January 29, 2014

THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS’ STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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WEDNESDAY

JANUARY 29, 2014 Volume 107 — Issue 2

ucaecho.net 4 TODAY’S FORECAST CONWAY

Opinion:

Campus Life:

Voice:

Ice-skaters bring classic show tunes to life at Reynolds

Faculty senate needs to support adviser evaluations 4 page 3

Sunny

41/24 4 THE ONLINE WIRE FROM UCAECHO.NET

University professor receives film award Assistant Digital Filmaking Professor Mike Gunter, “Chutes and Gates” film director, received the award for Best Arkansas Short at the Seventh Annual Arkansas Shorts Festival at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. The film, which is 7-½minutes long, is a comedy featuring a young boy diving into the farming profession with the help of his grandfather. The short has screened at numerous festivals since its release, including the Little Rock Film Festival and the Sacramento International Film Festival in California.

Award-winning pianist visits Reynolds Performance Hall 2013 Van Cliburn Piano Competition winner Vadym Kholodenko will perform at Reynolds Performance Hall on Feb. 11. Kholodenko will perform mainly solo piano pieces, but will also perform a concerto accompanied by the Conway Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are still available and are $30-40 for adults, $27-37 for seniors, $25-35 for UCA alumni, $23-33 for UCA faculty and staff, $10 for non-UCA students and children and free for UCA students with a current ID.

Family-friendly production comes to university theater

Broadway:

Staff Writer

The UCA Faculty senate met Jan. 23 to discuss a proposal to replace the current retention committee, the purpose of which is to maximize student success and graduation rates.

The proposed replacement is a Student Success and Retention Council.

The new council would consist almost entirely of administrators and staff, with the president and vice president of the faculty senate and one student.

Senator Clayton Crockett presented a statement on the committee. “This version of retention seems to suggest that the majority of retention issues relate to every aspect of the student experience except the classroom,” he said, “I find that to

Basketball:

Bears lose to Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin 4 page 7

4 page 4

Faculty discuss retention rates

by Austin French

Sports:

HARD DAY’S WORK

be a troubling assumption.”

Currently, the only voice for the quality of in-class retention would be the single student member.

This would take the voice away from the faculty and reassign it to the administrators. The faculty senate said it would like to add members to the committee for proper faculty representation.

Senator Garry Powell said, according to the Faculty Handbook, “In addition to the university administrative structure, the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate, the Student Government Association and other university councils and committees play a significant role in the governance and management of the activities of the institution.” (Faculty photo courtesy of Jordan King

Workers operate a crane, lowering sheet metal onto the roof of the HPER Center Jan. 22. Construction on the expansion started during the fall 2013 semester.

See Faculty - page 2

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senators discuss tailgating, Bruce Street alcohol policy revisions

by Audrey Baumer Assistant News Editor

The UCA Student Government Association’s traditions committee is planning to propose a resolution to the student life committee regarding Bruce Street and tailgating.

The traditions committee found an official tailgating rule stating that students are encouraged to enter the game 15

minutes prior to kick-off. Through this statement, the committee recognized that tailgating during the game is allowed.

Sophomore Vice President Ivana Ilic said, “[Our committee] spent a month and a half conducting surveys through OrgSync, Twitter and by distributing paper copies to students in the cafeteria, Student Center, Torreyson Library, various Greek organizations

and Recognized Student Organizations.”

The survey results showed that more students said they would attend games if they could tailgate during the game and not only before.

Bruce Street is a city street, meaning UCA has to follow Arkansas alcohol laws that do not allow drinking in public. The traditions committee said that if the university bought Bruce

Street, President Tom Courtway could make an exception for alcohol during tailgating if he wanted. It would likely only be for students over 21 years old.

SGA Senior Representative Bryce Crabb said the university would see many benefits if it owned Bruce Street. He said that, in addition to the possible change in the alcohol policy, Bruce Street could be closed for different events and “[UCA] could

RSO

CAATSA provides numerous services to Conway groups

by Ashley Thomas Staff Writer

University film opens Miami Film Festival

photo by Jared Holt

Junior Jerry Gooch, Tech Experts creator, a technology business based in Conway, sits in the UCA Starbucks while running a scan on the computer’s hard drive to check for physical damage, along with damage to the computer’s operating system.

University student, alumnus create own technology support business

4 WHAT’S AHEAD

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

by Brittany Harris Associate Online Editor

Baridon Hall becoming residential college, resident room changes to be made at Bear Village

Junior Jerry Gooch has started his own technology business, Tech Experts, based in Conway.

Ben Smith, a UCA graduate, joined forces with Gooch and the two now run the business

together.

“We want to shake up the tech support industry in Conway,” Gooch said. “We think that many people pay way too much money to have their computers fixed.”

The business revolves around technology, specifically desktop support.

Contact Us:

Index: 4 Police Beat 4 Opinion 4Around Campus

2 3 4

See Senators - page 2

I N I T I AT I V E

UCA Theatre will present Jennifer Kickok DeFratis’s “Furry Tails with a Twist” at 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Performance Hall. The lighthearted production features two actors who set out to perform well-known fairy tales, but not as accurately as one might think.

The play is appropriate for all ages, but is mainly targeted at children ages 4-11. Admission is free and the play runs for approximately 45 minutes.

“Europa”, the 15-minute sciencefiction drama which was created

by UCA’s digital filmmaking program, opened the Miami Science Fiction Film Festival earlier this month. The film was also the first stereographic 3D narrative film to be shot in Arkansas, most of which was shot at UCA. The film is about a man who finds extraterrestrial life on one of Jupiter’s moons, but the reaction he receives upon returning to Earth is not what he expected.

instill new traditions where before homecoming, the entire Greeks could go out and paint part of the street.”

Crabb said a universityowned Bruce Street would open up opportunity for the students to participate in more events and encourage students to tailgate and attend football games. Ilic

4Campus Life 4Entertainment 4Sports

5 6 7

Phone: 501-450-3446 E-mail: ucaechoeditor@gmail.com

Gooch and Smith aid people with viruses, or any “weird” problems that they may have. “[There is] no problem we can’t fix. We can adapt to just about anything.”

Smith said Gooch came to him with this idea for a local tech support company that is

affordable and easily accessible when and where someone needed it.

“Our computers and tech products have become essential to our daily lives, our business is

See Business - page 2

The Central Arkansas Athletic Training Students’ Association collected about 500 pounds of non-perishable food items for Bethlehem House of Conway during its annual food drive.

CAATSA partnered with the kinesiology and physical education department for the event during the 2013 holiday season.

Bethlehem House’s mission is to “encourage, equip and motivate homeless individuals and families to take the necessary steps to improve their life situations,” according to its website. Haley Moran, Bethlehem House volunteer coordinator, said they feed more than 40 people each night at the soup kitchen they operate.

They also distribute boxes of food, which include approximately 150 items each.

“We rely mostly on food donations,” Moran said. “We couldn’t exist without them.”

According to the UCA website, CAATSA is a recognized student organization at UCA. Its membership is composed of students who have been

See CAATSA - page 2

Inside:

Social:

Why must we be separated? @ucaecho

The Echo

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Segregation still problem for students in several facets of life

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2/ January 29, 2014

NEWS ucaecho.net CHARITY

Police Beat

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

Student cited for possession of marijuana, paraphernalia in State Hall Student Brian Sample, 19, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia at 11:23 p.m. Jan. 20.

While in State Hall, UCAPD smelled marijuana coming from room 114. Officers made contact with the person inside the room who happened to be Sample’s roommate.

While talking to the roommate, Sample walked into the room and told UCAPD that the marijuana was his and the rest was in his car.

Sample took UCAPD to his car where they found the a small plastic bag with marijuana in the central cupholder, along with red containter of the substance in the backseat. Officers found marijuana inside Sample’s backpack as well.

In total, Sample had 0.09 ounces of marijuana taken from him. After being charged, Sample was released later that night.

Football players, potential recruits cited for alcohol possession in Bear Village UCAPD responded to a alcohol violation and noise complaint inolving several UCA football players and potential recruits at Bear Village #1012 Jan. 25 at about 10 p.m.

Resident assistant Mallory Druckenmiller was present when UCAPD arrived, along with apartment residents Gilberto Garcia, 18, and Jatavious Wilson, 19, both students.

Students Jose Moore, 19, Nicholas Moody, 19, Jordan

Fleming, 21, Jaquon Goodman, 22, James Bona, 20, and Jordan Childress, 19, were also at the apartment.

Non-students Michael Andreson, 21, Aaron Shaw, 21, Tirell Wellmaker, 18, Matthew Spencer, 19, Douglas Nauden, 20, and Toure’ Stevens, 18, were identified as well.

UCAPD was advised by several of the individuals that they were associated with the UCA football team and that several of the nonstudents present were potential athletic recruits. The individuals also said they planned on attending the Kappa Sig fraternity party later in the evening. UCAPD reminded them that only registered students were allowed at the party, seeing as it was a registered UCA event.

Garcia and Wilson both told officers they had recently arrived at the apartment and found the other people already there. Their roommates, students Hayden Hildebrand, 19, and Stockton Mallet, 18, had previously been at the apartment but left prior to their return, Garcia and Wilson said.

