Jan. 23, 2013

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Single Copy Paid For by Student Publication Fee

Volume 109 — Issue 1

January 23, 2013 Wednesday

Opinion:

Campus Life:

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Voice: University fraud hotline system helps deter criminal activity

Baum Gallery: Spring season opens with four new exhibits

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4T H U R S DAY

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Basketball: Senior forward Megan Herbert reaches career milestone

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30% Rain Showers

Sports: 4 page

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General education changes near final approval

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by Brandon Riddle

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News Editor

Fountain of News Fraud Policy In The Works UCA President Tom Courtway plans to develop and present a fraud policy to UCA trustees in February. Starting this month a third-party-run tip hotline will allow faculty and staff to report abuse. The policy and hotline were recommended by auditors in the Security Breach Report.

The hotline, through Lighthouse Services, Inc., will cost $1,120.

UCAPD’s current tip line will be merged into the third-party hotline. A fraud policy has not yet been developed, but UCA is looking at the University of Arkansas as a model.

Changes to UCA’s general education program are one step away from being finalized. The UCA Board of Trustees is scheduled to consider final approval of the UCA Core at its next meeting Feb. 22.

Conrad Shumaker, director of general education, said he expects the board to pass the changes with implementation starting this fall.

The General Education Task Force appointed by Provost Steve Runge wrote the proposal in the summer of 2012, developing much of its framework through the Liberal Education and America’s Promise Initiative.

UCA Faculty Senate endorsed the

general education proposal during a special meeting Jan. 9.

Following the meeting, the proposal went to the Council of Deans, Runge and lastly to President Tom Courtway for recommendation to the board.

Kevin Browne, faculty senate president, said it was important for the senate to weigh in on the proposal to show that progress is being made for general education.

The UCA Core would adopt a 38-credithour requirement for lower-division or general education courses.

Remaining Arkansas four-year public institutions have adopted the 35-hour state minimum core.

Shumaker said the general education program will move from a distribution

model toward an outcomes model.

In the lower-division, a 16-credit-hour, first-year foundation would include six hours of written communication, four hours of laboratory science, three hours of mathematics and a first-year seminar course.

Upper division courses include a capstone course or experience that would evaluate critical inquiry and communication.

Current students would be grandfathered into the program with the choice of existing course options or new offerings.

Runge said changes have been requested by the Higher Learning Commission since 1990. HLC reports from 1990, 2000 and 2010 show concerns about

Meadors pleads guilty to violating information act

Rick Scott, dean of the Honors College, became President of the National Collegiate Honors Council at its national conference in Boston, Mass.

Scott chaired the NCHC annual conference in Boston as part of his duties as president-elect in 2012. He will preside over NCHC until its 2013 conference in New Orleans in November.

UCA is changing its policy for who gets the keys. President Tom Courtway told internal auditors that UCA has restricted the number of keys available and is changing its policy for who gets those keys. The grand master keys in question are for non-residential buildings.

Documents show 55 people have grand master keys.

Project Encourages Agricultural Involvement UCA’s Conserving Arkansas Agriculture Heritage project will co-sponsor 14 Seed Swaps across Arkansas this spring. Seed Swaps provide an opportunity for seed and agriculture enthusiasts to bring open-pollinated seeds, bulbs and plants to share or “swap” with others. The CAAH! project establishes a master collection of endangered seeds and related cultural and agronomic information and distributes such seeds at annual Seed Swaps.

Daktronics Display Out of Warranty The Daktronics board in Technology Plaza is not going anywhere for now, but it may not work much longer. The screen’s hardware is out of warranty and the audio and visual services department lacks the funds to have it repaired. The two servers that run the screen need repairs. The board is in need of $40,000 worth of repairs, which is more than what is in the budget. There are no plans to remove the screen.

by Marisa Hicks Associate Editor

photo by Pham Minh

Senior Mavie Monthe participates in the “hard core abs” class at the HPER Center. The class meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. and is free to HPER Center members, students, faculty and staff.

Group exercise classes, health services promote wellness

by Brandon Riddle News Editor

The Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Center is offering healthy living opportunities for students as they start the new year and spring semester.

Some options feature Zumba, yoga, cardio, ab and strength courses.

Sophomore Joy Stephens, HPER Center student worker, said Zumba is one of the more popular classes offered.

“You’re working out and you’re having

page 3

fun,” she said. “It’s a great way to lose pounds.”

Arian Story, assistant HPER Center director, announced in a campus-wide email that fitness assessments are available to students who want to determine resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, body composition and circumference measurements.

Other areas of campus promote wellness as well. Healthy Weight Week booths set up in the Student Center Jan. 16 encouraged students to improve health habits by eating well and being active. The event was hosted by Student Wellness and

-RECOGNITION-

ROTC instructor receives Soldier Hero honor

by Clark Johnson Sports Editor

One of UCA’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) instructors was honored as a Soldier Hero at the 13th annual Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 5 in San Antonio, Texas.

Master Sgt. Joel D. Fehl received the honor during the week leading up to the game televised nationally on NBC. Fehl was a part of many different activities during his Master Sgt. Joel Fehl time at the game.

The Army All-American Bowl is an annual game designed to give the nation’s top high school football prospects one last chance to take to the field before college. Around 90 of the top prospects participate in the game, which uses a classic East vs. West

4 Campus Life 4 Entertainment 4 Opinion 4 Sports

3 5 6 7

Development.

Students can use the Farris Center pool for lap swimming, recreational swimming and aqua aerobics. Aerobics courses include an Aqua Zumba course from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Private swim lessons are offered by the Department of Recreation. To register or learn more, visit safetybeforeskill.com.

Intramural sports on campus provide the opportunity for recreation through flag football, basketball, table tennis, softball, badminton, horseshoes and bowling.

See ROTC - page 2

Fifteen UCA students travel to Washington D.C. for Inauguration

photo courtesy of Facebook

UCA Young Democrats (from left) freshman president Jared LaReau and freshman vice president Joe Love lead sophomores Meleah Bowles, Colby Sansom and Stephanie Gray in holding up pro-choice signs at the Arkansas State Capitol Jan. 19 for the “Rally for Reproductive Justice.”

Inside:

Contact Us: @ucaecho

Former UCA President Allen Meadors entered a negotiated plea bargain for a violation of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, a Class C misdemeanor, on Jan. 15. Meadors, 65, was originally charged with tampering with a public document, a Class A misdemeanor, on Aug. 29.

According to an Arkansas Democrat Gazette article, Timothy Dudley, Meadors’ attorney, appeared in court for Meadors.

Meadors is the second consecutive former UCA president to plead guilty to criminal charges.

Meadors was charged with tampering with a public document for asking Vice President for Finance and Administration Diane Newton to destroy a letter from food vendor Aramark that said Aramark would donate $700,000 to renovate the president’s home in exchange for a contract renewal with the university.

After the board of trustees voted to buy out Meadors’ $563,312 contract, $225,325 of which was publicly funded, on Sept. 2, 2011, Meadors resigned.

Meadors, who now lives in North Carolina, did not appear in court for his arraignment or his pre-trial.

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

platform to divide teams.

Fehl, along with other Soldier Heroes, participated in the game’s opening ceremony.

Fehl was given the opportunity to meet some of the participants and share some of his experiences.

“Once we got down there, we linked up with a lot of the people involved,” Fehl said.

“We met with players, band members and many other people. For the most part, we spent the week mentoring them.”

Fehl said he has been a part of the UCA ROTC program for about two years. Fehl is a Military Science Level III instructor with the university. Along with his work in the classroom, Fehl said he prepares cadets in the ROTC program for the leader development assessment course and oversees cadets’ field training

Next Issue:

Index: Around Campus

See Education - page 2 -NEWS BRIEF-

-FITNESS-

Scott Named NCHC President

University Key Policy More Restrictive

UCA’s lack of a program that assesses clear outcomes.

“The primary thing is that we needed to have an assessable program in general education that actually looked at student outcomes and not at course level outcomes,” Runge said. “We have had spotty success with course level outcomes but we’ve never been able to assess this in a program.”

Jonathan Glenn, university accreditation liaison officer to HLC and chief information officer, said the HLC is not interested in solving problems by not addressing them in a significant manner.

The 2010 HLC visiting team report

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New slogan resonates

‘Front and Center’ campaign captures student’s interest page 6

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NEWS

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BACK TO CLASS

Police Beat The following reports and arrests are from the UCAPD docket. UCAPD reports any tickets issued as arrests, according to ucapd.com.

Nonstudent cited for marijuana Nonstudent Jimmy Coffer, 19, was issued a citation for possession of a controlled substance and was banned from campus Jan. 13.

UCAPD made contact with student Emily Jobe, 20, and non-student Kevin Nalley, 19, 12:24 a.m. Jan. 13 in the UCAPD lobby.

Jobe said when she arrived back at her Bear Village apartment there was a strong odor of marijuana and there was smoke in the apartment. She said she and Nalley found the marijuana in the apartment and were concerned with getting in trouble. They found the marijuana in a blue jacket belonging to Coffer, who had been living in the apartment.

UCAPD met Jobe and Nalley at the apartment.

