Oct. 14, 2009

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Although the different colleges on campus handle academic advising separately, officials from all departments agree that advising – which is open to students now – is a key element of a successful college experience. According to the mission of the Academic Advising Council, “Academic advising is an active, ongoing partnership between the advisers and students grounded in teaching and learning” and is “based on students gaining accurate and appropriate information and direction to help make their educational experience relevant, coherent and meaningful.” For students, advisers assist in developing an educational plan based on their interests and refer them to appropriate resources on campus. They also help students select classes for each semester of study. Alice S. Griffin, the coordinator of advising and retention for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, said the advising model used in Bumpers is designed to be more personal for their students. “We have a faculty model. From the beginning, students are assigned a faculty mentor in the summer at orientation,” Griffin said. “Research show that students who have more interaction with faculty in and out of the classroom

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OFFICIALS SAY ADVISING INTEGRAL TO SUCCESS are more likely achieve their academic goals in the designated amount of time.” The advising process in Bumpers is different from advising in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, where students visit a central advising center as freshmen and sophomores. “It’s building that relationship from day one,” Griffin said. “Research shows that the most valuable relationships students make will develop during their college experience, so it’s important they start with their adviser at first, instead of just for two years, and are able to network early on within their profession.” Department heads and advisers from Fulbright and the Sam M. Walton College of Business were unavailable for comment about advising practices in their colleges. The Academic Advising Council maintains that “quality academic advising is essential to achieving the university’s vision for a student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world.” But not all students find their academic advisers to be so helpful. “It helped to see what all I needed to get done, but they kind of just told me to pick and choose classes instead of saying, ‘Oh, hey, this would really help you with this,’” freshman Jordan Hanson said. And Bailey Boyd, a senior journalism major, said she questions why the advising

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Some students, however, question the helpfulness of their advisers

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Fall 2009 Enrollment at Arkansas universities

UA professors discuss what makes a good education

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Caitlin Williams

Contributing Writer “The highest function of higher education is the teaching of things in perspective, toward the purposes of enriching the life of the individual, cultivating the free and inquiring mind, and advancing the effort to bring reason, justice and humanity into the relations of men and nations.” – J. William Fulbright

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Sen. Fulbright stands above the hedges of Old Main, hands coolly pocketed as he silently asserts his legacy. His constant presence not only greets the thousands of students who pass by daily, but also inspires faculty who now manifest his mission for higher education at the UA. A selection of UA professors and administrators individually addressed the question, “What makes a good education?” Their responses prioritized certain characteristics with a surprising degree of solidarity. Broad context for learning

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Information courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. All numbers are preliminary. process is considered mandatory for underclassmen at all. “Advising is good for students in a career sense, but it shouldn’t be necessary,” Boyd said. “We are adults, aren’t we?” However, Boyd did have a positive experience with the adviser she worked with through her First Year Experience program, and she credits her ability to graduate early

entirely to him. The UA Academic Advising Council awards those advisers who provide excellent guidance to their students. In 2008-09, Larry Aslin from the College of Education and Health Professions was named the outstanding faculty adviser and Bill Ragan from the College of Business was named the outstanding professional adviser.

The recipients were selected for “their overwhelming evidence of qualities and practices that distinguished them as outstanding advisers” and received $2,500. They are recognized at a reception during the fall semester and are nominated for the National Academic Association advising awards.

UA professors emphasize the importance of educational breadth and the necessity of establishing a context for students. The first goal of biochemistry professor T.K.S. Kumar is to give students an answer to the question, “Why am I here?” As he sees it, without relating the material to students’ personal and professional objectives, any long-term interest will be difficult to maintain. Concerning breadth, Sandra Stotsky of the Department of Education Reform stressed the importance of demanding courses in numerous areas that form “culturally and scientifically literate” students. Piano professor Jura Margulis See

EDUCATION on Page 6

UA rugby team makes name for itself Bailey Elise McBride News Editor

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The UA men’s rugby team has outscored its opponents 252-25 already this season. The UA Rugby Football Club was founded in 1971.

An Arkansas team that has outscored its opponents 25225 so far this season? Students might think this has to be a fantasy, a team of long-ago forgotten lore. But they’re wrong. It’s the UA rugby team. The UA rugby team was founded in 1971, making rugby the oldest club sport on campus, said Jacob Clayman, the team president. In 2007, Michael Pope, a student from Zimbabwe, re-established the club after it had been off campus for several years. In the spring of 2008, Warren Fyfe took over as head coach, and since then, the team has gone 18-7, winning the Ozark Tournament (college division), among other competitions. Fyfe has taken the team to new heights, Clayman said, instilling discipline in players and creating a winning atmosphere. The team is currently competing in the Heart of America College Division II, playing both college and men’s teams from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. For those not familiar with rugby, it might be daunting to

try to play or understand – but Tucker Shaw, a junior member of the squad, said the sport is more accessible than many might realize. “I like to tell any potential player that rugby is just like football, soccer and wrestling all mixed in to one, and if you have never played those, well, there is still a spot for you on the team,” Shaw said. The sport was created in 1823 and in many ways has become a cultural phenomenon rather than just a game. Across the globe, teams play rugby and are followed by millions of dedicated fans. The game also emphasizes respect of the opposing team. “In no other sport do you refer to the referee as sir,” Clayman said. “Rugby is more of a brotherhood, some considering it the largest fraternity in the world. I could travel to anywhere in the world, be wearing some rugby gear and immediately meet someone and have a place to stay for the night. “It’s not just being able to score points or being able to hit someone that makes rugby great, it is also the brotherhood See

RUGBY on Page 5

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BRIEFLY speaking

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THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | UATRAV.COM

CREEK DRAINAGE CREATES PROBLEM ON CAMPUS

Author Eddie Einbinder to speak at UA tomorrow Eddie Einbinder, grand prize winner of the 2008 New York Book Festival, will speak at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in the Union Theater. After the event, he will sign/sell his book “How to Have Fun and Not Die” to those who are interested. For more information, visit Howtohavefunandnotdie.com/home. htm or contact Rob Pfountz to schedule an interview with the author.

Attend meeting to add locations to city historic plan The Historic and Heritage Resources Action Group of Fayetteville Forward will host an informational and input session 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Willard and Pat Walker meeting room of the Fayetteville Public Library. At this meeting, Paula Marinoni will present the topic of Spirit of Place, Sense of Place, Sacred Ground, and Energetic Attraction, as it pertains to historic structures and places. The presentation will be followed by a group discussion of those places in Fayetteville that carry special meaning for residents. A list will be compiled and added to the Fayetteville Historic and Heritage Master Plan. Organizations related to the topic are asked to send representatives to participate in the all-Fayetteville citizen process. For more information, contact Marinoni at 479466-4128 or pm@paulamarinoni.com.

Dance workshop to be hosted in HPER Dance Coalition, a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit group of choreographers and dancers, has paired up with the THEA Foundation and Arkansas Dance Network to present “A Modern Dance Workshop with Broadway Star Bill Hastings” in Room 220 of the HPER Sunday, Oct. 18. Workshop classes begin at 12:30 p.m. and finish at 6 p.m. Tuition for the afternoon workshop is $20 and includes a snack and THEA Foundation T-shirt when participants register online at THEAfoundaiton. org. For more information, contact Sally Ashcraft, the executive director of Dance Coalition at 479-422-6132.

MTV ‘Real World’ hosts auditions in Fayetteville Creators of “The Real World” on MTV will host an open casting call 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Grub’s Bar and Grille at 220 N. West Ave. in Fayetteville. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 24 and are required to bring a recent picture of themselves (which will not be returned) and a photo ID. For those who can’t attend the open call, applications will be accepted via e-mail. For more information, visit Bunim-murray.com.

CORRECTIONS The Arkansas Traveler strives for accuracy in its reporting and will correct all matters of fact. If you believe the paper has printed an error, please notify the editor at 575.8455 or at traveler@uark.edu.

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The Arkansas Traveler is a member of the Arkansas College Media Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper at the University of Arkansas, is published every Wednesday 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 editorial that appears on the left side of the opinion page is the opinion of this newspaper. The editor makes all final content decisions.

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The drainage of the creek by Reid Hall has become a problem, and the UA is working with Fayetteville officials to fix it. Continue to check UATrav.com for further updates on this issue.

ADVISING UA students, faculty look for better research equipment and opportunities

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER |UATRAV.COM

April Robertson Staff Writer

The UA has earned the reputation of a top “research university� through the commitment of administrators, faculty and students, but many researchers said they wish even more funds and equipment could be dedicated toward research at the university. The Walton family donated $300 million toward UA research a few years ago, but even still, most of the funding that enables research does not come straight from the department’s corresponding college. Instead, external sources, like the National Science Foundation and other similar organizations, provide much of the funding. Beyond these resources, professors must search for money on their own. Although it depends on the department, the college dean and the particular research activity, most professors typically can’t afford to take significant time away from teaching to do research unless they acquire a considerable grant. Professor Peter Ungar, chair of the UA anthropology department, usually teaches just one class a semester, but he also conducts about 12 to 14 hours of research daily. Ungar is among those researchers on campus who think that research funds are misused or unevenly distributed.

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“We had to beg, borrow and steal to get the equipment in this lab,� he said. Most of the equipment used in anthropology labs is purchased through government funds because the college gives an insufficient amount of money to the department to keep equipment in working order and to supply new materials, Ungar said. “We get the start-up amount of $5,000 per year,� he said. Ungar said one of the greatest challenges he’s faced doing research is that though the department and its faculty are on the cutting edge, the technology is often left behind. “It means that nothing works the way you want it to work,� he said. “You constantly have to tweak and finagle the equipment.� STEPHEN IRONSIDE Staff Photographer Some graduate students in the physics depart- Erik Pollock, manager of the UA Stable Isotope Lab in the Science and Engineering Building, injects gases into a machine to measure CO2 to better understand nutrient ment have faced similar difficulties, dynamics as a part of a research project on caves. they said. Many treat their research as full-time jobs, but when equip- appeal of research is that “finding as a way for them to more easily a unique aspect of the university, tilizers or even participating in the but also an integral part of the UA’s solar boat race, which can lead to ment malfunctions or isn’t avail- new intellectual stuff that no one transition to graduate school. has done before� is exciting. “As an undergraduate, (stu- original purpose. the discovery of other uses of soable, their work can stall. The biggest frustration for dents) should focus mostly on “Essentially, we want to build a lar energy,� Gearhart said. “It’s all Jessica Conry, a physics teachabout improvements.� ing assistant, said that happened to Conry has now simply become classes and do a little research, but better Arkansas,� he said. When Abraham Lincoln signed One way to keep up with the her this summer, when a necessary balancing research with classwork, by the time they are nearly done with their graduate work, they into action land grants, a way for various UA student research projpiece of equipment wasn’t replaced she said. Many undergraduate students should be spending all their time states to receive funding for univer- ects is to read the magazine Refor a few months. at the UA are also researchers. This on research,� he said. sities, the UA was created to serve search Frontiers, which is now “We work with ancient equipwas encouraged by the Waltons’ Chancellor G. David Gearhart working-class families by teaching available online at Researchfronment,� she said. Conry said she came to the UA research donation, much of which said he values research done at the them, providing improving services tiers.uark.edu. Some of the most reUA because it is beneficial for the and conducting research. cent projects include a virtual map because its physics department was went to the Honors College. Ungar also promotes undercommunity and state. He said an “We can contribute to society of Pompeii and information about the only graduate program of its kind in the state. She said the main graduate students doing research emphasis on research is not only through coming up with new fer- copyright law and the Internet.

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OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

Page 4 |WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

Check UATrav.com for daily updates.

