the forum orientation edition 2013

OrientatiOnE d i t i o n

2013

ualr.edu/forum

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Student Newspaper

2 ualr.edu/forum

The Forum is the official student newspaper at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Forum is funded in part by the student activity fee; members of the UALR community are al-lowed one copy per edition. When available additional copies may be purchased for $1.25 by contacting The Forum’s business manager. Newspaper theft is a crime. Anyone who violates the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or university disci-pline. The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of UALR. Students enrolled in Journalism 3320 and other reporting classes are contributing writers for The Forum. Advertising inquiries should be referred to The Forum’s advertising office and can be reached by calling 501-569-3319. The Forum is published 7 times in each of the fall and spring semesters. The Forum editor can be reached at 501-569-3265. All material published in this newspaper is copyrighted.

Entertainment EditorLiz Fox

Distribution ManagerJonathan Dick

Executive Editor Jennifer Ellis

Table of

CONTENTS

Features EditorSarah De Clerk

Sports EditorJacob Ellerbee

Media DesignerJustin Rowland

AdviserSonny Rhodes

Business ManagerHolden Raines

Advertising ManagerSteven Wells

The Forum welcomes letters to the editor on any subject as well as comments on our news coverage and editorial position.

Letters must include the author’s name, classification, major or position and a contact telephone number for confirmation.

Letters are subject to editing to meet space limitations. Please limit letter to 500 words or less.

The staff will not alter the meaning of the letter, but will correct spelling and punctua-tion and edit to conform to Associated Press and news style.

All letters are subject to publication. The editor has the right to reject any letter espe-cially those letters that are libelous, obscene or incoherent.

Letters should be emailed to [email protected] or sent to:

The ForumUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock

201J Donaghey Student Center2801 S. University Ave.Little Rock, Ark. 72204

Letters to the Editor

4 .......................Campus Map

6-7 ........ Orientation Leaders

8-15 .................. Student Life

11 ......... Student Center Map

14 .......... Fast track to success

16-33 ......... Student Services

34-37 ...................Academics

38-39 ......................... Sports

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2012-2013

From the cover:

Students dance in front of the Student Services Center while participating in the making of a Harlem Shake video on February 27. Photo by Byron Buslig

Rachel dziga and Whitney Holland of the UALR Biology Club paddle their way to the finsh at the third Annual Homecoming Cardboard Boat Regatta on March 1. Photo by Jennifer Ellis

Arthur Slaton leads the student section in a cheer at the trojan’s homecoming game win against Arkansas State University on March 2. Photo by Jennifer Ellis

Executive Editor Jacob Ellerbee

2013-2014

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UALR’s Award-Winning Student newspaper

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Have fun.Get paid.

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The UALR Forum

@TheUALRForum

Breaking News

Photo Galleries

Trojan Sports

By Paige MasonUALR’s Girl

5ualr.edu/forum

Dear Incoming Students,

My name is Lauren McNeaill, and as Student Government President and fellow Trojan, I am pleased to welcome you to UALR. This is a great step on a journey that will ultimately determine the rest of your life. But don’t fret! We’re in this together.

As you get settled in to the new lifestyle, I urge you to take advantage of the many resources and opportunities available to you around campus. Get involved! Make friends! Meet me! But most importantly, remember why you’re here.

Unfortunately, many freshmen won’t make it into their second year, and others will not see the third. But I challenge you to be different. Be aware of the distractions, and defeat the urge to entertain them at all costs!

But if trouble hits, and it will, please feel free to stop by the SGA Office and we will do our best to help. Now again, I am glad that you have chosen to be apart of our family, and I hope that you come to call this place home.

Sincerely,

Lauren McNeaillStudent Government Association President

STudenTGovernmenTaSSociaTion

6 ualr.edu/forumOrientation Leaders

Orientation Leaders help point “I wish I would have known, as a freshman, that the professors were so helpful. I was really anxious the summer before, but when I got there everyone was so willing to help and answer any and all of my questions. All I had to do was put myself out there and ask!” Allison MitchellJunior studio art major

“College is what you make of it. So, don’t sit around waiting for ‘the ultimate college’ to come to you...forget what you heard; there is no ideal ‘college experience.’”

Lucia OkaroSenior management information systems major

“Many students don’t know of all the oppurtunities to gain scholarships when they get into college because the vast majority are for incoming freshmen, but there are more scholarships readily available than people think; they just have to find them.”

Jermaine MarshallJunior computer science major

Corrigan RevelsSophomore mass communication

major

Brittany Rogers Junior human health performance

sport management major

“It’s okay to be involved in activities and try new things. You shouldn’t hold back just because your friends aren’t doing something, but do it because it’s something you want to do!”

Shakeyah JacksonSophomore nursing major

“When struggling with an assignment or a class, schedule

an appointment with the professor. There

are many helpful and inspirational professors on this campus. A short

meeting can make a world of difference”

Gina VanegasSenior English majorLauren McNeaill

Senior Spanish major

7ualr.edu/forum Orientation Leaders

“You will feel a million times better if you do your homework first and then have

fun, rather than having fun first and thinking about the paper that is due the following Monday. So, do as much shool

work as you can before going home for the weekend or before hanging out with

friends.”

John BarnesJunior biology major

“Get involved with student life early on...specifically, joining an organization in the beginning opens doors for a better social

life, out-of-class leadership oppurtunities, and truly gives you a strong sense of pur-

pose. This is especially what employers look for when hiring graduates.”

Trey GibeaultSenior buisness finance major

“If you are good at managing time and balancing your stud-ies with your personal life, your experience in any college will be good.”

Yusra BaigSophomore graphic design major

“Get to know andwork with your

professors, they can help you out though out

the years.”

Jeremy AbeleSenior nursing major

“Everyone is confused the first day, and it’s

okay to ask questions.”

Lindsey ManningJunior rhetoric and writing major

Bryan “Cruz” EslickSenior systems engineering major

Hannah TroilletJunior marketing major

Mary SmithSenior biology major

you in the right direction

office of

campuS life

9ualr.edu/forum Student Life

Campus Life is where the fun beginsCampus activities are a major

part of college life. They provide students with leadership experi-ence and an opportunity to plan the events that take place on cam-pus. They also allow students to work with diverse people with a variety of interests.

“The question is not why be involved in campus activities, but how could you not be involved,” said Jan Austin, assistant vice chancellor of student life and lead-ership development.

The Office of Campus Life, located on the second floor of the Donaghey Student Center, has a wide array of functions on campus. It handles student activity fees, recreation, Greek life and student organizations, and student support including orientation for new stu-dents.

“Our goal is to expose the diverse student body to a co-curriculum experience that helps students feel connected to the campus,” Austin said.

At the beginning of the semes-ter, Campus Life hits the ground running with Welcome Back Week, August 19-23. During the week, stu-dents can find information about campus activities, network, join organizations and have fun.

“We want to help new and returning students get a good solid start to their semester,” said Emily Cox, student activities develop -ment specialist.

Students can learn more about campus activities and seek out upcoming events by visiting the Office of Campus Life’s webpage, ualr.edu/campuslife. Read on for more information about what the Office of Campus Life has to offer.

Campus RecreationCampus Recreation helps stu-

dents stay healthy and make friends through its programs, which include club and intramural sports, sports classes and clinics, group and personal fitness pro -grams, boot camps, and outdoor adventures. Students can even rent camping equipment to create their own outdoor excursion with friends. More information and camping, intermural and fitness contacts can be found at ualr.edu/campuslife/recreation.

University Program CouncilThe UPC is a student organiza-

tion that serves as the event-planning arm of the Office of Campus Life. Throughout the year, the UPC works to bring movies, comedians and other special events to the university.

UALR students can attend all UPC events for free; their cost is included in the student activity fee.

Students should mark their cal-endar for UPC week, Oct. 21-25. The week is full of fun and food, and gives students something to do in the evening. The week’s events include a movie night, carnival and bash.

The UPC is not only fun, it also allows students to develop leader-ship skills and social skills, be aware of what’s happening on campus, and create events that everyone at the university can remember.

The UPC meets Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in DSC 201T. More information is available from the Office of Campus Life or the UPC Twitter, #UALRUPC.

Student OrganizationsStudents who want to participate in

campus life but may not be interested in event planning with the UPC have a variety of other student organiza-tions to choose from. Currently, there are over 100 RSOs at UALR, including honor societies and social, cultural, religious, professional, departmental and special interest groups.

Joining RSOs gives students hands-on experience and a chance to net-work while they have fun. Students are responsible for running the orga-nization with the help of an adviser.

Some organizations let students explore their field of study beyond the classroom. Once students choose their major, they can see what organi-zations are connected to their depart-ment. For example, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Socratic Society and the Anthropology Club all suppliment various disciplines.

Other organizations help students broaden their interests. Religious organizations help support students’ faiths while on a secular campus. Other organizations allow students to pursue their interests, from anime to gardening.

RSOs can be dissolved and formed at the start of each semester. Students can contact the Office of Campus Life to form or register an organization. A

full list of organizations is available on its website or in its office, DSC 216.

Greek LifeFor many students, making the

most of their college experience means joining one of the 12 fraterni-ties or sororities at UALR. The best way to see if a Greek organization is for you is to get to know them by attending recruitment activities.

The Inter-Fraternity Council, which includes Kappa Sigma and Pi Kappa Alpha, has its recruit-ment September 4-14. The College Panhellenic Council includes the Chi Omega and Kappa Delta sororities, and has recruitment Sept. 9-15.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council consists of traditionally African-American sororities and fraterni-ties and includes Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Zeta Phi Beta Fraternity. NPHC Week is September 4-8.

