Coming Home: A Gap Year Student Adjusts to UA Life by KRISTEN COPPOLA Staff Writer
CHAD ARNOLD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
“I should be a sophomore, because I’m already 20,” said freshman Mallory Smith. “I graduated from high school in America, and then I did a year abroad.”
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 VOL. 106, NO. 89 12 PAGES UATRAV.COM
Don’t get her wrong -freshman Mallory Smith loves the UA. She loves her Chi Omega sisters and she loves Razorback football games. But her heart is 5,000 miles away, in Belgium. “I should be a sophomore, because I’m already 20,” she said. “I graduated from high school in America, and then I did a year abroad.” The year abroad, called a gap year, is an uncommon choice, but “it’s more popular than students realize,” said Mandy Prorok, study abroad advisor. “There are tons of different types of models of gap year programs,” Prorok said. “I’ve seen a lot of students come in, especially with this year’s freshmen class, having some sort of mission trip or international school trip before they come to the university,” she said. “Having an international experience gives people an opportunity to see the work from a different perspective.”
After graduating from Notre Dame de Sion, an allgirl Catholic high school in Kansas City, Mo., Smith traveled to Liège, Belgium, through the Rotary Club and lived with three host families. She took classes at a Belgium high school, Athènèe Royal de Chênèe, even though none of them counted for college credit. “I went to all of my classes, I took my exams in French, and I passed all of them,” Smith said. The idea to take a year off sprouted during a two-week trip to France and Italy during the summer between Smith’s junior and senior year. “She’s always loved to travel,” said Julie Smith, Mallory’s mother. “She went with her French class and loved it, so we looked into programs. I was very excited for her.” Though Smith had taken four years of French during high school, being totally immersed in the language was difficult. “I knew how to write sentences; I knew how to conjugate
see 4400 on page 6
PHOTO: GARETH PATTERSON, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ERIK NORTHFELL
Cudi to Perform
COURTESY PHOTO
Kid Cudi will be performing in Barnhill Arena April 29, said Bailey Moll, headliner committee member. The committee is still deciding how tickets will be distributed and if other artists will perfom with Cudi.
Parking Changes During Spring Break by SARAH DEROUEN Staff Writer
Parking will have special regulation during spring break, a transit and parking official said. Parking will be enforced during the week of spring break, said Andy Gilbride, spokesperson for UA Parking and Transit. Parking in resident re-
served lots will be enforced until 5 p.m. March 16 and then the lots will be open for all permit types. Razorback Transit buses will be on a reduced schedule starting on March 19. The buses will not be in service on March 23 and March 24. These regulations can be found on the Parking and Transit website.