Issue 5, Volume 114, Publication Date--September 25, 2019

THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS’ STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 Volume 114— Issue 5

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Campus Life:

Campus Protest: Climate Strike invoked emotion from UCA students

Movie Release: “Between Two Ferns” not as funny as advertised

UCA Football: Bears experience first loss of the year 4 page 5

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Schedler’s life celebrated in memorial for students

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88/70 THE NEWSDESK FROM THE ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

I N T E R N AT I O N A L Egyptians protest on government spending

Approximately 200 participated in protests Saturday in response to corruption allegations surrounding Egyptian President Abdul Fattah alSisi. Police fired tear gas into the crowd and arrested dozens.

The president has been accused of lavish spending while millions in Egypt live in poverty. Sisi has denied these claims.

by Kedran Young Staff Writer

On Saturday, Sept. 21, The UCA Norbert O. Schedler Honors College held a memorial for Norbert Schedler, affectionately known as Norb, the founder of the honors program.

Schedler passed away on May 26 of this year due to complications with Parkinson’s disease and multiple myeloma.

In McCastlain Ballroom, members of the honors community, such as Interim Dean Patricia Smith, Alumni Gwendolann Ford Faulkenberry and Matthew Taylor, faculty member Doug Corbitt and current sophomore and mentor in the honors college, Sabrina Cheri, spoke on the life and

accomplishments of Schedler.

The musical tribute, “Graceful Ghost Rag”, by William Bolcom, was played on the piano by alumnus John Vollertsen. While current UCA president Houston Davis could not speak at the memorial, he was featured in the legacy video along with Elizabeth Farris, a board of trustee member whose father, Jefferson Farris, was the president when Schedler began the honors college. Rush Harding, who has given the largest gift to the Honors College of half a million dollars, Rick Scott, former director and later Dean of the honors college, were also present at the memorial.

After attending Princeton University, where Dr. Schedler

received his PhD in Philosophy, he taught at different universities until settling at UCA as the chairman of the philosophy department in 1976. He and the previous Dean of the Honors College began the program in 1981.

“He saw that students who really wanted a challenging personal experience didn’t necessarily have a place to go to find that,” Freshman Year Curriculum Coordinator and professor Dr. Donna Bowman said.

Bowman, who has been working for the Honors College for 21 years, was the first person hired by Dr. Schedler himself to work exclusively in honors.

Schedler, who was a philosopher

of religion, hired Bowman as she is a scholar of religious studies.

Schedler’s beliefs implied that faculty should have mentoring relationships with students. He believed in the personal development of students. By facing tough existential questions, the student would have to do the work to make sense of it, and that would make a more mature, more thoughtful and more coherent person.

“Having known him as a student, and then knowing him again in a more professional capacity, what stuck out to me the most was how apparent it really became that he loved the students so much,” Patricia Smith, Interim Dean and pervious student of the

MUSIC

ADMISSIONS

2019 retention rates show positive growth

N AT I O N A L Fake “Area 51” event attracts alien lovers

Thousands traveled to small Nevada towns Friday in response to an internet joke.

“Storm Area 51,” the fake Facebook event created by Matty Roberts, encouraged participation in a raid to find evidence of extraterrestrial life rumored to be stored in the classified government facility. Hundreds attended alien-themed festivals and events hosted in the desert towns of Rachel and Hiko.

Though no raid occurred, at least three individuals were arrested for trespassing at the base.

Two women arrested in national IRS fraud ring

Two Los Angeles County women accused of participation in a national fraud ring were arrested Thursday. Ailing Lu and Ji Hyun Lee, both 25, were suspected of impersonating IRS employees over the phone and scamming several victims out of thousands of dollars. Detectives searched two locations and found $900,000 worth of gift cards, electronics, and other items. It is unclear how many victims were affected by the fraud.

S TAT E

LR school district shifts control to board

The Arkansas Department of Education has proposed a plan to return limited control of Little Rock School District to a local board of directors.

The district has been under state control since 2015. The plan was outlined at a special meeting Friday but was met with some disapproval. It will be revisited during an October board meeting. The plan involves the election of nine board members in November 2020.

WHAT’S AHEAD

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE The Rethink Your Drink campaign at UCA

by Ronak Patel Photo Editor

photo by Lauren McCabe.

UCA Artist-In-Residence, Michael Lowenstern, plays his bass clarinet for a crowd in Snow Fine Arts auditorium Sept.

19. Lowenstern gave three presentations over the course of the day and then proceeded to end his time on campus with a perfromance highlighting his musical talents.

Electronic bass clarinetist visits music students

by Lauren McCabe Editor

A man walked up on the stage in the Snow Fine Arts Center Sept. 19 in striped, neon socks.

A pair of tortoise shell glasses sat on his face as he stood beside a plethora of wires and a sound system; his bass clarinet perched beside him.

Artist-In-Residence and world-renowned bass clarinetist and composer Michael Lowenstern performed for a crowd of students and patrons as a part of his one-day residency on the UCA campus — organized

by Dr. Kelly Johnson, associate professor of clarinet.

“I’ve never brought a bass clarinetist [to UCA] before,” Johnson said. “I thought [Lowenstern’s] music was so contemporary and current — something everyone would enjoy; not just clarinet majors.”

Lowenstern, originally from Chicago has performed, recorded and toured the U.S. and abroad with ensembles of every variety, including The Klezmatics, The Steve Reich Ensemble, The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Actively involved with new technology in sound and music, Lowenstern is one of America’s leading producers of creative electro-acoustic music, both for his own works and in collaboration with other composers.

On Sept. 19, Lowenstern preceded in the opportunity to conduct two lectures earlier in the

Index:

day, which included discussing topics as making a career as a musician and composing for clarinet and bass clarinet.

But perhaps the icing-ontop-of-the-cake for students and faculty was to actually hear and see Lowenstern perform his critically-acclaimed mixing and composing skills.

With a whitty and quirky approach to performing.

Lowenstern described the backstories of each piece that he had lined up to perform.

Growing up in Hyde Park, Lowenstern had many inspirations to pick from when it came to writing and experimenting with his own, unique sound.

“I love pop music, especially Prince,” Lowenstern said to his audience. “Another one of my favorites is Ray Charles. I don’t know why he never invited me to play with him and his band.”

With his computer sat on top of a cart and programmed to follow his every musical command, Lowenstern began some of his tunes by beatboxing into his microphone. The electronic computer program was set to record and layer his manmade sounds into something of an upbeat and personable song.

Audience members were even given the opportunity by Lowenstern to help him make a few beats needed for a song, based on their clapping and humming noises.

“He’s definitely a little quirky,” Alison Sneed, sophomore clarinet major said

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Honors College said While there was a pervious memorial in the summer, following Schedler’s death, for faculty and administration, this specific memorial was about current students. As his death occurred before the semester began, the incoming freshman were not able to meet and speak with Schedler. This memorial was an opportunity for these students to learn about his life and those who loved him while speaking with alumni about their experiences in the honors college and with Norb as well.

Schedler’s legacy lies within the honors college. He has made a difference in the nearly 2,000 students who have come through, igniting a passion in them to make the world a better place.

“You can definitely tell that [with] his personality, he has a lot of fun — which is really refreshing.”

Lowenstern seemed to pride himself in making his day at UCA as fun and as interactive with the students as possible.

“The job of the teachers [at UCA] is to sort of take students through, like, a regime,” Lowenstern said. “I feel like it’s my job to come in and stir the soup a little bit. There’s the world of what you learn and then there’s the outside world. I think that the outside world is something that academia doesn’t always spend a lot of time talking about.”

Lowenstern, who also has a full-time job working for Amazon, hopes that his career as a paid musician inspires other music majors and lovers to take the plunge of publishing and performing their own, unique music.

“I love playing, because it creates a community,” Lowernstern said. “I hope that [students] realize that there is more out there than just the classes they take and the practicing they do. But that they are all going to go out theren and comtribute to the world of music and that they realize everybody has a special gift. Hopefully when they go out, they are teaching to someone or [performing] it for other people.”

To learn more about Lowenstern, hear his music, or to read his recording tutorials and blog, visit his official website earspasm.com.

UCA has seen a surge in retention rates recently from freshman year to sophomore year.

Freshmen are entering UCA with higher GPAs and ACT scores. This year’s class had 1,840 freshmen, who had an average ACT score of 24.5 and an average GPA of 3.57.

It might be easy to see the rise of the ACT and GPA of students who are entering the university and assume that is why the retention rate is higher, but UCA Student Success has played a big role.

UCA Student Success wanted to change their system and try new ways to get through to students.

“We’re going to make sure students get the resources and information they need,” Winden Fey said.“We wanted to make sure students are encouraged to do well and are supported.

We started looking at what that means on a day to day basis.”

One of the systems that UCA Student Success felt they needed change was their tutoring system.

“We do more tutoring now and we are more proactive in making sure faculty and students know more about tutoring service and the writing center. We’re trying to make our services more visible,” WindenFey said.

To make tutoring more accessible to students, UCA Student Success has also found a way to put tutors in the classroom alongside students.

“We’ve ramped up supplemental instruction (SI),” Winden-Fey said. “It’s an international program of putting the tutor in the classroom.

Students who have already had the class and done well goes to class with the students”, Supplemental instruction coordinator, Drew Richardson targets classes that cause trouble for students who haven’t had much exposure to college level classes, “We are hoping to solve a different problem with SI, which is there are certain classes that specifically have a high DFWI rate. These are classes where

students have a high rate of getting a D, F, or withdrawing.

We target these classes specifically for SI and try to focus on them. We also target classes that prevent students from going onto the next level” Richardson said.

SI’s mission is to help students learn the course material, but they also have a focus on going beyond the course material and teaching study skills that will help them throughout their college career, “Our tutors establish study sessions, which are three times a week. The focus of that is not just on the material of the class but also on competency. There are a large number of freshmen in DFWI classes typically. There are so many freshmen in these classes that are taking a college level course for the first time.

