“Watch the Throne” Album Review Page 5 Vol. 106, NO. 7 UATRAV.COM
PAGE 1 TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
In This Issue
News
RIC Execs Set Agenda for the Fall Semester RIC executives have set the agenda, including sustainability and quality housing for upperclassmen.
page 3
Features
Features
News
Students Present iPhone Applications Students picked to showcase iPhone applications are Microsoft Summit.
page 2
Ramadan: An Empty Stomach, but a Full Spirit The period of fasting for Muslims ended Tuesday.
Internet Outage Across Campus Students by MEGAN HUCKABY Staff Writer
Students and professors experienced what was called a fluke loss of Internet for less than an hour Monday because a core router went out, an official at Information Technology Services said. “As far as we know” the loss of Internet was not caused by increased traffic on the network, said Starla Stensaas, communications manager for IT services. The Internet was down from 1:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. to some users on campus, she said. “The core router went out,” Stensaas said. “It took about an hour to reset it and that caused the event.” The system has another core router that works even if the other malfunctions. This redundancy is in
place to ensure that the entire campus doesn’t crash all at once, Stensaas said. “We are continuing to work on increasing redundancy in our system where we can,” she said. “It is very expensive to make a system redundant.” Other campuses, such as the University of Oklahoma, have “two different routers connected to two separate Internet service providers,” said Becky Grant, marketing and brand manager for OU IT services. The routers are kept on separate locations, more than a mile apart, Grant said. If one of the routers fails, which would be rare, the other one will pick up the load that the other was carrying, bracing the Internet for use by the entire campus, Grant said. Some students were in classes us-
Placed in Hotels
ing the Internet when it crashed. “I was in my American National Government class,” said freshman Brandon Bear. “We were trying to see if one of the programs that the teacher was using for the class was going to work.” The Internet was out for the majority of the class and the teacher eventually gave up out of frustration, Bear said. Other classes were affected differently by the outage. Some math labs were down for 10-15 minutes because of the loss of Internet, said Deborah Korth, director of the math resource and teaching center. “We can always do other things
by ZESSNA GARCIA Contributing Writer
Some UA students have been housed in hotels for part of the first semester of the school year, UA officials confirmed. “Five freshmen were assigned to Staybridge hotel last week and have been given permanent living assignments,” said Florence Johnson, interim executive director of UA Housing. No upperclassmen were placed in hotels. Before the school year begins all incoming students sign up for classes and housing; however, if the students do not confirm or cancel their housing contracts on time, situations like these can occur, Johnson said. A resident assistant was provided to the students by University Housing to assist the students as needed; transportation was also provided and was not a problem, Johnson said. The hotel assignments are only temporary. The five freshman girls that were assigned to live in the hotels were there for seven to 10 days and were promptly moved into their residence halls as soon as their schedule permitted, Johnson said. The number of students attending the UA has increased in the past few years, and the impact of the 2011 freshman class is evident on campus, and especially where housing is concerned. Housing is an important issue when planning for school, and without which it becomes difficult for students to maintain a stable environment. Students feel passionately about the housing overflow situation.
see SERVER on page 2
page 5
CRU Members Seek to Fulfill Spiritual Needs How to stay connected to spirituality while in college.
page 5
Opinion
Sports
Hocker Ready to Kick Off New Season Sophomore kicker Zach Hocker is handling kick-off duties this season, in addition to kicking field goals and extra points.
Take Opportunities and Step Out of Comfort Zone Traveler Managing Editor Mattie Quinn writes about taking opportunities and stepping out of your comfort zone.
page 4
is ANDREW HAGOOD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Campus Internet routers were down briefly Monday forcing many professors to cancel class and some students to take notes the old fashioned way.
“I feel that the situation unacceptable. Students see HOUSING on page 3
Scooter Parking Increases ACT Scores Lower in Arkansas by JAMES DUNLAP Contributing Writer
Although scooter parking was expanded during the summer, parking officials plan further expansion because of the large number of students, a UA parking official said. After a meeting and deliberation it was clear that expansions must continue, said Andy Gilbride, UA parking and transit education specialist. Spaces will be created behind Reynolds Razorback Stadium and near Lindell Avenue, Gilbride said.
