The program is an entirely online resource that can be used for self-help or with a counselor to supplement sessions or add to them. Counselors at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock are pushing clients to use this in order to get the best help possible.

Director of Health Services and Counseling Services, Dr. Mike Kirk, described the grant work that went into purchasing this resource for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. When he was approached about writing the grant in 2018, he was only the director of counseling services. They didn鈥檛 get the grant in 2018 and were surprised to receive it after all this time.

Kirk chose TAO after he met the director of counseling at the University of Florida. The University of Florida was overwhelmed with requests for counseling sessions that the university was unable to meet. Even hiring new counselors was not a solution. There was not enough of a budget to hire enough counselors to meet the needs of the university.

鈥淪he realized she could not hire her way out of it,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淭here was a waitlist of sometimes three weeks to a month to get in to see a counselor.鈥�

The United Health Foundation released America鈥檚 Health Rankings data for 2020 that states, 鈥淲hile the majority of the population (70%) lives in close proximity to a mental health treatment facility (less than 10 miles), mental health provider shortages remain common.鈥�

Within a pandemic, it is even harder to access resources, especially mental health resources that are already in high demand. The United Health Foundation also stated that increasing the use of telemedicine might help populations cope with this mental health provider shortage.

Kirk said TAO at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is, 鈥渁 way to provide online resources for our students that might be beyond what we could possibly provide with our limited staff. Or, to supplement the work counselors can do when they are working with our students.鈥�

Aresh Assadi, assistant director of counseling services, described the perks of TAO. It allows more control of the subject matter and can be done at their own pace. TAO also allows safe video-conferencing between counselors and clients.

鈥淧eople can go in on their own time and listen to different videos on different subject matters that they might be dealing with on their own time,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淭hat will make it easier for them.鈥�

For 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students there is no need for an enrollment key as long as the user signs up using their 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock email. Students, staff, faculty, and alumni of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who still have access to and use their 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock email can access TAO.

Assadi said that TAO allows counseling services to make groups. If any group on campus or student organization is interested in a group where all members can work together on TAO, Assadi urges leaders to get in contact with counseling services. Any member of the group can email counselingservices@ualr.edu.

鈥淲e would be happy to touch base with them and create programming just for them with their own enrollment key,鈥� Assadi said.

Assadi and Kirk encourage students to follow @ualrwellness on Instagram to receive more information about resources that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Counseling Services is providing.

To access more information about TAO or register for TAO, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students can go to /counseling/tao/. There is no need to be referred to TAO by a counselor, it is open, free and accessible to all members of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Community.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Increasing Counseling Outreach with TAO appeared first on The Forum.

Bolton, who is professor emeritus of history at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, was surprised as he had won this award once before in 1999. The Booker Worthen Literacy Prize was originally awarded to the best books in nonfiction that were history-related to Arkansas. Now, the literacy prize is given to the best published book by an Arkansan.

鈥淚 was particularly excited,鈥� said Bolton, 鈥渢o win a prize that applied to all Arkansans and was open to fiction and nonfiction. That鈥檚 a really big deal for me.鈥�

His book focuses on the topic of being a fugitive and escaping slavery. He got this idea when he was working on other research for the National Park Service. He found that he was interested in runaway slave advertisements, especially how slave owners were portraying these advertisements as wanting to get their property back.

鈥淔ugitivism: Escaping Slavery in the Lower Mississippi Valley, 1820-1860鈥� was a project that took Bolton eight to nine years to write. He was working on it before he retired from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2009. The book was published Aug. 22 2019 by the University of Arkansas Press. He strived to make his book as full of information as possible but also wanted to avoid making it too technical. Bolton described the book.

鈥淲hat I was trying to do,鈥� said Bolton, 鈥渨as write a book that would appeal to a broad segment of the population who might be interested in not only African-American issues but racial justice…at the same time you have to write a book that will be accepted by professional historians.鈥�

He hoped his book would be able to enter the conversations about race that are happening today. Bolton tried to denounce the myth that most escaped slaves ran to the north. Escaped slaves escaped for a variety of reasons.