The SI leader, their role is to make sure students know how to study effectively. Do they know how to read a textbook and interact with their notes.

We want to make sure they are utilizing the resources available for them,” Richardson said.

UCA now requires students to take first year seminar to help them learn them skills that prepares them for college level courses.

“We have a first year seminar that students are required to take. We are putting in things like study skills and reading strategies. We’ve got weekly workshops on skills like how to use a textbook, communicating with faculty members, and how to manage your time” WindenFey said.

Shifting from mid term grades to progress reports has helped provide students who are struggling with a better support system to stop them from failing.

“We got rid of mid term grades and we are doing progress reports now. The difference is mid term grades were in week eight, progress reports are in week 4. The faculty is asked if the student is at risk of failing your class and if they are then our office sees that. Someone from our office gets in contact with those students, sits them down and talks about what’s not working and how they can improve. I think that’s a much

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Versatilitiy and skill of WNBA players proves the league is in its golden era.

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Students educated on sexual health at fair

by Lauren McLemore Associate Editor

photos by Ronak Patel

Performers from Yumare Meixcan Folkloric Dance and La Rumba showcase dances of Hispanic and Latin American culture. Amigo Fest on Sept. 20 featured food trucks and local restaurants to provide guests with authentic dishes of Hispanic and Latin American dishes.

Amigo Fest celebrates Hispanic heritage

by Ronak Patel Photo Editor

On Sept. 20 UCA’s Amplitheater was filled with joy as students, faculty and members of the community came together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Amigo Fest allowed guests to experience Hispanic and Latin American culture by watching performances by Yumare Mexican Folkloric Dancer, Mariachi Viva Jalisco and La Rumba Dancers while enjoying authentic Hispanic and Latin American dishes from local food trucks and restuarants.

For Maria Negrete-Pardon who is the assisstant director for UCA Diversity and Community it was very encouraging to see the community’s support for Amigo Fest.

“It’s a great feeling that people want to learn more about the Latin American and Hispanic culture. I love it, I’m personally Mexican,” Negrete-Pardon said.

Amigo Fest was a great opportunity for people to see the many subset cultures within the Hispanic and Latin American communities, “I love seeing people want to learn that there isn’t just Mexican culture out there but there

is Venzuelan, Ecudorian, Salvadorian and Honduran,” Negrete- Pardon said. “There are so many cultures that come together and make this vibrant.

It’s great to see all of our cultures be celebrated. This is definetly something that brings joy to my heart.”

While the community was on campus, UCA Diversity and Community wanted to provide them with services that they might not normally have access to.

“We try to just bring people awareness to their health. In the Hispanic community, there is the tendency of not going to the doctor, so we wanted to teach people about their health.

Bringing awareness to health is needed, because not everyone has access to it. Not everyone just has medical insurance to just get check ups, so this is a small check up that we have for students and the community” Negrete-Pardon said.

UCA Diversity and Community wanted to make this a fun event for guests of all ages, including the children of the community.

“We have the children zone, some people don’t have the ability to take their kids to a bouncy house place or anywhere

Success:

like that. It allows them to have some time outside of the house” Negrete- Pardon said.

For those who are more interested in learning about Hispanic and Latin American culture, there is plenty of literature available.

“For children there is the movie, Coco. I love that movie, I think it depicts the Day of the Day very well. It’s about remembering the ones who have passed away. Freida Kahlo, she’s an amazing artist. She would also write poetry. Gabriel García Márquez, he is also a writer.

There are different shows like soap operas or telenovelas on Netflix. There’s El Chavo del Ocho, it’s a Mexican comedy but it’s white comedy, it’s not double sides comedy. It’s well known around the world” NegretePardon said.

UCA Latino Student Association wil be hosting a potluck Oct. 3 at the alumni Pavillion from 1-3. Also on Oct. 3, the association will be hosting former ABS correspondant and current host of the show “What Would You Do?”, John Quiñones. October 9th, Latino Student Association and Sigma Iota Alpha will be hosting Samantha Ramirez to McCastlain Ballroom.

Freshman retention rates bring UCA pride

4 Continued from page 1 better proactive approach than mid term grades” Winden-Fey said.

Winden-Fey believes students’ taking initiative to deal with their mental health has been a factor in their success.

“I don’t think this

generation is less healthy, but I think they are more willing to seek help and that’s great. The more we can provide workshops and group support sessions and one on one counseling, the better. It helps reach students.

The student health center is a big

help with our student retention rate,” Winden-Fey said.

UCA Student Success is proud of their retention rates with freshmen and their next project is improving retention rates overall and raising the graduation rate.

Vendors, speakers, and students gathered at the Sexual Health Fair Sept. 18, which took place in the Student Center Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is the second time the fair has been held on campus.

Over lemonade and cookies, attendees talked with vendor booth hosts about the importance of sexual health and the variety of resources on and off campus, often giving students pamphlets or other educational material to take with them. Vendors included outside entities like the local Planned Parenthood and UAMS as well as on campus resources and organizations such as the UCA counseling center, UCAPD, and Feminist Union.

While the Office of Student Wellness and Development, the fair’s organizers, had planned to have a panel of speakers for their presentation, a last minute change of plans led to a lecture from Health Program Specialist Gisele Hudson. Hudson works to promote HIV education and prevention for the Arkansas Department of Health and was the speaker at the first Sexual Health Fair this past spring.

Kristin Jetts, an administrative specialist for the office of student wellness and development, said that she enjoyed Hudson’s presentation from the previous semester and knew that she would be prepared to give it again.

“A lot of people don’t realize

Students studying abroad at all-time high

by Ronak Patel Staff Writer

UCA Study Abroad sent a record number of students to study over seas in 2018-19.

The 2019 summer programs saw 166 students study abroad with a record number of faculty helping lead or assisst with these programs at 24. For the semester exchange, UCA Study Abroad had fifteen students study abroad for a whole semester in the Spring and eighteen who are currently over seas for the Fall semester.

One of the reasons why more students are studying abroad is because of Natalie Fleming, education abroad director, who has made an effort to increase number of different programs open for students to explore.

“We have a lot of professors on campus that represent a variety of colleges intersted in study abroad. We made time to sit down with them and say ‘how can we make your vision into a reality?’ We’re so excited because some of the new programs that we put forth were instantly successful”, Fleming

Student scoffs at stop sign, arrested Officer Tyler Louden arrested student Logan Sloss for driving with a suspended license and a warrant after he was stopped by Sergeant Justin Robinson for reckless driving on campus in a blue Ford F150. Sergeant Sarah Garrett observed Sloss run four or five stop signs. As Sloss approached the parking lot west of Estes Stadium, he turned the wrong direction in a one way. He ran another stop sign before being stopped by Robinson. Because he was unable to provide his driver’s license, Louden placed Sloss in handcuffs after dispatch confirmed his warrant and license suspension. Sloss was transported to Conway

County and released to their deputy.

Deashia Reed. Bear Patrol is handling matters internally.

Wall of hall found Student’s wallet damaged by cart taken from vehicle The retaining wall east of Arkansas Hall was found damaged on Sept. 15. Officer Jaden Foy observed bricks scattered throughout the area and damage to the northwest side of the wall. Officer Destin Rink accessed surveillance footage and found that the incident had occurred when an extended golf cart drove past the wall and was then put in reverse before backing into it. The vehicle was identified as a Bear Patrol cart when its damage was found consistent with the incident. The individuals responsible were students Diamond Blade and

Officer Philip Boyd was dispatched Sept. 17 to Erbach Street Apartments for a report of theft. Boyd made contact with student Diamond Love who claimed that her Louis Vuitton wallet was stolen from her Kia Rio. Love said that she found the driver side door was ajar and saw the glove compartment was open.

The documents that were inside the glove box had been thrown onto the floorboard.

When asked if the stolen wallet contained anything of importance, she said that it did not. Her birth certificate, ID, and social security card were found on the ground a few feet from the vehicle.

said. “I think part of the reason is there hadn’t been an opportunity in summer with UCA in those areas. For example, we had a program for OT and nursing to Costa Rica and they had 17 students go for ten days and have an amazing time but a practical experience.

Making tuition more affordable has played a role in getting students to take classes in another country, “Bascially any time a student goes during the summer or whole semester, they’re paying less tuition compared to if you’re on campus because some of the on campus fees are removed. That was a big deal, students saw that it was less expensive to go abroad and pay abroad tution than on campus tuition” Fleming said.

Studying abroad is a great experience for students to learn about the world. Studying abroad helped Junior Amanda Dibee see what Rwanda was truly like, “Alot of things when you think about Africa, especially Rwanda is genocide and I thought it would be a lot of sad people in sad places in their lives. It really wasn’t like that. How alot of

people perceive Africa isn’t what it really is like. There’s buildings and everything else we have here.

Everyone was just really happy. I never met anyone who was mean or sad” Dibee said.

When students are overseas to study, they have the freedom to venture out and explore their own interest. While studying abroad Dibee did more than just go to class, “We went on a safari and got to see the elephants giraffes, and zebras. We took a day trip to do that” Dibee said.

For students who are interested in studying abroad, scholarships are available. The deadline to submit scholarship applications for Spring 2020 semester exchange and Summer 2020 is Oct. 11th at 4:30 p.m.

On Oct. 1st, UCA Study Abroad will be hosting their Passport Fair in Torreyson Library room 109 from 10 a.m2:20 p.m. The UCA post office will be providing services like passport photos, processing applications, and taking payments. Students will need to bring an original birth certificate and $160 via check or money order to the Passport Fair.

SGA

Anonymous comment box available for students through new CubConnect feature Assistant News Editor

The following information is compiled from UCAPD incident reports

by Assistant News Editor Hannah White

on campus. I feel like we’ve had a pretty good turnout today,” Jetts said. “But I know that it is something that is very private to some people and we do ask that professors support us and either offer extra credit to their students for attending or announce it in their classes.”

While it can be an intimidating experience, Woodley said that it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

“There’s no amount of embarrassment that comes from anything more than being unprepared so I feel like even if you are shy, or you feel weird about going, or you don’t want to go alone - always come; don’t wait until it’s too late,” Woodley said.

