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Earth DaY
DAILY HELMSMAN
The
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Thursday 04.18.13
Vol. 80 No. 103
University of Memphis garden to hold 3rd annual celebration By Samuel Prager
news@dailyhelmsman.com
Since April 22, 1970, people all around the world have come together to celebrate the beauty of the natural world on what is the largest worldwide secular holiday, Earth Day. However, the U of M will be celebrating today. Today from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the TIGUrS Oasis Garden, located behind the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, will be holding its 3rd annual Earth Day celebration. “It’ll be a fun day. We have lots of prizes to give away, people face painting and of lot of other entertainment,” said U of M Director of Animal Care Karyl Buddington. “It’s just going to be a lot going on, and of course we will have free healthy food.” Along with face painting and prizes, the event will feature some local artists and musicians who will be performing over the course of the day. There will also
be a Zumba participation exercise going on to help encourage healthy living. “This will be a learning activity for students, staff and faculty,” U of M Sustainability Coordinator Amelia Mayahi said. “Hopefully people will take these ideas home with them and start a garden at their house, or maybe even their community.” The event was set up by a few of the University’s sustainability organizations, including Tiger Blue Goes Green. “It’s so important for our students to recognize that our actions today and tomorrow will have a huge impact on our environment in the future,” Buddington said. “I hope our students will leave here think-
ing in a proactive way and asking themselves, ‘What can I do to help save the environment?’” “When you have that way of thinking, you’re going to make really big
changes in the long-run,” Buddington said. Pamela Denney, a professor of journalism at the U of M, attended an Earth Day festival in 1970 — the first year it was organized — in Washington D.C. She believes that as a school we need to continue p r o -
moting the importance of preserving our planet. “Earth Day raises awareness about how volatile our planet is. It’s young people’s biggest responsibility to take care of the planet. We should do anything we can to raise the awareness of how important maintaining a sustainable lifestyle is,” Denney said. All students, faculty and staff
see EARTH on page 5
Inside: Poisoned Letters Parking Fees David Sedaris
3
4 5
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Volume 80 Number 103
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S u d o k u
Complete the grid so that each row, column and 3-by3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.
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The University of Memphis
Thursday, April 18, 2013 • 3
Poison-laced letters sent to Obama, Congress By William Douglas, Greg Gordon, Anita Kumar MCT
Authorities were investigating a spate of potentially poison-laced letters and packages Wednesday meant for President Barack Obama and a member of Congress. Officials warned that more letters may still be in the mail. Investigators focused on a man from Mississippi who’s sent letters spewing hateful rhetoric to members of Congress in the past. His rhetoric was similar to the language in the new letters, said a law enforcement official familiar with the inquiry, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the material. In one of the letters, the official said, the mailer wrote, “No one listened to me before. This must stop. To see a wrong and not expose it is to become a silent partner to its continuance. I am KC and I approve this message.” The official didn’t identify the suspect. As preliminary screening tests suggested that letters addressed to Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., contained ricin, the news combined with Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings to put government offices on alert and on edge. Congressional offices in two Senate office buildings were cordoned off briefly over concerns about suspicious packages, and the offices of senators in Michigan and Arizona reported receiving suspicious letters. None of the others tested positive for ricin or other poisons, according to another law enforcement official, who lacked the authority to speak publicly and insisted on anonymity. In Washington, a letter sent to Obama that was intercepted Tuesday at a remote Secret Service mail-screening center contained a granular substance that tested positive for potentially lethal ricin. Two letters addressed to Wicker were intercepted at an