鈥淟ots of times they wanted to go to a city,” Bolton said. “People in the lower Mississippi Valley escaped to go to New Orleans. I mean they鈥檙e just like me and you. They鈥檙e attracted to cities.鈥�

The book received positive reviews and is now the winner of the Booker Worthen Literacy Prize. Bolton enjoyed the positive parts of writing, like spending time learning and researching new topics and new places. He described how much easier technology makes research. The accessibility makes it easier to find information about the topics he was interested in. There are more learning opportunities now than before.

Bolton gave advice to students that are interested in academic research and writing.

“Take all the courses, professors want you to write,” Bolton said. “The history department you now have at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is as good now as it ever has been.鈥�

He continued, 鈥淚f you want to write, you鈥檝e got to write. Work with the best people you can work with. Look for people who are going to give you solid criticism, you have to learn to accept that. It鈥檚 not that your critics are always going to be right. But, your stuff is going to be better if you do.鈥�

The post Dr. Charles Bolton Wins 2020 Booker Worthen Literacy Prize appeared first on The Forum.

Heath鈥檚 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 鈥淭he Night Sky,” which is a monthly program that Heath uses to connect the general public to the cosmos. Each episode of 鈥淭he Night Sky鈥� 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 糖心Vlog传媒 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 糖心Vlog传媒 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 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Students, with rates starting at $7.50 per month. If you are interested in the 鈥淭he Night Sky,” CAAS student memberships, mercury retrograde or astrological birth charts 鈥� check out the links below for further details.

The post Darrell Heath: Connecting To The Cosmos appeared first on The Forum.

Cameron Jackson, a sprinter for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been recognized with the Freshman of the Year award for the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track Awards. He is the first freshman in the history of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to receive this award.

鈥淚t means a lot considering I am the first freshman to get the award but hopefully not the last. My coach had kind of warned me. He texted me one night 鈥楬ey, be checking Sun Belt media tomorrow, exciting news is coming,鈥欌�� said Jackson. 鈥淚 think the anticipation of him figuring out who Freshman of the Year was greater than mine. It鈥檚 pretty great, definitely couldn鈥檛 have done it without God, my family and my team.鈥�

Jackson runs as the anchor in the 4×1 relay, 100m and 200m outdoor races and 60m and 200m indoor races. The award came after the race at the indoor conference championship meet where Jackson ran a 6.75 sec 60m race.

Many athletes discover their talent at a young age and develop it as they grow. However, that was not the case with Jackson. He tried many sports and ultimately decided to focus on track his last year of middle school and because of his talent, practicing in college was a goal of his.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the [knowledge that you are good at it,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥淵ou are capable of competing at the collegiate level as well as the lifestyle that I have always wanted for myself.鈥�

Coming from Kilgore, a small town in east Texas, Jackson knew that challenges laid ahead when moving to college, especially due to the closeness of his family. His father had a significant impact on him developing his skills as a runner. However, when he came to visit 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, he felt comfortable and at home.

鈥淐oach [Behnke] found a way to let me know that he was always there,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥溾�業f you have any questions about the recruiting process let me know, I am not going to rush you into the process.鈥� Most of my other schools were like 鈥榳e are going to offer, and we need an answer within a week.鈥� Coach Behnke was like 鈥榳ell take your time, we do hope you choose us鈥� and he was really adamant about getting me here and him constantly checking in, calling, even the small things, just let me know that he really wanted me to be at this university.鈥�

Jackson had several great college options but in visiting 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Coach Behnke was the deciding factor in him committing. Behnke has also had a positive impact on Jackson and developing his skills into a more well-rounded athlete and sprinter. His selflessness as a coach has also influenced Jackson into becoming more self-aware.

鈥淲hen you come from watching your coach put everybody, 80, 90 people ahead of himself all the time, it really changes your point of view of how you view a lot of things and how you react to a lot of situations,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥淏ehnke has always kept his cool, kept his calm, everything he handles in a professional manner. So after watching him do that constantly, it just drives me even more to be a better person.鈥�

Jackson knows that he has made history with this accomplishment, but he is just getting started. He has various goals that he hopes to accomplish in the next three years of his academic and athletic career at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淸Some] goals that I鈥檓 hoping to have accomplished by the end of my career at 糖心Vlog传媒LR include successfully getting my degree, making new family members instead of just teammates, and winning a conference title,鈥� said Jackson.

