January 30, 2014 | Volume 3, issue 16 | fayetteville, ar
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IN SEARCH OF A PERFECT DATE page 12
WHATS NEXT? 4 SITES TO KICKSTART INTERNSHIP SEARCH page 2 16 AND PREGNANT’S PUZZLING EFFECT page 4 STEREOTYPES: MAKERS OR BREAKERS? page 7
LEFT TO RIGHT. TOP ROW. MALLORI SANDO. JULIANN TUCKER. ANNIE REA. LINDSEY BACH. ALEXANDRA CHUNN. BOTTOM ROW. KAT MULLENDORE. KRISTEN TRAVIS. SAMANTHA CUSUMANO. Photo provided by: alexandra chunn
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editor’s note
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What’s Next? 4 Sites To Kickstart Your Internship Search
programs. The ability to apply straight from the site or with the link included is very beneficial for people who hate filling out many applications. So no matter what your future holds, it would be quite beneficial to create a profile. The only thing I do not like about LinkedIn is the number of jobs that are posted is almost overwhelming. 2. Razorback Career Link
With first few weeks of the spring semester behind us and classes staring to pick up, it is sometimes hard to look ahead to what you are doing after the semester ends. Some people will graduate (like me, unfortunately) and others will still have a few more years in this glorious place. Either way, it is important to find a worthwhile internship or start looking for a job or graduate school. I have had experience looking into all three of those options and found a few sites that will hopefully help you find what you are looking for.
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1. LinkedIn
Managing Editor, Rosemary Kelly Graphic Designer, Grant Hohulin
We want a representative from every house!
I feel that this is the most popular and well-known career-building site for our age group. LinkedIn is basically Facebook for the employed. It connects you to anyone who you may know and also anyone who the connection knows. I was hesitant to join this social networking site for a long time, but I wish I had joined it a lot sooner. Most people think that it is only a job-searching tool used for recent grads, but it can also put you in contact with summer internships, co-ops and even graduate school
To apply for a writing, photography or sales position, TheOdysseyOnline.com/creative © 2014 Olympia Media Group, LLC All Rights Reserved. The Odyssey is a private entity not associated or governed by University of Missouri or Mizzou Greek life office. The views and opinions shared in The Odyssey are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Odyssey and Olympia Media Group.
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Obviously this was created to link up MCCREADY graduates from the U Pi Kappa Alpha of A with companies Editor-in-Chief that need students like Ryan is a senior studying us. Although we get international business. You may contact him at the emails about new rmccread@uark.edu. postings in the Career Link almost every week, many people have never used this site. Not only does it post the jobs that companies are looking for it but it also recommends jobs or internships based on your major and past experience.
rYaN
3. Internships.com I have only used this a few times, but it looks like a promising site for the younger readers. The name may be misleading because you can also search for jobs as well as internships. Being able to search by location, pay, time commitment and even if the position is eligible for college credit helps narrow down the selection. By taking a short personality survey, it is also easier to narrow down the selections even more.
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Recently Internships.com have entered into a partnership with the textbook giant Chegg to reach more college students and it seems to be working. 4. Petersons.com This is a site strictly for the graduate school-bound students. The searching tools that are available are great for people who have no idea where or what they want to study. Not only can you search by keywords or subjects but you can also look at schools by location or region, which is important for me. It gives you a good guide on how to choose which program is right for you. After you narrow down the programs to a few choices, they give you information on how to get admitted, how to pay for it and test prep materials for the entrance exams. After using many grad school search engines this is by far the best and easiest one to use. Now this was just a short list and there are literally hundreds of other search engines to use and some may be more useful for other people. Whichever one you use just remember to keep your profile and resume up to date because you never know when a great company may be looking.missing article
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debate & discuss
16 and Pregnant’s Puzzling Effect
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on “16 and Pregnant” and its spinoff “Teen Mom” are anything but glamorous. The fact is, teen birth rates have been steadily declining over the years, but this study shows that they rapidly dropped in areas where the programming is more popular after the show premiered in June 2009. It is estimated the show is responsible for a “5.7 percent drop in teen births that would have been conceived in the 18 months after the franchise premiered,” according to USA Today.
