“The Whole Love” Album Review Page 5 PAGE 1
Vol. 106, NO. 21 UATRAV.COM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
NOH8 Campaign Sex Offenses Decrease in 2010, Comes to the Hill According to Clery Report by JOSEPH PORTER
Contributing Writer
The UA Registered Student Organization PRIDE, or People Respecting Individual Differences and Equality, will celebrate National Coming Out Day with the NOH8 Campaign next week. Tuesday, Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day, an internationally recognized day of civil awareness and discussion for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. ASG allocated $2,675 in RSO appropriations for this event. The NWA Center for Equality, a local advocacy and social awareness nonprofit, assisted PRIDE in securing the space with Hog Haus owner Julie Sill, said Flannery Wasson, PRIDE’s vice president for administration. The NOH8 Campaign be-
gan in 2009 as a photography project, silently protesting against California Proposition 8, which stripped Californians of their samesex marriage rights. The non-profit organization has grown into an LGBT civil rights emblem, snapping more than 13,000 photos in 17 different cities, according to the campaign’s website. The campaign’s trip to Fayetteville is its first appearance in the state of Arkansas, said Brandon Butler, president of PRIDE. Photographed participants are asked to wear a white shirt with duct tape across their mouth that reads “NOH8.” The photo campaign includes celebrities such as Kathy Griffin, Kim Kardashian and Cindy McCain, the wife of Republican Sen. John McCain.
by AMANDA POGUE Staff Writer
Despite record enrollment, crime incidents declined in 2010, according to the Jeanne CLERY Disclosure of Campus Security Policy Campus Crime Statistics Report and Annual Fire Safety Report, released Oct. 1. The report shows that forcible sex offenses had been reported 11 times in 2008 and 9 times in 2009. However, there were only 2 reported in 2010. With enrollment numbers increasing from 19,849 in 2009
to 21,405 in 2010, the number of reports would have been expected to go up, not down. “Keep in mind that those are the ones that were reported, so some years we have zero, and I think that 11 is one of the highest years we’ve ever had those reports made,” said UAPD Lt. Gary Crain. “If it’s not reported to us, then we can’t do anything about it.” The number of reported liquor law violations can also be deceptive, said UA staff member Danielle Dunn. There were only 32 liquor law arrests in 2010, according
to the CLERY Report. “Liquor law arrests in CLERY only means minors in possession of alcohol or someone buying alcohol for an underage person,” Crain said. “It doesn’t mean public intoxication or driving while intoxicated. Those are not included in that report.” Although the bulk of the report is statistics, there are also pages of on-campus resources for victims of drug and alcohol addiction or sexual abuse. R.E.S.P.E.C.T., or Rape Education Services by Peers En-
couraging Conscious Thought, is a peer education program utilizing presentations, interactive campus exhibits, outreach initiatives and awareness events, according to the CLERY Report. Some of their annual events include Alcohol Awareness Week and Campus Clothesline Project. STAR Central, or Support Training Advocacy Resources, is a confidential victim support and advocacy service, according to the report.
see CLERY on page 3
Ultimate Frisbee, Flyin’ High
see NOH8 on page 2
Campus Pantry Workers Take Donations For World Food Day by ZESSNA GARCIA Staff Writer
World Food Day is a worldwide program by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in order to create awareness on the issues of hunger and how it can be addressed in the community. “One of the goals is to call attention to food shortages and hunger around the world and strategies for how to go about getting food to people,” said Michele Halsell managing director of the applied sustainability center. World Food Day will be observed Sunday, Oct. 16 globally but will be observed Friday, Oct. 14 on-campus in order for students to participate, said Nick Brown, director for campus sustainability because of time conflicts because of fall break. This will be the fourth year the UA participates in
World Food Day. In years past UA students have participated in food banks during football games, worldwide broadcast discussion panels and as a final event a Langar Lunch, Halsell said. Langar Lunches are a Sikh tradition in India and it is a community kitchen where “everyone is invited to partake in the meal,” Halsell said. The observation of World Food Day will conclude with the annual Langar Lunch in the Union room 507 and this event will be open to the public, Brown said. Ed Nicholson the director of community relations will be the guest speaker for this event; also speaking will be Julia Lyon senior, biology major and VAC (Volunteer Action Center) Full Circle Chairman.
In This Issue:
News
see FOOD on page 3
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sophomore Mary Meigs tries to defend as freshman Taylor Curtis makes the catch. Both Meigs and Curtis are members of the UA’s Ultimate Frisbee Club team.
Campus Lighting Tours Help Safety by EMILY JONES Staff Writer
With the growing student population comes the heightened concern for student safety at the UA. To ensure that campus has the safest conditions for students, the Residents’ Interhall Congress, UAPD and Reggie Houser, assistant director of housing, collaborated on
News
a plan to check light fixtures and sidewalk and brush maintenance on campus. Campus lighting tours happen two or three times each year, Houser said, but the groups are mostly faculty and staff, usually all male and take hours because of the size of the campus. There is also a maintenance worker who drives around campus monthly to survey the lighting.
Features
Features
These efforts seemed ineffective, “it is hard to judge lighting in the eyes of a student,” Houser said. Tyler Priest, vice president of RIC, and Houser revised the lighting tour to make it a student project. Houser separated the campus into 13 zones and made volunteering as a student more appealing. “We came up with some incentives like hot
Sports
Architecture Students Obsessive Compulsive New Wilco Album Has Banned List Has Appeal Midseason Report Solid Sound to Rebellious Readers Arkansas is off to the Adapt to New Classes Disorder Week Students in the architecture department have been moved to different classrooms.
Page 3 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011 VOL. 106, NO. 21 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM
As Mental Illness Awareness week passes, a new week highlighting OCD begins.
“The Whole Love” does well with both upbeat and slower songs.
Five banned books that should be read in honor of Banned Books Week.
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WEATHER FORECAST
TODAY 78°
WEDNESDAY 76°
THURSDAY 75°
see LIGHTING on page 2
Opinion
Immigration Debate Lacks Practical Solution
best start in coach Bobby The winner-take-all immigraPetrino’s four seasons. Check tion debate ignores problems out the good and bad for the caused by an increasing Razorbacks’ first six games. undocumented immigrant population.
Page 8 FRIDAY 73°
chocolate, t-shirts,” said Cameron Mussar, president of the RIC. Participating in the tours will also serve as a resume builder, Houser said, because it “shows your involvement in the safety of the community.”