This saves the school money, he said, in that a parking lot for scooters would hold three times as many vehicles than a parking lot exclusively for cars. Also, the parking passes will be much cheaper than car parking passes, and by encouraging the purchase of scooters with low prices and accessibility, the traffic will be somewhat lighter, Gilbride said. “I bought a scooter yesterday for eight hundred bucks,” said A.J. Camara, a sophomore international business major. “I can probably resell it for $600, if I needed to. It’s a great in-
vestment.” The parking pass was less than $8, and it only cost $3 to gas up the scooter, Camara said, not to mention that $3 worth of gas in a scooter will last weeks. Not only does Camara see this purchase as a great investment for himself, it would be useful for the whole university as well, he said. “I think the school ought to push for all students to use scooters or some other, more practical vehicle,” he said. “I haven’t had any trouble parking [my scooter]. This is the first year I have had one,” said Ryan Long, junior, agricultural business major. “But I’ve noticed more around campus this year than last.”
CHAD WOODARD ASST. NEWS EDITOR
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011 VOL. 106, NO. 7 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM
WEATHER FORECAST
TODAY 96°
by KRISTEN COPPOLA Staff Writer
The average ACT score in the state of Arkansas decreased fourtenths of a point from the graduating class of 2010 to 2011. The state average of 19.9 was one and two-tenths points below the national average of 21.1. Arkansas’ average score ranks 45th of 51, the District of Colombia was included among the states, falling five slots from its previous rank of 40th in 2010, according to the ACT’s website. “That is just a sheer function of sample size,” said Sean Mul-
venon, professor of educational statistics and director of the National Office for Research on Measurement and Evaluation Systems. “In terms of a meaningful difference one tenth of a point is not indication of our programs really working. On the flip side, when they go down one tenth or twotenths of a point, it’s not like the sky is falling,” Mulvenon said. The UA freshman class, many of whom contributed to the Arkansas average, paints a different picture with a 26 ACT average, said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment.
“A lot of students who come here and want to be successful have preparation and a solid ACT performance, of course that helps with the 26 [average],” McCray said. “We also had 28 percent who had a 3.75 grade point average or higher.” At a conference concerning enrollment, it was reveled there was a growth of students in the freshman class with an ACT score of 30 or higher by 10 percent from the previous year, McCray said.
see ACT on page 3
No Cuts to Study Abroad Funding by KAREN STIGAR Contributing Writer
While many programs have received less money the past few years, students interested in the study abroad program can rest assured that funding is not decreasing, the program’s director said. Spending cuts have caused stress in many university program budgets, but study abroad has gone untouched, said DeDe Long, director of the study abroad program. “Obviously we have to be conservative,” Long said. “I think, in a typical advising
WEDNESDAY 99°
THURSDAY 96°
FRIDAY 88°
environment here in our office, we spend more time on finding funding than programs. We work really hard to walk through budgeting with students,” Long said. The number of students who study abroad, however, has diminished slightly, about three to five percent, during the last year. National and local economic problems have been the root cause, Long said. Two programs had to be canceled last year because economic conflict in Egypt and Syria. “Last year was the year for things that went wrong. Mother nature and political disruptions
SATURDAY 83°
SUNDAY 84°
are to blame for most things,” Long said. Though there has been trouble in the U.S. economy, the number of students interested in studying abroad has not declined. However, international students are also facing funding problems, Long said. All international students can take advantage of the many scholarships that are available through the university’s financial aid department, such as the Chancellor’s Scholarship, the Fellowship Scholarship, transfer student scholarships and many more, said Susan Byram, assistant director of graduate international admissions.
Many international students see STUDY ABROAD on page 3
NEWS AUGUST CRIME REPORT Crimes are released through the Daily Crime Log, which can be found on the University Police website at, http://uapd.uark. edu/120.php
August 20
Breaking or entering; theft of property was reported. A student reported someone stole an iPod and a GPS device from his vehicle while the vehicle was parked in Lot 55. Three cases of public intoxication were reported: A student was arrested in Pomfret Hall, a student was arrested on campus grounds east of the Broyles Athletic Complex and a student was arrested in Lot 48A. Driving while intoxicated occurred. A student was arrested on Hill Avenue south of Stone Street for driving while intoxicated. Battery third degree occurred at Mullins Library. A staff member reported a fellow staff member shoved a book cart into her abdominal area.
August 21
Two cases of public intoxication were reported: A student was arrested in the Sigma Nu Fraternity House and a student was arrested in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House. Burglary; criminal mischief; attempt to influence a public servant; public intoxication were all reported. Two students were arrested at separate locations off campus after a burglary at the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity House. Breaking or entering; theft of property; criminal attempt to commit breaking or entering; criminal mischief were all reported. A non-affiliated person reported someone was using a folding chair to hit the side of a vehicle in Lot 56. The investigating officer found the damaged vehicle and an open door at the Band Storage Building in the lot.
