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Sigma Chi member hit on tracks near campus Jack Willems
Senior Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Six UA student teams are among the top 25 in the state selected to compete for their share of more than $114,000 in this year’s Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Graduate and Undergraduate Business Plan Competition. Initiated in 2001, the contest is a collaborative project for graduate and undergraduate students, designed to promote entrepreneurship in Arkansas through a statewide competition. The goal of the project is to encourage the development and commercialization of ideas and technologies being discovered in Arkansas universities. Historically, rural states, such as Arkansas, have not benefited as greatly from the economic growth provided by sound business planning, the commercialization of technology or the accumulation of venture capital, according to the organization’s Web site. “We believe our college students are just as good as any other states, and we want them to excel,” said Kerri Daniels, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation. “All the resources they need to excel are right here in Arkansas.” In this year’s competition, 59 entries representing 15 schools were submitted, and the top 25 were chosen to compete in the second stage of the competition. Those teams will present their business plan at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock April 3 and CODY BENNETT Staff Photographer
BUSINESS on Page 2
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UA student struck by train
Nick DeMoss
See
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Cool with a 90% chance of precipitation.
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Page 1 | FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
UA produces finalists in Governor’s Cup business plan competition
University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark.
An accident occurred early Thursday morning on the railroad tracks near Lafayette Street and Maple Street. A UA student is in critical condition as result of the accident.
A UA student is in critical condition at Washington Regional Medical Center after being run over by a train early Thursday morning, police authorities said. Colby Helffrich, 21, was walking away from Dickson Street Thursday when he approached the train tracks where the Maple Street and Lafayette Street bridges meet, said Rick Crisman, public information officer for the Fayetteville Police Department. Helffrich then lay down between the tracks and fell asleep, Crisman said. The operator of an oncoming train spotted Helffrich and attempted to stop, blowing the whistle several times, but the conductor could not stop the train, Crisman said. Because Helffrich was lying in between the tracks, most of the train went over him, but Helffrich’s hand, which was on one of the tracks, was crushed and severed, Crisman said. Police arrived at the scene 2 a.m. Thursday to find Helffrich still under the stopped train, Crisman said. “They had to back up the train to get him out,” he said. The train is owned by the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad, said Ron Sparks, chief of the railroad police for the company. Sparks arrived at the scene at 2:15 a.m. The train operator did well to stop the train as soon as he did, but by the time the train was stopped, Helffrich was underneath the third engine, Sparks said. The train had to be separated to get to Helffrich, he said. “Those trains cannot stop,” Sparks said. Afterward, the conductor talked to Helffrich to let him
know someone was there, but he could not provide any medical services while Helffrich was trapped under the train, Sparks said. The Fayetteville Police Department, Fire Department and Central Emergency Medical Services did a good job handling the situation, Sparks said. “Normally, people do not survive those accidents,” Sparks said. “It is because of those people that he is still here right now.” According to a report from 40/29 News, police confirmed that alcohol was involved in the incident. Helffrich had been drinking with friends earlier in the night, Sparks said. College students sometimes use train tracks as a short cut, and this is not only illegal, but it can be incredibly dangerous, Sparks said. Even if a train is not approaching, the tracks are greasy, there are sharp objects along the way and there might also be dangerous people along the path, he said. The railroad police even have a class, Operation: Life Saver, to educate students on college campuses, he said. “From the people I interviewed, this seems to be a very smart young man. He made a bad decision,” Sparks said. “We all make bad decisions when we are young, but these are the kind of decisions you don’t walk away from.” According to an e-mail sent to UA faculty, more than 250 students visited Helffrich in the hospital Thursday. University officials asked faculty to work with students who may have been absent from class for that reason, said Parice Bowser, director of Greek Life. The university is compiling a list of students who were there, including members of Helffrich’s fraternity, Sigma Chi.
Legislator presents state bill UA officials’ salaries allowing open carry of handguns low compared to some nationally Number Count
Jack Willems
Senior Staff Writer With the controversial petition garnering 1,830 signatures, a bill has been filed in the Arkansas Legislature to legalize the open carry of handguns throughout the state. House Bill 2184, introduced by Rep. Mark Martin of Prairie Grove, would allow a person to carry a handgun in plain sight on his or her person or in his or her vehicle for the purpose of self defense. The bill would make carrying a weapon an offense only if the person’s purpose were to use it against another in situations not in self-defense. Arkansas is one of few states that does not allow the open carry of handguns, Martin said. Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina and New York are the only states that prohibit the open carry of firearms, though California and Illinois allow open carry in rural areas, according to OpenCarry. org. Many Southern states prohibit the open carry of handguns because of laws passed after the Civil War that were meant to keep guns out of the hands of African Americans, Martin said. The Legal Center
Jordain Carney Staff Writer
CRAIG HACKER Wichita Eagle/MCT
A bill has been introduced in the Arkansas Legislature to legalize the open carry of handguns. Arkansas is currently one of six states in the nation that does not allow open carry.
Against Gun Violence has found that 19 states, including Arkansas, have at least some restrictions on the open carrying of handguns, said Laura Cutilletta, staff attorney for the center. “The Constitution states that we have the right to keep and bare arms,” said Brian Martin, who began the petition for open carry in Arkansas. “Also, it is a crime
deterrent.” The bill should get quite a bit of support in the Legislature, Mark Martin said. A poll taken last year found that about 60 percent of Arkansans would support the law, Brian Martin said. Those interested in Brian Martin’s organization, Arkansas Open Carry, may visit its Web site at Arkansascarry.com. Lindsley Smith, state repre-
sentative from Fayetteville and UA professor, said she doesn’t think the bill has much support in the Legislature. Smith, a member of the Judiciary Committee, will vote against the bill and said she thinks most members of the panel will, as well. “I expect it will die in comSee
GUNS on Page 3
They may not compare to the bonuses handed out in corporations like AIG, but the salaries of public university administrators have gained attention in the Arkansas Legislature, most recently in the Senate. Sen. Gilbert Baker, a Republican from Conway, sponsored Senate Bill 55, which earlier this month became Act 321. The act calls for an increased transparency in university officials’ salaries, and specifically states that “a state-supported institution of higher education shall submit a report listing each administrator at the state-supported institution of higher education who earns a salary of $100,000 or more to the Higher Education Coordinating Board.” According to the Arkansas Times, UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart makes more than $280,000 a year ($224,286.52 from public funds and $58,253.48 from private funds). Because of how recently these numbers See
SALARY on Page 3
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I. Dodd Wilson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
$465,000
B. Alan Sugg, president of the University of Arkansas System
$289,170
G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
$282,540
Les Wyatt, president of the Arkansas State University System
$177,514
Robert C. Brown, president of Arkansas Tech University at Russellville
$158,078
Charles L. Welch, president of Henderson State University at Arkadelphia
$158,078
Page 2 | FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
BRIEFLY speaking Workshop hosted for students applying for scholarships Students and faculty interested in applying for a Fulbright scholarship may attend one of two workshops hosted on Thursday, April 2. Faculty and professionals may bring their lunch to a presentation of the Fulbright Scholar Grant Program 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Room 312NW of the Arkansas Union. Students interested in a Fulbright scholarship for post-graduate study, research or teaching English may attend a workshop 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Room 103 of Vol Walker Hall. For additional information, contact the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange. Physicist to deliver 2009 Maurer Distinguished Lecture Nobel Laureate Joseph Taylor will speak on “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity� as the 2009 Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecturer 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. A reception will follow. The lecture is free and open to the public. The lecture series, sponsored by the Department of Physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, is named after alumnus Robert D. Maurer, co-inventor of the first telecommunications-grade optical fiber. Quarterly business analysis to focus on economic downturn The Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business is partnering with the Northwest Arkansas Chambers of Commerce to host the Quarterly Business Analysis breakfast 6:45 a.m. Thursday, April 9. The breakfast event will be at the Clarion Hotel, 211 SE Walton Blvd. in Bentonville. Senior honor citation applications due The Arkansas Alumni Association is seeking applicants for its Senior Honor Citation. The awards are given to an exceptional senior man and woman every spring along with a $500 cash prize and life membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association. All application materials must be submitted to the Alumni Association by Friday, April 10. For more information, call Debbie Blume at the Alumni Association at 479-575-6476 or visit the alumni Web site at www.arkansasalumni.org/awards/seniorhonor.php for guideline materials.’’ Drawings on exhibit in honor of architecture school In honor of the naming of the UA School of Architecture for former professor and dean Fay Jones, the Special Collections Department of the University of Arkansas Libraries is exhibiting sketches, drawings and models created by Jones in the west gallery of level 2 in Mullins Library and in the Arkansas Architectural Archives on Level 1, Room 126. The exhibit will be on display until April 30.
