April 3, 2009 by Arkansas Traveler

VOL. 103, NO. 73 | Single Issue Free

University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark.

Lifestyles Canadian harpist performs at Arsaga’s page 5 Sports UA to host NCAA gymnastics Regional page 7

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Page 1 | FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009

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STATE LEGISLATURE

Campus smoking stamped out Nick DeMoss Staff Writer

A statewide public university tobacco ban became state law Wednesday after Gov. Mike Beebe signed the “Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009.” The law will take effect August 1, 2010, and will carry stiff penalties for violators: fines ranging from $100 to $500. The law is designed to prevent medical issues that can arise from secondhand smoke. “Smoking, directly or indirectly, is a major cause of preventable diseases and death,” according to the act. “Secondhand smoke can cause or contribute to lung cancer, heart disease, chronic lung ailments and low birth-weight.” The law defines campus as “all property, including buildings and grounds, that are owned or operated by a state-supported institution of higher education” and mandates that the colleges and universities begin advertising the law 30 days prior to the start, something the UA has been doing since 2008, when the university implemented its tobacco ban. Act 734, originally House Bill 2007, was introduced March 6. The House passed it March 19 with a vote of 68-26-6, and the Senate passed it March 30 with a vote of 34-0-1, according to the Arkansas General Assembly Web site. In the meantime, the UA tobacco use ban will remain in effect and will proceed as planned, despite legislation from the Residents’

The Arkansas ‘Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009’

Arkansas law passes, outlaws smoking on public campuses

Act 734 August 1, 2010: Smoking is prohibited on each campus of statesupported institutions of higher education Violators will be punished by a fine ranging from $100 to $500. Banned products include anything that can be lighted and smoked, and campuses may be inspected at any time.

•

VERONICA PUCCI Staff Photographer

Though many student smokers have ignored the UA tobacco ban, an Arkansas bill passed yesterday will prohibit smoking on campus with a fine of up to $500.

Interhall Congress and the Staff Senate asking for revisions, FRESH committee co-chair Susan Rausch said Monday. The university ban, which has been in place since July 1, received criticism during a meeting Monday when several FRESH members called for more enforcement. The current plan is based on raising

awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, with the ideal end result of less people smoking. The official stance of the committee is an “expectation of respectful compliance” to the policy and that the plan going forward is to further educate people on campus about the policy, Rausch said in an interview prior to the passage of the law. Because the law has passed, n o n - e n fo r c e ment of the ban

will no longer be an option after August 1, 2010. “I think once something becomes the law, law enforcement doesn’t have a choice,” Rausch said. “We would have some responsibility – if it comes to a point when they are looking at enforcement, we will assess what our role will be in that effort,” UA Police Chief Steve Gahagans said in an interview prior to the passage of the law. The original UA tobacco

ban was based on a similar one implemented at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, Mo., where administrators have since turned to a policy of heavier enforcement. The problem with following OTC is that enforcing the policy would be a difficult proposition on a campus as large as the UA, said Mary Alice Serafini, vice chancellor of Student Affairs and director of the Pat Walker Health Center. “There is not a person in

this room who has the time or resources to enforce sanctions,” she said. However, with the passage of Act 734, it will be up to law enforcement officials to do so. “Unless you enforce it, no one is going to do it,” junior Bryan Sullivan said in an interview prior to the law’s passage. “I’m not opposed to the ban, but meet me halfway somewhere.” Sullivan said designated smokSee

SMOKING on Page 2

CODY BENNETT Photo Illustration

Students campaign for ASG office

Bland, Harmon aim to expand roles of treas., sec. Bailey McBride

Senior Staff Writer Jody Bland and Erica Harmon, ASG members campaigning to become the next treasurer and secretary of the ASG, said they want to expand the roles of each position if elected. Bland is a sophomore economics and finance major, and he has participated in F.R.E.S.H. Hogs and served on the ASG Judiciary and Student Financial Aid Committee. Bland is the scholarship chair for Sigma Nu fraternity and a member of

Leadership Walton. “I’ll set my stuff aside for those who elected me,” Bland said. “I won’t Jody Bland get elected to do what I want, I’m going to get elected to do what they want – if you’re representing student opinion, the administration will respect that.” Harmon, a freshman, has served the ASG as the director for political and civic engage-

Erica Harmon

ment, helping to organize the mayoral debates on campus in the fall and working with the Registered Student Organization Showcasing

program. “I want to give my full attention to the students 24/7,” Harmon said. “What sets me apart is my passion for this organization – I know I can improve this campus through ASG.”

