Issue 15, Volume 118 -- February 1, 2023

TODAY’S FORECAST

Campus Life:

Students get ice skating experience, hot chocolate

4 page 3

Sports:

Men’s Basketball: UCA scores second conference win

4 page 5

Lifestyle:

Full Moon Records hosts face-melting metal show

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by MAci englAnd Campus Life Editor

INTERNATIONAL

U.S. gives tanks to Ukraine’s military

President Joe Biden announced that the US will provide 31 Abram battle tanks to Ukraine. The Pentagon is still deciding on how to provide the training, equipment and fuel, so the tanks will not arrive for a few months. Biden approved the tanks under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative after Germany stated they would send over their Leopard 2 tanks if the US sent over the Abram tanks.

Footage released of Memphis beating

Five Memphis police officers killed unarmed Tyre Nichols, 29, and have since been fired and charged with murder. Nichols died Jan. 10 in the hospital, three days after the attack. The bodycam footage was released Jan. 27, demonstrating the fatal beating followed by the officer’s nonchalance. Peaceful protests have taken place around the nation. Jan. 29 protesters marched to the Memphis precinct, and observed a three-minute silence, matching the amount of time Nichols was beaten.

Emergency SNAP money snipped

In February 2023, the emergency Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end. Advocates say that this ending will contribute to the increase of food insecurity. According to The Washington Post, food costs were up 12% in November 2022 compared to the year before and the rate of food insecurity has increased among seniors, particularly the Black and Hispanic communities.

Five Arkansans killed in car crash

Two students and three alumni from Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas, were killed in a multivehicle crash in Wyoming while on a college visit. A wrong-way driver in a truck hit a commercial vehicle and a car. In an attempt to avoid the crash, another commercial truck swerved across the median and hit the five women headon. The crash caused both vehicles to engulf in flames.

Faulkner County residents organize search parties for missing 14-year-old girl

Friends, colleagues share memories of Mark Spitzer

by torrie herrington Assistant News Editor

In response to the Jan. 17 death of Mark Spitzer, author and associate creative writing professor, his colleagues and students have shared their favorite memories of time spent with him.

Lecturer Scott Lewis was a friend and colleague of Spitzer. Lewis said his favorite memory was when Spitzer met his wife, Lea Graham.

They had gone to Fayetteville for a few days to attend an event.

“We drove to the festival in Mark’s recently purchased camper van, affectionately named ‘The Existential Midlife Crisis Mobile,’” Lewis said.

As they drove to find a place to eat, Spitzer spotted Graham and decided to offer her a ride.

“Both Mark and I were oblivious to the idea that a couple of unwashed, van-

camping poets might not be the most attractive offer for a ride.

Nevertheless, Lea accepted our offer and got in,” Lewis said.

Lewis said that night was a moment of fate.

“We were only in Fayetteville for the weekend, as was Lea. But something about that meeting seemed fortuitous. By chance, Mark had seen her, become intrigued by her, been inspired to offer her a ride,” Lewis said.

He said that Graham was the perfect match for Spitzer.

“She may have been the only woman who would have dared to jump into a van with a couple of unkempt strangers,” Lewis said. “But a woman with that sense of adventure turned out to be his perfect match.”

The School of Communication Director

Donna Lampkins Stephens said they were occasional lunch buddies, and he had adopted a dog from her.

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Beginning this semester, students who wish to use individual study rooms in the Torreyson Library will now have to book the rooms in advance.

This service is an expansion of the group study room reservation process that began in fall 2021.

Torreyson Library Director Rodney Lippard said a major benefit of the new system is that students no longer have to search the library for open study rooms.

“Before you even come to the library, you can see online what rooms are available and quickly reserve them.” Lippard said, “This can especially be beneficial for students who have a specific time they need to use a room either for an online class, test or meeting.”

Additionally, Lippard said that all students will have equal access to the study rooms.

“Finding one is not a matter of luck, good timing or bartering,” Lippard said.

The sudden switch from individual study rooms being first come, first served to them having to be reserved has upset multiple students across campus.

Students like sophomore art major Lexi Hoyt say making a reservation is not as fair as the system intends.

“This makes study spaces no longer as accessible as they used to be. For instance, someone could easily reserve a space for multiple days and not show up, making a room not available for those who need it.” Hoyt said, “Also, most people don’t know how to reserve rooms so it will be limiting the ability to get a quiet space as easily as before.”

English education major Sebastian Queen, a junior, shared a similar sentiment.

“I think it’s ridiculous to make a studying environment available by reservation. The library is a public space, and by all means, the studying centers should reflect that,” Queen said.

Queen said that making a reservation will deter people from using the study rooms entirely.

“People will most likely just not use the study rooms out of the inconvenience it poses as opposed to making a reservation.” Queen said, “Also, you have to study when you can, and that can’t always be scheduled. Why fix something that was never broken?”

English major Allison Toomer, a junior, said she believes the change is counterintuitive.

“It was nice being able to find a spot and grab it after class or something to sit down and study, but

UCA blocks TikTok access on secure wireless networks

by Ashlyn little Staff Writer

UCA followed the trend of other state universities banning TikTok on campus networks and university-issued devices, leaving students wondering what it means for them.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 25, TikTok has been blocked on all internal networks at the university. This includes UCA secure wireless as well as any hard-wired networks, which are different from the public networks used by students and guests. Students connected to UCA wireless can still access the app as it is not blocked on this network.

“Only UCA-owned devices connect

to UCA secure wireless,” UCA Vice President of Information Technology Trevor Seifert said.

Anyone with a university-issued device was instructed to remove the app from said device.

This ban comes just two weeks after Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ executive order 23-06 which prohibits the “installation of, connection to, or use of TikTok on any state network or stateissued information or communications technology device, including all desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, and mobile phones …”

The Jan. 10 order states that

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now you have to reserve it and plan ahead of time to use it, which, let’s be honest, no one plans ahead of time where they’re going to study,” Toomer said. Not all students oppose the idea of having to reserve study rooms, however.

Mack Stacy, a junior double majoring in English and history, said the move is a step in the right direction.

“I don’t see a problem with the doors getting left open because whoever reserved it can just let the person know that they have that room. But this way, it’s possible to get one, whereas before, they were always full. If you walk in and there are empty ones, you can just go online and book it right then,” Stacy said.

In response to the criticism, Lippard said, “As with all of our library programs, we are always on the lookout for indicators of success and for things that need to be adjusted. Since we are at the very start of this program, we know that things may not be perfect. We’re always happy to listen to constructive feedback about how we can improve our services, and we welcome ideas about how to make Torreyson Library an even better place to be.”

The process to reserve individual study rooms is the same as reserving group rooms. To reserve any study room, students can go to uca.edu/library/ and click on the ‘Study Rooms’ link on the right side of the library’s homepage.

Students can also reserve study rooms on the desktop computer facing the checkout desk to the left of the front entrance.

Counseling center sees increased patients, end of group talk sessions

by gretchen bullinger Staff Writer

The counseling center has seen an increase in patients from certain demographics since the start of the new year.

Most of the patients that have used the counseling center in the past have been white, identified as female and come from the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; however, that is slowly changing.

Director of the Counseling Center Susan Sobel broke down the center’s patient demographics.

“We have about 16% Black, 6% Hispanic, about 3% Asian American, and then about 3% multiracial, and then less than 1% of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or American Indian Alaskan Native,” Sobel said.

These numbers have gradually increased in the past few years because of the influx of students taking advantage of the services.

“We’ve seen a pretty steady increase over the last several years. As an example, I do know we’ve had 710 unique new people,” Sobel said.

With the inflow of new patients, there are still wait times of around two to three weeks to meet with one of UCA’s counselors for regular sessions.

There are options to meet with a counselor for crisis counseling, a walkin system, which is still better than what you see in the community, Sobel said.

Group counseling is still available at the counseling center, however, many of the scheduled group sessions ended because of the pandemic and low student attendance.

The group sessions, introduced in spring 2020, were quickly shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the fall of 2020, the group sessions started back up on Zoom, but the center shut them down again due to low attendance.

This past fall semester saw the resurgence of group sessions, but with only two to three sessions per semester.

“A lot of times, we get low enough attendance that we just have to stop them,” Sobel said.

This could be due to students’ schedules shifting and some students being reluctant to talk in a public setting.

Some of the successful group sessions are the women of color process group and the general anxiety group, which will be offered within the year.

Sobel is trying to schedule the group session for survivors of sexual abuse or assault.

Despite the center’s plans to increase group sessions, the university is refraining from increasing counseling staff due to budget concerns.

Financial concerns brought on by the pandemic and the expected decrease in higher education enrollment are just two reasons the university has not increased

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photo courtesy of The Arkansas Times

Mark Spitzer, a UCA writing professor who died Jan. 17, holds a fish. Spitzer authored “Beautifully Grotesque Fish of the American West.”

Library requires single study room reservations with mixed reactions

screenshot by Emily Kennard

THERAPY

Pro Auto towed an abandoned 2004 GMC Yukon on Jan. 26 from a Bruce St. lot next to Buffalo Hall and Stadium Park apartments. The vehicle, which was in the spot prior to 2022, does not belong to an enrolled student. Its earliest citation dates back to Jan. 26, 2022. UCAPD noticed someone periodically removing citations off the windshield. UCAPD attempted to contact owner Tru’daviis Hobbs, but he didn’t respond. The SUV’s $720 in fines exceeded the $200 maximum. Since UCAPD received no information, the vehicle was towed and a letter was sent to Hobbs.

