VOL. 103, NO. 76 | Single Issue Free
Lifestyles Sleep not top priority for many UA students page 5 Sports Diamond Hogs host Vanderbilt page 7
WEATHER
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TASER on Page 3
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About you. For you. For 103 years.
April Robertson Staff Writer
Fayetteville residents are beginning to gather on the square on Saturdays as the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market opened last Saturday and will continue until Nov. 21. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. three days a week - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Started in 1974, the market is an avenue for local farmers, crafters, chefs, musicians, flowergatherers, the Humane Society and artists to display their work, products or pets that are available for adoption. This month, the market presents the Garden Series on the Square during the market hours. The series will kick off April 11 when Berni Kurz
Jack Willems
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Farmer’s Market springs up this week
Senior Staff Writer The Public Safety Council Thursday decided not to vote on whether to ask the university administration to allow the UA Police Department to carry Tasers. That decision will be made at a future meeting when the new chairman of the council, Jules Beck, is present, a UAPD official said. Because the meeting occurred during class time, many faculty and student members of the council were unable to attend. The next meeting likely will be in June, UAPD Director Steve Gahagans said, and the council will continue gathering information until then. The department has not ordered any Tasers at this time and has no set timeline, he said. The student input received by the department was evenly divided, Gahagans said. The department did not receive any e-mails about the proposal, said Gary Crain, UAPD public information officer. Abel Tomlinson, a UA graduate student, did voice concerns that Tasers could be lethal, citing a case in Michigan when a 15-year-old died after being shocked, Gahagans said. “We don’t have all the information about that case,” he said. “There could have been other factors.” Gahagans presented a list of 167 deaths linked to Tasers from across the nation with explanations for each death. Only in 27 cases could medical examiners say that the use of the Taser was a factor, he said. In most cases, the person died as a result of illicit drugs being in their system, and one psychiatric patient died after being shocked due to mania, Gahagans said. And, Gahagans pointed out, pepper spray was linked to deaths after it was intro-
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Cool with a 30% chance of scattered AM showers.
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Page 1 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009
Public Safety Council tables Taser decision
University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark.
JACLYN JOHNSON Staff Photographer
Taylor Kinzler, a Hospitality, Restuarant Management major, sold flowers for the Riverbend Gardens at the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market on the Fayetteville Square. Saturday was the first day of the market was open this year.
lectures about soil variety. Sara Pollard of the Mountain Greenery Farm will speak about assorted use of herbs during the Tuesday market, April 14. An instruction on ornamental plant sowing
and placement will be given by Joan Sorn and Mark Corly April 18. Each of these three lectures will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. outside on the square. “If we have a large turnout, then we might move the lecture to the food court [near Jammin’ Java] so we’ll have more seating,” said Cara Corbin, assistant manager for the Farmer’s Market. Traditionally, the market distributes a free tree to everyone who attends the spring seasonopening farmer’s market, but that day has been pushed back this year. The free tree giveaway will be April 25 this year; the supply is limited to one tree per person. The main objective of this year’s Farmer’s Market is to “Be Green … Healthy, Safe and Clean.” Administrators are asking that market-goers keep in mind their responsibility to the environment while participating. “Other businesses have had to make changes, now it’s time for us to do the same,” Corbin said. Suggestions to be green, healthy, safe and clean include: bring your own coffee cup, bring your own shopping bags/ canvas bags, ride your bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to the market and, if you bring your pet, make sure to clean up after it. On this season’s opening day, farm-grown produce was just one of many See
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International Students to host banquet Saturday Jessica Powviriya Staff Writer
The annual International Students Organization’s banquet Saturday in the Union Ballroom will feature dance, culture and international food, organizers promise. The banquet is one of the biggest events that ISO hosts throughout the academic year at the UA. It is an evening of culture, including traditional dances, band performances and singing. Hang Pham, ISO president
and senior accounting major, described ISO as the umbrella organization for other cultural organizations on campus. ISO not only promotes diversity at the UA but also in the community, according to their Web site. The event is open to the public so that international students and American students alike can learn from one another. “What makes it special is that the night is not focused on one region of the world,” Pham said. “The banquet can educate people on cultural
diversity.” The guest speaker for Saturday is Veronikha Salazar, the associate director of the Multicultural Center at the university and former adviser for the ISO. “Every international student brings something,” Salazar said. “Every country, every student represents a different culture. It is so neat because it is always something different at the performance.” Although tickets for the dinner are already sold out, the cultural show is free and will start at 7:00 p.m. in the
Union Ballroom after the dinner. Along with the ISO Banquet, the organization also hosts the International Bazaar every fall as part of the International Education Week, a campuswide event. They also sponsor or cosponsor one Friday Night Live each year. For these nights, ISO students organize an event with a theme that usually includes activities such as fashion shows, dance competitions and an ethnic costume booth where students can try on
cultural outfits and take pictures. “People always look forward to great food and great performances,” said Matthew Sokoloski, the program coordinator in the Office of International Students and Scholars. “It is a good time to see the diversity of all the international students we have the university.” Students who are interested to learn more about the International Student Organization can visit the RSO list on the CLCE Web site.
2009 ASG Election Results
FINISHING THE RACE
3,445 UA students (13.5 percent of the student body) voted in the 2009 ASG election
President
Vice President
Jacob Holloway 24.3% Jonathan Powell 12.6%
Jon Bame 25.6% Robert Sharp 17.1%
Secretary
Treasurer
Mattie Bookhouse 63.1%
Andrew LeNarz 57.3%
Geoff Storm 51.2%
David Brophey 53.4%
Erica Harmon 48.8%
Jody Bland 46.6%
Resolution 11: The ASG Senate Vacancy Elections Reform Act Yes, I am in favor 85.2% No, I am not in favor 14.8%
Resolution 15: The ASG Senate Finance Equalization Act Yes, I am in favor 66.1% No, I am not in favor 33.8%
Student Initiative: Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation Initiative BAILEY MCBRIDE Staff Photographer
Newly elected ASG President Mattie Bookhout and Vice President Andrew LeNarz celebrate immediately after the UA ASG election results were announced Thursday night in the Union Connections Lounge.
Yes, I support the S.A.F.E.R. student initiative 66.9% No, I do not support the S.A.F.E.R. student initiative 33.1% These results are unofficial and will become final after they are reviewed by Computing Services and pending any decisions on election violations by the ASG Elections Committee and ASG judiciary.
Page 2 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009
BRIEFLY speaking Video Underground series to continue Sunday Video Underground will feature “Forgotten Faces: The Palestinian Refugee Crisis� 7 p.m. Sunday, April 12, in the United Campus Ministries at 902 W. Maple St. Filmmaker and human rights activist Jefferson Fletcher will present his award-winning documentary “Road To Nowhere: Journeys Through Palestine,� followed by a multimedia presentation about the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. The event is sponsored by the Omni Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology and by the Muslim Student Association at the UA. For more information, contact Gerald Sloan at 575-6302 or gsloan@uark.edu. UA groups to host ‘Ducks for Dharma’ Heifer International and Students for a Free Tibet will host “Ducks for Dharma� 7 p.m. Monday, April 13, at George’s Majestic Lounge. The benefit is to raise money to provide ducks for impoverished families in India, and half the proceeds will go to a Tibetan school in India. The event also will raise awareness of Heifer International’s efforts to promote sustainability to end world hunger and inform the public about the situation of Tibetan Buddhists living in exile in India. “Ducks for Dharma� will feature free food, a silent auction and entertainment including Tiffany Christopher Band, Candy Lee, Real Good Legends, The Smithstonians, Memphis Pencils and DJ Matt Boles.