Aside from Jackson鈥檚 award, the Trojans received six all-conference honors, the most the program has received since 2011.

Jackson has so much future ahead of him and he is excited and optimistic for what is to come.

The post Athlete Spotlight: Cameron Jackson appeared first on The Forum.

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鈥檚 Day is said to be the ancient festival of Lupercalia. 

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

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

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

鈥淭hough I feel that the meaning behind Valentine鈥檚 Day has been watered down and over-emphasized, I feel that it鈥檚 still a very sacred holiday to be celebrated,鈥� said James. 鈥淚t鈥檚 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.鈥�

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

鈥淒uring my junior year of high school, I had a boyfriend on Valentine鈥檚 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,鈥� said Susan. 鈥淲hen 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鈥檚 when I knew I had to break up with him. Needless to say, I was boyfriendless the next day.鈥� 

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. 

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really celebrate Valentine鈥檚 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,鈥� said Laura. 鈥淲hy is that one day so special? I think you can be sweet and generous whenever you want.鈥�

Shyanne shared her thoughts on the day. 鈥淕rowing 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?鈥� she said. 鈥淚f 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.鈥� 

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鈥檛 hurt that her favorite color is red. 

鈥淚f I’m not in a relationship, I’ll probably call up my best friend and go out to dinner or get our nails done,鈥� said Caitlyn. 鈥淪omething 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.鈥� 

Valentine鈥檚 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鈥檚 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. 

鈥淢y 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,鈥� Remington recalls. 鈥淲hen 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.鈥� 

Aside from the romantic part, there are many ways to still appreciate Valentine鈥檚 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.

The post Valentine’s Day: A Holiday with Many Opinions appeared first on The Forum.

Christopher Williams, an Assistant Professor of Political Science here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who specializes in elections, public opinion and democratic governance, says that Biden’s win was “absolutely” historic.

“It represents a clear break from the often radical-right and anti-system policies of Trump,” he said. “The election of Joe Biden likely means a return to the existing global order. At the domestic level, we can expect to see major differences in immigration policy, education policy, tax policy, environmental policy, trade policy, etc.”

Drew Martin, the chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock College Republicans Chapter, says that the Presidential race is not quite over yet, and points locally to why there should be some concern with the projected results.

“Fraud and incompetence in elections are always a concern,” he said. “Locally we know that 327 ballots were counted in Pulaski County that should not have been. The director of elections (Bryan Poe) admits that, and two house races have margins well within these bounds.”

Martin is referring to 327 absentee ballots in Pulaski County that had been disqualified accidentally being included with absentee ballots when being added to unofficial totals.

“The problem with proving these cases in court is the necessity of a paper trail, and we have not clearly seen that in many of the states where Joe Biden maintains slim leads,” Martin said. “There is a constitutional question at play in Pennsylvania as it relates to segregated ballots. I do believe though that President Trump’s case will and should have its time in court so the Judicial Branch can make its decision.”

Williams disagrees with Martin, Trump and many Republicans claiming fraud, saying that there is a slim chance this election was fraudulent.

Fraud or not, Martin says that Biden’s win isn’t as victorious as many might think.

“There is still the decision to be held in the judicial branch; but make no mistake about the results of the election: this was not a Biden mandate,” he said. “We were told across the country that Joe Biden would win in a landslide with coattails electing many more Democrats to the Senate and House, and that simply is not the case.”

Currently, President Trump still has not conceded the election, which Williams says will have both short term and long term effects.

“The short term regards the outcome of this specific election,” he said. “In reality, Trump refusing to concede will likely have little effect on the outcome of this election. On Dec. 14, the electors will meet and elect Joe Biden, this will be certified by Congress and on Jan. 20, 2021, Joe Biden will become President. If Trump refuses to leave, he will likely be escorted out of the White House by the Secret Service.”

Williams says that the long term effects of President Trump not conceding may have large effects on the health of American democracy.

