THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS’ STUDENT NEWSPAPER
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WEDNESDAY
OCTOBER 21, 2020 Volume 116 — Issue 9
ucanews.live TODAY’S FORECAST CONWAY
Campus Life:
Entertainment:
Sports:
Amigofest: UCA’s Latino Student Association celebrates Hispanic culture.
New Release: “Hubie Halloween” is surprisingly enjoyable.
Women’s Soccer: Bears win back to back. 4 page 5
4 page 3
4 page 7
Training confronts racial differences on campus
Sunny
80/64 THE NEWSDESK
by Megan Holder
FROM THE ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Social Media Editor
I N T E R N AT I O N A L Plans for border wall in Greece, Turkey
Greece’s government said Monday they have finalized plans to build a wall on its northeast border with Turkey, fearing mass photo courtesy of 4029.com migration into the country. (left) Democratic Arkansas state Sen. Joyce Elliot and (right) Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill debate for seat in the Sixteen miles of wall will be U.S. Congress District 2 on Monday, Oct. 12 at Arkansas PBS. added to an existing six miles, and surveillance cameras are planned to be installed along the entirety of the border. Turkey said earlier this year a hot topic during the Monday Affordable Care Act. it would no longer prevent By Allison Polston afternoon District 2 debate. “Sen. Elliott has got migrants from trying to reach Staff Writer “My opponent has stirred a problem here, because the EU, causing a standoff at Democratic Arkansas state controversy by saying something, the Democrats want to take the border as over 10,000 Sen. Joyce Elliott challenged I think, that’s too radical for the over healthcare,” Hill said. people tried to cross. support preRepublican U.S. Rep. French Hill average Arkansan, which is that “Republicans on healthcare and taxes Monday, our police forces are systemically existing conditions.” When asked about Oct. 12. Senate candidate Ricky racist,” Hill said. N AT I O N A L Elliott said systemic racism bipartisanship, both Hill and Dale Harrington Jr. (L), answered a panel of journalists alone on isn’t radical at all, and that she Elliott said they had histories of Missing woman found Wednesday, Oct. 14. supported both police and the working across the aisle. Hill said The federal response to community. She said she does not that Elliott was not as bipartisan in Zion National Park the coronavirus pandemic was support defunding the police, but as she claims. A 38-year-old woman who criticized by both Hill and Elliott. rather wants police reform. “You [Elliott] say you’re Elliott mentioned the 2017 bipartisan here in this state, but went missing two weeks ago “We were not prepared for after hiking in Zion National this pandemic. We did not have all Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that Hill you have the most liberal voting Park was found alive on the necessary precautions taken supported, saying that it was a record in the general assembly,” giveaway to the richest people in Hill said. Sunday. Holly Courtier was for years,” Hill said. For the Senate debates, Elliott called for the country. last seen on Oct. 6, getting The future of healthcare for Libertarian candidate Harrington transparency in the use of relief off a shuttle van to go to a funds. She cited the CARES Act, Arkansans looked different for withstood an hour of questions trail. She suffered a head a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus Elliott and Hill during the hour- from three journalists Wednesday injury after hitting a tree, bill signed by President Donald long debate. afternoon because his opponent became disoriented and Trump in March. “Congressman Hill has great Sen. Tom Cotton declined to eventually found her way to “One of two people who was healthcare, but has voted over 12 participate in the debate. Harrington said police a water source where she a part of the oversight committee times, over a dozen times to take stayed until she was found. was Congressman Hill, and we away your healthcare. To take militarization needed to be Courtier is an avid hiker who didn’t know where that money away your protection from pre- minimized in the U.S. existing conditions,” Elliott said. “When police are militarized has been traveling around was going,” Elliott said. Hill said that Elliott lied in The social unrest the country visiting national surrounding police brutality was his answer to a question about the See Debate- page 2 parks since losing her job to COVID-19.
Arkansas PBS hosts House, Senate debates
The department of Diversity and Training held a “Race Matters” seminar to discuss the racial differences on campus Wednesday, Oct. 14. The meeting was on Zoom and consisted of people from different departments and students of UCA. There was a Powerpoint presentation that guided the seminar. The beginning of the Powerpoint had a list of names of African-Americans who were victims of police brutality or murder. When asked how the listed names made the audience feel, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement Wendy Holbrook said she felt like she knew the victims personally. Holbrook said, “It feels like my family. These are people that look like people I love [and] that lived the lives of people that I love.” Holbrook said when this happens this is the lens that the black community looks through when you talk about race because “it’s the lens we live through, so we’re coming from a very different place. When this happens we are grieving. That’s what makes it difficult. Just when you get over a couple of the stages of grieving it happens again. When we talk about race, I cannot have a conversation with you without coming through this lens.” The Powerpoint had pictures from different protests and movements that have occurred in Conway that support justice and peace. There was a disturbing picture of a man who was there with about 12 more men armed with
ammunition watching a group of college students protest. Holbrook said, “My question was who did you come to shoot? Who shows up with a weapon? If you came for a conversation, you would show up with yourself. Conway is not immune. This was the response to some young people deciding to do a protest.” There was also a discussion about the diversity of UCA. There was a chart to show the unlevelness of different races. The number of white faculty members is 461, and the number of non-white faculty members is 89. The number of white staff members is 715, and the number of non-white staff members is 171. The number of white students is 7,442. The number of non-white students is 3,427. There was also a survey during the presentation. One of the questions asked from the audience was, is UCA a racist community? Audrika Peten said, “The fact that everyone on this call voted 100% no, but if we look on Twitter and look at #Blackatuca, we can see right there the perspective of the student. Everything is about an experience, but us, as a staff and faculty, are the ones who give the student the experiences that they have.” One of the tweets from #Blackatuca that was shown in the Powerpoint stated that a girl showed up to do a presentation with a natural hairdo and received a F for appearance. “Living everyday life, I’m not going to remember a person based on where we were, but I’m going to remember you based on how you made me feel. My experience with you is going to over take anything else that’s going on,” Peten said.
S A N I TAT I O N
Debates will mute candidates’ mics The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday night they would mute candidates’ mics at the start of each segment. Each candidate will have two minutes of uninterrupted time to speak at the beginning of each segment. During those two minute periods, the candidate who isn’t speaking will have their mics muted.
S TAT E ADH urges voters to follow CDC guidelines
While voters can’t be turned away from polling locations if they are sick or refuse to wear a mask, the Arkansas Department of Health is urging voters to wear masks and practice CDC guidelines while at the polls. Polling locations have also been asked to space out machines and sanitize them after use, and to have a separate entrance and exit.
WHAT’S AHEAD
IN OUR NEXT ISSUE Feminist Union hosts Take Back the Night.
photos courtesy of cargocollective
HPER Center makes efforts to combat COVID-19. The process of sanitation is much more extensive; the HPER closes every weekday between 2 and 3 p.m. to properly sanitize each station.
HPER Center prioritizes CDC guidelines for attendees By Haley Melendez Assistant Campus Life Editor
COVID-19 has made many programs, social events and campus, in general, very different from what we as students have gotten used to. Before, the University of Central Arkansas’ HPER Center was more open and often used at all times by students. There was no worry of catching something as severe as the coronavirus.
However, the pandemic has made the HPER center a much more dangerous location for people to frequently enter. This stems from the fact that it is a recreation center and a place that students and staff use as their gym and exercise location. The process of sanitation and precautions are much more extensive at a time like this. Every weekday between the times 2 and 3 p.m. they close down the HPER to clean and
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properly sanitize each station to make it clean and safe for people to use. On the occasion that someone has been around a person who was later discovered as having the virus, they are considered to be high risk and should only use the HPER center between the times of 6am-8am. To determine if your high risk they have you answer the simple questions on the CDC online flyer that they display on their UCA page and
at the HPER’s entrance. When it comes down to entering the building, you cannot go in or gain access to the HPER center without a form of face covering such as a mask or neck gaiter. If you do not have a form of face covering on, they will not allow you to enter as a safety precaution. This is not just for the safety of attendees, but also the HPER workers. The CDC and HPER are working together for the
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students safety at school. They even have a link for students and faculty to see for help and information about this virus on the school’s HPER page at https://uca.edu/ campusrecreation/hpercenter/. The current services that are available are the weight room, cardio room, swimming pool, walking and jogging track, the game area, group exercises, equipment checkout (COPA) and the tennis courts.
