Blogging UCA - Conway Arkansas

Vote for Coach Conque...

2007-10-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award is again up for grabs, and your vote will help determine if UCA Football Coach Clint Conque walks away with the honor as the coach who best exemplifies responsibility and excellence on and off the field.According to Liberty Mutual spokesman Tony Rotondi, "College football coaches are tremendous role models to their student-athletes, undergraduates and alumni, and their on- and off-campus communities at-large. We’re looking for college football fans to help us find the coaches who have achieved success on the field without compromising the highest set of standards in sportsmanship, integrity, ethics, citizenship, and academics."This year’s Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year honors will go to one coach in each of the four NCAA divisions.

Log onto www.coachoftheyear.com before Nov. 27 to vote for Conque, and be sure to share your thoughts on why he’s the most responsible Football Conference Subdivision, FCS (formerly D1-AA) coach in America.The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award will be presented Dec. 29 on ABC. Each winning coach will receive a substantial cash award to support his civic and charitable activities, as well as scholarship funds to be donated to the alumni association of the winning coach’s school. Fan input counts, so show your UCA Bear pride!

What's up with the group by the Chapel?

2007-10-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

Yeah, yeah...I know...ignore them....

But, what is up with the group that constantly is appearing on the steps by the chapel outside the Student Center?

I had to walk over to the bookstore yesterday and saw them again. They seem to always use the same tactics....scream and yell...yell and scream. Yesterday it seemed to be that they were just yelling out that everyone was either a liar or a thief.

I suppose it is Free Speech, but good grief... they just are yelling.

Free Yelling?

Free Scene-Making?

Free Annoyance?

Maybe that's it...I'm learning that some people are just annoying. Yeah for education!

UCA grad directs AETN WWII exhibit

2007-10-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

UCA grad directs AETN WWII exhibit
"In Their Words," the interactive World War II exhibit now on display at AETN's headquarters on the UCA campus, is just one facet of a comprehensive oral history project directed by UCA graduate Gabe Gentry.

Gentry and his team have conducted nearly 400 hours of oral archival interviews with World War II veterans in Arkansas. UCA history professor Dr. Roger Pauley has worked as a project historian for "In Their Words" and the current exhibit.

Gentry also directed and co-produced "Their Journey," a documentary that accompanies the "In Their Words" project. "Their Journey" follows 47 Arkansas World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorial built in their honor, and its premiere coincided with the premiere of the Ken Burns' epic "The War" on PBS.

The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in AETN's atrium at Donaghey and Beatrice Powell Street. You can also experience the oral history archive being showcased and expanded by AETN at www.intheirwords.org.

AETN, a statewide public television network with five analog and six digital transmitters located throughout the state, has been located on the UCA campus since 1966. While the two entities are not officially affiliated, UCA President Lu Hardin and AETN Executive Director Allen Weatherly have expanded the long-term partnership. Weatherly was recently elected in a nationwide vote to the PBS Board of Directors.

UCA Softball

2007-09-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

UCA Fall Invitational Schedule

Saturday, September 29 at Farris Field

9:00 a.m. UCA vs. Lyon
11:00 a.m. Eastern Oklahoma State vs. Henderson State
1:00 p.m. Henderson State vs. Lyon
3:00 p.m. UCA vs. Eastern Oklahoma State
5:00 p.m. Lyon vs. Eastern Oklahoma State
7:00 p.m. UCA vs. Henderson State

If you haven't had a chance to catch one of the games...this Saturday is a great opportunity! They're 6-1-1 this season...way to go!

Go Bears!

Visiting historian to deliver lecture on Friday

2007-09-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Visiting historian to deliver lecture on Friday

Jason Parker, a history professor at Texas A&M University, will present a lecture this Friday at 2 p.m. in Irby 215. His topic will be "The American Lake or the Castro Caribbean? The United States, the Cold War, and the Decolonization of the West Indies."

Oxford University Press will soon publish Parker's new book, entitled, "The United States, Race, and Empire in the British Caribbean, 1937-1962." Parker's lecture is sponsored by the History Department and Phi Alpha Theta, UCA's student honor society in history.

UCA historian directs Arkansas WWII documentary project

2007-09-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

UCA historian directs Arkansas WWII documentary project
September 25, 2007
Roger Pauly, a history professor in UCA's College of Liberal Arts, has served as the project historian for the AETN original documentary "Their Journey," an Arkansas accompaniment to "The War," the new Ken Burns film about World War II currently airing on PBS.

Pauly's supervisory duties for "Their Journey" also included the creation of an online oral history project called "In Their Words," as well as a related exhibit at AETN's headquarters.

"Their Journey" will be broadcast again this Saturday, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m., and the exhibit will open this Thursday, Sept. 27, with a free public reception from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information about the event, contact Darbi at dblencowe@aetn.org or call 1-800-662-2386.

McLauchlin Graduate Scholarship winners honored

2007-09-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

McLauchlin Graduate Scholarship winners honored
September 25, 2007
Angie Renee Elizandro and Rosemarie Dickinson were honored as the recipients for the 2007-08 Robert W. McLauchlin Graduate Scholarship at a reception hosted by the UCA Graduate Council last Thursday.

The Robert W. McLauchlin Graduate Scholarship Fund was endowed in December 1995 after the death of Dr. Robert M. McLauchlin, then Dean of the Graduate School. The scholarship provides funds to graduate students who have been admitted into the Graduate School with full-qualifications and who are enrolled for nine (9) or more credit hours per semester. The scholarship is renewable for the second semester as long as the student maintains a grade point average of 3.0 and continues full-time study. Selection of the award winner/s is competitive and based on academic performance, school and community involvement, and financial need. The selection is made by a committee of UCA graduate faculty and administrators.

Elizandro, a native of Little Rock, graduated from the University of the Ozarks in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She received a Masters of Science in School Psychology from UCA last spring and is currently enrolled at UCA in the School Psychology Ph.D. program. Elizandro feels that working in the field of school psychology will allow her to have a positive impact on children and make a difference in their lives.

Dickinson is from Conway and has been a student at UCA since 2001. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Health Sciences-Physical Therapy in May 2005, and she began her Physical Therapy Graduate program in August 2005. Along with a demanding course load, she has also worked as a Graduate Assistant in both the HPER Fitness Center and in the PT Department. Recently, she has begun assisting a faculty member with a research study in comparing the efficacy of different forms of surveys and questionnaires on perceived balance with nursing home/assisted living residents.

Students interested in applying for the McLauchlin Scholarship should contact the UCA Foundation Scholarship Committee, Buffalo Alumni Hall, UCA Box 4986, Conway, AR 72035-4986 or call 501-450-5288. Applications must be submitted early in the spring semester each year. Selections are made mid-spring for the fall semester.

Saturday's UCA Football Results....

2007-09-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

MSU WINS SHOOTOUT 42-38
FOOTBALL • Sep 22, 2007

Freshman wide receiver Willie Landers
SPRINGFIELD, Mo _ Saturday night's offensive shootout between two sets of Bears came down to the final frenzied possession, with host Missouri State pulling out a nail-biting 42-38 victory over the University of Central Arkansas at Plaster Stadium.

The MSU Bears (3-1) answered UCA's go-ahead touchdown with a 2-yard run by quarterback Cody Kirby with just 21 seconds left to get the victory. UCA's touchdown, a beautiful 30-yard fade pass from junior Nathan Brown to senior Cedric Logan in the left corner of the end zone had followed a 4-yard touchdown run by MSU's Gerald Davis.

The last three scores all came in the final 3:11, with the last one giving the home Bears the victory and helping them avenge UCA's 16-14 win a year ago at Estes Stadium.

"We just made too many mistakes down the stretch,' said UCA head coach Clint Conque. "And our young defense just couldn't make a stop when we needed it. We just didn't have enough poise the last three minutes or so.'