Phone: 575.8455 | E-mail: traveler@uark.edu

Editor: Tina Korbe | Managing Editor: Kimber Wenzelburger

Letter from the Editor

Let’s not be afraid to make this personal Occasionally, as in the case of advising, what UA administrators call “integral” UA students call “superfluous” and maybe even “unnecessary.” Too often, the advising process feels like no more than a ratification routine: Students design their schedules with input from their friends and then present those schedules to their advisers for a signature. Perhaps, though, that’s as it should be. As the Fulbright Advising Center Web site suggests, students owe it to themselves to take responsibility for their educational experience. It might be the adviser’s job to help students “understand the meaning and relevance of the college experience,” but it’s the task of students to “assess (their) interests, abilities and needs” and to “clarify (their) educational and personal goals.” Education is, after all, intensely personal. Advisers can recite policies, procedures and requirements; administrators can market the university with slick slogans; and professors can preach at their podiums – but, unless students internalize the information they encounter and apply it in new and innovative ways, they will possess little in the way of real knowledge. Perhaps that internalization and application was what piano professor Jura Margulis had in mind when he talked about the “self-propelled student” in an interview for a story you won’t want to miss – “UA faculty discuss what makes a good education,” the first of a three-part series designed to explore the question, “What constitutes an effective education?” It was actually the reporter on that story – contributing writer Caitlin Williams – whom I first heard apply the word “personal” to education. Even as she’s made it her personal challenge to write about a broad and endlessly debatable topic from three distinct vantage points, we hope you’ll challenge yourselves to make the most of your time here as you craft your spring schedules by reading the series, internalizing it and, yes, applying what you’ve learned. Cheers, Tina Korbe Editor

EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED IN LIGHT OF THE PAST Many students will go through the UA and never be affected by the Popol Vuh, the Mahabharata or the Tale of Genji. But each year, around 100 will. H2P, the Honors Humanities Project, has been around the UA for nearly 10 years now. The four-semester class has been taught by a number of different teachers, has been attended by a number of different students and has affected people in a number of different ways. Many students have horror stories from their first semester in the class. Some drop out after a day. But the students who dedicate their Tuesday and Thursday mornings to the class for two years come out of the program different – cultured in a way that no other program at the UA can provide. When these students go out after college and become biologists, lawyers and journalists, there might not be a large demand for them to have read the Three Treatises on the Divine Images or the Tao te Ching. What students gain from H2P is definitely not a resume booster – it is more of an understanding of the past and the reasons why the world today is the way it is, as well as the ways we can affect it. Over the last year, many valuable programs at the UA, such as Leadershape and the UA debate team, have been pushed off the table as the university faces tough decisions on who and what to fund as enrollment continues to increase. Everyone knows these decisions are tough, because, no matter what, someone has to get burned. But don’t let H2P become one of those programs – another something great we used to have. Here’s to a broader perspective. To the students with a willingness to do more reading, more papers and more classes, just for the sake of doing it. Here’s to H2P.

EDITORIAL BOARD TINA KORBE | Editor KIMBER WENZELBURGER | Managing Editor BAILEY MCBRIDE | News Editor 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. Letters appear in the order they were submitted as space permits. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse letters on the basis of length, accuracy, fairness, liability and sensibility.

FEEL FREE TO PICK YOUR ANCESTRY Most Americans – especially white Americans – are mutts. This allows us to take advantage of what has been termed “dime store ethnicity.” You do some genealogy, and then pick out whichever ancestor you like best. I chose Welsh. The decision was pretty simple. The large majority of my ancestors are from Wales and Western England, and my most recent immigrant progenitors were Welsh coal miners. Also, Wales has a dragon on its flag. So, now that I identify as a Welsh-American, what does this mean? Other people are unlikely to label me as such, unless I make a point of it. Although I grew up in Northern Utah, a demographic hotbed of Welsh-Americans, I knew virtually nothing about my heritage (apart from a couple of Tom Jones songs) until a couple of months ago. There are no Welsh ghettos in the United States. To be honest, that’s one of things I like most. “Welsh-American” is such a meaningless term as to be almost a deconstruction or parody of white American ethnicity. Nobody celebrates St. David’s Day or wears leeks. It took a good bit of searching on Google to figure out the racial slurs I’m supposed to be offended by. (Don’t call me “Taffy!”) The only book on Welsh Americans at the library is subtitled “A History of Assimilation.” Welsh history is a genuinely fascinating subject. The absence of commodification of Welsh culture gave reading The Mabinogion a dream-like sensawunda. This feel of authenticity – one of the most attractive parts of Welshness for me – is in danger, as Cymru revivalism is growing in Wales and spreading to the diaspora. Our Celtic neighbors to the West have one of the most commercialized cultures in the world. Everybody wants to be Irish. On the one hand, there’s something deliciously post-modern about African Americans celebrating St. Patrick’s Day without anyone blinking an eye, but not all Irish find it amus-

Notes from Underground

ADAM ROBERTS adamcr@uark.edu

ing. Cultural appropriation can offend members of the original culture, as we saw when a New Zealand court ordered a rugby team who uses a native dance to pay millions of dollars to the Maori tribe that came up with it. But that’s just the problem. Who is “Irish” and who is not? Who is part of an “original culture”? Race is difficult enough to define. Is drawing an ethnic line even possible? Is “authenticity” a meaningful qualifier? Religion and ethnicity often overlap, so let’s look there. The Ghost Dance movement among Native Americans in the late 19th Century is an example. It took portions of traditions from various tribes, took them out of context, and amalgamated them into a new practice by dominate Native American groups. Kwanzaa is another perfect example. An average Unitarian Universalist service is a poster child for cultural appropriation. Americanized, liberal versions of Buddhism, Judaism, various tribal religions and Gnostic Christianity are sampled like sesame chicken and ham fried rice at a Chinese restaurant buffet. New Agers and emerging religious movements struggle with the same issues. In her article ‘When is a Celt Not a Celt?’ Neopagan writer Joanna Hautin-Mayer criticizes Wiccans for ignoring genuine Celtic religion and just making things up as they went along. Christianity is the best-known example. It

consciously practiced syncretism as a way of spreading the universal church by embracing local culture. The question then is, does this cultural borrowing – often undesired by the original culture – mean that the resulting product is “inauthentic?” Is Christmas somehow cheapened by knowing that its date was determined by pagan solstice festivals? If I wanted to embrace “genuine” Welshness, the only way to do it would be to move to Wales. Even then there might be difficulties. The United States isn’t the only country with cultural exchange. Is “authentic Wales” Wales now, after centuries of rule by England and the infusion of English culture? Or was it in the 1300s, when The Mabinogion was compiled, mixing old Celtic tales with French Arthurian spins on those tales? Or was it a few millenia ago, before the Celts even arrived? Culture undergoes perpetual change, and notions like “cultural purity” are laughable. Since race is already a fuzzy concept (the argument over whether Obama is black, white or both has apparently ended in a stalemate), ethnicity is even more so. I’ve got the Flag of St. David as my desktop wallpaper and I’m starting to learn some Welsh, but I’m not going to go coal mining or shag a sheep anytime soon. To stretch the religious analogy, I plan to be a “cafeteria Welshman.” The Unitarian Universalists (along with the Boy Scouts of America, the Society for Creative Anachorism and Quentin Tarantino) seem to have it right in this regard. Be syncretic, be eclectic and don’t make pretentious claims about “authenticity.” I’m Welsh, I’m American, I’m an Arkansan, I’m an Utahn, and on March 17, I’m Irish. And there’s nothing more American than that. Adam Roberts is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler.

Roger’s Rec deserves its rep Sam Letchworth Columnist

Have you ever seen a naked man get tazed by the cops? Or a magician make a beer bottle disappear under a newspaper when you have your hand on it? Or a leather worker draw out the Fibonacci triangle on a beer coaster? I have. And I saw it all at Roger’s Rec. Most people who don’t know wander into the back door, take a look around and leave, realizing that they have walked into the wrong bar. But everyone else drinking their beers over a game of dominoes, a round of billiards, even the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, call it home. Roger’s Rec is the oldest bar on Dickson Street. Founded in 1947, it is a historic landmark of Fayetteville, a place founded on the idea of working men escaping from the world, if only for a little while. But the layman moseying down Dickson wouldn’t even know it was there. I’ve been drinking $1.50 Shiner Bock at Roger’s for, well, as long as I’ve drinking $1.50 Shiner Bock at Roger’s. But now,

there’s no front door. I heard a commercial on the radio the other day advertising Roger’s Rec. It was delivered by one of those sand-and-glue-voiced radio guys who I can only imagine wakes up in the morning in his boxer shorts, drinks three cups of coffee, smokes twice as many cigarettes and records a litany of commercial spots on the microphone hooked up to his computer. This particular one got me. “Come down to Roger’s Rec,” said the commercial man, “the same bar it has always been since 1947.” Obviously, this gentleman has never stepped a foot into Roger’s. Or, if he has, he should probably be drawn and quartered. Because the fact is, Roger’s Rec just ain’t what it used to be. The bar used to be accessible right off of Dickson Street, up until a year ago. It was a shotgun bar, home to cheap beer, cheap pool, shuffle board, foosball and more. And it still is, of course, except that you wouldn’t know it unless you walked around the back of Jose’s past Rogue Pizza into the two-hour parking lot. If you tried to come in through the original, proper entrance, you would find,

not Roger’s, but a bar called 21st Amendment, arguably the nicest bar on Dickson, decked out with wood paneling, leather couches, top shelf liquors and a Big Ass fan (actually a brand name for the fan that spins in the center of the place, each blade being at least 10 feet long). Now Roger’s, nearly 60 years old, has been pushed into the back. Bar owner of both establishments, Zack Wooden, bought Roger’s and cut the bar in half, assassinating the last vestige of Dickson Street history. A writer for The New Yorker wrote a story on the bar in the 1980s and loved it so much he moved to Fayetteville. He called it “the center of the universe.” The “Rec” in “Roger’s Rec” stands for “recreation.” But you’re lucky to “recreate” at all in the place now as the pool tables and shuffle board have been packed so tightly together that you have to wait your turn to take a shot for fear of poking the “recreating” pool or shuffle board player behind you. Roger’s Rec has always served as an archetypal men’s club. The bar, established in 1947, didn’t even have a women’s restroom

until 1980. Basically, the place was a Roman bath house, without the gay sex, of course. The only thing keeping Roger’s Rec, well, Roger’s Rec, are the patrons, some of whom have been coming to the bar regularly for 50 years. There’s Ian, a London native that everyone refers to endearingly as “Limey.” He used to coach soccer, but don’t call it “soccer” to him. There’s Mark, a carpenter, who only drinks Busch. There’s Charlie, a pool shark, who always dresses in a white shirt and black pants. He’ll coach you on your pool game and, if you’re having a laugh, he’ll come up to you and facetiously tell you that you’re having too much fun. There’s Lynn, an old rugby player reminiscent of Art Garfunkel, who drinks Bud out of a Black Sabbath pint glass and talks about the reptilian conspiracy. Tony the 13-year-veteran friendly tattooed bartender, T.J. the gruff-voiced “tortured genius” full of random jeopardy trivia … The list goes on. These are just some of the people that have kept Roger’s Rec alive. When they are gone, Roger’s will be gone. And with it, one of the most integral keystones of Fayetteville culture.

