RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: ERIK NORTHFELL
Head Start: Freshman Begins Work on 2028 Presidential Campaign by BRADY TACKETT Staff Writer
Editor’s note: The Faces of the 4,400 is an ongoing Traveler series profiling different freshmen students. It is part of the 4,400 Club, an initiative to cover the 2011-2012 UA record enrollment from various angles. Tyler Aborn Wells wants to be President of the United States. But first: freshman year. “I welcome the responsibility,” Wells says. “There’s long been in my family, and particularly a strong strain within me, that public service to one’s country is the utmost highest calling.” He sits sweating by the Union fountain, a tall, disarming figure with a Blackberry clipped to the waist of his suit. Other students pass in T-shirts and flip-flops. Wells is to meet with a lawyer today about a suit against his former Maple Hill suitemates. “The two individuals on the other side of the room decided, I guess from day one, that they did not like me, and so they took to the Internet and dragging my name through the mud. I have 15 pages here,” he says, patting a leather document case. “When my rights have been wronged, I stand up for my-
self,” he says. “I’m not going to let anyone slap me down.” Wells later said he elected not to file a suit, because “it’s a waste of my time and money for two bozos who probably aren’t going to make it past Christmas.” Wells only bristles when defending himself. He’s warm and intelligent, and he laughs heartily at his own jokes. His conversation is loud and confident, and often includes such
word as “pursuant” and “cohabitants.” Two years ago, he began crafting a document titled, “The Wells Agenda: A Real Plan for Moving America Forward,” which details the actions he would take if elected president. “It’s an evolving document and I’m sure by the time 2028 rolls around, when I’m first eligible to run, that it will be about 100 pages long,” he says.
The plan, currently at six pages, is divided neatly by subheadings like “Drill Baby Drill!” and “Privatization Works!” and ends with a proposal to end federal funding for agencies like the Department of Education and National Public Radio, among 23 others. “Did you know we have a Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds?” he says gleefully. “That’s some-
thing that’s on the kill list.” A bumblebee circles Wells’ drink. “Ah! You’re gonna come after my Diet Coke? You’re not getting any of it,” he tells the bee. Wells traces most of his political ideals to Ronald Reagan, whom he calls “the all-time conservative icon.” “I kind of subscribe to Reagan’s theory that we are a shining city upon a hill, and there’s a reason we’re a shining city
BEN FLOWERS ASST. PHOTO EDITOR “As President I will not waver to other nations, nor will I apologize for America. We are a special nation, and we will share our excellence with the world,” Tyler Wells wrote in a document that details the actions he would take if elected president.
upon a hill and they’re not.” Hence Wells’ foreign policy, defined in a section of the document called, “Standing Up for Americas [sic] Interests.” “As President I will not waver to other nations, nor will I apologize for America. We are a special nation, and we will share our excellence with the world,” he writes. Wells takes specific aim at Iran and North Korea, who “will be dealt with in no uncertain terms, they will be told what to do with their nuke programs.” Wells’ bold political aspirations took shape, he fondly recalls, in a ninth grade civics class taught by a woman named Mary Lawson. “She was a piece of work. You never knew what Mary was going to talk about. One day we could discuss the legislative branch, the next day we’d be on King George III. That was when the 2008 elections started getting going,” he says. Wells remembers life as a series of elections. He first remembers his parents dragging him to a polling station in the 2000 election. “When he was in grade school he would rather watch C-Span than watch other children's shows,” said Angela Wells, Tyler’s mother. “Tyler is strong-willed and minded. He is very goal-orientated,” she said in an email.
HEAD START on page 2
FEATURES THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 2
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2011
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
by EMILY DELONG Staff Writer
BEN FLOWERS ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
HEAD START from page 1 Wells’ parents divorced in 2005. Angela said that’s when Tyler’s father, Troy, practically disappeared from his life. “His relationship with his father is okay. His father calls him every once in a while,” she said. Tyler grew up in Jonesboro, a city that leaned Republican in the last election. “It’s interesting. Jonesboro, like the rest of the state, tends to go Republican at the national level and Democrat at the state level,” said Will McLean, interim chair of political science at Arkansas State University. Wells says the political climate is “really weird.” “At the county level, it’s dominated by conservative Democrats that would be better off in the Republican Party,” he said. Wells says his childhood “wasn’t normal by any means.” “Largely because I was a quiet kid when I was little, and I still am, to some extent. A bit of a loner. They say Ronald Reagan was kind of the same way,” he says. If Wells ever reaches that highest of office, he will be the first U.S. President with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. He was diagnosed when he was five, his mother said. “Yeah, I’ll be friendly and hospitable and whatnot, but it takes a long time for me to re-
ally open and let people in. Essentially, social interaction stuff is really, really difficult,” Wells says. One criterion of Asperger’s Syndrome, according to the DSM-IV, is failure to develop peer relationships. “I only had two really good friends throughout high school. It took a long time to really build those friendships,” Wells says. Another criterion is an “encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus.” Wells’ heroes are solitary leaders, from Reagan to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who Wells suspects might also suffer from Asperger’s. But Wells was never quiet when it came to politics. He even recalls making political jibes at a teacher in sixth grade. “My math teacher was a big Democrat, and every day leading up to the election, she came to school with a John Kerry button. One day I said, ‘Why are you voting for that flip-flopper?’ And she said, ‘Well, we all know you’re a Bush man.’” The next year, he battled with school administration. “We had a total ban on cellular telephones, but I had – and I still have the thing – a Hewlett-
Stepping into Stitch Vintage & Handmade is like stepping back in time: skirts, dresses, shirts, belts and hair clips, all from various eras, inhabit the quaint and sunny building. Owner Kaitlyn Lee stands, smiling, at the counter, happy with her surroundings and proud of her merchandise. "I just like the idea that every single piece has a story - you don't know where it's been, you don't know who owned it," Lee said. Unlike consignment shops, which buy from and sell to their customers, Stitch gets its vintage clothes from online vendors. This method allows Lee to handpick the clothes she wants to sell, eliminating the common consignment shop feeling of digging through trash to find treasure. "I wanted it to be selective," Lee said. "When it doesn't feel like a consignment store, people who don't like to shop in consignment stores still feel like they can shop here.” Because of this, Stitch's clientele is almost as varied as the eclectic nature of its location on Block Street. So far, Lee loves her shop's address (located in the building on the corner of Block and Center, next to Himalayan Mountain Shop) and everything it brings. "It's a very community-oriented place," Lee said of Block Street. "Everyone has come and introduced themselves to me. It's just nice. Everyone kind of supports everyone else." Not only do Block Street's friendly neighbors benefit Stitch, but so does the enormous amount of foot traffic created by events such as First Thursday and the farmers’ market. Stitch is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays, though Lee plans to open earlier on farmers’ market Saturdays. "I love the farmers’ market and
CONTESSA SHEW STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Stitch Vintage offers high quality items that are trendy for today’s fashion. They offer everything from shoes and clothes to decorative items.
the people it attracts," Lee said. "It was busy [last] Saturday because of it." Lee said that the idea for Stitch was born out of a previous tradition. "I went to college at Oklahoma State, where my roommate and I
of control, extremely successful. Not only have customers been interested in the array of things for sale, but potential vendors have been interested in selling their
BOUTIQUE on page 5
Food, Drinks and Music: No Cover Charge
HEAD START on page 5
Two Venues, Three Big Name Bands by HAILEY RAY Staff Writer
COURTESY PHOTO
would have vintage clothing sales out of our house once a month," Lee said. "They were sometimes so overwhelmingly successful that we couldn't contain them to just our house, so it was kind of out of control." So far Stitch has been, if not out
This Friday, Oct. 14, music lovers can get their fix for big-name groups at two venues: Switchfoot and Anberlin will be performing at 7 p.m. in Bill George Arena at John Brown University, and Lucero will play at 10 p.m. at George’s Majestic Lounge with Benjamin Del Shreve. Switchfoot will stop at JBU, about 30 miles from the UA, as part of the tour they are co-headlining with Anberlin. Although Switchfoot formed in 1996, the group shows no signs of slowing down after releasing an eighth album on Sept. 27. The band’s founding members, lead vocalist and guitar player Jon Foreman, bassist and backup vocalist Tim Foreman and drummer Chad Butler, are now joined by Jerome Fontamillas on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals and Drew Shirley on guitar and backup vocals.