August 22
Theft of motor vehicle was reported. A student reported someone stole his motor scooter from Lot 73A. Theft of property was reported. A student reported someone stole his bicycle from the bicycle rack on the south side of Northwest Quad B Building.
August 24
Criminal mischief was reported. A student reported he left an acquaintance in his room in Northwest Quad A Building and she damaged some of his property.
August 25
Public intoxication was reported. A student was arrested in Yocum Hall. Theft of property (Shoplifting) was reported. An employee of Walmart On Campus reported someone stole shaving cartridges from the store.
August 26
Breaking or entering; theft of property were reported. A staff member reported someone stole lawn care equipment from a storage shed at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. Possession of a controlled substance (Marijuana) was reported. A student was arrested in Maple Hill East Residence Hall.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
PAGE 2
Students Present iPhone Applications by MEGAN HUCKABY Staff Writer
UA students recently showcased their mobile application projects at the 12th annual Microsoft Research Summit in July. The summit provided a forum for debate about the development, application and funding of new technologies in the fields of education, medicine and education, according to Microsoft’s website. Nilanjan Banerjee, assistant professor of computer science and computer engineering, was honored that his students were selected for the invitation-only event, he said. “The projects kind of govern what kinds of things that Microsoft will probably invest in,” Banerjee said. “They have people from all over management in Microsoft come in and do the summit.” WiWat Leebhaisomboon, Jordan Yust and Sultan Al-Farhood were among the students that benefited from the wealth of knowledge on display at the summit. They created projects for a seminar, taught by Banerjee, called “Hot Topics in Mobile and Pervasive Computing.” The students’ goal was to create an application for a mobile phone. “The whole objective of the class was to develop an application that uses Microsoft services,” Leebhaisomboon said. “We had a lot of flexibility to do whatever we wanted.” The apps were created using software from Project Hawaii that allows for the creation of cloudbased apps. Cloud-based means that the information is not stored directly on the device, but stored on an external server. Yust was Leebhaisomboon’s teammate on the project. “Our project was a food-ordering service called Order2Go, that allowed users to browse menus of restaurants within their proximity,” Yust said. “The users could then select items from a restaurant’s menu, place an order and
the restaurant would be notified via text message.” “The restaurant acknowledges the order and sends back a message with an estimated wait time,” he said. The app also lets the restaurant send a notification back to the user, informing him when his order is finished, Yust said. The two students hoped to create something different from all other food-service apps, Yust said. “There are a lot of apps right now that you can [use to] browse the restaurants close to you and view their address and get there phone number,” Leebhaisomboon said. “We wanted to have the whole process of ordering food to-go a little more simplified,” he said. It also helps avoid communication barriers by allowing “the whole order to be placed on the phone, without ever having to talk to someone,” Leebhaisomboon said. Al-Farhood also developed an application that was showcased at the summit. His app, Traveltant, allows people to plan their travels with more organization, according to its description on the Microsoft website. “One of the biggest problems people face when traveling is a personalized planner. This Windows phone application combines data from Facebook, Bing and Yelp to provide personalized planning and recommendation to users while traveling,” according to the website. Yust and Leebhaisomboon’s app is not available for download. However, if they choose, they can pursue perfecting the app and marketing it, Leebhaisomboon said. “There is potential, but we definitely need to work on it a little more,” Leebhaisomboon said. More information about Traveltant can be found at traveltant. com. All of the apps that were showcased at the summit can be viewed by going to microsoft.com and searching for Project Hawaii.
ABOUT THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper of the University of Arkansas, is published every day 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.
CONTACT 119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Main: 479.575.3406 Fax: 479.575.3306 traveler@uark.edu
Scan to call us!