NEWS
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com
UA student journalists win awards The Arkansas Traveler and UATV won more than 10 Mark of Excellence awards Saturday at the Region 12 Society of Professional Journalists Conference in Little Rock. UATV News placed first in TV news broadcast, and “Arkansas on Campus,� a production of the Broadcast II class, won second place in the same category. Individually, Daniel Phillips placed first in TV feature photography, first in radio feature and second in TV general news reporting; Marci Manley placed first in TV in-depth reporting and second in TV feature; and Kate Luck placed third in TV feature and TV general news reporting. From The Traveler, Kristina Korbe placed first in editorial writing, Adam Roberts placed second in general column writing, Kimber Wenzelburger placed third in in-depth reporting, and Bart Pohlman placed third in sports writing and sports column writing. The Traveler and UATV were up against student journalists from Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi, and all first-place finishes are eligible to place at the SPJ National Conference in Indianapolis in August.
Blood drive falls short of goal
Lecture to examine social, computer and communication networks Professor Barry Wellman, the S.D. Clarke Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, will deliver the 2009 Ferritor Community Lecture, “Connected Lives: The New Social Network Operating System,� 6 p.m Monday, April 13, in Room E107 of the Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Building. The lecture is free and open to the public. UAPD to host sexual assault self-defense class UA Police Department instructors will host a sexual assault and rape awareness self-defense class 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in Room 143 of Maple Hill South. All faculty, staff and students may attend. For more information, contact officer Jerry Weiner at 5757412 or jweiner@uark.edu. 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.
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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Senior Staff Writer While hospital patients are fighting for their lives, the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is fighting to recruit the 275 blood donations needed each day to supply the hospitals in Northwest Arkansas. However, the number of donations at the UA blood drive Wednesday and Thursday fell disappointingly short of the goals. Lora Johnson, donor recruiter for CBCO, explained that the organization supplies 36 area hospitals and has blood drives Sunday through Saturday every
week to be able to keep up with the needs. She said the collections from Northwest Arkansas are not enough and donations from Missouri must be brought in to fulfill the rest. The goal for the UA blood drive was to collect 150 donations Wednesday and 80 Thursday. Just 79 donors gave a total of only 56 units on Wednesday, far below what was needed. “Sometimes it feels impossible to get enough donations,� Johnson said. She said she always makes sure she tells people that one blood donation can save three lives. “And it’s the only community service you can do lying down,� she said.
The center has blood drives at Missouri State University also, Johnson said. “At MSU we can have 1,200 people give in 3 days, but here we usually get 250 to 300 in the same amount of time,� she said. “I absolutely do not get it.� Chanda Watkins, a nurse at CBCO, said they usually depend on the UA for a big turnout. “Being this slow would usually hit us really hard,� she said, but overall transfusion rates have been up recently. The collections supervisor for CBCO said that the donations at the UA usually even out so they are meeting their goals overall. “We are just like a business,� she said. “Sometimes business is
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UA junior Gloria Hill was one of many UA students to donate blood at the UA blood drive, but the drive still failed to meet its goal.
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good, sometimes it’s not.� The blood drives are sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega, a service organization on campus. The members call CBCO to come to the UA twice each semester. This time they made the hours longer to give more people an opportunity to come. “Last time it was really busy during lunch, the staff was overwhelmed and then students would get frustrated with the wait and leave,� said Alana Hale, pledge trainer for APO. Several students offered a lack of promotion as an explanation for the low turnout this time. “I didn’t think they advertised this one as much,� said junior Elizabeth Gandy after giving blood Wednesday. She said she only knew about it because she saw one of her friends had donated. Gloria Hill, a junior nursing major, said being in the hospitals around patients motivates her to give what she can. “If I was in the hospital hurt, I would definitely want to have access to blood,� she said. Hale said that she had never need a transfusion before, but had seen natural disasters and relief efforts where they ran out of blood. “It’s a guarantee if something bad happens,� she said. “It’s an important resource to have.� Giving blood usually takes 45 minutes for the whole process, Johnson said, with only five minutes actually involving a needle. “There’s no money involved, which is great for college students, and it takes a lot less time than cleaning up parks for a few hours,� she said. The center also provides pizza, snacks and t-shirts for donors. “The problem is just that it’s hard to let people know it’s going on,� Johnson said. “We’re always looking for ways to reach more students.�
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The Arkansas Traveler is a member of the Arkansas College Media Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper at the University of Arkansas, is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring academic sessions except during exam periods and university holidays. Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Traveler. The editorial that appears on the left side of the opinion page is the opinion of this newspaper. The editor makes all final content decisions.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009 | Page 3
A bird’s eye view into the culture of India Saba Naseem Staff Writer
The Hindu Student Council hosted an Exhibition on Hindu culture and the dharmic traditions of India Monday, April 6 to Thursday, April 9. Hindu civilization is one of the most ancient civilizations of the world. Over the millennia, the Hindu culture evolved philosophies, religions, sciences, arts and architecture, contributing to almost every imaginable field of human endeavor, according to the program. HSC was formed in 2006 after students realized the “ignorance about Hindu Dharma.� “Unfortunately, after so many years, people still hold the concept that Hinduism is only about cow worshipping, castes and the worship of gods with thousands of hands,� said Jiger Patel, president of HSC. “We want to remove such misconceptions about Hinduism.�
Other goals of the HSC are to provide opportunity for Hindus and non-Hindus to learn about Hindu heritage and culture, to foster awareness of issues concerning Hindu Dharma, to provide the Hindu view on a multireligious platform and to serve the community. Hindu Dharma, a term interchangeable with Hinduism, is a righteous way of life based on the accumulated wisdom of great sages, Vedas, Upanishads and Agamas. Basic concepts such as Dharma, Karma, Ahimsa, Samsara, and Moksha are inherited from various dharmic traditions like Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism which all came from Hinduism, according to the program. Hindu Dharma gives freedom to perceive and approach God in different ways. Hinduism originated in India and remains most common there, but its influences are seen around the world. “One of Hinduism’s teach-
ings is ahisma (non-violence) which has brought a change in the 20th and 21st century that history will never forget,� Patel said. “This teaching was strictly followed by Mahatma Gandhi and many people after him who strove to achieve freedom in different parts of the world.� Hindu civilization has also contributed to the world of mathematics by inventing the concept of zero and the decimal system. Colorful posters lined the Union Lounge and the Multicultural Center, describing the beliefs, contributions and culture of Hinduism. “We hope that this exhibition has enhanced knowledge of students at the UA,� Patel said. “In this world of globalization, if the West is able to understand the eastern religion of Hinduism, we believe that a bridge of mutual acceptance of the great traditions of the East and West can be built.�
Controversial campus Tasers on hold TASER
from Page 1 duced, but police still use pepper spray, he said. If Tasers are approved, the training UAPD officers would receive would stress how to react in high-pressure situations, like on-campus parties, Gahagans said. Considering the number of deaths associated with Tasers when intoxicating substances are involved, it might not be appropriate to use Tasers during those times, he said. The policy on using Tasers would be written by a committee including those in opposition to Taser use, Taser instructors and university representatives, Gahagans said. “I would say Tasers would
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be used very infrequently,� Gahagans said, “but how do you put value on a life?� Almost every law enforcement agency in the area except the Arkansas State Police uses Tasers, Gahagans said. Many officers find Tasers to be effective against suicidal people, and Tasers also provide officers with a less lethal tool in situations that would otherwise require lethal force, Gahagans said. “In a nutshell, law enforcement supports the use of Tasers,� Gahagans said. Some other members of the council expressed their support for using Tasers. UA student Alexander Miron told the council how last semester someone approached his fraternity house with a knife, and the officer called to the situation seemed to need another UNION
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level of force, Miron said. “I think it might be a good idea as long as everyone is properly trained,� he said. “My son works at a convenience store, and he says they are very effective,� said Ralph Davis, a faculty member. “He has seen the police use them several times.� The UAPD also will receive two new police dogs over the summer, Gahagans said. The UAPD already uses the animals – which are trained as bomb dogs and patrol dogs – during football and basketball games, he said. Finally, the UAPD has applied for stimulus money to hire two new officers next year, exceeding its current limit of 32 officers, Gahagans said. The department will not know until the summer if it will receive the grant, he said.