Most of us have probably seen MTV’s reality show “16 and Pregnant” at one time or another and marveled over how young these new moms are and thought, “Thank God that isn’t me.” Well, a new study shows that more people than they thought may be thinking this because this show may be playing a role in a decrease in teen pregnancies in recent years. Critics of the show have said it is simply showing teens that they could get pregnant and gain fame for doing so. They also say the show glamorizes teen pregnancy. In my opinion, these people must not have actually seen the show because the lives portrayed
An important note is this decline is due to fewer pregnancies, not more abortions. Teen abortion rates have also been declining nationwide. I have seen the show and I completely agree with the results of this study. To start, these kids have to deal with being pregnant and going to school, so if you thought your high school experience was stressful, try walking around with the stigma of pregnancy over your head. Next, typically the couples are not stable enough as it is. Throw a baby in there
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debate & discuss I don’t personally know anyone who has had to go through something like this. So although, it was obviously never my plan to be a teen mom, seeing the girls on this show kept me renewing my birth control prescriptions every month just in case.
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Katie KORTEBEIN Pi Beta Phi
Katie is a sophomore studying creative writing. You may contact her at kkortebe@email.uark.edu.
Obviously, some people can handle having a child and going to school. It is just not the ideal situation and, luckily, it appears that watching this show makes people realize how important it is to be careful or even abstinent.
and usually they end up splitting up. This results in shared custody and the mother and father having to see each other every time they drop their child off or, in some cases, the mother doing it alone. As college students, many of us have some type of job where we can make a little extra money. Even with a job, I still can’t afford all the clothes I want or to go out and eat whenever I feel like it. I can’t imagine trying to buy diapers and baby clothes on top of that. Not to mention, most of the people portrayed are then stuck with no other option, but to forgo college and have just a high school education.
You may have heard of those girls who make “pregnancy pacts” and all get pregnant at the same time so they can be moms together….no. This is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. If anyone needed to be forced to sit down and watch one of MTV’s million marathons of “16 and Pregnant,” it was these girls. Of course, there are other factors, such as better sex education and better access to birth control, which play a major role in the declining teen birth rates, but these reality shows should get their credit as well.
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debate & discuss
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student HOusing surViVal guide best friends, right? Whether you’re living with one, two or three other roommates, you want to be sure that you will be compatible. If you’re messy, you may drive a clean freak crazy. If you’re a morning person and wake up your roommates every morning, this may cause conflicts. Choose to live with people who you think you can get along with, don’t just pick your best friends as your roommates. Now that you have a general outline of what you are looking for, how do you go about actually finding your perfect place? There are many websites that are designed to do just that. They match you up with rentals available in your area based on your criteria. Some popular ones are zillow.com, realtor.com, or even Craigslist. Choosing housing can be an overwhelming and stressful process, but once you determine what you want or need and find some compatible people that you want to live with, start the process early. Many places have special offers or discounts for signing early, and you can be sure that there will still be leases available. Soon enough you’ll be on your way to finding your new home for the next year or more of your life!
Are you ready to panic because you have no idea where you want to live Kappa Delta next year? Whether you’re Kayla is a sophomore trading up from dorm life studying advertising & PR. You may contact her at or just looking for a change kmeiffer@uark.edu. of scenery, there are a few steps and considerations to take into account when you decide your housing for the upcoming school year.