“No matter what your involve-ment is through college, you get the opportunity to learn more about yourself and develop as an indi-vidual,” said Jenny Dodson Hunt, assistant director of Campus Life/Greek Life. “I did that in college through my sorority. I started out as a shy little freshman and through my involvement in my organization I kind of blossomed as an individual ... You find your strengths and inter-ests through whatever involvement you have, so whether that is through the University Program Council or Greek life, it helps you develop into the person you want to be,” Hunt said.

10 ualr.edu/forumStudent Life

You can have fun, gain confidence and take your stress out on the mat with the UALR Aikido Club.

“Aikido is a Japanese martial art usable by anyone – tall, short, weak, strong, male or female. Rather than using kicks and strikes, it emphasizes throws and joint locks. Basically, you’re learning to use your opponent’s speed and strength against them,” said Morgan Whitlow, the club’s president and senior biology and psychology major.

“There’s no denying it takes practice to learn, but once you’ve got the basic movements down it’s extremely addic-tive. It can also be funny to watch at times, like when you see someone 5 feet tall take down someone twice their size like it was nothing,” Whitlow said.

Do you talk with your hands, then Sigma Lambda Kappa also known as the Sign Language Klub or SLK might be for you.

The group’s mission is to promote American Sign Language and Deaf culture awareness on campus and provide sup-port for interpreting majors and students studying ASL. The group is open to anyone who is interesting in learning and using ASL, regardless of skill level.

“One of the best benefits that a student can gain from an organization like SLK is the ability to use what you are learning in the classroom in a practical and comfort-able setting with other students and users

Aikido Club

Aikido Club member nicole Freeman, biology graduate student, performs a technique called waki-gatame on Brian Mitchell, a black belt non-student member of the club. Photo courtesy of Morgan Whitlow

Once you have decided on a major, you may want to join a student organization with a professional focus, like UALR’s National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.

This national organization is for students with a major or minor in speech and language pathology or audiology and those interested in the study of normal and disordered human communication behav-ior, according to Brandi Pippin, graduate student in communi-cation disorders and president of UALR’s NSSLHA.

“I love being a part of a group of students who love the field of speech language pathol-ogy and audiology as much as I do! It’s great to see my friends outside of the classroom, work-ing together in community ser-vice and making a difference,” said Pippin.

National Student Speech Language Hearing Association

If you are interested in politics, attend-ing college in the capital city puts you at an advantage because the hub of Arkansas politics is just minutes away. The UALR College Republicans is just one of several politically motivated stu-dent organizations on campus that takes advantage of the proximity.

The College Republicans often host elected officials at their meetings, have debate watch parties, are active in local elections and operate as a grassroots arm of the Republican Party.

“We are making a difference and bring-ing conservative values to the forefront,” said Ashley Baker, the group’s president and senior political science major.

“Anyone who wants to get involved in politics, or would like a job in politics should definitely consider joining,” Baker said.

Sign Language Klub*of ASL. The best way to improve your language skills is to utilize them, and that is what SLK strives to help students do throughout the school year,” said Nicole Sprouse, senior ASL interpreting major and SLK president.

SLK encourages students to use ASL through a variety of activities including bowling and eating dinner while refrain-ing from using their voices, outings to local Deaf community events, participa-tion in the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay For Life and See-A-Song, the Interpreter Education Program’s annual event in which students perform songs.

OUTSIDE CLASSROOMof the

Student Government Association

now Student Government President Lauren Macneaill contem-plates her arguments as she and 2012-13 President Rizan Moshin debate prior to the spring election. Photo by Jennifer Ellis

With more than 100 different student organizations, you can surely find something that fits your interests ... or you can start your own!

The Student Government Association speaks for you and the entire student body when it comes to campus policies and uni-versity affairs at the University Assembly and while participat-ing in various committees.

“SGA is an important group on campus because it gives [stu-dents] a chance to be involved in decisions being made on campus,” Former SGA President Rizan Moshin said.

Students who are interested in becoming a member of the SGA can run in one of the campus-wide elections that take place in October and March.

But you don’t have to be an elected member of SGA to attend or voice your opinion at Senate

meetings, which are open to the public. Meetings are at 1 p.m. every other Wednesday in the DSC 201A Board Room.

The Student Court serves as the judicial branch of the SGA. The Court interprets the SGA’s Constitution when needed and is the appeal system for on-campus parking and traffic vio-lations.

Although programming is not the group’s primary func-tion, the SGA usually hosts a few events throughout the year to bring awareness to social issues and provide community service opportunities.

More information is avail-able at ualr.edu/sga or by call-ing (501) 569-3210.

College Republicans


First FlOOr

Bookstore Health Services

disability Resource Center

Fitness Center Pool

diamond Café

Ledbetter RoomsA,B & C

Vice Chancellor for Educational Student Services & Student Life dean of Students

Campus Life

Student Government Assocation

Leadership Lounge

The Forum

Food Court

secOnd FlOOr

donAGHEYSTudenT cenTer

Meeting Rooms d, E & F

Meeting Room G

For on-campus information, there’s no better place to turn to than The Forum, the univer-sity’s student newspaper.

The Forum is a free, bi-week-ly print and web publication, covering news, sports, enter-tainment and features. It also has an opinion page and a fun page with puzzles, cartoons and horoscopes.

It publishes an annual magazine, The Forum Focus. In 2013, the magazine profiled local businesses and the cam-pus garden.

In 2013, The Forum won third place in general excel-lence from the Arkansas College Media Association, News Editor Cameron Moix won “Reporter of the Year,” and many staff members placed for their work in both the newspaper and magazine.

Jennifer Ellis, executive editor for two years, will step down in May when she graduates. Her replacement is Jacob Ellerbee, a mass com-munication major who has served as sports editor, assis-tant entertainment editor and social media coordinator since he joined The Forum’s staff in September 2012.

“I feel good. I’m excited about it,” Ellerbee said. “I think it’s going to be a con-tinual learning experience and its going to be a good opportu-nity for everyone on the staff to grow as writers, designers and photographers.”

The staff members, who are all students, manage content, design and business details supported by faculty adviser Carlton ”Sonny” Rhodes, assis-tant professor in the School of Mass Communication.

Staff members are not lim-ited to journalists but also encompass photographers, illustrators, graphic artists and advertising managers. All staff members are paid for their contributions.

Students should join the staff “to gain real-world experi-ence and to learn or hone skills that can be beneficial in any kind of career,” Ellerbee said.

“It’s a great way to get to be a part of a little bit of everything that goes on on campus,” Ellis said.

Students can also send arti-cles and photographs without joining the staff. Students, fac-ulty and staff can write letters to the editor or send news tips.

You can find The Forum on news racks across campus or visit ualr.edu/theforum.

Sarah De ClerkFeatures Editor

The Forum: Your source for Trojan news, in print and online

Ricky Harris and Chelsey Mcneil participate in the First Amendment Free Food Fair sponsored by The Forum, the UALR chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and Sodexo. Photo by Tiffany Williams


ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ

AlphaBetaGammaDeltaEpsilonZetaEtaThetaIotaKappaLambdaMuNuXiOmicronPiRhoSigmaTauUpsilonPhiChiPsiOmega

GR Σ ΣKA L P H A B E T

THE

GRΣΣK LifeJacob Ellerbee

Sports Editor

Greek life at UALR is rich with people who want to make a dif-ference both on and off campus. Members of the fraternal orga-nizations at UALR emphasize missions and values that debunk the stereotypes portrayed in modern mass media, according to the Office of Campus Life’s Greek life adviser.

Each fraternal organization has a charity it works with and helps through community ser-vice or monetary donations. Some of the organizations benefiting from the work of UALR fraternities and sorori-ties include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, the Arkansas Food Bank and many more.

Additionally, fraternal orga-

nizations at UALR can be a place to relax among the more than 13,000 students attend-ing school, and they provide opportunities to connect with a smaller group of people.

Jenny Hunt, associate direc-tor of campus life and Greek life adviser, said the organiza-tions at UALR embrace people from all walks of life who want to participate in Greek life.

“There’s no specific person-ality type or stereotype that our organizations look for,” Hunt said. “In every organiza-tion, there are a variety of per-sonalities needed to make the organization run well.”

Being part of a fraternity or sorority opens up leadership development opportunities within each organization as well as in the three governing bodies that oversee the orga-

Members of the Kapa Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity participate in the neo Stroll off in the Fitness Center on March 5 . Greek organization help members find fun ways to be active in campus life. Photo by Tiffany Williams

ΠΩKΨ Δ XZ

nizations at UALR: the Inter-Fraternity Council, the College Panhellenic Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

The IFC includes Kappa Sigma and Pi Kappa Alpha. The sorori-ties in the CPC are Chi Omega and Kappa Delta.

The NPHC consists of tradi-tionally African-American soror-ities and fraternities. It includes Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta sororities, as well as Alpha Phi Alpha, Iota Phi Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, and Phi Beta Sigma fra-ternities.

“One of the main things that we’re really excited about is the on-campus residency require-ment,” Hunt said. “We’re excit-ed that we’ll have all of the freshman on campus with us and they’ll have the opportunity

to be more active and involved and engaged on campus.”

Hunt said there are already plans to expand greek life at UALR. The plans are in the beginning stages, but an organi-zation has already been select-ed. Delta Chi will join the ever-expanding list of UALR fraternal organizations in fall 2014.

For those interested in join-ing a fraternal organization at UALR, students must meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement in order to submit a Greek appli-cation, plus pay $15-20 to process the application. There are vary-ing membership requirements for each organization. Some of the membership requirements include having completed a certain number of credit hours and community service hours. Dues for fraternal organizations range between $200 to $500.