cuts eyebrow waxing colors use your razorbucks! highlights
443.4848 2nd floor of union
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AFTER DARK
CODY BENNETT Staff Photographer
Arkansas Razorback basketball player Rotnei Clark gives testimony Tuesday night at the Chi Omega Greek Theater during the After Dark event that featured on-campus student ministries.
MARKET
from Page 1 products available to Fayetteville consumers. Entertainment was on every corner of the square, as three separate music ensembles were present, as well as one solo artist. Woven baskets, wooden vases and cutting boards, flower bouquets, watercolor and photo prints, pottery and woven blankets were also for sale. Representatives of the Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center advertised art classes. Walton Arts Center representatives handed out brochures about their upcoming events and gave away free tickets in a drawing. Humane Society employees walked dogs through the crowds, in an attempt to find more families to adopt pets. “We love to have elementary field trips come to the market,
but we’re also looking for ways to incorporate junior high schools, high schools and even UA students,� Corbin said. UA student Sparsh Agrawat said he never attends the farmer’s market, “I’ve never really heard of anything about it that would attract me to go.� The farmer’s market is, overall, a pleasant experience, said anthropology major Maggie Strain. “The couple of times I’ve been to the market, I enjoyed talking with the vendors there. It’s a good way to learn about gardening and save money in this economy,� she said. Several special events will be included in the 2009 market, according to the Farmer’s Market Web site. At the moment, the Web site includes a list of events and their dates, but the main description of each will be posted later. The first of the three farm tours is a tour of spring flowers, which will take place April 18.
The remaining tours are scheduled for October and will focus on pumpkin and squash farms. April 28, June 16 and Aug. 13 are each designated “Kids Day.� Crafts will be sold throughout the year, but two craft showcases will feature these works in particular. May 2 is the Spring Craft Showcase, while Oct. 17 is the Fall Craft Showcase. The farmer’s market also hosts holiday celebrations for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Independence Day. Mother’s Day has two correlated events, a Flower Arranging Demo May 7 and a Flower Fair May 9. For those who struggle to find Dad a gift each year, there is a Father’s Day Gift Showcase on June 20. Because the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, the market is having a Picnic in the Square Grill Out for the public. For additional information, visit www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.com.
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SUNSET 9
WEST SUNSET 751-5070 Dragonball Evolution (PG) 1:35, 4:35, 7:30, 9:40 Fast and Furious (PG13) 1:25, 4:25, 7:20, 9:50 Hannah Montana The Movie (G) 1:10, 4:00, 7:00, 9:20 Haunting in Connecticut (PG13) 1:20, 4:30, 7:15, 9:35 I Love You Man (R) 9:15 Knowing (PG13) 1:10, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45 Monsters vs Aliens (PG) 1:00, 4:15, 7:05 Observe and Report (R) 1:20, 4:20, 7:15 9:25 Paul Blart, Mall Cop (PG) 1:30, 4:10, 7:20, 9:35 Race To Witch Mountain (PG) 1:05, 4:10, 7:00, 9:15
RAZORBACK 12
3956 N. STEELE BLVD. 521-4080 Adventureland (R) 1:30, 4:25, 7:25, 9:50 Dragonball Evolution (PG) 12:35, 2:50, 5:00, 7:25, 9:45 Duplicity (PG13) 1:15, 4:15, 7:05, 9:50 Fast and Furious (PG13) 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:00 7:35, 9:30, 10:05 Hannah Montana the Movie (G)1:00, 4:00, 7:05, 9:35 Haunting in Connecticut (PG13)12:20,2:45,5:10,7:40,10:05 I Love You Man (R) 1:20, 4:40, 7:30, 9:55 Knowing (PG13) 1:25, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 Monsters vs Aliens 3D (PG) 12:10, 2:30, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40 Monsters vs Aliens (PG) 1:05, 4:20 Observe and Report (R) 12:25, 2:35, 4:45, 7:15, 9:25 Taken (PG13) 12:35, 2:45, 4:55, 7:30, 9:45
NWA MALL TWIN
5035 N. COLLEGE 521-4080 Race to Witch Mountain (PG) 7:00 12 Rounds (PG13) 7:05
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ITS is dedicated to learning which services are most valued by students and providing the best quality of services. Notifications will be sent to a random selection of students via email. Students who receive these notifications are encouraged to participate in order to help ITS improve student technology services on campus. Important topics being evaluated:
Ease of technology use Customer service experiences (in places like the labs, MMRC and Student Technology Center) Student Technology Fee spending
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OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Page 4 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009
Online Poll What do you think of “The Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009,” which will take effect in 2010? Vote online at thetraveleronline.com
Editor: Kimber Wenzelburger | Managing Editor: Tina Korbe
Phone: 575.8455 | E-mail: traveler@uark.edu
Government should mandate more wind power GUEST EDITORIAL
The Kansas City Star Steve Isirk is a dairy farmer, a former county commissioner in western Kansas – and a big supporter of renewable energy and wind farms. Near Garden City, Kan., he says, most landowners embrace the idea that utilities will pay thousands of dollars a year to place wind turbines on their properties. The towers “take up only a small piece of property, and all you have to do is go down to the mail office and pick up your check. It’s kind of like a mini oil well.” Without the pollution that oil wells cause. The future of producing electricity in the Heartland is blowing in the wind. A growing coalition of utilities, landowners and businesses is hard at work promoting and building more wind farms in Kansas and Missouri. And for good reasons. Investing in this form of renewable energy creates: – Jobs, including some at Kansas City-based engineering companies. – Power with a no-cost energy source, the wind. – No pollution, which helps reduce or eliminate the cost differential of electricity produced by wind power vs. dirty coal-fired plants that harm human health and help cause global warming. – A valuable export to other states. To be clear, residents of Kansas and Missouri will continue to rely on coal-fired plants to produce the majority of their electricity for many years to come. But that does not mean unfettered construction of new coal plants – especially the huge, pollution-belching expansion supported by the Kansas legislature in the western part of the state. That plan should be killed. Meanwhile, work should proceed to boost dramatically the amount of electricity produced by wind. How can that happen? First, Congress should pass a national renewable electricity standard. A government mandate would encourage private investment and confidence in a more stable future for renewable electric power. Second, states and utilities must work together to improve significantly the nation’s transmission grid. The electricity standard received a big boost recently when President Barack Obama called for 25 percent of the nation’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025. A federal mandate could include increased public subsidies for wind and solar power, which would encourage investment in those sources. That would be a positive move – provided aid is kept to a reasonable level. A national standard also should spur more jobs in wind-rich states such as Kansas, while it further diversifies the production of energy around the country. Less reliance on heavily polluting coal is necessary. As for an upgraded transmission grid, it would help move wind power from rural areas – such as the prairies of Kansas and the hinterlands of Texas – to other parts of the United States. An enhanced grid – cost billions of dollars, and that price has been tough to overcome. Currently, large investments in the so-called “green power superhighway” are stifled by battles among states and utilities over how to pay for new, high-voltage lines. One responsible plan backed by the Wind Energy Association is for federal regulators to develop a fair way to spread construction costs to ratepayers of all utilities that would benefit from the new lines. Even if the national renewable electricity standard takes effect and transmission lines are improved, states such as Kansas will have to fiercely compete to woo utility investments to produce electricity with more wind farms. “Wind is a mainstream technology today,” says Julie Clendenin of the American Wind Energy Association. While that is certainly correct, this nation still must be more aggressive as it taps into a clean and growing source of energy. – Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune News Service