KaYLa EIFFERT
So how do you start this whole process? First, you should try to come up with a list of your must-haves. These are things that you absolutely will not compromise on, whether that means you need your own bathroom, or you need a pet friendly place. You should establish these things at the very beginning of the process to narrow down your search. Next, location, location, location. You need decide a game plan for getting to class. Are you going to opt for housing farther away from campus and splurge on a Harmon garage pass and drive to class? Or will you pick somewhere on the Razorback Transit route? Maybe you want to find a place within walking distance to class. Decide between an apartment, duplex, house, etc. There are upsides and downsides to all of these options. Apartments usually offer amenities and transportation but are often more expensive than houses and don’t offer as much privacy. A house will give you your own space but leaves you with more upkeep responsibilities and may not have the same convenience factor of a furnished apartment. Picking the perfect roommates. You’ve always heard people say to not live with your
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debate & discuss
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stereOtYPes: MaKers Or BreaKers? become the designator for who you are, and what status you hold.
Do you see an oversized t-shirt, leggings and Nike shoes runnig across campus? Chances are you’ve spotted a sorority girl. Everyone has their preconceived ideas of the “sorority girl” and their unoriginal stereotypes. Stereotypes are just a part of our perception of people, and since there are over 24,000 students at this school, it makes it easier to categorize. Even though it is upsetting to be viewed as judgmental, it is hard to ignore the hierarchy and pressure within our own system. Throughout our Greek life community each house has an unspoken identifiable characteristic that defines each girl. Clever catch phrases and songs have been created for each and are especially prominent throughout Rush Week. These stereotypes are so strong that many girls drop after hearing what has been said about houses. It doesn’t matter if every house has beautiful, intelligent girls -- the name sticks. What is difficult for so many, especially in Greek life, to understand is that each house has a completely different set of girls. While some girls may live up to the name of their stereotype that doesn’t mean they should be defined as a group. Maddie Sperber, a Freshman Zeta, said, “False judgments are based on the reputation of even one girl.” These stereotypes are not only hurtful but also weaken our comfort and trust of one another. It brings out our biggest insecurities. There is a quiet pressure to always look put together and to be on absolute best behavior to avoid these titles. Our sororities are our families, and families accept one another for who they are. Freshman Chi Omega, Elizabeth Pugh said, “Every sorority or fraternity has good people. There are just preconceived ideas about them that hold others back from wanting to be in them or getting know the people.” The unspoken hierarchy of houses also deters our growth as a community. So many times I have heard girls talk of the ranking of the “top houses.” While some houses have better GPA’s and reputations for philanthropy work, that doesn’t mean certain girls are better than others. Libby O’Daniel, Freshman Alpha Delta Pi, said, “I feel like you get looked down upon for being in a certain house, people automatically assume you fit the mold.” Can you honestly say that you have met the exact same person in one house? Each house has many girls, and every girl has something to offer. The title of sororities has
LaureN RANDALL
G re e k l i f e i s a Alpha Delta Pi Lauren is a freshman studying community of its english & journalism. own, yet we separate You may contact her at ourselves by placing lerandal@uark.edu. judgments. It is unfortunate that people within our own system can be so quick to judge. By using these stereotypes, we are hurting our reputations across campus -- not just for ourselves but the members after us. Every sorority has the drunks and the crazies, the beautiful and the academic. Though sororities give the illusion of perfection with our chants and matching dresses, everyone is different. We can’t break our efforts of showing we are respected organization by breaking ourselves down from the inside and giving in to those taunting stereotypes. Image courtesy of facebook.com/pages/Legally-Blonde
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feature story
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student HOusing surViVal guide The University of Arkansas offers a wide range of programs and activities to students and faculty; whom are often unaware of the countless ways he or she can become involved with campus life. One useful resource the University offers is the Outdoor Connection Center. Many
LaureN HARPS Kappa Delta
L a u re n i s a s o p h o m o re studying journalism & PR. You may contact her at Lnharps@uark.edu
students and staff are outdoor enthusiasts, however, a great deal of them are completely unaware and oblivious to the University program that could be beneficial and useful to one of his/her beloved recreational hobbies. What is the Outdoor Connection Center? The Outdoor Connection Center is a useful surrogate and perfect opportunity for developing new skills, renting equipment, rock climbing, joining clinics, or taking adventures to explore the great outdoors of Arkansas.
