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Nanotechnologists come in small sizes too.

2010-04-02T06:56:00.000-07:00

My 5-year-old daughter and her best friend are future nanotechnology scientists. Or at least that's what they said yesterday after exploring the Museum of Discovery's nanotechnology exhibit. It's a large statement for a small child, but explaining the tiny subject in a big way is exactly what the exhibit did - not to mention lots of hands-on fun. Yesterday kicked off "Nano Days," four days of presentations, lab classes and interactive demonstrations that enhance the present exhibit.

The UALR Nanotechnology Center partnered with the museum for the events, presenting current research projects and hands-on activities, along with coloring sheets, stickers and more. Dr. Enkeleda Dervishi, a research associate in the center, is serving as the "ambassador," leading the presentations with the assistance of UALR nanotechnology Ph.D. students Alokita Karmakar, Meena Mahmood and Lamya Saeed. Dervishi said that the young museum attendees have been interested in the research and asked lots of questions.

The group will continue presentations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday. It is a partnership that is educating and entertaining school groups and individuals of all ages. Yes, I said all ages. To my surprise, even my little Brooklyn and her buddy Nora understood aspects of nanoscience. They simply thought they were playing, but anyone else could see that their little brains were working too.We started our adventure by building an imaginary nanobot - a tiny robot. The girls decided they instead had made a "nano dancing fish." They really loved the hands-on activity "Creating Nanomaterials Through Self Assembly." I read them the instructions, and they followed by separating the red and blue "nanoparticles." Then they watched how the nanoparticles spontaneously arranged themselves "under certain conditions" (or for the demonstration's sake, with the push of a button). This was a highlight of the afternoon - spinning the red and blue shapes and watching them magically self assemble into a new arrangement. Every little scientist loves a big orange magnifying lens. Brooklyn and Nora were shocked ("WHOA!") to observe the tiny particles in the smallest test tube and see how many it took to fill up the largest one. The nanotechnology exhibit is the museum's first exhibit to include audio learning in both English and Spanish. The girls decided to listen to both languages! After plenty of learning and giggles, we stopped by the UALR Nanotechnology Center booth, where the best friends stocked up on coloring pages, stickers, bookmarks and more. Whether these future nanotechnology scientists realized it or not, they were learning - learning about science and the fun that one can have at a museum. Perhaps some day these girls - or some of the hundreds of students who will visit "Nano Days" - will don latex gloves ("they feel so funny") and white lab coats while conducting cutting edge research in a lab like the UALR Nanotechnology Center. Until then, we'll have to keep visiting the Museum of Discovery. Here's a few more photos from our adventure:

UALR on C-Span

2010-04-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

It was recently announced that C-Span has uploaded almost every hour of its 23-year video archive. Among that archive are many events filmed on the UALR campus, as well as several occasions where faculty testified for various congressional hearings.

Below are a few selections:

Following a semester-long class on the Clinton presidency and his political career, President Clinton talked to students and others about his political experiences in the White House, current events, and the political process.

Below: Professor Robert Steinbuch testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee about corporate accountability for dangerously defective products:

Below: The directors of ten of the twelve presidential libraries meet at UALR and talk about the latest developments at their libraries, preserving and using presidential papers and memorabilia, and the operation of the presidential library system.

Art for Haiti

2010-03-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

There is nothing I love more than shopping for art. I love to buy the works of budding new artists because it’s fun to watch them grow and evolve with their craft. I especially like to buy art when it’s for a good cause so I’m looking forward to attending smART: Artists and Scholars for Haiti art show and sale featuring UALR students.

The show features approximately 100 works by 20 artists in a variety of mediums. All the original artworks created by these caring artists will be sold for $20 or less so everyone is sure to find a treasure that fits their budgets. And, all the proceeds benefit Haiti relief efforts.

The event begins with a reception from 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 29 in the Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Assembly Hall, Room C. The show continues through March 31 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. each day. The event is sponsored by the UALR Donaghey Scholars Student Committee and the UALR Art Student Association. If you have questions, contact Eileen Turan at elturan@ualr.edu or 683.7752.

And now, take a sneak peek at the show!

Taste.

2010-03-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

In an effort to be a hardworking communications employee, I tried very hard to focus on the sights and sounds of last night's Alumni Association fundraiser. Don't get me wrong; I was impressed with what I saw and heard, but I was repeatedly distracted by one of my other five senses... Taste.

The Taste of Ireland, a fundraiser for student scholarships, promised great food, drink and company, and the event didn't disappoint. Alumni, faculty, students and Irish wannabes seemed to arrive at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center by Paddy Wagon, hungry and curious about the corned beef cabbage rolls, Irish leek and swiss tarts, pub ale cheddar spread, mini lamb sliders on brioche, Irish truffles and other hors d'oeuvres advertised on the invitation.

As a member of the planning committee, I'll admit that I, too, was a little uncertain about the appeal of Irish food. But that uncertainty flew out of my mind faster than I could get the Bailey's cheesecake in my mouth. My date and I hit up the fresh seafood bar first, admiring the clover ice sculpture before noticing the pub-style bar on the other side. With an assortment of Irish whiskeys, it seemed to be a popular party spot, along with the beer bar outside on the, uh-hmm, Paddy-O.

As the sun set outside, I watched party-goers of all ages shake hands and toast their mugs while listening to the spirited sounds of the Celtic Music Society. My date convinced me to suppress my urge to do a little jig, but around the place, I saw feet tapping... that is, when they weren't on their way back to the potato pancakes or a Guinness.