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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Alternative Row Week offers students an alcohol-aware option for partying Nick DeMoss Staff Writer
Pomfret Honors Quarters will host Wednesday the first alternative Row Week, an event designed to provide Row Week entertainment to students who might not otherwise attend parties. The event is designed to provide an opportunity to students who might not be attending fraternity functions. “A lot of people go out and party during Row Week but some people don’t, especially here in the Pomfret Honors Quarters,� event co-chair Laura Weiderhaft said. The event is funded with help from the Residents’ Interhall Congress and the hall senates of Pomfret, Reid, Humphreys and Yocum residence halls. A donation from Housing Initiatives for Student Success (HISS funds) is currently pending.
More than 500 people are expected to attend the event, Weiderhaft said. Nashvillebased hip-hop group GRITS will be performing, beginning at 9 p.m. The concert is scheduled to last about an hour. An alcohol-awareness presentation will be hosted Monday in conjunction with the concert. GRITS is most well known in Christian music circles, but was selected to play the event because they provide a generally positive message in their music, Weiderhaft said. Money was also a factor in the group’s selection, event co-chair Jonathan Faught said. Other bands, including Christian pop-rockers Reliant K, were contacted, but could not perform for monetary and scheduling reasons, Faught said. The alcohol-awareness presentation is designed to promote safe alcohol management. The speaker, Debbie Morgan, a representative from
Guilty % ! " & ) ' ( #$ a Sexual Assault Awareness Month Event
the Pat Walker Health Center, will present an informal workshop designed not only to educate students about alcohol, but also to show them how to educate their peers. “We’re not trying to say people shouldn’t drink; we’re trying to focus on being safe,� Weiderhaft said. “We know telling people not to isn’t going to work.� Students who attend the alcohol-awareness presentation will be able to meet GRITS after the show. The date for the event was chosen to avoid conflicts with fraternity parties as much as possible. April 1 is the night of “date night� functions, meaning that only fraternity members and their dates will be attending. “While it does interfere with some events, we’re trying not to conflict with the big events that fraternities will want a lot of people at,� Weiderhaft said.
“Wednesday isn’t a very big party night, so people can go to both,� Power said. For some members of the Greek community, a competing Row Week event is not an attack on the Greek festivities, but a welcome addition. “I’m all for it because not everyone can get into the fraternity houses,� sophomore Stuart Power said. Power is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, whose main Row Week party will be Thursday, April 2. The event was first conceptualized last year at an Interhall Leadership Summit, but hosting an alternative event during Row Week is something some residence hall staff members have been considering for years, Faught said. “We hope it will carry on for years,� Weiderhaft said. “We’re trying to get it off the ground.�
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from Page 1
April 4, and the public is allowed to attend. In the past eight years, the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup has awarded $789,000 to Arkansas student teams and their faculty advisers. More than 1,000 students have participated in the project since its inception. The first place teams in both the undergraduate and graduate competitions will receive $20,000 to be divided among the team members, with an extra $1,000 given to the team’s faculty adviser. The UA finalists include one graduate team and three undergraduate teams. The graduate team is Tears for Life, a medical diagnostic-equipment company that has an exclusive license to use technology that can use a woman’s tears to help screen for breast cancer. College Tokens is among the undergraduate teams that will be competing from the UA. The company, which allows users to access a Web site and receive coupons to local businesses via text message, was “founded upon an idea inspired by a general desire to efficiently and effectively accommodate students with an opportunity to save money,� according to its Web site. “Basically, we turned in our plan with 44 others, and we got a call back,� said Kyle Stroud, a College Tokens team member. Because all of his teammates have since graduated, Stroud will be presenting the group’s project by himself. These two teams, along with the other finalists, will be required to make a 20-minute presentation, quickly followed ay a 15-minute question and answer session. Two panels of five judges will then narrow the field down to six undergraduate and six graduate teams. Those teams will compete in a final round of presentations for the top three places on Saturday, April 4, at the Peabody Hotel. The path to the finals was not an easy one for College Tokens, said team member Ricky Beauchamp, who has graduated from the UA. “We’re kind of procrastinators, almost, so getting everything turned in on time and proofread was a challenge,� Beauchamp said. “It’s definitely been a learning experience.� As far as College Tokens having any special plans for the final stages of the competition, Beauchamp said, “We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves.� This year, special prizes will be given to the best business plans involving agriculture and innovation. There are two graduate teams, both of which are from the UA, competing for the prize of “Best Plan Involving Agriculture.� Four of the six teams competing for the “Best Plan Involving Innovation� are from the UA, including College Tokens and Tears for Life. The winner of the special competitions will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize to be distributed among team members and their faculty sponsors. The AEAF sponsors the contest.
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com
NEWS
RSO rallies student support for cancer patients Band competitions, said Steve Sparks, the RSO president. Students who attended last Contributing Writer year thoroughly enjoyed themWith 14,800 new cases selves, they said. “Our team, Heil’s Hogs, diagnosed in the state last year, Arkansas is certainly not made grilled cheese and played immune to the threat of cancer, Rock Band to help support but, through an event student the cause,� said Lauren Heil, advocates describe as fun and who competed on a team with meaningful, students can con- her brother, Brik. “It was truly tribute to the statewide battle an amazing and long-lasting night.� against the disease. ASG President Carter Ford Sponsored by the UA chapter of Colleges Against Cancer, agreed with Heil’s positive assessment. the second “Relay for annual UA Life was a fun, Relay for Life Relay for Life was a enjoyable and begins 6 p.m. fun, enjoyable and m e a n i n g f u l Friday, April 3, and continmeaningful experience.� experience,� he said. “It’s ues through 6 —Carter Ford, inspiring to a.m. Saturday, ASG president hear the stoApril 4, in the ries of canHPER. cer survivors “Staying while at the up all night same time is our way of celebrating efforts made for a symbolizing the constant batgood cause.� tle of a cancer patient,� said Those efforts paid off last Chaney Prock, vice president year, as CAC raised $10,000 for of CAC. the American Cancer Society, The fundraiser will feature but CAC members hope to raise an all-night deejay, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, volley- even more this year, Prock ball games, a Twinkie eating said. The money raised from the contest, a hot-wing eating conevent will go toward American test, Baggo and ladder golf, as well as Nintendo Wii and Rock Cancer Society programs and services in Northwest Arkansas
Grant Lile
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SALARY
from Page 1 were obtained, they are probably very accurate, said Steve Voorhies, manager of media relations for the Office of University Relations. The Razorback Foundation also has paid Gearhart $50,000 a year to speak and fundraise on its behalf. “He has been under that contract in the past,� said Jackie Rollins, chief financial officer for the Razorback Foundation. She said that while he had been paid $50,000 as recently as last year – making his pay more than $300,000 – she was not sure if he was still under that contract for this year. UA students have mixed opinions about the chancellor’s salary. Student Blair Brown said that considering Gearhart was given a house on campus, she thinks “$300,000 is a bit much.� But UA student Mary Helen Smith said she previously thought the chancellor was making $500,000 or $600,000 and thinks the UA is “getting a deal.� Smith said that she would be interested in seeing Gearhart’s salary compared to officials’ salaries at other southeastern schools, like the University of Tennessee. After studying institu-
tions’ federal tax filings, The Chronicle of Higher Education released an article with information containing the highest paid university chancellors and presidents across the country, and the salaries ranged from more than $500,000 to more than $1 million. The top paid university
“
There needs to be a line between education and the government.� — Jonathon Cox
head was Nicholas S. Zeppos, chancellor of Vanderbilt University, with a salary of almost $1.05 million. A large gap exists between Zeppos’ earnings and those of Arkansas school officials – according to the Arkansas Times, Robert C. Brown, president of Arkansas Tech University, and Charles L. Welch, president of Henderson State University, make about $160,000; and I. Dodd Wilson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas
– programs like Reach to Recovery, which offers newly diagnosed breast cancer patients guidance and support from a local breast cancer survivor, or Road to Recovery, which provides transportation to cancer patients who might have trouble getting to and from their treatments, said Lindsey Bowers, the development representative of the American Cancer Society mid-south region. The American Cancer Society also funds cancer research and awards local cancer survivors college scholarships to help further their education, Bowers said. “We [at the American Cancer Society] will be there with our Relay shoes on and will be providing information about cancer and our programs to those who will be attending,� Bowers said. “We are so excited to have the University of Arkansas’ support in the fight against cancer.� To register a team or find out more about the Relay for Life at the University of Arkansas, call Sparks at (501) 352-0442 or e-mail sjsparks@uark.edu. Individuals or teams may sign up online at www.relayforlife. org/fayettevillear. For cancer information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS2345 or visit www.cancer.org. for Medical Sciences, earns a little more than $450,000. Act 321 requires all public universities to submit their reports by July 1 of each year, beginning in 2010. It also requires each university official making more than $100,000 to publicly disclose information like salary, retirement matching, health insurance matching, and if a house or vehicle is provided, among other things. Baker also has been the lead sponsor on other education bills in the Senate, including Act 323, which limited the amount of unrestricted education and general tuition and fee income a university can spend on academic and performance scholarships. Though UA student Jonathon Cox said that he thought the chancellor earning $300,000 was more than fair and that the Legislature could ask for how much university officials are making, Cox said asking those officials to disclose things like retirement and health insurance was going too far. “There needs to be a line between education and the government,� he said.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009 | Page 3 Under the new bill, open carry would be limited to those above the age of 21, Mark Martin said. The suggestion that the bill would allow the open carry of machine guns is “ridiculous,� he said. “That’s been made illegal,� he said. The legislative session ends April 9, and the Judiciary Committee meets only Tuesdays and Thursdays, so time is running out for Mark Martin to present his bill, Smith said. Martin doubts he will file the bill in time, but he is optimistic that it will eventually become law, he said. Smith doubts that possibility. “I don’t think Arkansans want this law,� Smith said. “We have not seen much support for it.� Last fall, law enforcement officials expressed skepticism at the idea that openly carrying handguns would deter criminals. Though citizens have the
GUNS
from Page 1 mittee,� Smith said. When the bill was presented to the Judiciary Committee, the panel had concerns about liability, Smith said. If someone has a gun in a holster, then another person or a child could pull the gun out and start firing it, and the owner would be liable in such a situation, Smith said. Also, the bill seemed to have no age limit, and some questioned that it would allow people to openly carry machine guns, she said. Smith in particular feared that the language of the bill would allow citizens to carry a handgun anywhere on their person, not just in a holster, she said. Mark Martin has pulled the bill down to amend it by adding an age limit, he said.
