Issue 4, Volume 116-- September 16, 2020

THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS’ STUDENT NEWSPAPER

SINGLE COPY PAID FOR BY STUDENT PUBLICATION FEE

WEDNESDAY

SEPTEMBER16, 2020 Volume 116 — Issue 4

ucanews.live TODAY’S FORECAST CONWAY

Campus Life:

85/69 FROM THE ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Belarus protests

Over 100,000 Belarusians protested on Sunday, demanding President Alexander Lukashenko’s resignation and showing concern over his meeting with Vladimir Putin.

This is the sixth week of protests, which erupted after Lukashenko won a sixth term. Putin has expressed support for Lukashenko and is willing to send Russian police in to suppress protesters. Over 400 people were detained following protests Sunday.

N AT I O N A L TikTok partners with Oracle to prevent ban In order to prevent President Trump from shutting down TikTok’s services in the US, the company has partnered with Oracle as a “trusted technology partner.” This is not an outright sale: Oracle will supposedly store and secure the data in the US while ByteDance would still be financially and operationally in control.

It’s still unknown whether the Trump administration will take this deal. Trump previously said nothing short of TikTok selling all its US assets would keep the site from being banned.

Staff Writer

For Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, licensed professional counselor Shawna Burns of Harrison, Arkansas has made public her suicide prevention training series that educators across Arkansas have praised.

Burns’ detailed training videos explain suicide warning signs, risk factors and prevention plans. She includes classroom strategies aimed at creating a safe environment for students to express their needs.

The 17 part video series is available at http:// myarkansaspbs.org/ suicideprevention.

Burns created “Suicide Prevention - Looking Deeper” after PBS reached out to her counseling center in 2019. The program was previously only available to educators through ArkansasIDEAS. Since its launch, almost 20,000 educators have completed the training.

This September, Arkansas PBS united with Burns to make the series available to the public.

While Burns created the series with educators and parents in mind, she said it can benefit anyone and everyone.

The pandemic has left many Arkansans feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. Burns’ training series covers strategies to cope with anxiety and hard times and the importance of mental rest.

“I’m on a mission to save every kid,” Burns said. “I may not

Joyce Elliot ties with French Hill in polls Talk Business & Politics conducted a survey at Hendrix College which showed 46% of voters in favor of Joyce Elliott over French Hill for US Senator.

Hill received 47.5% of votes, but with a margin of error at around 4%, either candidate could take the 2nd District.

Hearing on three abortion laws in AR

Three abortion laws enacted in Arkansas will be fought in the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals starting Sept. 23.

While the laws aren’t currently being enforced because of an injunction

by US District Judge Kristine Baker, the laws would prohibit abortion after 18 weeks, prevent doctors from performing an abortion solely on the basis of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and require doctors who perform abortions to be boardcertified or eligible OBGYNs.

WHAT’S AHEAD IN OUR NEXT ISSUE Women of Excellence presents “think like a goal digger.”

can make a difference,” she said.

The human mind has innate needs just like the body, Burns said. Addressing these needs rather than treating only the symptoms is crucial.

“Suicidal thoughts are often more common than we may think,” UCA Counseling Center Director Susan Sobel said. “If someone seems to be in distress, ask. Ask how people are doing and be willing to listen. This is a scary time.”

Sobel added that a crucial part of suicide prevention during a global pandemic is inspiring hope in one another.

Reminders that “this too shall pass” are invaluable during these times.

“The really intense feelings we often have are transient,” Sobel said. “This situation is transient.”

Both Burns and Sobel emphasized the importance of normalizing mental health discussions, as social stigma often hinders suicide prevention efforts.

More information photo courtesy of myarkansaspbs.org about Burns’ methods can be Counselor Shawna Burns and PBS present a 17 part video series dedicated to Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. found at her center’s website, The detailed training videos explain suicide warning signs, risk factors and prevention plans. seeddigging.com.

For questions and save them all, but I sure am going said. Educators and students classes move online, emotional appointments, contact the UCA to try.” should be especially attentive connections between educators Counseling Center at (501) 450COVID-19 and online to one another while navigating and students can begin to dwindle. 3138. The center is located in instruction mean suicide virtual school, as risk factors Burns has advice for college Suite 327 in the Student Health prevention looks different for like loneliness can go unnoticed instructors.

Services building. both educators and students. through the computer screen.

“Be in connection with your Anyone struggling with “You do not have to Burns explained that students. Check on them and let suicidal ideation can call the be physically together to be suicide prevention begins with them know you are there. I know National Suicide Prevention emotionally connected,” Burns social connections. As college it can be hard, but even an e-mail Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

effective despite ADH directives

by Mia Waddell The 50,000 Bammie masks that UCA ordered for students and faculty are now “strongly discouraged” according to a new mask directive by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).

The new guidelines claim that neck gaiter masks, which UCA refers to as Bammies, “may not provide sufficient protection.” However, the directive also states that an extra layer of fabric may be added for additional coverage.

UCA’s Bammies were purchased prior to the change in ADH guidelines, but have since been modified according to Office Manager of Student Services Denicha Kemp. “A mesh layer was added to each gaiter for additional protection,” Kemp said.

The Bammies were custom made for UCA and feature a two-ply gaiter, rather than the traditional one-ply. Kemp said that the Bammies also include an inner mesh layer.

President Houston Davis said that the these modifications certify that the Bammie masks now meet CDC guidelines.

Currently, the CDC recommends that masks have two or more layers of fabric, but also caution against wearing neck gaiters due to insufficient evidence of their effectiveness.

Freshman Scott Harris received his mask during move-in day. Regarding the new guidelines, Harris said he was unaware of them. “It is convenient for me. I am probably still going to use it,” he said. Harris confirmed that his Bammie had two layers and said that it was “really comfortable” and “very breathable.” His

only complaint was that the mask sometimes fell off his face.

“I feel like that change was a smart idea,” freshman Kerigan Wilson said, about the new mask directive. She knew that the masks were free and available to students but chose not to get one.

“They are not as good as regular masks. Gaiters do not really provide the right kind of security one needs for protection,” Wilson said.

“Living off-campus does make it harder to go get one because I am on campus once a week,” Sophomore Abby Yanosick said. “I saw that gaiter masks are extremely discouraged because they do not have enough filters.” Abby said that she viewed the masks more as “swag merch more than something to regulate safety.”

Kemp told the Echo out of the 50,000 Bammies purchased, Student Life has distributed 6,000. “3,700 were given to housing for residential students and the remainder were given to general students, faculty and staff,” Kemp said.

Student Life is “open to partnering with organizations to help continue distributing these masks,” Kemp said. Kemp said the staff at the Student Life center are also brainstorming ways in which they can incorporate distribution of the Bammies into events.

“We think they will become more popular as the weather cools,” she said. Student Life has plans to host a distribution event during Homecoming Week in late October.

Bammies and hand sanitizer are still available at no cost to students, faculty and staff.. To receive one, visit the Student Life Office during office hours.

Contact Us: 2 4

4Students Say

4

ENROLLMENT

BAMMIES

Index: 4Police Beat 4People of UCA

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Gaiters provided to students are

Staff Writer

S TAT E

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Harrison counselor partners with PBS for prevention series

By Allison Polston

THE NEWSDESK

New Release: Big Sean’s new album is a love letter to Detroit.

Sports Feature: UCA women’s soccer athlete, Hadley Dickinson.

4 page 3

Isolated Thunderstorms

Entertainment:

Sports:

Suicide Prevention: UCA Active Minds displayed 1,100 yelllow pinwheels.

6 4Opinion 4Entertainment 7 5, 8 4Sports

photo courtesy of uca.edu

President Davis remained optimistic even though enrollment numbers have decreased. “We are pleased to see that enrollment exceeded our expectations and our student body remains over 10,000 strong,” Davis said.

Record breaking retention rate, overall enrollment sees decrease

By Abby Rich Staff Writer

University of Central Arkansas re-enrollment for the fall 2020 semester stands at 10,335 students. For the third consecutive year, the freshmanto-sophomore retention rate for full-time freshmen has set a new university record.

According to a press release that was issued Friday, Sept.

4, UCA’s retention rate is at 78.8%, which is up from 74.7% in 2018.

Although the retention rate from freshman-to-sophomore is at a new university record, the overall enrollment has decreased.

Director of Media

Social:

See Retention. - page 2

Inside:

Opinion:

Professors are not to blame for hybrid failures.

E-mail: ucaechoeditor@gmail.com @ucaecho

Relations Amanda Hoelzman elaborated on the decrease.

“At 10,335, fall 2020 total headcount enrollment is down from 10,869 last year. This represents a 4.9% decrease.