facebook.com/uatrav twitter.com/uatrav
STAFF EDITORIAL SABA NASEEM
SAMANTHA WILLIAMS
Editor -in-Chief 575-8455 traveler@uark.edu
Enterprise Editor 575-3226
BOBBIE FOSTER
MATTIE QUINN
News Editor 575-3226 travnews@uark.edu
Managing Editor 575-7694 travmgr@uark.edu
CHAD WOODARD
LAUREN LEATHERBY
Asst. News Editor
Features Editor 575-7540 travlife@uark.edu
Asst. Features Editor
JIMMY CARTER
JORDAIN CARNEY
KELSI FORD
Sports Editor 575-7051 travsprt@uark.edu
Opinion Editor
SARAH CHAMPAGNE Photo Editor
ADVERTISING & DESIGN CANNON MCNAIR
MICY LIU
Sales Manager 575-3839 travad1@uark.edu
Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu
JAIME HOLLAND
AARON TAN
Account Executive 575-3899 travad2@uark.edu
Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu
ZACHARY FRY
Account Executive 575-8714 travad3@uark.edu
ERIK NORTHFELL
Lead Designer/ Web Developer
CELI BIRKE
Joe Simpson and Matt Chappell, both Juniors, hang out in their hammocks after their class. The Greek Theater lawn is a popular place to socialize in the afternoons. SERVER from page 1 that aren’t Internet specific,” Korth said. “We were affected and we are always nervous about having a large spread outage.” A journalism professor ended lab early because their work could not be completed without the Internet. Jose Lopez, a fundamentals of journalism lab instructor, asked his students to use the Internet to search online news sources for that class period. “Right when they went to check the news sources they couldn’t,” Lopez said. Lopez tried to continue
class, but the Internet was out for so long that he eventually let his students go early. “I didn’t want to initially, but we couldn’t do any work,” Lopez said. However, there were other students who didn’t notice that they had lost Internet connection. “I was uploading pictures to Facebook and it was just really slow,” said sophomore Stephanie Smith. “I just shut down my computer and then restarted my browser and it worked.” The problem was fixed within an hour and is considered to be a rarity, Stensaas said.
News Designer
LEAH YOUNG
Graphic Designer
Features Designer
DYLAN CRAIG
TAYLOR WHITE
Graphic Designer
CHANDLER CARCRAFT STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SARAH COLPITTS
Sports Designer
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.
CAMPUS NUMBERS NEED EMERGENCY HELP? CALL UAPD 575-2222
The women and men of the University of Arkansas Police Department, in partnership with the community, are committed to protecting the future of Arkansas by promoting a safe and secure environment.
HAVE A TICKET? CALL 575-7275 TO RESOLVE IT
The Transit and Parking office handles parking permits and passes and transit for students, including bus routes and GoLoco Ride Sharing. Students with parking violations can contact the office to appeal their citation.
NEED A RIDE AT NIGHT? CALL 575 - 7233 Otherwise known as 575-SAFE, the mission of the Safe Ride program is to provide students with a safe means of transportation from any uncomfortable or inconvenient situation. Safe Ride brings you home safely.
NEED TICKETS? CALL 1-800-982-4647 Don’t forget to call early and reserve your student football tickets for the 2010-2011 season. The ticket office is located on Razorback Road next to Baum Stadium.
PAGE 3
NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
ACT from page 1
A student takes a coffee break in the Law School’s Arsaga’s coffee shop during the first week of school. Arsaga’s, Starbucks and RZ’s are popular stops for students between classes.
BRITTANY WULF STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
RIC Execs Set Agenda for the Fall Semester by JANNEE SULLIVAN Contributing Writer
The Residents’ Interhall Congress members plan to bolster sustainability, address upperclassmen housing and promote a higher quality of oncampus life, in addition to its annual events, said the vice president of RIC. “Right now, our executive team is working hard on filling up our legislative body [and] preparing for the Interhall Leadership Summit and some exciting upcoming programs,” said Vice President Tyler Priest. “We have been working with Associated Student Government in the past month on hosting a student tailgate on the front lawn of Walton Residence Hall that will take place Sept. 3 for the Missouri State game from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and for the Auburn Game.” The RIC staff organizes events and develops policies for the residence halls in order to serve the interests of students living on campus, according to the RIC website. Residents can run for office within their halls to work on policies and legislation to improve their hall, said RIC President Cameron Mussar. In addition, students can be elected to the RIC senate to organize events and policies that affect all residence halls, he said. Essentially, hall senates are like state governments, and the RIC is like the federal government, he said. RIC’s agenda goes beyond the annual RIC Casino Night and RIC/ASG tailgates for the Missouri State and Auburn football games. This semester RIC staff aims to focus on expanding its influence over campus policies. “We’re also looking at improving our relationship with administrators and various other organizations on campus,” Mussar said. “We want to make sure that RIC
