Keeping the Memory Alive: A Sister’s Dedication by KELSI FORD
Asst. Features Editor
Volunteers from across campus placed 2,752 flags around the Union Mall Sept. 1. The flags memorialize each life lost on 9/11.
CODY DAVIS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Alyson Low wears the same silver bracelet, engraved with “Sara Low AA#11 Crew,” each day; she panics if she leaves the house without it. There is also a silver ring displayed on a chain that permanently hangs around Low’s neck. The UA alumnus and former Traveler editor wears the jewelry in memory of her sister, Sara Low, also a UA alumnus, whose life ended on Sept. 11, 2001. Sara Low was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane that was hijacked by terrorists on 9/11 and crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Within hours, a second plane hit the South Tower of The World Trade Center, the Pentagon was attacked by another commercial aircraft and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvania field bringing the death toll to 2,752, according to CNN as of 2003.
This year, on the 10th Anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the nation will pause as Americans remember those who lost their lives, the families of the victims, the first responders and all those who have served the United States at home and abroad. On Sunday, Sept. 12, President Barack Obama will visit Ground Zero in New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. in honor of the 10th Anniversary. Meanwhile, events will be taking place nationwide. In Fayetteville, a candlelight vigil will be held on Old Main Lawn, the Fayetteville Fire Department will hold a ceremony in memory of fallen New York Fire Department firefighters, and churches will host memorial services.
see LOW on page 8
UA Students Selected for 10th Anniversary Ground Zero Trip by BRADY TACKETT Staff Writer
Elijah Garcia was in 5th grade when he heard that the towers had been hit. “I remember exactly where I was,” he said. “I was on my way to school, driving with my dad. I heard about it on the radio, and we were wondering what the big deal was.” Now Garcia will have the chance to visit the site of the event that he said forever changed his view of America. He was one of 12 UA students selected by University Housing to visit Ground Zero on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. “I’m just happy that I’ll be able to be a part of history and show support for the United States and the thing that the people of New York City went through that day,” he said. Garcia applied immediately after receiving an email
advertising the trip from Jack Breffle, coordinator of residence education for Holcombe Hall. “We were looking for people who really sounded like they could gain something from the experience, that this would be something transformative for them,” Breffle said. The trip will last four days, from Sept. 11 to 14, and is mostly paid for by the university – students must pay $200 plus the cost of food. University Housing tried to select students from every year of college, including two freshmen, Breffle said. “The students coming into college now were very young when 9/11 happened, so they may not have been able to process what it meant for them and for their country,” he said.
see TRIP on page 6
CONTESSA SHEW STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
Growing Up with Big Brother: Post 9/11 Security by CHAD WOODARD Asst. News Editor
Lizzie Alvarez can’t remember a time before the government could legally monitor her Internet activity. “I don’t think I was aware that the government could do that at the time,” said Alvarez, a freshman pre-nursing major. “I never had a point where I thought about the government monitoring my Internet use.”
Alvarez is part of a generation that grew up in a post-Sept. 11 world. “I was in the second grade when the attacks happened, and we didn’t know what was going on,” she said. “I remember not understanding at all until a couple of years later.” Since then, security has been an issue shaped by the response to the Sept. 11 attacks both in the nation and at the UA. “The event changed the way
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everyone looked at security and the magnitude, the scale of danger,” said UAPD Lt. Gary Crain. Numerous changes have been made since Sept. 11 to prevent another terrorist attack, said Brent Smith, UA professor and terrorism and homeland security expert. “Counter-terrorism responses have become more proactive and federal agencies have become more involved in information gathering in responding to counter-terrorism,” Smith said. In response to the Sept.11 attacks, the government passed the USA Patriot Act as a security measure, Smith said. The USA Patriot Act gave the FBI authority to use a software program called Carnivore that could be installed on an Internet service provider’s equipment with a court order, to monitor a suspect’s Internet activity, according to a Congressional Research Service Report. “The threat of the USA Patriot Act might have deterred some people, but whether that is the case hasn’t been established,” said William Schreckhise, a political science professor. In 2010, controversy surrounded new measures on airport security, which included Xray technology to scan the body of each passenger before boarding an airplane to locate contraband items. The X-ray scanners brought up privacy concerns because the scanners produced an “image of a person’s body underneath his or her clothes,” according to information gathered from the Transportation Security Agency, American Science and Engineering, Inc. and CNN. However, according to the information, the images from the scanners are automatically deleted from the system after being cleared by a security officer who never sees the scanned person. “[The attacks] affected things across the board, immediately after 9/11,” said Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor for Facilities, who was working in Washington, D.C. for the
naval engineering program at the time of the attacks. “In the military perspective, people started looking at perimeters around buildings, bases, where large crowds might gather.” “People also started [reevaluating] at building codes, blast resistance on buildings, emergency power, fire and security systems, large concrete planters on buildings, which would keep cars from driving into the lobbies of buildings [and] I.D. cards,” he said. UA police officers also became more aware of the threat of terrorism after the attacks. “It heightened everyone’s awareness and made you realize how dire the danger is, and to pay more attention to doing the best that can be done to provide a safe environment,” Crain said. UA police have plans ready in case of a disaster, Crain said. “We have procedures and plans in place to deal with any emergencies, whatever the event may be,” he said. “It is called Hazardous Planning and the police department has responsibilities to things that happen, so we will be responding to the scene and decide what needs to be done and bring the situation back to normal.” “One security measure UA students can use is RAZalert. If a student registers for class they are automatically opted in and can receive notifications if something has happened,” Crain said. While these security additions have made us safer, that does not mean America is immune to other attacks, Johnson said. “We are safer, but you can never be complacent, because as you do things, the bad guys are constantly working on the things you put in place and you shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security,” he said. “We live in a very challenging world, even more challenging in the last 10 years.” Johnson added that it is important not to profile a specific ethnic or religious group and that “the bad guys and bad gals are not all Muslim.”
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BRIEFLY SPEAKING Thursday, September 8 Al-Islam Student Association and Community Blood Center Blood Drive
The Al-Islam Students Association is partnering with Community Blood Center of the Ozarks to hold a three day Blood Drive Campaign in solidarity with the nationwide drive led by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to collect 10,000 units of blood on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. The drive will be held in Yocum Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To volunteer, students must call 479-409-3247 for scheduling blood donation.
Saturday, September 10 Volunteer Action Center Audubon Society Restoration Project
As part of the National Day of Service, volunteers from the Volunteer Action Center will be participating in an Audubon Society Restoration Project from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The volunteers will assist in prairie restoration activities at Wilson Springs, located behind Sam’s Club in Fayetteville. Restoration activities will include re-establishing the native prairie, removing invasive vegetation from specific areas of the site. For more information visit volunteer.uark.edu.
Arkansas vs. New Mexico Game: Red, White and Blue Out
The football game between Arkansas and New Mexico on Sept. 10 in Little Rock has been designated Razorbacks Remember in tribute to the anniversary. The department of intercollegiate athletics is asking all fans to participate in the Red, White and Blue Out by wearing alternating red or white depending on their seat location inside War Memorial Stadium. Fans in oddnumbered sections are asked to wear white, and fans in evennumbered sections are asked to wear red.
Sunday, September 11 Old Main Lawn Candlelight Vigil
From 6:40 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. there will be a candlelight vigil on Old Main Lawn to dedicate a new memorial flagpole. Chancellor G. David Gearhart, Professor Hoyt Purvis and other community members will address attendees. Candles will be provided to the first few hundred arrivals.
First United Presbyterian Church “Hymn Festival for Peace”
The First United Presbyterian Church will host an ecumenical “Hymn Festival for Peace” at 4 p.m. The service will not directly address 9/11, nor promote patriotism, but rather focus on peace. The theme of peace will be explored through scripture, prayer and song. For more information visit fupcfay.org.
Fayetteville Fire Department memorial for fallen NYFD
The Fayetteville Fire Department will hold a ceremony at 8 a.m. in memory of fallen New York Fire Department firefighters. The service will be held at Fayetteville Fire Department Station 1.
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NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
International Travel Still Difficult a Decade Later by MEGAN HUCKABY Staff Writer
The way people travel was forever changed on Sept. 11, 2001. New technology, stricter regulations and more manpower have been implemented to keep travelers safe, according to The Department of Homeland Security website. “The Transportation Security Administration was created in the wake of 9/11 to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems while ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce,” according to a TSA fact sheet. The changes in security were almost immediate after the attacks. Now, “there are more than 400 TSA explosives specialists at nearly 145 locations” and “thousands of Federal Air Marshals who are deployed on domestic and international flights,” according to the fact sheet. Sept. 11 did not impact the UA study abroad program negatively, said DeDe Long, director of the study abroad program. Students studying abroad actually increased, she said. However, international students coming to the U.S. decreased because of tightened requirements for visa applications, a direct result
of the 9/11 attacks, Long said. Other countries also tightened their visa requirements, forcing U.S. students to make appointments with that country’s consulate to obtain a visa, Long said. UA senior and medical engineering major Dimo Soliman is from Alexandria, Egypt and said he has felt the impact of post-9/11 security. “[In the airport] I get stopped every time,” he said. “I usually stay calm and nice because I want to catch my plane, but if I miss my plane I get angry.” He came to the U.S. for the first time in August 2005 as an exchange student in high school. “It was my first time to come to the U.S. and I was 16 years old and by myself,” Soliman said. “I go to the officer sitting at the desk and give him my passport and identification. He looks at the passport, then at me and then at the computer.” “He then gave the passport to a different officer and they took me to a room where there were three officers interviewing one person. I was nervous and didn’t know what to do. They began asking me questions about why are [I was] here.” He left after a year and would return for college four
years later. Soliman said he feels that the security measures should remain as intense, “but to everyone.” Faculty at the UA have also seen substantial changes in airport security. “There was always some form of security at the airport, but after 9/11 it was quite different,” said Carol Rachal, a journalism professor. “There were long lines because they had to check you with the metal detector.” “I flew right after 9/11 and the woman made me take off my belt and I just thought it was kind of ridiculous,” she said. The security has not relaxed and is actually “worse” today than it was then, Rachal said. “I think they feel like they have to do something, otherwise people will say ‘yea we got blown up and nobody is doing anything,’” Rachal said. “TSA has screened nearly 5 billion passengers, detected approximately 50 million prohibited items, including 4,600 firearms during airport checkpoint screening” — all since 9/11 according to the TSA fact sheet. The repercussions of 9/11 will continue to be felt by travelers as long as the war on terrorism continues.