This year’s overall enrollment number is influenced by

The Echo

ucaecho

© 2020 The Echo, Printed by The Courier, Russellville, Arkansas.

see page 6

2/September 16, 2020

ucanews.live

NEWS

Police Beat

The following information is compiled from UCAPD incident reports

by Assistant News Editor Katilin Benight

Suspicious person outside sororities

Devin Clark, 20, was found lying in a ditch asleep near the sorority houses on Sept. 8.

Clark was intoxicated and thought he had fell off the sidewalk, said he was fine and asked the officers if he could go to his nearby home.

Ashley Hall, 21, stated that Clark dove headfirst into a ditch south of the sorority houses, got back up and ran across the road, diving headfirst into another ditch.

Clark was taken to Conway Regional Medical Center.

Suspicious person outside sororities

Sometime between Sept. 2nd and 3rd, an unknown suspect stole the large plywood cutout “K” from outside the Sigma Kappa house. There are no leads at this time.

Traffic stop finds Savell chooses to decides to gun, marijuana not press charges

D’mahre Dillard, 19, has been charged with theft by receiving (a firearm), possession of a controlled substance, possession of instruments of crime and fleeing on foot after a routine traffic stop.

On Sept. 12, Camelia Elliot failed to completely stop at the Kum N Go stop sign.

Officer Christopher Vasquez pulled them over and after smelled marijuana in the car asked the two, along with a third unidentified passenger, to step out of the vehicle.

Vasquez patted Dillard down and asked him to go to the front of the vehicle when he started running, taking a left on to Davis street, Vazquez was able to track him down and get him to comply without using force.

Around an eighth of an ounce of marijuana, a digital scale and a stolen Glock 43 with seven 9mm rounds were recovered.

Trenton Dunn broke into his ex-girlfriend Madison Savell’s apartment after he learned she was at UCA’s defensive line coach Tony Davis’ home.

Dunn, 22, stated Savell, 20, told him she was going to see her father. Once he checked her location, he went to Davis’ house to confirm she was there. He then went to Savell’s apartment and poured honey and other food items on her bed and clothes and broke her TV. Savell said she had broken up with Dunn and had gone out with another man when Dunn had seen them. He called her around 70 times and left aggressive text messages.

She found the damage when she returned from a friend’s house the next morning. She is not pressing charges but wants him to pay $310 in property damage. photo by Sarah Coleman photo Sarah Coleman President Davis remained optimistic even though enrollment numbers have decreased. “We arebypleased to see that enrollment exceeded our expectations and our student body remains over 10,000 strong,” Davis said.

President Houston Davis and students hold memorial for 9/11 on Friday morning, Sept. 11.

Retention:

Fall semester re-enrollment

4 Continued from page 1

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

photo courtesy of uca.edu photo courtesy of uca.edu

Left: assistant professor in the accounting department, Mengyu Ma. Right: assistant professor in the accounting department, Charles Wu.

Department of accounting has new hires in the College of Business

by Ed Toddy

Campus Life Editor

The College of Business added two faculty members to its staff this semester. Mengyu Ma and Charles Wu were both hired as assistant professors in the accounting department.

Prior to UCA, Mengyu Ma received her undergraduate and master’s degree at Ohio State University but earned her PhD from Florida International where she taught accounting for three years.

Ma said that she initially pursued accounting for job security; while learning about the discipline, she developed a genuine interest.

“When I was in the master’s program there was a research class. I took the class and thought ‘this is interesting.’ I read some research papers and did a little project towards the end of the semester and then I decided to get my PhD,” Ma said.

Before teaching, Ma worked as a staff accountant for various companies across Ohio.

This semester most classes at UCA are online. For Ma, online teaching is not an issue.

“I think that that Zoom makes

everything a lot easier,” Ma said, adding that she believes it is a great way for people to learn if they do not want to be present on campus.

“You know, I think it’s a good way to learn for people who don’t want to commute, or people who are worried about COVID,” Ma said.

Ma said that getting to know students in Arkansas is different from students that she used to work with in Miami.

In order to learn about how they think and what they need, Ma said she is listening to her students’ suggestions.

“The students in Arkansas are different from students that I used to work with in Miami in terms of cultural backgrounds and how they learn, how they think,” Ma said. “I’m trying to get to know students and see what type of method of teaching helps them succeed.”

Ma explained that her life in Arkansas is a lot like her lifestyle back in Ohio. “I lived in Ohio for almost six years,” Ma said. “[Arkansas is] definitely like Ohio. Very peaceful … with lots of nature, which is very nice.”

The second new hire,

Charles Wu, earned his bachelor’s degree in information systems at Idaho State University and returned to the same university to get his master’s in accounting.

Wu received his PhD from the University of Texas in El Paso.

“I chose accounting after I worked for a solar energy company,” Wu said. “I had many opportunities working with top management where I find that accounting is more than just bookkeeping.”

Wu said that since he is still new to the university, he plans on familiarizing himself with the UCA community this semester, “especially the students at the college of business.”

“I am trying to know what their needs in business learning are,” Wu said.

Wu emphasizes the hand that accounting has in the fundamentals of a business.

“I view accounting as a big part of business operations, not just as a part of business, but serving a whole cycle of business operation,” Wu said.

“Accounting is the backbone of a business.”

approximately 175 fewer international students, 150+ fewer concurrent enrollments and a still to be calculated loss of out-of-state, firsttime freshmen. Those three elements alone comprise a significant percentage of our normal numbers,” Hoelzman said.

UCA President Houston Davis commented on the enrollment decrease as well, discussing the factors that led to the decrease. “Due to COVID-19, we had budgeted conservatively and for an expected enrollment decline,” Davis said. “As predicted, factors related to COVID have influenced concurrent, out-of-state and international enrollments.”

President Davis remained optimistic even though enrollment numbers have decreased. “We are pleased to see that enrollment exceeded our expectations and our student body remains over 10,000 strong,” Davis said.

Provost Patricia Poulter

addressed the success students have experienced thanks to efforts at UCA, which may influence the retention rate.

“More students are succeeding because of the concentrated efforts by faculty and staff in making student success a priority. We continue to employ best practices in helping all students achieve their academic goals,” Poulter said. “We are committed to always improving the ways we provide a strong foundation for students: whether it be in classrooms, labs, studios, internships, practicum, service learning and leadership opportunities, affinity groups, cultural events and academic support services. We draw from research, data collection and analysis and meaningful conversations and actions to have a constant and consistent focus on student engagement.”

Despite the decline of overall enrollment, Poulter discussed the value of

education to UCA students.

“To have the retention numbers that we do, the highest that we have on record, especially in the time of COVID, speaks clearly about the value that students find in their education at UCA and the kinds of support they expect to be here for them under even the most unexpected circumstances,” Poulter said.

Currently, it is unknown how UCA’s record-breaking retention rate this fall semester compares to other in-state institutions.

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADHE) is collecting the enrollment reports from the other institutions of higher education in the state in order to prepare a press release with the information.

The ADHE will issue the press release later this week on enrollment in all Arkansas institutions.

For more information on UCA’s retention rate this fall 2020 semester, visit uca.edu.

Campus Life

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September 16, 2020

Around Campus: LatinX Panel: Life After College 6:00p.m, Sept 16. BearX and Career Services & Cooperative Education will host a panel with LatinX alumni. email robynw@uca.edu for the link and passcode.

What is your voting plan?

6:30p.m. Sept. 16, in Student Center room 205 several organizations will host quest speaker Terri Hollingsworth to inform students on their voting options this year.

Photo by UCA Active Minds

UCA Active Minds remembers lost students in front of Old Main. The pinwheels were placed Sept. 7 and remained until Sept. 9.

UCA CKI Collecting Membership Fees X-period, Sept. 17, 22, and 24 UCA CKI will be in the Student Center handing out membership forms and collecting membership fees.

Active Minds commemerates Suicide Prevention Week with 1,100 pinwheels

by Kennadi Harris Entertainment Editor

Find your match

5:00p.m. Sept. 18 Baridon Hall will provide students with the opportunity to find friends via Zoom. Fill out the Google form on the @UCAhpaw Instagram page to get paired with another student.

Meeting ID: 985 8777 6877 Passcode: 693100

Minority Pre-Law Boot Camp 9:00a.m, Sept. 19, the department of philosophy and religion has partnered with the Black Law Student Association to present a mock lecture on law school admission on Zoom. Register for the event on cubconnect.

Baridon SMP Sept 19. Baridon Hall will launch a communal Minecraft server.

Email: aroemer@cub.uca.edu for more information on the server and how to join.

Purple Table Talks: What does it mean to be a person of color?

4:30p.m., Sept. 22, UCA NAACP will present a panel discussion via Zoom. The link and password for the event will be released on Twitter and Instagram @uca.naacp.

Campus Job Listing: UCA Athletic Department The UCA athletic department is looking for students to work in its ticket office. The position is part-time/seasonal. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1.