“Democracy only survives when elites (e.g. candidates, parties, media, etc.) agree to the rules of the game,” he said. “They drive the public in accepting the outcome of elections and the peaceful transfer of power, which are imperative for democracy. Trump and others in the Republican Party undermining this election leads to many in the public believing the election was not legitimate, which makes them more likely to believe that future elections are not legitimate. It also increases the likelihood of violence.”

Williams and Martin both agree that this election has caused the country to become even more divided than before.

“I think what you see is a country that is divided ideologically,” Martin said. “There is so much more that unites us, but you would not know that from looking at the election results. For now, I think we (the Republican Party) need to focus on the two senate runoffs in Georgia, so that we preserve the Republican Senate.”

Martin is referring to the two runoff elections in Georgia, between current Republican Senator David Perdue against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff and current Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler against Democrat challenger Rev. Raphael Warnock, which both Martin and Williams agree will have a major impact on the outcome of the election as Democrats need to win both these races in order to gain control of the Senate.

“Changes under the Biden administration will, in part, be determined by the outcome of the two Senate races in Georgia,” Williams said. “If the Democrats lose at least one of those seats, the Republicans will control the Senate, and that significantly restricts what Biden can get done as he won’t have unified government.”

Even if Republicans don’t have a substantial victory in the federal elections, Martin points out that they did have some here in the state of Arkansas.

“We here in Arkansas had a fantastic night for Republicans,” he said. “We re-elected Congressman French Hill by double digits and we expanded our majorities in the state house and senate by multiple seats each. This state ‘Democratic’ up and down the ballot a decade ago, but the Democratic Party of Arkansas has essentially given up on the working people in this state, not even contesting many races and sometimes running half-hearted campaigns. I believe the Republican Party of Arkansas is ready for the years ahead, and the Democrats have a lot of soul searching to do.”

In the federal government, Williams says that a lot of changes may come under the Biden administration as opposed to the previous one, even if he doesn’t have a unified government.

“Under all conditions, I expect the U.S to immediately rejoin the Paris [Climate] Accord,” Williams said. “I also expect Biden to reinstitute DACA. If Biden doesn’t enjoy unified government, he will also likely use an Executive Order to cancel substantial student loan debt. If he does enjoy a unified government, I expect student loan debt will be cancelled through legislative means along with a repeal of parts of the Trump tax cut. Further, I would expect some movement on passing a Voting Rights Act and even statehood for Washington, D.C.”

Martin, however, says that there is a real concern about Biden鈥檚 lack of vision from a legislative standpoint.

“Biden鈥檚 initial moves post-election give the appearance that he will govern much the same as his former boss, President Barack Obama,” he said. “However, he has no clear vision, no clear agenda, no clear first move. I believe that concerned many voters who saw him as a Trojan horse for leftist ideology, which you will see a hard push from the far left of the Democrat party to influence the Biden Administration.”

Martin says that the Biden Administration will be a huge contrast from Trump’s four years in office from an accomplishment perspective.

“The Trump Administration, whether you liked the bluster or not, was filled with accomplishments,” he said. “Record low unemployment for Americans of all backgrounds, an American-centered foreign policy where we kept our word to our allies, criminal justice reform, circuit and Supreme Court judges who embrace the Constitution, and historic funding for HBCU鈥檚 (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). I expect the Biden years to be quiet and to honestly pass no major legislation, instead, relying on executive orders to put together whatever they can deem as satisfactory. The Biden years will be quieter, but they also will not deliver results for the American people.”

Whatever the results of the election might be, it was a historic win for all Americans when it comes to engagement and voter turnout as we saw the highest percentage of eligible voters vote since the election of 1900 with both Biden and Trump breaking the record for most votes for an individual candidate (formerly held by Obama in 2008).

“Voter turnout was exceptionally high, but what is interesting is that it was high on both the right and the left,” Williams said. “Republicans turned out in huge numbers, with Democrats showing up in even greater numbers. On the Democratic side, this comes down to anger with Trump’s policies, Trump’s mismanagement of the pandemic, and an extensive Democratic organization, led by people like Stacey Abrams in Georgia, encouraging voter turnout. On the Republican side, it appears that a substantial amount of the voter turnout was driven by Trump himself. In 2018, Democrats in statewide races did better in almost every swing state than Joe Biden did. This is because Republican turnout was substantially lower in 2018 than in 2020. This indicates that Trump brought a huge number of Republican voters to the polls.”

