Paul Petrino Back at Arkansas Page 5 PAGE 1
Vol. 106, NO. 57 UATRAV.COM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011
Parking Deck on Dickson Still in the Works
New Building, Classrooms in Planning Stage
by NICK OLIVER Staff Writer
City council members approved the sale of $6.5 million in parking revenue bonds, as one of the first necessary steps in the long process of building a parking deck for the entertainment district in Fayetteville, officials said. “You don’t start a design [and] you don’t pick a location unless you have construction money,” said Don Marr, Fayetteville chief of staff. “Once you have the authorization, you can do these other things.” The proposed parking deck has been talked about for years, since Marr was an elected aldermen in the early 2000s, he said.
by MEGAN HUCKABY Staff Writer
UA officials are planning to build a general classroom building to help manage the expected increase in enrollment, officials said. The number of classrooms and their capacities depends on enrollment, said Mike Johnson, vice chancellor for Facilities. Once this information is gathered, floor size and number of floors can be determined. The UA has not yet attained funding for the project, said Don Pederson, vice chancellor for Finance and Administration. “We are trying to look at the next three to five years,” Johnson said. The increase in students has brought on the need for more space. The completion of the new classroom building and the auditoriums will prevent students from having to take classes in the Arkansas Union. The project is still in the planning phase. The UA has yet to hire an architect, but has the option do so at the Feb. 2 Board of Trustees meeting, Johnson said. Locations for the building have already been discussed. Potential sites include the parking lot north of Hotz Hall and Evergreen Hill across from the Engineering Hall, he said. Ideally, the building will be within the 10-minute walking radius of the core campus, Johnson said. The new building’s aesthetic, which could be pre-fabricated, prevents it from being built in the historic district of campus, Johnson said. UA officials are building more classrooms instead of housing because they feel that the freshmen class can be managed, officials said. The freshmen class is estimated to remain between 4,200 and 4,500 in coming years, said Suzanne McCray, vice provost of enrollment. Enrollment is expected to hit 24,000 next year and 25,000 by 2013. UA officials are evaluating housing very closely, McCray said.
“When planning for the future of downtown, we must be sure to plan for an adequate supply of parking to accommodate future growth and development,” according to Fayetteville’s “Downtown Master Plan,” written in winter 2004. “As a part of the ‘Downtown Master Plan,’ we need a parking structure in order to free up the existing space that we have for future developments,” said council member Matthew Petty. When Mayor Lioneld Jordan set up paid parking on Dickson, he said that, in one year, a plan would begin for the proposed parking deck, and August 16th marked one year, Marr said.
“I think it’s time to start,” Petty said, “but we need to be deliberate and not rush.” With the approval of the bonds, the city council has established a project fund for the parking deck and the determination to move forward with the project, said finance director Paul Becker. Although the sale of the bonds is necessary in pushing the project further, with a project fund of this size, there are certain risks, such as the project not being able to be completed or continued, Becker said.
see PARKING on page 2
Snow Brings Seasonal Cheer to Campus
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
see CLASSROOMS on page 3
Freshman Abigail Rose takes a moment to enjoy the first Fayetteville snowfall of the school year.
Residence Hall Officials Spend Sparingly by JANNEE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
In the midst of a still-limping economy, residence hall governments are striving to be more fiscally responsible, officials said. Most residence halls have a “keystone” event which the hall government puts on every year, said Takama StattonBrooks, director of Residence Education. “Each hall’s budget runs a little different,” she said. “Some have large scale budgets in the fall and some don’t until spring.” Although most halls have a set budget that goes to their keystone event, hall senates work with advisers to figure out their budget and decide where they want to spend or save. “Most hall senates are pretty active. Usually the hall executives have to meet with their coordinator for residence educations to discuss their budgets, since it’s a student-run organization,” StattonBrooks said. Futrall Hall’s student interest and activities board is planning its third annual ugly Christmas sweater party Dec. 9. “It’s estimated that the Futrall Hall Christmas party will cost somewhere between $300 and $350,” said freshman Mark Cameron, hall president. “We made all the decisions ourselves.” Coordinating and funding events out of the hall’s annual budget helps teach students fiscal responsibility, Cameron said. “[The Christmas party] is about 17 to 19 percent of our budget, so it’s a big chunk,” he said. Residence hall governments can also apply to the Residents’ Interhall Congress for Program Incentive Grants to be reimbursed for programming and activities, according to the RIC website. These grants, which can win hall governments up to 40 percent of what they spent, provide an incentive for hall governments to incorporate education, campus issue awareness, health and safety and leadership development programming.
More Kids Using Digital Media, Study Finds by LEIGH JACKSON Staff Writer
An increasing number of young children are using digital media, according to a study by Common Sense Media. About 53 percent of all 2- to 4-yearolds and about 90 percent of 5- to 8-year-olds have used a computer, according to a study by the non-profit advocacy organization. About 22 percent of 5- to 8-year-olds use a computer every day. Television use is up, too. About 47 percent of 1-year-olds watch about two hours of television every day, and among 6- to 23-month-olds, 29 percent have a television in their bedrooms, according to the study. The effects of excessive media con-
sumption by children include childhood obesity, aggressive behavior, sexual behavior, tobacco and alcohol use and lower performance in school, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most fundamental mental growth occurs between birth to age six. Because early experiences lay the groundwork for later development, children are particularly vulnerable during these years, according to the study. There was also a debatable correlation between media consumption and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the study. Reports of ADHD in children
see MEDIA on page 2
In This Issue:
News
News
COURTESY PHOTO MCT CAMPUS
Features
Features
Sports
Robinson Out Mullins Library Extends Class Gives Proposals to UA Students Get Away African Students Arkansas defensive coorOrganization Hosts Drum for the Holidays Hours Business Library hours extend for finals.
Apparel Studies students prepare a proposal for a new business.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011 VOL. 106, NO. 57 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM
Students head to nearby destinations to spend winter break.
TODAY 41°
Cultural RSO helps students share their traditions.
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WEATHER FORECAST
and Dance Workshop
THURSDAY 46°
FRIDAY 43°
SATURDAY 44°
dinator Willy Robinson resigned Tuesday. The Razorbacks defense ranked ninth in the Southeastern Conference in both total and scoring defense.
SUNDAY 49°
MONDAY 46°
Opinion
Don’t Let Political Correctness Ruin Christmas
ASG President Michael Dodd discusses why it’s important to remember the religious history behind the holiday season.
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