In order to spread some happiness around campus, I went looking for some university students with pet pals of their own. Pets have a special meaning to us pet owners, and many animal choices can speak to our personalities. There are the reptilian lovers, the farm animal experts and the domesticated fur parents. With so many animals to buy and so many to save, it is always a joy to bring someone new into the family. The quarantine has given many people the opportunity to discover a new part of themselves, and a new side to their pets.

Throughout the pandemic, we have all tried new things in an attempt to rid ourselves of boredom. A few of us might have tried puzzles, board games, technology, or some of us got the trifecta. Learning how to handle our kids, work and school. One thing is for sure though, our pets at times, don’t make it easy.

We have to remember that this has been an adjustment for our pets, too. I spoke to Micah Rodriguez about her three cats. The black one is named Jasper, the gray one is named Little Bit, and the tabby one cat is named Tuck. While cats are known for their attitude and sass, it seems like there is never a dull moment in this house of three.

“Jasper tends to think Zoom calls are his time to shine,” Rodriguez said. “He normally likes to yowl or flash his fanny like it’s his Only Fans page.”

The gentle side note gives us a great idea as to what we should expect from this cat. He spends most of his time with Micah while she works, but they all take care of their human.

“They have a way of sensing when I am stressed and tend to cuddle up to me,” Rodriguez said. “They also provide company and entertainment.”

In our world, any form of entertainment will do. Having a pet can be a job in itself. There is a lot to handle with them when they destroy everything, but they seem to always think of us in the end. Even if that means barking during our online meetings and flashing their tail ends now and again during a Zoom call.

Luckily, online calls and virtual meetings have allowed for more schedule freedom. While in the past there was always a time for the commute, for class, for food and for work; we find ourselves having more free time.

For Danielle O’Brien, her pets have encouraged her to go outside more during her time at home.

“With the lockdown, it was hard to find moments to leave the house and staying inside all day, every day was damaging our physical and mental health,” O’Brien said. “Beanie and Kota love going on walks and playing in the backyard, so they kept us out in the sun and moving.”

Walking your pet is a task that can be burdensome at the end of a long day. Quarantine has allowed us to not only gain more chances to play and exercise our pets but ourselves as well. Going out and trying new things is a great way to make it through quarantine with your pet. Take an extra walk or two and get a little extra sunshine.

At the end of the day, whether we are working from home or not, our pets are the loyal ground for us to stand on. Never wavering and always caring.

“Zoe is my best friend and I know she’ll always be there for me through my ups and downs. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart,” Brittany Christian said.

Her dog seems like a handful but is quite the opposite.

“She’s very quiet and aloof so I don’t have too many problems with her,” Christian said. “She has my back and I have hers, even when she misbehaves.”

While many of our pets have their moments of destruction or bad habit, we always get through it with them. We have a new opportunity to train our animals, but other times we take it in stride. In other words, we pet owners learn to put up with it.

This is what Jason Davis has learned to do with his dog, Nike. His worst habit is one that was rather hard to break—digging. Throughout the pandemic, we have had snow and rain, but it never stopped this dog. Quarantine has given Jason the perfect chance to fix up the yard and manage the grass, but he has come to leave one particular spot in his yard alone. This has been known as the “No-Go Zone” in his household.

The places every dog must bury their favorite toy or bone they will finish later.

“There is no point in trying to fix a broken clock,” Davis said. “Eventually, I’ll get around to making him move holes, but it isn’t too much of a concern. It is a pain, but he is a happy dog and I love him, even if he tracks dirt everywhere.”

We all come in a little dirty, and some pets more than most.

One thing is for certain, the pandemic has been colorful with our pets around. Whether they are showing off in Zoom calls, getting us in the sun, helping us get out and about or being our number one companions, everyone’s pets are unique, and each has its own stories to tell. They are our emotional support, our backbone, the thorn in our side and our best friends. At least they always manage to keep us entertained.

Consider how COVID-19 has affected your pets and how. Just remember to give them all the attention you can for now, who knows how long quarantine will last. Your pet will miss you, so give them plenty of treats and spoil them while you’re still stuck socially distancing from people. Animals are way cooler anyway.

If you do not have a pet and are thinking of getting one, please consider visiting the many animal shelters in Little Rock when looking for one. Little Rock Animal Village, North Little Rock Animal Shelter and Humane Society of Pulaski County are all wonderful options to choose from in the Little Rock area.