NEWS

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER |UATRAV.COM

New Immigration Law Clinic makes its case on campus Taniah Tudor

Assistant News Editor Everyone knows lawyers don’t come cheap. Immigrants who are unable to work because they are undocumented or on a visa that doesn’t allow them to work find it even more difficult to shell out the cash for a service that can cost thousands of dollars. Fortunately for them, there is a solution in the form of the new Immigration Law Clinic at the UA School Of Law. One of the reasons the clinic opened was to fill the gap in legal representation for an everincreasing immigrant population in Arkansas. Anyone in the community in need of legal representation, student or not, can receive help at the new law clinic free of charge. Clients are only required to pay the fees for applications or legal documents required by the government. “There are just so many people that need help here, and a lot of them also ‌ can’t afford legal representation,â€? said Elizabeth Young, assistant professor of law and director of the new clinic. There are several prominent immigration lawyers in the area, but they can’t fill the need for representation. “I don’t think any of them are hurting for clients,â€? Young said. The foreign-born share of Arkansas’ population has grown from 1.1 percent in 1990 to 4.2 percent in 2007, according to a report by the Immigration Policy Center. Arkansas had the fastestgrowing Latino population and the fourth-fastest growing immigrant population of any state in the nation between 2000 and 2005, according to the report. “Northwest Arkansas has a large and rapidly growing immigrant population,â€? said Cynthia Nance, the dean of the UA School of Law. Part of their charge as the law school of a land-grant institution is to serve their community, Nance

said. “The Immigration Clinic meets a glaring need in our state and community,â€? she said. The clinic has a mix of clients; some are students who are foreign nationals or married to foreign nationals, but the majority of cases are related to deportation, Young said. “I would say about 70 percent of our cases are people who are in immigration proceedings, which means they are in deportation proceedings,â€? Young said. Ester and JosĂŠ Gonzalez are clients of the Immigration Law Clinic. Their names have been changed to protect their confidentiality. Both are undocumented; Ester’s sister brought her to the United States when she was 14 and JosĂŠ came to find work and send money back to his family in Mexico, they said. The Gonzalezes have stayed in the United States to gain access to better schools and a better life for their children, they said. They work in landscaping to help support their family. “My kids are citizens and I would not want to disrupt their education by taking them to Mexico,â€? Ester said. She wants to see them to graduate from college and go on to achieve a better life, she said. Ester was recommended to the Immigration Law Clinic by her friend’s husband. The clinic helped prevent Ester and her family from being immediately deported and is working toward getting the Gonzalezes’ work permits so they can continue to stay in the United States. The two are awaiting court in June. “We would like to become citizens,â€? Ester said. “I have been here for 21 years and our family wouldn’t want to start a new life in Mexico. I have faith in God and in and the lawyers of the clinic that everything will turn out fine.â€? The clinic began taking its first cases last January, receiving most of those from local immigration law offices that do pro bono work.

Law students act as the representatives and are supervised by Young. The clinic has about 30 clients right now, but immigration cases often last for more than five years, and often cases will lie dormant for several months during processing, Young said. “I would like to see cases in all stages at the clinic, which can only come with time,� she said. “I am hoping that the caseload will stabilize (as) the community becomes aware of the program.� The clinic does have two large obstacles. Young said the biggest is geographical, because the immigration court is in Memphis, though Young is trying to set up a program for televideo hearings instead of having to travel there for every case. “That has definitely dampened how many cases I will take that are in immigration court, because we just can’t drive to Memphis all the time to go to hearings,� she said. The second biggest limitation is language, because the university does not pay for interpreters. Right now the clinic has a bilingual student in work study who is being trained to interpret, but because she is not certified, they get most of their help from Anne Yancy, a local court-certified interpreter who has donated hundreds of hours of free interpreting services to the clinic, Young said. The law students are not required to speak another language and Young thinks it’s good for them to get used to working with interpreters, she said. The clinic administration has hopes that the clinic will continue to grow, both in clients and in services. Young said once they get everything settled, the clinic can initiate more auxiliary programs, perhaps providing legal rights education to the community. In the meantime, the clinic staff will continue to reach out to people in need of immigration legal assistance, such as the Gonzalez family.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009| Page 5

RUGBY: TEAM LOOKS FOR MORE PLAYERS

COURTESY PHOTOr

Rugby sevens was recently accepted as a sport for the 2016 Olympics, and members of the UA rugby team hope this might encourage more students to join their squad.

RUGBY

from Page 1 that comes along with it,� he said. Rugby sevens was recently accepted as a sport for the 2016 Olympics. Members of the UA rugby team seem to think this is a step in the right direction and that it might encourage more students to join the UA squad. The team is currently looking to fill two squads of 15 players so they will be able to scrimmage each other to prepare for future games. “If we keep having guys committed to the team and coming out to practice, then I believe we will excel in our division,� Shaw said. “Last year, we had a 130pound guy who was our leading tackler – this is not football where you run 100 miles per hour and spear someone. There are rules, not many, but some.� Many members of the squad joined by hearing about the team through word of mouth. Junior Tony Zambrano got involved with the team last year because his roommate was ac-

tive. “I learned to play an entirely foreign sport, became part of the oldest club on campus, joined an entire culture and lifestyle, made some of the greatest friends possible, and learned that I’m not made of glass,� Zambrano said. Some team members are now even involved in playing rugby beyond the club team on campus. “Being on the university rugby team has led to me being able to, during the summer, play for and travel with the Fayetteville Gryphons, the local men’s club,� Zambrano said. “All in all, my experience has been nothing but awesome.� Many alumni of the team have also gone on to lead successful careers on and off the pitch. Some are now doctors, engineers, businessmen, lawyers and even politicians, Clayman said, and some have gone on to have successful college coaching careers in rugby at the University of Delaware and Arkansas State University, where both teams are now in the Top 10. “We played our alumni at

the end of last season, some of whom were in their late 50s and still have a passion for the game,� Shaw said. “This team is not just a club team, but also a brotherhood that is continuing the 38 years of Razorback rugby tradition. “I believe this year will be better because now people on campus actually know there is a rugby team and that we are serious about playing at the next level,� he said. “It is no longer viewed as an intramural team like flag football or volleyball, but a club sport that competes for regional and national championships.� The UA rugby team is a member of the University Club Sports Program within the Department of Intramural/Recreational Sports. Anyone interested can attend a practice from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the intramural fields. The team can be reached by e-mail at uarugby@uark.edu or on its Facebook page, “Arkansas Rugby.� “I think that people should come out to the game to see one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation that you can play the rest of your life,� Shaw said.

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Page 6 |WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

UA professors say they value tenured positions Elizabeth Bostwick Contributing Writer

Those professors who have earned a permanent position at the university said they value the job security, research possibility and creative license tenure provides – and they believe their experience is particularly relevant now, as students craft their spring schedules. Obtaining a tenured position is a lengthy process. After earning a bachelor’s degree, potential professors must also earn master’s and doctoral degrees. After years of educational preparation, aspiring professors endure a rigorous interview process to secure a tenure-track job as an assistant professor. During this process, candidates are brought to the university to gain exposure to campus culture and department personalities. Assistant professors are typically allotted five to seven years to prove their intellectual mettle and secure the title of tenured professor. Assistant professors are reviewed based on their contribution to the university through teaching, research and service. The department offers assistant professors a tenured position if they’re able to demonstrate a satisfactory performance in the given time period. The teaching category refers to the individual’s role as an instructor. Professors’ commitment to research is largely demonstrated

through their output of published materials. The structure of the tenure system varies slightly among universities. Universities are typically classified as either research-based or teaching-based institutions. Universities with a teaching focus concentrate on the instructive quality of tenured professors. Research-based organizations emphasize the quality of the material produced by the professor’s research. The UA places equal emphasis on research and instruction. “There is a difference between creating knowledge and disseminating information,� said Jason Edwards, a doctoral candidate and graduate assistant in the English department. Tenured professors enjoy intellectual freedoms denied to individuals in less established positions and increased access to funding. Terrence Tucker, an assistant professor in English department, said tenure is a commitment from the university to the professor representing the university’s desire for the professor’s intellectual presence and investment in campus life. Tucker is in his fourth year as an assistant professor. The number of tenured positions available differs between departments. David Joliffe, a full professor with tenure in the English department, said the department only has 23 tenure-track positions

available, a small number relative to the university’s size. Other universities of a similar size typically have 30 to 35 tenure-track faculty members in a given department. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has a comparable number of tenure-track positions. Paul Adams, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said his department has only 22 tenuretrack positions. The road to tenure is not always a clear-cut path. Many tenured professors did not begin their academic careers with the precise intention of obtaining their current position. Time and experience refine individual interests, shaping educational and occupational decisions. Tucker followed a traditional tenure route, completing all necessary schooling and progressing immediately into a tenure-track position in the Department of English. Edwards’ history is different. After earning bachelor’s degrees in sociology and criminology, Edwards worked in several different fields before he decided to pursue a doctoral degree. Edwards said tenure is a future possibility. Undergraduate students interested in acquiring tenure should explore academic interests. Tucker said students should talk to favorite professors about their experiences. “Start developing critical thinking skills as early as possible, try to gain as many research experiences in the field you wish to pursue your graduate education in, and connect with mentors at each stage of your career to help guide you through large or small challenges as your career takes off,� Adams said.

EDUCATION from Page 1

said he laments that “specialization is a big problem of modern education,� and that we are always seeking measurable value. Rather, he said he believes that “an artist is a wonderer, a seeker, and it absolutely in no way ends with a diploma.� Environment matters Another common thread among UA professors is the belief that environment matters. Class size is often cited when determining a university’s quality, and Honors College Dean Bob McMath said he recognizes the difference between a lecture hall and a small colloquium. McMath said that large lectures are an economic necessity, but the professor can supplement the environment by means such as electronic media or the occasional joke to increase student engagement. In fact, the educator is a determinant of environmental quality. “The university must find the financial resources to increase the size of the faculty, and that includes faculty that are tenured or tenure-track,� McMath said. “The intellectual health of the university requires that we have more permanent faculty.� Kumar has witnessed that when a professor commits his time to students outside of the classroom, their awareness of his investment will create an “abstract pressure� to perform well. By meeting one-on-one with students, he learns their individual backgrounds and uses that knowledge to create a level playing field in the classroom. For him and others, it goes beyond pure academics, as education, he said, involves “social and

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | UATRAV.COM professional responsibilities to the student.â€? “The self-propelled student, that is probably the best goal ‌ but of course, the environment is much stronger than the individual,â€? Margulis said. “We must instill a sense of right and wrong.â€? Whether the student agrees or not, he added that “faculty have a moral obligation to have an opinion and express it.â€? Individual initiative One can see that the faculty members accept their responsibility to the student. However, there is not a shortage of professors who believe the student, too, bears responsibility. “Part of growing up means making decisions for yourself and seeking the information you need,â€? Stotsky said. Universities provide a wide array of structures and resources, but students must be “self-guided and self-disciplinedâ€? if they expect to do well, she said. McMath said he expects students to be mentally engaged regardless of whether they will be called on, regardless of class size. The internal incentive to work for more than just grades is something the student must bring to the table, and the institution’s ability to shape this “character issue,â€? as Stotsky termed it, brought out different opinions. Stotsky said she’s not certain that universities can cultivate those kinds of incentives, though clubs, campus ministries, performing arts programs and individuals in residence halls show an effort to reach the unique motivation in each student. Margulis, however, said that character is contagious, and professors should “teach by example.â€? “We are all continuously learning,â€? he said. “The professor is the one who seeks even more strongly than (the students) do at

this point.â€? Civic Responsibility A good education surpasses the individual experience. Professors said they value students’ commitment to society. It has always been a goal of liberal education in this country, Stotsky said, to produce students who “participate with the values and political principles that enable you to be a good citizen of this particular democracy.â€? When McMath teaches undergraduate American history courses, he “want(s) students to learn not only historical facts, but to be able to see themselves as taking part in public discourse ‌ as actors.â€? He said that smarts don’t always guarantee empathy. “Honors students need as part of their own education to be involved in some activities, some organizations where they may be the only honors student in the group,â€? he said. Realizing what we have Celebrating the breadth of research and creativity in an institution specifically chartered for learning and teaching is something the UA faculty members do not take for granted. “The academic institution is one of the absolute bastions of humanity,â€? Margulis said. His and McMath’s visions portray nothing less than delight in the exchange of experience and knowledge. “The mentality of just a bunch of unrelated things that you have to do is at cross-purposes with taking the time to savor what you do here and making the pieces connect,â€? McMath said of the undergraduate career. Dr. Margulis advises students: “You’re in a treasure room. Don’t walk out with what they tell you you can take, take as much as you can possibly carry.â€?

Students consider H2P important tradition in Fulbright College Bailey Elise McBride News Editor

When H2P students heard the class might be discontinued, they quickly created a Facebook group, “Save H2P!� The gesture indicates just how much the program means to those who take it – and why those who haven’t enrolled in it might want to consider taking it in the future. The Honors Humanities Project is a four-semester progression of classes that replaces World Literature I and II, World Civilization I and II, a fine art requirement and a humanities colloquium, and has been offered to honors students for nearly 10 years. “Contrary to popular belief, the Honors College does not operate H2P – it’s a Fulbright College program,� said Bob McMath, dean of the Honors College. “It was started within Fulbright and Fulbright is in charge of it.� In a letter he wrote to the creator of the Facebook group, McMath said he recently met with Professor Dave Frederick,

Associate Dean Chuck Adams and Professor Sidney Burris, honors director in Fulbright College, about the future of H2P. McMath said the group was “frank to say that the future of the program is in doubt� and requested funding from the Honors College. McMath indicated that this year alone the Honors College has provided $350,000 for honors instruction in Fulbright. “I told my colleagues that I would be happy to consider providing some support for H2P,� McMath wrote, “but it would have to be in the context of a significant overall cut in our current level of support for honors instruction,� so that the Honors College can stay within its own budget. “It’s not the crisis it seemed to be a week ago, I’ll say that,� said Charles Adams, associate dean of Fulbright College. “It’s not in grave danger and isn’t at a crisis point anymore.� McMath said it bothers him that people think the Honors College is shutting down H2P.

