- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Wins Legal Writing Contest for Exploration of Jock Taxes During COVID-19

John Hill — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:02:09 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has placed second in a national legal writing competition for her paper that explores the increasing complications of taxing professional athletes during the pandemic. �� Aleigha Smith, a senior accounting major and Donaghey Scholar from Cabot, received the second place award in legal writing from the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. Dr. Casey Carder Rockwell, assistant professor of marketing and advertising, mentored Smith. “There exists a myriad of complications in the form of taxes beyond the standard federal and state,” Smith said. “These taxes, called jock taxes, have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as the rules and regulations on how the income is taxed have evolved.” In the United States, the jock tax is an income tax levied against visitors to a city or state who earn money in that jurisdiction. Professional athletes are the targets of the jock tax, which requires them to pay income taxes outside of the states they live in for the time they work in other cities and states. The jock tax can force some professional athletes to file income taxes in as many as 15-20 states per year. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a great upheaval to professional sports. When professional sports teams began to cancel events and stay home, states and cities lost the ability to earn income by taxing visiting players. In her paper, “What’s Up Jock?: Redefining Duty Days for Professional Athletes in the Wake of COVID-19,” Smith argued that the jock tax is even more cumbersome to professional athletes during the pandemic and should be simplified. “The jock tax helps pay for stadiums where professional athletes play, security, and extra police work during professional events,” Smith said. “The job of a professional athlete is much more than just playing games. It’s practices, spring training, workouts, and other publicity appearances. With the use of virtual workplaces, you have the potential for athletes to be double taxed on workdays, especially when athletes can zoom in to more than one meeting in multiple states on the same day.” Jock taxes are calculated by using the number of duty days that a person has income-related work in another state. The use of remote work during COVID-19 has reduced the number of duty days that athletes have in states. Some states and cities have added new restrictions to increase the number of duty days to ensure revenue is not lost when professional athletes work remotely. With players using technology to attend practices and workouts remotely, the athlete can be in a different state than the rest of the team. This causes confusion in which state is entitled to count that day as a duty day and may result in double taxation of athletes by more than one state. Such confusion calls for a simplification to the increasing complexity of the issue related to digital duty days. Smith suggested that individual states and cities should simplify their jock taxes to make it easier for professional athletes to file their taxes. Lawmakers could create a standard definition of a duty day that is applicable to all states and cities who require athletes to pay a jock tax. This definition would include both physical and digital duty days and eliminates the double taxation that occurs if an athlete, for example, has both a team meeting in person and a virtual workout with a team trainer in another state on the same day. “With the increasing complexity, simplifying the process to calculate jock tax liability would reduce the amount of complications and ensure the commerce provided by professional teams continues,” Smith said. A member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi, Smith said she became interested in researching the impact of jock taxes on professional athletes by combining her accounting studies with her love of professional sports. “I have had an amazing opportunity to conduct my research, and through gathering information and examining tax code, I have a better understanding not only of the codes as well as problems faced by professional athletes, but also a myriad of other related topics,” Smith said. “This research started as an examination of tax codes as it related to the Super Bowl LIV, pre-COVID-19, and shifted given the unique situation created by the pandemic. I want to thank my research advisor, Dr. Casey Rockwell, for allowing me to explore those avenues and help me narrow down on what I truly wanted to explore.”