right to defend themselves, having the proper training is more important than reaction time in dangerous situations, said Greg Tabor, Fayetteville police chief. Also, visible handguns may lead to gunfire in road rage situations where otherwise only words would be exchanged, Tabor said. “I don’t think we need to go back to the old West where everyone has a gun at their side,� Tabor said. “Everyone is not going to be carrying like the old West,� Mark Martin said. “It doesn’t seem to be an issue in places like Vermont.� There are still restrictions on where Arkansans could take weapons, he said. There are 50,000 concealed gun licenses in the state, so people are already carrying guns, Brian Martin said. “The guns are already here,� he said. “Whether or not they are visible is not relevant.�
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OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Page 4 | FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
Online Poll Will you attend the speech of former President George H. W. Bush? Vote online at thetraveleronline.com Phone: 575.8455 | E-mail: traveler@uark.edu
Editor: Kimber Wenzelburger | Managing Editor: Tina Korbe
DON’T ASSUME INVINCIBILITY Few people like to think about disaster or disease – and college students, in particular, notoriously think they are impervious to danger. Invulnerable to tragedy. Immune to illness. What’s the word again? Oh, yeah. Invincible. We’ve heard people say it so many times we start to discount it. “No way we think we’re invincible,” we say to ourselves. We know how rarely we score eight hours of sleep. We keep tabs on the number of classes we’ve skipped – and realize, to our chagrin, that that number is higher than the balance of our bank accounts. We exaggerate in editorials. Invincible? Hardly. But, in the end, to assume invincibility is not to pretend you play by the rules. Most college students know they don’t. Binge drinking, reckless driving, shacking, sexing, skipping – no college student can really think these behaviors are responsible, let alone ideal. Even primarily positive habits – like searching for internships or applying for awards – can become detrimental in college students who obsess about their ambitions to the point of selfishness. And we’d venture to guess those students, too, sense they’re breaking some rule – in this case, the rule of balance. No, to assume invincibility is not to pretend you play by the rules. To assume invincibility is to think you can break the rules and never have to pay the consequences. And, most of the time, you (kind of) can. Maybe you gain a little bit of weight or live in perpetual exhaustion – but you’re still alive and healthy. Tragedies are the anomalies – when they probably should be ubiquities. But, if there’s one thing students can learn from the tragedy that yesterday befell one of their peers, it’s this: we’re really not as invincible as we imagine.
Give me a break: sync schedules UA students are gearing down, studying up and laying low after a week of vacation, partying, studying and/or relaxing – otherwise known as Spring Break. However, the UA was one of the only universities in Arkansas to take its annual break last week. Public kindergarten though 12th grade classes are celebrating Spring Break this week along with Northwest Arkansas Community College, the University of Central Arkansas and other public universities throughout the state. Though officials at private colleges and universities do have the authority to select the dates its students take their weeklong vacation, it would be beneficial if public institutions were all in sync and celebrated Spring Break the same week. Others have echoed that sentiment, which is why a new bill to standardize Spring Break throughout Arkansas is being pushed through the Legislature. We can only imagine this bill will be vastly popular, not only with students whose friends attend other schools, but also among students’ families who have found that differing Spring Breaks in Arkansas present much inconvenience. A Traveler staff member, for example, discovered a family vacation during Spring Break would be impossible because the UA break was during a different week than the break of the public high school his brother attended. A weeklong break is vital for stressed students and faculty to relax with their families and friends. Ensuring that schools in Arkansas are on the same schedule in the future would be the best decision for all involved.
Alternative Row Week puts positive spin on partying Everybody’s – well at least the UA Greek organizations’ – favorite week is coming soon. Row Week is looking to feature parties, rappers, funk bands, rock bands and a plethora of fun. But this year will offer something different for some UA students. Pomfret Honors Quarters – with the help of the rest of the residence halls on campus – will be hosting an “alternative Row Week” that will showcase alcohol awareness and a family-oriented, Christian-based rap act creatively titled GRITS. Though the UA campus might not embrace this new tradition as quickly as the organizers would like, the event’s mission is commendable, as binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption on college campuses across the nation have become an ongoing problem. With the biggest parties of the year about to occur, Pomfret’s alcohol awareness program will give UA students the sensibilities to hold themselves together, drink in moderation and not urinate on the back of a fraternity’s fences (like a few students chose to do last year). College students do have the opportunity to live on their own and make their own decisions. But this privilege comes with responsibilities, even in the face of a multi-platinum rap artist, a cup full of “punch” and a horizon of UA students.
EDITORIAL BOARD KIMBER WENZELBURGER| Editor TINA KORBE | Managing Editor BRIAN WASHBURN | News Editor JACLYN JOHNSON | Assistant 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.
MUSIC FOR EVERYBODY Sometimes we need a little socialism
More than half of all bankruptcies in America are at least partly to blame on medical expenses. This is taken by many to be proof positive that we need to have universal health care. And yet, more than half of all the music on the radio is awful, but few people are crying out for music socialization. However, I am one of those people. They say money is the root of all evil, and that may or may not be true, but it’s certainly true that when money is the root of a particular song, that particular song is likely to be awful. Additionally, money has ruined many musicians: Elvis Presley toured himself ragged at the behest of Colonel Parker, who constantly needed extra cash to fund his hellacious gambling addiction, and many blame this exhaustion for his descent into drugs and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches from which he never recovered. Destiny’s Child constantly had internal disputes resulting from Beyonce’s demands that she get 99 percent of the money and that the other members carry her in on a throne. It’s difficult for musicians to produce art once they become wealthy beyond all possible comprehension, especially when that wealth is generated through a corrupt label system with an insatiable appetite for music produced for the lowest common denominator. Even ignoring this, though, you have to admit that it’s much more interesting to hear a rapper spit about his hardknock life on the streets than ruminate on the ennui he now feels within his Armani suit. Or what about those late-
Sex and Violence
GREG KARBER gkarber@uark.edu
period Beatles songs, like the one where John just brags about how much Patrón he drinks? The only solution I see is to make it illegal to sell music. I know what you’re saying – you’re saying that this system of free-market capitalism, which was invented by Jesus and perfected by Ronald Reagan, is the best system we know of for the production and distribution of scarce goods, and I agree with you on that one. Scarce goods need capitalism to be distributed, but music is not a scarce good. With the Internet, you can copy a song for nothing more than the cost of the electricity your computer consumed while doing it, and you would have used that electricity anyway downloading pornography. Digital music is now, for all intents and purposes, an infinite resource, and it makes no sense to control the distribution of an infinite resource. Buying a CD is like buying bottled water except without any of the chic. But I guess what you were getting at, when you asked that question two paragraphs back, is, “Won’t this destroy the incentive for artists to create music?”