Martin on the other hand points to social media as another factor in why voter turnout was so high in this election.

“Politics continues to consume more and more of our lives as we continue to consume more of it,” he said. “Nobody could open Facebook or Instagram without constant reminders about voting. Every celebrity, from Youtube stars to Hollywood A-listers, repeatedly hit voters with the same reminders.”

Martin, like Williams, also points to events of 2020 as major factors as well.

“We also cannot take COVID out of the picture,” Martin said. “We saw during the George Floyd protests during the summer that being socially distanced for long periods of time spurs people to get outside and to become involved in causes they care about, on both sides. Campaigns also continue to reinvent the wheel on get out the vote efforts, making use of increased absentee voting among other items.”

The Forum reached out to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock College Democrats Chapter for comment but did not get a response.

The post Former Vice President Joe Biden becomes the projected 46th President of the United States appeared first on The Forum.

The forum aims to enhance equality and inclusion on campus through thoughtful and constructive dialogue from students, staff and faculty.

There was a Student Forum on Race and Ethnicity on Sept. 9 that lasted about an hour and thirty minutes. The forum’s format was webinar styled, so everyone’s cameras besides Chancellor Drale’s and a set of panelists were unavailable. The panelists included Dr. Mia Phillips, the Director of Student Experience and Inclusion Programs, Sharon Downs, the assistant Vice Chancellor for Wellness and Inclusion, and Chair of the Diversity Council. The panelists on the forum also included Lauren Wilson, a graduate assistant in the Multicultural Center and an American Sign Language interpreter.

The students were able to ask questions and share their thoughts through the chatbox on Zoom. Wilson would check the chatbox for questions and comments and relay them back to Chancellor Drale and the other panelists.

At the beginning of the discussion, Drale mentioned that the university would be relaunching the Multicultural Center on campus.

“We are going to locate that Multicultural Center in Ottenheimer Library,” she said.

Wilson was one of the first participants to propose a question to Drale.

“How will you specifically be working to ensure these effects last beyond your term as a chancellor or beyond this time where it’s being publicized in the news and being talked about globally?” she asked.

Chancellor Drale acknowledged the fact that these systematic racial issues will be long-lasting and will take time for improvement to be noticed.

“Those are things that are not just ‘oh we’re going to talk about it and do a discussion today then a year from now nothing has changed or we’ve forgotten everything that we determined was important,” she said.

Drale said that one way to combat the issue is to start with its roots and address those problems first.

“These issues didn’t form overnight,” she said. “They won’t be solved overnight either.”

Drale also mentioned that establishing a standing committee whose purpose is to continuously examine how racial issues would be a good place to start.

“By doing that, we can have a better chance of addressing those systemic problems that need to be acknowledged,” she said.

Landon Dekay, the Student Government Association (SGA) president, asked if it would be in the interest of the University to make African American history a core requirement for graduation.

“It would probably be a good thing,” Drale said. “The problem is that the curriculum is the purview of the faculty, so it’s not something a chancellor can dictate. However, one of the things I think that has been a positive aspect of this discussion is that faculty, chairs, and deans want to promote their courses that are already available to students about this topic. They want to encourage not only students to sign up, but for the faculty and staff to audit them.”

Another student asked about the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), a council that consists of nine predominantly Black sororities and fraternities, and if it was possible if the NPHC could have their own spot on campus that could be used for events once deemed acceptable by the university.

Phillips stated that they have been working on this long-standing issue.

“This issue has been present since I’ve been at the university,” Phillips said. “We recognize that their is not fair treatment as far as space and reservations for events for Greek organizations. However, each organization is important and valuable to the university, and we will continue to fully combat this issue.”

More Forums like these will appear throughout the school year.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Students and Faculty Participate in the Race and Ethnicity Forum appeared first on The Forum.

Ruby Trotter, a junior majoring in Chemistry and Spanish here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, attended a BLM protest in Fort Smith back in May shortly after the protests across the country began.

“The protest lasted for 8 hours, but I was only there for about 30 minutes,” Trotter said.

