VOL. 103, NO. 83 | Single Issue Free
University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark.
Lifestyles Rapper combines critical and commercial appeal page 5 Sports Hogs take down Tennessee page 7
Page 1 | MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
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Enrollment in summer classes on the rise, university officials say Jordain Carney Staff Writer
With summer break less than two weeks away, UA officials are predicting that enrollment in summer classes will rise, but students have other ideas. “I believe summer enrollment, along with the general enrollment, will be increased due to the economy,” said Alice Griffin, coordinator of advising and retention for Bumpers College. Griffin said that, in her opinion, it seems students enroll in fewer hours during fall and spring semesters because they also work, so they enroll in summer classes to stay on track academically. “The general public will often turn to further their education to open up more job opportunities in the future,” she said. Over the past 10 years, enrollment in summer classes has continuously increased, according to data from UA Institutional Research, following the general trend of an increase in overall enrollment. From 1999 to 2008, there also was higher enrollment in summer I classes compared to summer II. Last summer, there was more than a 2,000 student difference between the two terms – 5,933 in summer I compared to 3,791 in summer II. Collis Geren, vice provost for research and dean of the UA Graduate School, said he didn’t know why there was such a difference. “I think faculty have a preference to go ahead and finish it,” he said. Geren also suggested See
ATTENDANCE on Page 3
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Scattered thunderstorms with a 60% chance of showers in the afternoon.
About you. For you. For 103 years.
Upcoming UA construction to cost $250 million Jennifer Joyner Staff Writer
The UA Construction Department has more than $250 million worth of projects on its current budget. “I’m proud to announce 2008 Senior Walk was finished (Friday),” said Robert Beeler, director of design and construction services at the UA. The portion of the Senior Walk, which is located by the Greek Theatre, cost about $1 million and contains 3,000 names. “In between classes, I’ve noticed they were working on the Senior Walk,” said Kathleen Case, a junior psychology major. “Now that it’s done, it looks great.” This summer, construction services will be busy improving the UA campus. One major project to be completed this summer is the installment of Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network fiber optics all over campus. This is ultra high-speed Internet, which allows for information that requires more bandwidth. “It’s really exciting,” Beeler said. See
PLANS on Page 2
LARRY ASH Staff Photographer
Construction continues at the site of the new Garland Avenue Parking Deck on campus between Cleveland Street and Douglas Street.
Grant to make Safe Ride more accessible Kathleen Hunt
Contributing Writer When it comes to safety, the Safe Ride program is available to provide UA students protection, convenience and peace of mind. And because of a recently awarded $21,000 grant from the Women’s Giving Circle, the program is now able to expand through the purchase of a 24-passenger bus that also can carry two handicapped riders. “I think Safe Ride is a wonderful idea, and I am impressed that the university is so cautious about student safety,” UA student Melanie Kyles said. “I stay late in Fayetteville quite often for meetings, plays, etc., and I don’t like the idea of walking out to the parking lot at night when I’m alone.
The buses stop running, and Safe Ride is a secure back-up method for making it back to my car.” The Safe Ride program operates 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The program, which is supervised by the student-run Safe Ride Committee, offers students a safe alternative to driving or walking within Fayetteville city limits. But despite the convenience and safety Safe Ride offers, some students think the program has room to improve. UA student Jerra Nalley said she thinks the Safe Ride program could be significantly improved by increasing the distance it covers. See
SAFE RIDE on Page 3
LOUNGING ON THE LAWN
LARRY ASH Staff Photographer
Students and other bus riders wait in line to board one of the UA buses last week. Daily bus routes, as well as the Safe Ride program, are organized in part by the UA Transit and Parking Department.
Annual Race for the Cure raises nearly $900,000 Jack Willems
Senior Staff Writer
CODY BENNETT Staff Photographer
Matt Naglak and many other students take advantage of the sunny weather to study on the lawn next to the Chi Omega Greek Theater last week.
Almost 15,500 people visited the Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers early Saturday morning to raise money for those who suffer from breast cancer and to support breast cancer research. Nearly $900,000 was raised to fight breast cancer, said Allison Levin, executive director of the Ozark chapter of Komen for the Cure. “It’s dynamite,” Levin said. “The sponsors love it. The participants love it. We still have people walking around out here.” The 11th annual Susan G. Komen Ozark Race for the Cure in Northwest Arkansas began at 7:30 a.m. that morning with a competitive 5-kilometer race followed by a noncompetitive race at 8 a.m. These events were followed by a 1-kilometer
family fun walk and Bark for the Cure, a dog walk, at 8:30. Komen’s goal this year was to have 18,000 participants, said Elaine Thompson, the race chair. There were 13,500 participants signed up last Wednesday, but the race sees many people sign up in the last week, Thompson said. Furthermore, people could sign up online until midnight the night before the race, as well as from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. the day of the race, Thompson said. Of those participants who signed up, between 400 and 500 were breast cancer survivors, she said. “We do see a lot of people sign up in the last few days,” she said. Of the money raised, 75 percent will stay in the eightcounty area of NWA to help pay for mammograms and biopsies, as well as to educate
people about breast cancer, Thompson said. The remaining quarter of the money will go to research, she said. Researchers are currently using saliva to determine whether breast cancer is genetic, Thompson said. Jody Drew of Greenwood has been a breast cancer survivor for two and a half years, and this was her first year to participate in the race, she said. Drew was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 40 and had two teenagers to take care of, she said. It took 33 radiation treatments and 27 weeks of chemotherapy, but Drew survived. Drew learned about the Race for the Cure through friends who had participated in the past, she said. See
CURE on Page 3
NEWS
Page 2 | MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
BRIEFLY speaking Hartman-Hotz lecture hosted today Professor Fred M. Donner, University of Chicago, will present a lecture on the development of early Islamic political vocabulary 4 p.m. today in Giffels Auditorium in Old Main. “The Development of Early Islamic Political Vocabulary” is a public lecture sponsored by the Hartman-Hotz Lecture Series and the Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society.
Chemistry/biochemistry lecture hosted today Xiao Cheng Zeng will present “Computer-Aided Nanoscience Research: Nanoice, Nanoclusters, and Superhydrophobicity” 3:30 p.m. today in Room 144 of the Chemistry Building. A reception in Room 105 will take place after the seminar. The event is open to the public. For more information, visit http://chemistry.uark.edu/1690.htm, or contact seminar chair Matt McIntosh at mcintosh@uark. edu.