Vice Verses debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart, but the album’s creation began well before their previous album Hello Hurricane was released, singer-guitarist Jon Foreman said in a recent band biography. The title track for the new album was supposed to be the 12th track on Hello Hurricane, but the group decided it didn’t fit with the album, he said. The song “Vice Verses” exemplifies the album’s theme. “Every blessing comes with a set of curses, there’s a meaning to it all,” Foreman sings. The members of Anberlin were excited to tour with their longtime friends in Switchfoot. “On our first day off with them, we stayed in the same spot and played tag football on the concrete for two hours,” said Nathan Young, the drummer for Anberlin. “Then all of us were insanely
CONCERT on page 5
SARAH CHAMPAGNE PHOTO EDITOR Owner Jim Lefler (far right) stands alongside his family, employees and Fayetteville Commerce as they cut the ribbon to officiate the opening of Legacy Blues.
by STUART ROBINSON Contributing Writer
For those not yet familiar with Legacy Blues and Jazz Lounge, here’s the scoop: This restaurant and bar is the newest addition to Fayetteville’s Entertainment District, having opened its doors in the prestigious Legacy Building, located at 401 West Watson St., over Labor Day weekend. Local and regional acts perform on stage at Legacy Lounge four nights a week. Enjoy a filet, grilled chicken breast or baby back ribs while being entertained by jazz ensembles that play until 8:30 p.m. At that point, the blues musicians take over with electric riffs that energize the place into more of a nightclub. Colorful beams of light at the entrance attract business, while compa-
rable prices and quality live music keeps patrons coming back for more. Wall-mounted instruments, encased vinyl records, portraits of musicians and original work by Memphis-based artist Danny Broadway decorate the interior of Legacy Lounge. There is plenty of bar and dining room seating, along with abundant outdoor patio space overlooking Dickson’s other bars. Jim “Jimmy the Biscuit” Lefler and his three sons own Legacy Lounge. They have combined their passions for fine music and fine food to offer a truly unique dining experience in Northwest Arkansas. It’s taken two years of planning and preparation, including gathering investors and fellow musicians, but the Leflers aren’t looking back. Lefler and his sons vacationed in West Palm Beach, Fla., during Christmas in 2009 for the opening of B.B. King’s Restaurant and Blues Club. It was there the Lefler family met legendary Stax Records recording artist Donald “Duck” Dunn, a bassist who has shared the stage with performers such as Neil Young, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. The Lefler crew knew then that they wanted to start a similar business that could have the ability to bring people together in this sort of way. Legacy Lounge is open Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour begins immediately after the lounge opens and lasts until 7 p.m. Visit www.legacyblues.com to view the menu and a calendar of events.
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FEATURES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
Dickson Street Sushi Bar Brings Flavor and Attitude by KIMBERLY MCGUIRE Staff Writer
Tokyo Sushi 522 W. Dickson (479)444-8122 The last word that typically comes to mind when thinking of a Japanese restaurant would be “quirky,” but Tokyo Sushi is just that. The service, the menu and even the odd mix of music playing over the loud speaker—it’s a strange assortment, but it works. When you walk through the door, every staff member merrily welcomes you in Japanese. The entire staff is friendly; I’ve never encountered someone in a bad mood at Tokyo Sushi—not a chef, a waiter, nor an unsuspecting customer whom I may have creeped out by staring at their plate of raw sushi majesty. First-timers, you’ve been warned — the staff does tend to get loud. They have their own chant when someone takes a sake bomb, and if you hear them shouting “Oh my God, fire!” do not be alarmed. This means that a customer has just been served their “Oh! My God” roll. It comes on fire, naturally. I recently dined at Tokyo Sushi for a friend’s birthday on a Friday night. The place was pretty packed. If you aren’t one to wait under an awning for a few minutes for a table to open up, then you need to be patient, because this place is worth it. Either that, or you need to try it out on a weeknight, when Dickson Street is significantly less populated. Lunch, too, is always a little more calm, and there’s also the option of take-out. After being seated, my group was pondering what to order when all of a sudden the waiter brought out edamame, soup and salad. We considered protesting, asking how he knew to bring out such delicious offerings before we could order, but I caution you to save your breath — it all comes free with the meal. This
GRACE GUDE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Leo Park, chef at Toyko Sushi, shows off his freshly made sushi rolls. Toyko Sushi offers a wide variety of rolls to satisfy any customer.
place is a college student’s sushi heaven. Not many places like to tractor-beam us in with free appetizers. Edamame (whole soybeans) are a delicious appetizer no matter where you go; it’s the soup and salad that can be defining items on a restaurant’s menu. For free soup and salad, this stuff is pretty great. Since the restaurant opened, the soup has only improved. If you aren’t a fan of tofu, perhaps this brothy starter will enlighten you. As for the salad, the ginger dressing is a tangy, lightweight topper you’ll be craving until your next visit.
The “House Specials” list is quite extensive, but don’t fret if you’re new to sushi because the menu has photos to browse while deciding. To cure indecisiveness, the staff is well equipped with knowledge on what rolls are the most popular, the spiciest and the most delicious. The rolls average $10 to $15 each and have some interesting names (Dickson, Razorback, Football, U of A). For those without an adventurous palate, there are classic rolls available, too: “The Basics,” such as the California, Philadelphia, Alaska and spicy tuna rolls, cost
about $5. And for those who aren’t into the raw fish or sushi scene at all, there are vegetarian rolls ($3.75 to $7.95) and fried rice or teriyaki meals ($6.95 to $12.95). When it came time to order, I decided on the Crab Mania and a Philadelphia roll. Crab Mania consists of tempura shrimp, crab mix and avocado, and it’s topped with seared crab, eel sauce and spicy mayo. Now, if you’re a sushi minimalist and prefer white rice and seaweed wrapped fish dunked in soy sauce and wasabi, this place might not be as high on your list as mine. Almost every specialty roll comes smothered in what our table liked to call “fancies,” which are anything extra delicious added to our rolls. My Crab Mania came drizzled in eel sauce and spicy mayo, indeed a fancy addition to my roll. For my friend, it’s the saucy goodness that comes with her chicken fried rice. My sister went out on a limb and got a Bento Box (a combination box). If you aren’t sure what you want or will like, or if you really like to have leftovers, the Bento Box is a good option and runs from $9.95 to $14.95. On less busy nights, the chef or owner will come to your table and ask if everything is up to par. Of course, everything I ordered was above and beyond my expectations, but was relegated to expressing my delight with an awkward thumbs-up. I have the kind of luck that leads me to take a bite of food just in time for someone to ask me a question. All in all, Tokyo Sushi ranks #1 on my list for sushi in Fayetteville. Everything is fairly priced, and did I mention you get free starters? If you’re one for good food, good people and a quirky experience, there’s no other place to enjoy more. Tokyo Sushi is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m, Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 4:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Good Eats
MAZE 3X5
OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 4
EDITOR: SABA NASEEM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
Traveler Quote of the Day “I kind of subscribe to Reagan’s theory that we are a shining city upon a hill, and there’s a reason we’re a shining city upon a hill and they’re not.”
- Tyler Aborn Wells, “Head Start:Freshman Begins Work on 2028 Presidential Campaign,” page one
ABOUT THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper of the University of Arkansas, is published every day during the fall and spring academic sessions except during exam periods and university holidays. Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Traveler. The editor makes all final content decisions. One copy of The Arkansas Traveler is free to every member of the UA community. Additional copies can be purchased for 50 cents each. Mail subscriptions for delivery within the continental United States can be purchased for $125.00 per semester. Contact the Traveler Business Manager to arrange.