Students must be eligible for a work study to apply for this position. Apply on bears4hire.

Email hroberts10@uca.edu with any questions.

UCA’s chapter of Active Minds set up a display on campus to spread awareness for National Suicide Prevention Week.

From Sept. 7 thru Sept.

9 the organization planted 1,100 yellow pinwheels in the lawn in front of Old Main.

Each pinwheel represents each student life lost to suicide each year. The color yellow was choosen because it is the color for suicide prevention.

President of UCA’s Active Minds chapter and senior, Savannah Bell, says they have put this display up for four years every year during National Suicide Prevention Week.

“When you hear the statistic that 1,100 students loose their lives to suicide every year it doesn’t really resonate with you...Until you actually see it physically you realize how many lives that is,” Bell said.

“It’s just a great way to really visualize how big of an issue this is.”

Bell said that Active Minds hopes this display will help students start the conversation of mental health. “The goal with the display is to have students realize. Oh wow, this is an issue. This is something important. This is something we need to talk about,” Bell said.

Active Minds is a student organization that focuses on mental health advocacy and

awareness. “Not everyone has mental illness but everyone has mental health,” Bell said.

Bell said one thing we can do for those struggling with suicidal thoughts is be there for each other. “Just be open to discussion...some people deal with the fear of having people find out. That really stops people from getting the help they need. When they don’t get the help the desire to commit suicide increases drastically, so just be open and honest and willing to have those hard conversations,” Bell said. “Just be there for them without any judgement.”

“We are not an organization that counsels students, we are just an

YSDA distributes flyers, demands a safer university

by Madison Ogle Staff Writer

Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) met Tuesday, Sep. 8th to host a flyer event campaigning for the “Demand Safe Schools” movement, emphasising the importance of racial justice and safety in regards to the campus’ approach to COVID-19.

“Demand Safe Schools’ is a movement that strives to unite students, educators, parents, and the community to advance racial justice,” Justin Cheatham, President of UCA’s YDSA, said when asked about the meaning behind the initiative.

“August 3rd was national day of resistance, and many activists sought to raise awareness about the lack of leadership in dealing with the pandemic and racial injustices and how that is impacting children and students,” Cheatham said.

Students met in front of the student center, wearing masks and split up to distribute posters for the cause around campus. Groups first sought out building officials and requested permission, then pinned the flyers to available bulletin boards within various places surrounding Torreyson Library.

Tristan Moody, the original founder of YDSA on campus, said that the group had “some really exciting plans for this fall,” but with the introduction of COVID-19, had to alter their course, choosing to ultimately focus on the “Demand Safe Schools” initiative.

“Very naturally, we are at a school where students and faculty are greatly affected by what goes on around us,” Cheatham said when asked about how the group decided on the movement. safety and justice.

See Socialists -page 4

Professor Smith celebrates suffrage

by Delaney Van Wilpe News Editor

In the spirit of an approaching election and celebration of women’s suffrage, Art and Design Professor and Associate Chair Elizabeth Smith is conducting a campus, city-wide art project. This project is a small part of UCA’s larger celebration of the Suffrage Centennial, Forward Into Light, orchestrated by Art and Design Professor and Associate Dean Gayle Seymour.

Smith’s project includes students and organizations across

campus making clay, flesh-colored acorns to assemble an American flag for the final product.

This project is supposed to reflect the beauty of diversity in how these many different shades of acorns come together to create the full picture of a flag.

“The symbol of something so small [like an acorn] that can produce an oak tree could last a hundred years. So the idea is that your single vote may seem small and insignificant, but it has a strong, potentially lasting

extension of the counseling services. So if we have to say anything, if you need it please seek therapy and reach out to family and friends that you trust,” Bell said. We are really just a safe space for students and we let them know the resources they do have.”

Director of Counseling Services Susan Sobel said the counseling center has resources for those that need it.

Sobel said those that are in crisis should call UCAPD and request a counselor on call for crisis intervention. Counseling Services also has resources students can access on their website.

“Thinking about suicide doesn’t necessarily mean you

are going to do it. A lot of people get scared when those thoughts come in but your thoughts can’t hurt you, it’s your behavior,” Sobel said.

“The thoughts are not harmful. They are certainly distressing and distracting and something to talk to somebody about.”

“Feeling really distressed or overwhelmed or hopeless most often is a transitory thing.

If you can give it a little bit of time and do a couple of things you are not going to continue to feel that bad,” Sobel said.

If you are feeling suicidal and need to talk to someone immediately the national suicide hotline is 1-800-2738255.

Reynolds will host shows, but snacks are not permitted

by Heidi Mackey Staff Writer

Students and faculty have returned back to campus with uncertainty about how they’ll still enjoy some of their favorite parts of being back at school, like attending shows and performances at Reynolds Performance Hall.

The way students see, watch and interact with the performing arts will look a little different this semester, but the staff at Reynolds is doing all that they can to ensure student safety and enjoyment at the same time.

There will be new guidelines and regulations for everyone to follow while attending a show or performance.

Reynolds’s staff is following all of the state’s regulations as far as COVID-19 goes.

This means, six feet of social distancing, requiring face mask and sanitizing at all times. This also includes a few new regulations to help ensure an audiuence’s safety, such as designated hand sanitizing stations, limited touch points, staggered entrance times and concessions will not be available.

Reynold’s will be selling event merchandise outside of the building and keeping the lobby open strictly for arriving and departing guests after a show or performance.

All of these new regulations are communicated with ticket holders before they arrive for their show or performance.

The following is the statement from Reynolds Performance Hall, “Reynolds

Performance Hall continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and has plans and protocols in place to ensure the safety of its patrons. In the coming months, Reynolds will continue to follow all mandated regulations for large venues and institutions of higher education. Plans will be monitored and assessed on a show-by-show basis, depending on which phase we are in with the COVID-19 pandemic. This could mean that your seat assignments may be moved for any of your ticketed events.”

For more information on how Reynolds is handling COVID-19 during their show season, you can look at their website at https://uca. edu/publicappearances/

impact on our country,” Smith said.

Smith’s intentions are to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and highlight the importance of voting.

“In 1920, there were still tons of people who still couldn’t vote even after women got the right to vote. So, that start and growth from that moment forward shows how just that simple right to vote has changed people’s

See Acorns -page 4

photo provided Gayle Seymour

Professor Smith poses with students after acorn workshop. The project will be completed before the November election.

4/ September 16 , 2020

ucanews.live

CAMPUS LIFE

Are you in a hybrid or “online course, and is the

workload more or less than in previous semesters?

”

Story and photos by Ed Toddy & Ronak Patel

photo by Madison Ogle

YDSA members pose with flyers in front of the Student Center. YSDA met Sept. 8 to distribute flyers across campus.

Socialists: 4 Continued from page

Students demand safer schools through YDSA

3

“While the school leaders have been doing a decent job with the pandemic by doing things such as discussing the concerns, providing covid updates and making testing available, our goal is to continue raising awareness promoting safety and justice.”

When asked about the initial formation of YDSA, Moody said, “I started the club because the UCA campus lacked a radically

engaged progressive/socialist movement.”

“At first, things were hard because it was just me, and the RSO mysteriously would not appear on CubConnect, which was fixed with a few emails and a month or so of waiting but significantly hindered recruitment,” he said.

The organization is about a year old now, but last year was split between “Students For Bernie” and “YDSA”,

Cheatham said.

“Democratic Socialism is liberation. Being a member of this group means that you don’t see the world as being concrete.

The world is constantly changing and, as a member, you have faith that we can change for the better,” he said. “YDSA fights for the needs of workers and students and economic freedom. We stand alongside labor campaigns, racial justice, defending immigrants and

environmental activism.”

The group planned a meeting through Zoom on Thursday, Sep. 10th, where they further discussed the meaning behind socialism, and what it means to individuals within the group.

For further information on the “Demand Safe Schools” initiative visit YDSA website at ‘www.demandsafeschools.org’.

Freshman Haddie Landrum “I am online, in person and yes, I am in hyrbid courses. I just feel like becuase I am such a big procrastinator, when my work s online I tend to push it off and push it off.”

Sophomore Kennedy Luster “Yes, I am in online and hyrbid classes. And yeah, I do feel like it’s more than what we would have in person. I guess its just me, but like one of the videos was 51 minutes long.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t watch nothing for 51 minutes.”

Junior Kayla Scoot

Freshman Jayce Studivant

“Yes, I am in mutliple hyrbud courses. The workload is a little bit heavier than normal.

With hybrid courses you’re learning more out of class, and when you go to class they don’t really touch in anything that was online. ”

“I am a freshman. I kinda like that with homework you really get to set your own hours and veiwing. I know that for a lot of the people I am freinds with who are freshman are having a hard time remebereing to do their work. ”

Freshman Asa Eddington

Freshman Aaron Chestnut

photo courtesy of Gayle Seymour

The products of an acorn workshop lay spread on a table. These clay acorns come from the ILS workshop.