Students to be remembered in ceremony Friday
PLANS
from Page 1 “This is something that’s being done all over Arkansas.” The cost of the project is about $9 million. Brough Commons also will be remodeled. The $900,000 project will include the remodeling of part of the dining hall. “Students will be able to watch where food is made,” Beeler said. Also this summer, the Fine Arts Building will have improvements made to make the concert hall, the theater and the gallery more comfortable and safe, Beeler said. The renovation will cost almost $2 million. Pomfret Honors Quarters will eventually undergo remodeling that is estimated to cost about $40 million. During the summer, the construction department will be in intense planning. “We will be working with an architect and contracting team,” Beeler said. “There is going to be a full re-haul. We are going to take it apart and put it back together.”
There also is $1 million on the construction budget devoted to replacing the real grass on the football stadium with artificial turf. “It’s really nice turf,” Beeler said. Peabody Hall is scheduled for $8 million worth of work on the exterior and interior of the building. “We’re planning to redo the outside,” Beeler said. “We’re going to remove the old paint to expose the red brick underneath.” UA officials also plan to spend around $500,000 to change the Union Mall in front of the library, as well as $22,000 on audio-visual upgrades. This summer, the Construction Department will replace trees that were cut down after the ice storm and also plant new ones around campus. The “Campus Tree Replacement” project will cost about $100,000. “There is a lot of work to be down on Futrall Hall, including adding an elevator, re-carpeting and painting the interior, and improving the air conditioner,” Beeler said. The department also plans
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com to replace the roof of Kimpel Hall, which will cost more than $500,000. “We might get the roof at Memorial Hall done, too, if everything works out right,” Beeler said. The Phi Delta Theta house will also be remodeled this summer, costing the UA about $4 million. In addition, “we will be upgrading two labs this summer, using part of the student fee,” Beeler said. “All those chemistry students will have a decent place for a lab.” Another project to be completed this summer is classroom modernization. “We are going to 160 classrooms all over the UA and doing something in each room, whether it’s replacing furniture or adding projection screens or anything that’s needed,” Beeler said. “We will start that as soon as school is out.” The project will use student fees, so student input is encouraged by the department. “We invite all students to come by and make comments, whether they’re good or bad, to ensure better quality around campus,” Beeler said.
“I think it’s great that they are asking for our opinion,” said Chelsie Freeman, a political science major. “After all, it’s our money that’s funding it.” The KUAF radio station, a $2 million project, will be completed over the summer. “We will break ground on the first phase of the new Nanoscience building the first of June,” Beeler said. The project is estimated to cost $40 million. This summer, many buildings are being improved to make them more energy efficient and comfortable. Fifty-six buildings are getting lighting retrofits, Beeler said, which will cost around $23 million. “We will replace water lines on Stadium and Meadow during the summer; the streets will be closed at some point,” Beeler said. The Garland Avenue Parking Deck, set to be completed in 2010, will also be worked on this summer, Beeler said. The project will cost around $40 million. Other major renovations around campus include bringing all elevators up to current code and making yearly parking lot repairs.
The UA will host the third annual commemoration ceremony – A Razorback Remembrance – 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, in the Arkansas Union Theatre on the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union. This gathering is designed to commemorate the lives of those students who have been lost. A reception will follow in the Multicultural Center.
Have a bike collecting dust?
Live United hosted May 7
Call 479-575-7615 or visit http://parking.uark. edu/320.htm
UA apparel studies students will compete to design a fashion-forward outfit featuring the United Way Live United T-shirt during United Way of Northwest Arkansas’ Live United event to be hosted 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at Masons on Joyce in Fayetteville. Music, appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided by Beyond the Bar. Tickets are $35 for general admission, and UA students can get two tickets for $35. Students can purchase tickets by calling the United Way office at 750-1221. General admission tickets can be purchased at Masons on Joyce, Liberty Bank locations and the United Way office in Lowell.
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In the Wednesday, April 22, edition of the Traveler, a fraternity was misidentified in a cutline on page 2. The correct name of the fraternity is Alpha Phi Alpha. The Traveler regrets the error. In the Friday, April 24, edition of the Traveler, an editorial included a mistake about the athletic department’s budget. While the football program is budgeted $11 million, that money is not allocated from the university. The Traveler regrets the error.
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SAFE RIDE
that students enroll in the first term of summer classes because of the classes offered and also because some classes are offered in sequence. Geren said that the ability to enroll in classes is often determined by loans. “If it gets hard to get loan money, that’s going to negatively affect enrollment,” he said. If students are able to acquire loans, it could result in a bump in enrollment, he said. Students, however, think that enrollment in summer classes at the UA will probably decline. Rachel Findley said that she planned to volunteer in the Dominican Republic and that many of her friends planned to work this summer. “Overall, (enrollment) will probably go down,” she said. Findley said that because of the economy students will probably work this summer. Sarah Dollard and Katelyn Thomas both agreed that they think summer enrollment will decline. Dollard said that she planned to work this summer, and while she thought enrollment would go down because students do not have extra money to spend on summer classes, she said she also could see enrollment possibly going up because jobs are harder to find. Thomas said she also plans to work full-time this summer. Thomas predicted that not only would enrollment in summer classes go down, but that overall enrollment would also decline. “I think because of the economy, the school will offer fewer scholarships,” she said. “Because of this, enrollment will go down, as well.”
“I just know from previous experiences that it is extremely hard to get a ride home from any off-campus party, and it would definitely make Fayetteville a lot safer,” she said. Many students also complain that waiting for Safe Ride can be inconvenient, with students recalling everything from Safe Ride taking 10 minutes to arrive to never showing up at all. Katherine Christenbury, a UA business student, said she has been affected by the time problem before. “Many times, if my friends and I are at a party and we decide to go home, and we call Safe Ride and they say the wait is going to be very long, we will just drive home,” she said. Chris Hearnsbeger, a student in biological sciences, said he has never used Safe Ride. “I’d most likely not use Safe Ride because I think there are usually people that need it more, like girls,” he said. Safe Ride has been an operating program on the UA campus since fall 2002, and in the 28 weeks of the 2008-09 school year, there have been more than 9,963 safe rides logged, said Mike Seither, associate director of Razorback Transit. “We had a record of 640 rides during Row Week,” Seither said, making the week one of the busiest times for Safe Ride of the school year. Currently, Safe Ride manages three 12-passenger, hightop conversion vans, which cover the UA campus and the Fayetteville area. But, with the grant given by the Women’s Giving Circle, the Safe Ride Committee and the TPD hope that the Safe Ride program will be able to transport more students and
from Page 1
from Page 1
NEWS
cover more distance quickly. Recently, the state of Arkansas passed legislation to create a statewide task force to review campus safety and security practices at all twoand four-year institutions. According to Safe Campuses Now, campuses with latenight transit systems have lower crime rates and physical attacks than the campuses that don’t, with a significant percentage gap between the two. Members of the Women and Philanthropy Committee of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century founded the Women’s Giving Circle in 2002, and every year, members of the Women’s Giving Circle donate money to UA projects, like the Safe Ride program.