MARCUS FERREIRA STAFF CARTOONIST
Technology And Our Disappearing Imagination Fayetteville Spotlight
CONTACT 119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Main: 479.575.3406 Fax: 479.575.3306 traveler@uark.edu facebook.com/uatrav twitter.com/uatrav
STAFF EDITORIAL SABA NASEEM Editor -in-Chief 575-8455 traveler@uark.edu
MATTIE QUINN Managing Editor 575-7694 travmgr@uark.edu
LAUREN LEATHERBY
SAMANTHA WILLIAMS Enterprise Editor 575-3226
BOBBIE FOSTER News Editor 575-3226 travnews@uark.edu
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Asst. News Editor
Features Editor 575-7540 travlife@uark.edu
Asst. Features Editor
JIMMY CARTER
JORDAIN CARNEY
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KELSI FORD
Opinion Editor
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Lead Designer/ Web Developer
TAYLOR WHITE Sports Designer
Kappa Sigma members hanging a “1 percent” banner from their balcony Tuesday. (We also find the claim hard to believe.) Senate members voted down President Barack Obama’s “Jobs” legislation. The Justice Department accused a Virginia man of spying for Syria Wednesday.
The Ugly Darrel Issa, R-Calif, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair subpoenaed Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr.
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Only 23 percent of Americans strongly approve of Obama as president, according to a Rasmussen Poll.
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DYLAN CRAIG
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Features Designer
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Arkansas rolled over Auburn at Saturday’s football game leading to a 38-14 win.
News Designer
Graphic Designer Graphic Designer
Apple released its iOS5 platform Wednesday.
SARAH COLPITTS LEAH YOUNG
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CELI BIRKE
Less than a week after announcing that he won’t run for president in 2012, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie endorsed Mitt Romney.
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ERIK NORTHFELL
ANDY KOUCKY
Account Executive 575-8714 travad3@uark.edu
:)
Account Executive 575-8714 travad3@uark.edu
AARON TAN
Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu
Barrett Lewis is a columnist for the Traveler. His column runs bi-monthly, every other Thursday.
The Bad :
ZACHARY FRY
The Good :)
Account Executive 575-3899 travad2@uark.edu
as well. Areas like treatments for disease, climate control, synthetic foods, space travel and more advanced prosthetic limbs should all be given a part of our collective focus. Really, it’s just that we’ve lost our imagination. We can’t see the big picture anymore, so we don’t envision a bigger picture. Thus, if we can’t envision it, we’ll never make it. We should mourn Steve Jobs, but we should also be looking for new technological heroes. People like Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, who often champions the necessity to have a free and open internet. Or someone like Elon Musk, who co-founded Tesla Motors, the only company to specialize in producing only zero-emission electric cars. Oh, and he co-founded Paypal and SpaceX. Both of these guys are rich, fulfilling that requirement in our society for us to worship them, and both actively better the world by what they produce. However, they’re only two of hundreds of thousands of scientists and philanthropists who will never get the notoriety that many of them deserve. Real technological change doesn’t happen in the store room, it happens in the lab. Don’t just think different, people. Think big.
The Traveler’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
MICY LIU
Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu
fronted with the issues of the world, if even their own country. Because we can’t be bothered to face these problems, we can’t be bothered to look for solutions. Unfortunately, this is where a large majority of our real accomplishments have come from in years past. If there’s a will, there’s a way and this will created some pretty amazing things, good and bad. Now our will is gone. Have we really progressed further than where we stood 25 years ago? Certainly consumer electronics have vastly changed, but we still have the same problems—dependence on oil, climate change, famine, etc. Our problem is that we can’t see past our materialistic lust of these products to find that technology has many forms beyond being just an avenue for entertainment. We weren’t always like this, were we? We cured polio. We figured out how to fly through the wind. We landed on the moon, and then built a home way up in the sky where people live. These were all important milestones for mankind and we treated them like such. And now? Now we have the iPad 2. It doesn’t really come as a surprise, though. This is nothing new. Materialism is a plague on man, and one that inspires new kinds of technology while limiting many others. We as a society get so wrapped up in making our consumer electronics smaller, more powerful and more connected, that we forget all the other areas we should focus on
:
JAIME HOLLAND
So Steve Jobs died. His importance to our society comes from being a shrewd businessman who predicted and innovated in countless ways. For this, and for simply being a human being, I give a mass amount of respect and sadness for his death. For the past week, Jobs has been a central figure in the news. Everybody is talking about his philosophy on business and life, often focusing on his commencement speech at Stanford, or talking about his many achievements in the last 30 years. I can’t dispute any of this. Jobs was hardworking, he got a lot of things done and he will be missed above all else as someone who knew when to shake things up. The legacy of Jobs has been talked about at such length in the last week, and it will be talked about so much in the future that I have no desire to state my opinion. Instead, I want to write about an issue that Jobs was very much a part of. As innovative as
:)
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by BARRETT LEWIS
Trraveler Columnist
he was at putting smartphones, essentially a luxury product, in the pockets of everyday people, he is a reminder of our state of cultural decay among technology. We no longer celebrate pure technological innovations, and rarely do real inventions ever get more than an obscure news article on the internet. We celebrate that which we can buy, show off and covet. Those pieces of shiny plastic that makes our obsession with gadgets border on fetishism. Instead, we celebrate new, because our society always wants more. To some people, not having the most up to date technology feels like living in a coffin. These gadgets aren’t innovation or technological advancement. They’re simply a kind of technology that we’ve had for decades, getting smaller, more sophisticated and more prevalent in our lives. This prevalence has made us distracted. The internet, for all the good it can do, makes us distracted. It distracts from our time we could be working or creating real connections with people. It distracts from our collective conscious as a society. We don’t want to see famine in Somalia or hear about the ice caps melting, just give us “Two and a Half Men” on an iPad and leave us alone with these irrelevant-tous problems. This is what I get from our society. It may be cynical, but I don’t think it’s untrue that most people would rather not be con-
An Islamist group that was remaining in only in northern Nigeria has started to work with Al Qaeda operatives in the country, according to the “New York Times.” Iranian leaders are accusing the U.S. Government of fabricating an alleged assassination plot on the Saudi ambassador distract Americans from domestic problems.
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FEATURES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
Pots and Pans: A Sweet and Salty Time-Out Treat slowly, and you don’t end up with that burnt taste. Whisk the chocolate and milk occasionally to combine it all together. Then, zest the orange into the chocolate mixture, and squeeze the juice of half the orange into
the sauce, mixing until fully incorporated. While the chocolate is melting, cover the bottom of a
EMILY RHODES STAFF WRITER
by EMILY RHODES Staff Writer
Football season is well under way, the temperature is dropping, and the semester is getting to that awkward and painful time when tests become an every day activity. It’s time for us all to take a night off – finish the mass of homework early, invite some friends over, and make this great dessert snack that everyone will love. This week I’m straying from my attempt to eat somewhat healthy dishes. Caution – there is nothing healthy about this snack, but its extra tastiness makes up for the lack of BOUTIQUE from page 2 own items at Stitch. "I've only been open a week and a half and I've had a lot of inquiries," Lee said about those interested in selling items. With so many inquiries, Lee plans on being selective as to whom she lets sell in her store. "I really like the idea of local [vendors]. I would definitely prefer people in Fayetteville and NWA to be the people whose stuff is being on display," Lee said. At the moment, most of the handmade items sold are accessories, but Lee said that she expects more handmade clothing in the shop very soon. She eventually plans to devote an entire room of the store to handmade items. And,
HEAD START from page 2 Packard Palmtop, and I would use it to take notes and stuff,” Wells says. A seventh grade geography teacher spotted Wells using the phone, which he swiftly confiscated before submitting a referral to the principal. Wells responded like a politician. “I didn’t back down at all,” he says. “I wrote a letter and I said, ‘This is what happened, this is why it’s wrong.’” The school dismissed the referral and returned Wells’ phone to him the next day. When 2008 rolled around, “I had pretty much cemented that I believed in the Reagan ideology of smaller government is better government,” Wells says. That’s when he started to think more seriously about platforms. As a class project, Wells made a chart of the Republican candidates and their stances on issues like economy, education and health care. Soon, he was running for high school student council. When he entered sophomore year, he began a long search for colleges. “I didn’t know what the Sam Hill I was supposed to be looking for,” Wells says. Eventually he decided on the University of Mississippi. But Wells says Ole Miss balked at a remedial math class he had taken in high school. “I put in an application and they went ballistic over my Resource Math credits. It was the same content as a high school math course. I was in a smaller classroom. That was it,” he says. “I was diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, one of those, when I was five years old,” he says.
nutritional value. Chocolate-coated popcorn is the perfect fall classic, but making it homemade is 10 times better than the store-bought option. The perfect sweet snack, this chocolate-orange popcorn is a great treat served hot or cold. This recipe will serve 10, though you might end up eating more than just one serving – it’s that good.