The pair’s main goal is to “create a more accessible, student-centered Associated Student Government,” according to their campaign Facebook page. According to the page, Bland and Harmon plan to expand the role of treasurer beyond RSO budgeting by working with the Student Fee Review Board to provide students more stable fees, building relationships with state officials, and developing fair and affordable parking policies, among other initiatives. See

TICKET on Page 3

Brophey, Storm plan to increase communication among the ASG, city and state Bailey McBride

Senior Staff Writer David Brophey and Geoff Storm, who are campaigning to become the next treasurer and secretary of the ASG, said they hope to open communication among the ASG and university, city and state officials if elected. Brophey and Storm are both members of the ASG senate and Appropriations Committee representing the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Brophey is a junior pursuing degrees in anthropology and classics, and he plans to enter law school in fall 2010. He is

a member of Schola Cantorum and has traveled across the world performing with the choir. He is David Brophey also the secretary of Eta Sigma Phi, the honors society for Latin and Greek. “We know and understand not only the authority of the student government in its own right, but also the lengths to which a strong student-administration relationship can take us,”

Brophey said. “Our decision to run stemmed from our experience as active Geoff Storm members within ASG, who over the past year have built and maintained contacts, friendships and respectful relationships with members of the administration – it’s through these bonds that actions will truly take place, that progress will truly proceed.” Storm is a sophomore four-

year honors student majoring in English and political science, and he is pursuing a minor in classical studies. He is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and has served as the fraternity’s alumni chair and on the Standards for Chapter Excellence Committee. “Really, I just want to redirect the burden of getting information out to students so that the ASG puts information out and students don’t always have to go looking for it themselves,” Storm said. “We want to set up See

BALLOT on Page 3

ASG presidential candidates debate UA issues before election Bailey McBride

Senior Staff Writer Lured less by the debate itself than by the chance to publicly support their candidates, students who attended the ASG executive officer debate Wednesday expected to hear reiterations of old campaign promises, they said. And they did. Frequently discussed issues – like tuition prices, athletic tickets and sustainability – formed the crux of the conversation. “I think this is a good process, but it’s more of a cheer for your candidate thing than an actual debate,” ASG Treasurer Ben Hale said. The executive officer hopefuls, however, saw in the debate an opportunity to promote themselves, their platforms and their histories of achievement within the ASG. Presidential candidate Mattie Bookhout and her running mate Andrew LeNarz touted their five years of combined ASG experience. The four goals or pillars already outlined for the ASG would guide their administration, they said, but policy improvements like a revised ASG Poll also would be priorities. “We’re the flagship university of this state, and it’s time we stand up and act like it,” Bookhout said. Presidential candidate Jonathan Powell, currently serving as chair of ASG senate, described his ticket as “the platform of experience.”

The projected $1.5 million Arkansas Union budget deficit, as well as the $3,000-a-person cost of the LeaderShape Institute, are of concern to Powell and vice-presidential candidate Robert Sharp, the two said – which is why they’ve made addressing the cost of attending the university a cornerstone of their campaign. Recycling, campus lighting and police are three more of the key issues they highlighted. “We’re here to represent real issues to real students,” Powell said. Presidential candidate Jacob Holloway sought to dissociate himself from the current ASG administration. Whoever is elected president will be left with a “legacy of failure,” Holloway said, as many audience members booed. New programs for recycling and an ASG radio hour on KXUA, the campus radio station, are two ways Holloway plans to “reinvent” ASG, he said. “Nothing gets accomplished when people are afraid to stand up and face the issues,” Holloway said. “This is not a sport, and I want to let you know that I am not playing that game.” Current ASG President Carter Ford said he urges students to do just what Holloway suggested – face the issues. “I just hope people will pay attention to the issues and vote based on (that), not on whose name they see the most,” Ford said.

Page 2 | FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009

BRIEFLY speaking Pickens to speak at UA Monday T. Boone Pickens, 50-year oil and gas developer and architect of the Pickens Plan, will speak 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Monday, April 6, at the Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development auditorium. The Pickens Plan addresses what he describes as the single biggest crisis facing America today: the growing and dangerous dependence on foreign oil. 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 hosts 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 575-7412 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. Senior honor citation applications due The Arkansas Alumni Association is seeking applicants for its Senior Honor Citation. The awards are given to an exceptional senior man and woman every spring along with a $500 cash prize and life membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association. All application materials must be submitted to the Alumni Association by Friday, April 10. For more information, call Debbie Blume at the Alumni Association at 479-575-6476 or visit the alumni Web site at www.arkansasalumni.org/ awards/seniorhonor.php for guideline materials.’’

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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from Page 1

ing areas would be an acceptable compromise, something consistent with a recommendation from the RIC. RIC’s official stance on the tobacco policy is one of support, under the condition that designated smoking areas be implemented near residence halls. However, because Beebe signed the Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009, designated smoking areas will now be illegal on Arkansas campuses. “What troubles me about this law is that there is no exemption for universities to create designated areas,” RIC President Pro Tempore William Hogan said. “This means that on-campus students are now legally forced, not just encouraged, to leave campus, only increasing the potential safety risks that RIC highlighted in its legislation.” The RIC’s legislation was based on the danger of residents having to leave their residence halls after dark to smoke. The FRESH committee has been given permission by Chancellor G. David Gearhart to use funds accumulated through the judicial system that are earmarked for alcohol and drug education. “For once, we’re not looking at these needs with no funding to support them,” Rausch said. The money is planned to go toward creating signs around campus reminding people of the ban, conducting a survey about the policy and increasing awareness of quitting support services, through a partnership with the UA marketing department. Kathleen Reese, a professor from Northeastern State University, will be teaching the course Marketing Management, MKTG 4853, during the first summer session. Students in the class will be tasked with marketing the policy to people on campus and developing a way to present the dangers of secondhand smoke effectively, Reese said. “We have to determine how to best communicate these kinds of messages,” Reese said. Even before the Campus Clean Air Act was passed, support for the tobacco ban had been falling, according to a survey conducted by the UA Survey Research Center. In 2007, 64.3 percent of students responding to the poll said they either supported or strongly supported the policy, compared to last year, when 53 percent of those responding stated their support.