CURE
from Page 1 “This is awesome,” Drew said. “It is neat to see the support people have for the race.” Karen Mahl has been attending the Race for the Cure for 20 years, but she has only been a cancer survivor for two months, she said. When she heard the news, it was devastating, she said. “I was one of those who thought I would never get it,” Mahl said. “One of the hardest things is losing your hair. It’s the vanity.” Mahl does not know yet if her cancer is completely gone, but she loved the crowd at the Race, she said. The Race for the Cure is an event hosted by Susan Komen for the Cure, an organization founded by Nancy Brinker in 1982 in honor of her sister, Susan Komen, who died fighting breast cancer, according to Komen for the Cure’s Web site. Since its inception, Komen for the Cure has contributed more than $1 billion to fight breast cancer, according to the Web site.
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009| Page 3
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OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Page 4 | MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
Online Poll How many times have you used Safe Ride? Vote online at thetraveleronline.com
Editor: Kimber Wenzelburger | Managing Editor: Tina Korbe
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Having helped create the collapse, bankers now deepen it GUEST EDITORIAL
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch This is earnings-report season for America’s banks, and lo, what signs and wonders it has wrought. Goldman Sachs reported $1.66 billion in profits in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase posted $2.1 billion in earnings. Bank of America, $4.2 billion. Even Citigroup, the biggest and most beleaguered of America’s banks, reported a $1.6 billion gain, its first in 18 months. Among them, these four big banks alone have received more than $125 billion in federal bailout funds, plus help from the Federal Reserve in buying up government debt. So do these earnings reports indicate the rescue is working? Yes, if you’re a credulous shareholder. Not so much if you’re trying to get a loan or a taxpayer wondering what’s being done with your money. These earnings are ephemeral. Goldman Sachs changed its accounting calendar. JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup counted the loss in value of its debt as a positive. Bank of America counted $2.2 billion in gains from its acquisition of Merrill Lynch simply by re-pricing Merrill’s assets. Nobody knows what the assets are really worth, but assuming they are ever sold, it probably will be at deep discount. The last six months apparently taught bankers nothing about the suicidal folly of using accounting tricks to disguise financial realities. We’re surprised only that Lehman Brothers didn’t rise from the grave to report a billion dollars in earnings. There are many reasons for the bankers’ legerdemain. They want to keep shareholders happy. They want to reassure Congress and the public. They want to look healthy enough so the Obama administration will allow them returns on their bailout money, thus freeing them to pay themselves more than $500,000 a year. The people of the United States, and indeed, the people of the world, are suffering because of a financial collapse brought on, in large part, by bankers and their cronies. So successfully have they taken control of the apparatus of government that it’s become nearly impossible to hold them accountable. Lending by the 20 largest banks in the Troubled Asset Relief Program has remained flat, even though the TARP funds were supposed to free up credit. So far, President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner have tried to work with the banks, on the theory (probably correct) that unhappy bankers could make things much worse. This week, Geithner suggested that Treasury may seek to take an equity position in banks in return for suspending interest payments on federal bailout loans. That move is overdue. The fundamental question is this: Do you trust the banks? Do you trust their earnings reports, their lending policies, their devotion to the public good? Or do you suspect bankers’ first allegiance is to preserving the sweet deal they have created for themselves in the last 25 years? Before answering, read Simon Johnson’s “The Quiet Coup,” an article in the May edition of The Atlantic magazine (online at www.theatlantic.com). The former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund says the United States has developed what is, in effect, a “banana republic” oligarchy among financial and government interests. “Even leaving aside fairness to taxpayers,” Johnson writes, “the government’s velvet-glove approach with the banks is deeply troubling, for one simple reason: It is inadequate to change the behavior of a financial sector accustomed to doing business on its own terms.” To coin a phrase, we need change we can believe in.
ONLINE POLL RESULTS
A Facebook picture is worth few words My brother Andrew and his girlfriend, Elizabeth, met on Facebook. Andrew’s profile made a strong impression – everything from the FDR quote under his photo to his countless “Support ______ for Office” groups made it clear that he is obsessed with politics. This, along with his dashing photo, got her interested pretty quickly. Elizabeth’s profile, however, gave Andrew a misleading impression. Her political views were set as “conservative.” He assumed the worst. Andrew tried to use their new Facebook friendship to start some debates, but he found out that she’s actually a moderate Democrat and, as she tells it, “much smarter than he is.” A lot of students worry about being stereotyped politically. The basic information box caused a lot of concern for Tina Korbe when she first created her profile as a senior in high school. At first, she left the political views section blank. She worried that being pegged as “conservative” would make it more difficult to find dates and, because she works in a profession that strives for objectivity, a job. But she eventually decided to come out in the open. “If someone doesn’t like me just because I’m conservative, then that’s not someone I really want to like me in the first place,” she said. How much does a one-word summary of someone’s political leanings tell you, anyway? Tina is a smart, hilarious, engaging person. She’s not a bigot and she’s not close-minded. My brother’s a solid Democrat who goes to church every week and would never support a “War on Christmas.” If you write them off just because of what Facebook says their political views are, you’re missing out. Employers’ use of Facebook is old news, but so far all the advice has focused on telling job applicants how to manage their profiles. You already know to change your settings to provide the
Notes from Underground
ADAM ROBERTS adamcr@uark.edu
highest possible privacy – and not to list “embezzling money” as one of your interests. So I have some counsel for the people on the other side of the desk: if you refuse to hire someone based on the picture on their Facebook profile, you’re a moron. Facebook was designed for college students to keep in touch with each other. If you want to learn how a job applicant will conduct his or herself in the professional world, visit LinkedIn. Whether someone snapped a picture of Joe Bob Jones doing a keg stand at a party when he was 19 years old has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on his ability to perform whatever job you’re hiring for. Everyone shows poor judgment in college. Our last three presidents used illegal drugs. So did the greatest Olympian of all time. Lord Byron and St. Augustine were famous for their youthful indiscretions. Intelligent employers will take a Facebook photo or wall post for what it is – an out-of-context snapshot of one very particular moment in time. A picture of a guy holding a red plastic cup doesn’t mean he’s an alcoholic and a picture of a girl wearing a low-cut shirt doesn’t mean she’s a slut. Superficial judgments will hurt a company in ways beyond just filtering out some of the most qualified applicants. Kellogg used to have a top 10
reputation among consumers. When it canceled Michael Phelps’ endorsement contract because of a photo showing him with a bong, it dropped to No. 83. The Internet, the development of social tagging and the affordability of consumer camcorders ensure that when today’s kids sow their wild oats, everyone knows about it. If the only people allowed to get jobs in the future are those who never screwed up, it’s going to be a very boring world. It’s absurd that brilliant college graduates could be flipping burgers because someone tagged them in a freak-dancing photo three years ago. I’m not going to pretend that I’ve never been guilty of Facebook judging. I don’t date girls who haven’t favorited any movies older than they are, and I usually assume that those who list themselves as “single” instead of just leaving the spot blank are desperate. These are pretty some bad rules. They’re based on generalization and stereotyping, and I’m getting rid of them. After all, some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met have Twilight bumper stickers littering their boxes page. To be clear, I’m not saying that college students should go out and party every night or shouldn’t use common sense when posting photos or notes. (And please, no more whiny break-up “poetry.”) Right and wrong exists, and there are consequences for actions. Most employers don’t read the Traveler and probably wouldn’t take my advice, anyway. What I am saying is that we all need to take what we see on Facebook with a grain of salt. A profile can help you get to know someone, but it can never give you the whole picture. Adam Roberts is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. This is his final column.