Jobe opened the door and Nalley walked up to the blue jacket and took out a plastic bag containing the marijuana.

The living room furniture was stacked in the middle of the room, making a fort. There were two males and one female inside the fort. UCAPD told them to get out of the fort for questioning. UCAPD asked Coffer if the bag was his and he admitted it was. Coffer was placed into custody.

The other two who were not present when the marijuana was smoked. Students Melissa Endicott, 20, and Grace Driggens, 19, who live in the apartment were present when marijuana was smoked and were issued a judicial board citation for the drug violation and given a warning for allowing an unauthorized person to live in the apartment.

Coffer was transported to the UCA Police Department for processing and then transferred to Faulkner County Detention Center Unit II.

Parking lot vehicle collision results in minor damage UCAPD received a report at 10:59 a.m. Jan. 16 of a motor vehicle collision, without injury, in the Farris Center parking lot.

Upon arrival at the west parking lot, UCAPD noticed two vehicles blocking the center isle. UCAPD contacted student Jamie N. Polk, 24, who drives a blue Pontiac G6, and student Brittany Fowler, 19, who drives a black Mazda 3.

Fowler was traveling south and hit the frontpassenger side of Polk’s vehicle. UCAPD found that Fowler was at fault. Polk’s vehicle was found inoperable by the collision and was towed.

Polk’s vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side tire, fender and door, with damages estiamted at $3,000. The front end of Fowler’s car was damgaged with damages estimated at $3,000.

Shuttle bus driver claims innocence in hit-and-run accident Student Rickell Toney, 22, reported that she had been involved in a hit-and-run accident at 11:49 a.m.

Jan 16.

Toney was driving west bound in her 2001 black Acura TL on Beatrice Powell Street at 10:45 a.m. when a UCA Shuttle bus turned into the Physical Plant parking lot. Toney said the bus could not turn into the lot and backed up. Toney said she honked her horn and that the bus struck the front of her vehicle and the driver did not stop to check on her or for any possible damage.

There was white paint on her front bumper. When questioned about the vehicle, Toney said ‘Softball Complex’ was on the back of the bus.

UCAPD went to the Softball Complex to locate the shuttle in question. UCAPD made contact with staff member James Earl Parker, 62, who was driving the bus at the time of the accident. Parker said he tried to turn the shuttle bus into the Physical Plant parking lot and he had to back out due to a vehicle blocking the entrance. At this time, he said he heard Toney honk her horn and stopped. He proceeded to turn into the Physical Plant parking lot and said he did not feel, hear or see a collision.

Estimated damages to the Acura were $50.

ROTC:

Fehl wounded in action in Tangi Valley area in Afghanistan; honored with many citations 4 Continued

from page 1

exercises at Camp Robinson.

Cadets participate in the leader development assessment course during the summer between their junior and senior years.

Along with Fehl, 24 other Soldier Heroes were recognized and given the chance to participate in events during the All-American week at no cost to them.

After spending the week in San Antonio, Fehl said the recognition he received was appreciated.

“It was definitely a very humbling experience,” Fehl said. “All the support from the community and everyone down

there was overwhelming.”

Fehl said he believed he needed to serve his country. He said both of his grandfathers and two of his brothers served in the military.

Lieutenant colonel Tracy Koivisto is a professor of military science in the ROTC program.

Koivisto said Fehl is a big part of the ROTC program at UCA. “He brings a lot to the table here,” Koivisto said. “He brings experience with him and the cadets know that.”

Koivisto said the cadets recognize what Fehl has done, like other instructors.

“When he talks, they listen,” Koivisto said.

In October 2010, during his time in the Middle East, Fehl was wounded in action in the Tangi Valley area in Afghanistan. His unit, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, was under mortar attack when he was wounded. Fehl received a Purple Heart for his service.

Along with the Purple Heart, Fehl has received many citations and honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

Education:

Higher Learning Commission visit in November will be evaluation period for UCA Core 4 Continued

from page 1

outlined “little evident planning related to diversity and internationalization” and highlighted the university’s lack of ability to “think broadly” about skills and attitudes implied in the current general education program.

“When the HLC starts using language like ‘the commission should pay attention to this’ as opposed to ‘the institution should pay attention to this,’ the screws are being tightened on us,” Glenn said.

HLC will visit UCA on Nov. 11 and 12 to evaluate whether the university has a fully operational program that meets standards set by the commission.

Act 747 of 2011 requires public institutions of higher learning to allow for baccalaureate degree programs with 120 credit hours for graduation.

Fourteen programs at UCA are currently above 120 credit hours, including nursing which requires 131 hours.

Shumaker said the reduction in lower division requirements would aid in reducing the burdens imposed by the state limit.

The General Education Council, after speaking with the College of Fine Arts and Communication during the December break, amended portions of the proposal. One fine arts course and one humanities course is now required, the term “ethical” was removed from Responsible Living course requirements and the three hour designation for capstone courses was eliminated.

Faculty members expressed concerns about the proposal during the faculty senate meeting

Jan. 9.

James Hikins, communication department chair, said one of the consequences of the proposal is the ability for instructors from other departments to teach basic oral communication courses.

He called the concept “deeply flawed” and said the course has been “hijacked” by departments who should not teach the course.

“The rubric in the proposal isn’t even for a basic oral communication course,” Hikins said. “It’s for an old-time speech course.”

In regard to Composition I and II courses being taught

by English professors, writing professor Lynn Burley said the courses should be taught by qualified instructors in the writing department.

“While in many people’s minds writing and English are one in the same, they are not despite that many [faculty members] share the same degrees,” Burley said.

Shumaker said the proposal is not singling out these particular departments as disciplines that are being invaded.

With the changes to general education, Runge said the university will be able to think more broadly about general education through new assessment methods, changes to course requirements and flexibility to change the program based on feedback and needs.

“We are being proactive, we will be in compliance with the law by the stated deadlines, we will do what is best for our students,” Runge said. “That was the charge that [the university] received.”

Shumaker said the goal of the changes is to make general

photo by Emily Lawrence

Sophomore Juan Mayen starts the spring semester by studying Jan. 20 in Torreyson Library.

-OUTREACH-

Community education program adds courses

by Peyton Olsen Staff Writer

UCA’s division of Outreach and Community Engagement (OCE) is offering 13 new courses this spring.

Lawana Hawkins, community education and non-credit coordinator, said she is excited to partner with the Conway community to give residents the opportunity to expand their minds or develop a skill.Five art classes, including a free introductory film course, were added to the course catalog after a combination of requests and course exit surveys suggested a strong public interest in the practical arts.

“We truly pay attention to what [students] want, and we truly try to get them what they want,” Hawkins said.

The program is offering 38 classroom-based courses this spring, including business and finance, career and technology, arts and communication and lifestyle and leisure courses.

OCE offers professional development opportunities, training services, ACT/SAT prep courses, music and language

classes and online non-credit courses through Ed2Go and Ed2Go Pro. Music and language courses are available to all ages. Bear Camp, a two-week language program offered in July, gives children a chance to study either Chinese or Spanish through the UCA Community Language School. The Community School of Music offers private lessons along with children’s choir, violin and piano. Guitar lessons are available for ages 16 years and older.

“We offer classes that suit the person that wants to come on campus or the person that wants to sit at home,” Hawkins said. “We try to make it easy.”

Excluding the six free courses this semester — How to Write a Business Plan, Resources for Starting a Small Business, Intro to Film Studies, Arkansas Boaters’ Education, Basics of Disaster Preparedness and Understanding Your Medicare and Life Insurance Plan —an early bird discount is available to students who register before Feb. 8. UCA alumni can receive a 40 percent discount and senior citizens can receive a discount for the majority of the courses.

“The fee is so low that we

don’t make any money,” Hawkins said. “[It’s] just enough to cover operating costs.”

Laura Garner, OCE administrative specialist for 27 years, said continuing education programs has been in place at UCA since at least 1929. Garner said that when she was hired in 1985 OCE was growing and had been since the early 1970s, even though OCE only had tri-fold pamphlets at the time.

Hawkins, who joined OCE in 2004 as a student worker, said the program continues to grow and improve with the increasing online options. She said they also now have better, thicker pamphlets.

The new course portal system allows students to register and pay course fees through the UCA website.

More options in the online classroom are aimed at recruiting stay-at-home parents. Hawkins said OCE hopes to build a stronger summer program aimed to engage high school and college students on break.

Classes are scheduled to begin in mid-February.

For more information, email Hawkins at lhawkins@uca.edu.

The Academic Success Center has moved!

Please join us for an

education seem less like “hoops to jump through” and more like a cohesive set of courses that are beneficial to a student’s college experience.

After its anticipated final approval, the university will begin the process of implementation by hosting workshops to train faculty about new general education objectives, including the firstyear seminar course.

OPEN HOUSE

Torreyson Library, Suite 223 January 28 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. http://uca.edu/success

Campus Life

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January 23, 2013

- I N S P I R AT I O N -

Around Campus:

Martin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast

Leading the Students

reflects on civil rights, legacies he left

by Jeanette Anderton

The UCA Leadership Foundations will begin session workshop series today in the Student Center 223, 224 with the first topic being “How Leadership Affects Communities,” directed by Conway Chamber of Commerce’s Bart Shaw. The sessions will continue on Feb. 6 with “Developing Your Vision” by Conway Regional Medical Center’s Rebekah Gardner Fincher.