has a seat at the table, and that our voices are being heard and those concerns and initiatives are being taken seriously,” he said. Quality of life is also an important issue to the RIC staff. “Considering the amount of students living on campus this semester, we want to make sure that we are doing what we can to ensure that they’re enjoying their on-campus experience. We also want to address various issues we’re seeing around campus thus far and that we have seen in the past: crosswalks, sidewalk traffic, sustainability [in the residence halls], Internet in the residence halls really anything that could make living on campus even better, we hope to at least address in some form or fashion,” Mussar said. Quality of life on campus could also involve repairing sidewalks on campus, planting trees, increasing recycling and even planting a community garden, Priest said. Participation in the RIC is projected to grow with the influx of freshmen living on campus. “This year, the university saw the largest freshman class ever, and a vast majority of those freshmen are required to live on campus. Because freshmen now make up a higher percentage of on-campus students than in years past, we expect an increase in freshmen participation in our legislative body,” Priest said. While not every resident participates in RIC, the RIC’s policies affect all the residents. Students expect the RIC and hall senates to represent their interests wisely. “I expect the RIC to make sure everyone is equally represented and finances should be used in beneficial ways, not wasted,” said Josh Drury, a senior business eco-
STUDY ABROAD from page 1
HOUSING from page 1
are sponsored students that come to the U.S. through funding from their government. Not all international students are eligible for federal programs and aid, which are exclusively for students born in the U.S., Byram said. “In the past, there has been funding for education and engineering majors from Indonesia from their government because of the tsunami, because they want people to learn how to rebuild after the storm and improve their economy,” Byram said In addition to potential funding support, international students also have large cultural support systems at the UA. The Chinese, Latino and African student associations are a few of the most active, Byram said. Cultural teams are also at the UA. These groups offer the opportunity for international students to present their culture to schools and other locations in the community as a means of outreach, Byram said. “I wish we had a group like what the foreign exchange students here have when I was studying abroad in Spain. But, then again, I was in a group of about 20 people,” said Sylvia Stigar, international relations major.
shouldn’t have to be placed in hotels because of lack of space on campus,” said Manuel Garcia, a freshman business major. “If the students are paying tuition and fees at full price to come here, I think the university seems unprepared for the situation,” said Cassandra Satterfield, a first-year law student. The students that were assigned to a hotel for the first week were students that “either contacted for housing late in the summer or did not select an assignment at their designated time,” Johnson said. This has only been the second time in Johnson’s career that students have been housed in hotels. Currently there are no students living in hotels. The students living in overflow housing have been given the same services as students living in the residence halls, and Internet service and cable TV are a few of the amenities they receive. “Each year we determine space allocation based on predicted new student enrollment, Johnson said. “Sometimes, we have more students than expected.” University Housing and Enrollment Services staffs have assured no student that applied for housing with them is living in a hotel as of this week, and they plan to monitor the system to make sure housing is not an issue this year or in the future.
nomics major and residents’ assistant in Futrall Hall. The swelling freshman class may add to the diversity of representation in the RIC. “We are also really pushing for interest in the organization, so we can have the fullest and most accurate rep-
resentation of the on-campus student body. We execs have some knowledge, but not all, of what it is like living in the different residence halls. The senators are our ground soldiers. They’re the ones who are getting information and addressing them through legislation,” Mussar said.
Specific reasons for the drop, such as lacking curriculum, are unclear; however, a contributing factor is most likely the increase in students taking the test, Mulvenon said. “If you want to get a Chancellor’s Scholarship to go to NWACC, then you’ve got to take the ACT, so more kids are taking it,” Mulvenon said. “Basically, the theory is that more of your lower performing students are taking the test, and that’s pulling down the overall score.” In Arkansas, 91 percent of the graduating class took the ACT. Each of the eight states with 100 percent of students tested were also located in the lower rankings. Also, Massachusetts, which had the highest average at 24, only tested 22 percent of its students, according to the ACT website. “The number fell a little last year as well. In both cases, it’s about access,” McCray said. “Though no one likes to see a score go down, if you’ve increased the number of test takers by 4,500, then the chances of it going down are high.” Over time, the score will rise again, McCray said. “We have to feel good about the number of students who took the exam. That means more students are thinking about themselves as college goers,” McCray said.
OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Scan here to go to the Opinion section on uatrav.com
EDITOR: Saba Naseem MANAGING EDITOR: Mattie Quinn
PAGE 4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
One Hour Later “...Henry Blake, and Toby Gaffigan. Alright! Class dismissed, we’ll finish the rest of role call Thursday!”
“Good morning class, I’ll now call role. Zachary Dillenger, Michael Martins...”