Because the sauce takes longer to cook, start by boiling water in a medium-sized saucepan. When the water
Ingredients 1 bar Symphony milk chocolate, chopped 1 large orange ½ cup milk 1 stick butter Vegetable oil Yellow popping corn Allspice for coating
has boiled, turn down the heat and place a glass bowl on top of the saucepan with the chocolate and milk. The best way to melt chocolate without it burning or sticking is to melt it gently over the heat of the hot water in the saucepan, creating a double boiler for the chocolate. By using this process, the chocolate melts
even though most of the clothing is vintage, one can still expect to find the rare gem of clothing that is vintage and handmade in Stitch. “A lot of the stuff I've acquired you can tell was hand-sewn - you know, it doesn't have tags," Lee said.
The most amazing thing about Stitch may be that nothing in the store is crazy expensive. Accessories are and jewelry are mostly under $10, and dresses and skirts range from $15 to $30. Not only is everything in the store stylish and
“I would definitely prefer people in Fayetteville and NWA to be the people whose stuff is being on display.” - Kaitlyn Lee, Owner of Stitch Vintage &Handmade "I think that speaks to two things... One, a lot more women sewed their own clothing back then, but two, people would have dresses made for them, by seamstresses, because that was more affordable. Now, that is crazy expensive." ADD and ADHD both stand for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the fourth-edition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Symptoms include excessive talking and little attention to detail. When Ole Miss rejected his application, Wells fought back – he called the head of admissions, the chancellor, and eventually filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education, he says. An Ole Miss official could not confirm this. “I cannot disclose information about a specific student application,” said Charlotte Fant, registrar for Ole Miss. Meanwhile, Wells awaits an apology. “Supposedly, I’ll have a resolution letter in the next two weeks. It was more the principle of the thing. I could have gone on a rant and raved and whined and moaned about it, but instead I took the high road,” he says. Wells began his first semester at the University of Arkansas in a failed run for Associated Student Government Senate. “Of course, nobody knows who the hell you are,” he says laughing. But the Oct. 25 vacancy Senate election is fast approaching, and Wells says he is considering running again. After that, something greater. “I’m very inclined to run for governor before I run for president, just to make the stepping stone,” Wells says. “When I get really, really deep in thought, I like to rock back and forth,” he says. “They say that when you walk into a meeting with Gates, he’s going to be sitting in his chair, rocking himself back and forth.”
unique, but it all fits within a college budget. There isn’t much in the store at first glance, but the clothes are of good enough quality and style that customers can still expect to carry several cute items back
large pot with 1/8-inch vegetable oil and a tablespoon of butter. The oil is a healthier alternative to melting a mass of butter, but adding just a little gives the popcorn a much richer taste. When the oil is
hot, add a layer of popping corn into the bottom of the pan. You can test when the oil is hot enough by placing one to the dressing room with them. Additionally, Stitch's inventory moves often and fast, so every visit to the store will be a new experience. "I'm trying to create a happy medium by keeping less out at once, but change my display, and what's out, frequently. So there's always new stuff, but it's not always out at one time," Lee said. Since hosting vintage sales out of her home during college, Lee has missed the joy and fun running a business brings. Starting a business, especially in this economy, is a risk; fortunately for Fayetteville and all of its vintage-lovers, she decided to take the leap. "It's a blast for sure,” Lee said. “You meet so many people.”
corn kernel in the pan and waiting for it to pop. Immediately cover the pot with a lid, as the corn will start flying if you leave it open. When all of
the kernels have popped, place the popcorn into a large bowl, and let a little butter melt over the heat. Sprinkle a thin layer of allspice and squeeze a little juice from orange over the mixture. Mix to cover all of the popcorn in the buttery spices. Repeat as many times as needed, dependent on the amount of people you plan to serve. For this recipe, I made three batches, or around two cups of kernels. When the popcorn is covered in the warm butter mixture, pour in the chocolate sauce. Make sure that the sauce has cooled a little be-
CONCERT from page 2 sore for about a week.” The group – composed of lead singer Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat and drummer Nathan Young – released their fifth album, Dark is the Way, Light is a Place, last September, and they plan to return to the studio early next year. They push themselves and try to progress with each album, Young said. “We don’t want people to hear it and say, ‘Oh that’s just another Anberlin album,’” he said. “You have to be fresh and different or people won’t care anymore.” Young described their sound as modern, alternative rock. “Pray Tell,” a song off the new album that opens with big drums and a strong beat, is Young’s favorite song to date. “It started with nothing. It started with this random idea and where it progressed to – and where it’s at now – it’s such an accomplishment,” he said. “Listening to it, I can’t believe it’s the same song that started off with this one chord and this random beat.” Memphis-based southern rock band Lucero has been playing shows in Fayetteville since its six members first came together in 1998. The group just finished record-
fore doing this, or the popcorn will wilt with the heat of the chocolate. Make sure that all of the popcorn is covered, and serve immediately for the best taste. If you plan to keep it, make sure that the coating has cooled and hardened before storing in an airtight container in the fridge. The popcorn is perfectly seasoned with a little butter, great fall spices and a zing of orange. It’s great on it’s own, but I kicked up even more with the chocolate orange sauce. The chocolate is rich and creamy, but has a great background taste of sweet and zesty orange, making it the perfect treat for those cool fall days. Serve with hot chocolate, apple cider or any other fall drink for a simple and sweet break from the busy semester. ing their next album, which could be released at the beginning of March, said guitarist Brian Venable. The hardest part has been taking time out of the studio to tour around the area, he said. “One minute you’re in a big really quiet room working on the new record, and the next you’re drinking and hanging out playing rock and roll,” Venable said. Unlike many bands, Lucero has always had the same base group of members, just adding a few more members through the years. The group now includes singer and guitar-player Ben Nichols, bassplayer John Stubblefield, drummer Roy Berry, guitar-player Brian Venable and Rick Steff on piano, organ and accordion. Yet a lot has changed over the years. “As it has progressed, all of our other influences came in,” Venable said. “Now, it’s like, I love Ted Nugent, Tom Petty, The Clash and Hank Williams, Jr., and all those influences are going to come into my playing, and I’m not going to be ashamed of it.” Their sound has made a natural progression, from quiet to loud and now heading towards a quieter sound again, Venable said. “The joke is that we don’t know how to do anything else,” Venable said. “We’re lucky people to be able to do this for a living.”