Officers saw several beer bottles scattered throughout the living room, along with a bottle of Pinnacle Kiwi Strawberry vodka. Officers told them to empty their alcohol, which they did.

UCAPD found that none of the individuals appeared to be intoxicated or a danger to others so the non-residents were allowed to leave the apartment with no criminal charges filed.

A small joint was found laying on the carpet after the non-residents had left, but UCAPD could not identify who it belonged to. It was also destroyed on scene.

The students were advised by officers that the incident could be forwarded to UCA’s judicial board for review. The students were also counseled on the importance of not behaving in a way that negatively affects the university’s image, along with setting a good example for potential future students.

Three university professors receive grant to study adolescent bullying

by Audrey Baumer Assistant News Editor

Three UCA professors were awarded a $286,500 “Decreasing Bullying with Self-Affirmation: A Test of the Compensation Model” grant. Paul Nail, Elson Bihm and Joan Simon are using the grant to study middle school bullying.

According to the psychology and counseling department, the interest in bullying was approached because it is an issue that has always been around.

“Before, bullying was seen as part of growing up. Today, it is seen by many as an acceptable form of intimidation,” Bihm said.

He said many people who have been bullied suffer from psychological problems.

Nail said bullying is a serious issue happening in middle school and this is why they chose this age group. “Children of this age are able to selfreport being a bully or victim on ‘paper-and-pencil’ tests,” Bihm said. “Therefore, data on a large number of persons could be

collected.”

Simon said she was attracted to this topic because she knows people who have been personally affected by bullying.

She is a school psychologist, and this topic especially sparked her interest.

Simon said she and her colleagues work well together because they have their own specialties and they can bring different knowledge and better their research. Nail is a social psychologist and Bihm is a counseling psychologist.

The middle school the professors are working with pulls in students from three different elementary schools when the students reach sixth grade.

When students reach this age, they often try to find a place they belong.

“It is a largely new social group that should afford plenty of opportunities for establishing one’s status in the fall of the year when the class/group is still fairly new,” Nail said.

He also said they chose this study “because bullying and aggression tend to increase when students are jockeying for

position and status with a new social group.”

The professors received the grant in July 2013. They began their study last fall and plan to continue fall 2014.

They will conduct the study during the fall because that is when all of the students from different elementary schools first come together and meet each other. The duration of the grant is two years because the professors need to study at least 400 students to get a sufficient analysis and the school has about 250 students each fall.

The goal of the study is to find a way to decrease bullying and stop it in the early stages.

Simon said she finds that some schools bullying programs have been a success while some of them have not. The professors said they want to find another approach through their research to reduce bullying and incorporate their findings into anti-bullying programs.

The research will be conducted at a middle school in Central Arkansas in conjunction with the Eunice Kennedy Shiver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Senators:

Executive board discusses Student Activity Fee Allocation, SGA applications, potential speaker at spring graduation 4 Continued from page 1

FEATURE PRESENTATION

said the university could start a loyalty program to encourage attendance to the football games and this could include “prizes like discounts to local restaurants in Conway.”

In other business: • SGA President Adam Price, senior, said the university

is interested in bringing a wellknown speaker to graduation.

• Senator applications will be available March 10 on OrgSync and due by 2 p.m. April 4. Elections will be April 15-16.

• Student Activity Fee Allocation applications are now online. Hearings will be March

10-14.

• Baridon Hall is becoming a freshman residential college focused on health and wellness and Bear Village Apartments will have two residents per room in a twobedroom suite beginning fall 2014.

Business:

Gooch, Smith hope to use remote troubleshooting to fix students’ computer problems 4 Continued from page 1 photo by Stacee Gallina

Students view a video screening Jan. 23 at the Black Box Gallery. A compilation of short videos were shown and popcorn was served.

Faculty:

Associate Provost for Finance and Administration Laura Young says spirit is not to remove professors from equation 4 Continued from page 1 Handbook 73).

A council with only 15 percent faculty representation hardly seems one that is ‘in addition to the administrative structure’-it is an administrative structure. Is that what our committees should be?”

Associate Provost for Finance and Administration Laura Young said the spirit is not to remove the faculty from the equation.

Some part-time and adjunct employees were not paid on time at the start of the new semester, with some still not having been paid as of the time of the meeting.

CAATSA:

She asked to the faculty senate to be patient with her department and said they are all working very hard to ensure everyone receives their pay and asserts that it will not go overlooked.

Young said the blame was with the amounts of paperwork required to complete the necessary transactions. Young described the large amounts of paperwork required to complete such transactions, and said she and other employees in the department of Finance and Administration worked on snow days to complete the necessary

paperwork but there was still more to be done. They are looking to streamline the system to help prevent this from happening in the future.

Senator member Melissa Shock said she was interested at the meeting in getting new nutritional drink products put into the vending machines on campus.

The senate also said that undergraduate enrollment at UCA is stable and graduate enrollment is increasing in comparison with last year.

technology. Though he is an entrepreneur major at UCA, he hopes to one day “shake up the whole tech industry.”

Smith said that he has had experience repairing both Macs and PCs for family members since he was 13 years old. He also worked as a tech at Staples for almost three years.

The two hope to grow the business and expand to the business market with the managed services model providing IT support to small businesses who cannot afford their own IT staff.

The target demographic is any student or local who needs tech help, but either do not want to or cannot afford to spend the money that big stores expect.

Gooch said, “You go into a corporate store like Best Buy to get a computer fixed and the next thing you know, you’re out $150+.

We want to provide the same quality work for a reasonable price.”

He also said that he feels big corporate stores often generalize problems and charge a great deal of money. Both Gooch and Smith

work together at Staples, and became uncomfortable with the high prices clients paid.

“We hope to through events partnered with other organizations,” Gooch said, “One such event will probably be a tune-up event optimizing students’ PCs and making sure they are working like they should.”

The Tech Experts founders have created a Facebook page and Twitter account to get the word out and gain traction on social media. Gooch and Smith have also created a website, techex.co.

Gooch and Smith said they are excited and hopeful for the business. They said reactions so far have been positive.

The business is still new, in its first months. Gooch said he hopes to grow the business and become self-sufficient with it. Both Gooch and Smith have more business ideas they plan to follow through with in the near future, once Tech Experts grows to a reasonable size. Smith also owns another business, Fjord Films, which creates promotional videos for businesses.

RSO members plan to volunteer at Little Rock soup

kitchen, marathon

THE ONLY HOTEL + CLUB

4 Continued from page 1 accepted into the UCA Athletic Training Education program and its objectives are to promote athletic trainingand to uphold the standards of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

Senior Rebecca Rockenhaus, CAATSA president, said the organization puts on a food drive every year, but last December, she wanted to do something to help during the Christmas holiday as well.

Last December, CAATSA students also participated in the Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child, filling 10 shoeboxes with small gifts for children around the world. This is the first year CAATSA participated in Operation Christmas Child.

“Operation Christmas Child was an easy and cheap way for our organization to really bless some children,” Rockenhaus said. “As athletic trainers, we are servants in

centered around making sure these devices don’t interrupt you.”

Tech Experts wants to provide 24/7 support for all computer needs, including troubleshooting applications.

“For instance we want to be able to respond to your call at 11 p.m. and look at your computer from our homes or wherever we may be.” Gooch said. “The service is very secure and the user will have to give us a passcode to actually connect to their computer.”

Tech Experts said it wants to save people time and money while getting their computers back to 100 percent and while remaining flexible. The remote troubleshooting is one of the ways Gooch and Smith hope to accomplish this.

“One of the big things is consultations,” Gooch said, “We can schedule a time with our clients, hear their needs and wants, and find the perfect solution to make the most out of their technology.”

Gooch said that he has always been interesting in

a sense and I think there’s nothing more important than being able to serve and bless others when we get the chance.”

Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has “helped victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine,” according to its website.

Operation Christmas Child has been a part of the Samaritan Purse mission since 1993 and more than 100 million children in more than 130 countries have benefitted from the program since then.

Junior Andrew Tackett, CAATSA president elect, said the most enjoyable thing about being involved with CAATSA was being able to inform the public about athletic training.

“Most of the community is not aware of what athletic trainers actually do,” Tackett said.

“Spreading the word and the importance of the profession is the most rewarding.”

Rockenhaus said one of CAATSA’s main goals is to serve the community and build community among the different classes in UCA’s athletic training education program.

“I love that we really focus on building community among each other because we spend a lot of time with our own classmates,” Rockenhaus said.

“This gets the older members to really encourage the younger members and it helps all of us build friendships.”

This semester, CAATSA plans to volunteer at a soup kitchen in Little Rock as well as volunteer at the Little Rock marathon.

For more information on volunteer opportunities with Bethlehem House, contact Haley Moran at (501) 329-4862.

For more information regarding CAATSA, contact Allen Crawford at acrawford@uca.edu.

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Opinion

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3

The Voice

January 29, 2014

Evaluations encourage adviser accountability, allow voice for students

Segregation still problem for students in several facets of life

The Echo Staff

Why must we be separated?

Although we are past the times of intense racism and segregation, UCA still experiences its own form in various ways.

The Student Center and Christian Cafeteria seating is a prime example. Generally, one will notice different races in different areas of the cafeteria and the Student Center. This may not be intentional, but it is certainly noticeable.

