A New Fayetteville Page 5 Classic PAGE 1
Vol. 106, NO. 43 UATRAV.COM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
The ‘Shimmy Texting Against the Law in Construction Zones Shimmy’ Shakes by NICK OLIVER Staff Writer
by MEGAN HUCKABY Staff Writer
Tremors from a 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma rattled the UA campus and other parts of Northwest Arkansas Saturday night, according to the United States Geological Survey. The campus has had no reports of damage or any kind of shifting from the quake, said Mike Johnson, vice chancellor for facilities management. “The entire country is in some form of earthquake zone,” he said. “That determines what you do structural design [for buildings].” Northwest Arkansas has an earthquake zone rating of one, which is the lowest, Johnson said. Johnson, a southern California native, felt the quake as well. The shaking was felt all the way from Wedington Drive to West Fork. “I was sitting in my kitchen on my computer and it was really windy,” said graduate student Brooke Galligan. “A really big wind gust hit and it shook the house and then all of a sudden the wind went away and the house kept shaking.” Galligan’s house in West Fork shook for about 10 sec-
onds, she said. “Probably about five seconds and we looked at each other and were like ‘oh my gosh it’s an earthquake!’” “I have never felt any of the earthquakes that everyone else had felt,” Galligan said. “I was kind of excited.” There was no major damage to Galligan’s house. “We had some cracks in our ceiling and they are a little more cracked,” she said. While some felt the quake, others were oblivious. “No one I was with felt it, but I have friends that were wondering what that shaking was,” said Erica Totten, senior journalism major. “I felt the one [in the spring],” she said. There have been seven major earthquakes in Arkansas’ history, including a 7.7 magnitude quake in 1811, according to the USGS. Arkansas has many small quakes, the latest of which was a 2.2 magnitude tremor on Nov. 4. Earthquakes are a legitimate concern in Arkansas because of the New Madrid fault, according to the USGS. Saturday’s quake had an epicenter in Oklahoma, but was felt in many parts of the Natural State.
Talking or texting on cell phones can be just as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said. “Anything that takes your attention away from that roadway can be a hazard. Your full attention needs to be on the
primary job and that’s driving the vehicle,” said Fayetteville Police Sgt. Craig Stout. In September, an accident occurred where a driver under the influence drove through a construction zone killing a city worker, Stout said. “Tragedy has brought to light how dangerous it is for road workers to be out there on those roadways,” Stout said.
A new law, which took effect last month prohibits cell phone use in construction and school zones. The law also has brought to the fore the importance of educating drivers on the dangers of a split-second distraction, Stout said. The Garland Avenue Tunnel Project, which when completed will link Scull Creek Trail to the west of Interstate
by JANNEE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
Residents’ Interhall Congress members created a special committee to investigate and research the issue of establishing gender-neutral housing on the UA campus. Gender-neutral or gender-blind housing is a nontraditional housing option in which students would be allowed to choose their roommates, regardless of their sex. The committee members will explore the possible implementation of gender-neutral housing as a way to give students more housing options. “The goal is to have a policy proposal that could viably move forward on our campus,” said Committee Chair Joey Van Matre. The committee was created in response to resolutions passed last year in RIC and the Associated Student Government. The committee is comprised of the RIC president, the president pro tempore, a former RIC president, a representative from both the Associated Student Government, Housing and the committee chair.
Many colleges have a gender-neutral housing option, including Rutgers, the University of California, Berkeley and, in Arkansas, Hendrix College. More than 50 colleges across the nation have implemented gender-neutral housing, according to genderblind. org. RIC members took up the gender-neutral housing proposal last year as an issue that could affect the quality of life for residents. “Gender-neutral housing is another option for students,” Van Matre said. “I think it’s important that, no matter what their sexual identity or comfort level in living with the opposite sex, they have another option.” Committee members aim to not only develop a specific policy proposal for campus gender-neutral housing, but to also develop what steps student governmental organizations would need to take in order to finalize the policy with administrators. “We’re going to research
see HOUSING on page 3
In This Issue:
News
Homecoming Queen Ceremony Holly Hilburn Crowned Homecoming Queen.
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BEN FLOWERS ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
“I think students are more inclined to miss lectures on days with rain in both large and small classes.” —John Norwood, “Rainy Days Might Dampen Student Productivity” PAGE 2
Future IT Building Given Possible Home by MEGAN HUCKABY Staff Writer
The UA administration is in the preliminary stages of planning another construction project, that could cost up to $6 million, to help house offices that must be moved out of Hotz Hall by the end of June 2012, a UA spokesperson said. The Information Technology Support building will be built on Razorback Road, just north of the administrative services building that houses other IT services and UAPD, said Steve Voorhies, manager of media relations. The IT Support building will contain the office for the integrated student information system and the office for Business and Administrative Strategic Information Systems, which are in Hotz Hall. The location is convenient because other IT services also are in the administration building, Voorhies said. The building will more than likely be a two-story MELEAH GROSS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER building, ranging from 20,000 Hotz Hall is being restored to a residence hall, forcing the UA to find space for all of the to 35,000 square feet. Also, the UA administraoffices that must vacate the building by the end of June.
News
Features
Tips for Avoiding the Flu Dr. Dog to Play Fayetteville Tonight
The indie-rock group, popuClean hands help prevent the lar with the college crowd, spread of the flu. will rock George’s Majestic Lounge this evening.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 VOL. 106, NO. 43 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM
see TEXTING on page 3
Attendance Sinks on Rainy Days
Gender Neutral Housing: Sex Not Considered In Possible Housing Option
540, has been an area with a special set of circumstances because the roadway was completely blocked, and the detour required drivers to take a 90-degree turn, Stout said. Fayetteville Transportation
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WEATHER FORECAST
TODAY 64°
WEDNESDAY 55°
Features
Sports
tion has to decide if the building will be constructed on site or if it will be modular, which means that it is manufactured off site and assembled on location, Voorhies said. The construction start date has not been scheduled. “[The UA] certainly hopes to have it finished by June,” he said. It was originally reported that this building would be located across the street from the Garland Avenue Garage. “That was misinformation that I was provided,” he said. The rapid growth at the UA has officials scrambling for answers. “In trying to figure out where to take the people from Hotz, where are we going to put them and how to handle the growth on campus, a lot of plans were up in the air,” Voorhies said. This is all part of the process of moving every office out of Hotz Hall so that it can be made into a residence hall again to help relieve strain put on housing by the record freshman class.
Opinion
BCS DropPuzzles Hogs Gender-blind Housing Washington County Arkansas dropped to No. 8 Splits Editorial Board Website Affects in the newest BCS standStudents’ Reputations ings, a fall Razorbacks The editorial board is split The Detention Center Report allows anyone to view the current inmate roster.
players and coaches don’t understand.