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from Page 1 “We don’t push it enough to our Legislature how important looking at tuition costs is,” Bland said. “I want to get a lot more networking between ASG, the faculty and the administration.” For secretary, the pair outlined goals to increase the position’s role in student government, including by updating the ASG Web site weekly, creating an ASG newsletter and effectively promoting ASG activities to students. “Most of the time when people have issues about something on campus, they don’t say anything,” said Harmon, who said she would want improving communication among campus groups and RSOs to be one of her top priorities if elected secretary. The Harmon-Bland ticket is gaining supporters on Facebook, like current ASG president Carter Ford, Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan and ASG Chief of Staff Megan Francis. Platform and contact information can be accessed by visiting the Harmon-Bland Facebook group, “Vote Jody Bland and Erica Harmon for ASG Treasurer/ Secretary!”

BALLOT

from Page 1 a climate where we’re reaching out and not just sitting up in A635 waiting on the issues to come to us.” Storm emphasized the use of new and alternative forms of media, from revamping the ASG Web site to utilizing video messages to provide more information for students. The goals of the Brophey/ Storm campaign include opening communication among Arkansas colleges and universities by pursuing the implementation of an Arkansas Collegiate Council; increasing communication with city officials; and continuing to build the relationship between the ASG and UA administration. The Brophey-Storm ticket is touting supporters on Facebook like ASG Vice President Jong Shin and ASG Treasurer Ben Hale. A full copy of the BropheyStorm platform, along with contact information and biographies of both candidates, is available on http://bropheystorm.info/.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009 | Page 3

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Tuesday, April 7th, 7:00pm at Panera Bread in Fayetteville http://respect.uark.edu co-sponsored by RESPECT and Panera Bread a sexual assault awareness month event of the STAR Central Office of the Pat Walker Health Center

OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

Page 4 | FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009

Online Poll How many Final Four teams did you choose correctly in your NCAA bracket? Vote online at thetraveleronline.com

Editor: Kimber Wenzelburger | Managing Editor: Tina Korbe

Phone: 575.8455 | E-mail: traveler@uark.edu

Tobacco talk would’ve staved off dissatisfaction Gov. Mike Beebe signed Act 734 into law Wednesday. This controversial bill, titled “The Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009,” will ban smoking on any publicly funded campus in the state of Arkansas. While this sounds the same as the recent tobacco ban on the UA campus, this comes with hefty punishments – $100 to $500 fines. The law also makes smoking during tailgating or any Arkansas athletic events subject to penalty. Though it will cut down on the amount of secondhand smoke roaming around campus grounds during this time, it might also anger UA alumni who have donated or are currently donating to the university. And, of course, as any opponent would be quick to point out, the law infringes upon a person’s civil rights to smoke tobacco products. The law effectively denies residents of a publicly funded campus the opportunity to use their rights to choose whether to smoke. But the main problem we see with the state legislature passing this bill is the lack of information Arkansas residents seem to have received prior to it becoming law. After all, if the Legislature is going to dictate individual choices, they could do worse than to interfere with actions – like smoking – that comprise only a relatively small section of somebody’s personal life and negatively affect public health. And, although the punishment for ban violators seems excessive – as it strikes at a particularly sensitive nerve by placing an enormous fine upon campus smokers at the time of this epic economic downturn – it is possibly the only way the state and UA could enforce a ban this comprehensive and controversial. But more public opinion research, especially in the state’s fastest growing area and main university, was warranted. Such research would have given students and others the chance to express their like or dislike for the controversial bill and would have enabled legislators to more accurately represent their constituents. At the very least, a more open dialogue – and some warning that the state was even thinking about passing such a ban – would have prepared the public to receive this bill more graciously. Fortunately, the bill will not go into effect until August 2010, which gives both smokers and non-smokers throughout campus more than enough time to learn about the rules, regulations and punishments laid out by the Campus Clean Air Act.

KETTLES OF CASH GUEST EDITORIAL

The Chicago Tribune The Salvation Army has rolled out its red kettles for holiday fundraising since 1891. But it has never had a year as successful as 2008. At a time when need was skyrocketing, so was generosity. Donations across the country reached $130 million, up 10 percent from 2007. That’s the biggest single-year jump since 1997. “The American public is obviously very generous,” said Melissa Temme, national public relations director of the Salvation Army. “When they’re presented with the struggles of their neighbor – even when they’re struggling themselves – they give.” Yes, the economy had an impact. More people went online to contribute to the red kettle fundraising than ever before, but the average gift fell. While people may not have been able to help as much as they used to, they still gave what they could. Cashless kettles contributed to the fundraising success. A pilot program instituted in Texas, Colorado and, at the last minute, Southern California, allowed givers to use a credit card at the kettles. The Salvation Army doesn’t yet have final numbers on how much cashless kettles contributed to the overall donations, but Temme said that, at a minimum, the publicity from the cashless kettles raised awareness of the need. The news wasn’t all good. The Salvation Army keeps money in the communities where it is raised. And some of the places where the need is greatest – such as Houston, Detroit and Las Vegas – were slammed by a shortfall in donations. Still, the overall picture is positive. As times got tough, people responded.