While the appearance of another sexual health fair in the spring is uncertain, volunteers form the office of student wellness and development would like to partner with RSOs PRISM and Feminist Union for the annual “Let’s Get Physical” event next semester. The annual wellness fair, which is another office of student wellness and development event, will feature many, if not all of the same vendors that attended the sexual health fair.

For more information about resources for sexual health, or to see upcoming events hosted by the Office of Student Wellness and Development, vist https:// uca.edu/wellness/.

T R AV E L

by Hannah White

Police Beat

that some things they do everyday put them at risk for not only HIV but other STDs and STIs,” Jetts said. “So [the presentation] is just to get people thinking [things like] ‘okay I’ve done this’ or ‘I have a habit of this [and] I need to be more mindful’.”

The fair is now organized by the office of student wellness and development, but it is the brainchild of the department’s wellness ambassadors.

“It was [the ambassadors’] idea; they organized the one in the spring,” Jetts said.

Wellness ambassadors are students who serve as liaisons between students and the Office of Student Wellness and Development to promote health by assisting in promoting and designing wellness-related events and campaigns.

While the fair is catered to students on UCA’s campus, students from other campuses attended as well, such as UALR graduate student Los’antos Woodley, who just wanted to experience what a health fair was like.

“I feel like with us being this young and having a frequent amount of sex, we need to be knowledgeable and health fairs like this give people options,” Woodley said.

However, there is a lot of concern about the sensitivity of the subject and how to overcome the barrier of privacy to educate more students.

“We had a lot of students who came thorugh and looked at the tables and I got to talk to a couple of them about resources

The UCA Student Government Association hosted its first meeting of the semester Monday and discussed a new addition to the MyUCA CubConnect website and some upcoming changes students can expect to see on campus. The meeting began with the swearing in of new senators.

Senior Senator Colby Little announced a new suggestion and comment form on the MyUCA CubConnect website.

The electronic form will allow students to submit concerns directly to SGA. Little and the IT department are process of making the feature permanent over the coming weeks. Submissions will be sent directly to the president of the student’s classification. The presidents can then choose to act upon issues that are consistently reported. An individual who wants to submit a comment can choose to remain anonymous or allow others to view their submission by checking a box at the bottom of the form.

If permission is given, the

information can be shared with the student body for the purpose of gathering more opinions on the issue with which the comment is concerned. Junior Executive Vice President William Teeter said “If it is something that falls under a particular committee, like if it has something to do with parking it will be sent to the chair of parking and safety.”

Senior Executive President Rose McGarrity discussed the possible transition of ownership of the Student Health Center.

The center is currently under consideration to be outsourced to Conway Regional Health Center for five years. Those currently employed at the center would remain employees of UCA. Prices for services would remain the same for students.

McGarrity discussed the signs bearing the national motto that are to be placed in all UCA classrooms in the coming days under an Arkansas mandate. The signs have been received by the university, but it is unclear when they will be hung.

When asked what measures would be taken to educate students, faculty, and staff on the reason for these signs, McGarrity

said “Executives discussed the possibility of creating a sign to put up next to that sign that has the reason the sign is up.

And then also the names of the senators of Arkansas and how to contact them with concerns.”

SGA has historically had a significant role in assisting with different types of service and relief efforts. In a unanimous vote, SGA allocated $1,620 to Bear Boots on the Ground during Monday’s meeting.

Bear Boots On the Ground is a program offered to students, faculty, and staff, that allows participation in service trips to provide aid and relief in many areas. The 2020 trip will bring participants to Memphis, Tennessee where they will remove trash from the Mississippi river.

In previous years the program was responsible for the removal of thousands of pounds of garbage there. With SGA’s assistance, the cost to attend for students would drop from $100 to $75 each.

The members of SGA had recently returned from their fall retreat organized by Teeter, and were preparing to attend a banquet following the meeting.

Campus Life September 25, 2019

Around Campus:

Confucious Institute Day

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 26, on the Old Main lawn, there will be a Confucious Day fair featuring a display of Chinese culture.

Lawn Learners

From 3 to 4 p.m. Sept. 25, at the UCA fountain, Lawn Learners will have their first meeting. The first 10 to 15 minutes will be a quick lesson on Hispanic Heritage Month and the rest of the time will be for studying, reading and socializing.

Premiere Movie Event: Joker

From 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 4, at the Conway Cinemark Theater, free tickets for “Joker” and a refreshment voucher will be handed out to UCA students.

Diavolo

At 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28, at Reynolds Performance Hall, Diavolo will perform their architecture in motion routine.

Diavolo finished in the top ten on season 12 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

Tickets are on sale now.

Movie: MIB: International

From 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 6, at the Student Center Ballroom, pizza, popcorn, drinks and door prizes will be given out while students enjoy “MIB: International”.

The Desert Fathers in an Internet Age

From 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 7, at Burdick Hall room 205, a presentation by Dr. Richard Goodrich of Gonzaga University will take place.

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Campus shows concern for environment

by Rafael Soliz II Staff Writer

UCA students and faculty gathered to participate in the Global Climate Strike Sept. 20 from10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Climate change is not a lie, do not let our planet die,” attendees said in a chant that echoed through the crowd of people gathered in front of the Student Center.

With multiple booths set up on the patio, passersby got to experience a climate strike first-hand. Attendees were able to discuss climate change with one another, as well as learn from hosts who presented ideas and useful information to students interested in learning about the climate crisis. The event included sign painting, button making, a UCA climate solution board and Campus Conservation Corps. There was even an open mic for anyone who wanted to voice their opinion.

Treci Buchanan, a representative of Conway EcoFest, attended the event to help bring a better understanding and an environmentally-focused viewpoint to the climate strike.

“We’re a non-profit organization for environmental education,” Buchanan said.

“That’s why we’re here

photo by Marley Cash-Powell

Freshman Gabrielle Thurman reads her own post-apocolyptic style short story at the open mic at the UCA Climate Strike held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20 on the Student Center lawn. Thurman’s fictional story followed the life of a character named Janae in a world so polluted that people are forced to run on human-sized hamster wheels to produce energy for the electric company.

today. Anything to do with environmental stewardship, we try to attend. We typically have a festival every October at Laurel Park. We bring together everybody that is working toward sustainability and put them in

one place and show people what is already here and how it really can connect with us every day.”

The climate strike was organized by a number of faculty members as well as two community organizations.

Jennie Case, assistant professor of creative writing at UCA, had a large role in the organization of the event and wanted to give students around campus a voice and an opportunity to show their support of the strike.

“Our goal was to give UCA

Imaginative dance group set to come to Reynolds

By Matt Smothers Campus Life Editor

An upcoming performance by a group known as Diavolo is set to happen Sep. 28 at the Reynolds Performance Hall, starting at 7:30 p.m.

On their website, the Los Angeles-based dance company defines their performance, titled “architecture in motion” as “[exploring] the relation and interaction between the human body and its architectural environment to understand how we are being affected not only socially, but physically and

emotionally.”

“The performance will be filled with various massive architectural pieces that the artists will use in their choreography,” Amanda Horton, director of Reynolds Performance Hall, said. “I think it’s going to be a performance that will keep the audience on the edge of their seat. The choreography is imaginative, acrobats are thrilling, and the surprises are numerous.”

Diavolo finished in the top ten in season 12 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and was named “Best of the Fest”

by The London Independent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1995.

Diavolo’s performances consist of carefully choreographed movements around moving apparatuses.

“When I see people dance or do acrobatics, I constantly say, as a judge, I want you take it to the next level; and you went beyond the next level,” Howie Mandel said when Diavolo debuted on “America’s Got Talent.”

Diavolo was founded by Jacques Heim in 1992 and since its top ten finish on “America’s Got Talent”, the

group has toured throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

Heim was recently a Barney Creative Prize recipient in 2016, which is awarded to dance artists working in the Western United States. He has also won several other awards including the Special Prize of the Jury at the sixth Saitama International Dance Festival and the Martha Hill Choreography Award of the American Dance Festival.

Since its popularity increased, the dance company has launched Diavolo’s The Veterans Project, which is a

From 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Student Center Ballroom comedian Pete Lee will perform.

Lee has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and is a cast member on TruTV’s Greatest Ever.

by Aysha Dixon Opinion Editor

Hispanic/Latino Panel

ARSOPHE Conference

From 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 9, at the Student Center there will be a conference for health education professionals to discuss current issues, hear from subject matter experts and gather evidence-based information and materials to take back to their own organizations.

See Dance- page 4

Entertainer brings smiles during witty performance

Comedian: Pete Lee

From noon to 1 p.m. starting Sept. 23 through Sept. 26, the department of English will hold public readings on the front steps of Torreyson Library to celebrate everyone’s right to read and help educate the UCA community on censorship.

four-month workshop.

According to its website, The Veterans Project’s mission is to “utilize Diavolo’s unique style of movement as a tool to help restore veterans’ physical, mental, and emotional strengths through workshops and public performances in communities all around the country.”

Diavolo will perform for veterans at The Congressional Medal of Honor Convention in Tampa, Florida during the week of Oct. 21.

JOKES

CONNECTIONS

From 1:40 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.Oct. 8 at the College of Business room 111, there will be a presentation for business majors about working for ArcBest.

Banned Books Week

See Strike- page 4

CHOREOGRAPHY

Working at ArcBest

From 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Student Center room 214, a panel of Hispanic/Latinx alumni will be talking about their time as undergraduate students, what they know now, what they wish they had known then, and how they transitioned into the workforce.

students a chance to be a part of the global climate strikes which are occuring around the world today,” Case said. “We want to

photo by Sarah Coleman

Students laugh at each other while playing a heated game of musical chairs Sept. 21 at Afro Chill. The event was hosted from 1-7 p.m under the Alumni Pavillion.

African Student Association connects alumni, current students

by Sarah Coleman News Editor

The African Student Association held the first ever Afro Chill under the Alumni Pavilion Sept. 22. This event was held to connect students of African descendants not only with each other, but with alumni who were also a part of the African Student Association.