Rockwell named 2020 Sun Belt Faculty Member of the Year

John Hill — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:50:32 +0000

Dr. Casey Rockwell, assistant professor of marketing and advertising in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Business, has been named the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Faculty of the Year. After receiving ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Faculty of the Year Award, Rockwell was selected as the overall faculty winner from the 12 universities in the .�� “I was honored to be nominated by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student-athletes for this prestigious award,” Rockwell said. “It is my pleasure to work with our athletes and all of the students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Each student that enters our campus represents perseverance, a dream, and a chance to change the world around us. Some of our athletes have gone on to play professionally, build companies, and employ the skills learned at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to improve the world.” This award recognizes a faculty member from each Sun Belt institution who displays valuable classroom skills such as developing relationships, being a good communicator and showing a passion for teaching, engaging and inspiring students, while also separating themselves from their peers outside the classroom by regularly attending athletics events and displaying enthusiasm for the athletics department. “Dr. Rockwell is an extraordinary teacher and researcher,” said Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services. “She maintains high academic standards in her classroom but also assists students to achieve those standards. She does not stay in her office but is often seen walking around talking to students in the building and reminding them what they should be doing. She encourages students to go the extra mile and helps them with research. Some of her students have presented and won national awards. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is fortunate to have Dr. Rockwell on the faculty.” In the classroom, Rockwell has a reputation as a passionate and innovative teacher who creates unique activities and projects to engage her students. “I have always had a passion for education. Within that passion comes the desire to meet each student where they are and help them reach their desired goals,” Rockwell said. “For example, when we study the concept of civil wrongs and torts, we go on a scavenger hunt within our community to locate potential areas of negligence. This appeals to my students who are hands-on learners. During our study of regulatory takings, we build a city similar to Little Rock and discuss the placement of I-630. Even when we talk about water law, we use Zoom to interview the oyster fishermen in Apalachicola, Florida, regarding their Supreme Court lawsuit. Each of these activities is designed to help each student learn and apply the content in a manner that they might see in the real world. Application is key.” Rockwell has a heart of gold and would move mountains to help her students succeed, according to Cassidy Brady, a former volleyball player from Benton. “From the first time she met me on a Tuesday morning before 7, I knew she was a saint and would do anything to help me succeed,” Brady said. “Often, it brought me peace to just sit across from her in her office and listen to her speak fruitful words of encouragement that inspired me to keep going. I have never met anyone who is more devoted to helping her students succeed than Dr. Rockwell.” In addition to working with their busy schedules as student-athletes, Trojans appreciated that Rockwell would use examples related to their own life to explain material in a way that students could understand.

Photo of Casey Rockwell by Ben Krain.

“Professor Rockwell was always willing to meet and go over the material and explain it in the best way, so I was able to understand,” said Aaron Funk, a baseball player. “When we were studying contracts, Professor Rockwell used the analogy of negotiating a major league contact to help me understand the importance of ‘consideration’ and not just a salary.” Outside of the classroom, she is a dedicated Trojan fan who loves cheering for . ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student-athletes have dubbed Rockwell the “Professor of the Rock” for her commitment to Little Rock Athletics. “I love the Trojan athletic program. Getting to see my student-athletes demonstrate their skills inside and outside of the classroom is such a joy and the support that they receive from the campus is outstanding,” Rockwell said. “Each of the staff members is dedicated to the success of our student athletes. Each of our athletes has a high level of commitment and dedication. Whether it is watching shoot around in the gym or catching a baseball game on our beautiful field, our sports programs enrich the campus environment.�� Before joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2016, Rockwell taught at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College and Arkansas State University and served as dean of learning at the College of the Ouachitas. She is active in the community and serves as president of the Junior League of Little Rock, a service organization of more than 1,000 members. She is a past president of the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers and a past chair of the Continuing Education Committee with the Arkansas Bar Association. She’s been recognized by the American Bar Association with the Golden Gavel Award and by the Academy of Legal Studies in Business as an outstanding faculty mentor for student research. Rockwell earned a bachelor’s degree in education policy from Hendrix College, a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service, as well as a Juris Doctor and Doctor of Education from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Burke named associate editor for AY and AMP