Being in an interracial relationship and part of an African and African-American society, I have noticed these things even more than in the past. It gets under my skin to see that segregation still prevalent in a society that has become more accepting of former taboos.

A university is the last place I expect to see such separation among races.

Public relation photographs show all races sitting together harmoniously eating, studying and doing several other activities. This is far from true if anyone simply observes the social interactions among students.

I’m not saying this is true for everyone. In fact, I can think of several exceptions, including myself. The differences in gathering locations of different races aren’t hidden though. Students can’t deny, even if he or she is an exception, that this segregation exists.

Clearly there are differences in cultures among various races, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all collaborate with the many things we have in common.

The fact that I am writing this almost makes me wonder if this country, or at least this part of the country, has regressed back to an older culture where only one’s own culture is accepted.

People often feel more comfortable in their own

Brandon Riddle Editor

Logan Miller Online Editor

Brittany Harris

Associate Online Editor

Brad Smith Opinion Editor

Austin DuVall News Editor

Audrey Baumer Assistant News Editor

Misti Hollenbaugh Campus Life Editor

Ashley Thomas

Assistant Campus Life Editor

Andy Robertson Sports Editor

Tyler Riley

Entertainment Editor

culture more than they would venturing outside them, especially at first. If some people would break out of the mold and get to know other cultures and races, they may find they fit in more in some ways with a different group.

I’m not saying forget your own race and culture and act differently, but for there to be such segregation among people on a college campus just because people have a different culture or skin color is ridiculous.

I have had many in-depth conversations with friends that have highlighted this segregation. We can’t figure out why this exists, but we all have one common thought: It needs to change. Simply being nice to other people, in your own race and

by Spencer Griffin outside of it, can help begin Business Manager to create a more cohesive campus.

Being in an interracial relationship has opened my eyes to how judgmental society can be, even in this time of progression. At a basketball game the other night, my girlfriend and I received several bad comments and looks because we have different color skin.

It’s sad that this country, and specific historical figures, have fought so hard to end actions such as this only to have these actions return.

We can’t make the words and actions of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson or Emmett Till go to waste. We have to continue to strive and create a community that doesn’t allow judgment based on skin color and cultural differences.

Be proactive on campus and help eliminate racial segregations beginning in the Student Center and the cafeteria.

Critics’ Academy Award predictions unoriginal, shallow guesses

Jared Holt Photo Editor

Stacee Gallina Editorial Cartoonist

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The nominations for the 86th annual Academy Awards, which represent the best in 2013 for film, were announced Jan. 16. People all over the Internet have expressed their glee and outrage, bringing up both pleasant and unpleasant surprises related to which were nominated and which were not.

But now, nearly two weeks later, it seems that discussion is done, meaning it’s time for print and electronic media to write about a popular subject in relation to the Oscars: Oscar predictions.

It’s the time of year when the general moviegoing public loves to state who/what is going to win which award. There are two reasons for this. One reason is they like to think like the Academy and think they can enhance their knowledge for what the Academy may call art.

The second is, they can make a game out of it. Oscar parties are commonly thrown and often have a contest.

Those who can most accurately predict who will win each award get a prize.

People who post Oscar predictions are becoming a little overconfident nowadays.

They seem to like to state to their peersthat they’re absolutely positive that this actor or actress is going to win that award or that director or producer is going to win that award. They are a little overzealous about the subject.

I don’t like to predict which actor or movie will win an Oscar. I’m also not particularly fond of Oscar predictions. I understand predicting the winners can lead to some entertainment on Oscar night March 2.

On the other hand, it can also make people seem full of themselves. Maybe I read too much into Oscar predictions when I notice them posted in magazines such as Entertainment Weekly or websites such as RichardRoeper.com. Maybe they like to predict the Oscars just to see what they can get right.

Have an opinion?

But the main reason I’m not particularly fond of Oscar predictions is because I feel like something is missing from those magazines and websites. They lack explanation for why they believe which is going to what award, and lack a statement of opinion, meaning most of these predictions aren’t who they would pick if they were part of the Academy and got to vote.

There’s also a lack of acknowledgement for technique and skill and mainly seems to be all about popularity.

That is why I would like to see something that would be considered “old-fashioned.” Something that the late film-critic duo Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert used to do on their television programs “At the Movies” and “Siskel & Ebert”–not predicting who will win, but announcing who they each thought should win.

Their annual show was entitled “If We Picked The Winners.” That was an accurate title for this special show, because they went against what was popular

by Tanner in pre-Oscar times. They Smith gave their own opinions.

Staff Writer They stated why they would choose this. They were not members of the Academy, as most film critics aren’t, so this was wish-fulfillment for them.

This is something I would like to see more of nowadays–people not predicting the Oscar winners, but stating their opinions of who they think should win. Who would they choose if they got a voting ballot for the Oscars?

I would like to read more posts/stories about why they would like this or that to win. Oscar predictions are not my thing. I’d rather write or talk to people about my personal opinions regarding the Oscars, and I would read or listen to their responses and opinions.You can learn about a person that way, you have something to discuss, and you’re not trying to think like you know the Academy’s mindset.

Nobody knows who will win at the Academy Awards except members of the Academy. Let it be.

Everyone does.

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

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

UCA has made big strides recently in improving its transparency and ease of access to information. This can continue to improve if the UCA community does not impede progress.

At last week’s faculty senate meeting, senators discussed the possibility of adviser evaluations, which would be similar to the faculty evaluations already in use.

Several senators criticized evaluations as harmful to education, but advising is an important part of the college experience.

Students have an obligation to keep track of their progress toward graduation, but having an adviser who cares about students can help them feel like they are on track and doing the right thing.

Advisers who don’t care can give students incorrect advice about what classes they need to take in order to graduate in a timely manner.

Currently, there is no accountability for advisers who do not put any effort into advising students.

Evaluations do not necessarily harm a professor’s status at UCA. Spiteful or mean evaluations can often be filtered out if they only serve to harm a professor’s rating. However, patterns can be established about the effort professors put into their duties as advisers. Faculty with particularly bad advising scores should be trained to properly advise students. Advisers should not be allowed to simply check another box on their tenure application if they are not doing the job well.

Students are ultimately responsible for the progress they make toward graduation. However, having a good adviser there to give students good advice can be one of the more helpful things anyone can do for them.

Advising evaluations are not the only ways to easily improve a student’s access to necessary information.

The newly released UCA smartphone application allows easy access to faculty and staff contact information and also allow students to view their schedules on their phones. The app is not a game changer by any means, but it does improve information access in a small way.

The faculty senate also discussed a possible move to Gmail from the current Groupwise email system MyUCA runs on. While the usual Gmail terms of service do not support the privacy necessary for a university email service, UCA Chief Information Officer Jonathan Glenn said Google is willing to negotiate terms of service for educational purposes.

Moving from the Groupwise system to Gmail would allow for a more reliable system, making access to email less of a frustration than it is now.

UCA is quickly improving its ability to provide access to students quickly and easily.

However, faculty senate should not stall the introduction of adviser evaluations just because it does not want to put in the effort necessary to help students succeed.

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.

Advisers should not be allowed to simply check another box on their tenure application if they are not doing the job well.

Campus Life

4

January 29, 2014

Around Campus: Creative skins Students can individualize their laptops or iPhones with a skin of their choice for free from 11 a.m.

- 3 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Student Center Lounge. Students are limited to one skin, either for a laptop or iPhone.

Greek 101 A Greek 101 information session will be during x-period Jan. 30 in Student Center 223/224 for students interested in Greek life.

Survivors support The first meeting of the Survivors of Sexual Abuse/Assault group will be during x-period Jan. 30 in the Student Health Center 328. Contact Cathy Staton at cstaton1@uca.edu for more information.

Time management Students feeling stressed by too many commitments should attend this four-week time management workshop. The first meeting will be at 3 p.m. Feb. 3. in Student Health Center 328.

Contact Tina Jordan at tjordan@ uca.edu for more information.

Anxiety workshop An anxiety workshop will be during x-period Feb. 4 in Student Health Center 328. Meetings will be weekly and topics will include social, performance and test anxiety. Contact Susan Sobel at ssobel@uca.edu for more information.

Nick Offerman The Student Activities Board presents “An Evening of Comedy with Nick Offerman” at 8 p.m.

Feb. 6 in Reynolds Performance Hall. While this show is already sold out, a limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.

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.

‘Broadway On Ice’

transforms stage

by Laura Landers Staff Writer

The drama of Broadway met the elegance of ice-skating in a thrilling performance of “Broadway on Ice” at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 in Reynolds Performance Hall.

Spectators gathered to watch this monumental event as the stage of Reynolds was transformed into an ice-skating rink for the first time.

UCA Public Appearances Director Amanda Horton said “Broadway on Ice” was a historymaking event for UCA. “Our technical staff and student workers did a wonderful job ensuring the stage was perfect for the performance,” Horton said.

A cast of 13 talented ice

skaters graced the stage, coming from all parts of the globe to create the performance.

Freshman Bryce Moore said, “The show put a new spin and kick on an old classic.”

The cast spun and twirled gracefully across the stage, dancing along to numbers from musicals such as “Cabaret,” “Les Misérables,” “Funny Girl,” “Rent,” “Showboat” and “42nd Street.”