Several students gathered underneath the pavillion and played games like musical chairs and giant jenga. Along with the games and an opportunity to network, there were traditional food and drinks served.

Junior Dami Sobo, who is newly involved with the African Student Association, really enjoys that these events exist in

order to help students connect with other students who share the same heritage as himself.

“This was a really cool event,” Sobo said “I’m glad they decided to do this so that we would all have a really laid back way of connecting with each other.’’

The event started at 1 p.m. with people coming and going throughout the day. Several people went to the event in hopes of meeting new people and socializing.

While the majority of students that attended were upperclassmen who have been involved with the African Student Association for a while now, there were several freshmen who came to enjoy a fun day of

icebreakers and getting to know the organization.

Freshman Alice Muriidhi got exactly what she was hoping out of the event. It is Muriidhi’s first time out of her home country of Kenya and she spoke about being excited but also nervous.

“I’m here because I am African and I want to get to know other African students, not just African-American students,” Muriidhi said. “Being so far away from home, it’s nice to gather with people who remind me of home.”

Sobo thought the whole event was similar to a family reunion.

“The whole event resembled something similar to a family reunion. There were alumni with their families playing cornhole — everyone there was eating food

and laughing,” Sobo said.

Overall, Sobo believes that the event went very well, with a large turnout throughout the day. The African Student Association aims to connect African students at UCA together unifying each other and promoting an understanding and awareness about Africa and draw attention and raise awareness for African culture.

For more information about upcoming events, follow the African American Student Association on Instagram at @ UCA_ASA. You can also find them on Facebook under African Student Association: University of Central Arkansas.

In order to get into contact with the African Student Association, email them at ucaasa@gmail.com

Students, faculty and staff gathered in the Student Center Ballroom on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. to see comedian Zainab Johnson. Johnson’s show was a part of the Student Activities Board (SAB)’s fall activities lineup.

As the lights in the ballroom dimmed, SAB Comedy Chair Melissa Duong took the stage to inform the audience of future activities that the organization has in store. Doung expressed that she is most excited for the large comedy show, Ken Jeong and Joel McHale, which will be in Reynolds Performance Hall on Nov. 24.

But once Johnson took the stage, her infectious smile and down-to-earth presence commanded the room. She apologized for her appearance due to her flight being delayed, as she sported a black oversized sweater, ripped black jeans and leather bootie heels.

The audience showed off their Southern hospitality by informing her that she still looked great.

Johnson did not hesitate to show off her unfiltered style of comedy. She began by covering topics like growing up in Harlem and being the fifth of 13 children in a Muslim household.

“I could become the first black female president, and I

See Comedy- page 4

ucanews.live

Comedy: 4 Continued from

CAMPUS LIFE

Dance:

audience what kind of state it is, politically. The audience laughed while collectively telling her that Arkansas is conservative. Still, Johnson discussed social justice and racism.

Johnson discussed how comedy has given her the opportunity to travel to places, like Asia, that she had never been before. She told a story about how her friend from China told her that she would get a lot of stares when she got there.

“You know because you’re,” Johnson said as the audience

anticipated the punchline, “tall.”

Although the show was only supposed to be an hour long, the audience was happy to sit an extra 30 minutes while Johnson finished her bit. She took pictures with fans after the show and was sure to learn each one of their names.

Following the show, Johnson discussed her thought process behind the jokes that she chose to perform.

“We are really in a politically correct time, but I do think that sometimes we are being a little

September 25, 2019 /4

STUDENTS SAY

Comedian leaves audience laughing with performance

What are your “thoughts about the climate strikes? ”

page 3

still would not be able to top my mother having 13 kids,” Johnson said over the audience’s laughter.

She discussed how she enjoyed being the only girl out of four boys before her little sister was born, and how her little brother, who was infamous for writing in his journal, was suspected to be the “gay one” by her siblings.

She then transitioned into topics that would be seemingly awkward to discuss. She admitted that it was her first time in Arkansas, and asked the

4 Continued from

too sensitive when it comes to comedy,” Johnson said. “I think that comedy is one of the last places that should provoke thought and [comedians] should be able to talk about the things that in any other space you can’t talk about.” She went on to say that it is still no excuse for comedians to be racist, sexist or bigoted in any manner.

Johnson said that she feels that her act is not malicious, and therefore is a comedic relief for topics that people typically stray away from talking about.

Story and photos by Ronak Patel

Unique choreographic performance coming to UCA

page 3

The company also provides dance education for low-income families around Los Angeles.

Some of the programs include L.A. Familia, L.A. Unity and T.R.U.S.T. All of these programs allow participants to exercise and learn dance choreography.

T.R.U.S.T. is specifically tailored for schools that see the importance of teamwork for young people.

Diavolo’s newest performance is titled “Voyage” and is inspired by the 50th anniversary of the moon

landing. It is described to be about a young woman who dreams of traveling distances only astronauts can, escaping from the ordinary world into a surreal landscape of infinite possibilities.

Tickets are on sale now

starting at $27 and can be purchased at tickets.uca.edu.

More information about future performances at Reynolds Performance Hall can be found at uca.edu/publicappearances.

More information about Diavolo can be found at diavolo.org.

Freshman Terry Uhm

Sophomore Riley Burkett

“I personally don’t really see what the big deal is, to be honest. I understand that there’s a lot of change going on because of our actions and all the CO2. I’ve been taught in my biology class that climate change is a real thing but new animals will be formed.”

“I thought it was a really cool concept for everyone to come together and take it as important as it is and to show that they’re serious about it.”

Junior Anthony Gonzalez

Freshman Navien Marr

“It’s a good thing. It’s getting the message out and spreading awareness.

I think it’s cool how the school participates in it and allows us to do that.”

“I think the climate strikes are worth it. There’s a lot of problems going on that our leaders haven’t been facing directly.

Sophomore Avery Heering

Junior LaKendria Geter

“I thought they were great. I thought it was something that we need..

I hate that citizens have to stop what they’re doing in the middle of the day and try to get the government’s attention.”

“I’ve never seen people advocate for it so it was a good experience.

The people that were out there were really passionate. I don’t know too much about it, but I know its becoming a problem. I should probably do more research and make myself more aware about it.”

photo by Marley Cash-Powell

Assistant professor of writing Cristine Busser poses with the banner she helped to erect during the UCA Climate Strike on Sept. 20. Busser took an active role in organizing and promoting the event because she felt it is important for students to have an outlet to voice concerns over the condition of the planet.

Strike:

UCA community gathers to protest the lack of action to combat climate

4 Continued from page

3

offer a place on campus where students can feel empowered to speak out about climate change and encourage our leaders both at UCA and in the community to act on it.”

Case also said climate change will have a massive impact on the world for generations and it may even have an impact on

our generation if we don’t act fast.

“I think climate change is going to be the challenge of all of our generations,” Case said.

“It’s up to us to deal with it, and if we don’t, the future does not look good for the world, for a lot of species and for mankind too.

If we don’t cut back on our use

of fossil fuels and work to reduce CO2 emissions, humans aren’t even going to be able to survive on Earth. It’s up to us if we want a livable future.”

As the event progressed, attendees were allotted time in front of an open mic to state their concerns with today’s global climate crisis as well as recite

poems and sing songs if they wished to do so. A human chain was also formed in support of the strike in front of the student center.

For more information about eco-friendly support in the Conway area, visit conwayecofest.com.

PEOPLE OF UCA: Elsa Dickson

by Kedran Young Staff Writer Senior psychology major Elsa Dickson is a passionate and a natural leader who serves as a prominent member of the UCA and Conway community.

On campus, she currently serves on the executive board of both Psych Society and Alpha Sigma Alpha. In the past, she has served as the public relations chair for students of pre-occupational therapy.

Her natural leadership is illustrated by her democratic leading style. She wants everyone to be heard and known as she values fairness and respect. With this quality, she tends to do more than her share of the work in hopes that others will follow her lead. Her desire to put others before herself to create a positive and safe environment has made a great impact on the dynamic of the committees and RSO’s that she has been involved in on campus.

“To be a good leader, you must be a good follower. So as a leader, I would never ask someone to do something that I wouldn’t do,” Dickson said.

Dickson is also a leader in her college. Psychology has always been her passion — as she loves the study of people and how they think and interact with the world. Her graduate school emphasis will be on school psychology which she has become passionate about through the opportunities to explore different options that UCA offers. She conducted and presented research for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences Student Research Poster Symposium.

She looks up to two women who have empowered her to be who she is academically and personally. Emma Watson, an English actress, is one woman that Elsa looks up to in her leadership positions.

“I think there is so much we can learn from [Watson] in

leadership, tolerance and love for one another,” Dickson said.

Morals and deep-rooted values are what Dickson believes makes all of us who we are, and they connect us to one another.

She consistently finds herself admiring Watson’s character, and she believes we can all learn from a powerful and proactive woman like her.

Another woman, much closer to home, whom Dickson views as a role model is Kaity Heaps-Davis, a UCA and Alpha Sigma Alpha alumna.

“She has consistently poured into me since I was a freshman at UCA and has shown me that there is grace with very step that we take,” Dickson said.

“Even if we slip up, there is a growth opportunity that comes with that.”

Dickson has learned to be intentional with everyone; it is a value she holds to high standards.

Her hobbies include hiking

all around Arkansas, getting brunch with her friends, and going to as many concerts as she can. She also loves working with kids. One experience she had with this changed her life as she worked as a camp counselor for a summer camp, Camp War Eagle, a sports and adventure camp with an emphasis on relational evangelism.

“I really encourage anyone who is on the border of working as a counselor to do it because it was such a life changing experience that I didn’t even know that I needed,” said Dickson.

Dickson is a strong leader and desires to change the lives of others for the better through her leadership, and she is not opposed to allowing others to influence her as well. Her impact on the community at UCA will be a lasting one as her passion to better the campus and those that make it up affects all students and faculty around her.

photo courtesy of @UCAspotone on Instagram

Senior Elsa Dickson credits her success to being a leader in the college community. Outside of classses, Dickson enjoys working with children and hiking around Arkansas.