When I left the party at its scheduled ending time of 8 p.m., there was still quite a crowd at the Alumni Center. Maybe it was the luck of the Irish, but I think it was more than just the food and drink that drew them to the event. It was the students and the need for scholarships. As a former alumni association scholarship recipient, I know first-hand how this event helps students with the stressful and rising costs of education. I am confident that many of the attendees came to the event to support the Alumni Association and the students it so graciously helps. I heard that from many, and it speaks highly of our university. But hey, while you're there, you might as well enjoy the taste.

Here's a glimpse of some of the party-goers:

Come on in. We're open.

2010-03-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Open House made me see UALR from a new perspective. I was truly impressed with the number of students and parents that drove a good distance to visit the campus. Of course, Central Arkansas was well represented, but I also observed folks signing in from places like West Memphis, El Dorado, and Ashdown. So many of these high school juniors and seniors, with fresh smiles and nervous laughter, exhibited an almost tangible excitement to find their future here. It will be a pleasure to welcome them again in the Fall.

Our recruitment staff deserves kudos for their hard work in creating this event. I saw so many examples of the team extending themselves to make sure both parents and students were accommodated. Director of Recruitment Cleveland James was an entertaining host-- comical, playful, hopeful. He certainly reminded us that we have a lot to be proud of here.

UALR Artists Shine in the Delta

2010-03-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

The 52nd Annual Delta Exhibition includes works by thirteen talented UALR artists. Quite a feat, considering the Delta is one of the longest running, juried contemporary art exhibitions outside New York City. It’s one of my favorite annual exhibits at the Arkansas Arts Center because it’s always exciting to see that a friend or a favorite artist has been selected for this great honor.

The Delta Exhibit was created in 1956 to showcase contemporary works by artists of the Mississippi Delta region and is open to all artists living in or born in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Works in all media are featured and reflects the region’s strong traditions of craftsmanship and observation, combined with innovative use of materials and an experimental approach to subject matter.

Ted Grimmett, a UALR employee and student, captured this image, “Low Water Bridge.”

The exhibit continues through March 14 at the Arkansas Arts Center. Take a look at this list of UALR featured artists.

Current Students:

Ted Grimmett

Anne Haley

Steve Hollis

Katherine Monroe

Alumni:

Latoya Hobbs

Erin Lorenzen

Dennis McCann

Jason McCann

Mary Shelton

Faculty Members:

Marjorie Williams-Smith

Liz Noble

Carey Roberson

Dominique Simmons

A Hard-Fought Battle

2010-03-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Joe Foley’s Trojan women suffered a heartbreaking loss to Middle Tennessee in the final round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. Today mourning is over, and I couldn’t be more proud of this amazing Trojan team.

The players never stopped playing, the coaches never stopped coaching, and the fans never stopped cheering, in a game where every pass, every shot mattered. The Trojans had a great season, and the pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow is that we get to see these Trojan warriors again next year, with the exception of our lone senior, Kim Sitzman.

It’s been fun to watch her grow in the game, beginning as the freshman who shot the big threes to the senior that had her team's back. Best of luck, Kim - you will be missed.

Even though Sun Belt play is over, we still have opportunities to see this team in action at the NIT tournament or, hopefully, at the NCAA big dance. The NCAA Selection show is Monday, March 15 at 6 pm on ESPN.

Pakko Has His Finger on the Pulse

2010-03-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

KARK's Matt Mosler sat down with Dr. Michael Pakko to take the "economic pulse" of the Arkansas marketplace. Dr. Pakko is the right person to ask. Writing in his blog, he correlates increasing gas prices with a growing economy. Now that's good spin! And he uses some great terms like "contango" and "backwardation."

Visit his blog to read his explanation of these terms and see a comparison of gas prices in neighboring states.

Here's the clip of his appearance on KARK Today:

UALR’s Biggest Fan

2010-03-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

The Sun Belt Tournament gets under way in this weekend in Hot Springs and no one is more excited than Curtis Williams. You may not recognize his name but if you’ve attended a Trojan basketball game in Jack Stephens Center you’ve seen him dance! I met Curtis a little more than 20 years ago when he became a member of the student-led Homecoming committee. He was a shy freshman who wanted to get involved. He quickly came out of his shell and we saw him blossom right before our eyes. He had great ideas and a big heart for his alma mater.

After Homecoming, he became a somewhat “unofficial mascot” exciting the crowd by tumbling across the basketball court during time-outs and encouraging the crowd to get on their feet when the cheerleaders performed. But his legacy will ever be the “Curtis Dance” – a highlight of Trojan basketball games! Check it out. I talked to Curtis recently about his passion for Trojan Basketball and his prediction for the Sunbelt Tournament. Here’s what he told me:

‘Derek Fisher's my all-time favorite Trojan player because he gives so much of himself on the court for the team, while Wimp Sanderson's my all-time UALR coach because he tells it like it is with no apologies whatsoever and I can respect that.

If there is one thing about attending Trojan basketball games over the years that I like the most, win or lose, is when the game's decided in the last minute. That is when I know that both teams are giving it their best for those in attendance. Regarding the women’s basketball team, I believe they’ve come a long way during the past 10 seasons. They definitely had quality players in the first 4-5 seasons, but their play was inconsistent and had more than their fair share of losses.

Now, under Coach Joe Foley, UALR is about ready to become a key player on the national scene, and it shows in players like Kim Sitzmann, Shanika Butler, Asriel Rolfe and Chastity Reed. As far as the Sun Belt Tournament goes, it’s Middle Tennessee’s to lose on the women’s side, but should UALR face them in the finals, UALR is more than ready to win it all and go the NCAA Tournament.