offsite postal facility that screens congressional mail. “The envelope was immediately quarantined by U.S. Secret Service personnel, and a coordinated investigation with the FBI was initiated,” the FBI said of the Obama letter. “Anytime suspicious powder is located in a mail facility, field tests are conducted. The field and other preliminary tests can produce inconsistent results.” While 24-hour tests at a Maryland laboratory confirmed that the three letters contained ricin, additional tests must be conducted to determine whether the substance was extracted in a way that enhanced its potency to make it truly dangerous if tiny amounts were inhaled or ingested, one of the law enforcement officials said. Obama was briefed about the letter Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning. White House press secretary Jay Carney said the FBI hadn’t made any connection between the letters and the explosions Monday in Boston. “Before we speculate or make connections that we don’t know exist, that the FBI has made a clear statement about, we need to get the facts,” Carney said. “The president bases his judgments and the things he says to the American people on the facts.” On Capitol Hill, law enforcement officials cordoned off sections of the Hart and Russell Senate office buildings Wednesday after suspicious envelopes were found on the third floor of each building and a package was found in the Hart atrium. The buildings, across the street from the Capitol, house the offices of senators. Authorities “have confirmed a deadly poison was discovered in at least two separate letters found at the White House and Capitol Hill mail facilities,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He added that police also were questioning a man who had “numerous letters in a backpack.” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., whose gun control measure, co-authored with Sen. Patrick
MCT
Staffers are seen working in the office of Sen. Roger Wicker Wednesday in the Dirksen Building on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. The FBI says the letters sent to President Barack Obama and Wicker are related and are both postmarked out of Memphis, Tenn. Toomey, R-Pa., was being debated on the Senate floor Wednesday, said his Hart building office had been quarantined. Other lawmakers said they’d received suspect letters or packages. Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said his office in Saginaw, Mich., had received a “suspicious-looking letter” and alerted authorities. “We do not know yet if the mail presented a threat,” Levin said in a statement. A spokesman for Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, reported that “the Capitol Police investigated a suspicious package in our office and have now given us the all clear.” “Sen. Shelby and staff are unharmed,” spokesman Jonathan Graffeo said, referring all other questions to the Capitol Police. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said an aide had discovered “suspicious letters” in his Phoenix office. No dangerous materials were found on the letters, said Genevieve Rozansky, Flake’s spokeswoman. n
Chemistry professor explains Ricin By Erica Hartsfield
news@dailyhelmsman.com Both of the ricin-laced letters sent to President Barack Obama and Sen. roger Wicker, R-Miss. were postmarked from Memphis, Tenn. Ricin is a protein that comes from molecules made by castor beans, which are used in food products and castor oil. It is composed of two chains of amino acids and attaches to ribosomes, which are the protein synthesis factory of the body. Chair of the Chemistry Department at the University of Memphis Abby Parrill said that because the human body needs proteins to build muscles and break down foods, when ricin comes into contact with the ribosomes in the cells, it causes them to stop making proteins. “[Proteins] signal when cells should divide, when they should not divide, and when they move,” she said. Parrill said that, without that signal, the body begins to shut down. Ricin has two types of toxicology, according to Parrill — acute and
sac2k13
chronic. Ricin has a very high acute toxicology, which results from single contact. Some of the symptoms that can occur from coming into contact with the substance include vomiting, diarrhea and flu-like symptoms. Currently, there is no cure for ricin poisoning. Parrill said that someone who has come into contact with ricin would see the effects fairly quickly. “Over the course of a day, you would see the effects,” she said. “It is highly toxic.” Though ricin has the potential to be deadly, Parrill said that ingestion has a far less chance of causing fatalities than inhalation or injection. The way a person comes into contact with ricin determines its level of fatality. “It depends on the route of exposure,” she said. “It is 1000 times less toxic when you ingest it,” she said. Ricin could prove to be fatal between 36 and 72 hours after exposure, depending on the method of exposure. If it is not fatal within three to five days, the person who came into contact with it is usually able to recover. n
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4 • Thursday, April 18, 2013
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Campus Life
Parking fees to be lowered for campus workers By Joey Kachel