LETTERS CONNECT THE POOR TO BANKS TO THE EDITOR Eliminate bleachers
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.
While the vouchering of student tickets is an understandable method for the university to increase attendance to football games, I cannot understand the reasoning. The bleachers on top of the south end zone of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium are not filled because it is impossible for fans to see the southern third of the football field when sitting there. Forcing students and other fans to sit in the bleacher sections is only going to result in dissatisfied fans. It would be much wiser to save $160,000 each year by not raising the bleachers in the first place. James Van Dyke Doctoral student Biological sciences
GUEST EDITORIAL
The Detroit Free Press An estimated 30 percent of urban residents are “unbanked,” meaning they don’t have accountants at federally insured financial institutions and are therefore vulnerable to check-cashing and predatory lending schemes they can’t afford. The 28 million unbanked and 44 million underbanked in America lose $11 billion a year to neighborhood check-cashing outlets, pawn shops and pay day lenders, which can charge interest rates of up to 30 percent. Personal finances are not traditionally the purview of public officials. But in these tough times, government certainly has an interest in helping constituents protect their assets and create financially stable households. The life savings of many New Orleans residents were washed away during Hurricane Katrina. In some cities, a cash economy has become a public safety problem, with people becoming “walking ATMs” on days when pay or government checks are issued. That’s why the National League of Cities and the Cities for Financial Empowerment Coalition are working with many of their
members to ensure consumers are financially literate and that banks offer deposit, payment, credit and electronic products that meet the needs of the unbanked. The league’s “Bank on Cities” campaign includes education and outreach efforts that partner with local banks. In San Francisco, for example, city and county governments served as links between residents and 17 participating financial institutions, resulting in 31,000 new accounts that saved customers an estimated $20 million. Other ideas include local financial hotlines and Web sites and financial boot camps for youths. City leaders will also lobby for changes in state laws and federal regulations, including prohibiting banks from automatically enrolling customers in costly overdraft protection plans without their consent. Interest rates on fees from overdraft ATM and debit transactions typically amount to more than 1,000 percent, according to a 2008 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation study. Poor people already pay excessive rates for food, insurance and other staples. Government should help ensure that basic financial transactions don’t further erode their assets.
LIFESTYLES
Riffraff THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER Home decor store offers funky interior decorations Wednesday in Lifestyles
Phone: 575.7540 | E-mail: travlife@uark.edu Lifestyles Editor: Anna Nguyen | Assistant Lifestyles Editor: Lindsey Pruitt
Brooklyn-born rapper brings thoughtful rhymes and old school beats to hip-hop culture
Page 5 | MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
FILM REVIEW
A fleeting return to ‘Chungking Express’ Cinematic flapper
Brady Tackett Staff Writer
Poe Picasso is excited. The Brooklyn-born rapper, whose name betrays his self-proclaimed status as poet and artist, has enjoyed a warm reception by bloggers in recent weeks. “It’s kind of a catch-22,” he said. “New York has such a high standard. I would be the staple hip-hop artist if I were from any other state.” But Picasso isn’t taking all the credit. He said that rap’s prominence in the mainstream media was “a wonderful thing,” and vital to his own success. “If the platform for hip-hop is bigger, then it can reach more people in a positive manner; the more people who are aware of that, the better,” he said in a phone interview. But Picasso also understands the negative effects of a musically saturated world. “These days music is too accessible,” he said. “Stuff comes out so fast, so there’s no chance to soak anything in. There’s no time. Everybody wants it now, now, now.” Picasso operates in the music world of old, before the Internet and file sharing, when music was released much less frequently. Music was not available to the public hours after its recording. There were longer times between releases, which Picasso said increased their value. “It’s just like economics,” he said. “There’s too much of it right now, so the demand is low.” Though Picasso has released only one “project,” called Exhibit A: The Real Hip-Hop Project, he has been writing songs for years.
ANNA NGUYEN anguyen@uark.edu
COURTESY PHOTO
“I waited two years to put out that project,” Picasso said. “I had it for a long time, but I was just tweaking it, making sure it was ready.” Exhibit A is the first in what Picasso said is a trilogy. Despite the artist’s reservations about the Internet, a system of communication he said “limits the interaction between artist and listener,” it is available now as a free download on his Web site. “Exhibit A was a project where I put lyrics over really good hip-hop beats,” he said. “It
Northwest Arkansas Music Awards 2009 Winners
was me taking more of a humble approach,” he said. Picasso said Exhibit B (tentatively titled Manifest Destiny) was “a whole different thing” from its predecessor. “Manifest Destiny is not a project,” he said. “It’s more assertive than A. It’s me being me.” The artist said that he had already begun work on Exhibit C. He said that Manifest Destiny would “hopefully” be released in mid-June. “It depends on how well Exhibit A goes over. I’m just biding my time,” he said.
Listeners can expect more thoughtful rhymes (Picasso lists poets Langston Hughes and Fela Kuti as influences) and old school beats (he grew up near 1990s hip-hop gods De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest) in the final two Exhibits. Still, Picasso looks even further into the future. “Like film, music is a staple of its time,” he said. “When you see a movie from 1930s, you think of that time. But it’s still timeless and I love that. My music will always be here.”
dwashbur@uark.edu
Brady Tackett Staff Writer
The Northwest Arkansas Music Awards engulfed the Dickson Theater on Thursday, with dozens of local musicians performing and accepting awards and applause. The musicians climbed from a limousine and conducted taped interviews with red carpet host Michelle Obana, formerly of the Paper Hearts. After a catered dinner, the musicians filed into the theater and waited. The event began with an announcement from Mayor
Lioneld Jordan, who declared April 23 to be Northwest Arkansas Musicians’ Day. “There’s no doubt that these are the best musicians in Northwest Arkansas,” he said. Among the celebrated acts were Opal Fly (for Female Singer/Songwriter), Boom Kinetic (for Best Party Band) and Benjamin Del Shreve, who collected three awards in total, including Band of the Year. NAMA is a benefit for the Fayetteville-based Northwest Arkansas Free Health and Dental Clinic. Thursday marked its 14th birthday.