Acorns:

Clay acorns represent the diversity of the U.S.

4 Continued from page

lives for the better, and of course, how much work there still is to do,” Short and Denney Academic Director Carl Olds said.

Smith is holding events around campus to include students in the project. On Tuesday Sept. 8, Smith dropped in on one of Short and Denney’s bigger events of the semester, Open Mic Night. This is a night

3

where residents are able to share their talents. “There are a lot of really awesome, talented people in the building,” Olds said.

In addition to the students showcasing their talents, Smith shared her project with the residents of Short and Denney.

She shared the intent of the project, why she chose the acorns and walked them through how to make their own acorn.

Forty to fifty were made to match the number of residents in attendance Tuesday evening.

“As our residential college, we have signed up and we have committed to try to kick out 500 for the flag. We have events going on weekly around here, so we’re going to pull the clay out at these events,” Olds said.

Smith wants to get people

involved and aware that their voice matters. “I was hoping to have a situation where he had some discussion about the history of voting, the importance of voting and any challenges or successes they would have in their access to voting,” Smith said. “That part has become more challenging because we can’t be in big groups.”

“I am a freshman. The workload feels normal. To be expected.”

“Yes, I am in hyrbid courses.

This is my freshman year so it does feel like more. There’s more stuff to do on your own. You’re not given a lot of resources, except for tutors. ”

People of UCA: William Barr

by Kelly Rico Staff Writer

If you have the chance to make a difference in the world, would you take it?

Clarksville, Arkansas native, Jack Barr is pursuing a career in film production where he is able to inspire others that are like him.

“I have always felt that I belonged to groups of alternative tastes, so if I can even reach that demographic or show people with different tastes where I’m coming from and they understand me, then that would simply be wonderful and fulfilling,”Barr said.

Barr is a senior film production major with a creative writing minor. He

started his journey in fall 2018 after deciding that UCA felt more like home.

“Everyone was friendlier and down-to-Earth. There were actual programs better suited for my interests.”

With the COVID-19 restrictions, universities, much like UCA, have followed guidelines that would allow students to gather in small groups to complete projects. Small film crews are encouraged, and masked crew and actors must maintain a safe 10-12ft distance apart. Actors who are unmasked must be 6ft from both crew and fellow actors.

“It’s awful to work around,” Barr said. “I had

an actor drop out of my production the other day due to this issue. Only I can check out the equipment and drop it off, there is no midweekend hand off to another crew. Everything is sanitized.”

Despite the restrictions, Barr continues to come up with ideas and write scripts. He credits his own inspiration from film directors such as John Carpenter, Wes Craven and Paul Thomas Anderson.

The films created by them are mostly horror and chaotic, both things that Barr is eager to write about.

“Horror movies and stories I read as a kid challenged me to think ‘what if’ for the ideas

I have,” he said.

He also wants to write dramas, but has been experimenting with comedy. “I’m drafting for a production class that I have.

It’s about a day in the life of a girl who feels pathetic and tired of dealing with the malaise of modernity,” Barr said, explaining that his scripts are easy to think of, but difficult to make work.

“I just keep brainstorming until I find what works for the story and what fits to make it all connect,” Barr said. “So far it’s going well, I’m starting to develop my voice and accumulate the best of my influences.”

Photo provided by William Barr

Since the pandemic began, UCA senior William Barr is learning to produce film in new ways.

Sports

5

September 16, 2020

Upcoming Games Men’s Soccer

2 p.m., Sept. 19 vs UAB

Women’s Soccer 6 p.m., Sept. 18 at Texas State 1 p.m., Sept. 20 at SFA

Tennis 11 a.m. Sept. 18 vs UCA

Football 6 p.m., Sept. 19 at Arkansas State

photo courtsey of The Advocate

The field at McNeese State flooded after Hurricane Laura hit the state of Lousiana. Donations can be made to help the school.

UCA helping out with relief efforts after Hurricane Laura

Editor’s Take photo courtsey of Knupsports.com

The Bears are 1-1 on games that have been played on a ESPN platform this season. The game against Arkansas State will be the 3rd game of the season that will be aired on a ESPN outlet.

Football makes national impression

by Abby Rich Staff Writer

photo courtesy of ESPN.com

The NHL bubble arena gives you an experience like nothing before. It has so much to offer and keeps the games alive and fun to watch.

NHL Set good precedent for player safety

by Travis Gupton Sports Editor We are reaching the end of the NHL season. The games that have been played have for the most part been entertaining and you really can’t pick out a clear favorite at this stage of the game.

The big surprise to me is how the NHL is doing with the COVID-19 pandemic. You have rarely heard about NHL players getting tested and coming back positive.

When it comes to sports I was expecting every sport to last maybe a week and then it would fall apart with so many COVID-19 cases.

The NFL has had problems with it and so has the MLB. It really comes down to something that I think we all know but we don’t want to say.

A lot of these athletes have huge egos. They think they are somehow above COVID-19 and therefore can do what they want because they can’t get sick.

Then on ESPN the next day you hear that they have COVID and are now not able to play.

These sports are team sports and when someone does that it hurts their team and I feel like some of these players don’t really care about the team when they do stuff like that.

The NHL though somehow has been able to keep everyone who is playing from getting sick.

I truly believe that the NHL may be the only sport that actually fully finishes.

You already gave games being canceled in the MLB and all sorts of changes happening in the NFL and NCAA football.

It will be interesting to see how these sports finish but to me, if they finish and we get champions decided then I’ll be shocked.

I said it before that sports this season will be really unique.

We have teams that have never been in the playoff picture that is now close to conference titles.

The only thing that is going to be important is for these teams to stay healthy and do the protocols and then they have a fair shot at winning it all.

If you are not

UCA’s football team has been featured on ESPN and ESPN 3 for the first two games of the fall season, and the Bears will play Arkansas State on ESPN Plus this Saturday, resulting in national eyes falling on the university.

When the FCS made the final decision on Aug. 7 to move fall sports to the spring, the Southland Conference decided to allow teams to play non-conference games. UCA’s Athletic Director Brad Teague acted quickly to find teams to sign contracts and created a schedule to play non-conference games this fall.

Six games were signed for the

fall season, with UCA playing against teams such as Missouri State, North Dakota State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Eastern Kentucky University and Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.

The contracts signed for North Dakota State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Arkansas State University at Jonesboro all included compensatory values awarded to UCA of $100,000 or more.

The highest paying contract was with University of AlabamaBirmingham which awarded UCA $200,000 for the game played on Sept. 3.

The first two games UCA has played this season have been featured

on ESPN, and the third will be on ESPN Plus. Although Teague stated that national exposure was not the initial intention of scheduling the non-conference games this season, it has been a “nice by-product” for the university.

Teague and UCA head coach Nathan Brown both commented on the importance of creating a schedule for the fall season so that the student-athletes could still play.

Because the FCS delayed games to the spring because of COVID-19, Teague and coach Brown stressed

the importance of being able to play games in a healthy and safe manner.

Brown said that “the players wanted to play” and the way that

See Attention- page 8

by Olyvia Gonzalez Staff Writer UCA will be sending supplies to McNeese State after hurricane Laura hit the school earlier this month.

Hurricane Laura left a trail of destruction in Louisiana and Texas that led to a death toll of 15.

UCA Athletic Director Brad Teague and the UCA Athletic department saw many statistics such as this one and knew someone needed to help according to UCA’s Associate Athletic Director for External Relations Matt Whiting.

Throughout the week of Sept.7, the department contributed to the Hurricane Laura relief efforts by using the Bear Nation trailer to collect donations for McNeese State.

The trailer was outside Estes Stadium for most of the week and then was moved to the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer

Complex on Sept. 10 during the Women’s soccer match against Little Rock.

Immediately after Hurricane Laura made landfall in Lake Charles, Teague reached out to the athletic staff at McNeese State to get an assessment of the damage.

Staff at McNeese State sent over the list of items they were seeking, (eg. water, clothes, pet food, first aid kits, and bug spray).

On Sept.11 until 5:00 p.m., the trailer was propped open to fans to give to this charity.

Athletes stayed behind to help unload cars and spread the word.

Sam’s Club, a UCA donor, contributed to the drive by giving two pallets of bottled water.

Currently, the athletic department is working out a plan to deliver these items to Lake

See Laura- Page 8

MEET

Men’s cross country gets first taste of competition at Beverfork Lake

by Addison Freeman Staff Writer

photo courtsey of UCA Athletic Department

Graduate Student Alex Hanson and his teammate sophomore Max Nores race to the finish line at BeaverFork Lake in the men’s 5k race. Hanson and Nores was seperated by 3 seconds at the end of the race.