John Hill — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 19:56:25 +0000

Starting a new career is often a hectic, yet rewarding experience, but starting a new career in the middle of a pandemic was something else altogether, according to Madeline Burke, a December 2019 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Burke, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a minor in legal studies, had only been on the job as an editorial intern for About You (AY) and Arkansas Money and Politics (AMP) for a week when the staff began working remotely due to COVID-19. “I have been writing a lot of content for print and online. I’ve been covering the governor’s press conferences every day since the beginning,” Burke said. “Each day is different and comes with a new story. I’m really glad to have this experience and to learn from our writers.” Burke had only worked as an intern for three months when she was promoted to an associate editor in June. Tyler Hale, an online editor at AY Media Group, said Burke has become his “secret weapon” since joining AY and AMP. “She has been instrumental in brainstorming new ideas for content, helping out on both the print and online sides of the magazines, and writing untold numbers of articles,” Hale said. “With our team spread out, she leapt to the occasion, covering all of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s daily press conferences for AMP. That was a lifesaver!” At AY, Burke covers lifestyle events and issues, while she covers business and politics for AMP. “Publishing is not for the faint-hearted, but Madeline has become a pro in a short amount of time,” Hale said. “She is a valued asset for our editorial team. Whenever I need to get something done efficiently, Madeline is always my ‘go-to.’ Between her strong work ethic and her still-growing talent, Madeline is definitely one to watch!” While Burke is an award-winning legal writer, this is the first time she’s worked as a reporter and is finding the change in writing style interesting. “I like writing and reporting because I think it’s really important to tell stories and inform the public about what is going on around them,” she said. “We try to focus on the good and positive at AY that center on Arkansans and how they are lifting each other up and making a positive contribution. I love learning more about others and what is going on around me.” She’s thankful to her mentors at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Dr. Jessica Scott, and Dr. Simon Hawkins from the Donaghey Scholars Program and Dr. Casey Rockwell, assistant professor of marketing and advertising, for helping her grow as a successful student and writer. “I think I’ve always known that I enjoy writing from the time I started school at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” she said. “The Donaghey Scholars Program and the curriculum prepared me to be a good writer. All of their essay-based coursework helped me develop my writing skills and a passion for it.” In the fall, Burke will also attend the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, where she will pursue a Master of Public Service. “I like to consider myself a lifelong learner and take advantage of all the opportunities I have to see where life takes me,” Burke said. “I am taking in my experience at AY and the Clinton School as an experience to grow my skills. No matter what, I want to make a positive impact on others around me.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students co-create new faculty award to honor one-of-a-kind faculty members

John Hill — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 16:00:31 +0000

The Student Government Association (SGA) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has created a new award to show appreciation for faculty members who have positively influenced the lives of students.�� The SGA Faculty Appreciation Awards will be presented annually to one faculty member in each of the university’s colleges. The award is a one-of-a-kind, handmade glass heart created by in the colors of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The glass hearts symbolize positive, influential support that makes a real difference in the lives of students. As students enter the university to pursue their education, faculty often play a nurturing role, guiding students through the learning process and working hard to foster an environment that best ensures success. “The SGA is excited to offer students the opportunity to formally recognize their favorite faculty members through the new We HEART Our Faculty Award,” SGA President Katie Zakrzewski said. “We know faculty work very hard to promote the success of students. This award is one way students can return the favor.”�� The winners include:

College of Social Sciences and Communication – Rebecca Glazier, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs
College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences – Mark Baillie, assistant professor of chemistry
George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology – Thomas Wallace, senior instructor of web design and development
College of Education and Health Professions – Joanna Rostad-Hall, instructor of nursing
College of Business – Casey Rockwell, assistant professor of marketing and advertising

The SGA Faculty Appreciation winners include Rebecca Glazier, Mark Baillie, Thomas Wallace, Joanna Rostad-Hall, and Casey Rockwell.

“I truly found my passion when I began teaching,” Rockwell said. “I get such joy out of watching the ‘ah ha’ moments happen in the classroom. To find out that my students have also found the same high level of joy in our classroom community is such a pleasure.” Several winners were especially touched to receive the award and found it even more meaningful to be selected directly by the students. “Student-selected awards are by far the most meaningful,” Wallace said. “Students are why we are all here and to have made an impact on their lives is the most fulfilling achievement I can think of in our profession.” “Students are really at the heart of what we do and to know that the students made this call really means the world to me,” Glazier added. “It is incredibly rewarding and just warms my heart to know that they would honor me with this award.” After teaching at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock since 2017, Rostad-Hall believes her success in teaching is down to the amazing students in the Department of Nursing. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock nursing has the most amazing nursing students, hands down,” Rostad-Hall said. “You won’t find more engaged, resilient nursing students anywhere. To be recognized by them means my passion and enthusiasm for nursing education is translating. I am blessed to get to work alongside these brilliant future nurses every day.” Baillie, who also leads the annual Mobile Summer Institute on Scientific Teaching every summer, believes in utilizing evidence-based teaching practices to provide the best instruction for his students. “The way I approach my teaching is that it is my job to help all students succeed,” Baillie said. “I utilize evidence-based teaching approaches in my classroom, which focuses on inclusive teaching practices, active learning, and alignment between assessment and what I most value students being able to do.” Provost Ann Bain said she appreciates how this SGA initiative will continue to encourage faculty to invest themselves in students. “Faculty are the heart and soul of our institution,” said Bain. “Faculty do so many things to help students succeed that most people do not recognize. I think it’s important that we can shine a light on all their accomplishments.”