“We like the program and we want to see it continue,� he said. “I think it’s a really important program and that’s why I even agreed to teach in it this semester. Some things are happening that I think are very positive and that I think will ensure the longevity of the program.� Adams said that when H2P began, the college was in a much different place. “When we started, the university was 14,000 students,� he said. “Teaching H2P has become a luxury because professors are getting called back to their own departments because of the enrollment growth.� Adams said Fulbright is trying to entice new professors into teaching in the program, to “bring in some new blood� by adding new incentives for faculty. Some of the advantages the concerned students have cited for the program were the small, intimate classes in the first years of college, the development of close relationships with professors early on, and exposure to

study habits and writing skills not usually taught until upperlevel classes. Each semester of the program focuses on a different time period, arranged in chronological order, beginning with founding myths in the first semester and ending with the Vietnam War and rock ‘n’ roll in the last semester. Each semester of the program is team-taught by three professors, who each lecture on areas they specialize in. Students attend lectures twice a week and participate in a one-hour discussion period with their instructor once a week. The class focuses on five different pieces of culture each semester as a means for students to learn about parts of history not usually included in other survey-style classes. These cultural icons in-

clude works of architecture like the Great Wall of China or the Brooklyn Bridge; works of literature such as the Mahabharata of India, the Popul Vuh of the Mayans or Othello by Shakespeare; and also the study of movements in history such as the colonization of the New World and Africa. Students learn about each of these periods through the study of primary texts produced within each culture. The program was the brainchild of a professor no longer at the UA. A grant proposal written and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities allowed for experts from around the globe to come to Fayetteville over two summers to show faculty how to teach the subjects covered in H2P in a productive way. “From a faculty perspective, the difficulty, attraction and

challenge is that the faculty member has to teach things outside of the discipline they were trained in,� Burris said in a previous interview. “Often a Ph.D. in a given area dictates what a professor will teach for the rest of their life – this program allows faculty to teach in the areas they may already have interest in, but are outside of the discipline they normally teach.� Students often cite that the class is too reading-intensive or too tough for them to remain in the program, which results in some students dropping out after the first day. The class goes from more than 100 students in the first semester to closer to 50 by the final semester. The class is only offered Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 10:50 a.m., and students must go in order of the four semesters. “H2P is kind of like acquiring a taste for olives,� Burris said. “Some like them immediately, some dislike them immediately and some start to like them after time.�

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LIFESTYLES

UA students interview to be THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER on MTV’s “Real World” Wednesday in Lifestyles

E-mail: travlife@uark.edu|Phone: 575.7540 Lifestyles Editor: Brian Washburn | Assistant Lifestyles Editor: Lindsey Pruitt

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009 | Page 7

UA apparel studies program Traveler grows with style op 5 Erin Robertson Staff Writer

LARRY ASH Staff Photographer

Defining

success

Brittany Doherty, a junior apparel studies major, concentrates on an intricate challenge while working with a sewing machine on a lab project in the School of Human Environmental Sciences in Bumpers College.

The Introduction to Apparel Production class verily hums. Sewing machines whir, patterns rustle and scraps of materials and pins scatter the tabletop. Each apparel studies student is creating something unique, whether it is a cotton tote as a Christmas gift for a friend or a handmade prom dress being revamped into something more glamorous. Creativity abounds in the workroom, but that does not distract from the level of seriousness with which the students address their tasks. The Apparel Studies Department, although highly lauded by students, is a little-known major within the UA. In recent years, the program has faced a major overhaul and has grown exponentially through a faculty and an advisory board coalition to create a more attractive and modern department. “It has been around for a very long time… It was more of a traditional clothing and textiles program where students majored in either clothing and apparel merchandising or apparel design,” said Lona Robertson, a UA apparel studies professor, of the department’s metamorphosis. Department heads decided to

change the curriculum in the mid1990s to combine the two areas of study into the current apparel studies major. “Now our students do a little bit of everything,” Robertson said. The changes were in response to the decline in enrollment seen within the program. Department officials also created an advisory board to critique the current curriculum and offer suggestions on how to make the new program the best preparatory course for students. “Some of the suggestions that the advisory board members made included … taking a look at where they were seeing jobs in their industry going and making our curriculum kind of mesh well with what’s happening in the industry,” Robertson said. The advisory board’s hard work has borne fruit – and very large harvests at that. “We calculated it the other day,” Robertson said, “and it has been a 400 percent increase in the last 10 years. It has been phenomenal.” The Apparel Studies Department is a hidden gem within the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences, and most students are drawn in by word of mouth, Robertson said. See

APPAREL on Page 10

FIRST IT GIVETH, THEN IT SLAPPETH WITH A LAWSUIT

T

Top 5 reasons we’re high on the Hill

1

Here's to a mix of country, class and couture... The only place you’ll find cowboy boots and juicy suits, polo shirts and business skirts.

2. amazingly cheap sports tickets for students...

Because vouching is so much easier than $50 a pop, and that’s why our student section brings the hype.

county's so wet 3.This it's dripping spirits... Because what would this place be without Dickson Street and frat parties?

4. we're ballin' with the big dogs...

It’s easy to get caught up in this crazy rush of success we’re in. We’re college students, and we’re in it to win it. “Go big or go home” is the motto many of us live by.

Life with Lindsey

LINDSEY PRUITT lpruitt@uark.edu But even between the parties and social activities, the sports and the clubs, after the hangover wears off or we finish our last game, we know what we came here to do: get the education to get the success. Why? Because without that degree, there is no sure proof that we did anything with our lives. Without that certificate of knowledge, maybe nobody will see us and we’ll be forgotten in the rush. So what do we do? We stay up late, tweaking that essay over a subject we hope we never hear about again; we apply for every internship we think might get us ahead, even if we know we’ll be miserable; we join every volunteer organization we hear about so we look See

SUCCESS on Page 10

COURTESY PHOTO

Brady Tackett

Assistant Lifestyles Editor The majority of students who download music illegally were probably unfazed when the UA issued a blast of e-mails warning against file sharing early this semester. The e-mail cautioned that the use of peerto-peer download software like Limewire could result in legal trouble, citing the handful of threats filed against UA students last year by the Recording Industry Association of America. But though downloading music is illegal, it’s also nearly untraceable. In fact, most lawsuits the RIAA files against people are not for downloading music, but for sharing it, said Craig Brown, the associate director of UA network services. Peer-to-peer networks allow for the download of files, including music, movies and applications. But unless users disable the “upload” feature, their files will be available for other Internet users to download. The highly publicized lawsuits that involve the RIAA are usually related to this crime, not the downloading of music, Brown said. “It’s very spotty as to what (the RIAA) can detect,” he said. He told of one UA student who rarely used the computer he was assigned to in the architecture lab. “He came in one day and turned his computer on and happened to have a peer-to-peer file-sharing application up, and he had something that was shared to the outside world,” he said. “He wasn’t on for very long at all, yet he got tagged with a notice.” Last year, the RIAA began sending out early settlement letters to individuals suspected of file sharing, and these letters threaten lawsuit if the individual does not agree to a cheaper outof-court settlement, Brown said. The RIAA sent such letters to 25 students last year. “My personal opinion is that there’s an existing law” – the Digital Millennium Copyright Act – “for how that should be dealt with, and they’ve chosen to ignore it,” he said. “That puts campuses and individuals in an awkward position.” Luckily for students who live on campus, the

UA has never disclosed the name of a student to the RIAA without being issued a subpoena, and the UA has only ever received one series of subpoenas. “Some campuses don’t even forward the early settlement letters, but we chose to do it because we felt that the students needed to know that there was the potential of an upcoming lawsuit,” Brown said. The university takes no further action after notifying the student, so Brown said he did not know the result of the cases involving the 25 suspected students last year. “We don’t get a tremendous number of notifications, partly because in the residence halls, we drop all outbound traffic for peer-to-peer networks,” he said. That’s good news for students who share files on those networks. But while this generation witnessed the rise of Napster as children, they also remember its ugly aftermath, and many have decided that the risk of lawsuit is too great. “I used Limewire, but I haven’t downloaded anything since I left high school,” freshman Justin Elkins said. Casey Allen, a sophomore, said he downloads music legally through online retailers like Amazon, iTunes and NoiseTrade. Other students, like senior Adam O’Hern, use alternate means to acquire music. Though O’Hern occasionally downloads illegally, he said he never uses a campus Internet connection to do so. “I don’t download that much. I’ll just get on Limewire about once a month and download a ton of stuff,” he said. “I just got the Al Green discography.” But Limewire, the most common peer-topeer file-sharing software, is also one of the most dangerous for users. “Most students have heard about it, and they have the misunderstanding that if they use Limewire, what they get is legitimate,” Brown said. “But it’s not.” Limewire hit the Web nearly a decade ago. The company reacted to controversy and criticism by mentioning the illegality of file sharing – in the fine print of its Web site. “Most people will never even see that,” Brown said.

Because being in cahoots with Wal-Mart, Tyson and J.B. Hunt means we don’t mess around.

s to fantastic 5.Here' foliage and being eco!friendly... Because not only do we look great, but we’re saving the environment, too!

Check Traveler Top 5 next week for the top five reality shows.

“Alfred Nobel wrote that the prize should go to the person who has contributed most to the development of peace in the previous year. Who has done more for that than Barack Obama?” - Nobel Prize committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland.

LIFESTYLES on Twitter: Here’s to grade ‘A’ professors TheIt’sscoop still growing

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | UATRAV.COM

Page 8|WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

Mille Appleton

Contributing Writer

You know the professors who are impossible to forget. They’re the professors who transform classroom learning into life lessons. The professors students recommend with enthusiasm and return to, if possible. Charles Adams and Marta Collier are just two of the many UA professors who strive to make each class extend beyond the textbook and give students more to take home than homework.

Marta Collier Collier, the associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and Health Professions, is the top-rated UA professor on RateMyProfessor. com, a Web site where students throughout the country can rate and comment on their professors. Collier has received

an abundance of enthusiastic student comments on the site. “The best teacher I have had yet!! Inspiring and motivating – truly cares about her students and what they will become,� one student wrote. Collier is humbled and honored to get that kind of feedback, she said in a phone interview, and she hopes to always be a viable resource for students as they pursue education as a profession. Collier’s teaching focus includes classroom learning theory, early childhood education and early childhood literacy. Her experience as a grade school teacher has given her the passion to mold young hopeful teachers. “I design an environment so students are able to construct their own knowledge, to seek answers to their own questions. Through activities and reading and discussions they’re able to answer those questions and obtain new perspectives so they feel more enlightened about a topic and leave with more than they came with,� she said. Collier’s classroom environment involves an abundance of active teaching and group work, preparing students to be equipped to the best of their ability and excited for their own classroom. “We call them preprofessors,� she said. “The students learn to talk with each other and clarify their own perceptions of what they have learned and how much they

already know. I want them to seek knowledge. Knowledge is a dynamic kind of thing. You never know it all, but that’s a good thing because it keeps you seeking knowledge and you are a lifelong learner.� For Collier’s final exam, students must build a threedimensional classroom based on studying and research done throughout the year. They must do a PowerPoint for the concept behind the classroom and share the research base. Though the project can be intimidating, Collier said it’s a liberating experience and gets students excited to get into the classroom. Adams, who knew in high school he wanted to be a college professor, is just as passionate about students and teaching. Adams is the associate dean for Academic Affairs and International Programs within Fulbright College, as well as an English professor with a focus on American literature, but his curiosity does not end there. “I like to talk to students about the subject matter, but also how the subject matter might help them think about bigger issues. I like to learn things myself and I like to help other people learn things,� he said. “I’m still a student after all these years. That spark of learning something new is something I enjoy, and I like to see other people enjoy it, too.� Adams chose to teach at a college level so he could teach as well as further his education

Charles Adams through research. “The teaching and the research feed off of each other. The things that I learn in the course of researching subjects I can turn into teaching material. While I’m teaching, sometimes ideas come to me for things I might want to learn more about. The idea of the teacher scholar is one that I’ve always endorsed and tried to live up to,� he said. Adams’ method of teaching in the classroom involves mostly lecture because he believes his job is to provide knowledge. However, he aims to create an atmosphere where students feel comfortable enough to ask questions and have a discussion. “That’s why I love teaching: I’m in an environment where I can learn lots of things all the time, and learn from students and colleagues alike about things outside of my area of specialization,� he said.