The Echo
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People should not make comments on others’ bodies.
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2/ October 21, 2020
NEWS
Police Beat
Seminar teaches faculty members, students how to use Zoom tools by DJ Jones Staff Writer
UCA Community Development Director Shelby Fiegel and UCA Director for Student Leadership Steven Shook hosted a seminar that helped faculty members and students learn how to use Zoom. The seminar was held on Oct. 13 in the McCastlain Ballroom. Participants were able to bring a laptop or tablet to follow along with the instructor. Participants were taught how to do things such as how to access Zoom with a web browser or the application, setting up advanced settings, how to create waiting rooms, etc. Participants were able to text any questions that they had and the questions appeared on a live screen for Shook and Fiegel to answer. Shook began with showing the differences between accessing Zoom, using the application and using a web browser. Fiegel said they decided to do this seminar because a lot of people who use zoom, were not aware of all of the tools that zoom has. “We’ve heard a lot from our constituents and a lot of
them had been using Zoom for a long time, but they didn’t know about all of the tools that you could use with it because they haven’t had training on it,” Fiegel said. Fiegel said they made a poll, and after viewing the results, they decided to have the seminar and open it for faculty and students. One of the most important things that the participants were taught to use was the breakout rooms feature. According to www. zoom.us, “Breakout rooms allow you to split your Zoom meeting in up to 50 separate sessions. The meeting host can choose to split the participants of the meeting into these separate sessions automatically or manually, or they can allow participants to select and enter breakout sessions as they please. The host can switch between sessions at any time.” Fiegel said the breakout rooms are a great way to get people engaged with each other. “The breakout rooms are a great way for people to get engaged in conversations. It’s fun to have those kinds of conversations in breakout rooms,” Fiegel said.
Shook and Fiegel also taught another important tool which is the reporting feature. According to www. zoom.us, “The Reports section of the website is a powerful tool that provides account owners and admins with various account, meeting and webinar statistics to review how your organization is utilizing Zoom. It also allows members of the account the ability to review meeting statistics and registration/attendee reports for their meetings and webinars.” Fiegel said this feature may have been the most important tool that was taught during the seminar. Fiegel said that there could be another training in the future based on the feedback that they receive. The seminar also took precautions to all COVID-19 safety guidelines. The training was limited to 70 participants, all participants were required to wear a mask and participants also had to sit six feet apart. For updates and further information in the future about Zoom trainings, visit www.uca.edu/inform
ucanews.live
The following information is compiled from UCAPD incident reports by Assistant News Editor Kaitlin Benight
Students receive Student charged drug violations with battery Kobe Green, Chloe Griffin, Shunita Hunter and Korey Fulton were all given drug violations after the four had smoked in the parking lot of Bear Village on Oct. 10. Officer Phillip Boyd noticed the Green’s Chevy Cruze running at 1 a.m. with the four inside. He confiscated a bong.
Jordan Mitchell was arrested for battery and criminal mischief on Oct. 11 after damaging Lindsey Shimer’s vehicle and bashing her head into her steering wheel. Jayda Butler corroborated Shimer’s story, stating she also believed Mitchell had punched Shimer. Mitchell gave a written statement that said “I was straight until they started getting mad for no reason.”
Debate :
Chargesfiled against non-student Shakayla Jackson filed a harassment report against non-student Nekai Barron on Oct. 12. Jackson met Barron on a dating site and tried to cut off contact after he assaulted her on Dec. 26, 2019. He continued to contact her regularly before she blocked him in March. They had no further contact until Barron created a new Snapchat account and contacted Jackson on Oct. 10. She blocked that account and contacted UCAPD.
Arkansas PBS hosts 2020 election debates.
4 Continued from page 1 it makes American people look like the enemy,” Harrington said. Harrington said he agreed with nothing that Cotton has said or done during
his time in office. “We are diametrically opposed,” Harrington said. The pastor made clear his disagreement with Cotton’s stance on criminal justice and
said Arkansas has an overincarceration problem. Harrington said if elected, his top priorities would be occupational licensing reform and healthcare reform.
SGA
Presidential Town Hall will
allow students to voice concerns by Kaitlin Benight Assistant News Editor
The Student Government Association is hosting a Presidential Town Hall meeting Wednesaday, Oct. 21 at 5:30 on Zoom. Students will be allowed to ask questions and share ideas or concerns to President Davis and SGA President Jamaal Lockings. Additionally, President Davis will be speaking inperson at next week’s SGA meeting. For the 2020 presidental elections, UCA will be offering students several opportunities to vote early, including a March to the Polls event during X-period on Thursday, Oct. 22 starting at Old Main. “Get out and go vote! We are going to have
several campus voting opportunities and you can go to votefaulkner.com if you want to find other early voting sites,” Vice President Javier Hernandez said. SGA’s Bear Advocacy Group will also have a table set up outside the student center on Friday, Oct. 30 to share ballot samples and help with last minute details about where to vote and what to bring. The Housing and Food Services committee is currently reaching out to other universities to discuss implementing gender neutral housing options on campus. They are also trying to talk with dining services to have more opportunities for students to get food on Sundays. Managing Anxiety with COVID-19, a Zoom event held in conjunction with the
Counseling Center, will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Students are encouraged to attend to learn how to properly handle the extra stress this semester has brought on. Students can make an appointment to talk with someone at the counseling center for any reason, at any time, whatsoever by visiting uca.edu/ counseling. The Student Health Center has around 1,200 flu shots left to give out to students UCA will hold an inperson commencement ceremony this December, with limited family members allowed. CDC guidelines will be adhered to. Spring Break will be kept as-is next semester.
NOW HIRING ECHO EDITORS APPLICATIONS DUE OCT. 26, INTERVIEWS OCT. 27 DURING X PERIOD
Graphic by Elvira Toddy
ADJUSTMENTS
Study Abroad plans for incoming spring 2021, outgoing summer 2021 by Delaney VanWilpe News Editor
Due to the pandemic, cancellation of study abroad programs for spring 2020 semester, summer 2020, fall 2020 semester and outgoing exchange students for spring 2021 semester has plagued UCA. However, there are high hopes for the program’s future. “Of course we are disappointed by the situation, but we know study abroad is going to come back,” Education Abroad Director Natalie Flemming said. The program plans to carry out summer 2020 study abroad despite uncertainties. “Obviously we can’t predict if students will be able to go or not, but we’re hopeful and we’re planning. We are working with faculty, having online interest meetings, encouraging students to get their passports and apply for the study abroad scholarship,” Fleming said. Fleming and Bailey are confident that if the summer 2021 semester is unable to be fulfilled that the repercussions of the cancellation will only be a slight hiccup. “We proved that in our spring 2020 scramble to help our kids that we can respond to an emergency,” Bailey said. “We have clear and well thought out procedures to follow, so I am comfortable with where we are at, but we just can’t predict the future.” There is no way to know when COVID-19 will subside, but the study abroad program plans to keep up with and adhere to government guidelines provided by the CDC and U.S.
