One of the newest student organizations on the ����vlog���� campus is making all the right moves.

The Yelé Dance Club was officially founded in September of 2021 as an organization where students could express their passion for dance, explore freedom of movement, and engage in physical and mental exercise. The club was established by alumna Naila Pierre, who served as the first president, along with a small group of executive members.

“Together, they cultivated a community united by a love for dance, which continues to grow today,” said current Yelé Dance Club President Cristhel Mejía, a junior political science, philosophy and sociology major from Nicaragua.

The club currently has approximately 50 members. Joining Mejía on the executive team are Vice President Daniella Ugarte, a sophomore management major from Costa Rica; Secretary Azul Camino, a freshman marketing major from Mexico; Treasurer Jacquelinne Teshe, a sophomore psychology and finance major from El Salvador; and Social Media Manager Maria Cabrera, a sophomore marketing and finance major from Mexico.

Yelé is a term from the Niger-Congo language Yoruba that translates to “One who benefits the family.” The student-led organization is dedicated to sharing diverse dance styles and creating an inclusive space for all, regardless of experience.

The club, whose advisor is Director of Counseling Services Dr. Kaethe Hoehling, offers student-led classes in a variety of styles, including Pop, Bachata, Modern Dance, Reggaeton, Hip-Hop, and Salsa.

In recent months, the club has performed at halftime of basketball games at U of O as well as Clarksville High School. They will also be the closing act at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, at the International Fest on campus.

“Having the opportunity to perform during halftime at the high school basketball game was an incredible experience,” Cabrera said. “It allowed our club to gain valuable exposure in sports performances while reinforcing our dedication and perseverance in everything we do. I am truly grateful for our amazing team of officers who continuously seek new opportunities and are not afraid to step into the unknown. Overall, I believe Yelé is more than just a club—it’s a place where you create unforgettable experiences, challenge yourself to grow, and work hard for what you want.”

Mejía said the club will continue to look for opportunities to perform in front of audiences.

“Looking ahead, we plan to continue performing at athletic events and expanding our collaborations with various clubs and organizations to bring the joy of dance to students, faculty, and staff alike,” Mejía said. “Organizing events, creating choreographies, and teaching different dance styles are just a few of the ways we connect with our campus and, now, with the Clarksville community. When we first heard about the opportunity to perform at the local high school, we couldn’t have been more excited. My team and I put in the work to make it happen, and we look forward to more performances at various institutions in the future. Being able to share dance as a form of artistic expression is one of the greatest blessings in my life. It fuels my heart, and I hope we can continue bringing joy and passion to others through movement.”

Teshe said, “Being a part of the Yelé Dance Club has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It is an opportunity to be part of a great community and it has become my way of escaping and expressing myself freely.”

For those students who wish to join the Yelé Dance Club, they can contact members through Instagram @yele.dance or email Mejía at cmeja152@ozarks.edu.

“We are always welcoming new members, regardless of experience or background,” Mejía said. “No prior dance knowledge or performance participation is required. If you’re interested, feel free to attend our weekly classes or simply join the community.”

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For the second time in its long, illustrious career, the 2024 version of the ����vlog����’ Project Poet finale ended in a tie for first place.

This year’s title of Poet Laureate of the Sprada Valley was shared by Seria S. Cash, a senior psychology major from The Bahamas; and Jorge Mendoza, a senior media production and psychology major from El Salvador.

It was the second tie in the history of the annual competition that began in 2006 as the brainchild of Professor of English Dr. David Strain. Each fall, students from all disciplines across campus test their wit and creative writing and poetry skills in weekly challenges against fellow classmates with large cash prizes and the title of Poet Laureate of the Sprada Valley on the line.

Rounding out the top five in this year’s Project Poet were Catasia Ferguson in third, Melissa Coronado in fourth and Tad Pshigoda finishing fifth.

For Mendoza, who wore his lucky fur trapper hat throughout the competition, his third attempt in Project Poet proved to be the charm.

“Winning project poet for me was a dream come true since this is the third year I have participated,” he said. “It felt like finally achieving a goal that I have been working on for so long. On top of that, this is my senior year, so it was my last chance of making it. Something that feels special for me about this is that counting the final, I managed to win three rounds in a row, one per each year I have participated, a funny little coincidence.”

He said waiting for the judges to announce their decision was gut-wrenching.