Trotter says about 100 people were lining both sides of the street down Rogers Avenue in front of the Chick-Fil-A. She also said there were many different types of people at the protest.

“The protest consisted of students, adults, and other community members,” she said. “I was incredibly touched to see people of all races out there in support. I actually cried on the way in because I saw a lot of White people passionately protesting for our rights. It was so nice.”

Trotter says that the protest she attended was nothing but peaceful.

“It was mostly just protesters lining Rogers Ave, holding signs, and chanting,” she said. “There were even protest coordinators handing out water and snacks for the protesters. It was a super positive environment.”

However, according to Trotter, not everyone was entirely positive.

“There were some people who would drive by and throw up their middle fingers,” she said. “They would also yell at us.”

Trotter says there was an incident that occurred after she left the protest. She says that there was a man who attempted to be violent against protesters and that he had a weapon on him. However, law enforcement quickly deescalated the situation and arrested the man.

Trotter was taken aback from the amount of support other races were showing the Black community.

“The thing that stood out to me the most was how white people and other races were standing proudly with us,” she said. “I had seen some touching videos like that on social media but it was incredible to see in person. Just knowing that we are not alone in this struggle was so refreshing. I often feel like everything we are doing is in vain, especially with this recent Breonna Taylor ruling. But thinking back to that gives me a little hope.”

Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old black woman who was shot in her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13. The officers were at Taylor’s home for an alleged drug raid. Allegedly, Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were involved with drugs. The police officers involved busted into Taylor’s apartment on a no-knock warrant. Walker fired shots when he realized someone had busted into the apartment. The police officers fired back, killing Breonna Taylor in her own home. One of the three officers was fired. None of them have been charged and convicted to this day.

Gage Pipkin, a Junior majoring in Theatre Arts, said he attended two BLM protests.

“I attended two BLM protests in Jonesboro,” he said. “One took place on the road in front of the police department. The other protest took place downtown.”

Pipkin says the protest in front of the police department lasted for quite a while.

“The protest that took place near the police department was almost an all-day event,” he said. “However, I only stayed for a few hours because I had to go to work later that day.”

Pipkin says that the protest downtown lasted a few hours, so he was able to stay the whole time. He also says there were quite a lot of people at both protests.

“At the first protest, there were mainly adults,” he said “There were police officers there too. I do remember some kids being present. At the second protest, there was a mixture of adults and students.”

Pipkin emphasized that both protests were peaceful, however, there was an incident at one of the protests.

“During our walk to where we started, a vehicle ran into the crowd and a man with a gun appeared,” said Pipkin. “No shots were fired, but people did start running.”

Pipkin stated that people ran towards the man’s van and the police soon followed. Pipkin mentioned that he wasn’t sure of the outcome of that incident.

Despite that incident, Pipkin relished on how united the protests and the protestors were.

“We marched around downtown and ended the march with a moment of silence that lasted for eight minutes and 15 seconds,” he said.

Eight minutes and 15 seconds was how long Officer Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who is currently being charged for the death of George Floyd, had his knee on Floyd’s neck.

“It honestly was magical at how everyone treated each other at this protest,” Pipkin said.

Pipkin also mentioned that the police officers mainly acted as bystanders at both protests.

“They were there to help block off the roads,” he said. “They wanted to listen. At the start of the first protest, the police and community members set up a time to talk about the issues they face. It felt very proactive from my perspective.”

Pipkin said that what stood out to him the most about the protests was the fact that people still believe that protestors have a part in creating violence.

“For example, the man who had pulled a gun on the protestors,” he said. “It was known that he tried to hit protestors with his van. Then he pulled out his firearm. Protestors proceeded to take matters into their own hands to stop the man.”

He mentioned that many of his fellow peers claimed that the protestors started the violence.

“It’s crazy what people want to believe to fit their hidden agendas,” he said.

Pipkin stated that Black Lives Matter is a call to action to address a major flaw in our justice system and to create equality among the people.

“It is a call that minorities’ lives matter just as much as the majority,” he said. “BLM is choosing life.”

Pipkin said that he went to the protests because he knows what it’s like to not be granted equal rights as others.