No, it won’t. In much the same way that the nonexistent market for saleable fan fiction hasn’t prevented preteens across America from inventing salacious encounters between Edward and Bella, Jacob and Bella, Edward and Jacob, Edward, Jacob and Bella, and every other possible combination, the destruction of the financial incentive will just keep the people away from music who we want to keep away from music (like Nickelback). And don’t give me that made-up hullabaloo about how we’re cutting the artists’ legs out from under them: artists make about 7 cents a song per CD, which means from the sale of a $15 12-track CD, the artists will get about 84 cents. The total cost of producing a CD is about $1. That means that middlemen collect $13 of your money. Artists make their real money from concert performances, which luckily people still feel compelled to attend even though you can go on YouTube and watch low-quality, staticky-audio, blocky-picture shaky-cam footage shot from the 1,200th row on a Motorola RAZR. Go figure. (I’m thinking it has something to do with being able to smoke marijuana in public.) Only when we purge this destructive influence from our music will we see a true meritocracy emerge, in much the same way as the aforementioned YouTube has effected the perfection of the short-film medium (especially in the categories of Lip Syncing and Funny Animals). Greg Karber is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every other Friday.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Tasers remain deadly I am not sure if the UA Police Department is still considering utilizing Tasers, but news today indicates it should not. A 15-year old boy was killed over the past week in Detroit after being shocked by a Taser. All tolled, 351 people have died after being shocked by these lethal weapons since 2001. Obviously, the profit-seeking corporate manufacturer Taser International denies its weapons killed all these people. However, it just makes sense that Tasers do and will kill considering cardiologist Zian Tseng has said Tasers “can cause very rapid, dangerous heart rhythm ... (and) the longer you hold the trigger, the higher the danger to the heart.” Furthermore, after writing my previous letter on this subject, I received a thank you letter from an epileptic stu-
dent. He said that shocks such as those from Tasers could induce seizures and potentially harm him. Surely, there are other students with other health conditions, especially heart conditions, who could have their lives threatened should they be shocked. I hope the lives of these young people are on the minds of the Taser policy decisionmakers. Tasers are not worth it. Can’t police just continue the policy of sub-lethally beating non-cooperative people down with clubs instead, or is the absence of abuse evidence an issue under consideration? Abel Tomlinson Graduate student Political science
Joke was taken out of context For many of the students who might have read Celia Anderson’s “guest column” on
Monday, it was the first time they had heard of this incident, but for students in the drama department, this issue has become old hat. That “mystery person” in Celia’s letter is drama major Christy Hall. She is my friend and colleague. She has chosen not to respond. I have chosen otherwise. What Celia fails to mention in her letter is that, after the “incident,” she sent an e-mail addressed to Ms. Hall (though it was carbon copied to every member of the class.) Christy and the members of the class chose not to respond to such passive aggression, figuring that someone who caught the last sentence of a three-minute joke before taking it out of context was not worthy of a response. So, Wednesday, we open the paper, and there she is, determined to find a fight. “Perhaps I sucker punched the culprit and am now looking for another university” was
irresponsible, and far more offensive to me than a joke that you only heard 10 percent of at best. Was that your attempt at humor, Celia? For the record, the joke was about the “Cracker Barrel” being a very Anglo-centric destination, one of the few restaurants left in America where one can get both chicken fried steak and a hat with a Confederate flag on it. Christy, who feels uncomfortable eating around the flags of those who oppressed her ancestors, made a remark that perhaps there might be a separate establishment called the “Negro Box.” To those who were actually present for the entire joke, it would have been apparent that the joke was actually a play on the word “cracker,” and yes, Virginia – er, Celia – it was funny. Larry Mitchell Graduate student Playwriting
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com
NEWS
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009 | Page 5
E-cigarette sparks attention as FDA crackdown looms Ken Mclaughlin
San Jose Mercury News/MCT
JIM GENSHEIMER San Jose Mercury Names/MCT
A new fad called e-cigarettes offers users a digital cigarette that possesses a computer chip that transfers nicotine into the body. The FDA is currently trying to ban the e-cigarette.
perfect way to quit smoking because the nicotine mist contains no tar or any of the host of cancer-causing agents of tobacco smoke – yet has the touch and feel of smoking. That, they say, makes the e-cigarette superior to other nicotine-delivery systems such as patches, chewing gum, aerosol sprays and inhalers. The levels of nicotine can be adjusted, from “high� to no nicotine at all. That, e-cig supporters say, allows smokers to wean themselves from nicotine, which most doctors say is highly addictive but not, as far as they know, a carcinogen. The product’s aficionados say that because it contains no tobacco, it can be used in bars, nightclubs, restaurants and other public places where states and localities have banned tobacco use. But anti-smoking groups say that’s exactly the problem. They fear that it will reintroduce a “smoking culture� into places where people no longer are used to seeing wisps of smoke and cigarettes hanging from people’s mouths. “I understand why people use the nicotine replacement aids,� said Serena Chen, regional tobacco policy director of the American Lung Association in California. “But I don’t understand why people want to pretend that they’re smoking.� Chen believes that many ex-smokers will conclude that the e-cigarette is harmless and be lured back into the smoking trap. “If you had a serial kill-
er who liked to stab people, would you give him a rubber knife?� asked Chen. “This just boggles the mind.� Executives at Smoking Everywhere, the Sunrise, Fla., firm that is marketing the product on the Internet and in mall kiosks, say criticism of the e-cigarette is irrational. “The mist is mostly water. It has to be better for you than smoking,� said Eitan Peer, vice president of the company. “It’s been approved by doctors. We’ve been on Fox News. We’ve been on the ‘Howard Stern Show.’ Our spokesmen are Jose Canseco and Danny Bonaduce.� Company officials say the other main ingredient in the e-cig is propylene glycol, which is used in everything from Hollywood smoke machines to food colorings to hydraulic fluids. Peer said the suggested retail price of the Chinesemade e-cig is $149, but because the kiosk operators are independent vendors, the price varies. The other day, Dan Conroy picked up his e-cigarette “starter kit� from one of the two Smoking Everywhere kiosks at Valley Fair for $140, plus tax. “It’s the first time I’ve seen the product,� said Conroy, 37, a Sacramento, Calif., contractor. “But I’m interested in quitting, and this has to be healthier than tobacco.� He and several other smokers interviewed at the mall agreed that e-smoke isn’t as satisfying or rich as tobacco
smoke. But they all said they thought they could get used to it. “It tastes pretty good,� said Oliver De La Cruz, 29, of Daly City, Calif., whose wife, Kristine, was about to give birth to their first child. She
encouraged him to try the e-cig, saying it would be a wonderful present to their newborn if Daddy would quit smoking. But both De La Cruz and one nicotine-addicted friend, 23-year-old Marco Maneru of
Daly City, said they wanted to do some research on the e-cigarette before they buy one. “Who knows?� Maneru said. “There could be some chemicals in there that are really bad for you.�
Have I had unprotected sex? Have I or my partner slept with another in the past? Were any of those encounters unprotected?