The numbers covered a variety of musical genres, ranging from the jazzy tunes of “All that Jazz” to the musical “Chicago” to the operatic adaptation of the song “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.”

The addition of two talented singers to the cast provided a treat for the audience.

Throughout the evening,

photos by Sarah Irvin

Skaters glide across the ice while performing Broadway songs in“Broadway On Ice” at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 in Reynolds Performance Hall.

Davis Gaines and Ira Lauren enhanced the performances with live music, though without skates.

“No, I don’t skate,” Gaines joked, despite appearing for the curtain call wearing a pair of skates.

Gaines has received attention for his theatric performances, particularly for playing the Phantom in “Phantom of the Opera” more than 2,000 times in theaters on Broadway, in Los Angeles and in San Francisco.

Opera singer Lauren hails from Salzberg, Austria has traveled the world, performing in countries such as the U.S., Austria, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Egypt, Spain and Scandinavia.

Gaines and Lauren performed the duet “All I Ask

of You” from “Phantom of the Opera.”

The cast included several other talented members.

“I am so blessed to share the stage – or in this case, ice – with all these beautiful and talented skaters,” Gaines said.

Director and choreographer Sarah Kawahara is a two-time Emmy Award winner, and is the first choreographer to win an award for ice-skating.

Kawahara won her second Emmy for choreographing the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, as well as skater Michelle Kwan’s 2001-2002 Winter Olympic routines.

The outstanding costumes worn by the cast added a dazzling feature.

Costume designer Jeff Billings has won two Emmy

awards and has been nominated for six other awards.

He designed the 2002 Winter Olympic closing ceremony costumes for American skating stars Sarah Hughes, Katarina Witt and Scott Hamilton.

For the entire evening, the cast twirled, dipped and flipped their way across the stage, issuing gasps and applause from the audience, as they seemed to defy gravity with their stunts.

A Steinway grand piano was on the ice as part of the spectacle.

The performance was well-received from Broadway enthusiasts and novices alike.

“We will explore bringing other ice shows to the Reynolds Performance Hall in the future,” Horton said.

501 Life Magazine sponsored the event.

MUSIC RECITAL

COMEDY

photo by Stacee Gallina

Comedian and contortionist Jonathan Burns fits himself through a tennis racket during his comedy performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 in the Student Center Ballroom.

SAB brings comedy show to campus

by Jessica Seastrom Staff Writer

Comedy, magic, contortion and confetti filled the Student Center Ballroom when comedian Jonathan Burns took the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday night.

The Student Activities Board hosted the event.

Burns filled the hour-long show with an array of tricks and

jokes.

He entered the ballroom of about 35 attendees with his arms raised as he jogged onto the stage and tossed confetti from his pocket.

Burns started his act with card tricks and sleight-of-hand maneuvers.

Many of his tricks were comedy-based.

He often pretended a trick was not going

as planned for comedic effect and then ended by performing the trick appropriately.

Burns asked for many volunteers throughout the show, often to assist him in performing card tricks.

In one act, Burns asked a volunteer to lie on the stage. photo by Anastassiya Khvan

See Comedian- page 5

Assistant Percussion Professor Blake Tyson performing at the Faculty Percussion Recital at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 23 in Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall.

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

ucaecho.net

CAMPUS LIFE

STUDENTS SAY

SOLD OUT

Offerman tickets sell out in first week of sales, students excited

by Julia Kramer Staff Writer

The box office buzzed as students flocked to purchase their Nick Offerman tickets, which sold out in less than a week.

Offerman’s planned Feb. 6 campus visit has caused a frenzy of excitement among students.

The Student Activities Board booked the event, “An Evening of Comedy with Nick Offerman.”

Tickets became available to UCA students Jan. 15, giving them two days before tickets were available to the general public Jan. 17.

Offerman is best known as the breakfast food- and brunetteloving, governmentand socialization-hating Ron Swanson on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” along with his roles in movies such as “We’re The Millers” and “21 Jump Street.”

While many students got the tickets before it was too late, some were not as lucky.

Freshman Patrick McGill said he was sad because he waited too long to get his ticket.

“I’ll be missing out on a great show with a hilarious comedian,”

he said. “[Offerman] is so rad I wish he was my dad.”

SAB comedy director Scott Jackson said the board chose Offerman based on student interest and budget.

Jackson said the board made a list of comedians in the budget over the summer and he “chose the top few guys [he] would like to see come and from there the students decided.”

After seeing the results of the end of semester survey on who the students would like to see come to campus entertainment wise, Offerman was the most popular choice.

Booking him was easier than Jackson expected.

“We then made him an offer, he accepted, and that was that,” Jackson said.

Offerman’s humor has a wide range, but tends to fall on dry sarcasm and monotone comments.

Sophomore Danielle Burnside said she was lucky to be home when she opened the email about him coming to campus.

“I’ve been in love with him because of his character Ron Swanson on “Parks and

Staff Writer

UCA Athletic Director Brad Teague has overseen many significant changes within the athletic program during his seven years with the Bears.

Teague guided the Bears’ athletic teams through their transition to NCAA Division I membership and has made numerous upgrades to facilities, while also focusing on academics.

He is responsible for the unique purple and gray turf at Estes Stadium that made national headlines in 2011, as well as for the skyboxes at the football stadium.

He currently serves as president for the Southland Advisory Council and is a member of the NCAA Administration Cabinet.

“We needed to work quickly.

Fortunately, there are many coaches who want to live in Conway and work at UCA, so the pool of candidates filled up quickly. We wanted someone who had head coaching success, who truly wanted to be at UCA for a long time, [who] was a relentless recruiter of great academic and athletic talent and someone who cared for others above themselves. Campbell exceeded those expectations on all fronts.”

How important did you feel the decision was to keep offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nathan Brown involved in the UCA football program going forward?

“Coach Brown is a great man who bleeds purple. I am very happy for him and his family to be able to stay in Conway and at UCA.”

What was your reaction to Coach Clint Conque leaving for fellow Southland Conference member Stephen F. Austin after 14 years at UCA? “I was surprised at first, but then thankful [for] his contribution to UCA for so many years. I am happy for him and his family.”

UCA plays at Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 4, 2014. Is it too early to call this a must-win game?

Brad Teague

What was the mindset going into the coaching search and what did you see in Campbell that made him the one?

“It is our second conference game and all the conference games are must-win games. It will certainly add to the rivalry.”

What has it been like trying to balance the search for key

Comedian:

”

photo courtesy of Naples News

Nick Offerman, best known for his role in “Parks and Recreation,” will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 in Reynolds Performance Hall.

Recreation,” so when I saw he was actually coming, I basically had a seizure,” Burnside said. “He is so hilarious that him coming to UCA is a dream come true.”

According to the SAB website, while the show is sold out, a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

This show will full of wit, sarcasm and laughter with the deadpan execution of his humor and intense yet apathetic personality of his most famous character, Ron Swanson.

football and basketball staff?

“These are the two most highprofile national programs. We are fortunate to be successful in all of our sports. But these two are the ones recognized by most people so the coaches hired to lead these programs have to be successful. It is a busy time but a good opportunity as well.”

Does naming an interim coach in basketball make you feel any added pressure with the next hire since you have so wlong to search, or are you just focusing on the basketball season right now?

“I think the pressure to get it right is equal either way.

Sometimes searches can go on too long and opinions and interest change. I prefer an expedited search but I certainly want the best person in place who will serve our student-athletes and fans equally well.”

In the words of Swanson, “The less I know about people’s affairs, the happier I am. I am not interested in caring about people.

I once worked with a guy for three years and never learned his name.

Best friend I ever had. We still never talk sometimes.”

Tickets were $10 for UCA students and $15 for the general public.

For more information, call 501-450-3265 to talk to an SAB representative or visit Reynolds Box Office.

But I know our goal is Omaha for the World Series and we were only three games away [last year].”

Probably the most important feat of all, has led the conference and state in Academic Progress Rate three years in a row. How much pride do you take in that statistic and why do you feel it’s important for coaches to focus on academics?

“There is a great deal of pride to lead our conference in academics.

UCA is tough academically, which requires better-prepared students to succeed. We are fortunate to have student-athletes who are successful in academics and athletics.”

Senior Allison Rubio

Junior Rush VanDevender

“‘Seven Pounds’ with Will Smith. It shows there’s still good in the world.”

“‘Frozen’ because ‘Let It Go’ is absolutely heartbreaking and awesome.”

Senior Candace Baker

Freshman James Hicks

Freshman Danielle Casey

Junior Nathan Jones

“‘Frozen’ because it had a good plot and some twists.”

“‘The Raven’ because it was a visual interpretation and very interesting.”

“‘El Dia Que Me Quiras,’ because it’s very sentimental and romantic.”

“‘Catching Fire’ because it was a great adaption of the book.”

With the 2014 baseball season around the corner, expectations are high for the Bears this year. How important do you think last year’s season was in terms of UCA’s national exposure in recruiting and fan support?

“The baseball success last year is arguably the best sports story in the history of UCA. It certainly further solidified our image of a great Division I program. Coach [Allen] Gum has a successful plan and is a great recruiter. I see continued success for UCA. Going to the finals of a regional and losing to the eventual national runner-up is unique however. It will be hard to repeat that feat.