UCA totaled a season-high of 562 yards of total offense, with Brown connecting on 26 of 41 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns. His yardage total was the second-best of his career. Landers, a redshirt freshman from El Dorado, caught a career-high five passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. MSU's Kirby, a true freshman from Rogers, completed 22 of 38 passes for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns, while running back Gerald Davis ran 16 times for 121 yards against UCA's banged-up defensive unit.

As much as the first half was dominated by the offenses, most of the second half was a defensive battle until the final five minutes. UCA, trailing 28-21 at halftime, opened the second half with a defensive stop but MSU's punt was downed at the UCA 1. After quickly working their way out of the hole, Brown connected with Landers on a short tunnel screen that he carried 66 yards down the right sideline for his second touchdown of the game, tying it at 28-28.

The only other score until the late heroics was a 38-yard field goal by senior James Paul that gave the Bears the lead at 31-28 with 9:41 left to play.

But the fireworks returned when UCA freshman Markell Carter intercepted MSU's pass at the MSU 26. UCA was forced to punt and gave the MSU Bears the ball back at midfield. Running back Gerald Davis put it in the end zone on a 4-yard run with 3:11 left on the clock, which would prove to be too much time.

UCA's kickoff return was nullified by a penalty, forcing the Bears to start at their own 10. Brown, a junior from Russellville, completed 5 of 7 passes on the workmanlike drive, including a key 25-yarder to Preston Echols that set up the touchdown toss to Logan. But again, 1:20 remained on the clock, and it proved to be too much.

Waylon Richardet returned UCA's short kick into UCA territory at the 39. After a pair of first downs, Kirby's pass to Tamarcus McElvane was tipped by UCA linebacker Stephen DeGrate and then caught by a diving McElvane at the 1 with 24.4 seconds left. Kirby then went in untouched on a quarterback keeper around the left end with 21.7 on the clock. UCA got off two plays before time expired.

"We did make some big plays on offense,' Conque said. "We felt like we could move the football and we did. When you score 38 points, you feel like you should win.'

The UCA Bears found the end zone first for the fourth consecutive game, with senior running back Ross Brown going in from th e 1 with 7:08 left in the first quarter. The MSU Bears answered with a 5-yard pass from freshman quarterback Cody Kirby to Clay Harbor with 3:05 remaining in the first period.

Kirby then scored twice from the 1 _ the latter after UCA went for it on fourth-and-1 from the MSU 39 _ to give MSU a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter. The fireworks were just starting, however, as the teams combined for three more touchdowns in the final 4:30 of the half.

UCA got what looked like a long kickoff return from freshman Quinton Morris, but his knee touched as he fielded the punt at the UCA 12. But the Bears still drove 88 yards in eight plays, capped by a long 53-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline from Nathan Brown to redshirt freshman receiver Willie Landers. James Paul's point after cut the lead to 21-14 with 4:30 remaining.

The MSU Bears turned around and drove 66 yards in six plays, capped by Kirby's 9-yard touchdown pass to McElvane that made it 28-14 with 2:55 remaining. UCA took over on its own 44 with 2:49 left and promptly drove the length of the field, mixing passes to Preston Echols, Curtis Marks and Darrius McNeal with runs by Brown and Grimes.

A throwback pass from Brown to Marks covered 11 yards and to the 4, and Marks then went 3 yards to the 1. Grimes finished it off with a 1-yard dive over the top to pull the UCA Bears to within 28-21 at halftime.

Brown connected on 11 of 17 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown in the first half, while Kirby hit 12 of 16 for 153 yards and 2 scores.

UCA faculty news

2007-09-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

UCA faculty news
September 21, 2007
Tina Mankey, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, has been named Arkansas's delegate to the Representative Assembly of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The Representative Assembly (RA) is the policy-making body of the Association (the "Congress" of AOTA). In this position, she will represent all Arkansas occupational therapists to the national organization. Mankey has been a faculty member in the Department of Occupational Therapy since 1997.

Rifat Akhter of UCA's Sociology department and co-author Kathryn B. Ward (Southern Illinois University - Carbondale) recently were notified that their paper "Globalization and Gender Equality: A Critical Analysis of Gender Empowerment in the Global Economy" was accepted for publication in the book series Advances in Gender Research, volume 13 (2009).

UCA Bears - Pep Rally Report

2007-09-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

There was a pep rally today (held on the front lawn by Irby and the fountain) at 2 pm. The cheerleaders, dance team and band got everybody off to a great start...with a quick 'pep talk' by Coach Conque pumping up the crowd for Saturday's game.

He encouraged everyone to come out to the game Saturday...and to tailgate and CHEER LOUDLY! Lots of Bear Den t-shirts seen worn in the crowd.

The Big Bear is Back!

Wing Stop was out in full support....throwing out t-shirts to the crowd...and then with a wing-eating contest! (oh my!)

The band sounded great...and everyone chanted along with the fight song...GO BEARS!!!

At the game....The student section will be by the band...with the first three rows for folks painted up and spirited out!

Don't forget...we're playing Tennessee-Martin at 6 pm on Saturday!

Enola Gay navigator to be honored at UCA

2007-09-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

Enola Gay navigator to be honored at UCA
September 13, 2007
Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk, the navigator on the Enola Gay, which performed the first atomic bombing mission to Hiroshima, Japan, will be honored at a reception on Monday at UCA.

Van Kirk is coming to UCA in advance of the Sept. 23 premiere of two World War II documentaries on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN): "The War," a seven-part film by Ken Burns; and "Their Journey: A Veterans' Tribute Tour," a 90-minute AETN production about 47 World War II veterans from Arkansas who traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit the National World War II Memorial in a four-day "Tribute Tour" in June.

"Their Journey" will air at 5 p.m. on Sept. 23, to be followed by "The War" at 7 p.m. For a complete list of related programming and events, visit www.aetn.org/thewar.

Memorial scholarship endowed for UCA athletes

2007-09-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Memorial scholarship endowed for UCA athletes
The University of Central Arkansas recently announced the endowment of a private scholarship for freshmen walk-on softball players.

The Michelle Short Scholarship Fund was established through the UCA Foundation in memory of the late Michelle Short, a freshman softball walk-on who died in a car accident in 2004.

The scholarship was started by Short’s parents, Kevin and Kerry Short of Mayflower, with additional contributions being made by family and friends. The Michelle Short Scholarship Fund Fishing Tournament, held annually on Lake Dardanelle, also benefits the scholarship, bringing the total of the endowment to nearly $50,000.

During the reception, UCA President Lu Hardin invited the Shorts, former Softball Coach Natalie Shock and current Softball Coach Steve Kissel, along with Athletic Director Brad Teague, to help unveil the endowment plaque for the scholarship. It will be displayed on the Donor Wall of Honor in the lobby of McCastlain Hall. This plaque features a unique detail - the outline of a softball with Short’s jersey number, 13, on the ball.

Hardin called the scholarship a tremendous contribution. “Many young ladies will have a better opportunity thanks to your generosity,” he told Short’s family and friends.

Teague said endowed scholarships for student athletes are critical. “We have almost 400 student athletes and only 185 scholarships available. We are so proud of what you have done for us by endowing this scholarship.”

For more information on donating to the Michelle Short Scholarship Fund, contact the UCA Foundation at (501) 450-5288 or toll free 1-800-981-4426.

UCA Library....the place to be

2007-09-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Whether it be for studying for class....or taking a catnap, the library at UCA seems to be a one size fits all on campus.

The computer banks at the front are extremely popular...and require a bit of patience during peak hour. The Microsoft computers are outfitted with the 2007 Word software and make it quite easy for anyone needing to write a paper. Printing does cost 5 cents a page from the computer so be sure your ID card has money on it or bring along some money to deposit onto your card (you swipe your ID card in order to print).

The little cubby rooms (like telephone booths for studying) seem quite popular although I haven't used one to test their usefulness.

There are group study rooms upstairs which can be reserved as well.

It's a big library...explore sometime....never know what you'll find. :)

I Remember....