SATIRICAL OPINION
THE KARBER PLAN
Fixing the United States’ dependence on foreign oil
I know how to fix our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, solve the energy crisis and return freedom and justice to all Americans, and I can explain it to you in three simple steps, which together comprise the Karber Plan: 1. Allow private businesses to fund and construct thousands of enormous hamster wheels. Once equipped, these hamster wheels would be able to generate 2,000 percent of our current electricity needs. 2. The U.S. government must then figure out how to genetically engineer giant hamsters. No problem there. They cracked the secrets of the atom, put a man on the moon and won the Cold War. I’m sure we can get a few giant hamsters out of them. 3. With the giant hamsters providing a substantial portion of our energy needs (the 2,000 percent figure only refers to our current energy needs; future energy needs will be substantially higher because of the excessive cost of producing enormous food pellets for the giant hamsters), we will be able to utilize our nuclear power plants, now burdened with the mundane task of providing electricity, in the pursuit of creating superheroes through freak nuclear accidents. Certainly, this will be very dangerous, but the potential rewards are massive, and I don’t think this particular project can be ignored any longer. Now, I know there has been a lot of criticism of the Karber Plan. Some have said that it’s preposterous. Some have said that it doesn’t make any sense, and that my faith in giant hamsters as a reliable source of
Sex and Violence
GREG KARBER gkarber@uark.edu
continued energy is unfounded. Giant hamsters, some have argued, are notoriously fickle, and will sometimes not run on their giant hamster wheels all day, no matter how much you try to coax them, but as soon as everybody’s gone to sleep and nobody needs any energy anymore, oh, then they hop right on and run until they drop – and the wheels just keep squeaking and squeaking and it’s driving everybody crazy! Some have argued that my plan is suspiciously self-serving. Yes, it’s true that I’ve spent the last several years traveling around the country, buying up every hamster I can find in an attempt to increase scarcity and artificially inflate costs. Yes, it’s true that I own the majority stake in whatever company makes WD-40, demand for which will skyrocket in a vain attempt to silence the intolerable squeaking of the enormous wheels. Yes, it’s true that I own Capes “R” Us, a cape superstore poised to make a killing if superheroes ever become real and need mass-produced costumes. And finally, yes, it’s also true I own a factory for making
giant food pellets. But friends, the reason I’ve been buying up hamsters, WD-40 stock, cape companies, and food pellet factories is that I am so confident the plan will work! If I hadn’t invest in hamsters, then you should be worried. Heck, I’d probably be a terrorist or a Russki or a liberal pinko commie trying to destroy the country for no reason in particular other than I’m just a really bad guy! But I’m not a really bad guy. I’m an American patriot. And if you’re an American patriot, too, then you’ll support the Karber Plan. So please, write your senators, representatives, friends, family (including cousins and distant relatives, like great-aunt-in-laws-twiceremoved), classmates, business associates, sexual partners, and fan club presidents and ask them to back the Karber Plan unconditionally. In your letters, please encourage these people to write letters of their own. I suggest claiming that if they forward your letter to a certain quantity of people, they will receive good luck, but if they – curses! – break the chain, then everything they’ve worked for for so long will come crumbling down, their significant others will leave them, and they will die alone and afraid. Yeah, yeah, these seem like preposterous superstitions, but preposterous superstitions are one of the greatest ways to motivate people ever discovered by man! Greg Karber is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every other Friday.
Few jobs, but many ways to serve America GUEST EDITORIAL
San Jose Mercury News High school and college graduates are facing a depressed job market. Many baby boomers are facing early retirement. But what they will have is plenty of opportunities for public service _ tutoring kids, weatherizing homes, working in nonprofit agencies. President Barack Obama is about to sign the Serve America Act of 2009, the largest
expansion of full-time, government-subsidized public service since President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps. The timing couldn’t be better. AmeriCorps, the domestic service program, will more than triple in eight years to 250,000 positions. For their two-year commitment, AmeriCorps members receive living expenses and $4,725, soon to go to $5,350, for college tuition or repayment of college loans. While most participants are 18 to 26, the new
law will set aside 10 percent of positions for Americans over 55. There also will be a “summer of service” for middle and high school students to earn $500 toward college. And the bill will provide money for nonprofits to recruit and train volunteers _ a recognition that building a corps of volunteer workers requires an investment. Obama’s election is inspiring the millennial generation. Now there will be more ways to channel that energy to help rebuild America.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
EDITORIAL BOARD
Accept ‘call to action’ to volunteer in community
KIMBER WENZELBURGER| Editor TINA KORBE | Managing Editor BRIAN WASHBURN | News Editor JACLYN JOHNSON | Assistant News Editor
The recent calls from Mayor Lioneld Jordan and former President George H.W. Bush for students to make service a part of their college experience could not have come at a better time. This year, the Volunteer Action Center has seen the number of student volunteers grow by leaps and bounds, and the community has noticed, as well. Increased media attention has been given to student volunteer
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.
efforts, student government has made student service a priority through event partnerships and funding, and area nonprofit agencies have become more enthusiastic about having UA students volunteer with them. This is very exciting because students have a unique opportunity to answer these calls from prominent leaders and show the impact we are capable of making on our community. The need for volunteers has grown as the economy weakened, so the difference our hours of service make is becom-
ing even greater. The reasons to volunteer vary from person to person; some do it for fun, some for their resume, some for the satisfaction of helping others, and some do it because they are required to have a certain number of hours, but the individual reasons are not as important as the results. Thanks to volunteers, children have tutors, parks stay clean and the less fortunate are cared for. So much is made possible by volunteers, but it is easy to take for granted if we are not careful.