Every animal needs a forever home and you never know what animal you could end up saving.

The post The Pet Pandemic appeared first on The Forum.

By James Johnson

Diversity, the practice of including or involving a range of people from different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc. Diversity plays a major role in our lives and especially affects our work experience. Diversity in the workplace is a polarizing topic especially nowadays with the increasing number of unemployed workers and the decrease of diversity within an establishment.

Why is diversity in the workplace important? 

“At its most basic level, when people can come to work and they see people who look like them, think like them, and share the customer experience they have,  there is a sense of  I belong here. I feel safe here. Having that sense of belonging sets up the tone for a welcoming environment,” said Sarah Cole, a Starbucks store manager for six years. Cole has worked hard to make a store not only sexually and culturally diverse but a store that’s inclusive to workers who are neurodivergent. 

Cole wanted to make sure that she was honest with herself as she was building her team. She recalled a time where she was in high school and all of her friends looked like her, and she believed that she needed some change. So in her adult years she enacted that change challenging her thinking when she hired. “I have to ask myself , have I unintentionally hired people that look like me? Do I have a team that looks like me? If I am in the position that I’m hiring anyone that comes in, why do people who only look like me feel comfortable applying in this place of work?”

Cole goes on to say that business owners and managers have to be intentional, and that diversity and inclusion  isn’t an easy road. She says that it’s easy just to sit back and let it all happen and remove yourself but it doesn’t work if you want to build a diverse team. You have to do the work. 

Cole continues to work on building diversity in the store and creating an environment that is not only inclusive for her employees but also creates a familial bond. According to her employees that bond is already starting to form. Fabian Fernandez, an employee of Sarah Cole at Starbucks weighed in on this topic mentioning how he feels that he’s with his family.

Fernandez says, “when I think about the diversity in this store I’m automatically reminded of home. Coming from a hispanic household, a familial bond in the workplace is very important to me. It feels very comfortable coming to work especially working with a lot of different cultures and ethnicities.”  Fernandez also stated that he likes working with a diverse crew because he feels that he could support the customers better.

He stated when he was working on a shift and a customer who speaks spanish struggled to give his order and he had to step in and help. After the customer left, the situation opened up a dialogue with the employees on the floor. Fabian got the chance to have a conversation with them to talk about his culture and why being patient with ESL customers is important to properly support them. He then goes on to talk about how hard conversations happen at work.

He says this, “usually at work we tend to have deep conversations amongst the partners (which is what Starbucks call their employees). These conversations aren’t argumentative and act as a way to educate each other. I try to come to work everyday ready to learn something new and it helps me learn to be ways to consider, be considerate and act as an ally from other people.” He says that hard conversations are very important to building a strong team. Sharon Ann Downs believes that this is important to from her experience working on the diversity council.

Sharon Ann Downs is the Head of the Diversity council here at ����Vlog��ýLR and has held her position for two terms and she loves to have difficult conversations. Downs says, “I love to have hard conversations. Most people encounter what could be a hard conversation and go the other way. I thrive on having hard conversations in order to get to the root of problems.”

Downs believes that it’s important to provide education on diversity because people may have grown up not being educated on the matter. “Some people don’t naturally have cultural fluency so it’s important for employers to discuss diversity within the workplace and at staff meetings. You can’t assume that people are fluent in this topic.”

Downs has worked to leave the new leadership of the Diversity Council with a fully formed 3-year strategic plan. In addition, a recently completed new survey for students and employees about the campus climate has been conducted, and the charter has been updated.

The central theme that Cole, Fernandez, and Downs share is that diversity builds the workplace and opens up much needed dialogue for employees. When a workplace is diverse, not only do employees feel welcomed and safe within their environment, it can also bring about change in customer connection and build a lasting relationship between the workplace and its clientele. 

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He also announced Arkansas’ mask mandate will end on March 31 if the state reached certain goals.

The new order changes the directives into “guidance” which he defined as a “strong recommendation.” At the news conference, he and Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said they don’t expect Arkansans behavior to change, as mask-wearing, hand washing and social distancing is still necessary.

On CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ Hutchinson said goals announced in February to lift the mask mandate, which include the 7-day rolling average of testing positivity rate remains below 10 percent after an average of 7,500 people tested daily, or fewer than 750 hospitalizations, are being met and he believes the mask requirement will be lifted. 

“You can’t keep directives in place forever,” Hutchinson said. “This gives us a safe path to move forward following the guidelines. And if a business believes that they can keep their customers safe and their employees safe and they want to tweak it … then there’s more flexibility.”

Former ����Vlog��ý Little Rock student, Jeffery Huber said the way Gov. Hutchinson has handled the pandemic is the best job he’s done since he’s been in office. “He’s put together a really smart team to surround and advise him,” he said.

When asked how he thinks business will handle the restriction being lifted he responded, “People need to understand that each business has the right to require you to wear a mask.”

He said he doesn’t think the restriction being lifted will set Arkansas back in the progress made since the pandemic started last March. 

Veronica Lindsey, a senior from Philander Smith has a different take on the proposal. “I feel the governor is a little more relaxed than he should be with the mask mandate,” Lindsey said. “In my opinion, it is still a little too early to let individuals walk around or go into various businesses without a mask on because the coronavirus is still prevalent and a big concern to many individuals around the world and even in this state.”

Lindsey said that she thinks the restriction being lifted will set us back in our progress. 

“The cases are still high and prevalent in Arkansas, and everyone has not been allowed to receive the vaccination yet,” Lindsey said. “Even though we will be able to go out without a mask, I will continue to wear mine until I feel more comfortable being without it in a public setting.”

On March 24, a week before the mask mandate is expected to be lifted, Arkansas had 231 new positive cases and 172 active hospitalizations.

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Cancel culture is the phenomenon of promoting the “canceling” of people, brands and even shows and movies due to what some consider to be offensive or problematic remarks or ideas. Cancel culture became more socially acceptable in 2017 when the idea of canceling celebrities for problematic actions or statements became popular. 

Dr. Jill McCorkel, a professor of sociology and criminology at Villanova University, told the New York Post in an interview that the roots of cancel culture have been present throughout human history. Societies have punished people for behaving outside of perceived social norms for centuries, and this is just another variation.

“Cancel culture is an extension of or a contemporary evolution of a much bolder set of social processes that we can see in the form of banishment,” McCorkel said. “They are designed to reinforce the set of norms.”

Over the last few years, the social-media trend has gained momentum under the trendy new name placing celebrities, companies and media under a microscope of political correctness. 

To be cancelled means being shunned from the same society that saw you to be insensitive. Cancel culture ruins careers. It ruins peoples images. For those who have already been cancelled, it’s something they are finding very hard to get out of. 

The pros to cancel culture:

On one hand, cancel culture allows people to seek accountability where the justice system fails. When the #MeToo movement first started, survivors demanded justice by exposing their perpetrators by sharing their names publicly. Now it’s used to justify more than just sexual assault. The list includes addressing those who’ve been racist, homophobic or just generally insensitive to the greater society.

Cancel culture gives a voice to less powerful people. Osita Nwanevu, MPP, Staff Writer at The New Republic, states, “The critics of cancel culture are plainly threatened not by a new and uniquely powerful kind of public criticism but by a new set of critics: young progressives, including many minorities and women who, largely through social media, have obtained a seat at the table where matters of justice and etiquette are debated and are banging it loudly to make up for lost time.”

Not everyone has access to legislators or other powerful people, but everyone can sign up for a social media account. Canceling is a way to acknowledge that you don’t have to have the power to change structural inequality. You don’t even have to have the power to change all of public sentiment. But as an individual, you can still have power through social media. 

At least 800 big brands like Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Ford are using cancel culture to boycott Facebook advertising due to the platform’s refusal to censor the speech of organizations deemed “hate groups.”

The cons to cancel culture:

On the other hand, cancel culture is a road that leads to intolerance in society as people systematically exclude anyone who disagrees with their views. Instead of canceling people, we should be encouraging more people to tell their stories, to add inclusivity and complexity.

Cancel culture turns into online bullying, and can incite violence and threats that are worse than the original offense being called out. Sam Biddle, the journalist who retweeted Justine Sacco’s joke about AIDS that resulted in her firing while on a plane to South Africa, later regretted his actions and their results, stating, “it’s easy and thrilling to hate a stranger online.”