SATURDAY 74°
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SUNDAY 74°
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NEWS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
PAGE 2
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Week Arrives by LANDON REEVES Staff Writer
Last week was Mental Illness Awareness Week, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The week of events originated in 1990 when Congress declared the first week of October mental Illness awareness week and since then mental health advocates from all over the nation have sponsored activities for the event. The UA’s Counseling and Psychological Services staff were too busy doing their jobs to fully participate in MIAW, said Rosalyn Davis of UA’s mental health commission. “We were doing training we needed to conduct over a unit to better serve our students,” Davis said. “We didn’t have anything scheduled. Our time is pretty much focused on serving our students right now because there is so many of them on campus who need our assistance so our ability to do projects and outreach presentations has been slightly hampered.” CAPS staff flew in Dr. Jason Kilmer for a training session
over drug and alcohol related problems. He is an investigator or co-investigator on several studies evaluating prevention and intervention efforts for alcohol and drug use by college students and the 2004 recipient of the Outstanding Mid-Level Professional award of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators according to campusoutreachservices.com. “He is one of the people who is pretty prominent in drug and alcohol research especially as it pertains to counseling,” Davis said about Kilmer. CAPS was not the only place that was busy during MIAW with work and training. The psychology department was also distracted did not schedule any events for last week but the upcoming week is a different story, said Jeffery Lohr, UA psychology professor. The week of Oct. 10 through the 16 is obsessive compulsive disorder awareness week, Lohr said. International OCD Foundation has started the “Dare to believe” campaign to educate people about the mental illness
and help victims of OCD find treatment, according to the foundation’s website. “OCD is the doubting disease; patients find themselves in compulsive rituals because of the doubts in their minds,” said Jeff Szymanski, executive director of the International OCD Foundation. “Through our ‘Dare to Believe’ campaign we want OCD sufferers to confront and overcome those doubts, knowing that there is a larger community supporting them throughout their journeys.” The IOCDF will host “A Night to Believe,” from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at the UA Memorial Hall room 113. The event will be a live video stream from Boston of “creative expression” that was submitted from people across the country. The expressions include film, music, poetry and short story all relating to OCD, according to IOCDF websites. Beverages, pizza and parking will be provided gratis for those who attend. “With OCD it is hard for me to focus sometimes and with that comes a lot of stress,” said Corena Bickel, a sopho-
more with an anthropology major and OCD. “When I have a lot to do it gets stuck in my head and I can’t stop thinking about it. I have to try and focus on one thing at a time. College isn’t the easiest thing with OCD but I try not to let it control my life.” Bickel was diagnosed with OCD 6 years ago and received counseling for 4 of those years as well as medication to help control the illness, Bickel said. “Now I can manage it on my own, I wouldn’t say it is not hard, but it is easier,” Bickel said. If there are any students who feel they need someone to talk to about mental illness, call the CAPS help line 479575-5276 or the Arkansas Crisis Center 1-888-274-7472. “There are lots of things we want students to know about mental health and their ability to come get help,” Davis said. “Students who feel like they are in distress or need some assistance they are welcome to come over, someone is always available to talk to students and we would happily welcome them here.”
Riding the Waves at Beaver Lake
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Sean Steele, junior, jet skis on Beaver Lake to relax during the weekend after a long week of classes.
LIGHTING from page 1
The tour groups will be comprised of students, who will survey the lighting and safety precautions on campus in the fall, and again in the spring to compare results, Mussar said. “The plan is to recruit students to fill out a report on the areas they walk through anyway,” Houser said, “so it would only take 15 minutes, but we would receive true student input.” The test tour on Oct. 26 will focus on the north side of campus around Reid and Maple Hill residence halls to see how smoothly the new plan works. “Students will be asked to fill out a report on concerning areas,” Houser said, and the faculty and staff involved in the project will submit the work orders. There may be a second lighting tour in the fall, Priest said, and one again in the spring. The focus of the tours is on overall safety. Students, faculty and staff will report broken lights, cracks in the sidewalks, and branches in walk ways, Priest said, and there is an option for additional lighting if requested. The repairs and additional lighting will be covered by the general maintenance fees and residence hall fees, Houser said. The results of the lighting tours are not only to fix problems but also to strengthen the campus community by encouraging students to model a neighborhood watch program where the residents take initiative and report broken fixtures and safety hazards, Houser said.
NOH8
from page 1 Bringing the NOH8 Campaign to Fayetteville “was a dream that started last year as we decided funding for fall semester,” Wasson said. “We never really thought it could happen, but the more we figured out all the details, we found it was possible.” Judd Harbin, associate dean of students and advisor to PRIDE, said the UA welcomes the campaign. “I am thrilled that PRIDE found the right partnerships to make this happen,” Harbin said. “I am pleased that PRIDE took point in organizing this opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and community members to show their support,” he said. Jason Rogers, a board member who represents advocacy initiatives for the NWA Center for Equality, mirrored the excitement for this event. "This is an amazing achievement to bring this campaign here. The NOH8 Campaign has been instrumental in bringing awareness and activism towards the fight for equality through their photo campaign,” Rogers said. Photographs will be taken at Hog Haus on Dickson Street, from 3 to 6 p.m. The cost is $40 for an individual photo, and $25 per person for group photos. In addition to this event, PRIDE will be hosting an informational table outside Arkansas Union from 11 a.m.
through the afternoon, and will provide free cupcakes to celebrate National Coming Out Day. On Wednesday, Oct. 12, the group will hold their 13th
SERGIO MALDONADO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Annual Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Vigil in remembrance to those who have lost their lives to hate crimes. This event will take place in the Union Mall from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
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NEWS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
Frats at Bat for Charities
CRIME REPORT: Monday, October 3, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
Breaking Or Entering; Theft Of Property occurred between 10:00 p.m. Thursday 09/29/11 and 10:00 a.m. Friday 09/30/11 A student reported someone stole the parking permit from his vehicle while the vehicle was parked in the Harmon Avenue Parking Garage.
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 3:03 p.m.
Harassing Communications occurred at 10:47 p.m. Thursday 09/29/11 A student who lives off-campus reported two acquaintances sent harassing Facebook messages and blocked her from seeing their accounts.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 1:26 p.m.
Burglary; Theft Of Property occurred between 10:00 a.m. Friday 09/02/11 and 6:00 p.m. Monday 09/05/11 A student reported someone stole a necklace from her room in Reid Hall.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 2:54 p.m.
Criminal Mischief occurred between 4:00 p.m. Monday 10/03/11 and 12:30 a.m. Tuesday 10/04/11 A staff member reported someone broke a window at University House.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
JACKI FROST STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Theft Of Property occurred between 1:15 p.m. Tuesday 10/04/11 and 9:00 a.m. Wednesday 10/05/11 A staff member reported someone stole a poster from the second floor lobby of Willard J. Walker Hall. Update: Friday 10/07/11 at 09:00 The staff member reported the poster was found on the third floor and had been misplaced instead of stolen.
Thursday, October 6
Criminal Mischief occurred at 9:00 p.m. Saturday 09/24/11 The house mother at Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity House reported someone threw a golf ball and broke a window at the fraternity house.