GRACE GUDE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ten years after 9/11, heightened security at airports across the world, including XNA outside Fayetteville, remains in full force.
Veterans Transition to College Life by BOBBIE FOSTER News Editor
There are nearly 518,000 veterans and veteran family members enrolled in college under the new post-9/11 G.I. Bill, according to the department of veteran affairs website. When other educational programs from the VA are added, however, the tally climbs to 840,000. “There are about 1,000 to 1,500 full-time student veterans in Northwest Arkansas,” said Timothy Farley, a veteran and a graduate student in rehabilitation counseling. “The one problem that seems to bubble to the surface for most of the vets I talk to is the ability to connect with [other] college students.” The VA is second only to the U.S. Department of Education in providing educational assistance to veterans and the post-9/11 G.I. Bill is the largest student aid package of its kind, according to the VA website. The bill covers full tuition, with a $1,000 a year stipend for books, according to the VA website. Most veterans, even the younger veterans, are a few years older then the average college freshmen when starting classes, Farley said. “[The veterans] have done a tour or two and most college fresh-
men have never left home and there is a big difference in outlook and maturity.” The majority, around 78 percent, of Iraq and Afghan war veterans are male and slightly half of the veterans are older than 25, according to a study about post-traumatic stress published in the “American Journal of Health Behavior.” “I have a daughter older than most of the students in my classes,” said Scott Cutlip, 40, veteran and junior journalism major. “I live in Alma and it is about a 40 mile drive, so I am not active in any organizations outside of my classes,” Cutlip said. “Graduate school is a different pony to ride,” Farley said. “Graduate students are older, a little wiser and take their education seriously just like I do.” Sometimes the gap between classes during duty in Iraq or Afghanistan can be a big challenge. “It is difficult when you have to rely on things you learned before,” said Michael Rasche, senior industrial engineering major and active National Guard member. “For example, I took calculus one before I left and then I came back and had to take calculus two.” According to Rasche, it’s
true that veterans have to reset back to a point when they were in college. “You have like two or three years of living on you and you are older,” Rasche said. The added weight of age and experience is not all that veterans must contend with. Post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with college veterans who were involved in physical fighting within the year they returned home, according to a study published in the “American Journal of Health Behavior.” Rasche said that the stress of college seems like nothing after experiencing active duty and it’s difficult to connect with classmates when student stresses are not a big deal to someone who has been on the front lines. “Most people have to be in the ‘right mood’ to study, but not me,” Rasche said. “I just do what I have to do. The stress is not from fighting.
Most of your time on active duty is not spent fighting, but it is the stress of always being ready for a fight.” The VA reports more than 22 million veterans living in America and of that 22 million, five million are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Professors love veterans in class, Farley said. “We are not afraid to ask lots of questions, we come to class on time everyday and we sit down in front,” he said. “Based on my observations, veterans are the best students.” When it comes to assimilating into college there are no tips or hard and fast rules, Rasche said. “There is no standard way to go back to school,” he said. “Not everything works for everyone. Some guys I know come back and are better than they were before and others are worse than they were before.”
OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 4 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
FROM THE BOARD From The Traveler archives, the following editoral was published Sept. 12, 2011: In the aftermath of those occurrences the morning past, it is hard to know how to act, what to do, what to say or how to feel, disbelief countering emotions at every turn. Most, though, kneeled and prayed, which is really all Americans could do in the moments immediately following one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the history of the United States. Let us begin with what is known. At about 9 a.m. EST Tuesday, two giants of the sky, American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 en route from Boston to Los Angeles, and United Airlines Flight 175, also en route from Boston to Los Angeles, crashed minutes apart from one another into the side of the World Trade Center in New York City, each blasting into a separate tower with tremendous force. Black smoke billowed into the sky as gray ash fell from above. The sky rained millions of pieces of paper from a height of 110 stories. Fires roasted from above, and some terrified people jumped from the windows so high up in an attempt to escape the inferno. One tower was seen to sway. Several firefighters who marched in came stumbling back out, choking on ash. Some police fled. It was near panic on the streets of lower Manhattan as many buildings were evacuated. And then, 90 minutes after the terrifying impact, to the sheer horror of a nation and world captivated by live images on TV, one of the giant edifices, glass and steel and all, came slowly crashing down onto the New York pavement, dust consuming half the city. Minutes later, its twin, the one decorated with the red antenna on top, came tumbling down to the ground. And just like that, the World Trade Center, the very symbol of American capitalism, had been destroyed, gone, missing entirely from the skyline for the first time in 25 years. The nation, the moment, seemed already wrapped in gauze and frozen in time. Untold numbers of firefighters perished while trying to help. There were possibly more people on the two planes combined than people who died in the entire Oklahoma City bombing. A combined 50,000 usually worked in the towers. New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani feared the loss of life from the towers could be in the thousands. Shortly after the strikes in New York, American Flight 77, a Boeing 757 en route from Washington to Los Angeles, was also hijacked and crashed on the helicopter-landing pad next to the Pentagon in Washington. One wall was black, in ruins and on fire. More black smoke plumed high above the Potomac River. The Pentagon, the biggest office building in the world, was felt to shake all around. No one knew how many more lost their lives. And United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757, crashed southeast to Pittsburg, en route from Newark, N.J. to San Francisco. It was reportedly headed toward Camp David when it crashed. The U.S. Capitol was evacuated. The White House also was cleared of all personnel as snipers kept watch of the skies above. President Bush, in Florida to promote his education reforms, left soon after learning of the attacks. Making only a brief, he was taken to a secure location in Omaha, Neb., by way of Air Force One and military escort. All U.S. financial markets closed as word of the bombings spread. As the Securities and Exchange Commission was announcing all exchanges closed, the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Exchange suspended trading. The Federal Aviation Administration closed all the nation’s airports until noon today. All Trans-Atlantic flights to the United States already in mid-air were redirected to Canada, the rest cancelled. By Tuesday afternoon, no one had yet claimed responsibility, though many were already pointing fingers at Osama bin Laden, who was accused of masterminding attacks against two American embassies in Africa in 1998. Countries around the world responded in dismay to the attack. British Prime Minister Tony Blair offered his condolences and any assistance America might wish. Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said it was “simply a tragedy.” There are days, infamous ones etched in the collective spirits of all Americans. Dec. 7, 1941; Nov. 22, 1963; April 19, 1995. Now sadly, Sept. 11, 2001, joins them in painful remembrance of nightmares past. It is too early in the course of events to know how all of this will play out. Clearly, America was the victim of a large-scale terrorist attack. It was an attack on the American way of life — on each American — and against freedom itself. Still, somehow, America will move on from this awful day, and emerge from the rubble certainly a different but hopefully also a stronger country. And naturally, all wish those who are guilty might be brought to justice for these acts beyond capacity for rational comprehension. In the New York skyline of the morning past, behind and above the ruins below, was a beautiful, blue sky. Cool air and all. And the birds flew unaffected by it all. What a mess humans make of things. What a tragedy inflicted upon brothers and sisters. What a ring of fire humans have surrounded themselves in.