The men’s cross country team started the 2020 season at Beaverfork Lake on Sept. 12, winning with a team score of 27 points.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Bears were not able to do things like they normally would leading up to the first meet of the season.

“We couldn’t get together as a team and we tried to keep everybody as safe as we could and our protocols have been great so far,” said Interim Head Coach Beau Theriot. “That made small groups where we couldn’t get that team bonding, which we just started this week, moving into our bigger groups.”

Graduate student Alex Hanson finished 2nd in the men’s 5k race, with a time of 15:30.

“I’m happy with my progress,” Hanson said.

Hanson did not run in the 2019 UCA Cross Country challenge. Hanson did not participate in much of the 2019 season recording 4 did not runs and one did not finish.

It seemed that even with not running for an entire season and with a COVID-19 pandemic Hanson had not lost a step.

Even with a team best time in the race Hanson put all his praise on his team.

“I think the team did excellent,” Hanson said. “We came in knowing that the goal wasn’t to go for the glory of coming in first in the race; it was

to be a team, win as a team. We ran together.”

As the race finished Hanson and his teammate Sophomore Max Nores were neck in neck coming to the finish line. Hanson finished the race only 3 seconds ahead of Nores.

Nores came in 3rd, right behind Hanson, with a time of 15:33 Nores says that it’s all good and he is happy for his team and his teammate.

“It’s not personal, you know? I’m working with a team, I’m not working on my own.

Cross country is a team sport and we’re all together, so I was good with Alex and together we pushed each .

See Cross Country- page 8

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Bears fall to Arkansas State after big second half from Red Wolves

by Ian Lyle Opinion Editor The women’s soccer team fell short by two goals from the Arkansas State University Sunday evening, Sept. 13, at the Bill Stephens Complex.

The first half came to an end in a 0-0 draw. Breaking the deadlock in the 70th minute, ASU defender Victoria MacIntosh drove a penalty kick into the net after UCA drew a handball inside the box. The second goal was by ASU midfielder Hailey Furio in the 79th minute to seal their win on the match.

“Unfortunately, they got the first one (goal) off of a tough play where it bounces off and hits somebody in the hand,” UCA Women’s Soccer Head Coach Jeremy Bishop said, regarding the goal conceded from the penalty kick. “To me, you save those penalty kicks for opportunities when it affects the play.

It didn’t feel like it did in that situation so that’s challenging.”

Bishop said the result was disappointing, but saw some good in the team’s performance despite the defeat.

“I don’t think it was our best by any means, but I thought it was enough to win the game and it was unfortunate that it didn’t go that way,” Bishop said.

Bishop knew that the Bears had a chance to win this game but could not capitalize when an opportunity presented itself.

“On the attacking side, whenever we were good in possession and moved their backs around and were able to create some opportunities through combination play, that gave us some good opportunities,” Bishop said. “We just didn’t do enough of that tonight.

We had a lot of possession.

We were able to get behind them a few times and get some scoring chances that way as well. We just didn’t do enough of it and we didn’t make the most of those opportunities.”

ASU didn’t play like

Photo by Ian Lyle

Freshman defender Zoe Van de Cloot battles with a Arkansas State player for the ball. UCA was only able to get 2 shots on goal in the entire 2nd half in the 2-0 loss.

they felt like they should have but as the game went on they got into their game plan and were able to put things together.

“I think we were really nervous the first half,” ASU Women’s Soccer Head Coach Brian Dooley said.

“We had a hard time kind of finding our rhythm. I

think, in part, that they had a really good scheme.

They had us chasing a lot more than we like to do. So I think it was more about how well they were playing in the first half.

I think we were fortunate on the penalty kick. The corner kick was served and Rachel Kutella

hit a solid header. I think it’s a goal if it doesn’t hit the girl...It was kind of the new interpretation of the handball rule, kind of caught them, which is going to catch everyone at some point...So we

benefited with that.”

Although his team left with a 2-0 win, Dooley said UCA is a difficult opponent to face.

“It always is,” Dooley said. “They (UCA) have a very good program. We’ve

See Soccer- page 8

Opinion

6

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September 16, 2020

The Voice

Employers should not hire off social media

The Echo Staff Ronak Patel Editor Sarah Coleman Associate Editor Delaney Van Wilpe News Editor Kaitlin Benight Assistant News Editor Ed Toddy Campus Life Editor Ian Lyle Opinion Editor Kennadi Harris Entertainment Editor Travis Gupton Sports Editor Megan Holder Social Media Editor Sidney McCoy Cartoonist

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Professors not to blame for hybrid failures It isn’t offensive to say that professors are usually wore a mask and a face shield during lectures. This older, more susceptible to COVID-19 and often made it difficult to understand him through Zoom terrible with technology. and in person. On top of that, instead of sharing the However, this opinion is not intended to place PowerPoint presentation that accompanied lecture any blame on professors. It is clear that they are not through Zoom, he recorded the presentation through to blame for the nightmare that hybrid courses have a webcam. become, especially after so many of them urged the The quality of the lecture through zoom made university to fully transition it indecipherable. For the first to online learning in a letter two weeks of class I struggled written to the president’s to self-teach myself the office this summer. material. By the third week the Hybrid courses are professor began to post lectures partially in-person classes online. Unfortunately, my with most of the classwork understanding of the material uploaded for students from the first two weeks was to complete online. so fractured that I struggled to While this might seem keep up. convenient for students Eventually, I made the who learn better in person, decision to drop the course it is actually hell. just in time for a partial refund.

In my opinion, UCA (Check out the student say should have transitioned section of this issue to see what fully online, but because other students had to say about in-person learning was an hybrid courses.) option I decided to take my I am disappointed in chances with the virus for myself for not being able

by Ed Toddy the sake of my education. to hang in there, but with Campus Life Editor At the beginning of four other courses slowly this semester, I was looking progressing through more forward to hybrid courses. I difficult stages of learning, I learn better when a professor can really occupy my had no choice but to accept that this hybrid course attention, so I was thankful that at least a few of my wasn’t right for me. classes would have aspects of in-person learning.

I know other students like me who are struggling I even believed that my hybrid courses would be with their hybrid courses, and I have seen firsthand easier than the ones that had been moved fully online. how my professors have struggled with them too.

However, my hybrid courses ended up being double This begs the questions: Why is the university the work and felt more like two classes than one. allowing in-person and hybrid learning on campus Don’t get me wrong, It is clear that professors when it is clear from student experiences and faculty are trying their best this semester, but students are pleas that moving fully online works better and is a trying their best too, and while professors are being safer option for everyone involved? paid to issue Fs on lesson that might have gotten lost The answer is simple. Follow the money. in digital translation, it’s the students who are paying To make up for the loss in hours this semester, for their own GPAs to drop.

I had to enroll in a midterm course. I’m hoping for One of my hybrid course professors eventually an online course, but It could end up another hybrid ended up ignoring his online audience altogether.

To protect himself from COVID-19 the professor nightmare, and my bank account couldn’t handle another drop.

People can benefit from watching crime documentaries When it comes to documentaries involving murder, However, some people believe that watching these robbery and many other crimes people choose to avoid kinds of series not only make us violent, but makes us them, but not for reasons people think. normalize crime in our head because of the images we are It’s not because it’s too scary to watch, because if shown and the reenactments they create, but I personally that were true we wouldn’t have scary movies. The reason have never met someone who has become violent due to people avoid to watch them is because it’s real. It’s about a crime series, nor have I seen one pop up on the news or real crimes happening to real people that are just like any social platforms. I don’t doubt that people have used it everyone else in the world. as a type of excuse to blame their actions on, but wouldn’t The documentaries are stories of people whose lives you rather get an idea of what to expect then get involved in were cut too short and their family and friends thought something that leads to a bad situation? their stories needed to be heard for a reason.

I feel like a good outcome of watching crime series If we weren’t meant to see them, we wouldn’t have is that after watching enough of these you can slowly start them on TV, Hulu or other platforms. seeing how a person’s personality really is.

I believe that if people An example is if you watch crime documentaries, get in a fight with your it’s not to get scared, but it’s to significant other and they get informed so we can see the throw their phone against signs and know to stay away. a wall right by you, that is For instance, there’s obviously a red flag and you a series called Obsession: need to get out, and they Dark Desires in that series of will beg you to stay and say stories it’s about survivors of they “won’t do it again,” near death experiences due to that isn’t true. If someone being severely stalked. These makes you feel uneasy, women and few men agree to it’s safe to say that is a red share their worst memories to flag, so leave that area and help others not end up in their inform someone of your situations. concerns.