Thursday, October 6
Harassment and Harassing Communications occurred between 09:00 and 1:15 p.m. Thursday 10/06/11 A student reported an acquaintance sent harassing messages and the student’s roommate scattered the student’s belongings around their room and on the floor and moved out of the room.
Thursday, October 6
Theft Of Property (Shoplifting) occurred between 7:00 and 7:18 p.m. Thursday 10/06/11 A staff member reported someone stole two shirts from the University Bookstore.
Sophomore John Forsyth plays in a game of softball with his fraternity brothers at Lake Fayetteville Sunday for Tri Delta’s philanthropy event Frats at Bat. All proceeds went to St. Jude.
CLERY
from page 1 CAPS, or counseling and psychological services, is a confidential consultation and other services provided to members of the university community to solve problems, understand themselves, grow personally and develop more satisfying relationships with friends and family, according to the CLERY Report. Coun-
FOOD
from page 1 “We are especially proud this year to have the new Full Circle food pantry on our campus,” Brown said. The Full Circle Campus Pantry will be taking donations of food items from now until the Oct. 14 in order to assist in World Food Day. The Full Circle Campus Pantry is open
Architecture Students Adapt to Makeshift Classrooms by BRITTANY NIMS Staff Writer
Students and faculty in the UA Fay Jones School of Architecture are adapting this semester to temporary classrooms, lecture halls and studio space after being relocated from Vol Walker Hall, which is undergoing major renovations, officials said. That building housed classrooms, lecture halls, and exhibition and studio space for architecture students and first-year landscape architecture students. They will return to Vol Walker in fall 2013. The transition hasn’t been as bad as initially expected, said Marlon Blackwell, chairman of the architecture department and lead architect on the project. “We’re working through it,” he said. “There hasn’t been a lot of grumbling from students or faculty, which is unusual.” The landscape architecture department has not seen significant changes because of the renovations, which includes the addition of a new design center, said Kimball Erdman, assistant professor of landscape architecture. “The biggest change for our department comes with those entry-level students, and they are now with architecture students in the field house,” Erdman said of the temporary quarters those students share with the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences. Second- through fifthyear landscape architecture students have studio space in
Memorial Hall, where they share space with the psychology department. Traditionally, first-year students have class in Vol Walker, he said. Because of the renovations, first- through fifth-year architecture studios and first-year landscape architecture studio have been moved from Vol Walker to the old field house. Additionally, architecture faculty has been moved to the E.J. Ball office building on the Fayetteville Square. Architecture classes take place across campus. “People are very adaptive and it’s only temporary,” Blackwell said. “It could be worse.” Some students prefer the new studio space offered in the field house. “[Last year] I didn’t see a lot of the upperclassmen’s work done, but in this setting, because everyone is in the same room, you can see it and you can get more help from different years,” said sophomore architecture major Brooke Mosely. Freshman architecture major Kady Hendrix agreed that the main benefit of the new space is the ability to talk to upperclassmen. “I really like that we can collaborate with other years,” she said. “We don’t know what we’re doing and they do.” Studio spaces in the renovated Vol Walker will not have this openness between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen, Blackwell said. “For the first time, we’re all under one room, in one big space. It makes me worry
about trying to move back to the other space,” he said. “People may not want to do it.” While many students and faculty enjoy the openness of the new studio space, they agree there are some disadvantages to the transition. “The acoustics in [the field house] are horrible,” said Mosely. “And there’s barely any storage space.” Shane Maloney, a freshman architecture student, agreed that noise in the space is a problem. “Some of us first-years like to have a little fun and sometimes we get a little loud,” he said. “I don’t think the fifthyears like us too much.” Some students have had to adjust their schedules to accommodate this semester’s change in class locations. “It’s not as time-efficient,” said Matt Poe, a fifth-year architecture student. “We’re used to waiting until the last minute and running downstairs for class. Now we have to go across campus.” Faculty have discussed ways to continue the collaboration between studio years in the new building, Blackwell said. “I think what we’re going to attempt to do is organize the layout of the studios in the new building so that it allows for a greater interaction between younger students and older students,” he said. The architecture, landscape architecture and interior design departments are expected to move into the new building fall 2013, he said.
selors do not make crime reports but may inform their clients of the opportunity to make voluntary, confidential reports to other authorities. The CLERY Report also collects data on those crimes reported as hate crimes. In 2010 there was one crime characterized by ethnicity/origin and/or religion bias. The Annual Fire Safety Report is included in this report as well. This shows all
fires that occurred in campus buildings. In 2010 there were only four fires reported in campus buildings. The CLERY Report is a federally mandated report that every college is required to compile and release. It compiles statistics on a variety of crimes and on fires reported. The crimes included in the report are murder/nonnegligent manslaughter, neg-
ligent manslaughter, forcible sex offenses, non-forcible sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, liquor law arrests, liquor law violations referred for disciplinary action, drug law arrests, drug law violations referred for disciplinary action, illegal weapons possession arrests and illegal weapons violations referred for disciplinary action.
on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and is located on the back entrance of Bud Walton Hall. “I’m excited to be involved in World Food Day for the first time this year,” Lyon said. The food pantry was open in the spring of 2011 and the pantry “serves the needs of anyone who is in or near our campus who from time to time need food,” Brown said.
The Full Circle Pantry will continue to participate in World Food day, Lyon said. For the past few years “Tyson food has been a great partner to us,” Brown said. Tyson has been one of the biggest supporter of this program. Not only is hunger a global issue but it is an issue that is closer to home. “A lot of times I think people tend to think that hunger
is something that happens in other place, but really hunger happens in Arkansas, in the Delta, it happens here in Fayetteville in our own backyard,” Halsell said. As for the pantry on campus, “items that Full Circle is most in need are canned tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, rice, dry beans, cereal, crackers and toiletries,” Lyon said.
OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
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EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
PAGE 4 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
HEBRON CHESTER STAFF CARTOONIST
FROM THE BOARD
Immigration Debates Lack Practical Solution Uncommon Sense
ASG’s Revolving Door The Associated Student Government lost another executive officer. Matt Bakke, who was elected and sworn in as the ASG treasurer last spring, resigned Wednesday. ASG’s revolving door started shortly after election results were announced last April when Secretary Elect Sydney Dunn stepped down. Dunn was the only member of the opposite campaign to be elected, and ASG President Michael Dodd picked Pug Pate to replace her. However, Pate transferred out of the UA during the summer, and Bailey Moll was selected to replace Pate. Moll formally became the ASG secretary when he was elected during the fall elections. But, as with the secretaries, Dodd has already pointed an interim treasure—Austin Reid, last year’s ASG associate treasurer. Reid ran for ASG treasurer last spring and lost by two percent—or less than 100 votes. Reid will have to be elected during the vacancy election that take places at the end of October. We hope that whoever is elected, Reid or otherwise, will keep the position until the next secretary is elected in the spring. The treasurer is probably the worst position— aside from the presidency— to have unnecessary turnover on. Bakke’s resignation caused two pieces of legislation that were supposed to be voted on during Tuesday’s Senate meeting to be pushed back by at least a week. (They had to be discussed by the Senate’s appropriation committee members, and the ASG treasurer is the chair of the appropriations committee.) Also with the next resident student organization funding session, which are also overseen by the ASG treasurer, having someone that is settled in and familiar with the funding process is important. Either way, we would like to thank Bakke for his service as ASG’s treasurer. While we wish that he had been able to stay on for consistency’s sake, we understand that circumstances can bring about unexpected situations, and we wish him luck in his future endeavors. As for ASG’s turnover, we hope this is the last time we’ll have to report on one of ASG’s five executive officers resigning.