State Department. The CDC’s highest travel is a level three. “Right now, with the whole world at a level three, we cannot send people. Will that be the same situation in February? We do not know, but we can wait. We can still make all the plans and all the prep,” Bailey said. “When COVID backs off, we are well positioned to take off again.” Bailey said that there is a possibility of incoming exchange students from partnering universities around the world to come for the spring 2021 semester. “We had a Zoom meeting for students to understand that we are not actually back to normal operations with all the online classes. We have to make sure that the international students, if they come, understand that things will be a little bit different.” Bailey Additionally, the study abroad office is launching the National Student Exchange organization. It is similar to the national study abroad partnership exchange program, but it only applies for universities in the U.S., Canada and U.S. territories. With this program, a student is able to pay in-state tuition at a partnering university in the places listed. “That’s a major project. At the time when the study abroad office was not sending students that we would otherwise be sending, there was still a lot of work to be done to get that program up and running. We hope to send our first student, and maybe receive students, in the fall,” Bailey said. The office does have a partner in Mexico and plans to execute the exchange program through online courses for a student. The partner reached
out to a student who planned for an exchange, but was inevitably canceled. The plan is for the student to attend online classes with the partner “That opened up a new opportunity that he hadn’t explored previously. It’s not something we have done before or something we have anticipated, but I am personally excited since it is this student’s last semester,” Fleming said. “He wants the international experience through our trusted partner, even if it’s online.” Positive opportunities, like the partnership in Mexico, are developing in the study abroad office despite major setbacks. “I often think life is ironic in that way that good things happen in bad times,” Bailey said. “Last spring, we were able to get the university to change a scholarship policy that had been preventing international students from being eligible for study abroad scholarship money.” The previous policy was that if a student was on an academic scholarship at UCA, your scholarship wasn’t transferable to pay a partner institution. This obstacle is now resolved to where a student can use their academic scholarship and pay the partnering National Student Exchange institution that they plan to attend. “This university led by President Davis, Provost Poulter, Diane Newton, has removed almost every obstacle I can think of in the way of students that want to go places,” Bailey said. For any students interested, applications for summer 2021 are still open at https://uca.edu/ studyabroad/apply-now/. and those alike, visit uca.edu/career.
Campus Life
3
October 21, 2020
Around Campus: I Have a Choice 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Oct. 21, join Delta Zeta Sorority on the Student Center lawn for a presentation on alcohol consumption as a part of annual National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.
Rise Up: Domestic Violence Awareness Talk 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 21, join Kappa Alpha Psi via Zoom for a presentation focused on bringing awareness to domestic violence. Email jpowell@cub. uca.edu for the meeting link and password.
Photo by Olyvia Gonzales
Ingrid Vandi shows off her Brazilian heritage by wearing the traditional Carnival costume and teaching the crowd how to Samba at the fourth annual Amigo Fest. Amigo Fest was held at UCA’s amphitheater on Oct. 17.
Power Skills for the Workplace 8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. Oct. 22, Bear X and Career Services will host a virtual workshop on power skills. Register for the online event on cubconnect.
How to Network 9:25 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Bear X and Career Services will host a virtual workshop highlighting the power of networking to find jobs after college. Register for the online event on cubconnect.
Annual Amigo Fest celebrates Hispanic heritage by Olyvia GOnzales Stawff Writer
Brazillian heritage is frequently forgotten in Spanish culture, but UCA’s Latino Student Association chose to increase awareness by hosting a Brazillian carnival themed Amigo Fest on Oct. 17 at the Amphitheater. “This is just an incredibly important event to have on campus,” Senior, Javier Hernandez said, “usually you do not have
celebrations for Latino students, so this is just a cool way that we can share our culture with the students of UCA and the Conway community.” “The LatinX Hispanic population is growing,” assistant director of UCA Diversity and Community, Maria Negrete-Pardon said, “the population has been increasing and will continue to increase in higher education.” Negrete-Pardon estimated that there
are about 500 latino or hispanic students on campus this year,. This is a 75.2% retention increase from last semester, as stated on the University’s website. “So, [diversity] is something we all need to learn more about, especially because there are so many stereotypes that we want to break down. Which, most stereotypes are generally Mexican, and there are so many other cultures we have the privilege to learn
from.” The carnival inspired festivity included small interactive games, variations of Spanish foods and music, and a booth that showcased the history of Brazil. The event began with live music from a private musician, followed by the annual performance of Mariachi Viva Jalisco. During the performances, students of all ethnicities joined in with dance to the macarena and other
affiliated Latin dances. Near the end of the festival, the Vandi family treated the UCA guests to a performance in the traditional Brazillian dance: samba. “I am grateful they are holding this event today,” Ingrid Vandi stated, “I think they need to know a lot of different cultures and countries, not just the United States, there are a lot of different traditions and See Amigo-page 4
Community Policing @ UCA
X-period, Oct. 22, join the Athletic Social Justice Committee and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion via Zoom for a conversation about policing on campus. Email institutionaldiversity@uca.edu to receive the meeting link and password.
March to the Polls X-period, Oct. 22, at Old Main, join Bears at the Ballot in a march to the polls for early voting. The march will start at Old Main and end at Conway Regional Hospital. Students must be registered to vote in Faulkner County to vote at the march to the polls.
Take Back the Night 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Oct. 22, join the Feminist Union at the Student Center Amphitheater for their annual event speaking out against sexual violence. The maximum seating for this event is 22 people and photo, video and audio recording are not allowed.
Coming Out Process Panel 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Oct. 22, join the PRISM and the Office of Diversity and Community via Zoom for a panel on how to navigate coming out. Meeting ID: 851 7881 7090 Password: PRIDEUCA
Statues on the Lawn 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Oct. 27, join Colleges Against Cancer on the Student Center Lawn for the UCA Relay for Life Planning Committee’s annual fundraiser. Vote on which human statue is your favorite. All proceeds will go towards putting on UCA’s Relay for Life Event and the American Cancer Society.
Photo from UCA Office of Diversity’s Facbook page
The Office of Diversity and Community and PRISM sponsored a National Coming Out Day booth Wednesday Oct. 14. Buttons, cookies and informational flyers on upcoming LGBTQ+ related events were distributed to students.
National Coming Out Day booth kicks off LGBT+
related events scheduled throughout October by Elvira Toddy Camous Life Editor
2020 marks 100 years since the certification of the 19th Amendment. The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences has been hosting Suffrage Centennial Celebration Events since August 26th and has been continuing to host them through the month of October. The events have been a mix of online and in-person. Funding for these events comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, Arkansas Arts Council, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Foundation, and so many more. There have also
been donations made during the UCA Day of Giving. Gayle Seymour, Associate Dean for the CAHSS, is very happy with the success of the events that have occurred so far. “These events were very successful considering the challenges of COVID-19. The requirements of social distancing have meant fewer in-person audience members; however, the virtual access has, perhaps, opened up these events to new audiences who might have not been able to previously attend inperson events…” Seymour said. The purpose of
these events is to bring awareness to the Suffrage movement and to get people interested in its history. Seymour said that her purpose goes farther. “What I hope to achieve goes beyond awareness of suffrage history and the barriers to voting that still exist in our country. I hope to show that the arts (visual art, music, dance, video, spoken word, poetry, costume design, etc.) can provide entry points into history that can really inspire people and, hopefully, inspire them to action.” The events have used the arts to bring awareness to the suffrage
centennial anniversary. In August, the UCA Baum Gallery had an art exhibit called “Threads Through Time.” The exhibit even included a dirt rug created by UCA Artist in Residence Rena Detrixhe. In September a suffrage concert was hosted in Reynolds by the Music department. The upcoming events include another arts reception on October 20th from 1:40 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. that will be hosted in person, but will also include a live stream on the CAHSS’s facebook. On that same day from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. there will be a Suffrage Centennial Sing-Along
led by Jaimee JensenMcDaniel in karaoke style. The audience for this event will be limited. There’s also a core dance in “Nevertheless, She Persists” that will take place on October 22 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and a public lecture on the Oct. 29, by Sharon Louden titled “Living and Sustaining A Creative Life During A Pandemic” over zoom. More information about the upcoming events can be found on uca.edu/go/suffrage100. All events are free and open to the public. Social distancing will be enforced and masks are required.
4/ October 21 , 2020
Amigo:
ucanews.live
CAMPUS LIFE
STUDENTS SAY
50 students volunteered to work and learn about Hispanic culture dances and embrace our way of
about Amigo Fest prior to this year,
living.”
“I heard there were complaints
Vandi has been dancing the
year, so I thought I should help out
observed by the crowd, family is
and learn more about the culture.”
important within Brazil’s society.
In comparison to last year’s
The Vandi family chose to come
celebration of Hispanic heritage
support the performance. Not only
month, there was a significant
that, but you were aware of the
decrease in the number of guests,
importance of carnival in their lives.
but a notable willingness to learn
The Vandi family showcased their
from others. There were differences
homemade costumes and cultural
in entertainment such as the
dance.
Yumare Mexican Folkloric dancers
In total, there were over 50
are you dealing with “How burnout this semester? ”
about the lack of volunteers last
Samba since the age of two. As
Story and photos by Elvira Toddy & Haley Melendez
who were unable to attend due to
volunteers who came to learn about
COVID-19 regulations, but the
hispanic culture. UCA junior and
rhythm of Latin beat still permeated
volunteer MJ made a statement
the atmosphere.
