The University of Arkansas Honors College will kick off the Pulse discussion series at 5 p.m. this Thursday, Aug. 30 in the Honors Student Lounge, room 130 of Gearhart Hall.

Honors College Fellow and biochemistry/business management major Manasa Veluvolo organized the launch of this year's programs with an evening featuring representatives from the Volunteer Action Center, the UARK Multicultural Center, and UARK Change. Light refreshments will be served.

The Honors College Pulse series was begun in 2016 following the presidential election, and was named in remembrance of victims of the Pulse nightclub shootings. Since then, it has featured conversations around the Dakota Access Pipeline Project, the legal ramifications and decisions in regards to hate crimes and ways to fight local hunger and poverty. After a visit from Mizzou student activist Payton Head last spring, a group of student leaders decided to formalize the importance of these conversations through monthly meetings that are open to all on campus. 

Beginning this fall, Pulse will be an honors-student-led, student-moderated series of discussions where participants learn from and about various campus and community issues. Each of these discussions will feature members of the campus or community who confront such topics on a regular basis. 

Upcoming Honors College Pulse topics: 

Thursday, Sep. 13, 6 p.m.. GEAR 258: Sex Trafficking – Modern Day Slavery

When people think of human trafficking they often think of the Liam Neeson film Taken - and while some trafficking cases do look like that, it is more common for trafficking cases to look like normal, everyday life to the untrained eye. During this hour, honors kinesiology major Lexi France will discuss what trafficking cases actually look like, how this occurs, and how you can make a difference in this fight by spreading awareness, educating yourself and others, and being aware of what the signs are and what actions to take. 

Thursday, Nov. 8, 5 p.m., GEAR 258: An Open Conversation about Sexual Assault
Led by honors engineering sophomore Carter Buckner and honors journalism and middle east studies major Richard Tiffany, all are invited to this discussion about sexual assault on campus. This event is a student-facilitated, structured conversation to give voice to survivors of such assaults and those who support them. 

This will be an inaugural year for the student-led structure, and details are still being determined. Please note that topics are subject to change. Interested students are encouraged to check honors.uark.edu as well as Honors College social media accounts for regular updates. We welcome all students and viewpoints to these discussions.