In one of the stories, the With the knowledge of

by Haley Melendez woman got harrased and almost these crime documentaries Staff Writer kidnapped by a serial killer and in some cases in the 1980s his name was experiences it helps us learn Stephen Morin. After that event how to trust our gut and our she never got too comfortable with a customer again and instincts instead of second guessing them because of our kept it at a normal hiand bye relationship. emotions or because we know who the person is.

Another thing to watch is the house of horrors found I fully recommend watching crime series. Not only in Perris, Cal. I lived 8 minutes away from them for almost will you have something to watch for a while until you half of my 19 years of life and I never once knew what was need to find something else, but in my eyes they are very happening inside that home. That’s when I decided I had informative, they keep your mind sharp to look out for to learn how to watch out for stuff like this. danger and how to get out of danger if you’re in it. They I feel that in a way watching these shows or movies help you understand the real dangers in life enough to want expands our mind with what’s happening in the world. It you to keep a lookout but not make you worried enough reminds us that the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, to where you won’t leave the house. It is the perfect way to it’s a hard, bumpy road with lots of turns and unseen dips. get some suspense in while trying to learn something new.

As culture is progressing alongside technology, social media is evolving, becoming more of an everyday aspect of life for people. However, more and more employers look at people’s social media profiles for professionality, seeking to hire good employees.

Although employers should long for professionalism and good work ethic in a potential employee, social media should not be the place to look for it.

Various forms of social media were initially designed as media of communication between people. Millions of people use social media in order to stay in touch with others, network and share updates about and further scope into their personal lives.

This is where employers can go wrong.

What you see on social media is not always what you will get in the workplace.

Sometimes people often let loose out of the workplace. Some people tend to wind down, relax and live life a bit more freely than how they present themselves in the workplace. They don’t have to follow particular guidelines outside of the workplace, so why should that be judged?

If one has a drink on his own time and posts it to social media, but shows up to work the next day sober and does his job efficiently, is it wrong? If not, why shall it be viewed by an employer on social media?

Although employers should long for professionalism and good work ethic in a potential employee, social media should not be the place to look for it.

What may seem to an employer as lazy or unproductive out of the workplace may be viewed as rest by the employee.

What may seem to an employer as unprofessional out of the workplace may be viewed as being off the clock by the employee.

What matters is that one beholds professionalism and good work ethic in the workplace. Sure, it is good to live as such outside of the workplace, but each person has the right to live as they please.

Furthermore, what people choose to do outside of work does not always correlate to what they will do in the workplace. Not to say there isn’t importance in what they do out of the workplace and how they carry themselves, but searching for work ethic in it is probably not accurate.

This is where employers have the benefit of a doubt. If an employer chooses to view a prospective hire’s social media profile and sees something unwise or illegal, such as selling drugs, racial slander or speaking poorly of former employers, they surely will not want to hire that person. Rightfully so. Who would want to hire someone like that?

However, what is posted on social media should be posted in moderation of who will be able to view it.

Considering this is a modern concept of employment in American culture, people, especially students, looking to enter the workforce should watch what they post on social media and monitor who views it. Options of privacy are at your leisure. Use them. Be wise with what you post on the internet.

Have an opinion? Everyone does.

Write a letter to the editor at ucaechoeditor@gmail.com Letters to the editor don’t just have to be about Echo content.

If you’ve noticed something on campus that’s positive or negative, we want to hear about it.

The Echo is printed weekly by The Courier. Decisions about content are made by the student editors.

The views published are not necessarily those of the University of Central Arkansas. All material is subject to respective copyrights.

Entertainment

7

September 16, 2020

New This Week Movies

Sep. 18 — Antebellum (R), directed by Gerald Bush and Christopher Renz, starring Janelle Monae, Jena Malone, Eric Lange Sep. 18 — Alone (R), directed by John Hyams, starring Jules Wilcox, Marc Menchaca, Anthony Heald Sep. 18 — Blackbird (R), directed by Roger Michell, starring Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Rainn Wilson Sep. 18— Infidel (R), directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, starring Jim Caviel, Claudia Karvan

Hulu horror original had potential, lacked execution

by Haley Melendez Staff Writer

When watching a horror movie, I prepare to avoid a jump scare and be intrigued at the same time. This movie sadly failed to deliver such a feeling.

“Behind You” is a big let down for all horror fanatics.

“Behind You” starts out as a flashback of sisters in 1979.

It shows Beth and her friend Charles reading a story about people going through mirrors to her little sister Angela, while Rachel is downstairs.

After a scene with screams and a jump scare, this flick intrigued me, but was hardly promising enough to hold my attention. I kept watching with high hopes.

In a confusing chain of events, the movie skips to the present, with two sisters named Claire and Olivia in a car. Their mom’s friend Camila is taking them to their aunt Beth’s house

because their mom, Rachel, who is one of the sisters from the flashback, died in an accident.

Disturbingly, Beth lives in the same house from 1979.

When they get there they meet Charles and Beth who seems annoyed by their existance and tells camila she wants them to leave.

After Camila left, they were given a room to sleep in and one rule, stay away from her study, which leads to the basement .This scene was fast and has no build up. Olivia goes to the bathroom and sees that the mirror is covered with paper and tears it off, seeing a figure in the mirror and to top it all off Claire’s stuffed bunny Lucy B starts “talking” to her and tells her to go to the basement.

Honestly the basement scene freaked me out because behind Clair a woman comes out the darkness doing this horrifying bone cracking walk.

Claire screams and the screen

goes black.

Predictably, Beth knows something is going on with Claire cause she’s acting differently and her eyes constantly change from normal to black. At this moment, I realized that this movie was going to be a low budget film.

The eye effect looked like a snapchat filter. It was hard to ignore during the rest of the movie. Somehow Olivia is oblivious about Claire’s changes.

The next day “Claire” is scratching up her legs saying get it out. Right here would have been a great moment for Olivia to realize something was wrong, but she frustratingly just treats it as a bad dream.

As any typical “scary” low budget film would, Beth and Charles take Claire and try to kill her because she is possessed (shocker). This is paired with an oblivious Olivia who won’t believe them.

Camila then shows up to take the girls away. The girls get in the car and Claire says she can’t leave without Lucy, so Olivia goes to grab her, leaving Claire alone with Camila. Olivia finds Lucy, who mysteriously ended up by the front door, Olivia runs back to the car where Camila is found dead.

Her death looked fabricated and the blood on the windows looked like gooey adhesives people buy for halloween. The lack of realism hurt, and sadly it wasnt the only one.

Finally, Olivia realizes Clair is possessed. I have never seen a horror movie have the protagonist be so slow minded, especially since she and Claire shared the same bed.

Olivia decides to kill Claire with her own allergy by using peanut butter, and she succeeded causing the demon to leave Claire. Panicking, Olivia proceeds to stab multiple

DISNEY

epipens into Clair, meaning she used more than three. Which is a lethal dose to use at once.

Clair comes back to life, but it didn’t look authentic. There was no gasp for air like one would expect considering she died from suffocating basically.

I can’t even put the ending into words. Overall this movie’s outcome feels very sloppy and rushed. The setting was good, and the story had great potential, but it feels like they blew their money on the set and actors which resulted in having poor SFX. I do not recommend watching this. The acting is plain awful and the storyline is not entertaining. It was a waste of time and I would hate for anyone to end up like me right now, wishing I never watched it.

“Behind You” can now be streamed on HULU.

MUSIC

Sep. 11 - No Escpae (R), directed by John Erick, starring Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan

Music Sep. 18- Sing Your Dreams-Ace of Cups Sep. 18 -PendulumColor Fields Sep. 18-Volume Four EP- Gold Record Sep. 18 —The Speed of Now Part 1- Keith Urban Sep. 18- More Family Time- Ziggy Marley

photo courtesy of www.imbd.com

Live action ‘Mulan’ stars Liu Yifei. Mulan is available to stream exclusively on Disney+.

Live action ‘Mulan’: More BY

Heidi Mackey

Staff Writer

Sep. 18- Easier To Lie EP- Luke Wild

Netflix Sep. 16- Sing On!

Sep. 16- The Parademic

Sep. 17- Dragon’s Dogma Sep. 17- The Last World Sep. 18- American Barbeque Showdown

Sep. 18- Jurasstic World Camp Cretaceous

Sep. 10- Ratched

Top 5 ways to de-stress

List compiled by Addison Freeman Staff Writer

If you’re looking for the typical Disney movie with empowering songs, the hilariously famous Mushu one liners or the girl gets the guy at the end, then the new Disney live action of Mulan is not for you.

Disney’s original “Mulan” was my favorite Disney movie growing up. I believe this movie is what made me into a feminist at a young age. I loved that Mulan sacrificed her life and her family’s honor just so her dad would not have to fight in the war. It was incredibly brave of her as a Chinese woman to disguise herself as a boy and go to battle for her family without their knowledge.