8/ September 25, 2019

ucanews.live

SPORTS

UCA STATS CORNER

SPORT

OPPONENT

RESULT

Hawaii

35-16 (L)

(3-1, 1-0)

Sam Houston State

3-2 (L)

(1-6-1)

Volleyball

Purdue Fort Wayne

3-2(L)

(6-7)

Men’s Soccer

Rio Grande Valley

1-0 (L)

(4-2-1)

Football

Women’s Soccer

RECORD

TOP TEN

photo courtesy of Taylor Blair

Sophomore Jenny Chokbengboun enjoys her time working with UCA intramurals. She embraces the easy-going feel of intramural sports.

Intramural chair embraces her position

by Rose McGarrity Staff Writer

UCA sophomore Jenny Chokbengboun is Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority’s intramural chair, meaning she coordinates various intramural games and manages her sorority’s intramural teams.

Intramurals, typically offered at universities, are recreational sports. Chokbengboun started playing intramurals her freshman year and loves the atmosphere during the games. “[Intramurals are] about getting out there, getting exercise, and having fun with friends,” Chokbengboun said.

Chokbengboun chose to play intramurals instead of trying out for a collegiate athletic team.

She said she likes that intramurals are just for fun and that there’s no pressure to win or lose. “[Intramurals are] not... really competitive. If you win, good for you. You get a t-shirt,” Chokbengboun said.

Chokbengboun became her sorority’s intramural chair after several of her sorority sisters encouraged her to apply for the position.

Intramural chair was a position Chokbengboun knew she’d love because she has played

sports before, such as basketball and softball, since childhood.

Growing up, her parents were very protective and wanted her to focus on academics instead, but she didn’t let her passion for sports stop her from playing.

“Doing sports taught me how to manage my time and how to be more active in my life,” Chokbengboun said.

Chokbengboun enjoys her position as intramural chair, and she says it’s not a huge time committment.

“It’s just letting people know when sports are, getting people to sign up and making sure your people are there,” Chokbengboun said.

She said her position’s work is important because if an intramural team doesn’t show up, then her sorority is fined.

As part of her position, Chokbengboun also turns in team rosters and attends manager meetings.

“Manager meetings are for the more intensive sports, such as soccer, volleyball, and basketball,” Chokbengboun said.

According to UCA’s 2019 Intramural Manual, manager meetings “cover schedules, rescheduling procedure, forfeit,

Late loss: UCA comes up short in

4 Continued from page 5 make a save and denying the Bearkats from tying the score.

With the first half concluding after McCombs’ double save in the 41st minute, the Bears yet again denied the Bearkats an opportunity to tie on strikes that were headed into the top right corner.

The Bears leaped happily into the second half with a 1-0 lead.

An opportunity made possible by freshman midfielder Emma Hawkins forced yet another save from the SHSU keeper that nearly found the bottom left corner of the net in the 55th minute.

In the 59th minute, Sultan kicked a strike from about 18 yards out that flew just over the crossbar.

The Bears finally got around to doubling their advantage in the 68th minute on a strike made

by Hawkins from just inside the 18-yard box.

Hawkins ultimately cut inside

and saw her left-footed strike find the opposite corner, giving UCA a two-goal lead.

But still, SHSU showed that they still were clinging to life and scored two goals of their own in the 74th and 75th minute, tying the score in what felt like a split second.

Sophomore midfielder Morgan Rollow would have the last say of regulation for the Bears on a half volley opportunity in the 84th minute.

However, Rollow couldn’t keep her strike down as it sailed over the crossbar in the same fashion as Sultan’s.

UCA then took a shocking turn for the worst during the overtime period as a very controversial penalty was called on the Bears in the 98th minute and SHSU’s freshman midfielder Kaylyn Bigford made no mistake on the penalty kick getting the ball around McCombs and taking the lead.

The Bears still finished their

inclement weather, disciplinary action, protest and all rules.”

Chokbengboun said the most difficult aspect of her job so far has been getting women in her sorority to sign up to play soccer intramurals.

After the soccer intramural is finished, she doesn’t think her position as intramural chair will have any more obstacles.

Besides serving as intramural chair for her sorority, Chokbengboun also plays in many of the intramurals UCA offers. When members of her sorority are playing intramurals, Chokbengboun is usually at the fields playing with the team or helping manage from the sidelines.

UCA offers intramurals sports such as soccer, softball, kickball, flag football, volleyball, and tennis.

Her favorite fall semester sports are flag football, and her favorite spring sports are basketball and volleyball.

“There’s literally [a sport] everyday that you can go do,” Chokbengboun said.

Chokbengboun balances her position as intramural chair by bringing homework to the intramural fields and using her time on the fields as a way to decompress.

photo courtsey of UCASports

The UCA men’s cross country runs past their competition Sept. 21 at the John McNichols Invitational. The Bears competed against five nationally ranked universities at this meet.

Bears take tenth in Indiana Indivitational

by Kedran Young Staff Writer

time,” Hyde said.

Hyde came in behind Kelly Makin, a sophomore from Washington, whose time was 18:20.1.

The top five women from UCA were Hyde, senior Erin Woodward finishing in 73rd place, freshman Tamara Reeves in 99th, freshman Julia Clark in 106th, sophomore Kennedy Timmerman in 126th, and sophomore Casey Gore at 139th.

UCA senior Jaron Hamilton, who placed 61st in the Men’s 8k, lead the Bears at the meet.

With a time of 25:46.2, Hamilton came in behind Colin Yandel, a sophomore from Illinois with a time of 25:44.9.

The top five runners from UCA include Hamilton, freshman Maximillian Nores at 71st, sophomore Hunter Henderson at 76th, junior Jared Hamilton at 78th, and freshman Parker Jackson at 88th.

Both UCA women’s and men’s teams went up against five of the top 25 nationally ranked teams in the country.

“We set a goal to place top 10 as a team and we did, which

was really exciting and proves our hard work is really paying off,” Hyde said.

With a young team, having only one senior, the team’s potential for growth is high as the women are already placing among the top talent and reaching the goals set for each meet.

Hyde said the team performed extremely well, and helping her team complete their goal made up for her knowing she could have done much better.

Both teams are coached by Richard Martin who has been in the UCA athletics department for more than 30 years.

“Overall we are in a great place at this point in the season,” Martin said.

Twelve of UCA’s athletes ran their best races, creating new personal records.

“The team dynamic is great.

Building that trust and respect for one another shows a lot in the way we like to race—packs win races,” Hyde said.

The two teams next meet will come Oct. 5 at the University of Arkansas in the Chili Pepper Cross Country Festival.

Both UCA men’s and women’s cross country teams placed 10th on Sept. 21 in the John McNichols Invitational at Indiana State University.

The men’s team finished with 313 points, one place behind Eastern Illinois State which finished with 289.

Northern Arizona State University finished first overall in team results with a score of 51.

The women’s team finished with 317 points, also one place behind Eastern Illinois State which finished with 300.

The schools ranking ahead of UCA include The University of Arkansas took first place in the women’s competition, ending the day with a score of 49.

Sophomore Gracie Hyde, who placed 63rd overall in the women’s 5k, lead the Bears with a time of 18 minutes, 20.3 seconds. final moments “I would have loved to have ran a faster time, but I led the team to a good finish on a hard match with 14 shots, hitting nine course, and we all had a great of them on goal.

McCombs was huge for the Bears tonight, with five total saves Bears look to reach potential on defensive end on the night despite the loss.

Overall, Jeremy Bishop, head coach of UCA’s women’s soccer, 4 Continued from page 5 was proud of the effort that the scoreless in the third, the Bears scoring drive from Hawaii with continue being aggressive on women had put into the game.

“I thought our team payed started the fourth in familiar just 3:27 left to play put the game early downs it’ll lead to more success for us.” well tonight, but just didn’t put fashion with another touchdown. out of reach.

A 23-yard run from Despite the loss, the Bears Moving forward, Macklin the match away when we had the chances,” Bishop said to Blackman finished off a 10-play, had their most successful game sees great potential for the UCA 82-yard drive for UCA. running the ball of the season. defense.

UCASports.

This time, the extra point Blackman led the team in rushing “In the end, a referee’s “I think we’re in good shape. decision ended the match which was good, bringing the score to with 147 yards on 17 attempts.

We haven’t even scratched the Defensively, junior defensive surface of how good our defense is a pretty tough way to go, but 28-16 with 12 minutes left to back Leandre Rucks led the team can be,” Macklin said. we will learn the lessons and play.

It appeared that the Bears in tackles with seven. move forward and get ready for The Bears will return to The Bears are also still Southland Conference play in two tough ones next weekend at were setting up for yet another comeback once senior defensive hunting for ways to improve home.” their next contest as they travel The Bears will be back in back Juan Jackson forced a and be more effective on the to Thibodaux, Louisiana for a action Sept. 27 against McNeese fumble that was recovered by defensive side of the ball. matchup with Nicholls State “We just have to get into a State University at 7 p.m. and fellow senior defensive back University. against Lamar State University Isaiah Macklin at the UCA good position on third down,” The Colonels were voted to Macklin said.

Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. — with both 35-yard line. finish first in the SLC preseason But a defensive stand by the “When the opposing team games taking place at the poll with the Bears following Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Rainbow Warriors kept the Bears has third and short it’s tough behind in second. from capitalizing. One final to get them off the field. If we Complex.

Football:

Opinion

5

ucaechoeditor@gmail.com

September 25, 2019

The Voice UCA students have the choice to combat global temperatures

The Echo Staff

New WNBA players proven to have pure talent

Dy’Kajeon Brown

The Women’s National Basketball Association represented in this year’s All-Star game, one of (WNBA) suffered many setbacks with some of its top those being the Dallas Wings, who still has Rookie players heading into this season. Losing last season’s of the Year runner-up Arike Ogunbowale, and the MVP Breonna Stewart to an Achilles injury and future other being the Atlanta Dream, who still has Angel Hall-of-Famer Diana Taurasi to a back injury were McCoughtry — a player with a top five scoring average tough pills for the league to swallow. in WNBA history.