Editor

A Chorus Line at Reynolds On Friday, Reynolds Performance Hall will be showing “A Chorus Line” as a part of its Broadway Series at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The musical is about 17 dancers competing for the chance to perform in a Broadway musical.

Campus Talk UCA President Tom Courtway will host Campus Talk during x-period on Jan. 29 in the College of Business auditorium. Campus Talk gives faculty and students the opportunity to voice their opinions to the administration. photo by Lisa Ference

Drumline LIVE Drumline LIVE is coming to Reynolds Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 2. The performance is part of its Broadway Series and will include a musical version of the hit movie “Drumline.” Dancers will perform to contemporary and current music and the event will feature energetic action throughout the night.

The Emperor’s New Clothes The UCA Theater program will open its spring 2013 season with a play by Hans Christian Anderson, adapted by Liz Parker, called “The Emperors New Clothes.” The play will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 and 10 a.m. on Feb. 9 in Reynolds Performance Hall. The play is about an emperor being tricked into believing in an invisible fabric that can only be seen by those worthy enough. The emperor wears the outfit even though he refuses to admit that he cannot see it.

Submissions Please submit events for Around Campus in 50 words or fewer to ucaechoeditor@gmail.com.

Include basic who, what, when and where information as well as contact information.

Sophomore Kwadi Higgins takes a closer look at the work of artist Curt LaCross Jan. 17 at the Baum Gallery season-opening exhibits. The opening featured three out-of-state artists.

Baum opens spring season

Four diverse exhibitions by three artists wow audience

by Andrew McClain Staff Writer

The Baum Gallery opened its spring season Thursday by boasting the works of three exhibitions by accomplished artists outside of Arkansas. The exhibits will be on display until Feb. 24.

Curt LaCross, whose exhibit is titled “Under the Influence,” does large, grotesque and highlydetailed sculptures of human faces and bodies.

An alumnus of Central Michigan University, LaCross said he deals mostly with figurative sculptures. The sculptures, which are slightly larger than real-life scale, capture mostly males.

LaCross referred to the pieces as “anonymous figures with ambiguous expressions; figures who are burdened with a vague history.”

Visitors to the gallery make their way through LaCross’ room before entering the gallery that contains the other two exhibitions.

Senior Lauren Williams, intern at the Baum Gallery, said she enjoyed the works of art done

by LaCross.

“I really like this exhibit’s dynamics, the way visitors have

Freshman Sarah Booth “I would turn invisible so I could creep on everybody.”

to move through the exhibit, from bleak to colorful,” she said.

Mario Marzan, a multimedia artist and professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has an installation called “Alternating Currents” at the opening exhibition.

Marzan’s piece deals with the paths of hurricanes and their relationships to various cultures, which he demonstrates with the inclusion of a variety of materials, such as wood panel, yarn ties and an LCD screen.

Marzan, born in Puerto Rico, said his work “depicts alternative realities invented and inspired by the cycles of deconstruction and reconstruction produced by storms and hurricanes and affecting coastal regions [of Puerto Rico].”

The installation features an LCD screen, showing mostly static footage of a mostly empty terrain. It prominently features several lengthy pieces of yarn stretched from high on the ceiling and anchored a couple of yards from the gallery floor.

“How do we ‘map’ memories?

How is a visual crisis represented?

How are cultural, geographical and visual boundaries determined and rewritten?”

Marzan said, in his artist’s

statement.

Julie Evans, an artist from New York, has an exhibit called “Swishbone,” which she said was inspired by the Wild Gardens of Wave Hill in the Bronx. These public gardens in the Bronx are carefully maintained to make them look as if they were growing in the wild, which is a quality Evans said she tries to emulate in her work. “[These pieces] are themselves abstract, they contain within them details of a hyperreality that simultaneously suggest the atmospheric, the geological, the aquatic, the biological and the corporeal,” Evans said.

Done with tape and mylar, “because paper tends to buckle when you put paint on it,” Evans said she strives for a quality that is “bonelike and liquid at the same time.”

“I heard a song once with a title like ‘Backbone Instead of a Wishbone’ and I liked it a lot, so I liked the title ‘Swishbone’ for the exhibit,” she said.

She said she cuts and paints mylar and stitches them together like a collage, creating paintings, some of which she puts on a matte, some of which she sticks directly to the gallery wall.

Students Say story by Spencer Griffin photos by Daniel Becker

Thelma Moton, guest speaker at Friday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, challenged attendees to have and pursue their own dreams. “[King’s] dream propelled us, but we must not stop,” she said.

“We must not let this dream die.

We can’t become complacent and leave it to time alone to heal these wounds. I have a dream. Do you have a dream?”

Moton, Choosing to Excel’s founder and executive director, said America has made a lot of progress, but that it still falls short of King’s vision.

“We can’t revel in our successes without also acknowledging that we have fallen short of the aim of the civil rights community,” she said.

“King’s dream didn’t include black-on-black crime, this high rate of children being born out of wedlock or their fathers being locked up in prisons.”

She said education is one of the keys to fulfilling the vision King had, and that students should strive to get the most out of the college experience.

She said it’s important to enjoy the social aspects of college, such as step shows, but that the focus should remain on education.

“It’s great to be in step shows, but we also must step across the stage [at graduation]; stepping with someplace to go,” she said.

Moton said she wanted the event to be a reflection of how far African Americans have come in the past 50 years and how far they will go in the next 50 years.

She said King’s 17-minute speech, which he gave 50 years ago on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, was the “great igniter of hope” for

African Americans. She said King, who would have been 84 years old on his birthday, came from a privileged family and that he didn’t have to put himself in the spotlight.

“King’s dedication to God and country led him to be the man he became,” she said.

Graduate student Shalisa Walker said she has attended the event each year she has been at UCA because she enjoys the fellowship.

“It’s a great way for the students and faculty to come together,” she said. “It’s important to remember [King] for everything he’s done.”

President Tom Courtway welcomed attendees before Moton’s speech, saying everyone could benefit from studying King’s life.

“He taught us a lot,” Courtway said. “It’s important to remember his life and his deeds.”

Cornell Maltbia, Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. coalition commissioner, thanked Courtway and UCA for being dedicated to making the event a success each year. He said that a few years ago the event, which had been scheduled to take place in Reynolds Performance Hall, was moved to the Farris Center on short notice. Maltbia said when he got to the Farris Center, he was surprised to see Courtway helping set up tables and chairs.

Maltbia said he was grateful to Courtway for ensuring the event’s success.

Maltbia challenged the audience to try to make a difference on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “Keep in mind that it’s a day on, not a day off,” he said. “It’s a day to serve your fellow man, not kick your feet up.”

REEDING FRENZY

photo by Emily Lawrence

Sophomore Bailey Howell (left), freshman Sean Stokes (right) and senior Jordan Penington (front) fill envelopes with flyers on the Double Reed Day Two-Day event on Jan. 20 in Snow Fine Arts.

Freshman Kelsey Pope “Super speed because I could get everywhere really fast.”

“If you could have one super power, what would it be?”

Freshman DeSean Prichett “To be the Hullk because nobody [could] stop me.”

Freshman Dominique Wilson “Mind reading because I’d love to see what people are thinking about.”

Freshman Demaria Woodley “To be invisible because I’m nosey.”

Sophomore Christa Eller “To teleport because in cold weather you don’t have to walk.”

w w w. UCAE cho .n e t / c ampu slife

Freshman Shuntrail Irby “[To] stop time because if I make a mistake, I could go correct it.”

Sophomore Jackson Dalby “[To] heal myself so I could never have to go to the hospital.”

ucaecho.net

CAMPUS LIFE

January 23, 2013 /4

BY JENNIFER HICKS

CONRAD AND SYD

- COMMUNIT Y-

Habitat for Heroes focuses on veterans’ home improvement

by Marisa Hicks Associate Editor

courtesy of Shenel Sandidge

Junior Dillon Wilson, sophomore Tyler Sergeant and senior Derek Hess, all of Sigma Nu, help load a truck to eventually improve the house of a veteran who is unable to do so.

Habitat for Heroes, a program new to campus this semester, is focused on providing assistance for veterans of Faulkner County and gives students the opportunity to volunteer in the community.

The Habitat for Heroes program works with Habitat for Humanity to “provide home repairs and assistance for veterans who are unable to complete them on their own,” Catherine Swift, transitional reading faculty and Minton Commuter College master said.

The program is open to all UCA students.

Swift said the group was active for two semesters, fall 2009 and spring 2010, but that it

gradually fell apart.

She said she hopes she can revamp the program at UCA. The program helps to “open the idea of serving Habitat for Humanity on campus,” she said.

Sophomore Clifton Egle, Sigma Nu philanthropy chairman, said he believes the program should stick around on campus. Coordinators have been working with Hendrix and UCA for students who can volunteer throughout Faulkner County.