by CHRIS SONNTAG
Traveler Columnist
Recently in Alabama, legislation passed requires schools to check students’ immigration status. Because of this, shortages of workers have appeared in industries like agriculture as immigrants head for the borders, and thousands of Hispanic students have stopped attending school for fear of arrest or deportation. Many immigrants have quit working in Alabama and are beginning to move to Arkansas and other states, said KSPR anchor Leigh Moody. Arkansas had a 196 percent growth rate in its immigrant population during the 1990s, the fourth largest in the nation, according to a Winthrop Rockefeller report. This growth continued leading to an estimated 50,000 undocumented immigrants living in Arkansas, according to the Federation for American Immigrant Reform. The Census Bureau put the total immigrant population at more than 150,000 people, while other studies concluded that almost half of the immigrant population of Arkansas lives here illegally. Because of this, Arkansas has become a locus of conflict about the idea of immigrants receiving rights or a path to citizenship, as many have come to see them as a burden on the system, especially around Northwest Arkansas, where a large amount of the Hispanic boom was concentrated. Representative Steve Womack, while mayor of my “hometown” of
Rogers, pushed for the classification of undocumented immigration as a “nuisance” to allow the city to deal with the issue, and had six officers trained by Immigration and Customs agents to specifically target undocumented immigrationrelated crimes. As a U.S. representative, he voted for the “Birthright Citizenship Act,” which would stop birthright citizenship for anyone who was not born to at least one American parent or legal resident or member of the U.S. Armed Forces, as did Senator John Boozman, who held Womack’s seat before being elected to the Senate in 2010. In 2008, universities across Arkansas, especially the UA, were at the center of debates arising from the offering of in-state tuition rates to possible undocumented immigrants even if they hadn’t listed a Social Security number on the entrance application. Nine other states’ governments explicitly allow the offering of in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants, while others essentially dodge the issue and look the other way. Governor Mike Beebe stated offering in-state tuition would likely violate the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution, as stated in an opinion signed while he was Attorney General in 2005. However, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said in an advisory opinion that schools do not have to verify a student’s legal status and that “undocumented individuals may enroll in Arkansas’ public colleges and universities,” though he added that schools may make citizenship a requirement or check a student’s status on its own. About half of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are those who came legally but overstayed their visas. Immigration officials, if they find out an immigrant has overstayed their visa, can block any sort of legal residence or immigra-
tion for as much as 10 years. Generally, those who overstay are unable to obtain a new visa. Even the renewal process can be very difficult and tedious, and to do so sometimes requires you to leave the country to begin a reapplication process. If someone makes the mistake of allowing it to expire, or doesn’t have enough money to leave the country to begin the process and come back later, he or she is just plain out of luck. As an immigrant who will soon start the citizenship process myself, this issue is particularly interesting to me. I feel like one of the reasons for the high number of undocumented immigrants is the difficulty of the legal process of attaining residence and citizenship, especially after the events of September 11, 2001, when virtually all immigration requests halted as the system was paralyzed for several years. The backlog of requests is astounding. At the same time, I feel as if even those who condemn undocumented immigrants, if their positions were switched, would likely have done the same for their families in the search for a better life and crossed the border illegally if necessary. At this point, the United States has roughly twelve million undocumented immigrants. There is no way that all of them could be deported—the system simply does not have the means to identify, locate, detain and deport all of them. I do not see how hounding them as the Arizona and Alabama laws, and indeed, even as some have proposed in the Arkansas legislature, could at all be the answer. I understand the severity of the problem—it is clear that no one wants to set up even more incentives in any way for those who would immigrate illegally, but at the same time, if we as a nation refuse to let any of them be educated, as is being done in Alabama, or make it
tough for anyone to enter and give themselves over to the social contract that is living in America, then we are at the same time helping to create a self-perpetuating and possibly permanent under class of people who will be both uneducated and disenfranchised. And frankly, with the sort of growth that the Hispanic population is having in America, that sort of situation can not last long, nor should it. Jonathan Chavez’s case last year, which is only one among many similar stories of those who would wish to further their education, is a clear example of how laws are harming those who could make some of the best Americans. And as much as the idea of providing more benefits to undocumented immigrants is, quite honestly, unappealing, Chancellor G. David Gearhart’s push for the availability of education to the children of undocumented immigrants is something I can stand behind, mostly because it is a pragmatic solution to a problem that can not be solved by trying to deport all undocumented immigrants or by simply offering them all amnesty. However, it is not enough— there needs to be more done to ease the process of actual legal immigration along with making illegal immigration a less appealing move. What we are seeing in Alabama is a symptom of the problem--an immigration system that discourages people from acting through the proper channels with frustration and red tape. Its effects on those who would wish to better themselves and their community could compound and cause harm, and as a nation that was built on immigration, that is not the American way. Chris Sonntag is a columnist for The Traveler. His columns runs bimonthly, every other Tuesday.
Comments From The Traveler Website, www.uatrav.com Re: The Waiting Game JACK RUBY: Terrific reporting! Thanks for finding an answer to the question many of us graduates have been wondering about.
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR Saba Naseem MANAGING EDITOR Mattie Quinn OPINION EDITOR Jordain Carney ENTERPRISE EDITOR Samantha Williams CONTACT US The Arkansas Traveler welcomes letters to the editor from all interested readers. Letters should be at most 300 words and should include your name, student classification and major or title with the university and a day-time telephone number for verification. Letters should be sent to traveler@uark.edu.
Re: University in Middle of Diversity Pack JEREMY: Explain why I should care how many of any specific color of people are anywhere unless I am trying to make some kind of aerially photographed human artwork. T. MORRIS: don’t understand. So according to you, Arkansas
is a second rate institution compared to Ole Miss because we literally have less African American students enrolled. This is bizarre logic, given that around 70 percent of University of Arkansas and Ole Miss students are from Arkansas and Mississippi respectively. Thus, since Mississippi is comprised of 40 percent African Americans compared to Arkansas’ 15 percent it stands to reason they will have more African Americans; this is not them doing anything great. In fact, in a certain (and more consistent) logic, Ole Miss’ 15 percent African American student body is
less representative of their states than the UofA’s 7-ish percent. They’re actually behind us in representing the diversity of the student pool they are drawing from. And this whole discourse presumes that universities should represent the diversity of the world around them. This is not an easy claim to make to prove. So please, just think before your take for granted that “Education and Success = More Diversity” where diversity is literally defined as the number of African Americans on campus, as this is a ridiculous position. And if you cant redefine your goals, or at least show why they make sense, then please, as Jeremy suggests, “just stop.”