NEWS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 6
NEWS EDITOR: BOBBIE FOSTER ASST. NEWS EDITOR: CHAD WOODARD
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
UA Gives The “Elite” Greek Counter Protest Students Fall Break by JANNEE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
This year, UA students will have fall break Monday Oct. 17 through Tuesday Oct. 18, said the provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. The break will give students a four-day weekend to help revitalize them for the second half of the semester. The faculty senate came up with the idea of fall break last year as a way to combat students plateauing in their classes because of fatigue, said Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. “The idea is that students will be refreshed, we saw in past years that about this time, students are just humming through,” Gaber said. Students also think the purpose of the fall break is rest. “I think that’s what the break is for, allowing students some time off to get stuff together so they can do better in their classes,” said Erica Stuckey, a senior biology major. When schools break away from the traditional, rigid class schedules, students consistently perform better and have higher achievement rates, according to a Review of Educational Research study in 2003. Short breaks such as the new fall break are included in non-traditional class schedules. The break is intended just for students. The administrative offices will still be open, according to the UA academic calendar. Many students appreciate the timing of this break. “I don’t really know what’s happening the next week, but
it will definitely be a good time to catch up or study,” Stuckey said, “I’m really looking forward to it.” “It’s too long and stressful to go all the way to Thanksgiving without a break,” said Julie Isenhower, a freshman food sciences major. “All my tests are before fall break, so I won’t have to catch up on homework. It’s kind of a fresh slate.” “It’s a really good time to pause and recuperate, even if it’s just for two extra days,” Stuckey said. UA administrators are planning on keeping the fall break as an annual school holiday, Gaber said. “This is the first time I’ve gotten a fall break,” Stuckey said, who is graduating in December, and will not benefit from the continuation of the fall break. While some students may use this extra time to travel home for the weekend, many students are choosing to spend their fall break in Fayetteville enjoying the fall weather. “I’ll probably just relax in Fayetteville,” Stuckey said. “I might go check out some trails if the weather is nice. I wish I could travel, but I don’t know where I would go. It’s nice to have a break where you can explore your own city though.” “I’ll relax for sure,” Isenhower said. “I don’t have the energy to leave town. I’ll probably shoot some arrows and try to check out the Ozark Highlands Trail.” Still, students appreciate the gift of fall break the administration has given them in order to lighten their school load. “If I don’t have to go to class,” Stuckey said, “I’m happy.”
Gas Report Average retail gasoline prices in Arkansas have fallen 2.0 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.25/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.42/g, according to gasoline price website ArkansasGasPrices.com. Including the change in gas prices in Arkan-
sas during the past week, prices yesterday were 59.9 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 24.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 24 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 61.8 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago, according to ArkansasGasPrices.com
Weekend Plans The Razorback Jugglers will be hosting a circus art performance Saturday in the Arkansas Union’s Verizon Ballroom at 7 p.m. to promote the club and provide family friendly entertainment. The show will feature Razorback Jugglers treasurer Eric Jackson performing a juggling act and card manipulations and magic tricks by Mike Rosen. The Institute of Jugglology, a juggling
group from Springdale, will showcase the event, according to a press release. The event is free and open to the public. Pizza, hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls will be provided during the performances. Prizes will be given out during intermissions to anyone willing to show off a talent, whether it be juggling, magic tricks or jokes.
Kappa Sigma members displayed a counter protest banner across from the “Occupy NWA” Protesters on Oct. 11, 2011.
KRIS JOHNSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Cooking for College Credit by MARK CAMERON Staff Writer
A new food science major with a concentration in culinary arts has been approved for the spring 2012 semester, said the department head of food science and engineering. The new major’s official name is food and culinary sciences. It is a concentration within our major, said John Francois Meullenex, head of food science and engineering. The food science curriculum is based in chemistry and biology, and specific food science training in food analysis or food law is available. Then, there’s a transition into culinary training, Meullenex said. The addition stemmed from an observed interest among students in the traditional food science major. “We send a lot of students to the food industry to work in
research and development, and in order to do these jobs effectively, we think that a little bit of culinary training in addition to the food science training would be useful,” Meullenex said. “I think the best aspect of this addition is that you are getting a two-in-one deal, said Famous Lang, junior. “You will get to learn about the science side and the culinary side within one major.” “I love the culinary arts,” said Renee Rood, sophomore “and being able to mix it with the science and knowing how food works with one another fascinates me. I have always been a foodie, and this is the perfect way for me to do something I love and learn how to apply it to new foods.” Lang and Rood are two of a handful of students who will pursue this new degree next semester, said Cathy Hamilton, the academic advisor for the food science department.
A lot of students come to the UA with a culinary background and pursue a food science degree or the other way around, Meullenex said. “Not everyone is going to be able to pay $40,000 to $50,000 for a culinary degree, so this provides a little bit of both,” he said. The department’s goal in offering the new concentration is to provide at an affordable cost a culinary and food science degree that will be sufficient for students to pursue any career path in the food industry, Meullenex said. “If this addition was not made, I still would have chosen the UA, but I would have to continue my culinary education somewhere else, which can be expensive,” Lang said. Many companies, such as Tyson, will train their food scientists in the culinary arts once they have been hired, Rood said. “If I walk into a company
like this then I will have an advantage because they will not have to spend the extra money on training me,” she said. The new culinary classes will be taught by Chef Michael Kuefner at NWACC; however, there is a possibility that at least one class will be taught on the UA campus. We would be substituting a class at NWACC with a course in hospitality and restaurant management which teaches basic culinary skills here at the UA, Meullenex said. The department is expecting roughly five to 10 students in the program the first semester, but are ultimately hoping that this addition will increase undergraduate numbers, Meullenex said. “This is one more thing that the UA has that not many schools do right now, and I’m very excited to be part of it,” Rood said.
Increased Enrollment in Bumpers College by CHAD WOODARD Asst. News Editor
Enrollment in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences increased from the previous year in a time when the agriculture field is expected to decline 8 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to enrollment records and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2010 undergraduate enrollment was 1,477 and in fall 2011 undergraduate enrollment is at 1,554. In fact Bumpers college enrollment has increased since fall 2002 with 972 undergraduate students to fall 2011 with 1,554, which is a 60 percent increase of students during a nine-year period. However, the number of self-employed farmers is expected to decrease 8 percent from 2008 to 2018 going from nearly 1 million farmers to 900,000 farmers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bumpers College officials and faculty have created de-
grees, such as the agriculture education degree, which allow students to succeed in a field expected to offer fewer jobs, said Lona Robertson, associate dean in the Bumpers College. “What we are looking at is not traditional agriculture,” she said. “That major’s concentration is on agriculture communications, which prepares students for [jobs such as writing for] publications.” Enrollment in the agriculture education program in fall 2009 was 85, in fall 2010 enrollment was at 105 and in 2011 enrollment increased to 108, which is an increase of 27 percent in the last three years. Traditional concepts of agriculture still exist, but students are prepared to perform a variety of tasks, she said. “We are not looking at the family farm any more,” she said. “There are people who are doing that, but we are talking about working for corporations for food safety and supplying the world with food.”
One UA student lives on her family farm, and while her family is not in economic trouble, she does understand the difficulties of costs on a farm. Prices have increased, so it costs more to feed animals,” said Sara Wright, senior agriculture business major. “It takes a lot more to maintain animals and it is more difficult to show your animals.” Wright and her family “show” animals at different competitions, such as state and county fairs, she said. “I show lambs and it costs around $250 to $500 for one lamb,” she said. “About three years ago the top dollar for one lamb would have been $400, so a younger person would have to make a decision between quality or quantity.” Animal cost has increased because animal food, such as corn, has increased, she said. However, Wright will rely on her degree for success, as opposed to her family farm, she said.
“I want to run a national show one day, and my degree will help me get connections,” she said. Wright described a national show as one in which animals are “shown” for monetary prizes much like a larger state fair. “In class I learn to communicate with people about agricultural issues,” she said. Agricultural students do not always learn in a traditional academic setting. “Between coursework, internships and hands-on experience they can take what they learn and apply it,” Robertson said. “We have interdisciplinary projects like in industry, you have to work with people in different disciplines.” The faculty is another possible factor to the increased enrollment in the Bumpers College. “The staff offers a lot of variety, because they all have education from different areas and they can connect with students on a different level,” Wright said.
DOWNTIME THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 7 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
LAUGH IT UP
Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
SUDOKU
Q: Why are bison such good musicians? A: They have fantastic horns. Q: How did the hot dog vendor tackle his job? A: With relish. Q: What makes a chef sadder the skinnier it gets? A: An onion. Difficulty:
Q: Why couldn’t the faucet be within 100 feet of
the pasta bowl? A: There was a restraining order.