So far the program has received a grant for about $2,000 from the UCA Foundation. Swift said the money would go toward purchasing tools and instruments that would be needed in helping with the repairs.

Currently, Swift said she is not sure from where the group will receive further funding because

- L E T I T F LY -

UCA Disc Golf Club hosts small weekly tournaments

by Spencer Griffin Campus Life Editor

The UCA Disc Golf Club is utilizing the new disc golf course by hosting weekly tournaments in an effort to promote social interaction with fun competitions.

The “Wednesday Mini” tournaments cost $5 per player with an optional $1 ace pot. The group alternates between singles and doubles tournaments. Senior Hunter Taylor, Disc Golf Club president, said the tournaments are casual and open to the community, which means no membership is required. Taylor said some people are unaware of how to play because disc golf is a relatively new sport.

Disc golf rules are similar to regular golf. The player throws a disc, which is heavier and more aerodynamic than a Frisbee, in an attempt to get it into a basket designated for that hole. The baskets consist of metal chains that help keep the discs from flying through them.

The sport is relatively cheap, but includes a variety of discs to choose from. Aside from the different brands of discs, there are three main types of discs that players typically use. A player starts with a “driver” disc. After the first throw, the player will switch to a mid-range disc or a “fairway” disc. When the player gets close to the hole, he will use the “putting” disc.

These discs vary in weight and shape. The driver is used for its distance; the putter is used for its accuracy.

Taylor said the tournaments have progressed over the past semesters.

“The Wednesday Minis started out sort of slow,” he said. “At first, we only had five or six people show up, but after a while we had some minis with 10 [or more] solid players. By the time we started to have decent turnouts, it started to get colder and the sun started to set earlier, so we had to move our minis to Sundays at 3 p.m.”

He said he would like to see interest in the sport continue to grow. He said the group relies mainly on word-of-mouth and signs around the area to promote the tournaments and the sport.

Taylor said it helps having a good central location.

“We have a very rich disc golf community here in the Central Arkansas area, so we get a lot of our players from Little Rock, Russellville and Cabot. Other than that, Org Sync is proving to be a great tool for accessing the UCA community,” he said. “Anyone can check the sign by the disc golf course for information about the

photo by Daniel Becker

Junior Dillon Wilson tosses his putting disc into the net on the first hole of the Bear Trail Disc Golf Course.

Disc Golf Club and the Bear Trail Disc Golf Course.”

Senior Heath LyBrand, selfproclaimed “rookie,” plays in the tournaments and is a member of the club.

“The minis are always fun for me,” LyBrand said. “I am new to the sport and so is this course, so all the guys that come out to them are just there for a good time so the outcome always turns out to be fun, but we could really use more players to help get the word out and about.”

He said he wished there were more funds to advertise the club and the disc golf course.

“I wish we had the budget to hire those guys on the corners with the big flip signs to help get the word out, but Hunter says we don’t have it,” he said. “In all seriousness, we want to throw more tournaments and pull in a bigger audience to our minis.”

Taylor said the events showcase a good level of competition, with most people shooting around par. He said mostly people just have fun and that when the need arises, the group has plans to split the tournaments into “professional” and “amateur.”

LyBrand said he enjoys the level of competition they have now.

“A couple of local guys come out to the course that do not even go to UCA and have been in the sport a while, so for a rookie like me the competition is always stiff,” he said.

LyBrand said his biggest

strength is his luck, but that it usually runs out by the time the mini is over. He said he needs to work on his backhand throw and consistency.

Taylor said the purpose of these events is monetary and for enjoyment.

“The overall goal of the minis is to raise money for the Disc Golf Club so that we can participate

in collegiate-level events around the country,” he said. “Also, these minis serve the purpose of getting more involvement in the UCA disc golf community so that hopefully we will one day be able to expand our course to 18 holes.”

He said the events are also a good way for people interested in the sport learning more and getting good practice. “[The tournaments] prepare them for more large-scale competition,” he said. “These minis are very informal and lowcost, so they allow players to practice their competitiveness in a low-stress situation. For those involved in orchestrating [the events], it teaches great management and social skills.

Hopefully the things that our members have learned from these minis will help them to create bigger and better events in the future.”

Construction is currently being done in the area, so Taylor said they just have to play around the eighth and ninth holes until the construction is complete.

Weather has also posed a problem for the club.

Many trees are down and the low temperatures obstruct several players from competing on the course.

Taylor said the club hopes to start strong this semester and get a lot of involvement in the Wednesday Minis.

The tournaments are currently being hosted on Sundays until further notice from Taylor.

it is new to campus, but that the gesture of volunteering is more important than funding.

“Funding is secondary to volunteering,” she said. “We need to bring energy and enthusiasm to this project. We can partner with other established, more experienced H4H volunteers and learn on the job. The key factor is the commitment from our campus to help make a positive impact in our community.”

Swift said the program has requirements similar to those of Habitat for Humanity’s guidelines, in that individuals seeking assistance must have a certain income and willingness to participate with the group.

Applicants must be unable to do repairs on their own. The program also gives applicants the opportunity to apply for lowinterest loans for repairs, she said.

The group held its first meeting on Jan. 15 and the next meeting will be during x-period Jan. 29 in Main 112.

Swift said her goal is to volunteer in each town or city in Faulkner County by the end of the semester.

Egle said the program gives students a chance to volunteer locally and has given him the chance to “do a good job while having fun helping out veterans in the area.”

He said the last veteran’s house they helped to pick up was a “funny guy” who joked around with the workers while they worked on his house.

Swift said she is unsure of how long the group will remain on campus and that student interest and participation will play a huge role in determining how long the group sticks around.

“The extent of student interest and involvement will determine UCA’s ongoing participation with [Habitat for Humanity],” she said. “I am committed to supporting our partnership with

this organization, so long as we have students who are active in this civic outreach program.”

Students do not have to be familiar with construction projects to join the group, Swift said.

“As long as you’re willing to learn on the job, there’s a wide variety of projects to take on within the capabilities of an average citizen,” she said.

So far, students have gone with Habitat for Humanity to serve the Habitat for Heroes program twice this semester.

About 10 Sigma Nu members have helped with the past two Habitat for Heroes projects. Egle said students do not have to have a background in construction projects to be able to help.

“A little bit of experience is useful,” he said. “However, most of the things we help out with, such as putting up drywall and painting, can easily be done without previous experience.”

He said the students helped to clean up a yard and porch of a veteran’s home near Lake Conway so that workers could come in later in the week to tear down the porch.

“We just provide labor when needed,” Egle said.

He said his group members provide four trucks for the program to help move supplies.

Egle said he’s glad to be able to work with Shenel Sandidge, Habitat for Humanity of Faulkner County executive director.

“I would like to compliment Shenel, she’s very generous,” he said. “It’s been great working with [the program] so far.”

Students who show an active role in the group have the opportunity to fill the UCA student position on the Habitat for Humanity of Faulkner County advisory board.

“It’s a great leadership opportunity within the community,” Swift said.

Entertainment

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January 23, 2013

Books Jan. 21 ­— Private Berlin by James Patterson, Mark Sullivan Jan. 22 — Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life by Adam Phillips Jan. 22 — Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch: Prima Official Game Guide by Howard Grossman

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“DmC: Devil May Cry” was created by Ninja Theroy. It is a reimagining of the series set in an alternate reality.

‘DmC’ feels like original

Jan. 22 — Francona: The Red Sox Years by Terry Francona, Dan Shaughnessy Jan. 22 — Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America

by Sam Roberts, Pete Hamill Jan. 22 — Ever After by Kim Harrison Jan. 29 — Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain Jan. 29 — The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia by Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma

Movies Jan. 25 — ­ Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, directed by Tommy Wirkola, starring Jeremy Renner Jan. 25 — Parker, directed by Taylor Hackford, starring Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez Jan. 25 — ­ Movie 43, directed by Elizabeth Banks, starring Emma Stone, Liev Schreiber Jan. 25 — ­ John Dies at the End, directed by Don Coscarelli, starring Chase Williamson, Paul Giamatti Jan. 25 — ­ Race 2, directed by Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla, starring Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor Jan. 25 ­— Noobz, directed by Blake Freeman, starring Blake Freeman, Casper Van Dien Feb. 1 ­— Stand Up Guys, directed

by Fisher Stevens, starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken Feb. 1 ­— The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia, directed by Tom Elkins

Music Jan. 22 — “True North” Bad Religion Jan. 22 — “Hydra” - Otep Jan. 22 — “True Believers” Darius Rucker

Jan. 22 — “Reborn” Trapt Jan. 22 — “Almanac” Widowspeak Jan. 22 — “Allez Allez” The Night Marchers Jan. 28 — “Born Sinner” J. Cole Jan. 29 — “BraveHeart” Ashanti

Jan. 29 — “The Divinity of Purpose” Hatebreed

www.aceshowbiz.com

“Zero Dark Thirty” is a drama film directed by Karthryn Bigelow. The film stars Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Ehle, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, and Édgar Ramírez.