“As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I would not have the rights that I have today if it was not for the queer POC (People of Color),” he said.

Pipkin is mainly referring to Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender Black woman who is known to have started the Stonewall Riots, a major turning point in the gay rights movement.

“I needed to show my respect, solidarity and love,” he said.

Pipkin mentioned that his best friend is a Black woman and that she has had a major influence in his life.

“If I don’t stand with her, then what value would our friendship have?” he said.

Pipkin did say that his support for the movement has affected some of his personal relationships.

“My family and friends all know where I stand,” he said. “I have had deep conversations with them. At the end of the day, they either understood my point of view or they agreed to disagree with me. If those close to me did not feel the need to speak up or support the movement, I pointed it out and would ask why they have chosen silence.”

Statistics show that 93% on the BLM protests have been peaceful. There have been times where protests became violent, but the majority of them were peaceful.

According to the official Black Lives Matter website, BLM is a global movement and organization whose mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.”

The movement was adopted after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, in 2013. Martin was only 17 years old when he was murdered in the street in central Florida. Martin was walking home on a February evening in 2012. He had a bag of skittles and an Arizona Peace Tea in his hands. A fatal encounter occurred between Martin and Zimmerman; Zimmerman was a neighborhood watchman at the time. He claimed that Martin looked “suspicious.” Against the dispatcher’s orders, Zimmerman followed Martin. The scuffle between the two led Martin to run down the neighborhood screaming for help. His screams could be heard through the phone when one of the neighbors called 911. Zimmerman fired rounds at Martin, ultimately ending the young boy’s life. From this incident, BLM was born.

BLM and its supporters have been protesting for Black lives for seven years now. People have been protesting for Black lives for decades. More and more people are recording unjust incidents against black people on their phones and sharing them on social media. The Rodney King beating by four LAPD officers in 1991 was caught on tape. Eric Garner’s death was also caught on tape. Around late April of this year, the video of Ahmaud Arbery being gunned down while on a run by three white men was released on several media and social media platforms; He was killed in February.

All of these black mens’ death sparked uproar within the United States. However, George Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. George Floyd was allegedly arrested for paying with a counterfeit $20 bill at a store. A video surfaced on social media of a Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for approximately eight minutes and fifteen seconds. During the recording, you can hear Floyd pleading for his mother and telling the officers, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd died from mechanical asphyxia. All four of the officers involved in the arrest were fired. But that wasn’t enough as citizens of all different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds demanded that justice be served for the unarmed killing of George Floyd. This is where the worldwide protests in favor of justice for George Floyd, and justice for all black lives, began.

WRITER’S THOUGHTS:

As a Black woman, I wholeheartedly support Black Lives Matter. It’s not a trend that lasts for a few months; It’s a lifelong commitment to justice. A lot of people who bash BLM fail to realize that it’s an equal opportunity organization and movement. Yes, we’re screaming “BLM!” in the streets and advocating for the justice of black people who have been killed because of police brutality. The message isn’t that black lives are more valuable than any other races’ lives. The message is that black lives matter just as much as everyone else’s lives. But since our justice system has continuously failed to acknowledge that for years, we will continue to march and protest until our demands to equal rights be considered and direct action is taken. All lives can’t matter until black ones do.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students participate in Black Lives Matter Protests appeared first on The Forum.

Republican Candidate Donald Trump

The republican party selected current president Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence. Though recent controversies such as audio leaks of telephone conversations and tax reports leaking through the media, President Trump is looking for a repeat as he gears up for the upcoming debates. Trump believes he鈥檚 the only candidate right for the United States and he鈥檚 done a lot of great work for the American people. Trump is standing on the policies of defending the police, ending reliance on China, and creating jobs for the American people. He鈥檚 also taking the stance of defending the second amendment and the US citizens rights to bear arms. He believes that he is the safest choice, however other candidates believe otherwise.

Democratic Candidate Joe Biden

Vying for presidency, democratic candidate and former vice president Joe Biden and his chosen vice president Kamala Harris are moving to upset Trump in the upcoming presidential race. Biden and Harris have started their administration on the thoughts of providing what he believes is more adequate leadership during the times of covid, ending gun violence in America, and reforming the systems on climate change and the police force. Biden believes that under the Trump administration America has become divided and needs to come together in order to battle the problems of systemic racism and ending the increase of violence. Biden intends on becoming president and bringing America back together; however, both the republican and democratic candidates have to worry about their other opponents as well.