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.

The crime of prohibition “How do you think he feels now? Better … or worse?” Sean Connery growls as he, with the mythical team known as The Untouchables, literally axes through a liquor raid on one of Al Capone’s operations in gritty Prohibition-era Chicago. The film embraces the legend of Eliot Ness, who’s been relegated primarily to the rap references of Dr. Dre, WhoDiddly-Dee, P-Funkalicious, Miss Issippi, AR Kansas, etc., whatever. However heroic Eliot Ness’s portrayal, it doesn’t matter because Prohibition failed. It was violent, costly and disastrous, just like the prohibition of drugs. No matter what boss was taken to task, there was always a market, just like in the case of Don Pablo; the solution isn’t with bullets. Years ago, as I strolled through soft waves of unkempt grass along the small fence surrounding my grandparents’ country cottage in Mayflower, I discovered a propane tank with a bright red cap. The next two hours I witnessed with saucer-plate eyes as the sheriff arrived to investigate my discovery. We don’t hear about meth manufacturing busts like before. Now meth users get their fix on Mexican Biznack because of the outlawing of over-the-counter Sudafed – and Mexicans get their main ingredient from China. And what of our easily forgotten neighbor south of the border? The Mexican drug war is getting its 15 seconds of sensationalized fame on cable news before focus on Latin America wanes again. It seems we’re due for a 21st century Paul Revere thundering through the Riverwalk in San Antonio proclaiming the cartels are coming. Holed up in the Alamo, our brethren in Texas, clad in rustic 1800s apparel complete with the rotting, putrid carcasses of coons for hats, would suffer a heroic defeat, showing those bastards this is Amer-cuh; to which we would rally for the cause. Only, this time we’d have

Observation Deck

JAMES BAKER jab23@uark.edu

no idea what that cause is. To make matters worse, we’re supplying those goons with their weaponry and cash. We give our enemy their guns and the cash to buy the bullets. “He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue … that’s the Chicago way!” Sean Connery harshly instructed Eliot Ness in the pursuit of Al Capone. Yes, it’s also the American way, and just like in Prohibition, the violence will continue because there will always be fortune as long as we need a fix. We’ve poured billions in bullets into places like Colombia and Mexico, and we’ve gotten nowhere because we still use. So here’s the plan. The governor recently ensured that if smokers want to continue their habit, it will be costly; now some shell out more than $7 for a pack of smoky treats, aka cancer sticks. And what’s taken in from the 50-cent tax increase will fund better medical care in Arkansas. If revenue from such products as Magical Moocah went to drug treatment, people would not only rehab, but the aura of illegal drugs would lose the most important component, the term “illegal,” and thus, “cool.” Even pot over-consumption (earning the embarrassing junkhead moniker in Amsterdam, as associated with taking too much of any substance there, where usage went down by around 35 percent

when drug laws were made lax), would be seen as a disease. No one wants to be diseased. So if Mellow Mary was taxed as cigarettes are (Marlboro Greens are already patented), and part of the billions in revenue was poured into treatment, Shamrock Shelly and her drug counterparts would be uncool and put to good economic use by treating people and making them productive citizens and not criminals. Though my grandfather would smoke and actually find his appetite – dispelling the horrid taste of food brought on by a couple of strokes, heart attacks, etc. – a teenager could not so easily buy The Green Bean, relegated to being behind the counter alongside Camel Lights, and legality is uncool. The cartels would unravel with legalization. States could use sales for drug rehabilitation, or in California’s case, just trying to stay afloat, as Green Reaper is a $14 billion industry there. Federal money saved on defense spending reductions could help with Iraq and Afghanistan. Bulimia sufferers, cancer patients, those with glaucoma, those who are depressed, etc., could consume Blue de hue and save money on health care costs, while anyone who wants to use Lakbay Diva recreationally can pay for something taxed to hell and strictly over the counter. No need for guns or gangsters – a crop responsible for what some say is 77 percent of cartel’s shipments no more. Anyway, on Sundays, my normally productive days, I’ll now be able to crawl inside a whiskey bottle and sleep off our current American nightmare because my rights are being realized; seven days a week I can buy something responsible for 100,000 deaths a year. James Baker is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every other Friday.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Raise awareness of sex trafficking in U.S. I want to thank Lindsey Pruitt for taking the opportunity to raise awareness about the issue of global sex trafficking, including the problems within the United States. It’s one that receives far too little media attention. To take the issue a little deeper and show how pervasive the problem really is, I refer readers to some organizations devoted to raise awareness: http://captivedaughters.org, www.stopht. com/resources.html and www. notforsalecampaign.org. As you research, you will find that there is another industry that is inescapably linked to the trafficking industry: pornography. For those who view porn as a “harmless” activity and even deceive themselves into thinking that the women are all voluntarily participating in

pornography and getting wellpaid for it, think again. The reality is that much of the porn industry uses women and children who were trafficked. Sure, some may get to the point of “choosing” to do porn – but their choice might be between porn and prostitution, with no real freedom. I refer the reader to the book by Captive Daughters Media, “Pornography: Driving the Demand in International Sex Trafficking.” Don’t just read Lindsey’s excellent column and move on. Research and find out for yourself. Then work to eliminate the demand by eliminating porn from your life and challenging your friends to do them same. Next, lobby for laws that punish on the side of demand, and that treat sensitively the abused women and children involved. (One woman was arrested 17 times; only the 17th officer

asked her if she wanted help getting out of prostitution. The rest just threw her in jail for the night. Today, she is free in a safe house and learning to live a normal life.) Thanks again, Lindsey. Rosa Edwards Administrative assistant II Campus Life