So ask yourself, what are you currently doing to leave Fayetteville better than you found it? If you have any trouble answering that, email the VAC at vac@uark.edu and we will show you how to accomplish Bush’s challenge to “get off the sidelines,” and join the thousands of students who are already actively involved in improving their world. Matthew McNelley President Volunteer Action Center
LIFESTYLES
Upcoming season preview THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER Walton Arts Center reveals new events for 2009-2010 Monday in Lifestyles Phone: 575.7540 | E-mail: travlife@uark.edu
Lifestyles Editor: Anna Nguyen | Assistant Lifestyles Editor: Lindsey Pruitt
Page 5 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009
HEALTH
Sleep is a low priority for many students: should it be? Leanna Payton Staff Writer
For many college students, taking a full load of classes, studying, working, participating in extracurricular activities, and saving time for fun with friends and significant others doesn’t leave much time to sleep. Adults should average between seven to eight hours of sleep a night, according to WebMD. But 20 percent of college students suffer from sleep deprivation, according to Sleep-deprivation.com. The researchers who conduct the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment survey concluded that 42 percent of their participants experienced excessive daytime sleepiness. Sara Cousins, a UA junior biological engineering major from El Dorado, said she does not get enough sleep because she always has homework to complete. “Our professors give us a ridiculous amount of homework,” she said. “It’s all important, but we don’t have enough daytime to get it all done.” It is a well-known fact that not getting an adequate amount of sleep is harmful for the body, but just how bad is it? Students who are sleep deprived can have more serious problems than drowsiness. Seizures, strokes and heart attacks are three of the more serious, long-term, possible consequences, according to the Covenant Sleep Center. In a short time, sleep deprivation can cause irritability and exhaustion. A body without enough rest cannot operate properly. Consequently, students suffering from sleep deprivation will increase their food intake and not eat foods with nutritional value, according to the center. Brian Wah, a senior biology major from Marion, said he always gets enough sleep and has never stayed up all night to study. “All-nighters aren’t worth it because the
LARRY ASH Staff Photographer
Sleep is a luxury many UA students feel they cannot afford. To stay awake to study or complete homework, students resort to energy drinks or caffeine pills.
extra study time doesn’t equate to higher grades,” Wah said. “If you don’t sleep, you won’t do well in school.” To stay awake at night to study, Cousins said she consumes caffeine and energy drinks. “I have to stay up and do my homework, and it’s hard to stay up without using it,” she said. Although the Food and Drug Administration limits caffeine contents in soft drinks to 71 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces, there are no limits to energy drinks, according to WebMd.
And Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar do, in fact, contain significant amounts of caffeine - about 80 mg in every 8 oz. In comparison, Mountain Dew has just 54 mg per 12-oz. serving. Brewed coffee, however, actually contains the most - 200 mg in each 12-oz serving. The dangers with energy drinks include limited research as to the effects of the combination of their ingredients on health. And their large amounts of sugar lead to weight gain, according to mezediet.com. Alternatives to drinking energy drinks include eating breakfast, drinking water,
decreasing consumption of sweets, exercising and getting more sleep, according to the Web site. Students also sometimes resort to caffeine pills to stay awake. Steve McNeal, a junior biology major from Fort Smith, said he took caffeine pills for a few days. Although they worked, he felt jittery and had a headache after they wore off, he said. Consequently, he crashed into a dead sleep. Wah works as a resident desk assistant and occasionally works overnight shifts in campus residence halls. He said he stays awake by watching movies and TV shows
on hulu.com and Youtube. He naps to take care of physical issues he faces during the day instead of caffeine. “If I’m tired, I sleep,” Wah said. “If I have a headache, I sleep. If I’m grumpy, I sleep.” However, Cousins finds that nighttime is the chance to do activities she most enjoys. “The only free time I have is at night, and I like to do fun things, like paint and crafts, and sometimes I stay up to do them because I have no other time during the day to do it,” she said.
RESTAURANT REVIEW
SOUNDS OF THE HORNS
Bend it like Batman
High on the Hog
ROBERT GARNER rtgarner@uark.edu
MAGGIE CARROLL Staff Photographer
The UA Horn Choir performs in concert on Tuesday evening in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. The choir performed works for four to 12 horns by many classical composers.
If I had to guess, I would say that most of you think that I probably don’t have very much in common with the “Dark Knight.” Yes, I’m talking about Batman. When you look at it, our lives just don’t match up. He has his Batmobile; I drive a Honda. I spend most of my nights doing chemistry homework or hanging out with friends while he is usually out pounding wrongdoers to a pulp. My checking account shows that I’m a few dollars short of his multibillionaire status. And we could go on. However, as of very recently,
he and I both have something (however loosely) in common: we both had to make the choice of breaking our own rules. On top of that, Morgan Freeman was somehow involved in our decisions. There’ll be more on that later. Last summer, Pig-n-Whistle opened its doors in Fayetteville right across from Baum Stadium. For some reason, I have only heard of it very recently, despite its proximity to campus. The main reason I chose
to go was because I heard that Morgan Freeman owned it. This turns out to be somewhat of a fisherman’s tale. Although I’ve heard different things from good sources, the most consistent theme on this subject is this: Morgan Freeman essentially “invested” in the Pig-n-Whistle franchise and is sort of a co-owner. However, he does not “own” the restaurant in the sense that he does not work there or, for all intents and purposes, have anything to See
FOOD on Page 8
ROBERT GARNER Staff Photographer
The columnist’s order of hush puppies at Pig-n-Whistle.
LIVE MUSIC
American jam band Great American Taxi to play at George’s Sunday Brady Tackett Staff Writer
Great American Taxi is a peculiar group of traditionalists. The Americana jam band, which hails from Nederland, Colo., has been straddling different eras since its formation in 2005. “We love to see music progressing, but we also want to preserve the genres of music
that were created in America,” said keyboardist and vocalist Chad Staehly, one of the group’s founding members. “These traditions need to be passed down.” Staehly is speaking of the many genres that fall under the heading of Americana bluegrass, rock, Dixie, blues and even jazz. “We’re traditional in terms of instrumentation,” he said.
“We want to pay homage to Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and the Grateful Dead, but we’re also intentional in writing new Americana songs that are easy to sing along to.” Great American Taxi, like most jam bands, tours exhaustively. “Playing so many shows is one of the best research tools for writing new material, and it’s how we find out what’s go-
ing on in the country,” Staehly said. But the group’s findings haven’t always been reassuring. Most bands perform downtown, the place in a city where culture and community once thrived. “It’s all boarded up now and it’s a real shame,” Staehly said. “Watching traditional America die out in these small downtown regions makes us
want to get out of the commercial sector. “There’s no community in those places anymore…and that’s part of why I love touring,” he said. “Festivals are one of the last places to find great community.” Staehly said that the quintet’s music is distinctly dependant on its audience. “When we play live, the audience is like the sixth
man,” he said. “The structure and improvisation of a song change, depending on the audience’s reaction. It’s different from the energy in the studio.” The group’s sophomore record, revealingly titled Reckless Habits, is slated for release sometime this summer, and the first single, called See
TAXI on Page 8
Page 6 |FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009
DOWNTIME
CLASSIFIEDS TRAVCLAS@UARK.EDU PHONE: 479-575-3406 FAX: 479-575-3306 UA STUDENTS and RSOs Free: 30 or fewer words. Up to four insertions per ad. Personal use only not for commercial use. CAMPUS (faculty and departments) $3: 30 or fewer words, 20¢ per word thereafter per insertion. COMMERCIAL OFF CAMPUS $7: 30 or fewer words, 50¢ per word thereafter per insertion. CLASSIFIED DISPLAY $7.50 per column inch LOST AND FOUND Four times free. 30 word maximum. Regular rates apply for additional insertions. Classified deadlines are 11 a.m. two days before publication date. The Arkansas Traveler is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout the academic year except holidays and examination periods. A publication schedule and rate card are available upon request.