Re: Taking Back America From The One Percent STAN OLIVER: I have an idea. Instead of complaining about those mena [sic] old rich people. Why don’t we quit hanging around the Union bumming cigarettes and get a fricking job. What jerk off professor came up with this “brilliant idea” to go and “protest” AGAIN. Will they be one of the idiots down on Dickson beating on a bucket with a stick while singing the “China National Anthem”. I will be the guy telling the police to bust their heads. Look me up.
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THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
FEATURES PAGE 5
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
Banned List Has Appeal to Rebellious Readers by JAMES DUNLAP Staff Writer
In the wake of Banned Books Week, which transposed earlier this month, the following is a list of five books that have been banned or challenged that all college students should read and may read as a part of courses offered on campus:
COURTESY PHOTOS
1. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis— a psychological thriller and satirical novel published in 1991. It is the story of Patrick Bateman, an Investment Banker who runs in a fast circle around Wall Street. On the surface, this appears to be a book about a killer, but it is really a critique of the yuppie culture, the failure of the individual—generic music, clothing and lifestyles blur the person and make them a shade of a human. The society in which Bateman lives is a whirlwind of pricey clothes and egotistical banter. He confesses to the grisly murders that he commits and people think he is kidding. This book is written in diary form so it covers everything from the banality of returning videotapes, to the torture, murder and decomposition of men and women, and even a critique of popular singers at the time like Huey Lewis and the News.
2. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov— the story of Humbert Humbert and his consuming love for nymphet Delores, or as he calls her, Lolita. This novel was published in 1955. The specialty of this novel is the way it takes the reader where they don’t want to go. Delores is fourteen, and Humbert marries her mother to get to her. By the end, the reader finds himself almost feeling sympathy for the true love that is between Humbert and Lolita. This captivating story is rendered beautifully by one of the true masters of not only English, but Russian and French literature as well.
3. Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison— the story of Ruth Anne “Bone” Boatwright examines the expectations of gender and mother-child relationships, conditions of class, race, sexuality and gender in Bone's life and with others, published 1992. Allison pushes the story along with her powerful and precise voice. The book has been banned in the past for language and detailed descriptions of graphic scenes.
For all that has been said of these books, one thing remains clear: they are truly one of a kind and can never completely kept out of the hands of students.
4. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad— Marlow is an Englishman who takes a foreign assignment from a Belgian trading company as a river boat captain in Africa. Heart of Darkness exposes the dark side of Belgian colonization while exploring the three levels of darkness that Marlow encounters: the darkness of the Congo wilderness, the darkness of the Belgians' cruel treatment of the natives, and the unfathomable darkness within every human being that allows them to commit atrocities. Marlow is employed to transport ivory down river, but his more pressing assignment is to return Kurtz, a genius ivory trader as mysterious as the land itself, to civilization. This is a story within a story or frame narrative. It follows Marlow as he recounts the story of his adventure from dusk to late night, in which the passage of time and the darkening sky during the fictitious narrativewithin-the-narrative parallel the atmosphere of the story. Heart of Darkness has been controversial since its 1902 publication, but despite challenges and numerous charges, Heart of Darkness remains an irremovable part of the canon of Western literature.
New Wilco Album Brings Solid Sound by NICK BROTHERS Staff Writer
Wilco: “The Whole Love” 8.5 out of 10 It’s always a pleasure to be impressed by an album on its first play-through. The eightalbum veterans of Wilco bring that feeling with the band’s new album The Whole Love, released Sept. 27 by its selfowned dBpm Records. The 12-track LP is a joy to listen to, and its great sounds are sure to attract a wide variety of interests. Wilco has been around since 1995 with their first studio release of their album, A.M. The Whole Love is its eighth studio album, and the band has been through many band members since. The band consists of all-time members Jeff Tweedy (guitar, vocals) and John Stirrat (bass), plus Nels Cline (guitar), Pat Sansone and Mikael Jorgensen (multi-instruments), and Glenn Kotche (drummer). Its genre is probably best described as alternative-popAmerican rock. Think My Morning Jacket mixed with Electric Light Orchestra and Tom Petty. The Whole Love is a solid album. Musically, the compositions throughout the album are great. The orchestra section in some of the songs, especially in the experimental “The Art of Almost” and westernesque “Black Moon,” is soothing. The slower songs do their part. They evoke thought and moodiness, like in “Sunloathe,” and the happier songs get you going. Just about every musician in the band shines at different parts in each song too. The songs aren’t simple either: Wilco has a big sound to their music, and at times there can be a lot of cool sounds going
on. The album spans many different genres, too, from progressive rock to alt-country, to almost western and alternative pop-rock. It’s a great ride. However, the structure and organization of the album’s songs spike up and down track by track. At times it kills the mood and energy of the previous song with the mood and tone reversal of the current one. So it comes off as choppy with a full listen, but all the songs are great—they just don’t flow through the album. It’s hard to keep up with, even though the tracks are consistently good. The strongest feature of The Whole Love is the blissfulness of the more upbeat songs on the album. Wilco proves here that there can indeed be catchy pop-like music that doesn’t have to cave to the conventions of today’s pop music. While listening to “I Might,” “Dawned on Me,” “Born Alone,” or “Capitol City”, the songs will have you wanting to soak up the warm sunlight and keep your head bobbing with a grin on your face. The music in those tracks are far from depressing, and it’s the moving rhythms by Kotche, the popping bass lines from Stirrat, and rocking leads from Cline that make sure of it. Another likeable feature is the band’s jamming prowess. One of the strengths of each song comes at their end when it feels like the band is on the cusp of letting a huge jam session out, but due to the parameters of studio albums, they cut it short. This is okay because they seem to hint at an awesome live show. The Whole Love is definitely worth checking out, and there are bound to be multiple songs that you will enjoy from this album. Track after track, Wilco brings a solid, well-polished piece of American rock music.