On the men’s side, it’s virtually anyone’s guess. Western Kentucky should be the favorite, along with North Texas and probably Arkansas State. However, watch out for the lower seeded teams such as UALR, who could pull an upset or two before you know. It should be a fun time for basketball in Hot Springs.”

Curtis Williams graduated from UALR in 1988 with a B. A. in Liberal Arts. He’s been employed at the UALR Bowen School of Law for 19 years where he does a variety of jobs, such as sorting and delivering the mail, checking in and updating the library's microfiche collection and state codes, book repair, and book preservation. What he likes most about his job is that there are plenty of things for him to do, which keeps him busy throughout the day.

Tell me about Rhetoric and Writing

2010-03-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

In yet another post filed under: Things Found on Youtube, I present this short video produced by the Department of Rhetoric and Writing.

Learn more about the UALR Department of Rhetoric and Writing:

http://ualr.edu/rhetoric/

Interesting facts about the department:

Courses for the major and minor are divided into three different emphases: persuasive writing, creative non-fiction, and Technical writing.

The department offers the only Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional and Technical Writing (PTW) in the state of Arkansas.

The list of courses Rhetoric and Writing offers is quite comprehensive.

Keep Your Brad Pitt- Just Give Me Tom

2010-02-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

You know you're a true journalism student when the thought of seeing Tom Brokaw in person gives you butterflies. That's exactly what happened yesterday when I found out the award-winning news anchor and journalist would be on our campus delivering a stand-up for his upcoming show about baby boomers. Some people get excited thinking about seeing a favorite singer or good-looking actor. But just mention the possibility of seeing Tom Brokaw in person, and it's enough to make me act like a ridiculous five-year-old little girl who can't stop giggling.

Our encounter with Tom began when we stalked him in the food court and took note of his food choices. Orange juice and a fruit parfait. I wanted to stand and watch him eat, but decided I needed to be a bit more professional.

So instead Caroline and I took cheesy pictures of ourselves with him in the background.

Oh, and we also helped out with the purpose of his visit by providing him with an attractive background for his stand-up. That was the point of this visit, right? To find some eager and giddy girls to stand behind him? No problem, Tom. We got you covered.

Finally, we met the man himself. We talked about the Olympics and being mass comm graduates and he asked us to come work for him in New York. Okay, that last part didn't exactly happen, but a girl can dream.

Apparently we weren't the only females excited about meeting him.

It was definitely a day to remember. I'm already setting my DVR to catch my national television debut on CNBC, oh, and to learn about Tom Brokaw's thoughts on the successors to the baby boomers. Check me out at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 4th on CNBC. I'm in the red coat.

Trojan Baseball Opener

2010-02-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

The UALR Baseball team opened their season today at home against UAPB. If you've never spent an afternoon or evening at Gary Hogan Field watching baseball and eating hot dogs and nachos. Well, you should.

Scenes from Jack Stephens

2010-02-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

Local photographer ML Baxley took time away from posting images of his kids in the snow to attend a Trojan basketball game. His images are really great.

A small sampling:

UALR Digs Out

2010-02-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

While students didn't return to class until Thursday, UALR Physical Plant employees were out and about on Wednesday, preparing the campus for their safe return.

I am always impressed by the dedication and workmanship of our facilities staff. As I sit here in my warm office, the low rumble of snow-scraping machinery can be heard, and I remember the people who keep this campus running.

Snowmageddon!

2010-02-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

A rare winter storm covered us in a beautiful white blanket this morning. Giant snow flakes continued to fall well into the afternoon, accumulating somewhere between 4-6 inches. It was the perfect snowfall that beckoned you to come out to play, the perfect density to shape and mold. As we took some shots of the campus, we came across evidence of a snowball fight or two, as well as some random happy snowmen ready for their close-ups. See more photos on our Facebook page, and share your own by sending campus pics to me.

Theatre Student Makes the National Stage

2010-02-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, NBC Nightly News aired an inspirational story profiling Spirit Trickey which also featured UALR Theatre student, Crystal Mercer. Crystal plays the role of Spirit's mother, Minnijean Brown, one of the Little Rock Nine, in a one woman show Spirit wrote called One Ninth.

Both Crystal and Spirit are park rangers at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Such talent is exhibited by these amazing women as "keepers of the story," a phrase Minnijean is fond of saying about their commitment to the Little Rock Nine legacy. Read more about One Ninth here.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

He shoots, he scores!

2010-02-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

If you happened to miss one of the most exciting basketball games in Trojan history last night, well, we put together a video compilation of highlights featuring Alex Garcia-Mendoza's amazing half-court game-winning shot-- so amazing it came in at #4 on ESPN's "Top Plays of the Day." But you'll have to excuse our friends at SportsCenter for confusing us with that other Arkansas team.

Read the full play by play from UALR Athletics. Or you can read ASU's heart-breaking version.

Alex Biris Creates Little Rock

2010-02-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

As a founding member of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce's Create Little Rock working on a committee to attract and keep talented people in our great city, I was very excited to see Alex Biris’ “I Create Little Rock” video among just a few shown at the Create Little Rock launch with a packed room of 450 Thursday at the Mosaic Templars.

Not just a stock photo

2010-02-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

Four graduate students or alum shared their smiles January 27, allowing us to photograph them for our graduate student microsite. In the near future, you may see their finished photos floating around ualr.edu, but here's a glimpse at what passers-by might have seen:

Students trekking through the DSC that afternoon had to detour around our photo shoot - or risk becoming a background blur.

Thanks to our photographer Dero Sanford and our gracious (and photogenic!) graduate students for a fun day and some great shots.

Snow Day...