Not to mention, four-time WNBA champion Along with this era’s never-before-seen talent, the Maya Moore deciding to sit out this season to focus captivating storylines being developed in the WNBA on family and religious pursuits, and All-Star guard offer a path to a deeper connection for the fans.

Skylar Diggins-Smith missing the season to begin her The most recent example of this is the emergence family. of Indiana guard Erica Wheeler. The These losses led to questions about the undrafted player from Rutgers University league’s overall talent level heading into the became the first undrafted player to win season — questions that now seem silly as the All-Star game MVP honors, nailing league’s players have proven the WNBA is seven 3-pointers enroute to 25 points, clearly in its golden era. in a game she dedicated to her mother Players like Los Angeles’s Candace — which she lost to cancer.

Parker, and now two-time MVP Elena Della This isn’t the only inspiring story Donne, were already seen as staples in within the league; in 2014, the the league — more than capable of Ogwumike sisters became carrying it. But the new crop of the only siblings to both players emerging this season like be drafted number one A’ja Wilson, Jonquel Jones and in any of the four major Diamond DeShields, confirm that sports besides Eli and

by Marcus McClain the time is now in terms of pure Peyton Manning.

Sports Editor talent and fan attraction.

They both earned The versatility and skill of Rookie of the Year when players in this era sets them apart drafted, Nneka in 2012 from what the WNBA game has seen before. For and Chiney in 2014. example, this league has never seen a 6-foot-8 player They also became the only sisters to play in the like Liz Cambage be able to dominate in the paint and same All-Star game in 2014 and this season, they’ve also stretch the floor with perimeter shooting. received the opportunity to play alongside each other Although past eras included all-time talents such for the Los Angeles Sparks. as Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Stories like these, coupled with the talent within Sheryl Swoops and Tina Thompson, the depth within the WNBA, make this era stand out from any other. each team’s roster is also stronger than ever before.

The WNBA has reached new ground and is in the early This is shown through all but two teams being stages of its golden era.

Ronak Patel

Raising children as a parent with physical disabilities causes resilience

Lauren McCabe Editor

Lauren McLemore Associate Editor

Sarah Coleman News Editor

Hannah White

Assistant News Editor

Matt Smothers Campus Life Editor

Aysha Dixon Opinion Editor

Macy Davis

Entertainment Editor

Marcus McClain Sports Editor

Online/ Social Media Editor Photo Editor

Shade McPeake Cartoonist

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Living with a physical disability isn’t always a the leap into raising a child or children, I want to as walk in the park — I think that’s obvious to everyone well. who has and doesn’t have one. The same can be said Adults especially can be cruel, and a lack of for people with mental disabilities too. Speaking education and awareness about disabilities often leads as someone with a physical disability, people like people to perpetuate stereotypes unknowingly. I know me want to be treated normally. In fact, we are that despite how in control I may feel about my own normal people. We want to hold jobs, own pets, day-to-day challenges, I will worry that, as a parent get an education and have families of our own. I with a disability, I will be scrutinized more closely than have dreamed of having children for as long as I can other parents. I know that my child may struggle with remember.

I’ve always considered myself to be a motherly, the fact that his or her mother and father are different nurturing type of person. My mother works with from other parents. I know that I may not always be able to pick them up or run through the playground babies for a living, so the idea of wanting to be with them, but in my head, that’s all okay. a mother when I grew up was there 100 I stay optimistic in realizing what bringing a percent of the time. But after being child into this world as a mother with limitations diagnosed with a rare, hereditary bone may bring. I hope that by raising a child who disease at the age of five, I began to question so many of my dreams. In has a mother with a disability, that child will particular, how was I going to be a learn as they grow to become more caring, mother with a physical disability? empathetic and perhaps more insightful than What if my child inherits the the kids around them. I hope they grow to same disease I did? become more curious and accepting of As I have gotten older, I other people’s disabilities too. have received much more Despite my physical limitations, criticism from people I will still caress my child as they about my decision to fall asleep, fix their hair up nice for have my own, biological picture day, plan a birthday party

by Lauren McCabe children. Most recently, for all of their friends and family to my future in-laws put down Editor come to and love them just as if all the idea that I could have a of my limbs and muscles worked child with their son — who perfectly fine. also happens to have a heart There is nothing wrong with having a child and condition — because of the simple fact that we both live with a disease. Despite harsh comments that I’ve having a disability of your own, nor is there anything received and will receive as the idea of motherhood wrong with having a child that ends up inheriting your approaches within a few years, I’m here to say that we condition. Because at the end of the day, people like want a family — just like everyone else. me who want to pursue motherhood with a disability According to lookingglass.org, there are more are still worthy of love, support and health services that than four million U.S. parents with disabilities who are available to every type of parent. have children under the age of 18 and several more To all the disabled parents out there, keep doing million parents with disabilities who have adult children. Raising children is challenging under any it your way, because you are amazingly adaptive and circumstances, but there are even greater obstacles resilient and so are your children. I can only hope to for parents with a physical or mental disability, or a be as great of a parent as you someday. And nobody learning difficulty, and I understand that completely. will stop me from pursuing my first passion and love in But just as those more than four million parents took life — becoming a mother.

UCA students banned together on Sept. 20 as a part of the national Global Climate Strike. Students had an opportunity to oppose climate change.

While the strike effectively raised awareness about the changing global temperature, it is now time for UCA students to take what the strike taught and combat climate change through considerate actions.

UCA students have ample opportunities to take matters of the climate into their own hands by taking advantage of environmentally—friendly alternatives to food production and transportation around Faulkner County.

With an upcoming change in weather, fall is the perfect season to begin making environmentally-conscious decisions.

Globally, the food industry makes up for 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions due to corporate-controlled industrial agriculture, according to National Geographic. The use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, water and large-scale transportation, storage and distribution all account for why the food industry is unsustainable.

In Faulkner County, the Faulkner County Urban Farm Project allows residents to not only give gardening a try, but for residents to learn about sustainability. The Urban Farm Project began in 2010 as a With an gardening competition upcoming between Hendrix, the change in University of Central weather, fall is the Arkansas and Central perfect season Baptist to begin making College.

Since then, the garden environmentallyhas turned conscious into a way for the community decisions. to come together for the greater good. Located behind the Faulkner County Library on Tyler Street, the garden is centrally located, which makes it available for all Conway residents to use.

With temperatures and humidity decreasing to the mid-seventies and eighties in the next few weeks, produce seeds have a better chance of sprouting under moist soil.

For students who do not have a green thumb, but still want to shop locally and support local farmers, the Downtown Conway Farmers and Crafts Market is a feasible alternative. Located at the corner of Parkway and Main Street, farmers and craft-makers offer a selection of vegetables, baked goods, honey, meat, eggs, flowers and a large variety of handmade crafts. Halloween brings a number of pumpkin patches that will soon pop up around the city.

In Faulkner County, there are popular pumpkin patches in Quitman, Conway and Mayflower.

Like gardening, the farmers market is sustainable because local farmers use less chemicals that harm the Earth’s atmosphere and trigger unhealthy climate change. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federal program, supports family farmer stewardship of soil and water. This innovative conservation program pays farmers to take environmentally—sensitive land out of production and instead plant grasses, trees or shrubs, which release healthy oxygen back into the atmosphere.

Although Conway has been named the city of roundabouts and the city of colleges, it should also be known as the city of bike lanes. Conway has had bike-friendly areas for some time now, like Tucker Creek trail, but local government officials have since approved over 20 centerline miles of bike lanes and approximately 40 miles of roads signed as “sharrows”— or areas where cyclists have the right to share the same road as cars.

Cycling is a non-polluting means of transportation. Automobiles produce 50 percent of the carbon monoxide and consume about 50 percent of the petroleum used annually in the U.S. Cycling conserves non-renewable resources by not using or producing any chemicals that account for climate change. As the weather becomes a few degrees cooler, bikes are an ideal alternative to automobiles and allow for a more scenic view. Since 2018, Zagster bikes have been available to UCA students for the convenience of sustainable bike sharing.

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 25, 2019

New This Week

Galifianakis’ talk show film more awkward than funny

Movies

by Matt Smothers

September 27 — Abominable (2019), directed by Jill Culton, starring Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Joseph Izzo, Sarah Paulson

Zach Galifianakis’ awkward talk-show, “Between Two Ferns: The Movie”, made its way to Netflix in the form of a movie on Sept. 20.

The talk show features top-tier guests such as Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Jennifer Aniston and even Barack Obama. Like the show, the movie’s cast also includes big celebrity names including Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Keanu Reeves and Peter Dinklage.

The movie is essentially just Galifianakis asking celebrities horribly awkward, inappropriate and weird questions. “Between Two Ferns: The Movie” then transitions to Galifianakis and his guest taking friendly, but funny, jabs at each other.

Galifianakis said in a Variety magazine interview, “I don’t want to hurt [the guests], but I do want to make them feel weird.”

The plot of the movie is simple. It’s a fake documentary of the television show with Galifianakis traveling across the country and making ten new “Between Two Ferns” episodes for his boss, Will Ferrell.

By doing this, Galifianakis can restore his reputation as a talk show host and land his own major talk show produced by

Amazon Prime Video September 27 — Transparent Musicale Finale (Amazon Original Series), created by Jill Soloway, starring Jeffrey Tambor, Gaby Hoffmann, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, Judith Light, Kathryn Hahn

Music September 27 — Without Fear — Dermot Kennedy September 27 — Unsofisticated Circus — Emergency Tiara September 27 — Metamorphoses — Estiva September 27 — The Talkies — Girl Band September 27 — Safe Passage — John Calvin Abney

Campus Life Editor

September 27 — Stars Are The Lights— Moon Duo

Ferrell.

Like Galifianakis, Ferrell is acting as a different version of himself. In this movie, he’s an executive for the Funny or Die company and apparently only loves money, cocaine and purple feather boas.