out for up to 30 days and the person renting equipment has the opportunity to take the gear to his or her destination desired. The Outdoor Connection Center offers various services including a bike shop and experienced employees. The bike shop houses the necessary tools and stands needed to practice skills and a bike assessment is offered at a free price to ensure your bike is in proper condition. A wide variety of bikes are offered for rental regardless of the type of chosen cycling and staff can assist in any questions or concerns. The center staffs a variety of people who have a passion and growing knowledge about the outdoors. Andrew Onermaa, OCC employee and University student, is a clear example of the quality of people employed through the center. Onermaa, an avid outdoorsmen and climber, represents the OCC through his vast knowledge and passion for the equipment and services provided. The Outdoor Connection center also houses a rock climbing wall and bouldering wall also. The bouldering wall requires a filled out waiver for safety purposes and allows the users to bring his/her own shoes and chalk needed for the climbing. The rock wall, located in gymnasium 1 of HPER on the second floor, is open to ages as young as 5 and provides clinics for those wanting to improve climbing skills.
The Fayetteville region has some of the most extensive outdoor opportunities that one might enjoy, however; he/she might not have the direct resources to fulfill his/ her exploration. Many students and faculty don’t have the equipment or money to fund his/her recreational activities and without resources, an adventure into the outdoors can be kinked and, in some cases, unattainable.
The opportunity of day and overnight trips is given regularly and clinics are provided for those not as experienced. Some of the trips are led by UREC employees and can be as big as backpacking through the Grand Canyon (November 2013). Smaller day hikes and kayaking trips are offered throughout the region, some of which are at no cost. Clinics are also provided to those that want more experience or knowledge in an activity before taking a more experience leveled trip.
The OCC, located in HPER room 102, shelves large amounts of camping equipment and any other gear someone might need to fulfill an outdoor desire. From something as little as a headlamp and something as large as a kayak, the center rents out equipment to students, faculty, and UREC members for a small price. All equipment can be rented
For more information or questions in regards to the Outdoor Connection Center and its services/ equipment/employees visit www.urec.uark.edu/2842, email them at camp@uark.edu, or visit the center in HPER 102.
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health & fitness
PILL PROBLEM Because I regularly like to scroll through PubMed. gov’s resources, I found an interesting article on the Kappa Kappa Gamma amount of tweets linked Hallie is a junior studying communications. You may contact to Adderall references her at hramser@uark.edu. among college students in the United States. I’m just kidding, I don’t actually scroll through PubMed stuff, but I can use Google. As I’m here in Club Mullins trying to think of a topic that just about every college student is interested in, I’m reminded of finals week, when everyone freaks out about getting their hands on Adderall and cramming. Let me first say I am not opposed to the drug’s legitimacy when it is prescribed by a physician, but when it comes to recreational or un-prescribed use... I’m surprised by how much of a social norm it is to ask for un-prescribed Adderall. I don’t want to lecture, but I do love facts, and every college student should know these anyway.
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haLLie RAMSER
As the University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD), we enforce all law’s pertaining to controlled substances. We make arrests for drug violations ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. Per Arkansas statue 5-64-411, anyone selling, delivering, possessing with intent
Basically, the 2013 Hanson study found that 213,633 tweets mentioning Adderall were found from November 2011 to May 2012. The tweets peaked during final exam times, with some days contained just under 3000 tweets in a 24-hour period. Why is this important? Because in theory the more it’s casually talked about, the more of a social norm it can become. Just to bring it back home, below is a tweet from Arkansas Confessions. I know I saw a few others from some of the bigger Arkansas Twitter accounts in December, but some were deleted and I didn’t want to scroll through all of the uark twitter accounts. 1. Arkansas Confessions @ArkansasConfess Oct 10 “I know with these mid-terms coming up all y’all need some focusing medicine, fav this ill contact you” At the University of Arkansas, Adderall (which is an amphetamine) is considered a “controlled substance.” Directly from a 2011 Arkansas Newswire article, I found the University’s sanctions. Controlled Substances Sanctions
to deliver, dispensing, manufacturing, transporting, administering, or distributing a controlled substance may be subject to an enhanced sentence of an additional term of imprisonment of ten (10) years if the offense is committed on or within one thousand feet (1,000) of the University. All arrests for violations of the uniform controlled substance act made by our agency are referred to the Municipal Prosecutor in Fayetteville or the Washington County Prosecutor for prosecution. If the arrestee is affiliated with our University as a member of the student body, faculty or staff, the information is forwarded to the university judicial affairs office for their review. I saw the dogs that UAPD brings into Club Mullins around exam time, and at first I thought it was because dogs are awesome and everyone loves them, but actually they’re there to sniff out student bags.The bottom line is that in Arkansas, being caught with unprescribed adderall, vyvanse or whatever else it is that strikes college students’ fancy these days, is a felony. I remember hearing about that my freshman year and it really surprised me because it is so prevalent in the university system all over the country. Just because it is a social norm doesn’t mean that it’s a legal norm, either.