Photo by Olyvia Gonzales
Mariachi Viva Jalisco performed La Bamba, Macarena and La Cucaracha during Amigo Fest, Oct. 17 at the Student Center Amphitheater.
Suffrage Centennial Celebration through October to November by Olivia Snelson Staff Writer 2020 marks 100 years since the certification of the 19th Amendment. The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences has been hosting Suffrage Centennial Celebration Events since August 26th and has been continuing to host them through the month of October. The events have been a mix of online and in-person. Funding for these events comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, Arkansas Arts Council, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Foundation, and so many more. There have also been donations made during the UCA Day of Giving. Gayle Seymour, Associate Dean for the CAHSS, is very happy with the success of the events that have occurred so far. “These events were very successful considering the challenges of COVID-19. The requirements of social distancing have meant fewer in-person audience members; however, the virtual access has, perhaps, opened up these events to new audiences who might have not been able to previously attend in-person events…” Seymour said. The purpose of these events is to bring awareness to the Suffrage movement and to get people interested in its history. Seymour said that her purpose goes farther. “What I hope to achieve goes beyond awareness of suffrage history and the barriers to voting that still exist in our country. I hope to show that the arts
(visual art, music, dance, video, spoken word, poetry, costume design, etc.) can provide entry points into history that can really inspire people and, hopefully, inspire them to action.” The events have used the arts to bring awareness to the suffrage centennial anniversary. In August, the UCA Baum Gallery had an art exhibit called “Threads Through Time.” The exhibit even included a dirt rug created by UCA Artist in Residence Rena Detrixhe. In September a suffrage concert was hosted in Reynolds by the Music department. The upcoming events include another arts reception on October 20th from 1:40 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. that will be hosted in person, but will also include a live stream on the CAHSS’s facebook. On that same day from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. there will be a Suffrage Centennial Sing-Along led by Jaimee Jensen-McDaniel in karaoke style. The audience for this event will be limited. There’s also a core dance in “Nevertheless, She Persists” that will take place on October 22 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and a public lecture on the Oct. 29, by Sharon Louden titled “Living and Sustaining A Creative Life During A Pandemic” over zoom. More information about the upcoming events can be found on uca.edu/ go/suffrage100. All events are free and open to the public. Social distancing will be enforced and masks are required.
Freshman Isac La-Feraey
“I do discord calls with friends. We will talk about how we’re doing in school. I am a freshman, so I have opportunities to go home a lot more often. That’s definitely a recharge whenever I do that.”
Sophomore Devon Lesher “I talk to my therapist about it. I haven’t been doing much about it. Honestly, I’ve been avoiding my homework.”
Photo by Haley Melendez
A picture of the “Hug-A-Cactus” kit, handed out at the booth in front of the Student Center. Fallfest day one took place on Oct. 13 and was sponsored by the Student Activities Board.
Fallfest celebrates spirit of autumn by Haley Melendez Staff Writer
Fall spirit appeared in front of the Student Center last week. SAB has set up a series of events for the weeks between October 13- October 22. SAB had many UCA organizations and clubs bring pieces of what they can offer for students to enjoy. On Tuesday’s event which kicked off Day 1 of Fallfest, there was a booth that had a pair of gentlemen who were making personalized license plates. They allowed the students to make as many as they wanted at a first come first served basis until 1:30 due to the fact that’s when the first day of Fall Fest ended. When asked about the differences from last year’s fall fest to the one for this year and how it has affected their organization Elisha Morley said “covid’s main impact for us is that it caused us to miss out on bigger events and opportunities for instance we had a contract with state farm and we haven’t been able to work with them, but when it comes to this event is definitely smaller than last year because
of social distancing, usually this event is one day 10-6 and it’s crowded with tons people and more tents’’. The tent that caught my immediate attention was the booth called “Hug-ACactus’’. That booth was the main hotspot in the courtyard during that first day. When approaching the booth you could see a whole bunch of small boxes that ended up being a cactus kit to take home. The cactus’ were gone a good hour before the event ended due to the high popularity. Hazel Bonilla said they noticed the event was smaller than last year’s festival. The other booths from Tuesday October 13th were caricature hats and letter art. FallFest events are held in the courtyard in front of the student center and are organized by the Students Activiteis Board. The remainder of fall fest will take place on the days Oct. 20, 10:30am - 2:30pm, and Oct. 22, 12pm-4pm To see the rest of the fall fest schedule and to get more information about future SAB events go to Ucasab.com.
Junior Leah Preston
Freshman Ayanna Johnson
“Lots of sleep and binging Harry Styles albums.”
“I can’t really do much about it. Especially with COVID going on and everyone having to stay distanced.”
Freshman Seth Alexandar
Junior Cameron Myers
“I go work out sometimes and kind of just take my mind of distractions put some music on and just kind of relax.”
“It’s easier this semester. I don’t know if it’s the classes or just online, but overall things are easier for me. I work better with PowerPoints and just taking my own notes.”
People of UCA: Kaleigh Fletcher by Ashley Savage Sports Editor
Junior Kaleigh Fletcher is no stranger to the ups and downs that life can cause at any moment. Between the transition from a private Christian school in her younger years to Cabot’s public high school and finding out her mother was battling Cancer, Fletcher is beyond familiar with having to adapt. Despite the ups and downs that she’d experienced, the closeto-home, long-lasting, battle with Cancer made Fletcher’s path crystal clear. She wanted to be a nurse. “When my mom passed away, I became really interested in studying nursing,” Fletcher said. “She was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and she fought all the way until 2016 when she passed away. She was a badass.” While the decision to go to college for nursing was an easy
call for the Cabot graduate, the choice of which college she’d attend was not so simple. In time, though, Fletcher decided that UCA was the right choice. “The campus wasn’t too big (unlike Fayetteville) or too small; I felt like I fit,” Fletcher said. “I knew I could be a big fish in a small pond at UCA, whereas if I went to Fayetteville it would have been the opposite.” The choice to pursue her studies here at UCA also allowed Fletcher to remain close to her father. “UCA is just the perfect distance from home - since it’s just me and my dad, I didn’t want to be too far away from him, just in case something wrong were to happen,” Fletcher said. Since being accepted into the nursing program in the spring of 2020, the first-year nursing student has been determined
to not let COVID-19 and its unforgiving effects on students’ get in the way of her plans. “When it comes to campus life, I’m not overly involved. Since I was accepted into the nursing school this past spring semester, that’s where the majority of my focus goes,” Fletcher said. “That takes the bulk of my time.” However, Fletcher has found ways to embrace the university for everything that it has to offer, even during a pandemic. “I have loved sitting outside to do my homework ever since UCA put more picnic tables out. A friend and I will find a place to sit outside and bunker down for the afternoon to do homework; once it gets dark we’ll move to the library,” Fletcher said. “I also go to Zumba practically every Tuesday and Thursday to join Caitlyn’s class at the HPER. I
absolutely love her!” And while Fletcher is embracing the university for all that it is, life after college is something she looks forward to tackling. “I’ve spent so much time in chemo rooms and have talked to so many chemo nurses. I feel like I would be a good fit,” Fletcher said. “I want to be there for my patients and tell them that I’ve witnessed someone first hand put up a damn good fight and that it is possible to get better.”
Photo by Ashley Savage
Her first-hand experience with her mother’s battle has allowed her to feel more than prepared for what she is to experience as a nurse.
Sports
5
October 21, 2020
Upcoming Games Women’s Soccer
6 p.m., Oct. 22 vs Missouri State Men’s Golf 8 a.m., Oct. 19 vs Little Rock Women’s Golf Oct. 19 - 21 Callaway Gardens Invite Football 2 p.m., Oct. 24 vs Eastern Kentucky Tennis Oct. 22 - Oct. 25 ITA Fall Regionals @ Fayetteville
Editor’s Take
photo by UCA Sports
The Bears celebrated a second win over Missouri State University after defeating the university back in September. Although UCA trailed Missouri State 24-17 at the half, the Bears crawled back to end the game with a 33-24 vitcory.