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Before you do business with a company you don’t know, check them out with the Better Business Bureau by calling the BBB at 501-664-7274 or online at www. bbb.org.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Experienced English tutor available. I have taught a variety of English courses at the U of A and in May I will receive my master’s degree. I am a caring, enthusiastic instructor who can help you with all your English tutoring needs. Please email me at kjtate@uark.edu FOR SALE 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. Off roaded last 3 yrs. Tons of spare parts go with including extra Dana 30 front axle. $3000 or as low as $2500 if you pay cash. Contact Kevin 479-790-7515 or kcarlson@uark.edu
ROOMMATE WANTED Male or female roommate needed ASAP. 3 bedroom, 1 bath house @2000 Lawson (off Sang). Pets okay. Large fenced yard, nice house in quiet area close to campus. Person needs to be semi-neat and responsible. I will be the only other roommate. Call Jacob 479-966-0882 FOR RENT Room for Rent. $60/ week. Immediate availability. Includes utilities, clean bed provided, large bedroom plus room for desk. Prefer quiet female. Between Grand and Rogers Ave. Available through summer. Phone 479-2856991 or email shelrae@ cox.net. House for Rent: 3426 Essex in Fayetteville. 1,650 sq. Ft. 3 bedroom, 2 Bath. All Appliances including Washer & Dryer. Fireplace, Fenced back yard. 2 car garage. Large, open, living and eating area. $975/ mth, $700 deposit. Get some friends and share the cost. Call (479) 957-7708 Great view at Sunset Place! Two bedroom, one bath apartment
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com
close to University. Water paid, lawncare provided. $465/month - ONE MONTH FREE RENT! $400 deposit, 12 month lease. Call 527-9557. Duplex for Rent! 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, split level, brick exterior duplex with all appliances included. Located in the Meadowlands. Rent is $855/month. For more information call 479640-7066 Two bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse with washer and dryer, dishwasher and central heat and air. On UA blue bus route. $550 per month. $300 deposit. Call 479856-1576
HELP WANTED The ELC is now accepting applications for Tutors, SI Leaders, and Mentors for Fall 2009. 3.0 minimum GPA, 3.5 preferred. $8.25/ hr starting pay. Apply online at http://elc.uark.edu Northwest Arkansas Naturals Red Dirt Outfitters is looking for gameday help. Must be available nights and weekends. Customer service/retail experience is a plus. Contact Carley 479-927-4056.
SELL YOUR STUFF GIRLS AND SPORTS
SEND TO travclas@uark.edu
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 7. Your labors have been productive. Caution is still required.You have enough for now, but if you want to have enough for tomorrow, you’ll have to spend carefully. No more throwing your money around.
CROSSWORD
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) TODAY IS A 7. You’ll find it easier to express your thoughts in words for the next few weeks.You’ve been holding back, but now there’s no time for that.The others are apt to do something foolish if you don’t speak up. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21) TODAY IS A 7. In the next few weeks, you should see a goal you’d really like to achieve. This might be a promotion or better job.You can qualify. Get your paperwork together, and apply. CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) TODAY IS A 7. Relax with your favorite people this weekend, starting as soon as possible.You’ve lost a few and won a few this week, but the outcome looks good.Visit an interesting place, as a way of rewarding yourself. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) TODAY IS A 7. It’ll be a little easier to save money for a while. It’s also easier to borrow. What will you do with this newfound wealth? Leave it right where it is. Keep paying off the debt you’ve acquired.
SUDOKU
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) TODAY IS A 6.. There is something you could get to make your work easier and improve the quality.You know what it is, too. You’ll also have to learn how to use it.You can, if you decide you will. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) TODAY IS A 7. Do you need a little more revenue? No problem.You’re a creative person, right? Build something awesome that you can sell, at a profit. Don’t forget that last part. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) TODAY IS A 7. You’re gaining strength and wisdom. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but now you have assistance. Establish your authority early, so it isn’t questioned.You don’t have time for that. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) TODAY IS A 7. Something you set as a low priority has risen in status.You’d better do it soon or it’ll become an emergency. You hate it when that happens, so stop procrastinating.
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 6. You’re eager to take action.You finally can do something fun that you’ve had to delay.You’ve had to put this off for so long, it’ll be especially sweet.Take joy in simple pleasures. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) TODAY IS A 7. A new supervisor is going to require different regulations. Some are anticipated, some are surprises. Stay cool, even if you’re worried. Never let them see you sweat. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) TODAY IS A 7. You’re gaining confidence as you realize you’re in a good position. Have a quiet celebration as you pay off another debt.Take a virtual vacation this weekend, through good food, music and movies.
WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Hogs at Home Diamond Hogs host Vandy as part of 7-game homestand Monday in Sports Page 7| FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009
Sports Editor: Bart Pohlman | Assistant Sports Editor: Matt Watson
Did you know? No team in the Baseball America top 25 has fewer losses than No. 12 Arkansas.
Phone: 575.7051 | E-mail: travsprt@uark.edu
BASEBALL
Hogs continue SEC play after big wins Harold McIlvain II
have a lot of baseball left to play.” Senior outfielder Andrew Darr – who finished the midweek series 4-for-8 with two runs and five RBIs – said the wins over Arizona State were big heading back into SEC play. “Getting the two-game sweep was really important for us, especially heading into this weekend,” Darr said. “Vanderbilt will be another great test for us. They are going to come at us with everything they’ve got.” In its last conference game, Vanderbilt battled back after being down 9-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring 14 runs over the final three innings, winning 16-9 to take the series. “We were down by seven and we won by seven,” Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin said. “We’ve been down in the sixth inning before and not won, but we’ve been building up to this moment. We were left for dead until the sixth, and we came alive in the sixth, seventh and eighth.” But the Commodores followed the win with an 8-0 shutout loss to Middle Tennessee in a midweek game. “Middle Tennessee is a very good team that is playing better than us right now,” Corbin said. “They scored in every inning but three. It was
Senior Staff Writer
It hasn’t been a rare occurrence for the No. 12 Arkansas Razorback baseball team to score late and often this season. And with another late-inning rally, Arkansas did it again against No. 1 Arizona State Wednesday in front of 11,014 fans – a Baum Stadium record. After falling behind early, the Razorbacks scored seven runs between the fourth and fifth innings to sweep the two-game series. “With the schedule we have played, we have been behind a lot this year,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn. “We were down 5-0 and both teams were using the middle of the week pitching. We took advantage of mistakes and got some big two-out hits.” But even with the big wins, Van Horn said it is important for the team to focus on the Southeastern Conference series against Vanderbilt at Baum this weekend. “I told our guys that those were two great wins,” Van Horn said. “But I don’t want to make this feel like the highlight of the season. We
TENNIS
their night.” Darr said Arkansas would be challenged by Vanderbilt lefty Mike Minor, who has a 3.55 ERA and will start Friday. Regardless, Darr said the team has to be aggressive against the lefthander. Last time out against Florida, Minor allowed 12 hits and four runs over seven innings in a loss. He struck out nine batters, increasing his total to 43 over 45.2 innings this year. Arkansas is projected to start Dallas Keuchel at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, T.J. Forrest at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and Justin Wells for the 1:00 p.m. series finale Sunday. Vanderbilt enters the series with the third best batting average in the conference, hitting .312 as a team. “They just have a quality team,” Van Horn said. “They have a high team batting average and are feeling pretty good right now. We have our hands full.” Van Horn said the depth of the team really helped give injured players a break from the action while still sweeping Arizona State. “Our depth has been great all year,” Van Horn said. “We’ve been able to save guys like (short-
stop Scott) Lyons for two games. If we used him, he might have gotten hurt. I told our guys that everyone on that roster eligible to play can help us win a game.” Van Horn said the bullpen stepped up again for the team by not allowing a run after the fifth inning Wednesday. “I thought our bullpen did a good job,” Van Horn said. “We even used some guys a couple of times.” Freshman Zach Cox – who hasn’t pitched recently because of back problems – threw three scoreless innings. “He hasn’t thrown a bullpen (session) in the last couple of weeks,” Van Horn said. “He doesn’t like to throw them because he just likes to play third base and go in to pitch. He wasn’t real sharp. But he got it done.” But with Arkansas focusing on conference play, Darr said the team is where it needs to be after winning the first four SEC series and getting off to the best start in program history. “I think we are keeping our head where they need to be,” Darr said. “We are not too high or too low. We just need to focus on playing good ball.”