2007-09-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

Senator Blanche Lincoln at UCA Campus on Thursday

2007-09-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, in May, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln met with member of the Arkansas Physical Therapy Association in Washington D.C.

On Thursday, the senator will be paying a visit to UCA to attend a reception with students and faculty and tour the Physical Therapy Center.

Congrats to the folks at the PT Center!

UCA Centennial Orchestra Concert September 23rd

2007-09-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Tickets are on sale now for the University of Central Arkansas Centennial Orchestra Concert at the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall.

The concert, conducted by Israel Getzov, music director of the Conway Symphony Orchestra and assistant professor of music at UCA, is set for 4 p.m. Sept. 23. It will feature the UCA Chamber Orchestra, Conway Symphony Orchestra and guests, the Fujian Chamber Orchestra from Fuzhou, China. The concert will feature a world premiere of a Fanfare celebrating UCA's Centennial, composed by UCA alumnus Zachary Stanton.

The Chinese delegation will include 34 musicians, graduates of the major Chinese conservatories, said Dr. Jeff Jarvis, chair of the Department of Music at UCA. He said the orchestra would play classical Chinese music and Chinese art music with traditional Chinese instruments, such as bamboo flute and the stringed instrument the erhu as solos.

"Fuzhou is a small town of 3 million across the straits from Taiwan," Jarvis said. "Izzy (Getzov) met these folks a few years ago. He's their principal guest conductor. The last three summers, he has taken three or four UCA students to play with the orchestra."

"We have a relationship with East China Normal University through our international programs office," Jarvis said. "We have three students on campus from that music school, and this friendship with Fuzhou. Mr. Cao would like them to come here and learn the nuances of Western music. We're working on that."

The head of music at East China Normal, a former conductor of the Shanghai Philharmonic, will come to UCA to play a concerto in October. Jarvis and Getzov will return to China in January to make plans to send 10-12 UCA music faculty to do summer residencies at a prime venue in Shanghai.
In February, the East China Normal student orchestra will appear in Conway, Arkadelphia and Memphis.

Tickets, $25 for the general public, $15 for the UCA community and $10 for UCA students with I.D., are on sale at the Reynolds Box Office. Hours for the box office are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or tickets are available by phone at 450-3265 or (866) 810 0012 or at www.uca.edu/tickets.

For more information, call the Office of the Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication, at (501) 450-3293 or e-mail gayles@uca.edu.

UCA and the Harding Fountain

2007-09-10T07:56:00.001-07:00

The Fountain

Maybe it's the phrasing....'by the fountain', 'near the fountain'....more than the phrase it's how THE is said...'by THE fountain' and 'near THE fountain'

It's not a fountain...it's THE fountain. That must be it.

It's been three years since Rush and Linda Harding donated the $1.225 million to UCA that went toward the fountain. He was honored with an Alumnus Award from UCA along with having the fountain hamed in their honor.

Harding is an investment broker who helped fund the golf course/apartment development at the Links on Tyler Street ($40 million or so) amongst other things.

Fountain, oh fountain...my kingdom for a fountain

Life as a BROKE College Student....

2007-09-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

Signs You're Really Broke

American Express calls and says: "Leave home without it!"

Your idea of a 7-course meal is taking a deep breath outside Mike's Place.

You skip class so you can stay in Christian Cafeteria through the breakfast/lunch switch.

You've rolled so many pennies, you've formed a psychic bond with Abe.

The Log Cabin no longer calls you to subscribe.

Your credit card companies raised the rates from 6.9% to 24.9%.

You see your roommate as a large fried chicken in tennis shoes.

You receive care packages from soldiers in Iraq.

Your bologna has no first name.

You rob Peter...and then rob Paul.

You finally flip your couch cushions, hoping to find change.

You chase down that penny that dropped at the U-Scan.

You know all the 'free lunch' days offered around campus.

The food court in the Student Union supplies you with all your kitchen condiments.

Consumer Credit Counseling services said "No."

Ramen noodles are a luxury...you just can't afford.

....hope you guys will have pity on me and visit at least one of the orange links in the right column

....a penny saved...oh dang...is just a penny.

Fast Food and Salty Burgers...oh my

2007-09-09T14:24:00.001-07:00

Just a note for all you folks (like me!) making ends meet by working at or eating at fast food restaurants.

Brought to you by the fine folks at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Sometimes a restaurant screws up a dish with too much of this or too little of that.

Less frequently, the cook gets jail time.

That's what happened early Friday morning in Union City, a small town in the southern suburbs of Atlanta. A McDonald's worker put too much salt on a Big N' Tasty burger that was served to a Union City police officer who got sick and was briefly hospitalized.

The worker, Kendra Bull, 20, was arrested, handcuffed, charged with reckless conduct at 1:30 a.m. and spent the rest of the night in lock-up. Later Friday morning, after a court hearing, she was released on $1,000 bond.

Saturday, Bull, the mother of a 1-year-old, said she accidentally spilled too much salt on the burger and was unjustly charged.

"I think they went too far with it," said Bull, who has worked at the McDonald's on Jonesboro Road for about five months. "If it was too salty, why did [the officer] not just take one bite and throw it away? Why did he take eight bites and finish it and come back later and say it made him sick?"

She said she told her supervisor and another co-worker she spilled the salt on the burger. "They tried to thump the salt off," she said.

Then she went on break and ate a burger made from the oversalted meat. "It didn't make me sick," she said.

Meanwhile, the restaurant went ahead and served the extra salty Big N' Tasty to the police officer, said Bull. A few minutes later the officer, Wendell Adams returned to the restaurant and told the manager he got sick from eating the burger.

He talked to the restaurant's manager, another employee and Bull, who admitted she spilled the salt on the burger. Bull said the officer asked her to step outside, where he continued to question her. "He told me it made him so sick it had to have something worse than salt on it," said Bull.

"He asked me if I had ever had a bad experience with cops. Did I know it was a police officer that came through the drive-through? A whole lot of nonsense like that."

Bull said she didn't know a police officer had ordered the burger because in the area where she worked, she couldn't see out the drive-through window.

She said she told Adams her supervisor knew there was too much salt on the burger, but the supervisor didn't come to her defense.

"[The supervisor] was just trying to cover herself," said Bull, who said Saturday afternoon she didn't know if she still had a job under

the golden arches: "I'm waiting to hear from my supervisor."

A call to the restaurant seeking comment was not returned. Adams could not be reached for comment.

Union City Police public information officer George Louth said Saturday that police talked to Bull and other store employees who told them Bull knew the burger "wasn't properly prepared." He said she was charged with the misdemeanor reckless conduct because she served it anyway "without regards to the well-being of anyone who might consume it."

The department is still investigating the case. Since the officer didn't eat the entire Big N' Tasty, there were samples to send to the state crime lab to find out what was in or on the burger that made Adams sick.

Bull, meanwhile, said she was hiring an attorney as she awaits her day in court.

After that, she said, "I think I'm going back to Texas."

Technorati Profile

2007-09-09T09:24:00.001-07:00

Technorati Profile

UCA Football Game Tonight....at Northwestern State

2007-09-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

UCA Bears play the NSU Demons tonight down in Louisiana which marks their first conference game playing in the Southland Conference.

Go Bears!

Update: UCA leads 21-7 at the half...
2nd update: NSU leads 28-21 with 1:45 left in the 3rd quarter
3rd update: Tied up 28-28 with 3:44 left in the game
Final: NSU pulled it out to go 31-28 over UCA....

New Scholarships at UCA for recent HS & GED grads

2007-09-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone in UCA land...

Did you graduate high school or earn your GED after December 31, 2006??

If so...check out this new scholarship available to students...announced by UCA....