Galifianakis is acting as a satirical version of himself throughout the movie. His clumsiness nearly causes the destruction of the “Between Two Ferns” studio and nearly kills Matthew McConaughey.

Because of this, he is forced to travel across the country to restore his reputation.

There’s plenty of jokes about Galifianakis’ weight, and he gets involved in a bizarre love triangle with, arguably, the most popular celebrity couple, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. However, when they go to Dinklage’s house to do a show, Galifianakis and his crew find something that could make them all rich: a book.

They get the interview with Dinklage before attempting to steal “The Winds of Winter”, the sixth book in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series by George R.R. Martin, which fans have been waiting for years to finally be released.

The storyline and cast getting from point A to point B is somewhat strange and hard to keep track of, but it would be hard to imagine that

photo courtesy of youtube.com

An advertisement for Netflix’s new film, “Between Two Ferns: The Movie”, features fonts reminiscent of the title screen of the “Flappy Bird” video game. The film is now streaming on Netflix.

Galifianakis wanted it to be any other way.

The movie, like Galifianakis and the show, is purposefully awkward. It’s almost refreshing to watch a movie that has no purpose other than to make the audience laugh, even if it fails in half of the attempts.

Overall, “Between Two

LIMITED SERIES

JPEGMAFIA shows more synth noise than rap music

September 27 — Hey, I’m Just Like You — Tegan and Sara

by Hannah White Assistant News Editor

September 27 — Hot Motion — Temples

Netflix

September 27 — SkylinesNetflix Original, created by Jill Soloway, starring Jeffrey Tambor, Gaby Hoffmann, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, Judith Light, Kathryn Hahn September 27 — Bard of BloodNetflix Original, directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, starring Emraan Hashmi, Vineet Kumar Singh, Sobhita Dhulipala, Kirti Kulhari, Jaideep Ahlawat September 27 — El Marginal: Season 3- Netflix Original, created by Sebastian Ortega, starring Nicolás Furtado, Edteban Lamothe, Martina Gusmán September 27 — In the Shadow of the Moon- Netflix Film, created by Netflix, starringBoyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, Rudi Dharmalingam September 27 — The PoliticianNetflix Original, created byRyan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan, starring Ben Platt, Gwyneth Patrow, Jessica Lange

The 5 best podcasts to listen to while driving List compiled by Sarah Coleman News Editor

photo courtesy of heraldpublicist.com

The cover photo for Netflixes’ new limited series, “I-Land” displays a beach view slanted on its side. “I-Land” is rated TV-MA and is now streaming on Netflix.

‘I-Land’ series features similarities to ‘Lost’ with creepy, unexpected twists

by Daniel Adams Staff Writer

Netflix’s new series, “I-Land”, directed by Jonathan Scarfe, Daniel Martin and Neil LaBute is something else to say the least. I’m not entirely sure if that something is good, though.

At the same time, I don’t know how bad it is either.

I should say, before the review gets too deep, that there is graphic sexual assault content within the series. So, a warning is in order to anyone that may be offended by that material.

The premise reminded me of “Lost”. Ten unknown people wake up on the same beach, don’t remember any of their past and have to work together to survive.

They, of course, find out their names via the backs of their uniforms, tank tops and jackets which leads to the main character, Chase (Natalie Martinez), who is the only one willing to work towards finding out exactly where the group is.

The rest of the group 1.”Schnitt Talk” Ellie Schnitt is like the friend you go to when you need to be put in your place.

She’ll support you in your dreams — but also berate you for hooking up with your ex. This podcast is absolutely hilarious, and, while it is mostly catered towards college-aged women, it also occasionally targets men. While she jokes around about her wild weekends and her college glory days, she also sheds light on everyday life.

She talks about mental health, moving to New York, living her dream life and the very real struggles that come with all of it.

members’ personalities are various. There’s Brody (Alex Pettyfer), who can act nice but, at the same time, is a jerk that can easily make people angry.

Cooper (Ronald Peet) is the complete opposite, though, as he keeps a cool head amongst the group and tries to ensure that nothing too drastic happens that might threaten their safety.

K.C. (Kate Bosworth) and Chase get off to an awkward start in the first episode, but she gradually softens up as the show goes on.

The island they’re on presents plenty of obstacles and resources they used to their advantage, although the manners in which they’re used are questionable. Brody makes himself a spear to counter the knife that Chase had found when she first woke up.

The hostility between these two reach a critical point towards the end of the second episode after an incident occurred in the middle of the island’s rainforest.

The sharks surrounding the ocean made themselves known 2. “Crime Junkie” For all true crime addicts — the people who binge-watch “Criminal Minds”, “Law and Order”, and “Dateline” — this podcast was made for you. Host Ashley Flowers does an incredible job of not only educating the public about lesser-known criminals, but also challenging cases in which the convictions are not rock solid. Flowers looks at serial killers, missing people and unsolved cases. She presents information in a conversational way that makes you feel like you are speaking to her face-to-face.

scenes, but there are also plenty of scenes that miss the mark. It almost makes fans of the “Between Two Ferns” show wonder what the point in making a movie was.

“Between Two Ferns: The Movie” is now available to stream on Netflix and is rated TV-MA.

NOISY TUNES

September 27 — Heavy Metal Rules — Steel Panther

September 25 — Locked Up (Vis a vis): Season 4- Netflix Original, created by Daniel Écija, Álex Pina, Iván Escobar, Esther Martínex Lobato, starring Najwa Nimri, Maggie Civantos, Berta Vázquez

Ferns: The Movie” is funny, but, like the online show, it’s best to watch it in small increments rather than all at once.

It’s a movie that should be watched while studying or cleaning. It’s not a movie to devote an hour and a half to, or to plan a schedule around.

There are plenty of funny

after the group tries to go for a swim.

After the first character death, the show really takes a turn. A whole new cast of characters is introduced as Chase tries to figure out what kind of world she’s been forced into.

Combined with the odd flashbacks that she keeps getting and the dream sequences, you are in for one heck of a ride.

Unfortunately, due to the series only being seven episodes long, I can’t share too much without spoiling important information. I will say, however, that it takes an unexpected turn after the second episode.

Whether it’s a good turn or not is up to you, but I was just more confused. The “Lost”-esque fashion at the start of the series, before the show introduced other tropes and clichés, made it hard to tell what story was being told. Is it supposed to be Sci-fi? Drama?

Mystery? All three?

“I-Land” is rated TV-MA and all episodes are now streaming on Netflix.

3. “I Love You So Much” This is a lifestyle podcast brought to you by famous youtuber, Kenzie Elizabeth Piper. This twenty-something, Texas-raised woman, who currently resides in Los Angeles, can be seen as inspiring to everyone. Piper is the definition of a girl-boss, and she exudes this energy in every new episode. She reviews brands, encourages health and wellness, interviews business superstars and talks with friends and family on this podcast. For all of the girls in the world trying to figure out how to get their lives together, listening to this podcast is one of the best ways to get pumped about doing adult things.

Before one can attempt to appreciate “All My Heroes are Cornballs”, the new 18-track album released Sept. 13 by rapper JPEGMAFIA, one must understand what a cornball is.

A cornball can be defined as “an unsophisticated person,” according to Merriam Webster.

What that has to do with the contents of this album, however, remains a mystery.

New York-born record producer and rapper JPEGMAFIA, whose real name is Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks, released his first album in 2016. Friday’s release is his third full-length studio album. According to Billboard, the musician is not currently popular in the realm of hip-hop.

“I’m tryna be a real rapper,” Hendricks said.

If you happen to be looking for some music to enjoy while you study, this is probably not the album for you. Though it is full of witty song titles, like “Kenan Vs. Kel” and my personal favorite, “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot,” the music itself seems more like a confusing jumble of sounds.

Take the title song “All My Heroes are Cornballs”, for instance. It is definitely worth your time to hear it if you enjoy listening to folks experiment with synth keyboards for the first time at the local instrument store.

This trend applies to the rest of the songs on the album. Each track is ridden with meaninglessly arranged synth and vocal sounds.

The impression they give is reminiscent of arcade game sound effects with a touch of what can best be described as oriental themes.

While the songs provide an interesting listening experience, they lack what makes music pleasant to the ear — repetition. The human mind craves experiences that have order.

The result of that tendency is because we enjoy music when it flows in a logical and repetitive manner. That is why songs that are catchy are the songs that hit top charts.

We like songs that get stuck in our heads, but it lacks flow and logical repetition, I found JPEGMAFIA’s album difficult to enjoy.

Of all the tracks on the album, there was one that stood out from the rest as having a more traditional and repetitive song structure.

The song, entitled “Grimy Waifu”, is the easiest and most pleasant song to digest because it maintains a consistent rhythm and repeating chorus — though it is severely lacking in lyrical content.

You may also be interested to learn that the track is filled with several arbitrarily placed vocal runs as well — if you are into that sort of thing.

Even when considering the album’s slightly enjoyable attributes, it seems that JPEGMAFIA’s humorous song titles on “All My Heroes are Cornballs” are more entertaining than the songs themselves.

“All My Heroes Are Cornballs” is now available on all music streaming platforms.

4. “The Clearing” This might just be one of the strangest true-crime podcasts I’ve ever heard. This story highlights a daughter, a father and several murders that swept through the United States during the 1980’s. This is the story of how April Balascio, at 40 years old, discovered her own father, Edward Wayne Edwards, was a serial killer.

“The Clearing” discusses how Balascio discovered her father was a murderer, how she turned him in and, ultimately, how Edwards avoided being caught for decades.

If you can handle the horror, this is a good podcast to get into.

5. “Call Her Daddy” This is one of the most surprising and funny podcasts that exists. Alexandra Cooper and Sofia Franklyn present this comedy podcast in a real and engaging way. They are the epitome of the modern woman. Cooper and Franklyn talk about topics often deemed inappropriate for women to discuss. They talk about sex, funny college stories and dating disasters These two women do not care about tiptoeing around important subjects in order to spare others’ feelings. Cooper and Franklyn are unapologetically themselves, and, in doing so, are really great at making people laugh.