news@dailyhelmsman.com This fall, the University of Memphis will be hosting a pilot program to test the effectiveness of a bill that could lower or even eliminate parking fees for higher education employees. The only state employees required to pay for parking in Tennessee are higher education employees, and employee parking rates at the University of Memphis are the highest of all the schools under the umbrella of the Tennessee Board of Regents. The Tennessee State Employees Association, an organization that represents the interests of state workers, is putting the bill forward. The bill is just part of the TSEA’s legislative agenda, which includes pushing for a five percent salary increase for all state employees and a bill to encourage the hiring of state employees over contractors. The program will be developed over the summer, and will be activated at the start of the fall semester. The TSEA will work with the finance office to make sure the program affects as many campus workers as possible. At the end of the program the University will report the results to the next session of the Tennessee General Assembly in January 2014. “If the bill is passed, many higher education employees across the state would finally enjoy the same parking benefits as all other state employees in Tennessee,” TSEA Executive Director Robert O’Connell said. “Ultimately the pilot program is a test of the bill’s viability, and a first step towards its passage.” The bill has a large base of support in the State House of Representatives, with many members of the legislature agreeing with the basic premise of the bill. The difficulty is creating a bill that would work with the financial realities of most institutions. The bill has some support from University students. The Progressive Student Alliance has been working with United Campus Workers, who have come out in support of the bill. Yesterday, the PSA held a rally calling for increased wages for campus work-
Photo by Jonathan Capriel | Staff
In order to avoid paying for a $60 parking pass, Stella Coleman, a University Center utility worker, must walk six blocks off campus to get to her car. ers. The PSA claims that about 100 people attended the rally. “The PSA works hand in hand with the United Campus Workers and they’ve already spoken in support of the bill,” said Razzan Quran, PSA member and organizer for United Students Against Sweatshops. “We definitely support the campus workers union.” The United Campus Workers sees the bill as a necessary step in securing better wages for campus workers. Chelma Jeanne Rimmer is the vice president of the Memphis chapter of the UCW. She spoke about the bill and the difficulties facing campus workers. “It’s awful that we have to pay so much,” she said. “Parking is $15 an hour and we make $8 an hour. It’s just too hard for us to be paying to park and not be paid anything.” Despite an increasing amount of advocacy for and awareness of the issue of wages for campus workers, Rimmer believes there is still more to be done. “All we’re asking for is a decent wage,” said Rimmer. “We have families,
house notes, everything. What’s $12 an hour?” Stella Coleman, a 68-year-old utility worker, also expressed concern about the high cost of parking. Coleman used to pay $60 for her parking pass. Now she parks off campus and walks the six blocks to work. “They used to make me buy a full pass for the entire semester and I don’t work for the entire semester,” she said. Along with advocating for employee rights, the TSEA also provides a number of benefits for state employees, including legal representation for issues related to state jobs, job protection for state workers unable to work for health reasons, insurance plans, member discounts for certain businesses and scholarships for children of current or retired members of the organization. The TSEA also worked with the governor’s office to create the Tennessee Excellence in Accountability Management Act. The TEAM Act provides a number of protections for state workers, including preferential treat-
Post Secrets to Success Join us as professional mime artist Michael Sanders and Playback Memphis use their creative talents to help reveal secrets anonymously submitted by U of M students.
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ment for job-seeking veterans, the creation of a recall list that informs laid-off workers of open positions that match their classification and a refinement of the appeals process for suspended workers. But the TSEA is facing some stiff competition. In February, two state senators put forward HB913, a bill that would have prevented employee organizations such as the TSEA from using collected dues for anything but collective bargaining — that is, the process of negotiation between workers and their bosses. The bill won the approval of a House committee but did
not pass in the Senate. Since Tennessee prevents government employees from utilizing collective bargaining in the first place, had the bill passed it would have curbed the ability of the TSEA to do its job. Despite the pressures being put on the TSEA, Robert O’Connell thinks the parking fees bill is a step in the right direction. “Our hope is that the bill will provide some much-needed financial relief for higher education employees by eliminating their parking fees,” O’Connell said. n
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today - saturday, april 18 - 20
The University of Memphis
Thursday, April 18, 2013 • 5
Earth Day
Best-selling author to speak on campus
continued from page 1