The music is fun, bright, sad, experimental, graceful and, as a whole, great. Standout Tracks: “I Might,” the album’s single, gets moving from the very beginning with its fetching hook of the acoustic guitar and snare drum pattern. “Dawned On Me” is melodically superior to many of the other tracks on the album and it’s crazy catchy. At times it sounds like Electric
always strongly melodic, and the percussion parts are always impressive; solid stuff here. Originality: 8 Every song has an inspired sound. Overall, the music is well-oiled and is something new and different to most music out there. Most songs sound like they’ve been influenced by other greats before them; some songs sound like Tom Petty, others sound like the Beatles
COURTESY PHOTO
Light Orchestra with its chorus. “Black Moon” has a nice western-folk sort of tone to it that highlights it as one of the better slow songs on the album. The orchestral bits that layer into the song are the utmost tranquil. Musicianship: 9 Pretty much everything heard on The Whole Love is pleasing to the ear. It’s a joy to hear all the sounds at play, and the peppier songs are very melodic and get you hooked in pretty quickly. The bass both pops and cements the sound, the guitar and keyboards are
and other songs sound like other older bands. Lyricism: 8 The lyrics here aren’t exactly enthralling, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t enjoyable or relatable. They definitely play their role and bring richness to each of the songs. Some highlights include the line “Sadness is my luxury” on the song “Born Alone” and the remorsefully sweet “I forget that I know, I regret letting you go. I can’t help it if I fall in love with you again, I’m calling just to let you know it dawned on me,” chorus of “Dawned on Me.”
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald— probably Fitzgerald’s best known work, The Great Gatsby is as much about the 1920s and small affluent communities as it is about the fabulous life of Gatsby. The mysterious and prosperous Gatsby undertakes an affair that disrupts the apparent harmony of New York's upper classes and leads to tragedy. James Gatz changes his name to Jay Gatsby and manufactures a persona "out of his own Platonic self-conception." Just prior to service in World War I, Gatsby falls in love with Daisy, a beautiful, rich woman. After the war, Gatsby pursues Daisy, even though she married a gruff, tasteless man of her class. Gatsby buys a huge mansion on Long Island and throws lavish parties financed by the illegal sale of liquor. But Daisy rejects Gatsby's pursuit, as she is controlled by conventions of her class. In the end, it is inherited wealth and social standing that determine much more of the characters's destiny than is determined by talent and individual initiative.
Campus Catholic Group Goes Beyond Mass by CONNOR WOODY Staff Writer
If you only knew Catholicism by the movies, you would know it by the ritual of the Mass: the kneeling and standing, the priest and altar servers, the incense and readings, the solemn organ music, and the Eucharist. And while the Mass is a central aspect of the religion, St. Thomas Aquinas and their Catholic Campus Ministry want to shed a more welcoming light on the religion. “Catholicism is a culture, and St. Thomas is a big group of kids that follow that culture,” said Liz Beadle, a leader of an Outreach Team in CCM in charge of reaching out to Catholic students on the UA campus. “I feel like St. Thomas sometimes pigeonholes itself as only for a certain type of college student,” Beadle said. “I want St. Thomas to feel like a home for everyone. The word “catholic” means universal and there are so many Catholics on this campus who have never found a home at St. Thomas. We all have different backgrounds, different groups of friends, and different interests, but St. Thomas should feel like a home to everyone—that is the main goal for our Outreach Team this year.” Connor McWilliams, a junior mechanical engineering student, is a leader of the Faith Team at St. Thomas, a team that facilitates discussions and provides reflections for the Catholic community there. “This year the Faith Team is playing a more active role in the mass,” McWilliams said. “In an effort to grow the community at St. Thomas, we will be leading training sessions for all liturgical ministries on Sunday, Oct. 9. We are also very excited to see an increase in attendance at Praise Unplugged and Hot Topicz.” Praise Unplugged is a time for praise and worship songs every
Wednesday at 8 p.m. led by UA students, and Hot Topicz, “consists of brief 30-minute discussions on topics of the faith that matter to college students,” according to the church website. Hot Topicz is on Thursdays from 6-7, and includes a free dinner. Past topics have included ‘Modest is Hottest,’ ‘Dating: How far is too far?,’ and ‘What the Church teaches about gay marriage.’ And while St. Thomas members spend a lot of time on interesting activities, the focus is still on spirituality. “What’s unique about St. Thomas as a university parish is that it is not simply about having fun and being social,” said Beadle. “We definitely do our fair share of that, but we also take our spirituality seriously. Service and activism are also very important here. We’re entirely student-run so it is catered directly to what Catholic students want and need about Catholics.” Alex Tingquist, a freshman, has been impressed with what St. Thomas is trying to do. “I’ve only had positive impressions of St. Thomas so far,” he said. “All members of the church and the youth group are welcoming.” And for Tingquist, St. Thomas has been a way to escape from the daily grind. “I think staying involved with your religion is very important for all college students, especially freshmen,” he said. “College is hectic and stressful, so having a place where you can go and chill out a few times a week is a great outlet. Plus, going to a religious celebration without parents’ breathing down your neck is gratifying. It gives you a sense of self and of responsibility.” “There is something going on just about every day of the week, McWilliams said. “The best way for someone to learn about St. Thomas is to just come and see for yourself.”
You can check out the Traveler online at uatrav.com or by scanning here:
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
DOWNTIME PAGE 6
Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
LAUGH IT UP
SUDOKU
Q: How do you find will smith in the snow? A: Follow the fresh prints! Breaking news: A toilet seat has been stolen from the local police station. Police have nothing to go on.
Q: What do you get when you put a yellow hat in
Difficulty:
the Red Sea?
A: A wet hat. Q: Why couldn’t the lifeguard save the hippie? A: He was too far out.