TODAY’S SOLUTION
Q: How did the hermit pay for his home? A: Alone.
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 Name thought to mean “father of many” 8 Like Rubens 15 Song title words after “The future’s not ours to see” 16 Novel genre 17 20th-century Riyadh-born ruler 18 Axes to grind 19 1966 Candlestick Park highlight 21 Pier gp. 22 Correct 23 “I give up!” 24 Inclement weather sounds 26 Early L.A. Times publisher Harrison Gray __ 28 Acronymous gun 29 Old Turkish leader 31 “The Curse of Capistrano” hero 33 Small missions? 34 Baseball glove part 36 Theoretical extreme 37 Health facility 40 Not at all active 42 Mainline? 44 Ride 47 Stiff 49 Close call 50 They’re involved in joints 52 Old pol. divisions 54 Emmy-winning NFL analyst Collinsworth 55 Subject of an annual contest held in Brooklyn 58 Suppress 59 Ambushed 61 “1984” superstate 62 Son of Aaron 63 Arrival time for the fashionably late? 64 Diminishes
1 EPA stat 2 Aptly named soda brand 3 Circulation measure 4 Charge 5 Wave makeup 6 “Any fool can make __”: Thoreau 7 Squeaked by 8 Small part 9 Wikipedia’s globe, e.g. 10 Correct 11 Nick of “Heartbreakers” 12 Move from the edge 13 “The Odds Against Me” autobiographer John 14 1956 Moses player 20 __ bath 21 __ facto 25 Shortened, in a way 27 Certain Eur. miss 30 Old Nair alternative 32 Density symbols, in physics 35 Military bigwig 37 Daydream 38 Sartre, for one 39 They may be brown or pale 40 Not stacked 41 Rear 43 Pops since 1905 44 Final stage, as of a career 45 Memorial tablet 46 How batters must bat 48 Gardening gadget 51 Hot stuff 53 Old 56 CBS maritime drama 57 Hair treatments 60 J et al.
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
Tony Piro
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 8
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 20111
FOOTBALL
Strength To Carry On Knile Davis is battling adversity. Again.
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas junior running back Knile Davis watches from the sideline as the Razorbacks played then-No. 15 Texas A&M Oct. 1. by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor
The photographer asked for the Heisman pose. Knile Davis squinted into the mid-morning sun and shook his head. “Anything but that,” said the All-Southeastern Conference
running back. A brief, awkward silence followed in the north endzone of Reynolds Razorback Stadium, broken by a quiet, “Uh, OK,” from the photographer. He hadn’t expected the preseason All-American to turn down an opportunity to strike college football’s most iconic pose.
“I haven’t won it. If I win it, then I’ll give you a pose,” Davis said. Five days later Davis broke his left ankle. The injury, sustained in Arkansas’ first scrimmage of fall camp, ended his junior season before it began. Now, Davis is watching from
the sidelines as the Razorbacks climb in the polls and compete for a second consecutive BCS bowl berth. He has to persevere through frustration and disappointment. That is nothing new. Off the field, he took a job at local Texas Whataburger at age 14 to help ease the burden for his
family after his mother lost her job. At 18, he had to overcome the death of his stepfather. On the gridiron, the broken ankle was the fifth major injury he has suffered in five years. Davis has also broken both his collarbone and left ankle twice. He recognized the injury in August as soon as a lineman fell
on his leg when he was tackled on an inside-zone run play. “I knew it was broke because I know the sound of a break,” Davis said. “I knew what I was fixing to head into.” The 6-foot, 226-pounder was
see KNILE on page 9
Photo Credits (L to R): REGINA GARDNER, GARETH PATTERSON, REGINA GARDNER L: Knile Davis (left), his brother Kobe, sister Raegan and stepfather Warren Morgan. M: Davis runs against Texas A&M in 2010. R: Davis and linebacker Brock Haman watch pregame festivities for the Sept. 3 season opener against Missouri State in the Broyles Athletic Center.
FOOTBALL
Bequette Glad to Be Back by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
Fifth-year senior defensive end Jake Bequette has had an unsuspected season for the Razorbacks. The Little Rock, Ark., native injured his hamstring in Arkansas’ second game of the season against New Mexico and missed the next three games. The injury he sus-
tained in the first quarter of that game was the first injury of his career that has forced him to miss a practice or a game. “It was a very different feeling and very tough,” Bequette said. “I was very fortunate not to have a much more serious injury. In my
see FOOTBALL on page 10
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Bequette started in Arkansas’ last game against Auburn after missing the Razorbacks’ previous three games.
BASKETBALL
Hogs Set for Primetime by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor
Arkansas doesn’t officially tip-off the Mike Anderson era until its Nov. 11 season opener, but Razorbacks fans can get their first glimpse of the newlook Hogs Friday. The men’s and women’s teams will participate in “Primetime at the Palace”, a glitzed up first practice that will include player introductions, 3-point shooting contests and a dunk contest, culminating in each team playing a 20-minute intrasquad scrimmage. “I just want to show the fans what we can do and how far we’ve progressed since the summertime and since Coach Anderson got here,” true freshman point guard BJ Young said. Anderson will make his head-coaching debut against USC Upstate in less than a month. “There is a lot of work to be done, especially trying to assemble a team,” Anderson said. “When the games start we
want to come out of the chute really, really hard and getting after people. We have got to find an identity. What will be the makeup of this team? It’s all new to these guys. “It’s the ultimate challenge, but at the same time I am looking forward to seeing these guys develop and get better and become closer in terms of being a team.” Arkansas returns seven players and has four freshmen, giving Anderson a shorthanded roster to work with in his first season. It’s a process of coming and hopefully evaluating and assessing what we do have here in terms of the players,” Anderson said. “There are some pieces here. The guys that are coming back, the nucleus – the seniors, Mike Sanchez, Marvell Waithe – I think those guys are really key. Ju Nobles, Rickey Scott, Marshawn Powell and of course Mardracus Wade.” Sanchez out with back injury Fifth-year senior forward
JONATHON GIBSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Junior Marshawn Powell is the Razorbacks’ returning leader in career points and career rebounds. Powell said he has lost 20 pounds in the off season and now weighs 218 pounds. Michael Sanchez will miss practice time while recovering from a surgical procedure on his back, but should be back by Nov. 1, Anderson said Wednesday.
“It was a procedure to his back and it took place last week and he has already had
see BASKETBALL on page 10
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
SPORTS from KNILE on page 8 named a preseason All-American by multiple publications over the summer after bursting onto the national scene with a 1,322yard, 13-touchdown sophomore season in 2010, a campaign that earned him first-team All-SEC honors. He was poised to improve on the big year in 2011, putting up impressive numbers in the weight room during the offseason. His 4.29 40-yard dash ranked third on the team, while his 415-pound bench press was the best of any Razorbacks nonlineman. He closed his Facebook and Twitter accounts during the
told him he’d need to fill out paperwork and produce his Social Security number in order to get a job. Less than two hours and a trip to Walmart later, Davis was back with the mandatory slippers to cover his shoes, working the broiler in the kitchen. He needed a driver’s license and a car to get to work, though. He was granted a hardship license, then bought a 1996 Ford Probe from a neighbor for $500. The car didn’t run. The power steering was broken and it needed a new compressor and alternator. “I got those cheap from a junkyard and got it running,” Davis said.