App:

Borrowed bicycle reported as theft Cops ghosted after reported bike theft

Keith Henderson, a student, reported his bike stolen Jan. 25 to Officer Rodney Purvis in the UCAPD lobby. The next day, Henderson said a friend borrowed and returned the bike. Originally, Henderson had stated he locked his black Hino brand bike up near Thompson Hall and last saw it Jan. 20. He said there was nothing custom on the bike, and he did not know the serial number. When he went to retrieve the bike, Henderson said it was gone, along with the lock he used to secure it. However, since his friend reportedly returned the bike Jan. 26, the case was marked unfounded.

Professor:

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After reporting a stolen bike, student Allen Guei ignored attempted contact from UCAPD.

Guei said someone cut the lock on and stole his green UCA-owned bike outside Christian Cafeteria. Officer Anthony Tufu reviewed the footage Jan. 18 and noticed Guei unlocking his bike at the time he said it was stolen. Lieutenant Mike Shaw spoke with Guei and asked him to meet at the UCAPD due to a possible language barrier. Guei agreed but never showed up.

Lt. Shaw has attempted to contact Guei but said Guei appeared to be rejecting his calls. Due to this, the case has been marked unfounded.

Other state universities handled directive differently

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ByteDance LTD., which owns TikTok, is a Chinese-owned company that has “significant ties to the Chinese Communist Party” and can “harvest large amounts of data from devices on which it is installed, including information regarding when, where, and how users interact with the internet.”

Following the governor’s order, Arkansas universities began to implement the ban on their campuses. The entire University of Arkansas system, Arkansas State University and Arkansas Tech University have all blocked the app from being used on university-issued devices, and some have even blocked the app from being used on the university’s student network, too.

UCA wireless is a “bring your own device” network Seifert said, meaning it cannot

connect to UCA secure wireless where the app is blocked.

While the ban on TikTok has been made at the state level in an attempt to maintain privacy and data security, the university has set some exceptions to the rule. If there is a human resource, student conduct or Title IX investigation, the Information Technology department may grant access to the person conducting the investigation upon request.

UCAPD will be expected to work with the IT department if access to the app is needed for any issues regarding campus safety.

“UCAPD will coordinate with IT to establish appropriate investigatory access to the application necessary to carry out any law enforcement or campus safety purpose,”

President Houston Davis said in an email to all faculty and staff.

TikTok is the second-most used social media platform in the world, behind YouTube. In 2022, over half the apps’ users were teenagers and young adults, according to Pew Research.

Although UCA is still allowing students to access the app, unlike Arkansas Tech University, according to THV11, things could change if future legislation demands.

“We will continue to evaluate and monitor state legislation,” Seifert said. Arkansas is one of at least 22 other states making a move to ban the social media platform due to supposed national security threats.

In December, U.S. Congress also banned the app on federal government devices.

University office gives resources to students who have disabilities

by MAdison ogle Associate Editor

& sydney cyr

Social Media Manager

UCA’s Office of Accessibility Resources and Services, in suite 212 of the Student Health Center, provides resources and assistance to ensure students with disabilities have complete access to classrooms, programs and events at the university.

Doris Pierce, director of OARS, said the office’s “core foundation” is to “provide equal access for students with disabilities.”

UCA’s OARS website defines a disability as “a temporary or permanent condition that substantially limits one or more daily living activities.”

Pierce said there were 1,170 students active in the OARS database as of Dec. 2.

UCA’s overall enrollment for fall 2022 was 9,913, according to UCA’s website, which means 11.8% of UCA students are registered with OARS.

Pierce said the most common accommodations used in classroom settings are “extra time, distraction-reduced testing, note-taking technology and recording lectures.”

The OARS website states, “The University Testing Center administers the exam needs of students with disabilities by proctoring test or quiz accommodations and scheduling exam times.”

OARS offers “adaptive technology” or “note-taking” services to help students obtain written or typed copies of inclass information. Some classes have designated note takers, and students can be approved to use assistive note-taking devices.

The office can also set up faculty or staff consultations with

students by facilitating meetings to discuss accommodations, according to the OARS website.

For deaf or hard-of-hearing students, the OARS website says it offers “auxiliary aids and services,” including “sign language interpreting” and “transcription.”

Pierce said OARS recently hired “three federal student workers to help with captioning services.”

Pierce said OARS sent out an email to faculty in early November to tell them captioning services were available for things like lecture videos.

The office also offers advance registration, which enables students with disabilities to enroll in courses earlier than other students.

For physically disabled students who need wheelchair accessibility, Pierce said every campus building has a wheelchair-accessible entrance.

Some buildings on campus have elevators, but not all. Pierce said the university’s classroom buildings do have elevators or wheelchair lifts, though.

OARS offers oncampus housing or dining accommodations. Wheelchair users can request housing accommodations if a residence hall does not have an elevator.

According to the OARS website, housing and dining accommodations can include: “ADA compliant rooms,” “single-occupancy rooms,” “private” or “semi-private” restrooms, “meal plan exemptions” or “modifications,” and “assistance animals,” like service or emotional support animals. The office offers counseling and advocacy services as well.

to

management, study strategies and advocacy skills.”

Students can also utilize the OARS office if they are in need of “readers,” “scribes,” “lab assistance,” “library assistance” or “OARS cart services.”

OARS also has a web accessibility committee with representatives from offices across campus.

“We are talking about digital accessibility on a wider scale. ... It’s a really exciting time in the history of our college,” Pierce said.

Pierce said OARS has the resources it needs thanks to UCA’s Department of Finance and Administration.

“We have to go through a request, just like any other department does on campus. This year, we have been provided with software. It’s called Equidox,” Pierce said.

Pierce said the software takes scanned documents and converts them into a “tagged PDF,” a more accessible format.

“The monies for that were $7,500 for five licenses, and that was provided to us this semester,” Pierce said.

Pierce said OARS services are for UCA students and that “faculty with disabilities or disabling conditions can go through the Office of Human Resources.”

“I would like for students to know that our office strives to make our campus inclusive and accessible, and campuswide accessibility is our goal. We have campus partnerships, offices that help with that. We really care about our students. They can come and register with our office and sit down and talk with us about what is possible in the classroom in the way of equal access and accessibility,” Pierce said.

“We bonded over our mutual love of Volta, the dog he and Lea adopted on Christmas Eve 2020 whom I had been fostering,” Stephens said. “They came over on Christmas Eve morning, fell in love, took her home and they became a family.”

Spitzer had a love for nature and fishing. He wrote many books and appeared on “Arts and Letters,” a radio broadcast hosted by Brad Minnick.

“We did shows with him titled, ‘Return of the Gar,’ ‘What the Hellbender Salamander?,’ ‘Phantom in Your Own Backyard,’ and our most recent, ‘Burbot Bash,’ Minnick said. “With Mark, it was always an amazing journey.”

Professor Robert Mauldin spent many hours outdoors with Spitzer, Lewis and Ben Damgaard. They called themselves the Fishing Support Group.

“Mark’s nickname was ‘Hollywood’ since he had

appeared on the Alligator Gar episode of ‘River Monsters,’” Maudlin said. “We spent many hours on the water running noodles/jugs for catfish and fishing for Alligator Gar on the Arkansas River.”

Maudlin said Spitzer was a passionate, hardworking and loving person.

“When we were out fishing, Mark had a habit of writing on his pants with a Flair felt-tip pen whenever he had a new idea about a writing project, which happened often since Mark’s remarkably creative mind was constantly generating new ideas and perspectives,” Maudlin said.

Lecturer Mary Kubit worked with Spitzer in Win Thompson Hall for nine years.

“He was a prolific writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and essay,” Kubit said. “Many students, in learning the news of Professor Spitzer’s passing, have shared with me how he encouraged and inspired them to write their own stories and novels.”

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the counseling budget by much.

There have been two new hires within the past few years to help manage the increase of new patients and programs the center offers.

“We did manage to establish a foundation fund in the last couple of years, and I

Spitzer also filled in as the faculty supervisor for UCA’s literary magazine, “The Vortex.”

Editor-in-Chief of “The Vortex,” senior Gabby Thurman, worked closely with Spitzer on last year’s print edition. Her favorite memory of Spitzer was at their spring 2022 launch party when he brought a poster of the magazine cover.

“He showed up with a colossal beast of a thing; it was so big that in order to mat it, he had to use two old political yard signs and several hunks of duct tape,” Thurman said. “He was a wonderful faculty supervisor, and he will be missed.”

Kubit said Spitzer will be missed by her and many others.

“The world will never be the same. He was an amazing spirit, a gentle soul, the loyalist of friends and could rival Bobby Flay on the grill,” Kubit said.

Sobel helped establish a foundation fund

am going to work to get that up and running as something that people can donate to right now,” Sobel said.

Currently, the money going into the foundation fund is from a book cowritten by Sobel.

In response to wait times, Sobel suggested taking

POLICE

advantage of digital resources, getting out and moving and engaging in a creative outlet.

Additionally, the counseling center is preparing for Mental Health Awareness Month in April, where Sobel said there will be fun and informative events for all students to enjoy.

City council approves purchase of VR training for Conway PD

by eMily KennArd News Editor

The Conway City Council approved a contract buying virtual reality training software for police officers, increased Lake Beaverfork’s boat slip rental fees by 650% and approved transportation funding for three nonprofits Jan. 24.

Police Chief William Tapley said the Conway Police Department received $100,000 from Arkansas’ Public Safety Equipment Grant program and asked the Council for permission to contract Axon for virtual reality hardware and software.