WELCOME TO FALLING ROCK
Josh Shalek
THAT MONKEY TUNE
Michael A. Kandalaft
BREWSTER ROCKIT
Tim Rickard
BLISS
Harry Bliss
CALAMITIES OF NATURE
CROSSWORD ACROSS
DOWN
1 Its “fleece was white as snow” 5 __ Sutra 9 Go with the flow 14 Pastoral verse 15 Pink-slipped 16 Ladies’ man 17 Nicolas of “Adaptation” 18 Got one’s uniform dirty, maybe 19 Mississippi, e.g. 20 Understand how things are done 23 Many frozen dinners are high in it 24 Taker of vows 25 Def Jam genre 28 Native American group 31 As plain as day, e.g. 33 Tax pro 36 Places to see links 38 Friend 40 Cancún uncle 41 36-Across opening 42 Simple floral garlands 47 Fair-hiring initials 48 Forensic facility 49 Spy wear 51 Sí or oui 52 Do-favor link 54 Broadsided 58 Stage name of Ehrich Weiss, for whom the ends of 20-, 36- and 42-Across were props 61 Wife of Abraham 64 Long, long time 65 “__ Three Lives”: TV oldie 66 Michelangelo figure 67 Pear variety 68 Charity 69 Suisse peaks 70 Like an animated Pea? 71 Cold-cock
1 The home team gets the last ones 2 Hersey’s “A Bell For __” 3 “Nearer, __, to Thee” 4 Messed up 5 Former Asian state known for goat wool 6 Wheel holder 7 Golda of Israel 8 Supplement 9 Poison in some whodunits 10 Kids’ book connectables 11 GP’s gp. 12 Gently stroke 13 Place for a ring 21 Racetrack surface 22 Door sign 25 Go through energetically, as drawers 26 1966 Michael Caine title role 27 Pasta topper 29 “Little Women” woman 30 Pioneering computer 32 Letters before nus 33 Tea leaves holder 34 Wood shaver 35 Fake name 37 Slinky’s shape 39 Fashion monogram 43 Steinway alternatives 44 Trucker with a handle 45 Never 46 “Elephant Boy” actor 50 Alaskan brown bear 53 Iraqis, usually 55 Nabisco brand named for its flavor 56 The Penguin, to Batman 57 Playground retort 58 Can’t stand 59 “Ouch!” 60 Fire truck item 61 Mineral spring 62 Feel sick 63 Workout unit
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
TODAY’S SOLUTION
Tony Piro
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
PAGE 7 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
Scan here to go to the Sports section on uatrav.com:
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER FOOTBALL
Midseason Football Report Record: 5-1, SEC Record: 1-1 Associated Press Ranking: No. 10 USA Today Coaches’ Ranking: No. 11
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas junior quarterback Tyler Wilson, senior receiver Joe Adams and junior linebacker Alonzo Highsmith have been standouts for the Razorbacks in the first six games of the season, leading the Hogs to a 5-1 record, the best start in coach Bobby Petrino’s four-year tenure . by JIMMY CARTER AND ZACH TURNER Traveler Staff
Editor’s Note: Arkansas enters its bye week and the midway point of its season 5-1 overall, the best start in coach Bobby Petrino’s four seasons. The following is a look at the good and bad of the Razorbacks’ first six games. Offensive MVP: QB Tyler Wilson Wilson has surpassed expectations in his first season as the starter and is on pace
to shatter predecessor Ryan Mallett’s passing records. The junior has already thrown for 1,779 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing just three interceptions. Maybe more impressively, he’s shown leadership and grit, calling a team meeting after the Alabama loss and repeatedly getting back up after taking big hits from opposing defenders.
forced Auburn to punt after a seven-minute drive to start the third quarter. Adams lined up at running back, took the pitch, hurdled junior fullback Kiero Small as Small made a key block, then was off to the races on the Razorbacks’ first play of the second half. The score gave the Hogs breathing room and was part of 31 unanswered points.
pains in pass and run blocking. The Razorbacks rank No. 8 in the SEC in rushing offense, No. 7 in sacks allowed. The Hogs have struggled to open holes for their running backs, while Wilson has taken a beating in several games.
caught four passes for 44 yards, but is just tied for sixth on the team with nine catches for 109 yards, while struggling with drops.
Biggest offensive disappointment: Part II – WR Greg Childs
Offensive Play of the Year: WR Joe Adams’ 92-yard touchdown run against Auburn
Biggest offensive disappointment: Part I – Offensive Line
The senior was a first-team preseason All-SEC selection, but has struggled in his return to the field after tearing his patella tendon and missing the final five games last season. He
The first-year linebacker has been nothing but sensational since earning the starting job during fall camp. Highsmith leads the team with 24 solo tackles and 7.5 tackles-forloss. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior seems to progress each game, evidenced by his 12 tackles Saturday against
Arkansas led 21-14 and
Arkansas had to replace three starters on the offensive line and has dealt with growing
Defensive MVP: LB Alonzo Highsmith
Auburn. He has already established himself as arguably the best tackler on the team. Best Defensive Play: Gameclinching fourth-down stop against Texas A&M Arkansas trailed then-No. 14 ranked Texas A&M 3517 at halftime, but rallied to take a 42-38 lead with 1:41 remaining in the game. On the subsequent drive, Aggies
see MIDSEASON on page 8
Growing With Each Game Junior linebacker Alonzo Highsmith stepping up for Hogs’ D by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas junior linebacker Alonzo Highsmith ranks second on the team with 41 tackles and has been one of the Razorbacks’ most consistent defensive players.
Arkansas junior linebacker Alonzo Highsmith may be the best player on the Razorback defense so far this season. Highsmith came to Arkansas from Phoenix College in Arizona and through just six games as a Razorback is second on the team with 41 tackles, while leading the team with 7.5 tackles for loss. The 6-foot1, 230-pound Missouri City, Texas native has been the Hogs
most consistent player on defense and seems to be in on just about every play. Highsmith contributes his success to the experience of each game. “Each game I feel my experience goes up and my eyes get better,” Highsmith said. “The experience of me out there playing live with the other guys has helped too.” Highsmith was part of a Razorbacks defense that limited Auburn sophomore running back Michael Dyer to a measly 34 yards on 14 carries in the
second half of the 38-14 Arkansas win after Dyer had a stellar first half with seven carries for 78 yards including a 55-yard touchdown scamper. “I was out there flying around to the ball and doing what I was coached to do,” Highsmith said. “I had a lot of fun tackling him (Michael Dyer). It felt great.” Dyer, a Little Rock, Ark., native, had made comments
see HIGHSMITH on page 8
COMMENTARY
Hogs in Position to Make Run Extra Points
JIMMY CARTER
jicarter@uark.edu Don’t look now, but Arkansas is positioning for a possible SEC Championship run. The Razorbacks have hit the halfway mark and arrive at their bye week 5-1. Alabama trounced the Hogs. The Crimson Tide have demolished everyone, though. Arkansas beat Texas A&M
and Auburn, finishing a tough three-week stretch with the first back-to-back wins over top-15 foes since 1999. Now, the Razorbacks have a realistic chance of being 10-1 heading into the Nov. 25 showdown against No. 1 LSU. Arkansas is ranked No. 10 now. That could be a top-five matchup with a lot on the line in Death Valley. Look at the schedule the rest of the way for the Razorbacks and you’ll see what I mean. Following the bye, the Hogs play at Ole Miss. Houston Nutt’s ship is sinking fast. Leonardo DiCaprio will probably be frozen by the end of the season and Arkansas should help contribute to Nutt’s second consecutive abysmal season.