Call (479) 575-4451 to schedule a confidential appointment to be tested. Pat Walker Health Center http://health.uark.edu
Tuesday, Mar. 24 – Sunday, Mar. 29 Tickets start at: $20 PART OF THE PROCTER & GAMBLE BROADWAY SERIES Show Sponsor: Tyson Foods Support provided by: Bob and Marilyn Bogle Additional support provided by: The Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission Media Partners: 40/29 News, The Morning News 2008-09 Season Sponsor: Walmart/SAM’S CLUB
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SAN JOSE, Calif. – The young man in the tall swivel chair at the mall seems lost in nicotine nirvana as he takes a deep drag on a cigarette and blows smoke rings to the surprise of passing shoppers. Sarah Kruberg, a 21-yearold college student from Portola Valley, Calif., does a double take but keeps walking. “I knew it couldn’t be someone smoking a cigarette,� she said with a laugh. “But I didn’t know what it was.� What Kruberg saw at Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, Calif., was a kiosk salesman puffing away on an electronic cigarette, a new product that Jose Canseco, the steroid-tainted baseball slugger turned e-cigarette pitchman, predicts will “revolutionize the industry of smoking.� Health officials worldwide, however, are casting a wary eye. Last summer a Florida company began aggressively marketing e-cigarettes – which emit a nicotine vapor with the help of a computer chip – but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now seems poised to pull e-cigs from the market because the agency considers them “new drugs.� That means they need approval from the FDA, which requires companies to back up their claims with scientific data. “It is illegal to sell or market them, and the FDA is looking into this,� said Rita Chappelle, an agency spokeswoman. Asked if that meant the FDA would crack down on the dozens of mall kiosks nationwide where the product is being sold like perfume and cellphone covers, Chappelle said: “This is an open case. Beyond that I cannot comment.� Informed of the FDA’s position, David Burke, general manager at Westfield Valley Fair, said Monday that the shopping center is looking into the legality of the product. “All our retailers are required to comply with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations,� he said. Invented in China several years ago, the e-cig not only “smokes� like a cigarette. It also looks like a cigarette, feels like a cigarette, glows like a cigarette and contains nicotine like a cigarette. But it’s not a cigarette. It’s a slender stainless-steel tube. When someone puffs on an e-cigarette, a computer-aided sensor activates a heating element that vaporizes a solution – usually containing nicotine – in the mouthpiece. The resulting mist – which comes in flavors such as chocolate and cherry – can be inhaled. A light-emitting diode on the tip of the e-cigarette simulates the glow of burning tobacco. The device is powered by a rechargable lithium battery. Its boosters say it’s the
LIFESTYLES
The Evolution of Yoga THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER An ancient religious discipline turns into a popular work-out Monday in Lifestyles Page 6 |FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009 FEATURE
Phone: 575.7540 | E-mail: travlife@uark.edu
Lifestyles Editor: Anna Nguyen | Assistant Lifestyles Editor: Lindsey Pruitt
Atwitter about Twitter
Bailey McBride
Senior Staff Writer You might have heard a lot of, well, twitter, about Twitter. They mention it on every major news station. There are links on many Web sites and even the UA has caught on to the trend. But what is Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends, family and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: “What are you doing?,” according to the main page of its Web site. Twitter users offer posts, called “tweets,” of up to 140 characters that can include links to other Web sites and pictures, a link to their location, or just brief thoughts about anything. Users can post to their Twitter accounts from the Web site itself, or through a text or instant message. There are also a number of thirdparty applications that will update from a users’ iPhone or Blackberry. Unlike other social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace, a user does not have to follow someone who is following their updates. Updates are posted on the user’s homepage in a style similar to the mini-feed on Facebook. Users of every level of society are already using Twitter, and they can choose to follow the
RESTAURANT REVIEW
High on the Hog
updates of their favorite news sources, celebrities and political figures and their updates. At the UA and throughout the state, there are a number of
on-campus departments and services such as the tutors in the Quality Writing Center through their Twitter accounts. In addition to following their
site to stay in touch and meet other people who are in close proximity to them. At last weekend’s South by Southwest Festival, people from all walks
LARRY ASH Staff Photographer
Twitter, a social networking Web site, is a popular outlet for major newspapers to provide users instant news updates. Users are also able to follow the status of journalists, authors, politicians and celebrities.
different sources that are already on Twitter. News sources such as Northwest Arkansas Times, The Arkansas News Bureau and The Arkansas Traveler are already providing constant coverage on local stories. Students can also follow the Arkansas Alumni Association, the Razorbacks sports teams, and a variety of
favorite journalists or authors, Twitter users can also follow news sources such as CNN, Fox News, The New York Times and Time magazine, all of which have instant news updates that contain brief statements of the news, a longer headline and a link to the full story. People can also use the
of life, from college students to Perez Hilton, were tweeting what bars and shows were the best and where to find a good party every night. “I think a Web site that offers interactive pictures and videos is great,” said UA sophomore Matt Kern. “I use it all the time.
Chris Milligan, a senior criminal justice and sociology major, expressed ambivalence about the site. “To me, Twitter is just an extension of the massive social networking movement on the Internet – from blogs to Myspace to Facebook,” he said. “The Internet lets us connect with others on an unlimited scale. Twitter is similar to the status updates in Facebook. “It takes (qualities from) all of the large social networking sites and is, essentially, the antinetworking site as it is extremely simple,” Milligan said. Twitter has also experienced many crashes. The site has become so popular that it crashes frequently from an overload of traffic. The maintenance developers of the site are constantly reengineering it, such as temporarily taking down key components for major repairs before putting them back into place, according to an NPR article titled “Twitter, What Are You Doing? Co-Founder Tells All.” Twitter formed in 2006 and has seen a huge growth ever since. The Web site has gotten great reviews from everyone from CEOs to politicians. Newsweek even reviewed the site, claiming that, “Suddenly, it seems as though all the world’s a-twitter.”
Alligators, pet peeves and American culture at Über’s
ROBERT GARNER rtgarner@uark.edu
Let’s face it: there is no food more American than the burger. Before you send me, or my editor, an angry tirade about the “roots” of the hamburger, or how pretentious of me it is to make such a drastic cultural statement, just agree with me. Problem solved. So, where else would I go to eat a burger than Über’s Burger
Bistro? In the title alone, we have linguistic representatives of three great nations, Germany, the U.S. and France. Idea of America as the “melting pot,” check. But the culture doesn’t stop there. Inside, an eclectic mix of elements gives the restaurant an exciting, yet refined, feel. The red on the walls and upholstery instills a vibrant, passionate feeling that is coupled nicely with the “chill” music gently cascading from the speakers to fill the room. Colorful tapestries and lively pictures adorn the walls. Lamps collected from Los Angeles display the faces of African-American women. One of the fabric designs
is modeled after the original design of an early model Chevy truck. And if that’s not American, then I don’t know what is. Plus, the building has a history. Built in the 1930s, according to a friend of the proprietor, Bill and Hillary Clinton used to frequent the restaurant when it was under a different name. But that’s enough talk about fabric and other non-edible things. I live to eat, and that’s what I was there to do. I’ve never seen a menu at a burger joint quite like this one. It starts off modestly enough at the top, with your simple cheeseburger and normal things. And then you start looking down.
The first one to catch our eyes was the Alligator Burger with Chowchow, which I eventually ordered. Then, we noticed the turkey, organic shitake and buffalo burgers. They even have an antelope burger, which the waiter compared to venison. Eating every animal that walks, there’s some more America for you there too, folks. My friend ordered the santorini, a Greek style burger with peppers and tzatziki sauce. On this trip to Über’s, we learned to what extent one of my pet peeves bothers me. When burgers don’t come with French fries, it’s like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with just the peanut butter. Lame, I know. French fries have to be, and
were, ordered on the side. That was my biggest beef with the burger place, just like Hugo’s. If someone can explain this terrible phenomenon to me, please do. My theory, based on Über’s and Hugo’s, is that they make you do that because they know you want them, but theirs are not really that good so they make you pay extra for them. But I digress. We split our burgers in half so that we could both enjoy the two distinct burgers. The Alligator Burger was delicious. Truth be told, though, I almost felt like I was really eating a crab cake at some points throughout the meal. That’s not a bad thing, just a note about See
FOOD on Page 10
PERFORMING ARTS
Fog settles on stage for a riveting performance of ‘Nebbia’ Saba Naseem Staff Writer
Daniele Finzi Pasca, author and director of “Nebbia,” fondly recalls the fog that provided the inspiration for his show. “The fog that would float down when we visited my grandparents would swallow up the entire house,” Pasca said. “Standing on the living room balcony, I would spy on the void and when the sky was very low, I would see strange things. The waves of the sea licked the garden gate and hallucinations paraded along the row of poplar trees. I’d watch as lovers chased after one another. I’d see camels, elephants, soldiers returning from war… “Once, I even saw myself float by,” he said. “It was often, or should I say always, a carnival.” Following “Nomade” and “Rain,” “Nebbia,” the Italian word for fog,” is the last part
VALERIE RÉMISE Courtesy Photo
“Nebbia” is a show that combines theater and acrobats. The show is based on the childhood memories of Daniele Finzi Pasca’s, the author and director of “Nebbia.”