SAFER initiative deserves more attention As the Associated Student Government elections approach next week, the SAFER initiative is a serious proposal to reduce university sanctions for marijuana possession to less than or equal to those of alcohol possession on campus. For those who aren’t aware, the university slaps additional penalties onto students in violation who would normally just face the legal penalties for marijuana possession. While these additional sanctions are not

legally required, the university enforces its substance policies through them. There are some administrators who, unfortunately, discourage NORML’s campaign to reform these sanctions. In recent weeks, despite a successful petition drive to get the SAFER Initiative on the ASG ballet next week, these administrators have vocally marginalized a perfectly legitimate RSO as a “waste of time” and said that they would not abide by the will of the students who pay their salaries. I encourage Chancellor Gearhart to ignore the pettiness of his inferiors and take serious consideration to policy reform. Whatever your views about marijuana use today, do not allow the administration of our university to marginalize your vote. Charlie Guerriero Freshman Economics

LIFESTYLES

Bargain shopping THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER Is the recession causing shoppers to be more frugal? Monday in Lifestyles Phone: 575.7540 | E-mail: travlife@uark.edu

Lifestyles Editor: Anna Nguyen | Assistant Lifestyles Editor: Lindsey Pruitt

Page 5 | FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009

LIVE MUSIC

Traveling Canadian harpist to perform at Arsaga’s Cafe tonight Brady Tackett Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

Megha Morganfield (left) will bring her harp and “Neoceltic” music to Arsaga’s tomorrow night.

Megha Morganfield is a dangerous criminal. Well, no, not really, but the Canadian harpist has been avoiding the border patrol for a number of years and shows no signs of stopping as she prepares for her upcoming tour of the Midwest. “I send harps through the mail to avoid getting them searched,” said Morganfield. “It takes a while to search a harp. I actually have a few of them scattered over North America so I can avoid having to travel with them. Morganfield, who has played the harp for about 20 years, began as a student of vocal performance. “I love to sing,” she said.

“That’s why I do this. But I’m not just a singer/songwriter; I’m also a composer.” Morganfield’s versatility has provided her some interesting musical opportunities, including singing lead in a bluegrass group in Japan. “I was an undergraduate at the time, and I went to study Japanese and anthropology,” Morganfield said. “I didn’t stay for very long, but I got in the bluegrass band while I was living there.” The harpist’s talent seems to know no international boundaries, as Morganfield’s work displays a surplus of cultural influence. She calls her music “Neoceltic,” and she has toured everywhere in North America and through Europe, according to her Web site. In 1992, Morganfield won

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Great taste, bargain with half-off sushi

High on the Hog

ROBERT GARNER rtgarner@uark.edu

I should have known all along. When I asked for your recommendations for appetizing deals and eats in NWA, I struck a chord. So, first of all, thank you for reading and sending me your suggestions. This week’s destination fits the criterion of offering great deals, and it’s within a pleasant walking distance from campus. When I saw the banner advertising 50 percent off of meals from WOW Japanese Bistro on Dickson, I knew I had to strike while the iron was hot. Turns out I’m not the only one with the same idea. That figures, though. Let’s just say I’ve done more for less. Now, I have to admit: offering someone raw fish at 50 percent off seems a little sketchy, especially for those who are already leery of eating sushi anyway. Fortunately, though, unbelievable discounts on uncooked sea creatures don’t scare me. One difference you can immediately notice about WOW is the environment. Visually, it’s

right on par with what you would bud memory bank is telling expect from a Japanese restaurant: me Fusion 5’s was a little better beautiful designs and color motifs, (which has recently changed etc. names to Ichiban). And how does the sushi comIn any case, WOW’s was pare? Just look at the name of the definitely good, and the price was restaurant. better. Now, I’m sure the “sushi The Las Vegas maki came on snobs” out there are calling for fire, which is always a good thing. my head on a silver platter, or The list of things inside the roll wrapped in seaweed and rice. But that’s what I get for writing about sushi, and I accept it. Between my ever-amusing Asian connoisseur and myself, we ordered four rolls. Of course we got a California roll, or Sushi 101. The rest of our fishy repertoire consisted of a crab roll, a Las Vegas maki and, my general favorite, a spider roll. All four of the rolls were nicely packed and cohesive, which was convenient for my sloppy chopsticking. The California roll was what it should have been, no more and ROBERT GARNER Staff Photographer no less. I really enjoyed the crab roll WOW Japanese Bistro’s Las Vegas maki quite a bit, as you could definitely (below) is rolled with a mixture of meats taste the presence of the crab and topped with spicy mustard. without being overwhelmed. was quite impressive, and I will My spider roll was very good, spare you the details and just tell although I generally like more of you that it was good. For me, the the sauce to dip it in. Plus, some most notable features of the roll places have fried sticks extending were its aesthetic beauty and the out of the roll to make it resemble mustard sauce on top that tied a spider. everything together nicely with Without a side-by-side comjust a hint of tang. parison, it’s hard to say whose To top things off, I tried the spider roll I prefer because they banana tempura for dessert. What were both delicious, but my taste that basically means is a fried