Three ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students place first in national business legal writing competition

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 14:07:32 +0000

Three University of Arkansas at Little Rock students have been honored for their research highlighting what they call “unjust laws” that target vulnerable populations.�� The students earned first place for their legal writing skills from the Academy of Legal Studies and Business Conference in Montreal, Canada, in August. Their scores were based on a written law review article and oral presentation.�� Madeline Burke, senior international studies major, received the top student paper award in the individual category for her investigation of the use of an outdated maritime law used to limit shipowner’s liability in maritime accidents, while Ashley Murguia, senior international business major, and Alondra Cruz, sophomore marketing major, earned the top award in the group category for their paper investigating how the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) can be used to protect vulnerable immigrant populations. Dr. Casey Rockwell, assistant professor of marketing and advertising, served as the students’ advisor. “The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the College of Business pride themselves on providing outstanding experiential learning opportunities to our students,” Rockwell said. “Through the support of the Donaghey Scholars program, the Signature Experience grants, and the High Impact Grants through the College of Business, students are able to present their research at the national and international levels to create a reputation of top notch scholars at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. We could not be more proud of their efforts.”�� Burke’s winning paper, “Duck and Cover: The Gross Attempts of Limiting Liability in the Titanic, Deep Water Horizon, and Table Rock Lake Accidents with the 1851 Shipowner’s Limitation of Liability Act,” highlights the antiquated 1851 maritime law that has come under scrutiny to limit damages sought by victims of maritime accidents.�� Ripley Entertainment Inc. and Branson Duck Vehicles cited the obscure law in the multiple lawsuits they faced after the July 17, 2018, Duck Boat tourist accident that resulted in the death of 17 people in Missouri.�� “The law basically says that the owners of a vessel can limit their liability to the value of the boat and pending freight after the crash if they had no privity or knowledge of what directly caused the accident,” Burke said. “Because the boat sank to the bottom and there was no pending freight, the company could have theoretically owed the families of the victims nothing if the court had allowed them to use the law. Since then, they have supposedly settled most of the lawsuits against them. However, it is an example of how corporations attempt to use outdated laws as a logistical and strategic maneuver in court.”�� Burke’s paper focuses on how the 1851 Shipowner Liability Act has been used by maritime corporations to limit their liability in tragic accidents. Some of the most famous incidents include the 1912 sinking of the Titanic and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.�� “In the 1800s, maritime commerce was inherently risky,” Burke said. “The passage of the law was to promote the American maritime industry. From my research, it seems that the right of a vessel owner to limit their liability is universally recognized by many maritime nations. The importance of the Titanic is it made the law applicable to foreign vessel owners. They attempted to limit the liability to around $90,000, the value of the remaining lifeboats, but they settled out of court for significantly more. It also raises the question of why the Shipowner Liability Act should apply to foreign vessel owners if its original purpose was to protect and encourage the American maritime industry.”�� Burke hopes her paper will draw attention to the harm this law can cause for the victims of maritime accidents and their families and that the U.S. government will adopt a change to the law.�� In 1976, the International Maritime Organization adopted a treaty called the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims. This treaty increases the amount of funds that victims can be awarded for personal injury and loss of life claims. The U.S. has not ratified this treaty, but Burke hopes it will be ratified in time to bring the maritime law up to date.�� “I want to highlight the gross inequity that this act can have on victims and to possibly encourage the U.S. to ratify the 1976 convention to better align itself with other maritime nations,” Burke said.�� Deidre Smith, director of the Arkansas Waterways Commission, wrote a letter of commendation for Burke and Rockwell.�� “Dr. Casey Rockwell has immense dedication to student research and developing scholars,” Smith wrote. “I know she must be extremely proud of working with Ms. Burke and seeing her excel and gaining recognition. Ms. Burke is an extremely bright and impressive young woman that I am honored to acknowledge for her vision for a better future concerning the maritime industry. It gives me great hope for the outlook of our nation if she is an example of the country’s future leadership.”�� Meanwhile, Cruz and Murguia won the group competition for their paper, “Using RICO as a Tool for the Defense of Immigrants: Ensuring Lawyer Ethics through Civil RICO.” The paper introduces a new application of civil RICO, in which the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) can be used to prosecute attorneys in enterprises that prey on vulnerable immigrant populations seeking legal and professional assistance.�� “As Latina women, both my partner and I have very close ties to this immigrant population, and we have both witnessed or know of someone that was affected by visa fraud or malpractice committed by attorneys,” Cruz said. “There are not that many avenues of aid or protection for immigrant populations, and we hope that through our paper, we can bring to light the realities of being an immigrant in the United States and open new means of protection to victims that fit the application of RICO we proposed.” Murguia said the research has given her an opportunity to be an advocate for immigrants seeking justice.�� “This is a population who have built their whole lives within the U.S. and want to do right, but attorneys prey on that vulnerability,” Murgia said. “Having the opportunity to shed light on the problem makes me very happy because it brings awareness to this hidden problem and also enforces the fair justice system that we believe we have. My partner and I are aware that we’ve scratched only the top of the problem, but we’re determined to be the voice of those who have been silenced.”