Sports

5

September 25, 2019

UCA crashes in Edinburg, undergoes second shutout

Upcoming Games Volleyball

6 p.m., Sept. 26 vs.

Houstoon Baptist

by Matt Smothers Campus Life Editor

Women’s Soccer 7 p.m., Sept. 27 vs. McNeese State Softball 1 p.m., Sept. 28 vs.

Lyon College Men’s Soccer 7 p.m., Sept. 28 at Southern Illinois at Edwardsville

Editor’s Take

photo by UCASports

Senior running back Carlos Blackman cuts through the defense Sept. 21 against the Univeristy of Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. Blackman ended with his first 100-yard game since Sept. 28, 2018, against Sam Houston State University.

Bears suffer first loss of the season

by Marcus McClain Sports Editor

photo courtesy of time.com

Former Patriots star was released from the team just 11 days after signing. A career that once looked to stretch much longer into the future is now in question.

Antonio Brown receives outcome he asked for in ESPN interview

by Marcus McClain

The UCA Bears (3-1, 1-0 SLC) were unable to climb out of another fourth quarter hole Sept. 21 at the University of Hawaii (3-1) and suffered their first loss, 35-16.

Over the course of four games, the Bears were outscored 35-3 in first quarters. This makes opening quarters an obvious area of improvement for UCA. “I think we need to come out from the start and play every play like it’s now or never,” senior running back Carlos Blackman said. “[We need] to start with the energy we seem to find late in games.”

In this contest, the Rainbow Warriors jumped ahead

early — handing the Bears a 28-point deficit midway through the second quarter. Hawaii’s first score came from redshirt freshman defensive back Kai Kaneshiro on a 55-yard interception return.

After forcing UCA to punt on its next drive, the Rainbow Warriors found the end zone again, pushing their lead to 14.

The seven-play, 63-yard drive was capped off with a five-yard reception from junior quarterback Cole McDonald to senior receiver JoJo Ward.

The start of the second quarter saw more of the same as the Hawaii offense found the end zone twice more. However, the Bears began to settle in and find a groove in this quarter as well.

The running game played

Sports Editor

Antonio Brown told the world on March 2nd exactly what his mindset was concerning the rest of his NFL career.

Everything that has transpired since, with the exception of the sexual assault allegations, should have been expected.

The only issue was no one took his words as seriously as he intended. In an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Brown said, “I don’t even need the game; I don’t need to prove nothing to anyone. If they want to play; they’re going to play by my rules, if not, I don’t need the game. Obviously I want the game, but I don’t need it; there’s a difference.”

These words echoed a statement made through his actions last year to end the season in Pittsburgh.

After an argument with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Brown skipped team practices leading into a Week 17 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals that included enormous playoff implications.

The team suspended him for the game and put an end to his time as a Steeler.

Since then, things have only spiraled further and further out of control for Brown.

Apart from the millions of dollars he’s cost himself , Brown has destroyed his once respectful reputation.

With several social media outburst and run-ins with Oakland Raiders’ coaches and front office officials, Brown squandered his oppournity with the franchise.

These actions burned away any wiggle room Brown had within the NFL. Once allegations of sexual assualt arose and the texts he sent to the alleged victims leaked, his time in New England came to an abrupt end.

Brown is now out of the league after being viewed as the league’s top receiver just a short time ago.

His statements of “not needing the NFL” are now being put to the test as he receives exactly what he asked for.

a big factor in this for the Bears as Blackman broke free for a 42-yard run down to the Hawaii nine-yard line.

This led to the Bears’ first score of the night on a four-yard pass from Blackman to junior tight end Sam Carmargo.

However, the extra point was blocked by the Rainbow Warriors leaving the score at 28-6.

To end the quarter, senior running back D’erek Fernandez recovered a muffed punt by Hawaii deep in their own territory.

This set up a 35-yard field goal by junior kicker Hayden Ray, bringing the score to 28-9 entering halftime.

After both teams went

See Football- page 8

The UCA men’s soccer team (4-2-1) lost its second game of the season Sept. 21 in a hard-fought match against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (4-1)—ending in a final score of 1-0 in Edinburg, Texas.

This game was Rio Grande Valley’s home opener and the Vaqueros proved last year that games on their field would be tough.

The Vaqueros lost just one game at home during the 2018 season while winning eight. “[University of Texas Rio Grande Valley] was a tough opponent,” former player and assistant coach Matt Taphorn, who is in his second year coaching with UCA said. “We definitely created enough chances to win the game though.

Traveling down to Edinburg is tough and to put together the positive performance we did is great.”

Both of the team’s total statistics were close. UCA finished the match with 12 total shots and the Rio Grande Valley finished with nine.

Both teams also finished with eight total fouls for the game. All three of UCA’s saves came in the second half of the game by senior goalkeeper Marc Olsen, and the Vaqueros’s only save also came in the second half.

UCA also had three corner kicks while the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley had two.

UCA’s last opportunity to score came from junior midfielder Soren Jensen.

This was Jensen’s attempt to score his third goal of the season with a free kick, but was saved by the Vaqueros senior goalkeeper, Andy Rios, who earned All-Western Atlantic Conference honorable mention honors last year.

The lone goal of the game came halfway through the second period during the 70th minute and came from Rio Grande Valley junior midfielder Bryce Box, which was his first goal of the 2019 season.

The goal was assisted by senior midfielder Angel Lopez and senior forward Kyle Edwards.

It was Lopez’s third assist this season and Edwards’s second.

UCA senior forward Nicklas Brodacki, sophomore midfielders Mathias Bendiksen and Daishi Uekuri led the Bears in shots with two each.

This was only UCA’s second time being shutout during the 2019 season as the team looks to keep improving from its last year’s 8-6-4 record.

Despite having a .556 win percentage overall, the Bears went 3-1-1 in its final five games in 2018.

The Bears will have two more opportunities to get their first road win of the season before conference play.

The first will come on Sept. 28 in Edwardsville, Illinois against Southern Illinois University, and the second will come Oct. 1 in Dallas, Texas, against Southern Methodist University.

Then, the Bears will play their first game in the Sun Belt Conference on Oct. 6 at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex against Appalachian State University.

DISAPPOINTMENT

Women’s soccer endures overtime loss on late, controversial call

by Lauren McCabe Editor

photo by UCASports

Freshman midfielder Laurel Landry slices through the defense Sept. 20 against Sam Houston State University. UCA finished the game with nine shots on goal.

The UCA women’s soccer team (1-6-1, 0-1 SLC) fell to Sam Houston State University (3-5-0, 1-0-0) Sept. 20 in Huntsville, TX — partically due to a referee call during overtime.

All was well for the Bears as they stepped in to play against SHSU — taking a few golden opportunities within the first half to make their anticipation for a win known.

Freshman midfielder Emma Hawkins broke free and forced

SHSU freshman goalkeeper Tatum Krueger to make a save in the second minute of the game.

Keeping up the aggressive style was sophomore defender Taylor Webb, as she would strike for UCA in the 14th minute, soon after rushing home a header from a corner kick by freshman midfielder Anika Sultan.

UCA sophomore keeper Reagan McCombs dove head into action for the first time in the 27th minute, moving down the field quickly to her right side to

See Late loss- page 8

COUGAR CLASSIC

photo by UCASports

Junior defensive specialist Emily Doss celebrates with junior setter Bailey Waddington (9) and sophomore right-side hitter Madi Bowles Sept. 20 against Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Doss recorded back-to-back 31 dig games and was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Sugar Bears drop two, win one; look forward to Southland play

by Sarah Coleman News Editor

The UCA volleyball team (6-7) was back on the road Sept. 20 and 21 for the Cougar Classic in Edwardsville, Illinois.

While the Sugar Bears competed hard, they came out with only one win against Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (5-7) and two losses against Presbyterian College (58) and Purdue Fort Wayne (6-8).

UCA is now done with tournament play for the 2019 season and is heading into conference play.

Associate Head Coach Marissa Collins spoke to UCASports before the classic

about how excited the Sugar Bears were to compete going into their fourth and final nonconference tournament.

“Our last two tournaments have challenged us and pushed us to be better and grow as a team,’’ Collins said.

Collins expressed hope that this tournament would be pivotal for the performance of the Sugar Bears this year.

“We need to arrive to each match with one goal in mind; it’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it,” Collins said.

On Sept. 20, the Sugar Bears fell short in the opening match against the Presbyterian College Blue Hose with a final score of 3-1.

Senior outside hitter Abby Harry led the Sugar Bears in this match with 12 kills. Junior defensive specialist Emily Doss led the back row with 17 digs.

After a tough loss in the first game, the Sugar Bears fought back heading into the second game of the night.

This game against SIUE resulted in a 5-set match victory over the Cougars.

Sophomore outside hitter Lexi Miller led offense with 16 kills and Doss led the back row again with a season best performance of 31 digs.

In this five-set thriller, the Sugar Bears lost the first match 25-22. They then retaliated in the second set with a 25-23 win.

In the third set, the Sugar Bears lost some momentum with a Cougar victory 25-16. The Sugar Bears stole the momentum for good in the fourth set, finishing with a 25- 22 victory, and carried through the fifth for the overall win.

The final game against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons can be chalked up as a game of errors.

This match also went to five sets with close scores in every set.

The first set was the best one for the Sugar Bears in the game as far as errors go.

For the remainder of the game, the Sugar Bears struggled to keep errors down and kills up. The third set was the best in

collecting kills for UCA, reaching a game high of 21.

Freshman outside hitter Alexis Stumbough is confident that their performance will only grow stronger throughout conference play.

“Going into conference, knowing that we are always on the top of our conference, we have to come prepared and energized to every game since there will always be a target on our backs,” Stumbough said.

The Sugar Bears win begin Southland Conference play Sept.

26 in the Prince Center against Houston Baptists at 6 p.m.

Following this, UCA will host Sam Houston State Univeristy Sept. 28 at 12 p.m.