JARET STILES STAFF CARTOONIST
FROM THE BOARD
Take Opportunities, Step Out of Comfort Zone From the Managing Editor
Notes from ASG’s First Cabinet Meeting The Associated Student Government Executive Cabinet had its first meeting Tuesday night. Here are some things we look forward to seeing ASG members develop during the school year.
RazorRewards
We watched as the final details of RazorRewards were worked out last semester. Now we’re waiting to see if RazorRewards will significantly effect attendance at campus or under-attended athletic events.
Federal Student Advocacy
Last year ASG members had call-in days to the state legislature and took a trip to Washington, D.C. and met with Arkansas members of Congress to discuss education-related issues including Pell grant funding. Though it’s not an election year, we hope this program continues to grow to include a trip to Little Rock. (As it was supposed to last year, but the trip was cancelled at the last minute.)
Trip to Joplin
A trip to Joplin was supposed to happen during the summer, but was canceled.
Quote Of The Day “I feel that the situation is unacceptable. Students shouldn’t have to be placed in hotels because of lack of space on campus.”
-Manuel Garcia, freshman business major. “Students Placed in Hotels”
by Mattie Quinn
Managing Editor travmgr@uark.edu
Whether you stay in your hometown or you drive across the country, going to college tends to be a big step in one’s life. It marks a whole new chapter, a time when you are old enough to make your own choices but young enough to be forgiven for being a little silly or immature. When you think of the word “college,” visions of red Solo cups, ordering pizza, lying around on grassy knolls and football games tend to come to one’s head, or at least, that is what media has shown us to think of college. But people don’t realize what college can be: a four-year period where almost anything is possible. After all, college is the first step of our
adult life and what we make of it will decide where we go to graduate school or what kind of job we will get. Why would you not want to make the most of it? When I came to the UA, I had just turned 19 and spent the past 18 and a half years wishing for independence and to be able to answer only to myself. However, I spent the majority of the car ride up to Fayetteville crying. Would I be able to take care of myself? Would my friendships that I held in such high regard stay the same? What would become of my boyfriend who wasn’t going to the UA? I was terrified, and determined not to rock the boat too much as I began my freshman year. But as I kept going along, I slowly started to see that playing it safe just wasn’t going to cut it. Not only was I able to take care of myself, but I thrived in it. No, my friendships didn’t all stay the same. I outgrew people and some friends couldn’t handle the hustle and bustle of Fayetteville, and it was okay. My hometown boyfriend and I broke up, as young people tend to. As these things began to happen, I realized that
EDITOR Saba Naseem MANAGING EDITOR Mattie Quinn OPINION EDITOR Jordain Carney ENTERPRISE EDITOR Samantha Williams CONTACT US 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.
as a terrified sophomore and ask the editor if I could start writing. Fast forward almost two years later, and I have my own desk with my own iMac, and a position I love. Sure, studying abroad isn’t for everyone. And you might not care at all about working for student media. But don’t spend these years just lying around eating pizza, drinking strange drinks out of Solo cups. UA has 350 Registered Student Organizations, where I am sure everyone can find one they might be passionate about. Get involved in the ASG and run for senate. If you love your sorority or fraternity, run for office. University Programs is a great way to get involved and can give you the opportunity to meet influential people. No matter how you decide to spend your time at the UA, I dare you to get out of your comfort zone just once. You will probably surprise yourself with where you end up. Mattie Quinn is the 2011-2012 Traveler managing editor, majoring in journalism. Her column will appear bi-monthly every other Wednesday.
Campus Crowd Shots Comments From uatrav.com UA Cultivates Opportunities for Diversity
Not able to find a place to park in the morning? Late to class because your bus is full? Have an opinion about campus crowding? EDITORIAL BOARD
the “you” of A offers amazing opportunities that I knew I just could not take for granted. I decided to start rocking the boat. For instance, did you know that almost all financial aid that you receive can go towards studying abroad? Unless you get a high-powered job where you are forced to fly around the world, when else in your lifetime will you be given money to go see the world and further your academic career? During my semester in London, I visited Stonehenge, ran into Russell Brand on the sidewalk in residential Madrid and met the cast of Glee while on the red carpet of the Tron premiere (don’t ask) among many other adventures. I have friends who have taken the opportunity to study abroad multiple times, and I will be forever jealous. They have seen the world not because they are made of money, but rather just asked for it, either by writing grants, using loan money or using their good grades and citizenship to get a scholarship. If I had never decided to start taking chances, I never would have decided to walk into the Traveler office
Email travop@uark.edu, with your name, year and major with your snippet about campus crowding and see your story featured in our campus crowd shots.