“The first year, we would pay a hundred thousand dollars, which would be the grant upfront, and then the remaining four years would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $17,000 to $20,000 a year, which we would budget for,” Tapley said.

According to the Arkansas Department of Safety’s website, the grant program’s focus is “improving trust between Arkansas law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”

The Axon website advertises VR kits with weighted Glock and Taser controllers, and its promotional videos say “you can learn up to four times faster than

you can in traditional classroombased learning” because of the “immersive VR experience,” based on a survey conducted about soft skills like “leadership, resilience and managing.”

The Lake’s fee increase, from $100 to $750, comes after the council appropriated $550,000 of American Rescue Plan funds toward renovating the docking areas in July 2022.

“There was literally a plank out there for you to walk on,” Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Ibbotson said of the previous piers.

“Do you not think that that’s a pretty significant jump considering they’re not covered?” Councilwoman Anne Tucker asked.

Ibbotson said the fees were still about half the cost of other uncovered marinas and provided a list of local rates.

“We thought we came up with a reasonable price for everybody,” Ibbotson said.

The council approved giving $30,000, $80,000 and $92,000 to Independent Living Services, Boys and Girls Club of Faulkner County and Faulkner County Council on Aging, respectively, from the city’s transportation services budget.

Immediately per the council’s authorization, Arkansas’ Department of

Finance and Administration will give local sales taxes back to UPS as part of the state’s Tax Back program.

It also voted to consolidate several city planning documents into one “Master Transportation Plan,” which includes plans for parks and routes for bikes and pedestrians.

The council authorized Dave Ward’s new Fatburger to apply to the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Division for a private club permit, which would allow them to sell alcohol.

The rest of the agenda and meeting are available on the city’s website and YouTube.

Declan and Aiden Guzman, 6 and 10, took pictures with the mayor and Councilman Mark Ledbetter after the mayor said the children acted bravely in defending their 3-year-old sister Annsley from a group of dogs.

“Both Aiden and Declan were rushed to the emergency room, where Declan received stitches in multiple places, while Aiden underwent surgery, as he got the worst of it,” Castleberry said.

The council’s next meeting is Feb. 14 at City Hall and starts at 6:30 p.m.

“time

Campus Life

Around Campus:

Stay-A-Float

From 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, Donaghey Hall is hosting a program to help better prepare students for success while enjoying root beer foats. Event will be held on the second foor.

Queer Health is Your Health Too

From 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, HPaW@ Baridon will be hosting a panel discussion in the Baridon Hall lobby alongside experts in the feld of health and wellness of LGBTQ+ individuals, marginalization, what people can do to promote cohesiveness, inclusion and equity.

ACRE Cubs

Reading Group

From 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, Biz@Bear offers students an opportunity to participate in the Spring Reading Group with up to 12 members. Students will meet in the Biz@Bear Classroom and discuss relevant topics regarding the weekly discussion topic. Food will be provided.

Pink Goes Red

From 1:40-2:40 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, Alpha Kappa Alpha will host their annual program, emphasizing the importance of heart health in women, specifcally black women. There will be a table in the Student Center to meet and discuss how to achieve a healthy heart lifestyle. Students and faculty are welcome to stop by and learn.

Blu and White Game Night

From 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta will be hosting many different games and activities, giving students the opportunity to chill and hang out at the NPHC Fraternity Complex.

Meet the Pikes-

Day 1

From 12-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, Pi Kappa Alpha will be hosting various games with food to meet the members of the fraternity. Event will be located in the Pi Kappa Alpha house.

Hogs Game Rush Event

From 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, Sigma Tau Gamma will be watching the Arkansas basketball game together in the Sigma Tau Gamma House. Free food will be provided.

Let’s Play a Love Game

From 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 in the Arkansas Hall lobby, Muse@Arkansas invites students to join the staff for an opportunity to interact and connect with each love language. There will be polaroid pictures, snacks and more.

Students decorate tote bags at Arte Pa’Relajarte

BY TORRIE HERRINGTON Assistant News Editor

The Latino Student Association hosted Arte Pa’Relajarte to encourage students to relax and be creative in the Ronnie Williams Student Center Jan. 25.

Historian of LSA, senior Jasmin Martinez, proposed the idea of the event and aided in its organization.

“We called it ‘Arte Pa’Relajarte’, which translates to ‘art to relax’, so that’s the concept behind it,” Martinez said. She got the idea from the SAB Fall Carnival during Homecoming week.

“I love tote bags and there’s this event I won’t forget, the carnival day. They had goat totes, and I use that goat tote all the time,” Martinez said.

Martinez took her love for tote bags and turned it into an event aimed toward creativity.

“People love being creative and being artistic,” Martinez said. “So, it’s like combining totes that can be used again and again, and then making it in their own way.”

Students were able to pick out patches and pins for their tote bags. Markers, paint and stencils were also provided.

Junior Jazmin Sanchez said the event was a break from academic stress.

“There’s not a lot that goes into it, you’re just decorating and you’re having a good time. It gives you a moment to step back from school-related things, and you can just chill out with your friends,” Sanchez said.

Alongside painting tote bags, participants also engaged in a bingo game where they had to match descriptions on the bingo grid to other people in the room. The frst person to get fve different signatures across their card won the game.

President of LSA, Christopher Velazquez, said the game was meant to get students to mingle with one another and get to know each other better.

Sanchez said she enjoyed the event and being able to see people from the previous semester.

“Especially since it’s spring, there are already a lot of familiar faces and faces I haven’t seen in a good amount of time,” Sanchez said. “It’s like reuniting with a whole bunch of people that I’ve met over the years and over the past semester, so that’s been really nice.”

Secretary of LSA, sophomore Karla Mezquita, said she enjoys the community aspect of the events.

“Our biggest goal is really just to welcome people and let them know about Latinx culture and to come hang out with us,” Mezquita said.

Martinez said the events LSA hosts are a place to promote awareness and bring people together.

“I always love that anyone is welcome and I love when I see Latinos coming and interacting with one another because it is a safe place for them to come and meet new people,” Martinez said. Velazquez said he wants to get more men involved in the organization.

“Latino men and brown men are underrepresented at UCA, and seeing them be a part of an organization where they can build bonds with other people

Book club gives students the chance to earn cash

BY HANNAH ROHRER Sta Writer

A select few Biz@Bear students have been given the opportunity to earn a $400 scholarship for participating in the ACRE Cubs reading group. ACRE, the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics, is an interdisciplinary Arkansas-focused research center that is sponsoring a weekly reading club in the Bear Hall classroom. All Biz@Bear students were offered the opportunity to participate in the exclusive spring reading group by filling out an application. Ten students were hand-selected to participate in the study.

To obtain the $400 stipend, participants must attend every weekly meeting, contribute to thoughtful and reflective conversations, and read the articles given in advance for each week’s topic. The first meeting was held Jan. 27. The theme for the Spring 2023 session is “Cities, Local Government and Local Governance.” The group will have the chance to discuss a variety of economic topics and even reach out to various Arkansas senators and government representatives.

their

the academic director for Biz@Bear and runs the reading group.

“Networking is the key to success,” Moseley said, who also teaches an accounting class. She said she hopes students and faculty becoming better acquainted will lead to more open discussion in future classes and studies.

Biz@Bear aims to prepare students for the rapidly changing business world. Students majoring in a select few business majors will have the chance to bask in the culture of intellectual curiosity and community engagement that Biz@Bear has to offer, right from the comfort of their dorm.

Caitlyn Bellamy, a Conway native and senior student worker for the ACRE reading group, has been involved with the organization since her freshman year when she joined in search of friends and good conversations, which is exactly what she found.

“Hearing other’s perspectives and how passionate they are is lifechanging,” Bellamy said of the group. “It gets people talking about what really matters.”

Upcoming discussions are ethics of data, sports economics, financial literacy and more. All discussions can be found on the ACRE Cubs reading group’s website, https://uca.edu/acre/ acre-reading-group/. These subjects will be lectured by College of Business professors and faculty.

and talk with them and laugh with them would defnitely be a goal,” Velazquez said.

Mezquita said LSA puts a lot of effort into the events they host, so she

loves to see people attend.

“I really enjoy seeing everyone interact and having fun because we talk time to plan everything, which sometimes can be a bit stressful,” Mezquita said.

Liz Reaves combines passions through work

BY GABE WHITE Sports Editor

The arts and athletics have always seemed to be divided among students, from hobbies to degrees, but senior Liz Reaves has found a way to love both.

While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in theater, Reaves has held two jobs on UCA campus, working as a stage manager for the theater department and an audio board operator for ESPN+.

“For theater, I’m currently the stage manager for our upcoming production of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the nighttime’. As a stage manager, I’m primarily in charge of communication between the production team, design team and the cast,” Reaves said. “I’m an assistant to the director in scheduling meetings, organizing documents and preparation of rehearsals. During a production, I am in charge of making sure everyone, cast and crew, are feeling good and ready to go, I also call cues and make sure everything that happens during a show, happens. Basically, I keep everything from catching on fire.”

Reaves has an extensive past with technical theater, reaching as far back as her sophomore year of high school.

“I’ve worked in technical theater for seven years, since tenth grade. I specialize in stage management, props, sound and a little bit of costumes and lighting. I started out doing costumes and then freshman year of college I found out I really enjoy being a stage manager. Since then, I’ve worked as a stage manager as well as dabbling as a props master,” Reaves said.

Not only does Reaves have a fondness for technical theater, but loves the technical aspects of sports as well.