International student leaves behind a legacy of leadership

Wed, 15 May 2019 18:53:23 +0000

For the past four years, Ann Kharlamova has considered the University of Arkansas at Little Rock her second home, where she has been able to grow, make friends, and gain invaluable professional experience. Kharlamova, a native of Cherepovets, Russia, first came to the United States as a high school exchange student in Texarkana during her junior year. After returning to Russia and graduating, she was recruited by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s swim team. On May 11, she graduated with two bachelor’s degrees in marketing and business analytics. “Ann has been a pillar of leadership in our program over the last four years,” said ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Swimming and Diving Coach Amy Burgess. “She left an impression wherever she went on campus.” Kharlamova’s accomplishments go beyond the swim team. She also served as an ambassador in the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps and worked for Testing Services. “I’m not going to lie. It was challenging,” Kharlamova said. “There was a lot of time management involved, but I realized that the sky is your only limit.” Outside of her busy life as a student, worker, and athlete, Kharlamova still found the time to make lifelong friends despite being thousands of miles away from her friends and family in Russia. “I enjoyed every night I spent with my girls on the swim team, and every single practice we had was memorable,” Kharlamova said. “Our freshman year training trip to Puerto Rico was especially memorable. We got to go to the best beaches, but it was also very challenging. It really prepared all of us for competitions.” As a student, Kharlamova excelled in her coursework and became very involved in research during her senior year. She and another student recently gave an award-winning presentation at the 2019 Student Research and Creative Works Expo and also presented the same project at a major business law conference in San Antonio. “It’s great to see how your hard work pays off. I’m very thankful to Dr. Casey Rockwell (Kharlamova’s faculty mentor) for convincing us to do this with her,” Kharlamova said. After graduation, Kharlamova plans to stay in Arkansas and work a few years before pursuing a master’s degree in a business-related field. She encourages anyone, regardless of where they live or what they want to do, to consider ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for their education. “Your experience is what you make it, no matter where you go. I truly believe that you need the heart of a Trojan to be here, and I see that in my classmates and teammates,” she said. “We have great programs, and you get a level of one-on-one attention from your professors here that I don’t see at other schools. I’m very thankful to have been here.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student wins SURF award to research outdated maritime law cited by lawyers in Missouri Duck Boat tragedy