THE MASTERS
Razorbacks look to clinch SEC West Jimmy Carter Staff Writer
The No. 14 Arkansas women’s tennis team can clinch a share of a second consecutive Southeastern Conference Western Division championship by sweeping matches at Mississippi State and Ole Miss this weekend. The Razorbacks (10-6, 5-3 SEC) hold a one-anda-half game advantage over second-place Auburn and are two full games ahead of Alabama and Ole Miss with three games remaining on the schedule. “It’s really huge (having the experience of winning the division last year),” Arkansas coach Michael Hegarty said. Hegarty said the Bulldogs are not to be taken lightly despite their 0-7 conference mark. “Our eleventh-ranked (SEC team) is 28th in the country,” Hegarty said. “Mississippi State is the one out of the mix right now but if they get one win in the league they’re going to be in the tournament as well.” The No. 28 Rebels will be looking to get back into the thick of the division race and Hegarty said the Razorbacks should expect a hard-fought match. “Ole Miss is having a great year,” Hegarty said. “(They) had a win over Florida. It’s going to be a really tough weekend on the road and we’re real excited about trying to keep getting better.” Arkansas will enter the weekend riding a wave of momentum stemming from a resounding 4-0 victory over then No. 16 Florida. The win ended a 20-match losing streak against the Gators that dated back to the 1991-92 season. “We’ve had some really good teams here but it just shows you what kind of a program that Florida’s had forever,” Hegarty said. “(They are) one of the great women’s sports teams in the SEC, not just tennis so that carries a lot of weight and we had a lot of respect for that. It was definitely a great experience.” Senior star Aurelija Miseviciute will look to build on her 8-0 mark in SEC play. An undefeated conference season is a feat the Arkansas career victories leader has yet to accomplish, but she has maintained a spotless record this season despite having See
CLINCH on Page 8
Young players nipping at heels of Tiger Woods Gary D’Amato
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT
STEPHEN M. DOWELL Orlando Sentinel/MCT
After winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago, Tiger Woods is in search of his fifth green jacket.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Kids these days. They just don’t know their place. Take Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland. Nineteen years old. Probably hasn’t shaved but a dozen times. Estranged from his barber. McIlroy teed up Thursday in his first Masters Tournament. He’s got to be a bowl of jello, right? Eyes big as saucers, Adam’s apple bobbing a mile a minute, knees knocking, hands shaking. Wrong. The kid has no fear, no pulse, no respect for his Eldricks. He’s ranked 17th in the world, ahead of Retief Goosen, Adam Scott and defending Masters champion Trevor Immelman. He made the cut at the 2008 British Open, won the Dubai Desert Classic in February and made it to the quarterfinals of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Think he’s in awe of Augusta National? Think again. “Not really,” he said. “I thought I would be. I thought I would be nervous hitting my first shot here. But, you know, I think maybe if I was a little younger . . .’’ If he were a little younger, he’d be squeezing pimples, not dimples. And here’s the thing: McIlroy isn’t even the youngest player in the field of 96. Danny Lee, an amateur who was born in South Korea but lives in New Zealand, is 18. Last year, Lee became the youngest-ever winner of the U.S. Amateur, supplanting Tiger Woods for that
honor. He also won the Western Amateur. Earlier this year, he won the Johnnie Walker Classic, beating a field of pros at the European Tour event played in Australia. “I just think winning a professional event as an amateur is just winning another event,” Lee said. “I don’t think it’s a different tournament. It makes me feel more relaxed for playing in the Masters.” This kid should be as high-strung as a bomb de-fuser on his fifth cup of coffee. Instead, he’s . . . relaxed. Johnny Miller was quoted as saying Lee could contend this week. In the Masters Tournament. “Some people are saying that,” said Lee, who plans to turn professional next week. “It gives me extra pressure. I don’t know why people think I’m so good at golf.” Maybe it’s because he tied for 20th in his PGA Tour debut at the 2008 Wyndham Championship. Maybe it’s because he’s broken par in 10 of 12 rounds on the European Tour this year. Maybe it’s because he’s got a swing that Gary Player described as “just beautiful.” And here’s the thing: Lee isn’t even the youngest player in the field. That distinction belongs to Ryo Ishikawa of Japan, who is 17 and received a special invitation from the Masters committee. Two years ago, Ishikawa became the youngest-ever winner on the Japan Golf Tour. In his first tour appearance of any kind, he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at the age of 15 years 8 months. He was a See
MASTERS on Page 8
COMMENTARY
Hard to put Woods’ excellence into words He’s unbelievable, really. He’s also amazing, awesome, ridiculous, fantastic, clutch and any other adjective that could be used to describe greatness. He is Tiger Woods, and he is great. Really, really great. As in, he’s so great that it’s nearly impossible to associate any litany of words with him. He seems to transcend those ‘normal’ words to the point of ... well, what can you say? And that’s the thing – there isn’t a word to describe him anymore. Watch Woods play golf, watch him demolish the field, watch his focus or watch as the other golfers collapse when he’s on the prowl. What can you say? Truth be told, you can’t say anything, other than the standard ‘wow.’ All you can do is shrug your shoulders, shake your head and
Off the Foul Pohl
BART POHLMAN travsprt@uark.edu
laugh every time he hits a putt to win a tournament. It was unbelievable when Woods won the 1997 Masters – his first major championship – by an astounding 12 strokes. He made Augusta National his personal playground en route to the record victory. It was amazing when Woods won the 2001 Masters, completing the “Tiger Slam.” With that win, Woods
became the first golfer in the modern era to hold all four major championship titles at the same time. It was ridiculous when Woods chipped in for birdie on the 16th hole at Augusta during the final round of the 2005 Masters. With the added pressure of a final-round duel with Chris DiMarco, Woods’ miraculous birdie is one of the best shots in golf history. After the ball drops into the cup, the crowd erupts, and Verne Lundquist’s call echoes through the Georgia pines: “Oh, wow! In your life have you seen anything like it?” It was fantastic when Woods won the 2006 British Open in emotional fashion, doing so a little more than two months after the death of his father, Earl. After missing the cut at the U.S. Open (the only time he’s missed a cut in a major as a professional), Woods shot 18-under par,
only one shot off his record he set in 2000 at St. Andrews. It was clutch when Woods drained his birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the 2008 U.S. Open to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate, all while battling through the pain of his injured knee. Woods, of course, won the tournament in an 18-hole playoff the next day. Even a broken leg and torn ligaments can’t stop this tour de force. After that litany of magical moments, think about it. What can you say about a guy who is the prohibitive favorite to win every time he tees it up, and when he does win, he still leaves you awestruck? It’s uncanny, unheard of and never-before-seen – all at the same time. Since missing the cut at the 2006 U.S. Open, Woods has won 18 of the
32 tournaments he has entered on the PGA Tour. Let that sink in for a minute. Woods has won 56 percent of the tournaments he has entered during that time span. That’s a ridiculous stretch of winning, but again, what can you say? Everyone wants to compare Woods to 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus, but the better comparison might be to Michael Jordan, the greatest player the game of basketball has ever seen and an athlete who seemingly transcended the game. But I doubt even Jordan knows what to say about Woods. I mean, what can you say? Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
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MASTERS from Page 7
freshman in high school. Ishikawa turned pro at 16, won a second Japan Tour event and climbed into the top 100 in the world ranking. He currently is No. 74, ahead of Fred Couples, Darren Clarke, Rocco Mediate and Charles Howell III. “It’s like a dream,” Ishikawa said. “I still can’t believe I’m at Augusta.” Since when did the Masters get into the baby-sitting business? Arnold Palmer has hearing aides older than these kids. You’d have expected them to master Golden Tee by now, but not Golden Bell, the famous par-3 12th hole at Augusta National. It seems only yesterday Anthony Kim was the new kid on the block; now he’s the New Kids on the Block. Kim is playing in his first Masters at the ripe old age of 23. He must feel like a dinosaur. “The quality of golf is definite-
CLINCH
from Page 7 to play through injury. “She wrecked her moped a few weeks ago and banged her knee up pretty good,” Hegarty said. “There was a couple matches were she was iffy. (It was) just kind of a testament to how tough she is that she was able to stay strong, which just kind of adds to her legacy.”