Reaves said, “For ESPN+, I primarily work as the audio board operator. I set audio levels, control the music played in various moments of the broadcast, and make sure the commentators are able to be heard. when operating a camera, it’s basically how it sounds. follow the ball, make sure all of the action is visible and provide shots that are pleasing to watch.”

Just like theater, Reaves has been working with the technical side of sports since high school. After learning the ropes of technical work while helping with school productions, Reaves found a way to lend a hand to her to the football team and basketball team, working primarily as a camera operator.

After finishing her final semester at UCA this spring, Reaves plans to

immediately put her degree to use.

Throughout the summer Reaves will be working as the stage manager and assistant props master at Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, Michigan.

“Tibbits is an opera house in Michigan that does a summer stock season every year. I applied online and since then the staff and I stayed in touch and grew pretty close,” Reaves said. “After college, I plan to travel the country picking up theater work in various states and making connections everywhere.”

As her time at UCA draws to a close, Reaves said that she hopes everyone will follow in her footsteps and find a career in what they enjoy.

“Take your time. Learn everything you can and do what you enjoy, something you’re passionate about. I didn’t choose theater for the money it’d make, I chose it for the happiness it brings me. You will always be happier choosing yourself and your mental health first,” Reaves said.

photo by Torrie Herrington

photo by Torrie Herrington

An attendee draws on her tote bag a design she found on the internet. Attendees were able to customize their tote bags with markers, stickers and more. Senior Jasmin Martinez, historian of LSA, proposed the idea to the organization and helped plan the event.

An attendee paints a sketch on his tote bag. Alongside decorating tote bags, attendees also participated in a description-matching bingo game at the event hosted by LSA.

photo courtesy of Liz Reaves

graphic courtesy of uca.edu

Liz Reaves is a senior who has experience working as a theater stage manager and as an audio board operator for ESPN+. The technical aspects of the jobs lead Reaves to enjoy both.

Ice skating brings chills and thrills

BY EMILY KENNARD News Editor

While the night of Jan. 26 may have otherwise given students a chill, the Student Activities Board’s ice skating and hot chocolate event outside Short/Denney gave them a Thursday thrill.

Freshman Annalaen Walls said the iceless ice skating was actually “scary.”

Her friend, freshman Kyle Urban, struggled to teach her, but they stuck around anyway.

“For the shoes, If you move one way with one foot and one on the other, it’ll balance you out,” Urban said.

“The shoe helps you. So in theory, you should be fne,” Urban said.

Their frustration was shared by another couple of friends, junior history majors

Emily Breniman and Bethany Bunting.

“I’m getting talked out of giving up right now. That’s where we’re at,” Breniman said, adding it felt harder than real ice skating.

Breniman said the skating was “fun, but frightening.”

Bunting agreed.

“We needed a break from our paper writing,” Breniman said, explaining the friends saw the event advertised on Instagram.

“She’s bragging because she’s able to go across without holding onto somebody, but I had to hold onto her,” Breniman said.

Bunting said, “So, I’m the

superior plastic skater.”

The 40-by-36-foot rink saw about 132 students, and it featured colorful lights, music and coolers full of free hot chocolate.

The sound of the dull blades biting synthetic ice plates lasted from 5-9 p.m., as part of SAB’s “All New” week, which also featured a karaoke night in the Ronnie Williams Student Center food court and the giving away of DIY embroidery kits.

SAB’s graduate assistant Hazel Bonilla said she most looked forward to seeing students’ reactions at the events.

“I think they are interested in it, and I think they’re excited about it. They’ve never had this before, so I think it’s been good,” Bonilla said.

Bonilla said, “We wanted to change things up with event planning. We wanted two themed weeks.”

“Next month will be Black History month, so we’ll do an

(Top) A group of students hold hands as they skate onto the rink.

(Bottom) Miss UCA 2023 Jada Simpson holds a cup of hot chocolate as she tries out her skates. SAB ofered hot chocolate at the event.

art museum strictly from Black artists. We’ll do a headphone disco celebrating Black artists as well,” Bonilla said. SAB contracted Bass-

Schuler Entertainment for the iceless ice skating event, and employee Alan Ball said the company sets up at colleges up to several times a week.

New Hall raises donations for local animals

BY BRENNA METTS

Sta Writer

New Hall hosted “Snuggle Season”, an animal shelter donation drive, Thursday, Jan. 26, supplying students with materials to weave blankets and toys for animals in Conway shelters.

As students trickled into the New Hall lounge for the event, they were given the choice to either cut fleece to make small knot blankets or use yarn and fabric to make cat toys. These creations were added to a donation box along with treats, toys and towels students had brought prior. At one point, a curious canine resident of the hall even coaxed its owner to make a brief pit stop at the event.

Alexsis Byrd, lead resident assistant for the event and a senior anthropology major, said, “This is the time where this is what animals are wanting, they are wanting that snuggly feeling and we are here to make blankets and everything for them.”

As the owner of two rescues who are “the most loving dogs in the entire world,” Byrd said it breaks her heart to think of animals who are in need during the cold season.

“This is the time kids have gotten a pet for Christmas and they’ve had it for about a month and that joy sometimes is gone. Personally, for me, that just breaks my heart. I know if shelters are full, people will just leave animals places,” Byrd said.

Byrd said she hopes students will walk away from the event knowing “they did something beneficial and that

What do you think about TikTok getting banned on college campuses?

Story and photos by Julia Trantham

“I think banning things like social media just makes people want them to do it more, but although TikTok is stupid, I don’t think it really warrants it being banned”

“I feel okay about it, I think it honestly shouldn’t be banned just because of dorm life being on campus. I don’t think it’s too distracting as long as people take time for it, if they get distracted it’s their fault.”

they were able to give a lonely or sad animal something that they can enjoy and something that can make them feel loved.”

Hannah Winters, a senior anthropology and history major, said, “I have a lot of empathy for animals. I grew up on a farm. It’s nice to just do something for them even if it’s small.”

Winters also praised the event for not being as stressful as she thought it may be, and that it was nice just to participate and socialize. Winters said that she thinks UCA should partner with more animal shelters in the future, suggesting that bringing the animals to campus may be an option to increase interest and participation.

Byrd said her biggest difficulty in planning the drive was getting participants. Because New Hall has such a large upperclassmen population, she said it is hard to get students to take a break from their busy schedules to attend.

While Byrd did not have a set donation goal in mind, she said she was just happy to be able to make some sort of contribution. Once all donations are received, she plans to assess the donations so they can be divided equally between the Conway shelters so nobody is left out.

While New Hall has done canned food drives in the past to offer nonperishables and toiletries to residents and members of the community in need, Byrd said that this was the first time that she had heard of them doing a pet drive and she hopes to see more collaboration in the future.

People of UCA: Grace Benish

BY RYAN WEBB Sta Writer

Grace Benish is a freshman with a passion for helping others, especially by providing more opportunities for disabled people.

In Benish’s junior year of high school, she wanted to “provide more inclusion opportunities across campus” at her school, Rogers Heritage

High, in Rogers, Arkansas

To achieve this, Benish created the “Fans and Friends” program, a social inclusion club for general education students and special education students. “Fans and friends” allows students to play games, attend school sporting events and

interact with each other in ways that they would not have otherwise been able to.

The program helps special education students be a part of the larger school community and develop social skills, as well as destigmatize special education students in the minds of general education students.

“Most of these students are self-contained, meaning that they spend their entire days in one classroom with only each other. There is a maximum of only ten students in these selfcontained classrooms.” Benish said.

“Can you imagine if, at the beginning of your K-12 career, you were placed in a classroom with only nine of your peers that

you would spend the rest of your academic career with? This is detrimental to essential social skills.”

Benish said that the program was diffcult to get approved.

The head of the special education department told Benish that her program would only be approved if she was able to coordinate event participation, acquire parental consent, compile medical information of the students, generate funding and ensure no events were missed.

Although it took a year, “Fans and Friends” was eventually approved.

Benish is a communication sciences and disorders major

with a focus on occupational therapy. She hopes to use her degree to “make being different a little less diffcult for people with disabilities, and provide resources and make a difference.”

Benish is an interdisciplinary studies minor and a member of the Schedler Honors College. She was recently added to the auto-accept program for UCA’s pre-occupational therapy program. In the future, she plans to pursue a career as either a speech pathologist or an occupational therapist.

“I don’t think it should be, I don’t think that makes any sense. I think it’s just like any other form of social media, it’s just in video form.”

“I think that’s a violation of the rst amendment right, especially if they’re not banning it nationwide.”

“They have already given money to the campus, so they know what their risks and consequences of it are. They are adults so they know what to do.”

“I’ve heard a little bit about that. I feel like it’s kind of expected, I feel like other kinds of social media has been banned before, so it’s nothing new. It’s justi ed.”

Kaeleigh Hughes junior Ari Vandiver freshman

Momnah Mukhtar freshman James Buckley junior

Emily Putnam freshman

Emily Tran freshman

SHELTER

photos by Seth Foley

photo by Brenna Metts

Senior Donnie Penn cuts feece in order to make a blanket at New Hall’s “Snuggle Season” event Thursday. Fleece blankets with a variety of patterns and colors were made to be brought to local animal shelters.

February

UCA scores second conference win

by Mary leSieur

Assistant Sports Editor

In a nail-biting match, the UCA men’s basketball team (7-16, 2-8 ASUN) pummeled the North Florida Ospreys (8-14, 3-7 ASUN), obtaining their second conference win.

The match up was close, sending the game into overtime, where the Bears were finally victorious.