are welcome to come celebrate at the garden today. Along with entertainment, the event will provide attendees with tips on gardening and information on eating healthier. “Our university works hard everyday. Everyone should take a minute out of their day for themselves and come out to the garden to have a good time,” Buddington said. “Take advantage of being able to go outside.” Along with being a part of Earth Day history, Denney is also the author of ‘The Food Lover’s Guide to Memphis,’ which was written with an emphasis on locally grown food. “People in the ‘Green Movement’ believe local food is a much better way to eat; it’s more sustainable, it makes sense,” Denney said. “You don’t spend gas and fuel bringing the food here from across the county. It’s not just that locally grown food is more nutritious and tastes better, it has to do with helping sustain the planet.” Local organic food vendors and Memphis companies that promote sustainability will be in attendance at the event, trying to help convert Memphis into a more sustainable city. “This is important. We need to be pushing our community to buy local,” Mayahi said. ”We need to take responsibility for ourselves and be healthy. This garden proves to people that even with land restrictions it’s possible to live a healthy lifestyle.” The original Earth Day was picked for April 22nd so that students could be more available to attend, not being during exam week or the often-hectic spring break. “It’s the end of the semester; everyone is feeling good and getting ready for the summer. I think it’s a good time for everyone to come enjoy being outside and together,” Mayahi said. “Human to nature and human to human, it’s a beautiful thing.” To help keep the planet in working order, everyone has to do their fair share of maintenance. Recycling, eating locally and keeping yourself fit are great ways to help. However, spreading awareness to friends and families about the seriousness of the situation plays a huge factor as well. “Its great that I put all my bottles in a recycling bin, but if you get a whole University recycling its bottles, it’ll be exponentially more significant,” Denney said. n
By Margot Pera
news@dailyhelmsman.com
PhoTo by JonaThan CaPriel | STaff
U of M professors pick vegetables from the TIGUrS garden on Wednesday. The garden will be the site of the U of M’s 3rd annual Earth Day celebration today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
David Sedaris, New York Times best-selling author and Grammy nominee, will be on the University of Memphis campus Saturday for a book reading and question and answer session. “An Evening with David Sedaris” will begin at 8 p.m. in the Michael Rose Theatre. Sedaris will read from his new book “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls,” which will hit bookshelves April 23. “The publisher already gave us copies of the book, but I have not read it yet,” said Jennifer Kay, general merchandising manager at the University of Memphis Official Campus Store and Café. “We will be at the front entrance selling copies of it.” Kay and her sales team have set up a shelf in the store flaunting Sedaris’ best work, including a book of animal-themed short stories titled “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk,” which Sedaris hosted a signing for in 2011 at the Booksellers at Laurelwood. “We have sold some of his books but not as much as we would like,” Kay said. The bookstore has set up a drawing where students and faculty can enter to win a ticket to the event. The store will pick two winners sometime today. Sedaris’ books have been criticized for their somewhat hyperbolic recollections of his childhood and life adventures, including briefly living in a nudist colony and hoodwinking classmates at a sleepover to sit on his lap in the nude after losing a poker game. “I met Sedaris at a book signing here a couple of years ago, and he was very nice and giving, especially considering how tired he must have been,” Scott Graves, a sales associate at the Booksellers at Laurelwood, said. “I told him a joke, and he shot back an even nastier one, something about a corvette that I would never repeat in front of my mom.” Graves said that although he wrote about the struggles of having a lisp as a child in his memoir “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” Sedaris has hardly a trace of it now. “Even if you have read his books, it is definitely worth the time and money to buy them on audio because he reads it to you,” Graves said. “The timing of how he sets up the jokes is impeccable. It is like seeing your favorite artist
see AUTHOR on page 6
6 • Thursday, April 18, 2013
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Student travel made affordable By Robbie Porter
Special to The Daily Helmsman Pollen covers the Central parking lot with a lime-green sheet. The sun beats down hotter than usual, causing sweat to bead up on the foreheads of students rushing to class. Term papers are turned in at the last minute, final exam reviews are given, and you swear summer break is calling your name. As the end of the semester draws near, students are already beginning to make plans for the summer. Many of those plans, however, include little to no traveling. “I’ve always viewed traveling as something that I wanted to do, but I just haven’t been able to do it … mostly because of the money,” journalism major Brandon Caradine said. “It’s hard to make enough money to do extracurricular activities when you’re in school.” It’s not that students don’t want to — it just costs a lot of money. Hotels have to be booked. Plane tickets have to be purchased or loads of gas money have to be set aside. Most students just can’t afford all of the expenses that come with traveling. Or can they? One of the most expensive parts of traveling is paying for a place to stay. Nice hotels usually have rates that would