People who engage in the cancel culture often want to criticize without listening or understanding why someone said something, and then trying to change the minds of those they disagree with. 

A consequence may be that some members of the canceling group join in for fear of being canceled themselves. People should be able to speak out or remain silent on the issues without the fear of being canceled. 

My opinion:

Even though I don’t participate in cancel culture, I see both sides of it. I don’t believe that by cancelling someone or something we are getting rid of the problem that society sees as unacceptable. 

No matter who or what we cancel those issues will still be there. Instead of cancelling someone why don’t we take the time to provide that person with resources and educate them on the issue? People make mistakes and they should be able to take accountability for their actions and grow from them. 

The only way there will be change is if we take the time to educate each other. That doesn’t mean I agree with everyone’s actions, but I don’t think it’s beneficial to completely cancel someone when the pain and the issue are still there even after the cancellation.

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Hurrahs for Zaza’s

Zaza’s is an Arkansas pizza gem, tucked off Kavanaugh Blvd. Though it has its own parking lot and guests do not have to worry about parallel parking, much of the lot is reserved for pickup orders, so parking in front of the restaurant, if guests plan to dine in, is close to impossible. This is a good option for guests who are more cautious with the pandemic, though. 

Upon entering the restaurant, the line to order food is sectioned off from the gelato section into two different lines. Social distancing stickers on the floor help guide guests through the line, but when I visited during a Monday lunch rush, there were quite a few people in the restaurant and social distancing was difficult. Despite being in a rush, the staff was friendly and patient with hearing me through a mask and the glass partition. It is good to visit a place that encourages employees to be cheerful.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is welcoming and unique, with wood logs stacked floor to ceiling, going up to a second floor loft where guests can eat and look out across the first floor of the restaurant. The patio area was set up well, and is dog friendly, so that was where I chose to eat. I enjoyed a half order of the Santa Fe South salad, with no tomatoes and medium dressing. The salad was fresh; the ingredients were colorful and the perfect crunch I needed to go with my Margherita pizza. I liked how I could see my salad being made and receive it directly after paying, that way I could eat my salad as an appetizer while waiting for my pizza to cook. It was cooked well in a brick oven, and the fresh mozzarella was definitely my favorite part of the pizza. They even brought the pizza outside to my table after it was ready.

Zaza’s has more artisanal pizza than a typical pizza place, so if guests are looking for the greasiest, cheesiest pizza in town, this is not the place to go. My only complaint about the food would be that the parmesan shavings on top of my pizza kept falling off the slices after I picked them up, but that is not too bad of an issue. All pizzas are one size, so some might find that to their disadvantage if they want more or less pizza, but overall, the food is amazing. It is worth the price, but somewhere I would not dine at frequently; it is good for special occasions. This also a favorite among other staff writers.

Zaza’s is located at 5600 Kavanaugh Blvd., and their menu can be found at zazapizzaandsalad.com. They do not require reservations to dine in. Guests can visit anytime 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Boba Tea Craze

Across the street from Zaza’s sits Kawaii Boba Tea. The corner store is directly off Kavanaugh, so parallel parking is more tricky for guests. The pink walls in the shop give it a playful atmosphere upon entering. There is art from local artists on display and for sale, and the shop also sells Japanese snacks and different trinkets. They have a bookshelf with graphic novels and anime that guests can look through, as well as a TV playing anime near the front door.

The menu is somewhat complicated, and the one online is different from the paper copy guests receive in the store, but once they figure out what kind of drink they want, they will keep coming back. I personally get a regular size raspberry fruit tea on ice with strawberry and kiwi popping boba. There is variety in the kinds of teas- there is milk tea and fruit tea, and then the beverage can be blended (like the consistency of a smoothie) or on ice. Guests can choose from popping boba, jelly boba or the traditional tapioca boba, with many different flavor variations of each. If they would rather not choose the makeup of their drink, they can pick from specialty drinks off the menu. It is a lot of fun to go in and try new drinks, and the shop also offers Japanese pastries to go with the tea. 

There has never been a time that I have visited and it was not busy, so that testifies to how popular boba tea is right now. After a guest’s first purchase, they receive a loyalty punch card that gives them a free drink after purchasing 10. I am halfway to my free drink already and I just discovered this place a little over a month ago! Guests can also pick up a free sticker after they order. I have one on my laptop and another on my minifridge.