“The death of my father kept me going to keep at it” KNILE DAVIS summer to avoid distractions. “I did everything I could to prepare myself for the season,” Davis said. “It just didn’t work in my favor. It doesn’t work like we planned it all the time.” The injury meant another grueling recovery from another setback. He had only just arrived in the spotlight. Growing Up Early The stressed-out manager at Whataburger didn’t have much time to talk to insistent teenage Knile Davis over the din of the busy restaurant in Missouri City, Texas. Davis, 14, wanted work. His mother had lost a job and he decided to look for his own employment. “Don’t worry about me,” he told his mom. “I’m going to take care of myself.” He stopped by Whataburger after school, but the restaurant was too packed and understaffed for the manager to slow down and talk to Davis. He hurriedly
Davis used the money from Whataburger to pay for gas for the Probe, football equipment and haircuts, things his mom couldn’t afford. She couldn’t take Knile, her other son Kobe and her daughter Raegan backto-school shopping, so Knile bought his own clothes. The same thoughts ran through Gardner’s head, again and again. “Why couldn’t this have happened to me when they were younger? They probably wouldn’t have remembered this.” “They were aware of everything and it hurt my heart,” Gardner said. Davis’ job was a blessing for her, though. It took some of the stress off her when she was between jobs. “It tore me up, but he had to do that,” she said. Gardner’s other children never asked for much growing up. ‘Oh, no. That’s OK, mom,’ they would answer when she asked if they wanted something extra. “Knile always wanted to have stuff,” Gardner said. “Most of his
PAGE 9
childhood he had everything he needed and most of things he wanted.” He was no longer the little kid. He became a good saver. “A lot of times, we’d just be talking and he’d say, ‘Well, we need money for that,’” Gardner said. “Knile would say, ‘Well, I have the money.’ I’d ask, ‘How’d you get the money for that?’ ‘Well, I saved it.’” Chasing the Dream Warren Morgan looked for them in the stands of every small-town Louisiana gym at every high school basketball game he played in 1984. His family was never there. Morgan was a starting forward for the high school varsity basketball team in the southern Louisiana town of Crowley. The self-proclaimed “Rice Capital of America” is barely a speck on the map, with a population of less than 12,000 people. An 8-year-old Davis with his stepfather Warren Morgan. Morgan’s parents separated through with football all along? when he was growing up. Nei- “Dad.” “The main thing my dad al- You just need to relax, give yourther showed up to watch him on ways told me was just, ‘Never self a chance to heal and see what the hardwood. “He didn’t have a lot of sup- quit. Chase the dream,’” Davis happens. Don’t give up like that,’” Gardner said. port from home,” said Gardner, said. Morgan helped motivate DaMorgan’s deteriorating health who married him in 2006. “I think he had that chance to turn vis to recover from a broken col- was a motivating factor in Davis’ it around for another kid and he larbone his junior season of high decision to stick it out and go school and a broken right ankle through another recovery. tried to do that.” “With his stepfather being Gardner had been separated his senior year. Despite the injufrom Kevin Davis, Knile’s bio- ries, Davis was considered one sick, I think it made a difference logical father, since Knile was 6 of the top players in the nation, because he knew how much they years old. She met Morgan at a ranked the No. 17 running back put in, how much they had invested in it,” Gardner said. benefit volleyball game later that in the country by Rivals.com. “He always defeated the chalMorgan’s motto to each of his year. Morgan and Davis quickly lenges he had,” said Ronald John- children before they left for colformed a bond. Both were tough, son, one of Davis’ high school lege was simple. football and track coaches. “For “Don’t go up there and get rugged and competitive. “Knile idolized Warren in so the size and speed he was as a whipped,” he told them. Davis started working to remany ways and when Warren high school athlete, you could cover. Morgan couldn’t. said something it was like law,” tell he was something special.” While schools like Texas “We were all kind of in deGardner said. “He wanted so bad to live up to whatever Warren ex- A&M and LSU backed off in nial about the fact that he was their recruitment of Davis, Ar- dying,” Gardner said. “We all pected.” The two were insepara- kansas stayed on the Fort Bend just wanted God to do a mirable. When Davis reached high Marshall High School product, cle. We wanted him to heal. We school, they lifted weights in the earning his verbal commitment thought that chemo would work. We prayed that, we thought that family’s garage and ran bleachers in September 2008. After Davis broke his left and we believed that. We beat nearby Rice Stadium in Houston, less than half an hour from ankle in the second game of his lieved that up until the very end senior season, the Razorbacks’ when they told us, ‘There’s not a their home in Missouri City. To Davis, Morgan became coaching staff encouraged him lot we can do. It’s time for him to to graduate a semester early, so go home and use the hospice at he could enroll at the UA and go the home.’” through rehab with the trainers When Morgan went home and strength and conditioning and hospice was set up, Davis staff in the spring. and his siblings came back. MorDavis attended his regular gan couldn’t walk anymore, but classes during the day and took the kids wheeled him around additional courses at night to at- the neighborhood on a heart-totain the credits required to grad- heart walk. uate early. After they left, his condition “That was a lot for a kid his declined. He was less responsive. age,” Gardner said. Getting him to eat was a The family waited anxiously chore and his weight dropped to for Davis’ final grades to be post- around 100 pounds. ed, erupting with excitement Davis and his siblings were when they learned he fulfilled present the early August 2009 the necessary requirements to afternoon Morgan died, holding graduate early. his hand, laughing and listenOnce on campus in Fayette- ing to some of his favorite Barville in the spring of 2009, Da- ry White songs, including Never, vis quickly rehabbed his ankle Never Gonna Give You Up. and went through spring pracAny doubts Davis had about tice. That’s when he got the news his football future were erased. Morgan had been diagnosed “The death of my father kept with Stage 4 lung cancer. me going to keep at it,” Davis His mind on the health of his said. stepfather, Davis competed for He remembered the long reps in a crowded backfield dur- nights spent with Morgan. The ing spring practice until he re- runs to the top of Rice Stadium. broke the ankle, an injury sus- The weightlifting sessions in the tained largely because the screws garage. inserted after the first injury Don’t quit. Chase the dream. were too small. It was then – after three maComeback, Part V jor injuries in an 18-month span – that Davis considered quitDavis’ August phone call to ting football. He started thinking Gardner was calm and meaabout how his long-term health sured. might be affected by his injuries. “Mom. I broke my ankle,” he “It was just crazy,” Davis said. said evenly. “A lot of stuff hit me at one time. More than two years had I hurt my ankle again and I was passed since he broke his left anlike, ‘Man, I’ve just got tough kle the second time, 16 months luck with this game.’” since he broke his collarbone in Morgan and Gardner inter- a spring practice between his vened. freshman and sophomore sea“We would tell him, ‘Man, sons. do you realize all that you have “His reaction to this injury done? All that you’ve been was totally different than that first time,” Gardner said. “He whined and complained about it then. He was down about it. I didn’t think about it at that moment in August, but in hindsight I was thinking, ‘He’s a real man now.’ He handled it so well.” Shortly after surgery, Davis asked Matt Summers, Arkansas’ head trainer, when he could work on his upper body. “Whenever you want to,” Summers said. Davis was quickly back in the weightroom. “I was just tired of sitting down, laying down in bed.” He started working out in a pool in September. He runs on a treadmill that puts reduced
Photo Courtesy: REGINA GARDNER weight on his ankle. Gardner got a call from him in mid-September. “I just ran the other day,” he said. “What?” she exclaimed. She told him she was worried he was pushing too hard. “The doctors told me I could put pressure on it because I don’t have to wear the boot all the time,” he said. “The only time I put the boot on is when I feel a little fatigued.” “Knile, I wish you would just slow down.” “Nah, I’ve got to do these things.” That same week, he told her he was back to 90 percent in terms of upper-body weightlifting. Prior to the injury, he was listed as a possible first-round 2012 NFL Draft choice by ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper. Now, “durability is becoming an issue” for Davis, Kiper wrote in mid-September. “I have strong bones, the doctor said I just run hard,” Davis said. “I’ll be in crazy positions when I break my bones. On this particular injury … anybody’s ankle would have broken in that situation.” To rebuild his draft stock, Davis will have to come back next season and prove he’s still an elite running back while staying healthy. “It’s not my first rodeo,” he said. “I knew I was going to be laying down, losing some muscle mass, things like that. I also know you can come back from this and be faster and stronger than you’ve ever been. I look at it that way. “There’s always a next time.” Waiting for that next time while watching from the sidelines this season has been agonizing, though. He was still relegated to propping his left leg on a tricycle and scooting around when the Hogs’ opened the season Sept. 3 against Missouri State. He wanted to watch the game from the sideline at Razorback Stadium, but the tricycle wheels didn’t roll well on the turf. Fellow junior running back Dennis Johnson was struggling to get over a hamstring injury at the time and was also inactive for the game. He walked by Davis inside the Broyles Athletic Center before the game and stopped to try to persuade his teammate to join him on the sideline. “C’mon Knile,” Johnson said. “You going to go out there with me?” He convinced Davis to change into his game jersey. Davis rolled his tricycle down the ramp leading to the bottom floor of the building and the exits to the field. He stopped short of the exit, though, watching the pregame festivities through the window that stretches from sideline to sideline along the bottom of the facility. At the same time, the rest of the team was getting pumped up by the main exit, readying to run onto the field and through the large Arkansas “A” in front of a crowd of more than 70,000 Hog fans. Moments later, the team charged onto the field, fireworks exploding overhead, band playing the fight song and the crowd at a crescendo. Davis stayed behind, watching silently through the glass with an expressionless gaze.