2010-01-29T17:09:00.000-08:00

Classes were cancelled January 29 due to inclement weather conditions. The white dusting of winter and the quiet sounds of icy rainfall made the lonely campus still inviting. Here's a little sampling of photos. For more, visit our Facebook page.

Dean DiPippa Discusses Judge Proctor's Removal From the Bench

2010-01-27T06:13:00.000-08:00

Bowen Law School Dean John DiPippa appeared this morning on the KTHV morning show to share his thoughts about Judge Proctor and what can be learned from this.

Haiti is Sober Reminder for Arkansans on New Madrid Fault

2010-01-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

The devastating earthquake in Haiti is a sober reminder that Arkansas sits on top of the New Madrid Fault, a major seismic zone and the source of earthquake within the tectonic plate in the southern and Midwestern U.S. The U.S,. Department of Interior is giving UALR a $450,000 grant to establish an Earthquake Observatory, directed by Dr. Haydar Al-Shukri, to establish monitoring sensors across the south and central.

In a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor, Dr. Al-Shukri said everyone in the region should be prepared in the event of a major quake.

Widow of Famed Author Norman Mailer Makes Book Tour Stop at UALR

2010-01-25T09:24:00.000-08:00

UALR is delighted that Norris Church Mailer is including our campus as a stop on her upcoming tour with the release of her latest book, A Ticket to the Circus.

Mailer, a native Arkansan who was married to Norman Mailer for the last 30 years of his life, will be on campus April 13 for a 6 p.m. lecture in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall followed by a signing. If you don’t know Norris, meeting her will be lots of fun. She was born Barbara Davis in the small town of Atkins. She fell for Norman when he was in town at a friend’s party. She was a 26-year-old recently divorced art teacher in Russellville; he was 52.

She followed him to New York where she became a model, actress, painter, and writer. In the 1970s, she dated a little-known, aspiring politician named Bill Clinton. Married to Mailer, she faced down ex-wives and lovers by the dozen, according to her publicist at Random House who offered these details about her latest of three books:

“From age three when she was crowned Little Miss Little Rock, Norris Church Mailer has gone from one wild adventure to the next, and she shares it all in her frank, beautifully written, deeply personal memoir A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS (Random House; On sale April 6, 2010). Reading her stories is like sitting down to laugh and cry with an old friend: Norris holds nothing back, from showing up to dinner with Oscar de la Renta wearing only a nightgown, to serving coleslaw to Bob Dylan; from the heartbreak of first discovering her husband’s affairs, to saying goodbye to Norman on his deathbed.

“In a winning narrative voice that evokes her native Arkansas, Norris recounts herlife as a bright, talented girl who knew her life would one day be as surprising and memorable as a day at the circus. With clear eyes and startling frankness, she depicts the full evolution of her marriage to Norman Mailer, from the white-hot beginning through the very rocky patches to the mournful ending, offering an incredibly intimate perspective on this legendary man of letters. A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS is an intelligent, bittersweet memoir that will enchant readers with its charm and insight into how we grow up and how we love.”

Author Joyce Carol Oates comments: “A Ticket to the Circus is a remarkable memoir—blunt, funny, extraordinarily candid and self-aware; deeply moving, as it is wonderfully entertaining; above all, a memorable double portrait of two very unusual people, a couple for whom the term meant for each other is wholly appropriate.”

Hope you can join us for the lecture! Books will be available at the signing. The UALR departments of English and Rhetoric and Writing are sponsors of the event.

New Book by History Professor Exposes Abuse of Children in Irish State Care

2010-01-24T13:19:00.000-08:00

History Professor Moira Maguire's publisher has just released her new book titled Precarious Childhood in Post-Independence Ireland. Ten years in the making, the study focuses on how Irish society failed poor and marginalized children after its war of independence with Great Britain.

“The Departments of Health and Education, who had legal responsibility for the children involved, failed in their duties to provide for and protect them,” she said.

Maguire’s research was included in the Ryan Report, an investigation by the Irish government through the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse into all forms of abuse in Irish institutions for children.

Here is a brief clip from last June of Dr. Maguire talking about her research and upcoming book:

UALR Profiled on The Chronicle of Higher Education Website

2010-01-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

More than likely, you are familiar with The Chronicle as a source of higher ed news and information. Recently, our office was asked to contribute content for the "Campus Viewpoints" section of their website. Here's a screenshot of the section homepage:

And here's a screenshot of our actual page:

We'll be adding new content for this section routinely, so if you have story ideas, we'd love to hear them!

UALR Campus Viewpoint

Warning: The Recession Might Get You Pulled Over

2010-01-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

Economics Professor, Dr. Gary Wagner, talked about results of his study this morning on foxbusiness.com, which seems to suggest that local governments make up for budget deficits in a bad economy by increasing the number of traffic tickets issued. Remember to drive safely, folks!

FOX16 Covers UALR Budget Concerns

2010-01-22T10:19:00.000-08:00

Budget cuts are never fun to talk about, but they do have a tendency to attract news coverage. What we hope comes through loud and clear is that these financial cutbacks will not impact our students, and no layoffs are expected. "We'll handle this. We've done it before. We'll be able to do it this time," Chancellor Anderson said.

FOX16 news story

Dr. Gary Wagner Interviews Live on FoxBusiness.com Today

2010-01-22T09:18:00.000-08:00

Economics Professor Gary Wagner will be interviewed live at 11:30 this morning on FoxBusiness.com in an hour-long special report on local and state government budget issues. Dr. Wagner serves on Gov. Beebe's Council of Economic Advisors. foxbusiness.com/live The report will air on the Fox Business TV station at a later date.