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FRIDAY 59°
SATURDAY 61°
on its opinion of implementing gender-blind housing on campus.
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NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
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Coronation in the Razorback Nation ABOUT THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper of the University of Arkansas, is published every day during the fall and spring academic sessions except during exam periods and university holidays. Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Traveler. The editor makes all final content decisions. One copy of The Arkansas Traveler is free to every member of the UA community. Additional copies can be purchased for 50 cents each. Mail subscriptions for delivery within the continental United States can be purchased for $125.00 per semester. Contact the Traveler Business Manager to arrange.
CONTACT 119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Main: 479.575.3406 Fax: 479.575.3306 traveler@uark.edu
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Holly Hilburn’s uncle crowned his niece homecoming queen at halftime Nov. 5th, 2011.
STAFF
Rainy Days Might Dampen Student Productivity by BAILEY KESTNER Staff Writer
Rainy days might have an effect on student attendance in classes on the UA campus. “The rain definitely makes me want to sleep in and not go to class,” said Ashley Seat, a junior child development major. “No one wants to get
up when it is still dark outside and the rain definitely adds to that factor.” “I always try to avoid walking in the rain if at all possible,” Seat said. The main thing that keeps her from coming to class is actually walking in the rain to get there, she said. “I see a notable decrease in attendance on bad weather
CRIME REPORT: Friday, October 28 Possession Of A Controlled Substance (Marijuana); Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia A student was arrested in Lot 61.
Criminal Mischief A staff member reported someone broke a window at the University House.
Theft Of Property A student reported someone stole his bicycle from the bicycle rack on the southwest side of Kimpel Hall.
Saturday, October 29 Public Intoxication
days,” said John Norwood, a business professor. Although he teaches some large classes, Norwood said class size makes no difference in attendance numbers. “I think student are more inclined to miss lectures on days with rain in both large and small classes,” he said. “It may just be that I am less inclined to notice that students are missing in a larger class setting.” Other professors say their classes prove different, seeing no affect on attendance during rainy days. “I am teaching all honors and graduate students this semester,” said Charles Leflar, an accounting professor. “I see hardly any decrease, if any, in attendance on days that it is raining. The students in my classes are very serious about coming to class; I often have to tell them not to come to class even when they are sick.”
“I don’t skip any classes on days that it is raining,” said Olivia Patterson, a junior economics major. “I just know that teachers assign harder work on those type of days since they know many will not come.” Additionally, there are often extra credit opportunities on days when many students skip class, Patterson said. Tyler Newcomb, an education major, said he enjoys rainy days on campus. “The rain makes no impact on whether or not I go to a class,” he said. “I get up just as awake as I would on any other day. Sometimes, I actually even enjoy the rain.” Even though he lives off campus, Newcomb said he doesn’t mind the drive. “I don’t mind walking in the rain on campus as long as I have an umbrella to keep from getting completely wet.”
EDITORIAL SABA NASEEM
Case Status: Active Update: Tuesday 11/01/11 at 09:22 Members of Sigma Pi Fraternity planned to use the free newspapers for homecoming float decorations. They were referred to the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct.
Tuesday, November 1 Theft Of Property A student reported someone stole several items from her room in Yocum Hall during the past month.
Wednesday, November 2 Criminal Mischief A student reported someone damaged the passenger side of his vehicle while the vehicle was parked in the Garland Avenue Parking Garage.
Theft Of Property A student reported someone stole his backpack while it was unattended next to a tree in The Gardens.
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A staff member reported someone removed The Arkansas Traveler newspapers from newspaper bins in several campus buildings.
BOBBIE FOSTER
Managing Editor 575-7694 travmgr@uark.edu
Monday, October 31
Criminal Mischief
Enterprise Editor 575-3226
MATTIE QUINN
ERIK NORTHFELL
A non-affiliated person reported someone stole a laptop computer from his vehicle while the vehicle was parked in the Harmon Avenue Parking Garage.
SAMANTHA WILLIAMS
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A student was arrested on campus grounds between the Engineering Hall and the Bell Engineering Center.
Theft Of Property
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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.
CAMPUS NUMBERS NEED EMERGENCY HELP? CALL UAPD 575-2222
The women and men of the University of Arkansas Police Department, in partnership with the community, are committed to protecting the future of Arkansas by promoting a safe and secure environment.
HAVE A TICKET? CALL 575-7275 TO RESOLVE IT
The Transit and Parking office handles parking permits and passes and transit for students, including bus routes and GoLoco Ride Sharing. Students with parking violations can contact the office to appeal their citation.
NEED A RIDE AT NIGHT? CALL 575 - 7233
Otherwise known as 575-SAFE, the mission of the Safe Ride program is to provide students with a safe means of transportation from any uncomfortable or inconvenient situation. Safe Ride brings you home safely.
NEED TICKETS? CALL 1-800-982-4647 Don’t forget to call early and reserve your student football tickets for the 2010-2011 season. The ticket office is located on Razorback Road next to Baum Stadium.