The GO! Opportunities Grant Program is a grant that is awarded based on financial need. Eligibility is based on a family’s adjusted gross income as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For a family with one dependent child, the maximum adjusted gross income is $25,000. For each additional dependent child in the household, the maximum income increases by $5,000. This grant is available to recent Arkansas high school graduates or General Educational Development (GED) Test recipients who are accepted to a college or university in Arkansas. The grant amount is $1,000 per academic year for full-time students and $500 a year for part-time students. The grant is renewable for up to a total award amount of $4,000 provided the student meets the continuing eligibility standards established by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

They've granted a one time extension to apply for the scholarship for the Fall 2007 semester! Outstanding opportunity...new UCA scholarships are definitely a good thing!

What's Wrong with UCA's TV Behind Torreyson Library?

2007-09-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

As I trek across campus, I usually catch a peek at the day's events on CNN playing on the jumbo screen back behind Torreyson Library. I say usually...because nothing has been playing on it at all.

Is it off? Is it broken?

I hope not...surely a $250,000 TV from 2004 has some kind of guarantee.

Perhaps it isn't broken at all. Maybe there are new plans for it?

After reading the article....I never knew that area was called "Technology Plaza"...

I also see all the stuff about it being for open-air classrooms. Well...I guess that could work, but I wouldn't want to take one. On hot days, those benches around the tables are BLAZING hot. You have to sit on your backpack...definitely. On windy days...well...it's windy. On rainy days...well...you get the picture.

Classrooms or not...having the news available was a nice way to stay in touch with what was going on in the world while on campus...

hopefully it'll be back soon

12,501 Students Enrolled at UCA - Lu Hardin Announces

2007-09-08T07:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at the Board of Trustees meeting, Lu Hardin announced that UCA's enrollment has reached 12,501...the Log Cabin found it newsworthy enough.

They were holding the enrollment at 12,500? Are qualified students (except that one) being turned away pending this $25 million expansion? hmmmm...didn't know that.

Hmmmm...the odds seem to have gone up on hosting a presidential debate at UCA to 50/50 since the end of August. I just hope the candidates don't use the sidewalks and run the risk of being mowed down on national TV by whatever motorized vehicle, lawnmower or golf cart is zipping down it.

I see that they just mentioned as a side note at the end that fees(?) for the HPER Center and pool were approved. Aren't there already fees or are these new ones?

And what is a "resolution of repreciation" for John Smith M.D.? I'm guessing it's appreciation??

UCA Cheerleaders....tryouts on Saturday

2007-09-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

from UCA sports news.....The University of Central Arkansas cheerleading squad will host open tryouts on Saturday, September 8. The tryouts will be held in the Prince Center at 9 a.m. For mor information contact coach Michael Daugherty at mdaugherty@uca.edu.

Requirements for COED:

Tumblers - must throw a Full, a specialty pass is preferred
Fliers must be flexible and double down
Stunters must be able to demonstrate strong toss stunts. Exceptions will be made based on potential.
Good Motion Technique
Standing Tucks (Exceptions will be made)
Level Jumps

Requirements for ALL GIRL:

Level Jumps
At least a Round-off Back Handspring Back Tuck
Standing Tuck close with a spot (Exceptions will be made for fliers)
Fliers need to be able to double down from every body position
Strong Bases or Backspots
Good Motion Technique

Baptist Campus Ministry Lunches at UCA

2007-09-07T00:14:00.000-07:00

Between classes today, I noticed flyers for the Baptist Campus Ministry.

If you haven't stopped by there...swing by sometime and check out the slate of activities available for students here at UCA.

Also...and the reminder on the flyer....starting the 11th, the BCM will be having their regular PowerLunches from 11:30am to 12:45pm with great food for all! It's free...and always good!

If you don't know...they are located on the corner of Western and Bruce Street - across from Doyne Math Building.

UCA has lots of great groups on campus...check them out when you have a chance!

Excess Financial Aid Day at UCA

2007-09-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

Oh my...hope you're not caught in line waiting for your excess aid check right now. The line is extending past Bernard at the moment...

I'd say give it an hour or so and the line will be thinned down dramatically.

You might want to note that although the bank has multiple branches around Conway...they practically (they do insist, lol) insist that you go to the main branch downtown if you do not have an account with them.

Of course, they'd be happy for you to open an account...but it isn't required.

Red Alert... Tow Trucks on UCA Campus Parking Lots

2007-09-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there that hasn't been able to get a parking sticker...be careful. I guess the honeymoon period...not that there is one...is over because they are towing cars this morning in the parking lots.

Bad enough to have to pay the ticket...

but towing...ouch.

...and it ain't cheap ;)

...so take care out there in parking lot world at UCA

update...they seem to be concentrated towing over in the parking lot situated between Western and Augusta north of the Athletic Administration building. They are still towing.

Archivist gathering UCA's history....

2007-09-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

With all the hoopla and banners around campus celebrating UCA's 100th year...did you know that there is a book being written about UCA and it's history?

There is! It's being compiled by the director of the archives at UCA, Jimmy Bryant.

Mr. Bryant - who had returned to UCA to earn a bachelor and master's degree in History - was hired by the university in 1998 to fill the position left when Tom Dillard retired in 1997.

The archives is a great place to find all sorts of information on the history of UCA...and Bryant's book should be an interesting product!

...knowing is half the battle, eh?

About Main Hall...on the campus of UCA

2007-09-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

If you've been on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas, then you've probably (at least) been near Main Hall. It is located on Alumni Circle between Harrin Hall and the Torreyson Library. The photograph above is of UCA's Main Hall in 1940.

The building was finished in 1919. It was designed by George Washington Donaghey - a carpenter and architect who served as Governor of Arkansas from 1909 to 1913 - and was his last building project in Conway. Donaghey had moved to Conway in 1883 and worked on the design of the Bank of Conway, the Faulkner County Courthouse, and buildings at Hendrix and CBC over the years. The completition of the state capitol building in Little Rock was another major accomplishment of Donaghey's.

The building was originally called the Administration Building. The library was housed in the basement until a separate building for the library (now Harrin Hall...Torreyson Library was built in 1963) was established in 1930. Annually, senior classes would plant ivy in front of the administration building as part of the graduation tradition.

In 1937, the Ida Waldran Auditorium was added. In 1944, the funeral for Coach Estes was held in the auditorium. In 1963, the building was renamed Main Hall and the usage switched to offices and classrooms.

In the 1997-1999 biennium, UCA requested $1.3 million for upgrades to Main Hall that was housing the math and history departments at the time. Rather than upgrade Main, upgrades at Harrin Hall took precedence. In 1999, UCA requested $5 million, but upgrades were still apparently placed on hold.

Today, the academic success center can be found tutoring UCA students down in the basement of Main Hall. "The Oxford American" magazine is also published out of Main Hall. Students may also swing through during x-period and find Film Appreciation students...appreciating film.

Main Hall is a striking landmark on the campus of UCA and remains an integral part of the UCA experience.

UCA Alma Mater

2007-09-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

From the hills and from the lowlands,
Comes the song of praise anew;
Sung by thousands of our children,
Alma Mater we sing to you.
(Break it down)
Then we'll unfurl our colors the Purple and the Gray
And in the breezes see them ever proudly sway;
They lead us upward, they lead us onward,
They lead us to victory (Go Bears!).
Then let us gather round with loyal hearts and true,
Our Alma Mater's call OBEY;
Our dear old colors will live forever,
The Royal PURPLE and the GRAY.

The UCA Alma Mater lyrics were written in 1923 by Miss Ora Blackmun, a member of the English Department. The score was published by Homer F. Hess, UCA music chairman, in 1925.

UCA Farris Lecture - Speaker Robert F. Kennedy Jr

2007-09-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

from the campus news....

Noted environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will deliver the inaugural Farris Lecture at the University of Central Arkansas on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

The event, which will be free and open to the public, will take place at 7 p.m. at the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus. After his address, entitled "Crimes Against Nature," Kennedy will participate in a question-and-answer session with the audience, and a book signing will follow.