“I was running around the auditorium thanking the people who had come to kind of ease my mind,” Mendoza said. “When the time to announce the winners came, I was shaking in my seat clutching my so called ‘lucky hat’ that I wore that night. One by one they revealed the places until Dr. Amy Oatis said that we had both won. I literally jumped out of my seat and started dancing due to how happy I was, because it meant that I had finally made it.”

Cash, who will graduate from Ozarks this month, said winning the competition was a validation of sorts.

“Winning Project Poet means that I ought to see and hear myself the way others do — as worthy and deserving,” she said. “They say you are your biggest critic, and worst enemy to yourself. For me, that saying holds truth. On the final night of Project Poet, I too was a judge. I judged myself and my competitors, but I was nowhere near first on my rubric — I was third or second at best.  I didn’t expect to win because I had told myself that I wasn’t going to. Imaginably so, when it was revealed that I had won, I was taken aback.”

Cash, competing in her first Project Poet, said one of the most difficult aspects of the contest was going against her fellow classmates and friends.

“It was the utmost and undeniable act of betrayal — at least that’s what it felt like,” she said. “But aside from the theatrics, some of the people I competed with were not just my classmates, but friends, and to see them being eliminated round after round truly left me hurt.”

Mendoza said his approach to writing poetry involved what he called “processes.”

“They are my way of keeping track of things that I need to do in my mind, so things like classes, assignments, or just generally thinking about something, are processes that my mind runs,” he said. “I essentially mulled over the prompt for about a week, ‘running’ a process in the background of my mind, constantly trying to get an idea. Once I reached an idea that I liked, I would sit down and start thinking about it. What do I want to say about this idea? How do I feel about this? Is there something different I can show? And then I would just write and edit as I move through the poem, always making sure to follow the rules given to us.”

Cash said she based her poetry writing on the concept of “truth.”

“I also like to play around with words and the stories I tell, and how I do it; it makes it not only fun for me, but for my audience,” she said. “It also shows the witty and playful side of myself. But if I’m being honest, aside from the constrictions of form, I don’t have a grand methodical way of writing poetry. I rely on my foundation of truth and the stories life has given me.”

Cash said the challenge of writing sonnets was her most challenging, and also favorite, format.

“My favorite type of poetry was the sonnet; more specifically, it was listening to Jorge’s sonnets. They were absolutely beautiful,” she said. “Ironically, the most challenging for me was the sonnet. It had almost pushed me to drop out of the competition. Overall, all forms of poetry are challenging, and the rhyme scheme of sonnets, in my opinion, is the most difficult to master, especially as it relates to connections and what you’re trying to express in 14 lines.”

Cash said competing in Project Poet made a significant impact on her.

“If you’re not careful, a creative mind will get crushed by the weight and pressures of others,” she said. “For a long time, my mind was burdened down with that weight. Competing in Project Poet, I must say, freed me. It reminded me of why I began or was given the gift of writing and performing. When I write and perform, I do all those things and more for … me.”

Mendoza found Project Poet liberating as well.

“It has been a nice reminder that there people that are not only willing but also want to listen to you,” he said. “Poems are inherently sentimental, so it can be a bit embarrassing to show certain sides of yourself. But having people I haven’t talked to before approach me after the winning poems were posted, to say how much they liked mine and congratulate me has been eye-opening.”

Seria Cash

Independence for Sale (Nature)

I didn’t know that my kind were cannibals: They’ll peel the skin off each other with their teeth, rip limbs apart with their hands, eat them, then serve it to their children.

I didn’t know that women were flowers and men-gardeners: My father told me, “honey, that’s the way it’s supposed to be”. But all I ever see, is men taking their sons into gardens to plough the ground and destroy them.

I didn’t know that my eyes were broken: My kind don’t look like me no more, and I feel like I’m the only one who sees the color Black. Am I? A lot of my sisters and brothers prefer to see the color White.

I didn’t know criminals dressed up as policemen: I saw one rob a man who looked like him, but spoke a different language. We’re afraid, so tell me, who are we supposed to go to for help?

I didn’t know that pullin, pushin, and poverty was the holy trinity of my country: Sometimes, God don’t exist here.

I didn’t know that this rock is still a slave to the hands who throw money at it: Thank you sir, are you enjoying your stay mam? Will that be all?