Haiti's Losses are Personal

2010-01-15T09:22:00.000-08:00

For some on campus, Haiti is close to their hearts yet so far out of reach. Contact has been difficult because of the debilitated infrastructure. Professor Hervil Cherubin shared his personal connection to the crisis in Haiti and the pain he feels over losing family members while still not knowing what might have happened to more of his loved ones there.

UALR professor Hervil Cherubin says, "This is the most difficult part, sitting here, getting information through the phone or internet and cannot do anything."

Cherubin left Haiti as a child, but returns regularly. He hasn't heard from relatives who live in Port-au-Prince, but heard their businesses and homes are demolished and two cousins in their twenties are dead.

He explains, "One of them I had the feeling it was really quick because the building collapsed. The other one I think was the tough one because apparently the building collapsed he was still alive. People could hear his voice, they were talking with him and during the day they could not do anything."

Read the complete story on todaysthv.com.

UALR Alum Featured in Sync

2010-01-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

UALR alumna Leah Thorvilson made the cover of Sync Weekly! Thorvilson won the Little Rock Marathon last year and was a record-setting Trojan in cross country and track and field while at UALR.

Read the complete story.

Dr. Haydar Al-Shukri Discusses Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-14T09:35:00.000-08:00

Like most of the UALR community, we've been deeply affected by the photos and televised images displaying the devastating aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti. Our resident expert, Dr. Haydar Al-Shukri, talked to KTHV about why the damage was so significant.

Read the complete story on todaysthv.com.

Professor Sikes Restores First Car - '68 Camaro

2010-01-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

We've written stories on Biology Professor Robert Sikes, who graduated from UALR in 1985, for his research on pandas and field research with his students on his family farm in Alleene, Ark., which is turned into a lab of sorts for assessing patterns of litter size and evaluating reproductive models. We're also aware of Sikes' hobby as a beekeeper.

But a new one on Sikes came to us last week from Dr. Steve Edison, marketing/advertising professor.

On New Year's Eve, Edison attended a "car warming" for Sikes to see his '68 Camaro run for the first time in more than 20 years. The Camaro was his first car 30 years ago. "He not only has that car (and the girlfriend, now wife) from that era, he has completely restored the car to a thing of beauty...learning how to do each stage of the restoration as he progressed," said Edison. "The real story is that he is a "skill collector (a person who values the learning of new skills in a wide variety of application)." He invents...he converts...he is our MacGyver."

Thanks Dr. Edison for sharing your "after" pictures, where you can see a shop that Sikes built by himself with lumber from trees in his yard. The two before pics came from Dr. Sikes. Looks like the "apple doesn't fall far from the tree." You can see his 15-year-old son's 1968 Cougar in the background.

Law Students Conduct Service-Learning Project for University District

2010-01-13T07:52:00.000-08:00

Law school students studying real estate began the semester Jan. 11 by learning about the University District and an opportunity to serve the district through their coursework.

Under the direction of Professor Paula Casey, who also serves on the University District Development Corporation (UDDC) board, the real estate law class with seven students is conducting a service-learning project to analyze homes in the district.

Dr. David Sink, professor in UALR's Institute of Government, explained that service learning establishes an ethos of lifelong serving among students, gets faculty involved in service, and provides additional opportunities for UALR to be a service leader in Central Arkansas.

He shared the history of the campus's emphasis on service and how it acquired funding to partner with other agencies to include building and renovating 15 houses in the district in the 1990s. About 12 of the original homeowners are still there.

Ron Copeland, director of the University District Partnership (UDP), demonstrated what distinguishes this district, giving background on planning documents, partners, and priorities - housing, education, and public safety.

Barrett Allen on the UDP staff has been responsible for administering plans for the UDDC to contract with the city to construct or rehab six houses in the district within 18 months. The first one for first-time home buyers (who haven't owned a home in three years and fall within income limits - about $48,000 for a family of four) is on Harrison Street across from Franklin Elementary.

He said the UDDC has received $200,000 from the city's HOME funds and will continue to raise funds for the endeavor, as well as got an agreement with Arvest Bank to finance the units.

Scenes from Bowen Law School

2010-01-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

Want an inside tour of the Law School?

Tonya Smith, Communications Director at the UALR Bowen School of Law, passed on these images.

Photo credits go to Dero Sanford.

The William H. Bowen School of Law is part of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) and was established in 1975. The law school is public, and has approximately 450 law students enrolled in full-time and part-time divisions.

The Law Library at Bowen, with its breathtaking four-story atrium and reading room, occupies 52,000 square feet of space located on four floors of the Law School building.

The law school's current campus is located adjacent to MacArthur Park, near the Arkansas Center for Fine Arts. The building was originally built for the medical school of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, which moved to its current campus in the central part of Little Rock in 1956. The current building was extensively renovated in 1992.

The Princeton Review ranked the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's William H. Bowen School of Law among the nation's top law schools. The law school is one of 117 profiled in a recently-published book, "Best 117 Law Schools." It ranked 10th in the category "Most Welcoming of Older Students."

Among the school’s distinctions:

National Jurist magazine listed the Bowen School as one of the top 50 law schools in clinical legal education in its September 2008 issue.

U.S. News and World Report last April ranked the Bowen School among the top 20 law schools in the nation in the specialty of legal writing.

The school received a $1 million gift last May from former dean and namesake William H. Bowen and his wife, Connie, to use for new opportunities and to react to critical short-term needs.

Unlike most law schools, UALR requires two "lawyering skills" courses during the second year to teach skills used in trial advocacy, interviewing and counseling, mediation and negotiation.