FILM on Page 8
Guster gives their best for less BRIAN WASHBURN
The Wes Hart Band performs at the 14th annual Northwest Arkansas Music Awards at the Dickson Street Theater Thursday night.
See
MUSIC REVIEW
Listen up!
LARRY ASH Staff Photographer
After realizing that “Chungking Express” was newly released on DVD as part of the Criterion Collection a year ago, I’ve finally purchased it. It was my friend from Nevada who informed me of such good news - my friend who has been, perhaps, my most loyal reader during my tenure as a column writer for the cinematic flapper series. My friend who I have, I must boldly state, converted into a Wong Kar-wai fan. Yes, Miss Eunice Barron, I speak lovingly of you. “Chungking Express” is a gem of a film and holds a special significance in my memory. Wong’s 1994 film was the first film I watched by the amazing Hong Kong auteur, who is both admired and deplored by many. This film, however, can easily be an exception to those who adamantly declare their abhorrence to the auteur. His recurring themes are in the film – memory, expired time, jilted lovers and music – but there is a uniqueness to “Chungking Express” that shines out from Wong’s other pieces. It is, perhaps, the innocence of love and yearning that has never been recaptured in Wong’s later films. This pop-art gem, made during a hiatus from “Ashes of Time” when Wong wrote the screenplay as a break from the emotionally exhausting shoot, is divided into two stories about two cops who have been jilted by their loves. The two stories are not at all connected to each other, but the two main characters of the latter half appear briefly in the first chapter. The first story tells the story of Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) whose love has reached its deadline and is unable to move on. His love life becomes complicated when he meets a mysterious woman in a blonde wig (Brigitte Lin in her last film role before her retirement) involved in a troubled drug smuggling deal. The second story, which is my favorite and which will be the main focus of this column, shifts to a comically pathetic story about Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) who dwells on his flight attendant girlfriend’s sudden departure to inanimate objects. He speaks to a bar of soap and rag and a goofy Garfield plush. His slow journey from healing is aided by Faye (the magnificent Mandopop queen Faye Wong at her best in her premiere film), an ethereal, pixiehaired waitress at Midnight Express, a food stall, who cleans up Cop 663’s past by redecorating his apartment, much to his oblivion. Faye is identified by two songs in the film – the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” and Wong’s Cantonese version of the Cranberries’ “Dreams.” Faye listens to “California Dreamin’” constantly as she works at the food stand, drowning out the noise of a fast-paced Hong Kong, captured maddeningly by Christopher
Free concerts rock. I mean, even if the band is really horrendous, you still have gotten to see the show and laugh it off for free. But Tuesday night’s show at the UA Greek Theatre was not horrendous. In fact, even though it was free to all who ventured up The Hill, it would have been worth at least a $20 ticket. Guster knows their crowd, knows their taste and, believe me, they delivered a time that was fun for all. Guster has been a cornerstone of the college alt-rock scene for quite some time now. Even though they have chosen to develop (or mature) their sound in their past few albums, every song they played gave the crowd a jolt of excitement not found when listening to the tracks on the recorded albums, which at times come across as over-produced. The Massachusetts band - vocalist/guitarist Adam Gardner, vocalist/guitarist Ryan Miller, drummer/percussionist Brian Rosenworcel and bassist Joe Pisapia - gave the crowd an extremely varied set list alternating from older fan-favorites (“Barrel of a Gun,” “Demons” and “Airport Song”) to new songs some concert-goers seemed to like just as much (“One Man Wrecking Machine,” “Satellite”). The band also played a few songs probably not expected by the crowd, including the undeniably amazing mandolin version of “Come Downstairs and Say Hello,” “Ramona” and “Red Oyster Cult.” With every song the band played on their more than an hour set, the crowd sang louder, moved more and smiled wider. Guster also knew how to have fun on stage. Switching between different instruments gave Gardner and Miller the opportunity to offer listeners different variations of their
favorite Guster tunes. But more than switching instruments, vocal harmonies and crowd participation, the band just seemed to have a genuinely fun time on stage, much to the pleasure of the crowded Greek Theatre. Gardner, Miller and Pisapia’s instrumentation was dead-on for most of the set, which featured a 50/50 mixture of acoustic and electric rock, but Rosenworcel stole the instrumentation part of the show with his ability to switch between a regular drum set and the bongos stationed at the back of the stage. All I can say is, after that stellar and mesmerizing performance, his hands must
they were going to do prior to leaving the stage the first time). While the first encore featured crowd favorites, the second offered up something completely different and the band caught the entire crowd off guard when they performed a cover of ‘90s one-hit-wonder super single of “What’s Going On?” (you know, the one with the yodeling). If every free concert was like the one last week at the Greek Theatre then the music industry would be in even more of a free fall than it already is, as no one would want to pay for entertainment because of what they could get
LARRY ASH Staff Photographer
have been bloodied, bruised and hurting like hell. Musicians might give their all on a nightly basis, but Rosenworcel plays like he should be admitted to a hospital after every concert for lacerations and broken bones in his hands. While the show was way above par, even on standards for any of the UA’s phenomenal concert series, the band did decide not to include some crowd favorites, such as “Happier” (my personal favorite, so this was a major disappointment), “So Long” and “Homecoming King” (another personal favorite). The band did play two encores (which they told the crowd
for nothing. It is amazing to think that Guster are not as big as their alt-rock peers OAR or Dave Matthews solely based on their live performance and college-pop songwriting. Let’s just hope they stop through Northwest Arkansas sometime again in the near future. And this time, I’m sure many more people would pay to see the show. Brian Washburn is the news editor of The Arkansas Traveler. This is his last column for the semester.
Page 6 | MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
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HOROSCOPES | Linda Black ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) TODAY IS A 7. Luckily, you’re an avid reader. You devour the newspapers and magazines and other things to which you subscribe.This is an excellent habit, and it’s producing results now.