MARCUS FERREIRA STAFF CARTOONIST
‘America is the most misunderstood nation’ by Ferya Ilyas
Guest Columnist
I am a Muslim and a Pakistani. My mind was full of prejudice about American society when I landed in the United States. in August 2010. After a brief tour of the U.S. Capitol, I headed toward my final destination — Fayetteville. Before leaving Pakistan, I made up my mind that I would face tough times during my stay in America. I left behind an extremely concerned family and friends and embarked on this journey. The memories of 9/11 were still vivid, and stories of discrimination against Muslims, and Pakistanis in particular, dominated the U.S.-related media coverage in Pakistan. I had numerous questions
about how I would be treated when I arrived at the airport. How would people react to my hijab and conservative attire? Would a male security officer scan me? There were people who suggested that I think twice before going to America, and then there were people who encouraged me to explore this new land and its people. I was very concerned about what my experience would be like in a new country. The only thing that was not on my mind was that I could actually fall in love with this place. A year has passed since I first visited my host university, the UA. I studied at the UA during the Fall 2010 semester as part of my Fulbright Scholarship. My four month stay in Fayetteville is so far, my most cherished memory. Even if I try really hard to remember, I can’t recall a single incident that could be categorized as an “off ” occurrence. My journey started off great. By the time I reached my destination, the guy who picked me up from the airport had already planned a welcoming dinner for me with his family. That was our
first meeting and he told me a lot about his family and asked me some really funny questions like, “What would my parents say if I were to marry an American guy?” and “Oh, you cover your head! What religion do you follow?” He was just one guy. I met hundreds of people just like him and every single day, my biases against the United States and its society were challenged. Myself and other Pakistani students, a couple of Registered Student Organizations and the American Red Cross, organized a fundraiser for the 2010 Pakistani flood victims. The response we got was overwhelming. The amount of money raised was beyond our initial target. That event turned out to be so influential that one of the attendees, who also played music at the event, decided to take a semester off from college and personally visit Pakistan during the floods. These instances might not be anything unusual for Americans, but for me they were stunning. Back here in Pakistan, we love to hate America. Anything that goes wrong, we blame it on the
“war mongering” superpower. Be it cross-border attacks, suicide blasts in our mosques or ethnic-based killings, for us it’s all a part of the U.S. government’s new world order. After all, burning American flags is our favorite past time. When Osama bin Laden, America’s most-wanted man, was killed in Pakistan by American forces in May 2011, our reactions were mixed. We were shocked and embarrassed. Whether anyone knew about bin Laden’s presence is still a mystery in Pakistan, but the event has further deteriorated America’s image. In Pakistan, America is the most misunderstood nation. I feel bad that people who gave me so much love despite my nationality or religion, are hated for all the wrong reasons. However, nothing is permanent. I hope that we all learn to love each other — or at least cease to hate. Ferya Ilyas, a former international student, studied at the UA for the Fall 2010 semester.
Soldier reflects on time spent abroad, encourages students by Heather French Guest Columnist
One random Tuesday in early September, a friend of mine walked into my office and simply said, “There’s a building on fire in New York City.” I didn’t think much about it until she added, “They think it was a bomb.” A bomb was different than a fire. Turns out it wasn’t a bomb, but a plane that had been flown into one of the World Trade Centers. That random Tuesday was Sept. 11, 2001. I remember every detail of that day. I was confused and a little bit scared. Sketchy details were com-
ing in through all forms of the media. And there I was, barely 23. I thought I had it all down, that I had all of the answers. I was wrong. My peers were sitting around me and most of us were around the same age. I remember looking around the room when the first tower fell and we all had tears in our eyes. No one said a word. The direction I thought my life was going was about to drastically change. I joined the Air Force in 1998. Some join as a duty and others as a family tradition. I did it because I had nowhere else to go. I was in a bad marriage and I didn’t want to stay home. I thought I was ready and willing to do my part, but I didn’t realize at the time that “that part” was war. I didn’t sign up to fight bad guys. I signed up to get a steady paycheck, to have good insurance and to learn a trade and earn money for school. I had a husband and a daughter for crying out loud. I couldn’t go shoot at bad guys. I fell
into a troubled sleep that night and Wednesday morning, Sept. 12, I put on my uniform and looked at myself in the mirror. It wasn’t just a uniform anymore and the military wasn’t just a job. I realized in that moment that I had a family and they deserved the right to live in our country, free of fear. I wanted them and all Americans to have the peace of mind that they did on the 10th of September, just two days prior. But most of all, I wanted the cowards who planned this attack to be held accountable for what they did. By Sept. 22, I was on a plane heading to battle. I was scared and nervous but I was ready. I assumed we would tote our M-16s everywhere and be on the “look out for Taliban.” But not all of those who support terrorism are out in the line of fire, in the weeds, ready to shoot. We eventually landed in Bahrain, a quiet island outside of Saudi Arabia once owned by the British.
They still held many traditional Hindu values, but there was also the younger crowd who wore jeans and T-shirts and the young ladies who wore makeup. It wasn’t what I expected, but we supported the war fighters in Afghanistan from a “support base,” which provides soldiers a place to sleep and offers them medical attention, among other services. After four months I was deployed to Kyrgyzstan, to a NATO base where we had a multi-national force. It was another support mission, another not-carrying-my-M-16-to-shoot base. After about two months I went home. That deployment was “cake” as far as deployments go. And then we arrived in Germany and everything changed — again. After exploring Germany, visiting local bars and chatting with residents, it was time to return to our home bound flight where we were ushered on a bus and taken to our plane. Upon our arrival, in
the middle of a cold March night, we noticed the proper and dignified loading of flag-draped caskets. We all exited the nice, warm bus and stood at attention, paying our respects to the soldiers who would be flying home with us. It was the most sobering event of my life. After six months of missing my husband and daughter, I was going home to see them. I couldn’t say the same for these men. I had two more deployments after that one. Both were in Iraq, and both I carried my M-16 but this time not for looks, for protection. Again, everything I knew changed. I met some incredible people on those trips and made some lifelong friends. But the most important thing I learned was there are more good people living in that country than bad. Seniors, you are at an amazing age; the age where you can really take the world by the horns and make a difference. Your life is just beginning for you. When you leave
here and you are doing your job, learning what you need to make it in your new life, be ready. You are of the age where you know you don’t know everything, though you do know where you’re going and how to get there. I remember being 23. I knew what I knew and I knew it well. You will have certainty in what you do and be comfortable in doing it, just like I did. Then things will happen. Things will change. What you signed up to do will have a whole different meaning. Maybe your changes won’t be as dramatic as the attacks of Sept. 11 or my deployments following those attacks, but it will be just as personal to you. You will be scared and nervous, there’s no question. While I was wielding my M-16 at 23, you will be wielding your tools and knowledge. Use them wisely and be ready. Heather French is a UA freshman, majoring in journalism.
PAGE 5
OPINION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
My 9/11: What 9/11 means to me as a Muslim American
by Saba Naseem
Traveler Editor traveler@uark.edu
We all remember that fateful day ten years ago, Sept. 11, 2001, when the walls of our country were breached and the heart of our nation was attacked. Most of us were young, in elementary school or just starting middle school. I remember sitting in my sixth grade math class tak-
ing a test when my teacher’s phone rang. This didn’t happen often, so naturally, we all looked up. Next thing we know, she’s turning on the television and telling us that a plane hit the World Trade Center in New York. I had no idea what the Twin Towers were or why they were so important. I silently watched the TV screen in horror, but there was a slight disconnect; it was almost as if I was watching a movie. I remember going home that day. As I got out of the bus and walked up my driveway, my mom rushed outside to come get me. Her eyes were red and I could see the slight glimmer of tears marked on her cheeks. This was a lot more serious than I had thought. The weeks after 9/11 were some of the most confusing
weeks of my life. The terrorists responsible for this heinous crime turned out to be people who carried out the attacks in the “name of Islam.” My religion. These terrorists not only attacked my country, they also attacked my religion. As an American Muslim, I received a lot of attention-weeks, months and years after 9/11. People wanted to know about Islam; If the terrorists actions did not reflect Islam, then what are the teachings? I had Muslim friends whose parents did not let them go to school the week after 9/11, I had friends who stopped wearing the hijab and I have a friend who was accused of calling in a bomb threat at her school. However, here in Fayetteville, I don’t remember a single instance of intended physical or
verbal harassment. The Fayetteville community remains just as open-minded today, if not more, as if in defiance of the travesty committed against thousands of our fellow Americans. Now, 10 years later, as we reflect back to that day and remember those innocent men and women who died, it is also important to remember the people who ran toward danger, regardless of their lives, to save others. Thank you to all the firefighters, police officers, rescue workers and other first responders who risked, and in many instances, sacrificed their lives for others. Most importantly, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the troops who fought and continue to fight for this country. There are about 45,000 troops stationed
in Iraq and as of June, 2011 there were about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, with plans to send 1,400 additional Marines, according to The New York Times. There are more than 1,000 military veterans on campus, many who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and are now trying to adjust back into the civilian world, a transition that can be very difficult. Although the university provides many resources to help veterans with this transition, no one can quite understand the struggles that they must face. As a student veteran once told me, “Nobody comes back unchanged…The support here is nice, but it’s difficult for anybody to understand. I found that the best support comes from people who have had the same experience.”
So while I cannot claim to understand the transition from a war zone to a college campus, I can say that I have the deepest respect for our troops and I appreciate those who come back to study at the university. Thank you for your service to our country. This year, we decided to dedicate a special edition to the remembrance of 9/11. One of our own— Sara Low, a UA alumnus and sister of former Traveler editor Alyson Low—died when the 1st hijacked plane hit the North Tower. We would like to honor her memory as well as the memory of the 2,571 others who died in the attacks. Saba Naseem is the 20112012 Traveler editor.
ABOUT THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper of the University of Arkansas, is published Monday-Thursday during the fall and spring academic sessions, except during exam periods and university holidays. Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Traveler. The editor makes all final content decisions. One copy of The Arkansas Traveler is free to every member of the UA community. Additional copies can be purchased for 50 cents each. Mail subscriptions for delivery within the continental United States can be purchased for $125.00 per semester. Contact the Traveler Business Manager to arrange.
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STAFF EDITORIAL
SABA NASEEM
SAMANTHA WILLIAMS
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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.