‘Thirty’ tells story of Bin Laden demise

by Hunter Brooks Assistant Sports Editor

With the Oscars approaching, “Zero Dark Thirty,” is currently sitting atop the box offices with a nomination for Best Picture.

With the tagline “The Greatest Manhunt in History,” the movie is based on the United States’ efforts in searching for and ultimately killing Osama bin Laden.

The film is set shortly after 9/11, following rising CIA officer Maya, played by Jessica Chastain.

Maya is transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, where she works with fellow officers to find and follow leads on top al-Qaida targets.

After almost 10 years, Maya follows one target that leads her to a secured compound in Abbottabad located less than a mile from Pakistan’s equivalent of West Point.

This leads to the decision by high ranking officials, including President Barack Obama, to carry out a special operations mission titled “Neptune’s Spear” that ultimately leads to the finding and killing of bin Laden.

I found this to be a very powerful movie even though I

Game Franchises of All Time List compiled by Stephen Reynolds

torture stance. Once again, it may be hard to watch, but these scenes added to the realism of the film.

Another problem was the movie’s release date, which was intended for October.

Many saw this as a planned pro-Obama tactic to remind voters he compromised bin Laden.

The studio moved the premiere back to a January release date amongst the controversy, although Obama never appears on-screen, minus a background speech on a television.

“Zero Dark Thirty” is a definite must-see as it relives the bin Laden manhunt, but also gives a different perspective into the everyday lives of CIA agents on the job and the stress it brings.

Along with Best Picture and Best Actress, the film is nominated for three other Academy Awards.

Others include Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing. The 85th Academy Awards airs Feb. 24 on ABC. “Zero Dark Thirty” is rated R for strong violence and language, and will be showing at the Conway Cinemark Towne Centre through January.

‘Mother’ returns with beginning of end

by Tanner Smith Staff Writer

“How I Met Your Mother” has returned to CBS after its holiday break.

Fans of the series have been eager to continue the story after the cliffhanger episode where Barney Stinson, played by Neil Partirck Harris, proposed to Robin Scherbatsky, played by Cobie Smulders.

Even though it was no surprise that these two will be married, it’s still important to the series. Now we’re closer to meeting “the mother.”

Yes, the series has returned after a well-executed episode that ended with Barney’s wellplayed proposal to the one woman he loves.

Fans of the show know that Ted Mosby, the narrator telling the story to his kids years from now, will meet his wife-to-be at their wedding. This means we’re getting closer to the end of the series.

Let’s just face it, at this point in the series none of us are concerned about how close Ted gets to meeting “the mother.”

If we were, we would have quit watching around season five or six.

The series reminds us of the 90’s hit sitcom, “Friends.”

1.) “Mario” (1981)

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knew the ending.

What many don’t realize before watching this film is Maya is the subject of the movie, not SEAL Team Six. I’ve heard of many who were let down by this but as long as you go into the movie with an open mind, you will see why it is up for Best Picture.

Chastain gives a riveting performance that captures the true emotion and definition of having a goal and immersing yourself in achieving that goal.

While the CIA agents in the film are fictitious, Chastain’s performance is spot on for realism and earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Along the same lines, another downfall I’ve heard is that people thought the movie would be more action packed. While the trailer features many scenes from the actual mission, this is a little misleading.

The mission runs only the last 45 minutes of the 160-minute movie. I understand the cause for concern but knowing this before I viewed “Zero Dark Thirty” made for a better experience.

Controversy surrounds “Zero Dark Thirty” for its alleged pro-

One of gaming’s most recognizable icons, Mario first appeared in 1981’s “Donkey Kong” before starring in his own game in 1983. Titled “Mario Bros.,” the game spawned over 200 sequels, cementing its spot at the top of the video game world. Most of the games are associated with the “Super Mario Bros.” franchise, which has raked in over $446.53 million. Despite his diminuative stature, Mario still reigns king.

Like “Friends,” “How I Met Your Mother” keeps viewers watching because of the sharp writing and memorable characters.

We’re in the company of a group of friends who are maturing as seasons progress.

Marshall Eriksen and his wife Lily Aldrin, who have been married since the second season, are now parents and Barney realizes there’s more to life than “scoring.”

Robin is slowly but surely letting down her guard and Ted remains a hopeless romantic looking for love in all the wrong places.

With these people starting to move on with their lives, how long will it take before this group of friends, who constantly hang out together at McClaren’s Pub in New York City, ultimately break away from each other?

Everything is changing around them.

“Band or DJ,” episode 13, is proof of this for Marshall and Lily. Sure, the others hang around Marshall and Lily’s apartment and Marshall and Lily still come to the bar to share their ups and downs of dealing with parenthood, but it’s obvious that the members of this group continue with their own lives.

“Band or DJ” features Barney attempting to win the

2.) “Grand Theft Auto” (1997) Created in 1997 by David Jones and re-created in 2001 by Dan and Sam Houser, “Grand Theft Auto” is a series of openworld action games. They have been met with scrutiny by parents and government figures for use of violence, language, drug and alcohol use and sexual content. The series has inspired many more open-world games.

It consists of fourteen games and has made over $125 million worldwide.

approval of Robin’s father, which he should have done before proposing to Robin. Robin knows that in her father’s eyes Barney is not good enough for her.

While it seems like the series is reaching its end and it’s becoming clear that these five people can’t hang out together forever, there are still laughs to be had in “Band and DJ.” Among them are the oneliners the show has become famous for.

Another is Barney’s sarcastically romantic monologue that displays the great comic timing Harris can deliver.

“How I Met Your Mother” has returned with tough times for the central characters.

It’ll be a long, bumpy road but they’ll make it. Fans of the show surely hope they do because they like these characters and want things to go well for them.

As for Ted, his confusion and misery apparently won’t last long, as sometime soon he will finally meet “the mother.”

Remember the bass guitar, the band, the flash-forward, the wedding, the mother?

After eight seasons, Ted may finally get to the part in his story where he meets his wife. She better be a hell of a woman.

3.) “Call of Duty” (2003) Created by Ben Chichoski in 2003, “Call of Duty” is a firstperson shooter game series. The franchise is split into three arcs, one set in World War II (original trilogy), one set in contemporary times (Modern Warfare trilogy) and one set in multiple time frames (World at War/Black Ops trilogy.) The series consists of 16 games and has one of the best musical scores of any game franchise. The series has made over $100 million worldwide.

by Brad Smith Opinion Editor

“DmC: Devil May Cry” is a new game in the hugely popular “Devil May Cry” series. The game is a great addition to the franchise and shows promise for the future of the series.

Before its release, the game was criticized by devoted fans of the series because of its gameplay changes and the redesign of the main character, Dante. However, the game’s release has proven that the game is in good hands with developers Ninja Theory.

The game does not shirk its legacy. The game is a reboot of the series, but still keeps the fundamental feel of the original series.

Gameplay is a hack-andslash system with a few new features, including the new “Angel” and “Devil” modes, which allow players to use new light and dark themed weapons.

“DmC” rewards players for long combo streaks and diversity of attacks while balancing fun and scoring. If you enjoy a challenge in your action games, “DmC” has different unlockable difficulties which will test even experienced action game players.

The game has a fairly personal story, dealing with Dante’s family and the loss of his parents as a child. It follows Dante and his brother Vergil as they attempt to stop the human embodiment of Satan from controlling Earth. The game uses its humor to its benefit

and creates a light plot while dealing with dark material. The game attempts a more sensical approach to a half-demon, halfangel fighting Satan, but the source material prevents this from occurring. However, the plot is easier to follow with the involvement of new writers and producers.

Dante’s personality is an improvement over previous installments, though he still retains his loner and bad boy tendencies. Along with his updated dark hair and short haircut, Ninja Theory helps give him a more personable and modern feel.

“DmC’s” music continues the tradition of bad metal screaming over battle scenes, but somehow the music fits better with the game than previous games.

Many players may find the music obnoxious and too loud, but it works with the setting and Dante’s attempt at a “bad boy” personality.

The themes of dueling light and dark are not subtle. The new weapons, the “Angel” and “Devil” modes, and the two twin brothers each deal with the battle of good versus evil. The game’s level design and lighting help show this theme throughout the game.

The game is enjoyable, but does nothing innovative to set itself apart from other hackand-slash video games. Fans of previous games will find much to enjoy in the game, particularly devoted fans may find the plot and character choices to be a detraction from the series.

‘Shameless’ starts strong

by Andrew McClain Staff Writer

The third season of Showtime’s “Shameless” premiered last Sunday.

The show features William H. Macy (“Fargo,” “Magnolia”) as Frank Gallagher, the drunken patriarch of a dysfunctional lower-class Chicago family of six that is kept together by his oldest daughter, Fiona, played by Emmy Rossum (“Phantom of the Opera,” “Mystic River”).

The Gallagher kids, Fiona, Lip, (short for Philip) Ian, Debbie, Carl and Liam do a lot of fending for themselves while their dad drinks away his scammed worker’s compensation checks.

Fiona works several odd jobs at a time while Lip and Ian attend high school and work as well.

The show is usually billed as a “dramedy.” It’s difficult to create a tone for a show that allows for laughter and tears within a few minutes, or even at the same time, as we see the older Gallagher children laughing to ease the pain of having a bipolar mother, played by Chloe Webb, who visits every few months, only to wreck their lives and leave again.