leave a student broke after one night’s stay. Hostels are cheap, but they lack the home-like atmosphere. Couchsurfing.org, an online community that allows travelers to meet new people all over the world and stay in their home for free, is a cheaper alternative to more traditional forms of travel. The thought of staying with a stranger may sound intimidating, but the amount of positive feedback from users reassures the safety of the community. Chere Doiron, an adjunct professor in the Art Department at the University of Memphis, has been using Couchsurfing for four years. “I have not had one bad experience,” Doiron said. She has hosted 30 to 40 surfers and stayed with others several times. Through hosting with Couchsurfing, she has made friends all around the world. “Surfers are people who generally walk a different path,” Doiron said. “They are usually well educated and curious.” There are about 6 million
CoUrTeSy of MeGabUS.CoM
Megabus is an inexpensive means of travel for students. Couchsurfers, and almost 75 percent of those users are between the ages of 18 and 29, according to Couchsurfing.org. The website is set up much like most social networks. Every user has a profile that includes pictures and basic information. Other users are encouraged to leave feedback after hosting or staying with another user. This allows users to see what other people have said about a person users would like to stay with or a person who wants to stay with them. “This is a way to really connect with people in a real way without the exchange of money,” Doiron said. “There’s a real sense of humanity in it.” Another financial barrier for students to hurdle is the means of transportation. Some students don’t have a dependable vehicle that can make a long trip, and those who do often don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on gas. Greyhound buses and the Amtrak can also be pricey. A cheap alternative to all of these is Megabus.com, an internet-based bus service that offers bus tickets starting at $1. Mike Alvich is the vice president of marketing and public relations for Megabus.com. “The key to getting the cheapest tickets is booking in advance,” Alvich said. “We start by selling a limited amount of tickets for $1. As those tickets sell out, they move up to $3, and so on.” Megabus.com makes stops in more than 100 cities in North America, including Memphis. The bus allows you to bring one carry-on and check one bag less than 50 pounds. Electrical outlets and free Wi-Fi are also available to all passengers. In addition to their
website, they also have a Facebook and Twitter account where customers can provide feedback. Alvich said that “a large part of [their] customer base is students” and they are always open to suggestions from customers. Calvin Lauber, an undecided freshman, has used Megabus.com several times. “It’s a pretty sweet set up,” Lauber said. “The only downside is the chance of being stuck beside someone annoying for the whole trip, and you can’t just make a pit stop whenever you want.” The buses usually stop every two or three hours during a trip. “I have used Greyhound before, and Megabus was a lot better,” Lauber said. “I would totally recommend it.” Even though most traveling takes place during breaks, it is not disconnected from the educational atmosphere that exists in the university. Gray Matthews, a communications professor at the University Of Memphis, has cancelled class before and instructed his students to use the time to travel. “College isn’t all about being in classrooms or online, it’s about getting out,” Matthews said. “It’s about living.” He said, in some ways, students learn more traveling than they do in the classroom. Students learn more about the place they travel, and they learn more about where they live. “You come back, and it’s a different place because now you have something to compare it to,” Matthews said. “You will experience yourself in a different way because you’re not learning for school, you’re learning for yourself. Drop out. Quit your job. Travel.” n
uuAuthor Continued from page 5 in concert.” Graves has worked at one of Sedaris’ shows before and said he encourages his audience members to tell him a joke. “He is not so much one to condone jokes with racial slurs as he is those that are bawdy and full of sexual innuendo,” Graves said. “To him, sexual boundaries are no big deal.” Perhaps due to the graphic nature of his work, teachers are sometimes reluctant to use his material in the classroom. “I read his book ‘Holidays on Ice’ and thought it was hilarious,” said Kyle Macneir, a sales associate at Book Traders. “I do not see why teachers would have a prob-
lem. He is joking about everyday life problems.” Sedaris is often compared to authors like Dave Barry and Augusten Burroughs in evaluating the comedic quality of his work. “I think Sedaris is one of the best humorists on the planet,” said Eddie Burton, general manager of the Booksellers. “I think he is funnier than Burroughs intentionally. I do not think Burroughs tries to write in a humoristic fashion.” Kay said that Sedaris will not leave the stage until he has answered everyone in the audience. “He is not going to leave until everyone who wants to speak with him does,” Kay said. “We are going to be there all night.” n
Make sure that little bird in our ear is you. Send us your thoughts @dailyhelmsman.