Source: Pew Research Center
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
PAGE 6
by ERIK NORTHFELL Lead Designer
TRIP from page 1 “I wrestled with the significance of 9/11 for 10 years, a process he detailed in his application essay,” Garcia said. When Garcia entered his 5th grade classroom that Tuesday, there were TVs everywhere, flashing with images that would be burned into public consciousness. “They showed us a replay of the planes actually flying into the towers, and then they showed all the suspects, like all the guys that were hijackers, and you see them and they’re all Middle Eastern, they’re all Muslim, they’re all wearing turbans,” he said. “It affected me because I was young, you know. I think it was the same for a lot of Americans – that light bulb went on in their heads and we started thinking, ‘These Middle Eastern people, these Muslim people, they’re all
bad.’ And we started having this stereotype against them based on this terrible action committed by just a few guys.” Garcia said he struggled with that prejudice for eight long years, until he moved into Holcombe Hall his freshman year. He’s stayed there every year since. “I started becoming friends with Muslim people from Saudi Arabia, from Iran, from Egpyt, from Indonesia, and seeing that they’re just like me,” he said. “They’re working hard, they’re really nice people, and that helped me personally get rid of that stereotype.” The UA students will also visit Liberty and Ellis Island, the U.N. Headquarters, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a Broadway show and go on a Central Park bike tour, Breffle said. “We thought, while we’re there, why not take advantage of some of the cultural and educational
opportunities?” he said. Garcia, who has never been to New York City, said he is looking forward to the opening of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which “attests to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity,” according to the museum website. “During times like this, the good thing about America is that people come together,” Garcia said. “It showed the courage and the character of the American people.” Breffle, who created and planned the trip with another residence education coordinator, said his recent trip to New York City changed the way he viewed the attacks. “There’s a feeling of community at Ground Zero on an anniversary of 9/11,” he said. “It’s a completely different experience being there, rather than just seeing pictures or seeing it on TV.”
Americans Rebuild in NewYork
CAROLYN COLE LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT
The Freedom Tower, still under construction, will reach a height of 1,776 feet when finished. If you count its needle-like spire, it will rank as the tallest building in the United States.
Razorbacks Honor 9/11 Victims by REBECCA BLACK Staff Writer
Between the Union and Mullins Library, 2,752 American flags decorate the lawn; each representing a victim of the Sept. 11 attacks. On Sept. 5, 37 volunteers from the Volunteer Action Committee, the Residents’ Interhall Congress and Associated Student Government gathered in the growing dusk to place each flag in the ground. Matthew Seubert, a junior political science and economics major, planned the memorial, along with other remembrance events throughout the week. What started as a simple project grew into a week-long event because he “saw how much it meant to folks” and wanted to give his generation a “constructive outlet to express those emotions felt by our age group for 9/11.” Bin Laden’s death was a wake up call for many Americans who saw the way the country reacted, especially
people that were young at the time of the attacks, Seubert said. “I saw how deeply it affected the country, and the pentup emotion that went along with it,” he said. Many of the volunteers had personal reasons to help out at this memorial, while others did it to represent the country as a whole. Senior Michael Sides still remembers where he was at when the World Trade Center was hit by two airplanes. “I was in physics class in high school my freshman year,” he said. “The school closed and we watched TV all day. I remember that I was surprised, but I didn’t really understand what was going on. I didn’t understand the ramifications at the time.” However, now his view has changed drastically, he said. “The war brought it closer to home because some of my friends enlisted,” Sides said. “I wish I understood more when it was going on.” Sophomore Mckenna Gallager
was just looking for a way to give back to the community. “It didn’t really affect me personally,” she said. “But seeing the way it affected the country as a whole, I know it is going to be something that everyone is going to remember for the rest of their lives.” University staff member Angela Black shared Gallager’s outlook on the event. “I wanted to remember 9/11 and do something to bring that remembrance to others,” Black said. Seubert said that the memorial should serve as a reminder to students and community members of the impact the Sept. 11 attacks had on America. “Each flag represents an individual life, each with its own intricacies, but also when students stand in the center of the mall and look out over the expanse of flags, they should consider the enormity of the loss of life on Sept.11,” Seubert said. “I think this will be a jarring moment for many students.”
DOWNTIME THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
PAGE 7 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
LAUGH IT UP
SUDOKU
Q: How do you fix a broken tuba? A: With a tuba glue. Q: Why was the scientist’s head all wet? A: He had a brain storm. Q: When is a car not a car? A: When it turns into a driveway. Difficulty:
Q: What do you call a sleepwalking nun? A: A roamin’ Catholic.
TODAY’S SOLUTION Q: What do you call a teacher that never passes
gas in public? A: A private tooter.
WELCOME TO FALLING ROCK
Josh Shalek
THAT MONKEY TUNE
Michael A. Kandalaft
BREWSTER ROCKIT
Tim Rickard
BLISS
Harry Bliss
CALAMITIES OF NATURE
CROSSWORD ACROSS
DOWN
1 Make sound 5 Fictional elephant 10 Pine 14 Capital at the foot of Mount Entoto 16 Gambler’s marker 17 Moving like a dog in a narrow tube? 19 Spots on cartes 20 Straight opening? 21 Kennel worker 25 Greek sphinx, from the neck down 27 Dud sparklers? 29 Good for growing, as soil 30 Traps 31 Pick up 34 Razor brand 35 Contempt 37 Stadium level 38 Sigh relative 39 Othello, for one 40 Wonder Woman weapon 41 One solving several crosswords simultaneously? 44 Anniversary gala 47 Häagen-Dazs array 48 Words after take or save 49 Z-zebra link 50 Brilliant bees? 57 Performer of many Dylan songs 58 San Diego Zoo attraction 59 __ breve 60 Folklore threats 61 Not at all bleak
1 It may be glazed 2 URL ending 3 Woodworking tool 4 Songwriter Phair 5 One holding property in trust 6 Li’l __: old-themed restaurant 7 Traveling companions? 8 NYC dance co. 9 Word of support 10 Cache crop? 11 Laundry conveyor 12 Good times 13 Group values 15 By a narrow margin 18 Rank and file movers 21 Key of Schubert’s Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 22 Popular party people 23 Arkansas’s ___ National Forest 24 Baum princess 25 Stead 26 Warhead vehicle, briefly 28 Pirouette 31 Blow one’s top 32 Coastal wader 33 They may signify joy 35 Exude 36 Nap 37 Branch 39 Media lead-in 40 Source of some greens 41 Italian square 42 Ascetic of yore 43 Articulations 44 Sluglike alien strangled by Leia 45 Standard 46 Chisel’s edge 49 Bacteriologist’s supply 51 IHOP ‘__: takeout food program 52 Short job 53 Syr. seceded from it in 1961 54 __-cone 55 Money VIPs 56 Mention
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
Tony Piro
FEATURES THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 8
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY
ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
Student Soldier Serves UA Grad Student Shares Her 9/11 US After Sept. 11 Experiences by EDDIE GREGG Staff Writer
MARY MCKAY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Student Scott Wiley, US Air Force, gives a demonstration of the C-5 Galaxy during an interview. Wiley says he is proud of his service.
by KRISTEN COPPOLA Staff Writer
In April 2002, Scott Wiley arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Seven months earlier on Sept.11, 2001, terrorists had completed the deadliest attack on U.S. soil in American history, and this memory was not distant in Wiley’s mind. Fresh out of boot camp, Wiley inquired about how the attacks affected those on the base. His supervisor took him to
stand on the 60 foot tail of one of the planes and directed Wiley to look northeast in the direction of New York City, which was three hours away from the base. “You can’t physically see New York City from Delaware, but he said from the tails of the plane you could see the smoke plume from the World Trade Center,” Wiley said. “That’s when it really hit me. You can’t synthetically feel something until you’ve experienced the situation first hand, and at that point I felt closest to the victims of 9/11.”
An experience not easily forgotten, Wiley was able to recall the instance easily, despite the decade that has passed. It’s something that has helped to define him, and those close to him notice. Now a staff sergeant stationed at the UA, Wiley is in his last semester and will graduate with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in December. He came to the UA as a part of a competitive program for previously enlisted military to return to college to obtain a technical degree.