The show succeeds where similar shows like “Weeds” failed, remaining grounded in reality despite outrageous premises.

The first episode begins with Fiona complaining to her neighbor Veronica, played by

4.) “Final Fantasy” (1987) Created by Hironobu Sakaguchi in 1987, Final Fantasy is a role-playing game franchise that has expanded more than any other franchise of its type.

The first game in the series was created by Sakaguchi as a lastditch effort to make it in the video game industry. The game was a success and spawned 13 sequels in its main series and a host of companion games for various consoles. The series has made over $102 million.

Shanola Hampton about her boyfriend Jimmy, played by Justin Chatwin, who used to steal cars, becoming “boring” and staying at home all the time. The episode ends with Fiona discovering Jimmy burning his clothes in a trash can behind the Gallagher house.

It becomes a worry of mine that “Shameless” will take the route “Weeds” did and lose touch with the emotional reality it has established with its characters in favor of ridiculousness. The previews for the second episode of this season seem to be taking a turn for the outrageous.

Hopefully, it will continue to bring its signature brand of outrageousness that we’ve come to love.

The name “Shameless” is apt; the whole show celebrates the sometimes-seedy reality that comes along with the lowerclass lifestyle. Plot points revolve around morally ambiguous activity, every kind of cheating, stealing and sexual deviance. But the heart of the show revolves around an oddly-structured family that takes care of each other despite their various quarrels and shortcomings.

The show is adapted from a British series with the same name, though it deviated from the original long ago. Often, viewers dislike adaptation not living up to its source, but almost every aspect of the American version is better than the British.

5.) “Need for Speed” (1994) The most successful racing game, “Need for Speed” was created in 1994 by Electronic Arts. It was one of the first video games designed to mimic car handling and steering without any arcade elements (joysticks, steering wheels, foot pedals, etc.) The game was successful and franchise has produced 20 sequels (split into four generations) since. The franchise has also made over $100 million worldwide.

Opinion

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The Voice

January 23, 2013

Fraud hotline good addition to campus crime prevention

The Echo Staff University ad campaigns generally successful w

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Jeanette Anderton Editor

Marisa Hicks Associate Editor

Brandon Riddle News Editor

Andy Robertson Assistant News Editor

Spencer Griffin Campus Life Editor

Brad Smith Opinion Editor

Clark Johnson Sports Editor

Hunter Brooks Assistant Sports Editor

Stephen Reynolds

During my time as a UCA student, many different marketing schemes have been used to attempt to draw in students.

Specifically, catch phrases. When I first started at UCA, the slogan was accompanied by a voice.

“Welcome to the University of Central Arkansas.

Welcome to the Center of Learning,” was heard seemingly daily on any television around Conway with former president Lu Hardin’s voice. Flags were donned around campus boasting the “Center of Learning” slogan.

After Hardin’s departure, the slogan became “You Belong,” as I’m sure most of you know. This slogan was personal, to me. I actually enjoyed the catch phrase. The play on “You” and “U” was clever.

The “You Belong” slogan was easier to market, in my opinion. It wasn’t as long as “The Center of Learning,” and it actually looked good on a T-shirt. I still have a couple, in fact.

I was surprised when I heard a new television ad late last year. It was during some basketball game on ESPN, which I always see UCA commercials on. I was trying not to pay attention to the television, and I heard, “UCA put me and my education Front and Center.”

It seems that with every administration change, a new slogan comes. I was just getting used to “You Belong” and not seeing the “Center of Learning” flags everywhere and here comes this new slogan.

Front and Center. I actually like it. I remember many people’s reactions to seeing the commercials, and they seemed like they didn’t understand it.

Since the slogan was adopted in late October, I’ve seen a few different ads featuring different students, and each commercial is unique. Each different commercial shows how the university has made an attempt to help a student with a different path.

I believe the first commercial I saw featured Cristin Curl, UCA’s resident three-sport athlete. With an obviously heavy athletic load, the commercial did a great job of representing how UCA has given her different opportunities.

I recently saw the commercial with the student in the new residence college. This specific commercial shows the various opportunities presented to new students around campus, which I

by Clark feel is the only market these Johnson commercials really apply Sports Editor to. I’m a semester away from graduating, the slogan could be “Go Here,” and it doesn’t make a difference to me.

I was a fan of “You Belong” and I’m a fan of “Front and Center.” I feel as though both of these slogans have done well for bringing students to the university.

Though the commercials are really well put together and display different parts of the university, “Front and Center” doesn’t appeal to me as much.

“You Belong” just seemed natural. It seemed really informal and inviting. I know slogans aren’t the reason people choose a school, by any means, but “You Belong” just seemed like it would stick.

I guess with the changes in administration, a fresh start in many different aspects is needed. I’m anxious to see how long we’re all put “Front and Center.”

Entertainment Editor

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Comments or complaints about content of The Echo or in reference to anything on campus should be registered with the newspaper by letters or e-mail to the editors. All letters must be limited to 300 words and include the author’s name and phone number. All letters may be published unless they are marked private.

Letters may be edited for style, clarity and length.

Editorials written in The Voice express the opinion of the newspaper and the editorial staff. Individual staff opinions are expressed in individual columns.

The Echo office is located in Bernard Hall 003

As I enter my last semester of college, I am more aware of advantages that are offered to me simply because I am a student. Contrary to the old saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone,” I am starting to realize what I am about to lose. Being a UCA student means I have a student email account. A lot of companies offer discounts, free shipping and free trials for people who sign up using a student email account.

As a journalism major, I use Adobe InDesign frequently. When I took publication design, I was thrilled when my teacher told me I could get a free 30-day trial of the program simply by signing up with my cub account. Being able to work on projects at home was a huge relief.

I also enjoy getting to try out products before considering purchasing them. Microsoft offers a discount on Word and other products for students. Amazon.com offers limited-time free shipping with a student account.

Students, whether they use their cub accounts for email regularly or not, should take advantage of these offers. Several local businesses offer discounts for students with a current ID. These are a few examples, but there are many offered; probably a lot that I’ve never even heard about. After May, I will no longer have the opportunity to enjoy these or other offers.

As a student, I can get help with my resume and practice my interviewing skills by making an appointment with Career Services. Out in the real world, these services would cost me quite a bit of

money.

Similarly, the Student Health Center treats students for free or at a highly discounted rate. In the real world, visits to the doctor’s office can be expensive and a lot more time consuming.

All across campus, there are services that I and my fellow students have been taking for granted.

Probably the most overlooked is the HPER Center. Gym memberships are outrageously expensive. Students have a membership to the HPER that comes straight out of tuition and fees and is money that is never missed. But an embarrassingly low number of students use the HPER Center on a regular basis. As for myself, I went to the

by Jeanette HPER more last semester Anderton than I had my previous Editor two years at UCA. I am starting to appreciate the services that I am about to lose.

I don’t want to beat a dead horse, so I won’t go into great detail about how important it is to get involved on campus, but I will say that when I was a 32-year-old transfer student who didn’t know anyone on campus, I wasn’t enjoying my college experience very much.

I only started enjoying it after I began writing for The Echo. I made friends and started to attend more events on campus because I was covering them for the newspaper. Being more involved on campus helped me to find my place. I would suggest finding something that interests you, whether or not it has to do with your major, and get involved with that group. It will enrich your college experience.

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(Follow the guidelines in the Got Letters? column to the left)

Late last semester, a new addition to the fight against fraud on campus was set up. A fraud hotline is a new tool in detecting and dealing with crime.

Anyone who suspects fraud on campus can go to http://uca.edu/ internalaudit/hotline and report any activity they believe to be illegal on campus.

Whistleblowers have the option to remain anonymous if they fear retribution, but only information given will be gathered by the audit service.

The hotline is a great addition to the tools the university uses to combat fraud.

With all the problems UCA has had in the past few years, any deterrant against fraud is a good thing for campus.

The hotline is a good way to keep more people on campus honest and will be a tool of good, barring abuses of the system.

The system is only as good as the people who use it. If you see criminal activity on campus, it is your duty to report it. With the new hotline, there is no reason not to report criminal activity.

Everyone likes to complain about the problems they see at work or school, but if you see something that you believe is wrong or illegal, reporting it is the only way to make things better.

Reporting crimes can get bad people off campus and help save UCA’s reputation and some money. If you have seen criminal activity before but simply did not have a way to report it that you felt was safe enough for you, there is now an option.

Many people may still see this university as a place full of corruption and problems, but tools like the hotline can help UCA take care of minor problems before they become big, story-worthy problems.

Not only can this prevent problems, but it can also help solve them as well. Preferably, the hotline will never need to be used, but when it does, it will be easier to take care of the problem. This in turn will make it easier to deter scandals and make it easier to recover from them.

The university should keep looking for ways to make its employees stay open and honest. Any way the univeristy can improve this benefits everyone in the UCA community.

The hotline, along with programs like the monthly Campus Talks, can be beneficial for a campus that has been riddled with problems the past few years.

