City Plus UCA ?
Submitted by Vivian Lawson Hogue on Tue, 2009-10-20 11:24
I can't help but be curious about the heavy accent on a relationship between the city and UCA. If we paint the town purple, shouldn't we also paint it orange and blue? By the way, Hendrix and CBC, does anyone notice that WalMart carries sports clothing only with the UCA logo? Is this perhaps by preference from Hendrix and CBC? A visitor who knows no better would think we only have one college here. And unless WalMart has acquired a paint bucket recently, there is still not a Hendrix logo on their wall since they removed it for remodeling several years ago.
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Hendrix and CBC
Does either of the colleges have a main stream athletic program. i know Hendrix does have a rather nice athletic program with non-mainstream sports. I am referring to Football/Basketball and Baseball. I would hazard a guess that the reason Wal-Mart doesn't carry the merchandise is that with liscensing fees ect. and a lack of main stream fan sports, the sales and thus profits would not be that spectacular for those items, and would best be purchased on those campuses at their gift shop/bookstores. Follow the money and you will always find the answer.
Cuz nobody wants Hendrix
Cuz nobody wants Hendrix gear. But in all seriousness, braydin probably got it right about the licensing fee's.
UCA is the Best!
UCA has the most student and bring the most money into the city. The reason you don't see Hendrix shirts is because after paying tuition at Hendrix you can't afford to wear their t-shirts too. As for CBC do they have an mascot or anything? If we really want to be serious about it there's only 2 real colleges in Conway. The other one is more like a community college.
I just want the facts about news as it happens. I can do without the opinions.
That other college...
justwantdanews: CBC does have a mascot, they are the Mustangs. They offer both 2 and 4 year degrees, unlike a community college that would only offer a 2 year degree program and as for their sports, they have basketball, volleyball, soccer and golf. You can learn more and stay up-to-date and accurate about information regarding this school at http://www.cbc.edu
Thanks, Crystal - that's a
Thanks, Crystal - that's a lot of what I was going to add. They are a liberal arts college (please correct me if I'm wrong) so are naturally smaller - somewhere around 400 less than Hendrix. Small colleges can graduate some fine, productive people, and CBC does that. I think I was hoping for a different answer than that the bottom line for the city and UCA is about money, but I would have to admit that is likely true.
It does seem, however, that the city is indebted equally to ALL of the students and schools. Hendrix and CBC students spend their money here as well. All of these colleges had their beginnings on shoestrings and the city and city fathers fought to get them here when other towns wanted them, so I feel they deserve equal attention in advertising. Of course, back then, the city wanted them here to promote learning instead of toting up football stats. (I think there are many people in Conway now who do not know that Hendrix once had, until the early 1960s, good football teams, a band, cheerleaders and a large stadium.)
No, CBC and Hendrix do not have football – sometimes academics win out. However, and I'm not sure what you mean by "mainstream," Hendrix does have quite notable baseball and basketball teams as well as other sports, and as Crystal mentioned, CBC is not sitting around playing tiddleywinks.
I think I have it figured out - no one can go to the bookstores at Hendrix and UCA to buy t-shirts and mugs because there is no place to park. Maybe next year's farmer's market can have a table selling these items from all three colleges and we'll all be happy.
Who cares?
I don't think Hendrix and CBC is feeling left out. If they participated in events such as homecoming, I'm sure the city would give them the same attention. Sometimes the bigger you are the more attention you get. If they want t-shirts, there are plenty of t-shirts shops here that could make shirts for them. I just don't think the Hendrix and CBC types are into that kind of thing. When was the last time you've seen someone in Wal-mart or around town with one of their shirts on?
I just want the facts about news as it happens. I can do without the opinions.
I don't think I implied that
I don't think I implied that the other two colleges would feel "left out, only that it seems the city should give equal attention. I fully understand licensing, which all three schools have to have in such things as logos, etc., or there would be all manner of junk out there.