The law school offers three clinical programs: the litigation clinic, where students represent actual clients in court; the mediation clinic, where students gain practical experience in alternative dispute resolution; and the tax clinic, where students represent actual clients who have controversies with the Internal Revenue Service.

The school offers externship programs, where students can learn and work in legal settings, for judges, legal services providers and legislators, earning academic credit.

UALR Bowen School graduates include U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder; Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel; Arkansas Speaker of the House Robbie Wills; Reps. John Edwards, Dan Greenberg, Bruce Maloch, and Robert Moore Jr. and Steve Harrelson. Bowen School alumni are also members of the federal and state judiciaries, partners in major law firms, Fortune 500 counsel, and dedicated public servants.

Michael Pakko Talks about Arkansas Companies Growing on KTHV

2010-01-07T10:31:00.000-08:00

Dr. Pakko discusses increased factory orders and other indicators of economic growth:

Pakko says even durable goods, like refrigerators and washers, increased.

He feels it all shows some optimism from businesses, anticipating higher demands. And given increases in factory orders in seven of the last eight months, the outlook is promising.

"It does indicate that there's a trend here developing here. It's not just a blip," Pakko said.

Read the complete story on todaysthv.com

Office of Communications Christmas Potluck

2009-12-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

Our department of nine filled our bellies with yummy food at this year's Christmas potluck.

Once a fountain...

2009-12-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed the rebirth of the un-functioning fountain residing between Admin North / Admin South. It's much prettier-- a planter or tree garden, if you will.

What a huge improvement over the cement monstrosity that existed for how many years? Did those lights ever work?

If only I had a before photo to compare. Maybe you have one to share.

Get Your Maroon On!

2009-12-15T06:33:00.000-08:00

Yikes! From my vantage point at Saturday’s Trojans game against Memphis, there was a sea of blue tigers across the court.

Come on, Trojans fans. Start wearing your maroon to cheer on the team. Let’s show a united front at the men’s and women’s basketball games. And I’m not just talking about UALR students, faculty, and staff. I’m talking about ALL of our fans.

We are Little Rock. Not Fayetteville, not Jonesboro, not Conway. And proud of it! Don’t have a maroon shirt? I’ll try to fix that. Let me hear from you.

ESPN Video: Alex Garcia-Mendoza

2009-12-14T09:43:00.000-08:00

From Joe Angolia, UALR Media Relations Director:

"The ESPN feature on UALR junior forward Alex Garcia-Mendoza has begun airing on ESPN Deportes and can also be seen online at the network’s web site. A native of El Fuerte, Mexico, Garcia-Mendoza is one of three Mexican-born student-athletes playing Division I basketball this season.

The 6-3 guard/forward has started all 10 games in his first season with the Trojans. He currently ranks third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding at 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game."

Community Chorus' 'Messiah' Dec. 11

2009-12-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

Smoking Audio Story

2009-12-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

Fortunately, this photograph wasn't captured at UALR.

What DID take place on campus was this noteworthy audio feature from KUAR:

Play Audio:

The original story and transcript by Abe Martinez can be found KUAR's website:

Smoke-free UALR - How is it going?

Someone to follow...

2009-11-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

Trojan Man on Twitter: @ualrtrojan

A Presidential Photo-Op

2009-11-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

Hangkun Ling, a systems engineering student in the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology, and two friends stood a parking lot away as Clinton slowly made his way to the security car behind the Jack Stephens Center after the ex-president's talk at the EIT gala Thursday, Nov. 19. No way could they snap a picture from that distance. Politeness has its place, but a good shout out is what one needs when trying to catch the attention of a president. Lucky for Ling and the few others that night, ex-news reporters have no shame.

International Celebration Day

2009-11-18T12:34:00.000-08:00

Benny Scroggin from the Office of Campus Life sent along these photos from the UALR International Day, part of a week-long series of events designed to enhance inter-cultural awareness and understanding. Learn more about International Celebration Week, 2009...

Quoting Dr. Jerry G. Stevenson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Director of International Services, "This year's celebration saw a record turnout and was an exciting day filled with food and music, as well as traditional dress and cultural artifacts from countries all over the world. Student musicians and dance groups from India, Iraq, Mexico, Turkey and Rwanda created a wonderfully festive atmosphere along with contributions from 15 international student groups, as well as community and campus organizations."

American Humanics Chili Cook-Off

2009-11-16T14:25:00.000-08:00

The Office of Communications was just one of 15 departments to participate in the American Humanics Chili Cook-off.

Though our chili was fabulous, we were beat out by the Department of Nursing (even though they said their chili was healthy) based on the judge's votes. The Department of Construction Management won based on over-all student votes.

There were a wide variety of decorated booths but "best of show" went to Human Resources. With their cowboy hats and bandannas they really set the tone.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all those who participated. It was a fun event, and we were glad to be a part of it this year. The American Humanics Department raised close to $400, which will benefit their program.

Creative Zoology Exhibit - Gallery II

2009-11-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

'Form Follows Function or Does It?' Exhibit in Gallery I

2009-11-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

What I Learned About German Reunification

2009-11-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

Among the benefits of working on a college campus are attending lectures and other learning opportunities. Those I don't make it to I watch on Channel 62, but last week I got personal perspectives that were much more than I got from textbooks by attending a fall of the Berlin Wall symposium.

Dr. Susanne Wagner, who teaches German at UALR, organized "Perspective, Progress, and Promise - After the Berlin Wall: 20 Years of German Reunification" with the help of Dr. Steve Edison at the Reynolds College of Business building. Wagner suggested, "Knowing German creates business opportunities."