Burns loves to perform, comes to Arkansas for

first time

4 Continued from page 4

Burns then blindfolded him and tricked him into thinking he was going to drop a large grill knife from his own teeth onto an apple the volunteer was holding between his teeth.

Burns silently instructed the audience to scream on the count of three as he slowly punctured the apple.

Volunteer and UCA alumnus Jace Stephens said Burns’ performance was nothing like comedy acts he’d seen before, especially considering the contortion tricks.

“He was charismatic and goofy, which I feel made the crowd very comfortable early on in the show,” Stephens said. “I had a good time.”

Burns ended the evening by showcasing his contortion skills, putting his entire body though objects such as a tennis racket, a picture frame and a toilet seat.

He said the response he

“

What’s the best movie you’ve seen recently and why did you like it?

story by Ashley Thomas photos by Jared Holt

Q&A Athletic Director Brad Teague

by Justin Freeman

January 29,2014 /5

gets from his audience is always different.

“You never know what you’re going to get,” Burns said. “Tonight was fun. I’m glad everyone came out.”

Burns has been performing for family and friends from a very young age.

He has practiced magic since he was 12 years old, when a magic shop opened in his hometown of Johnstown, Penn., according to his website.

Since 2004, he has been doing his act not only for fun, but also as a career.

Burns has been a guest on popular talk shows such as “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Jay Leno Show.”

He has done his comedy routine for about 300 colleges and has performed overseas in places such as New Zealand, China, Ireland, Switzerland and the U.K. Burns said it was his first time

in Arkansas.

“When I get to go internationally it’s pretty fun, but I like traveling around the country, too,” he said. “First time in Arkansas!”

SAB comedy director Scott Jackson said the board selected Burns after a student survey.

“We sent a survey out for comedy, music, and all SAB topics that students could vote on and he was one of the top two chosen,” Jackson said.

After television and movie personality Nick Offerman appears on campus Feb. 6, the next comedian coming to UCA will be Russell Hicks.

Hicks has been labeled one of the “Six Best Comedians in Los Angeles for Crowd Work and Improvisation,” according to StandUpTalk.

Hicks will perform at 7 p.m.

April 16 in the Student Center Ballroom.

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Entertainment

6

January 29, 2014

New This Week Movies

Jan. 31 ­— That Awkward Moment, Directed by Tom Gormican, Starring Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, Zac Efron

Games Jan. 29 — Rekoil: Liberator, Xbox 360

Feb. 4 — Adam’s Venture Chronicles, PS3 Feb. 4 — Dustforce, PS Vita

Music Feb. 3 — Little Red - Katy B Feb. 3 —Too Much Information Maximo Park Feb. 4 — EXEGESIS - Alden Penner

Feb. 4 — In The Silence - Ásgeir Feb. 4 ­— Augustines - Augustines

‘Saving Mr. Banks’ breaks fourth wall; Disney reveals past

by Tanner Smith Staff Writer

Here’s something I’m not sure anyone would have expected: a Disney film about the making of a Disney film. And it’s not just any Disney film, but “Mary Poppins,” well known as one of Walt Disney’s best.

Yet it is also a good idea, since the story behind Disney and company getting the rights to the source material by author P.L. Travers is an interesting one. That story is told in “Saving Mr. Banks.”

The film takes place primarily in the early 1960s. Emma Thompson stars as P.L. Travers, uthor of the popular “Mary Poppins” books, which Disney, portrayed by Tom Hanks, has been trying to obtain the rights to for years so he can produce a film adaptation.

For 20 years, Travers has resisted the idea because she isn’t a fan of Disney. But now, she’s struggling financially and feels she has no choice but to agree to let Disney make the “Mary Poppins” film.

She travels from London to Los Angeles to meet and negotiate with Disney; the songwriting Sherman brothers, portrayed by Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak; and the writer Don DaGradi, portrayed

Feb. 4 — Earthbeat - Be Forest

photo courtesy of collider.com

Emma Thompson stars as P.L. Travers, the author of the popular “Mary Poppins” books. Tom Hanks takes the supporting role of the iconic Walt Disney.

by Bradley Whitford.

But each session tests her patience, as she doesn’t always agree with their decisions.

They come to compromises – sometimes to her disdain – and Disney tries to open Travers’ heart to what magic he has to offer.

The story is intercut with the rougher edges of the film, which occur in flashback sequences in

which Travers, living in Australia, deals with the sickness of her father, portrayed by Colin Farrell, dying from alcoholism. In these sequences, we see where Travers got the idea for most of the characters and events in her books.

The combination of light and darkness is suitable for giving the audience an understanding

for why Travers feels the way she feels about certain things occurring now. And because of the flashbacks, we also have a complete portrait of P.L. Travers, seeing her as a child, portrayed

by Annie Rose Buckley, and as a middle-aged woman, portrayed

by Thompson.

Thompson carries the movie.

Her performance as P.L. Travers

is definitely spot-on. She plays a stubborn woman with a troubled past, as well as a writer who loves her characters too much to see them ruined.

The surprise performance came from Hanks.

I didn’t know how well he would portray Uncle Walt himself, but he managed to project the right amount of optimism and happiness to remind the audience of the late Hollywood titan.

Those who know the story beforehand may have a bit of an issue with the ending of “Saving Mr. Banks.” But, I see it as an “on the one hand/on the other hand” resolution. For those with a soft spot for “Mary Poppins,” “Saving Mr. Banks” is a treasure.

For those who are interested in the collaborative process in a movie studio, it’s also a treasure.

And of course that can also be said for those who are straight-up Disney fans.

I can relate to all three. I loved “Saving Mr. Banks.” It’s solidly-acted, entertaining, has an effective balance of comedy and drama and for lack of a better term, is “Disney magic.”

“Saving Mr. Banks” is rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some unsettling images, and is playing at Cinemark Town Centre in Conway.

A N I M AT I O N

M Y S T E RY

Feb. 4 — The Satanist - Behemoth

Feb. 4 — See You Tomorrow - Bombay Bicycle Club Feb. 4 — After The Disco - Broken Bells Feb. 4 — Music Speaks - Candice Glover

Feb. 4 — WONDERLAND - CEO Feb. 4 ­— The Age Of Fracture CYMBALS Feb. 4 — Eric Paslay - Eric Paslay

Feb. 4 — Dunes - Gardens & Villa

Feb. 4 — Four Foot Shack - Les Claypool’s Duo de Twang Feb. 4 — Salute - Little Mix

Feb. 4 — July - Marissa Nadler

Books Feb. 4 —Cress (The Lunar Chronicles Series #3) by Marissa Meyer

Feb. 4 — Glitter and Glue: A Memoir by Kelly Corrigan Feb. 4 — Be with Me by J. Lynn Feb. 4 — Ignite Me (Shatter Me Series #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Feb. 4 ­— Pokemon X & Pokemon Y: The Official Kalos Region Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide: The Official Pokemon Strategy Guide by Pokemon Company International

photo courtesy of insidethemagic.net photo courtesy of theseriesfactor.blogspot.com

In its third season, “Sherlock” reveals the truth of Sherlock Holmes’ suicide. Holmes returns by playing practical jokes on his friends in his characteristically antisocial way.

Sherlock returns from foolproof suicide

by Laura Landers Staff Writer

Literature’s most eccentric detective returns to television.

“Sherlock,” the hit television series adapted from the original detective book series “Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, premiered its first episode of the new third season on January 19 in the U.S. For two years, American fans have waited to see what happens next in the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and his partner Dr. John Watson, played by Martin Freeman.

The latest episode is set two years after season two, episode three, “The Reichenbach Fall.”

Fans anxiously awaited an explanation to the end of season two.

In the last episode, it appeared that Sherlock committed a failproof suicide, only to tease the audience with evidence otherwise in the episode’s final moments.

Now, Sherlock is dragged back into the real world by his brother Mycroft, played by Mark Gatiss, to help the government with a looming underground terrorist threat on London.

Meanwhile, Watson has taken

1. “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)

The Top Five Movies I Can’t Stop Talking About

List compiled by Austin DuVall

Directed by film legend Martin Scorsese, this movie knew how to pack a punch and did it well. For the first two hours, the audience is crying from laughter.

But during the last hour, stuff gets real. It gets very real. You could hear a piece of popcorn drop during the film’s climax. It’s one of the movies you walk out of questioning everything about your life because you just invested your entire emotional savings into three hours of Scorsese genius.

Sherlock’s “death” very hard, so much so that he grew an atrocious mustache.

He moved out of his and Sherlock’s home on 221B Baker Street in London and is in a relationship with Mary, played by Amanda Abbington.

Just as he plans to propose to her in an upscale restaurant, Sherlock decides to surprise him with the news that he is not dead after all.

After the season two finale episode aired, the Internet began swarming with theories about Sherlock’s brilliant fake suicide.

“Sherlock’s” writers seemed to appreciate the speculation.

Season three, episode one, “The Empty Hearse,” contains many probable and one or two completely farcical theories of how he survived.

It seems that you might just have to wait for the real answer, as Sherlock’s lips are sealed.

Overall, the first episode seems to be a promising start to another fabulous season.

While each season contains only three episodes, Sherlock will quickly make his way into your heart and onto your television.

