University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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On April 12, UA student-poets battled with their words in a slam poetry competition sponsored by University Programs’ Coffeehouse. The Coffeehouse puts on poetry, spoken word and dramatic performances once a month that are open to the public. The event was held at the Anne Kittrell Art Gallery in the Arkansas Union. The technical winner of the competition was Houston Haus. However, due to the University Programs’ policy, Haus was not eligible to win because he was not a student. Instead, first place was deferred to the second-place winner, junior biology major Audrey LeBer. Her winnings included a notebook and pens, a lava lamp and a book on meditation and incense. Her poems centered around domestic violence and the negative aftereffects that war can have on soldiers. A veteran of slam poetry, LeBert said she got started competing in slam poetry after Haus saw her perform at an open mic night. Haus encouraged her to check out the Big World Battle, a slam poetry competition on Dickson Street that takes place the last Saturday of every month. LeBert now helps with the monthly competition. Eight poets competed in the first round of the competition. Contestant order was randomly decided by drawing a name out of a cup. Each poet had three minutes to read their original piece to the audience. No props or music were allowed. Seven judges were chosen from the audience, giving ead 1 poem a score out of ten. For each poem, the highest and lowest scores were thrown out. The poems were diverse in content, covering topics ranging from autism to the bias that claims ad majors have the “easy major.” Some of the poem 5 were even funny. 16 AUTUMN

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LEFT New university chancellor, Dr. Joseph Steinmetz, speaks to over 450 students, faculty, and staff members eager to hear his vision for the university. RIGHT University of Arkansas President Donald R. Bobbitt congratulates the new chancellor. After a long, tedious process of finding the ideal chancellor or the University of Arkansas, Dr. Joseph Steinmetz was officially announced as the sixth chancellor of the University °f Arkansas. UA System President Donald R. Bobbitt ormally introduced Dr. Steinmetz, the former executive vice president and provost at Ohio State University, to students in the fall on Oct. 30, 2015. hobbitt went into detail about the selection process and tie careful consideration that went into selecting the right candidate. “When Dr. Gearhart announced he was stepping down, the trustees sat down with me and gave jfte their ideas as to how they want to move this process orward, said Bobbitt. “They were very clear. They wanted a corn prehensive national search that involved all aspects °f ramp U s community—faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. Indeed I believe we have done that.” obbitt also addressed the “ambitious timeline” he had for ln g this position. He began an eight-month process led y a search committee Bobbitt established in order to have a new chancellor in place by Jan. 1, 2016. The committee ' ncluded a diverse group of 17 people representing the Board °t Trustees, university faculty, and the private business sector. The finalists visited campus and participated in public ° rums before the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to acce Pt the recommendation of Steinmetz by Bobbitt. Steinmetz visited the campus on Oct. 12 and 13 in order to meet with students, faculty, and staff before sharing his excitement and vision for the UofA in a public forum attended by more than 450 people. “As you will find out I am never, ever at a lost for words,” said Steinmetz. “I’m excited, I’m thrilled, I’m eager, I’m energized, I’m confident, I’m hopeful, I’m gratified, and of course grateful. I’m grateful for the trust that Don Bobbitt and the University Of Arkansas Board Of Trustees have placed in me to lead this wonderful institution.” Prior to accepting the position as UA chancellor, Steinmetz was the executive vice president and provost at Ohio State University for two years. He also served as a distin guished professor and the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas. Additionally, for 19 years, he served as the executive associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and the chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Indiana. “When I transitioned from Indiana to Kansas and from Kansas to Ohio State—the number one thing you have to learn is the culture of the institution,” said Steinmetz. “What makes it tick, what is it about the institution that makes it run and makes it special.” “The student body is engaged, energized, and growing,” continued Steinmetz. “This is not a place where the students are stagnant.” CHANCELLOR STEINMETZ 15

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ne P° em entitled “Blue Comedy,” presented a umorous spin on the struggles of trying to be a stand-up comedian. the second round, the judges narrowed it down to th j naUsts - ome °f the finalists were unaware that had Were mu 1 P e roun ds of the competition and to resort to finding older examples of their work 0n their phones. and ° ne n a tt en d an ce was served hot chocolate The r ° Ce Ve h a mu g courtesy of University Programs. e audience was encouraged to participate by tQ C PP ln g their fingers when they felt a connection cl Poem. Audience members were also told to lze their opinions about each performance between rounds. SLAM POETRY COMPETITION 17