Libertarean and Green Parties Candidates 

Other than the main two presidential candidates we also have the Libertarian Candidate Jo Jorgensen with her running mate Spike Cohen and the Green party candidate Howie Hawkins and his running mate Angela Walker. Jo Jorgensen believes that the Republicans and Democrats have done nothing but leave us with debt, involvement in foreign wars, and a broken retirement system. Jorgenson wants to reduce the cost of  healthcare by 75% by allowing real price competition. The Jorgenson administration also wants to remove government barriers to replace coal and oil power plants and make the US into a giant Switzerland that is armed and neutral.

Hawkins and his administration wants to create the Green New Deal, which they believe will bring 100% clean energy by 2030. They also believe in legalizing marijuana and end the war on drugs. Hawkins also wants to create a sustainable agriculture system where each region could be self-reliant with the use of farm belts.

As the climax of the presidential election draws near and undecided voters paying attention to the presidential debates, candidates are working diligently to gain voters. Undecided voters can find out more information about each candidate and their views and ideas on their respective websites for their candidacy. 

The post A look at your main four presidential candidates appeared first on The Forum.

鈥淒r. Kelly loved teaching and was a strong advocate for her students,鈥� Graduate Clinician student Janet Young, who worked as Dr. Kelly鈥檚 GA this past school year, said. 鈥溾�婭 suffer from chronic depression and Dr. Kelly was able to help me through some difficult times. She is one of the many reasons I am still here today. With her guidance, I was able to slow down my life and take time for myself. I will always appreciate her concerns [about] my well-being.鈥� 

She was such a role model to those around her. Dr. Kelly鈥檚 impact at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is undeniably great. She joined the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty in 2003 鈥� 17 years of teaching, leading, and advising to the students in the clinical speech-language and pathology program. 

Dechantria D. Wallace worked with Dr. Kelly for five years. She respected her as a superior and always appreciated everything she did for her to the point of pursuing a doctorate.

鈥淒r. Kelly was a joy to work with,” she said. “She loved her profession and cared deeply for her students. She would stop at nothing to see them all succeed. She is one of the reasons I chose to pursue my doctorate in higher education. She enjoyed working with students and it showed in everything she did. I strive to be like her every day.鈥�

People that knew Dr. Kelly had the utmost esteem for her. It never failed that she would bring a smile to someone鈥檚 face or gave the most insightful advice to a student or colleague in need. 

One of those students, Danny McNeely now a speech pathologist, spoke fondly of her. 

鈥淒r. Kelly was interested in the well being of others,” she said. “Always working to make sure the needs of her students were met. She was a listener. Always willing to sacrifice time to understand the joy or pain of those that sat in her office.鈥�

Danny expressed what he will always cherish most about Dr. Kelly.

鈥淸I always felt] at ease when approaching her or asking for help,” he said.

Dr. Kelly was an advocate for her students. She went above and beyond for the people she cared about and wanted all her students to succeed. 

Abeer El-Anwar, PhD., an assistant professor of linguistics at 糖心Vlog传媒-Little Rock, admired Dr. Kelly both professionally and personally. 

鈥淒r. Kelly was brilliant, extraordinarily kind, and a uniquely special presence,” he said. “Her impeccably organized mind kept track of a vast quantity of research. She was unwaveringly supportive of her students, often with the student unaware she was behind the scenes advocating for them. She found joy in the little things in life. Friendships meant the world to her.鈥�

Dr. Donna Kelly as loved and cherished by many. Her outstanding leadership and good character made her one of the greatest professors 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Speech-Language Pathology program has seen. Even without knowing her, you knew her by the amazing things her colleagues and friends expressed about her. 

鈥淚 will miss my professor, but I think I will miss my friend even more,” El-Anwar said.

She will be dearly missed as a professor, colleague, mentor, and friend. 

The post Dr. Donna Kelly will be missed by many appeared first on The Forum.