banana covered with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Or, in other words, delicious. For those of us old enough to remember, WOW is essentially what used to be Rice Village with a new name and on the other side of the railroad tracks. But really, it’s right on track. I can easily say this: WOW is the best sushi place on Dickson Street. Even without the half off deal, the sushi is great. Plus, the environment is fun and it’s just a hop, skip and a jump from the corner of campus. For those of you who are, for whatever reason, scared of sushi, try WOW. Order something simple like a California roll or a spicy yellowtail roll - you will like it. The service is great there (a stark contrast to Wasabi), and they will help you navigate the waters. If you don’t like it (for some weird reason), you might need to be tested, which you can afford because you saved so much money on the food. I’m still open to your suggestions and recommendations, although time constraints might prevent me from writing about them. Send me your favorite eats and bargains at rtgarner@uark.edu. Happy eating! Robert Garner is a staff columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.

PERFORMING A SPECTRUM OF MOODS

CODY BENNETT Staff Photographer

Dana Falconberry (left) performs an acoustic show in RZ’s Coffeehouse Wednesday night. The singer’s distinctive talents and creative vision are revealed in Falconberry’s debut national album, oh skies of grey, according to her Web site.

Ireland’s O’Carolan Competition with original compositions for harp and voice. “Playing the harp quickly, in the Celtic tradition, is very tricky,” Morganfield said. “After you pull a string, you have to either get out of its way and let it ring or mute it with your hands.” But Morganfield’s talent hasn’t made her aloof. “I prefer collaborations; I just love for people to sing with me,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll play at farmer’s markets and little kids will just gather around me and start to dance. Some of my biggest fans are 2-feet tall.” The harpist typically performs in intimate venues, such as churches, and accepts donations during performances. Morganfield is also a huge

proponent of music’s therapeutic value. The harpist has a masters’ degree in health education and regularly plays for hospital patients, a practice she calls “bedside harping.” “I do it for anyone who is soothed by the harp, not just the dying,” Morganfield said. “Once, a patient began to have an asthma attack while I was playing. I started to play very slowly, in sync with her breaths, and her breathing gradually slowed to normal.” Morganfield’s latest album, The Other Side of Now, is far away from her recent Neoceltic works. It’s a return to her bluegrass roots as the artist comes full circle. Morganfield will perform 9 p.m. tonight at Arsaga’s Café on Gregg Street.

MUSIC

Portuguese singer to perform blend of Gypsy, Jewish, Arabic and Andalucian music tomorrow

COURTESY PHOTO

Saba Naseem Staff Writer

Fado star Mariza has come from the smoky cafés of Lisbon to Northwest Arkansas to perform Portugal’s treasured national music at the Walton Arts Center tomorrow. Mariza is a Mozambican whose soul was forged in the old Mouraria district of Lisbon, according to a press release. It was there that she first heard fado singers - so many that their names and faces have merged into the mist of memory. “I lived in a traditional Lisbon neighborhood and have also sung the fado,” Mariza said. “I know what it is and I understand myself through it.” Fado, translated as destiny or fate, dates from the 1820s and is a blend of Gypsy, Jewish, Arabic and Andalucian influences. Fado is traditionally performed with only a singer and acoustic guitar, but contemporary fado singers have brought a greater variety of instrumentation as well as a more upbeat feel to the music. “Mariza is the music’s biggest star for a reason: She sings it not as musty nostalgia but as exuberant 21st century pop, with a low, mesmerizing alto that’s as commanding as any pop singer today…remaking fado’s ancient sadness into majestic modern sounds,” according to a review in Rolling Stone magazine. Mariza has a style of her own, which has earned her some comparisons to Madonna. She was influenced by traditional musicians such as Fernando Mauricio, Carlos do Carmo and Amalia Rodrigues, but her own style bears little resemblance to their works. The Portuguese artist respects the tradition of the past while also adding a bit of allusions to the future in her works. The release of her debut album, Fado Em Mim, in 2001 marked the beginning of her international recognition. Following this release, she received the First Award for the Most Outstanding Performance and began performing in renowned places such as Central Park. Her second album, Fado Curvo, expressed that “fado, like fate, isn’t a straight line and is not enclosed by limits,” according to the singer’s Web site. It was critically acclaimed in Portugal and went quadruple platinum. Her other albums include the Grammy-nominated Concerto Em Lisboa, which captured Mariza’s dazzling hometown performance for an audience of 20,000, Transparente and Terra. “This new album, I’ve decided to call it Terra, maybe because I always have my feet firmly planted on the ground,” Mariza said. She has performed on four continents at prestigious venues and music festivals, including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Opera House in Sydney and the San Francisco Jazz Festival. As one poet said, “Fado makes its way in the world through the transparency of its lyrics, and these Mariza sings with all her heart, because it’s in the work of poets that Mariza seeks the words which she can make her own within a traditional form of music which is undergoing constant renewal,” according to the Web site. Mariza’s performance will begin 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Walton Arts Center. Tickets range from $18 to $32 and can be purchased by calling the box office or by visiting Waltonartscenter.org.