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NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
Preventing the Flu this Winter by TI’JUANNA MCKENZIE Contributing Writer
Clean hands make a difference, health professionals said. If people would wash their hands frequently throughout the day, they would cut down on germs and bacteria, which sometimes can be deadly. Healthy meals and exercise also boost the immune system, health professionals said, and adding a seasonal flu vaccination to those good habits goes a long way toward preventing colds and flu. “The bacteria that cause colds and flu are typically transferred from the hand to the nose or mouth, where the viruses multiply and cause sickness, a health care professional said. “Sixty-two million cases of the common cold occur each year and 20 million school days are lost annually in the United States due to the common cold,” according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
“Each year in the United States, seasonal influenza kills more than 36,000 people and hospitalizes 200,000 more.” The best way to prevent a cold or the flu is to keep clean hands at all times. “A person can become contagious even before symptoms show,” said Mary Alice Serafini, executive director of the Pat Walker Health Center. It is important to make sure the mouth and nose are covered by sneezing or coughing into a bent arm and to “take precaution to wash or sanitize hands before eating and after using the bathroom,” Serafini said. There are four tips to keep in mind when fighting germs that can spread illness, according to the Family Health Guide by Bonnier Corporation. Primarily, friction scrubs away the germs so it is best to keep fingernails short because that leaves less space for germs. When soap is not available, a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol can be
effective. It is important to clean all places where germs are commonly present like countertops, phones and doorknobs. Wipes are good to use but can transfer bacteria when used on more than one surface. Health care professionals recommend using wipes once and disposing it. Other ways to prevent cold or flu from passing to multiple people, besides staying clean include having a good immune system, eating healthy and exercising. People with good immune systems are less likely to encounter viruses that can make them sick. Foods packed with phytonutrients will boost the immune system and pack the body with power; it is good to eat deepcolored fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, tomatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes, according to The Family Health Guide. Exercise helps prevent catching the cold and flu as well. “Exercise keeps energy up and stress levels down, which is especially important during cold and flu season,” Serafini said. Sleep plays an important role when the body is battling germs. Individuals should make it a priority to get the recommended amount of sleep, which is eight to 10 hours a night. White blood cells help battle diseases in the body, according to the Family Health Guide. Besides internal care for preventing the cold and flu, an important idea is to dress appropriately for the cold weather by wearing long-sleeve shirts, coats, scarves and gloves. Researchers are “investigating host immune responses in humans as well as animals to develop a vaccine to prevent influenza, especially strains with pandemic potential, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
HOUSING from page 1
other schools to see what kind of policy would best fit our campus and also how other student governments got their policies in place,” Van Matre said. Many other schools have used student governments as a medium to establish a gender-blind housing program at their school. In April, the Residence Halls Association of Missouri State passed a similar resolution, although the decision to implement a campus policy is up to administrators, according to its website. Many other colleges, including universities in Washington, Michigan and Arizona are pushing for genderblind housing and greater representation of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning community. The committee will continue to pursue gender-neutral housing as a measure that will improve residents’ quality of life. “I’m very optimistic about the prospects of getting something done,” Van Matre said. “I do think we have to be realistic about the timeline though.” Gender-blind housing will likely not be a housing option this year or next year because the housing contract process has already begun for next year, Van Matre said. “People I’ve spoken to are very receptive to the idea, so I’m optimistic about getting something done,” he said. Gender-blind housing has the capacity to completely change campus life, but those involved think that the change could an improvement. “It is not in RIC’s interest to move away from any issue that may potentially better the life of all students who have to live on this campus,” said RIC president Cameron Mussar. “If people stop short because of a foreseeable bump in the road, then one too many ideas that have moved this nation forward and have even lead to its creation would have never have been acted upon.”
NICK OLIVER STAFF WRITER
Warning signs are posted to warn drivers of construction on Garland Avenue. Despite these warnings, a driver drove through the construction site, said Terry Gulley, transportation director.
TEXTING from page 1
Department officials take many steps to make drivers aware of construction zones, Director Terry Gulley said. Starting at one-third of a mile before the construction zone, warning signs are placed, barricades are set up and public service announcements and message boards used to let drivers know when and where construction is underway, Gulley said. These signs were set up on Joyce Boulevard when the worker was killed in September, Gulley said.
Despite repeated warnings and press releases every time construction disrupts traffic, a driver actually ran through the cones at the Garland Avenue construction site while talking on a cell phone, Gulley said. “Everybody thinks it’s not going to happen to me or ‘I’m paying attention,’ but it only takes a split second for something to happen,” Gulley said. With so many steps taken to make the public aware of upcoming construction, there is only so much that city officials can do, Gulley said. “You can’t be there to supervise everybody all the
time. Somebody has to do some of their own self-supervision,” Gulley said. The danger to construction workers is a real threat, no matter how many transportation precautions workers take, Stout said. “Unfortunately, for anyone in the road construction business it’s a very dangerous scenario no matter how many precautions you might take, just for the fact that you have a 2,000-pound vehicle flying passed you at high rates of speed,” Stout said. Stout’s main piece of advice: “Hang up the phone.”
OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
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Scan here to go to the Opinion section on uatrav.com
EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
FROM THE BOARD Gender-Blind Housing Splits Editorial Board Last year, Resident Interhall Congress and Associated Student Government members passed resolutions that supported looking into implementing gender-blind housing. RIC members have created an ad-hoc committee to again investigate the possibility of gender-blind housing on campus, what have other colleges done and what it could look like at the UA. The committee is comprised of the RIC president, RIC president pro tempore, a past RIC president, a member of the housing staff and the RIC vice president acting as ASG’s liaison. The resolutions last semester created a lot of debate and the issue is still controversial. It’s an issue that draws multiple opinions from our editorial board members. For the first time this year we were split. With almost 40 universities across the country with some sort of gender-blind housing option, according to genderblind.org, including Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., ranging from Lake Forest University to Northwestern, we agree that it’s only a matter of time before the administration has to take up the issue. None of us were completely against the idea of genderblind housing, but how and if it could be implemented at the UA is still vague at best—hence the formation of the adhoc committee to look into it further. We all agreed, as we feel most students do, that genderblind housing shouldn’t be forced on anyone. That isn’t a realistic option and from what we know about the debates last year and the discussions this year that isn’t on the table, and it shouldn’t be. We also all thought that gender-blind, or gender-neutral, housing could be a good option so that all students could be comfortable with their living situation. Gender-neutral housing has been totted as an avenue for LGBT students, and we agree that it is, but the option—if it is implemented at the UA—should be open to students regardless of sexual orientation. Beyond that, we were divided. Some of us were against freshmen possibly being able to participate in the program; two of us were for it. For those who were for it, we felt that just because a student might be a freshman doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the same housing options available to other students. The other half of the board could only imagine high school sweethearts wanting to room together, and then breaking up half way through the first semester. Parents, we imagine, would be worried about a possible increase in sexual activity if gender-blind housing was implemented in a residence hall—particularly when the majority of on-campus students are freshmen. John Garvey, Catholic University president, backed up the administrations decision to change all of Catholic’s residence halls to single-sex only, because students in co-ed housing are “more likely (55.7 percent) than students in single-sex dorms (36.8 percent) to have a sexual partner in the last year—and more than twice as likely to have had three or more,” he said in Wall Street Journal op-ed. Obviously we aren’t advocating that the UA take Catholic’s route—particularly since administrators are involved in a mediation to determine if what they did was legal. But it’s interesting to note that when we are looking at moving forward, other school administrators are doing the opposite. Not to mention that students who want to have sex will likely do so regardless of if the administrations accepts gender-blind housing. Furthermore we didn’t know where students who opted into gender-blind would be housed. During the debate in the ASG Senate several members mentioned designating one residence hall as a gender-blind residence hall potentially negatively separated these students from the rest of campus. We ranged from thinking that there could be genderblind housing floors, in the same way that there are co-ed floors in residence halls, to the idea that Duncan Avenue apartments could be designated as gender-neutral. Either way this is a big issue, and we are glad that members of RIC, ASG and the administration are starting a conversation about this issue and if—and how— to move it forward on campus. We look forward to seeing the proposal or proposals that the committee comes up with.