I assume from your signature that you aren't interested in opinions, but yours would indicate that UCA should have hundreds of designs and t-shirts, wind jackets, key chains and so forth, all sold by many shops and stores in Conway, but the other two colleges should go to the T-Shirt Shack to get theirs. When was the last time I saw a shirt on someone from their schools? Will last week do? One downtown with a blue CBC shirt and one on a basketball player from Hendrix at the Something Brewing intersection. Not to mention the classy alumni sweatshirt I have in my own closet.
I do encourage you to check out websites for Hendrix and CBC as you will find out they do have homecomings. Every year. I don't know of any school or college that doesn't in some form. They're just (obviously) not during a football season. That, of course, would not remove the validity or enjoyment of the occasion.
Only two "real" colleges...WOW
Thanks, Vivian, for the attempt to spread a little of the recognition around. I work at CBC and appreciate our being included...because a lot of the time we're overlooked. I believe that we should all recognize and support UCA since they're the major public university in our town. It's true that many businesses in town often times neglect acknowledging Hendrix and, especially, CBC.
To those who obviously don't know much about CBC, please feel free to check out our website, www.cbc.edu, to educate yourself about who we really are. We currently offer 11 Bachelor of Science degrees and 7 Bachelor of Arts degrees, compete in 10 sports in the NAIA and NCCAA, are most definitely not a community college, and have actually been named in recent years as one of the fastest growing colleges (public or private) in Arkansas. I think this puts us up there in the "real" college category. Go Mustangs!
Private colleges like CBC and Hendrix may not match UCA in size and number of degree offerings, but what we do offer is of just as much importance and benefit to the community. Thanks again, Vivian. By the way, I'm a UCA alum.
Thanks for details!
I knew someone out there would have details and I appreciate that as I knew there were outstanding CBC accomplishments. I am a UCA alum as well, although I did attend Hendrix for 2 years. Most of my brothers and other family members are Hendrix graduates. CBC is my all-my-life neighbor, so I have places in my heart for all. I don't think we could paint the town purple, orange and blue all at the same time as a gunky gray would result. Perhaps the city would sponsor a founders' day celebration of all three colleges one month in the fall. Their histories are fascinating.
Liking the support
Since moving here from out of state, I've only been in Conway for 8 years, and I have really enjoyed the "Paint the Town Purple" campaign. My perception of all three institutions are good and positive for Conway, our citizens, and their students. Because UCA is a public institution competing with other state sponsored universities, I thought the campaign was a good way to start showing our support and begin developing a more supportive culture in the city and the entire state for more than one university. In other states, it is very unusual for one university like UofA to be such a dominent choice to support. My first job after moving here was at UCA, and I saw students from all over the state attending but not feeling as proud as they should have of their choice in attending UCA due to public opinion and lack of public support. Private schools and patrons usually don't want or need that same kind of rallying...GO BEARS!...and Mustangs..and ?Warriors!!!
I'm only curious - why do you
I'm only curious - why do you think private schools and patrons usually don't want or need that same kind of rallying? Is this something that their administrators and recruitors have told you or is this your assumption? I'll be glad to reassess my own thoughts if one or two of them agrees with you. It would seem that whether a school is state or private, they still have the same need for high esteem, and part would come as recognition by their host city. The city enjoys using the student enrollments in its population since they live here 9 months out of a year, (Again, tell me if I am mistaken) so it would seem they could buy them a few streetlight banners, too!
ball parks
to the guys who criticize the ball parks and recreation facilities that we are finally getting, i hope he does not have children. if so, they are not very fortunate.
recognition of colleges
u.c.a. is the only football program in town and lots of pepople like football , also these programs are initiated by u.c.a. alums and boosters. the other schools could do the same thing for their sports.
Hendrix College
Thanks, Vivian, for thinking about Hendrix!
As a Hendrix employee, I appreciate the thoughtful comments on here about all three colleges. In various ways, all three colleges add a distinct flavor to Conway and Faulkner County and join to make Conway the "City of Colleges." I also appreciate the Chamber of Commerce's attempts to include all colleges in broader campaigns and public events, and the A&P Commission's support for events that bring visitors to our city.