Page 6 | FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009

DOWNTIME

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CROSSWORD

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SUDOKU

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WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

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WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

Regional Recap NCAA Regional comes to Fayetteville Monday in Sports

Phone: 575.7051 | E-mail: travsprt@uark.edu

Did you know? A Pittsburgh Pirates split-squad was defeated 6-4 by the Manatee Community College Lancers on Thursday.

Sports Editor: Bart Pohlman | Assistant Sports Editor: Matt Watson

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009 | Page 7

BASEBALL

Diamond Hogs look for new streak Harold McIlvain II Senior Staff Writer

Arkansas baseball head coach Dave Van Horn said he was proud of the team and its 8-0 start in Southeastern Conference play – the best start in program history. But the perfect start was spoiled by Mississippi State Sunday with a 12-4 win over the Razorbacks. Van Horn said the team got off to a bad start and didn’t do what it needed to do. “I just told our team, ‘we gave them extra outs, didn’t throw strikes or play good defense,’” Van Horn said. “But we were still in the game until the last inning. The team has done a great job through the first couple of series.” It’s that resiliency to which Van Horn attributes the hot start for the Razorbacks - a start that has them two games up in the Western Division standings heading into a road series against South Carolina this weekend. “It’s always nice to be atop the standings,” Van Horn said. “But we want to be atop the standings at the end of the year. The main thing for us is to play well and be better. When we have a chance to win, we need to do it.” South Carolina lost a midweek game against The Citadel 12-5, but the team was able to bounce back with a 10-0 win Wednesday over Furman. “After not playing very well and losing at The Citadel, it was great to come home and get a win,” South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner said. “We left some runners on base early in the game, but we had a big six-run eighth inning. We did a nice job and got a win.”

In conference play last week, the Gamecocks kept it close with Kentucky throughout the weekend. South Carolina won and lost by one run Saturday while winning by two Sunday. With rain in the area postpon-

ing the Friday game, Tanner said he didn’t even know if the game was going to be played Sunday. But the teams played through, and South Carolina pulled away with a three-run seventh inning. “The conditions were really ter-

rible,” Tanner said. “I’m shocked that the game was played as well as it was by both teams. It was a great win for us.” Junior right-hander Blake Cooper allowed eight hits and two earned runs Sunday while striking out five

JONATHAN GIBSON Staff Photographer

After struggling for the first month of the season, Brett Eibner is on a 5-for-11 streak at the plate, including two home runs against Missouri State on Tuesday, the same game that he threw four no-hit innings on the mound.

in a complete game for South Carolina. “Cooper really gutted up for us when we needed a big pitching performance and that gave us a chance to win,” Tanner said. “We came up with a couple of runs late. This was a great win on the road.” With weather projected to be in the high 70s in Columbia, S.C., both teams will be glad to avoid delayed or canceled games after having one game canceled apiece last week. Arkansas finished a Friday game Saturday while snow fell on the field against Mississippi State. For the Razorbacks to continue to have success in conference play, Van Horn said the Razorbacks need to just focus on taking care of business. “Last Friday, we had a chance to win it and we did,” Van Horn said. “I keep telling the guys to keep working hard and everything will work itself out. We still have some guys offensively that are starting to get going.” And that would include sophomore Brett Eibner, who helped the Razorbacks past Missouri State Tuesday night, 2-0. Eibner hit two solo home runs and pitched four no-hit innings while striking out five. After batting lower than .200 to start the season, Eibner has caught fire recently at the plate and on the mound. Over the past two weeks, he is 5-for-11 with 3 runs and 5 RBIs. Against Missouri State last week, Eibner struck out a career-high seven batters while allowing no earned runs and only two hits. Last year, Arkansas used its only three-game SEC sweep in a crucial series over South Carolina late in the season to help propel the team into a regional appearance.

GYMNASTICS

Arkansas gymnastics set to host NCAA Regional Harold McIlvain II Senior Staff Writer

The wait is finally over. After a program-best performance at the Southeastern Conference Championship, the No. 10 Arkansas Razorback gymnastics team will host the NCAA South Central Regional at 6 p.m. Saturday at Barnhill Arena. With a week off from competition last week, Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook said the Razorbacks have been eager to compete in the meet the team has looked forward to all year. “We’ve been trying to pace the excitement,” Cook said. “But they are confident and prepared. I think we’ll see an energized and enthusiastic yet determined team.” Cook said the team set a goal at the start of the year to make the Super Six championship round. But Arkansas cannot advance without a top two finish at the regional meet. “This is what we have worked so hard for,” Cook said. “Without getting to the national championship, we can’t move forward as a team or obtain any individual goals if we are not at the national championship.” Arkansas is hosting the event for the second time in program history and will

h o p e to benefit from the home crowd, who has helped the team throughout the year, Cook said. “I feel like the crowd at home has been like a sixth man in basketball,” Cook said. “They’ve helped us achieve the unthinkable, most people would say, in our sport by beating Florida, Alabama and being right there with Georgia. Those are big accomplishments for any program.” After traveling to Minneapolis, Minn., last year for the regional meet, Cook said competing at home will have plenty of positives. “[Being a t