Dr. Anthony Chelte, dean of the Business College, who has made five trips to Germany including this semester to work out a partnership with UALR, welcomed attendees and told us that Germany had gotten rid of all of its economists (Ph.D.s) and hired westerners.

Dr. Stephen Farrelly, assistant professor of philosophy at UALR, was 14 at the time of the fall and became interested 10 years later. He painted a picture for us of his likely dinner conversations as a kid. His parents worked for the CIA and did not like Communists. Finding repressed people, he described how Germany's economic collapse happened quickly and its social ramifications. If you admitted to being a Christian, you weren't able to work at a university. He talked about power vs. violence and that the many nonviolent protests were an expression of power.

A panel discussion included speakers giving their perspective on the fall and experiences during that time. Participants included Dr. Andrew Drummond, assistant professor of political science at UALR; Thorsten Gottfried, cultural attaché for the German consulate general in Houston; Dr. Peter Höyng, chair and professor of German Studies at Emory University; Lenka Horakova, global project manager for Europe at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Dr. Rolf T. Wigand, professor of information science and management at UALR; and Rob Lentz, vice president of Acxiom Corporation.

I didn't know Wigand, who moderated the session, was from Germany. He lived in West Berlin in the late '60s (wall was built in 1961). Guards patrolled with dogs. You were killed if you tried to escape. You could leave by train in three directions. Leaving by car was a very controlled procedure. He was active in track and field and often had trips for meets. Luggage was inspected. "If you had soap, they would cut it up to see if you were hiding something. Toothpaste would be opened at the other end." Cars were inspected for mirrors. He recalled a scene of people being shot for climbing over the wall. Wigand was a professor at Arizona State when it fell. He and his wife were glued to the TV until the wee hours of the morning. "I didn't think I would ever experience that. I cried." He showed a piece of the wall. This is the closest I will ever get to it.

Gottfried admittedly thought going to the movies with his girlfriend in '89 was more important than the fall. Ten to 20 years later he was much more troubled. Gottfried questioned how things would be different if the Soviet Union came in with force. It was a clear alternative to do nothing. He said the people of Eastern Germany achieved unity and this is something they should be proud of.

Höyng asked what are we celebrating Nov. 9. Pride. But there are some problems with that. "We can't forget - they also started two world wars." Nov. 9 is significant for several occasions. In 1918, World War I ended. In 1938, there was systematic destruction of synagogues during the height of Nazi terrorism. However, the celebration of 1989 is rarely connected with the other dates. "You can't have one without the others."

Horakova, who has finance and international business degrees from UALR and previously worked at our Institute for Economic Advancement, said Arkansas exported to 162 countries last year totaling $5.8 billion and sustaining about 1,000 businesses in the state. The largest exported product is in electrical machinery at 23 percent. More than 100 foreign-controlled companies are in Arkansas employing nearly 34,000, of which 51 percent are in manufacturing. I had no idea of this volume. Many German businesses have now heard of Arkansas because of Nordex, a German wind turbine company to bring 720 jobs to Jonesboro. Horakova went with Gov. Beebe recently to visit leaders of Nordex in Hamburg.

In '89, Lentz, a college student, "went to Berlin to witness what was happening." He showed us his T-shirt that said, "I was there." He knew with the celebration and hope that he was witnessing something very gratifying. Lentz said a sequence of events changed the country's landscape, and it is now one of the largest economies and trading partner. "The social structure between the two sides was challenging." Drummond talked about the significance of the Lisbon Treaty signage and that it is "one of the things to be proud of."

What else I learned:

Germany is the No. 1 export country in the world - mostly cars (Mercedes, Volkswagen).

A few weeks ago a German received a Pulitzer in literature - the 11th for the country.

Germany is one of the leading countries of solar power.

German is the most spoken language in Europe today.

I also heard on Frontline this week that Germany has the third strongest economy in the world.

And I learned why the computer geeks on campus always bring their laptops to meetings because I spilled water on my handwritten notes from this symposium as I was carting around my office in a bag due to our office flood. But I was mostly reminded how thankful I am to live in a free country.

2009 Recruitment Open House

2009-11-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

Friday, November 30 the Office of Recruitment held their first fall Open House for senior high school students. Here are a few pics from that event.

Flooded Office

2009-11-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of our building from last Thursday's flood. We were out of our offices for most of this week while the carpets were dried, then cleaned, then dried again... hooray we're back today!

Videos: UALR Mini-Baja

2009-10-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

Systems Engineering students get dirty, build a Baja racing machine, and compete against hundreds of other universities in a regional collegiate competition.

A big thanks to UALR University Television for posting these videos on Youtube.

Department of Systems Engineering: Learn more about the Mini-Baja Capstone Project

They do it for the Pies

2009-10-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Faculty and Staff give back financially to the university in amazing ways, most notably through the UALR Campus Campaign.

It's a common occurrence for departments on campus to have 100% participation in the campaign, meaning that every staff person in that office has set aside a financial contribution.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say they do it for the pies, which are delivered by the campus campaign committee to those offices on the 100% list.

Campus Campaign committee members Daniel McPherson, Jan Austin, and Thomas McMillan deliver an exquisite pecan pie from Community Bakery to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Educational and Student Services. As it was an unannounced surprise delivery, Vice Chancellor Donaldson was not present to receive the pie, so Dean of Students Preston Slayton graciously accepted the gift on his behalf.

Whether or not Slayton shared the pie, is unknown at this point. The campus campaign committee sees fit to distribute the pies, and doesn't serve in a regulatory capacity to oversee how the pies are partitioned among staff members.

Learn more about the Campus Campaign...