UCA Bears get second win against Missouri State this season photo courtesy of USA Today
Daryl Morey has been the general manager for the Houston Rockets since the 2007-08 season.
How Daryl Morey used data-driven strategy to produce an NBA legend
o open fall Tennis season
Despite not winning a title with the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey will still be remembered as one of the game’s best general managers and for helping revolution the game of basketball. Throughout his tenure, Morey’s analytic-driven approach was highly criticized by the sports’ world and that didn’t stop Morey from doubling down on what he thought was the best way to build a roster. Morey looked at the data and realized the best way to build a winner in the NBA was to build a roster that took many threes, shots at the rim and free throws. Thanks to Morey’s analytic-driven approach, we got to witness one of the greatest offensive players the league has ever seen in James Harden. There might not be another team in the league that would allow one player to essentially be the team’s whole offense. While playing on Daryl Morey’s team, Harden won three scoring titles, regular season MVP and was named to four straight all-NBA selections. Many critics will point out this approach didn’t lead to a title, but it is hard to argue this approach didn’t build one of the best teams we have seen the past decade. According to Espn, the Rockets under Morey have a winning percentage of 61.5%. In addition to racking up regular-season wins, the Rockets made it to two conference titles and pushed the Kevin Durant led Golden State Warriors to game seven. Other than the Lebron James led Cavaliers, there seemed to be no other team in the league who wasn’t afraid of the Golden State dynasty. Unlike the Cavaliers, the Rockets were actually able to push the Warriors to the brink of elimination. Most teams had the approach of waiting for the Warriors’ big four to break up and then make a run at the title. Morey was unlike the rest of the league’s general managers and was unafraid of the challenge. With Morey planning on taking a break from sports, he will be missed by NBA fans. In what seems to be the golden age of offense, we have Morey to thank for helping ushering the NBA into this era.
By Ronak Patel Editor
After a 33-24 victory on the road against Missouri State, the Bears are back to having a .500 record on the season. With this win, the Bears have swept the season series against Missouri State. This loss will keep Missouri State winless. At the half, UCA trailed Missouri State 24-17. UCA’s defense helped sparked their second half comeback., UCA was able to hold Missouri State scoreless in the second half and overcome the seven-point deficit from the half. UCA’s defense was able to
generate 10 takeaways— 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles. One of the four interceptions, led to a 35-yard return for a touchdown by junior cornerback DeAndre Lamont. In addition to the takeaways, UCA was able to put pressure on the opposing quarterback by racking up 7 sacks. Sophomore defensive end Logan Jessup contributed to half of those sacks ending the night with 3.5 sacks to go along with his 4.5 tackles for loss. Jessup’s 3.5-sack performance tied the school’s record for sacks in a game. Missouri State was limited to 52 yards in the second half. UCA’s offense scored 16 points in the second half, all 16 of those points came in the third quarter. UCA
had 268 yards of total offense for the game. Junior quarterback Breylin Smith accounted for 175 of those yards. Smith completed 18 of 36 passes and threw 2 touchdowns. UCA wasn’t able to get the ground game going in this match. UCA had 93 rushing yards while Missouri State finished the game with 176 rushing yards. The offense didn’t have much success on third down, only going 4 of 18. Missouri State went 4 of 12 on third down. On fourth down, UCA was unsuccessful the only time they went for it. Despite their troubles on third and fourth down, UCA was still able to win time of possession with 31:14 minutes while Missouri State had possession for
photo courtesy of ucasports.com
photo by Ian Lyle
Junior forward Morgan Rollow makes a run to send the ball into Missouri State University’s box at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex at UCA, Thursday, Oct. 15. Rollow sent several balls from the wing into the box, having two resulting in goals for UCA.
Women’s soccer celebrates 3-1 victory against Missouri State By Ian Lyle
Opinion Editor Playing their last home game of the fall season, the women’s soccer team won 3-1 against Missouri State University, Thursday, Oct. 15. Opening the scoresheet for the evening, sophomore forward Sydney Brough put UCA up 1-0 in the 13th minute, drawing Missouri’s goalkeeper off her line and chipping it over the keeper into the net. Shortly after halftime, Missouri State player Kennady Orlick evened the scoreboard up by putting in a goal at the 56th minute, after UCA conceded a penalty kick. The penalty was called due to junior goalkeeper Reagan McCombs fouling the opposition in the box and receiving a yellow card. Although the score was tied, Brough returned the ball to the opposition’s net in the 75th minute, putting the Bears back in the lead with a brace for herself. Following Brough with another goal for UCA was sophomore forward Emma Hawkins at the 85th minute to claim the victory. The Bears had a successfully offensive game as they produced 14 shots on target. Not only was the team successful in offense, but defensively, the team only allowed one shot on target from Missouri State. Bouncing back after a loss from the previous match in Louisiana, women’s soccer head coach Jeremy Bishop was pleased with the outcome of his team’s
performance. “I think we did a great job of controlling the match, really from start to finish,” Bishop said. “We just did a better job of completing passes.We were a little more composed on the ball, able to complete passes and we were able to stretch the game when we needed to get behind them.” Even after conceding a penalty, Bishop was not disappointed with McCombs’s foul in the box. “I think she had to go and try to get the ball,” he said, saying that her decision to foul was necessary. “She’s in that spot where it’s either: get the player or get the ball and try to do something. She did good.” Aside from the one goal conceded, Bishop was glad to see Brough scoring two goals for the team. “It felt really good,” Brough said about scoring a brace in the match. “Last season I played defense so this season is my first season actually scoring and it feels extremely good.” Spotting the difference in the team’s play between the previous loss on the road at Louisiana and the recent win at home, she said, “I think tonight we just worked as a team and I think that there was a lot of grit and heart in tonight’s game that there wasn’t there last weekend. I think last weekend we were just extremely exhausted.” Assisting Brough in one of her goals was junior forward Morgan Rollow.
28:47 minutes. Coming into the game, UCA was missing several starters. Headcoach Coach Brown is pleased with the way the reserves filled in, “It doesn’t matter what number is going to go out there, We expect the same thing out of them. We didn’t know what number was going to step up, that’s kind of the way we’re in right now, just as far as the injury bug,” Brown said to UCA Sports. UCA’s next game will be on the road against Eastern Kentucky University on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. Coming into this game, Eastern Kentucky sits at 1-4 with a 0-1 record at home. This game will be aired on ESPN+.
UCA participated in the Bubba Barnette Intercollegiate golf tournament from Oct. 12 - Oct.13 along with seven other teams. UCA’s efforts resulted in placing 7th overall.
Men’s golf land in 7th place in the Bubba Barnette Intercollegiate By Ronak Patel Editor
UCA men’s golf traveled to Jonesboro, AR to participate in the Bubba Barnette Intercollegiate golf tournament where they finished in seventh place with a score of 896 (+32). The tournament took place at Ridgepoint Country Club from Oct. 12-13. Along with UCA, there were seven other teams in the tournament. Arkansas State, Texas State, Abilene Christian, UT-Arlington, Oklahoma Christian and Missouri State finished ahead of UCA. UCA finished ahead of Southern Illinois, Stephen F. Austin and Houston Baptist. Despite finishing seventh, Headcoach Steve Runge sees a bright spot in how the team played compared to the other Southland Conference teams that were at the tournament, “We were hoping for a higher finish, but we were the second-best Southland Conference team, out of four, in the field. We have one more tournament this fall and it’s next week at Chenal. We are looking forward to playing near home at another great course,” Runge said to UCA Sports. Sophomore Nate Jolly like his coach, saw positives from the team’s performance, despite the seventh place finish, “Even though we finished 7th we have a lot to take away from this tournament. For the most part we all
hit the ball very well and it seemed like none of us could really get any putts to fall and some weeks it’s like that. So hopefully this week on course some of us or more familiar with we can get a few more to fall and have a really good week,” Jolly said. Jolly finished the tournament with a score of 223 (+7) finished tied for 24th place. During the tournament, Jolly had eight birdies. Sophomore Josh Turnock finished in 28th place with a score of 226 (+10). Turnock finished the tournament strong; he had an eagle and three birdies in the final round. Sophomore Davis Irving tied for 33rd place with a score of 227 (+11). Over the three rounds, Irving recorded seven birdies. After three rounds, sophomore Jakob Lemieux had a score of 231 (+15), placing him in a tie for 48th place. Over the course of the tournament, Lemieux tallied six birdies. Junior Miles Smith finished the tournament with a score of 236 (+20), putting him at 56th place. Smith had four birdies at the tournament. Going forward, Jolly believes the team needs to improve on hitting on the green, “As a team We just need some small improvements we just have few sprayed tee shots and some troubles on the greens other than that we all did quite well. So just make those minor improvements Over the next few days and we’ll be ready to play,” Jolly said.