entertainment news
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IT’S GOING DOWN, I’M YELLING TINDER
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USE TINDER if: You want to laugh a lot. The best part about this app is the comments boys have Kappa Delta on their profiles that they Megan is a freshman studying think make them seem english & journalism. appealing. “Beer Pong You may contact her at Specialist,” “Just a good map014@uark.edu. ole country boy,” “I can’t believe they let us use this app in jail,” “Hit me up,” “Show me tits.” A close second is the awkward conversations that stem from a dried up pickup line that wouldn’t work in person, let alone over Tinder.
MegaN
PEARSON-HARGUS
DON’T USE TINDER if: You’re over the age of 25. That should just be an unspoken rule. It’s just plain creepy. After you turn 26, you should graduate to the big leagues of online dating. Eharmony.com or Match.com are the perfect sites for you. DON’T USE TINDER if: You’re actually looking to meet people. Really though. I’m saying this again so it sticks with you. Would you want your engagement announcement to read, “The lovely couple met while at the University of Arkansas through the app In a sleep-deprived state, under the peer pressure of my friends, I downloaded the mobile app Tinder yesterday. I’m not really sure what my main intention was when I downloaded it. Maybe get a few laughs then delete it? That was going well until I started “liking” and “disliking” the guys who were my Tinder options. Now it’s like a game to me -- a fun, almost addicting game.
“
Tinder.” Haha no. Sorry, just no.
DON’T USE TINDER if: You’re actually
looking to meet people. Really though. I’m
“
saying this again so it sticks with you.
I learned today that once you got matched up with someone, they can message you and visa versa. This began its own array of fun. Today I received a couple of messages from an array of potential suitors. This is where things got awkward real fast. These boys were actually trying to hit on me. Yes, believe it. These guys were actually taking this seriously. I just wanted to use this app ironically to laugh about the boys with my friends! I got multiple, “Hey! (:” and “What’s up?” messages from various potential suitors. First of all, if you’re a male in college and you try to hit on a girl and you use a (: backwards smiley emoji, there’s the door…you can see yourself out. The most original greeting I received was from of one our fellow Greeks here at the YOU of A was the following -I’m pretty sure he was joking, but he still sent me, “If you were a shin I’d bang you on a coffee table.” Really? Are you serious? Is this real life? I really hope to the Greek gods that he was joking when he sent this. Either way, I laughed so hard I could hardly finish the conversation. Eventually the conversation died and went on to Tinder heaven. Hopefully if you’re using this app, you’re like me and aren’t taking it too seriously. This is hardly the beacon of hope in which you’re going to find your true love, trust me. Could you even imagine? What if one day your children asked you how you met your spouse and you had to honestly respond with the fact that you met them on Tinder? That would be so terribly hilarious and sad.