“It’s called the Airman Education and Commissioning Program,” Wiley said. “It’s only for prior enlisted, and it gives us a chance to go to school with pay and benefits and earn our education, and then go to officer training school and commission as a second lieutenant.” Despite Wiley’s drive to finish the school and return to the Air Force, he still takes time to show compassion to
SOLDIER on page 9
At 8:36 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, five hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. About seven miles to the north, a 23-year-old photojournalist named Tracey Haynes, a recent graduate of the University of Missouri at the time, was just waking up. She had not been in New York City for long and was staying in a hostel near Central Park on 110 Street while she looked for an apartment. She got up, washed her face and got ready for the day—she was planning on visiting the World Trade Center for the first time. When she left her room, she walked through the entryway of the hostel where a television happened to be broadcasting news of the attack. Without hesitation or fear she grabbed her camera, two rolls of black and white film and headed to the subway station. “Most people when they hear a gunshot they run away,” Haynes said. “A photojournalist runs towards it. I didn’t think; I just went.” She took the Red Line south towards the World Trade Center. She talked with the other passengers on the subway, trying to figure out what was happening. While she was on the subway, five more hijackers flew a second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, into the South Tower. As the subway moved closer
to the site of the attack, a voice came over the loud speakers saying that this would be the last trip for the that line because of the attacks. Haynes exited the subway five blocks north of the World Trade Center and climbed up the stairs from the underground station. She emerged to the sight of people, some crying, some running away, some looking dazed and confused—against the gargantuan backdrop of the flaming, smoking towers. She took a few pictures and continued to watch the towers with the people around her. Minutes later the South Tower imploded. “People started running north. I crouched down and kept trying to get a picture, but I kept getting hit on the shoulder by people running,” she said. Holding her ground, she finally captured a picture that wasn’t blurry—a picture of people fleeing as a police officer, overshadowed by the collapsing tower and the billowing cloud of dust and debris it created, screamed for them to run. As Haynes headed north with the crowd, she came upon and photographed a man and woman crouched on the ground. The man was weeping and screaming into his cell phone; he was trying to find out if his daughter, who he feared was in a day care in the World Trade Center,
EXPERIENCES on page 9
Campus Muslims Feel Effects of Attacks on World Trade Center by ZESSNA GARCIA
and hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca. The word Islam means “total submission to one God” and a male follower is Muslim and a female follower is Muslima, she said. “I’ve had a lot of people that are curious; they wonder what it (Islam) is and what we believe,” said Bilal Ziada, senior anthropology and
try to do good things in the community.” said Sofia Naseem, vice president of AISA. This year marks the 10th Al-Islam is an organiyear anniversary of Sept. zation that has events ev11; many will be rememberery semester. It was formed ing where we were and what in the wake of the 9/11 atwe were doing on that day. tacks for the purpose of inThe weeks following 9/11 it forming the community was impossible to watch the about Islam, Naseem said. news and not hear about the This year AISA is hosting twin towers, tera blood drive rorism, airport “People need to remember the with the Blood security and the acts of a few hijacked not only the Coalition of the word “Muslim.” planes, but our religion for their Ozarks. Two M a h f u z a blood drives own purposes.” Akhtar, adminwere Sept.6-7 istrative super- - Bilal Ziada, Senior in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies and there will visor for the King be one Sept.8 Fahd Center for Middle East Middle Eastern Studies ma- at Yocum Hall and anothand Islamic Studies joined jor. “It’s made me realize that er Sept. 12. One hundredthe UA in 1999 and worked as a Muslim, especially and fifty people have signed up in the Dean’s office of Ful- American Muslim, every day for the blood drive, she said. bright College of Arts and I am a sort of [an] ambassaMuslimas of UARK is Sciences when 9/11 occurred. dor of our religion and as a the third organization on “I was shocked. All [the Muslim living here it is kind news] said it was done of my duty to show people MOSQUE on page 9 by Muslim people, I was what the real Islam is, whethfeeling so bad and hu- er it be by my actions and the miliated,” Akhtar said. way I conduct myself day to LOW The King Fahd Center day, or informing people and from page 1 for Middle East and Islam- educating them about Islam.” ic Studies opened its doors Ziada is a native Arkanin 1998 with private funds san and is the President of As people around the nafrom King Fahd himself in the Muslim Student As- tion remember where they order to create awareness. sociation, which is one of were that day, Alyson Low Students are given scholar- three Muslim student as- vividly recalls the events. ships through the under- sociations on campus. Alyson Low was teaching her graduate and graduate proThe three Muslim student class at Washington Junior High gram to study Middle Eastern associations are the MSA, in Bentonville, Ark. on Sept.11, and Islamic history , culture Al-Islam Students Associa- 2001, when a fellow teacher and religion, Akhtar said. tion, and Muslimas of UARK. showed her a live video of smoke There are not many Mus“For people to associate billowing out of the World Trade lim students at the cen- Muslims with 9/11, that’s not Center towers. She knew Sara had ter, most students involved accurate. There are bad Mus- to work on a flight to Los Angewith the center are Ameri- lims in this world that do les, the destination of the first can students, Akhtar siad. bad things, but there are so plane to hit the WTC, at some Islam is very similar to many good ones that do good point during that week. When Christianity, in fact they are things. I think it’s a motiva- she got ahold of her parents, her “sister religions”, Akhtar said. tion to step up and step out father was on the phone with The five pillars of Islam are and let people know what we American Airlines. The famfaith, prayer, charity, fasting are doing and try to help and ily was told what they wanted to Staff Writer
ANDREW HAGOOD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Bilal Ziada, senior, prays at the Islamic Center on Razorback Road Wednesday afternoon. The center was mostly empty, but gets crowded on Fridays, Ziada said.
hear: Sara wasn’t on Flight 11. “When I got that good news, I remember stepping outside and everything just suddenly looked so crystal clear and beautiful, and the sky even got bluer. I was so happy,” Low said. “The teachers were high-fiving me. So for a while, we just sat and waited for her to call us.” Low waited throughout the morning for Sara’s call. The longer it took, the more discouraged Low felt. “My dad called about 12:30, and the first thing he said was, ‘Is there somebody there with you?’ That’s all he had to say,” Low said. “I knew that she was gone.” Cheri Freeland, business manager of student media, remembers Alyson and her sister well.
Alyson served as a Traveler Editor in 1995 and 1996, and Sara would frequently visit the office. “They were how sisters should be; they were inseparable,” Freeland said. “I remember Jeff Smith was the editor at the Traveler when it happened and he said that she was in one of the planes. I just thought of her smile when I found out.” Since Sara’s death, the Low family and many others around their hometown of Batesville, Ark., have found many ways to honor Sara. The bracelet, which was given to Alyson Low by a group in New Mexico, and the ring, one of Sara’s that was recovered from the debris at Ground Zero, are just two small ways that Sara’s memory has been preserved.
At Sara’s memorial service, Sara’s roommate, also a flight attendant, pinned her own flight attendants’ wings on the jacket of Mike Low, Alyson and Sara’s father. With the help of a neighbor’s son, the Lows found a Special Operations unit out of Fort Campbell, Ky., and asked if one of the men might wear the wings into combat. Specialist Mark Baker wore the wings into Afghanistan. When he returned home, he gave them back to the Low family in a special ceremony. The wings will be now be installed in the museum at Ground Zero. “It stands for all the flight attendants who were lost that day and
LOW on page 9
PAGE 9
FEATURES
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 EXPERIENCES from page 8
TRACEY HAYNES COURTESY PHOTO Tracey Haynes’s photos from the 9/11 terrorist attacks are included in a Washington D.C. film festival, which will air at the Newseum in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
LOW from page 8
in Sara Low’s name. The Humane Society of Independence County in Batesville named a room for cats after Sara, because she owned a cat and loved animals. Alyson Low said the money that continues to be donated to the Humane Society in Sara’s name is incredibly meaningful to the Low family. Low said she hopes to someday be able to open an animal shelter in Sara’s honor. “She loved animals,” Low said. “That’s something I’d like to do in her memory, is to create a forever home for animals that just, for whatever reason, aren’t going to be high on people’s attention level for being adopted.” In 2002, a maple tree was planted on the Old Main lawn in Sara
ter’s memory for this year, but not because it’s the 10th anniversary of Sara’s death. She said the emthe profession itself,” Alyson Low phasis society puts on five, 10 and said. “It connected them to the re15 year anniversaries makes peoally special people in the military.” ple think there’s something even Back in Batesville, the Sara Low more important about the 10 year Memorial 5K was started by a anniversary, but the Low famBatesville native who ran track ily doesn’t look at it any different. with Sara in high school. The race, “The reality is, yes, it’s just anwhich takes place the weekend beother year without her,” Low said. fore Sept. 11 each year, raises monLow described her sister as being ey for a scholarship fund at Batesintelligent, quick-witted and calm. ville High School in Sara’s name. She said her family has heard from Alyson Low has only been able to some of Sara’s former passengers, attend the race one year, because she who said she was “always really reand her family are usually in New assuring to them and made them York City on Sept. 11, but when she feel comfortable on their flights.” attended in 2009, she was touched “We’ve had a couple of passenby the amount of participation. gers who were kids at the time, “There were so many of my famflying by themselves, and they reily members and membered how “If you want to remember Sara in my classmates and she made them feel the most appropriate way, it’s to go people in the comcomfortable,” Low munity,” Low said. said. “She had this and do something fun.” “That was such good demeanor of be- Alyson Low, former Traveler editor and sister of medicine for me to ing in control and flight attendant on 9/11 see all those peoin charge; not overple come together for bearing at all, but just that. It was just extraordinary.” Low’s memory. It is planted close somebody that you knew you could A stone memorial dedicated to to her name on the Senior Walk, rely on as taking care of business.” Sara Low sits in front of the Batesville near the intersection of ArkanLow said her sister was “just hiJunior High. Alyson Low said sever- sas Avenue and Dickson Street. larious and loved to dance.” She al students from the junior high’s art “That’s been really spe- said Sara became a flight attendant classes etched images from Sara’s life cial, to have a living memo- because she thought it was “just the into the stone – including a plane, rial to her,” Alyson Low said. perfect means to travel and see all which commemorates when Sara Low said she and her family the different places,” and she was became a flight attendant, and a Ra- will be in New York City on the looking forward to becoming an zorback, which is a nod to her years 10th anniversary of 9/11. At least international flight attendant. Sara at the UA. There is a picture of Sara two members of the Low fam- graduated from the UA in 1995 with etched into the center of the stone. ily have been at Ground Zero a degree in real estate and finance. Alyson Low said the sup- on 9/11 each year since 2002. When people ask Alyson Low port from the community in “I can’t see in the foreseeable fu- howtheycanhelphonorSara’smemBatesville has helped the Low ture not going,” Low said. “It’s im- ory, she knows exactly what to say. family make it through the portant to me to be around the “If you want to remember Sara in years following Sara’s death. other family members. I get a lot the most appropriate way, it’s to go “We have a really support- from being with them. And not and do something fun and to pay ive community in Batesville, ex- necessarily even talking to them, attention to what’s going on around tremely supportive,” Low said. just being in their presence.” you. It just sounds so cliché, but “On one hand, it is very isolatMost importantly, Alyson Low smelling the roses, because she realing. But then on the other, because wants to feel close to her sister ly had an appreciation for the beauty it has been so public, we’ve been on the anniversary of her death. in life and having a really good time able to absorb some of that good “I just need to be where Sara with her friends and her family. That part of human beings on a big- was,” Low said. “She was so far to me is the best tribute,” Low said. ger level. That’s been very helpful.” away from us on that day that I The University of Arkansas just need to be where she was.” Community College in BatesLow said her family is planning ville also has a scholarship fund some special projects in her sis-