Opinion
6
ucaechoeditor@gmail.com
October 21, 2020
The Voice
The practice of tokenism should be put to a stop
The Echo Staff Ronak Patel Editor Sarah Coleman Associate Editor Delaney Van Wilpe News Editor Kaitlin Benight Assistant News Editor Elvira Toddy Campus Life Editor Haley Melendez Assistant Campus Life Editor Ashley Savage Sports Editor Ian Lyle Opinion Editor Kennadi Harris Entertainment Editor Mia Waddell Online Editor Megan Holder Social Media Editor Sidney McCoy Cartoonist
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Non-offending pedophiles shouldn’t be judged Let me start by saying what this article pedophile is one who has not acted on any is not about: it is not about being for or thoughts or attractions they have because against SB 145. It is not about advocating they are aware of its harmful effects. for the inclusion or removal of pedophillia Some have rightfully sought help and from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual have tried to receive support from the of Mental Disorders (DSM) V. It is not public. about putting the term pedophilic in the Others are scared to step out to seek same category as LGBTQ+, and it is not a help for the thoughts they have because of debate of choice. the immediate shame that society applies It is a tough subject. to them, despite the fact that Pedophillia has they have abstained from been highlighted in them. The term pedophile the news lately for in Greek used to mean various reasons. It has you had a care and love led to debates with my for children, but today it friends, with myself means: defiler of children. and with God. God’s The debate I had with love won. Hands down. myself and my friends This is an opinion stemmed around the piece and my opinion, “goodness” of nonmy belief is that offending pedophiles. But, everyone is welcome if we could truly search our to the repentance and hearts and thoughts, would forgiveness that Jesus they condemn us as well? died for, no matter the The grievous nature form of sin. of their thoughts do not by Olyvia Gonzalez The DSM defines escape me. Then God Staff Writer pedophillia as reminded me that “...all involving intense and have sinned and fallen recurrent sexual urges short of the glory of towards and fantasies about prepubescent God.” (Romans 3:23-24). children whether acted upon or not. To the non-offending pedophile these “Acted upon” could mean they have thoughts are a burden, a shame and a viewed pornographic images, engaged in weight; they take no joy or pleasure in online chats with young children and in them. If, in comparison, their thoughts are the worst and rare cases: molestation and just as powerful as suicidal thoughts how rape. can they heal or overcome without help? I do not defend the behaviors of the Jesus said, “Come to me all who are criminally defined pedophiles. I believe weary and I will give you rest. For my the love of God is for them as well but burden is light and my yoke is easy.” justice according to the laws of the land (Matthew 11:28-30) must prevail. Again, I am reminded that no one is I do want to hone in on a group of too far gone from God’s mercy, grace and people who might be overlooked in reconciliation because of the Cross. a debate about pedophillia: the nonAll sinners, even pedophilics, deserve offending pedophilic. the restoration that all Christ followers A non-offending pedophile or virtuous receive through God’s grace.
People should not make comments on others’ bodies The first thing my family had to say to me What we do when we comment on other’s when I visited home from college for the first bodies is reduce them to their appearance. We time was, “You’ve lost too much weight.” erase the power their mind’s hold, and we erase These words, although our society the experiences that have led them to the place celebrates them, felt like a badge of shame to where they are now. me. I was reduced to strictly my appearance in Bodies are inherently private things. I for a matter of seconds, before a “Hello” or a “How one hate when people talk about my body, are you?” could even be exchanged. because it makes me feel like I am on display. I As most individuals do, I have struggled with know many people that hate compliments for this my weight fluctuating throughout my life time. exact reason. Body compliments, specifically, In times of stress and anxiety, I can gain or lose can oftentimes feel like an invasion of privacy. a quick 20 pounds. The transition into college When was the last time someone told you life was an extremely hectic that you “looked good”? time for me, and admittedly, When was the last time I lost a bit of weight. someone told you that you I am now dealing with were intelligent or that you the frustrating reality of were strong? Which one my weight loss, and my means more to you? weight by default, being I challenge you to listen an unavoidable topic to the way you speak to your of conversation with friends and family. How family and friends almost often do you comment on constantly. aspects of their bodies that My weight loss, which is are not changeable in the not something I attempted short term even if it is a to do or am particularly compliment? How often by Mia Waddell proud of, is the lead line do you compliment Staff Writer of questioning. My body them on their abilities and physical appearance and their achievements? always seems to trump in I think refraining importance how my classes are going, or how I from making comments, positive or negative, am doing emotionally. about other’s bodies promotes much more The compliments however, are the most meaningful expressions of admiration and frustrating. “Congrats on your weightloss!” gratitude. It also delegitimizes the common says a family member. “You look so good!” thought trap that our appearance is what makes says a friend. These compliments, although well us worthy. intented, only cause me and many others who We are worth so much more than our have been in this situation before to think- did outward appearance. Give someone close to you I not look good before? Is my stress related a compliment that really means something by weight loss really something to be proud of? refraining from discussing their body.
If we long to see equality for all humanity, we must stop objectifying humans as tokens for the glorification of others. As the culture of the modern era continues to progress, humanity finds itself seeking equality and diversity across the globe. The concept of tokenism restricts the growth of cultural and societal progression as well as the desire for diversity. Tokenism can be seen in the workplace, in friend groups, in advertisements, in schools and practically anywhere people are found using a minority group to show off or use as a mere object to portray good in the place they are in. For example, a certain group of people consists of mainly Caucaisians, but welcomes a person of a different ethnicity into the group in order to classify themselves as diverse and to show themselves in a better perspective to others. The thought of reaching for diversity is great, but this is not the right direction to go about it. Although the thought of representing diversity is practically in good light, it is merely contradicted by the objectification of the minority in the people group by showing him as a concept rather than genuinely embracing him as a human. True diversity is attained by truly embracing another’s culture, while welcoming him in as any other member of the group - no different than any other rather than using him for a reputation or a perception.
The act of striving for diversity is great, but the practice of tokenism is the wrong direction to go about it. People are not to be used as objects but instead to be loved equally as any other human. Societies and cultures cannot progress as long as tokenism is practiced because it continues to hold people of minority groups in a box of objectification and commodity. Tokenism shows the minority group in a different perspective as objects of difference instead of unique, valuable people who belong like the rest. Instead of portraying the minority as the normal, tokenism continues to restrict them to remaining a minority and all that being a minority entails. It is time tokenism is rid of. It is time that others are accepted for who they are, whether they can help it or not. People deserve to be loved regardless of where they come from or what they look like. Furthermore, nobody deserves to be used as an object for the glorification of another nor shall they be used as commodities of difference. Seek to embrace others as the truly valuable humans they are instead of perceiving them as a differing factor in the community. Seek to learn another’s culture. Seek to appreciate others, their experiences, their upbringings and backgrounds, and the difference between yours and their lives. Only then will cultural and societal progression be furthered in the aspect of diversity.
Correction The Echo incorrectly reported on Oct. 7 the details of the amount Acxiom will donate to UCA. Acxiom will donate $1.1 million over 30 years.