HEBRON CHESTER STAFF CARTOONIST
Increasing Debt Changing College Game Uncommon Perspective
by CHRIS SONNTAG
Traveler Columnist
Since the 1990s, college tuition has tripled, far outpacing both inflation and wage growth. And as the years went by, a college degree has almost become what the high school diploma once was— a necessary milestone on the way to actual employment— as by 2009, 70 percent of high school graduates enrolled in a college or university, an increase from 49 percent in 1975, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This massive jump in cost of attendance has many reasons. It is fairly simple to follow the money to get to the root of the more visible reasons. During the last few decades, as more and more students go for further education after high school, many colleges have gotten into a bit of an arms race for student money. New, bigger buildings and residence halls that give the feeling of living in an apartment or hotel (such as the Maple Hill complex and the Northwest Quads) are built up to capture student attendance, as well as shiny student facilities, computer labs and free concerts paid for by student fees. And the ratio of hiring has been heavily skewed away from instructors in recent years, leading to the first time period in which
universities have more administrators and support staff than professors and teachers. By 2005, the administratorto-student ratio had dropped to one administrator for every sixty-eight students while the ratio of professional staffers had dropped to one for every twenty-one students, according to an article in the Washington Monthly. However, there are other sides to it that aren’t quite as visible. As healthcare costs soared for everyone during the last several years, so did it for those who work at universities, increasing employer costs as well. The cheap and easy money through the government and other sources that are all too willing loan money to any student who requests it means that demand for college attendance keeps growing every year— especially in the last few years and other times of economic hardship as people look for any advantage they can get. And college administrators, as states cut appropriations, find themselves turning to raises in tuition to make up the remainder of their budgets. These raises in costs have had students looking at cheaper alternatives, such as choosing schools with lower costs, or even not attending college. That college isn’t for everyone is fairly clear, as evidenced by the fact that only 53 percent of entering students in four-year colleges graduate within six years, according to USA Today, and 30 percent of college freshmen drop out. The largest growth in jobs in the near future will be in jobs that don’t require a college degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, American cul-
ture has gotten to the point where college is pushed on everyone, making students feel as if they have to follow the general formula of elementary school, middle school, high school and college. I feel as if there’s a major problem on determining how much a college degree, and even more specifically attendance at any particular college, is worth. Because it’s difficult for an average student to determine how much value they’ll receive from any given institution, new student facilities and residence halls or standardized test scores of students are used to suggest a school’s worth. And thanks to the way students can always find a way to pay for college with loans, colleges administrators have strong incentives to raise tuition to build these new facilities offer scholarships to high-scoring prospective students. Luckily, the UA has not increased tuition at rates anywhere near the national average—it did not raise rates at all during the 2009-2010 year, due in part to a million-dollar grant from the athletics department, and only raised tuition by 4.8 percent when the average university raised rates by 6.6 percent. And although anyone can see the new construction around campus, it can be argued that it is clearly needed expansion. Now, I’m not going to use this column as a way to say you shouldn’t go to college. Likewise, I’m not going to try to parade out the trite examples of Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as the college dropouts who prove it’s possible to do great things without a college degree. Frankly, doing so would be insulting to anyone who’s ever taken a statistics class.
These people have been labeled geniuses, and had plans for what to do before they left college—they dropped out because, for them, attending college was not going to get them any more advantages in their lives compared to what they could get out of turning their technology into businesses. Simply put, these people are not an example for dropping out of college (or not attending at all). However, perhaps assessing one’s options may be necessary. Even Pell Grants, which in the early 1980s awarded an average maximum amount of 70 percent of tuition, have fallen to only awarding an average maximum amount of 34 percent last year according to the College Board. Yes, you will have more opportunity to make money with a college degree than without any postsecondary education, though this depends on what you choose to study. Attending a trade or vocational school may be better, although it seems to have a bit of a social stigma. However, those who attend trade schools have lower levels of dropping out (even while working themselves), and in many careers, vocational certification and trade schooling can cheaply and easily increase employability. Perhaps college should not be the end-all must-have, because not only is college getting expensive, but in the end, it might not be the best option for everyone. The best indicator of future success, after all, is your motivation, not where you learned how to do what you do. Chris Sonntag is a Traveler columnist. His columns appears bimonthly, every other Tuesday.
Campus Crowd Shots: UA Construction PHOTOS BY MADDIE LOGAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR OPINION EDITOR ENTERPRISE EDITOR
Saba Naseem Mattie Quinn Jordain Carney Samantha Williams
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.
“It sucks right now. It’s making it hard to get to classes and everything else, but I think it will be way better once it’s done, and certain buildings on campus really needed it. ”
“I think it’s unfortunate right now, but I’m excited to see what it will look like in the future. So it’s too bad that I’m here during a time of growth because everything is just being stretched and reconstructed.”
-Katie Thompson, senior, anthropology and classical studies
-Mandi Havens, senior, advertising and public relations
“I can’t wait til it’s over, but I feel like it’s something that’s never going to end. You wonder if they’re going to reach the point where they want to be with construction. I wouldn’t every redo anything, but I know it’s necessary.”
-Sara Osborne, freshman, nursing
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THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
FEATURES
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
PAGE 5 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
Washington County Website Affects Students’ Reputations
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has developed a new smart phone app that allows users to check the department’s detention roster, seek legal advice and much more.