of The Sky Trilogy. Produced by Cirque Éloize and Teatro Sunil, the show presents a mixture of theater and acrobats. “The show is both emotional and nostalgic,” said Geneviève Dupéré, stage manager and the director’s assistant. “This comes
from the director’s inspirations and memories of his grandparent’s place in a small Italian village.” Cirque Éloize is the name for flashes of heat lightning seen on the horizon in the Magdalen Islands, according to a press re-
lease. “This serves as the inspiration for the troupe’s seven founding members, as this lightning symbolizes the heat and energy that feeds the troupe’s spirit,” according to the press release. Founded in 1993, the company has presented six original productions in more than 30 countries around the world and has taken part in numerous prestigious international festivals. Cirque Éloize expresses its innovative nature through theatricality and humanity, and combines circus arts with music, dance and theater in a breakthrough and original manner, according to their Web site. The company began working on “Nebbia” in 2005 and has been on tour since December 2007. There are 11 performers who are talented in many different aspects including acting, singing, dancing and acrobatics. “To tell my tale of childhood
that is reinvented each time, I use geometries and the lucidity of acrobat theater danced on stage by an extraordinary group of performers,” Pasca said. Catherine Girard from Québec does the hand-to-hand acrobats, the trapeze, trampoline and guitar. “I have done circus for 10 years now, and before that I did gymnastics and dance,” she said. “I’m really happy I joined Cirque Éloize and enjoy working with the company.” The other artists involved in the production are JeanPhilippe Cuerrier, Evelyne Laforest, Gustavo Lobo Alves da Fonte, Gonzalo Muñoz Ferrer, Joseph Pinzon, Evelyne Allard, Stéphane Gentilini, Felix Salas, Andrée-Anne Gingras-Roy and Nicola Marinoni. “‘Nebbia’ explores the world of dreams and the imaginary,” according to the production’s Web site. “In the fog, you get See
NEBBIA on Page 10
UA MUSIC
Local world-class violinists to perform Robert Garner
Senior Staff Writer When two world-class violinists take the stage this Sunday afternoon, the audience will undoubtedly be moved by the gorgeous sounds and sweeping tones of the dazzling instrument. Er-Gene Kahng and Miho Oda-Sakon will perform together, accompanied by Mark Smidt on piano. Kahng is a UA assistant professor of music, and OdaSakon is an artist in residence at the Suzuki Music School of Arkansas, according to the press release. The two musicians met when Kahng joined the staff here at the UA, Kahng said. Their initial plan to perform together last spring did not come to fruition, and the two are excited to finally play together in Fayetteville, she said. “Due to some scheduling difficulties, I ended up traveling to Tachikawa, Japan, to perform our recital together last April,” Kahng said. Sunday’s program will be essentially the same, she said. Even with the Fayetteville performance date set, the rehearsal schedule has been all but ideal for the duo, Kahng said. Kahng performed with the Monterey Symphony Orchestra of California during Spring Break, which “essentially knocked off 10 days worth of potential rehearsals,” she said. The two, however, were able to practice together everyday before the break and have resumed daily rehearsals upon Kahng’s return, she said. Sunday’s program will be rich in meaning and symbolism. Even the instrumentation is a symbol of respect between the two artists. Kahng said that they decided to evenly split the distribution of primary and secondary violin parts, which will have certain benefits for Sunday’s performance. “This, in fact, is the particular challenge in any duo instrumentation: to achieve unity and equality of sound and interpretation, but include enough differentiation to provide richness and depth of texture,” Kahng said. The duo will begin the performance with Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, op. 3, no. 8, RV 522.” “Vivaldi writes so idiomatically for violin,” Kahng said. “It is a joy to play and its melodic beauty (has) always held a special place in my heart.” The two will then perform “Suite in G minor, op. 71 for Two Violins and Piano” by Maurice Moszkowski. This piece is “thick and grand, sentimental and often virtuosic,” Kahng said. It also requires a different type of energy from the group and should serve as a nice contrast to the opening piece, she said. Mari Tamaki’s “Sakura Asobino Kazukazuni” and “Ren-Lotus” are next on the program. “I was particularly (excited) about the inclusion of Mari Tamaki’s new compositional works,” Kahng said. “As a performer, it is an incredible privilege to have the composer himself or herself work sideby-side offering clarification See
VIOLINISTS on Page 10
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ANNOUNCEMENTS Come join us on March 28th and walk to support Multiple Sclerosis research! Chi Omega Greek Theater, 9:00 a.m., March 28. Go to www.walkms.org to register your team or independently! FOR SALE Registered Teacup Chihuahua for sale. Female, tan color, 6 months old, Pet Trac ID Chip. $500 or best offer. Call 479-739-6028 or email atmullen@uark. edu. NEED TO SELL IMMEDIATELY.
For Sale, Original Xbox- has all cables-works very well. 4 controllers and 3 games (Harry Potter:Quidditch world cup, Halo, America’s Army: Army of a Soldier. $100. call 479-634-2121. 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS Convertible. Automatic,101,000 miles, CD player, subwoofer, amp, female owned. Wife and I are looking for a bigger car. 417-7664660. $5,500 obo
DOWNTIME 2001 Honda Accord with 146,000 miles. All leather, power driver side seat, sun roof, 6 disc CD changer. Please send e-mail to klfink@uark.edu if interested. Music Gear! Crate guitar head (220 watts) $140, Melobar lapsteel $250, 1970s Otari 8-track reelto-reel $800, Ampeg bass cab. Call 479459-4185 1986 Toyota 4 Runner 4X4 with removable lid & canvas roof, HD rollbar, 4-cyl, 5-sp floor shifter, extra set of rims, bucket seats, full fold-up back seat, AC & heater, AM-FM cassette, removable CD changer. Over $5,000 new parts: 2008 complete tuneup w/new plug wires, muffler, catalytic converter, battery, starter, alternator, front & back brakes, master cylinder, wheel bearings, clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, hog head, 2005 rebuilt engine w/150,000 miles on it. $3,000 firm or trade for 1990’s small pickup plus cash. 870-8615506 or 870-688-9952 1992 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) Limited. 6.5” Rusty’s off-road lift, 33” tires (can fit 35”), custom front bumper w/5,000 lb winch, Dana 30 front axle
w/loc-rite locker, Chrysler 8.25 rear axle w/limited slip, lots of custom fabs, new Jasper’s Performance motor installed in 2003-very strong. Great trail-rig &/or project vehicle. NOT A DAILY DRIVER! Tons of spare parts go with including extra Dana 30 front axle. $3,000 firm. Contact Kevin 479-790-7515. 2001 Honda Accord with 146,000 miles. All leather, power driver side seat, sun roof, 6 disc CD changer. Please send e-mail to klfink@uark.edu if interested.
Page 7 | FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
eal!
G re at D
4-6 bedroom houses with multiple baths and appliances Private and on a bus route with a fire pit and volleyball court. Call 521-4004 or 841-4641
HELP WANTED Summer child care provider needed. Approx. 30 hr/wk providing instruction and care for 6 and 8 year olds in Fayetteville. Education or similar major required. E-mail resume to owenvoc@ yahoo.com WANTED Zac Brown Band tickets needed. Please contact me if you would like to sell. jlc011@uark.edu FOR RENT Great view at Sunset Place! Two-bedroom duplex/apartment close to University. Water paid, lawncare provided. $465/ montn, $400 deposit, 12-month lease. Call 527-9557.
GIRLS AND SPORTS
WONDERMARK | David Malki
ALL CHARACTERS ® © GIRLS & SPORTS COMICS, ANY REPRODUCTION OF GIRLS & SPORTS INCLUDING IT’S CHARACTERS OR LIKENESS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO GIRLS & SPORTS COMICS
BLISS | Harry Bliss
HOROSCOPES | Linda Black ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) TODAY IS A 9. You’re strong, intelligent and lucky now.You have your plan worked out. Launch, with confidence, quickly.This assumes you’re ready. If not, get ready and then do it.
CROSSWORD
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) TODAY IS A 5. Set priorities first; otherwise, you’ll be swamped.Take on more responsibility so you can call the shots. You’re getting stronger by the day. Put yourself in line for a promotion. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21) TODAY IS AN 9. You practically invented networking.You have more friends than Carter has peanuts.They’ll come to your rescue again. Let them know what you want. CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) TODAY IS A 5. A controversy arises. Keep your opinions to yourself. Let the others duke it out first, while you consider your options. Include potential fringe benefits. Proceed with caution. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) TODAY IS A 9. Conditions are perfect, but you’d better get into port before nightfall. Complications are brewing and there could be trouble this weekend. Be tucked away in a safe harbor by then.
SUDOKU
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) TODAY IS A 5. Put everything into order, both down and across. Focus on the details, and the puzzle falls into place. Stick to your plan and you’ll be successful.And don’t look down. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) TODAY IS A 9. You generally fall for the wild, adventurous type.You’re not that outrageous yourself, but you do find it quite attractive. Somebody like that is driving you crazy now. Settle down and start making plans. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) TODAY IS A 5. Don’t let somebody else’s problem give you a big headache. Instead, offer your services to someone who’s planning-challenged. Help get past this emergency and prevent the next one. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) TODAY IS A 9. Launch new projects, make commitments, decide what you want to happen.Visualize yourself 10 years from now, happier than ever. Describe what that looks like and half the battle’s won.
LEVEL: MEDIUM COMPLETE THIS GRID SO EVERY ROW, COLUMN, AND 3X3 BOX CONTAINS EVERY DIGIT FROM 1 TO 9 INCLUSIVELY
WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) TODAY IS A 5. Looks like you’re making money from your home as well as pouring money into it. Maybe you’re selling old furniture so you can buy some new.Whatever, it works out. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) TODAY IS A 9. Tackle the problem with enthusiasm and energy.The more you learn, the more questions pop to your mind.There doesn’t seem to be an end to it, and this is good.You look forward to the challenge. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) TODAY IS A 5. It should be pretty easy to get what you want under these conditions. Go ahead and say you can do what’s required, even if you know you’ll have to study to keep that promise.You know you will.
WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Streak on the line Diamond Hogs test undefeated SEC record against MSU Monday in Sports Page 8 | FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
Sports Editor: Bart Pohlman | Assistant Sports Editor: Matt Watson
BASEBALL
Whether they play, Diamond Hogs ready Harold McIlvain II Senior Staff Writer
With the possibility of rain and even snow, the No. 14 Arkansas Razorback baseball will hope to avoid another cancelled game this weekend against Mississippi State at Baum Stadium. Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said the team is not worried about the forecast. “I told our team to not worry about the weather,” Van Horn said. “If we play all three, that is great. We’ll just play one at a time and see what happens. We can’t do anything about it.” The Razorbacks (17-4, 6-0 SEC) will look to do everything they can to play all three games because conference games cannot be made up, which would result in the team losing home games if any were to be cancelled. “Hopefully cancellations don’t happen,” Van Horn said. “We will do everything we can to get in all three games. We’ll do anything. We’ll play in bad weather with snow on the field. If it isn’t raining, you’ll see us out here.” Arkansas already has had three games cancelled this year because of weather. Two games home games against Western Illinois were called off because of nearly an inch of snow. A road finale against Centenary was rained out after Arkansas lost its first road game. The team is currently looking to reschedule those games. But if weather wipes out any conference games this year, Van Horn said the team could look to make those up by picking up new opponents. “We’ve looked at the possibility of adding games,” Van Horn said. “But it is hard to get somebody to come here. If we played one or two, we might have to play one on the
road.” Van Horn said if the coaches feel the team needs more experience, adding games could be a possibility. “I think it really depends on if we are getting our guys work,” Van Horn said. “If we continue to win in our league, there is a possibility were we can get a game in May. We could get a team that is maybe heading to a tournament and staff pitch it on a Monday when we are out of school.” Mississippi State was scheduled to arrive Thursday night and practice at Baum Friday, which gives the teams flexibility with the starting time Friday that is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday could bring a mix of rain and snow with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch. A Sunday 1:00 p.m. scheduled start could turn into a doubleheader with projected sunshine and no precipitation. With a light rain an obstacle in a 10-0 win over Missouri State Wednesday, senior outfielder Chase Leavitt said the could handle what the weather brings. “We can take the first half of our last game as an example because it was a little rainy,” Leavitt said. “We might get some breaks or the opponent might get some breaks. I don’t think it will be at a disadvantage. We are going to come out here, get warm and be ready to go.” With the team off to its best SEC start in program history, Leavitt said the team wouldn’t lose any momentum if games were to be cancelled. “As long as we keep winning and take care of business ourselves, I think we will be sitting alright,” Leavitt said. “I See
BASEBALL on Page 9
NCAA BASKETBALL
This time, Jeremy Pargo hopes to lead Gonzaga past Sweet 16 Terry Bannon
Chicago Tribune/MCT PORTLAND, Ore. — The end is in sight now for Jeremy Pargo. His fouryear odyssey to the west coast is winding down with a second trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, one he hopes ends up differently than the 2006 trip. Such as with a national championship, or at least Gonzaga’s first Final Four berth in its 11th straight NCAA tournament appearance. “Personally, we want to leave a mark as one of the best Gonzaga teams ever,” Pargo said. “And we have an opportunity to do that in this tournament.” Gonzaga, 28-5 and seeded fourth in the South regional, will meet top seed North Carolina on Friday night in Memphis for a berth in Sunday’s regional final against Syracuse or Oklahoma. Pargo, a 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound point guard from Chicago’s Robeson High, has already left his mark in the record books of the Jesuit college in Spokane, Wash. As a junior, he was the West Coast Conference’s player of the year, and he threw his name in the NBA draft. He backed out when he saw that
his offensive game wasn’t quite ready, that it wasn’t time for him to follow in the sneakers of big brother Jannero, who played 2½ years for the Bulls (2003-06) and is now playing in Greece. So it was back to Spokane for this third year as a starter. He’s fourth on the team in scoring with 10.1 points per game, down from 12.1 as a junior. He adds 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.6 rebounds for the Zags. “It hasn’t been perfect, not exactly the way he’s scripted it, but here he is,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said of Pargo’s senior year. “The No. 1 statistic for a point guard in any program is winning games and winning championships and getting your team in the NCAA Tournament. And probably right now he’s playing as good as he’s played all year.” Few said that would include Pargo’s MVP performance at the Old Spice Classic in November in Orlando, which the Zags won by beating Oklahoma State, Maryland and Tennessee, all of which made the NCAA tournament. Pargo scored 18 points Saturday night as the Zags eliminated No. 12 Western Kentucky, 83-81, on freshman Demetri Goodson’s running bank shot
Did you know? Gonzaga point guard Jeremy Pargo is the younger brother of former Hog standout Jannero Pargo.
Phone: 575.7051 | E-mail: travsprt@uark.edu
TRACK & FIELD
Track team anxious for new season, new additions Matt Watson
Assistant Sports Editor Two weeks after finishing eighth overall at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Arkansas track and field team will get back to the track to open the 2009 outdoor track season. Most schools would be thrilled with a top 10 national finish, but the Razorbacks, who have 19 national indoor titles in school history, won the Southeastern Conference Championship and held the No. 1 ranking in the country for several weeks in the season, were expecting more. “We had hoped to do a little bit better in that indoor (NCAA) meet,” first-year UA coach Chris Bucknam said, “and we’re starting to get anxious to get going again.” Arkansas will send a contingent of athletes to this weekend’s Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., including senior captain Nkosinza Balumbu, who Bucknam said was disappointed in his personal performance, a fifth-place finish in the triple jump after winning the event in 2008. Also competing will be seniors Shawn Forrest (distance), Mychael Stewart (jumps/sprints) and James Strang (distance) and sophomore Lane Boyer (distance). While Bucknam said the Hogs have a determined attitude heading into the outdoor season, he was quick to acknowledge their accom-
with nine-tenths of a second left. Pargo had nine points in the Zags’ firstround win over Akron, and has made 11 of 16 shots from the floor in the NCAA tournament. Gonzaga would have played Illinois had Western Kentucky had not upset the Illini, depriving Pargo a chance to rub shoulders with some of his friends in the Big Ten. Pargo said Illinois and Purdue expressed some interesting during recruiting, and he met with Purdue’s Matt Painter, then a Boilermaker assistant and now their head coach. But there was no scholarship offer. “Then they must have seen my transcripts,” Pargo said with a smile. He can make light of his old academic issues because, he said, he’s on track to graduate this spring with a degree in sports management and minor in communications. “Which is unbelievable,” Pargo said. “It’s a great situation at Gonzaga in terms of academics. They set you up with a great deal of tutoring. You can’t play ball and not do your work. If you let the opportunity to be a colSee
PARGO on Page 9
plishments indoors. “We nailed it at the conference championships. We’re SEC Champions,” Bucknam said. “Oregon can’t claim that. Florida can’t claim that. We can claim that. And yet on the other hand, I thought we just didn’t have our A-game at the national meet.” Oregon won the NCAA indoor title with 54 points, with Florida finishing runner-up with 36. Arkansas’ 24 points matched its 2008 team total, when the Hogs finished 6th at indoor nationals. “We always learn every season. Every week we’re trying to get smarter. We’re going to take those lessons and apply them to the outdoor track season,” Bucknam said, “and that’s just being smart and staying injury free. “These guys train hard. They’re a great bunch of guys. Injuries happen, especially in these endurance events. That’s just the way it is. They’re a good group and they’re anxious to get to the outdoor season,” Bucknam said. The Razorbacks will add several athletes to the outdoor squad who were injured for parts of the indoor season. Daniel LaCava, Andy McClary and Strang will all return from injury. LaCava is a two-time All-SEC See
OUTDOORS on Page 9
FILE PHOTO
Bentonville native Mychael Stewart earned All-America status in the long jump at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships.
COMMENTARY
Things we’ve learned from the madness As the second weekend of March Madness marches on, much has already been revealed about the tournament and the teams. From glass slippers to the Salt Lake state, there’s plenty to discuss. And the best part about it? There are still plenty more games left to be played. But, for now, here are some things we’ve learned from the Madness so far. The clock struck midnight on Cinderella this year. There is one non-power conference team in the Sweet 16 this year. That team? Gonzaga. But the Bulldogs don’t exactly fit the profile of a mid-major anymore. The Zags have emerged as a perennial basketball power, advancing to the NCAA Tournament every season since their magical run to the Elite
Off the Foul Pohl
BART POHLMAN travsprt@uark.edu
Eight back in 1999. During that time, the Zags have consistently been ranked in the top 25 and beaten its fair share of high-profile teams. Aside from the Zags, however, there are no mid-major teams still dancing this year. In fact, only four other teams from mid-major conferences won first round games this year – Siena, Cleveland State, Dayton and Western Kentucky.