SOLDIER from page 8 those around him, helping students at the computer lab, according to Debbie Haynes, secretary in the mechanical engineering department. “He’s a really good kid, well a man actually,” Haynes said. “He makes [the mechanical engineering staff ] feel like he cares about us and that the students care about us as well.” This sentiment is echoed by Carter Serage, Wiley’s roommate of nearly two years and fellow mechanical engineering major. “On the solar boat team, he’s a leader,” Serage said. “He takes charge and tries to organize.” Serage said that he believes Wiley has gained his leadership abilities from involvement in the Air Force. There’s something else that stands out about Wiley, according to those close to him. He is not haunted as one might expect of a man whose first deployment was four months in Baghdad, during the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “He’s very positive,” Haynes said. “The cup is always half full, never half empty.” Wiley maintains his sweet-
was OK. The woman next to him, a stranger to him, was trying to console him by rubbing his neck and offering him a bottle of water as tears rolled down her face. Haynes continued north, taking pictures of the people she saw along the way, but she was running out of film. “Miraculously, I found a dude who was just opening up his camera shop,” she said. “I bought like 10 roles, 12 rolls of film.” Haynes continued to document the events and people she saw around her, taking dozens of pictures, several of which were displayed in the Here is New York: A Democracy of Photos gallery, which featured thousands of photos taken by professionals and amateur photographers on 9/11 and the days following. Prints of all the photos could be bought for $25, which was then donated to support the children of parents killed in the 9/11 attacks. The effort has raised $850,000, according to the gallery’s website. A year later, 880 photos from the gallery, four of which Haynes snapped, were selected
and complied into an 864-page book also titled Here Is New York: A Democracy of Photos. Ten years later, Haynes is a graduate student at the UA majoring in education. But her work continues to gain recognition. Her photo of the weeping father is going to be featured in a 9/11 documentary narrated by Tom Hanks, Haynes’ favorite actor, that is playing at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 8 as part of the Capitol's day long 10th anniversary commemoration of 9/11. Even though she is working on a teaching certificate, Haynes still loves photography and believes in the power of photojournalism and embraces the role her photos have played people’s lives. “I used to kind of poo poo it,” she said. “You don’t want to act like it’s more than it is. But you also have to acknowledge that you’re contributing to the greater conversation that we’re having as people and that there’s value to that. It’s cool that it’s meant something to somebody or that it has moved them—that it’s something that I contributed to their understanding of 9/11.”
ened disposition but he said he hasn’t forgotten the hard times while serving. One instance in particular was during his first deployment. “It was at Baghdad International Airport,” Wiley said. “My primary duty was to ensure that cargo planes landed at the airport, unloaded cargo and departed safely.” Early one morning during his deployment in Iraq, Wiley faced one of his most frightening moments – a mortar attack. Iraqi insurgents fired mortars, which fires shells at high angles, over the fence surrounding the airport. A metal storage unit was hit during the attack, though the rebels were unable to see their targets. “We used to go in and out of [that unit] all the time,” Wiley said. “It was hit. If I had done my normal rounds like I was supposed to that morning instead of getting there early, it could have gotten me. That was rough.” But this experience didn’t break him, he said. Wiley was grounded in his decision to serve his country and said that he has always felt a patriotic duty. “I thank him and I thank everybody for the service that they put in,” Serage said. “It takes a special person to do that.”
MOSQUE from page 8 campus. Members of Muslimas have had many lectures in the past few years and helped coordinate an Islamic Awareness Week two years ago. They have “had different speakers introducing Islam to other students,” said Haxhire Myrteza, last year’s president of Muslimas. The events are open to everyone. Mohandas K. Gandhi once said, "It is the duty of every cultured man or woman to read sympathetically the scriptures of the world. If we are to respect others' religions as we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world's religions is a sacred duty.” These young leaders have turned a negative into a positive by opening the platform for conversation and bringing awareness to the Muslim community. “People need to remember the acts of a few, hijacked not only the planes but our religion for their own purposes.” Ziada said. Editor’s Note: Sofia Naseem, the vice president of AISA is the editor’s sister. She is the spokesperson for the organization.
LIBBY NYE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Alyson Low, former Traveler editor, sister of Sara Low and now the childrens librarian at the Fayetteville Public Library, sits by a window in the childrens department overlooking Fayetteville.
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 10 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER
Photos (Left to Right): CONTESSA SHEW, CONTESSA SHEW, GARETH PATTERSON, RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Big-Play Specialist Joe Adams etched his name into Arkansas and SEC record books in week one
by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor
Receivers Marquel Wade and Maudrecus Humphrey were right behind Joe Adams, tapping his helmet enthusiastically. The line judge was right behind those two with his own spe-
69 yards 4:15 Third Quarter
cial message. “Walk back to the huddle,” the official ordered Adams, not wanting the senior receiver to linger in the endzone after his electrifying 69-yard touchdown return. “I don’t think I’m going to make it ref,” the out-of-breath senior managed.
Adams had just recovered his muffed punt, sprinted to one sideline, back across the field and then back again, a highlight-reel play that made him Arkansas’ career punt return touchdowns leader and tied him for the Southeastern Conference single-game punt return touchdown record.
Walking to the sideline wasn’t going to be easy. Fellow senior receiver Jarius Wright sprinted to the end zone and carried Adams back to the bench. “I wasn’t lingering,” Adams said. “I was tired.” His big night in the Razorbacks’ 51-7 season-opening win
against Missouri State, including a 61-yard return for a touchdown in the first quarter, earned him SEC Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week honors. “I was surprised when they told me, but I pride myself on being a good return man and putting the offense in good position
The Record-Breaker
or score if I can,” Adams said. The two touchdowns added to his school-record 97-yard touchdown return against Ole Miss last season made the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder the UA career leader in punt return touchdowns.
see ADAMS on page 12
Arkansas 44 Missouri State 0
Photos (Left to Right): CONTESSA SHEW, CONTESSA SHEW, RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Setup Missouri State went threeand-out in the third quarter and punter Jordan Chiles hit an end-over-end 40-yard punt angled toward freshman returner Marquel Wade, Arkansas’ other returner back deep with Adams in Arkansas territory. Adams moved in front of Wade, but the ball took an awkward bounce and hit Adams at the 31-yard line, causing him, Wade and Missouri State long snapper Kaleb Mueller to dive for the ball. Mueller tried to fall on it at the 33-yard line, but the ball
squirted free before Adams fielded it and headed toward the right sideline. “I was trying to get Wade a punt return and it bounced. I didn’t think I touched it, but people said I touched it, so that’s why I went to get it. I’m never trying to dive on the ball. I’m trying to make a play with it. I tried to pick it up, make some guys miss and that’s what happened. It got blurry at the beginning once I picked the ball up. Once I got everybody to one side, I cut upfield and opened up some space.” - Adams
Defense Itching For Shutout by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
Arkansas’ defense wasn’t satisfied with giving up one touchdown against Missouri State and now have their sights focused on shutting out New Mexico. The Lobos wobble into the game having scored just 10 points in their opener against Colorado State, after going 1-10 a season ago. The Razorbacks face an inexperienced offensive line for the second consecutive week, a unit that gave up 10 sacks. “It was very disappointing to let them (Missouri State) score in the first game,” senior DE Jake Bequette said. “A shutout is something we will keep shooting for and it might happen every week or it
might not happen any week. It is a goal we have as a defense and one that we strive to.” Arkansas has not accomplished the feat since 2006 under then-coach Houston Nutt. The Razorbacks opened that season with a 50-14 loss at home to USC before rebounding the next week at home against Utah State, winning 20-0. “It is something we haven’t done here in a while,” senior linebacker Jerico Nelson said. “It is something we are going to try and do this week and we will have to depend on our second group to come in and do the same thing the first group did.” The Hogs’ opponent last week, Missouri State, is an FCS level
see DEFENSE on page 12 ARKANSAS 1-0, 0-0 SEC NO. 14 AP, NO. 13 USA
New Mexico SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 LITTLE ROCK, ARK. 6 PM ESPNU
MISSOURI STATE 0-1, 0-0 MVC LAST MEETING ARKANSAS 43-25 (1987) SERIES ARKANSAS 6-0-0
Return Adams reversed field at the 18-yard line, heading for the left sideline, picking up blockers and outracing multiple defenders to the Missouri State sideline before cutting upfield. Once he got to Arkansas’ 40-yard line, he started turning toward the middle of the field and ran past a diving Chiles. When he crossed midfield he started heading back toward the right sideline and the Razorbacks’ bench, juking out Bears defender Mart Montgomery at the 40. Mueller got back up after missing the recovery and has angle, but is chasing Adams
without his helmet, lost while fighting off a block in Hogs’ territory. Adams looked to have outrun Mueller, but Wade wiped out the long snapper at the 14yard line as Adams trotted into the end zone. “I came back across. At the end I noticed the guy chasing me with no helmet. In my mind, I was asking, ‘Are you ever going to stop?’ It was crazy. I was looking at him and he was looking at me. I was like, ‘You don’t have a helmet.’ He never stopped, but Wade came, picked him up and I was happy.” -Adams
Reaction Adams jogged into the endzone and trudged out the side, with Wade and sophomore receiver Maudrecus Humphrey close behind, tapping his helmet. The line judge was behind the two and talked to Adams. Senior receiver Jarius Wright sprinted down the sideline and carried Adams back to Arkansas’ bench. “The ref was like, walk back to the huddle.’ I was like ‘I don’t think I’m going to make it ref.’ It was about 150 yards. I didn’t think I was go-
ing to make it to the end zone, but I just kept pushing.” -Adams “It was exciting because we sat down and were looking, then he exploded. Everybody had a smile on their face, was jumping up and tapping the hat. It was unbelievable. Not often a player does that in a game. We were all stunned, but we knew he had the ability to do it.” -Junior linebacker Alonzo Highsmith on what he saw from the sideline.