14 ualr.edu/forumStudent Life

Theoretically, a student can earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, but first-time entering students at UALR take an average of 7.3 years to gradu-ate, according to the Office of Institutional Research.

Taking more than four years to earn a degree can hinder students who need help paying for school because academic scholarships are not renew-able after four years, said Stephanie Conrad, private scholarship coordina-tor. Students receiving federal financial aid must show progress toward a degree, and can lose their aid after 180 hours under the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Students who reach that limit can apply for private scholarships, most of which do not cover full tuition, Conrad said.

Fortunately, students can save time and credit hours in a number of ways:

It is crucial for students to keep in touch with their advisers, said Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. UALR students must be advised to register, but they do not always stick to the plan their adviser laid out. “Don’t go and change your schedule on a whim afterward,” Rice said, cautioning that classes selected without advisement could count as nothing but wasted hours.

Students can plan for graduation sooner by declaring their majors early. “The sooner they can fix on a particular objective, the better off they’ll be,” Rice said. Preferably, students should declare their major after freshman year or after taking 30 to 45 hours, he said. But At the absolute latest, students should declare their major after 60 hours. Concentrating on their majors early on can ensure that students take

classes that count toward their majors. For example, students can avoid unnecessary general education courses by choosing the core courses that are required by their major.

Students should align their interests with their abilities when choosing a major. A medical student who dislikes math and science will surely have a difficult time, Rice said. But picking a single major out of the more than 50 choices offered at UALR can be understandably overwhelming. So Rice suggested students narrow their choices by taking the career assessment testing offered by Career Services.

Taking certain classes right away can keep students from running into trouble later. Students who need remedial classes should take them right away, Rice advised. “Get on them,” he said. Students are more likely to drop out the longer they spend on those courses. Also, students who loathe math may not take college algebra until their senior year, he observed, and added that it is better to take it early on; students

do not get any better at math by waiting. In addition, Rice said he advises students in sequenced courses, such as foreign languages, “Don’t sit out for a semester. If you sit out, you’ll struggle when you get to the second level.”

Students can save time and hours by being smart about dropping classes. Before students drop a class, they should talk to their instructors, Rice said; they may be doing better in the course than they assume. Also, students should talk to their academic adviser, to see how the drop will affect their overall plan for graduation, and their financial aid adviser, to make sure that they will still have enough hours to be

eligible for aid. Additionally, Rice suggested students check to see when the course will be offered again, because it might not be available the next semester. Sometimes, students will drop a class because they have a low, but passing, grade. Each retake adds to the number of hours a student has attempted. Although students should strive for the highest grade they can make, sometimes it is best to “eat the C” and move on, Rice said. If a student must drop a class because of an overwhelming course load, they should try to drop an elective so it will be easier to make up the requirement, he said.

Although these suggestions are aimed at students who entered UALR as first-time freshmen, transfer stu-dents can also benefit from reducing the number of hours they take to graduate. Although most lower-level courses from accredited, in-state colleges are automatically transferable under the Arkansas Course Transfer System, upper-level courses require review, Rice said. He warned students against taking lower-level com-munity college courses that will not count toward their degrees at UALR. To prevent this, he said, UALR has been working with two-year institutions to help students match the courses they are taking there with their degree plans at UALR. Students taking supplemental courses outside of UALR should check with their adviser for transferability.

Following these strategies can help students limit the number of classes that they have to take to graduate. “The whole strategy is to avoid wasted hours,” Rice said. If students are smart about college, they can make every credit count.

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Fast trackSUCCESSto

G-5The

Whether you have a great essay that you wrote for class or a childhood story that makes your friends laugh, your non-fiction work could be the next addition to “Quills & Pixels,” the annual student publication of the UALR Writers’ Network.

Submitting to “Quills & Pixels” lets students take their nonfiction writing to the next level, said Chuck Anderson, adviser to the publication and professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing.

“It gives them an opportu-nity to work with editors and go through the entire publica-tion process, from submission to having the book in hand,” he said. “There are not a lot of opportunities for students to be able to have that experience.”

Writers can electronically

send their original, unpub-lished nonfiction work with a submission form to “Quills & Pixels.” They can enter multiple submissions. Their work is then anonymously peer-reviewed by students at the publication, and may be selected for the next issue.

“Quills & Pixels” accepts all nonfiction work, including cre-ative nonfiction, journalistic features, academic writing, per-sonal and research essays, and technical writing, its webpage said.

“It’s open to all writers in the UALR community,” Anderson said. Faculty, staff and students from UALR, UAMS, the William H. Bowen School of Law and the Clinton School are welcome to submit, the page said.

Submission forms, rules and additional information are available on the “Quills & Pixels” webpage.

Quills & Pixels explores reality

Are you ready to see your words in print? Do you want to have your play or poem pub-lished, or do you want to show off your art project?

Consider sending your work to “Equinox,” a student-run con-temporary literature and art journal.

“The sense of achievement one gets from producing some-thing to be shared on campus – and with the Arkansas art community – is invaluable, and I truly believe every stu-dent interested in fiction, poetry or publishing should consider finding a way to contribute,” said Spencer Campbell, a junior English major and managing editor for “Equinox.”

The journal is published annually and accepts submis-sions from any UALR student. It welcomes a variety of creative work, including poetry, fiction, drama or visual art.

If you want to be more involved in the publishing pro-cess, you can apply to join the staff at “Equinox.” Staff mem-bers need not have experience publishing magazines and are not limited to English majors

pursuing careers in creative writ-ing, Campbell said.

“‘Equinox’ staff members receive valuable, applicable knowledge of the oftentimes demanding jobs found in pub-lishing,” he said. They learn about vetting, print services, selecting and editing works, and working with a graphic designer, he said.

Staff members can earn up to six hours of upper-level English credit, and the publication’s graphic artist can earn art cred-it by working at “Equinox,” he added.

“We’re working hard to nur-ture the literary scene on cam-pus and in Little Rock, and as such, the staff is also a commu-nity of writers and visual artists that support one another,” said Nickole Brown, the publication’s faculty adviser and an assistant professor in the English depart-ment.

“I encourage students to pick up our newest issue to see what we’ve been sweating over,” he said, “and, perhaps, to be inspired – as I am – to see what writers and artists we might pass by everyday in the Donaghey Student Center are capable of.”

To learn more information about “Equinox,” visit its web-page or email [email protected].



Fiction flourishes in Equinox


Join the French Club

For more information, Contact Michael Nix [email protected]

Weekly Potluck/Meetings(Stabler 202)

Hang out with Exchange Students

Free Tutoring

Movie Nights

Develop your PERSONALIzEd ACAdEMIC PLAN

underGraduaTeacademic adviSinG

FINd YOUR FIT

Welcome to UALR!

And get CONNECTEd

Student Services Center 320 501.569.3386 ualr.edu/advising

Monday - thursday 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. & Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

16 ualr.edu/forumStudent Services

student centerdOnaghey

The heart of university life is usu-ally located at the center of campus, and UALR’s Donaghey Student Center is no exception.

The DSC spans 180,000 sq. ft. and houses many parts of student life, namely campus activities, the fitness center and a large dining area.

Dining options in the DSC are provided by food-service compa-ny Sodexo and include Taco Bell, Quizno’s, Starbucks and the Diamond Cafe, a buffet-style service used pri-marily by students living on campus.

Also included in the building are computer corners known as “cyber zones,” which are located on the upper concourse and next to the Diamond Cafe. Students may use these systems to access their UALR email, Blackboard or BOSS accounts as well as the Ottenheimer Library catalog. Tables and chairs are also provided for reading and studying.

The first floor of the DSC con-tains Health Services, the Disability Resource Center, the campus book-store and the Fitness and Aquatics

• diamond Café• Quiznos• taco Bell• Starbucks• Ledbetter Assembly Hall• Educational Student

Services and Student Life• Campus Life

• Leadership Lounge• Student organizations• The Forum• Campus Bookstore• Health Services• information desk• disability Resource Center• Fitness Center

Located in the donaghey Student Center:

Find your way around with the map on page 4

Center, which is open to all UALR stu-dents and faculty. Student IDs, which are used for meal plans and access to several on-campus locations, can be obtained outside the bookstore. A series of vending machines is also located near one of the first floor’s side entrances.

Next to the Ledbetter Assembly Hall are the offices of the Vice Chancellor for Educational Student Services and the Dean of Students, where students can seek help with academic matters and ask questions about their univer-sity experience. Also located on the second floor is the Office of Campus Life, which contains information about campus events and student organizations.

Offices for the Student Government Association, the Leadership Lounge and UALR’s student newspaper, The Forum, also reside on the DSC’s upper concourse. The lounge is often used for events hosted by the University Program Council, the Non-Traditional Student Program and the AnimePWN Club.

Updated hours for the DSC and the Fitness and Aquatic Center can be found at ualr.edu/studentcenter.

Liz FoxEntertainment Editor

17ualr.edu/forum Student Services

New building offers

• Admissions & Financial Aid• Records & Registration• Student Accounts & Cashier’s office• Private Scholarships• Veteran Affairs• transfer Student Services• Chancellor• Provost

ONE-STOP LOCATION

The recently-completed Student Services Center serves as the hub for a number of important offices for UALR students and faculty.

The SSC, completed in summer 2012 for a sum of $13 million, contains pertinent administrative depart-ments such as Records and Registration, Admissions, and Counseling and Career Planning. Its south side is connected with the Donaghey Student Center by a glass skybridge, which is located adjacent to the Office of Campus Life. The crossing guides students to the building’s second floor, where they may seek help in the office of Financial Aid as well as Records and Registration. The four-story modern structure also includes offices of the chancellor and provost as well as a 205-seat auditorium.

Other SSC departments include Student Accounts, Veteran Affairs, Transfer Services and Private Scholarships.

These services were previously housed in older administration buildings on the far end of campus, which are currently in the process of renovation. According to UALR officials, the building took more than a year to complete.

for STUDENTSERVICES


Located in the Student Services Center:


As Little Rock’s sole public radio sta-tion, KUAR 89.1 FM provides an impor-tant service to the city and surround-ing areas by delivering hourly, up-to-date newscasts and National Public Radio (NPR) programming. The sta-tion, created to supplement the older KLRE Classical 90.5 FM, first signed on air in 1986 at 100,000 watts and has garnered an audience of more than 70,000 in its 27 years of broadcasting.

KUAR and KLRE also feature origi-nal programming, most of which con-cerns the local art scene and area organizations, including the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Conway Symphony and the Arkansas Chamber Singers. Among their biggest programs are “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” “Not Necessarily Nashville” and “Tales from the South,” a show featuring Arkansas writers reading and discuss-ing their work at North Little Rock’s Starving Artist Cafe.

“We really love being able to pro-vide people in central Arkansas with news that informs them about their

world as well as cultural programs that make their lives more enjoyable,” said Ben Fry, who arrived at KUAR in 1988 and has served as the station’s general manager since 1995.

Both stations raise a combined sum of $500,000 per year, most of which is pulled from community contributions made during their annual pledge drive. In recent years, these funds have led to the relocation of KUAR’s signal tower, which has sat atop Chenal Mountain since spring 2012 and benefited the station by increasing its audience.

For more information, visit ualr-publicradio.org.

Public radio rides campus air wavesLiz Fox

Entertainment Editor

Whether you are a novice ink slinger or an advanced wordsmith, the Universi-ty Writing Center can help you improve your written communication skills.

The UWC has helped writers grow since it began in 1981. It prides itself on emphasizing the macro issues, such as argument and structure, instead of small details like grammar and mechan-ics. “The goal is to help the writer, not just improve the writing,” its website said.

UWC Director Allison Holland credits the center’s amiable ambience for its success with students. “It creates this nice, friendly collegial environment, where no matter what age or ethnic group or anything, none of that is im-portant when we come in here,” she said. “We come in here to be a family.”

KenDrell CollinsAssistant Editor

Access to the center is covered by tu-ition fees, so all UALR students can come in anytime. Undergraduate interns and graduate students are on hand through-out the week to provide face-to-face con-ferences with students. The center gives students assistance during all stages of the writing process.

The UWC also offers various special services. Each Macintosh computer is equipped with Mavis Beacon, a pro-gram that improves typing accuracy and speed. A software called Inspiration is available for students who need help with planning and outlining. Addition-ally, the online writing center, or OWL, is available for those who would like to submit papers via e-mail and receive feedback. There are also computers re-served for students with disabilities.

Feel free to visit the UWC throughout the week in room 116 of Student Union B (SUB) - no appointment is necessary. It is open Mondays and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Mondays, it is closed from 11:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. On Tues-days and Thursdays, the center operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hours are 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. For further in-formation contact the UWC at (501) 569 -8343.

Writing Center makes goal to help writers

“The goal is to help the writer, not just improve the writing.”

University Writing Center website

For many college students, especially freshman, the math core requirement can be a daunting obstacle, but it need not be so.

UALR offers help to students who need it through two math labs, with no appoint-ment necessary.

The MAC I and MAC II labs are staffed with capable tutors who are happy to help with any issue a student may have, from basic concepts to individual equations and problems. Math tutoring DVDs and com-puters are also available.

MAC I lab focuses on the specific needs of college algebra and above. It is located in room 600, on the sixth floor of Dickenson Hall. Its hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MAC II is geared to students in devel-opmental mathematics and elementary algebra. These classes are instructed us-ing ALEKS, an online learning software designed to prepare students who need help with remedial skills before moving

David EllisStaff Writer

on to college algebra. MAC II is located in the Earth Sciences building in room 104. Its hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The computers in both labs have ALEKS, MAPLE and Course Compass software.

The Mac I lab has TI-84 graphing calcu-lators available for students to rent at a rate of $40 per semester. A free instructional videotape and booklet on the use of the TI-82/83 graphing calculators is available.

The MAC labs are now expanding to tu-tor basic chemistry, physics and statistics.

The MAC labs are a great place to study and work on homework outside of class. Comfortable couches are available as well as a quiet study room off of the lab. They are also an excellent, effective resource UALR provides to help students master the skills they need to succeed. Math will no longer be daunting with the help of the friendly folks in the MAC labs.

For information on the MAC I lab con-tact Denise LeGrand at [email protected], or by phone at 501-371-7667. For In-formation on the Mac II lab contact Tracy Watson at [email protected] or by phone at (501) 682-8312.

Calculate for success in the MAC labs


Student Housing offers a place to live, learn

Housing Options

West HallWest Hall’s two towers feature

pod-style living. Two residents share each room. Each floor hosts about 30 residents who share a partial kitchen, bathrooms, living area and study room. Resident bedrooms have a sink and furniture. Residents are allowed to have basic appliances like a coffee maker in their rooms.

East HallEast Hall features suite-style liv-

ing. Most suites in the building have two rooms with two residents sharing each room. Some one-room units are available on a limited basis. Residents in each suite share a kitchenette and bathroom.

Commons Apartments (North & South Halls)

The Commons Apartments feature apartment-style living with two and four bedroom options. Each apart-ment has a full kitchen, living room, private bedrooms and two bathrooms. The two-bedroom apartments are the same, but with only one bathroom. Each unit also features a washer and dryer.

Residents of University Commons Apartments, as well as West and East halls, share the University Commons building. This location features the Housing Central Office, the Trojan C-Store as well as a home theater, classroom and great room with a pool table and fireplace.

University VillageUniversity Village features apart-

ment-style living with one, two and four bedroom options. Each apart-ment has a living room, full kitchen, washer and dryer, as well as private bedrooms with a private bathroom in bedroom. The complex features a common building with a small fitness center and a game room as well as basketball courts and a swimming pool outside.

Jennifer EllisExecutive Editor

An initiative for the 2013-14 academ-ic year will allow incoming freshmen to join one of the university’s five Living Learning Communities, which provide a linked approach to on-campus hous-ing and classroom learning for a more successful experience.

Being part of a living learning com-munity helps shrink the university for students transitioning from high school, said Daryl Rice, associate vice chancellor for student success. Instead of getting lost in a sea of new faces in each class, students in an LLC see many of the same faces and connect with fac-ulty building a smaller network within the broader university community.

The residential learning communi-ties include Exploring the Arts, Future Business Leaders, Exploring Majors and Careers, Nursing as a Career and STEM Focus. Students in an LLC will be housed on the same floor as others in their community, take their first-year-experience class together, and partici-pate in academic as well as social pro-gramming together.

Programming may include designat-

ed study sessions, in-hall faculty inter-action, field trips, panel discussions and job shadowing.

In addition to helping make the cam-pus feel smaller for students just begin-ning college, administrators say that LLCs have proven to be instrumental in student success at universities nation-wide.

“The research shows us that students who are engaged in learning communi-ties persist longer and do better aca-demically than students who are not

involved in residential learning com-munities,” said Debra Gentry, associate dean of students and executive director of housing.

UALR first tried to do establish LLCs on campus more than 10 years ago, but was unsuccessful. Rice said that the an ever-growing residential population adds another dimension to the initia-tive that they didn’t have when they tried it before.

“I think these would be attractive to students, so I hope that we get them up and make them work,” Rice said.

“The thing that I’m most excited about is the partnership we’re creating with Dr. Rice and the academic side of the house,” Gentry said. “We’re always looking for ways to collaborate and partner on campus to deliver the best service we can to the students.”

Freshmen who do not to live on cam-pus have the option to participate in a Linked-Course Community, a program in which students take a pair of courses whose instructors have partnered for a more collaborative learning experi-ence.

For more information or to apply to join a LLC, visit ualr.edu/housing/living-learning-communities.

“The research shows us that students who are engaged in learning communities persist longer and do better academically than students who are not involved in residential learning communities.”

Debra GentryAssociate dean of students & executive director of housing


dININGSERVICES

UALR Dining Services, operated by Sodexo, has several locations on campus for you to find something that will hit the spot.

diamond CaféOffering buffet-like dining, the Diamond

Café in the Donaghey Student Center is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on each week-day and brunch and dinner on weekends. The café features changing entrée lines, a fresh sandwich station, a grill, a dessert bar and a salad bar. Customers pay at the entrance and then can get one entrée, two sides, a soup, a salad, dessert and drink.

With the purchase of one of the new reus-able food containers and mugs, customers lessen the amount of container waste as well as enjoying unlimited drink refills during their meal.

The Diamond Café, during the fall/spring semesters, is open Monday through Friday from 7 - 9 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for dinner. On Saturday and Sunday brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner is served from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Breakfast is $5 and lunch and dinner are $7.50. These prices do not include tax.

Food CourtAlso located in the DSC is the Food Court

featuring Quiznos, Taco Bell and Starbucks.Students can use dining dollars or cash/

credit at these locations and residential stu-dents can use their meal plan at Taco Bell.

Starbucks is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

Quiznos and Taco Bell are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays.

EIT Sub ConnectionThe Engineering and Information

Technology building, also known as EIT, is home to Sub Connection, a quick dining option featuring sub sandwiches ranging from ham and turkey to steak and tuna.

Sub Connection is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

Residential students can use their meal plan at this location for a limited number of items.

Business BrewingThe Reynold’s Business building features a

convenience store known as Business Brewing. The store is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

Trojan C-StoreLocated in the housing complex’s University

Commons building is the Trojan C-Store, fea-turing various products including canned goods and frozen foods as well as deep fried items like pizza sticks and corn dogs.

The Trojan C-Store is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Trojan GrillThe Trojan Grill, located ajacent to the

student housing complex, opened fall 2012 featuring grilled options such as quesadilla burgers, baja turkey flatbread sandwiches and buffalo po’boys. It is open Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to midnight.

Gurjit Singh, a freshman biology major, wins the watermelon eating contest at Sodexo’s Food Wars on Aug. 31. Photo by Chelsey McNiel


The campus of UALR is bol-stered by a veteran police force that is made up of 26 sworn officers, 13 security/dispatchers, 1 dispatcher and one new police chief, Edward L. Smith.

Smith has spent the major-ity of his 35 years in the line of duty in Oklahoma, but recently spent time as division command-er for the campus police at the University of Arkansas. He has also spent time working for the Secret Service and the FBI.

Smith said that UALR is a safe campus, but reiterates that safety is paramount.

There are several safety tips students, faculty and visitors can follow in order to reduce risk of injury and criminal activity.

The blue emergency tele-phone posts, or simply E-phones, can be utilized in a variety of ways. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an emergency to use.

“Maybe they’re lost, they have a question, they see somebody walk by and leave a backpack and walk away from it - any-thing,” Smith said. Using the E-phone will directly link the caller to the dispatcher.

Additionally, Smith said stu-dents need to use crosswalks and be aware of traffic.

“Walking across a street while using a cellphone is not safe.”

A new campus can be disori-enting, even for students with college experience. The Office of Transfer Student Services informs these students about the university and the transfer process.

“We like being that friend-ly first connection point with students,” Director Malissa Mathis said. “We’re the bridge into UALR and we want to help them cross that bridge and walk toward their degree plan.”

“These students kind of know how to do college, but they don’t know how we do things here,” said Louis Scivally, recruitment coordinator for the Office of Recruitment. OTSS smoothes the transition

students make by orienting them to the university, he said.

Scivally joined UALR in spring 2013. Unlike other recruiters, he knows about the transfer process. He helps students at community colleges start work-ing on their UALR degree plan before they leave their current institution.

“They also experience having someone in their corner from day one,” he said, which gives them confidence in the univer-sity.

OTSS provides online and print information about trans-ferring credits and campus con-tacts. It advises transfer stu-dents and evaluates unofficial transcripts for free, Mathis said. It also hosts orientations for transfer students.

The office focuses on core credits, Mathis said, but they


Transfer services helps make your credits countconnect students to their pro-spective departments and help advisers develop degree plans for transfer students.

“We make it easier for stu-dents to streamline their college experience so they don’t take unnecessary courses,” Mathis said. She added that wasting time and money on classes can be “heart breaking.”

“We don’t want any surpris-es at graduation,” Scivally said, noting that students may not graduate on time if they do not get the transfer credits they expected.

“I see our role as assisting students in achieving their goal and their dream,” Mathis said.

OTSS, on the third floor of the Student Services Center, accepts walk-ins and phone and email queries, she said, adding that it has a “robust” website.

He added, “Be aware of your surroundings. Whether you’re going to your car in the parking lot or going into a building.”

Smith recommends students, faculty and visitors keep car doors locked.

“If you have personal items in the vehicle, put them in the trunk,” he said. Another option is to cover the item(s) from plain sight by using a jacket or towel.

Finally, students should know the difference between using the emergency telephone number and the office number.

“The emergency line is to be used in the event that there is a life threatening or an imminent-life threatening situation,” Smith said. Otherwise the office num-ber should be utilized.

A final reminder regarding public safety, students should remember the laws regarding the Clean Air Act. The act, which went into effect August 1, 2010, makes it a violation of a state law to smoke on the grounds of any institution of higher education in Arkansas.

Smith said if students need to smoke, they must be off the campus grounds. He said the big-gest problem his force has seen is that students do not get all the way off campus to smoke and then they are issued a citation.

“The location behind Ross Hall and at the intersection of 32nd Street and University is still campus grounds,” Smith said.

Violators of this law will be susceptive to a $100-500 fine.

In order to be more transpar-ent and keep the campus abreast of current situations, the depart-ment of public safety has a fea-ture on its website that shows what kind of things officers are responding to on and around campus.

The Crime Log is updated in real-time and shows the offense(s) committed, the time it occurred, where it occurred and if the case is active or closed. The Crime Log is available by going to ualr.edu/safety and clicking on “Crime Log” on the left-hand side of the screen.

Jacob EllerbeeSports Editor

New police chief heads public safety

The Disability Resource Center aids students in assuring UALR provides an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all students. The DRC works with faculty and staff to offer solutions to challenges faced by students with disabilities.

DRC access consultants meet with students on an individual basis to discuss what barriers they may have. After a student provides documentation of their disability, the consultant will often write letters to instructors on the student’s behalf to ask for specific accommodations.

The DRC has an array of programs and services to meet the needs of UALR’s continu-ally diversifying and growing student body. These services include, but are not limited to, alternate formats for textbooks, transcription and translation.

According to its mission statement, the DRC works pro-

disability Resource Center strives to make campus more accessible

actively with the campus on accessibility issues by serving on many committees, and by doing presentations on good course design to the colleges and departments across cam-pus. They believe the ultimate

indicator of success is when students with disabilities can access their environments as seamlessly as non-disabled stu-dents.

“I like the focus to be not so

David Ellisstaff writer

much on individual accommo-dations, but the broader picture of the purpose of our depart-ment, which is working with faculty, staff, administrators and students to identify barri-ers for students with disabilities and reduce or eliminate those barriers,” Sharon Downs, the DRC’s director, said in a previ-ous interview.

“My goal is to eventually be working mainly with faculty and staff to try to reduce the need for individual students to come to the department; there will always be those students who need individual accommo-dation and we will work with them,” she said.

Students can make appoint-ments to see an access consul-tant and find specific informa-tion about the DRC by visiting its page at ualr.edu/disability. Appointments can also be made by phone at (501) 569-3143, or in person at the DRC, which is located near the east entrance to the Donaghey Student Center.

“My goal is to eventually be working mainly with faculty and staff to try to reduce the need for individual students to come to the department.”

Sharon DownsDisability Resource Center director


Library evolves with focus on study space, servicesThe Ottenheimer Library, open

since 1976, continues to adapt to the wants and needs of the Uni-versity of Arkansas at Little Rock community in the nearly 40 years it has been open.

The library now receives about 270,000 physical visitors and more than 160,000 virtual visitors per year. It has more than 659,000 print volumes available and near-ly 32,000 electronic books avail-able. Wi-Fi access allows students to research on comfortable couch-es, free from the restrictions of clunky desktop computers.

Wanda Dole, who has been the dean of the library for seven years, said that according to sur-veys, the library is a place for undergraduate students to study, work with colleges and conduct research.

Dole said the library is con-tinually evolving and finding new ways to appeal to the UALR com-munity.

One of the ways the library at-tracts visitors is through improv-ing its furnishings and creating more hospitable studying envi-ronments.

The second floor was recently updated with new furniture and more comfortable seating, Dole said.

“We’d like to look at the first floor now and see what we can

Jacob EllerbeeSports Editor

do to make that a better space and closer to the kind of spaces and furnishings that students have told us they’d like to see,” she said.

The new furnishings will fit the quality of service the staff pro-vides on the first floor.

“Students see, primarily, the staff on the first floor: the public service staff, the reference librar-ians...and students probably also see, face to face, the circulation

staff ... but they don’t see some of the people behind the scenes -- the people who create the orders that bring in the materials, both books and journals and electronic materials,” Dole said.

Whether you are looking for help with a research project, searching for a book or learning how to navigate the library’s on-line database, the staff is always available.

The library has reference ser-vices available at all times on its website. Visitors can “Ask a Lbrar-ian” a question via telephone call, text message, email, instant mes-sage or website-based chat.

Dole said new students should be aware of the library and all it has to offer.

“It’s here, it’s open to help [you], it’s student centered. Come and ask for help.”

First Floor• Computer lab• Copiers• Government

documents• Reference librarians• Circulation staff• newspapers

Second Floor • Study desks• Study nooks• Flat screen monitors• Agati sofa

Third Floor• Historical references• Bound journals• Study desks

Fourth & Fifth Floor• Books available for

check out• offices of the

graduate school• Prive study areas

Located in the Library:

In college, students learn math and English, but they must also learn how to learn. The Academic Success Center pro-vides students with learning skills and additional support and guidance.

The ASC is intrusive, holis-tic and empowering. “We call students; we don’t just wait for them to come in,” Director Kimberly Bright said. She added that the center considers stu-dents’ personal lives, which can affect classroom performance. The center also empowers stu-

dents to make their own deci-sions, she said.

The ASC includes four distinct programs.

The Collegiate Success Program advises eligible fresh-men and helps make college seem less threatening. It also assists students on academic probation.


The program teaches success through workshops on topics like stress management, test prepa-ration, budgeting and e-books. It also provides supplemental instruction in historically diffi-cult subjects. A student who has taken the class sits in class all semester and provides tutoring and group study sessions.

“We’re here to provide students with whatever support they need and sometimes that’s really what they need.”

Kimberly Bright Academic Success Center director

Academic Success Center teaches skills beyond classrooomThe Program for Enhanced

Learning teaches basic aca-demic skills like studying and reading comprehension. It also helps students prepare for the GRE and PRAXIS.

Workshops, SI and PEL are open to all students, but other programs focus on students which obstacles to success. TRiO Student Support Services is designed for first-generation, low-income or disabled stu-dents. It provides them with academic advising, tutoring and financial support.

The McNair Scholars Program helps students from underprivileged backgrounds obtain their doctorates. It pro-

vides them with mentoring, research tips, access to confer-ences and preparation for grad-uate school.

Additionally, the ASC hous-es a computer lab, where stu-dents can read, study or take a nap. “That actually happens a lot,” Bright said of the nap-ping. “We’re here to provide students with whatever support they need and sometimes that’s really what they need.”

The ASC makes college more accessible for the disadvan-taged, but Bright said that all students should feel welcome. “Every student on campus should understand we’re here to help,” she said.


track the

trOlleytrOjan

in

Real-Time GPS

text the stop’s id to 41411 and you’ll receive a text with the

next trolley arrival time.

Maroon Route and IDsUALR M1 ....................................dSCUALR M2 ..................... South oaksUALR M3 ..........University VillageUALR M4 .............University PlazaUALR M5 ..University dr. at Lot 5

Silver Route and IDsUALR S1 ......................................dSCUALR S2 ............ north/West HallsUALR S3 ..................................Lot 14UALR S4 ............. Stephens CenterUALR S5 ................... Lot 8 Eit/CoBUALR S6 .............................Fine Arts

ualr.edu/trolley

Parking may fall by the wayside when pre-paring for school, but once the semester be-gins, students must have a place to stash their vehicles during class.

To park on campus, students must register their vehicle with the Department of Public Safety. The cost is included in tuition fees and the parking permit allows drivers to park at any open lot on campus.

Students can obtain an additional permit for $20. They can obtain a temporary (two week) parking permit for free.

In addition to the open lots, drivers can park in metered lots for $1 per hour or in the parking deck for $1 per exit. After 4 p.m., drivers can park in gated lots for free by swip-ing their id card at the gate.

For an annual fee of $165, students can ap-ply for reserved parking. Reserved lots are available on a first come, first serve basis, and are often situated closer to key campus areas.

Parking maps are available at the DPS or on the UALR website.

For those who do not want to face the daunting walk across campus or pay for re-served parking, the Trojan Trolley can get them where they need to go.

The trolley program began in spring 2012 and provides free transportation across cam-pus. Each trolley is handicapped accessible and has heating and air conditioning. They reach each stop about every 15 minutes.

The trolleys travel along two routes. The Maroon Route covers the south side of cam-pus with stops at the Donaghey Student Cen-ter, South Oaks, University Village, University Plaza and Lot 5. The Silver Route traverses the north side of campus with stops at the DSC, the North and West Halls, Lot 14, the Stephens Center, Lot 8, and the Fine Arts Building.

The trolleys also have a GPS feature that al-lows students to track their progress via text or at ualr.edu/trolley.

Sarah DeClerkFeatures Editor

trolleys cut the commute

Earn a science or mathematics degree AND a teaching license in just four years with UALRTeach; watch your career possibilities unfold.

• Tuition reimbursement for SCED/IGSC 1101 and 1102• Early teaching experiences• Mentorships with experienced educators• Extensive content knowledge development

If you want to share your enthusiasm and knowledge of these subjects with others, then UALRTeach may be for you. Email [email protected] to find out how to get started.

UALRTeach

ualr.edu/ualrteach

Are you a new

TRANSFER ?to UALR?Got questions about your transfer credits?

WE HAVE ANSWERS!The Office of Transfer Student Services (OTSS) is here to assist prospective, new and current UALR transfer students. Services include the following:

• Pre-Transfer planning & assistance• Prospective student transfer credit evaluation• Transfer core curriculum review & credit adjustment• In-state community college transfer credits• Out-of-state & private transfer credit research/analysis• Current & continuing transfer student support

HoursMon. - Thurs. 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

501.682.1273•ualr.edu/transfer•[email protected]•StudentServicesCenter321-E

office of TransfersTudenT services


On the UALR Center for Arkansas History and Cul-ture’s website, experience � rst-hand our state’s legacy through the papers of Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller.

The Rockefeller digital ex-hibit features Historypin, a tool that uses photographs to take you directly to signi� -cant places in Rockefeller’s life.

ualrexhibits.org/rockefeller

CENTER FOR ARKANSAS HISTORY AND CULTURE

Your Direct Line to History 401 PRESIDENT CLINTON AVENUE

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201501-320-5780

UALR.EDU/CAHC

Programs Abroad has your passport to adventureThe university currently has 100

students studying abroad, including Donaghey Scholars, foreign language majors and other students interested in traveling.

Students who are part of an exchange program for a semester typically live in dorms and take 12 to 15 credit hours, while students living abroad for a sum-mer stay with host families and take six to nine hours.

Allyson Douglass, the assistant director of International Student Services and the interim Programs Abroad coordinator, is in charge of sending students overseas.

She said students have various reasons for choosing to travel abroad. Many have never left the state, while others want to learn about a different culture. Some stu-dents also want to put the experience on their resume.

“They’re just all over the place as to where they want to go and why. And a lot of them are not going to learn a sec-ond language. They’re going because they

just want to study in a different culture,” Douglass said.

Students who travel abroad are not required to know a second language and

Alexis Williams Assistant Editor

program providers can place students abroad in universities that teach English.

“If we have students from a certain country that [UALR students] are interested in vis-iting, then we try to get them connected to those students before they leave. It allows the international stu-dents to tell about their country and gets them involved more on cam-pus,” Douglass said.

Apart from popu-lar destinations like Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, those not part of a foreign language program choose to got to plac-es like Australia, New

Zealand, Costa Rica, Austria and South Korea.

Students from a multitude of majors

chose to travel abroad.“For example, the student interested in

going to Australia is a biology major, and the student currently in South Korea is an international studies major,” Douglass explained.

For the summer 2013 session, 19 stu-dents will travel to Spain, five to France, seven to Germany, eight to Nicaragua, ten to the United Kingdom and seven to Mexico.

“We are hoping to see more students studying abroad in the future,” Douglass said.

Douglass advised incoming freshmen interested in traveling abroad to study at UALR for at least a year, talk to their advisors after they declare their majors to make sure the study abroad fits into their degree plan and start saving money.

The International Student Services office hosts information sessions every other Tuesday to answer general inqui-ries like why students may want to study abroad, where student may want to go, where students can find programs UALR may not offer, estimated costs and infor-mation about visas and passports.

Porntip israsena, a senior donaghey Scholar with a doube major in international studies and Spanish, visits Rwanda during a Programs Abroad trip during summer 2012. Photo courtesy of ualr.edu/horizons


Zulma Toro, provost and vice chan-cellor of academic affairs, has made a dramatic impact since coming to UALR in January 2013.

She came to the university after serv-ing as dean of the College of Engineering at Wichita State University in Kansas, where she was crucial in creating and reforming the existing curriculum for engineering students. In addition, she also served as director of the Center for Innovation & Enterprise Engagement, an establishment aimed at development of the manufacturing work sector in the national and world economies.

But her interest in higher-education administration and academia was quite high from a relatively young age.

Toro grew up in southwestern Puerto Rico, immersed in what she calls a “very Caribbean lifestyle.” She was raised by her father and mother, a lawyer and military school teacher who constantly emphasized the importance of earning a college degree.

“We were told that the only way to be successful in life was to get a higher education,” she said. “That’s why both my sisters and I pursued advanced degrees.”

After completing high school, Toro started undergraduate work in engineer-ing at the University of Puerto Rico. It was during this time that she was approached by Bell Labs, then the primary research branch for telecommunications giant AT&T. The firm agreed to fund tuition for her master’s degree, and she later relocated to New Jersey on the condition that she return to Puerto Rico after the conclusion of her program.

But Toro later decided to earn her Ph.D and moved to Atlanta, where she attended Georgia Tech and earned her doctorate in industrial systems and engi-neering. She then traveled back to Puerto Rico, at first serving as associate profes-sor before climbing the academic ladder to interim dean.

“I had decent success in attracting extra funding for the university,” she said. “People identified me as a person who could have the skills to lead a depart-ment. … That’s how I got into administra-tion.”

It was also during Toro’s time as chan-cellor at the University of Puerto Rico that she realized she wanted to reform the engineering curriculum and drastically impact the way students were taught.

“I realized that I wanted to make a dif-ference on how we educated engineers,” she said. “The curriculum wasn’t neces-sarily what I thought we needed … It was designed for the top five percent, and I realized [the best] engineers are not always at the top of the class. … They also have a lot of creativity and a lot of heart.”

After a stint as dean at a small, pri-vate university in Connecticut, she real-ized state universities had an advantage in the areas of community involvement and public service. She went on to serve as dean of the College of Engineering at Wichita State University before being named Provost of UALR in late 2012.

During her first semester as provost, Toro developed and endured a number of projects, most of which have yet to be finalized. She was instrumental in help-ing create a new core curriculum as well as initiate academic restructuring, which began in the spring of 2013. But among these new directions in academic affairs, Toro is also concerned with the identity of UALR and what it brings to the state as well as the region at large.

“When I came here, there were com-peting thoughts about who we should be,” she said. “I think it’s clear that we have to be one of the top metropolitan universi-ties. Our location is our greatest asset, and I think we have to capitalize on that.”

The Provost’s office can be found on the fifth floor of the recently constructed Student Services Center. Students with concerns are encouraged to make an appointment by calling (501) 569-3204.


New provost brings experience, heads up academic restructuring

34 ualr.edu/forumAcademics

Since the UALR College of Business is located in Arkansas’ financial and busi-ness center, students have access to qual-ity education and real-world experience.

The COB offers seven majors which are divided into the following four departments: accounting, economics and finance, management, and marketing and advertising.

Business degrees prepare students for exciting careers from traveling the world with international business to working with technology through management and information systems.

According to the official COB web-page, its mission is to “prepare students to succeed as business professionals in a global economy and to contribute to the growth and viability of the region we serve.”

The college also prides itself on being the state’s largest school accredited by the Association of Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business, its webpage said.

John Hall, the associate director of

the college, says that the COB is all about ensuring that students enjoy their col-lege experience and are prepared for life after college.

“There’s a lot of really good stuff that happens in the college that’s going to prepare you for all kinds of different job opportunities on many different fields afterwards,” he said.

“So, with the cost of education going up and the idea of dealing with student loans, things like this later, the idea that you can actually have a job when you’re done is a really positive thing.”

Two efforts to acquaint new business majors with the college are the new Living Learning initiative and the fresh-man experience course.

“We will actually have a learning com-munity in the dorms for people who are interested in being business majors,” Hall said. “They’ll take that freshman experience class together and that’ll be a special section that only the learning community folks are in.”

The COB also has a unique advising system. Professional advisers can guide students through the process of deciding


the donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic development is home to the College of Business. Photo by Tiffany Williams

College of Business graduates participants to contribute to commercial growth in Arkansas

which classes to take in order to gain a degree.

Shannon Gwin, the newly appointed director of the Center for Student and Career Services, is expected to bring fresh ideas for student events. Some special events that occurred last year were speed mixers where students can network with local business who are looking for workers or interns. Based on the process of speed dating, students try to pitch themselves to businesses like Arvest Bank, Acxiom, Dillard’s, and Hewlett-Packard and Verizon Wireless. Other activities include resume and interview workshops, Dress for Success, and Lecture with the Leaders.

As a business student, you can be expect to be both a learner and a leader.

“Think about where our building is relative to campus, every path on cam-pus goes uphill to the business school,” said Hall. “We are at the top of the hill. We are the campus leaders up here. Business leads the campus.”

Find out more about the College of Business by calling 501-569-3356 or visit-ing ualr.edu/cob.

Arts Humanities and Social Sciences provides path for

creative explorationLiz Fox

Entertainment Editor

As the largest college at UALR, the College for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences offers students the opportunity to prepare for success-ful, liberal-arts oriented careers.

The college contains 11 academic departments, all of which offer a variety of majors and minors for individuals pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies. These depart-ments include: rhetoric and writ-ing, art, history, theatre and dance, English, international and second language studies, political science, anthropology, psychology and sociol-ogy.

Like other UALR colleges, most AHSS courses take place on the main campus, but a select few are also offered at the Benton Center and online via Blackboard. The col-lege also allows students to earn a full bachelor’s degree online. Additionally, the college offers a master’s degree in art, public his-tory, liberal studies, professional and technical writing, applied psychol-ogy and second languages.

The college’s theatre and dance program, which operates UALR’s opera theatre, is the only such pro-gram in the state to offer a bach-elor’s degree in fine arts. The applied design major is also unique to the university, giving students the oppor-tunity to graduate with focuses in ceramics, furniture design and jew-elry making. In addition, the College of AHSS also has secondary teaching licensing programs in art, English, history and foreign language studies.

Because of the low faculty-to-student ratio of 9:1, UALR students can develop strong professional relationships with their instructors, who may later refer them to oppor-tunities for employment based on the students’ abilities. Many of the college’s programs are also connect-ed with established organizations in the Little Rock area, including the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, the Arkansas state legislature and the Arkansas Studies Institute.

35ualr.edu/forum Academics

Do you have an interest in science or math? Well, you need not look any fur-ther than the UALR College of Science.

The COS is divided into eight differ-ent academic departments: applied sci-ence, biology, chemistry, earth science, health, human performance and sports management, mathematics and statis-tics, nursing, and physics and astron-omy.

Most of the degree programs are divided into specific tracts. Take biol-ogy, for example, one could opt to study molecular biology, environmental health sciences, applied science or bio-informatics. The chemistry program also includes applied science. The earth science tract includes geology and envi-ronmental geology.

Exercise science and community health both fall under the umbrella of the health, human performance and sport management program of study. Mathematics and statistics are linked to the COS, offering a degree in mathemat-ics and a certificate in applied statistics. Students can study motion or the celes-tial world with physics and astronomy which include medical physics and sec-ondary education licenses for teaching.

The COS has classes that prepare stu-dents for various professional studies. All of the courses required for medical and dental school are available for stu-dents. Those looking to pursue a career in optometry, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine can take advantage of the cur-ricula provided for these fields as well.

Master’s or docoral degree pro-grams are also available in a number of departments for those interested in

continuing their study at UALR.Thomas Lynch, associate dean of the

COS, said that student-faculty interac-tion is one of the most important parts of the college.

“You walk down the hall … almost all faculty members’ doors are open,” he said. “Very rarely are doors closed. Most of our faculty know their students on a first name basis.”

One of the reasons why the relation-ships between students and professors are so close, can be attributed to the research component of studying sci-ence. According to Lynch, the research that takes place in the College of Science is continuous. The faculty is always working on groundbreaking research. For instance, he explained, “We have one of our faculty members studying aging; he’s using yeast cells.”

The COS offers a course called “Undergraduate Research,” which allows students to work directly with faculty. These students could potential-ly have data published or even present findings at national conferences.

Although most of the research oppor-tunities are for upperclassmen, there are departmental clubs that all studnets can join in order connect with faculty and peers.

As a student, the ultimate goal is finding a course of study that you find to be useful and enjoyable. “I would say 99 percent of our students— by the time they are seniors, getting ready to gradu-ate— they are very satisfied with their education,” said Lynch.

To find out more about the College of Science, visit the official college of science webpage at www.ualr.edu/csam or call the Deans’s Office at (501) 569-3247.


Visit ualr.edu/csam for more details

What can YOU get with a Degree in ANY of The College Of Science

programs?Biology

ChemistryEarth Sciences

Health, Human Performance & Sport ManagementMathematics

NursingPhysics

... A Career!

Research in the College of Science sparks lasting working relationships

ualr.edu/forum

Your news.Your way.

In print or online at

37ualr.edu/forum Academics

For a useful degree that holds many oppurtunities outside the university, the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology is the place to be.

Seven undergraduate pro-grams constitute the makeup of EIT: architectural and con-struction engineering, civil and construction engineering, computer science, construction management, information sci-ence, engineering technology and systems engineering.

“The generation of today is very technologically savvy,” the college’s dean, Eric Sandgren, said. “To be involved in creat-ing the next generation of tech-nology is a cool thing.”

EIT fosters community engagement, Sandgren said.

“We were created because the community wanted our pro-gram here,” he said. “We are creating a workforce for them to grow and add new business-es and industries to Little Rock and Arkansas.”

The college is commited to “building bright futures” - its slogan. It builds the pool of workers for businesses in Arkansas, but it also builds the future of its students. By staying up-to-date on market trends, its graduates are pre-pared for jobs as soon as they leave the college, its website said.

“Our students graduate and get jobs,” he said. “The prob-lems of today are the problems that our students will be out there working on.”

Students cannot expect pay-off without perspiration, how-ever. Earning a degree in the


college is not easy, Sandgren said. “Our degrees require effort, but that effort will be rewarded at graduation,” he said.

The college is still a fairly recent addition to UALR. It was introduced 13 years ago, but has already been recognized by US News and World report as one of the most excellent undergraduate engineering programs at a public univerisi-ty in the South, its website said.

“We are growing, but we are still a small piece of the university,” Sandgren said. He noted that in 2013 enrollment increased 10 percent.

This year, EIT will be host-ing summer programs for high school and middle school stu-dents, Sandgren said. “So, we’ll be working all summer groom-ing the next generation of engi-neers and scientists,” he said.

College of EIT preps tech savvy students for tough job market

the six-story, 115,000-square-foot Eit building was designed with both students and the environment in mind. Photo by Tiffany Williams

The College of Professional Studies teaches students to be proactive members of their com-munity while providing them with hands-on training in their field of study.

The college is comprised of six programs: the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, the Department of Criminal Justice, the Institute of Government, the School of Mass Communication, the School of Social Work and the Department of Speech Communication.

Additionally, the college is home to University Television and public radio stations KUAR and KLRE.

“What unites us as a college is the service dimension,” Interim Dean Jamie Byrne said. “Each discipline has a very strong ser-vice orientation.”

For example, she said, the

School of Mass Communication provides nonprofit agencies with public relations writing and web design. The Department of Criminal Justice advises govern-ments and seniors and promotes juvenile crime prevention. The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology runs an on-campus speech and hearing clin-ic.

“The value of our work to the community is over $100,000 per year,” she said.

This service gives students


College of Professional Studies works to foster community involvement

practical experience working with the community. The applied nature of the disciplines encour-ages hands-on learning, Byrne said. She added that the uni-versity’s location – in a media, health care, governmental and corporate hub – also lends itself to this.

Byrne noted the connection between students and faculty in the college. The college was very student-oriented, she said, and the relationship between stu-dents and the college often lasts beyond graduation. “We want them to be with us for life,” she said. “We care about them; it’s important to us.”

She added that she, in addi-tion to the department heads, attempt to make a “good home” for students. She said that the College of Professional Studies is a good choice for “anyone who is looking for a very rewarding career and is looking to make a difference in his or her world.”