Part of the excitement of the tournament is following a Cinderella team as it beats all the odds and advances further than anyone thought possible. Unfortunately, that won’t happen this year. (And no, Arizona does not count.) The selection committee showed no love for mid-majors. Staying on the subject of midmajors, this year’s selection committee obviously didn’t value them too highly. Of the 34 at-large teams, only four (Xavier, Butler, Dayton and BYU) came from non-power conferences. That’s a horribly low number, especially when power conference teams with 12 and 13 losses were getting bids. No wonder there isn’t a Cinder-
ella team this year. The mid-majors never had a chance. The Big East is the best. At the start of the season, many thought the Big East was the best conference in college basketball. And with five teams in the Sweet 16, it’s hard to argue that point. If Dominic James had not missed the second half of the season, Marquette might have joined that group of teams and made it six teams from the same conference. Entering the round of 16, it was still possible for the Final Four to be made up entirely of Big East teams. How’d that be for a statement about conference superiority? Teams from Utah are terrible. If I were to rewrite the rules of making NCAA Tournament picks, I’d have to introduce the Utah Rule. It’d read something like this:
“Always pick against teams from Utah, unless that team is a No. 1 or No. 2 seed (And even then, buyer beware).” This year, teams from Utah went 0-3 in the tournament. Utah, the No. 5 seed in the Midwest, lost to 12thseeded Arizona in the first round. Eighth-seeded BYU lost to No. 9 seed Texas A&M in the West. Utah State, the No. 11 seed in the West, lost to 6th-seeded Marquette. For the record, Utah State was 30-4 this season. Apparently, 30 wins doesn’t matter if the team comes from Utah (playing in the WAC doesn’t help, either). Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com
SPORTS PARGO
OUTDOORS
lege graduate pass you by, it’s kind of a joke.� Few will miss Pargo’s outgoing personality. “He’s as charismatic and engaging a personality as you’ll probably ever coach,� Few said. Even though he lacks big offensive numbers, Pargo believes he can follow his brother to the NBA. “In college, you can’t be successful always looking at the next level, but I’d be lying if I said I never looked at it,� he said. “It’s one of the things I try to block out.� First comes dealing with North Carolina. Three years ago, Pargo was a freshman averaging 2.7 points off the bench. Now, he’s a 23-year-old senior watching freshmen like Goodson carry on a tradition at Gonzaga, which has seen overall enrollment grow from 4,507 in 1999, when the NCAA tournament streak started, to 7,319 this year. “It means a lot for these guys that have years left under their belts to play,� Pargo said after the Western Kentucky game. “For them to come out and play just as hard as us seniors, they really want this bad. “You can see it in their eyes how much they want to win and advance and get a program an opportunity to do something it’s never done before. It’s a tremendous thing to see in everyone’s eyes.�
distance runner, while McClary (mile) and Strang (10K) earned All-America honors in 2008. “(Strang) has been in a building process every since he came off that foot injury in the fall. He had only about six to eight weeks of training (during indoors). Since the summer time, obviously he was doing a lot of cross training, in the pool a lot, but really to get on land and train – he hasn’t caught up yet. He went out to Colorado over the break and got a little altitude training. I think he’s anxious to get on the outdoor track,� Bucknam said. Arkansas will add two more All-Americans to its roster, Stewart, who had only outdoor track eligibility coming into
from Page 8
DAVID T. FOSTER III Charlotte Observer/MCT
Gonzaga point guard Jeremy Pargo leads the 4th-seeded Bulldogs against No. 1 seed North Carolina tonight in Sweet Sixteen action. Pargo is the younger brother of former Razorback standout Jannero Pargo.
Page 9| FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
from Page 8
this year, and Scott MacPherson (distance), who redshirted the indoor season. “(Stewart) has been kind of waiting in the wings, and he’s anxious to get going. He’s a really important part of our outdoor squad.� The Razorbacks will take a full squad to the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, next week. Bucknam said he hopes the Hogs take things slowly to start the season and really start hitting their strides by the Penn Relays at the end of April. “That’s kind of the circle on our schedule, and we’ll be ready for that. Up until that point, It might look a little ragged, we might not look our best but you’ll always get a great effort from our kids,� he said. “We’ll put on a good show at the John McDonnell meet when we host it here (in Fayetteville on April 17).�
BASEBALL from Page 8
J. CONRAD WILLIAMS, JR. Newsday/MCT
WATCH UATV
Former Arkansas guard Jannero Pargo has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. Pargo is currently playing for the Euroleague team Olympiacos Piraeus.
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think we are the team to catch right now obviously with two games up on a couple teams. We just need to take care of things we can take care of.� With a game nearly lasting 21 hours from the first pitch last year against Vanderbilt, Arkansas is no stranger to weather delays. With the opener rained out Friday, the game started at 3:00 p.m. Saturday and was stopped because of rain near 5:00 p.m. And five hours later, the game resumed but was against stopped near midnight because of curfew. The first game of the series finally ended Sunday in extra innings. “That hurt us a little bit,� Leavitt said. “We only got in a couple games last year. It is good to get all the games you can get in. But there isn’t a whole lot you can do.�
LARRY ASH Staff Photographer
Scott MacPherson is a two-time All-American in cross country. He qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships last year in the steeplechase.
Page 10 |FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009
LIFESTYLES
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com
UNION
HA
IR
CA
RE cuts colors highlights eyebrow waxing
use your razorbucks! mon-fri 8:30am-5pm Union-2nd floor 479.443.4848
ROBERT GARNER Staff Photographer
Über’s Burger Bistro, located 300 West Dickson Street, uses gourmet meat, such as alligator (center), buffalo and turkey, as hamburger patties.
FOOD
from Page 6 the texture. The Chowchow, a type of sweet and oh-so-mildly spicy relish, was a nice compliment to the gator. But the ruffles did not provide a nice contrast in texture with their crispness. We both also enjoyed the Santorini Burger that featured a usual beef patty. The buns, which often go overlooked by careless cooks, were delicious as well. The pickles were also amazing. As weird as it sounds, I’m a fiend for a good pickle, and I could have eaten theirs for days. Aside from the serving of chips with a hamburger, which I still can’t get over, the other downfall of Über’s is the price. I know that they always say that you’re paying for the atmosphere as well. Although
that might be true, Über’s is still overpriced despite their captivating environment. I accepted the fact that my burger made of an ancient, ground reptile would be a little more expensive. But my total for the burger, fries and drink was about $23. Unfortunately, that, too, is becoming a common thread of American restaurants. But was it worth it? I will go ahead and say yes, ignoring the shrieks of my wallet. On a scale of 0-23, I would have to give Über’s a 15.The food and environment were great, but I still can’t believe I paid $23 for a burger and fries (and chips). It’s absolutely true that you pay for the environment. Plus, you pay for the fact that these are “gourmet” burgers. Those two facts, combined with the general overpricing of all restaurants these days, make this place absolutely worth it.
The friend of the proprietor had worked us up for dessert, but the chef had already gone home for the night and the kitchen was closed (it was late, don’t worry). He did tell us, however, that the carrot cake was out of this world and that we should try something called a sacher torte (which he pronounced as “soccer”). All in all, I definitely recommend Über’s Burger Bistro. Although the price is high for burgers, the menu is so unique that you should go try it at least once. I want to do some special reviews on your favorite bargain diners, so send me your recommendations where you get the most bang for your buck at rtgarner@uark.edu. Happy eating, everyone. Robert Garner is a staff columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
NEBBIA
from Page 6 lost, you find each other, but above all, you are confronted with the unexpected. “Nebbia” will be performed at 8 p.m. tonight; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Walton Arts Center. Tickets range from $20 to $40 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 479-443-5600 or by visiting Waltonartscenter.org. The Walton Arts Center is also offering $20 student tickets. Seating is for the balcony only and students must have a valid student ID.
VALERIE RÉMISE Courtesy Photo
VIOLINISTS from Page 6
and constructive suggestions about his or her own work.” Tamaki’s compositions include traditional Japanese songs and an “emphasis on organic themes, (such as) transformation, the cycle of growth and decay, and the movement between, and of, potential and kinetic energies,” she said. The program will conclude with “Navarra, op. 33 (Danza Espagnole) for Two Violins and Piano” by Pablo de Sarasate. Kahng and Oda-Sakon will fuse their vast worldwide experiences together 3 p.m. this Sunday in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. Admission for the performance is free. For more information about the event, contact the music department at 479-575-4701.
our Does $1u0n/hd good? so es uest ServNic G ll a tb o o F T 9 200 ATTENDA
(PART-TIME)
Be a Guest Services attendant in our luxury skyboxes Fun work atmosphere Great pay while being a part of the game-day excitement! Valuable work experience and networking opportunities
Application deadline is March 31, 2009 APPLY TODAY BY E-MAILING raf02@uark.edu MUST BE ABLE TO WORK ALL home football games
NO EXCEPTIONS MUST INTERVIEW IN PERSON in April.
Limited vacancies available.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL Patti Kimbrough, Director of Guest Services 479.575.6904 Razorback Athletic Department