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entertainment news
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in searcH Of a Perfect date out. You’re not talking. You’re either using each other or dating. One is platonic, and the other is going somewhere meaningful. 4. Talking about things in person. Half of the things you text could be taken a different way because the other person can’t see your expressions or hear the inflections in your voice. You also wouldn’t say half the things you do through text, in person.
aLexaNDra CHUNN Delta Delta Delta
Alexandra is a sophomore studying broadcast journalism and PR. You may contact her at atchunn@uark.edu.
Being an old-fashioned Southern sorority girl, I have high expectations when it comes to first dates, romance and relationships. It makes it hard to date during the age of cell phones and fast food with any dignity. There are seven major things I would like to see both men and women start to implement into their dating lives.
5. Opening the door and saying, “Thank you.” Car doors too. Ladies, be genuinely grateful he is thinking of you and putting forth the extra effort to do for you and give him time to come around before you just hop out. Nine times out of ten if you don’t get out right away, he will get the hint and open it.
1. Get off of your phones. There is not one single thing that irks me more when I’m on a date than a guy on his phone because he either doesn’t have enough sense to create conversation or genuinely doesn’t care enough to get to know me. Ladies, this goes to you as well. You’re just as guilty. Your Groupme, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. can wait until you are back home.
6. Asking. After the first date, if it went well, ask her when you get to see her again, gentlemen! This eliminates any confusion, and if she’s not willing, then you saved yourself some time energy and embarrassment by waiting and texting about it.
2. Voicing values. Early on in the relationship I think it is vital that each person say what is near and dear to him or her. If your values don’t match up, the relationship is doomed to fail. 3.
Labeling. There is absolutely nothing wrong with calling it a date instead of hanging
7. Gestures of affection. When I’m on a date, I want the whole restaurant (or wherever we are) to know it. After a couple dates I am a sucker for the handhold, a guiding hand on the small of the back, or oh my goodness, the arm link. You aren’t groping or making others feel uncomfortable, but when a man stakes his claim and lets everyone know he’s proud to be with the woman he’s with, it means more than they know.
Written in tHe stars Aries Since you are both strong willed and aggressive, you should try to put that energy and spirit into accomplishing your New Year’s resolutions and not stalking your ex on a variety of social medias. Instead, use your energy in other outlets like school and fitness for some self improvement and not being creepy. Capricorn While you are hardworking and responsible, you have serious authority issues. Though you shine in the classroom, picking fights with your professor about the required reading may not get you on his or her good side. Aquarius You’re very passionate about causes, so get your house to plan a totes awesome philanthropy event for cancer or something like that. However, with such an event, your opinionated nature may get on people’s nerves. Pisces Since you tend to be very artistic, people are most likely harassing you to help them paint coolers for formal. Your eager to please nature, while endearing, can result in people taking advantage of your talents. Taurus While you are calm and serene, you also tend to overindulge. Next time you are having late night cravings, try to not eat a whole Hungry Howie’s pizza alone. Gemini Because you can tend to have two distinct personalities, people who do not know
you better may think you’re bipolar. The 15th will be a trying day for you so try to keep your Jeykel and Hyde self in check. Cancer Sorry for the less than preferred name. However, you are good at responding to changing environments which is good for the crazy weather. However, try to keep your defensive nature in check. Leo With your authoritative nature, you should consider taking over responsibility in your house with an exec position. Though your responsibility is admirable, you need to overcome your mindset of “everything is my fault” when things go wrong. Virgo You are very shy and get embarrassed easily, but how is that a fun way to go through life? Instead of binging on Netflix this Friday night, sing some Miley Cyrus Karaoke at a dive bar (twerking not optional). Libra While you are very intelligent, your naive nature can get you in some sticky situations. For example, when that guy at the band party says there’s a puppy upstairs there isn’t actually any puppies involved. Scorpio Your prying nature can sometimes lead to your downfall. You can oftentimes seem a bit gossipy which no one likes at all.
sports talk
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arKansas Men’s BasKetBall: tHe struggle Starting off strong with five consecutive wins at home, the season appeared to look bright for the Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball team, at least for games held at Bud Walton.