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 14:21:02 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has received a $2,750 Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) award from the Arkansas Department of Education to research an outdated maritime law that lawyers invoked in an attempt to avoid or limit legal damages sought by victims and their family members in a last summer.�� Madeline Burke, a junior international and legal studies major and Donaghey Scholar from Little Rock, is thankful to receive the prestigious award that is a “great opportunity for people to research special topics of their interest.” Burke said she was inspired to investigate the 1851 maritime law after reading newspaper articles that explained how lawyers for two companies, Ripley Entertainment Inc. and Branson Duck Vehicles, facing multiple lawsuits over the July 17 accident used the obscure law. Ripley spokeswoman Suzanne Smagala-Potts said this type of filing is “common in claims related to maritime incidents,” and the “goal is to delay the multiple court cases to give the parties time for mediation.” “One of the strategies of the lawyers was to use this outdated law to try to not pay the victims of this tragic accident or their families any money,” Burke said. “The law says that the ship owner’s liability is limited to the value of the vessel after the crash and any cargo that was on the vessel. The boat did not carry any cargo, only the tourists who stepped foot on that tragic ride. So essentially, the lawyers argued that the boat owner is only liable for what the vessel was worth after the crash.” Burke will conduct her research this semester and into the summer under the mentorship of Dr. Casey Rockwell, assistant professor of marketing and advertising in the College of Business. “In a time of crisis, we all want to be responsive, but what is our response? Do we ponder silently why this happened or do we take the time to engage in the conversation regarding the legal, societal, and political constructs that exist in the aftermath,” Rockwell said. “Maddie chose social activism through research. Her intent is to not only raise awareness of this crisis, but further engage a larger audience in the conversation of how laws, when not a perfect fit, are often contorted to meet new objectives. This further raises the question of whether modern laws need to be restrictive or have an adaptability for an ever-changing society.” Burke will investigate the history of the law and the reasons why it was originally enacted as well as how the law has been used over the years leading up to the Missouri Duck Boat incident. The problem with some older laws, Burke points out, is that, over time, they are often used for purposes that fall far outside the original scope and intention of the law. “This law was originally meant to protect ship owners from liability,” Burke said. “Back then, traveling across the ocean was very dangerous. This law was used to protect ship owners from being held responsible for accidents that were not their fault. Because the Duck Boat sunk and there was no freight on the boat, the company lawyers argued that they didn’t owe the victims and families anything.” The award will cover the cost of Burke’s research materials as well as a trip to Montreal to present her research, “Duck and Cover: How the Outdated Maritime 1851 Limitation of Liability Act Shields Shipowners from Liability,” at the Academy of Legal Studies in Business Conference in August. Upon the completion of her research, Burke plans to make a policy recommendation to change the law so it would allow victims and family members the right to sue for civil damages. “The end goal of this research is a policy recommendation to change the law,” she said. “The law is over 150 years old and so outdated. My policy recommendation would be to not only protect ship owners, but to provide victims and family members with the right to seek compensation when it’s the right thing to do, just like when you see a tragic accident like the Missouri Duck Boat incident.” Burke has a history of uncovering outdated laws. In 2017, her paper, “The 1920 Death on the High Seas Act: An Outdated and Ambiguous Admiralty Law Shielding Cruise Lines Companies from Civil Liability,” earned the top student honor, the Outstanding Student Research Paper award, at the conference and was published in the Maritime Law Journal, a top business journal in the field Her paper explored how the law protects cruise lines from certain civil lawsuits by limiting families from recovering only pecuniary damages, what the deceased would have made for the family if the family is dependent on the person who died. This limits family members from suing for monetary damages if the person who died is unemployed, retired, a minor, etc., since the family is not financially dependent on the victim. “The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is proud to make the investment in graduate and undergraduate research through SURF, the Signature Experience Grants, undergraduate research grants, and the College of Business research funding,” Rockwell said. “Through these sources, Maddie has become a top researcher in this field as an undergraduate. It is really quite impressive.”