Spreading the Wealth by ZACH TURNER
Assistant Sports Editor
Arkansas’ quarterbacks don’t lack for options. Junior Tyler Wilson and sophomore Brandon Mitchell combined to complete 28 passes to 11 different receivers in the 51-7 season-opening win. “It was good to play so many guys,” coach Bobby Petrino said. “That is one of the benefits of playing a game like this so early in the year. Everybody gets in and gets experience.” Wilson, who made his first career start, was 18 of 24 for 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wilson had seen limited time in his first three seasons of action playing behind former Razorback and current New England Patriot Ryan Mallett, but was named the starter on Aug. 25 by coach Petrino. Mitchell, Wilson’s backup, led his first drive in the second quarter and played ex-
tensively in the second half. Mitchell finished the game 10 of 11 passing for 104 yards and one touchdown. “As a quarterback, right now in our offense with the receivers we have, it is really easy to just read the defense,” Petrino said. “Know who you have to hold, know who you are going to key and distribute the ball. You don’t have to force the ball to one receiver or to a tight end.” Although 11 different options caught passes against the Bears, Wilson completed six of his passes and both touchdowns to senior receiver Jarius Wright. The 5-foot10 captain had six catches for 108 yards to lead all receivers. Among the others receiving passes against Missouri State was starting running back Ronnie Wingo Jr. The junior from St. Louis had three catches for 51 yards, secondbest on the team.
see RECEIVERS on page 11
RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Arkansas quarterbacks Tyler Wilson and Brandon Mitchell completed passes to 11 recievers in Arkansas’ 51-7 win against Missouri State.
PAGE 11
SPORTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
Headed to the Capital by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
Arkansas will travel to Little Rock on Saturday to face New Mexico in the first of its two annual regular season games in the state capital. The Razorbacks have had plenty of success in their recent trips to War Memorial Stadium. Arkansas has won its last eight games in Little Rock and is 6-0 under coach Bobby Petrino in three seasons. For some players, it’s their first trip to Little Rock. For others, it is a chance to go closer to their hometowns and have family members in attendance. “Little Rock is always fun to play in,” junior quarterback Tyler Wilson said. “There are a lot of our players from Little Rock and I remember playing state championship games there.” The Greenwood, Ark., native will be making his first start in Little Rock, but has seen action in prior
from RECIEVERS on page 10 “Ronnie did a great job of catching the ball out of the backfield,” Wilson said. “De’Anthony (Curtis), Chris (Gragg) and Colton MilesNash as well, you just go down the line and there are a lot of guys that made plays.” Last season, Wingo produced more as a receiver out of the backfield than at running back. During the 2010 season, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound back hauled in 27 catches for 274 yards and four touchdowns. Junior tight end Chris Gragg was the recipient of Mitchell’s lone touchdown pass, a 3-yard pass with five minutes remaining in the first half. Gragg finished the night with four catches, second most on the team. Last year’s leading receiver, senior Joe Adams, was a bigger factor in the punt return game
seasons at War Memorial. In 2009, Arkansas won its season opener in Little Rock against Missouri State and Wilson completed 13 of 19 passes for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns. “It is a cool atmosphere,” Wilson said. “It gives fans a chance that can’t travel all the way up here to Fayetteville to come see us a couple times a year and that is always good.” Senior receiver Joe Adams, a Little Rock native, will be making his seventh start in his hometown. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder attended Central Arkansas Christian High School, where he was named to the Associated Press Super Team his senior season. “I love going home and playing in front of my Little Rock fans,” Adams said. “A lot of them don’t get to travel up here, so I try to go down there and put on a show.” Adams has 19 catches for 338 yards and three touchdowns in his War Memorial career. In his last
than the passing game, but still managed to haul in a reception. Adams took two punts back for touchdowns for the Razorbacks, one and each half, as well as registering one catch for 11 yards. “We have so many great athletes that you can just drop the ball off to anybody,” Adams said. “(Marquel) Wade had catches, the young guys did a lot of good things and Jarius had a 100-yard game, so there is a lot of ways for us to get the ball around.” Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said he expects the quarterback to do an even better job running the offense against New Mexico. “They do understand you make your biggest jump from game one to game two,” McGee said. “Emotionally it’ll be different. Some guys go out there and go, ‘Oh, I’ve done it before.’ Other guys really turn the pressure on. They go out there
COURTESY PHOTO
Arkansas will play the first of its two annual games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock Saturday against New Mexico. The Razorbacks are 6-0 under coach Bobby Petrino in Little Rock including a 31-23 win over then-No. 5 LSU in the regular-season finale last year. game at War Memorial, Adams helped cap off an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 39-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Ryan Mallett that helped seal the upset against No. 6 ranked LSU. While both Wilson and Adams are familiar with traveling to Little Rock, newcomer Alonzo Highsmith has never been to the capital city of Arkansas. The linebacker transferred to Arkansas by way of
and work harder, really work on their technique in practice. Those are the guys that become great. That’s where we’re at now.” Among others receiving catches against Missouri St. were sophomores Julian Horton and Javontee Herndon who had three catches for 23 yards and one catch for 41 yards respectively. Also newcomers Marquel Wade and fullback Kiero Small combined for four catches for 35 yards. Veteran receivers Cobi Hamilton and Greg Childs both had receptions as well. Hamilton caught the first catch of the game and went on for three catches for 38 yards. Childs made his first two catches since suffering a season-ending knee injury last year during the Vanderbilt game, and had 29 yards total. “We feel like all of our players can make plays for us,” Petrino said.
SEASON OUTLOOK ARKANSAS
ARKANSAS (1-0)
RUSHING R. Wingo Jr. D. Curtis K. Walker B. Mitchell PASSING T. Wilson B. Mitchell
No. 11 5 9 3
Yds 43 37 33 5
TD 0 0 2 0
Lg 11 14 8 9
C-A 18-24 10-11
Yds 260 104
Int 0 0
TD 2 1
No. 6 4 3 3 3 3 2 1
Yds 108 18 51 38 28 23 29 41
TD 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lg 33 7 19 20 20 12 16 41
RECEIVING J. Wright C. Gragg R. Wingo Jr. C. Hamilton M. Wade J. Horton C. Childs J. Herndon TACKLES Solo B. Jones 1 E. Ford 1 J. Franklin 1 C. Smith 3 A. Highsmith 2 T. Flowers 2 T. Wright 0 R. Rasner 3 J. Nelson 1 J. Lake 1
Ast. Total 5 6 5 6 4 5 1 4 2 4 2 4 4 4 0 3 2 3 2 3
TFL Sacks 0 0 0 0 .5 .5 1.0 2.0 0 2.0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
9-3 9-10 9-17 9-24 10-1 10-8 10-22 10-29 11-5 11-12 11-19 11-26
Missouri State W, 51-7 New Mexico Troy at Alabama Texas A&M Auburn at Ole Miss at Vanderbilt South Carolina Tennessee Mississippi State at LSU
NEW MEXICO DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
9-3 9-10 9-17 9-24 10-1 10-15 10-22 10-29 11-5 11-12 11-19 11-26
Colorado State L, 10-14 Arkansas Texas Tech Sam Houstin State New Mexico State Nevada TCU Air Force San Diego State UNLV Wyoming Boise State
NEW MEXICO (0-1)
RUSHING J. Wright T. Austin C. Gongbay D. Rogers PASSING T. Austin
No. 12 25 5 4
Yds 65 57 18 9
TD 0 0 0 0
Lg 15 15 9 5
C-A 20-31
Yds 179
Int 0
TD 1
No. 8 3 2 2 2 1 1 1
Yds 79 20 34 30 -12 12 9 7
TD 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Lg 25 9 27 22 0 12 9 7
RECEIVING D. Leon T. Kirk L. Thomas L. Reed C. Gongbay A. Aho J. Wright D. Rogers TACKLES Solo D. Bollems 7 C. Messina 5 F. Young 0 D. Berry 4 1 M. Barr R. Davis 0 J. Harris 1 U. Uzodinma 1 S. Merritt 1 A. Hooks 2
Ast. Total 6 13 3 8 6 6 1 5 3 4 3 3 2 3 2 3 1 2 0 2
TFL Sacks 0 0 2.0 1.0 0 0 1.0 0 0 1.0 0 0 1.0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Phoenix College in Arizona and is a native of Missouri City, Texas. “I have never been to Little Rock,” Highsmith said. “Everyone tells me it is going to be exciting
though. They told me the crowd can get kind of loud down there.” Highsmith made his first career start against Missouri State in the season opener, registering four tackles, including two tackles-for-loss.