Hogs hold Senior Day The men’s team will honor Blake Strode and Connor Smith when it hosts Ole Miss for Senior
FOOD
from Page 5 to do with it. All disappointment aside, I still decided to write about it, and here we are. While it’s not necessarily a local restaurant, it’s also not a large chain. The only other locations of Pig-n-Whistle are located in the Memphis area, which is close enough to Arkansas for my book. Thus, my rule is only bent, not broken. So how does Morgan Freeman fare as a restaurateur? The most immediate thing you will notice is the nice interior. While it seems like most barbecue places are in old shacks, or at least themed that way, Pign-Whistle seems to really bring a chic, modern look to barbecue. The tables are nice wood; the floors and counters are elegant stones and marble; the napkins are black cloth. It’s truly a different feel from most barbecue joints that showcase a more “common man” and regional influence. Different, but nice. The menu has just about everything we have come to expect from barbecue places, with one pleasant (and less common) addition: brisket. For appetizers, we started off with an order of hush puppies and barbecue nachos. The hush puppies grew on me, though I was initially pushed away from them by the sweetness of the infused corn. And what can I say about the barbecue nachos? Frankly, I have seen those on menus for some time now and have always told myself to never try them. But after deciding against the overpriced barbecue egg rolls, we opted to try them. I’ll tell you right now: they’re “nacho” normal nachos. They’re really good, but something felt wrong the entire time. In this case, “wrong” wasn’t necessarily a bad thing
SPORTS
ly getting better with the younger generation,” Kim said. “I think kids like myself and other guys, our skills are a lot more honed than just coming out here, hitting the ball as hard as you can and learning how to play golf. “Our technique probably is a lot better because we have access to great golf facilities and great coaches. And some people travel out here with mental coaches and trainers and all that. So we are very fortunate to have that in our back pocket. “I think the level of golf in the younger generation is getting better and better.” It’s the long-awaited Woods Effect, the first wave of kids who grew up watching Tiger fist-pump his way through the record book, doing things no young golfer was supposed to do. One of McIlroy’s earliest golf memories was watching a 21-year-old Woods win the 1997 Masters. “I could probably tell you every shot that Tiger hit,” said McIlroy, who was 7 years old and, like Woods, an only child exposed early to golf by his parents. To
this day, he has an almost freakish ability to recite the details of Woods’ milestone victories. So while Woods chased Jack Nicklaus, a new generation began to chase Woods. “Rory must say to himself, look, you must use Tiger as a role model and raise the bar,” Player said. “(Woods) won the Grand Slam at 24 and (McIlroy) has the game. . . . He must not come here just as an experience.” Of the three teens, McIlroy has the best chance to win this week, though it’s a long shot. He’s already played in two World Golf Championships events and probably is better equipped than Lee and Ishikawa to deal with the demands of a major championship. “I’d have to play extremely well,” McIlroy said. “But obviously, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.” As for Woods, he is 33 now, nearly twice as old as Ishikawa, still the dominant force in golf, still holding the pack at bay. But some young alpha males are starting to nip at his heels.
Day on Sunday. Strode will play his last home match after a career that has seen him compile a 57-33 dual-meet record. He has been the Hogs No. 1 singles player over the past three seasons and will be sorely missed, Razorback coach Robert Cox said. “Blake is on and off the court just the perfect student-athlete,” Cox said. “It’s going to be tough to say goodbye to him.” Cox said he believes the conditions might be ripe for an upset at the Billingsley Tennis Center despite the No. 2 Rebels perfect 8-0 SEC record. “What we’ve got an advantage with this Ole Miss team is late in the year, Senior Day for
us,” Cox said. “Maybe there’s going to be a little bit of a letdown on the Ole Miss side. They’re looking ahead post-season, we’re still scratching and clawing.” Prior to Sunday’s festivities, the Hogs (10-10, 2-6 SEC) will play host to No. 69 Mississippi State on Friday. Cox said an Arkansas win would go a long way toward clinching an NCAA tournament berth. “I think it’s just dangling out there that they know if we get one or two more (wins) we’re in,” Cox said. “They could beat us 5-2 just like we could beat them 5-2. That’s the one we need. If we get that one we’ll be in (the NCAA Tournament).”
because we really enjoyed them. But, something was different. After hours of deliberation, I chose the half-slab of ribs with potato salad and barbecue beans. Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Their potato salad is my new favorite (it’s the same style as Whole Hog, for you central Arkansas folks). The beans? Very good, but what barbecue restaurant doesn’t have good barbecue beans? And the most important part: the ribs. I ordered them “muddy,” which is a mix of their dry rub and barbecue sauce. They were tender and easy to eat, and had an awesome flavor. My only complaint was the dry rub was sometimes clumped together. There were a couple of bites that were so salty I almost fell out of my chair. Those instances aside, I’d put them up with the rest. So, is it better than anywhere and everywhere else? That taps into the great barbecue debate that will never end, and I certainly don’t have an answer. Frankly, I can’t even tell you what my favorite barbecue restaurant is. I like Penguin Ed’s, Whole Hog and various other places in central Arkansas, as well as all the other random places I’ve tried. Maybe there just is no such thing as “bad barbecue.” Pig-n-Whistle definitely has its own characteristic flavor, and that flavor is tasty. The price is pretty reasonable for good barbecue, and the environment is differently nice or nicely different. Even though you probably won’t be lucky enough to see Morgan Freeman (although he does visit), I definitely recommend you try Pig-n-Whistle. Happy eating! Robert Garner is a staff columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
ROBERT GARNER Staff Photographer
The columnist’s order of Pig-n-Whistle’s half-slab of ribs with potato salad and barbecue beans. The restaurant, located across from Baum Stadium, is invested by actor Morgan Freeman.
TAXI
from Page 5 “Unpromised Land,” is already available as a free download on the group’s Web site. Staehly said that the record is already “in the can,” but that the band doesn’t want to rush its release. Not surprisingly, the band has begun writing for the next record. “Two songs are done already, and I’ve got a few more in the works,” Staehly said. And so Great American Taxi continues its march from and into the past. The group will perform a free show at George’s Majestic Lounge on Sunday. The show will begin at 9 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009 |Page 8
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