Jan. 26, 2011

Page 1

A Tale of Two Teams page 10 PAGE 1 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

Vol. 105, NO. 17 UATRAV.COM

Theft, Vandalism, Liquor Top Problems at UA by Saba Naseem Staff Writer

Sitting in the snow-covered ground in the wooded area next to Lot 71, Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2010 was arrested for public intoxication Saturday, according to Washington County booking records. Megan Burgess, a UA student, was “unable to provide any identification and was a danger to herself,” according to a statement made by the arresting officer. There are between 60 to 80

arrests a year for public intoxication, said UAPD Lieutenant Gary Crain. Approximately one or two a week is Burgess a pretty steady range for a university campus, Lt. Crain said. Liquor related arrests are one of the more common crimes at the UA, however, the most common crime is theft followed by vandalism, he said.

“Clery requirements do not track these crimes,” he said. “It focuses more on serious crimes that threaten personal safety.” Every year, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires that an annual security report be distributed to all students, faculty and staff. This security report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes. In the fall semester of 2010,

there were 30 burglary arrests, 19 liquor-related arrests, and 47 drug-related arrests. In comparison, the fall semester of 2009 shows 18 burglary arrests, 16 liquor law arrests, and 31 drug-related arrests. “Theft has always been the biggest problem. The numbers fluctuate from year to year. With a new group of people coming in each year and it’s their first time away from home, there is going to be a

see CRIME on page 2

MCT Campus

RIC President, Car Bursts into Flame in Harmon Garage VP Resign by Nick DeMoss News Editor

A car fire in the Harmon Parking Deck Tuesday morning caused an estimated $6,000 in damage, according to initial police estimates. At approximately 9 a.m., the owner of a black, mid-90’s Cadillac Deville pulled into Harmon and shortly after parking noticed smoke and flames coming from the vehicle. The Cadillac was destroyed, and a nearby car was damaged. The portion of Harmon Garage near the fire sustained severe smoke damage. The owner of the car was treated on the scene and released, said UAPD Capt. Kathryn Huddler. A full damage report is expected later in the week, Huddler said.

by Jordain Carney

Asst. News Editor

Rosalyn Taylor Staff Writer Emergency officials responded to a service call Tuesday morning after a student’s car caught fire shortly after he parked it. Nobody was injured in the fire, but nearly $6,000 of damage was incurred, police said.

The Resident Interhall Congress President and Vice-President publically announced their resignation at the RIC meeting Jan. 18. RIC President William Hogan submitted his resignation at 4:30 p.m. to RIC advisors. “This was not a comfortable decision but one I realized needed to be made,” he said, but the decision was in the best interest of the organization. Hogan was arrested for alleged public intoxication and disorderly conduct at approximately 2:14 a.m. Jan. 15, according to the Fayetteville District Court Preliminary

Report. Hogan was also arrested for public intoxication in Yocum Hall last semester, according to a September police report. Hogan’s arrest are two of the 60 to 80 public intoxication arrest on campus per year. “I realize that as a student leader I do have to be held to a higher standard,” he said. In a statement released, Hogan said that he realized his behavior was “unbecoming of a student leader” and apologized to the UA community. His continued presence as RIC president would be a distraction, Hogan said. But he has offered to serve RIC, if his advice was needed, in the

see RIC on page 3

Federal Aid Apps Available Snow Daredevils Enjoy Day Off by Hailey Ray Staff Writer

Students can now begin the application process for the 20112012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA helps students qualify for a variety of financial aid, and qualifying students also make the university eligible for additional funding to help students. About 70 percent of students at the UA receive some form of financial aid, said Kattie Wing, the university’s director of financial aid. While 30 percent of students do not receive aid, a recent Gallup poll found that 28 percent of families nationally do not fill out the FAFSA. Because there are no specific financial guidelines to qualify for aid through the FAFSA, Wing encourages all students to ap-

ply. A complete FAFSA is also required to apply for many types of loans and grants where demonstrated financial need is not an eligibility factor. Students who have demonstrated financial need may qualify for Federal Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans or Federal Work-Study. The exact amount of the Federal Pell Grant differs each year, and each student may qualify for a different amount. The maximum Pell Grant awarded for the 20102011 school year was $5,550, and some students qualified for the full amount. “[My grants] allow me to attend classes full time, and have an apartment without [working] during school. [It has] made my life and obtaining a college education much easier,” said sophomore Elise Bishop.

If the amount a student’s Pell Grant and other aid exceeds her bill for the semester, they receive the remaining aid as a refund check to be used on other expenses such as school supplies. Many students having trouble finding employment because of the recession may qualify for a federal work-study position. The hours each student can work are based on individual need, and many positions have very flexible hours that accommodate student schedules and class demands. There are 41 different work-study positions for the spring term listed on the University’s financial aid website. Students who do not have demonstrated financial need but would still like to receive Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans,

see FAFSA on page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011 PAGE 2

PROFILES FROM THE HILL

A Conversation with IFC President Daniel Kleine Staff Writer

Daniel Kleine is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and the President of the Interfraternity Council. Greek life has played a major role in his life at the UA and will likely help determine his future. Q: What does Greek life mean to you? A: It’s given me a lot. All of the friends I have now are mostly who I’ve met since going Greek. I think most of all it’s helped me get involved and helped me meet a lot of good people. It’s actually helped me to care about this university more. Q: What is your role as IFC President? A: I’m like a student representative for all of the fraternities. I work with all of the fraternities and try to build a better Greek community for the fraternities. We also work with the National Panhellenic Council and NPHC. We hold weekly meetings and executive meetings. I’m also on an alcohol coalition board. Q: What role has being in a leadership position with IFC played in your life? A: I actually just started my role as IFC President; I was elected in November. I was a chapter president for Sigma Chi the year before this. It’s definitely helped me with my organization and discipline skills. It’s really taught me who I am and helped me with my pri-

orities. It’s really helped me figure out what I want to do career-wise. Q: What goals are in place for IFC this semester?

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A: We’re still going through that [with] our new executive board. We’re currently setting goals together, so we don’t have all of them in place. We’ve talked and all of our goals are going to be to promote Greek life and improving the campus. We’d like to see more involvement on campus from Greek students. I think the past few years IFC leaders have done a good job of promoting academics and leadership in the Greek community, and I think we would definitely like to continue that. Q: What would you say to students who are interested in going Greek? A: I’d say it’s definitely the best decision you could make. You’ll meet some of your best friends. You’ll have a lot of fun, and you’re joining a community that will help you succeed academically and professionally in life. Q: Why did you decide to go Greek? A: I actually didn’t decide to go Greek until maybe two weeks before I came to school here. I had an older friend and my best friend from high school that were going. They talked to me and [told me] that… this will give me a chance to meet people from other towns, other cities, other states.

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Gareth Patterson Staff Photographer Daniel Kleine is responsible for overseeing the Interfraternity Council and facilitating communication between fraternity chapters and members of the administration. He is a member of Sigma Chi. They told me you’re joining a good community that promotes academics, and guys have been very successful. I didn’t really know a whole lot going into it, but I’m definitely glad I did. Q: If you had to choose, which decade would you go back and be a college student in? A: Definitely the ‘90s, especially 1994 to be there for the basketball national championship.

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PAGE 3

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

Compost Tops Sustainability Efforts by Mattie Quinn Staff Writer

The UA is one of the greenest campuses in the nation, according to a book published by the Princeton Review, and the efforts of the sustainability department continue to show this semester. “The most exciting thing happening this semester is our food-to-waste compost project,” said Nick Brown, director of sustainability. “What we will be doing is taking the leftover food from all the dining halls and taking it to the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center, or otherwise known as the farm out on North Garland Avenue. We will truck the food out there every day and composting it instead of throwing it in a landfill.”

Though this isn’t happening yet, Brown said the project should kick off soon. “We will begin installation on our compost system in the first week in February, where we will start pouring the slab and setting up the earth tubs that will hold the compost (huge lidded bins that have odor control and a motor to stir the compost.) By midFebruary we expect to have started the composting project,” Brown said. Brown is also excited about the project because it gives students a chance to get involved in making the UA campus a greener one. “Students will soon start seeing signs in the dining halls explaining what we will start doing. Once the project begins, we will put up signs where students drop off their

plates. The signs will tell them which bins to put which things in,” Brown said. “We do a lot in our department, but a lot of it doesn’t require student participation, so this will be a nice way for students to help out.” The food-to-waste compost project isn’t the only thing the sustainability department is working on this semester. “Sometime later this month we will have an ‘e-Waste Day,’ where a company will come on campus with a truck and anyone can come bring their unwanted electronic devices and we will dispose of it properly,” Brown said. “We will take any electronics, from old stereos to cell phones and it’s all free of charge. We haven’t decided which exact day this will be happening, so stay

tuned with that. What we do know is we will have the truck in a pretty central location on campus, probably around the Union.” Like most sustainability departments, recycling is a big part of the program. “Recyclemania starts Feb. 6, and it is an eight-week program that pits different universities against each other to see who does the most recycling. Information on the program and to see how UA does, go to recyclemaniacs. org,” Brown said. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the Department of Sustainability can attend the once-a-month meetings that take place on the last Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5 p.m. in Walker Hall room 504, or visit sustainability.uark.edu.