by LOGAN GILMORE Contributing Writer
The weekends are a time for relaxation, celebration and for some students, drinking alcohol. But when Sunday comes around and the hangovers are nearly gone, one website seems to remain at the top of many students’ bookmarks: the Washington County Detention Center Report. Since the site’s creation several years ago, the online portion
of the county’s inmate roster has become very popular, with more than one million hits in just one year. Jak Kimball, IT Manager with the Sheriff ’s Department, said that it began “as a way to facilitate the media, to get the information to them.” What was created as a hard copy to remain at the Sheriff ’s office has transformed into a user-friendly, consistently updated website that allows anyone to see who is currently within the system. The
Freedom of Information Act requires that the department provide access inmate information to whoever requests it. Kimball said that they are simply skipping a step and providing a simpler place for individuals to view the intake roster at any time without having to travel to the department. This year, developer Mobile Patrol, LLC, worked with the department to create an iOS app that makes it even easier to view booked offenders, with plans for
Dr. Dog to Shake Up the Fayetteville Indie Music Scene by NICK BROTHERS Staff Writer
Tonight, the main stage of George’s Majestic Lounge will be lit by the sights and sounds of the indie-rock outfit Dr. Dog. While most of the band’s career has been on the college underground scene, the band’s three-part harmonies and peppy, eclectic music will surely bring about a great night. Originally formed in 2001 in West Grove, Penn., Dr. Dog consists of Toby Leaman (bass, vocals), Scott McMicken (lead guitar, vocals), Zach Miller (keyboard), Frank McElroy (rhythm guitar), and Eric Slick (drums). The band’s songs alternate the lead singing between the two vocalists Toby Leaman - whose voice is deeper, soulful and warm - and Scott McMicken, who has a higher, tender tenorpitch voice. What’s unique about these guys is that the whole band chips in harmonies to back up the two lead singers in the songs, and the collaboration gives a pleasant result. Their music is melodically fun and easy to get into, and their sound is best described as retro-rock. The majority of the songs the band will play tonight will come from its two latest and most successful albums, Fate and Shame Shame. The top three songs the band is most likely to play throughout the night will be “Hang On,” the happy and invigorating “The Rabbit The Bat and The Reindeer” and folksy mellow-hit “The Breeze”, all from the album Fate, according to setlist. fm, and which are arguably the best tracks from that album. The last-call anthem “Shadow People,” the pure nostalgic sounding “Stranger,” the harmony-ridden clap-along “Jackie Wants a Black Eye” and the relaxed “I Only Wear Blue” all have good chances of being played from the newer album
Shame Shame, according to setlist. fm. Fate and Shame Shame aren’t vastly different albums, but there is definitely an evolution of sound between the two for Dr. Dog. Fate has an awesome variety of sounds that tend to sound more raw and fit more into the genre of 60’s psychedelic rock. Shame Shame also fits the genre of retro-rock, but it’s much more polished and better produced than the previous album. The music is more streamlined, but generally the album has more of a softer tone than Fate
has. They’re both solid efforts from the band. Dr. Dog has a great collegiate following across the nation, and many students from the UA are going to be at the show. Tracer Moore, a sophomore biology major, said he’s excited about the show and he’s looking forward to having an indie band play a show in Fayetteville. “It’s nice to have a band like this. Most George’s shows cater towards the 40 year-old average scene. Fayetteville and the AMP get a lot of leftover big bands that are past their prime and their fans are older it seems,” Moore said. “Dr. Dog has a really good folky, rocky sound. The lyrics are emotional and I like the vocalists. They’re warm, emotional and genuine. They don’t sound like the most professionally trained sing-
ers but they sound like they mean what they’re singing. I like their song ‘The Ark’ a lot. It jumps out at me a lot and it has a good wow factor to it.” Julia Allen, a sophomore interior design major, is also looking forward to the show. “I’m so excited. I love seeing them play. I’m looking forward to seeing them play again, last time I saw them they were really great. They were a lot better live, they were really lively and it wasn’t boring at all,” Allen said. “I love Toby’s voice; it’s so amazing. He’s my favorite. Dr. Dog is just fun to listen to; they’re definitely one of my favorite bands.” Toby Leaman’s vocals should bring the thunder -- they are straight-up soulful and hit you like a punch to the stomach, like the best punch to your stomach you’ve ever had. Along with his earthy vocals, he definitely makes the bass a featured instrument on many tracks. He grooves COURTESY PHOTO a lot, and it’s really something worth paying attention to. The band seems to keep up a reputation of wearing different assortments of hats when playing live. Across the Internet community, they’ve been known for their interactive live shows even taking requests for which song to play next by how loud the crowd is. If you aren’t going out to the show, at least give these two albums a listen on grooveshark.com or Youtube. If you are planning to attend, though, be prepared for a great night of quality music from the talented indie-rock band Dr. Dog from Pennsylvania. “We don’t have that much of a music scene or much of an indie following [in Fayetteville],” Moore said. “For me it’s cool, I can relate to Dr. Dog. They’re real people making real music, and we don’t get enough of that around here.”
an Android App in the near future. Students, who remain at the top of the technological food chain, have quickly become accustomed to the website and app in order to find their classmates and friends. “I hope that is never me on the site. Come Sunday, people would be looking at me. Everyone is scared of public ridicule,” said Jacquie Carroll, a UA sophomore majoring in Ad/PR. “It’s group mentality, I guess.”
With so many students checking the site to see who committed what offense over the weekend, several users among social media sites have begun to mock said students, seeing the entertainment value in the roster. A group by the name of Cronic Nug Boyz created a series of YouTube videos entirely revolving around mug shots of students and residents of the Fayetteville area. Another account, under the pseudonym FaytownFuzz, has flooded Twitter with posts of students and others of the intake report in a satirical but more-or-less ridiculing manner, commenting on their age, facial expressions, Greek affiliation and other personal details. With nearly 1,700 followers, it is one of the UA campus’ top parody Twitter accounts. One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, explained his experience in being listed on the county intake report, as well as how it has affected his decision making. “People had my mug shot as the background on their phone. My parents, old teachers and current boss all saw it. I moved out of my dorm afterward, but haven’t stopped drinking,” he said. “However, I have become more careful and knowledgeable of my surroundings.” When asked if this experience would stop students from committing crimes on campus, he said: “There is some added pressure to [the website] in keeping yourself in check, but suggesting that it is enough incentive to keep someone from breaking the law is overstating its power.”
“When you’re doing something that is going to get you arrested, you’re not thinking in the right mind anyway. Especially when it is involving drinking or drugs; it’s not something that will be going through your head before you start your car,” said Nathan Watson, a UA sophomore majoring in creative writing. “However, after the fact, no one wants to have the reputation of getting arrested over and over again, so it does kind of make you want to keep your reputation in check.” While the right to privacy may seem violated when a student’s face is plastered on the website, these students lose that right when they commit a crime. DUIs and DWIs are a major occurrence among university students, but there are easy ways to avoid becoming the laughingstock of the campus community. One way is to simply not drink and drive, however repetitious that message may sound. Not only will it prevent social ridicule, but it will prevent potentially deadly traffic accidents. Safe Ride, a service paid by student fees, will pick up a student from anywhere within city limits and take them home, just by calling 575-SAFE. Kimball’s advice to students is to the point: “Don’t break the law.” Whether that refers to underage drinking, driving while intoxicated, possession of controlled substances or public intoxication, it is a simple rule that more students should follow — if not for their safety, at least for the sake of their reputation in college and the professional world to come.
The Mustache: A New Fayetteville Classic
GRACE GUDE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Bailey’s The Mustache Goods and Wears is a boutique located on Block St. of the Fayetteville Square. The store specializes in clothing and accessories for stylish customers of all ages.