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Couples Retreat’ takes viewers on vacation from hell Adam Call Roberts

Contributing Writer Peter Billingsley, best known for his role as Ralphie in “A Christmas Story,� makes his directorial debut with “Couples Retreat.� Apparently, he did shoot his eye out, after all – because it should have been easy for him to see what a disaster this movie is. In the movie, Jason Bateman and wife Kristen Bell convince their friends to accompany them to the island resort of Eden. There, each pair undergoes couples therapy aimed at improving their relationships. These two sentences should COURTESY PHOTO

tell you everything you need to know about the plot. It’s a cookie-cutter film if I’ve ever seen one. You can sit there and time the story with your wristwatch. The happy couples learn of their problems at the half-hour mark, we have the supposedly comedic development at 60 minutes, and then come the big fight with only half an hour to go and the happy resolution at the end. “Couples Retreat� tries to be funny. That’s the sad part. Vince Vaughn does the voice that he usually does when telling a joke, but nothing funny comes out of his mouth – just words. Then the action on screen pauses for a few beats, as if they’re waiting for us to laugh.

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We didn’t. Usually when I see a bad movie, there are still a couple of people in the theater laughing. Maybe they’ve never seen a movie before, or maybe they’ve snuck some vodka in a Sprite bottle. But there’s almost always somebody in the back who giggles at even the stupid jokes. But the audience I was with at “Couples Retreat� stayed almost absolutely silent the entire time. It’s louder at church. I can’t afford the really nice cameras Vaughn can, but I know if I went to a tropical island, I’d get much better footage than this. Apparently, they shot this on site at Bora Bora. It could have been on a See

RETREAT on Page 10

COURTESY PHOTO

Trish Byron Staff Writer

What began as a simple side project in March 2006 grew into a corporation all its own by May 2007 – and has now become as inescapable as smart phones and Facebook. Now, Twitter boasts thousands of users each day – everyone from celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Bill Cosby to that kid in class plus his mom. And it’s still on the ups, according to Twittercounter.com. In case Facebook didn’t do the trick already, Twitter has become a source of personal knowledge and, yes, stalkerish behavior. “It kind of annoys me how much the media uses Twitter,� said sophomore Ellen Barber, who doesn’t have a Twitter account. “It’s cool that celebrities are involved in it but I feel like we know more than we should.� Crazy how much “we� know from Twitter because a Twitter profile is really no more than a string of status updates, a list of answers to the simplest of questions: “What are you doing?� “I think the 140-character limit spurs creativity,� senior Lee Camp said. “Twitter is ideal for my cell phone-fueled instant gratification lifestyle.� Celebrities have used the site to announce big news or to stop big rumors, like Donald Trump’s daughter’s engagement (big news) or Lindsay Lohan not being admitted into a psych ward (big rumor, hopefully). “It seems like it’s doing some good for the Hollywood scene,� junior Summer Wilkie said. “Twitter gives celebrities the opportunity to defend themselves.� But it’s not just the celebs who are all about “tweeting� these days. Students, parents and professors can all be found on Twitter. “I like that commercial about the parents tweeting on their phones,� sophomore Randa Wright said. “I would hate that, though. I’m not on Twitter, but it would still annoy me if my mom were on it. I just don’t see the point.� However, Twitter has been a good way for some students to track their favorite (or not so

favorite) celebrities and keep up with friends near and far. “John Mayer’s updates are interesting,� sophomore Mark Degges said. “I like his music and all, but he seems like kind of a jerk, like he tries too hard. He is funny sometimes, though. I have an account but don’t really use it. However, I think if I study abroad it would be useful, just to keep everyone up to date on where I am and such.� But no one is absolutely certain what the future holds for Twitter. Other than having the opportunity to stalk friends, celebrities, family and frenemies, where is this going? Evan Williams, Twitter CEO, sees Twitter’s “profit potential� in a couple of different areas. One is the Twitter search tool, which is different from other sites in that the information that is found is “real time� information, instead of “what people have said in the past on Web pages and in articles,� he said in an interview with CNBC last March. Williams also sees potential for businesses to use Twitter to help better their customer service. Many companies like Whole Foods and The New York Times use Twitter to send updates to customers, and companies like Jet Blue are using Twitter to keep track of customer concerns, Williams said. “I can see how Twitter could be useful for a business,� junior Matt Kern said. “But that doesn’t make me want to get on it. I feel like this is just another wall being built between real human interactions. We rely so much on sites like Facebook and Twitter to do our relationship building/maintaining that I think it’s hurting our ability to really communicate with one another.� Although Twitter is experiencing huge growth – from 6 million viewers in January to 10 million viewers by March – how well it will catch on for the 12- to 24-year-old demographic is up in the air. Still, it doesn’t look like social networking sites are going anywhere anytime soon, so no worries – Facebook, Twitter and the like will be around to help you procrastinate your homework for a while.

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THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | UATRAV.COM

LIFESTYLES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009 | Page 9

LIFESTYLES

Page 10 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

SUCCESS

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | UATRAV.COM

APPAREL

from Page 7

from Page 7

philanthropic on paper; we suck up to professors who could get us a job; we ace the test; we work hard; we go the extra mile. And in all of this is satisfaction, because even though our relationships might suffer, or even though we might forget to thank our parents for giving us the opportunity to become educated, honorable human beings, we are still striving for the best, no matter what we sacrifice along the way. I often find myself exhibiting this robotic behavior, and it removes me from the most important things in life. I get scared and fear that life has become work and that work is valued above all else. Who does Time Magazine call successful? Success means climbing the corporate ladder or making it to millionaire status, success means finding yourself on the cover of The New York Times or being named the sexiest man alive – but is that really success, in its most raw, real form? What about great mothers and fathers, people who run shelters, mentors for teens or missionaries? Though some of them might not have that “certificate of knowledge,” would we not deem them successful? It’s true, college doesn’t have classes on parenting well, being an admirable citizen or having integrity and respect for others. If it did, we might live in a better place. But the truth is, all of this focus on money and status has caused us to forget about the heart of life. That heart of life is different for everyone, whether it means 10 years from now you wish you married him instead of taking that great job, or that you wonder if it hurts your parents that you don’t give them a call now and then. We are all people, and sometimes we forget to strive for terms better than success: We forget about goodness, benevolence, friendship, family, love, kindness, and the list goes on and on. This summer, I participated in an internship at a promotional marketing firm. As part of the experience, I decided to interview each

“It’s kind of unexplainable in many ways, except to say that our students tell people that they’re very pleased with us and so they talk,” Robertson said. That was definitely the case with Abby Unruth, a junior apparel studies major. “Arkansas was always a school

from Page 8 studio backlot. There’s no creativity at all, and the constant cutting might have ruined the few gags that had a chance. “Couples Retreat” cost $70 million to make. I’m suspicious that Vaughn and Jon Favreau just wanted to take a vacation with their friends and figured that if a camera crew came along, Universal would foot the bill. If I can find any silver

COURTESY PHOTO

of the team members to get a better description of their jobs and receive some insight into what they actually did. Not only did I ask questions about how they reached their positions and inquired about the business, but I also really wanted to hear some good advice from people who had been in my shoes. Expecting to hear them coach me on how I could land my next internship or where to apply within the company, I was surprised when most of our conversations headed in a way more down-to-earth direction. While I was focused on the money, the success and the titles, each one of these people seemed to direct the conversation back to relationships, who inspired them, how they coped with meeting new people in a new job environment, what really left them satisfied at the end of the day, etc. In my pursuit to acquire some secret information about how I could be the best, I found that they weren’t going to tell me that secret, because there really is no secret. But what they told me – their own personal life lessons – ended up being far more valuable. One man I interviewed

really impressed me. He was the director of the creative department and definitely had some advice I wasn’t expecting. He told me that in college, faculty set students up with something called the “Cinderella syndrome,” meaning they don’t prepare students for the hardships, don’t give them any tools for dealing with crises. He said, “Life isn’t easy; the key to being successful is learning from everyone around you because it’s all about relationships with people. Life is just a series of decisions, and the only constant in life is change. But if you stick to your integrity, things will always line up.” Another young woman who worked on the account side defined success as “always finding a way to do it better, to work harder and to be nobler.” As I observed these people over the course of the internship, I realized that life doesn’t have to be so cutthroat and mechanical. This team actually cared about each other. They were able to come to their boss with a personal issue and get a day off if need be. There was emotional understanding and an emphasis on a real con-

nection among them. They respected each other. And it was as if a light turned on in my head. After I finished my interviews, I instantly felt differently about my future and about the world of work out there. It was as if, all of a sudden, everything was going to be OK. As long as I had my family and friends beside me and was prepared to work hard, I was going to be fine. Money matters, and it is something we will always strive for, but it shouldn’t govern our lives. No one wants to end up rich and alone because they never put emphasis on the important things in life. So what is success? I guess I’ll leave that one up to you, because even though the dictionary defines success as the attainment of wealth, position, honors or the like, that doesn’t have to mean money, a position as CEO or being named MVP. So stop and smell the roses, skip class to give your friend a shoulder to cry on, call your parents every once in a while, take a walk on a sunny day, give your time to those less fortunate and count your blessings – because honestly, life’s too short to take the money and run.

lining here, maybe it’s that In fact, I’m trying to figure “Couples Retreat” makes Holout why Bell has a career. She’s lywood sexism more obvious simply not good-looking than usual. enough to Pairing compensate a funnyfor her lack man with of talent. “Couples Retreat” a talentless In the makes Hollywood sex- Hollywood supermodel girl is pretty ism more obvious than cafeteria, standard castusual.” Kristen Bell ing, but when is the pretty you’ve got girl who all Kristen Bell, the nerds like Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis because she’s the only one nice and Kali Hawk all playing the enough to talk to them. foil to four comedians, things Sadly, “Couples Retreat” get a bit ridiculous. was the only wide release of

the weekend, and already made back more than half of its budget. “Couples Retreat” is currently playing at AMC Fiesta Square, the theater where tickets are $4 on weekdays and you can get popcorn and a drink for $5. AMC Fiesta Square is also showing 16 other movies, each of which is a better choice. The movie runs 1 hour and 47 minutes, and is rated PG-13 for sexual content and language. There’s some cussing and a couple of scenes with masturbation gags.

“

COURTESY PHOTOS

I was interested in,” Unruth said. “When I came and visited I took a tour and fell in love with … the atmosphere of the school. Everyone is so welcoming and interested in the same things. It’s awesome.” Unruth hopes to someday own her own boutique full of her designs, and has considered the possibility of franchising her would-be business. “But even if I just had one store I would be so happy,” she said. Ashley Donell, a graduate student working toward her master’s while teaching in the Apparel Studies Department, is clearly passionate about her career path. Donell has been sewing since childhood – “my mom taught me when I was 3 or 4” – and when it came time for her to decide what to study in her undergraduate years, she chose the path where her interests were the strongest. Donell said she hopes to someday start her own business. With a product idea in the works, she is working toward expanding her repertoire of skills to be more marketable and support her design career. “I’d like to work for a company for a while,” Donell said, “but my end goal is to have my own company.” Donell said she feels well prepared to more forward into her future as a designer. “I felt like this is where God

duction to Fashion Merchandising, a class often picked up by business majors wishing to supplement their degree; History of Apparel, taken in many instances by drama or history majors in conjunction with the apparel studies students; and Contemporary Apparel. “They’re not necessarily easy,” Robertson said, “but if people are interested in clothes and interested in fashion, those are courses they can take to be introduced or be used as electives in their majors, or something to help maybe give them an idea of what would be available in the fashion industry as far as, ‘What am I doing with my degree?’” Faculty members within the Apparel Studies Department handle all of the advising. Each student is assigned a faculty member with whom they meet one-on-one and discuss scheduling, career plans, opportunities for internships and future options. The reinvention of the apparel studies program parallels the rise in technology that has permeated the entire career world, and the wisdom of the department in making the changes necessary to modernize the program has truly paid off in terms of enrollment. The UA Apparel Studies Department is training the upand-coming designers and merchandisers of the future, and is doing it with style.