JEREMY: Amazing. Literally the first word in the op-ed posted on the very first day of school is “diversity.” The Traveler has a one-track mind regardless of how many editors it goes through. I lost count of how many times it was used in this piece. That said, I would like to know what varied backgrounds they are looking into. I was thinking perhaps we could have less intelligent students on campus. That would be diverse, if we had wholly unqualified people sitting in class next to us. Everyone should go to college, right, even people who are completely fulfilling their potential as a janitor or jump seat garbage man? I say we forget apprenticing or anything as successful and less expensive as that. Everyone should go to college and needlessly drive up the price in addition to all the subsidies going directly into appearance, not to mention research on the spread of STD’s among the big thinkers of the French enlightenment and whatever else they can think of that has been sorely neglected. I also don’t think that college students should have to experience the world to experience diversity by working to pay for college themselves. I think we should take them out of the world as much as possible well into their 20s and approximate diversity, but only the parts that academia finds interesting. I want to make sure that when college students get their degree and enter the workforce with substantial responsibility (and possibly subordinates) that they have no practical experience whatsoever after being taught by people who have only ever been in government education and have no practical experience. Some people bring up tired old sayings in response to this. My response to them is “Wrong! It’s the leading the blind.” Diversity!!!
Scan here to go to the Features section on uatrav.com:
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
FEATURES
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
PAGE 5 TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
CRU Seeks to Fulfill Spiritual Needs by KELSI FORD Asst. Features Editor
Members of the Islamic Center of Northwest Arkansas pray Sunday evening after breaking their Ramadan fast, during the month of Ramadan.
LAUREN HUSBAND STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ramadan: An Empty Stomach, But a Full Spirit by LAUREN LEATHERBY Features Editor
As the women finished up their iftar meal at the Islamic Center of Northwest Arkansas Sunday night, an announcement crackled over the intercom. There was a poor woman in the mosque’s community, and she needed financial help. With hardly time for a thought, the women upstairs stood up and one by one filed over to give money to the woman in need. Iftar is the meal after sundown that Muslims eat during the month of Ramadan to break their fast, and giving money to the less fortunate represents the heart of the Ramadan tradition. Ramadan is more than just a longstanding custom to its followers - it is a way to be selfless, to be closer to God and to help those in the community and throughout the world. “Ramadan has a spiritual aspect to it that I feel throughout the year, but that intensifies during this month because it’s a month where I don’t feel attached to material things, so I turn internally, and I turn to God,” said Banan al-Daraiseh, a doctoral student from Jordan. “You don’t feel it as strongly throughout the year because there is that attachment to food and other things. This month spirituality sustains you.” Praying inside the mosque Sunday night was a mix of Sunnis and Shiites, women from everywhere in the world – from North Africa to Indonesia - all together
for one purpose, to celebrate the fellowship of breaking the fast. After the sundown prayer, the mosque attendees sat in rows on the floor chatting in Arabic, Farsi and English alike as they broke the fast with a rich potluck of tabouleh, hummus, Turkish delight, rice and many other dishes common to the Muslim world. The end of this month marks the end of Ramadan and the transition of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims out of the period of fasting. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours. The fasting becomes much more, however, than just a discipline. In addition to the spirituality and the closeness to God that the month of fasting brings, Ramadan also brings a sense of oneness with those in poverty throughout the world. “The poor and needy don’t have enough food, so when we starve, we feel their hunger pains,” said Mahfuza Akhtar, administrative assistant for the UA King Fahd Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies. “That makes us more humble, polite and generous, and then we want to donate more.” One of the five pillars of Islam is a practice called sawm, or fasting during the month of Ramadan. Charitable giving, too, is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith called zakat. It is the practice of giving up a certain percentage of accumulated wealth to those in economic hardship. “My total income, any mon-