CROSSWORD
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) TODAY IS A 7. Your persistence and good advice pay off, as you get a tidy bonus.This could be winnings from a competition or cashing in a coupon. Every little bit counts. Celebrate. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21) TODAY IS A 7. You’ve had a difficult couple of days, but you emerge triumphant. New opportunities are opening up, because of your willingness to keep your word even when it’s not fun.That’s very important. CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) TODAY IS A 7. Something in your stack of stuff is just about coming due.You’d better go through those papers one more time.You abhor getting penalties and fees for being late. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) TODAY IS A 7. There are certain things you need to do to make sure the money comes in. Do that, but then you can accept a wonderful invitation. If you don’t follow these priorities, there could be trouble.
SUDOKU
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) TODAY IS AN 8. Here come a lot of new assignments. Some of them are quite interesting. Some are confusing. Make sure you get the deals in writing before you start doing the work. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) TODAY IS A 7. You and your sweetheart need to get away for a little while. Can you afford a vacation? If so, get outa here. If not, how about a nice dinner out at a great foreign restaurant? Or you could have it delivered SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) TODAY IS A 7. The money is available for domestic improvements now.This could include a marvelous deal on real estate. Keep watching for those, of course. Meanwhile, fix up what you have. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) TODAY IS A 7. Creative ideas are encouraged now, and you should be full of them. Don’t be discouraged if some don’t work out; that’s to be expected. Don’t run away; your input is very important to others.
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FRIDAY’S SOLUTION
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) TODAY IS A 7. You can buy, trade or sell and come up with a profit. It doesn’t happen every time, but often enough to keep you afloat. Never worry about that; you have natural talent. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) TODAY IS A 7. You know somebody who understands what’s in your heart.Take comfort in discussing your hopes and dreams.You don’t need criticism now. Seek out support and agreement. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) TODAY IS A 6. You have what you need to make home improvements, if you can only find it.You’ve been carefully saving for just such an occasion. Don’t worry, you put it in a safe place, right? Right.
FRIDAY’S SOLUTION
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Hogs host Oklahoma Sooners come to Baum Stadium for midweek game Wednesday in Sports
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Sports Editor: Bart Pohlman | Assistant Sports Editor: Matt Watson
Page 7 | MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
BASEBALL
Diamond Hogs take series from Tennessee Harold McIlvain II Senior Staff Writer
FILE PHOTO
Shortstop Scott Lyons went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs on Sunday. The Razorbacks improved to 13-7 in SEC play with two wins at Tennessee.
After a disappointing loss Saturday, Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said the No. 12 Arkansas Razorback baseball team just needed to focus on winning the series Sunday. “It was such a disappointing finish,” Van Horn said. “I told the team if you’ve played this game long enough, you’ll see some crazy finishes. We wish we were on the other side of it.” Arkansas turned things around and was on the other side during a 15-8 win Sunday in a curfew shortened eight-inning game. Arkansas fell behind early when starter Drew Smyly couldn’t get out of the first inning after allowing a three-run home run. The Razorbacks fought back with home runs by Andy Wilkins, Brett Eibner and Scott Lyons to cut the lead to one. Catcher Ryan Cisterna then tied the game up at 5-5 with a double. Tennessee would battle back to take a lead but Cisterna tied the game at 7-7 with another double. But the Razorbacks put the game and series away with a five-run inning that was fueled by a Wilkins three-run home run. Van Horn said it was a much-needed win after losing Saturday in a strange fashion. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Arkansas closer Stephen Richards came to the mound hoping to keep the game tied at 4-4.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Shorthanded Razorbacks make quick SEC exit Jimmy Carter Staff Writer
The No. 2-seeded Arkansas women’s tennis team was upset 4-3 by No. 7 seed Ole Miss in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament Friday afternoon at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center. The No. 14 Razorbacks (13-9) had accomplished their goal. They won the Southeastern Conference Western Division championship. Adding to the excitement, Arkansas played host to its first SEC tournament in program history. The Razorbacks were considered one of the favorites heading into action. But the tournament didn’t exactly go according to plan for Arkansas. Sophomore Anouk Tigu, the No. 74 singles player in the country, was sent home Friday morning with an illness. Tigu had played No. 2 singles for the Razorbacks all year and also teamed with senior Nanar Aira-
petian to form the team’s No. 1 doubles combo, and the No. 22 doubles team in the country. “It’s been a tough 48 hours because we went through a couple of different ailments and we had to pinpoint a few things,” Razorbacks coach Michael Hegarty said. “This morning it was pretty clear that she wasn’t going to be able to go. That puts a much different complexion on the match when you’re trying to figure out how to do things. “Still, once we knew what we had (we were) fairly confident in what we had to go out there with today.” Losing Tigu left the Razorbacks one player short and unable to field three doubles teams. Airapetian was hastily teamed with freshman Kate Lukomskaya in the No. 2 doubles slot, while the senior duo of Aurelija Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder was bumped into the No. 1 spot usually filled by Airapetian and Tigu. Needing just one win to
clinch the doubles point, the Rebels (14-8) took a 1-0 lead when the No. 25 duo of Kristi Boxx and Karen Nijssen triumphed 8-4 over Miseviciute and Kaluder. “I think it made a big difference, especially for the doubles,” Miseviciute said. “Doubles are our good point. We’ve won the majority of the doubles points this year. It hurt us not to have six players for doubles. It was tough.” Lacking the minimum amount of players, the Razorbacks were forced to forfeit the No. 6 singles spot putting the squad in a 2-0 hole before the singles began. Freshman Emily Carbone got Arkansas on the board after beating the Rebels’ Abigail Guthrie in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Airapetian knotted the match with her 6-1, 6-3 victory over Laura van de Stroet in the No. 3 singles spot. Miseviciute put the RazorSee
TENNIS on Page 9
But as he was ready to deliver a pitch, the runner on first made a move for second base and Richards overthrew first baseman Andy Wilkins, allowing Tennessee to score and take the second game of the series on the two-base errant throw. “It’s hard to even call that an error,” Van Horn said. “It was a mental breakdown. Just flick it over there, (and the runner) is a dead dog.” Tennessee used home runs against Eibner to tie the game in the second inning with a Jeff Lockwood home run. Another long ball in the fifth by Cody Hawn put the Volunteers up 4-2. Tennessee head coach Todd Raleigh said it was important to make Eibner work throughout his outing. “I thought we did a really good job of not getting quick outs,” Raleigh said. “We did not have quick innings. Lockwood gave us a big boost with a home run and then Hawn, that was the difference.” Raleigh said it was good for the team to tally five hits, three walks and four runs against Eibner, who tossed a one-hit shutout last time out. “I think the key for us was doing a good job early against the national pitcher of the week last week,” Raleigh said. “He was 95 miles an hour. He has an unbelievable arm.” Arkansas senior Ben Tschepikow started the sixth inning with a triple and scored when
redshirt sophomore singled. The Razorbacks tied the game with an Andrew Darr home run in the eighth. But the two-out solo shot wasn’t enough offense for the Razorbacks. However, that wasn’t the case for Arkansas during a 9-3 Friday night win. The Razorbacks scored five unanswered runs in the first three innings and later added three more in the fifth inning. Arkansas used 11 hits and 10 walks to score the most runs in SEC play since a 20-9 win in March over Mississippi State. Tennessee starter Ty’Relle Harris started the game with three straight walks and later gave up a double to Jacob House, who finished with four RBIs. “We just did not come out and throw strikes,” Tennessee assistant coach Brad LeCroy said. “Anytime you walk three guys on 15 pitches you are going to get hurt, especially when you are facing the middle of the order.” LeCroy, who filled in for a suspended Raleigh, said the walks gave the Razorbacks an opportunity to secure a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. “We just did not have focus on the mound and gave up way too many free passes,” LeCroy said. “It ends up hurting you.” Arkansas ace Dallas Keuchel struck out five and allowed two runs over six innings to pick up his sixth win.