Four ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students receive SURF research fellowships

Janea Snyder — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 17:05:26 +0000

Four ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students have received the prestigious Student Undergraduate Research Fellowships from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to conduct research this spring with help from faculty mentors. The (SURF) program provides up to $2,750 to undergraduate students to conduct in-depth research projects in their specific fields of study with the assistance of faculty mentors. To be eligible, all fellowship recipients must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.25, at least 30 hours of credit toward a degree, and support of a faculty mentor. Funds also are provided for students to travel to conferences to present their accomplishments. The students will complete their research this spring semester and will exhibit their work at the Student Research and Creative Works Showcase on April 18 in the Jack Stephens Center. In addition to the SURF grants, the students receive some matching funds through ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Office of the Vice Provost for Research. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock fellows include the following: Bonn Belingon – “Enzymatic Studies of BbI06 from Borrelia burgdorferi,” ($2,750 from SURF, $1,250 match to equal $4,000) Belingon, of Marion, Arkansas, is researching how to isolate and target specific enzymes that are found in ��B. burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Currently, drug resistance to B. burgdorferi has surged and new strategies are needed to combat the disease. Belington and his mentor, Dr. Shanzhi Wang, will purify and characterize the BbI06 enzyme and determine 10 inhibitors against the bacterium. Madeline Burke – “Duck and Cover: How the Outdated Maritime 1851 Limitation of Liability Act Shields Shipowners From Liability,” ($2,750 from SURF, $1,250 match to equal $4,000) Burke, of Little Rock, is investigating the legal and ethical considerations of the 1851 Limitation of Liability Act that protects shipowners from liability. This act was cited by Ride the Ducks, the company that owned the duck boat that sank and killed 17 people on Table Rock Lake in Missouri on July 19, 2018. Burke will use library and government databases to create a research presentation for a national conference and submit an article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Casey Rockwell from the Department of Marketing and Advertising is Burke’s mentor. Caroline Kornelsen – “Understanding of ��ö��ٱ�� Resonance Energy Transfer in Ionic Materials,” ($2,750 from SURF, $1,250 match to equal $4,000) Kornelsen, of Fallbrook, California, and her faculty mentor, Dr. Noureen Siraj, are researching novel and inexpensive approaches to developing new materials that possess ��ö��ٱ�� Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) characteristics. FRET is a non-radiation energy transfer process between donor and acceptor moieties. Ionic material with FRET characteristics will be developed using a fluorescent organic ion as donor and counterion as acceptor. FRET characteristic in an ionic material will be understood by developing several derivatives of ionic materials using same cation but variable anion or vice versa. These materials are important in the arena of energy, healthcare, and the environment. This project will allow Kornelsen and Siraj to learn more about the parameters that depend on FRET efficiency in ionic material. Michael Meziere – “Examining the Relationships between Religiosity, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Sexual Misconduct,” ($2,125 from SURF, $625 match to equal $2,750) Meziere, of Little Rock, is examining if religiosity plays a factor in the misconceptions and myths surrounding sexual assaults on college campuses. To carry out this study, Meziere will conduct surveys to gather information on religious beliefs and sexual attitudes. The data gathered will be presented in a poster presentation at the Academy of Criminal Justice Studies annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, in March 2019 and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Undergraduate Research Expo in April 2019. Dr. Molly Smith from the Department of Criminal Justice is Meziere’s mentor. Madeline Burke is one of four ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students to receive a��Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship. She is researching an old maritime law which says the owner of a sunken vessel is not legally responsible for its cargo. Photo by Benjamin Krain

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students selected as finalists in national legal writing competition