The Farris Lecture is a new endowed lecture series established through a gift to the UCA Foundation from UCA alumna Elizabeth Farris and Dr. William Sorrels. It is named in honor of Farris' father, former UCA President Jeff Farris Jr., during whose tenure the UCA Honors College was founded 25 years ago by Norbert Schleder. This year's event also serves as the UCA Centennial Lecture for the Honors College.

An invitation-only reception will take place at 5 p.m. in UCA's Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center, which adjoins Reynolds Performance Hall.

For more information about the lecture and related activities, call the UCA Honors College at (501) 450-3198.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions. Kennedy was named one of Time magazine's "Heroes for the Planet" for his success in helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. The group's achievement helped spawn more than 125 Waterkeeper organizations across the globe.

Kennedy serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of Waterkeeper Alliance. He is also a clinical professor and supervising attorney at Pace University School of Law's Environmental Litigation Clinic and is co-host of Ring of Fire on Air America Radio. Earlier in his career, he served as assistant district attorney in New York City. He has worked on several political campaigns, including the presidential campaigns of Edward M. Kennedy in 1980, Al Gore in 2000, and John Kerry in 2004.

Among Kennedy's published books are the New York Times bestseller Crimes Against Nature (2004); The Riverkeepers (1997); and Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr: A Biography (1977). His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, The Nation, Outside magazine, the Village Voice, and many other publications. His award-winning articles have been included in anthologies of America’s best crime writing, best political writing and best science writing.

Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Following graduation, he attended Pace University School of Law, where he was awarded a master's degree in environmental law.

FYI...Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the third of eleven kids born to Robert and Ethel Kennedy (John F. Kennedy's younger brother).

Meet James W. Brodham - UCA History Professor

2007-09-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

......from the History faculty guide:

Dr. Brodman is a specialist in medieval history, and has a particular interest in the history of Spain, the history of medieval social welfare policy, and the history of religious institutions. He is the immediate past President of the American Academy of Research Historians of Medieval Spain. He is also the founder and director of LIBRO : The Library of Iberian Resources Online, a full-text library of monographs and other resources in Iberian history. On the undergraduate level, Dr. Brodman teaches the Birth of Europe, Medieval Civilization, the History of the Crusades, the History of Spain, the History of Christianity, Introduction to Historical Methods, and World History. Graduate courses include the Seminar and Studies in Medieval History. Dr. Brodman's publications have emphasized the areas of medieval law, social policy and ecclesiastical institutions. Currently, he is working on a broad study of the opera caritatis in medieval Europe. He holds the Ph.D. degree from the University of Virginia, and is currently professor of history in the University of Central Arkansas.

Bibliography of Published Works

__________,Edward Anson and Thomas Kaiser, Perceptions of Reality: A Sourcebook for the Social History of Western Civilization. Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt, 1980.

Ransoming Captives in Crusader Spain: The Order of Merced on the Christian-Islamic Frontier. The Middle Ages Series. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1986. Internet Edition (http://libro.uca.edu/rc/captives.htm), 1998.

L'Ordre de la Merce -- El rescat de captius a l'Espanya de les croades. Barcelona: Edicions dels Quaderns Crema, 1990.

A User's Guide to the Internet and LAN, University of Central Arkansas, 1996.

Charity and Welfare: Hospitals and the Poor in Medieval Catalonia. The Middle Ages Series. Philadelphia: The University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998.

Internet Edition : http://libro.uca.edu/charity/charity.htm

Charity and Religion in Medieval Europe, in progress.

“Hospitals in the Middle Ages,” in The Blackwell Companion to the Middle Ages, ed. Edward English and Carol Lansing, in press.

“Innocent III and the Church’s Responsibility toward the Poor,” in press.

“Community Identity and the Redemption of Captives: Comparative Perspectives Across the Mediterranean,” Anuario de estudios medievales, 36, no. 1 (2006): 241-52.

“Unequal in Charity? Women and Hospitals in Medieval Catalonia,” Medieval Encounters 12 (2006); 26-36.

“Religion and Discipline in the Hospitals of Medieval France,” in The Medieval Hospital and Medical Practice, ed. Barbara Bowers (Aldershot, England: Ashgate Publishing, 2007), 123-32.

“Rule and Identity: The Case of the Military Orders,” The Catholic Historical Review 87 (2001), 383-400.

"The Rhetoric of Ransoming: A Contribution to the Debate over Crusading in Medieval Iberia," Tolerance and Intolerance: Social Conflict in the Age of Crusades, ed. Michael Gervers and James M. Powell (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2001), 41-52.

"Fable and Royal Power: The Origins of the Mercedarian Foundation Story," Journal of Medieval History 25 (1999): 229-41.

"Shelters and Segregation: Lepers in Medieval Catalonia," On the Social Origins of Medieval Institutions: Essays in Honor of Joseph F. O’Callaghan, ed. Theresa Vann (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1998), 35-45.

"Ransomers or Royal Agents: The Mercedarians and the Aragonese Crown in the Fourteenth Century," Iberia and the Mediterranean World of the Middle Ages: Essays in Honor of Robert I. Burns, S.J., eds. P.E. Cheveddan, D.J. Kagay and P.G. Padilla (Leiden and New York: E.J. Brill, 1996), 239-51.

"The Origins of Hospitallerism in Medieval Catalunya," in Iberia and the Mediterranean World of the Middle Ages: Essays in Honor of Robert I. Burns, S.J., ed. Larry J. Simon. (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1995), 291-302.

"Charity and Ransoming Along the Christian-Islamic Frontier of Medieval Spain," TVI (Terrorism, Violence, Insurgency) Report 11, no. 3(1995): 6-9.

"What is a Soul Worth? Pro anima Bequests in the Municipal Legislation of Reconquest Spain," Medievalia et Humanistica 20 (1994): 15-23.

"Sheltering the Homeless: Hospitals in Medieval Catalonia," Journal of the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association, 14(1993): 1-12.

"Exceptis militibus et sanctis: Restrictions upon Ecclesiastical Ownership of Land in the Foral Legislation of Medieval Castile and Valencia," En la España medieval 15(1992): 63-75.

"Charity and Captives on the Medieval Spanish Frontier," Anuario Medieval, 1(1989): 25-36.

"Municipal Ransoming Law on the Medieval Spanish Frontier," Speculum, 60 (1985): 318-30.

"The Mercedarian Order: The Problem of Royal Patronage during the Reign of James I," Jaime I y su epoca (Saragossa, 1982), 3:71-76.

"Military Redemptionism and the Castilian Reconquest," Military Affairs, 44 (1980): 24-27.

"The Origins of the Mercedarian Order: A Reassessment," Studia monastica, 19 (1977): 353-360.

Encyclopedia Articles:

"Boabdil," World Book Encyclopedia, 1996 ed., 2:427.

“Castile and Aragon,” World Book Encyclopedia, 1996 ed., 2:279-80.

“Cid,” World Book Encyclopedia, 1996 ed., 4:552.

“Moors,” World Book Encyclopedia, 1996 ed., 13:797.

"The Mercedarian Order", "Petrus Nolasco", Lexikon des Mittelalters, 6 (Munich, 1994-)

"Religious Orders", Medieval Iberia: An Encyclopedia, ed. E. Michael Gerli (New York: Routlege, 2003): 700-04.

"Mercedarians," Encyclopedia of Monasticism, ed. William M. Johnston (Chicago and London, 2000), 2: 854-856.

“Medieval Caritative Orders,” International Encyclopaedia for the Middle Ages – Online, ed. Patrick Geary, et al. University of California at Los Angeles Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies and Brepols, http://www.brepolis.net (2005).

“Medieval Hospitals,” International Encyclopaedia for the Middle Ages – Online, ed. Patrick Geary, et al. University of California at Los Angeles Center for

Medieval and Renaissance Studies and Brepols, http://www.brepolis.net (2005).

“Merce, Ordre de la,” Dictionnaire des ordres militaires en Europe au Moyen Age, ed. Nicole Bériou and Philippe Josserand, Paris: Arthème Fayard, in press.