The series offers a refreshing and modern twist on an old classic, yet remains unique in its

2. “God Bless America” (2011) Have you wanted to just travel across the country with a sidearm and shoot anyone who ticks you off in the head? Don’t answer that, but that’s basically the premise of Bobcat Goldthwait’s film. Joel Murray plays Frank, a divorced veteran who is sickened at the direction America is heading. By making very blatant stabs at such American icons as Bill O’Reilly, Westboro Baptist Church, and “My Super Sweet 16”, Goldthwait creates an unforgettable piece of cultural satire.

adaptation.

My only warning – if you are prone to nausea from fast paced images, this is not the series for you. The camera angles of the show are unlike any I have seen before, and many times left me feeling a little green around the gills.

“Sherlock,” brainchild of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, was originally aired by the BBC in July 2010.

The U.S. received the series shortly after with a premiere date in October 2010. Almost instantly, audiences took to the series, and Sherlock became a beloved figure.

The writers have adapted Sherlock’s character even farther.

Always a brilliant but standoffish personality with apparent social disorders, Sherlock is incapable of cracking much of a smile in the first two seasons. But now, as he is resurrected from death once more, audiences find Sherlock playing a few practical jokes on his friends, an initially preposterous idea to me.

For those of you who have missed the first two seasons, Netflix offers them, as well as pbs.org. “Sherlock” season three airs at 10 p.m. Sundays. on PBS.

3. “Inglourious Basterds” (2009) This movie was perfect. There were no lags, no inconsistencies, just pure, unadulterated WWII awesomeness. You get to watch Roth and Omar Doom blow Hitler’s face to pieces with machine guns. What’s not to love?

The Quentina Tarantino instant classic and fantasy war drama was my personal pick for Best Motion Picture of the Year, but it only received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz, which he rightly deserved.

Olaf sings “In Summer,” in “Frozen.” The film shows a heartwarming tale despite its icy title.

‘Frozen’ warms hearts

by Misti Hollenbaugh Campus Life Editor

“Frozen” enchanted crowds with a powerful soundtrack and a fresh plot, uniquely introducing two princesses for the first time.

The Walt Disney Animation movie features the voices of Kristen Bell as Anna, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff and Josh Gad as Olaf.

Princess Anna teams up with the rugged mountain man Kristoff and his pet reindeer, Sven, along with Olaf, the talking snowman who’s fascinated with the idea of summer that they find along the way.

Together, this band of unique characters set off to find Anna’s sister, Queen Elsa, who has accidentally trapped the kingdom in winter with her icy powers.

Disney introduces a new concept with two princesses in the movie, both of whom are drastically different; there is the clumsy, fearless Anna and the reserved, seemingly poised Elsa who seems to have shut her younger sister out.

“Frozen” pokes fun at its studio’s previous movies and the notion of love it has often portrayed. After Anna announces her engagement to Prince Hans, whom she just met,

4. “American Beauty” (1999) This film, which won five Oscars and was nominated for three more, is one of my favorites.

When I first heard of the film, I thought it was supposed to be sort of an updated version of “Lolita”. Kevin Spacey’s infatuation with his daughter’s friend is key to the plot, but as the movie progresses we realize that his feelings are only a catalyst that throws everything else into motion, setting the groundwork for one of the best movie endings I’ve ever experienced.

Elsa responds, “You can’t marry someone you just met.”

The soundtrack features songs that strengthen the plot of the movie and contain powerful messages. The soundtrack was No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and people have been unable to get the songs out of their heads for weeks.

One of the strongest songs of the movie was “Let It Go,” which was written especially for Menzel, who sings the song after her character Elsa runs away. The song provides a powerful message about embracing your identity and not hiding your true self from others. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards.

Although it contains a somewhat predictable plot twist, Frozen is enjoyable for audiences of all ages, with a perfect combination of creativity and wit.

The 102-minute-long movie was directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and was loosely based on “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen.

The 3D short film “Get A Horse” aired before the movie, engaging the audience with the first original Mickey Mouse theatrical animated short since 1995.

Disney confirmed that it is planning to take the Golden Globe Awards nominated film to Broadway.

5. “One Hour Photo” (2002) This hidden gem directed and written by Mark Romanek finds Seymour “Sy” Parrish, played by Robin Williams, working at a one-hour photo joint in a suburban mall. Sy, having no intimate relationships, finds solace in the photos of his customers. I love this film for two reasons: the unsettling, yet sympathetic portrayal of Williams’s character and the wonderful cinematography by Jeff Chronenweth. The shot where blood shoots out of Sy’s eyes stayed with me for a long time.

Sports

7

January 29, 2014

Week at a glance Dominant player

Senior center Courtney Duever was named Southland Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game against Northwestern State on Jan. 23 and Stephen F. Austin State on Jan. 25.

Duever’s play helped the Sugar Bears gain sole possession of first place in the conference standings.

She had 19 points and 10 rebounds against the Lady Demons and 25 points, 11 rebounds and three steals against the Lady Jacks. She is currently second in Southland Conference games in scoring in 18.1 points per game and rebound at 10.4.

Soccer schedule The women’s soccer team has released its schedule for the spring.

The Bears will start the 2014 season by beginning the spring season on the road before closing out with a series of home matches. The Bears start the spring season with two games in Tulsa, Okla. on March 8, facing Northeastern State at 1 p.m. and then playing the University of Tulsa at 4 p.m. UCA will host three games at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex on March 15. The Bears will face John Brown University at 10 a.m. John Brown will play the University of Louisiana at Monroe at 1 p.m., and the Bears will finish the day against ULM at 4 p.m. The Bears will play three matches in Conway during April, opening the month against Christian Brothers Universty at 6 p.m. April 2 before playing their annual Alumni match April 5.

Honor roll UCA placed a league-high 113 student-athletes on the Southland Conference Fall Commission’s Academic Honor Roll. UCA had 24 student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA for the fall semester, which was also top in the league. Marissa Collins, a senior setter on the volleyball team, posted a 3.75 GPA in family and consumer science. Freshman Brooke Cassar had a 4.0 GPA in the fall semester. The lead academic football player, Joe Carmical, had a 4.0 GPA in insurance and risk management. UCA’s other 4.0 student-athletes included Trey Carter, Al Maeder, Jacob Luckett, Kenneth Stice and Grant Williams (men’s cross country); Brigette Caruthers, Jordan Chadwick, Abbie Linna, Madison Sewell and Elizabeth Wertz (women’s cross country); Ryan Howard and Wynrick Smothers (football); Alexa Herbers, Cassie Lange, Dominique O’Shea, Vanessa Randall and Emma Reed (women’s soccer); and Scout Brooks, Kyle Hartman and Beth Rogers (volleyball).

Upcoming games

Sugar Bears still reign Southland

by Mason Addison Staff Writer

The Sugar Bears basketball team continued their four-game winning streak after a two-game homestand Jan. 23 and Jan. 25.

UCA won against the Northwestern State University Lady Demons (10-9, 3-4 SLC), 73-61, and the Stephen F. Austin University State Ladyjacks (10-9, 4-3 SLC), 65-42.

The game’s first half at the Farris Center was tightly contested with the Lady Demons keeping up with the Sugar Bears bucket for bucket.

The Lady Demons had a stout defense, holding the Sugar Bears offense to 36 percent from the floor, shooting 9-25.

Junior forward Terai Sadler got a layup with 28 seconds left in the first half to pull within two, making the score 27-29.

Going into halftime down by two points didn’t faze the Sugar Bears.

They came out of halftime and went on a 9-0 run making the score 36-29.

UCA had a field day on offense, scoring 46 points in the

Thursday at McNeese University. 7 p.m.

Saturday at Nicholls State University. 4 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Thursday at McNeese State University. 5:30 p.m.

Saturday at Nicholls State Univer. 1 p.m.

Women’s Track and Field

Saturday at Southern Illinois University. 10 a.m.

Freshman guard Brianna Mullins drives past Northwestern State sophomore guard Janelle Perez in the Sugar Bears’ 73-61 win over the Lady Demons on Jan. 23. second half.

The team shot 60.9 percent from the field and shot 100 percent from long range in the second half.

The Lady Demons won the rebounding battle 30-29, but both teams crashed the boards hard. Senior center Courtney Duever ended up with her seventh double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Freshman guard Brianna Mullins had a big game with 23 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds.

The Sugar Bears won the game 73-61.

On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Sugar Bears played the Ladyjacks at the Farris Center.

The game started out similar to the game Thursday, bucket for bucket.

UCA and Stephen F. Austin

Staff Writer

The five-game losing streak continues as the UCA Bears (414, 1-6 SLC) dropped two during the short homestand against Northwestern State University, 76-68, on Jan. 23 and Stephen F. Austin State University, 66-49, on Jan. 25.

The Bears took on the NSU Demons (6-11, 2-4 SLC) in the Farris Center.

The game started out with the Demons knocking down a three, but then turnovers, steals and missed shots plagued both teams.

Another basket wasn’t scored until 15:16 left to go in the first half when junior guard Aubrey Ball hit a pair of free throws making the score 3-2.

Ball also knocked down a three after a block by freshman forward Phabian Glasco.

The Bears built the lead when freshman forward Ethan Lee went 1-1 at the charity stripe.