by EMILY RHODES Staff Writer
The warm and inviting sound of The Script’s “For the First Time” lyrics fill the store with a vibrant energy, while vintage-style shoes and accessories line the shelved walls and surround the mass of unique merchandise. Nestled in the Fayetteville town square is this quaint and quirky local store, The Mustache Goods and Wears, or more commonly known as “The Mustache.” It’s a small shop with a huge personality, offering fun gifts, retro clothing and exclusive home décor, all within the college student budget. Offering guests a little bit of everything, The Mustache sells vintage-inspired threads, cute kitchen gadgets and Urban Outfitters-style gifts. Though the atmosphere is quiet and relaxed, bold ‘50s-esque polka dot dresses, wool coats and peep-toe shoes for the girls and sweater cardigans and structured button downs for the guys hang on boutique racks and keep the store lively and bright. Fun kitchen finds like ceramic whale-shaped measuring cups, character shot glasses and apple kitchen timers sit on display by the book table that offers reads like “Awkward Family Photos,” “The Naked Roommate” and the Anne Taintor series. “The idea behind it was to bring a store to Fayetteville that has a lot of things that me and my wife like to do and a lot of the
shops we like to go to, all kind of combined into one,” said owner Brian Bailey, who opened The Mustache with his wife, Ashley, in April. “It just didn’t exist here. We wanted to open a shop that has something for all ages and products that aren’t really available here.” With more local clothing stores in town catering mainly to women’s fashion, Bailey felt that there were not enough places for men to shop for unique clothing. “A lot of the stores up here are primarily female focused and there really weren’t any places that were available to guys where families could feel comfortable – I saw that especially in previous jobs on the square and when I ran the Visitor’s Center,” Bailey said. Within six months of business, the store has now become one of Fayetteville’s greatest spots to pick up something one-of-a-kind. “With the name, a lot of people think it’s only a guys shop, but it’s not at all – there is something for everyone,” Bailey said. And though the store does sell mustache merchandise like the name suggests, guests can find fun accessories like mac-and-cheese bandages, bacon soap and head massagers in addition to aprons and kitchen goodies, photo prints and handmade jewelry. “This shop is great because it’s such a unique place with a lot of stuff you don’t see normally,” said Madi Trost, who picked up a mustache T-shirt while visiting from
Tulsa, Okla. “The prices are really fair, and it’s definitely worth it for the product because it’s such a fun and different store.” “The Mustache is just like Francesca’s Collections in Rogers, but with more merchandise, mustaches and baby things – perfect for the college age girl or new mother,” said Lindsay Stewart, a UA student. “It’s a really helpful store when you need to buy a girlfriend a unique gift.” In addition to selling the latest in eclectic home decorations and chic men’s and women’s clothing options, The Mustache also stocks a baby section of the store offering fun books like “The Rookie Mom Handbook” and “Let’s Panic About Babies,” as well as mustache bibs and adorable bamboo cotton onesies sporting cute slogans, perfect for baby showers and newborn gifts. Keeping products fresh while offering a fun and hip shopping experience, The Mustache is bringing a new fashion to town that everyone can enjoy. So, grab a coat and a coffee and head down to the square to visit Brian and Ashley and check out the great merchandise that The Mustache has to offer. Located in the town square at 15 South Block St., the shop is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit their website www.shopthemustache. com for online shopping and updated news.
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
DOWNTIME Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
PAGE 6 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
LAUGH IT UP
SUDOKU
Q: Why was the chicken happy? A: Everything was eggcellent. Q: How did the hermit pay for his home? A: Alone There once was a king who lived in two-story grass hut. Every holiday the king demanded to be given a new throne as a gift. As soon as a new throne arrived, he would store the old throne on the second level of his hut and use the new one instead. But one day the hut collapsed from the weight of all the thrones, and everyone was crushed and killed. The moral of this story? Those who live in grass houses shouldn’t stow thrones.
WELCOME TO FALLING ROCK
Josh Shalek
THAT MONKEY TUNE
Michael A. Kandalaft
BREWSTER ROCKIT
Tim Rickard
BLISS
DOWN
1 Filled with wonder 5 Trade punches 9 Shire of “Rocky” 14 Hurry 15 Opportunity to play 16 Shi’ite leaders 17 Is well-versed in a subject 20 Salon service 21 Samoa’s capital 22 Makes an offer for at auction 23 Fertile desert spot 25 Parisian summers 26 Achieves required standards 31 Quick raid 32 Hung. neighbor 33 “Who, me?” 34 __ rain 35 More than bad 37 Skier’s transport 38 Uno follower 39 One of those things 40 Prepare (oneself), as for a jolt 41 Obviously enjoys a meal 45 Essence 46 Out of order 47 Early birthday milestone 50 Work subtitled “A Life”: Abbr. 51 Pale or brown brew 54 Assuming an attitude of importance, and a hint to what ends 17-, 26- and 41-Across 57 Pop singer John 58 Herbal balm 59 Roman robe 60 Like hash in diners 61 Atlantic, to Brits 62 Acceptability on the street, in slang
1 Torah holders 2 Dwindle 3 Traveler to an environmentally protected area 4 Morning glistener 5 “No more!” 6 Discipline 7 Vicinity 8 MDs’ co-workers 9 Most minuscule 10 Surrounded by 11 Vientiane’s land 12 “__ expert, but ...” 13 The “A” in many org. names 18 Cheeky 19 Dense 24 Ever so slightly 25 Avian Aussies 26 Hershey’s drink 27 Worm’s milieu 28 Diplomatic official 29 Motel victim? 30 Desperate 31 Lose brightness 35 Bleach 36 Promise 37 Baseball Hall of Famer Speaker 39 Interweaving 40 Bounty captain 42 Exactly right 43 Spoil, as a parade 44 Hammed it up 47 Kong’s kin 48 Shore squawker 49 Caesar’s disbelieving words 50 Western tie 52 Theater box 53 “Yipes” 55 Trendy clothing giant 56 And more: Abbr.
CALAMITIES OF NATURE
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
TODAY’S SOLUTION
Harry Bliss
CROSSWORD ACROSS
Difficulty:
Tony Piro
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
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PAGE 7 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 COMMENTARY
Hogs Becoming Elite Extra Points
JIMMY CARTER
jicarter@uark.edu Arkansas’ 44-28 win over South Carolina has big implications for the Razorbacks. It keeps the Hogs’ SEC West title hopes alive. To that extent, Arkansas still has an outside, three-quarters court shot at a national championship appearance. It’s unlikely either will happen, but that’s not important. The Razorbacks are firmly on the national radar for the second consecutive year. The Hogs are ahead of where they were last season. That’s all a fan base can ask. Winning an SEC Championship requires an amazing season and some luck. Winning a national championship is an extraordinary accomplishment. Texas is one of the most prestigious football programs in college football history, but the Longhorns have won just four national championships in 118 years. Their 2005 title broke a 35year streak without a championship. The goal for any top program is to compete for a title consistently.