“Trinité, Ordre de la,” Dictionnaire des ordres militaires en Europe au Moyen Age, ed. Nicole Bériou and Philippe Josserand, Paris: Arthème Fayard, in press.

"Religious Orders", Encyclopedia of Medieval Iberia, ed. J. Michael Gerli (Routledge, 2003): 700-704.

Translations:

“Documents concerning the Spanish Military Orders,” and “Treaty of Cazola,” in Text and Community in Medieval Iberia: Readings from Christian, Muslim and Jewish Sources, ed. Olivia Remie Constable (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997), 156-163.

"The Sixth Council of Toledo," Classical Folia, 33 (1979): 5-18.

Poverty and Charity in the Jewish Community of Medieval Egypt by Mark R, Cohen in Shofar, in press.

Medicina y enfermedad en la corte de Carlos III el Noble de Navarra (1387-1425) by Fernando Serrano Larráyoz in Mediterranean Historical Review, in press.

Medicine in the Crusades: Warfare, Wounds and the Medieval Surgeon by Piers D. Mitchell in Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences 61 (2006): 85-86.

Encounters between Enemies: Captivity and Ransom in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem by Yvonne Friedman, in Medieval Encounters, 9 (2003): 182-83 .

Reconquest and Crusade in Medieval Spain by Joseph F. O’Callaghan in The Catholic Historical Review 89(2003): 753-54.

Diplomatarium of the Crusader Kingdom of Valencia: The Registered Charters of its Conqueror, Jaume I, 1257-1276. Volume 3, Transition in Crusader Valencia: Years of Triumph, Years of War, 1265-1270, edited by Robert I. Burns, S.J, The Catholic Historical Review 88(2002): 349-50.

La liberazione del ‘captivi’ tra Christianità e Islam. Oltre la crociata e il Gihad: toleranza e servizio umanitario. Atti del Congresso interdisciplinare di studi storici (Roma, 16-19 settembre 1998), edited by Guilio Cipollone in Medieval Encounters 8 (2002): 96-98.

New Cambridge Medieval History, vol. 5, edited by David Abulafia, AARHMS Newsletter and Reviews, 2001 (http://www.uca.edu/divisions/academic/history/aarhms).

Structures of reform : the Mercedarian Order in the Spanish Golden Age by Bruce Taylor, Medieval Encounters 7(2001): 247-49.

Carmel in Medieval Catalonia by Jill R. Webster, Medieval Encounters 7 (2001), 121-22.

The Kingdom of León-Castilla under King Alfonso VII by Bernard F. Reilly, The Catholic Historical Review 85 (1999): 608-9.

La Orden de Santiago en el siglo XV: La Provincia de Castilla by Pedro Andrés Porras Arboledas, Speculum 74 (1999): 811-13.

Per Déu o per diners: Els mendicants i el clergat al País Valencià by Jill R. Webster, The Catholic Historical Review 85 (1999): 72-73.

Religion and Society in Spain, c. 1492 by John Edwards, Catholic Historical Review 83(1997): 324-35.

The Learned King: The Reign of Alfonso X of Castile by Joseph O'Callaghan, The American Historical Review 100 (1995): 149.

Cristianità-Islam: Cattività e liberazione in nome di Dio. Il tempo di Innocenzo III dopo 'il 1187 by Giulio Cipollone, Catholic Historical Review 80 (1994): 136-37.

The Origins of Peasant Servitude in Medieval Catalonia by Paul Freedman, The American Historical Review 97 (1992): 1197-98.

Christian Martyrs in Muslim Spain by Kenneth Baxter Wolf, The American Historical Review 94 (1989): 1084.

La mensa capitular de la iglesia de San Salvador de Zaragoza by Maria Rosa Guttierrez Iglesias, Catholic Historical Review, 69 (1983): 99-100.

Islamic and Christian Spain in the Early Middle Ages: Comparative Perspectives on Social and Cultural Formation by Thomas Glick, Hispanic-American Historical Review, 61 (1981): 99-100.

Meet Kenneth C. Barnes - UCA History Professor

2007-09-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

....from the faculty bio:
Kenneth C. Barnes, Associate Professor of History, works in the area of modern Germany, and modern European social and intellectual history. A graduate of UCA's history department (BA, 1977), he went on to complete an MA at the University of East Anglia (Norwich, England) and a Ph.D. at Duke University. He taught for ten years at Concordia University (Illinois) and at the University of Southern Mississippi before returning to UCA in 1992. He has published several articles and a book concerning German church history during the Nazi period, and more recently developed a research interest in political violence in late nineteenth-century Arkansas. He teaches the following courses: Germany Since 1918; Intellectual and Social History of Europe Since 1830; Renaissance and Reformation Europe; History of Christianity II; Senior Seminar.

In Dec 1990, Dr Barnes published Nazism, Liberalism, and Christianity: Protestant Social Thought in Germany and Great Britain 1925-1937.

In 1991, Dr. Barnes published Nazism, Liberalism, & Christianity Protestant Social Thought in Germany and Great Britain 1925-1937.

In Dec 1998, Dr. Barnes published Who Killed John Clayton?: Political Violence and the Emergence of the New South, 1861-1893.

In Sept 2004, Dr. Barnes published Journey of Hope: The Back-to-Africa Movement in Arkansas in the Late 1800s (The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture).

In 2005, Dr. Barnes received the Arkansiana Award for non-fiction by the Arkansas Library Association for his book titled, “Journey of Hope: The Back to Africa Movement in Arkansas in the Late 1800s.” He was awarded a plaque and a $1,000 check.

Dr. Barnes is teaching Senior Seminar, Germany since 1918, and a graduate history topics class this semester at UCA....he likes PowerPoint presentations and is known to quiz on required readings....can translate German - he translated The Guiding Star for St. Joseph Colony (a guide book for Swiss and German emigrants heading to spots around Faulkner County, Arkansas)....he's given talks to middle schoolers in Conway along with Dr. Gordy about the Cadron history and local Native American groups...

.....inquiring minds

UCA Bears.... Mascot History

2007-09-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

from the UCA alumni traditions site:

UCA Mascot - It wasn’t until 1920 that the UCA athletic teams had a mascot. According to Dr. Ted Worley, author of A History of The Arkansas State Teachers College, the UCA teams from 1908-1919 were referred to by many names, including: Tutors, Teachers, Pedagogues, Pea-Pickers and Normalites. In 1920 the Bears became the mascot for the teams. However, it wasn’t until April 7, 1921 that the teams were called “Bears” in print. Dr. Worley also quoted sources as saying the Bear was an appropriate symbol for the school because Arkansas’ nickname was the “Bear State.” The women's teams were known as the Bearettes for several years. The name of Sugar Bear came later. Victor E. Bear came about in 1999 and Victoria E. Bear came soon after. Bruce D. Bear became the newest addition to the UCA family in 2006.

......pea-pickers....yikes!

Ho Ho...Raindrops on Roses....and sidewalks and walkways...

2007-09-04T15:32:00.001-07:00

Oh my...was it ever raining this afternoon on campus. I left Torreyson around 4 this afternoon to an absolute downpour. A gaggle of students was gathered under the overhang in front of the library...apparently waiting on another shuttle van as I saw two absolutely packed to the brim.

There had been a band or something over by the Student Center at 1:30...not sure what was going on over there. Entertainment. :)

I waited for the rain to temper down from the 'cats and dogs' phase and commenced on my jaunt over to the parking lot by the hospital. About the area of the Baptist Student Union...the cats and dogs returned...ha.

So...wet, wet, wet. But, oh well. I made it to class..and back home.

All is well.

Artist Pat Larsen featured in Baum Gallery

2007-09-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

An article in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette spotlights UCA instructor and artist Pat Larsen who is being recognized in their Collector's Profile project.

Mr. Larsen is a great choice as a featured artist. He's been teaching at UCA for many years...and I've heard he can tell great stories along with producing great art!!