UATrav.com

RETREAT

has gifted me with my talent, and so that’s why I decided on this program,” Donell said. “It’s not just designing, but it’s also merchandising … and it also has the business aspect so it doesn’t limit me to only designing.” Such broad classes within the Apparel Studies Department, with few exceptions, are restricted to majors only. The most popular include Introduction to Clothing Concepts, open to all majors; Intro-

Page 11 |WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

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Actions really do speak louder than words now. Demonstrate your love openly and freely.You’ll be glad later. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) TODAY IS A 6.

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Don’t get bogged down in other people’s issues. Instead, persuade yourself to seek balance.Then talk.

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Details matter more than you suspect. Listen to others and learn. AQUARIUS (JAN.20-FEB.18) TODAY ISA 6.

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LAST WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

Hogs Take on No. 1 Razorbacks travel to the Swamp to face top-ranked Gators

Page 12 |WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

Sports Editor: Matt Watson | Assistant Sports Editor: Harold McIlvain II

Phone: 575.7051 | E-mail: travsprt@uark.edu

FOOTBALL

Razorbacks compete for pride, stickers Danny Meyer

Contributing Writer As a team, a lot of things went right for the Razorbacks Saturday afternoon against Auburn. The defense slowed the fast-paced Auburn offense to a halt. They forced three Auburn fumbles and kept Auburn quarterback Chris Todd without a touchdown pass for only the second time this year. The Razorback offense was just as impressive. Individually, the Razorbacks had some big moments. Quarterback Ryan Mallet had two scores through the air and one on the ground. Both tight end D.J. Williams and wide receiver Greg Childs caught touchdown passes. Accompanying Michael Smith’s 145 yard rushing effort was his 26-yard touchdown

run. And in the second quarter, strong safety Jerico Nelson hit Auburn’s Mario Fannin so hard both of their facemasks became tangled. Nelson stood up, taking Fannin’s helmet with him. That’s the kind of hit that will earn a player a helmet sticker, a reward used by Petrino new to the 2009 season. These stickers are rewards for big plays made by individuals during a game. These plays might include, but are not limited to, a crushing block by an offensive lineman, a big sack by a defensive end or a game-changing interception by a free safety. “You don’t just get a sticker for anything,” said senior defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard. “You have to do something special out there to get one.”

VOLLEYBALL

Clarke following brother’s footsteps Michele Hagelin Staff Writer

Freshman Cassie Clarke hopes to name for herself on the University of Arkansas volleyball team. Her brother, 18 months older, has already done quite a bit for the Clarke name on the Razorback basketball team. Even though they are a year and a half apart, Cassie and Rotnei Clarke look and sometimes act like twins. And they both call Fayetteville home. in her big brothers footsteps. “Fayetteville was a perfect fit,” Cassie said, “Rotnei and I only being 18 months apart are really,

really close.” From Verdigris, Okla., Rotnei and Cassie were both stars of their high school. Rotnei was rated the No. 21 shooting guard in the nation by Scout and No. 25 by Rivals. The four-star recruit had more than 30 offers, including Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma and Gonzaga. He led Verdigris High School to its first Class 3A state championship and in the process became his state’s all-time leading scorer. Cassie went to Verdigris high See

CLARKE on Page 14

JONATHAN GIBSONStaff Photographer

Freshman volleyball player Cassie Clarke has one kill and 23 sets this season.

Helmet stickers started in the college football world in 1968, when legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes started giving his players small reward stickers on their helmets for big plays. The Buckeyes still wear their buckeye leaves, and Florida State sports tomahawks for its reward. But other longstanding football traditions such as USC, Texas and Penn State have no headgear decals. Arkansas has had helmet stickers, also known as pride stickers, in the past. In the mid-70s, the team gave out small Razorback stickers awarding big plays. The stickers stopped with the arrival of new head coach Lou Holtz. But they have now made a reappearance under head coach Bobby Petrino this year. The stickers are sledgehammers, following along

Petrino’s philosophy of “chipping” away at a conference championship. This off-season, a 3-ton stone was introduced into practice, and players used a sledgehammer to pound away. This action has now manifested itself into the white stickers worn by the players. One might think that these stickers, these individual recognitions for achievement, might cause players to play out of their ability level, to take more chances to make big plays on the field. After all, the casual fan flipping through the channels on a Saturday afternoon might see an Ohio State helmet filled with stickers and believe that man to be the most important on the team. But for the See

PRIDE on Page 15

FOOTBALL

Johnson provides opportunities for Arkansas with speed Harold McIlvain II

Assistant Sports Editor Sophomore kick returner Dennis Johnson caught the kickoff and looked to the right for running room after Auburn cut the Arkansas lead to 34-23 in the third quarter of last Saturday’s game. But after observing the field, Johnson then looked to the left - away from the blocking protection - for a big play. Johnson appeared to be running directly toward tacklers after running away from his teammates. “I didn’t see anything,” Johnson said after looking left. “I thought I was going to be tackled. But the blockers came through for me when I turned around looking for holes.” Johnson showed his speed and passed several Auburn defenders for a 70-yard return, helping setup a fourth-quarter touchdown that sealed the win for Arkansas. “The return wasn’t suppose to go to the right at all,” Johnson said. “I just saw an opening to the left. But then I saw three defenders and I turned around and all my blockers were there. “I found holes and we made it happen.” And that’s something Johnson has been doing for Arkansas since becoming a kick returner during his freshman year. Against Auburn, Johnson returned three kicks for 145 yards – bringing his career total to 1,378 yards, second in school history as a sophomore. Felix Jones holds the record with 1,749 yards in three years at Arkansas. Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino said Johnson has done an excellent job all year after returning his first opportunity of the season for a touchdown. “Both of his returns (against Auburn) were huge,” Petrino said. “He gave us a short field that allowed us to go in and score. He’s a guy that really understands what we’re doing scheme-wise and then he’s fast enough and quick enough to make plays on his own.” But when Johnson arrived to campus last year, he didn’t know he would be re-

JONATHAN GIBSONStaff Photographer

Sophomore Dennis Johnson has 473 return yards with a touchdown this year for the Razorbacks.

turning kickoffs - or if he even wanted to. Johnson said he was asked before coming to Arkansas if he wanted to do return kicks or punts, but he said there was no interest. “I told them I didn’t really want to do it,” Johnson said. “I just wanted to focus on running back. But when they said it around the third game last year, I just accepted it. I’m glad I did. “I didn’t think I would be doing as well as I’ve been doing.” Petrino said a key to improvement for Johnson, who is averaging 11.7 more yards per return this year, has been his ability to reach optimal speed faster. “With the experience of last year, he is working on getting to his top speed during the first 15 yards,” Petrino said. “He is extremely fast. But last year he would

cruise for some yards before hitting the hole.” Johnson admitted he didn’t stress the speed element of returns as much as he should have as a freshman - but he does now. “Last year I really didn’t focus on the kick return and getting to the full speed like they wanted me to,” Johnson said. “I didn’t think I needed to do that. But now I’m bursting to find the holes and concentrating on making big plays.” But despite ranking sixth in the nation and first in the Southeastern Conference in kickoff yards, Johnson said he doesn’t think about big plays until he actually receives the ball. “I hope I catch the ball,” Johnson said laughing. “That’s all I’m worried about. If I field it, I know my blockers will have a hole for me.”

COMMENTARY

“Winning is the best deodorant” To borrow from legendary football player, coach, broadcaster and video game namesake John Madden, “Winning is the best deodorant.” The very quotable and recentlyretired Madden used to say that no matter how bad a team stinks, all they need to do is win to cover up any unpleasant odors. I couldn’t agree more. When you think about the Razorback football 2008 campaign, what’s the first thing you think of? All I remember is Casey Dick finding London Crawford in the end zone to topple the LSU Tigers. I don’t know about you, but I conveniently forgot that the Razorbacks finished 2-6 in the Southeastern Conference. In 2007, no one cared if the Razorbacks threw a single pass as long as they won. With NFL first-rounders Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the backfield, running the ball a lot was a pretty good idea – as long as they got a victory.

Swinging for the Fences

MATT WATSON travsprt@uark.edu

But each time the Hogs lost a game, it was all Casey Dick’s fault and there was outrage that there wasn’t enough passing. Ryan Mallett opened up the 2009 season with his first 300-yard game as a Razorback. He and backup Tyler Wilson combined for a school record 447 yards against Missouri State. When the Hogs dropped the next game in a shootout with Georgia, Mallett was even better – he set two individual UA records with more than 400 passing yards and five

touchdowns. He struggled down the stretch and Arkansas lost by 11. The Razorbacks were then held to a single score against Alabama, which boasts arguably (maybe) the best defense in the country, and everyone asked why Wilson wasn’t getting to play. It’s a very have-your-cake-andeat-it-too situation. But the almighty “W” wipes away all worries. The win column is the ultimate measure of success in sports, as any Hall of Fame athlete or MVP will tell you he would trade plaques and awards for a championship, no questions asked. While there is a lot more to sports than winning – sportsmanship, camaraderie, or even “fun” – a team, program or coach is ultimately judged by number of victories. This could be a very tough season on the hardwood for Hog hoops coach John Pelphrey, whose team has had far worse problems in its

seven-month hiatus from the gym than it did when it finished 2-14 in the SEC last season. In the past two years, several Razorback basketball players have had well-documented troubles outside of Bud Walton Arena. There have been eligibility investigations, academic investigations and criminal investigations. Some players have been dismissed from the team, while others in good civil and academic standing have left the team for different reasons. Arkansas will even open up the 2009-10 season with multiple players suspended for various team violations. While it’s tough starting the season already undermanned, whoever is suiting up for the Razorbacks in their Nov. 13 season opener will need to get things going in a hurry. The Hogs have two exhibition games before the opener, and then the second game of the season is against Louisville at a neutral site.

The seventh game of the season is at Oklahoma, and Arkansas hosts Texas again in January before league play begins. No matter how the Razorbacks fare in the non-conference season, they’ll need more than two SEC wins as deodorant if the season goes wayward. No one likes a losing team, but a losing team with problems outside the field of play is hard to digest. Pelphrey and his Hogs are already fighting an uphill battle, but they will need to show improvement on and off the court this year before the grumblings start for changes to be made. Hopefully they get some Ws to quiet all detractors, but the last thing Arkansas needs is more turnover in the basketball program. Matt Watson is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Wednesday.