RIC from page 1 future. RIC Vice-President Alex Wilson also announced his resignation after Hogan. “I have submitted my resignation as the RIC vice president, for reasons of my own personal nature,” Wilson said. He wants to focus more on academics and his family, he said. “I do not feel I would be adequate in my efforts to further this organization as a whole,” he said. While he has respect for the organization, he said, as RIC president he could not do RIC justice. “Hopefully from this point, you[RIC] can begin moving forward,” Wilson said. Like Hogan, Wilson will still be available to RIC members who have questions, he said. “You guys are probably wondering what’s going on, but there are answers,” said Kaleb Cox to the RIC body after Hogan and Wilson left the

Planning for the Future

Study Abroad Necessary Street cars, light rail possible for Fayetteville in Modern Job Market by Paige Thompson Staff Writer

A division of the Fay Jones School of Architecture, the Community Design Center, was awarded a grant of $20,000 this year from the National Endowment for the Arts through its Access to Artistic Excellence Program. The grants are generally awarded to projects that demonstrate innovation by generating new forms of art, new directions in the field and innovative use of create resources, and The Community Design Center’s mission statement does just that. “The center’s mission is to advance creative development in Arkansas through education, research and design solution that enhance the physical environment,” according to a university press release. “We are proud our efforts have been recognized by the NEA. We were one of 22 organizations across the country to receive the award,” said Stephen Luoni, director of the UA Community Design Center. Congress established the grant program in 1965

as an independent agency of the federal government. The Arts Endowment recognizes that many of the most effective projects encompass both artistic excellence and enhanced access, according to its website. Luoni is the Steven L. Anderson Chair in Architecture and Urban Studies. At the Community Design Center, he specializes in interdisciplinary public works projects combing landscape, urban and architectural design. Progressive Architecture Awards, American Institute of Architects Honors Awards and American Society of Landscape Architecture Awards have all recognized his work for planning and urban design. He has work published in various architectural publications such as Oz, Architecture d’Aujourd’hui and Progressive Architecture. He is encouraging the urbanization of Fayetteville through architecture as it develops. The project is based on a previous study, Visioning Rail Transit in Northwest Arkan-

sas: Lifestyles and Ecologies, which won the 2010 American Architecture award, and is still in the early stages of preparation. This will be part of the 2030 Transit Scenario Plan for Fayetteville. The 2030 plan anticipates that Northwest Arkansas, being the sixth-fastest growing region in the nation, will double in population over the next 15 years and will grow to more than a million by 2050. The light rail transit system is part of the preparation to accommodate adequate transportation for the increasing population. Luoni hopes that the project will be an incentive for citizens of Northwest Arkansas to start considering Fayetteville as a more metropolitan area as it continues to grow. “Expanding transportation opportunities also includes benefits for the economy, environment, and society,” Luoni said. The project’s goal is to create support, financially and politically, to sign up Northwest Arkansas in the Federal Transit

see RAIL on page 5

by Mattie Quinn Staff Writer

During the 2008-2009 school year, 260,327 college and university students studied abroad at some point during the year, according to a recent survey done by the Institute of International Education (IIE). This number represents a 130 percent increase in students studying abroad from 10 years ago. “Studying abroad helps so much in this day in age. Gives you something to talk about, it lets people [and potential employers] know that you are adaptable and are someone who can adjust to different situations. Employers also can know that, if needed, they can put you on a plane and send you somewhere and you’ll be fine,” said Laura Moix, UA faculty-led advisor and exchange coordinator for the Study Abroad Office. Adding to the ever-important resume that many college students try to build during their four years is not the only reason to experience studying abroad, however. “It gives you better self-awareness and another experience outside of Arkansas. It also gives you an overall better academic expe-

rience,” Moix said. “For instance, if you take European Studies at the UA like I did, it’s not the same as going to Rome and spending a semester in our Rome center.” Seeing the major cities of the world and world wonders are a major incentive for students who decide to go abroad. “The two things I love the most about studying abroad is the ability to really immerse yourself into another culture and the ability to travel to different locations and experience amazing opportunities,” said senior Amy Wallace, who spent last semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and summer 2009 in the faculty-led program in Belize. “Through studying abroad I have been able to see Aztec and Jesuit ruins, hike through jungles and the Andes Mountains, swim with stingrays and watch whales swim with their calves.” While thinking about studying abroad, there are some things which Moix wants students to be aware of. “Costs can be difficult, it’s true, but there are scholarships out there. Students don’t always take advantage of them, and there are a lot of untapped resources out there, through the UA and

see ABROAD on page 5

meeting. Cox was sworn in as RIC president at Monday’s meeting. In the event that president and vice-president positions are vacant the president pro tempore assumes the position of the presidency, according to the RIC Code and Constitution. “The vacancy of the vicepresident will be filled by a presidential appointment made by me and the new president pro tempore will be elected by the senate in the next couple of weeks,” Cox said.

FAFSA from page 1 which incur interest immediately, must also fill out the FAFSA. Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans incur no interest until after graduation. Arkansas residents must also fill out the FAFSA if they want to apply the Arkansas Lottery Scholarship, GO! Grant, Workforce Improvement Grant and some other forms of state aid. The deadline for all three programs is June 1. Students may fill out the FAFSA at until June 30 next year, however, Wing advises all students to fill out the FAFSA now, or as soon as they can. A problem facing many students when filling out the FAFSA is receiving their parents’ completed tax information. This information is required for all dependent students, whether their parents contribute financially or not. If the information is not available in time for students to meet deadlines, they can submit their application with an estimate of the financial information, and file a correction when they receive the accurate information, according to studentaid.gov. The application is available online at fafsa.ed.gov, for electronic submission or to be downloaded and mailed in. Students can also call 1-800-4-FED-AID to request a paper copy of the application. Students who did not fill out the FAFSA for the 2010-2011 school year may still submit applications. The 2010-2011 application determines financial aid for the upcoming summer terms. Students who receive grants are eligible for additional funding if they did not receive grants for the two previous consecutive semesters. Students looking for more information can visit finaid.uark. edu, or meet with a financial aid counselor in Silas Hunt Hall.

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PAGE 4 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

EDITOR: Bailey Elise McBride MANAGING EDITOR: Mille Appleton

The United States of Shame A map a friend of mine posted on facebook this week made me rethink what I had initially planned to write about. The map, titled The United States of Shame, was compiled by Jeff Wysaski of pleated-jeans.com. The map uses Census statistics and America’s Health Rankings, among other news sources noted on the site, to map out where each state falls painfully short of No. 1. Some are strange, like New Mexico’s ranking as the most antisocial state, based on its ranking in social health policies. Some are ironic, like Utah’s highest rating of porn subscriptions. A number of the rankings, though, may be worrisome to the students here at the UA. Texans? Your state has the lowest high school graduation rate in the nation at 78.3 percent according to the U.S. Census Bureau, right below Louisiana. It’s a reason for you to be proud Bailey Elise McBride traveler@uark.edu to be here, but also a potential cause for concern for your family members and future family who live there. Louisiana ex-pats? You’re number one in gonorrhea. That’s seems pretty self-explanatory as to why you should be concerned. Fellow Oklahomans, especially girls, might be concerned about Oklahoma’s ranking of No. 1 in incarcerated females—the rate of incarceration is more than double the national average. Even those males among us who don’t have to fear being an incarcerated female should still be aware of the immense cost to the state and taxpayers to support such a system. Missouri has the most bankruptcies. Mississippi is the most obese. Kansas has the poorest health based on the average number of limited activity days per month. So where does our darling state of Arkansas find it’s shame? Lowest average credit score. Although it’s not as exciting as some of the others ( I know you were holding out for nerdiest state (Iowa) or Cocaine use (Colorado) ) having the worst credit scores in the nation is still a serious concern, and should be especially concerning to debt-ridden college students about to go out into the real world. The state’s average credit score, 636, is well below the good credit average cited by most organizations, which is 700. When buying or renting a house, opening a bank account, getting a loan, buying a car or getting a credit card, credit score is extremely important. Most of these things occur for the first time as we graduate college. While you’re still in school, you might consider taking a personal finance class. Pay off your student loans as soon as you can. At a minimum, make yourself fully aware of where you stand financially—it will serve you well, and maybe keep us off the United States of Shame in the future.