I've seen his art on display down at the River Market...cool painter. Be sure to stop by the Baum Gallery when you're on campus and enjoy all the interesting displays.

UCA vs Louisiana Tech

2007-09-02T15:22:00.000-07:00

from UCAsports.com.....

BULLDOGS BITE BEARS 28-7
FOOTBALL • Sep 1, 2007

RUSTON, La _ Turnovers and special teams break downs doomed the University of Central Arkansas Bears in a 28-7 season-opening loss to Louisiana Tech on Saturday night before a crowd of 20,240 at Joe Aillet Stadium.

The Bears, an NCAA Division I Championship Subdivision team taking on a D-I Bowl Division team, self-destructed with six turnovers, including a combined five interceptions by two quarterbacks. Junior starter Nathan Brown threw a career-high four interceptions despite completing 26 of 41 passes for 234 yards.

The special teams blunders ran the gamut from a muffed punt return attempt inside the 10 to a combined 183 kickoff and punt return yards allowed. The Bears actually outgained the Bulldogs 386 to 261 in total offense and ran 94 plays from scrimmage to just 59 for Louisiana Tech.

"I’m obviously disappointed we didn’t win the football game,' said UCA head coach Clint Conque, 'because we came here to win. Our young men competed hard but we didn’t always compete very smart. A couple of special teams breakdowns in the first half really hurt us.

"You give up two punt returns like we did and you miss a field goal, then you can't get it done in the red zone... you're not going to win.'

The Bears struck fast with a five-play, 80-yard drive on the first possession of the game. UCA junior quarterback Nathan completed three straight passes, including a 58-yarder to sophomore tailback Brent Grimes on the game's first play that quickly put the Bears deep in Bulldog territory.

On the fifth play, Brown hit junior tight end Marquez Branson with a 7-yard touchdown pass, his first reception as a Bear. Freshman Ryan Duhon added the PAT for a 7-0 UCA lead at the 12:35 mark of the first quarter.

UCA's young defense _ with just two returning starters _ held the Bulldogs on their first two possessions, but disaster struck on Louisiana Tech's second punt. UCA senior Tristan Jackson tried to field the punt inside his own 10 and muffed the ball. Marquis McBeath recovered for the Bulldogs at the UCA 9.

All-Western Athletic Conference tailback Patrick Jackson rushed for eight yards to the one on second down but the Bears then stopped him twice for no gain, both times from inside the 1.

"I thought the defense at times played extremely well,' Conque said, "particularly the goal-line stand and the turnovers we created. Some guys really stood out over there and impressed me. Taylor Scott, Quad Sanders, Lloyd Loggins made a few nice hits there.

"A lot of young guys out there wearing the purple and gray for the first time. We'll grow and get better from this.'

Special teams again hurt the Bears after James Paul's 56-yard punt was returned 54 yards to the UCA 19. The Bulldogs scored three plays later when quarterback Zac Champion kept from the 5. Danny Horwedel tied the game with the PAT at 3:21 in the first quarter.

Brown, who completed 10 of 11 pass attempts for 128 yards in the first quarter, drove the Bears down to the Tech 12 but threw an interception to LTU's Tony Moss in the end zone to end the threat.

The Bulldogs returned the favor when, after driving to midfield, Champion fumbled a snap and UCA's Uriah Perry fell on it at the Tech 48. Neither team managed a first down on their next possessions and UCA took over at its 29.

UCA got to midfield but was forced to punt again and the Bulldogs got another long return, a 49-yarder from Philip Beck, and started at the UCA 37's PAT gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead midway through the second period.

Brown was intercepted again on UCA's next possession by a diving Weldon Brown at midfield. The Bulldogs capitilized on the miscue, pushing their lead to 21-7 on Champion's 1-yard TD pass to Dustin Mitchell with 2:28 to play in the half.

The Bears finished the first half with 208 total yards, including 171 through the air.

Jackson topped the 100-yard mark for the Bulldogs with 120 yards on 21 carries (5.7 per carry), while Champion completed 12 of 23 for 71 yards.

Freshman Darrius McNeal led the UCA receivers with 6 catches for 46 yards. Senior running back Ross Brown topped the rushing chart with 72 yards on 23 carries. Senior punter James Paul averaged 41.6 yards on seven punts but was let down by the coverage unit, having to make two tackles himself. The Bears netted just 21.4 yards per punt.

University Studies Questionnaire.....

2007-09-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Totally False 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Totally True

1.)___I control how successful I will be
2.)___I'm not sure why i'm in college
3.)___I spend most of my time doing important things
4.)___When I encounter a challenging problem, I try to solve it by myself
5.)___When I get off course from my goals and dreams, I realize it right away
6.)___I'm not sure how I learn best
7.)___Whether i'm happy or not depends mostly on me
8.)___I'll truly accept myself only after I eliminate my faults and weaknesses
9.)___Forces out of my control (like poor teaching) are the cause of low grades I receive in school
10.)___If I lose my motivation in college, I know how to get it back
11.)___I don't need to write things down because I can remember what I need to do
12.)___I have a network of people in my life that I can count on for help
13.)___If I have habits that hinder my success, i'm not sure what they are
14.)___When I don't like the way an instructor teachers, I know how to learn the subject anyway.
15.)___When I get very angry, sad, or afraid, I do or say things that create a problem for me.
16.)___When I think about performing an upcoming challenge (like taking a test), I usually see myself doing well
17.)___When I have a problem, I take positive actions to find a solution
18.)___I don't know how to set effective short-term and long-term goals
19.)___I remember to do important things
20.)___When I have a difficult course in school, I study alone
21.)___I'm aware of beliefs I have that hinder my success
22.)___I don't know how to study effectively
23.)___When choosing between doing an important school assignment or something really fun, I usually do the school assignment.
24.)___I break promises that I make to myself or to others
25.)___I make poor choices that keep my from getting what I really want in life.
26.)___I have a written plan that includes both my short-term and long-term goals
27.)___I lack self-discipline
28.)___I listen carefully when other people are talking
29.)___I'm stuck with any habits of mine that hinder my success
30.)___When I face a disappointment (like failing a test), I ask myself, "What lesson can I learn here?"
31.)___I often feel bored, anxious, or depressed.
32.)___I feel just as worthwhile as any other person
33.)___Forces outside of me (like luck or other people) control how successful I will be
34.)___College is an important step on the way to accomplishing my goals and dreams
35.)___I spend most of my time doing unimportant things
36.)___When I encounter a challenging problem, I ask for help
37.)___I can be off course from my goals and dreams for quite a while without realizing it
38.)___I know how I learn best
39.)___My happiness depends mostly on what's happened to me lately
40.)___I accept myself just as I am, even with my faults and weaknesses
41.)___I am the cause of low grades I receive in school
42.)___If I lose my motivation in college, I don't know how i'll get it back
43.)___I use self-management tools (like calendars and to-do lists) that help me remember to do important things
44.)___I know very few people whom I cam count on for help
45.)___I'm aware of the habits I have that hinder my success
46.)___If I don't like the way an instructor teachers, I'll probably do poorly in the course
47.)___When i'm very angry, sad, or afraid, I know how to manage my emotions so I don't do anything i'll regret later.
48.)___When I think about performing an upcoming challenge (like taking a test), I usually see myself doing poorly
49.)___When I have a problem, I complain, blame others, or make excuses
50.)___I know how to set effective short-term and long-term goals
51.)___I forget to do important things
52.)___When I have a difficult course in school, I find a study partner or join a study group
53.)___I'm unaware of beliefs I have that hinder my success
54.)___I've learned to use specific study skills that work effectively for me
55.)___I often feel happy and fully alive
56.)___I keep promises that I make to myself or to others
57.)___I make wise choices that help my get what I really want in life
58.)___I live day to day, without much of a plan for the future
59.)___I am a self-disciplined person
60.)___I get distractive easily when other people are talking
61.)___I know how to change habits of mine that hinder my success
62.)___When I face a disappointment (like failing a test), I feel pretty helpless
63.)___When choosing between doing an important school assignment or something really fun, I usually do something fun
64.)___I feel less worthy than other people

Lu Hardin Spotting... at UCA

2007-08-31T21:31:00.001-07:00

Well dang, after the first full week of classes, I have yet to see the university president, Lu Hardin, this semester.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled though...