Coach Brock Widders said, “They scratched, scratched and clawed and didn’t quit… I’m glad they got this. I’m so happy for this.”

The first half started with a threepoint shot made four seconds in by North Florida sophomore guard Oscar Berry.

UCA sophomore guard Camren Hunter took no time to secure two points with a layup in the paint.

After a missed three-point shot, UCA senior guard/forward Eddy Kayouloud rebounded the ball, allowing UCA junior guard Collin Cooper to bank a three-point shot.

With a close score of 5-3, the Bears kept the gap as close as possible.

A minute and a half later, UCA regained possession, and freshman guard VJ Reeves secured a layup, putting the Bears in a one-point lead.

Reeves refused to stop there, scoring another 4 points for UCA.

Within the next few seconds, Osprey’s senior guard Dorian James scored a layup, putting the Ospreys’ in the lead, 12-11.

Following James’ layup, freshman guard Johannes Kirsipuu made a layup in the paint, keeping UCA ahead by one point.

Almost a minute later, UCA junior guard Masai Olowokere added points to the scoreboard with a jump shot followed by another three-point shot from Cooper, making the score 18-12.

The Ospreys had already caught back up, overpowering the Bears and securing a six-point lead.

Following the Ospreys’ advance, there were four minutes of dead time with mixed possession between teams.

The Ospreys broke the stalemate with five minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the first half.

A jump shot by Cooper got the Bears moving, making the next few minutes vigorous.

The last minute made the crowd go wild.

Kayouloud bagged two free throws and a jump shot by Hunter, putting the Bears only eight points behind the Ospreys, ending the first half 38-30.

Starting the second half, it only took 30 seconds for Kayouloud to

make a jump shot, closing the gap by two points.

For the next two minutes, North Florida dominated the court, before UCA’s Reeves could make a layup followed by Cooper, leaving the score 42-36 — Bears down.

The Ospreys stayed ahead of the Bears, keeping a ten-point lead until Reeves scored a three-pointer, refusing to let North Florida regain the lead.

With three minutes left, the Ospreys and Bears had finally leveled the score, 71-71.

Scoring two extra points for the Bears, Kayouloud made a layup in the paint.

Both teams fouled each other, resulting in free throws for both teams.

Hunter completed both free throws, keeping the Bears ahead of the Ospreys by two points.

After this Ospreys had their chance at free throws, tying the half 77-77, pushing the match into overtime.

Five seconds in, Kayouloud racked up another layup, giving UCA the upper hand for their last chance.

The Ospreys took no time at all to secure a three-point shot.

With a layup by Kayouloud and two free throws by Hunter, the game was tied up once again, 83-83. With less than a minute and a half left, UCA kept the gap close.

Hunter scored with a free throw, followed by a layup from Kayouloud.

With 11 seconds left, James shot two free throws, making both and leaving the score 85-86 — before Hunter sank two free throws.

CLOSE GAME

Sugar Bears take home loss against Jacksonville

by Gabe White Sports Editor

The UCA women’s basketball team (6-13, 1-7 ASUN) stumbled in Jacksonville State (10-9, 3-5 ASUN) in a close game with a score of 43-41, marking its 13th loss of the season.

The Sugar Bears attempted to push past the Gamecocks with only a seven-player team, missing four players including freshman guard Parris Atkins.

Having scored 66 field goals and 12 three-pointers at this point in the season, as well as earning the ASUN freshman of the week award twice, Atkins has proven herself to be an useful asset to the team.

Coach Tiffany Phillips said, “No loss feels good, but this one hurt because I thought we were right there, this one was one we could have gotten.”

Jacksonville opened the game on top when fifth-year guard Shawnta Shaw scored a three pointer just two minutes into the first. The Sugar Bears quickly took the lead following a layup by junior forward Kyjai Miles and a jump shot by sophomore guard Kinley Fisher.

The Gamecocks responded with a three-pointer by redshirt junior guard Masengo Mutanda. Jacksonville took a four-point lead after graduate forward Kennedy Gavin scored a fast break jump shot.

Neither scored for nearly two and a half minutes until the Gamecocks’ fifth-year guard Kyra Williams made a fast break layup in the paint, moving the score to 10-4.

UCA drove forward with two free throws and a jump shot by junior forward Kierra Prim, ending the first half with two free throws from Fisher.

“I did think we came out a little flat in the first half, I feel like our energy was off to start the game,” Phillips said. “We needed to do a better job focusing offensively, and our shot selection was a little off. But defensively, I thought we did a good job in the first half, holding them to a low shooting percentage and contesting shots well.”

Upcoming

Men’s Basketball

Games

6 p.m., Feb. 2 at Florida Gulf Coast Women’s Basketball

Sugar Bears win over Kennesaw in fourth quarter

The Sugar Bears (7-13, 2-7 ASUN) defeated the Kennesaw State Owls (9-11, 5-4 ASUN) 59-55 on their home turf in Georgia this past Saturday, ending UCA’s five game losing streak.

UCA may have held the lead for most of the game but the Owls were hot on their heels, usually within 10 points of the Sugar Bears, even taking the lead in the fourth quarter with less than five minutes remaining in the game.

With a minute and 48 to go, senior guard Siera Carter scored and took the lead back for the bears. Then she did it again and landed two free throws after that to bring her to a career-high 15 points for the game.

“I thought the game went really well for us, our defense has always been our strong side and tonight it really showed,” Carter said.

The Sugar Bears started strong, with sophomore guard Kinley Fisher sinking a three-point shot.

UCA ended the first quarter with a sixpoint lead over the Owls.

The Sugar Bears began the second quarter almost head-to-head with the Gamecocks as sophomore guard Randrea Wright landed a threepointer, finally taking the lead back when Prim grabbed two points with a layup.

Jacksonville countered with a layup and jump shot by Gavin, only to be met with UCA equaling out the score at 18-18 with a layup and free throw from sophomore guard Gloria Fornah. wwThe second quarter ended with a three-point lead for the Sugar Bears following a free throw by Prim and a jump shot from Miles.

The Gamecocks woke up a sleepy third quarter with a fast break layup from Mutanda. The Sugar Bears earned their biggest lead yet with a threepointer by Fisher, bringing the score to 26-22.

The third quarter ended with the Gamecocks gaining control of the court, with fifth-year guard Imari Martin scoring a free throw.

The Sugar Bears started the fourth quarter with a layup by Miles only 20 seconds in. With seven minutes and 35 seconds remaining in the game, UCA began to close in with two free throws from Wright, setting the score at 3735, Jacksonville in the lead. Almost three minutes later the Sugar Bears tied the game, Prim bagging a layup.

As the game closed in on its final three minutes, the Gamecocks began to take the lead once again, senior guard NeKiyah Thompson adding two points to the scoreboard with a jump shot. As the game seemed to be heading into overtime, Gavin scored a layup in the final five seconds, Jacksonville securing the victory with a final score of 43-41.

“We’ve got to do a better job of putting fourth quarters together,” Phillips said.

The Sugar Bears’ next game will be against the North Alabama Lions at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2 at the Farris Center.

(Top) Sophomore guard Camren Hunter pushes against North Florida defense for a jump shot. Hunter scored the most points out of any UCA player, clocking in at 24 points.

With only ten seconds to go, the Ospreys were unsuccessful in changing the score, leaving the Bears victorious. The final score was 87-85, Bears up.

Kayouloud said the team was working on its plays to win its next

game. “On the rebounding, maxing out our man and making sure they don’t get a second opportunity to score.”

The UCA men’s basketball team will play Florida Gulf Coast, at 6 p.m., February 2nd, in Fort Myers, Florida.

BEARS FALL

The Sugar Bears continued to hold the lead in the second and third quarters, their strong defense making sure Kennesaw State never got too close to the lead until the aforementioned fourth quarter.

“In the fourth, things got a little exciting, a little intense, but our girls stepped up and hit free throws when we needed them to,” Coach Tiffany Phillips said. “Our defense won that game for us.”

The Sugar Bears will face off against the University of North Alabama next at 7 p.m., on Feb. 2 at the Farris Center.

Dolphins drown out Bears, 74-64

by MadiSon oGle Associate Editor

The Bears men’s basketball team couldn’t keep the momentum of Thursday night’s win come Saturday 28, losing 74-64 against the Jacksonville University Dolphins.

The Dolphins (12-9, 5-5 ASUN) didn’t gain much momentum over the Bears (7-16, 2-8 ASUN) in the first half, entering the second at 30-27.

UCA put in the work for a quick recovery but fell short, largely a result of Jacksonville shooting 64% in the second half.

UCA Coach Widders attributed much of Jacksonville’s success to strong defensive plays and efficiency on the court.

“They hang their hat on defense. If you look at the conference, they’re number one in most defensive numbers,” Widders said. “Their overall urgency on defense can cause you to speed up your shot.”

The Dolphins gave themselves

a lead to coast off during the second, scoring a total of 44 to UCA’s 37 and ultimately ending the game with a 10-point lead over the Bears.

Throughout the game UCA sophomore guard Camren Hunter landed three successful 3-pointers out of an attempted eight.

UCA junior guard Masai Olowokere followed closely behind with three successful 3-pointers out of an attempted five.

Widders said he was generally pleased with the Bears’ effort, but he hopes the team will become more successful on 3-pointers.

“Overall, I thought every time we touched the paint we got good looks,” Widders said. “We did make a lot of threes, but overall that percentage is not that great. I think we could’ve knocked down a few more.”

UCA sophomore guard/forward Elias Cato made a brief 22-minute return to the court.