Arkansas’ opponent for the first of two Little Rock games, New Mexico is coming of a 14-10 loss in its season opener against fellow Mountain West Conference for Colorado State.
SPORTS from ADAMS on page 10 The two returns were grouped together and ranked No. 7 on ESPN’s Sportscenter Top Plays. Adams received congratulations from family, friends and Hog fans after the game. “There’s been a lot of messages,” Adams said. “People are just saying thanks, that they really enjoy watching me and (the 69-yarder) was the best punt return they’d ever seen in their life.” The explosive showing came after his 15.6 yards per punt return ranked fifth in the nation last season. “He doesn’t surprise me,” Adams said. “I know what he’s capable of. He’s really explosive. Him with the ball in space is really dangerous because he has the ability to stop and start as fast as anyone in the country. At this point, he’s really confident, so he’s going to be hard to stop back there.” Adams lined up as Arkansas’ lone return man last season, but shared return duties with true freshman Marquel Wade in the opener. Wade returned two punts for 14 yards, but provided several
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 key blocks on both returns. “We decided to put two guys back there because both of them are real good punt returners,” coach Bobby Petrino said. “It helped us because it got us started. Marquel always made a good block and Joe started on his return. It’s amazing some of the runs he made. Not even just the two scores, but he had some other good punt returns.” Wade returned five punts for touchdowns as a senior in high school and could get more action if teams start kicking away from Adams, starting with the New Mexico game Saturday in Little Rock. “I don’t know what to expect, but if they kick it to me I’m going to try to return another one,” Adams said. “If they kick it to Wade, I’m going to try to block it up and make sure he returns one.” Adams’ big night broke him out of a tie with Gary Adams Sr., Orlando Waters Jr. and Marvin Jackson for the school record, a mark he wants to build on. “I’m trying to make it more than three,” Adams said. “It’ll be hard for the next guy to try to beat me.”
PAGE 12
Traveler Staff Predictions NCAA/NFL
Jimmy Carter Sports Editor
Zach Turner Asst. Sports Editor
Rumil Bautista Staff Writer
Liz Beadle Staff Writer
Monica Chapman Staff Writer
Martha Swearingen Staff Writer
Consensus
Against the Spread
New Mexico at No. 13 Arkansas (-36)
Arkansas 44-10
Arkansas 45-13
Arkansas 55-3
Arkansas 63-14
Arkansas 45-10
Arkansas 49-7
Arkansas
Even
No. 2 Alabama (-10) at No. 20 Penn State
Alabama 21-7
Alabama 28-6
Alabama 24-14
Alabama 45-17
Alabama 42-31
Alabama 28-14
Alabama
Alabama
No. 17 Mississippi State (-7) at No. 22 Auburn
MSU31-20
MSU 35-13
MSU 35-17
MSU 38-10
MSU 34-28
Auburn 14-7
MSU
MSU
No. 12 South Carolina (-3) at Georgia
Georgia 27-21
SC 34-20
SC 27-20
UGA 20-14
SC 35-17
SC 35-28
SC
SC
Notre Dame at Michigan (-3.5)
Michigan 35-20
Michigan 28-10
Michigan 28- 24
Michigan 31-17
Michigan 21-10
Michigan 38-31
Michigan
Michigan
Arizona at No. 7 Oklahoma State (-14)
OSU 38-27
OSU 42-21
OSU 35-21
OSU 41-27
OSU 38-21
OSU 35-21
OSU
OSU
New Orleans at Green Bay (-4)
Green Bay 24-20
Green Bay 26-23
Green Bay 34-21
Green Bay 24-17
Green Bay 21-10
Green Bay 30-21
Green Bay
Green Bay
Atlanta (-1) at Chicago
Atlanta 17-14
Atlanta 17-10
Atlanta 27-20
Chicago 27-31
Chicago 35-21
Atlanta 24-21
Atlanta
Atlanta
Indianapolis at Houston (-9)
Houston 31-17
Indianapolis 35-21
Houston 28-24
Indy 38-20
Houston 27-14
Houston 28-14
Houston
Even
Dallas at New York (-4.5)
New York 23-17
New York 28-7
New York 24- 20
New York 24-14
Dallas 28-17
New York 28-21
New York
New York
Last Week
5-5 5-5
7-3 7-3
6-4 6-4
5-5 5-5
7-3 7-3
7-3 7-3
Year to Date
from DEFENSE on page 10 school. New Mexico is a bigger, FBS team, defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said the competition will be greater. “No doubt there is a step up in competition,” Robinson said. “Just because of their quarterback and skill guys. The have a very veteran skill group, but where it doesn’t match is that they have youth in the offensive front.” New Mexico starting quarterback Tarean Austin passed for 179 yards on 20 of 31 attempts with one touchdown in their 14-10 loss against Colorado State. The 6-foot2 sophomore also had some success rushing the football for 57 yards against the Rams. “The quarterback is a dualthreat,” Robinson said. “He can throw the ball. He is going to sit down there, look at his choice and if he is not there he becomes extremely dangerous. With a young and inexperienced offensive line came plenty of sacks in the season opener for the
Lobos. Austin was the victim of nine of the Rams 10 total sacks in the game, but Robinson said he feels they will be improved heading into this week’s game. “I think what you worry about is how they are going to try and adjust their offense,” Robinson said. “The comment I saw that their coach had made was it was not all the offensive line’s fault, but some of the receivers at times not running right routes. They will get that adjusted. That is first game jitters.” The thought of a team allowing 10 sacks in the prior week, though, sounds appealing, sophomore defensive tackle Byran Jones said. “We see some good opportunities, but we do still have to prepare for these guys,” Jones said. “They have a big offensive line.” If the Razorbacks are able to orchestrate a shutout against the Lobos on Saturday, senior linebacker Jerry Franklin said it would be the first shutout he would have been a part of since junior high. “It’s been a long time,” Franklin said.
RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas’ defense allowed just 163 yards and one touchdown in the 51-7 season-opening win against Missouri State, but is shooting for a shutout against New Mexico.
ARKANSAS - NEW MEXICO BREAKDOWN Arkansas run offense vs. New Mexico run defense
New Mexico passing offense vs. Arkansas pass defense
New Mexico gave up more rushing yards last year (5.29 yards per attempt) than Missouri State did. Last week, Arkansas only managed 102 rushing yards against Missouri State, but the Razorbacks should have better luck establishing a run game even with Dennis Johnson doubtful with a hamstring injury. Ronnie Wingo is still the feature back, but look for freshman Kody Walker to be utilized FILE PHOTO in short-yardage situations.
New Mexico quarterback Tarean Austin completed 20 of his 31 attempted passes for 179 yards last week against Colorado State, but was sacked nine times. Arkansas held Missouri State to just 79 passing yards last week. Senior linebacker Jericho Nelson had an interception and the Hogs sacked Missouri FILE PHOTO State quarterback Kierra Harris twice. Advantage: Arkansas
Advantage: Arkansas
New Mexico run offense vs. Arkansas run defense
Arkansas passing offense vs. Arkansas pass defense
New Mexico running back James Wright was held to 65 yards on the ground against a struggling Colorado State team last week and the Lobos have had a hard time developing a good ground game in recent history. Arkansas should have a heavy advantage with an experienced defense that held Missouri State to just 84 yards on the ground last week.
Coach Bobby Petrino’s unit will pass early and often in hopes of opening up the run. Though the Lobos return nine defensive starters, the unit gave up an average of 44 points per game last year. Last week the Hogs had 364 passing yards in the win against Missouri State and try to take advantage of a New Mexico secondary that allowed 25 passing touchdowns in 2010.
Advantage: Arkansas
FILE PHOTO
Arkansas special teams vs. New Mexico special teams New Mexico has good field goal and PAT kicking teams, but opportunities were few and far between due to its offense’s inability to score in the season-opening 14-10 loss to Colorado State. The two teams are even in terms of kickoff and punt yardage, but the Lobos struggled in returning punts (2.3 yards retuned per punt), while Arkansas’ Joe Adams returned two punts for touchdowns last week against Missouri State. Advantage: Arkansas
Advantage: Arkansas
New Mexico coching staff vs. Arkansas coaching staff Bobby Petrino is in his fourth season at Arkansas and is 24-15, including a 10-3 record last season and a 12-3 mark in the Razorbacks’ last 15 games. New Mexico coach Mike Locksley is in his third season at the school and has a 2-23 record there, including a 14-10 loss to Colorado State to start off the 2011 season. Advantage: Arkansas
FILE PHOTO
FILE PHOTO
FILE PHOTO