph Award is presented each year by the Conway Althetic Awards Commission.

Duncan guided the Bears to a 8-6-4 season, which included a second consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Championship.

The award is given to multiple people in Conway public and private schools and also includes the Sportsman of the Year award.

Marvin Delph led Conway High School to two state championships in 1973 and 1974 and also helped the University of Arkansas reach the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

These

accomplishments lead to Delph being inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

The Bears became only the second team since Creighton University in the 2011-12 season to repeat as conference champions. Those two conference titles also pushed UCA into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

Last season was Duncan’s seventh as the Bears’ head coach. He spent his opening two seasons at UCA as the assistant coach in 2010 and the associate head coach in 2012.

The Bears first began to see team success under Duncan in the 2016-2017 seasons as the team won multiple conference games after three seasons of rebuilding.

In Duncan’s time as head coach, the Bears have earned 22 All-MVC honors, 10 MVC All-Conference honors and

eight players placed on the MVC scholar-althete team.

Duncan has also played a role in senior forward Niklas Brodacki earning MVC Player of the Year in consecutive seasons.

Duncan and assistant coaches Mitch McKay, Jordan Bates and Nick Doyle were also named the MVC’s Coaching Staff of the Year for the 2017 season.

The Bears have seen great success with Duncan leading the team.

HUNTING WINS

Men’s track take six gold medals in Birmingham

by Rafael Soliz Staff Writer

The UCA Men’s Track and Field team placed gold in six events while also placing top 10 in nine other events over the weekend at the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama Jan. 18-20.

In the 200-meter dash, junior Zachary Jewell placed first and set a new UCA school record by breaking his old record with a time of 21.47 seconds.

“It feels really good knowing I broke my own record, but I’m still not satisfied. I know I can run much faster than I did, but it’s a work in progress,” Jewell said. Freshman Johnson Adegbite also placed 21st while junior Jeriah Johnson placed 24th in the event.

UCA took three of the top seven positions in the 1000-meter run. Junior Alex Hansen placed first in the event with a time of 2 minutes, 32.6 seconds. Senior Julien Jeandree placed second with a time of 2:32.76 and sophomore Shamal Sullivan rounded out the top seven with a time of 2:37.23.

In the men’s mile, Hansen showcased his versatility by also placing first with a time of

4:14.09. Junior Jared Hamilton finished with a time of 4:22.96 — good enough for sixth place.

While freshman Camden Shaw placed eighth with a time of 4:29.20.

The 3000-meter run garnered another first place finish for the Bears. Junior Jaron Hamilton earned gold with a time of 8:41.60. Freshman Tate Whaley earned 18th with a time of 9:33.68 and senior Brock Collins finished 20th with a final time of 9:36.61.

Final times for the 5000-meter run produced a gold and a silver finish for the Bears in Birmingham. Freshman Thomas Cain placed first with a final time of 15:38.88, while freshman Hunter Henderson placed second with a final time of 15:43.10. Freshman Elijah Ankrom finished in 14th with a time of 16:59.09.

Sophomore Jordan Atkins placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.30. The high jump finals produced only one top 10 finish for the Bears.

Sophomore Logan Hall finished with a high mark of 1.90 meters — good enough for ninth place.

“I prepared for the meet like I do any other meet, I just try to work on my technique more than anything else because

Men’s Basketball:

4 Continued from page 7

of rhythm throughout the first half despite UCA taking a 2-point lead into the half.

“They switched it up each time down the floor,” Koval said.

“We’d just calm down and look at what they were doing and try to exploit the gaps in their defense.”

Doing so helped the Bears raise their overall shooting percentage from 43 to 61 in the second half.

“We want to get inside

Sugar Bears:

I know that’s what makes or breaks a jump for me, and today, my technique was lacking,” Hall said.

Freshman Timon Dresselhaus placed 12th with a high mark of 1.85 meters, and freshman Luke Anthony placed 16th with a high mark of 1.80 meters. Freshman Joshua Barber placed eighth in men’s pole vaulting with a mark of 3.60 meters.

Jewell made his presence known again with a first place finish in the long jump at 7.06 meters. Freshman Luke Anthony placed 25th with a jump of 5.72 meters while freshman Tanner Manasco placed 27th with a long jump of 5.60 meters.

Freshman Jalal Taylor garnered a seventh place finish in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 13.76 meters.

Men’s shot put saw freshman Jamir Cooper finish 18th with a mark of 12.51 meters, and junior Zac Bitton finished 27th with a mark of 10.90 meters.

The team’s next meet will take place Jan. 25-26 when they compete at the University of Kansas, while a seperate group will also compete at Pittsburg State University.

Bears focus on getting the ball inside

whether it’s with me or the other posts,” Koval said. “Even with our guards, they’re really good in the post. We try to always play from the inside out, but especially today knowing that their posts were a little undersized. “ Sophomore guard DeAndre Jones also spoke about the importance of paint points and getting the ball inside.

“It helps the whole team knowing we have that inside

presence,” Jones said. “Earlier in the year, we weren’t going in there as much as we should, but clearly going in there has helped us in a major way.”

These wins pushed the Bears to 6-1 in the Farris Center and completes their first threegame winning streak.

UCA will have the opportunity to extend this streak Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. when they host the University of New Orleans.

UCA comes up short against Nicholls Colonels

4 Continued from page 7 UCA shot 39 percent from the field and 27 percent from behind the three point line.

Orr led the team in scoring with 14 points while Sells and senior guard Antonija Bozic were next in scoring with 13 points each. Nicholls shot 42.2 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from behind the three point line, and 84.6 percent from the free throw line as a team.

Leading Nicholls in scoring

was junior guard Cassidy Barrios with 25 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Sophomore guard Tykeria Williams was next in scoring for Nicholls with 12 points and two steals.

Sugar Bears junior center Alexyse Thomas said the team needs to do better with extending and keeping a lead.

“We always seem to get content with a 4 to 6 point lead instead of actually playing to extend it,” Thomas said. “We

have to learn to keep and extend those leads to make them 10 point leads or more.”

The Sugar Bears will be on the road for their next two games, looking to find some rhythm away from the Farris Center.

UCA is currently 1-7 on the road and will face the Privateers from University of New Orleans Jan. 23 and the Wildcats of Albiene Christian University on Jan. 26.