There will always be crime and corruption in any major institution, but anything that can be done to make it better is a good thing.

If an anonymous system is not enough to make you come forward, there are laws that protect anyone who shines a light on corruption.

As the site for the hotline says, the Arkansas Whistleblower Act protects you from retaliation for exposing suspected corruption. This means that even if your boss finds out you reported them, they are not legally allowed to do anything to you because of it.

UCA’s reputation is getting better all the time with a new and better administration, but another series of scnadals on campus could bring it back to a negative place again.

It is everyone’s job to report any criminal activity they see for the good of the university and all the students, faculty and staff who expect a safe and secure place to work, live and learn.

The Echo is printed weekly at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, Ark. Decisions about content are made by the student editors.

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

The system is only as good as the people who use it. If you see criminal activity on campus, it is your duty to report it.

Sports

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January 23, 2013

Week at a glance Men look for conference win After gaining their first conference win over the season against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi Saturday, the men’s basketball team hosts McNeese State tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Farris Center.

Sugar Bears bouncing back The Sugar Bears suffered their first conference loss of the season Thursday at Sam Houston State.

After a win at Texas A&M- Corpus Christi Saturday, the Sugar Bears host McNeese State tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at the Farris Center.

Track begins spring season The track and field team will travel to Jonesboro to participate in the ASU Invitiational meet on Friday to begin their spring campaign.

Conference meets begin on Feb. 23 in Norman, Okla.

Tennis ready for first match The Bears tennis team begins their 2013 season tomorrow at the Jonesboro Kickoff at Arkansas State University.

Upcoming games Men’s Basketball Thursday vs. McNeese State. 7:30 p.m.

-RECORDS-

Herbert reaches scoring, rebound milestone

by Hunter Brooks Assistant Sports Editor

On Jan. 12, UCA Sugar Bears senior Megan Herbert became the second active player in Division I women’s basketball to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.

The power forward passed the 2,000 point mark with a basket just 13 seconds into the game against Northwestern State at the Farris Center.

Officials momentarily stopped the game to allow Herbert to be honored for the milestone.

UCA senior guard Micah Rice praised Herbert’s tenacity.

“Every team’s game plan is to stop her, yet she still finds a way to score 20 points a game,” Rice said. “Not many players can play at that consistent of a level night in and out.”

Herbert joins Baylor’s Britney Griner as the only active players to reach the milestone. To put it into perspective, Griner is widely considered to be the greatest women’s college player of all time.

While Herbert reached the 2,000 career points mark just a few games ago, she passed the 1,000 rebound mark in February of 2012.

She is the nation’s active Division I career leader in rebounds and career rebound average, which is impressive in its own right considering Herbert stands at 5’11 (Griner is 6’7).

“Megan is just a unique player,” Rice said. “She’s willing to do the dirty work and I’ve never seen anyone rebound the ball the way she does.”

Herbert is one of three players in Southland Conference history to reach 2,000 career points and 1,200 rebounds, and one of 57 ever in Division I. Winning Southland Conference player of the year the past two seasons, Herbert is well on her way to a three-peat. She is averaging 18.6 points per game this year to go along with 11.1 rebounds.

Other accolades include first team All-Southland Conference every year she has played, including Southland Conference Freshman of the Year during the 2009-10 season.

She has been named Southland Conference player of the week a record 16 times.

Herbert also holds the record for the most free-throws made in Southland Conference history.

She is projected to finish in the top five for career doubledoubles.

Never averaging below a 50 percent shooting, Herbert’s 30point career game count is at 11.

UCA is 78-32 in games played with Herbert, including the school’s first Division I postseason appearance last year in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

The Sugar Bears posted a 6-23 record the year before Herbert’s freshman season.

Channel 4 sports anchor

Tennis Thursday vs. UALR, Arkansas State at NLR. 2:00 p.m.

Track & Field Friday at Jonesboro Invitational, 10:00 a.m.

by Hunter Brooks Assistant Sports Editor

The men’s basketball team has high hopes for a strong finish this season in large part because of senior forward Jarvis Garner.

Garner is leading the Bears in scoring this season with 15.2 points per game. The powerful player said he thinks he brings a lot to the table.

“I want to be a leader on and off the court,” Garner said. “I’m not too worried about scoring or anything because that comes very easy. I like to be someone the guys look up to. Mostly I just photo by Daniel Becker want to win.”

Garner also leads the Bears in Senior forward Jarvis Garner is averaging 15.2 points per game in rebounding with 6.6 boards per his final season with the Bears. game, but said he believes there’s room for improvement.

“I really want to key in on the defensive end and I think I’m doing that slowly game by game,” he said. “I’m trying to be a good perimeter/post defender and a rebounding monster.”

After graduating from Conway High School in 2009, Garner chose to attend Connors St. Junior College in Oklahoma to “fine tune” his game.

“Connors prepared me

Under Review

By clark johnson

Kelly hottest hire in rotation

by Clark Johnson Sports Editor

With the madness of the National Football League coaching carousel winding down, the Philadelphia Eagles seem to have made the biggest hire.

The Eagles signed former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly to become the 21st coach in the history of the franchise. Kelly was regarded as the hottest coaching candidate to replace one of the eight head coaches given their pink slips.

Initially, Kelly was tipped to be the favorite to take over the Cleveland Browns. Kelly interviewed with the Browns and seemed to be ready to take the job, but the Philadelphia Eagles came into the situation.

Kelly interviewed with the Eagles and then became the favorite to become Andy Reid’s successor. However, Kelly informed the Eagles and other NFL suitors he would be returning to Oregon.

That was then.

On Wednesday, Jan. 16, news once again broke out of nowhere that Kelly was taking the Philadelphia job. This time it was made official by the Eagles organization.

In his four-year tenure as

photo by Daniel Becker

Senior forward Megan Herbert scored her 2,000th point on her first shot in a 60-44 win over Northwestern State at the Farris Center.

Jarvis Garner leading basketball charge in senior season

Women’s Basketball Thursday vs. McNeese State. 5:30 p.m.

Jay Bir conducted an interview with Herbert on Arkansas Sports Nation about her achievement.

Bir said Herbert is an exciting player to watch.

“You watch her play and she does all the things that don’t get attention sometimes. Her stats are obviously impressive, but she does some stuff too that doesn’t get as much recognition,” Bir said.

Bir said Herbert took everything in stride.

“She’s really humble. I asked her what it’s like to be one of the greatest and she seemed kind of taken aback and was just shocked that anyone would throw that around,” Bir said.

“She gives all the credit in the world to her teammates for stepping up to where she is able to play her game how she wants to, and it’s produced a winning formula for them,” Bir said.

Herbert has played a pivitol role in the Sugar Bears success at the Farris Center. The team is currently on a 24-game regular season home win streak.

Herbert graduated from Shiloh Christian high school in Rodgers after leading the school to state championship. She was named Miss Basketball-Arkansas in 2009.

The Sugar Bears currently sit atop of the Southland with a 5-1 conference record. They start a four-game home stand Thursday against McNeese State.

coach of the Oregon Ducks, Kelly accumulated a 46-7 record and claimed three Pac-12 championships.

Kelly’s finale as coach at Oregon ended with a resounding 35-17 win over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3.

Kelly now joins five other NFL coaches to make the jump from being a college head coach to taking over an NFL team.

Greg Schiano of Tampa Bay, Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants, Pete Carroll of Seattle, Jim Harbaugh of San Francisco and the newly hired Doug Marrone of Buffalo all have made the move to the NFL from college.

So how does Kelly differ from the group?

All of the coaches listed had previous coaching history in the NFL before taking over a head coaching job, whether it was as a coordinating or position coach.

Kelly has never been on an NFL coaching staff.

Kelly is widely known as one of the most creative offensive minds in football today. Oregon ran one of the most fast-paced offensive schemes college football had ever seen, relying heavily on a hurry-up style that makes it difficult for defenses to make adjustments from running plays to passing plays.

Many analysts believe Kelly’s offensive success will have a

hard time translating to the NFL where everyone is “bigger, faster and stronger.”

After finishing the season at an abysmal 4-12 and being far from relevant in the NFL, questions have been made of the Eagles’ future, starting with the quarterback position.

Sure, Kelly coming to Philadelphia will pump some much needed enthusiasm in the fan base, but it isn’t going to solve everything.

Kelly has a big decision to make, whether to go with Michael Vick or Nick Foles at quarterback, or to dip into free agency of the draft to find a quarterback to compliment his offensive scheme.

The problem becomes the fact that Kelly’s offense is unique.

I could count on one hand the number of quarterbacks I believe could succeed in his style, and not one of them plays for Philadelphia or will likely be available for Kelly to claim.

It will be a tough test to see if Kelly can have near the success he had at Oregon with Philadelphia. With big questions remaining in the franchise, Kelly is sure to have his share of hardships before getting the confidence of the Philadelphia fan base.

mentally and physically because [junior college] has a lot of [Division 1] talent…guys who didn’t make the grades or transfers,” Garner said. “Our team was top 10 in the nation both years, so we were taught how to win.”

In 2011, after two seasons at Connors St. Junior College, Garner said he started to receive offers from Division 1 schools.