I didn’t know that a leader became a mother during election: Now, he has to take care of his home and his children-who, will put him to death without trial, when water begins to drip from roof tops.

I didn’t know my island was a prostitute: While her voyeur children watch, moguls spread her legs open and plant seeds of capitalism inside of her.

I didn’t know what it meant to be Bahamian: The colors Yellow, Black, and Aquamarine have been washed dry into Red, White and Blue.

I didn’t know my society was segregated: Why does the West bleed money and power when the East bleeds blood and poverty? I rarely see a white man or woman, but when I do, I always wonder if they breathe the same air that I do. 

I didn’t know polygamy was my country’s “sweetheart”: I don’t want God to punish me for not having a sweet heart.

I didn’t know the older generation depended so much on the younger generation: I’m sorry, there hasn’t been any sign of a black Moses who will lead us to freedom again.

I didn’t know that you’d be interested: The government said people 17 and under have no sense, no voice, but at 16 are able to give consent, when that makes no sense.

I didn’t know I lived in a jungle.

I thought my home was supposed to be paradise.

I thought I was supposed to have a better life.

I thought I was free.

At least now

I know how much my independence is worth.

God You are Hope (Cinquain Poem)

You are

Hope–a calling

For people far greater

Than the nature of their sins–God

You’re Hope

Love Switches

Walk away, how can I? Leave everything

Years love, granted love under conditions

God promises, Love switches on and off

Hate reflections of my design

I’ll stay, I stayed, I’m staying

I’ll leave, I left, I’m leaving

I’m back

Addiction yeah you feed me

Sustain me, under promises

I need you to keep

Is it all or hole?

You’re angry and you’re empty

No one understands, you’re unheard of

You’re invisible, no one listens

The ones you want to listen don’t

Listen such a naive girl

Forgive me, Forgive you, forgive I

Forgive the love switches

That are a part of my design

They’re by design

By default it is my design

Break myself then rewind

Repeat all over again

Jorge Mendoza

Prayers

I remember how I used to pray

Hands clasped together, down on my knees

“Hey God! How are you?

Can I get a puppy for Christmas please?”

It was childish, it was naive

But it was pure and sincere

I would talk to you, share with you

Tell you about my life

“Hey God! So… there is this person I like…”

It was all so beneath you

But you didn’t seem to mind

Even as I got older, it was just like Father and child

Then something changed

It was different, strange

Like a numbing pain

Down on my knees, hands clasped

Fearful of the answer I asked

“God, you love me right?”

I was confused, alone

Felt tainted and impure

Aware of my nature

Unworthy of attention

“Are you even there?

Why not spare me the pain

Answer me

why was I made this way?”

Steeped in frustration

Driven by hurt

I hardened my heart and ceased to talk

Yes I felt hatred but not towards you

It was myself I disdained

A truth misunderstood

Down on my knees and my hands clasped

I come back to you and in prayer I ask

“Hey God, are you there?

I’m sorry I left, I made a mistake

I’ll open my heart and I’ll forgive myself

Can we somehow start again?

I hope you can hear me, here I will wait

Please forgive me, amen”

Love

I’ve spent many nights staring at the ceiling

Trying to understand it, that stupid feeling,

That four-lettered word, That beautiful bastard

the one we call love

Love is the wine that makes fools of the wise

That Burning emotion

That sets stories in motion

The one that makes great speakers, tongue-tied

And the bravest of warriors, out of nowhere feel shy

Love is the reason we ignore thorns on roses

That blinding light that hearts exposes

Love is the water from which we all drink

It is also the reason why we forget to think

Love is the thread from which bonds are woven

That turns strangers to friends and friends into brothers

It is the fire that burns in the oven

It is the bread we share, with one another

Love is painful, deceiving and cruel

It is comforting and healing,

Of our engine, the fuel

Love is the reason there was a war in Troy

Why The Redeemer was put on the cross

A great celebration, a source of joy

Powerful, nurturing, beautiful and pure

Nature

driving over man made concrete structure

over the river valley the sun sets

colors and light paint a divine picture

lazy flowing water the cliffs besets

the sky and water reflect each other

two halves opposing yet one and the same

trees, birds, water, and rocks calm, unbothered

great majestic beauty truly untamed

as I keep driving I am reminded

nature is the one that holds the power

I witness creation, mind enlightened

Truly, before it’s might I should cower

All-encompassing, perfect designer

In the grand scheme of things I am minor

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����vlog���� will present cross-disciplinary performer, poet, educator, conceptual dramaturg, and social engagement artist Robert Farid Karimi to campus on Friday, April 14, as part of the University’s 2022-23 Walton Arts & Ideas Series.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Rogers Conference Center. There is no cost for admission and the public is invited.