Letter from the Editor

FROM THE BOARD After one look at the Washington County crime log from last weekend, one might think it was a screenplay for the sequel to “Superbad.” Unfortunately the numerous arrests had nothing to do with McLovin, but the police-filled drama could very well be scenes straight out of the next Judd Apatow flick. There were six alcohol-related arrests between Jan. 21 and Jan. 23. Five of the individuals detained were under the legal drinking age. These numbers do not even begin to touch individuals who are 21 or older arrested for public intoxication or drunk driving. The face of last weekend’s underage drinking spree goes to a beautiful, albeit drunk, young pageant queen found sitting alone in the snow near campus. On Jan. 22, former Miss Teen Arkansas Megan Burgess was arrested for public intoxication. The 19-year-old UA student’s misconduct made national headlines almost as soon as she was booked, given her position as a role model for girls across the state. Burgess isn’t the only notable student to make an appearance at the local police department this month. William Hogan, the 22-year-old Residents’ Interhall Congress President, was arrested Jan. 16 for the second time in five months for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Our aim is not to disparage Burgess or Hogan, but to use their mistakes to shed light on one of the most urgent and relevant problems facing UA students. Drinking isn’t always just innocent fun. What students often fail to understand is that one bad night can lead to dire consequences that could ruin a promising college career. Both Burgess and Hogan will likely be required to appear before the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics on campus. While their leadership positions are mostly to blame for the hype surrounding their arrests, the average student would still be subjected to the same consequences, sans media attention. Although Burgess handed over her crown earlier this month, her image will forever be tarnished by one gaffe. Similarly, Hogan has resigned from his position as RIC President in light of the controversy. Is one night of partying worth your education, health, career, and essentially your future? Is one night of beer pong and debauchery worth the lives of innocent people who had nothing to do with your poor decision to drive drunk? Is it worth risking your own life? We don’t think so. We are not opposed to responsible, of-age drinking, but if you’re not mature enough to consider the wellbeing of yourself or those around you we ask that you put the bottle down and walk away.

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR OPINION EDITOR NEWS EDITOR

Bailey Elise McBride Mille Appleton Samantha Williams

Nick DeMoss The Arkansas Traveler welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be at most 300 words and include your name, student classification and major or title with the university and a day-time telephone number for verification. Letters to the editor can be sent to traveler@uark.edu. Letters are edited for grammar and length, not content.

The War That Cannot Be Won ACROSS THE AISLE by Samantha Williams Opinion Editor

Before today, it’s likely that you’ve never heard the name Ethan Hardin. It’s not just any name. It’s the name of a man whose memory should never be forgotten. It’s the name of an American hero. It is the name of a casualty in the war in Afghanistan. The 25-year-old Fayetteville native was killed in combat on Jan. 7 and serves as a constant reminder that we cannot stop talking about the wars we’re fighting abroad that have claimed the lives of thousands of young men just like Hardin. As I contemplated which hot-button issue I’d tackle this week, I couldn’t erase this man’s name from my mind. He could have been my friend, my cousin, or even my own brother.

And yet I kept saying to myself, I shouldn’t evoke his name because it’s too sensitive a subject. I shouldn’t be writing about someone who was with us less than three weeks ago while his loved ones are still mourning. Embarrassingly enough, I also questioned the relevance of writing about the war in Afghanistan. “What else is left to say?” I thought. Then it hit me that the death of one soldier is reason enough to continue talking about the war and the life Hardin and so many others left behind. What makes him any different than the other men and women who have died fighting for their country? Absolutely nothing, and that is the point. The violent movies and video games have desensitized an entire generation. In some ways, war has become a natural way of life when in actuality there is nothing natural about it at all. Dead soldiers are becoming statistics and not everyday people like the rest of us. Since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began, the dominant question has been whether we should have invaded these Middle Eastern countries — a relevant question, of course. Sending Americans to risk their lives is not a decision that

should be made lightly. The Bush administration should be questioned and held accountable for the decisions they made while in office. However, the question we should be asking right now is not how did we get here, but rather, how do we get out? We can’t turn back time or bring Hardin back to his family, but we can end the bitter bloodshed and prevent more untimely deaths. According to CNN, as of Jan. 25 there have been 4,755 soldiers killed in Iraq. In Afghanistan the death toll stands at 2,295. Of those soldiers killed in Afgahnistan, 1,092 were under the age of 25. These figures do not include civilians killed in both wars, which is reportedly more than 100,000. While the death toll in Iraq is steadily declining, the same cannot be said in Afghanistan. This month, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) made a bold statement by breaking with his GOP colleagues, calling for an end to the war in Afghanistan this year. “History has shown that we cannot fix Afghanistan,” Jones said on the House floor. “It is in our best interest to learn what history is trying to teach us — that no country has ever con-

quered Afghanistan...It is time for Mr. Obama to keep his word to the American people, and that is to bring them out in July 2011.” Jones is right. Congress and the American people must tell President Obama that an end date of 2014 is unacceptable. Beginning a troop withdrawal in 2011 is a good start but it is far from ending this decade-long war. After 10 years of combat we have seen success and are working to establish a legitimate government in Afghanistan, a key step in ending the war and leaving a stable Afghanistan. We have also pushed the Taliban into Pakistan. Though we can lessen the threat of terrorist organizations, we cannot win a war against terror. As long as there are radical religious extremists there will be terrorism. Continuing to rebuild the war-torn country and train a strong military that can withstand threats from the Taliban is the only way out. Unfortunately, American troops will be in Afghanistan long after the war has officially ended to secure the region. But how many more soldiers have to die for Americans to rally together and demand that we end this war, not in 2014, but now?

‘Believer Gene’ Triggers Debate MIND THE GAP by Devin O’Dea

Traveler Columnist

Is there a genetic component within our DNA that is directly responsible for our species’ belief in a God? While this may seem like a lofty question, a new report suggests that a ‘believer gene’ might not be so unbelievable after all. Prof. Robert Rowthorn of Cambridge University published an article addressing the controversial gene in the prestigious “Proceedings of the Royal Society B,” a journal for Britain’s Royal Society of scientists. The study was conducted in 82 nations from 1981 to 2004, and serves as the academic foundation for Rowthorn’s claim. The study revealed that those who attended religious services more than once a week had an average

of 2.5 children while those who never attended averaged 1.67. Rowthorn, in what appears to be a characteristic leap of faith, suggests through shaky deductive reasoning that the expansion of religion can be explained by an idea that strongly religious individuals contain a genetic predisposition to believe. This belief coupled with a higher likelihood to reproduce explains the perpetual growth of religion we see pervasive in our world. It could be tempting for some to follow this train of thought; only 20 percent of the world’s population define themselves as nonreligious, Agnostics, or Atheist. However, religion is not an independent entity that exists upon its own accord and can spread autonomously. It is completely dependent on human reaction to a general condition we’re all predisposed to experience. It is a daunting task to define the purpose of our existence in this complex universe, blind to our wills and wishes. But ultimately, this is a classical argument of nature versus nurture, a tilted one at that. Intuition leads one to be-

lieve that religion is almost purely nurture, for most would agree that an individual’s religious convictions are a result of his or her upbringing, which is heavily influenced by one’s family and society. An abstract as complex as morality – and religion by extension – is too complicated to point to one gene, or even a group of genes, to explain a specific predisposition to believe in a higher being. At best, our emotions, determined by our genetic foundation, might make us more or less likely to be religious. But this seems like an inefficient, unpredictable, and roundabout way for an omnipotent being to construct a universe, especially one that values free will. The most remarkable problem that arises from Rowthorn’s theory is that if there was a part of our genetic code that predisposes us to believe in God, would this not significantly weaken our capacity for free will? Without the freedom to independently believe or not believe in a God, the notion of faith (a fundamental aspect to all religions) is weakened. Perhaps Matt Ridley, author of the national bestsell-

er “Genome,” put it best; “It plainly could not have come from my genes, or else it would not be free will. The answer, according to many, is that it came from society, culture and nurture. According to this reasoning, freedom equals the parts of our natures not determined by our genes, a sort of flower that blooms after our genes have done their tyrannical worst.” Unfortunately, organized religion is the result of two characteristic human traits , the desire to wonder and the need to organize. We must look no further than ourselves to realize the truth in this statement. Religion fulfills its sociocultural obligation by supplementing prepackaged and convincingly coherent answers to some of life’s most difficult questions. Our reward for this exchange is that we are no longer burdened with our inherent desire to wonder. With this is in mind, before any discussion can begin on the nature of religion, it must first be evaluated in the proper context. Save science for objective matters; religion is far too esoteric to be explained by the existence of a single genetic trait.


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RAIL from page 3

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Administration’s New Start program for public transit development. The light rail system will follow a path similar to College Avenue. “A majority of the population is centered around that road stretching from downtown to Mall Avenue. The project could be an incentive for the growth of an urban environment,” Luoni said. The project could encourage more people to move to the area, also adding to the rising population. A short-term goal of the Design Center is to provide the public information about the project and encourage the expanding population to embrace an urban environment. Fayetteville officials are also involved in the expansion process. “The Community Design Center helps people visualize the ideas for the public and understand the planning process. The light rail and 2030 plan are two separate projects, but both help the public with visualizing possible concrete policy decisions,” said Karen Minkel, director of strategic planning and internal consulting for the city of Fayetteville. The project, which is still a scenario-based vision, is meant to create an ideal regional scale conceivable as a collective living space for the public. “Fayetteville can do something like this. A streetcar could make Fayetteville a unique and creative place,” Luoni said. Minkel noted the city of Fayetteville is lucky to have a Community Design Center that is innovative and forward-thinking. I am looking forward to concrete policy decisions on the future projects for Fayetteville,” Minkel said.

elsewhere. Also, if you decide to study abroad during fall semester, you will miss out on our beloved football season,” Moix said. While studying abroad does offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, it has become a way for students to stand out in this highly competitive job market. “It’s no longer enough to just go to college and graduate with a four-year degree,” Moix said. “A college degree is almost the equivalent of what a high school degree was 20 years ago. You need to be able to distinguish yourself, and to do that you need cool internships; you need that study abroad experience.” Students agree that studying abroad has almost become a necessity in getting a job. “As a future English teacher, it is really important for me to study in the US. I have to be credible, knowing about what I am talking about. This exchange program is essential for me when i will be looking for a job,” said senior Sabrina Akermi, a current UA-exchange student from Le Mans, France. No matter why one decides to go abroad, students agree that it is a life-changing experience. “All of these study abroad experiences have made me brave enough to apply to and have helped me get accepted into the Peace Corps,” said Wallace. “I can’t wait to go abroad again and immerse myself into yet another culture.” For students interested in studying abroad, contact the UA Study Abroad Office at studyabroad.uark.edu or by calling 479-575-7582. The University of Arkansas was awarded a grant by USCET (US-China Educational Trust) for travel scholarships to expand the number of students studying abroad in China. An informational meeting will take place Thursday, Jan. 27 from 2:00-3:00pm in Old Main Room 206. Chinese language experience is not required.