He said the decision to transfer to UCA was not as easy as many might think.

“I had a lot of offers to some big schools, as well as some other mid majors,” Garner said. “But I’m from here and it’s a different program than I saw growing up, along with a former NBA star as a coach now. I basically had ties with everybody before I made the decision, plus Robert Crawford came with me for his second stint here and that made it easier.”

UCA Head Coach Corliss Williamson praised Garner for his play and senior leadership.

“He does a great job,” Williamson said. “He shoots the ball well. He’s one of the guys we go to on offense. Jarvis has been a really big leader for us this year, on and off the court. He stepped

up and understands it’s his senior year and he’s trying to go out with a bang.”

Garner said he felt Williamson’s style of coaching factored into his decision.

“I like it. It lets us display our athleticism and our talent,” he said. “Coach gives us freedom on offense because we have so many weapons, but he preaches our defense and our up tempo style of play. He has a lot of faith in us; that’s what keeps us going.”

Garner said he is determined to make his final season a memorable one.

“We want to be number one in the conference and win our conference tourney in Katy, Texas,” he said. “If we do that, we’ll get to compete in the NCAA tournament.”

Garner, who is majoring in health education, said he will graduate next summer.

“After [graduation], everybody’s dream is to get paid for playing this game and people are telling me I have a chance, but that’s not my focus right now,” Garner said. “It’s just to get my degree and most importantly have a winning season and put UCA basketball on the map.”

Track team begins spring campaign Friday at Arkansas State Invitational

by Marisa Hicks Associate Editor

The men and women’s track teams are gearing up for their first meet of 2013 since the Arkansas State University at Jonesboro Kickoff, which was about two months ago.

Associate head coach Beau Theriot said he is looking forward to big marks all around on Friday at the ASU Invitational.

“The track teams are looking great, [it’s] going to be a good season,” he said. “We’re hoping to break a lot of records.”

Last season, Theriot said the teams were held back by “unlucky sicknesses” and injuries but that overall the team was strong.

This season, athletic trainers are available to runners at practices to oversee workouts and make sure runners are not in any pain.

Freshman sprinter Kelton Ray said having the athletic trainers available has worked out well for the teams so far during their training.

“They’re there in case an athlete gets injured, they’re able to give them treatment immediately,” he said. “It’s worked pretty good. Fortunately, we haven’t had any serious

injuries this season.”

Theriot said he believes it’s not likely for the men and women to perform their best after such a long break since the last meet.

However, he said he still expects both teams to perform well and that “the jumpers are growing great.” Theriot and Ray said the upcoming season will be long and tough on the teams.

“We have a strong team all around, didn’t loose too many seniors,” Theriot said. “We just got back from winter break and we’re trying to make sure we didn’t lose anything and trying to make sure everyone’s in shape.”

Ray said as a freshman he will have to get used to the transition from high school to college athletics.

“We all should show improvement from the first meet back in December,” he said.

“As for me, it’s just adjusting to collegiate competition and not worrying about anything I can’t control.”

Ray said he believes the team performed well at the season’s first meet in December.

“For it to be the first meet, we all performed pretty much as expected,” he said. “We all know

it’s a long season and there’s a lot more work to put in.”

Last season, the team broke four school records on April 21 at the UCA Open at the Bill Stephens Track Complex.

Sophomore sprinter Tanesha Maxwell broke a school record with 24.44 in the 200 meters and made the second-best time in school history with 11.87 in the 100 meters. Sophomore distance runner Erika Setzler broke another school record with 39:41.46 in the 10,000 meters and freshman distance runner Stephanie Simpson broke UCA’s 5,000 meter record with 18:21.57.

Sophomore distance runner Amos Gerber broke a school record for the men with 14:48.18 in the 5,000 meters.

Ray said the teams have stayed focused over the break and are ready for Friday’s meet.

“I expect the team to perform better than the last meet and continue to improve as the season goes on,” he said. “We’ve all been focused on getting stronger and in better condition all while improving on sustained acceleration during a race.”

8 / January 23, 2013

SPORTS

ucaecho.net

Sugar Bears split road games, DANCE MANIA suffer first conference defeat

photo by Daniel Becker

The Honey Bears dance team performs during a basketball game at the Farris Center. The Bears and Sugar Bears both host McNeese State tomorrow.

- ON THE COURT-

photo courtesy ucasports.com

Sophomore forward Tyisha Amos drives to the basket against Sam Houston State. The Bearkats held UCA to a season low 48 points in the game.

by Spencer Griffin Campus Life Editor

After trailing by one at halftime, the Sugar Bear basketball team (12-5, 5-1 SLC) came back to defeat the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders (1-16, 0-6 SLC) 55-40 on Saturday in Texas.

The Sugar Bears erupted for a 10-0 run to come out of the half, including an 18-4 run in the first seven minutes of the second half and just continued to build on that lead and momentum throughout the rest of the game.

Senior forward Megan Herbert recorded her 74th double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, five of which were offensive rebounds.

Herbert was not the only Sugar Bear to reach double digits, let alone record a doubledouble against the Islanders.

Junior center Courtney Duever grabbed her sixth double-double of the year with 11 points and 12 rebounds off of 40 percent shooting.

Duever said the game taught the team some important things.

“We came out a little slow the first half and came out much more focused in the second half,” she said. “This game made

us realize that we really can’t afford to come out slow and not focused. This game prepares us by allowing us to see what we need to work on.”

Senior guard Tracey Parsons recorded four points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds in the game. She said she felt her performance in the game was average.

“My focus was getting the ball inside to our post and getting the team into our offensive sets,” she said. “It was defiantly at team win. As a team we understand that we can’t take anybody lightly.”

The Sugar Bears’ first conference loss of the season came at the hands of Sam Houston State on the road on Thursday.

UCA shot only 30.8 percent from the field that night, 28.6 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the line.

This loss ties the Sugar Bears with Sam Houston State in conference, both with only one loss.

UCA trailed 35-23 at the half and just continued to struggle as they lost the game 64-48.

Duever, who had 14 points and five rebounds on the night, said the game showed the

strength of the conference as well as what the team needs to focus on.

“I think our team realized that we have to come out hard every game and that our conference is really good,” she said.

She said some positives could be taken from the loss.

“Losing is never a good thing, but if anything it makes us realize that we can be beat on any given game night and that we need to stay focused,” Duever said.

Parsons said the team needs to play together and focus on every trip down the floor.

“From the first conference loss we took away that we have to come out every game and play 40 minutes, play together and play smart,” she said. “We have to bring the energy day in and day out and not take possessions off. For us to continually be successful in conference and future team goals, it will take everybody; not just the starters or just coach but all of us together as one unit.”

The Sugar Bears play four straight games at home starting on Thursday against McNeese State at 5:30 p.m. and Lamar at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

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Tennis team starts season tomorrow, opening with two in-state opponents

by Spencer Griffin Campus Life Editor

The Sugar Bear tennis team will open its season Thursday in North Little Rock by facing the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Arkansas State University.

UCA plays UALR at 9 a.m. and ASU at 2 p.m.

Head coach Jeff Borengasser said his expectations for the team’s performance aren’t as high as they will be later in the season.

“Because it’s an early season [match], we’re not in midseason form so this is part of our preparation for conference play. I expect us to be a little rusty because we have only had a couple of weeks of practice after the break,” he said.

He said he still expects the team will play hard and play well, but that it will probably not be the team’s best performance of the season.

Borengasser said the main aspect of preparation is getting the new people acclimated and establishing the team. “[Preparation involves] getting new freshman into college tennis

and getting our doubles teams figured out,” he said.

Sophomore Allison Murphy has earned nine victories throughout her UCA career and five doubles victories.

She is 9-11 overall and 3-5 in conference.

She said the team has been doing their best to prepare for the matches.

“We have been doing a lot of conditioning, weight lifting and playing to try and prepare for our upcoming matches,” she said.

“I think we could do really well this weekend. We have all been training really hard and are ready to play matches.”

She said the dual-match will test the team’s endurance.

“I think the key to beating ASU and UALR is staying strong physically and mentally because it is very hard to play four matches in one day, so we need to work really hard at that,” she said.

“These matches are different from others because we usually only play one team in a day, but having to play two different schools in one day is very exhausting.”

Murphy said she hopes the team can play well throughout the

day and bring a win back to UCA. Another key player to the team, junior Sasha Ruocco, has played 41 matches and has earned 11 victories, two conference wins and 17 doubles victories.

She said she expects the team to play well, but that they will have to make sure to keep their energy up.

“I feel like it will be no more different than any other match, except that we have to make sure to stay energized during the two matches,” she said. “I think we should come out on Thursday and be the team in the best shape. I feel like we have been working harder than any other team over the break.”

She said Thursday’s match will be a good test to the team’s conditioning and it will give them an opportunity to face off against teams they lost badly to last year.

The Sugar Bears lost to UALR and ASU last year with a sweep of 7-0.

Ruocco said she hopes the team will avenge both of these losses Thursday.

UCA ended the 2012 spring season with an overall record of 8-16 and a 2-9 conference record.