“Very, Very happy to have Elias back,” Widders said. “I thought he

gave a lot of effort, a lot of energy. He changes things on the defensive end. He alters shots, he can keep the guard in front of him.”

“Obviously just a tad rusty today offensively. He’s shot it well this season, but he’s had a hard time getting on the ink and picking up shots lately,” Widders said. “I’m looking forward to [him getting] back in a rhythm here next week.”

Widders said that a big worry for him is that much of the team hasn’t had a chance to be on the court with each other this month.

“We’ve tried to address it, we’ve tried to see it in practice, but overall guys like Cooper and [UCA freshman guard] Vincent Reeves are high-volume guys,” Widders said. “They’ve gotta get some time to play together and see how each one of them works in the offense.”

The Bears will be on the road again in Fort Myers, Florida on Thursday, Feb. 2 to face off against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14-9, 4-6 ASUN).

(Bottom) Senior guard/forward Eddy Kayouloud prepares himself for a free throw. The Bears scored a collective 16 free throws out of their attempted 21.

Junior guard Collin Cooper rushes past graduate student guard Jordan Davis for a layup. Cooper was on the court the longest out of any UCA player, clocking in at 36 minutes.

photos by Gabe White

photos by Madison Ogle

Graphic images and videos of discrimination and brutality are often the catalysts of a movement. From the images of Emmett Till’s bruised face — beaten unrecognizable as his tearful mother stands over his casket — to the bodycam footage of Rodney King’s assault at the hands of four Los Angeles police officers, this evidence of injustice holds a power unlike any verbal account.

Our generation is no stranger to this. In actuality, we consume an absurd amount of content — often harsh and traumatizing — that affects us in unprecedented ways. In 2020, it was impossible to avoid footage of George Floyd’s death echoing across platforms. To many, including myself, there is a sense of obligation to watch this footage — a feeling that to pay proper respect to these victims, we must suffer the heartbreak and sadness of witnessing their murder. It feels like the least we can do.

That is not the truth, especially for the minorities that are most affected by these senseless murders. Forcing yourself to observe and reflect on a heinous act will not validate someone’s passing. You do not have to traumatize yourself to educate yourself. There are better ways to do the work. Let someone else bear that burden.

In a study by Brendesha Tynes on the effects of race-related traumatic events online, results showed that “police killings, as well as viewing distressing news directed at members of one’s own racial-ethnic group or those who share the same immigration status, are related to poor mental health outcomes.”

In an interview with Verge, Tynes said, “It’s this difficult balance of needing the videos but also protecting

When I opened Blackboard the other day, I saw a message saying that I had a grade above the course average. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Some people could have dropped the class or missed the first assignment … but, I still clicked on it.

When the site compared me to my classmates, I noticed that I had spent almost 10 hours inside of the website or working on assignments within Blackboard.

That’s way too much for it only being the first couple weeks of the semester. Especially since I don’t type up my work on the actual site. I only use it to turn things in or to check what needs to be done.

It was a bit of a reality check for me seeing that I’ve spent such a ridiculously large amount of time on a class that has had almost no work. It led me to look at the rest of my classes to see how long I had spent. It wasn’t any better.

The

Feb. 1 launches the beginning of Black History Month, an annual celebration and remembrance of the victories and oppression Black men and women endured for hundreds of years.

Black History Month is a concrete time in everyone’s calendar to dedicate their commemorations. However, that doesn’t mean we should only honor Black history during a specific month. There is never a wrong time to acknowledge the achievements and agonies of Black men and women throughout time.

And for those who’d rather forget the past and turn their backs on their American brothers and sisters, ask yourself what is gained from intentional ignorance. Our country can never be considered great if we refuse to right our wrongs and listen to the cries of our Black citizens.

TranTham

I know it sounds silly to say that it could be “addictive” to check on your coursework so often, but realizing the amount of time I’ve spent on just this site alone fully supports it.

I’ve also realized that I check my email almost constantly, which I’ve been told by others is excessive.

I’m beginning to believe that there is so much more to college life than just your class load. Many students do not obsess over their computers almost daily and still thrive in their classes.

your own mental health.”

“These sorts of videos, and the trauma they can cause, can make these kids feel worse about their racial identity, and make them internalize some of that dehumanization,” Tynes said.

Just last week, the public braced themselves for the release of the bodycam footage of Tyre Nichol’s death in Memphis. Thousands of people have viewed the gruesome moments that lead to the death of another innocent Black man.

The footage is so bad, that Memphis

Police Chief Cerelyn Davis had to warn the public of its incredibly graphic nature before it was released. She said it was as bad, if not worse than the footage of Rodney King’s assault. She described it as heinous, reckless and inhumane.

Thousands of people are in pain and are suffering from the violence they saw in that video. It may spark outrage or a valuable movement, justifiably, but the personal ramifications are also important to consider. You can still join a movement, you can protest and donate and make your voice heard, but you will likely never forget what you have seen. In fact, you will likely internalize it.

You must prioritize your mental health.

Instead, look at images of Tyre Nichols when he was happy. Read about his life and his family, and find ways to support them through this. Tyre was much more than what those officers did to him, and there are many ways to make that known that don’t involve traumatizing yourself with the video of his death.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about your classes, but being hunched over your laptop working constantly isn’t healthy.

If you find yourself in a situation like this or you feel that this resonates with you, please remember that this is just college. It is not meant to stress you out this much. Take a step back and breathe for a second.

Just because you may be labeled as a “full-time student” does not mean that you have to be glued to your screen at all hours of the day. Make time in your schedule to live. Make time to do something for yourself, not for your classes. Make time to have fun. Do not hyperfixate on your discussion post about what chapter 8 says. Just get your thoughts down, turn it in and move on.

Going to an event hosted by the university or going out to eat with some friends is a good escape and a way to take a mental and physical step away from work.

I’ve found that doing little things like this often takes my mind off what needs to be done in the next three weeks and helps me feel less anxious in general.

If you take the time to take care of yourself, you may actually perform better academically in your classes and feel more confident in your abilities.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that there is more to life than 11:59. You should too. It’ll save you a lot of worries.

The problem with race relations today is that bigoted people refuse to accept the lasting damage slavery has had on the future of Black citizens.

From a statistical standpoint, Black Americans face significant systemic racism in the economy.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the median pay for the average Black male worker between the ages of 25 and 54 was $891 per week compared to the average for white men, which was $1,128. According to the Fed’s data on U.S. household wealth, “in the final quarter of 2019, white people held 84.2 percent of U.S. assets; Black people held 4.8 percent.”

Also, white people hold 85.5 percent of the nation’s net worth, and Black people only hold 4.2 percent.

Because Black people are more likely to be impoverished than their white peers, many Black college students are also likely to fall behind on their student loan payments. According to the Federal Reserve, in 2018, 28% of Black students ages 18 to 29 were behind on their student loan payments, compared to 7% of white students.

Many attribute this blatant disparity to laziness; however, this is simply the fallout of hundreds of years of oppression and systemic inequality.

According to EndHomelessness, Black workers are more likely to work hourly, poverty-wage jobs than white workers, and Black people are twice as likely to be unemployed.

It’s also simply coincidence that Black citizens across the country are predisposed to face racism and suffer from poverty to this day because of the destructive burn of slavery.

Considering these facts, it is abundantly clear why Black people are at a great disadvantage compared to white people and other racial groups.

Instead of telling Black people to get over the past or work harder, we Americans should recognize the everlasting impact of slavery; it is woven into the very fabric of American society. A refusal to acknowledge the root of a problem is the refusal to truly, wholeheartedly solve it.

Black people did not randomly decide to suffer more than everyone else one day. The damage is done, and now it is in the hands of American citizens and politicians to restructure our country to serve all.

Black history is more than just a month, it is a force to be reckoned with, a reality to be shared, not just in February, but every month, every year.

New This Week

Movies

Feb. 3— Knock at the Cabin (R)

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan Starring Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, Jonathan Groff. Theatrical release.

Feb. 3—80 for Brady (PG-13)

Directed by Kyle Marvin. Starring Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Lily Tomlin, Tom Brady. Theatrical release.

Feb. 3—The Amazing Maurice (PG13) Directed by Toby Fenkel, Florian Westermann. Starring Emma Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis. Theatrical release.

Television

Feb. 1—Gunther’s Millions (Netflix)

Feb. 1— The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 2 (Disney+)

Feb. 1— My 600-lb Life Season 11 (TLC)

Feb. 3—Harlem Season 2 (Prime Video)

Music

Feb. 3—Shania Twain—Queen of Me [Republic]

Feb. 3—John Frusciante— I [Acid Test Records]

Feb. 3—John Frusciante— II [Acid Test Records]

Feb. 3—Raye—My 21st Century Blues [Human Re-Sources]

Feb. 3—Sunny War—Anarchist Gospel [New West Records]

Feb. 3—Young Fathers—Heavy Heavy [Ninja Tune]

Video Games

Feb. 3—Deliver Us Mars [Frontier Developments] PS5, PS4 Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Feb. 3—SpellForce: Conquest of Eo [THQ Nordic] PC

Feb . 10—Hogwarts Legacy [Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment] PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Top 5

Arkansas Crab Rangoons

Colleen Hoover book worth the read, but flawed

by Mary LeSieur Assistant Sports Editor

In October 2022, New York Times Bestselling Author Colleen Hoover released “It Starts With Us,” the sequel to her first book, “It Ends With Us.”

The award-winning young adult fiction writer’s stories usually include common tropes such as friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, the girl next door or forbidden love.

Normally quick reads, her books have recently gotten a large amount of attention due to TikTok and Instagram.