PAGE 10
SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
Traveler Staff Predictions NCAA/NFL
Jimmy Carter Sports Editor
Zach Turner Asst. Sports Editor
Rumil Bautista Staff Writer
Liz Beadle Staff Writer
Monica Chapman Staff Writer
Martha Swearingen Staff Writer
Consensus
Against the Spread
No. 15 South Carolina (-3) at Mississippi State
S.C. 31-20
S.C. 35-15
S.C. 34-21
S.C. 34-17
S.C. 27-17
S.C. 28-21
S.C.
Arkansas
No. 20 Baylor at No. 21 Texas A&M (-9)
TAMU 35-31
TAMU 42-35
TAMU 30-28
Baylor 28-24
Baylor 45-31
TAMU 30-21
TAMU
Oklahoma
No. 6 Oklahoma State (-8.5) at No. 22 Texas
OSU 55-34
OSU 42-21
OSU 35-24
OSU 21-10
OSU 33-24
OSU 30-21
OSU
LSU
Florida (-2) at No. 24 Auburn
Auburn 27-16
Florida 35-20
Auburn 31-21
Auburn 27-21
Auburn 38-21
Auburn 28-27
Auburn
ASU
Ohio State at No. 16 Illinois (-3.5)
Illinois 28-17
OSU 24-17
Illinois 28-24
OSU 34-31
Illinois 35-17
OSU 24-20
Even
Georgia
No. 18 Arizona State at No. 9 Oregon (-14)
Oregon 45-21
Oregon 38-20
Oregon 28-21
Oregon 20-14
Oregon 41-24
Oregon 35-14
Oregon
Nebraska
Buffalo at New York Giants (-3)
Buffalo 27-17
NYG 28-24
NYG 27-21
NYG 24-21
Buffalo 24-17
NYG 31-28
NYG
Philly
Phillidelphia (-1.5) at Washington
Philly 24-10
Philly 48-10
Washington 24-20
Philly 28-24
Washington 34-21
Philly 21-18
Philly
N.E.
Houston at Baltimore (-7.5)
Baltimore 21-13
Baltimore 31-21
Baltimore 24-17
Baltimore 21-13
Baltimore 35-27
Baltimore 30-21
Baltimore
Green Bay
Dallas at New England (-7)
N.E. 38-20
N.E. 38-20
N.E. 30-24
N.E. 28-20
N.E. 31-21
Dallas 24-21
N.E.
Detroit
Last Week
6-4 41-19
8-2 39-21
9-1 45-15
10-0 40-20
9-1 45-15
9-1 45-15
Year to Date
Arkansas Statistics RUSHING J. Adams B. Green D. Johnson T. Wilson PASSING T. Wilson
(5 -1, 1-1 SEC) No. 1 16 12 2
Yds 92 55 48 1
TD 1 1 0 1
AVG 92.2 2.9 3.5 -2.5
C-A 24-36
Yds 262
Int 0
TD 2
No. 6 5 4 3 3 2 1
Yds 49 76 44 49 17 5 22
TD Long 0 22 1 40 0 16 1 24 0 12 0 4 0 22
RECEIVING J. Adams J. Wright G. Childs D. Johnson C. Gragg A. Tate C. Hamilton
TACKLES Solo J. Franklin 5 A. Highsmith 10 J. Nelson 3 T. Thomas 3 E. Bennett 2 T. Mitchel 3 B. Jones 2 L. Gosha 1
Ast. Total 10 15 2 12 7 10 6 9 7 9 4 7 3 5 2 3
TFL Sacks 1.5 0 2.0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 1.0 0 1.0 1.0
Lg 92 14 17 1 Long 40
INT 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
from FOOTBALL on page 8 mind I was going to come in here and work to get back as fast as I could and I did.” Bequette said it was his left hamstring and occurred on a routine pass rush when his leg got bent to a bad spot “We figured out very quickly what I was dealing with and the doctors and trainers told me what I was faced with,” Bequette said. “I am a quick healer and blessed to be that way.” The 34-game starter missed the Troy, Alabama and Texas A&M games before returning Oct. 7 against Auburn. Although Bequette registered just one tackle in the 38-14 win over Auburn, defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said he still made his presence felt. “I’ll tell you he was the one guy who did cross the other side of the line of scrimmage and made the pocket move,” Robinson said. “As long as we can keep getting that from him, we can keep playing off of each other and improve in that area up front and inside.” Although he may have not been as productive stat wise as he would have liked, Bequette said it was great to just get back onto the field. “I knew pretty early in the week I was going to have the chance to play,” Bequette said. “The actual game experience was awesome. The fans were very loud. It was great to have a top 15 team here and kind of see Fayetteville rocking again.” Bennett Finding His Way Sophomore Eric Bennett leads all members of the Arkansas secondary in tackles with 37 and intercepted the first pass of his career Saturday against Auburn. He’s started every game at safety after moving from cornerback in the offseason. “I have been reading my keys faster and learning more technique wise,” Bennett said. Robinson said he likes the progress he has seen in the Tulsa, Okla., native through six games this season. “Eric’s been playing very, very solid,” Robinson said. “Really understands the defense and he’s become a very good student of the game.” Robinson also said that the team hands out awards after each game and although Bennett hasn’t received one yet, he continues to be one of the leading candidates and points guys in terms of awards. First-team offense, defense scrimmage in bye week With Arkansas in the midst of its bye week, the practices have involved more technique and oneon-one drills, Robinson said. The first-team offense has also had to face the first-team defense in practice, matchup that’s rare during game week. The defense improves by practicing against the high-powered offense, Bequette said. “It was a lot of fun to get out there against the first team offense again,” Bequette said. “We both were giving each other a really good look.” Robinson said the team got exactly what they needed in matching up both units’ starters. “It was run-play action and it’s what we got what we needed out of it, obviously,” Robinson said. “It was good against goods. We’re not afraid to do that.”
from BASKETBALL on page 8 the procedure done and is on his way to recovery,” Anderson said. Sanchez averaged 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds while playing 14 minutes per game last season. Mickelson gains weight True freshman forward Hunter Mickelson now weighs 242 pounds after gaining 30 pounds over the summer and early in fall practice. “It’s helped me out a lot so I can be more physical with the bigger guys because there’s going to be a lot of guys that are older than me that play with physicality,” Mickelson said. Mickelson was one of Ar-
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas’ defense has been stressing tackling in individual drills during its bye week. The Razorbacks travel to Oxford, Miss. on Oct. 22.
kansas’ highly-touted signees in the class of 2011. He was named the No. 10 power forward in the nation and the No. 54 player overall by Scout.com. “In the workouts lately, he can run for a guy his size and he has very good hands for a big guy,” Anderson said. “That’s a great asset. You can recall guys that we have had here like (All-American center) Oliver Miller with a great pair of hands. You have got a big guy with a great pair of hands who can pass, see and has a nice touch. The thing that has to continue for him is the speed of the game and the strength of the game. “We did some scrimmaging and in those scrimmages he has been our leading rebounder. He just goes to the glass and finds the basketball.”