In his show titled, “Food, Fun and Games to Nourish the People With,” Karimi said the interactive performance “explores how we nourish ourselves through playfulness and food.”

With his Iranian-Guatemalan heritage as a point of departure, Karimi plays a diverse group of characters in his solo and collaborative shows, from the mystical Disco Jesus to pop star Freddie Mercury to the idealist cook Mero Cocinero, who has cooked for luminaries MF Doom,Yuri Kochiyama and families and change-makers worldwide.

Karimi made healthy messaging delicious with the “Diabetes of Democracy,” a culinary engagement project which inspires audiences to exchange their cultural culinary histories, connect with one another over humor and food, and discover their own power towards personal balance.

A Creative Capital artist, Karimi has been featured on NPR, The Smithsonian, South X SouthWest, HBO’s DefPoetryJam, Los Angeles Times, Callaloo, Mizna, Total Chaos: An anthology of Hip Hop theory, Asian-American Literary Review, and A Good Time for The Truth: Race In Minnesota as well as various other platforms and spaces worldwide.

As a creative developer, comedic storyteller and cook, Karimi combines humor and food in his Peoples Cook Project, designed to bring people together through sharing their cultural histories and connecting across the table.

Karimi currently designs games and interactive performance experiences to spark audiences, in all manner of civic spaces, to imagine worlds of mutual community nourishment. Their research focuses on the power of play and playfulness in socially engaged art and the role of cultural collision in shaping the non-binary imaginary.

Karimi serves as assistant professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theater department at Arizona State University. More information can be found at RobertFaridKarimi.com

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Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ACASA) will present the play, “A���ٳܲ�������,” on the campus of ����vlog���� on Wednesday, March 8. Written by Anna Ziegler, the play brings to life the struggles of consent, Title IX and the consequences of blurred lines on a college campus.

The play will begin at 7 p.m. in the BlackBox Theatre in the Walton Fine Arts Center and there is no cost for admission. This production contains sexually and racially charged language, including conversations about rape and a reference to bigotry.  Advocates will be present at each performance.

The play will feature a pair of U of O theatre alumni — Petron Brown ’21 and Lacye Day ’21. Brown is a graduate student in the theatre program at University of Southern Mississippi and Day is the prevention education director at ACASA. The play is directed by former U of O theatre professor Rebecca Bailey, who is the education program director at ACASA.

“ACASA once is once again approaching the difficult topic of sexual assault in a way that opens discussion around the complex issue,” said Bailey. “While it has more than a few moments that ring witty and make us laugh, the two-person play paints an intelligent and riveting look at the struggles of balancing college life, consent, and the pressures that influence us. “

The production centers around Amber and Tom, who are finding their way as freshmen at Princeton and who spend a night together that alters the course of their lives. 

“They agree on the drinking, they agree on the attraction, but consent is foggy, and if unspoken, can it be called consent?  With lyricism and wit, ‘A���ٳܲ�������’ investigates gender and race politics, our crippling desire to fit in and the three sides to every story,” Bailey said. “For all of us, who are or have ever been impacted as a young adult by sexual assault, ‘A���ٳܲ�������’ begins to put a human face to one of these stories.”

There will be a talkback with advocates, Title IX staff, actors, and the director following the production. 

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The Rev. Marie Mainard O’Connell, a minister in the Presbytery of Arkansas, will visit campus on the week of Sept. 12 as part of the ����vlog����’ Struthers Visiting Pastoral Study Leave Program.

Mainard O’Connell is currently serving as the interim director of adult education at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. She previously was the pastor of Park Hill Presbyterian Church in North Little Rock from 2018 to 2022.