UAPD Honors Outstanding Officers

Courtesy Photo Members of the UA community gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the university police. From left- Officer James Gray (Meritorious Service Award), Sgt. Bobby Ingle (Employee of the Year), Esteban Ceniceros (DWI Award), Washington County Department of Emergency Management, Director John Luther (Coveted Badge Award), Communications Operator Nick Sisti (Civilian of the Year) and Detective Kim Bertschy (Officer of the Year).

CRIME from page 1 problem,” Lt. Crain said. “Too often, there is someone around who will try to take advantage and just add alcohol and the vandalism increases and we get more serious crimes.” However, “we live in a free society and people can make their own decisions,” he said. “We encourage students and others on campus to think about the decisions they have to make.” Last semester was not out of the ordinary in terms of

crime at the university, he said. Other crimes such as sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, hate crimes, and possession of illegal weapons range from zero to five arrests in each category during the course of a semester. Cases are active until leads are exhausted and then they are made inactive if there is no information for the investigation, Crain said. UAPD officers do not work on a certain “number” of cases at any given time, rather, the number of cases fluctuates from time to

time. “That is the reason some cases are inactive. There is nothing to follow-up, but the case is not solved. If any information is obtained regarding the case, it is back on the ‘working’ list,” he said. There are several solved cases as well, he said. For instance, three people were recently arrested for thefts from lockers in the HPER Building and approximately 20 cases were cleared. “They kept coming back until they got caught,” Crain

said. “Other cases involving unattended property are harder to solve. The most serious crimes on campus - sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault - are almost always solved.” The UAPD takes their “responsibilities seriously and strive to improve,” Crain said. “We have the support of the university administration who are committed to safety. We try to prevent crime, but when it happens, we try to solve and bring the responsible parties to justice.”


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PAGE 6 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

FEATURES EDITOR: Lindsey Pruitt ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: Erin Robertson

Pressure from the Internet and Kindle Threaten Dickson Street Bookstores by ANDREW VAN GENDEREN Staff Writer

Pressure from the Internet, Kindle Threatens Local Bookstores Don Choffel, the whitehaired owner of the Dickson Street Bookstore, smiled wryly and looked out his storefront window as the winter sun set bleakly over the University of Arkansas campus. We had been talking about the future of his iconic bookstore this past December, and as the conversation turned toward technology, his sharp, bespectacled eyes softened with a sort of resigned laughter. “I am afraid they’re going to hurt us,” he said. “Amazon hurt us a few years back, and I think Kindle will too.” The rise of the Kindle, a phenomenon much lamented by old-school paperback loyalists, threatens to deal a death blow to many small bookstores around the country. The electronic device allows users to purchase more than 800,000 books online with the push of a button, making literature from all corners of the world available virtually instantaneously, according to Amazon.com, which markets the Kindle on its website. The combination of this new form of online competition, as well as this fall’s heightened parking regulations, has cut noticeably into the bookstore’s profits. Sales are down 20 percent from

this time last year, Choffel said. The bookstore has more than 100,000 books on its shelves, ranging in subject from philosophy to farming to French impressionism. Choffel and his business partner, Charles O’Donnell, have owned the bookstore since 1978, and it has since become a cultural icon of downtown Fayetteville. “It would break everybody’s heart, I think, if the store went under,” said Suedee Hall, an employee. Choffel remains optimistic in the long run, however. “We still get a loyal following,” he said. “We might just have to tighten our belt a bit.” Tightening the belt has meant slashed hours for fewer employees. Dickson Street Bookstore now employs only five people, all of whom work 30 rather than 40 hours per week. Employees like Hall take great pride in their positions, and often prove to be the staunchest defenders and advocates of the Bookstore. Hall, in particular, saw the parking measures as not just detrimental, but insulting. “Honestly, they [the City of Fayetteville] don’t want us here in the first place,” Hall said. “We don’t bring in the revenues the bars do, and they could easily replace us with something more profitable.” “A lot of people have

Gareth Patterson STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Don Choffel stands in the foyer of his iconic bookstore. Though it has a history rooted in the heart of Fayetteville, economic troubles pose worries for its long time owner. stopped coming down Dickson Street to protest parking, but really they are killing the small businesses on Dickson,” she said. The University of Arkansas student body is the source of much of the store’s revenue, Choffel said. Since they do not advertise, the Dickson Street Bookstore must

Chocolate Tasting Extravaganza to Benefit Cancer Patients

rely on its reputation and deep roots in the hearts and minds of alumni to produce repeat customers. “Word of mouth is our best advertising,” he said. Aside from its literary worth with its thousands of volumes in stock, the Dickson Street Bookstore is also an architectural marvel to wander through. The shelves are seemingly endless, crisscrossing themselves and carrying more books than one would ever expect in a store its size. “People come in and say, ‘I didn’t know it went back that far!’” Hall said. “And I ask, ‘how long have you lived here?’ And they’ll say,

‘20 years.’” Dickson Street Bookstore carries many volumes that are out of print, including some that Kindle does not have access to. Posted on the end of one of the shelves is a newspaper clipping with a headline blaring, “A Kindle only gets you so far.” Other book vendors have noted the heightened competition from online stores as well. Lisa Sharp, owner of Nightbird Books, has sought to distinguish her store by joining forces with Brickhouse Kafe. She hopes the relationship between the coffee and sandwich shop with her store will be a symbiotic one.

“Coffee and books just kind of go together in people’s minds,” Sharp said. Sharp hopes, if nothing else, to become a secondary destination for java seekers. The hours for both stores run late on Friday and Saturday in an attempt to draw those weary of the bar scene off Dickson Street. “Old people like us don’t necessarily want to go to a bar, but have coffee,” Sharp said. “I think we are going to be a good fit together.” While small booksellers have struggled to separate

see BOOKSTORE on page 7

War Veteran Bicycles 3,000 miles and Produces CD to End War by JODY BARBAREE Staff Writer

Courtesy Photo by CARA TURBYFILL Staff Writer

“Chocoholics, prepare to treat your sweet tooth!” the event page for this year’s annual Le Chocolate Feast touts. “Vendors will whip up their most delectable, delicious and decadent creations to serve to ticketholders.” Proceeds from the event will go to Pink Divas of Northwest Arkansas, a breast cancer survivor support group, and Northwest Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (NARDI), a multicenter organization that provides radiation therapy for cancer patients in Northwest Arkansas regardless of their ability to pay. Ticket-seller and Pink Diva Kerri Russell commented on the event. “We’re going to have 11 different vendors who will each have a different dessert

for ticketholders,” Russell said. “This year is kind of a pink, like pink on chocolate, theme.” “It gives the vendors a chance to try out treats before Valentine’s Day, and the money is going to people in Arkansas,” she said. Ticketholders get to go through a series of vendor stations, and will receive a chocolate treat from each one. Some of last year’s vendors included: A Fare to Remember, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Bliss Cupcakes, Brick House Kitchen, Candy Bouquet, Candy Craze, Cold Stone Creamery, Common Grounds, Great American Cookie, Jammin’ Java, Rick›s Bakery, Shake’s, Tropical Smoothie and Washington Regional Catering. Le Chocolate Feast will be held Jan. 29 at the Northwest Arkansas Mall.

The chocolate extravaganza will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Center Court of the mall, and has a limited number of tickets available, which can be purchased by calling Kerri Russell at 479-640-8319, Delores Hanshew at 479957-1433 or Linda Schrader at 479-549-4455. Tickets will also be available in the Mall Office and the Northwest Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute in Springdale, and are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased using cash, check or credit card. If all the tickets have not been purchased by the 29th, the ones remaining may be purchased at a booth at the event. For more information call 479-361-5847 or visit their website, www.hopenwa.org. There is also a Facebook page for the event.