see COMMENTARY on page 8
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER FOOTBALL
Hogs Drop in BCS Poll by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
Arkansas fell to No. 8 in the latest Bowl Championship Series Poll released on Sunday, dropping one spot from last week’s poll as Oregon leapfrogged to No. 7. The Razorbacks (8-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) were coming off a 44-28 nationallytelevised win at home on ESPN over No. 9 South Carolina. “We definitely noticed it and weren’t particularly happy about it,” senior defensive end Jake Bequette said. “We have to come in and control the things we can control. That is playing hard and winning on Saturday.” The Ducks won 43-28 over unranked Washington State. “We will let the BCS control itself and we will control our own destiny,” senior receiver Jarius Wright said. “We can’t control the computers.” Six SEC teams are in the BCS Standings, including three SEC West teams in the top 10. LSU remained No. 1 after knocking off unbeaten, No. 2 Alabama in primetime Saturday night. The Crimson Tide fell just one spot to No. 3 in this week’s standings after the 9-6 overtime loss. With one home game in Fayetteville remaining against Tennessee (4-5, 0-5), coach Bobby Petrino said the Razorbacks are focused on their next game and not standings at this point. “I think what you do is really focus on practicing this week,” Petrino said. “Do a good job on working on our preparation. Making sure our seniors understand this is the last time we get to play in this stadium. Making sure all the younger
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior defensive end Jake Bequette and the Razorbacks beat No. 9 South Carolina 44-28, but dropped one spot to No. 8 in the BCS standings after being jumped by Oregon. The Hogs are the third highest-ranked SEC West team, trailing No. 1 LSU and No. 3 Alabama.
players understand we are going to send these seniors out with a win in their last game in this stadium. “That is how you have opportunities open up for you.” Arkansas will celebrate Senior Night Saturday against the Volunteers who have yet to win a conference game. Although the Razorbacks trail two of their SEC West rivals in the polls, the Hogs are
still confident in obtaining its goals of an SEC title and even a National Championship, senior receiver Jarius Wright said. “Those are definitely still possible for us,” Wright said. “Those are our overall goals as a team and they are still right there in our hands.” Arkansas is on a five-game winning streak and boasts the SEC’s top overall offense. The
Razorbacks ended last season on a six-game winning streak on its way to the school’s first ever BCS Bowl berth. “Our confidence is really high and we feel like we have a really strong team right now,” Bequette said. “We are looking ahead and feeling pretty good about ourselves.” Miles-Nash Back to Defense Junior Colton Miles-
FOOTBALL
Nash is back on the defensive side of the ball. The 6-foot6, 260-pounder has spent his three seasons at Arkansas flipflopping from defensive end to tight end and vice versa. Saturday, the Sulpher Springs, Texas, native was back at defensive end against South Carolina. He played 17 snaps
see BCS RANKINGS on page 8
BASKETBALL
Johnson, Bequette Honored by SEC Anderson Wants Improvement
in Second Exhibition
by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor
RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas junior running back Dennis Johnson earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors for his 98 yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Razorbacks’ 44-28 win over South Carolina.
by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
Arkansas junior running back Dennis Johnson and senior defensive end Jake Bequette earned Southeastern Conference weekly awards for their performances in the Razorbacks’ 44-28 win over No. 9 South Carolina. Johnson was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his 98-yard kick return for a touchdown in the first quarter, while Bequette earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his three sacks and forced fumble.
“I think they both did a really nice job,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “Obviously the kickoff return for a touchdown was huge for Dennis and he had another nice return. Was a big, big part of the win. “Then Jake, the way he played, not only the three sacks and the forced fumble, but how hard he played and how disruptive he was the entire game to their quarterback.” Johnson is the SEC’s active leader in kick return yards and his return was the third kickoff return for a touchdown in his career. He
finished the game with 252 all-purpose yards and has averaged 189 all-purpose yards the last three games. “Something that we’ve been working hard with Dennis is the consistency,” Petrino said. “Consistency in your approach throughout the week. I think he’s worked extremely hard at that and I think Coach Horton’s done a really nice job with him on just coming to work each day, have a good attitude, a smile on your face and go out and work hard.”
see FOOTBALL on page 8
Arkansas won its exhibition opener 97-80 against Texas A&M-Commerce, but the Razorbacks struggled at times against the Division II Lions. The Hogs had to use a 16-4 run late in the second half to pull away after TAMC cut its deficit to 78-74 with less than six minutes remaining. “We had some pluses and some minuses, but definitely more minuses than pluses,” Arkansas sophomore guard Mardracus Wade said. “We’ve got to go back and work on some things. We learn from these games and try to get better.” Arkansas’ next chance to improve is Tuesday against another Division II opponent, Memphis-based Christian Brothers. “Teams are going to make runs,” Wade said. “Teams are going to come out hot. They’re going to try to come in and knock us down. I think we responded pretty good, but we’ve got to come in early and put our foot down a little bit more aggressive.” One of the main reasons the Razorbacks couldn’t break their first exhibition game open was their inability to rebound. The Lions outrebounded the Hogs 5031, including 21 offensive rebounds. “I thought Texas A&MCommerce was a lot more physical than we were,” Anderson said. “They just pounded us on the glass. That shouldn’t happen to this basketball team. That will be ad-
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas and junior guard Rickey Scott host Christian Brothers Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena for the Razorbacks’ final exhibition game. dressed quickly… We’ve really got to really get better at that.” Arkansas struggled to contain TAMC forward Desmond King, the reigning Lone Star Conference Player of the Year. The 6-foot-7 senior scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, 10 off the offensive glass. “He was active,” Anderson said. “He was strong. He was
really carving out space under the basket and getting offensive rebounds. That’s what we’ve got to have guys do. Carve out space instead of trying to use your athleticism to get to the ball.” The Razorbacks had no answer for King. No Hog big man
see BASKETBALL on page 8
SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
from BCS RANKINGS on page 7
from COMMENTARY on page 7
and registered one solo tackle. “In the Ole Miss game I was seeing him standing on the sideline and we weren’t playing him a lot,” Petrino said. “I thought ‘that is a big man that played well a year ago at defensive end’ so after the game I made the decision to get him back on the field get him more reps back at defensive end.” The Razorbacks have lacked depth at defensive end at times this season with injuries to starters Jake Bequette and junior Tenarius Wright causing both players to miss substantial time. The move also came during the same week that it was announced freshman defensive lineman Lonnie Gosha had quit the team. In his three seasons at Arkansas, Miles-Nash has 17 tackles and a blocked punt against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl in January. He had one catch for six yards at tight end this season. “I love Colton,” Bequette said. “Having him on defense, it was good to see him back in the No. 90 instead of that No. 6. That is a skill position number. He is back there on the D-Line working hard and you can tell he has learned a lot from his time on offense. “He is using his hands better. His pad level is much better. He has gotten bigger, he is over 270 (pounds) now. He is