No.13 Kentucky, whom we would face at the Bud just three days later?
haNNah HENDERSON Delta Delta Delta
H a n n a h i s a f re s h m a n studying broadcast journalism. You may contact her at heh009@uark.edu.
The Razorbacks would get their first taste of the road at the Maui Invitational., where they would face California, Minnesota and Gonzaga. They left with a record of 1-2 in the tournament. One loss came from their first ranked opponent No. 11 Gonzaga, but their first loss came from an unranked California. Will the hogs struggle to win on the road this year? Following their return from Maui, the Razorbacks would play seven straight games at home, including one in Little Rock. They would win, making their season record 13-1 before going back on the road for their first SEC matchup against Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. The hogs would come up short for the second time this season, this time losing 53-69. Now the real test began: the first home conference game. It was obvious the hogs were strongest at home, but the real question was if they would have what it takes to win when it counts, even if they have home-court advantage. The first conference game played in Bud Walton Arena, against No.10 Florida, would be a nail biter. The Razorbacks would go into overtime with the Gators before eventually falling 82-84. Although this loss would break the 30-game home winning streak, Razorback fans were hopeful. Was this was a positive sign we would be able to contend with more ranked opponents in our conference, such as powerhouse
The Arkansas/Kentucky matchup would be a game for the ages. Often, game winnering shots are long-distance bombs -- a three pointer, perhaps from halfcourt -- something at once ugly but miraculaous. Basketball junkies live for them, but the game’s final basket was nevertheless entirely different from these. After being tied in overtime, with the final seconds winding down, Rashad Madden tried to prevent a 2nd OT with three-pointer. The shot bounced on the rim in just the perfect position, and Kentucky freshman Andrew Harrison happened to be caught looking at the wrong time, as Michael Qualls snuck in behind him and made him remember why boxing out is so important. A slam dunk by Qualls with only .2 seconds left to play? Sports Center Top Ten shot that play straight to number 1 quicker than you can spell Calipari. One would assume all of that hype and momentum would start the Razorbacks on a hot streak, carrying them into their next game, a road contest against unranked Georgia. Wrong. Sophomore Michael Qualls, who is averaging 12.4 ppt, finished with 18 pts in the astonishing win over the Wildcats, yet seemed absent against Georgia, only scoring 3 points while playing the same amount of minutes as the previous contest. The inconsistency of points from key players has posed a key detrimental factor for the Razorbacks ability to win on the road, as they would fall to Georgia in yet another overtime (3rd straight) with a final score of 61-66. Qualls isn’t the only one with inconsistent scoring, another man who sees a lot of minutes, freshman Coty Clarke, who is averaging 8.7 ppg, had 13 points against the Bulldogs, but only scored 2 points against Kentucky. As of the day of this printing, Arkansas has lost six straight SEC road games.
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laugh out loud
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TWITTER-RAGE & INSTA-MADNESS Pictures snapped after the Super Bowl or during an upset define the emotional connection between sports and fans. Millions of athletes across the globe work for that picture perfect moment.
ashLeigh GIOVANNINI Delta Delta Delta
Ashleigh is a sophomore studying Biochemistry and Sports Management. You may contact here at avgiovan@uark.edu.
With the advancement of social media sites, an unmonitored form of personal expression has exploded into a problem for athletes and their respective public relations teams.
Granted, most people who choose to involve themselves with social media have posted a thing or two that may have been deemed somewhat off-color or downright disrespectful. But these athletes are not your average Twitter user. These are public figures. Most fans are guilty of “googling” an athlete. Whether for statistical, analytical or entertainment purposes, the internet provides instant access to videos, commentary and quotes from and about whomever someone is inquiring. That means instant access to every negative comment made from a player or coach about another place, player, coach or team -- instant access to a gold mine of words that can be twisted and manipulated to make even the most successful of athletes look like a horrible person.
Katherine Webb, beauty queen and girlfriend of Alabama superstar AJ McCarron, is one of those women. In past months, Webb has made mistakes with Instagram. Most notably was her post regarding DRAMA—a graphic that includes the acronym describing “drama” as “Dumb Retards Asking for More Attention.” After only a few minutes and some very harsh comments, Webb removed the image from her profile. Here are some tips for athletes who enjoy social media interaction: 1.