As part of her visit, Mainard O’Connell will speak at the University’s weekly Chapel Service at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Born in Springdale, Ark., and raised in Carrollton, Texas, Mainard O’Connell met her future husband, James O’Connell, in a high school theatre production. She returned to Arkansas as a student at Hendrix College and later received a master’s degree in college administration from the University of Central Arkansas. After serving as program coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va., and the birth of their first child, Katie, Mainard O’Connell answered the call to ministry and attended New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, N.J.. She graduated with a senior project in human trafficking, and highest honors in preaching and academics. While in seminary, she did an internship as a hospital chaplain.

After seminary, with another child, Kevin, in tow, the family returned to central Arkansas where James began teaching theatre and technical theatre at Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock and Mainard O’Connell became the interim director for Youth at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church. After a short stint at Westover Hills, she accepted her first call as the head pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. After their third child, Jon, was born, Mainard O’Connell took a break from full-time pastoral work to become the site coordinator for the Little Rock Young Adult Volunteer program of the PC (USA). After a year with this program, she resumed full-time ministry at Second Presbyterian Church as the transitional associate pastor for pastoral care.

Mainard O’Connell has been honored to serve on the board of the Center for Artistic Revolution, an LGBTQ resource and activist advocacy group, as well as a brief stint as the interim director of the Industrial Areas Foundation organization of the Greater Little Rock Organizing Committee. She is grateful to serve on the leadership team of the Mosaic Church Diversity Circle Discussion Group and she co-founded the Bridge Builders Reading Group, a community book club on issues of race and class. Mainard O’Connell also assisted in founding Mercy Church of Little Rock, a worshiping community of those experiencing homelessness.

When she isn’t working on preaching or teaching, she enjoys reading comics, attending movies, and advocating for social justice and environmental concerns.  She has “one husband, three kids, three cats, six chickens and about three dozen other people she couldn’t live without.” 

The Pastoral Study Leave Program was established in 2005 by the late Rev. Dr. James R. Struthers of Stillwater, Okla., a long-time member of the University’s Board of Trustees. Struthers established the program to bring Presbyterian pastors to the U of O campus for personal and professional development.

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Newly elected Student Government Association (SGA) President Benjamin Stormes and Vice President Garrett Houston can’t wait to begin helping their fellow classmates in the fall.

Stormes (pictured, left) and Houston were among several students elected recently to hold leadership positions in SGA for the 2022-23 academic year at ����vlog����.

Stormes is a rising junior from Fort Smith, Ark., who is majoring in biology and philosophy. He is a member of Tri-Beta, Eagle Productions and the Ozarks Biological Society. He also is a resident assistant (RA) and a member of the track and cross country teams.    

Stormes said he ran for SGA president to help give students a voice in decisions on campus.

“The main reason I wanted to run for office is because Ozarks students lacked an outlet for their voice,” he said. “SGA was created to fill that void, but few people trusted or knew about the organization. That is when I realized I wanted to run for office, to show students that SGA is something they can depend on and voice their concerns to.”

Stormes said his goal is “to show students SGA can create change.”

“I want to push SGA into the light and make it known to every student,” he said. “SGA has passed many proposals, but what ultimately gets proposed is put forth by students. We also want to recognize the importance of clubs and organizations at Ozarks. Not enough spotlight is put on what the different clubs at Ozarks represent and have accomplished. One of the big things SGA is pushing for is a Leader’s Banquet to recognize the accomplishments of different clubs and organizations at Ozarks. I enjoy the sense of community for better or worse at Ozarks. It allows for someone to be more connected and involved then they might be at a larger institution. This creates a better sense of community and focuses on the individual.”

Houston is a health science and business administration major from Scranton, Ark. The rising senior has been involved with SGA and Eagle Productions and is an RA, Ozarks Experience Mentor and Student Ambassador.

Houston, who plans to pursue a career in athletic training, said he also ran to help his fellow students.

“I ran for SGA because I wanted to be there for the students of Ozarks,” he said. “I have always been a big person on helping everyone and anyone, no matter what. I want to be able to continue to do that as vice president of SGA, listening and helping students because that’s what matters to me. We want to be the voice for the students, letting everyone know what SGA is, what we have already done for Ozarks, and what we plan to do for the next year.”