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Entertainment
7
October 21, 2020
New This Week
PARTYNEXTDOOR stuns fans with “PARTYPACK” EP
Movies
BY
Oct. 23 — After We Collided (R), directed by Roger Kumble, starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Josephine Langford Oct. 23 — Friendsgiving (R), directed by Nicol Paone, starring Kat Dennings, Wanda Sykes Oct. 23 — On the Rocks (R), directed by Sofia Coppola, starring Rashida Jones, Bill Murray
Music Oct. 23— Karma and Desire- Actress Oct. 23 - Beastie Boys Music- Beastie Boys
ROB DAVIS
Staff Writer
The Grammy awardwinning and OVO signed R&B artist PARTYNEXTDOOR released his 7-track EP “Partypack” on October 16, 2020, after only announcing it the day prior. PARTYNEXTDOOR, a Canadian singer, songwriter and producer, known for working with big-time artists such as Drake, Big Sean and Kanye West, isn’t a name that you might recognize when looking at other high profile artists in the scene, but he has probably been featured on or written at least one of your favorite songs in the past decade, with Rihanna’s tracks “Work” and “Wild Thoughts” both being written by him and the former earned him his first-ever number one song on Billboard. PARTYNEXTDOOR opened the record with a track that has had some hype since its 2014 leak, “Persian Rugs”, a slower, more sensual record
photo courtesy of www.billboard.com
R&B singer PARTYNEXTDOOR released an EP of unrealeased songs on October 16. “PARTYPACK”.
that instantly entranced me within the kicks of the drums and the smoothness of his voice as he proclaims to his Nicaraguan lover everything that he wants to do in their short amount of time together. This record was a great way to ease me into the rest of the sounds on the record as the energy only ramps up from here. PARTYNEXTDOOR seems to offer a response to those looking to spend more time with him and build
relationships on the next track “West District” which offers a more aggressive sound compared to the opening track. He seemed to be dealing with mixed emotions brought on from the tumultuous lifestyle of touring and not having much time to spend with anyone other than the friends close to him which he seemed to be okay with, but towards the end of the song, he seemed to be speaking to someone he wishes he had more of a romantic relationship
with. This song, while not one of my favorites, does offer some relatable thoughts and feelings that we as people deal with in life because nothing ever remains the same, leaving us with mixed emotions that can be difficult to deal with. PARTYNEXTDOOR also has some features from the likes of the late Nipsey Hussle on the track “Candy”, Quavo on the track “Cuffed Up” and Lil Yachty on the track “Buzzin”
on the project. My favorite of those tracks came from the latter on the auto-tune, mumble-rap love ballad produced by Murda Beatz that shows some versatility from PARTYNEXTDOOR in terms of his delivery but also the manipulation of his vocals from the auto-tune. Lil Yachty also demonstrated some great chemistry with PND as they both took turns offering their sides of their own respective love stories. This was a fun song to listen to and it has already made its way into my own daily rotation. After listening to this collection of leaked songs that are now officially released, ranging from 2013 to 2016, it makes me wonder why it took so long for these songs to see the light of day. This project offers a little something for everybody, going from some smooth R&B to some more gritty, but still melodic rap that many will come to enjoy. PARTYNEXTDOOR is a name that should be talked about more and more respect should be given to the talent that he possesses.
SERIES
NETFLIX
Oct. 23- The Power of One- Bootsy Collins Oct. 23 - After PartyKurt Baker Oct. 23-Remote EPWallows Oct. 23 —JP4JUNGLEPUSSY
photo courtesy of www.thecraftychica.com
“Hubbie Halloween” now available on Netflix.
Oct. 23- FEAR EXODUS- Tech N9ne Oct. 23- Don’t Shy Away- Loma Oct. 23- Who Are You? - Joel Ross
Netflix Oct. 21- Rebecca
Oct. 23- Barbarians
Oct. 23- Move
Oct. 23- Over The Moon Oct. 23- Perdida
Oct. 23- The Queen’s Gambit (Season 1)
Oct. 27- Blood of Zeus
New Adam Sandler Netflix original, surprisingly funny BY
MADISON OLGE
Staff Writer
Adam Sandler has had an unfortunate streak of bad comedies in his past. Films like “Jack and Jill” and “That’s My Boy” seem to be some of the front runners on the list of movies that made people stop being a Sandler fan. Starting in 2015 with “The Ridiculous 6” we saw Sandler move in the direction of Netflix originals. Though this film wasn’t well received, Sandler seemed to stick with the platform, with his recent feature “Hubie Halloween” debuting Oct. 7 on the streaming service. This comedy features Hubie Dubois, a Salem, Massachusetts underdog who seems to have every intention on keeping the public safe, especially on Halloween night. Though Hubie is good-natured, he continuously seems to be the butt of every resident’s joke. The day before Halloween, Hubie meets his new neighbor, Walter Lambert (Steve Buscemi), as the town receives word on an escaped mental patient. Hubie notices odd noises coming from Walter’s home the next day and decides to inform police Sgt. Steve Downey (Kevin James). The tip is disregarded due to Hubie’s previous false reports, leading Hubie to continue to his first location of the night, a Halloween party. Hubie is tricked into going inside of a corn maze while at the party, looking to find a kid that had been reported lost. Hubie finds Mike (Karan Brar), a coworker, tied up and panicked. Hubie assumes Mike to be pulling an elaborate prank on him until Mike is suddenly 1. “Tiger King” Phenomenon
Top 5 good things to come from 2020 List compiled by Sadie Clark Staff Writer
The beginning of the worldwide COVID-19 quarantine was the beginning of a roller coaster of a year. Then fuel was added to the fire when Netflix released a documentary about an unorthodox zookeeper with a bleach-blonde mullet named Joe Exotic. Somehow this wild story ended up connecting millions across the world who were just trying to figure out the craziness of Exotic and his rival, Carole Baskin. People began posting memes, wearing t-shirts and even making song remixes about the show. With Exotic now serving 22 years in prison and Baskin recently starring on Dancing With the Stars, it is interesting to see how this unlikely story somehow connected us all.
pulled into the corn. As the night continues, more disappearances occur. It becomes apparent that something darker is happening in Salem and Hubie might be the only one capable of saving the night. Overall this film feels different than the the standard Adam Sandler plot but still familiar. Goofy character saves the day, gets the girl and becomes the town hero but with an added puzzle to be solved. Though I found myself sometimes more interested in the side characters and alternate plotlines in the movie, Hubie Dubois turns out to be a genuinely lovable protagonist on his own. The depth of Salem and its residents is portrayed in a way that feels fully developed and easy to become invested in. There are some genuinely funny moments too, aside from the sometimes excessively crude humor and obvious slapstick. The added plot of making the film into more of a mystery bodes well with the given cast. There are moments where you assume you have it figured out, only to be genuinely surprised by the film’s conclusion. After Sandler’s “Uncut Gems” of 2019, it seemed as though the public was a little confused as to what direction Sandler would take his future roles. The film was a stark departure from his usual format and though it left some with mixed opinions, it was garnered with generally positive reviews. It’s apparent that though Sandler is fully capable of more dramatic characters, he perhaps prefers a more easy and humorous energy that is perfectly captured in Netflix’s “Hubie Halloween”.
2. John Kransinki’s “Some
Good News” While we all know and love him as fan-favorite Jim Halpert from NBC’s The Office, John Kransinki had another role to fill during quarantine. Kransinski began airing a series on YouTube titled “Some Good News,” which focused on all of the positive things happening amongst the chaos. Some of the memorable moments of the show included a cast reunion of The Office. Another episode involved Krasinski hosting a virtual prom with performances from artists like The Jonas Brothers and Billie Eilish. Through a time of complete uncertainty and dismay, Krasinski and his good news was able to help us all escape for a little while.
photo courtesy of www.people.com
Lily Collins plays main character Emily on Netflix original “Emily In Paris”. The Netflix series was released on October 2.