home] is a little more relaxing in some ways,” Cook said. “After the course of a couple seasons, Barnhill seems to be a fairly intimidating place for teams to come in and compete. We are hoping to use that to our advantage.” Cook said it would be a new experience for the other teams who are traveling to the event. The competition – Arizona State, Southern Utah, No. 25 Arizona, No. 16 Michigan and No. 4 Stanford – have never faced the Razorbacks at Barnhill. “This is our gym,” Cook said. “With the energy from the fans, we are looking forward to using that to get in the top two, if not win the meet. Having our fans – especially the students, who are loud and excited – helps our team have extra energy when we are out there.” Although the competition is tough, Arkansas was excited to see the level of talent heading to the regional, Cook said. “When we got the notification of JONATHAN GIBSON Staff Photographer who was coming here, the team was just so excited to go against those programs,”

Cook said. “The one thing that is so impressive is they are not intimidated by a challenge. That actually fires them up more.” The Razorbacks are making their third postseason appearance against Arizona and their second against Michigan, Southern Utah and Arizona State. Arkansas has a combined 4-6 record against the field. Stanford will face Arkansas for the first time. Arkansas will have the same rotation it had at regional meet and nationals last year. The Razorbacks open competition on bars, move to beam, have a bye, move to floor, move to vault and finish with a bye. “The rotation is something that brings back positive memories for the team,” Cook said. “It gives us confidence that this is a good rotation for us.” After a scrimmage meet last Saturday, Cook said at this point the hard work is done. “We are just working on the little details now,” Cook said. “We’ve worked on the different scenarios. There is a very specific format for warming up, which we have practiced.” But being physically ready isn’t the only thing the team has focused on, Cook said. “The girls have done a lot of stuff within themselves with their spirit and motivation to keep focused,” Cook said. “I think that’s our intangible.” With a week of waiting for the event over, Cook

COMMENTARY

Sports cinema spectacular: ranking the best on film Off the Foul Pohl T here are plenty of sports movies out there. Unfortunately, there’s only a handful of good ones. Let’s get down to business. Here are my top seven sports movies of all time. Why seven? Well, that’s all the space I had.

(8. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”) (Disclaimer: since NASCAR isn’t actually a sport, this Will Ferrell gutbuster doesn’t make the cut. All that aside, this masterpiece in hilarity is one of Ferrell’s best efforts – second only to “Anchorman” – and teaches everyone that “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” Ah, life lessons…) 7. “The Mighty Ducks” Some might wonder why “Face Off” isn’t in this spot, but face the facts. “The Mighty Ducks” had everything that makes for a good sports movie – a washed-up player coming

BART POHLMAN travsprt@uark.edu

back as a coach, the coach’s older mentor, a ragtag team, the “overcoming the odds” theme, Emilio Estevez (Emilio!) and the “Flying V.” Anytime there’s a sports team named after a fictional team from a movie, you know you’ve got movie gold. 6. “The Sandlot” Growing up, there were few things I feared more than losing an autographed baseball, only to find Darth Vader’s gigantic dog using it as his personal chew toy. Thanks to “The Sandlot,” I learned that this was a

legit fear. 5. “Rocky”/”Rocky IV” While the original “Rocky” is superb – it’s the only sports movie to ever win the Best Picture Academy Award – it’s the fourth installment in the series that resonates. Why? Two words: Ivan Drago. Delivering icy one-liners like “If he dies, he dies” and “I must break you,” the Soviet fighter destroys everything in his path, including Apollo Creed. When Rocky finally defeats Drago, he does it in the U.S.S.R. with the Soviets chanting his name. How great is that? 4. “Happy Gilmore” A fun movie by all accounts, “Happy Gilmore” takes everything about golf and turns it upside down. Among Happy’s adventures: hitting 400-yard drives, taking care of his grandma, getting into a fight with Bob Barker, meeting a man who lost his hand in an unfortunate alligator accident and defeating Shooter Mc-

Gavin to win the Tour Championship. 3. “Rudy” In the pantheon of “overcoming the odds” movies, Rudy might reign supreme. I think Fortune (played by Charles Dutton) puts it in perspective: “You’re 5-foot nothin’, 100 and nothin’ and you have nearly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you’re gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this life, you don’t have to prove nothin’ to nobody but yourself.” Watching Rudy get on the field and make that sack still gives me chills. 2. “Remember the Titans” If you ever find yourself needing to motivate yourself or anyone else, just pop in “Remember the Titans” and go to town. Denzel (or just ‘Zel, if you like) Washington was perfect for the role of Coach Herman Boone, who apparently was the Denzel

Washington of football coaches. One of my favorite movie scenes is Coach Yoast’s “Make them remember – forever – the night they played the Titans” speech. If you’re not amped after hearing that, then something may or may not be wrong with you. 1. “Caddyshack” Hands down, the greatest sports movie of all time. Bill Murray’s performance of Carl Spackler is iconic. His tales of the Dali Lama, his “Cinderella story” at The Masters, his battle against varmint – it’s the stuff of legends. Add in Chevy Chase sharing his wisdom with young Danny Noonan and Rodney Dangerfield upsetting the country club establishment, and you have a classic that will last forever. And plus, anytime a movie utilizes a Journey song, it has to be great. “So what? So let’s dance!” Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009 |Page 8