The SGA members for the 2022-2023 academic year include:

President: Ben Stormes

Vice President: Garrett Houston

Secretary: Marcela Valladares

Treasurer: Youdenie Antoine

Head of Representative Committee: Rachelle Joseph

Natural Science and Mathematics Senators: Stephenique Rose and Jenay Jones

Humanities and Fine Arts Senators: Rosie Wade and Jessica Frazier

Social Science Senator: Cristhian Rodriguez

Rising Sophomore Senators: Gustavo Lugo Medrano and Marifer Mendoza

Rising Junior Senator: Xenia Munoz Maradiaga

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Jennifer Schmitt was apprehensive about going to Ireland for her study abroad experience, but not just because it was a country she was unfamiliar with, but because she was going in September 2021, during a very unsure time in the pandemic. Jenny is also one of our JLC students, so navigating the academic requirements of her program was also a huge concern for her.

����vlog���� provides many different options for students to participate in study abroad, with Ireland being a program that is offered through Study USA. For students to be eligible to participate in this specific program, they need at least a 3.2 GPA as well as be in their sophomore year at Ozarks. Nicole England, Ozarks’ Director of Walton Scholars Program and International Program Manager, said that “Studying abroad is an enriching opportunity both personally and academically. Students have the opportunity to learn new languages, appreciate various cultures, different teaching methods, and global issues. The intercultural experiences gained while studying abroad are life-changing to students. ����vlog���� participates in several exchange programs with universities around the world – we have partners in countries in Europe, Asia, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.”

Speaking on her time in Ireland, Jenny said that one of the most difficult things for her to adjust to is that she had no school assignments until the last 5 weeks of school. During her time before her assignments came due, Jenny participated in the culture of Ireland and was able to immerse herself in the beauty of the country. “Ireland is a beautiful country that pulls you in, not only with its rich history, but also its welcoming diversity” she said of her experience.

While she was studying abroad during the pandemic and at times that made things a bit more challenging, Jenny went on to say that she thinks of her experience “as a positive one” and that the study abroad program has “changed [her] life forever.”

The program was so influential and positive for her, that she has even encouraged two of her friends to participate in the program in the future. Madisyn Doddridge, Ozarks health science major, said that Jenny’s experience with the “people, places, and even the campus” made her decide to go. Madisyn went on to say that she hopes she gets to encounter all that Jenny did and more.

Another student who has decided to take advantage of this opportunity is Claudia Garcia, Ozarks elementary education major. Claudia was persuaded that this was the opportunity for her after Jenny mentioned her experience and the connection with the education program. “Talking with Jenny has been extremely helpful in my application process and getting accepted, but I also hope to have the same experience she went through as well as gain all the knowledge and more that she brought back with her from Ireland.”

Tina McCain, Jenny’s JLC Academic Coordinator, was so excited for her to be able to participate in the program. Tina said of Jenny “[she] has always been independent, determined, and self-motivated. Studying abroad allowed her to build on that independence to grow her self-confidence and establish new friendships.”

When it comes to the academic support that Jenny was accustomed to while on Ozarks campus, Tina and Jenny continued to meet a few times each week via Zoom in order to make sure she was on track and not experiencing anything that could potentially set her back during her studies. During these sessions, Tina said that Jenny’s “excitement was contagious. It was so fun to hear her describe her experiences and share about the culture of Northern Ireland.”

Jenny was drawn to Ozarks through the JLC. As a student who has been diagnosed with A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder), it is difficult for her to pass tests and to say on top of assignments. Through the JLC program, she is able to take normal classes with the additional support that she sometimes needs. Jenny said that “the JLC has helped me reach my goals by being an educational support system and I even used the JLC while I was in Ireland. That was helpful because I was able to talk with my coordinator and use the writing assistants.”

One of Jenny’s favorite things about Ozarks is our size. “My favorite part of ����vlog���� is how small it is and how it feels like your second home. When I first saw the chapel in person that was the biggest draw.”

Jenny is from Defiance, Missouri and is a junior. Outside of her studies, she enjoys singing and dancing. Help us celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the JLC during our Homecoming weekend April 8-10! See the weekend schedule and register for events now.

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Adventure writer and international mountain guide Charlotte Austin will speak about her 2019 summit of Mount Everest as a visiting lecturer at ����vlog���� at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, in the Rogers Conference Center.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited to the first 150 guests. Masks and social distancing protocols will be enforced.

Austin’s presentation, sponsored by Ozarks Outdoors and the Office of Student Affairs, is titled, “Climbing Mount Everest: Lessons From The World’s Tallest Peak.” In this engaging lecture, Austin will share photos and videos from her successful climb of Mount Everest, and share some of the kernels of wisdom she learned along the way.