The songs were incredibly inspiring and empowering to hear, especially “Reflection”. The songs are fun to sing and act out to as well as kid. The idea of Mulan’s ancestors sending Mushu, a small dragon, to watch over her was funny as well. He had classic jokes that would make my entire family and we would use in our every day conversations.

Disney’s live action Mulan includes none those fun songs or the humor of Mushu. I knew that two of my favorite parts of this movie were not included and still went in with an open mind, knowing the story was still the same. The movie honestly blew me away.

This live action Mulan still has the spunk, rebellious and

curious side of her that is in the cartoon version of the movie. She still disappoints the match maker, dresses up as a brother she does not have, and fights in a war and wins.

However, she does not develop a love interest that gives her another reason worth fighting for.

We’re told in the beginning of the movie that a special warrior with a powerful “qi” will be the one to help win the war. Qi is a powerful source of balance and strength that only men are supposed to have. If a woman has a powerful “qi” then she is seen as a witch. Mulan is the warrior with the powerful “qi” and must use it in silence so that she isn’t found out to be a woman or be deemed a witch.

This put a powerful spin on the movie and showed that women can have these powers and use them for good too. It really gives the story and character of Mulan that power and feminist identify that is loved from the cartoon version. You find out more about what it truly means for a Chinese woman during that time to bring honor to her family and how she can dishonor her family.

I didn’t expect to like this live action version, but I was blown away by the story and the power it held. This movie is a great lesson for all young girls and women that you can bring honor and respect to your family and self by taking chances and doing what feels right.

“Mulan” (2020) is available to be streamed on Disney Plus.

1. Take a Nap

2. Clean up

Until I started college and moved into an apartment, I hated naps.

They wasted part of the day when I could be doing something fun or productive. Now, one of the most fun and productive things I can do is take a good, long nap.

As soon as I get out of my last class or get off work, it’s straight to bed. Napping helps you get a little boost of energy before you start homework or go to work.

I’ve found that if I’m feeling too stressed or anxious, even just laying down and putting my phone away can help me calm down.

I get it. This is probably something only I enjoy. When we’re overwhelmed we’ll often do just about anything to keep us from focusing on the source of that stress. One way I do this is by finding something to tidy up. I always feel so accomplished after straightening up what was messy. Seeing that I’ve cleaned something makes me feel like I have gained back control over my life. If you’re anything like me, being in a messy area tends to stress you out more. So clean it up. It’s worth a try, right? Even if it doesn’t seem to help at the moment, it’ll be one less thing to worry about later.

photo courtesy of www.wyexpect.com

Detroit native, Big Sean paid tribute to his city in new album. Big Sean’s latest album “Detroit 2”

Big Sean gets introspective in new album, gives musical masterpiece

by Delaney Van Wilpe

News Editor

Big Sean’s new, 21 track album, is a love letter to his roots. The album is a sequel to his 2012 mixtape and is even called “Detroit 2.” Big Sean dropped the songs “Deep Reverence” and “Harder Than My Demons” as singles prior to the album’s release Sept. 4.

As Big Sean’s fifth studio album, “Detroit 2” seems like his most honest one yet, with the most features I have possibly ever seen on an album before. With 29 features in total, some honorable mentions include the late Nipsey Hussle, Post Malone, Ty Dolla $ign, Jhené Aiko, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne and more.

There are also three separate tracks all titled “Story” featuring Dave Chappelle, Erykah Badu and Stevie Wonder where each person reflects on the magic of Detroit.

“Creative, deep, rooted, organic, cosmic/ Fantastic, futuristic, ancient, musical/ When I think of Detroit, I think of these things,” Badu said.

3. Treat yourself

Everyone has some type of guilty pleasure junk food, mine is ice cream. But in a society obsessed with the ‘perfect’ body, a lot of us try to let our junk food addictions go. I don’t think we should.

While I don’t think we should live off of our guilty pleasure foods, occasionally indulging ourselves is important. If I’ve had a particularly stressful day, I just need a little frozen happiness.

Worrying about what others think about what we eat is at the bottom of the list of things to worry about. There are moments when we need to reward ourselves for everything we’ve done so far before we can pull ourselves together and move forward. So go on! Treat yourself!

Sean tackles tough issues in the album as he discusses his suicidal thoughts, anxiety and hardships. In a way, it seems as though Sean wrote this album to heal. He dives into his past traumas head on– a difficult thing for anyone to do, but it is especially refreshing to see this vulnerability in a rapper.

He’s reflecting on the man he has become and the tough times that he worked through to get there.

“Deep Reverence” featuring Nipsey Hussle discusses his trouble with grappling the facts of his anxiety, “Look, I ain’t think I had the thought of suicide in me/ Until life showed me all these different sides of me/ Too many times I thought the reaper was outside for me.”

The bumping track “Harder Than My Demons” is all about him defying all the powers working against him in “Deep Reverence.” Sean sings, “I done wiggled out the noose knot.”

He shares advice with the audience almost in the form of a proverb or potentially quotes your yoga teacher would share with you on your way out of class right before they say “namaste.” It is a rap

4. Call someone

I can’t believe I’m suggesting this. I’ve never been one to purposefully put myself in a situation where I have to talk to other people. Maybe it’s the residual loneliness from quarantine, but lately, I’ve had a hard time not talking. If you feel like this as well, you might want to try calling someone. By calling my friends or family, I’ve been able to talk about what’s causing me to stress, and they’ve been able to talk me through it. Conversations also help me get my mind off of whatever I’m overthinking.

album, no doubt, but it is also a guide to self-improvement.

Big Sean claims to have finally found his third-eye.

“Everything That’s Missing,” one of my favorites on the album, shares the give and take needed to survive in this world. This song shows off Sean’s singing abilities rather than his rapping abilities, and he explains that you can’t have a beautiful life without a little pain and hard work.

Despite Sean’s humbling vulnerability displayed, he reminds us that he is still Big Sean and his flows are as fresh as ever. Tracks like “The Baddest” shows the cockiness we have seen from him in past projects. But, the biggest, baddest, best track is “Don Life” featuring Lil Wayne and Meek Mill. He sampled and sped up Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature.”

Upon listening, my dopamine levels had to have risen.

His multi-faceted approach to this album shows how talented he truly is.

Diddy concluded the song “Full Circle,” and summed up “Detroit 2” perfectly, and said, “When God said, ‘Let there be light,’ he made Sean.”

5. Put it off Putting it off does not mean procrastinating until the last minute. It just means to wait a little while. With the start of a new semester, I’ve noticed that I’m having a hard time getting organized. However, once I finally get my assignments and other duties organized, I find myself trying to get everything done at one time. So I’ve started to look at what I have to do, and see if there’s anything I can put off until later. There’s always something that can wait until the morning or the next day. If you feel comfortable doing this, I recommend it. We’re still at the start of a semester; let’s not burn ourselves out already!

8/ Sept. 16 , 2020

ucanews.live

SPORTS

UCA STATS CORNER SPORT

photo courtsey of ucasports.com

Graduate Student Hadley Dickinson is happy to be able to play this fall in a non-conference schedule. In 2019 Dickinson scored 4 goals and started in all 18 games she played in.

Graduate Student hopes for a great season Kennadi Harris Entertainment Editor

Graduate Student, Hadley Dickinson, has left her mark on the UCA women’s soccer team.

Originally from Cabot, Arkansas, Dickinson has served on the Bears for four years. She plays midfielder and wears the number six.

Since being on the team, she has reached several recognitions and awards.

One of those awards is being named Southland Conference Second Team in 2019. To receive this award the athlete has to be voted by head coach, sports information director and academic/compliance staff member from each school. Also the athlete has to have at least a 3.0 GPA and played on at least 50 percent of the team’s games.

“It felt good getting an academic award because I really try to put school before soccer,” Dickinson said. “Honestly it’s not that hard to balance it because it always keeps you on a schedule and gives you more structure.”

Attention:

Head Coach Jeremy Bishop gave Dickinson praise on ucasports.com.

“We are proud of Hadley and the way she represents our program both on the field and in the classroom,” Bishop said.

She also was one of the top goal scorers of last season, scoring 4 goals the whole season.

This included two against Nicholls. She also provided 3 assists including a major assist in a 2-0 win over Houston Baptist.

“I’ve been working hard and normally the position I play doesn’t end up being a top goal scorer but I’ve just been working really hard,” Dickinson said.

Being that other sports teams are not able to play this semester due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Dickison says her and her team are thankful to be on the field this fall.

“I’m really excited and I feel really blessed. I think the whole team does because I know a lot of teams aren’t able to play this year and we’re just really happy that UCA allowed us to play this year,” Dickinson said.

Women’s XC

UCA XC Open

2nd

Women’s Soccer

Little Rock

1-0 (W)

(1-0)

Women’s Socer

Arkansas State

2-0 (L)

(1-1)

Men’s XC

UCA XC Open

1st

Cross Country:

Megan Holder Social Media Editor

admissions for the university for the next few years.

