07 // CAMPUS FEATURE NEWS

In October of 2025 in Magnolia, Arkansas, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has allotted a $400K grant to Southern Arkansas University (SAU) -- a first for the academic institution.

This grant was given to further the pursuits of research and innovation toward the ever-expanding lithium industry blooming in Arkansas.

SAU's Dean of the College of Science and Engineering Abdel Bachri had this to say upon receiving the grant:

"This is a great way to break the ice with NSF, and it’s just the beginning. Our $400,000 award will allow us to build research capacity, form a consortium of regional institutions, and strengthen partnerships with industry. Most importantly, it positions SAU as a leader in advancing opportunities for our students, our faculty, and our community."

(Image of SAU's Science Building)

The project will be overseen by Bachri, as well as by SAU's Vice President of Finance Shawna Reed and Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering Hayder Zghair. They plan to broaden the access to research opportunities, as well as fostering future partnerships for federal funding regarding STEM related initiatives.

SAU has been a recent trailblazer in STEM related endeavors, having received $2.75M from the Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) grant only a year prior. Dr. Bachri is proud to have been rewarded this and the NSF grant, hoping to prove "that [even] a rural university can be at the center of innovation, workforce development, and national progress.”

More information can be found here.

- C. Thomas Bailey

Comments

20 // WILDCARD

Magnolia is happy to announce that the Christmas parade will take place today (December 8th) at 5:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Square. Originally planned to occur last Thursday, the parade was delayed due to poor weather conditions. However, complete omission of the event was out of the question, as the parade is a lively Magnolia tradition. Monday's weather was expected to be far more acceptable, with clearer and cooler skies as the the sun and temperature drops. (An advertisement for this year's Christmas Parade) The parade will make one cycle around the square , starting at Calhoun before heading down North Jackson to Southern Arkansas University's campus. The procession will complement SAU's own Celebration of Lights, which is the institution's own festive custom. In the spirit of giving, three awards are going to be given to a few lucky recipients. These awards include the Knock Your Socks Off, Christ in Christmas, and Sugar Plum Award. More information can be f...

17 // OPINION (NATIONAL)

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the busiest day of the year for most retail chains is Black Friday, a corporate holiday signified by its discounted prices and frantic customers. This holiday has been a tradition since 1869, when it was originally used to describe an American financial crisis caused by a lack of gold. It only gained the customs we associate with it now sometime in the 1950s. The day marked when companies expected their revenue to venture from the "red" (a net loss of money)" to the "black" (a profit); thus, the name "Black Friday" was made. (Image of a Rural King Black Friday ad. I would link to the original ad, but I'm not getting paid, am I?) As reported by the Cable News Network (CNN) , this Black Friday saw an increase of retail sales by nearly 4% from last year's report. However, economists claim this percentage is slightly exaggerated due to recent inflation. Economist and Pinpoint Press writer Rick Newman est...

12 // NUMERACY

You might often hear people describe themselves as not being a "math person." You might know some intellectuals who struggle with long division or recognizing algebraic equations. You might even relate to both of the qualities just described. This is not a display of poor education or failing intelligence; no, this is most likely a struggle with numeracy. According to the U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , numeracy is categorized into two types: "subjective" and "objective" numeracy. "Subjective numeracy is a person’s reported confidence in understanding mathematical data. Objective numeracy measures a person’s actual math skills." (Image from Freepik ) Numeracy is an invaluable skill, applicable even outside of an academic setting. Like the National Numeracy C harity states, numeracy can be used to interpret data, statistics, charts, and diagrams; manage and solve fiscal problems; and overall improve one's confidence in ...

MM 2003 // C. Thomas Bailey

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