We’ve all had ideas. Some of our ideas possess the potential of changing our lives or the lives of others if we would only pursue them. Unfortunately, we often dismiss our own ideas that we truly believe in, labeling them as too dangerous or too much off the beaten path to try to put into action. But then there are those few who will literally drop everything and divert entirely from the safe route in order to carry out an idea. A prime example of one of those few is Fayetteville’s own veteran of war Jacob George, whose idea to raise for the cruel realities of war is a truly inspiring one. When George returned to school from the war in Afghanistan, he began to have second thoughts on the whole idea of war and the violence it entails. Following these thoughts was an idea to leave school, drop everything, and hop on his bicycle and pedal around the country in the hopes of changing people’s views on the bloodshed overseas. George left Fayetteville May 1, 2010 and began what he calls the “Ride ‘Till The End.” Sometime along the way he ended up back in Fayetteville at his cousin Stephen Coger’s home for dinner. Over vegetarian curry, Jacob presented to his cousin yet another idea he had to further inch open people’s eyes to the unnecessary cruelties of war: a CD. Coger, a local poet and musician,

Courtesy Photo slept on the idea and before long put the idea into action, recruiting other poets and musicians native to the Ozark area to come together to create “Peace from The Hills.” Coger has been behind his cousin’s idea since the beginning, and when the opportunity arose for him to become a part of the operation through his involvement with “Peace from The Hills,” Coger was more than happy to assist in the transporting of the lyrics and poems of the Ozark artists. “ From listening to ‘Peace from The Hills’ and hearing Jacob›s story I have dreams that people, no matter where they’re from, will realize that it’s possible to solve the world›s problems in a more creative, less violent way,” Coger said. Through the CD and Jacob›s bicycling journey, Coger hopes that

“people who currently support the war, will at least be willing to hear another perspective.” With already more than 3,000 miles on the tread of his bicycle tires, Jacob George is now somewhere in Florida where he just recently volunteered to help clean up a local beach to add to volunteering efforts. When asked if giving up his ideas and goals, returning home and ending the whole thing has ever crossed his mind, George stated with no hesitation, “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing with my time and there’s not a doubt in my mind that I shouldn’t be doing what I’m doing right now.” The goal for Jacob George

see PEACE FROM THE HILLS on page 8


WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011 PAGE 7

Thriller Mystery Shakes Up Views of the South Read Between the Lines

ERIN ROBERTSON The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale Published by Vintage Books: Random House, Inc., New York (2000) 328 pages I approached “The Bottoms” with skepticism. Any novel that claims Southern fiction as its genre – with Faulkner and Lee references on the back cover blurb, no less – elicits doubt from my end. As a born-and-bred Arkansan with a fascination with all things Southern, I have learned to distrust modern attempts to capture the Old South on paper. How can we approach the strength of the Civil Rights movement, the hopelessness of the Depression, or the fire and brimstone of the Second Great Awakening in honest retrospect? And, more importantly, how can the modern author tighten his or her grip on the grit of the South without succumbing to clichés? The first few pages by Texas native Joe R. Lansdale committed this notorious crime, easy to spot from the view of an English lit and journalism student. The clichés were all there: small town East Texas (Can we even consider this the South?) with all the tremulous race-relations of 1933-34, complete with shifty, backwoods characters

Gareth Patterson STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

COURTESY PHOTO reminiscent of the film “Deliverance.” Lansdale received my first criticism when he attempted to write dialect – a general no-no in fiction writing and a hard feat to accomplish, especially as an outsider looking back at and into black culture. The story is narrated from the perspective of young Harry Cain, a 12 or 13 year-old boy in Marvel Creek, Texas, and yet retold in retrospect by the elderly Harry from his position in an “old folks’ home” ruminating on how “things were different… in East Texas.” The novel revolves around the Cain family, composed of Mama, Daddy, Harry’s little sister

Thomasina (nicknamed Tom) and their old coon dog Toby. Early on in the novel, the family emerges as an example of racial tolerance in a community full of prejudiced Klan members, and a great deal of the novel’s tension arises from the conflicts between Mr. Cain and his black-hating counterparts “The Bottoms” was not an easy novel into which to lose myself. A trusted source encouraged me to give the book at least 50 pages before I resigned myself to tedium, and by page 65 I still hadn’t caught on to Lansdale’s

see THE BOTTOMS on page 8

Courtesy Photo Nightbird Books and the Dickson Street Bookstore are both located on the south side of Dickson Street. from BOOKSTORE on page 6 themselves from the allure of online book shopping and portable readers, libraries have taken surprisingly well to the Kindle. Sarah Terry, the public relations manager for Fayetteville Public Library, said that the library is actually busier now than ever since they started renting Kindles out to patrons. “We’ve seen an increase in [Kindle] use in the last few years,” Terry said. “In these economic times, people are looking for a cheap alternative to get the things they

need. People are having that second thought – ‘do I really need to buy that book?’” As opposed to retail stores, the library’s business goal has nothing to do with sustaining profits, but instead lies in promoting literacy and general passion for reading. “Our purpose here is simply to make things available to the public,” Terry said. “We want to stay on the cutting edge and stay relevant. However people want to read, we want to make that available to them.” Terry does not anticipate the Kindle destroying the

book, as some fear. “I don’t foresee there ever being a situation where books are exclusively on the Kindles or Nooks,” she said. “There are too many people who will always live to feel books in their hands.” Sharp feels that strength lies in numbers with the local book vendors if they are to be genuinely competitive against Amazon and Kindle. “Don Choffel and I compliment each other,” Sharp said. “Between Dickson Street Bookstore, Nightbird Books, and the library, you don’t have to go online for anything.”

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

The Young Prisms Light Up JR’s Lightbulb Club

by JOCELYN SMITH Staff Writer

Lo-fi, hazy, psychedelic, shoegaze—these are just some of the descriptions for the Young Prisms, a five-piece band from San Francisco set to play this Thursday at JR’s Lightbulb Club in Fayetteville. Their debut record “Friends for Now” was released Jan. 18th on Kanine Records, and was described by the band as a “moody album with lots of ups and downs” with a “nostalgic look at the past.” Their sound, according to a recent Nylon magazine feature, is “crammed with hazy, layered tracks that are the perfect background noise for cloudy San Francisco days.” Moodiness aside, their songs

from THE BOTTOMS on page 7 rhythm or plotline. And yet, somewhere between there and the 100page mark, I swallowed the bait and was hooked. Young Harry and Tom, in a nighttime trek through the woods, stumbled upon the swollen, battered corpse of a black prostitute, bound to a tree with cords and barbed wire, her body crosshatched with cuts. The seemingly idyllic hamlet of Marvel Creek that moments before contained little more than flat farming characters and country folk had, in an instant, transformed into a dark place, full of secrets. A murderer had been thrown into the mix, complete with psychological fetishes too confusing for the 1930’s characters to grasp, and this was fodder enough for me to speed-read until the end. As the novel continued,

Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photos recall a psychedelic, West Coast Beach feel that will provide a brief escape from the winter weather. The Young Prisms have been touring since March with such notable bands as Radio Dept. and Surfer Blood, according to the band’s MySpace page. They Lansdale’s writing bloomed with unusual and apt descriptions, even if he did use a few too many similes for my taste. His character development was subtle, but deep, and he masterfully mixed thrill and horror with the model of the traditional coming-of-age story. I realized as the novel reached its climax that Lansdale’s greatest strength was his control of suspense. Never did I want for complex clues to supplement the mystery of the murders, nor was I able to figure out the identity of the BTKesque killer before the characters. Lansdale kept me guessing up until the dramatic revealing of the murderer in the bowels of the river bottomland. There were a few instances throughout the course of reading that I was forced to put the book down in favor of a more positive activity, like vacuuming the carpet or looking up videos of kit-

will play with Melted Toy, another San Francisco band, as well with the local group Niall. The show is 21 and up and there is a $3 cover with doors opening at 9:00 p.m. Check out their myspace to stream the new record myspace.com/youngprisms. tens on YouTube. Lansdale’s ability to describe a murder victim and the murderer’s method was chilling and grossly realistic – a trait I admire in a writer, yet one that prompts gasps of disgust. The novel, at first blush a mystery-thriller with a conveniently dark Southern background, was a social study on the absence of the true abolition of slavery. Harry muses at one point: “Lincoln may have long freed the slaves, but the colored of that time were not far off living as they had lived before the Civil War.” Countless works of fiction and nonfiction have been written on the subject, from the most notable classics to the pulpy paperbacks of discount bookstore fame. “The Bottoms” deserves a place somewhere in between the two extremes: with a slow beginning, it falters, and yet ends on a pulse-quickening note that is worth every word.