SPORTS

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | UATRAV.COM COMMENTARY

Florida defense looking really, really good

It might be an understatement to think the No. 1 Florida Gators have been looking pretty good on defense. That just doesn’t do the unit justice that allows 6.4 points per game and only 202.6 yards per game - both of which are the best in the Southeastern Conference. The Florida defense has also allowed only two touchdowns on defense and hasn’t allowed a play of more than 30 yards this season. The Gator defense has been able to keep four opponents less than 100 passing yards this year, too. And teams are usually passing it as the Gator offense averages 39 points a game, which is the most in the SEC. It just might be an understatement that the defense is playing well. When you watch the Florida Gator defense take the field against Arkansas, it might seem as if they have the same players on the field from last year. Well, they do. Florida returned 18 of 22 two-deep starters on defense from last year’s national championship campaign. Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said it will be a challenge. But he believes the offense can move the ball against a Florida defense that has allowed only 202.6 passing yards per game, which is again - best in the SEC. “They’re good, and they’re

Deuces Wild

HAROLD MCILVAIN II hmcilvai@uark.edu

fast,” Petrino said. “They’re big and they can play a lot of guys. They basically have two-deep at every position. We have to do a good job blocking up front and being patient.” With the nature of the defense not allowing big plays, Petrino said the offense might use a blueprint Tennessee used against Florida by just gaining small chunks of yards to move the chains. But Petrino said avoiding negative plays, which Florida has done with 12 sacks and 29 tackles for a loss, is going to be key for Arkansas. “They have done a good job all year creating negative plays and putting opposing offenses in second and longs and third and longs,” Petrino said. “That’s why they’re tough, it allows them to tee-off on third downs.” Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett said it would be a test for the whole offensive unit especially trying to gain yards though the air. “They are experienced in

the secondary and they always have a fast team,” Mallett said. “I think it will be a good test for our wide outs and up front. This is a chance to see how we perform against a big time team. We just have to execute.” But Arkansas is ready for the challenge. Petrino admitted after the 35-7 loss against Alabama that he didn’t do enough to make the Razorbacks believe they could win the game. But with back-to-back wins over previously undefeated opponents, Petrino said the coaching staff will have to spend little time on motivating the players for the game Saturday. “Our confidence is higher,” Petrino said. “We’ve played two good games back-to-back. We’ve seen ourselves perform well on film. We went out and played well in all three phases. It will be a challenge. We believe we can go and win the game.” Mallett said the team is going to approach the Gators with the mindset of studying and focusing with an opportunity to perhaps win. “We are on top of the mountain right now because we haven’t had a loss the past two weeks,” Mallett said. “We have to prepare for one of the best teams in the country. Your mental focus has to be there throughout the week. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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RAZORBACK CALENDAR VOLLEYBALL Arkansas vs. Ole Miss Wednesday at 6 p.m. FAYETTEVILLE Arkansas at LSU Friday at 7 p.m. Baton Rouge, La.

SOCCER Arkansas vs. Mississippi State Friday at 7 p.m. Arkansas vs. Ole Miss Sunday at 1 p.m. Both in FAYETTEVILLE

FOOTBALL Arkansas at Florida Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Gainesville, Fla. TV: CBS

SWIMMING Kentucky/Cumberlands

Saturday at 2 p.m. Lexington, Ky.

WOMEN’S GOLF Mercedes Benz Classic Friday, Saturday, Sunday Knoxville, Tenn.

CROSS COUNTRY Chile Pepper Festival Saturday Knoxville, Tenn.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009 |Page 13 SOCCER

Soccer gains momentum with four-point weekend Jimmy Carter

Assistant Sports Editor The Arkansas soccer team’s roller coaster season took an upward turn as the Razorbacks picked up valuable points in the Southeastern Conference standings in weekend road matchups with Vanderbilt and Kentucky. The teams’ 2-0 win at Vanderbilt and scoreless doubleovertime tie at Kentucky moved Arkansas into sole possession of fourth place in the SEC West after starting conference play 0-3. “It was a huge weekend for us, not just in terms of the results,” Arkansas coach Erin Aubry said. “They’re a never say die team and they came out and played like it at Vandy. As soon as that Vandy game (was over), you could see on their faces they were ready for UK.” Arkansas held both the Commodores and the Wildcats without a goal, giving the Razorbacks a school-record nine shutouts on the season. “To have a defensive record like that, in terms of a shutout, is really a testament to what these players are capable of when they’re focused to do that,” Aubry said. “It’s also really a testament to our style of play. When you force teams to defend you, they can’t always attack with all their force. “Certainly, (goalkeeper) Britni Williams is a big part of that. She is playing unbelievable right now, the best she has ever played. She’s doing a great job leading for us.” The Razorbacks (7-3-4, 1-32) struggled to overcome adversity in previous conference losses, but Aubry said the team’s attitude was much improved as Arkansas picked up their first

win since beating Florida International 2-0 in the teams’ final nonconference contest. “We were fighting some frustration issues and some confidence issues, and I think we’ve worked really hard (to overcome them),” Aubry said. “This is a resilient group. A lot of that comes from our leadership, but it also comes from our players that are willing to follow.” Allie Chandler’s goal against the Commodores was the freshman’s team-leading fifth of the season. The Mesquite, Texas native has scored two of the Razorbacks three goals in SEC action. “(Allie) is a special kid,” Aubry said. “She has stepped in and really gotten better each and every weekend. We’ve really held back in handing responsibility and pressure over to her in leading our attack, knowing she was capable of that, but that’s a lot to put on a freshman. “But we have, over the course of the season, put more and more responsibility and pressure on her. She takes it in stride, she deals with it. She is definitely, not only one of the best freshman I’ve seen so far in the SEC, but she’s one of the best attackers outright in the SEC.” Aubry said Chandler and junior Laurel Pastor – the duo has combined for 36 percent of the Razorbacks shot attempts – have the most ability to create their own scoring opportunities, as well as opportunities for teammates. “Those two can create just about anything on their own,” Aubry said. “They’ll take on two or three players and be able to beat them and get a shot off. They’re both really crafty, reSee

SOCCER on Page 14

Page 14 |WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

CLARKE

from Page 12 school until her senior year when she and her family moved to Fayetteville. Clarke was a three-year all-state and four-year all-conference selection at Verdigris and Fayetteville Highs. As a senior, Cassie earned three all-tournament team honors and was selected to represent the West in the Arkansas High School

All-Star match with Fayetteville. In addition to volleyball, Clarke was a member of Fayetteville’s Class 7A girl’s basketball state title team helping them to a perfect 32-0 record. Clarke earned state tournament MVP honors for her play as a senior. Although Cassie was an all-state basketball player, she chose to stick with volleyball in college. Once she got the offer from Arkansas, she jumped on it immediately.

SPORTS

“I came to the volleyball camp here when I was in sixth grade and it was a dream of mine to play at Arkansas,” Clarke said. “I wasn’t sure where I was going to go to college but once I got the offer here I mean my family is here already my brother goes here which is even better and it was a dream of mine so I had to take it. It’s a blessing that the opportunity opened up.” With her older brother being at the same college, Cassie gets

FOOTBALL

First look at Florida Clint Linder Staff Writer

Passing Offense:

Love him or hate him, but Florida’s senior quarterback Tim Tebow is the unquestionable leader on the nation’s best team. With two national titles under his belt to complement his Davey O’Brien and Maxwell trophies and, most notably, his Heisman trophy won two seasons ago over Arkansas’ Darren McFadden as a sophomore, Tebow has accomplished nearly everything at the collegiate level. Under his direction as the team’s starter, Florida has gone an astonishing 27-5 overall including 5-0 in 2009. Despite a concussion three weekends ago against Kentucky, the 6-3, 245-pound Tebow has continued his masterful combination of being a passer and a runner with 777 yards thrown (65.5 completion percentage) with seven touchdowns and two interceptions to go along with 309 yards rushing on 72 carries with five more touchdowns. Overall, Florida is the scoring offense leader in the SEC by averaging 39 points per game and second in total offense behind Auburn with 486.4 yard per game while averaging 7.2 yards per play - best in the SEC. The team’s 201.8 passing yards per game ranks them seventh best in the SEC, but the team’s 170.2 passing efficiency score ranks them best in the SEC with nearly 20 points better than second-placed Arkansas. Senior wide receiver Riley Cooper and junior tight end Aaron Hernandez have proven to be Tebow’s favorite targets with over 260 yards receiving each and 3 and 2 touchdowns, respectively. GRADE:

B

Rushing Offense:

The juggernaut force of Florida’s offense lies with its versatile and powerful running game that is ranked first in the SEC. With 284.6 yards per game (over 30 yards more per game than second ranked Auburn) and 1423 total rushing yards, Florida dominates time of possession and wears down defenses with its unrelenting rushing attack. Florida rushed for 362 yards against Kentucky and 193 yards against a LSU defense that has allowed less than 130 yards per game. With an SEC best 6.4 yards per carry, Florida has bulldozed its way into the end zone 12 times on the ground. Tebow leads the team with five touchdowns, but sophomore Jeffery Demps leads the team in rushing yards with 390 yards on 44 carries and four touchdowns. Sophomore Chris Rainey and junior Emmanuel Moody have each gathered over 200 yards rushing on 35 and 24 carries, respectively. Each of those four players average nearly 50 yards per game. GRADE:

A+

Rushing Defense:

To complement its terrific offense, the Gators also lead the SEC in total defense by allowing just over 200 yards per game and an SEC best 3.4 yards per play. Florida ranks behind only Alabama in rushing defense by allowing 87.4 yards per game on 2.8 yards per carry and only one touchdown. The

squad is led by 6-3, 260-pound senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, a Nagurski, Bednarik and Lombardi awards candidate, in tackles with 32 total tackles (13 solo) and tied in sacks with junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap with 2.5 sacks. Senior linebacker Ryan Stamper follows close behind with 30 tackles. As a whole, the team has accumulated 12 sacks and 29 tackles for a loss. GRADE:

A+

Passing Defense:

Florida’s passing defense manages to one-up the team’s rushing defense by accumulating the best passing defense in the SEC by allowing only 115.2 yards passing per game (4.1 yards per pass) including holding then-No. 4 LSU to only 96 passing yards (the second highest total allowed this season by the Gators) in the Gators’ 13-3 victory last weekend. The only school to have passed for over 100 yards in a game was Charleston Southern (228 yards) in the Gators 62-3 home opener. The Gators have remarkably allowed only one passing touchdown and have intercepted seven passes. Junior safety Ahmad Black leads the secondary in tackles with 27 and junior cornerback Joe Haden leads the team in solo tackles with 20 (26 overall). Haden is tied with sophomore cornerback Janoris Jenkins and junior safety Major Wright for the team’s lead in interceptions with two apiece. GRADE:

A+

Special Teams:

To cap off a remarkable team, Florida also leads the SEC in average kickoff returns with 32.8 per return, but maintains a more pedestrian 3.9 punting return average (10th in the SEC). 5-7, 185-pound senior Brandon James returns the majority of the team’s kickoffs and punts. On nine kickoff returns, he has accumulated 292 yards (32.4 average) and one touchdown on an 85-yard return. Sophomore kicker Caleb Sturgis has connected on 7-of-8 field goals with a long of 37, and junior punter Chas Henry averages 37.6 yards per punt. GRADE:

A

Head Coach:

The mastermind behind this seemingly unstoppable Florida squad is Urban Meyer. Under his direction and utilization of a spread offense, the Gators have gone 48-9 since 2005 including two national championships. Before Gainesville, Meyer led Utah to a perfect 12-0 record in 2004 including a BCS bowl victory. Overall, Meyer has gone 87-17 and 5-1 in bowl games with the only loss coming in 2007 to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl. With 2009 looking remarkably to 2008’s championship squad, Meyer has established himself as one of the best, if not the best, head coach in college football. GRADE:

A+

a lot of perks. Other than her brother giving her scooter rides, she benefits from the support of her family because of their proximity to campus - a luxury most collegiate athletes do not receive. “He comes to every home game and I go to everyone of his,” Cassie said, “people don’t expect that but everyone thinks it’s really cool.” Some could be skeptical about siblings following each other to the same college, living in the

SOCCER

from Page 13 ally courageous and have been gifted with athleticism for sure. That’s what makes them the difference. “The majority of our other attackers and our players that have scored, have been talented and been able to get those finishes off of things created by the team.” The Razorbacks host Mississippi State on Friday and 21st-ranked Ole Miss Sunday at Razorback Field. The Rebels are second in the SEC West, while Mississippi State is still looking for its first conference win. “(The games are) going to be tough challenges for us,” Aubry said. “Both teams are very, very good, they’re definitely far better than they were last year. Ole Miss has beat two ranked teams in a row, between the past two weekends, so they’re definitely having a great season. “One of our greatest accomplishments this weekend, after finishing our Sunday game, was we finally put together two great games in one weekend. That gives us great confidence going into this weekend that we can put two games together of Razorback soccer.”