The University of Memphis
Thursday, April 18, 2013 • 7
Sports
Abdul-Qaadir announces intent to transfer By Hunter Field
sports@dailyhelmsman.com The University of Memphis women’s basketball team’s third leading scorer, Bilqis AbdulQaadir, announced on her Twitter page late Tuesday night that she will not be at Memphis next season. The 5’4” guard averaged 10.4 points, 2.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game this season. Abdul-Qaadir has yet to decide what uniform she will put on next season during her final year of eligibility. Abdul-Qaadir joins Nicole Dickson as the second topthree scorer leaving this year’s Tiger team (16-15, 7-8 C-USA). Dickson averaged 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds, while also being the lone Tiger named to the C-USA All-Conference Team in 2013. She plans to graduate in May. Abdul-Qaadir, a redshirt junior, will be missed off the court as well. She was the only Tiger
Bowen named to BCS Advisory Board
basketball named to the C-USA Women’s All-Academic Basketball Team. Very outspoken about her Islamic faith, Abdul-Qaadir was easily recognizable at Tigers games because she covers her hair, arms and legs with sleeves, even while playing. Born in the birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Mass., AbdulQaadir excelled from an early age. She started on the varsity basketball team at New Leadership Charter School from the time she was in eighth grade until her senior year, in which she broke the Massachusetts state career scoring record with 3,070 points. She averaged 42 points per game her senior season and was named the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year. She appeared in Sports Illustrated, Slam Magazine, and on ESPN. She ultimately chose to come to the U of M over Boston College and Louisville. Abdul-Qaadir took on a lesser role at the U of M. She aver-
aged seven points and two assists throughout her career as a Tiger. She was redshirted as a freshman after tearing her ACL during the 2009 preseason. In 2010-2011, she came off the bench for 12 minutes a game. She then started all but three games in which she played for the past two seasons. The timing could not be worse for the Tigers, who are leaving C-USA to join the American Athletic Conference, formerly known as the Big East. The level of competition will be a step up from the teams in C-USA with teams like Louisville and Connecticut, both of whom made this year’s Final Four in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Those schools are a stark contrast to facing off against the likes of Tulsa or Tulane. The U of M finished the 20122013 campaign with a first-round loss to Arkansas in the WNIT. Abdul-Qaadir scored 11 in the loss. The Tigers will look to rebound next season after finishing 2012-2013 on a 1-4 stretch. n
By Bryan Heater
American Athletic Conference and the University of Memphis by serving on the advisory board,” Bowen said. “Obviously, decisions reached by the group will impact the future of college football.” Along with the Athletic Director at Notre Dame, commissioners of the 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision conferences, formerly known as Division IA, manage the BCS. The commissioners have the duty of coming to decisions for all BCS issues in deliberation with the athletic director’s advisory group. All decisions reached then await the approval of the oversight
bheater@dailyhelmsman.com University of Memphis Athletic Director Tom Bowen is a busy man. From beginning his plans for the future of athletics at Memphis to ushering in a new era in the American Athletic Conference next season, Bowen has a lot on his plate. Wednesday, it was announced that the Athletic Director would be a part of the Athletic Directors Advisory Board, which will determine the future of the BCS. “I am honored to represent the
PhoTo by alberT CroZier | STaff
Junior women’s basketball player Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir announced late Tuesday night she would transfer for her senior season.
committee, which all 124 Football Subdivision teams are represented by. “Tom Bowen will do a terrific job representing the American Athletic Conference on the BCS Athletic Director’s Advisory Group,” said American Athletic Conference commissioner Michael Aresco. “He has a deep knowledge of college football on all levels and the respect of his colleagues.” Aside from Bowen, the board also includes Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin/Big Ten), McKinley Boston (New Mexico State/WAC), Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma/
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The UPS Store
PA I N T E R / C A R P E N T E R ’ S HELPER Flexible hours. Some painting experience needed. Must be clean cut and dependable, have own transportation. Jeff (901) 624-6105.
is seeking energetic, customer service-oriented person to work in a fast-paced environment. Part time positions are available. Must have computer experience and have experience working with Windows programs and be able to type. Duties include customer service, data entry, shipping and packing. Experience is helpful but not required as we will train the right person.
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Big 12), Jeremy Foley (Florida/ SEC), Rick Greenspan (Rice/CUSA), Pat Haden (USC/Pac-12), Jim Livengood (UNLV/MWC), Mike O’Brien (Toledo/MAC), Dan Radakovich (Clemson/ACC) and Bobby Staub (ULM/Sun Belt). Bowen said he is honored to be named to the board and work beside some of the more well-respected names in college football. “This board is comprised of some of the most renowned individuals in college athletics and I am indeed proud to serve with each of them.” n
Solutions are awesome!