Her new sequel, “It Starts With Us,” continues the story of Lily Bloom, the protagonist; Atlas Corrigan, her long-lost high school sweetheart; and Ryle Kincaid, Lily’s abusive exhusband.

At the end of the first novel, Lily divorces Ryle, leaving her with a child and a business to take care of all by herself.

The first chapter of “It Starts With Us,” reintroduces Lily and Atlas to one another, and expectedly, the pair is awkward — having not been on a date in over 20 years and because Altas is partially the reason her marriage to Ryle collapsed disastrously.

However, a few months have passed since Lily and Ryle’s divorce has been finalized, so Atlas and Lily plan a night out despite her trepidation.

The novel switches to both of their perspectives, which better explains the twists and turns of their own lives.

Despite their separation, Lily doesn’t want Ryle to know she’s seeing Atlas, yet Atlas isn’t afraid of the repercussions he may face.

The storyline ultimately follows Lily and Atlas, their problems, and the struggle of balancing work, love, and family.

These complications don’t hold back the characters and the book finally gives readers the happy ending they’ve been searching for since the first book’s tearful ending.

Hoover does a fantastic job exploring ideas such as recovery and starting fresh, both major themes of the book.

My favorite aspect of the book was the underlying theme of “You have to do the things that make you happy, regardless of what could happen.”

A fresh start is a huge component of the story, especially with several of the new characters the reader is introduced to.

Lily and Atlas go through major character developments that will make readers grow to love the main characters that

much more.

I praise Hoover for the character development of Ryle as well. Although Ryle is a horrible character, he gains some perspective throughout the book. It takes a while, but Ryle starts to become the person he needs to in order to be a part of Lily and their daughter Emmy’s lives.

While I loved the book, I had a good amount of criticisms.

The number of love letters in the book was almost paralyzing. It felt like every other page was a love letter and as a reader who likes action, it became a little boring.

‘The Last of Us’ lives up to hype

by bLake Weaver Staff Writer

HBO premiered “The Last of Us” on Jan. 15, a show based on the critically acclaimed action-adventure video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog that was released for PlayStation 3 in 2013.

The show is now on episode three, and between the first two episodes, WarnerMedia reported that this is the largest week two audience growth for an HBO original drama series in the network’s history — with an additional million viewers gained since the premiere. So what makes “The Last of Us” so remarkable?

Hoover typically creates novels you cannot put down; however, I didn’t find it difficult to put down “It Starts With Us” during those love letters.

While the love letters are irritating, they weren’t the biggest flaw of the book.

The most infuriating part is the way Hoover made Lily’s character weak — a characteristic she doesn’t normally have. In the first book, Lily doesn’t tolerate Ryle’s abuse, but the way Hoover wrote the tense scenes in “It Starts With Us” made me furious. Lily’s character would never allow herself to be thrown against a door, yet Hoover never let Lily take up for herself.

While the book has its imperfections, I’d give it an 8/10.

There are so many positive elements of the book that overshadow the bad and it was a good read.

It gives you that warm feeling to see both characters have happiness after so much conflict.

While reading, you get a sense of who each character really is and what they will do to earn their happiness. It’s heartwarming and saddening in the best way possible.

Hoover just announced that “It Ends With Us” will be made into a movie, starring Blake Lively as Lily, and Justin Baldoni as Ryle.

The show focuses on Joel Miller, played by Pedro Pascal, following the outbreak of a parasitic fungal infection known as Cordyceps Brain Infection, which completely alters the host into hyperaggressive zombielike beings that spread the disease to other hosts.

“The Last of Us” stands out amongst the plethora of zombie media we have found ourselves up to our knees in, because of the relationship between Joel

and Ellie (Bella Ramsey).

Joel must escort Ellie to the supposed safety of a revolutionary militia group called the Fireflies, which formed after the fall of humanity in the outbreak’s wake and are seeking a cure or vaccine to fight back against the infection.

“The Last of Us” is an adaptation done right. It is written and directed by Craig Mazin, who created the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl,” alongside Neil Druckmann, who led development on the original video game as a writer and the creative director.

The duo of Mazin and Druckmann work together to make the show incredibly faithful to its source material while also making it more appealing to a wider audience.

Pascal, who has garnered a fan base after his roles in shows like “The Mandalorian” and “Game of Thrones,” plays the grizzled Joel, who has lost everything in the wake of the outbreak.

Joel is a father, a role Pascal has played immaculately from the very start of the show. Fans of “The Mandalorian” know, from the relationship between

Mando and Baby Yoda, that this is familiar ground for the actor.

But what is new is Ramsey’s performance as Ellie. Ellie was born after the outbreak and is a teenager when she and Joel cross paths. In the game, Ellie won fans over with her snarky attitude and banter between herself and Joel, and Ramsey captures the essence of Ellie surprisingly well.

Having a teenage actress portray Ellie, as opposed to Ashley Johnson who voiced Ellie in the game at the age of 26, really sells the role to the audience and allows them to sympathize with her.

The Last of Us is shaping up to be one of the standout shows of this year and perhaps this decade. The love the creators have for the story and characters is on full display on screen. Having Druckmann heading the show as he did the game was a genius move on HBO’s part. It is nice to have a substantial adaptation of a beloved property that both longtime fans and newcomers can enjoy at the same time.

“The Last of Us” is available to stream on HBO Max.

‘You People’ a deep romantic comedy

by

Amira’s mother; Julia Louis

“You People” is a dynamic romantic comedy that has a much-needed conversation about racial differences in our country.

The movie premiered Jan. 28 exclusively on Netflix and was written and directed by Jonah Hill and Kenya Barris. Barris is known for creating the hit ABC shows “Black-ish,” “Grown-ish,” and “Mixed-ish.”

The movie stars Hill as Ezra, a bank investor and podcaster, and Lauren London as Amira, an aspiring costume designer. The pair meet after an Uber mishap, where Ezra mistakenly gets into the backseat of Amira’s car while she was pulled over getting directions from her GPS. Ezra gives Amira directions to where she was originally going before he had mistaken her as his Uber in exchange for a ride.

From there the two exchange numbers and fall in love after a series of dates — eventually getting engaged.

The movie features an all-star cast, including Eddie Murphy as Akbar, Amira’s father; Nia Long as Fatima,

My mom’s house This isn’t a joke. No person or restaurant makes crab rangoons quite like my mom. I don’t know if it’s her recipe or the dash of love folded into each wonton, but I’ve never had a rangoon that comes close to their level. They’re the ideal balance of sweet and savory, crispy and creamy. An “I made you some crab rangoons” from my mom elicits the same warmth as an “I love you.” Watching her oliveskinned hands shape those fried pyramids stuffed with decadent crab and cream cheese filling ignites a fire in my soul that only a mother knows how to spark.

Mulan’s

The first time I tried a crab rangoon from the Mulan’s buffet on Elsinger Boulevard in Conway, also found on East Parkway Drive in Russellville, I knew I’d found my favorite restaurant rangoon. They’re drastically different from my mother’s, with a sugary gooey center and lack of spiciness and onions. Their unique shape and addictive texture make for a top rangoon in my book. At Mulan’s, my plate is practically 90% crab rangoons and 10% other Chinese delicacies. I have to fight the temptation not to stuff my purse with them every time.

Chicot Hibachi Chicot Hibachi, a high-quality hibachi establishment found on North Hills Boulevard in North Little Rock with two other locations in Little Rock, doesn’t just serve my favorite sushi of all time, they also have some of the most incredible crab rangoons in the Little Rock area. Besides their crunchy exterior and velvety interior, sometimes the bag actually comes with five rangoons instead of four; like a surprise from the crab rangoon gods. I suggest dipping your rangoons in their succulent yum yum sauce for a powerful punch of Japanese delectability.

Dreyfus as Shelley, Ezra’s mother; and David Duchovny as Arnold, Ezra’s father.

After watching the trailer I expected a full-on comedy movie, with actors like Hill and Murphy.

Although it did have those comedic moments, “You People” went deeper. The movie’s tagline is “opposites attract, families don’t.” Ezra is of Jewish descent, whereas Amira is of Muslim descent.

Throughout the movie you see their families clash and argue over cultural differences.

Some parts of the movie are hard to watch, but it shows the harsh realities interracial couples face when merging families.

Outside of that important theme, the movie is amusing.

I enjoyed the cameos from actress Lala Anthony, rapper Yung Miami, and comedian Mike Epps. Those three brought a nice comedic relief to the serious themes throughout the movie.

The movie was filmed in Los Angeles and featured the

Pho Huyen

Pho Huyen, the only Vietnamese restaurant in Conway (located on Dave Ward), offers some mouthwatering rangoons that will elevate your báhn mì or pho-eating experience. I like to submerge my rangoons in their sweet and sour garlic chili sauce and wash it down with a gulp of their creamy boba. The crab rangoons are the iconic triangle shape, and they’re always served piping hot. Unlike most places, you can actually see the green onions and crab in the filling, which is refreshing in a world that insists on making the cream cheese the star of the show.

culture of the city throughout. There was also a brief tribute to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Hussle was a Los Angeles icon and London’s partner until his death in 2019.

“You People” is London’s second movie since Hussle passed and it was beautiful to see that personal element in the movie.

The movie also featured Khadijah Haqq, as Renee, Amira’s friend. London and Haqq worked previously together in the film ATL, where the two played best friends. Having Haqq play London’s friend was a nice reference to a film they are most commonly known for.

However, the ending of the movie fell a bit short, and felt rushed and thrown together. The film would have benefited from a longer runtime, so a proper ending could have been achieved.