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:55:40 +0000

Two University of Arkansas at Little Rock students were selected as finalists for a national legal writing competition held by the Academy for Legal Studies in Business.�� As finalists, Maddie Burke, junior international studies major, and Ian Wren, senior economics major, presented their papers at the academy’s national conference Aug. 11-14 in Portland, Oregon. Wren received third place for his paper, “When Equity Fails the Employee: ERISA and the Specter of Absolute Subrogation.” He was able to travel to the conference with the assistance of the Undergraduate Research Signature Experience Award he received in the spring semester. Burke received an honorable mention for her paper, “Fear of the Unknown: Drawing Back the Curtains on Shielding Laws and Regulations on Drugs Utilized in Animal Euthanasia and Lethal Injection.” Wren’s paper is about a section of employer-provided insurance plans that can leave employees worse off in some cases than if they had different insurance or no insurance at all. These plans operate under ERISA—the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974—which was passed with the intent of protecting employees’ finances from insolvent or unscrupulous employers. “Because most Americans receive insurance from their private-sector employer or belong to the plan of a family member who gets it through their employer, this area of the law can affect the lives of tens or hundreds of millions of people,” Wren said. “I think it’s important to trace the interpretation of this law over the years to see how we’ve arrived at the current, decidedly inequitable situation, and I think it’s important to discuss potential solutions.” Burke’s paper focuses on some of the controversial issues surrounding lethal injection as a method of execution, including the rising number of problematic executions, the shortage of lethal injection drugs, state secrecy statues that protect those who participate in an execution as well as the supplier of drugs, and the absence of assistance from medical professionals. Additionally, Burke finds it odd that the drugs used in lethal injection often lack Food and Drug Administration regulations, especially when drugs used in animal euthanasia are strictly regulated. “I think this is important because, almost every day, we see something in the news about lethal injection as a method of execution,” Burke said. “I wanted to highlight some of the controversies and add to the literature about Oklahoma being the first state to adopt nitrogen asphyxiation as their primary method of execution instead of lethal injection.” Last year, Burke won the top student honor, the Outstanding Student Research Paper award, for her paper, “The 1920 Death on the High Seas Act: An Outdated and Ambiguous Admirality Law Shielding Cruise Lines Companies from Civil Liability,” at the 2017 Academy for Legal Studies in Business Conference. The Academy for Legal Studies in Business is an association of teachers and scholars in the fields of business law, legal environment, and law-related courses outside of professional law schools. Utilizing their resources, they provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and encourage support and cooperation among those who teach and conduct research in the field of legal studies. In the upper right photo, students Ian Wren (left) and Maddie Burke (middle) are shown with their advisor, Dr. Casey Rockwell (right).��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student honored for cruise passenger rights research

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 13:08:29 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student won an award for her paper researching the liability cruise ships face for the wrongful death of passengers on the high seas. �� Madeline Burke, a 19-year-old sophomore international and legal studies major from Little Rock, earned the top student honor, the Outstanding Student Research Paper award, at the conference Aug. 10 in Savannah, Georgia. Her paper, “The 1920 Death on the High Seas Act: An Outdated and Ambiguous Admiralty Law Shielding Cruise Lines Companies from Civil Liability,” examines how the law protects cruise lines from certain civil lawsuits. “If you have a loved one on a cruise ship and they have a wrongful death, cruise ships are using this outdated act to shield them from liability,” Burke said. “Basically, they don’t have to compensate the family as much as if you have a loved one that died in a plane crash. “The Death on the High Seas Act says that families can only recover pecuniary damages, which is what the deceased would have made for the family if the family is dependent on the person who died,” Burke said. If the person who died is unemployed, retired, or a minor, the deceased’s family would be unable to sue for monetary damages, because the family is not financially dependent on the victim, Burke said. This year, U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Jim Himes, D-Conn., introduced the. If passed, the act would strengthen passenger safety and rights on cruise ships.

Madeline Burke (left) and Professor Casey Rockwell (right) attend the Academy for Legal Studies in Business conference Aug. 10 in Savannah, Georgia.

The Death on the High Seas Act would be amended so that families of victims would be able to pursue compensation after a death on the high seas, the same right currently given to airline passengers. However, if the Cruise Passenger Protection Act is passed, Burke warns that passengers could potentially see an increase in ticket prices. Cruise lines could raise prices to cover the increase in insurance and legal costs. �� Burke was inspired to write the law review by her marketing professor, Dr. Casey Rockwell, who is helping Burke submit the paper to academic journals for publication. Burke received financial support to attend the conference from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Donaghey Scholars Program. In addition to being a Donaghey Scholar, Burke also volunteers at Project Zero, a nonprofit organization that helps children who are available to be adopted through the foster care system. Once she completes her undergraduate degree in 2020, Burke plans to attend law school. In the upper right photo,��Madeline Burke (left) and Professor Casey Rockwell (right) attend the Academy for Legal Studies in Business conference Aug. 10 in Savannah, Georgia.

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