I think that if someone is already willing to spend a little extra money at Starbucks, trying Kawaii Boba House at least once is worth it. Both places cost more than a typical drink at Sonic would, but boba tea is a different kind of drink that offers culture and fun flavors. Nearby boutiques and shops are fine with guests bringing in drinks; I have abused that privilege before. 10/10 recommend walking around Hillcrest with boba tea. There’s several murals and walls painted that would be perfect to take photos in front of, too. Make a day of your visit.

Kawaii Boba House is located at 5625 Kavanaugh Blvd, and their website is kawaiibobahouse.sqaure.site. Their business hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Sunday, when they are open noon to 5 p.m.

Step back in time at Burge’s

Before I visited this restaurant, I thought by the name Burge’s Hickory Smoked Meats and Hams that this was more of a pick-up-meat-by-the-bulk type place, but that was definitely not the case here. After I saw a video of this restaurant on my For You Page on TikTok, I knew I had to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped through the front door and saw the old fashioned, diner-style restaurant. There were some neat artifacts and vintage decorations on the wall, and I enjoyed walking around and looking at what they had up.

The menu features catfish, coleslaw, salads and sandwiches with smoked meats that guests order upon arriving at the counter, and their food is brought to their table on a tray when it is ready. Food is served in paper containers and bags that remind me of my high school cafeteria, but I think that method of food delivery is classic and fits the restaurant perfectly here. It is so different from other places that people can dine at in Little Rock, it is like stepping into a time machine with authentic decor and food from decades past. I was disappointed that they did not have milkshakes, though. I feel like that would have completed the whole visit.

My smoked turkey sandwich tasted great, and usually I am picky about sandwiches because I don’t like when sandwich bread sits and gets soft. This bread was crispy and good. I also had an order of onion rings, and liked them with the dipping sauce that resembled horseradish so much that I ate all of them and went back to order another serving! It is difficult to find good, homemade onion rings and this restaurant nails them. I feel like I could have explored the menu better here, but I enjoyed the food I ordered. I also saw a refrigerator where you could grab different types of smoked meats and sides to take home and they had fried pies on their menu, so I need to go back soon.

Burge’s Hickory Smoked Meats and Hams is conveniently located with its own parking lot– no parallel parking here– at 5620 R St. True to its old fashioned traditions, Burge’s is closed on Sundays, but open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested guests can visit the restaurant’s website at smokedturkeys.com to view the menu, read about awards Burge’s has received and the history behind the establishment.

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On the day of its’ release, “What’s Next” debuted at #1 on US iTunes, #1 on US Spotify, #1 on Apple Music US and had over 360K first week US sales. “Wants and Needs” featuring Lil Baby is the second single from the three-track EP and it debuted at  #9 on US iTunes, #2 on US Spotify, #7 on Apple Music US and had over 305K first week US sales.  The third single from the EP is “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” featuring Rick Ross and it debuted #12 on US iTunes, #11 on US Spotify, #3 on Apple Music US and had over 230K first week US sales. 

On March 15, Drake made history by becoming the first music artist to occupy the top 5 spots on the Hot 100 Billboard charts. This is a major accomplishment; Drake is one of the three artists on the planet to ever have songs in the top three spots on the Hot 100 charts. “What’s Next” debuted at No.1, “Wants and Needs” featuring Lil Baby debuted at No.2 and “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” featuring Rick Ross debuted at No.3. “What’s Next” is Drake’s eighth number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and his twenty-fourth number one on the US iTunes charts. 

By looking at Drake’s stats, it’s obvious why his industry peers are delaying their projects and scared of what’s next to come. In just 10 days, Drake made history,  achieved over 895K pure sales and accumulated over 170 million streams. If Drake can make history in less than 20 days with a three-track EP, what do you think he can do with a full body of work? Scary sight isn’t it? While speaking on OVO Sound Radio, Drake mentioned that “Certified Lover Boy” is on the way stating that, “ I don’t have an exact date, but it’s in the pot and it’s coming soon.”

Enjoy ‘Scary Hours 2’ and stay tuned to see what Drake does next!

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Heath’s extensive knowledge of astronomy has heightened by volunteering with the Jet Propulsion program at NASA, which explores the galaxy and it’s unexplained mysteries. 