Do You Think You Know How to Dance? Regional Dance Coalition Hosts Dance Contest

by JOCELYN SMITH Staff Writer

The regional Dance Coalition will host its sixth annual “So You Think You Know How to Dance?” competition and fundraising event Feb. 19 at the Clarion in Fayetteville. Dancers of all ages and styles are encouraged to sign up and participate with the chance of winning trophies, dance scholarships and bragging rights, according to the event’s press release. “We anticipate participation in the dance competition to be even stronger this year,” said Erin Basnett of the Dance Coalition, a non-profit group of choreographers and dancers in Northwest Arkansas. Anyone interested in attending the event can purchase tickets at the door for $10. An additional $15 is required for those wanting to participate in the Appetizer House and Silent Auction that will

begin at 6:00 p.m. The silent auction is expected to have a variety of items donated by local businesses and organizations. The dance competition starts at 7:00 p.m. “Each competitor will have 90 seconds on stage to perform for the audience and a panel of three judges,” Basnett said. “After the performance the competitor will get feedback from the judges.” Those in the audience will get the chance to vote with their donation dollars for their favorite top dancers by putting money in a hat that will be passed around after each performance. Whoever has the most dollars in the hat is crowned the winner. Brad Reed, anchor from Fox News The Edge, will host the event for the third year in a row. Dancers interested in signing up may register for the competition by visiting, w w w.dancecoalition.com, completing a registration

form and mailing it with a $20 registration fee by Tuesday, Feb.15. Groups add $5 per additional person. Entries are limited to 25 juniors (ages 7 – 13) and 25 seniors (ages 14 – adult). A duo or group is considered a single entry, and dancers may compete as both a solo and in a group if they would like. Last year’s winner in the senior category was a duo by Jenna O’Dell and Anna Taylor of Elite Dance Studios. A duet by David Wright and Abby Craig from Infiniti Dance studios was the junior category winner. The event is sponsored by Tyson Foods and all proceeds for the event go to local dance education events and performances for the Northwest Arkansas community. To learn more about the event, or about how you can get involved with the Dance Coalition, the only choreographers cooperative in the state, visit their website www.dancecoalition.com.

Courtesy Photo Jacob George (front) and local supporters of his cause to end war ride through Fayetteville last May in a going away rally for him from PEACE FROM THE HILLS on page 6 in his “Ride ‘Till the End,” is to ride his bicycle and raise awareness until all war is over. When faced with the harsh fact that that may be a very long time, George simply said, “I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.” George realizes that he may be pitching his tent in the backyards of old war friends

or sleeping on benches for many nights to come if that’s what it takes to open eyes worldwide. “Peace from The Hills” is a 23 track collection of poems and songs with meaningful words and lyrics and a folk feel. Track number 15 of the CD, entitled “Sacred Hoop,” can sum up “Peace from The Hills” all together, George and Coger said. “Peace from The Hills” can be purchased

in various stores in the Fayetteville area and also on iTunes; 100 percent of the proceeds from the CD will go towards Jacob Georges food, clothes and bike parts as he pedals throughout the country volunteering and raising awareness for war. With each revolution of his pedals he hopes to inch closer and closer to a revolution that will end war forever.


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“Types of Soup” Campbell’s Potato Tomato Chicken Noodle Egg Drop Stone

Vegetable Gumbo Miso Goulash Alphabet Duck

THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

LAUGH IT UP Q: Did you hear about the red ship and

Q: What’s red and smells

Q: Why was the baseball field

A: They were marooned.

A: Red paint.

A: All the fans left.

the blue ship that crashed?

like blue paint?

hot?

THAT MONKEY TUNE Michael A. Kandalaft

WONDERMARK David Malki!

BREWSTER ROCKIT Tim Rickard

CALAMITIES OF NATURE Tony Piro

CROSSWORD ACROSS

1 “60 Minutes” network 4 “Everybody __ Raymond” 9 “Sister __”; Whoopi Goldberg movie 12 “The Cat in the __” 13 Make laws 14 Actress __ West 15 Ending for meteor or social 16 Spanish man’s title 17 __ Thurman 18 Julia Child and Emeril Lagasse 20 Places of refuge 22 Star of “Grey’s Anatomy” 26 Last name for Ryan and Tatum 27 Football six-pointers, for short 28 “El __”; classic film for Charlton Heston 29 Role for Ted Danson on “Cheers” 32 “Lois & __: The New Adventures of Superman” 35 Ricardo Chavira’s role on “Desperate Housewives” 39 Van Peebles or Cuomo 40 “__ Gets in Your Eyes” 42 Spanish gold 43 “CSI: __” 47 “__ of Practice” 48 “The __ & Stimpy Show” 49 “One Day at __” 50 “Snakes __ Plane”; Samuel L. Jackson/Julianna Margulies film 51 Sullivan and Begley 52 Appoints 53 Approves, for short

DOWN

1 Stylish 2 Wash 3 “__ Magnolias”; Olympia Dukakis movie 4 Diminish 5 “__ Tree Hill” 6 Jean-Claude __ Damme 7 Prefix for system or sphere 8 Late U.S. Senator __ Thurmond 9 Entertained 10 Small roles for big stars 11 Namesakes of actress Leoni 19 Polly Holliday’s role on “Alice” 21 Likely 23 Colorful candy wafer 24 Buckets 25 As __ the hills 29 Frightened 30 Burr and Spelling 31 Noninvasive diagnostic test, familiarly 33 O’Donnell and others 34 NOP forerunners 36 Willy __; lead character in “Death of a Salesman” 37 100 x 100 38 Black-and-white animal with an odor 39 “The __ the merrier” 41 Greek letters 44 Give __ go; try 45 Purpose 46 Bovary or Butterfly: abbr.

SOLUTION

Crossword by MCT Campus


THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

You can check out the Traveler online at uatrav.com or by scanning here:

SPORTS EDITOR: Jimmy Carter ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: Zach Turner

PAGE 10 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

BASKETBALL

Tale of Two Teams by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor

Arkansas was 11-0 at Bud Walton Arena this season entering the Auburn contest Tuesday. The Razorbacks have suffered two 30-plus point blowouts on the road, though. The Hogs have been Jekyll-and-Hyde, playing well at home, but struggling

we play in (Bud Walton) we’re inspired so much by our fans. That is a big advantage of playing here.” The Razorbacks have beaten Tennessee and SEC West leader Alabama at home in January. The road is a different story, though. Pelphrey is just 5-26 on the road, 4-20 in SEC play. The Hogs are on a sevengame road losing streak and haven’t had a winning re-

Sports Editor

Check UATrav.com for a recap of the Arkansas-Auburn contest.

cord away from Bud Walton in Pelphrey’s tenure. Some of the losses have been blowouts, too. Arkansas has lost 12 games by 30 or more points in the last 50 years. Five of those losses have come in Pelphrey’s three-plus seasons, including two in the last four road games. Texas trounced the Razorbacks 79-46 Jan. 4 in a contest the Longhorns led by more than 40 in the second half. Florida beat the Hogs 75-43 Saturday, Arkansas’ worst SEC loss ever. “I think we were all a little surprised we didn’t play well,” Pelphrey said. “We’ll try to look at that from both

Gareth Patterson STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior guard Rotnei Clarke was in a shooting slump in SEC play entering the Auburn contest Tuesday. The Razorbacks are undefeated at home, but have lost seven consecutive road games.

sides of it and learn from that. We’re always looking at stuff and trying to figure it all out. Most of the time there’s not just one thing that you can point to.” The Razorbacks play three of four games at home, starting with the Auburn contest. The Hogs’ next road game is Saturday at Vanderbilt.

OLYMPIC SPORTS

Women’s Track Readies for Razorback Invitational by BRANDON HOWARD Contributing Writer

One of the biggest track meets in the country will happen Jan. 28-30 in Fayetteville when the Razorback Invitational kicks-off. Top teams across the nation are invited to the meet and six of the 10 teams are ranked No. 19 or better. The Razorbacks are looking to come off their byeweek and add more recordsetting performances after big meets at the Virginia Tech Invitational from senior Shelise Williams and junior Whitney Jones. “It’s the biggest meet in the country,” Arkansas coach Lance Harter said. “It was started by Texas A&M but everybody wants to come to our

facility. It’s a really fast track.” The team has been riding a three-week progression of rest and should be ready to

Shelise Williams compete because they have been at home all week, Harter said. Williams set an NCAA record in the 4x400-meter-re-

Clarke’s Struggles by JIMMY CARTER

Auburn at Arkansas

mightily on the road. “I think we start faster, for whatever reason, here at home,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. “There probably is a little bit of a comfort level, because we do have a special place to play. There certainly is a different feel when you go on the road.” Pelphrey is 50-15 at Bud Walton in his fourth year at Arkansas. His .769 home winning percentage is just less than the program’s .790 mark entering its 18th season in Bud Walton. “I think we’d all rather play at home than we would on the road,” Pelphrey said. “Certainly, coming off a loss you’d rather do that. When

BASKETBALL

lay at Virginia Tech. She did it despite getting into town at 4 a.m. “The dilemma for the coaching staff this weekend is to see whether we keep the team up until two or three in the morning and see how they do the next day,” Harter said. “Obviously though, we’re excited to compete at home and everybody travel to us.” Razorbacks’ Gymnasts Battle Back on Road, Now Face Auburn The Arkansas gymnastics team rallied to win on the road against a ranked Kentucky team over the weekend. The Razorbacks will face No. 22 Auburn on the road Friday. “We competed exception-

see OLYMPIC SPORTS on page 12

Pelphrey is 0-1 at Memorial Gymnasium. “It’s something that we were able to handle a little bit there at South Carolina, we just couldn’t finish it off,” Pelphrey said about playing on the road. “There will be other opportunities on the road and we’ll have to try to take that (experience) with us.”