MLB
LaRussa deserves plenty of credit for Cardinals’ success Bernie Miklasz
St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT ST. LOUIS — It’s only April, not September, and baseball’s long expedition always exposes the counterfeit contenders. So it is probably a bit premature to inform Cubs fans that they’re only a couple games out in the wildcard side of the National League standings. It is probably too soon to declare that first place in the NL Central is pretty much out of the question for the Cubs. But the Cardinals are off to an impressive start, perched atop the division with a surprising 13-6 record after a weekend series win over the Cubs. It’s not as if the opening month was set up as a carefree joy ride for the locals. The Cardinals began the 2009 schedule with no established third baseman, no set closer, and an outfielder playing second base. After that launch came the detours: the Cardinals lost rotation ace Chris Carpenter to the disabled list on April 14. They’ve squandered three victories by immolating leads carried into the eighth inning. They’ve committed 19 errors, the highest total in the majors. All of that, and somehow it adds up to 13-6 and an early lead in the NL Central. Having this Albert Pujols fellow batting third is a plus; a lightning bolt of a grand-slam on Saturday jacked his April totals to seven homers and 25 RBIs. After the game, I told manager Tony La Russa that he’d be foolish to retire and walk away from the
Cardinals as long as he can write the name “Pujols” on the daily lineup card. Every manager would covet Pujols as a weapon of choice, but it goes beyond that. La Russa is scribbling a lot of other names onto those lineups. And he wins with them, too. I realize that La Russa will always have his critics, and they’ll never declare a cease fire. And that’s fine. Your local heavyweight sports columnist (ahem) has gotten into the occasional snit with the intense manager over the last 13-plus seasons. But by now, isn’t it obvious that the guy is pretty good at what he does? No, it’s not all about him, either. When I pursued this angle after Saturday’s game, an uncomfortable La Russa wanted to deflect compliments. He credited his players, his coaches, the trainers, the equipment guys, the scouts, and key front-office types. Indeed the La Russa staff, anchored by pitching coach Dave Duncan, is terrific. General manager John Mozeliak catches shrapnel from fans, but Mozeliak has found some excellent bargains — Ryan Ludwick, Brian Barden, Joe Thurston — during a phase of payroll reduction. (Walt Jocketty was the GM when Ludwick signed, but Ludwick was scouted and recommended by Mozeliak.) But La Russa’s hard-driving personality and his two pillars of competition — effort and execution — have created a winning culture here. And that’s See
LARUSSA on Page 9
COMMENTARY
Looking back at the year on the Hill
With finals just around the corner, there’s no better time to reminisce about all the great moments Arkansas fans shared here on the Hill in 200809. This isn’t a season-in-review by any means, because several Razorback teams will still be competing into the summer, including the No. 12 Diamond Hogs and the No. 3 men’s track team. But before you stock up on No. 2 pencils and scantrons, take a minute to relax and enjoy this year’s final edition of Swinging for the Fences, complete with all the drama and entertainment you’ve enjoyed every Monday the past two semesters. 10. Courtney Fortson’s hair Okay, that’s not really a moment, but Fortson had enough moments to fill up this list himself. He was named a freshman All-American by a few publications, finishing the year averaging 14.9 points and 5.9 assists per game. He recorded the second triple-double in school history against North Carolina Central (20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists), and was featured on “Courtney Fortson Wig Night,” one of which was worn on air by ESPN analyst and Arkansas alum Jimmy Dykes. 9. Gymnastics team finishes program-best 5th place at NCAA Championships
Swinging for the Fences
the No. 19 Golden Hurricane 30-23 and derailing Tulsa’s golden season.
MATT WATSON
7. Diamond Hogs start season with school-record 8-straight SEC wins The Arkansas baseball team came flying out of the gates, off to a 19-4 (8-0) record before dropping its first conference game of the season in the second-half of a doubleheader against Mississippi State. We’ll blame it on fatigue. The Hogs won five of their next six games, climbing to No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball poll for the first time in school history.
mrwatson@uark.edu
The No. 10 Razorback gymnastics team made the school’s first “Super Six” this year, in just the program’s seventh season. Junior Casey Jo Magee recorded a team-best 9.90 on the floor, and Arkansas piled up All-America honors. The Razorbacks were also one of the youngest teams at the NCAA Championships, with only one graduating senior on the roster. 8. Razorbacks upset previouslyundefeated Tulsa at Reynolds Razorback Stadium Back in November, former Arkansas coordinator Gus Malzahn returned to Fayetteville with the high-powered Golden Hurricane offense for the Razorback homecoming game. The underdog Hogs punched the Tulsa defense right in the mouth behind Casey Dick’s career-best 385 passing yards, upsetting
6. “Celebration of a Championship” There was no shortage in coverage of that magical March afternoon, when the University of Arkansas finally recognized the 1994 National Championship basketball team. Fifteen years later, coach Nolan Richardson finally got to call the Hogs again at Bud Walton, and the best basketball team in Arkansas history was welcomed back with open arms. 5. Track Hogs blow away the field at SEC Indoors, win school’s 92nd conference crown While the UA was celebrating the only hoops championship in school
history back in Fayetteville, the most successful program in the history of collegiate athletics was in Kentucky earning its first conference championship under new head coach Chris Bucknam. After decades of domination under former coach and track icon John McDonnell, the Hogs found themselves back on top of the national rankings for multiple weeks in Bucknam’s first season. 4. Arkansas tops No. 1 Arizona State on second straight night With Arkansas No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and Arizona State first overall in all the other polls, Baum Stadium hosted an unforgettable series to determine “Who’s No. 1” - and the Hogs came out on top in dramatic fashion. The Razorbacks set an attendance record at the second game, on a midweek game no less, and swept the top-ranked Sun Devils with back-toback comeback wins in Fayetteville. 3. Hoops Hogs shock Oklahoma John Pelphrey’s Razorbacks were not hospitable hosts in December when they topped previously-unbeaten No. 4 Oklahoma. Arkansas scored 96 points in the win, led by Michael Washington’s double-double of 24 points and 11 boards against Associated Press Player of the Year Blake Griffin.