In the future, I hope to see a sequel to this movie due to its underwhelming ending. There is much room for character development in all of the characters.

“You People” is streaming now only on Netflix.

First Wok

A hidden gem in the McCain Mall in NLR, First Wok may not stand out as sharply as the other restaurants, but that doesn’t make it any less deserving of its place on my top 5. The crab rangoons are fried fresh on the spot, and they are made for those who prefer them on the sweeter side. If you’re looking for a quick, scrumptious snack during a shopping break, look no further than First Wok. It holds a special place in my heart because it’s where I was first introduced to crab rangoons. It’s a smart start for any new crab rangoon connoisseurs.

List compiled by Anna Yanosick

Opinion Editor

Eddie Murphy (Left) and Jonah Hill both star in “You People.” The film released on Netflix on Jan. 28 and discusses the difficulty of interracial relationships

Sydney aMbruS Staff Writer

The storyline ultimately follows Lily and Atlas, their problems, and the struggle of balancing work, love and family.

Pedro Pascal stars as Joel in the hit show based on the 2013 video game. The show is currently releasing new episodes every Sunday on HBO Max.

photo courtesy of colleenhoover.com

is the sequel to author Colleen Hoover’s 2016 book

film of the book is in the works.

Go and Do

Live Music

8 p.m., Feb. 3 — Presley Drake — King’s Live Music, $5 cover

Death metal meets Conway scene Full Moon Records revitalizes alternative sound

by Milo Strain Entertainment Editor

Seven different bands from across Arkansas and beyond performed over the course of two nights at Full Moon Records Jan. 27 and 28.

Ruin, Angel Flesh and Macrocosm — Vino’s Brew Pub

On Friday, Jan. 27, four metal bands took the stage — which was built the day before by Full Moon Records owner Justin Dunn — and played to a packed house. Doors opened at 8 p.m. and within 15 minutes the all-ages show was sold out.

is facilitating something more like a community,” Grove said. “It’s cool seeing a younger crowd coming and being excited about shows.”

Excited might be an understatement based on the size of the crowd that came out. It’s clear that there’s a demand for metal shows in Conway that other music venues aren’t meeting.

Jackson Edwards, vocalist for Zashed and a communications major at Harding University, said the crowd on Friday was the “best we’ve had, easily.”

7-11 p.m., Feb. 4 — DOUBLE FEATURE: SURFWAX, Peach Blush, Always Tired and Wrestling — Vino’s Brew Pub

Open Kasket, a Little Rock death metal band, opened the show, followed by Condemn, a metalcore band also from Little Rock.

Third was Morbid Visionz, another Little Rock band that recently released an EP titled “Cycle of Cessation’’ under Maggot Stomp, an independent record label in California that focuses on releasing death metal from all over the United States.

The headlining band that night was Zashed. Self-described as “Searcy shed metal,” Zashed traveled from the aforementioned Searcy to play a ferocious 35-minute set to close out the show, ending with an encore.

The Conway crowd couldn’t contain their excitement; people formed mosh pits and crowd-surfed across the room throughout the night.

7 p.m., Feb. 6 — Jude Brothers — White Water Tavern, $10 cover

9 p.m., Feb. 7 — Randall Shreve — Bears Den Pizza

8 p.m., Feb. 11 — Limestone — Full Moon Records, $10 cover

Events/Live Shows

7:30 p.m., Feb. 5 — On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan — Reynolds Performance Hall. “Features some of the most iconic songs of the past quarter-century.”

7:30 p.m., Feb. 8 — Blue Man Group — Reynolds Performance Hall. “Featuring pulsing, original music, custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction and hilarious absurdity.” Tickets on sale starting Sept. 3.

8 p.m., Feb. 4 — Amy Bishop & The Slingerz — King’s Live Music, $5 cover 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Feb. 11 — Forever

Thrifted Vintage Swap Meet: Valentine’s Market — 711

Main St, Little Rock. 30+ vendors, artists, food trucks and music.

One audience member even traveled from Memphis, Tennessee to catch the show after seeing Zashed perform there two days earlier.

Full Moon Records has been hosting concerts in some capacity a couple of times a month since summer 2022, starting with live music at its outdoor vendor markets, but Friday marks its first metal show, further establishing its status as a refuge in Conway for more alternative or extreme bands to play shows.

Evan Grove, vocalist of Morbid Visionz and longtime member of the Arkansas music scene, expressed his support for Full Moon Records and the work Dunn has been doing to turn it into a live music venue.

“I think what [Dunn] is doing here

Email us: ucaechoeditor@gmail com

“That show was something special, it was really something special,” Edwards said. “I think without [Full Moon] it would be harder to get anything other than a house show in Conway.

“I don’t see us being able to book, like, a music venue in Conway … The music venues they have in Conway aren’t going to be playing heavy music,” Edwards said.

Kurt Lunsford, a Little Rock music photographer, uploaded all four sets from Friday’s concert to his YouTube channel, @KurtLunsford, where they can be viewed for free.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, Full Moon Records slowed things down a bit and hosted three rock bands, each with their own distinct sound which made for another excellent night of music.

Makeshift Tapedeck, playing for the first time in Conway from Monroe, Louisiana, opened the show with an energetic set of catchy, poppy tunes.

Pett, from Little Rock and also making their Conway debut, went on next and took the audience on an entrancing auditory journey of intricately-arranged songs drenched in dreamy reverb.

Finally, Full Moon Records alums Sonic Fuzz closed out the entire weekend of shows with songs full of earworm hooks, crunchy indie rock guitar tones and the occasional improvisational excursion. All seven bands that played this weekend have music out on major streaming platforms and have active social media where their next shows and upcoming projects can be found.

Rock ‘n’ roll grows at Bell Urban Farm

by brenna MettS Staff Writer

A diverse crowd of people gathered to enjoy music at the nontraditional venue surrounded by farm life, the austere weather and haunting passing of the occasional train adding to the atmospheric quality of the music.

Children and adults of all ages stopped by the event, some after doing their shopping at Bell Urban’s grocery store, Farmstand — while others dropped by just to show their support of the band and business.

THISNESS is a local band manned by vocalist and guitarist Jamie Dow, guitarist Jesse Butler, bassist Michael Norton and drummer Nate Chapman.

While the band usually plays in the Little Rock area at venues such as Stickyz, Vino’s, Four Quarter Bar and White Water Tavern, the band’s friendship with Bell Urban Farm owners Zack and Kim McCannon brought them to Bell Tones.

Inspired by bands such as Pink Floyd, Joy Division, The Cure, The Doors, Sonic Youth, Black Angels and Murder Capital, Dow lovingly described the band’s sound as “loud and miserable.”

Despite the band’s membership being comprised of college professors spanning across UCA, Hendrix, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Arkansas Tech University, Dow said their following is not limited to college-age students.

“I think also because we’re all middle-aged we actually have a wider age demographic in our audience because of that.

drawing from and that’s something

that our more adult fans can resonate with,” Norton said.

The diversity of Saturday’s audience supported Norton’s assessment.

The show was the second time Bell Urban hosted the event and the 30 members in attendance more than tripled the attendance of the first, held Dec. 17.

Sophia Stolkey and Drew Skelton, both students at Hendrix, said they knew about the event because the lead singer and guitarist for THISNESS, Jamie Dow, is their philosophy professor.

Stolkey was delighted that the event made her more aware of Bell Urban farm and the Farmstand.

“I’m glad I’ve been in here now and I probably wouldn’t have if they didn’t have the show. It’s locally sourced products which are good for the community and the environment. It feels more warm, cozy and personal,” said Stolkey.

Skelton added that they didn’t know why they didn’t come to Bell Urban more often since it was so close. “It’s always good to have a grocery place that isn’t a chain,” Skelton said.

Zack McCannon, who owns Bell Urban Farm with his wife Kim, said they started Bell Tones after they had developed a habit of playing music with friends on Saturdays and decided they wanted to give the gathering a name.

“I mean there’s a lot probably philosophically and psychologically about music and farming that I feel is pretty similar. Sound in general, there’s a lot of sounds on the farm, so I think that there’s a lot of connection there,” McCannon said.

“With the music, we’re probably taking the same

approach as the farms. There’s a lot of small-scale farms, small bands that need access to a local venue that’s not super stressful like trying to get your product into Walmart,” McCannon said.

McCannon said his goal in hosting events such as this is to provide a cool place for families to spend their time during the weekend afternoons. In the future, he hopes to get more people involved in the open jam session that starts the event.

“Over time we wanna foster people that are even up and coming or just need an opportunity to work on a few songs. That’s kind of my thing too. I write songs and it’s nice to work out the kinks in front of a live audience without too much pressure,” McCannon said.

Bell Tones will continue to be hosted regularly, McCannon said, so their business can help foster the music community alongside the food community.

THISNESS is set to release their EP “Underneath” on Bandcamp Feb. 3 followed by a release on platforms by Feb. 17, all of which can all be found on their linktree: https://linktr. ee/thisness.

Something that comes through in the kinds of songs that we put together is that we grew up in the 80s and 90s, so that’s something that we’re

(Top) People gather in amusement

performs at Bell Urban Farm.

(Bottom) Jamie Dow, vocalist and guitarist of THISNESS, plucks the strings of his guitar

photos by Brenna Metts

photos by Madison Ogle

(Top) Jackson Edwards, vocalist for Zashed, spits energy into the crowd at Full Moon Records. (Bottom) Morbid Visionz vocalist Evan Grove connects with audience member.