An international mountain guide, Austin leads climbing, mountaineering and hiking expeditions around the globe. She has guided some of the world’s tallest mountains, and works in places including North and South America, Europe, Alaska, Patagonia, and Nepal. She is an EMT, an extra class ham radio operator, and accomplished sailor.

She has written for numerous newspapers and magazines, and is currently writing a book about her summit of Mount Everest. She lives on a small island in the Salish Sea near Seattle, Washington.

Austin did her undergraduate work at the University of Saint Andrews (in Scotland) and at the University of Washington, where she earned a bachelor’s of arts in environmental studies. She then attended the master’s of fine arts program at the University of Alaska Anchorage in creative nonfiction.

Austin will be on campus throughout the week of Oct. 25 for a variety of events, including workshops and classroom lectures. She will also lead an overnight camping trip in the Ozark Mountains for female U of O students and a climbing trip to Northwest Arkansas for students.

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Darrell Shaw III has been named the new director of Ozarks Outdoors, the outdoor education and recreation program at ����vlog����. He will begin his new duties on Oct. 1.

A native of Lamar, Ark., Shaw served as director of outdoor education and recreation at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark., from 2013 to 2018. Since 2018 he has been the program manager for the Parks and Recreation Department in Fayetteville, Ark., where he helped create a nationally-recognized community outdoor recreation program, Outdoor Fayetteville.

“Working for Ozarks Outdoors is my dream job,” Shaw said. “I am very excited about the opportunity to share my passion for experiential education, student development, traveling and adventuring with the students at U of O in my hometown. Arkansas is such a beautiful place and there are so many amazing places to explore. My vision for the program is to provide numerous opportunities for students to recreate outside through outdoor adventures and intramurals, while also providing student leadership opportunities for the student staff. I want to foster a space that is welcoming and open to all.”:

Shaw replaces Bendex Stevenson, who stepped down from the position this past summer to pursue other opportunities.

Shaw earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation and sport management from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and his master’s degree in recreation and sports administration from Western Kentucky University.

He said his favorite thing about leading students on outdoor adventures is “getting someone out of their comfort zone and trying something new.”

“It is so rewarding seeing someone discover something they become very passionate about after taking that first step and trying it for the first time,” Shaw said. “Life is all about relationships and trying new things. Extended trips are the best. When you get a group to commit to spending five-plus days and nights together, it really gets to be fun when people open up and let their guard down. I have so many great memories with students, of all different backgrounds and skill levels, adventuring in places all across the world. The skills, experiences and relationships developed on these types of trips are those that a person will enjoy for a lifetime.”

At Lyon, Shaw helped develop the college’s outdoor leadership program, managed the intramural program, taught academic classes in outdoor leadership and recreation, and oversaw a bike shop that served the campus and community.

He is a member of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) and is certification and training in SOLO Wilderness First Responder, Single Pitch Instructor Training and ACA Swiftwater Rescue Class III.

Shaw enjoys climbing, cycling, camping, paddling, photography, fishing, hunting, sports, gardening and building things. He and his wife, Samantha (Sammie), met in grad school at WKU, where they were both graduate students. Samantha has a master’s degree in sport and recreation management. She homeschools the couple’s three children, Lily, Norah and Amos.

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In response to the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, ����vlog���� has cancelled its Spring 2020 Commencement ceremony that was scheduled for mid-May, University officials announced this week.

In making the announcement to the campus community, University President Richard Dunsworth called Commencement “a special and sacred tradition in higher education and in the lives of college graduates.”

“Because of how important this event is for the entire Ozarks community, we have delayed making a decision on the Spring 2020 Commencement Week until it was absolutely clear whether or not we can provide for the protection and safety of our graduates and their families and friends,” he said. “Given the ongoing threat and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have no choice but to cancel the Spring 2020 Commencement. While I know this is extremely disappointing news for many of you, especially our graduating seniors, please know that we understand the importance of formally celebrating this wonderful accomplishment with family and friends.”

Dunsworth said the University is exploring several options in which graduates could take part in a formal ceremony, including giving them possible options to participate in the University’s December 2020 or Spring 2021 Commencement activities or in a special ceremony later this year.

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