Rotnei Clarke is Arkansas’ best shooter, but the Razorbacks’ junior guard is mired a shooting slump through the first five games of Southeastern Conference play. The 6-foot, 185-pounder averaged 5.8 points and shot 28 percent from the field in the four contests prior to Auburn contest. He shot just 21 percent from 3-point range during that stretch. “He’s a young man who’s had tremendous success shooting the basketball, he’s a dangerous weapon,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. “There’s going to be a gameplan regarding him. That’s a tribute to him and how well he’s been able to shoot the basketball. It’s a tribute to his teammates and how well we’ve been able to get him open at times. “We’re going to have to continue to adjust and he’s going to have to make some adjustments as well. I know he’ll work hard and do that. He wants to play at a high level and has expectations for himself. He will again.” Clarke was held scoreless Saturday at Florida, missing three shots, including two air-balled 3-pointers. He scored five points and made 1-of-5 3-pointers against South Carolina the previous contest. “I don’t know that we did anything special except be where he was and make it as hard as possible for him to get open looks, just because he’s such a good shooter,” South Carolina coach Darrin Horn said. “We really feel like he’s the kind of shooter if he gets a good look at the basket with his feet set, it’s going in every time.

Next in Line

“There’s no question he’ll break out of (the slump). That’s what shooters do. He’ll have one of those nights where he’ll have one or two and they’ll go down, his confidence will get going and maybe he’ll make a few more. That’s the dangerous thing about him.” This isn’t the first time Clarke has struggled in SEC play. He shot just 34 percent from 3-point range in the final 14 games last season, including 30 percent the final five contests. He’s struggled to get open against bigger, more athletic defenders. “He’s got to continue to work and get better at coming off screens, pick-and-rolls and getting inside that 3-point line,” Pelphrey said. “He made a couple plays there at South Carolina and then did a very good job at home in our two games (against Tennessee and Alabama) getting inside the (3-point) line. “Some of the things we’ve done in the past, hopefully we can do well in the future.” Despite his struggles, Clarke was still was tied for third in the SEC in 3-pointers made per contest entering the Auburn game. “Certainly Rotnei Clarke stands out as being one of the best pure shooters, not only in our league, but in the country,” Florida coach Billy Donavan said. “I think John (Pelphrey) does a really good job in terms of trying to free him up to get shots. I think one of the things that people try to do with him is get him to play inside the 3-point line, put (the ball) on the floor and do some of those things. “He works as hard as he can

see STRUGGLES on page 11

TRACK & FIELD

Tarick Batchelor is the next great Arkansas track athlete by PATRICK GRINNAN Staff Writer

Tarik Batchelor has accomplished a lot in the first month of the season. The junior has qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in two events in the first two meets of the year. Batchelor qualified in the triple jump and the long jump in the Arkansas Invitational and a dual meet against Texas, respectively. Batchelor came to Arkansas because of the reputation of Dick

see TRACK & FIELD on page 11

UA Media Relations

Tarik Batchelor has qualified for two NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Arkansas’ first two events this season.

COMMENTARY

Brett Favre: Forgettable Finish Can’t Erase Stellar Career Old-Fashioned 3-point Play

ZACH TURNER zwturner@uark.edu

It was Jan. 24, 2011 when the sports world witnessed a moment that seemed to be etched in stone. Brett Favre, the ultimate NFL tough guy, forced a pass through heavy coverage late in regulation of the NFC Championship only to be intercepted by New Orleans’ Tracy Porter. The Saints, as we all know, booted a field goal in overtime to continue their magical season en route to a Super Bowl victory over the

Indianapolis Colts. Favre’s 2010 season didn’t quite pan out the way he had expected for the purple and gold of the Vikings. Favre was continuously on the injury report, threw more interceptions (19) than touchdowns (11) and was surrounded by the cloud of controversy involving former New York Jets employee Jenn Sterger. The epitome of a gunslinger, Favre has filed retirement papers to the NFL league office, but should we believe him? For those of you who may not know parts of the Favre saga (Check out the YouTube video Rise: Brett Favre for more if you haven’t. It is guaranteed to produce a chuckle.) this is the same guy who was traded by the organization who made him famous, Green Bay, to the Jets and then subsequently released after one season claimed retirement at that point. Then the 38-year-old Favre agreed to a two-year deal with Packers arch nemesis Minnesota Vikings. The first year with the

Vikings exceeded individual expectations that anyone had conjured for Favre during his 18th season. Favre threw for 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, the lowest in his career since he became a full-time starter in the 1992 season. After the tumultuous end to the 2010 season courtesy of the Saints as mentioned before Favre left the entire world scratching their heads as to what his next move would be. The options for Favre were to call it quits and give up his then 19-year career, have his shoulder operated on so that he was back healthy and then not return or, as we all know he did, have his shoulder operated on and return to the Vikings. But Favre, being the kind of magician he is, laid low out of the spotlight for the most part of the offseason while losing more and more fans during his time of indecision. Favre had message boards’ abuzz and public statements throughout the summer stirring

up the never-ending saga of how his football career would end. Favre would be spotted by ESPN’s Ed Werder throwing footballs to local high school receivers in his native Hattiesburg, Miss. Everyone began to wonder if another comeback was possible, but no one fathomed it would play out the way it did. It took NFL veterans and fellow Viking teammates Jared Allen, Ryan Longwell and Steve Hutchinson to talk Favre into rejoining them At this point it seemed the public’s perception of Favre dealt more with him as a person rather than an NFL quarterback. Favre’s exit out of Green Bay where he won two NFC Championships and one Super Bowl, was not a pretty one to the Cheese Head faithful. In Favre’s view he seemed to turn the blame back on the organization and essentially it came down to the choice of Green Bay GM Ted Thompson. Thompson choose to start a new era in Green Bay with the younger Aaron Rodgers and that didn’t set

well with the incumbent quarterback who had been the face of a franchise for 16 years, as I am sure anyone in that situation might have pulled similar antics to Favre’s in the 2008 offseason. Then, playing a cat-andmouse game with the Jets organization following his lone season in New York did not set well with the Jets’ faithful. Combine that with the desperate Vikings fans begging for his return while the rest of the NFL following was getting restless of Favre talk and a reputation was easily ruined. This side of Brett Favre is what many NFL fans will cite when remembering the first ballot, future Hall-of-Famer. However, on sheer career accomplishments and statistical rankings is how Favre’s legacy should be remembered. Even with the tarnish accumulated off the field that clouds his name now he was, or is, if he fools everyone and makes another comeback, one of the 10 greatest football players of all-time. The definition of heart while

on the field, Favre played in 299 consecutive regular season games before that streak was snapped in Week 15 this season. Favre ranks first all-time in many quarterback categories for his career such as most passing yards, most touchdowns, most interceptions, and most games played by a quarterback. Favre entered the league with the Atlanta Falcons. His first pass attempt was intercepted and run back for a touchdown. Favre is leaving the NFL on a low-note, too, if costing Minnesota in the NFC Championship and hobbling through the 2010 season is what most people remember. However, what the man accomplished between those two moments is what made Brett Favre stand out head and shoulders above his peers on Sunday afternoons. Zach Turner is the assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every other Wednesday. Follow him on Twitter @zwturner.


WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011 PAGE 11 SEC NOTEBOOK

Wildcats’ Youth Maturing by JIMMY CARTER &ZACH TURNER Kentucky’s three leading scorers are freshman and, while they might not be on the same level as John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins, the young Wildcats are showing they bite. Kentucky is ranked No. 19 and picked up its first conference road win Saturday at South Carolina. Point guard Brandon Knight averages 17.3 points and a team-high 3.7 assists in 34.8 minutes per contest, including a 23-point, sevenrebound, two-assist performance against the Gamecocks. “I think Brandon Knight’s a good player,” South Carolina coach Darrin Horn said. “I think the fact that he’s playing as many minutes as he has so far is a testament to him. It’ll be interesting to see as the season goes on as a freshman, how he holds up under those kind of minutes.” Forward Terrance Jones leads the Wildcats (15-4, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) with 18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Guard Doron Lamb doesn’t start, but averages 13.6 points and shoots 48.1 percent from 3-point range. The freshmen were prepared for SEC play by a challenging nonconference schedule, including wins against No. 15 Notre Dame, No. 18 Washington, No. 23 Louisville and Portland. If you demand a lot, you’ll get a lot,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “If you accept mediocrity, you’re getting it every single time. For us, it’s just raising the bar and telling