ey I have in the bank, and any value I have in gold or jewelry, I take 2.5 percent of it and give it to the poor,” Akhtar said. Ramadan brings awareness about the need for charitable giving because it allows Muslims throughout the world to better relate to those to whom they donate. “You cannot feel at one with the poor when you have not suffered of food deprivation,” al-Daraiseh said. The process of fasting certainly brings hardship, but the spirituality and community involved with the tradition helps Muslims get through it. “Every year I think of it and I feel like I cannot do it, I cannot do it, but when it is time for Ramadan, I am always able to. I don’t know how, but I am,” said Laleh Djodir, an Iranian woman in attendance at the mosque Sunday night. “If it were not Ramadan, I could not do it. This year it was very hot, so I was skeptical that I could fast the whole month, but now it is already almost over. It went by so fast.” For others, food represents just one of many things that is difficult to give up. “Seriously speaking,my problem is the caffeine,” al-Daraiseh said. After centuries and centuries of Ramadan, Muslims know the best way to get through the month. “We know how to take care of ourselves,” al-Daraiseh said. “I have never known anyone that has gotten dehydrated or anything during Ramadan.” Al-Daraiseh said she tries to
Twisted Fantasy and Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3, the two hip-hop greats have been in the limelight for a while releasing popular album after album. West has gone platinum five times, and Jay-Z has received 13 Grammy Awards and many more nominations throughout his career. There’s no question that these two artists in the same album is a big deal. Watch the Throne is satisfying. The album spans a lot of sounds, and it has some really awesome moments that are worth some attention. These guys are veterans, and the album’s creation sounds natural. Then again, these artists could just throw together a mix tape, and it still would be impressive with their talent alone. For the both of them, it would be hard for the album to be anything less than satisfactory. The main problem with Watch the Throne is that it’s good, but not as good as it should be. They’re two of hip-hop’s best, but the album is still lacking as a complete piece. It’s likable, but there is an absence of a wow factor or a lasting appeal. It’s possible that the
two artists simply wanted to just make an album together because they could, which is cool, but it lacks polish from a famed producer as famous as Kanye West. Watch the Throne’s sound is different, definitely far from traditional genre boundaries, but West is known to do that. There is sample after sample in the tracks, and a lot of musical cameos throughout the album. Here and there featured are Frank Ocean, Beyoncé, Otis Redding, Mr. Hudson, Elly Jackson and even Justin Vernon of Bon Iver in “That’s My B****.” One thing to consider is that this album is comprised of two industry greats. There had to be many compromises on this album. Just because two rap superstars get together for an album also doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be musical gold, and gold or not, Watch The Throne has been a huge commercial success as the No. 1 album on both iTunes and Billboard’s pop charts. This isn’t Kanye West at his best, nor is this Jay-Z at his best, but all things considered, it’s still a commendable piece of work. It takes
LAUREN HUSBAND STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Women eat their iftar meal after Sunday evening prayers, their first meal since before dawn.
drink 3 to 4 liters of water between the time the sun sets and the time the sun rises. She also said that one of the wisest ways to break the fast is by eating dates because dates are a quick source of blood sugar that give a quick burst of energy. Hunger pains aside, Ramadan is a fulfilling experience that gives as much back to those fasting as they put into it.
“It’s not only about food. You devote all your time to praying, reading the Quran and doing other spiritual things,” said Isra Daraiseh, a UA masters student from Jordan. “I cannot imagine my life without Ramadan.” Tuesday marks the end of Ramadan, as Muslims across campus celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, a festival of family, prayers and food.
a couple listens, but over time, this album does grow on you. Stand out tracks: “That’s My B****” is funky and has a nice hook to it that makes the song very easy to get into. It’s one of the faster songs on the album and the beat is a mix of samples from some old-school rap songs. The acclaimed “N***** In Paris” will definitely be echoing from a lot car stereos on campus. Jay-Z’s verse does no wrong on the track, and the unexpected Blades of Glory samples add to its quality. “Otis,” one of the album’s singles, features a soulful sample from Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness.” The song is about the rappers’ immense wealth, and the song flows nicely. Musicianship: 7 Musically, this album doesn’t have a lot that truly wraps the listener in. There definitely are some great tracks on the album that make it worthwhile and a lot of cool sounds going on at times. “Why I Love You (feat. Mr. Hudson)” is an example with its melodic pulse, catchy chorus and fast-fire rapping. As an en-
tire album, though, it doesn’t do enough justice musically. The tracks are either too simple, and/ or the rapping isn’t anything crazy. Originality: 8 The sound is different than most in the genre. Kanye is known for that, and it’s easy to hear where he produced in the album. It’s interesting to see where the various samples are coming from and seeing how they were remixed for the song. It’s pretty original thinking; definitely respectable. “Otis” and “Murder to Excellence” come to mind with their unique samples. Lyricism: 7 Most of the lyricism on this album is talented. The reason lyricism receives a seven is because of an overall lack of consistent and enticing lyrical writing in the tracks. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some awesome displays of writing (or mental writing in Jay-Z’s case). There are plenty of songs on the album that showcase their talent, like “Murder to Excellence,” but lyrically, a lot of songs are easy to overlook.
“Watch The Throne” