Issue 7, Volume 118 -- October 12, 2022

Three dead after Russian bridge falls

The only bridge linking Russia to the occupied Crimean peninsula was bombed on Saturday, Oct. 8. Parts of the Kerch Strait Bridge collapsed and three people died. The bridge served as the most important supply line for Russian troops fghting in Southern Ukraine. This loss for Russia adds fuel to mounting criticism of the war at home.

NATIONAL

Elon Musk vows to change Twitter app

Billionaire Elon Musk has until Oct. 28 to close his deal with Twitter. Musk agreed to buy Twitter in April for $44 billion. Musk shared his plans to move forward with the deal in a tweet on Oct. 4 that read, “Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.” Musk told Twitter staff that the app should be transformed into something similar to “WeChat,” the Chinese app that combines social media, messaging, online shopping and ride-hailing.

Trump PAC buys ads ahead of midterms

Former President Donald Trump’s political action committee, MAGA Inc., began airing a new wave of advertisements on Saturday, Oct. 8, roughly a month before the midterm elections. Five million dollars worth of airtime was reserved, and ads have already been aired in Pennsylvania and Ohio. These two states are home to highly competitive senate races. The senate is currently divided 50-50, and control is only one seat away for each party.

STATE

UCA sees 3.4% retention increase

Southern Arkansas University reported record fall enrollment and Ouachita Baptist University had its highest enrollment in more than 50 years. While other colleges in the state report record enrollment, UCA reported a slight dip in overall enrollment. However, UCA has noticed an increase in its retention rate with students being retained at a rate of 74%, an increase of 3.4% compared to last year.

Campus Life:

UCA giving out expired KN95 masks on campus

UCA has been passing out expired KN95 masks to employees on campus, as many masks show April 29, 2022 or Aug. 5, 2022 as their expiration date. The expiration date can be found on the product certifcate located inside the fve-pack bag of Dr. Family KN95 masks, which are supplied to faculty on campus who requests them.

With UCA relaxing precautions for COVID-19 since the spring semester, these expiration dates on KN95 masks do not seem to be much of a concern to the Student Health Center, as the expired masks have been stored in the Physical Plant and appear to be in working condition.

“The UCA Student Health Center monitors the quality and condition of the KN95 masks and the three-ply, nonwoven surgical masks on a weekly basis. Although some of these masks are beyond the manufacturer’s assigned expiration date, we fnd that they are still in excellent condition and should still provide the protection expected of each mask,” UCA Student Health Clinic Medical Director Randy Pastor said.

There have been expired masks recorded at locations on campus like the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Education, Schedler Honors College, and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

New York Times states that the components expiring in the KN95 masks are “the elastomeric materials in the straps and the components that hold them in place” which are “even likelier to deteriorate.”

The director of Procurement and Travel

Services, Cassandra McCuien-Smith, said UCA’s Procurement Offce orders the KN95 masks for campus use and approximately 92,625 masks have been ordered.

“There has been a decrease” in orders for masks now that the pandemic has declined. “There is no set reordering date” for masks as “orders are placed on an as-needed basis,” McCuienSmith said.

McCuien-Smith also went into detail on the distribution process of KN95 masks and other personal protective equipment supplies on campus.

“The UCA department or organization will fll out the PPE Supply Request Form located on the UCA Procurement website. Once all required approvals are obtained, the form is emailed or handdelivered to the UCA Physical Plant Warehouse. The UCA department or organization will either pick up the KN95 masks from the Physical Plant or they will hand-deliver the KN95 masks,” McCuien-Smith said.

The New York Times discussed how to guarantee that a mask is authentic and safe to use in an article that was published on May 26.

The New York Times said, “A legitimate KN95 should also be stamped with text, including the name of the manufacturer, the model and ‘GB26262019,’ which is a reference to a quality control standard approved by the Chinese government.

The article says “the package will also have an expiration date and a lot number printed on it.” All electrostatic-charged masks will have an expiration date.

Sports:

Feature:

Three dead, one injured in series of Conway shootings

Following a car chase through Conway, offcers brought 32-year-old Prince Michael Bass Ajetunmobi into custody late Friday, Oct. 7, after shots were fred at 366 Donaghey Ave., located between UCA’s Sigma Nu and Sigma Tau Gamma houses.

Ajetunmobi was found with a single selfinficted gunshot wound at 8:35 p.m. and was brought into custody before being transported to a medical facility. Assistant Chief Chris Harris, of the Conway Police Department, said Ajetunmobi was not speaking.

Harris estimated Ajetunmobi died sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

According to a 9:50 p.m. press release from the Conway Police Department on Facebook, law enforcement received a report about the Donaghey shooting at 5:11 p.m., where a 29-year-old male was confrmed dead.

This shooting was one in a series of what Conway Police called “three separate but related shootings.” According to an initial Facebook post, Conway Police said they suspected all victims were known by Ajetunmobi.

The frst shooting occurred near the intersection of Highway 64 and Salem Road before 5 p.m., where a 25-year-old female, Drew

Thomason, was found injured and airlifted to a Little Rock health care facility, according to the release. As of Oct. 10, Harris said she is still alive and being treated for her “severe injuries.”

The second shooting occurred near Newcastle Drive shortly after 5 p.m., where police found a 48-year-old deceased female, Kori Bartholomew. Harris confrmed the second victim to be the mother of Thomason. It was also confrmed that Ajetunmobi had a relationship with Thomason.

“They had some type of domestic relationship. They had a child together,” Harris said.

On Oct. 30, 2021, Thomason fled charges against Ajetunmobi for rape, aggravated assault on family or household, and domestic battering in the third degree.

By July 18, 2022, Thomason had dropped the charges.

Regarding the 29-year-old victim, Harris said, “We know that gentleman was an acquaintance of both [Thomason and Ajetunmobi].”

According to a Facebook post made by Conway Police, offcers were in active pursuit of Ajetunmobi at 8:24 p.m. Ajetunmobi later fed his vehicle and fred shots at Conway Police before running into nearby woods. Conway Police did not return fre.

According to an alert sent to those at Hendrix College, Conway Police “apprehended the suspect

Harrin Hall closes due to mold throughout building

Mold throughout Harrin Hall caused the building to close in September, effectively relocating all services housed in the building — including the fnancial aid offce and veteran services offce — until further notice.

Kevin Carter, associate vice president for facilities, said the mold was frst noticed around the beginning of the fall 2022 semester. He said the source of the problem lies mainly within the roof of Harrin Hall.

“The cause is due to building envelope issues,” Carter said. “Water intrusion through a joint in the precast capstone as well as air infltration into the attic and plenum spaces causing high humidity levels.”

back together.”

Carter said the Physical Plant hired a mechanical engineer with Insight Engineering to run in-depth studies on Harrin Hall and fnd the exact cause of the mold to prevent it from returning.

“They also brought in an architect that specializes in these types of issues and together they developed a plan to address the water intrusion and specifed equipment to be installed that will dehumidify the air,” Carter said.

Earlier this year, Harrin Hall was given a new roof that Carter said will signifcantly help with future moisture issues.

Carter said that “minor” mold issues have been noticed in McAlister Hall and will be handled the same way as in Harrin Hall. He plans on starting roof replacement for McAlister in mid-October.

Hurricane Ian recently wreaked havoc in Florida as a category four hurricane with 155 mph winds, according to AccuWeather. Conway Corporation is aiding the state’s restoration efforts with a fve-man crew in Orlando.

Hurricane Ian left behind a wake of property damage and caused more than 3 million homes and businesses to be without power, according to AccuWeather.

Conway Corp sent a fve-man crew to the city, joining more than 650 workers from 19 states to help Florida recover. Conway Corp sent the crew a few days in advance of landfall to allow for a quicker response to the damage.

Jeff Matthews, manager of video production and local programming, spoke on the statistics behind Conway Corp’s effort.

“Electric department manager, Henry Mason, picked a fve-person crew from the volunteers who wanted to go

There is not an estimated cost in damages yet, but Carter said there should be in the coming weeks. Cleanup has consisted of drywall, ceiling tile and carpet removal in select locations. Environmental Enterprise Group Inc., a company based out of Russellville, has been controlling cleanup of the building.

“They specialize in mold remediation and environmental testing. They locate the affected areas, remove any materials that contain mold, and clean these areas with special cleaners that kill the mold,” Carter said. “Once this has been completed, necessary repairs will be made to put everything

Meanwhile, services like the Veteran Resource Center have been relocated to room 206 in Old Main. Greg Pelts, director of the Veterans Resource Center, said the investigation into the mold started small, but gradually became more hazardous as minor cleaning began. He said that even though most of the mold was located on Harrin Hall’s frst foor, all offces in the building were eventually evacuated.

“I guess for safety or precautionary reasons, it was like ‘well, we better shut this thing down.’ I presume as they start clearing up the mold problem, that could potentially start moving things in the air and circulating things,” Pelts said. “So, anybody in the

Students sing karaoke to African music at ‘Pass the Mic’ event.

‘Smile’ pairs jump scares with tension for a nail-biting experience.

Conway Corp sends linemen to help restore damages from Hurricane Ian

Police Beat

Officers Steve Pointer and Tyler Ryals were going over shift information when they observed a maroon Dodge Challenger enter the parking lot around 8:20 p.m. Oct. 2. Ryals smelled marijuana and followed the vehicle. They found the Challenger parked at the Stadium Park Apartments. The driver, student Nathan Andrew Page, denied having any marijuana on him or in the vehicle. The officers found a 9mm handgun in the glove box and another handgun under the driver’s seat. The suspects were handcuffed and a small amount of marijuana, a digital scale, 6.5 hydrocodone tablets and a smoking device was found. Page was placed under arrest and his concealed weapons permit was seized due to him having two different narcotics.

Masks:

On Oct. 2, student Kayla Downing visited the police department to make a report. Downing said her roommate, Taleiah Ashley, had hidden a camera in their dorm room in Arkansas Hall. Downing said she noticed the camera after she changed clothes and saw a fashing blue and steady green light. She had not noticed this before and did not know how long it had been there. She immediately contacted her roommate and RA about it. After a meeting with housing, the camera was confscated. Lieutenant Michael Shaw retrieved the camera and plugged it in to fnd a fashing blue and steady green light. The camera was looking for a network to connect to. Shaw spoke with Ashley, who said she set the camera up because she believed Downing was touching her things.

Offcer Tommy Wise noticed a white Nissan truck without tail lights pass him at 1:28 a.m. Oct. 2. Wise pulled the truck over and approached the driver. There was diffculty communicating with the driver due to a language barrier between Wise and the occupants — driver Luis Rolando Soc and passenger Salvador CastroPerez. Wise smelled alcohol on Soc’s breath, and he called in an offcer from the Conway Police Department to help communicate. The offcers found open containers of alcohol in the car. After Soc failed a sobriety test, he was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, not having a driver’s license and having an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle. Castro-Perez was released without charges.

Straps should not expire if stored properly

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These identifcation numbers can be easily found and should show the authenticity of the mask, including the expiration date.

Pastor said “the UCA Pandemic Planning Planning and Response Team was frst formed in March 2020,” in response to COVID-19. “Key personnel was added over the next 12 months as the pandemic evolved,” Pastor said.

Those who make the determination of mask distribution around campus are “discussed in the Pandemic Planning Team meetings and all requests or concerns are addressed during these meetings to make sure the campus’s needs are being met,” Pastor said.

“Every individual should always feel comfortable with the level of PPE that they use and some may choose not to use a mask beyond the assigned expiration date. This is the responsibility of each individual and is why it’s called ‘personal’

protective equipment,” Pastor said.

Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Stephen Addison explained that one can check the integrity of the ear straps on face masks by simply taking a one-

inch section of the strap between your thumbs and stretching it. If the section of the straps returns to its original length then the mask should be acceptable to use. If the mask has been stored correctly, the straps should not face any expiration.

Prosecuting attorney talks criminal justice in Conway

The Prosecuting Attorney for Arkansas’s 20th Judicial District, Carol Crews, spoke to students about the role the prosecutor’s offce plays in the criminal justice system on Oct. 4 in McCastlain Hall.

Arkansas’s 20th Judicial District includes Faulkner, Van Buren and Searcy counties.

In 2018, Crews became the frst female prosecuting attorney elected for her district.

Throughout her career, Crews has spent much of her time in juvenile court and adult circuit court prosecuting sexual assaults, crimes against children and violent crimes.

Crews said a prosecutor’s job is to “help someone through the worst thing that has ever happened to them.”

Crews supervises 11 attorneys and said it takes time management skills, passion and thick skin to be a good prosecutor.

“We are supposed to seek justice. Sometimes it’s a plea in a drug court or a life sentence for a serial child molester,” Crews said. “We just have to do what’s best for the case each time.”

Crews said it is important for prosecutors to make decisions based on the facts and evidence of the case and to make decisions they can stand by when they face criticism.

“The public criticizes a decision you did or didn’t make with only a fraction of the information presented,” Crews said. “You have to live and die by your decisions.”

“I’ve made changes on how we charge people in Faulkner County by trying to make it more thorough. We are harsh on sex offenders and crimes against children, but we never want to charge someone with a crime they didn’t commit,” Crews said. “If the evidence isn’t there, it’s got to go.”

Crews said, in her profession, some cases keep you up at night.

Crews spoke about a case in Conway in 2018 where a woman was abducted from TJ Maxx on a Saturday in the middle of the day.

“She died a very violent death,” Crews said. “You feel the weight of that on your shoulders to get whatever justice looks like in that case.”

Crews said the people that murdered the woman were young and came from bad situations.

“It was really tragic. Those two people chose to kill someone they didn’t know. There was a chill in the town after that happened,” Crews said.

Crews spoke about another case in Conway where a man was shot on Donaghey Avenue.

In this case, a young woman had a fat tire, so she called her father to help her fx it. A man was driving down the road and shot the woman’s father in the face.

“He died right there in front of her,” Crews said.

Crews said the woman didn’t think she would be able to speak about the crime in court because it was too traumatizing.

“She went from ‘I don’t think I can come to court and watch this’ to being able to stand up there and give her eyewitness account of that crime,” Crews

FUNDS

said. “The media didn’t pick up on this case for whatever reason, but this was a random act of violence that happened in Conway.”

Shooting:

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in the vicinity of Conway Human Development Center.”

This was the second alert to the Hendrix community. The frst said Conway Police were in foot

Relief:

pursuit of Ajetunmobi near the Hendrix athletic felds.

UCA police issued a notice via Safe@UCA at 5:40 p.m., telling people to stay away from

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help the people of Orlando. That group of linemen took two bucket trucks, a digger derrick truck and a pickup truck,” Mason said.

The crew was not paid for completely out of pocket by Conway Corp.

“The Orlando Utility Commission pays the costs incurred by Conway Corporation. While there, our crew worked 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily once the Hurricane passed through,” Matthews said.

When the team got to work in Florida, they paired up with another crew from the Arkansas region and a group from the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.

Conway Corp is no stranger to restoration efforts. The company has sent response teams to natural disasters such as Hurricane Irma in 2017, Hurricane Michael in 2018, and Hurricane Delta in 2020.

Conway Corp is a member of the Public Power Association, which is made up of utility corporations that work together to respond to disasters.

Matthews said mutual aid is something that Conway Corp does not shy away from.

“There are numerous benefts to being a part of mutual aid. In the event we suffered a widespread outage

the Donaghey location. At 6:18 p.m., UCA police notifed the community that there was no longer an active threat to the area.

here that we needed assistance [with], our fellow Public Power utilities would come here to assist,” Matthews said.

Matthews said the company learns a lot from its disaster relief efforts.

“Our assistance also provides the opportunity for our crews to learn; we learn how to restore electricity in the middle of devastation; we learn how to deal with meals, laundry, hotels, material distribution, etc. in a disaster with people unfamiliar with your system; we learn how other crews restore power in the middle of chaos,” Matthews said.

Crews said Arkansas is one of six states in the U.S. where the jury recommends sentences for crimes.

“Lately, the juries have been more sympathetic to people on drugs, even in a violent crime situation,” Crews said.

Crews said Faulkner County is known for having a lot of trials.

“I think that is good and I wish we could have more. New studies have shown that it is very healing for victims to get to go to court and tell their story. It can help them move past what happened if they get their day in court,” Crews said.

Robert Norvell, a visiting lecturer for UCA’s criminology program, said working cases is “beautiful chaos” that requires “lots of preparation.”

Crews said you have to know your case better than anyone if you want to win.

“You win your case in your offce,” Crews said.

Board adds ‘First Year Fee,’ raises health insurance rates

Students and employees will owe UCA more money in 2023; following unanimous approvals by the board of trustees on an added student fee and an increase in health insurance rates.

In the board’s Oct. 7 meeting, a new student fee was introduced to cover Welcome Week activities.

The “First Year Fee will be $100 for frst-time undergraduate students and $50 for transfer students,” according to Board Policy No. 634. The fee is proposed to allow students to utilize fnancial aid for frst-year activities that were previously paid for out of pocket, such as Student Orientation and Academic Registration.

SOAR costs $50 for an overnight session or $25 for a one-day session without room and board. The fee will replace these registration fees, in addition to funding “an early arrival extended orientation experience, Welcome Week programs, the UCA Family Network, including Family Day Events, and First-year targeted programming such as Storm the Stripes, class T-shirts, programming within the frst 40 days, and other frst-year-specifc events,” according to the policy.

SGA president Courtney Clawson supported the fee on behalf of the student body.

“Every student that comes through a SOAR session over the summer has to pay this fee anyway or they have to pay out of pocket. By adding this fee, it would allow fnancial aid to cover these costs and prevent the fnancial burden that comes with families having to pay upfront.”

The fee passed unanimously. No frst-year fee existed before this.

In response to infation and depleting insurance reserves, the

Board approved a 9.9% increase in health insurance rates for the 2023 calendar year, an addition of $1,153,941 overall.

Faculty senate president Kristin Dooley supported the agenda item.

“It’s diffcult to support an agenda item that ultimately takes money out of the households of faculty and staff. However, I do reluctantly support it,” Dooley said. “What’s not seen is the work that went into freezing our rates last year, keeping the increase modest compared to private insurance increases and maintaining our current level of coverage.”

In addition to the employee’s increase in rates, the university will also increase their contribution.

“I also appreciate that the university is sharing the burden of the increase by increasing the employer contribution as well. I feel it overall is a situation where the bad news could have been a lot worse,” Dooley said.

UCA has been self-insured for seven years, and ebbs and fows with COVID-19 have affected the amount of money in reserves for paying claims.

Chief of staff for the Offce of the President, Amy Whitehead, briefed the board on the proposed increase.

“Our reserves have been impacted by claims over this last year,” Whitehead said. “That has inhibited our ability to be able to draw on some of those reserves to mitigate premium increases this year.”

The university had a reserve of $1.3 million in 2020, which led to no increase in rates for 2021. The university’s reserves are currently sitting at $283,641 and that’s “below what we’d like it to be,” Whitehead said.

The increase in claims is COVID-19 preventive care catching up, Whitehead said.

“We’re starting to see the

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building, regardless of how close or far they were from the problem, could be potentially disrupted there.”

Pelts said, despite the relocation, the Veteran Resource Center is fully functional in its temporary home.

“It may be a little odd, [because] the folks share this area and whatnot, but we’ve got all the automation capability we

used to have,” Pelts said. “We kind of, I guess, made it fun in a way. We made it work.”

Pelts said that even though the mold cleanup has lasted longer than anticipated, the space that veterans affairs has been moved into already felt like home — namely because it used to be the central location for the service.

“There was already veteran stuff around the walls

impact of COVID now with some of that delayed, preventive care. People weren’t going to the doctor as much, that’s why our surplus was looking so good. Now, some of that delayed care is impacting the plan.”

To mitigate the increase, employees can participate in the university’s BeWell program.

Whitehead said 605 out of the 1,279 eligible employees participated in the program in 2021 and described it as a “cost management tool.”

Eligible employees can still participate to discount their 2023 rates. The deadline is Oct. 31.

“We’re continuing to educate candidates on what it really takes to get that discount. And the answer is not much,” Whitehead said. “You need to spend about 15-20 minutes at the doctor getting a free biometric screening … and then you take a survey, which takes about 10 minutes. So, you’re looking at about 30 minutes of your time to get a premium discount every single month next year.”

In other business, the board approved language updates to current board policies, a right of way and easement to the city of Conway for the construction of gas lines and a gas riser station near the practice football feld on Faris Road, and three revisions to existing policies.

The revisions included the offcial introduction of no-cost parking for employees with 25 or more years at the university, a clarifcation on computer use for former employees and the removal of restricted hours for alumni at the HPER Center.

Finally, Beta Alpha Psi, a fnancial studies honor organization, was recognized as the Bear CLAWS recipient.

The board will next meet Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. in Wingo Hall.

and whatnot,” Pelts said. “We were like [at] home already. I think it might have been easier on us than some of the other departments.”

For UCA’s fnancial aid offce, most of its workers were essentially “scattered around campus,” Pelts said. Financial aid can be contacted by phone at 501-450-3140 or online at uca.edu/financialaid/contactour-offce.

Roommate hides camera in dorm Man arrested for suspected DWI

Concealed carry seized, possesion

Around Campus:

Pike’s Clips for Cancer

From 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, Pi Kappa Alpha will host a fundraiser for Maggie Cyr with food, drinks, music and haircuts at the Pike house.

Cram Jam

From 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, the Student Activities Board will host a study session with snacks and crafts in the Ronnie Williams Student Center Ballroom.

Pink Out Volleyball Game

From 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, the Sugar Bears will play a pink out volleyball game where fans are encouraged to wear pink at the Prince Center. The pink is for breast cancer awareness.

Opera Scenes

From 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, the music department will host a performance of opera scenes in the Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall.

Amigo Fest

From 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, a celebration of Hispanic and LatinX heritage with entertainment, food trucks and giveaways will take place at the Ronnie Williams Student Center Courtyard.

Seed Collection Event

From 3-4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, the Green Bear Coalition will host an event where attendees will learn responsible land management and seed collection techniques with Coleman Little at the Jewel E. Moore Nature Reserve.

Protecting Me, Myself & I

From 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Oct.17, Women of Excellence will host a program designed to teach young women a few basic self-defense tactics in Ronnie Williams Student Center Room 214.

Mike Durkin: Story-Sharing Circle

During x-period on Tuesday, Oct. 18, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will host a public workshop/ story-sharing circle with Mike Durkin at the Ronnie Williams Student Center Amphitheatre or — if it rains — the McAlister Hall Mirror Room.

Sharon Mason provides food for thought in lecture

Sharon Mason, assistant professor of the department of physiology and religion, spoke about why and how food is essential to humans in a lecture Oct. 6 in Ferguson Chapel.

Mason started off the talk by questioning food’s importance and asked her audience if food is merely a way to provide nutrients for the human body.

Mason said, “We could do a little thought experiment. If someone gave you the opportunity to plug into an overnight IV to fuel your body, then you would get all your nutritional needs met for the day, would you do it?”

Mason said the IV thought experiment would still leave the human body craving

specific foods, such as a person’s favorite food. This demonstrates that food is a way humans bond and show identity, rather than purely survive.

Mason also touched on the ethics of consumption.

“I want to talk about how food relates to the ethical treatment of all the different connections that we have with food systems,” Mason said. “This includes animals, people who grow the food, transportation, who prepares, it includes the natural world.”

Mason questioned the sustainability of society’s current eating habits and raised the question of whether people will have access to the same food in the future.

Junior Jazz Brown said, “The ethics of food was my favorite topic. Producing and providing food for people and the sustainability

MUSIC

Percussionists perform at UCA

Guest percussionists Joe Moore and Oliver Molina performed four of Moore’s original songs for students and others at the Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall Oct. 4.

“It was amazing. I think one of the most important things is that it’s inspiring for my students to see other percussionists come in, see a composer play his own music and share that with them,” percussion professor Blake Tyson said. “Their ability and their technique is just incredible.”

The title of the third song Moore and Molina performed was “Out of a Mountain of Despair,” and Moore said it “comes from a couple lines of [Martin Luther King Jr.’s] iconic speech.”

Moore said the song is supposed to show hope in times of despair with “dark” and “dissonant” sounds with lighter moments of hope, but that the song “ends on a question mark.”

Tyson talked about the second song, “Flex,” and said, “I thought that was really interesting how all the sounds blended together — the gongs and the vibraphones.”

Tyson said the vibraphones had quarters taped on that created a vibrating, “sizzle” sound when Moore and Molina used a bow, typically used for a violin or cello.

Moore said that the third song, “Apex,” was written for two students’ recitals. “I tried to get them out of the norm of percussion instruments,” Moore said, mentioning glass bottles as one of the nontraditional items used. The song also featured the triangle, snare, toms, bongos and more.

“I really liked the last piece,” Tyson said. The last song, “Secrets We Keep” featured four movements,

titled “whispering,” “concealing,” “withholding” and “revealing.”

Moore described the four movements as being “about that idea: secrets we keep,” and that it could apply to family, friends or others. Moore said that the movements go from telling the secret, hiding it, not telling the whole truth and, finally, revealing the secret.

The song featured a variety of instruments like vibraphones, toms, a conga and a bass drum.

Molina said the group’s name, “Omojo Percussion Duo,” comes from a combination of his and Moore’s names.

The first song, “Geaux,” had Molina on the snare drum and Moore on the timpanis — large, copper drums. Moore played the timpanis with his hands as opposed to the regular mallets during some sections of the song.

Molina said the two have visited many schools, and have more stops in Arkansas and Missouri.

“We heard some great playing today from students,” Molina said about their stop at UCA.

A full live stream of the performance can be found on the music department’s YouTube channel.

Moore teaches at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and the University of Texas at Arlington, according to the concert program, and is a part of multiple percussion duos outside of “Omojo.”

Molina is “active as a performer and clinician and is associate professor of music at Northwestern State University,” according to the program.

The two met while studying music at the University of Central Florida and began performing together in 2004.

of food.”

“If everyone overindulged, how would that affect humans 100 years from now?”

Mason also touched on how food relates to the body through all five senses.

“Philosophy for science tends to really focus on vision, but I wonder what science would look like if dogs could do it. I am curious what kind of sciences dogs would produce,” Mason said. “Their main mode of sensory contact with the world is smell ... Dogs would probably have a way more developed account of smell.”

Food is also a medium for humans to interact with the world and the surrounding people.

“Food is related to memory and subconscious, particularly through smell and taste,” Mason said. “This makes me think of

‘Ratatouille’ … in that moment when the food critic is sitting there about to eat the food Remy made for him and he eats it. What happens? He is instantly transported back to his childhood.”

Mason’s final argument was how food is associated with culture and identity.

What determines if something is food?” Mason said, “People in different cultures eat really different things, and you can learn a lot about a culture by what they eat. Food is often related to the region. There are some cultures that think that fermented bovine mammary fluid is good. Did anyone eat cheese today?”

The lecture was part of the Keystone Conversations program presented by the college of arts, humanities and social sciences; with the goal of shedding light on why food is more than meeting a daily recommended value.

CULTURE

Students learn the art and history of Chinese dance in presentation

UCA’s football team was not the only one to show graceful and elegant footwork on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Just across campus, in the McCastlain Ballroom, Melody Yunzi Li and Cynthia Ma gave a presentation on the art of Chinese Dance.

Li and Ma spoke about the wide varieties of Chinese dance and its history, as well as its links to literature and film.

However, this presentation included more than just information about Chinese dance—there were demonstrations from both Li and Ma.

“Neither of us are professional dancers, with very little formal training, but we both enjoy the art of Chinese dance,” Ma said.

The scholars glided across the dance floor in ceremonial dresses, worn by traditional dancers, as onlookers watched.

Smiles adorned the audience as Li and Ma expressed their grace and passion through dance.

Li said she enjoyed the duet dances.

“My favorite would be the first duet, called “Tanchuang,” as I got to dance with my best friend, and also the music is “gufeng” which combines traditional and modern elements,” Li said.

Li said the art of Chinese dance has evolved throughout the years and shared the various kinds of dances.

Dances included traditional Chinese dances such as Han Folk Dancing, Flower Drum Lantern Dance, and minority dances.

Ma re-entered the room wearing

traditional minority dance attire: an allblue dress with a short hem and imitation fur.

Audience members were called to their feet as Li and Ma encouraged them to learn simple steps from two of the minority dances.

Li also changed her costume for a demonstration of Chinese classical dance, where she showed off the props that can be used in traditional dances such as a silk fan streamer and an oil-paper umbrella.

Li said much of Chinese dance is focused on symbolism and that the many graceful movements of Chinese dancers are supposed to mimic aspects of nature.

One of Ma’s last dances was Cai Wei, which incorporates the use of water sleeves to reinforce the imagery of the dancer’s grace and style, although she believes it was not the most fun to perform.

“I think the paper fan scholar dance is the most fun, but Cai Wei is the one I’ve performed the most, so I have more good memories attached to it.” Ma said.

Li covered different types of instruments that can be used such as the erhu, which closely resembles a violin.

Li gave a final performance in water sleeves, reinforcing the Chinese dance’s importance placed upon grace and elegance.

The flow of the movements mixed with the traditional clothes and music made the presentation a visually-delightful and educational event.

Li and Ma’s presentation was the finale of the 51st annual Southwest Conference on Asian Studies, which ran Oct. 7-8. SWCAS is a regional conference focusing on Asian studies.

Students bond over African music, culture in ‘Pass the Mic’ event

Besides laughter and conversation, students singing karaoke to African music could be heard throughout the Ronnie Williams Student Center Oct. 4.

“Pass the Mic” was hosted by the African Student Association, a registered student organization, and offered a relaxed environment to sing and mingle with fellow students, whether they were a member of the RSO or not.

Oyinkansola Abejide is the event coordinator for ASA and said the idea for the night’s event spurred from how fun she felt karaoke can be.

“It’s a way to interact with people and just bring people together, you know? [We] laugh, chill, hang,” Abejide said.

An important part of the event, Abejide said, was playing exclusively African music. This was to help share

African culture with attendees.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a way to interact with each other,” Abejide said. “We Africans love to enjoy things and have fun, so I feel like karaoke is just one of those things … off that checklist.”

Junior James Buckely is not a member of ASA, but his drive to attend “Pass the Mic” came from a desire to be with friends and show support for minority-inclusive events.

“I like to show my support to a lot of minority or diversity-focused events,” Buckley said. “So I thought it would be a good time to get out there, spend time with people that I already know and meet some new faces as well.”

Buckley is an involved student on campus. He is a part of the Minority Mentorship Program, the Black Male Achievement Challenge, Students for the Propagation of Black Culture and the Blueprint — a group at UCA that “builds and assists organizations and

students for success, leadership and professional affairs.”

Vice president of ASA, Patricia Ahounou, said that “Pass the Mic” was an event she was excited about because of its atmosphere and relaxed energy. She said that people seemed to really enjoy the group’s Afrochill event because it was more casual.

“Our first [event] was good, the turnout was good. The second one we had was more educational. We discussed international students experiencing the U.S. and UCA,” Ahounou said. “That one didn’t turn out that well, but it was educational for the people that came.”

Ahounou is a senior and has worked with ASA since freshman year.

“It’s such a great group for international students,” Ahounou said. “[You] find a second family here.”

As far as future plans for ASA goes, Ahounou and Abejide are both looking forward to the group’s Y2K Nollywood

party on Halloween. This event encourages students to dress up as their favorite actors and actresses from the Nigerian movie industry.

Abejide said she hopes the event can encourage African culture to be shared even further.

For November, Abejide is coordinating an event for those who are unable to travel back home for the holidays, a Thanksgiving potluck.

“A lot of international students are not able to go home for Thanksgiving because costs are pretty high,” Abejide said. “So we’re going to have a Thanksgiving potluck, maybe a week before Thanksgiving.”

Beyond that, Abejide said the group has plans to continue hosting events well into the spring semester.

To keep up with future events hosted by the African Student Association, students can follow them on Instagram @uca_asa.

UCA alum Whitney Smith talks entrepreneurship

UCA alum Whitney

Smith detailed how she started her career in interior design and renovation during “Networking with a Pro” presented by UCA’s Office of Diversity and Community.

“My journey has not been straight and narrow,” Whitney said in the Thursday, Oct. 6 Zoom session.

Smith graduated from UCA in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in radiography but quickly realized that being an X-ray technician was not the right career path for her.

“I tried to stick to the plan, but I ended up going out into the job market not using my degree,” Smith said.

Smith was able to get a job as a real estate appraisal assistant, which led her to attend a networking event in Little Rock about flipping houses and remodeling. At the event, she met a mentor with whom she formed a partnership.

Once Smith began flipping houses with her mentor, she developed a love for interior design and received positive feedback from homebuyers for

her remodeling.

“I realized I had a good eye for aesthetics, so I got certified in interior design and started my own business from there,” Smith said.

Smith’s business, LinWhit Designs, offers interior design services, remodeling services, interior and exterior selections and consultation services.

Smith also started a YouTube channel called “Whitney in the City” where she posts videos talking about interior design elements while touring interior design stores, hotels, fashion stores, and more.

Smith said she has “flipped about 20 houses over the past four years.”

Smith said that mentorship was a large part of her success.

“You always have to be coachable because you do not know everything,” Smith said.

“Having a mentor puts you in a position that is a step ahead of the game because they already have the experience, so you have that support.”

Smith said one of her most memorable projects was a house she flipped in Conway.

The woman who lived at the house was about to lose her

home because she owed a lot of taxes on it.

“She didn’t want to lose everything, but she needed the taxes paid, so I purchased her home by paying off the taxes,” Smith said.

She and her team helped the woman set up a yard sale and gave her all the profits. Smith also helped the woman find an apartment.

“I just wanted to make her situation better,” Smith said.

The house was in bad shape when Smith purchased it.

“This lady was sweet, but she was an extreme hoarder, so the stench in the home was unbelievable,” Smith said.

“We had to bomb the house twice to get the stench out of the walls and the bugs out.”

Smith said she “gutted the house from the inside out” and was “under extreme stress” throughout the process because her contractor started to fall behind on the remodeling schedule.

After she fired that contractor, she got her contractor’s license so she could oversee the entire remodeling process and “stay on top of everybody.”

“The project was so

AWARENESS

memorable because the home turned out so beautiful despite all the stress of the project,” Smith said.

The Conway house was the most expensive project she has done. Smith said the house went for $100,000 to $150,000 before it eventually sold.

“Everything isn’t always glitz and glam but you end up figuring it out,” Smith said.

Angela Jackson, the director of the Office of Diversity and Community, said events like this one are “a good way to reach outside the boundaries of Conway and connect with UCA alums who have made great strides in their industries.”

Smith’s advice to students was to find their passion and diversify it.

“Figure it out when you’re younger so you can step into who you actually want to be and do what makes you happy,” Smith said.

“Doing what you’re interested in can really make you money. Go for your interests even if you don’t think it’s hot right now because the world is unlimited nowadays.”

Students participate in annual Brake for Bears

Braver Angels prepares faculty for difficult conversations

Braver Angels, an Arkansas bipartisan citizens’ movement, hosted a workshop on how to have civil discussions with family, friends and peers Friday, Oct. 7

Lisa McNeir, a psychologist with more than 16 years of experience as a therapist, and April Chatham-Carpenter, a professor of applied communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, led the event with a presentation and hands-on activities.

McNeir outlined the seminar’s three goals: understanding the effect of polarization, learning how to engage in productive conversations and allowing attendees to practice these new skills.

Chatham-Carpenter explained how polarization can have detrimental effects on how people with different political ideologies engage with one another.

“If we’re always fed negative things about the other side, it’s going to be difficult for us to actually see the other side in a different way,” Chatham-Carpenter said.

McNeir introduced LAPP skills: listening, acknowledging, pivoting and perspective. These four skills help unravel polarization.

understand why they feel and think the way they do,” McNeir said.

After you have listened to the other person’s side, the next step is to acknowledge.

“If you can, it’s a powerful tool to build this connection,” McNeir said. “If there’s any common ground, if there’s any part of what that person said that you agree with, to acknowledge that as well.”

Now that you’ve acknowledged their point of view, it is time to pivot. McNeir said this means asking for consent to share what you think.

“If you get the go-ahead to move forward, then you get to offer your perspective,” McNeir said.

McNeir advised using I-statements when sharing your opinion so it is clear that “you’re not defending it, you’re presenting it.”

“It’s really important to be explicit by identifying where you’re coming from,” McNeir said. “That means not watering down your position or apologizing.”

McNeir and a volunteer demonstrated how to engage in a civil conversation by role-playing a disagreement between a dog person and a cat person. They spoke politely to each other, voiced their

scenarios where they must appropriately respond to someone they disagree with politically.

For example, one instance involved a conservative uncle that argued that the election was stolen from Trump.

She asked the audience to write down a response that shows that they agree with the uncle on at least one aspect of what he said and to include a pivot statement. In this scenario, once you’ve genuinely listened to the uncle and established a friendly connection, you are free to share how you feel.

“Remember, you’re trying to say it in a way that’s not going to be argumentative or dogmatic, but it is going to be able to be heard,” Chatham-Carpenter said.

After the audience practiced using the method, McNeir encouraged them to use the strategies they were taught in the real world to help them with difficult conversations.

“Being a depolarizer is not some righteous cause that you’re on,” McNeir said.

“It is something that really helps all of us. It’s saying that being polarized is not helping us as humans work together.”

People of UCA: Olivia Fleming

Recent UCA graduate and current graduate student Olivia Fleming is using her Spanish degree to jump into the job force and further her interests in art and history.

“I honestly enjoy using the language and can find many more job opportunities working in my field than I would in art history,” Fleming said.

In December 2021, Fleming graduated with a double degree in Spanish and Art History.

Fleming is from Little Rock, Arkansas and graduated from Parkview High School with a musical background. They decided to come to UCA after receiving an offer from the Schedler Honors College.

Fleming was the president of Students for the Arts, an RSO that advocates for the

promotion of the arts in Arkansas, in 2020, but she ultimately decided to follow her passion for the Spanish language in graduate school.

Fleming now works as a Spanish graduate teaching assistant at UCA teaching Elementary Spanish I.

“I’ve been given free rein of 25 college students,” Fleming said. “It is kind of crazy when I realize how far I’ve come because I started learning Spanish with a graduate assistant like myself in 2018.”

Over the summer, Fleming studied Spanish in Madrid, Spain.

They took classes at La Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Fleming was able to combine both their interest in the language and art history during the trip.

While in school, Fleming learned more about Spanish literature, theater, poetry and

music.

“I really enjoyed the culture and getting to speak Spanish everywhere I went,” Fleming said.

On weekends in Madrid, Fleming traveled and visited Granada, Toledo and Segovia. These three cities are historically important to Spain.

“Granada was my favorite because of the Alhambra, which is a Muslim fortress converted into a Catholic palace for the kings of Spain in the 16th century and all its beautiful art and architecture,” Fleming said.

Three goals Fleming has this semester are to improve as an instructor, find a good balance between work and social life, and continue advocating for themself and their needs.

“I struggle a lot with burnout and mental and social exhaustion, so it is always a priority of mine to know my own

limits and create boundaries,” Fleming said.

Before finishing graduate school, Fleming hopes to read “Don Quixote,” “Cien años de Soledad” and “La Celestina,” which are works of literature that are a part of the Spanish language literature canon.

After graduate school, Fleming would like a job as a Spanish instructor, translator or interpreter in a unique setting.

“Honestly, my dream job would be working at a wildlife sanctuary somewhere,” Fleming said.

“Practically speaking, I would love a job that combines the Spanish language with art or art history.”

When Fleming is not teaching, they enjoy hanging out with their three dogs and six rats.

Fleming also enjoys painting with oils and playing video games.

“Sonny and Cher; they’re a glam couple.” “Care Bears, because they’re bears obviously.”

“Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec. Seeing President Davis as very stoic and non-expressive would be hilarious.”

“Morticia and Gomez Adams; that one is always a good choice.”

“They should be the couple from Corpse Bride. It’s spooky and they are ‘one’ in an eerie way.”

“What should President Houston Davis and his wife, Jenny Davis, be for Halloween?

Upcoming Games

Volleyball

6 p.m., Oct. 14 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Men’s and women’s cross country Oct.15 at Oklahoma State Football

12 p.m., Oct. 15 at Kennesaw State Men’s soccer 7 p.m., Oct.15 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Women’s soccer 3 p.m., Oct. 16 vs. North Alabama

Lindenwood drains clock, wins by eld goal

Teamwork thrives for the Volley-Bears

Following its win against Bellarmine (8-10, 2-4 ASUN), the UCA volleyball team (12-7, 4-2 ASUN) has begun to show promise.

The final overall score of the 2021 season was 7-18, with the conference record being 5-11.

It’s too early into the ASUN conference to see how things will pan out, but we can already see clear improvement within the regular season.

A reason for this improvement is the growth of past players, as well as talented freshmen, hitting the court.

Some of the notable freshmen are libero Alexis McDaniel and setter Caylan Koons.

While McDaniel may be shorter than many of her teammates, coming in at 5’3, it only helps her as a libero to be agile and nimble on the court.

Although Koons may have a low kill count of 14, she easily makes up for it with 447 assists, as well as 115 digs.

These high stats help other players such as sophomore outside hitter Jamiryana Hall and senior outside hitter Alexis Stumbough launch better attacks on the opponent.

At the end of the 2021 season, Hall had performed 69 kills.

It’s an impressive feat to see Hall already surpassing this record while in the middle of the season. As of now, Hall has scored 126 kills, near double what she scored last year.

With 12 games still remaining in the season, there isn’t any way to tell how high this number may reach.

So far, Stumbough’s 2022 stats are looking to replicate her 2021 stats, however, it’s nothing to scoff at.

Playing nearly every game so far, Stumbough has proved that she is a leader for the Sugar Bears and one of their best outside hitters, scoring 19 kills against the Little Rock Trojans.

Because of Stumbough’s leadership skills, the team as a whole has put their best into every recent match, showing improvement in both their offense and defense because of their teamwork.

As the Bear’s seasonal stats improve, only time will tell if they continue upward.

Following UCA’s ASUN win against Austin Peay, the Lindenwood Lions clawed away at the Bears and gained a 5249 nonconference victory Oct. 8.

Lindenwood quarterback Cade Brister put the first points on the board with a touchdown at 12:43 in the first quarter.

UCA junior wide receiver Christian Richmond immediately matched Lindenwood’s lead with a 100-yard return on the kick, bringing the score to 7-7.

Throughout the game’s remainder, both teams stayed within one touchdown of each other.

Coming into the second quarter, Lindenwood led 21-14 thanks to another 1-yard rush for a touchdown by Brister.

At the beginning of the third quarter, UCA sophomore running back Darius Hale completed a 75-yard pass from junior quarterback Will McElvain, tying

the score at 35-35. At the end of the third, both teams were up to 49-49.

The only points scored in the fourth quarter came from Lindenwood sophomore kicker Logan Seibert in the form of a 36-yard field goal.

These three points would mean victory for the Lions, keeping the score at 52-49 until the game’s end.

Lindenwood used the last of its drives to take victory formations and kneel after each snap, effectively running down the clock until the win was secured.

Coach Nathan Brown said Lindenwood’s offense was hard-to-beat for the Bears.

“[It’s] obviously a tough night. I give a 100% credit to Lindenwood and their team and their coaching staff,” Brown said. “I thought they had a good offensive scheme. Their quarterback played out of his mind.”

Brown said UCA had some moments it could have capitalized on late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.

He said the team didn’t take

advantage of them offensively.

“I thought we played pretty well on offense throughout the night, we just didn’t have a great end of the third quarter and fourth quarter on offense,” Brown said.

Hale said he felt like the team played well and that sophomore teammate running back Kylin James pushed him to play better.

“Our team effort was great. I mean, we fought all night, the ball just didn’t roll our way in the end,” Hale said. “I definitely tried to give it my all tonight. Me and Kylin pushed each other through the whole game and tried to put the team on our back.”

Regarding Lindenwood’s quarterback kneeling for the final drives, Hale said he wasn’t disappointed in the choice.

“That’s just a part of the game,” Hale said. “With that much time left in such a close game the best thing to do on the offense is burn the clock out.”

Going into next week’s match, UCA

MEMORIAL MATCH

will face off against Kennesaw State in another away match. It will also be a return to the ASUN mentality following this nonconference loss.

“We’ve got to flip the page back to an ASUN conference game. We’ve got a chance to get to 2 and 0 in the ASUN,” Brown said. “Obviously they pose an interesting problem with what they do on offense, running the triple option, they’re really good at it. They’re a preseason top 10 team so we know they’ve got some talent. They’ve got athletes all over the field on defense.”

Brown said intensive practice would be crucial to bring a win back home from the team.

“Our guys are beat up pretty good right now. Hopefully we can go to Kennesaw and put a good product on the field,” Brown said. “I think we’ve got a good shot if we go down there and have a good week of practice.”

The Bears’ match against Kennesaw State will be away on Oct. 15. The game will start at 12 p.m.

Men’s soccer game commemorates life of player

It was an emotional night at Bill Stephens Soccer Complex as the UCA men’s soccer team squared off against Oral Roberts University. Prior to kickoff, both teams joined hands at midfield to honor the life of Eugene Quaynor, a member of ORU’s soccer team that died Sept. 28 in a car accident. This was the first time that ORU has stepped foot on a field to play since the death of their teammate.

The score was 2-2 by the end of the game. Both UCA (4-4-2, 3-1 ASUN) and ORU (5-3-2, 1-1 ASUN) fought hard but neither prevailed victoriously.

Oral Roberts came out guns blazing, quickly exposing weaknesses in UCA’s defense. A little over three minutes into the game, ORU’s offense scored the first goal of the night, making it 1-0.

Following this came stubborn resistance from both teams’ defenses, as the rest of the first half would remain scoreless. This included key moments from UCA senior Bradyn Knutson, a defender who helped stop ORU’s momentum and advanced the ball in the opposite direction.

The second half only heightened in intensity.

ORU, like in the first half, was quick to fire, landing a goal in UCA’s net just over three minutes after the second half began. But this would be the last time ORU scored.

UCA’s defense did a good job of keeping the ball on the opposite side of the field, but it was ORU’s fouls that created space for UCA to put points on the board.

In the 72nd minute, a free kick found sophomore Jonathan Randall. He then got the ball to senior Mathias Bendiksen, who put one in to score UCA’s first goal of the night. Then, five minutes later, another free kick provided sophomore Richy Lapointe-Guevara the opportunity to put the ball into the right side of ORU’s net.

Despite aggressive attempts from both teams’ forwards, that would be the last goal of the game.

Earlier in the game, at the 27thminute mark, the clock stopped, and all players took a kneel. 27 was Quaynor’s number, and audience members rose

and applauded to celebrate the life of the inspirational athlete.

After the game, UCA paid their respects to ORU.

“Credit to them,” Bradyn Knutson said. “They played their hearts out, and they had every reason to.”

UCA Coach Frank Kohlenstein received a one-game suspension last week

against Lipscomb, so taking his place on Tuesday night was Assistant Coach Kyle Segebart. When asked about UCA’s overall performance, he too showered ORU’s performance with nothing but respect.

“At the end of it, both teams can say, with the loss of life, that player would have been very proud of the game that was

competed and played today. It was vertical, it was aggressive, it was intense,” Segebart said. “I don’t know the player personally, but I do know coaches that have worked with him, and I think that would have been a game that he would have loved.”

Although it was a stalemate, both teams walked off the field with heads high, knowing they honored Quaynor.

The Echo Staff

‘Fake it ‘til you make it’ doesn’t work

Many of us have heard the phrase “fake it ‘till you make it.” The idea suggests that if you want to change something about yourself, you should just force the change and fake it until it becomes more comfortable and natural for you.

If you are naturally shy, but you want to be more outgoing, just start acting more extroverted and you will eventually become that way.

If you hate going to class, just pretend you love your classes and you will eventually enjoy your studies more. If you feel awkward, just feign confidence and you will eventually feel more self-assured.

The “fake it ‘till you make it” mentality gives people the opportunity to be whoever they want to be, as long as they commit to the process of faking it at first.

This mentality seems liberating because it gives you the freedom to curate the “best” version of yourself. Anything you are insecure, uncomfortable or unhappy about can turn into something new and improved.

time. It takes a lot of effort to force yourself to be different, especially when the only motivator is your self-hatred.

The energy that you put into faking something could be better spent on accepting yourself. It is so draining to pretend you like something when you don’t or vice versa. Living inauthentically is unsatisfying.

Faking aspects of yourself is damaging to your mental and emotional health. Observing and accepting your thoughts and emotions and then responding to them is a healthy practice. Hiding from and fighting your thoughts and emotions and then faking your response to them is an unhealthy

The Voice

A letter to Sarah Huckabee Sanders

In a gubernatorial race of this caliber, you have fallen short.

Your general election campaign has received nearly $7.5 million in contri butions. Sure, you have your so-called “commanding lead” against your oppo nents. You are running an expensive and successful campaign, but it is not your own.

On Oct. 5, you declined an invita tion to a televised debate against your opponents, Chris Jones and Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.

Do you not think Arkansans deserve to hear debate on the issues that affect them or do you lack the knowledge to back your previous claims and stances?

Either way, it should have been easy for you. As you refuse to let us forget, you have plenty of practice dodging ques tions as Donald Trump’s press secretary.

The problem is that your tactics of fear-mongering, division and extrem ist dog whistles are adopted from your former boss.

Your campaign has it all: name recog nition, more money than entire genera tions of Arkansans will ever touch and the ability to promote fear among your supporters.

Though, none of that would be pos sible without your previous connections. Your entire campaign is reliant on voters knowing that you have rubbed elbows with Trump.

Since his loss in the 2020 election, you have followed behind him to pick up the pieces for your benefit.

However, this mentality can be isolating, exhausting and damaging.

Outwardly faking aspects of your personality can cause you to feel disconnected from your true self and the world around you.

You can start to feel like you are living a lie because your inward experience isn’t aligned with your outward behavior.

Feeling like a fraud leads to feelings of shame and guilt, which only furthers the divide between who you are pretending to be and who you are. Hiding a genuine part of yourself from the world is a lonely experience.

Faking it until you make it is debilitating over

Every positive interaction that comes from whatever you are pretending to be reinforces the idea that you weren’t good enough to begin with. It is much more productive to focus your attention on accepting who you are, as you are. Your thoughts and emotions are valuable signals. Not every single thought or feeling should be taken seriously, but many thoughts and feelings can guide you in the direction that is right for you.

Learning who you are is important and you can’t begin to have a positive relationship with yourself when you are faking aspects of your personality. If you are shy, be shy. If you hate going to class, find a major with classes that interest you. If you feel awkward, let yourself feel that.

Accepting yourself is easier said than done, but your energy is better spent on acceptance than playing pretend. Faking it until you make it is unsustainable and will just prolong your unhappiness with yourself.

Boredom is good for your mental health

On a college campus where everyone always seems to be moving and doing things, it may seem a little sad or upsetting when you don’t have anything else to do for the day.

It’s completely natural to be bored and there are so many benefits from experiencing it too. A lot of people in today’s world are constantly busy with some sort of stimulant, whether it be work or watching a show. However, it is normal to not have something to do all the time. This seemingly awkward time is when a lot of people describe themselves as “bored.”

Most people open an app to remain entertained and overshadow the experience of boredom, solely because they do not want to experience it. This app will not help you in the long run. The only thing that is happening is the avoidance of being uncomfortable, which isn’t helpful at all.

Being bored allows your brain to take a break from constant stimulation and take time for your thoughts. Letting your mind roam freely, away from the structure and constant engagement is healthy.

Some people even take a chunk out of their day and fill it with hobbies that make sure to clear their minds, like walking or running.

Not having something to do can allow your thoughts to wander. This may not seem like a great thing sometimes, but it is good for you. Being able to let your thoughts roam allows for self-exploration and reflection.

Self-reflection allows you to grow as a person and develops the way you act, how you handle different

tasks or how you take care of yourself.

During quarantine for the pandemic, I got to spend a lot of time inside and locked away in my room. I know that these conditions sound awful, but if you try to look on the brighter side, it isn’t too bad. There was a lot of time for me to reflect on myself and realize what kind of person I am. Granted, I still don’t know what I’m doing half the time, but at least I got a solid push toward my most authentic

Boredom gives your body a chance to catch up. When you’re always on the go, it is easy to forget and neglect your physical health. Constant interaction with a stimulant can be exhausting on the body.

By being bored, the body restores itself and catches up with what it needs to. Without distractions, it is even easier to notice the signals that your body is trying to send, like hunger. Being deeply focused or involved in a task may numb your hunger cues, which can pull you out of balance with your body’s needs. By taking more donothing time for yourself, your body can re-center itself.

Take time for yourself to be bored, whether it be scheduled or unscheduled. You can pick up a new hobby or just sit and stare at your wall for 30 minutes. Mundane tasks are essential to not only your mental focus and health but your physical health as well.

The next time you find yourself asking what you should do, don’t open TikTok. Embrace being uncomfortable. Take a break.

Instead of bridging the gap between Arkansans, you spout divisive language and drop names as merit. In reality, you are hiding behind the fact that you have no backbone or stance of your own.

Take your website for example. The “Meet Sarah” tab may as well say, “Meet Donald Trump’s former press secretary.”

You have prioritized your relation ship with his presidency ahead of your qualifications for governor.

By no means should you be expected to speak about your family first, but Ar kansans want to know why you care about Arkansas, not who you worked for.

You cater and frame your prose to those who live in fear of a progressive nation because it guarantees their vote, with little consideration for anyone else.

Pulaski County — the most populated county in Arkansas — voted for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, accord ing to Politico.

That’s 60% of the largest county, or 101,947 Arkansans, who may not sup port the rhetoric that you share. Yet, you have made no effort to relate to them.

Your lack of regard for every Ar kansan gives off an air of arrogance and conceit. You know that you do not have to reach across the aisle because your money and networking will win you the seat.

Trump’s endorsement is not enough to make you deserving. Every Arkansan deserves more than you are capable of giving.

According to your website, you have launched a $3.5 million paid media cam paign. Aside from your “Freedom Tour,” your advertisements are the only access voters have to your image.

These posed, scripted and backlit ads are normal for candidates, but with $3.5 million to spend, you would think your ads would do more than stroke Trump’s ego and call for an end to socialism, the “radical left” and cancel culture.

How do these affect your job as a governor?

Such ridiculous statements have been spat from the mouth of your former boss, so no one is surprised that you mimic him.

Since it appears you are prioritizing advertisements over public appearances, you would think that $3.5 million would garner a larger lead in the polls, too.

Your arrogance proves that you have no faith in the intelligence of Arkansans. You release a few advertisements and be lieve that it is enough to convince them.

Sanders, be careful in your underesti mation of your voters.

You might end up losing like your former boss in 2020.

Movies

Oct. 14

‘Smile’ spins a refreshingly terrifying tale

Oct. 14 —

“Smile” balances jump scares and a sense of unease in a way that leaves viewers cowering in their seats and watching the movie through the hands covering their face. The tension in the theater was palpable with occasional gasps, screams and nervous laughter.

For horror fans who have found recent horror releases lacking, “Smile” is a refreshingly terrifying film sure to leave horror connoisseurs with a satisfied smile.

to demonstrate the stigma and distress accompanying mental illness is largely successful, its second message becomes easily lost by the movie’s end.

With an important exploration into trauma and its effects, the movie began promising; however, certain twists and turns seemed to minimize the film’s central message of addressing past traumas.

Oct. 14 — Till (PG-13), directed by Chinonye Chukwu, starring Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall and Frankie Faison

Oct. 14

Music

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The film follows Dr. Rose Cotter (played by actress Sosie Bacon) after she witnesses the traumatic suicide of her patient. When Rose begins to see the same entity that her patient described right before killing herself, she starts to question whether her patient was truly delusional.

As a therapist herself, Rose understands that what she is describing sounds delusional, but she cannot help but believe it is real. The irony of Rose’s situation exacerbates her distress and leaves the audience with a chilling view of what those with mental health issues may feel on a daily basis.

While the film’s attempt

Despite this failure, the portrayal of the stigma surrounding mental health is beautifully and hauntingly demonstrated, largely thanks to an astonishing performance from lead actress Bacon. Many times as Rose tries to share the experiences of her and her patient, they are described as “nut cases” or out of their mind. Some lines spoken to Rose about her mental health were so shocking that they left the audience gasping out loud or shouting back at the screen.

Bacon’s ability to bring humanity and emotion to the role of Rose makes this film work. In a movie that relies on jump scares for much of the film, Rose’s emotional state and lingering fear is what keeps audiences engaged and nervous about what will happen next.

REALITY TELEVISION

While Bacon’s acting is the shining star of the film, the importance of the camera angles and the movie’s score cannot be lost. Unique and jarring camera angles keep the audience off balance and leave them waiting for whatever may appear in the open doorway that is much too ominously framed in the shot. Additionally, the film’s choice of unsettling sound effects with increasing volume and speed at moments of high suspense or action will keep the audience’s heart racing.

“Smile” successfully keeps its viewers holding their breath waiting for the next reason to scream. It is not a film for the faint of heart. Aside from the jump scare factor, the film also relies heavily on gore to emphasize the traumatic experiences of the film’s victims and strike fear into its viewers.

One of the film’s creepiest aspects is its ability to turn a friendly and welcoming gesture on its head into one filled with foreboding and dread.

One thing is for certain, viewers will not want anyone greeting them with a smile anytime soon after seeing this movie.

“Smile” was released Sept. 30 and is currently in theaters.

‘Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared’ gets creative with TV series

A yellow boy in overalls, a dapper duck and a tall man with a red mop for hair — If you grew up on the internet as I did, these characters are probably quite recognizable to you.

‘Impact Atlanta’ gives insight into creative process of influencers

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Streaming Services

Oct. 14

Oct. 14 — Rosaline, directed by Karen Maine, starring Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced and Sean Teale (Hulu)

When I first saw the announcement for “The Impact Atlanta,” I did not plan on tuning in because I am not the biggest fan of Ariana Fletcher — one of the cast members. But after seeing several Twitter users rave about it, I had to tune in and watch it for myself as an avid reality tv show watcher.

The show is based in Atlanta, Georgia, as it follows the lives of influencers and rappers. The show is ultimately about Black culture and its influence.

The first episode introduced the cast members: Jayda Cheaves, Ariana “Ari” Fletcher, Dionte “Arrogant Tae” Gray, Lakeyah Robinson and Destiny “Dess Dior” Bailey.

The cast is considered Atlanta royalty and has a combined total of 18.5 million Instagram followers.

I was immediately hooked from the opening scenes and the production of the show.

her hair extension business, clothing line and as the exgirlfriend of rapper Lil Baby. Her friendship with Fletcher, Gray and Bailey is featured prominently.

The show seems to flow naturally for them, and does not appear as scripted as other reality tv shows. This puts fifth cast member Lakeyah Robinson in an odd place.

Robinson is not seen on social media with the other cast members so I am unsure of her place on the show.

I am a big fan of her music, and there’s no doubt that she has influence, however it seems production just threw her into the mix because she is signed to their record label.

Within the influencers’ friend group, there are two fashion designers — Shane Justin and Greg “Gswuoo” Wright.

Justin and Wright have a large influence in Atlanta with clothing stores across the United States and millions of social media followers.

Originally appearing from 2011-2016, these three caused a global phenomenon as the main characters of the web series “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared,” directed by Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling.

The web series, made up of six episodes that only lasted a few minutes each, became an internet favorite for its shocking twist on “Sesame Street,” featuring brightly colored puppets and happy, educational songs that suddenly metamorphosize into a nightmarish horror of blood and guts.

More than a decade after the first “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” webisode appeared, the horrifically delightful series has now been brought to the small screen.

The runtime of the episodes is longer but the general plot remains the same: three roommates, known to the fandom as Yellow Guy, Duck Guy and Red Guy are visited by teachers who give various lessons about the world.

The lessons progressively become more creepy, furthering the feeling of dread.

It’s shocking and scary, silly and absurd, and fun to watch even if you don’t quite understand.

Oct. 17 — The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!, written by Justin Roiland, starring Pamela Adlon, Justin Roiland and Kari Wahlgren (Hulu)

Top 5 Halloween movies

The show gives a glimpse into the behind the scenes of what life is like for influencers. On social media, only the final product is shown. Though, this show gives a deep dive into the cast’s creative processes and how the content we see daily gets made.

The show also showcases the cast’s chemistry.

Jayda Cheaves, an influencer and entrepreneur, is known for

1. ‘Halloweentown’

“Halloweentown” is my absolute favorite movie to watch during fall. It is an iconic Disney original; the main characters include three siblings whose mother does not allow them to celebrate Halloween. When their Grandma Aggie comes to visit on Halloween night, they secretly run away with her and discover she is a real witch from a place called Halloweentown. This movie really makes an impression because even its side characters are memorable. My favorite character is Benny, a humorous skeleton cabdriver. Watching this film would make a great movie night, as it has three sequels that are just as engaging.

The designers made a brief appearance in the first episode, but I feel like they would have made a better fit as cast members opposed to Robinson.

Overall, if you are into reality TV and influencer culture, this show is a must watch. It gives an inside scoop on how the day-today lives of influencers are.

“The Impact Atlanta” is streaming exclusively on BET+.

2. ‘Halloween’

“Halloween” is a classic movie for this season, especially since it’s named after the holiday. Michael Myers is one of the most famous horror movie killers. After being institutionalized for 15 years for murdering his older sister, Myers breaks out of the institution to return to his hometown on Halloween night. Between the gory murders and the infamous mask, this movie gives the perfect thrill just in time for Halloween. With several movies in the “Halloween” franchise, a movie night could be made out of these films as well. The newest edition to the franchise, “Halloween Ends,” comes out Oct. 14.

The shock factor and charm of the original internet series are still present in the television show. The original “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” was a passion project for Sloan and Pelling. The release of the television series proved their passion is still alive.

Everything in this show is made with love. The puppets and props used are handmade and stitched with care. The characters are charming and the story of the episode is always entertaining.

Usually, when a small-scale project is given the opportunity to grow into something bigger,

3. ‘Monster House’

“Monster House’’ is a great option for an animated Halloween movie. It offers humor, thrilling scenes and even some sentimental moments. The movie follows three 13-year-olds who try to expose the house across the street as a living monster. None of the adults in their lives believe them, so they have to take matters into their own hands before the house consumes innocent trick-ortreaters on Halloween night. The back story behind the living house and its owner is a heart wrenching twist that humanizes the house. The suspense of whether the characters will defeat the house or be consumed by the house builds throughout the film.

it’s never as good as it once was. The heart is lost and fans are ignored for corporate gain.

“Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” does not disappoint.

It was like nothing had changed from when I was little and watched the series for the first time. The only real change was the episodes’ runtime going from three minutes online to 23

4. ‘Hocus Pocus’

“Hocus Pocus” is a perfect movie to watch for Halloween, especially this year because Disney+ recently released its sequel. This movie features a family moving to Salem, Massachusetts. When the eldest son explores an abandoned house, he accidentally releases three witches, the Sanderson sisters, who are on the hunt for immortality. Most importantly, the movie features a talking black cat, which is essential to most witch movies. The movie being set in Salem adds to the spooky feeling, as the town is infamously known for its witch trials. There are also humorous scenes, especially with the dynamic between the sister witches.

minutes on television.

The longer episodes enhanced the experience and were all the more exciting by greatly benefiting character and story development. The bigger budget doesn’t hurt either.

The “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” TV series is enjoyable for new fans and veterans of the show, and you don’t have to watch the web series to understand the TV series. Though, I highly recommend the web series.

If you like psychological horror, dark comedy and “weirdcore” — a surrealist internet aesthetic made up of bright colors and uncanny images — this show is for you.

Unfortunately, “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” is a British series and is currently only airing on British television. However, generous fans of the series overseas have recorded the show and have uploaded episodes for American audiences to enjoy on YouTube.

5. ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’

This animated film technically works for both Halloween and Christmas. That being said, it has become a cult classic for Halloween lovers. Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Hallween Town, stumbles across Christmas Town and decides he is bored of Halloween and wants to give Christmas a try. With allusions to various holiday figures, this movie is a creative blend between the contrasting holidays and there is never a dull moment. The impressive stop-motion animation draws the audience in, and the theme song “This is Halloween” will definitely be stuck in your head after watching this.

If you like psychological horror, dark comedy and “weirdcore” — a surrealist internet aesthetic made up of bright colors and uncanny images — this show is for you.

“Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” stars puppets

Duck Guy and Red Guy. The web series is only airing on British television, but some episodes can be found on YouTube.

Women’s soccer has a howling good time despite tie

Senior Sydney Brough’s decisive and gametying goal was cheered on by an anxious crowd and — more uniquely — her sideline-canine-supporter Zeus, at UCA women’s soccer’s Pups at the Pitch matchup against Jacksonville State University on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Although the Bears (5-7-3, 3-3-2 ASUN) drew with the Gamecocks 2-2, the team’s effort in the last half was definitely something to howl about.

UCA Coach Jeremy Bishop said, “The second half was really good. I think we made some key adjustments at halftime and we were able to create a lot of opportunities to score which is what it’s about. Then we just gotta finish them.”

The first saw an equal amount of shots and saves from either team, with the Gamecocks holding the lead 1-0.

Jacksonville State (2-11-1, 0-5-1 ASUN) has had a rocky start to its conference season, coming into the game with zero conference wins and no goals scored in its past four games.

JSU junior defender Kylie Wells broke the team’s scoring dry spell with her goal 20 minutes into the match.

Gamecocks Coach Neil Macdonald credited Wells’ success to her aggressive playing style and ability to stay on the ball, according to JSU’s Athletics website.

UCA’s Bishop saw the potential holes in his team’s playing style.

“If you’re not creating [opportunities], that’s a bigger problem, but we’ve created them tonight. Now we just gotta put them away,” Bishop said.

Despite the significant goal from the Gamecocks, the Bears refused to give the game up.

After halftime, a much more aggressive playing style was present.

Compared to five shots in the first half, UCA came out swinging with a total of 15 shots in the second.

Graduate student defender Taylor Webb kicked off the Bear’s renewed offense with a shot just two minutes in. Webb continued to stay on the ball, taking her winning attitude until the 90-minute mark.

Bishop said, “Taylor Webb was really good; starting the attack and defending well for us.”

Just a few minutes after Webb’s rallying shot,

sophomore forward Anna Kerr tied the game 1-1 off an assist from freshman forward Nina Mazolla.

The goal was Kerr’s first of the season and Mazolla’s first assist.

JSU’s Wells grabbed her team its second goal off a penalty kick in the 67th minute, bringing the score to 2-1, Bears down.

Not to be shown up, Brough grabbed the reins with the final goal of the night just one minute later, bringing the score to 2-2.

Brough said, “It felt amazing to get that goal. I feel like I’m always working hard and deserving it, and yes, I definitely heard [Zeus] the whole game.”

Bishop said Brough was a stand-out player.

“Sydney continues to battle. She got a really

nice goal with a combination play with her and [senior forward] Taylor Lassiter,” Bishop said.

Though the Bears could not regain possession of the match, the team’s total of 20 shots against the Gamecocks marks their highest offensive effort of the season so far.

Brough, junior defender Alyssa Aultman, sophomore defender Gabby Thies and junior midfielder Emily Wissel-Littman took shots in the first.

In the second, shots were made by Webb, senior midfielder Abby Gibson, Lassiter, sophomore midfielder Abby Johnson and freshman midfielder Emma Rehm.

Bishop said, “Gibson’s always all over the [field]. She had a great game, and created a lot of opportunities for us.”

Walsh played a total of 56 minutes, one of her more intensive games of the season.

“Amanda Walsh had probably her best game of the year,” Bishop said. “She was all over it in the second half especially, so we need her to keep doing that.”

Manning the net, freshman goalkeeper Lenja Kenstel grabbed three saves in the first and one in the second.

After the buzzer rang out the end of the game, the players received some post-game-TLC from their furry friends waiting on the sidelines.

The Bears’ next game against Kennesaw State was a shutout 1-0 on Sunday, Oct. 9.

The team will face the North Alabama Lions at home in a 3 p.m. game on Sunday, Oct. 16. After that, they’ll hit the road before championships to play the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles in Fort Myers, Florida, at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22.

Brough keeps faith close in soccer

Though she gained attention for her soccer skills in eighth grade, UCA senior Sydney Brough has played the sport since she was just three years old.

Her goal from a young age was to play Division I soccer, so as she gained recognition from recruiters, she started attending soccer ID camps to further improve.

Sugar Bears preserve four game streak vs. Dolphins

The UCA volleyball team (12-7, 4-2 ASUN) continued a four-run winning streak in the ASUN Conference after defeating Jacksonville University (8-10, 2-4 ASUN) 3-1, Oct. 8 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Kendall Haywood, graduate student and middle blocker, said, “I feel this win was definitely a confidence boost and was able to show us what we’re made of.”

The Sugar Bears lost the first set, but were playing back and forth with the Dolphins until they took the lead at 15-14.

“[Jacksonville] had less error runs and were able to finish the long rallies,” Macy Blackburn, junior middle blocker and outside hitter, said. “We were point for point until the end, and every point counts.”

Due to a series of attack errors from freshman setter Caylan Koons, sophomore outside hitter Jamiryana Hall, sophomore right-side hitter Mackenzie Vernon and Haywood, Jacksonville gained on UCA, bringing the final score in the first set to 2519.

Coming off of a set loss, the Sugar Bears made a comeback in the second set with a strong start. Coach John Newberry changed the line up to a 6-2, an offensive system where two setters are opposite from one another.

“I’d say a team highlight would be our ability to fight and keep passion after losing the set,” Blackburn said, “We kept working hard and never gave up. We also were able to adapt by changing the lineup to a 6-2.”

With kills from Haywood, Vernon

and Hall, UCA gained a 5-point lead at the beginning of the set against Jacksonville. The Sugar Bears maintained the lead and ended the second set 25-16, which set the tone for the rest of the match.

“There was for sure a lot of fight to get this win … I think us middles did a great job with the offense,” Haywood said.

Haywood attributed her blocking success to the “intensity of our team and the energy.”

Vernon was a consistent player in each set. She led the Sugar Bears with 13 kills — four in the first set, two in the second set, one in the third set and six in the fourth set.

Haywood said Koons was a highlight of the game because of her “serving runs and helping us get Jacksonville out of system.”

Senior outside hitter Alexis Stumbough made five kills in the third set and 12 in the match overall.

Koons, who led the team in 31 assists, also led the team with three aces, two of which were made in the third set. The Sugar Bears ended the third set 25-20.

Riddled with attack errors from Jacksonville and Vernon’s kills, the final set ended in favor of the Sugar Bears.

“This weekend was a big growing point for the team — not just on the court but off,” Blackburn said. “When on the court, we were all cheering each other on and locked in. Off the court, we grew closer with team bonding, which was super fun.”

The Sugar Bears will take on Florida Gulf Coast University at the Prince Center Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. for their Pink Out game in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“We had many different D1, D2 and D3 schools come watch us play, including UCA. I began the process of deciding which school was the best fit for me and ultimately decided Conway, Arkansas, was going to be my home for the next four years,” Brough said.

Brough is from Toronto, Canada, and majors in nutrition science with a management minor. After she graduates, she plans to eventually attend veterinary school. Before then, she’d love to play soccer professionally and spend some time playing in Europe.

At a young age, Brough participated in a soccer league called Timbits, sponsored by Tim Hortons, a Canadian multinational fast food restaurant chain.

“I was always the smaller player, so I had to fight for everything. I guess that is where I learned to be aggressive and have tenacity and never give up,” Brough said.

The soccer player also participated in taekwondo, which helped her develop strength and the ability to focus.

“I was spending many days with my dad driving between sports and balancing school. Soccer was taking more time as I moved to Rep soccer and was playing a year higher than my age. It was a hard choice as I loved both, but my heart was always in

soccer,” Brough said. Two main factors motivate Brough daily: her dad and God. Back home in Canada, her dad never missed a game or practice. It’s difficult for Brough not to have her dad in the bleachers for each game now that she’s at UCA, but she knows he’s always watching her games from home.

“My dad has always been my biggest supporter. Before games, I think of him and it motivates me to play for him and everything he has done for me. Stepping off the field without him there is not the best feeling,” Brough said. “Secondly, we play for one which is God. Being at UCA has taught me that God is in everything we do and he is our glory.”

Some of Brough’s most memorable moments include winning an Ontario Player Development League Championship, being captain of the Ontario Provincial team and stepping foot on the UCA soccer field

STREAK CONTINUES

for the first time.

Since juggling school and soccer, Brough has learned the importance of taking care of herself. For other student-athletes, she recommended making schedules for school and sports activities that include important dates and clear deadlines.

Brough also recommended communicating with professors early on, making and checking off to-do lists, having a balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep and avoiding procrastination.

“Since I am not superhuman, I believe that the toughest part is mentally fighting against myself. Since the workload had doubled, I first struggled with it because of the sudden intensity of the school schedule in comparison to my experience in Canada,” Brough said.

With time, balancing both schoolwork and soccer became easier for Brough.

Sugar Bears snatch win from Ospreys

The UCA volleyball team (12-7, 4-2 ASUN) took home the victory against the North Florida Ospreys (5-12, 3-3 ASUN) in its fifth ASUN conference game on Oct. 7.

The Ospreys took the first point of the game with a block, only to send the ball flying into the net with the next serve.

The teams continued to stay only a point apart until UCA senior outside hitter Alexis Stumbough scored two kills, assisted by freshman setter Caylan Koons.

The Ospreys brought the score to 13-13 following a kill and several fumbles by the Sugar Bears.

North Florida continued to lead until UCA racked up a block and two kills by sophomore outside hitter Jamiryana Hall, making the score 2119.

After an out-of-bounds play by the Ospreys, UCA made three kills, winning the set at 25-23.

North Florida opened the second set with a three-point lead, including two kills by junior middle blocker Maddie Boyd.

UCA tied up the game at 1010 with a kill by Hall, an ace by Stumbough and two errors by the Ospreys.

With the second set coming to a close at 21-21 North Florida snagged the final four points, including three kills for a 25-21 set win

Starting off the third set, Hall

made a kill for UCA, as the Ospreys snapped back with a kill by graduate outside hitter Solimar Cestero.

Both teams stayed with each other until the Ospreys shot up by five points due to an ace and four errors by UCA.

Freshman outside hitter/ defense specialist Trinity Hamilton said, “I think we just need to keep working hard during practices and keep supporting each other [to improve]. We play really well and win games when we are having fun and celebrating each other as a team instead of working hard for ourselves and individually.”

The Ospreys held the lead until sophomore right-side hitter Mackenzie Vernon decided to turn the tides.

Vernon scored five kills as Koons followed up with four aces, leaving North Florida in the dust 22-13.

The Ospreys followed up with two kills, but it was far too late, as the Sugar Bears ended the set with two points and a kill by Vernon.

The third set ended with a score of 25-15 for the Sugar Bears.

North Florida started the fourth set with two errors, letting UCA have the lead by two points.

Stuck on the losing side with a score of 11-5, the Ospreys scored three kills as UCA faltered with three errors, pushing the score up to 1111.

UCA leapt forward with a kill by Hall, three kills by Vernon, and an ace by Koons.

The Sugar Bears led the game 23-16, seemingly ready to end the game, as the Ospreys rose from the dead.

Cestero scored three kills, with two more by Cook and freshman middle blocker Kierstyn McFall.

Hall scored a kill, tying the game up at 25-25, but it wasn’t enough to keep North Florida from victory, who took the set with a kill by McFall and an error by Vernon. The fourth set ended 27-25 for the Ospreys.

UCA snatched up the first two points of the fifth set with a kill by Hall and graduate middle blocker Kendall Haywood.

The Ospreys quickly answered back with a block by freshman opposite Mackenzie Piester and a kill by Cestero.

Both teams continued to butt heads until UCA took the lead with a kill by Hall.

The kill was all the Sugar Bears needed to carry them to the end.

Koons scored an ace, as Haywood followed up with a block not long after. Haywood scored the final kill of the night, ending the set at 15-9.

UCA took home the victory with a final score of 3-2.

Stumbough said, “I’m really happy with our performance so far [in the ASUN conference]. I think we are starting to find some team chemistry and really figure out how to play next to each other.”

The Sugar Bears’ next match will be against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (13-4, 3-1 ASUN) on Oct. 14.