(the freshmen) what you want. “I really like my team. I think there’s no team in America that has more upside than this team, based on the fact that individual players aren’t playing to the level they’re going to play in a month or so.” Florida Breaks Back Into Top 25 Polls Florida (15-4, 4-1) is back to a familiar spot. The Gators moved back into the top 25 and are ranked No. 24 in the latest AP poll after starting the season ranked No. 9. Florida is ranked for the first time since mid-December. The Gators won at Auburn 45-40 on Thursday before throttling Arkansas 75-43 Saturday. Florida had an opportunity for a third consecutive win Tuesday against Georgia. “Well this (Georgia) is our third game in six days so a lot of games have gone quickly with the Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said. Florida has gotten good output from their leaders and has won seven of its last eight games. Senior Chandler Parsons had a career-high 15 rebounds against Arkansas, while 5-foot-8 point guard Erving Walker posted 12 points, five rebounds and two assists to lead the Gators over Auburn. East Dominating Early The SEC West was arguably the toughest division in college football this season. Though the division is the equivalent of Big East football

in basketball. SEC West teams have struggled against nonconference foes, including losses to Nicholls State, Samford, Campbell, Florida Atlantic, Dayton and St. Peters. The SEC East is 9-3 against the West in conference play. Ole Miss’ RPI is No. 73. The Rebels are the only West team with an RPI in the top 100. South Carolina is No. 76, but the rest of the East teams have an RPI in the top 41, including four teams in the top 20. Kentucky’s RPI is No. 11 the best in the conference. Goulbourne Earns SEC Player of the Week Honor

from STRUGGLES on page 10

Vanderbilt junior forward Lance Goulbourne was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week for his efforts in victories over Ole Miss and then-No. 21 St. Mary’s. The Commodores’ forward averaged 14.5 points and 13 rebounds in the two wins. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native pulled down 16 rebounds against the Ole Miss Rebels, tying the mark for most rebounds in a game during the coach Kevin Stallings’ era. Goulbourne has started the past eight games with fellow junior Andre Walker sidelined with an injured ankle. Goulbourne has averaged 8.8 points and eight rebounds per game, leading the SEC in rebounds during conference play, during Walker’s absence from the starting lineup. Vanderbilt (14-4, 2-2) travels to Starkville, Miss., Thursday to take on Mississippi State before hosting Arkansas Jan. 29.

off screens. John tries to put him in situations where he can do that, but really what we try to do is pay attention to him because he’s a game-changing guy.” Clarke was held scoreless at Florida for the second time in as

MCT CAMPUS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Terrence Jones is averaging 18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest for Kentucky. He’s one of three freshman Wildcats leading Kentucky in scoring.

STANDINGS EASTERN DIVISION TEAM

Florida* Kentucky Georgia* South Carolina Vanderbilt Tennessee

SEC 4-1 3-2 3-2 3-2 2-2 2-2

%

.800 .600 .600 .600 .500 .500

Overall % 15-4 15-4 14-4 12-6 14-4 12-7

.789 .789 .778 .667 .778 .632

RPI

Streak

RPI

Streak

16 11 41 76 15 19

W2 W1 W1 L1 W2 L1

WESTERN DIVISION TEAM

Alabama Mississippi State LSU Arkansas* Ole Miss Auburn*

SEC 4-1 2-2 2-2 2-3 1-4 0-5

%

.800 .600 .500 .400 .200 .000

Overall % 12-7 10-8 10-9 12-6 13-7 7-12

.632 .556 .526 .667 .650 .368

Gareth Patterson STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rotnei Clarke averaged 5.8 points and shot 21 percent from the 3-point range in the four contests prior to Auburn contest.

128 166 175 101 73 305

W2 L1 L2 L2 W1 L5

* Results from the Arkansas-Auburn and Florida-Georgia contests Tuesday are not reflected in the standings

from TRACK & FIELD on page 10 Booth, who had been the field event coach for 27 years. He decided to stay when Booth took the same job at Florida in 2009. “Coach Dick Booth had a reputation of coaching great jumpers,” Batchelor said. “I looked at his credentials and he was a pretty good coach.” The Razorback Invitational Friday will give Batchelor another chance to hone his skills in a low-pressure environment. “His qualifiers are done,” Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam said. “He got that done and now he doesn’t have to worry about that and he can get his racing legs under him.” Not that he can’t perform under pressure. Batchelor was born in Kingston, Jamaica, where he attended high school at Kingston College.

many games in his collegiate career. “I don’t think the stats have any bearing on the kind of shooter he is or whether or not he’s in a slump or anything like that,” Donavan said. “I think if you asked any coach in this league, ‘If someone was open behind the 3-point line, who would you want to get the ball to,’ I think a lot of coach-

es would probably say Rotnei Clarke’s name. “I think the biggest thing is what kind of looks is he getting, him learning, growing and understanding different things he can do to get himself in position to make some shots. He’s as good as any shooter. I don’t think the stats do justice to what kind of shooter he is.”

He won the long jump and triple jump at the Jamaican Boys High School Championships. He won his first collegiate event when he long-jumped 25-2.75 feet in the Arkansas Invitational, the equivalent to jumping one-and-a-half Chevy Suburbans. Batchelor was named SEC Outdoor Freshman Field Athlete of the year as a freshman, earning a spot on the SEC Outdoor AllFreshman team. The 6-foot-2 jumper then returned to Jamaica and placed fourth in the Jamaican National Championships. He knows 100-meter world-record holder and Jamaica native Usain Bolt. “Competing for Jamaica is great, I have a lot of friends back home, so it is a little more personal when I compete for my country,” Batchelor said. Batchelor earned All-SEC honors as a sophomore and

placed third in the NCAA Indoor Championships, with a long jump of 26 feet. In 2011 Batchelor is looking to continue the Jamaican legacy of other great Arkansas jumpers like Alain Bailey, who also hails from Kingston College. This fall, Batchelor went through rigorous training in order to prepare himself for the outdoor season. The training consisted of weight training, speed endurance and stability work, which helps keep him balanced during the hops, steps and jumps of the triple jump. Batchelor also focused on getting his muscles adjusted to the hard impacts that frequent his events. “I don’t think I’ve ever trained this consistently in the fall, ever,” Batchelor said. “I’d love to win a national title, for both myself and my school, in triple and long jump. That is my goal, to win a championship.”


PAGE 12

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

from OLYMPIC SPORTS on page 10 ally hard,” Arkansas coach Rene Cook said. “Definitely saw some aggressive routines and some really good performances.” Arkansas recorded a season-best 48.725 on beam and had individual standouts in various events. Junior Jamie Pisani won the all-around while sophomore Jordan Salsberg won beam. Freshman Katherine Grable and Pisani have climbed into the national rankings in the vault, floor, and allaround categories. Pisani is currently ranked the highest at No. 3. “I had no idea she was ranked in the top 3,” Cook said about Pisani. “As a coach we see the errors she has. While that’s a great accomplishment for her and the program, we know she can get better.” The Razorbacks will hit the road again Friday against the Tigers. The series is tied at 8-8 with Auburn winning last year’s meet in the South Eastern Conference Championship. Road Trip Allows Time for Building Chemistry, Bonding Arkansas got more than just wins on the court last weekend. The Razorbacks were strong in a quad meet featuring Mississippi State, Army and Auburn. Arkansas won 10-of-12 double matches overall and swept Army in eight straight matches. “We were looking for team chemistry and team bonding,” Cox said. “We accomplished a lot playing points under stress and playing matches under stress. Bonding was one of our team goals.” Arkansas has struggled the last few years and team chemistry plays a big role in how much success you have, Cox said. The Razorbacks will play UNLV and SMU at Fayetteville on Jan. 28 and 30, respectively, but on the off day will host a clinic Saturday for kids from all over Northwest Arkansas who are interested in tennis.

Arkansas Traveler contributing writer Brandon Howard met with senior tennis star Anouk Tigu. They discussed Tigu’s lofty preseason singles ranking, the makeup of this season’s team and the chemistry she has with doubles partner Claudine Paulson. Tigu will be the Razorbacks’ No. 1 singles player for the second consecutive year. You had a really great junior year, what have you improved on in the offseason? I started in the top 20 and had a really good fall. I’m going to play very good players in the SEC and am excited to improve my game over the season. You’re the No. 26 singles player in the nation. How much does being ranked that high motivate you? I want to do really good with the team, and that’s most important because it’s my senior year. If I win single matches, it will help my rankings, but I’d rather win the matches to help the university.

Anouk Tigu

Senior, WR 5-foot-7 Ranked No. 26 Singles Player in the Nation

During your sophomore season two years ago, the team went pretty deep into the NCAA tournament. How does this year’s team compare to the one two years ago? It was awesome (two years ago). Coming to a new country was especially fun and playing against very good players was fun as well, and now one of my former teammates is my coach and the team has been strengthened because of that. As a senior,what kind of leadership role have you taken on this team? We have some important juniors on the team as well, and because I missed the fall of 2007, I feel like we are the leaders. But our team doesn’t have just one leader. The coach is the boss, but we work together instead of having one leader. Your doubles partner is the same from last year, sophomore Claudine Paulson. What makes you two good partners and how is the chemistry? It’s going very well. We have different personalities, but we work together and the chemistry is getting better every match. My old doubles partner is now one of my coaches and that has helped some development.

UA Media Relations

$1

STUD 5 TICKEENT TS!

Saturday, Jan. 29 4pm & 8pm Student tickets: $15 Seating restrictions apply.

waltonartscenter.org

Box Office: 479.443.5600 Walton Arts Center is located at 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville

This performance is part of the Pepperidge Farm Family Fun Series and is sponsored by General Mills with media support from NWA Media and KNWA Northwest Arkansas News.

m o c . v a r t a www.u


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