2. …then upset Texas the next week The big question after the OU upset was whether or not the Hogs (11-1 at the time) were for real. Most media said no, but the Razorbacks knocked out the No. 7 Longhorns for their second victory over a top 10 team in a week. I don’t really remember anything else that happened the rest of the season. 1. Casey Dick to London Crawford, Hogs knock off LSU in the Rock. For as disappointing as the Razorbacks looked for most of the 2008 season, there could not have been a more incredible and improbable way to end the year. After being benched for his little brother, embattled senior quarterback Dick found receiver Crawford in the end zone for the game-tying score, a 24-yard lob and go-ahead extra point that gave the Hogs a 31-30 lead and their second-straight win over the Tigers. After a long season, the Razorbacks went out on top with the best game-winning, season-ending, list-topping moment of 2008-09. Matt Watson is the assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler.
Page 8 | MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
LARUSSA from Page 7
undeniable. Since La Russa became the manager in 1996, only Atlanta has won more regular-season games in the NL, and only the NY Yankees have won more postseason games. During this decade, the Cardinals lead the NL in regular-season victories and have the most postseason wins by an NL team. Their 33 postseason victories since the start of the 2000 season are 14 more than the NL team (Arizona) with the secondhighest total. One of the reasons for La Russa’s success is that he consistently squeezes the most from his roster. And he’s doing it again this season. Not counting the pitcher’s spot, La Russa has used 18 different lineups in 18 games.
So far La Russa has gotten a combined .358 batting average, 17 RBIs and 15 runs scored from Barden and Thurston, who are splitting time at third base. The trauma of losing regular Troy Glaus to shoulder surgery has been lessened by the surprising RBI production coming out of the third-base spot. So far in the NL, only the Cubs and Dodgers have culled more RBIs from third basemen than the Cardinals. And these highly effective patch jobs are nothing new. Think of all of the role players, bit players, who have delivered some of the best baseball of their careers or experienced a revival — while working for La Russa here. That roll call would include Barden, Thurston, Thomas Howard, So Taguchi, Aaron Miles, Joe McEwing, Scott Spiezio, Abraham Nunez, Miguel Cairo, Marlon Anderson, Craig Paquette, Eduardo
SPORTS
Perez, Felipe Lopez, Bo Hart and John Rodriguez. And I’m sure I’ve left a few out. And La Russa’s top lieutenant, Duncan, has done the same on the pitching side, getting improved results from the likes of Kent Bottenfield, Woody Williams, Garrett Stephenson, Jeff Suppan, Kyle Lohse, Jason Marquis, Todd Wellemeyer, Daryl Kile, Chris Carpenter, Braden Looper, Andy Benes, etc. I believe this is one of the reasons why ownership has trimmed payroll; La Russa and Duncan are victims of their resourcefulness. It is now expected that they’ll get overachieving performances from players who come to St. Louis with thin resumes or deteriorating form. Whether he wants it or not, La Russa gets a lot of the credit. And I’ll be happy to argue with him over that.
TENNIS
from Page 7 backs within a point of winning the match with her 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 33 Kristi Boxx. The win improved the nation’s second-ranked player to 17-2 on the season, including a perfect 11-0 mark against SEC foes. “Even without Anouk (Tigu) they’re a good team,� Ole Miss coach Mark Beyers said. Kaluder then fell to No. 69 Nijssen 7-5, 7-6 (4) despite leading the second set 5-1. Nijssen’s victory evened the
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER | www.thetraveleronline.com score and left the No. 5 singles match between Lukomskaya and Ole Miss freshman Gabriela Rangel to decide the outcome. Lukomskaya took the match into three sets before losing 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. The freshman said she battled hard despite nerves and a sore hamstring. “It was kind of hard,� Lukomskaya said. “I was really nervous because it was the last match on all the courts. I love battling. Even if I’m going to go down, I’m going to battle. I was feeling pain in my hamstring but it didn’t affect my match. “You have to overcome your
pain. I was just trying not to pay attention to the pain.� Hegarty said he is hopeful that the Razorbacks will get to host a regional when the NCAA Tournament brackets are released on Tuesday. The top 16 teams host four-team regionals and Hegarty said his team’s body of work and current No. 14 ranking bodes well for Arkansas’ chances. “I think at (No.) 14 in the rankings you’re safe to host,� Hegarty said. “It’s hard to see us falling out of hosting, if you’re me. “It’s very close and it wouldn’t shock me either way.�
‘EMPTY WALLS’
Master of Science in
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CONTACT: Alex Mironoff College of Engineering alasare@uark.edu (479) 575-2082
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MAGGIE CARROLL Staff Photographer
Kyle McKenzie stands next to one of his paintings at the reception for his MFA thesis exhibition, “Empty Walls,� Saturday afternoon at the UA Fine Arts Center Gallery.
FILM
from Page 5 Doyle. Faye is just a delight to watch and has such an amazing, natural presence that leaves one wishing to imitate her character. Her quirky gestures are endearing as she plays with ketchup and mustard bottles as she moves to the beats of “California Dreamin’� and her chemistry with Cop 663 is inexplicable. The expiration of time is constantly reminded in “Chungking Express.� Cop 223 immerses himself in an eating orgy, eating
expired cans of pineapple to force himself to move on from May. Before leaving to California, Faye presents Cop 663 a fake boarding pass to visit her in the States, dated a year from whenever she left. In the last scene, she returns to Hong Kong, now a flight attendant; she finds that Cop 663 has purchased the stack bar and is changing it into a restaurant. Unlike Cop 223’s fleeting time with the blonde lady, Cop 663 and Faye seem to have a future together. Whenever I watch “Chungking Express� and hear Cop 663 tell Faye that he’ll go “wherever you want to take
me� in the film’s very final scene, I don’t want to recover from the unfamiliar, oddly upbeat feeling that takes over. That second story is so fulfilling that whenever I watch it, I skip to the latter half of the film to watch Cop 663 and Faye. I don’t think Leung has ever looked better in uniform as he did in “Chungking Express.� Anna Nguyen is the Lifestyles editor of The Arkansas Traveler. This is her last column for the semester.
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