The Razorbacks are on the road the following week, too, heading to Nashville to take on a decent Vanderbilt team. Still, the Commodores are the Commodores. The Hogs should be 7-1 entering November and a home matchup with South Carolina. The Gamecocks dismantled Kentucky 54-3 with Connor Shaw starting at quarterback Saturday. South Carolina is a dangerous team with a passing attack to go with sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore, but Arkansas handled the Gamecocks in Columbia last season. Expect the Razorbacks to pull away. The Hogs host Tennessee for Senior Day Nov. 12. If the
game was in Knoxville, I think the Volunteers might pose a threat. It’s not. They won’t. Mississippi State has looked awful lately, losing three of five and squeaking past Louisiana Tech and UAB in its wins. The Razorbacks get the Bulldogs in Little Rock and should be able to win and set up a potentially huge showdown with LSU. The Battle for the Golden Boot will be big regardless. It could be enormous, though. If the Hogs win out until the game – something they’ll be favored to do at this point – they stand a good chance of being ranked in the top 4-6. The Tigers’ defense is awesome, but Arkansas has five more games to perfect its pass
game and continue to improve its run game. If recent history is any indication, the game should be close. If LSU beats Alabama in Tuscaloosa Nov. 5 and enters the season finale undefeated, they will still be No. 1. A Razorbacks win could create a threeway tie for first, provided the Crimson Tide just lose once. The SEC West champion would then be decided by the team ranked highest in the BCS. A nine-game winning streak and win over the Tigers would give the Hogs a shot at earning the trip to Atlanta to play Georgia, Florida or South Carolina for the SEC Championship. A lot of things have to happen for this scenario to take
place. LSU has to win out until the Arkansas game, including the unsavory task of beating Alabama on the road. The Crimson Tide have the tiebreaker over the Razorbacks and don’t look like they’ll be challenged, short of a letdown, by any team other than the Tigers. The Hogs have to win their next five games. That looks increasingly doable. It should make for another fun stretch run for Arkansas fans. Jimmy Carter is the sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter @jicartersports.
SPORTS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PAGE 8
Arkansas junior quarterback Tyler Wilson met with the media to talk about his performance in the 38-14 win over No. 15 Auburn. He discussed completing 19 consecutive passes against the Tigers, his maturation as a quarterback and going into the bye week 5-1, filmed in the week leading up the Auburn game. Wilson is on pace to break predecessor Ryan Mallett’s single-season passing record, racking up 1,779 yards and 12 touchdowns in the Razorbacks’ first six games. What was it like completing 19 passes in a row? I think we got in a got in a good rhythm. We got in a good pace offensively. We were up-tempo. When you’re able to do that, you’re able to get in a rhythm. How big is it to beat two top-15 teams in a row for the first time since 1999 and just the second time in school history? Obviously, you think about winning these games. That’s why you play. We’ve always thought we had a good team. After the Alabama game, it was kind of a letdown. We’d built up for pretty much the entire summer on that game, but it shows character, the way we responded the last couple weeks. I’m proud of our team. Does it feel good to get revenge for the 65-43 loss at Auburn last season when you threw two fourth-quarter interceptions as they pulled away? Obviously it feels good to win your first SEC game. Little bit of revenge. I don’t hold it against them. I felt it was more me than them down there last year. Absolutely, happy. Did you realize you hit 19 passes in a row? No. You don’t. I think I should’ve hit every one of them. I look at my game and go, ‘Gah, that wasn’t very good.’ I told [offensive coordinator Garrick] McGee that on the sideline after. I said, ‘Gah, there are a lot of plays out there I wish I had back.’ Nineteen in a row’s good. Coach Petrino said you willed the team to the win. What did he mean by that? I just don’t like lose. Maybe you can see competitiveness in my eyes. The ship’s not going down. How big is getting this win going into the bye week? Does it set you up to contend for the SEC West title late in the season? It’s big. We can only take care of ourselves. We can only focus on us. We take care of our business and things will fall into place. We’re going to continue to work. There’s great teams and everybody’s got to play each other. Anything can happen. I’m going to keep my guys focused.
Tyler Wilson
Quarterback 6-foot-3 220 pounds Junior Greenwood, Ark. from MIDSEASON on page 7 quarterback Ryan Tannehill picked up an 8-yard gain on third down setting up a fourthand-two at the Texas A&M 39-yard line with 1:20 to play. On fourth down, Highsmith and junior defensive tackle DeQuinta Jones stuffed Texas A&M running back Christine Michael at the line of scrimmage for no gain, clinching the win. Biggest Defensive Disappointment: The defensive line
RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior linebacker Jerry Franklin and the Razorbacks’ defense has struggled to stop the run this season, ranking No. 9 in the SEC in rush defense.
The unit was touted by coaches as Arkansas’ best line in years, but has struggled to overcome injuries to key players and poor productivity from healthy players. Senior All-SEC defensive end Jake Bequette missed three games with a hamstring injury, while junior All-SEC end Tenarius
Wright is out 2-4 more weeks for a broken arm suffered against Alabama. The remainder of the line has struggled to produce, ranking No. 9 in the SEC in rush defense, last in sacks. Special teams MVP: P Dylan Breeding Adams has two punt returns for touchdowns this season, but they came in the season-opening rout of Missouri State. Breeding has been the most consistent player on special teams this season, though, averaging 44.1 yards per punt. His punts have often been high and un-returnable, forcing 10 of 30 punts to be faircaught. He’s also downed eight punts inside the 20-yard line. Special teams Play of the Year: PR Joe Adams’ 69-yard touchdown return against Missouri State Adams’ second punt return touchdown of the game was
the most exciting play of the season for Arkansas. He fumbled the end-over-end punt, picked it up then raced sideline to sideline before outrunning a helmetless Missouri State defender for the score. The play – coupled with his earlier touchdown return – ranked No. 7 on Sportscenters’s Top Plays following the game. Best coaching decision: Switching defensive fronts at halftime of the Texas A&M game The Aggies gouged Arkansas’ defense for 404 yards and 35-first half points, building an 18-point halftime lead. Coach Bobby Petrino suggested changing defensive fronts at halftime. The Razorbacks switched to an old front in the second half and held Texas A&M to a field goal, paving the way for the Hogs’ 42-38 comeback win.
from HIGHSMITH on page 7 earlier in the week via Twitter that he would be disappointed not to gain 200-plus yards on the Arkansas defense upon his return to the state. Highsmith said although the comments were not posted in the teams facilities that did circulate among talk from fellow Razorback players and it added some extra motivation. “He is a really good foot-
Worst coaching decision: Not calling a timeout before Alabama ran a fake punt for a touchdown Arkansas let the Crimson Tide trick them into the game’s first points of the Razorbacks’ conference opener. Alabama lined up for a punt in its first drive of the game from the Arkansas 37-yard line. The Razorbacks sniffed out the change in formation before the Crimson Tide shifted into their audibled play but it didn’t matter. Quarterback A.J. McCarron moved from holder to quarterback and hooked up with tight end Michael Williams to get the Tide on the board first. Arkansas didn’t call a timeout when Alabama audibled, something Petrino said he regretted. Alabama gained a tremendous amount of momentum from the already electric crowd after the 7-play, 80-yard drive on its way to a 38-14 rout of the Hogs.
ball player and we are happy we have him,” coach Bobby Petrino said after Highsmith’s performance against Auburn. “He really understands the game and with him and Jerry (Franklin) out there on the field it really helps us know what is going on.” Highsmith registered 12 tackles with 10 of those being solo tackles and two for a loss. The two tackles for a loss came on the same offensive series for Auburn that led to a Tiger punt.