UCA Police Campus DWI Crackdown

2007-08-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

The UCA PD is playing the Welcome Wagon role this weekend on campus....

From today through Labor Day, the campus police will be stepping up their DWI patrol.

Not sure what that exactly entails, but they promise to be on the lookout for alcohol...underage drinking...drugs...and whatever else comes their way.

....apparently it is worthy of note because signs are posted around campus.

....hopefully everyone is careful every weekend. :)

University Studies at UCA....

2007-08-31T21:13:00.001-07:00

I guess folks want to make sure that incoming freshmen are not confused about the high costs of attending UCA.

Why else would the book for the University Studies class cost over 50 bucks?

Wouldn't one of those nifty student handbook/planners have done the trick? (Those planners really are pretty cool. I imagine they're part of your student fees, so be sure to pick one up in your dorms if you're on-campus or in the ballroom for commuters.

UCA and Assault Rifles

2007-08-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Well...if you've been on campus at all this week, then I'm sure you've noticed the posters and papers noting the arrival of 13 assault rifles into the campus PD's arsenal.

I'm not sure if the UCPD put up the posters, but they seem to all be annotated to reflect a negative impression on the viewer.

Here's hoping they are never necessary to unlock from their vehicles....

Official Pizza of UCA....cool

2007-08-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

Hey there, hi there...

did ya know that the Dominos Pizza on Prince Street is the official pizza of the University of Central Arkansas???

Bill...the owner...is also a student and an ardent Bear backer.

....knowing is half the battle

UCA - State of the University Address by Lu Hardin

2007-08-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

.....from the UCA Faculty News..

UCA President Lu Hardin yesterday spoke to separate gatherings of UCA faculty and staff, in what has come to be known as his "State of the University" address.

Hardin praised both groups for their outstanding achievements and dedication to UCA. He updated them on his plan to slow enrollment growth and focus on infrastructure additions and improvements to accommodate the recent surge of additional students.

He also sounded a hopeful note about UCA's chances to host a presidential debate in 2008. A decision by the Commission on Presidential Debates is expected by mid- to late October.

....sidenote...President Hardin said UCA's chances on hosting a debate are more than 25% but less than 50%....

Smoking, Non-Smoking and Cell Phone sections...

2007-08-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

Holy smokers!! What is the deal with all the people on campus with a cell phone attached to their ears.

They've managed to force the smokers (me...ha) to walk 25 paces outside the door before lighting up, but God help the person who comes between a student and their cell phone.

They're dialing frantically before they even get out the classroom door...let alone outside. Once you do make it outside, your progress is immediately stunted by the obstacle course you must navigate through the conversationalists.

If you say anything about the University of Central Arkansas...it sure does attract talkers.

And talk they do. One good thing...I might not be able to bum a cigarette...but I know I could make an emergency phone call. :)

Drop/Add Deadlines....

2007-08-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

Be sure to stop by the registrar's window by 4pm today if you are inclined to drop/add a class this semester.

Where's the Scoreboard?

2007-08-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

Can't help but notice the Pepsi/Mountain Dew field house, the Pepsi/Mountain Dew signs, the Pepsi/Mountain Dew machines...heck even the Mountain Dew bike being given away in the student center...

But where's the nifty scoreboard?? I presume it will make a grand entrance soon? Is there an unveiling planned?

I hear it's supposed to be pretty great with video playback and all the bells and whistles....

cool

Parking on UCA Campus....

2007-08-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of my shiny new purple parking sticker, I am now welcome to park in any of the white lined parking spots around campus. Hmmmm....and to think I doled out $40 bucks for this honor.

....why, oh why, must I allot 20 minutes for the hike to campus??

The shuttle bus requires more than a 20 minute head start due to traffic and I just don't have the patience to circle the Bruce Street parking lot hovering endlessly for someone to leave.

I could always park back behind the baseball fields, but my windshield is not baseball-proof. No thanks.

So...hi ho, hi ho...it's off to the faraway lot on College across from the hospital for me.

I am wondering though...what happened to the house on Western next to the ABS house?
It disappeared and has been replaced by big 'ole Private Property - No Parking signs.
Did they tow away the house??? Who is the private owner anyway? Are they building something there?

One Graduate Level Class at UCA....

2007-08-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

Inquiring minds want to know...

how much does it cost to attend one three-hour graduate class in the Fall of 2007 at UCA....

$806.00... which includes all the nifty fees...but not the cost of books and incidentals.

yum

Back to School Day

2007-08-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of classes and boy could you tell it from campus traffic. The shuttle was running fast and furious from the softball field parking lot...but having to go round the circle by the library has got to be a test of patience.

UCA Bookstore....

2007-08-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh..you step through the door, deposit your bag in the cubbies and enter into the realm that is the University of Central Arkansas bookstore.

This book-buying nonsense is wayyyyyy out of hand. I would definitely recommend you check out your book lists and double check if you can buy from a friend who took the class last semester. Most professors don't mind if you use an older edition.

It's soooooooo much cheaper. Heck...sell your books online too. It's absolutely free to sign up for an account to sell on eBay
...and the buyers come to you. Just register for a new account...no problem. No need to hang signs around campus hoping to catch the eye of someone needing your book.

How do you think these textbook stores get rid of their inventory? Buy from students for low...sell on eBay for high.

Crazy.

UCA Ranked for Master's Degrees

2007-08-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

.....from the UCA faculty news

The University of Central Arkansas is included among the "Top Schools" for Master's degrees in the South, according to rankings released today in U.S. News and World Report's annual "America's Best Colleges" edition.

UCA was ranked number 56 in the category, which placed it among the top tier of schools. The rankings are based on a variety of factors, including freshman retention rate, class size, the percentage of full-time faculty, and acceptance rate.

....wondering what the freshman retention rate has to do with getting a Master's degree?

UCA's 100th Year....

2007-08-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

from the UCA website.....

A century ago, John James Doyne had a vision.
In the early part of the 20th century few teachers in the state had a high school education, let alone formal training to teach. It was Doyne's vision to create a school to turn teachers into educators, preparing them to be leaders in their communities.

On May 21, 1907, Doyne's vision - and what would become the University of Central Arkansas - became a reality.

From the school’s founding, Arkansans have supported the state’s first teacher-training college.
A century ago, Conway was one of several Arkansas towns to vie for the normal school. Citizens of Conway had the foresight to recognize the importance of such an institution. Community leaders made a personal commitment to
higher learning by making individual contributions to help secure the school’s location in the town.

In the first century, the campus was a teacher-training school with 105 students and nine academic departments located in one building on 80 acres.

Today, the University of Central Arkansas is a comprehensive institution of higher learning with more than 100 undergraduate courses of study, 33 master’s degree programs and three doctoral programs located in more than 80 buildings on 300 acres. UCA serves students from all 75 counties in Arkansas, more than 35 states and 55 foreign countries.

Growth of the school was predicted and embraced from the outset. The name of the institution has changed to reflect its evolving character. You may have known it as Arkansas State Teachers College or State College of Arkansas, but through it all UCA’s vision to be the educational center in the state has remained constant.

As UCA embarks on its second century of service, the institution annually educates more than 11,000 students. UCA is a national leader in learning technology and offers unique educational opportunities including one of the first honors colleges in the nation, study abroad programs and undergraduate research projects. UCA provides an education that allows students to flourish amid devoted faculty, a variety of disciplines, the arts and cutting-edge technology.

With New Vision, New Century: The Centennial Campaign for UCA, we continue to look to the future, building on the foundation that was set in the first century.