“What unites us as a college is the service dimension. Each discipline has a very strong service orientation.”

Jamie ByrneCollege of Professional Studies interim dean

College of Education fosters array of career opportunities

Before teachers were educa-tors, they were students. The College of Education prepares students for a variety of educa-tional careers.

The college includes several programs like teacher educa-tion, educational leadership, and counseling, adult and reha-bilitation education.

Another program it pro-vides is UALRTeach, which allows students to earn a sci-ence or mathematics degree as well as a teaching license in four years.

The COE also hosts the cen-ters for applied sciences in edu-cation, gifted education and lit-eracy.

There are also several elec-tronic resources available on the COE website, such as the Code of Ethics for Arkansas

Educators and Chalk and Wire, which allows educators to dis-play and update their portfo-lios online.

Beginning July 1, the college will have a new interim dean, Gail D. Hughes, who will take over for Angela Sewall, the col-lege’s former dean.

Hughes joined UALR in 2003. She has been an associate professor in the Educational Foundations unit of the Department of Educational Leadership.

She has also been honored with the Faculty Excellence Award and has written about a variety of topics, most notably research measurement.

“Her thoughtful, open and data-informed style will serve us well during this period of transition,” Zulma Toro, pro-vost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said in an email.

Sarah DeClerkFeatures editor

38 ualr.edu/forumSports

The UALR men’s basketball team will look to build off of a 17-15 record, includ-ing an impressive 13-3 home tally. Head coach Steve Shields hopes his team can improve based on the first-time experi-ence many of his players received last season.

“We won 17 [games] with seven fresh-men, four sophomores, two juniors and [I] feel like the future’s bright with what we’ve got coming back,” Shields said.

Among those returning is senior Will Neighbour, who led the team in scoring (10.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg) and comes off being named to the All-Sun Belt team for the second-straight year. Helping Neighbour lead the team will be senior Leroy Isler and juniors Ben Dillard and Michael Javes.

Also returning to the team are several young players who were frequent con-tributors: sophomores John Gillion, Josh Hagins and James White. New faces to the team will be freshman Marius Hill and junior-college transfer Devonte Smith (South Plains College, Lubbok, Texas).

The prospect of having the entire team intact from the start is a good sign for the coach. “The thing that I’m most encour-aged about this summer…we should have all 13 of our guys here on July 6,” Shields said. That is when the team will begin summer practices and take a trip to Canada to play a trio of games. “We

should get a good head start headed into the fall and that’s why you go on a foreign trip,” Shields said.

This season will also mark a transi-tion for the team and conference as the SBC shifts its season-ending tournament from Hot Springs to New Orleans. Coach Shields hopes that there is the same sup-port in the new home that there was in the old.

“We need to be somewhere where the community embraces our league and I think that’s what Hot Springs did,” Shields said. “That’s the reason I hate to see it leave Hot Springs. I think the impor-tant thing is: Will New Orleans embrace our league? And I hope they will,” Shields said.

Admission to all UALR athletic events is free to all UALR students.

ALton Young Assistant Editor

The UALR Women’s basket-ball team looks to bounce back after losing against MTSU in the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Despite losing the SBC cham-pionship game, the team was invited to play in the NIT tourna-ment and head coach Joe Foley accepted the offer. He knows his team will be even better in the 2013-14 season.

“I thought as young as we were, we did a god job to make it the NIT and that’s something we can build on,” Foley said.

The team went 24-9 this sea-son, including a 12-4 mark at home and a 14-6 conference record. The season was a tale of two Taylor’s as junior Taylor

Gault (13.9 points per game) and senior Taylor Ford (9.9 points per game) led the team in scor-ing. Ford also added a team-leading 4.5 assists per game. UALR was led on the boards by Hannah Fohne (6.1 rebounds per game) and Shanity James (6 rebounds per game) and Jannete Merriex tossed in a team-lead-ing 45 three-pointers.

Foley touts the leadership possibilities of the returning players.

“We’ll have three juniors and [three] seniors and that’ll be tre-mendous as far as leadership,” he said.

Foley would like for not only the seniors (Ford, Fohne and Nia Gregory), but also juniors Ka’Nesheia Cobbins, Kiera Clark, and Gault to become even “better leaders” this season.

ALton Young Assistant Editor

“We won 17 with a very young (team) - with seven freshmen, four sophomores, two juniors - and feel like the future’s bright with what we’ve got coming back.”

Steve ShieldsMen’s Basketball head coach

Seven freshmen now experienced, could translate to more wins

Leroy isler, a senior, hits a layup against Arkansas State University during the final home game of the 2012-13 season. He finished the season averaging 7.4 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game. Photo by EMJ Photography

Ka’nesheia Cobbins. a junior, drives past a Florida Atlantic University defender during a regular season game in January. Cobbins averaged 5.3 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game last season. Photo by EMJ Photography

Although Foley expects improvements all around next year, he quick to point out the tremendous success the team experienced last season, including that of sophomore Shanity James who, as a fresh-man, Foley said, “helped us a lot.”

The team will also infuse new talent with what Foley calls one of the “better fresh-men classes that we’ve had.” This includes signing point guard Di’Mond Jackson from University HS in Baton Rouge, La. and Gatorade Player of the Year Kaitlyn Pratt, a post play-er, from McDonogh 35 College Prep HS, also in Louisiana. The Trojans also have incom-ing freshman Keanna Keys a 6-foot-1 post player from Mississippi.

Women’s basketball team reloads, expects improvement

39ualr.edu/forum Sports

Baseball

With more than 400 wins in his career, head coach Scott Norwood and the UALR baseball team seeks consistency next sea-son. The team experienced an up-and-down season, finishing 28-26 during the season (13-17 in conference play), but did, however, experience a school-first three different pitchers being honored as SBC pitcher of the week. Travis McDonald, Chance Cleveland and Blake Huffman all received the award. The roster includ-ed nine seniors last year, so the team is expected to add some freshman talent to help bolster the team’s depth.

Swimming/ Diving

The UALR swim team experienced great success in the fifth year of Amy Bur-gess’ tenure as head coach at UALR, con-tinually breaking records with seniors Kara Raney, and sisters Hope and Holly Myers leading the way. Raney broke many of her own records this season in the back-

stroke and freestyle competitions. Juniors Alexis Stone, Meghan Peterson, and Sa-mantha Thompson will help lead a team which earned a second-place finish at the Hendrix Classic. Sophomores Valeriya Teplova, Natalie Swindle and diver Megan Scott will try to best record-breaking fresh-man seasons of their own. The team will be welcoming at least eight freshman to the team next fall.

Soccer

New head coach Adrian Blewitt will add 13 new players to a team of five seniors, seven juniors and four sophomores, which he inherited in January. The team looks to bounce back from a 2-16 overall record, which included a 1-9 record in conference play. The team will play its first game under Blewitt Aug. 21, against Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn., and include games against schools such as Ole Miss and Louisiana Tech as the season progresses.

Cross Country/ Track

The UALR men’s and women’s track and field teams finished 10th and 11th respec-tively in the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships last season. Both teams

look to improve this year despite losing a lot of veteran talent. The men’s team loses the experience of nine graduating players while the women’s team returns just two seniors.

Volleyball

Head coach Van Compton adds seven new faces to the volleyball team this season. The team had an overall record of 13-14 with a conference record of 9-5 last season. The team will try to improve on the road where they had an overall record of 9-12.

Golf

The women’s golf team loses senior Emelie Westrup, who last year garnered All Sun Belt Conference first team honors, along with losing senior Malin Lundberg. The team seeks to improve on their sixth place finish in last season’s SBC Champi-onship and add to their first place finish at the MSU/Payne Stewart memorial.

The men’s team loses only senior Nick-laus Benton, so they return pretty much the same team that had a second place finish ASU Fall Beach Classic. The return-ees include junior Alfred Kerstis who was named to the second team All Sun Belt Conference. The team also placed fifth at the SBC Championship.

Trojan Sports in brief Budget cuts end tennis program

The UALR Athletics department announced the discontinuation of the women’s tennis program at UALR on April 3.

“The elimination of a sport was necessary to meet budget reductions,” Director of Athletics Chris Peterson said in a press release.

Cutting the tennis program will equate to nearly $200,000 in savings, said George Lee, the assistant director of athletics/business operations.

For the fiscal year 2013, the tennis program had a budget of $172,219; however, the total amount spent has been more than $196,000. In compari-son, the men’s basketball team had a budget of $1.1 million dollars, but spent more than $1.23 million, creat-ing more than $130,000 in the deficit.

The UALR Athletic Department has a budget of about $7.1 million for the fiscal year 2013. More than $4.6 million of which comes from the ath-letic fee that all students pay along with tuition, according to the annual budget. But with enrollment down this year, the amount of money the Department of Athletics will have to operate with in the next fiscal year will be less, which forces the department to make cuts in order to have a balanced budget.

UALR officially sponsors men’s: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track and outdoor track and women’s: basketball, cross coun-try, golf, indoor track, outdoor track, soccer, swimming, volleyball and ten-nis. But when the tennis program is cut, after the current season ends, it will bring the total number of sports at UALR to 14, the minimum number of sports that must be offered in order to maintain membership as a division-1 school.

“We tried to really look at the sport that would be least effected as far as the number of student athletes ... and that is tennis,” Lee said.

The student-athletes currently on the roster will have the option to stay at UALR for one year or transfer to another school and receive immediate clearance for eligibility.

The women’s tennis program has been sponsored by UALR every year since 1975, making it one of the lon-gest-tenured sports at the university.

Jacob Ellerbee Sports Editor

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