The Demons hit a pair of free throws to bring the lead within one. UCA couldn’t capitalize on anything and the Demons came down and hit a layup to take the lead.

UCA wouldn’t let NSU run away with the game and didn’t let

them lead by double figures.

The score at halftime was 3931 with the Demons leading by eight points.

Senior guard LaQuentin Miles and Ball had eight points each, with sophomore guard Daouda Berete scoring six points and six rebounds.

Both halfs were not much different from each other.

The Bears couldn’t hit a single three pointer in the second half going 0-11 from downtown. They played well and kept up in scoring with both teams scoring 37 points, but just couldn’t make up the eight-point deficit from the first half.

UCA had the edge in points in the paint, bench points and second chance points, but it wasn’t enough.

The Northwestern State Demons won 76-68.

Senior guard DeShone McClure said the new lineup may have been an issue.

“Well, we changed the lineup all around again, and that’s not my job to question, so I just stick to the court,” he said.

SFA’s Lumberjacks came into the Farris Center undefeated in conference play.

The Bears started out hot against the Southland

See Track - page 8

Senior guard LaQuentin Miles goes for a layup against Northwestern State senior forward DeQuan Hicks in the Demons 76-68 win over the Bears on Jan. 23.

HOME RUN

Softball ambitious for successful season, hopes to add conference championship Staff Writer

The UCA Sugar Bears softball season is making its debut Feb. 4 with the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge, La. The Bears will play Murray State University, Oklahoma State University, University of Minnesota, Southern Illinois University — Edwardsville and Louisiana State University.

The Central Arkansas Invitational features South Dakota State, Western Illinois, Alabama State and Drexel University. This invitational will be Feb. 21-23.

Coach David Kuhn said he is “ready for the season and has high hopes for this new team.”

“We have a brand new team,” he said. “We had five seniors that graduated last year three of whom were all conference players.”

The graduating seniors were second/third baseman Melissa Bryant, catcher Melanie Bryant, utility player Stephanie Lasley, pitcher Kelsie Armstrong and pinch runner Cristin Curl.

This season the team has only one senior, first base/second baseman Taylor Dear.

Dear said she is excited to play with this team for her last season.

“I am really looking forward to just playing my last season with this amazing team,” she said. “We have such good chemistry and it is so much fun to play with these girls.”

Dear and Kuhn said they want the team to win the Southland Conference Championship.

“I hope we can prove that [we can win the championship] and be the first UCA softball team to do so,” Dear said.

Dear is the only senior. The team has seven freshmen, nine sophomores and four juniors.

“We have a lot of youth and inexperience,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn said his only concern is the team’s tough schedule.

“We can learn and only strive to be the best that we are,” Kuhn said. “Our strong points, which will help us a lot, are our speed and the great physical shape the team is in.”

The schedule is tough, playing teams in the top five of the Southland Conference in early February.

The coaching this season has changed for the UCA softball

team as well as their roster.

Kuhn added Jenna Smart in September 2013 as the pitching coach.

Smart coached one season at Missouri Southern State University.

In her season at MSSU, the team went 26-24 with a 3.35 team ERA. Smart played at Delta State from 2003-2006. She finished seventh nationally and ranks in the top ten in every major pitching category at Delta State.

“I am excited to have Jenna on our staff,” Kuhn said. “She has a lot of experience at the high school, junior college and Division II levels, and she’s a great addition to our team, staff and program.

She is an outstanding collegiate pitcher, and she has improved the pitching staff everywhere she has been.”

The UCA softball team had a record of 36-22 overall and 12-8 in the Southland Conference last season.

In the Southland Conference preseason polls, the Bears have

See Ambitious - page 8

News Editor

See Bears - page 8

photo by Pham Minh

Conference’s best team getting steam on a 9-0 run. Miles had four points on that run with Ball adding a three and McClure adding another two.

The first half was up and down with the Bears gaining momentum early and then losing it.

Neither team really took over the first half.

Even when the Lumberjacks were up by 10 with 3:35 left in the first half, the Bears never gave up and brought the lead down to six,

by Austin DuVall

making it 30-24.

The second half was a different story. The Bears went 0-5 from downtown, 7-13 from the line and 9-20 from the floor, shooting 45 percent.

SFA didn’t do that much better going 2-7 from long range and 11-23 from the floor, shooting 28.6 percent and 47.8 percent respectively. They did better from

See Reign - page 8

Bears maintain struggles; free throw percentage drops

by Mason Addison

Track wins four events, records fall in Jonesboro The UCA men’s and women’s track teams won four events and placed in several others during the Arkansas State University Invitational in Jonesboro on Jan. 24.

Junior Jonathan Burgess, sophomore James Leonard, junior Powell Bryant and sophomore Corentin Louis made up the UCA men’s distance medley team and won the event in a time of 10:23.64.

Freshman Brooke Cassar, originally from Australia, broke a UCA school record in the women’s mile with a winning time of 4:58.52.

Senior Kayla Nehus was sixth (5:13.07) and senior Erika Setzler finished ninth (5:25.26).

Louis also won the men’s mile with a final time of 4:18.50.

Freshman Jacob Sanders finished tenth (4:39.85).

Ryan, who finished third in the mile, said the meet was a very enjoyable experience.

“It was our first race back since December so we just wanted to see where we were at and kind of treat the meet as a workout,” Ryan said. “Overall, I felt good in my race finishing third.”

Ryan finished with a final time of 4:27.27.

Junior Tanesha Maxwell won the 55-meter sprint in a final time of seven seconds, beating her own UCA record.

Sophomore Tyaniah Cash finished fifth in the event with a final time of 7.26.

Senior Jordan Chadwick was second in the 800 meters with a final time of 2:19.33, with freshman Marine Lecart coming in fifth (2.22.24) and freshman Brianna Stuepfert finishing ninth (2.29.47).

Junior Amos Gerber finished second in the 5,000 meters in a final time of 15.21.98.

Freshman Kenneth Stice finished fourth with a final time of 15.54.68 and junior Damarius Lowery came in sixth (16:11.35).

Sophomore Chance Tanner, sophomore Dustie Smith, sophomore Kelton Ray and student Darrell Johnson came in second in the 4x400 relay at 3:23.32.

The team of freshman Khadijah Smith, sophomore

HOOPS

by Elise Woods Men’s Basketball

photo by Pham Minh

stayed within five points the entire first half that included five lead changes and three ties.

Freshman guard Maggie Proffitt went three for four from downtown and ended up with 13 points in the first half.

Coach Sandra Rushing said shot selection was an issue at times in the first half.

“I thought in the first half I don’t think we took very good shots at times,” she said. “Everybody on the team knows their shots and what we need to take.”

Duever went two for eight in the first half and Sadler went zero for three.

UCA was up at the half 32-28 after giving up 20 points in the paint.

A team with the “feed the post” mentality only scored 8 points in the paint. All that changed in the second half.

Duever went seven for 11 in the second half and added a couple of steals as well.

The Sugar Bears flipped the points in the paint statistic scoring

METER

RUNNING TOWARD GREATNESS

photo by Spencer Griffin

The UCA track and field teams will host three meets at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex, with the first March 21.

8/ January 29, 2014

SPORTS FREE THROW

Fans want Finley fired for poor season, don’t realize situation he was left with

Off the Glass

by Andy Robertson Sports Editor

After making the Southland Conference tournament last season for the first time since joining the SLC in 2006, the men’s basketball team is amidst another struggling season.

Coach Clarence Finley was named the interim head coach in August 2013 after Corliss Williamson left to be an assistant of the National Basketball Association’s Sacramento Kings’ coaching staff.

The interim title comes with tough challenges and added pressures.

Some interim coaches see success and others struggle.

Most of the time, the interim label is somewhat of an audition to win the job permanently.

The verdict is out on whether this is an audition for Finley, but only time will tell.

Fans vented frustrations on a UCA sports forum ucafans.com, saying Athletic Director Brad Teague needs to find a new coach now.

The problem doesn’t reside completely with Finley, though.

One of the main arguments that fans on the forum make is that ucasports.com headlines will say “x team goes inside to beat Bears.”

The problem with this argument is the Bears lack tremendous size.

Currently, the Bears have two players, freshman forward Ethan Lee and freshman forward Phabian Glasco, who are 6’7” and they are the tallest players on the team.

The tallest player in the conference is the Incarnate Word

senior center Ian Markolf who is 7’1”.

Markolf had 19 rebounds against the Bears in the 87-72 loss to UIW on Jan. 16.

UCA has the smallest collective team in the conference.

Every team in the SLC has a player standing over 6’7” except UCA. It’s hard to be successful with a small team in basketball no matter how scrappy they are.

The Bears are last in the conference in rebounding margins with -6.8.

Rebounding is one of the most deciding factors in a game. It can turn possessions into points and when you are outrebounded by seven rebounds a game, it makes it hard to overcome the odds and come out with a win.

Finley hasn’t had a full team on the court this year either, whether it’s from grades or transfers. Jordan Harks, who was a big part of UCA’s bench last year, left to finish his senior season with the University of Illinois — Chicago Flames.

At the start of the season, Finley started with 16 players and now 11 players consistently dress out.

Grades have been a problem for the team, too. Only one player made it in the 3.0 GPA club and he doesn’t play.