Heath is a producer and host of the “The Night Sky,” which is a monthly program that Heath uses to connect the general public to the cosmos. Each episode of “The Night Sky” thoroughly explains the scientific and mythological meaning of the multiverse. Astrology plays a hidden role in our lives. Knowing about retrogrades and astrological placements can help you in ways you could never imagine. For instance, mercury retrograde involves the planet that governs communication and technology. Knowing about mercury retrograde would help all ����Vlog��ý Little Rock students be proactive and complete assignments, exams and projects early to avoid WiFi and computer glitches during mercury retrograde.

 As a communications major, I use mercury retrograde as a personal guide to know when not to verbally participate in discussions to avoid miscommunication and when to complete assignments early in case technical difficulties may occur.  Birth charts are important to know because they thoroughly explain each astrological placement, which helps you gain a better understanding of yourself. For example, my sun is in Taurus but my moon is in Aries. Because of my sun sign I am logical and analytical but another part of me is spontaneous and unpredictable because of my moon sign. You can learn a lot about yourself through these signs.

Astronomy is great for all ����Vlog��ý Little Rock students to learn because it allows the curious mind to ask questions about the world around them. You can join Heath and other avid astronomy buffs to discuss astrological events at the next Central Arkansas Astronomical Society meeting.

 Heath currently serves as the president and outreach chair at the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society. The CAAS offers affordable student memberships for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Students, with rates starting at $7.50 per month. If you are interested in the “The Night Sky,” CAAS student memberships, mercury retrograde or astrological birth charts – check out the links below for further details.

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St. Patrick’s Day is a popular legend about St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland who died on March 17th in the year 493. Legend says, St. Patrick rid Ireland of snakes and was a popular missionary that traveled north and west of Ireland. St. Patrick has been seen as a savior who brought good fortune to Ireland for centuries, which is why the St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock symbolism is associated with good luck. 

Franciscan Scholar, Luke Wadding, made certain that St. Patrick’s date of death would become a feast in the Catholic Church. Although it began in Ireland as a feast for St. Patrick’s death, St. Patrick’s Day is now a global festival that is also celebrated in Arkansas. The pot of gold at the end of Ireland’s rainbow is the Irish Culture Society of Arkansas (ICSA). The ICSA is a non-profit organization that provides Irish food, art, folklore festivals, and concerts of Irish music and dance. 

The Irish Culture Society of Arkansas is hosting its fun and free 21st Annual St.Patrick’s day parade at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 13, 2022. The event will feature musical and dance performances, which will be like a breath of fresh air after being contained indoors due to COVID-19. If you need volunteer work experience to enhance your resume, good luck has bestowed upon you. The ICSA is looking for volunteers to assist with its annual parade such as float decorating, sound equipment set up, and much more. 

Don’t forget to order your green outfit for the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Little Rock! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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While attending these virtual events, I realized that the topic of diversity has a lot more depth than I thought. After doing further research I discovered that there are many segments of diversity such as gender, religion and ethnicity. For instance, with transgender people feeling more comfortable as themselves, it has shifted the norm of gender identification around the world. A non-binary or transgender identification option will most likely become a permanent gender selection option on applications and legal documentation in the near future. 

Furthermore, there are many religions around the world that have different physical expressions of God. Some of these religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Yoruba, Santeria etc. Another person’s different version of God could be seen as the devil to another, which is why the diversity of religion is being revolutionized. The world is constantly evolving, making ethnic diversity a popular demand. Despite our different shades of skin tones, we are all human and breathe the same oxygen. In other words, all ethnics groups are diverse and have a unique history, nobody is better than the other. 

While the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock racial diversity is high, due to the absence of a non-binary or transgender selection option on ����Vlog��ýLR admission applications, the gender diversity is low. According to College Simply, ����Vlog��ýLR racial demographics are 52% White, 27% Black, 7% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 2% international and 9% two or more races. Whereas, the gender demographics at ����Vlog��ýLR are simply 62% women and 38% men. As I stated before, the world is rapidly evolving each decade. Therefore, there will most likely be an increase in ����Vlog��ýLR’s racial and gender demographics throughout the next few decades. 

����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Diversity Council was established to make a change and create a diverse community on campus. It is interesting to know what the Diversity Council will do to expand diversity on campus for the next ten to twenty years. In addition, the Diversity Council has a “Live & Learn” series that addresses diversity topics. To share topics about diversity like religion or ethnicity, you must fill out a form online and the Diversity Council will contact you. Also, if you would like to become a member of the Diversity Council or want to nominate someone, the deadline to send a letter to the chancellor is April 1st.

Diversity Council Live and Learn Form

Office of chancellor contact information

Diversity Council

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A day set aside for the appreciation of loved ones was not always filled with roses and chocolates. The origins were different and much grimmer from how it is celebrated now. The most common origin story of Valentine’s Day is said to be the ancient festival of Lupercalia. 

According to History.com, it was “a bloody, violent and sexually-charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking, and coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits and infertility.”

This celebration continued on for centuries during mid-February, but as the Roman Empire shifted into a more Christian ideology, it became a celebration honoring St. Valentine. Now, we know it as a romantic day where people show to express their love for each other through various gifts (sometimes too expensive if you ask me) and other gestures. 

Because of the progression of Valentine’s Day, there are many different points of view about the day and its meaning. I asked a few people what they thought about Valentine’s Day. Here are a few opinions on Valentine’s Day. 

James Johnson, a senior mass communication major at ����Vlog��ý-Little, likes to enjoy the day with all his loved ones, not just a significant other. He also acknowledges that Valentine’s Day has changed over the years. 

“Though I feel that the meaning behind Valentine’s Day has been watered down and over-emphasized, I feel that it’s still a very sacred holiday to be celebrated,” said James. “It’s a tradition in my family for my mom to give us gifts and baskets of candy every year and we double up on her presents since her birthday is the day before the holiday.”

Susan Schade, a graduate student at the school of mass communication, has had a not-so-common experience on Valentine’s Day.

“During my junior year of high school, I had a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day for the first time, and I decided to get him something nice. We had not discussed getting each other anything because I thought it was just something you just did on that day,” said Susan. “When I gave him his not-so-cheap gift, he did not bother to look up from his phone. He shoved it out of the way and that’s when I knew I had to break up with him. Needless to say, I was boyfriendless the next day.” 

I found myself relating a lot to Laura Jansen, a junior mass communication major, and Shyanne Kidd, a sophomore mass communication major, who expressed a more cynical opinion than others. 

“I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s because I think that it is weird that people make one day so big and buy each other gifts even though they can do that every day when they are together,” said Laura. “Why is that one day so special? I think you can be sweet and generous whenever you want.”

Shyanne shared her thoughts on the day. “Growing up, I felt that Valentine’s Day was sweet for those who celebrated the day, but now I don’t see why people go all out for one day? Why can’t they show love all the time?” she said. “If you love someone, then you shouldn’t dedicate one day to them. I guess you can say that we get the chocolate’s the day after everyone else celebrates it.” 

Other opinions were more general but still loved the spirit of what the holiday means these days. Aside from romantic relationships, some like to celebrate the friendships they have and value on this day. 

Caitlyn Robbins enjoys the day as much as she can because to her, it is a day to show your love for others and get dressed up. And it doesn’t hurt that her favorite color is red. 

“If I’m not in a relationship, I’ll probably call up my best friend and go out to dinner or get our nails done,” said Caitlyn. “Something special/an excuse to get dressed up in my favorite color (red) and do our make-up. If I am in a relationship there’s usually a gift exchange and a special date.” 

Valentine’s Day as we know it is not the same for everyone. That day can also be a birthday for some or even a grim memory for others. For Remington Miller, a junior English and mass communications double major, Valentine’s Day still has a lovely meaning about relationships and self-care but just a year ago, she had a loved one pass away on this day. 

“My brother-in-law overdosed. I got the call that morning and things felt really different. It was a hard pill to swallow seeing my older sister lose her husband and to see my younger sister lose someone she had been building a relationship with,” Remington recalls. “When I think of Valentine’s Day roses, I think of the untouched ones from the last bouquet he brought to my house that stayed there for months until my mother put them into a shadow box.” 

Aside from the romantic part, there are many ways to still appreciate Valentine’s Day. Regardless of disliking the holiday, it is inevitably celebrated throughout the US every year, so maybe, as Shyanne does, have a sweet next day with discounted chocolate.

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