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER |UATRAV.COM same dorm just a few floors apart. But Cassie doesn’t see a problem. “People always say he is going to be monitoring who comes in and out of your room, but I just say it’s not like that were cool so it’s OK,” Cassie said. “Were not together all the time, but we are quite a bit so it’s fun.” It was a tough decision for Cassie to decide whether or not to play basketball in college. She had offers for basketball and offers for volleyball, but the one thing a

true athlete has for their sport is passion - as well as support. “I think I have more of a desire and passion for volleyball it’s what I love to do,” Cassie said. “I love practicing as well as the games, I just love everything about it. Rotnei is always there if I ever need anything he helps me out with anything I need and he helps me through everything and I do the same for him. He’s not just my brother he’s my best friend.”

BASKETBALL

Clarke named nation’s top shooter by Fox Sports UA Media Relations Sophomore Rotnei Clarke of the Arkansas men’s basketball team was named the No. 1 shooter in the nation by Foxsports. com’s Jeff Goodman on Tuesday. Clarke was the top freshman three-point shooter in the nation last season as he hit nearly 40-percent of his shots from beyond the arc. The Verdigris, Okla., native was second in the Southeastern Conference in three-point shooting and drained 83 three pointers throughout the season while averaging more than 30 minutes and 12 points per game. According to Goodman’s article which ranked the top 50 shooters in the coun-

try, “This season, there isn’t necessarily a consensus player, but we feel confident that our No. 1 guy has no peer in terms of making shots from deep.” Goodman and the team at Foxsports.com also mention Clarke in their “college hoops: 25 you must know” article, citing Arkansas’ sniper from outside as the No. 12 person on the list. Goodman commented on Arkansas’ experience in the passage relating to Clarke and was sold on his ability to improve on his already robust 39-percent threepoint shooting. Clarke and the Razorbacks take the court for the first time as a team on Friday, Oct. 16 for their first practice of the 2009-10 season.

TRAVELER SPORTS SEC POWER RANKINGS 1. FLORIDA 2. ALABAMA SEC POWER RANKINGS 3. LSU 1. 4. SOUTH CAROLINA 5. TENNESSEE 2. 6. ARKANSAS 7. GEORGIA 8. AUBURN 9. OLE MISS 10. KENTUCKY 11. MISSISSIPPI STATE 12. VANDERBILT

Student-Run Television For The University of Arkansas

3.

SPORTS

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | UATRAV.COM

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009 | Page 15

PRIDE

from Page 12

JONATHAN GIBSON Staff Photographer

Razorback football pride stickers in 2009, awarded to players for making big plays on the gridiron.

Razorbacks, the stickers are more than an individual achievement. They’re a team achievement. “I want to get one every week,” freshman defensive lineman DeQuinta Jones said. “I just try to work hard every game to help the team be successful. It’s a team effort.” But just because it’s a team effort doesn’t mean the stickers don’t spark a little friendly competition between players. “At the end of the year, everyone wants to have the most,” Sheppard said. “There are definitely bragging rights with these. They’re hard to come by.” Junior cornerback Ramon Broadway said people notice who has the most stickers and who doesn’t have any. “We tease the people who don’t have any at all, but all that does is make them want to go out and do something big for the team,” Broadway. “It kind of goes back to grade school. You don’t like to be teased about anything.”

FILE PHOTO

The first Razorback helmet stickers, first awarded in 1975 by then-coach Frank Broyles.

SATIRE

Tebow, back from the dead, sets sights on another Heisman The following story is satirical in nature with fictitious quotes and opinions. It is meant for entertainment purposes only and not to be taken serious. Seriously. Two weeks ago, the world’s greatest football player/human was hospitalized after a vicious hit during a blowout game on Sept. 26. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who was the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy in 2007, was maliciously sacked by Kentucky defensive end Taylor Wyndham and left the game on a stretcher after suffering a concussion. Tebow, the first athlete to ever cleverly adopt the nickname “Superman,” benefited from a Florida bye week and was a game-time decision for last Saturday’s game at Southeastern Conference rival LSU. Coming into the game the Tigers had won 22 straight home games at night – the ultimate measure of a team’s success – but were no match for Tebow, who not only rose from the dead to play but put up an unheard-of 172 total yards and one touchdown. Tebow single-handedly held the LSU offense to three points and just 162 yards in his 15th straight win dating back to last season. “Timbo has so much leadership,” said Florida coach Urban Meyer. “He leads like no one I’ve ever seen. Once you put the football in the hands of Number 15, you just know he’s going to lead himself to the end zone. What a leader.” Tebow is the leading candidate in this season’s Heisman race and would be only the second player ever to win the award twice, the first being Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (1974 and 1975). The Florida football icon is one of four quarterbacks in the last decade who have won NCAA football’s highest indi-

vidual honor and return to school with a chance to repeat. But some question whether players like Tebow or Oklahoma standout Jason White deserve the same status as Griffin as two-time winners. “Should Uno-Cinco be a two-time Heisman winner? I don’t think so. He’s not that caliber of player,” Meyer said. “He should have at least six or seven Hesimans by now. He was snubbed last year despite being the best player on the national title team, and he was snubbed when he threw for 4,286 yards his junior year of high school for a school he didn’t even go to. “But forget about the Heisman for a second. How does this guy not have a Nobel Peace Prize?” Meyer said. Tebow is currently 58th in the nation in individual total offense, but is third in the country in passing efficiency (165.9). Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen and Kellen Moore of Boise State are the only quarterbacks with higher ratings, of players with at least 15 attempts per game. Florida’s secondstring signal-caller, John Brantley, would lead the country with his 182.3 rating if he had more passing attempts, but he lacks the “leadership, grit and intangibles” that Meyer said make Tebow “super duper.” Other coaches in the SEC mirror Meyer’s sentiment. “Man, I miss Florida,” South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier said. Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin added, “Who?” And Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt responded, “Cotton Bowl or bust!” While others praise Meyer for molding Tebow into the quarterback he is today, others are more critical of the Florida coach’s talent and recruiting abilities.

LSU coach Les Miles replied, “You think that’s impressive? I won a national championship without recruiting anybody.” But Meyer said he, Tebow and the rest of the Florida Gators have one goal in mind for the rest of the 2009 season: another Heisman Trophy for Tebow. “To the fans of Gator Nation, I’m sorry. I was hoping for four straight Heismans for Tebow. That was

my goal, something Florida has never done. I promise you one thing, a lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any coach in the entire country lobby as hard as I will for the rest of the season. You will never see someone campaign to the rest of the country as hard as I will the rest of the season. God bless,” Meyer said.

SWINGING FOR THE FOUL POLE

MLB

Former Hog Lee solid for Phillies Sam Donnellon

Philadelphia Daily News/MCT Before Sunday night’s game, Cliff Lee was asked if he gave J.A. Happ any advice about pitching on this stage. “Not really,” he said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s a smart kid . . . I’m sure he’s done his research and watched video and probably watched the game I pitched and saw what worked and stuff. So I think he’ll be all right.” Yeah, well ... not really. Happ was an icy mess in the three innings he worked, as he and his teammates hung on by their frostbitten fingers for an unlikely 6-5 Game 3 victory. He fell behind one batter, then another, then another. Happ fell behind 10 of the first 12 batters he faced, and the mercury, which began the night at 35, seemed to drop another degree each time he did. He is a rookie. A 26-year-old rookie, but a rookie nonetheless. In Game 3 he pitched like one, exiting after only 76 pitches, albeit with a 4-3 lead. And yet Happ entered these October games with more postseason experience than Lee, which makes the idea of advice, on a night of freezing temperatures, the latest interesting development in a season threatening to drown in them. But that’s Lee’s role on this team now. He’s not just the adviser. He’s the stopper, the ace, the thread that holds this team’s postseason pitching staff together in a way they did not need last year. Jamie Moyer is not here. Cole Hamels is not here,

and really, he’s not that guy. Cliff Lee is that guy because there is no one else right now. The Phillies ride to one place or another with him Monday night. If he pitches the way he did in Game 1, they can turn this into their latest chapter on adversity, turning the tables on a team that swept them two years ago, a team that has used this September to slot players into roles the way the Phillies did last year. “Even probably before the middle of September, seemed like our bullpen really came into its own as far as like really being _ doing their job,” Charlie Manuel was saying before Game 3. “Everybody down there seemed like they got sharp at the right time.” Now for the Phillies, there are few job descriptions. Happ relieved in Game 2, then started. Joe Blanton, arguably their most reliable starter all season, came out of the bullpen for the second time in three playoff games, allowing three hits in 2 2/3 innings, including one mammoth home run to Carlos Gonzalez. No one is sure whether we will see Pedro Martinez, or what he will be when we see him. Cliff is the rock. And even that is relative. He has put together shutdown efforts. But he also got bombed a few times in September. His near-shutout in Game 1, so brilliant by the end, began with a few bumpy innings, the day’s success seeming to teeter on a few key pitches and a couple of bad swings.

AL DIAZ Miami Herald/MCT

Florida coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Tim Tebow have combined for two national titles and a Hesiman trophy.

Page 16 |WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

SPORTS

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER |UATRAV.COM

One-on-One

with a Razorback Arkansas freshman receiver Cobi Hamilton snared a few tough questions from Traveler assistant sports editor Jimmy Carter about his most embarrassing freshman moment and his favorite Fayetteville pizza joint. The Texarkana, Texas native scored a touchdown in his first career game against Missouri State and returned a kickoff 50 yards against Georgia.

cobi hamilton

Texarkana, Texas 6’3” 209 lbs 2008: nine catches, 110 Yards, one TD

You went to the same high school as Ryan Mallett, but you were two years behind him. How much did you guys get to interact? I was the young one of the group, so they always teased me and I was always the one growing up. There was only two or three (players that) we practiced with the varsity, when we were supposed to practice with the JV. We got time with the varsity and I was always the one they were picking on. But it was real fun, we always joked and laughed. They knew I was going to be the upcoming stock of the new class, so they always helped me out. Mallett had a lot of (teammates) that went to college football, D-1, so it was real fun hanging around them. What has been the biggest adjustment to college football? At first when I got here it was real fast and I settled down a little bit. I’m here now, I got used to it, I’ve got to start making plays now. Jarius (Wright) was the first to show me what coach doesn’t like, what coach wants to see and what you want to do. Jarius, Joe (Adams), Carlton (Salters), Lucas Miller, those were the ones that put there hand out, showed me the ropes and me what coach likes and doesn’t like. What was it like catching a touchdown pass in your first collegiate game? I didn’t really recognize it until after I woke up (the next morning) and everybody was like ‘How did that touchdown feel?’ After I made (the touchdown) it just felt like I made another catch, but it really hit me after the game, after I woke up the next morning. With Joe Adams going through the minor stroke and now having to recover from that, what has the rest of the team done to show your support? He’s been right beside us, he’s trying to help us not miss a beat while we’re in the game. He’s just always there for us, helping us do routes, giving us advice – stuff he would use against DB’s. We shoot him a text message every now and then, go play video games with him, just hang out with him. He knows we’re there, we’re all teammates. A lot of people say David Gordon is the fastest guy on the team, but you were the Texas 200m state champion. Who’s the fastest player on the team? I’ll give David the 100, but I’ll probably win the 200. If we had a race, it’d probably be me, David, (Ronnie) Wingo, and that’s probably it really. Are you planning on running track? I’m thinking about running the track, yeah. I’d run the 200 and they want me to run the relay, so I don’t know which relay they want me to run. Do you plan to play intramural sports this year? I don’t think so, but if a group of guys asked me on a team, to join, I probably will. What’s your most embarrassing freshman moment? I guess walking into class late. There were about 200 people in the class and I walk into class late, it was pretty embarrassing. I was probably about eight to 10 minutes late. It was a big class so everybody is trying to get there and get good seats. I was rushing and stuff like that, so I was pretty embarrassed. How much sleep do you get the night before a game? I used to have butterflies, but I usually try to picture the plays that you want to make in you head before you go to sleep. Greg (Childs) is my roommate on the road, so I always talk to him and we know what to do. (We) go over our plays and talk to coach about working hard for the game. What are your favorite places to eat in Fayetteville? Slim Chickens, I ate there before. Zachsbys, I ate there before, Waffle House, that’s just about it. If you had $1 million how would you spend it? I’d buy my mom and my dad a house, my sister. I guess I’d probably get a nice car for myself. Probably a Chevy on 28’s.

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