Up the Creek

2009-10-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Students greeted a raging Coleman Creek on Friday morning. One wonders how high the creek has risen in years past.

International Partners in Research

2009-09-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

Joan Duffy interviews a large group of French students who spent the summer immersed in nanotechnology research.

"This year there were 10 and next year we hope for 15 students to come and study and work with the UALR students and faculty," said Dr Alex Biris. "They will be involved in various research projects with an emphasis on nanotechnology, materials, and energy

Under the French system of education, the engineering students are already hired by French companies who assisted in paying for their required four months studying at another university or educational program."

Life in the Capital City

2009-09-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

Behind the scenes of a new UALR ad campaign - which will highlight UALR's advantage of location. Many students are attracted to UALR for the metropolitan experience, not only in terms of night life and entertainment, but also increased opportunities for jobs and internships that only the capital city can provide.

Panorama: All-Campus Assembly

2009-09-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

View a higher resolution version.

It's a challenge to accurately illustrate the backdrop of an all-campus assembly - most often held in Dickinson auditorium - with a single photograph. The lighting is unusually low, and missing is a vantage point that allows for a one photo to capture the entire scene. So I'm pleased with this series of images combined into a panorama.

Arriving late and finding no open seats, I took my place on the floor and immediately began fiddling with my camera. It's an old habit.

Burgers at Bailey 09

2009-09-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

Burgers at Bailey is always a great way to kick off the academic year. A great time was had by all.

"The event allows the Alumni Association to salute the UALR student body, staff, and faculty while enjoying grilled burgers, cold drinks, and live music. Students are encouraged to bring a canned good for the SGA’s food drive."

Faculty Art in the Gallery

2009-09-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

After attending Burgers at Bailey, Benny Scoggins and I sauntered over to the Fine Arts building to check out the new Faculty Art exhibit. If you haven't visited the exhibition, do so. We have an entourage of amazing art faculty.

- "Strategic Modification" by Elizabeth Noble

- "Gerald, III" by Aj Smith

- A close-up photo of "Gerald, III" by Aj Smith

UALR Soccer Standouts

2009-09-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

UALR is anchored this season by junior goalkeeper Jane Picarelli, who finished last season tops in the Sun Belt in saves with 121 and second in saves per game with 5.76.

Sophomore forward Christina Veasley scored both goals in UALR’s 2-0 season opening victory over Murray State Friday afternoon.

Additional information:

The UALR Women’s Soccer team plays home games at Burns Park. If you want to catch a game, the 2009 schedule lists games from August 18 to October 30.

Video: Channel 11 Visits Campus

2009-09-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

As a followup to the previous post, the news segment regarding changes at UALR aired on August 20. View the video below in the KTHV video player. (which leads in with the obligatory intro-commercial) You can also read the article on KTHV's website: Program and Policy Changes at UALR

Dance for the Camera

2009-09-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Thibeault prepares for a TV interview regarding UALR's budding Dance Program. UALR’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance will begin in the fall offering a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance – the only one of its kind in Arkansas. For information about the BFA in dance, contact Raphael at (501) 569-8350 or at jeraphael@ualr.edu.

See Also:

Youtube: "Gotta Dance" Spring Concert Video

UALR Dance Productions

News item: UALR Launches Arkansas’s First Professional Dance Program

Subscribe via Email

2009-08-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

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Audio: Building Plans

2009-08-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Besides sharing photos and typing up a few notes, we'd like to share an audio recording captured via iPhone from Monday's all-campus assembly. One of the building projects presented by the Chancellor was the outdoor health and recreation sports complex. Plans are to locate the facility behind Coleman Place Apartments. (audio player below)

Play Audio:

A Meeting of Tree Lovers

2009-08-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Guided by Dave Millay, members of the Little Rock Urban Forestry Council take a walking tour of UALR’s Coleman Creek Park. Learn more about the Coleman Creek Project: http://ualr.edu/colemancreek

When asked about the trees, Dave replied:

“The trees are Black Gum and Princeton Elm that were just delivered today from a nursery in Georgia. Kyle Cunningham and Tamara Walkingstick, both of the Cooperative Extension Service hosted a conference for the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council. I presented the Coleman Creek Greenway project and the Trail of Tears, and then we provided a walking tour of the Trail of Tears site.”

Glycoconjugates, Moral Plays, and Leprosy

2009-08-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Students and Faculty crowded the Donaghey Student Center on Wednesday to check out dozens of undergraduate research projects on display.

Tell us your stories.

2009-08-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

While public relations, marketing, graphic/web design, etc.. live in the office of communications, our ultimate responsibiliity is to tell the story of the university, to serve as a mouthpiece for an institution that improves the lives of students and enriches our local community and economy.

We'd like your help.

There are countless stories that could and should be told. Stories of scholarship, stories of research, of giving, of student life and alumni accomplishments. But where to start? We'd like to cover it all, but the laws of physics tell us we can't be everywhere at once.

That's where YOU come in. Tell us your UALR stories, past and present. Share your photos. Share your video clips.

Send an email to saerwin@ualr.edu

Or fill out this simple form:

About Sights & Sounds

2009-08-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

A lot happens at UALR.

Interesting things often go unnoticed or under-reported. Think of this blog as:

a modest attempt at providing an inside view of our university.
a supplement, an alternative channel to the traditional news item and/or press release.
the casual voice of the UALR Office of Communications.

But most of all, think of of this blog as a place to participate and contribute to the conversation of UALR's past, present, and future.

We encourage your thoughts, contributions, story ideas, and photographs. Tell us what’s important to you or just share some random images you happen to see.