One of the team’s glaring weaknesses is it can’t hit free throws.

UCA ranks last in the NCAA in free throw percentage, shooting 58 percent from the line. That is taking 350 other schools into account.

The free throws may or may not be Finley’s fault, but the other reasons that are hurting this team are not.

The Bears were not that successful under Williamson either, who coached them to the school’s first SLC tournament.

In Williamson’s first season as the coach, UCA won five games.

Through 18 games this year, UCA has won four.

If you also take this into account, forward Jarvis Garner and guard Robert Crawford helped the Bears a lot last year and are now gone.

Finley has a strong track record in his coaching career with

a Sun Belt championship and made the National Invitational Tournament with University of Arkansas — Little Rock during the 1995-96 season under UALR head coach Wimp Sanderson.

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard and five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher played for UALR during the Sun Belt championship season.

Finley also coached under Jim Platt and former Arkansas Razorback and NBA player Sidney Moncrief.

Finley has also worked with several NBA players in individualized off-season workouts.

It’s hard for new coaches to turn around a college team in a year. It almost never happens.

One could say Gus Malzahn turned around Auburn in one year but he was away from Auburn for one year to coach Arkansas State.

Most of the players Malzahn had this year were players he helped recruit.

Fans may be less patient with this season because they are used to other successful teams on campus.

People should realize that Finley wasn’t left with the best situation and they should wait.

Good things will come if fans are patient.

Fans don’t have to look very far at giving a coach time to adjust and for players to buy into the system.

Sugar Bears’ coach Sandra Rushing took over the team before last season and didn’t have the best year.

For this season, the Sugar Bears lost arguably the best player in UCA women’s baskeball history in Megan Herbert and still been successful. The team is at the top of the Southland Conference this year.

Rushing does not hold the interim title, though.

This team has some young, promising players, such as, freshman forward Jalen Jackson and this team is relatively young.

I hope Finley is given another chance to come back and help improve the program with his new system, given the situation.

Unfortunately, he may not get the chance.

ucaecho.net

Bears:

Men can’t find way to make free throws, drop to bottom of NCAA in percentage 4 Continued from page 7 the line making 70.6 percent of their free throws.

The Bears tried to keep up with the Lumberjacks and kept it under a double-digit lead for a while.

The Lumberjacks pushed it to double digits and the Bears continued fighting.

When the Lumberjacks flexed their muscles and pushed it up by 10 with 5:54 to go from a couple of free throws the Bears just couldn’t keep up.

The Lumberjacks pushed their lead to 17 and won the game 66-49.

The Bears are 12th place in the conference and six games out of first place. UCA’s low free throw percentage brought them into last in the nation among 351 teams.

The Bears are shooting 58 percent from the free throw line.

They will be back in action at 7 p.m. Thursday against the McNeese State University Cowboys in Lake Charles, La., at Burton Coliseum.

McNeese State is second to last in the SLC in scoring offense

with scoring 66.9 points per game compared to UCA’s 74.1, which is good for fifth.

The Cowboys rank 11th in the conference in scoring defense with giving up 78.1 points per game.

UCA is 13th in the conference, giving up 81 points per game.

The rebounding will not be much different as there is a 0.4 rebounding margin between the two teams.

The Bears will travel to Thibodaux, La. Saturday at 4 p.m. to face the Nicholls State University Colonels.

The Colonels are 10th in the conference in scoring offense with 68.2 points per game.

Nicholls gives up 74.7 points per game, which is good for ninth in the Southland.

The Bears will return to the Farris Center for a two-game homestand.

The first game is against Southeastern Louisiana University at 7 p.m. Feb. 6.

The final game of the homestand puts UCA against the University of New Orleans.

Southland Standings Conf.

All

Stephen F. Austin

7-0

18-2

Sam Houston State

6-2

14-6

A&M-Corpus Christi

6-2

9-12

Nicholls State

5-2

8-8

UIW

4-2

16-3

Oral Roberts

4-3

10-10

McNeese State

4-3

6-13

SE Louisiana

4-4

9-10

New Orleans

4-4

7-9

Northwestern State

3-4

7-11

Abilene Christian

1-5

7-13

Central Arkansas

1-6

4-14

Houston Baptist

1-7

4-16

Lamar

1-7

2-18

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Reign:

Sugar Bears move into sole possession of first place after wins against Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin 4 Continued from page 7

20 in the paint and holding the Ladyjacks to eight.

UCA cranked up its defense, holding the Ladyjacks to five field goals in the second half.

The Sugar Bears defense only allowed 14 points in the second half, allowing the offense to flourish with 33 points.

Duever praised the Sugar Bears defense in the second half.

“We had probably one of the best halves of defense we’ve had so far this year,” she said.

The two conference wins during this homestand put the Sugar Bears on top of the Southland Conference with Lamar a half-game behind.

The Sugar Bears are back in action at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles,

La., to face the McNeese State University Cowgirls.

The Cowgirls currently sit in fourth place in the Southland with a 4-3 conference record and 11-7 record overall.

McNeese State is sixth in scoring in the conference with 66.9 points per game, compared to UCA’s 65 points per game, which is good for eighth.

The Sugar Bears have the conference’s best defense, giving up 57.3 points per game. UCA’s stout scoring defense puts them 20th in the nation.

The Cowgirls are giving up 65.1 points per game, which is good for sixth. McNeese State is led by Allison Baggett, who is scoring 17.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and shooting

Ambitious:

36.8 percent from the field.

The Sugar Bears will travel to Thibodaux, La. at 1 p.m.

Saturday to face the Nicholls State University Colonels.

The Colonels are third in the conference with 68.2 points per game. Nicholls State ranks eighth in the Southland in scoring defense, giving up 67.9 points per game. The Colonels have the best three-point shooting team in the conference shooting 34.4 percent from behind the arc.

UCA is shooting 31.9 percent from behind the three-point line, which is good for sixth in the conference.

Nicholls State is led by sophomore guard Emani White, who is scoring 18.8 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game.

Softball looks to turn successful two-year run into

three with championship

4 Continued from page 7 been voted fourth by both the Coaches and Sports Information Directors.

First place in the polls is Northwestern State University, followed by McNeese State University in second and Sam Houston State University in third.

The Sugar Bears will start off their season in an LSU Tournament on Feb. 7-9.

The softball team has put together the best two-year stretch in program history by winning 74 games during that span.

UCA won 36 games in 2012 and 38 games in 2013.

The team also won its first two postseason games in school history and was one win away from taking the SLC championship, but fell 12-4 to Sam Houston State

in the Southland Conference Championship game.

Former pitcher Kelsie Armstrong, the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year, had one of the best seasons in program history with 30 wins, which was the most in the conference since 2003.

She also threw her second career no-hitter against Grambling State on Feb. 23, 2013.

On April 27, she struck out the 1,000th batter of her career of a doubleheader sweep of Lamar in the final home weekend of her career.

Armstrong, Melissa and Melanie Bryant were named to the Southland Conference’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Roster following distinguished four-year

careers.

The trio won 125 games with the Bears, which is the best fouryear stretch in program history.

Before they arrived, the best four-year stretch was 102 wins from 1999-2002 in NCAA Division II when UCA was in the Gulf South Conference.

In five years with the program, Kuhn has led the Bears to improvements in wins each year.

The first year he took over, the Bears won 25 games. The next year they won 26 and improved by 10 games the next season.

Last year, the team saw a twogame improvement to reach 38 wins.

UCA hopes to build on this success heading into the 2014 season.

photo by Spencer Griifin

UCA’s softball team begins the season Feb. 4 against the Murray State Racers in Baton Rouge, La. and will take part in the Louisiana State University tournament. The Bears return home to Farris Field on Feb. 21 to face Alabama State University in the first of a five-game homestand. The Bears will host the Central Arkansas Invitational that weekend.

Track:

Men, women take four events place in other at Arkansas State Invitational on Jan. 24 4 Continued from page 7 Jean-Neka Black, sophomore Kiara Armstrong and Chadwick finished fifth in the women’s 4x400 (4:10.91).

Cassar, Nehus, Setzler and Lecart placed second in the team distance medley with a final time of 12:40.07.

Freshman Alex Dorch finished third in the women’s long jump with a distance of 5.32 meters.

Burgess placed third in the 3,000 meters with a final time of 8:43.13 and Tanner finished fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 50.21 and also finished eighth in the 200 meters (22.63).

Leonard placed eighth in the 800 meters with a final time of 1:59.98.

Cash was sixth in the women’s 200 meters (25.80), with Sofia Ramirez-Maciel finishing seventh in the triple jump with 10.79 meters.

Alex Miles also finished seventh in the men’s long jump with 6.63 meters.

Associate Head Coach Beau Theriot said he was pleased with the performance given by UCA at Jonesboro and looks forward to traveling to Birmingham for the team’s next meet.

“Birmingham is a much nicer facility and gives better competition,” Theriot said. “To see the athletes maintain their paces at ASU is a good sign. We should see some good times when we go back to Birmingham.”

Theriot also said they still have a few weeks left until indoor championships, and if everyone stays on track with their progressions, he said the team should have a great showing at the championships.

The UCA men’s and women’s track teams will travel to Birmingham, Ala. on Friday for their next meet.

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