8 • Thursday, April 18, 2013
www.dailyhelmsman.com
Former Tiger kicker makes plans for next level By Collins Peeples
sports@dailyhelmsman.com Former Memphis Tigers kicker Paulo Henriques looks to join some other prominent Tiger kickers in history by joining this year’s upcoming NFL draft on April 25. However, Henriques’ road to the University of Memphis and potential road to the NFL has not been a typical one. Henriques was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he spent the first years of his life. “Growing up in South Africa was a little bit different culturally, but most of my lifestyle was the same,” Henriques said. “I already spoke English; the technology was the same. I actually moved from a city that was bigger in South Africa to a smaller city in Jonesboro, Ark. So, I was actually adapting to a smaller city.” The Tigers might not have landed their former kicker if it were not for his grandfather. It was with his help in 2004 that Henriques and his family were able to move across the Atlantic to the country roads of Arkansas. “It was my grandfather who played the biggest part in my family’s deciding to move to Jonesboro in 2004. He organized our immigration papers and helped my mother land a teaching job at West Memphis High School, where I was able to kick for the high school
team,” Henriques said. Growing up so close to Memphis provided Henriques a young love for the Tigers. A short drive across the Memphis Bridge, the kicker was exposed to Tiger athletics from the beginning of his move to America. “The short time I was in the United States the Tigers were all I knew,” Henriques said. The entire time I was here Memphis had been having some great years, and I wanted to be a part of that.” Henriques might not have even pursued kicking had it not been for the first American football game he experienced. It was when Henriques attended his first Memphis game that his grandfather pointed out the way their kickers were booting the ball like soccer players, and he became interested in pursuing football. “The first college football game I ever went to was A-State vs. Memphis, and my Granddad pointed out that the kickers were kicking the ball soccer style. The next day I tried out for our junior high team. I seemed good at it, so I stuck with it. Growing up playing soccer, I guess it just kind of came naturally to me and I was good at it, so I ran with it.” Henriques’ talent would earn him a scholarship and ultimately a chance to play professionally, earning high praise from his former high school coach,
Lanny Dauksch. “I’m so proud to see Paulo prosper and go on to have a great college career,” Dauksch said. “As a coach, I take great pride in seeing one of my former players now with a chance to play on Sundays.” Henriques expressed gratefulness for the exposure and hospitality the U of M offered him during his college career. He said that his time with the Tigers’ program gave him opportunities he otherwise would have never had. But, aside from his praise for the opportunities he received by playing for Memphis, his teammates also sang Henriques’ praises upon entering the draft. “I’m proud and excited to see not only a teammate, but one of my personal friends be given the opportunity to play at the next level,” Austin Weaver, Henriques’ place holder, said. “We all dream about this, but only a few are given the chance. For him to be that close to realizing his dream is amazing.” Henriques is now in preparation for the draft after previously not giving it serious consideration. In, fact, it was not until recently that he realized he might have a chance at making the NFL. “Actually it has been unsuspecting. I was ready to just move on from football after college, but then I was presented with the opportunity to go to the NFL regional combines and I was selected
PhoTo by DaViD C. MinKin | SPeCial To The Daily helMSMan
Former Memphis Tigers football kicker Paulo Henriques’ career came to an end this season, but he is working on taking his game to the next level with the 2013 NFL Draft coming up on April 25. to the final Super Regional Combine, where I was nine out of 350 kickers selected who participated in the regional combines. So I decided I might as well pursue my NFL dream.” Knowing kickers are not considered a high draft pick, Henriques’ expectations are unsure. However, if Henriques is not drafted he does have a backup plan. “If the NFL thing doesn’t work out I’d like to be a high school football coach
and give back to kids the opportunity to play college ball.” These days, when Henriques is not preparing for the draft, he also finds a way to donate his time. “I participated in a lot of community events sponsored by the U of M football team,” Henriques said. “I’ve also been volunteering to coach the West Memphis High School soccer team, and also hold kicking camps in various places to help future kickers.” n