Junior quarterback Breylin Smith shared his experience as the most watched player on the team.

“I don’t feel any added pressure because the games are on ESPN. I just focus on controlling the things that I can and play,” Smith said.

He also shared that all of his teammates have “been excited... being able to showcase our talents is a great experience, and it is really good for the University as well.”

photo by Ian Lyle

Sophomore forward Emma Hawkins contends for the ball against Arkansas State University defender Rachel Kutella.

The 2-0 loss was the first loss for the Bears this season.

Bears fall to instate rivals

Continued from page 5

been fortunate the last two years to get some goals that are kind of lucky at times, but they’re a strong team.”

“I thought we connected well. Our defense had a good game,” sophomore defensive midfielder Abby Gibson said speaking about the strongpoints of UCA’s side during the match, “It was unlucky in the end with the PK and the second goal but I thought our defense did well and our midfield connected we just couldn’t finish. Our forwards had some good runs, but we just didn’t finish.”

“I think we played well.

We just slipped up twice and the mistakes cost us. I think we were the better team overall.

We had our chances and some really good plays, but we just never capitalized on them. I don’t think the score of the game shows how we played.” Senior attacking midfielder Anika Sulton said despite the loss, Sulton knows that the team needs to find its energy for future games because they did not have enough in this game.

“We did our best when we were playing the ball wide and our forwards would dribble to the line and slot it back to the people on top of the box,” Sulton said in depicting the team’s play and searching for improvement. “I think if we did more of that, we would have had more success tonight. Overall we needed more energy as a

Bears take the lead at UCA Challenge

4 Continued from page 5

The University of Central Arkansas women’s cross country team started their 2020 season at Beaverfork Lake Park on Sept.

12.

Overall, the women and men placed first with a combined score of 27 and a time of 1:19.29.

“We ran well,” Interim Head Coach Beau Theriot said. “We had one drop out early in the race that could’ve helped us there at the end, and then we’re not racing two of our ladies yet.

Sara and Julia were part of the championship team last year. If they were in the mix we would’ve had a better showing.”

With a career-best time of 19:03.1, Junior Casey Gore led the women’s team placing 5th in the race.

“Overall I think I did really well,” Gore said.

Soccer:

RECORD

Women’s cross country starts unique fall season with impressive first home meet

UCA football getting national spotlight after

“Our athletic program has been mentioned on nearly every national sports channel on both TV and radio around the country over the past two weeks,” Sports Information Director Steve East said. “That offered us the unique opportunity to tell our story to viewers who might not have known much, if anything, about the University of Central Arkansas prior to that.”

Both Brown and East believe that the exposure UCA has been able to gain so far this season will positively impact both athletic recruitment and general

RESULT

Nores finished sixth of The Bears didn’t struggle women’s cross country meet will 105 in the 2019 UCA Cross too much with the Arkansas be at Oklahoma State University Country challenge with a time morning humidity, as shown by on Oct. 3.

Dickinson says she is hoping of 19:25. the team’s final combined time This win for UCA was more for a great season.

Working with the team like of 1:19:00. than meets the eye. The win “Our hope for this season is Nores has been doing seemed “Being next to a lake, it’s earned them four more points in to hopefully go undefeated but to help him in preparing for this going to be humid, it’s going the I-40 showdown. also play a bunch of different years race as he made it in the to be hot. Everyone’s suffering According to ucasports. schools that we don’t get to play top five in the race. as much as each other, so com the Bears lead the since we are not doing conference “We’re pushing each other you’ve just got to remember showdown 7-0. this season,” Dickinson said. every time, every day in practice, that everyone else is hurting, so The next time the Bears She loves playing for UCA so we’re there for each other. you’re all in the same boat,” said will meet the Trojans will be in because she enjoys the bond with We’re teammates, you know; Hanson.

Women’s Soccer at Little Rock her team. family,” Nores said.

The next men’s and on Oct. 4.

“I like that I get to do exercise UCA CHALLENGE with a fun group of girls. They’re not only my friends but they’re my family and we get through everything together,” Dickinson said. “I feel like I bring a sense of leadership to the team or a positive mindset whenever we play games or are at practice.”

Her favorite memories with the team include traveling to away games and winning the 2018 conference championship.

Dickinson is working to get a masters in business marketing photo courtsey of UCA Athletics and hopes to get into the field of sports marketing and social Junior Casey Gore at the finish line of the UCA 2020 cross country challenge for the women’s 5k. Gore earned her team 3 points by coming in 5th place in the race. media.

The Bears play their first game on Thursday at home against the UALR Trojans.

4 Continued from page 5

“Dr. Teague was able to put a creative schedule together in a short amount of time” has “resulted in the most difficult schedule in history.” The teams that UCA is playing this fall are teams that will provide opportunity for the players to play against teams that they would not normally play against.

Brown elaborated on how the attention will help UCA recruit in the future, saying that the exposure has allowed the university to “spread our brand as a whole” and “add positivity” to the recruitment process.

OPPONENT

team. We had moments, but it needed to be the whole game from everyone. I think when the whole team puts the effort in it’s really hard to beat us.”

Even though ASU won 2-0 the Bears know that they could have won this game.

“ASU always gives us a good game,” Sulton said. “They are a physical team and they play us really hard. I think there is a little rivalry because we are both in Arkansas. I don’t think their team tonight was anything special. I have seen much better ASU teams in past seasons. Like I said, I don’t think the score is a true representation of the game.

We definitely could have won tonight.”

She said she didn’t have a good cross country season last year, and she worked really hard over the summer and had a “good mental aspect” during the race.

“I think it did really well for me to just come in with positivity and a good mindset and just

Laura:

coming out here running for the team,’’ Gore said.

Gore said her personal goal for this season is to be in the top three. She was in the top seven last year. She also plans to run a personal best of 18:00.

One of her biggest inspirations is Chelsea Weaver Smith. Smith is a volunteer assistant and runs with the women’s cross country team as an unattached.

“She (Chelsea) ran in college, and she kind of knows what we’re going through. She’s been there for me basically these past two years giving me a lot of encouragement and inspiration to run,” Gore said.

Smith made a big announcement after the meet.

She told the team that she was pregnant. She was actually a part of the race until she injured her ankle.

Although Smith has been long gone from college and is carrying a child, she plans to continue running but just being extra careful.

Gore wants to remind upcoming athletes not to put a lot of pressure on themselves.

“I didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself, and I kind of just ran open-minded. I just say to be positive, know that you can do it, and don’t stop,” Gore said.

Junior Kennedy Timmerman came in 8th with a personal best time of 19:17.0.

Timmerman said the run went “pretty well” for her. It was her personal record.

“I was able to train a lot more during quarantine which was really a positive side of it,” Timmerman said. “The humidity was the hard part mainly. My legs felt fine, but you could tell that everyone in the race was struggling to breathe.”

She said she was trying to stay in a pack with her team.

“Our main goal today was to win as a team and not as individuals, so I was just trying to stay up with Casey mainly,” Timmerman said.

For the past three weeks, the team has been training hard, and preparing for their first meet was different because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We kind of haven’t let up this past week because we didn’t want to peak this race. We kind of looked at it more as practice because of the championship being canceled,” Timmermann said.

She said the first couple of weeks they weren’t allowed to run together.

“That was tough because you don’t really get pushed as hard when you run by yourself,” Timmermann said.

She said they also have to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks.

Bears send help to Louisiana folllowing Hurricane.

Continued from page 5

Charles the week of Sept. 13.

Whiting made this all possible.

Whiting worked all day on Sept. 11 to put the effort together and communicated with multiple sources to get the information out to the public.

Even though UCA and McNeese are rivals in the Southland Conference it doesn’t stop UCA from lending a hand to help.

“We are all friends within the league,” Whiting said. “Just hate to see the impact that [Hurricane Laura] is having there, but we know they are a strong resilient bunch and know that they will

overcome this.”

Due to the large winds from Hurricane Laura, the damage in Louisiana is estimated to be between 8 billion to 12 billion dollars.

According to the BBC News the storm made contact with over 600,000 homes and 400,000 of those homes are without power, while the other 200,000 is without the means of power and water.

McNeese State experienced multiple outages, and currently have flooding on their football, baseball, and track fields. “ At this moment, we have concurrently begun debris

removal, building damage assessment and the remediation and restoration work of our academic buildings and resident halls.” Daryl Burckel, McNeese State’s President, said in an announcement to students, Whiting went onto say how proud he is of the team effort that went into putting this together in only a week’s worth of time.

There is still time to give.

For more information concerning the damage on McNeese State and in Louisiana visit mcneesefoundation.org/give/ campus-emergency-fund.