Oklahoma and Boise State are two of the best examples. The Sooners haven’t won a title since 2000, while the Broncos have yet to play in one. Both are top-10 mainstays each season, though. An elite program is a consistent national contender. Arkansas is edging closer to that point. How long has it been since Razorback fans have been able to say that? The late 1980s in the Southwest Conference? Even then, comparing the SWC to the SEC is like comparing Vlade Divac and the Sacramento Kings to Shaq and the Lakers. They’re both good, but one is clearly the bigger, badder and better. It’s like comparing the Big 12 to the SEC West this year. The Hogs might not make a second consecutive BCS appearance, but they’re about to get a lot of exposure down the stretch of the season. Exposure that will aid the program. Arkansas can create a threeway tie for the SEC West title by beating No. 1 LSU in Baton Rouge
CONTESSA SHEW STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas’ defense held South Carolina running back Brandon Wilds to 21 yards on 10 carries while Razorbacks allowed just 207 yards allowed. a big body and a big presence for us.” Wright has missed the last five games for the Razorbacks after breaking his arm Sept. 24 in the first quarter at Alabama, to a broken forearm, but has a possibility of returning this week against Tennessee, Petrino said. “I was hoping maybe last week he would be back,” Petrino said. “Obviously we got a better chance of it this week. It is going to be how he does in practice, how he reacts to it and where we are at as we get later on in the week.” Hogs Don’t Feel Earthquake About an hour Arkansas’ third win against a ranked opponent Saturday against No. 9 South Carolina, many in Fayetteville felt an earthquake in Oklahoma. The magnitude-5.6 earthquake occurred approximately 45 miles east of Oklahoma City around 10:52 p.m. could be felt in Northwest Arkansas as well as much of Oklahoma and even into Kansas and Missouri. “I was wondering if when
that (earthquake) hit was when Cobi (Hamilton) dropped that pass,” Petrino said jokingly. “Cobi Hamilton doesn’t drop passes. I mean that is like the end of North Dallas Forty when they throw the ball to the guy and it drops out of his hands and it is like ‘Are you kidding me?’” Hamilton’s drop came with under 20 seconds left on the clock before halftime. Arkansas was on the 12-yard line and quarterback Tyler Wilson found a wide open Hamilton in the back of the end zone, but the 6-foot-3 two-sport athlete failed to hold onto the pass. The score would have put Arkansas up 16 points pending a Zach Hocker point after attempt. “Cobi Hamilton does not drop passes ever so I bet that is when the earthquake hit,” Petrino said. Petrino, Bequette and Wright didn’t feel the earthquake, they said. “My roommate told me about it and I was like, ‘I didn’t feel it,’” Wright said.
from FOOTBALL on page 7 His return was the fourth special teams touchdown for the Hogs this season. Freshman receiver Marquel Wade returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico, while senior receiver Joe Adams returned two punts for touchdowns in the season opener against Missouri State. “To be able to have four touchdowns in special teams is huge,” Petrino said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a year where we’ve had that many on special teams.” Bequette recorded the three sacks after entering the game with just two this season. The preseason firstteam All-SEC selection had struggled to recover from a hamstring injury suffered Sept. 10 against New Mexico.
PAGE 8
Nov. 25, assuming the Razorbacks, Tigers and Alabama win out. A Razorbacks’ win isn’t incredibly far-fetched. The Hogs have won three of four against LSU. The Tigers will be favored, but the last six games in the series have been decided by just 31 points. Arkansas lost 38-14 to the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa in Sept. 24, but the Razorbacks played their worst offensive game of the season and gave up three non-offensive touchdowns. A win against LSU would create controversy, bringing the BCS system into question again. The tiebreaker for a three-way SEC divisional tie is the BCS rankings. The catch is that if the second-highest ranked team from the division is within five spots of the highest-ranked team, the head-tohead winner gets the nod. A Hogs win would give them the edge over the Tigers. LSU beat Alabama. The Crimson Tide beat Arkansas. It would be a mess. One the Razorbacks would love to be a part of. Alabama fell just one spot in
the BCS rankings following their 9-6 overtime loss to LSU. They won’t fall out of the top five if they win out. A Hogs win in the Battle for the Golden Boot would put them firmly in the top five. Alabama would have the head-to-head win over Arkansas and win the trip to Atlanta to drub Georgia if the two teams were first and second in the BCS standings following the end of the regular season. LSU has easily played the toughest schedule of the three and could stay ahead of the Razorbacks and Crimson Tide even if the Hogs win. However it works out, Arkansas will be mentioned more times on ESPN in late November than Anthony Weiner on CNN in June. That’s a huge step for the program. The Razorbacks control their own destiny to earn a second consecutive at-large BCS berth. That’s elite football. That’s all a fan base can ask. Jimmy Carter is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter @jicartersports.
“It felt good to go out there and make some plays on the edge,” Bequette said.
to generate an effective pass rush prior to Saturday, entering the game ranked No. 11 in the SEC, averaging just 1.38 sacks per game. The Razorbacks sacked Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw five times. Bequette’s final sack forced a fumble that led to a touchdown and knocked Shaw out of the game with a concussion. “Our d-line played well,” Petrino said. “They played fast and physical. We got after them all week long about we’re getting better, we’re improving now it’s time to put it all together … Jake is back to full speed. His injury was a bad injury. He just hung in there and kept getting better. He wasn’t the same player his first couple games back, but certainly we saw Jake Bequette the other night.”
Jake Bequette “It was definitely the best I’ve felt since the New Mexico game. I’m still getting there, but I definitely felt more like myself.” Arkansas had struggled
from BASKETBALL on page 7 had more than two rebounds and struggled to box out. “We’ve got to get people in the paint area,” Anderson said. “Putting bodies on people. I saw a couple times that a guy got the ball and we had guys standing outside the paint. We’re really going to address it. We’re going to bang. We’re going to get some boards.” The guards did most of the rebounding, grabbing 20 of Arkansas’ 31 boards. Freshman guard Ky Madden grabbed four rebounds. The 6-foot-5, 175-pounder is the Razorbacks’ tallest guard. “I feel the guards have to get in there and help the bigs,” Madden said. “Especially myself since I am a big guard. I feel like I didn’t get in there like Coach A was asking. I got to help those guys out because they are battling.” A key for the Hogs against the Buccaneers Tuesday will be to keep its most experienced post player, junior forward Marshawn Powell, on the floor.
The 6-foot-7, 219-pounder picked up four fouls in just 13 minutes against the Lions, finishing with just seven points and two rebounds. “He got a little timid,” Anderson said. “He was trying not to foul. We know he’s better than that. In practice, he’s been playing pretty good. It’s just a matter of him getting to the game.” Arkansas forced 25 TAMC turnovers, but Anderson said the Razorbacks need to improve their pressure defense. “I thought we gambled too much,” Anderson said. “Young guys especially, they try to get that third, fourth and fifth steal. Before you know it, they’re out of position … I think they’re trying. You’ll see this team just really evolve right before your eyes.” The exhibition will be the final prep before the Hogs play their season opener Friday against USC Upstate. “We’re still a work in progress,” Anderson said. “You can see I’m still just mixing and matching. Trying to find a combination.”
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said he wants the Razorbacks to play smarter pressure defense in their second exhibition game against Christian Brothers.