If you don’t like someone or something, take it out on the court/field/respective venue.
Performance within your sport is what makes the money; take all of that pent up energy and convert it into something constructive rather than starting a virtual war with whomever or whatever it is you have an issue. 2.
Do not curse.
If your grandmother can’t read it in church, don’t say it. 3.
People will always have something negative to say.
No matter what you do, say, or favorite, people will always have a negative comment. Much as other humans deal with the same issue, you can either make it worse or use it as motivation (or entertainment). Rather than responding with something that you will regret, think about what the person is saying. Are they correct? If they are, work to change it. If they are just being hateful, move on.
So, why do athletes stir the pot of controversial social media opinion?
Your fans will praise the effort.
Better yet, why are fans so fascinated by it?
Who is the real winner there?
Most fans have a favorite team and, within that team, a favorite athlete.
4. Hateful jabs are not your friend.
That individual has the athlete’s jersey: home, away and pro bowl. That individual takes a voyage to the home of their favorite team during training camp in order to stand along the fence and watch in awe as their superstar warms up and runs defensive drills. That individual buys tickets to games in order to watch their favorite player make a huge play to help lead that favorite team to the playoffs. At the end of the day, that fan hopes that their favorite player is an intelligent, fair and cautious person. In the eyes of that fan, they are an inspiration. This doesn’t just happen with kids anymore. Men and women alike look to athletes for inspiration. Men want the women to want them like they want Tim Tebow or Tom Brady or Cristiano Ronaldo. Women want men to want them like they want Erin Andrews and Hope Solo and Lolo Jones. Fans want the riches and the attention and the looks. But do they want a snide tweet regarding a player or another team or fans or hotel accommodations to ruin the image of class, wealth and prestigious talent associated with professional sports. Recently, after an open rant to Erin Andrews, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman responded to racial remarks regarding his comments. His mistake: he did it via Twitter. Even though these racial comments did arise at a time in which we celebrate the abolition of racial discrimination, Twitter is not the place. Regardless of the time. Similarly, Anthony Davis, offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, received negative feedback after blatant tweets about the accommodations provided to him by the Green Bay Packers during the post season in nearby Appleton, Wisconsin. No offense to Davis, but is Piscataway, New Jersey (his hometown) really much better of a place? At least the Packers provided him with a warm bed in the midst of an extreme arctic blast. Even the wives and girlfriends of athletes face scrutiny of the carelessness exhibited in regards to social media.
It does not matter if you have issues with your former team or teammates. It does not matter how hard someone hit you last week or the trash talk that was used during a game. It does not matter if you dislike the fact that the commissioner of the NFL fines copious amounts for dangerous tackles. Going after another individual or group of individuals via the internet makes a fool of only you. Take the high road. 5.
Use it well or not at all.
It is true, social media keeps friends, family and coworkers connected when physical interaction is unavailable. Unfortunately, much of a “famous” individual’s self-worth relies on how many Twitter or Instagram followers they have. Remember, that little check mark by your name not only means you are “verified” (also known as famous), it also means that when a 10-year-old from the city middle school where you grew up “googles” your name, every curse, social jab, statement of praise, and encouraging word becomes your image in that child’s mind. Depending on what you tweet and when you tweet it, you may or not be an inspiration to that young athlete—that young athlete who is looking for a release from adversity and a driving reassurance that his or her dream is not unrealistic. 6.
When in doubt, don’t.
Could what you post ruin your career before you make a dime (legally)? (It did for a few Alabama football signees who posted pictures with fans of cash). Don’t let that be you. Social media is a blessing or a burden. Public relations are a ploy to generate attention. Attention drives business and business drives money. But, in the end, are negative attention, a few dollars, and a destroyed career worth the social media posts that blemish your name? Don’t be that athlete.
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