“Emily In Paris” doesn’t live up to hype despite praise of predecessor BY
OLIVIA SNELSON
Staff Writer
I originally started watching “Emily In Paris” not for the purpose of writing this review, but because I actually had a desire to watch it. It seemed very promising being a Darren Star production, the man behind “Sex and the City” and starring Lily Collins as the main character. Let me start off by saying this show is easy to critique. I don’t usually watch shows made by Netflix because they tend to be cringeworthy. “Emily In Paris” was no exception. The problem most people have had with the show is how unrealistic it is, particularly French people. The show follows the stereotype that French people are mean and Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I’ve been to Paris, and it is by no means the most beautiful. It’s beautiful, yes, but the streets are filthy. Paris is kind of like how some people view New York City
3. “Parasite”: A Historical Win The Academy Awards have long been criticized for their lack of diversity in artists as well as the lack of filmmakers who are women. History was made during the 2020 Academy Awards when the film “Parasite” won the award for Best Picture. Bong Joon Ho and the rest of the people who put tireless effort into this movie made monumental success with being the first win in Academy history that was not spoken in the English language. Ho and his masterpiece won many awards that night, including best international film, best director and best screenplay. This is only a small step in the right direction, and was more than deserved.
as a dream when in reality it’s not. There’s also the fact that Emily moves to Paris without knowing how to speak French. She moves there for her job so it’s not like she’s not going to have to deal with a lot of French people. Even the characters on the show have a problem with this. I think the show hit its worst point when Emily accidentally sleeps with her friend’s seventeen- year-old brother. She didn’t find out his age until after, but nobody seemed to care. This was a very unnecessary plot line that just didn’t need to be in the show because it wasn’t funny. Other than these missteps and a few others, the show actually wasn’t all bad. The show had a lot of good moments too that either made you laugh or smile. I think anybody who watches the show can agree that Gabriel is the best thing about it. My favorite part of the show was probably when Emily is trying to prove to a
4. TikTok rose to fame
After the collapse of Vine in 2016, many people felt a major loss of creativity and entertainment. Those six-second videos meant so much to so many people. 2020 was the year that officially brought the social media platform Tik Tok to relevancy. With the ability to create videos from 15 seconds to a fullminute long, the possibilities were endless and soon multiple creators emerged. We were able to find happiness in creators like Tabitha Brown, Charli D’amelio and baby Grey to name a few. Tik Tok was able to satisfy the entertainment needs of many during a really difficult year.
fashion designer that she’s not basic by using a “Gossip Girl” reference. I found what Emily said cringeworthy and hard to watch because of how she kind of contradicts herself, but the best moment was when the designer expresses how upset he is at the ending of the show. I also really liked when Emily is finally able to let loose with Gabriel and an American celebrity that she’s babysitting by going dancing at a club. Overall, I would say that “Emily In Paris” is simply an alright show with some bad moments. But what show doesn’t have it’s bad moments every now and then. The show is light-hearted and easy to watch and if you’re done binge watching everything else, you might just consider trying this one out. The season is 10 episodes long with episodes at 30 minutes a piece, so what do you have to lose besides a little bit of time. 5. Recognition of true heroes One thing that has blossomed out of this- although it is far past due- is that health care professionals and educators are now receiving the attention they deserve. These people have been putting themselves last when it comes to their safety and working hard to keep us healthy and safe, while staying educated. Health care workers put their life on the line by stepping into work everyday and continue to do so. Educators have also worked hard to maintain as normal of a classroom as possible to make sure people are getting an education. People are finally seeing them for who they are, and they are the real heroes.
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SPORTS
8/ October 21, 2020
UCA STATS CORNER SPORT
OPPONENT
RESULT
RECORD
Football
Missouri State
33-24 (W)
(3-3)
Men’s Soccer
Coastal Carolina
3-2 (L)
(1-3)
Women’s Soccer
Arkansas State
2-1 (W)
(7-2-1)
Volleyball
ULM
3-1 (W)
(2-3)
photo by Addison Freeman
Bryce Dodd plays center field for UCA’s baseball team.
Clinton graduate talks why he chose UCA by Addison Freeman Staff Writer
Bryce Dodd is a junior in class, but a redshirt sophomore for UCA’s baseball team. A redshirt is a player that joins a team but is given an extra year to develop their skills before playing. Dodd, 21, has been playing baseball since he was four-years-old. He’s been playing for UCA as a center fielder for the past three years. “I started when I was young. My dad loves it too, so I guess he kind of showed me a love for the game, and ever since he showed me how to throw a ball back and forth, it’s just stuck with me,” Dodd said. Dodd is from Clinton, Arkansas, but moved to Conway to continue playing ball. He chose to play for UCA because of its proximity to home. “I like being able to go home and let mom cook me some dinner every once and awhile,” Dodd said. Baseball has always been the first pick for Dodd. He played for the basketball, golf and track teams while in high school. “I like other sports like track, basketball, football…but baseball just kind of holds a special place in my heart. It’s kind of hard to describe,” Dodd said. But Dodd understands that being a studentathlete isn’t easy. “It’s a job. It’s like you applied for it, and you knew what you were applying for,” said Dodd. “I knew what I was getting myself into, and I don’t
regret any of it.” Another factor in Dodd’s choosing UCA was his relationship with his coach. “I’ve been coming here for camp since I was a freshman in high school, and I got really close with Coach Gum,” Dodd said. “I just love the way he teaches. He’s down to earth, kind of like me, and he’ll tell you how it is. I really like that.” Dodd’s favorite part of being part of the baseball team is “the bond.” “I can talk to any of those guys like I’ve known them for 20 years. We’re there for each other no matter what. It’s like a brotherhood,” Dodd said. Like most people, the baseball team has had to make some adjustments to comply with COVID-19 guidelines. “Weight training is really the only thing that changed for us. The good thing about baseball is that we’re outside,” Dodd said. “It’s not like basketball or football where everybody’s up in your business. When we’re playing, everyone is spread out in the field.” Instead of using the weight room right now, the team is using the parking lot behind the baseball field so they can maintain an appropriate distance. However, Dodd isn’t worried that the pandemic will affect the upcoming season. “I think if it keeps going the way it is, we’ll have a season,” Dodd said. Dodd is studying Health Education and plans on applying to chiropractic school after receiving his bachelor’s degree.
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photo by Ian Lyle
Junior forward Morgan Rollow dribbles the ball into the box for an attempt on Missouri State University’s goal at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex at UCA.. The Bears had 14 shots on target while only allowing one from Missouri State.
Women’s soccer secures 2-1 victory over A-State by Ian Lyle Opinion Editor
Playing their second game within a span of four days, the women’s soccer team sealed a 2-1 victory at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Sunday, Oct. 18. The Red Wolves opened their account by junior forward Maggie Ertl scoring early on in the 14th minute. ASU held its lead for nearly the entirety of the match until sophomore forward Emma Hawkins scored to bring UCA level in the 87th minute after receiving a through ball from junior forward Morgan Rollow. Finding themselves into the third minute of stoppage time, UCA was awarded a penalty kick after a defending player from ASU drew a foul inside the box. Hawkins stepped up to take the penalty, sending the ball into the back of the net and giving the Bears their seventh win of the fall season. “It’s always a really aggressive match with Arkansas State but we held our own and played like we usually do and got it (the win),” Hawkins said.
Having previously lost 2-0 to ASU earlier in the season, the Bears had a noticeably different outcome in their recent encounter with the Red Wolves. “Our effort was different this time,” Hawkins said about the difference between the two matches. “We put a lot on the line today instead of last time.” Women’s soccer head coach Jeremy Bishop said his team played with a lot of persistence throughout the match despite being down 1-0 for the majority of it. “It was a tough day,” Bishop said. “ASU is a very physical team that plays really hard and took us out of our game for a lot of the day. Their ability to be physical and put us under pressure made it difficult, but the girls just persisted. They (UCA) just kept plugging away. It would’ve been easy to have one of those days where you think it’s just not going to happen, but they didn’t have that mindset. They just kept fighting and kept playing hard.” Although the scoreline is merely reversed compared to their last encounter with ASU, Bishop said the game was just as
intense. “I don’t know that there was necessarily anything a whole lot different. Both games were competitive matches that really could have gone either way. They ended up with two goals late in that game at home. The game easily could have gone the other way had we finished on a couple of our chances that we had early. (We are) two fairly evenly matched teams as far as ability to play and compete. That’s what you want is to go out and play against teams that are good matchups. Today we were able to come out on top with it.” The women’s soccer team has one remaining match of the fall season away at Missouri State University, whom they recently defeated 3-1 at home.. For the last match, Bishop said he hopes to see “another total effort from everybody on the team...I just want them to enjoy it and continue to play hard and I think we will continue to do that on Thursday.” “I hope we win,” Hawkins said. “It’s a physical match with Missouri State, but if we hold our own like we did today, I think we’ll do good.”
Bears keep MSU winless
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Photo courtesy of UCA Sports
After a second victory against Missouri State University, the Bears leave Missouri State winless. The Bears defeated the university this September in a final score of 27-20 and ended the previous game in a final score of 33-24.