Some of the comments on here, however, are disturbing because they are flatly not true.
First, that Hendrix and CBC don't have "mainstream" athletic programs. Hendrix has hosted the SCAC NCAA Division III men's and women's basketball tournaments for the past two years; its baseball team won the conference baseball tournament last year and earned an invitiation to the NCAA National Championship; its soccer teams are both exciting to watch and have achieved greater success this year -- with 19 NCAA sports teams (the most of any college in Arkansas), the list could go on and on. It recruits and retains some of the top student athletes from area high schools, allowing them to continue to utilize their sports skills while earning top educations (not everyone can be a Division I athlete). Also, admission to any athletic event at Hendrix is free. Yes, you can watch any of these NCAA-quality events for free. The same goes for all our performing arts -- plays, concerts, etc. -- which are all top quality.
Second, that Hendrix doesn't host events like homecoming. We host Family Weekend each fall and Alumni Weekend each spring, with both events attracting hundreds of people back to Conway. Further, we recently hosted the Friday Night Stix community event around our lacrosse team -- more than 1,500 from the area attended. There are plans to bring back a similar event next spring.
Third, that Hendrix doesn't contribute much to the community. More than half of our 1,400-plus students are from out of state, and more than 90 percent of all students live on campus, meaning Hendrix students are likely to stay in Conway on the weekends, eat at restaurants, etc. I think any restaurant owner in downtown Conway would tell you that the growth of Hendrix has contributed to their successes. I cannot eat at Mike's, or Pia's, or Old Chicago, or Larry's, etc. without seeing an enormous Hendrix influence there. UCA and CBC have both contributed to the city's success as well.
Fourth, that Hendrix's tuition is too expensive. The tuition at Hendrix is cheaper than that of many peer institutions, such as Rhodes, Sewanee, Austin College, etc. The financial aid here is very generous compared to those colleges as well.
The interaction between all three colleges is fun and extraordinary, on an athletic and a cultural scale. The Hendrix/CBC basketball game last year was one of the most exciting either school has seen in a long time, as was this year's soccer game. Additionally, it will be exciting for Conway to renew the men's basketball rivalry between Hendrix and UCA on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Ferris Center. Come cheer for your favorite team, but know that Conway wins no matter which team is victorious.
Dear Mrs. Hogue,
Dear Mrs. Hogue, (lovely picture by the way), I enjoy actively supporting and rallying behind all three "colleges", and I appreciate the diverse culture and programming opportunities they afford us all while broadening our experiences, raising awareness and providing educational advancements...but, the students, or mostly graduates, of Hendrix that do tend to remain in Conway contributing so positively to the city's life don't seem to need validation from others about how "great" Hendrix is perceived even if it is the biggest bang for the buck in private circles. (It gets old after a little while, constantly hearing UCA being put down like an ugly stepsister by the cheap privileged; certainly exposing entrenched mores only observed in this city or region, because Hendrix no matter how good, is not Harvard.) And scottm, thanks for the glowing example and info. I've been paying to attend events at UCA, thinking there was more available seating for my family...my ass is now going to go support and enjoy the free events at Hendrix. Although, last Christmas was a bust at the chapel even with reservations, we couldn't hear anything the choir sang from out in the foyer but the scretching of fold-out metal chairs and the gusts of freezing wind. So how early do you have to get to these free, out of this world exciting events, to actually get a seat????
By the way,
the Hendrix community treats Conway and its citizenry as some kind of third world mission Hendrixians feel compelled to save from themselves. Flying some streetlight banners, although a good idea and sweet, is not going to change the fact we are all just hear to help them feel like they have attained some accomplishments. Whether that be the case, I've never seen anything like this specific set of paradoxes being played out so dramatically or institutionally. There's a great big world out there that needs to be welcomed here. It really doesn't take long to get sucked in to these ancient, arbitrary (albeit local ) quagmires...but I digress...alliteration anyone? Good luck, Vivian!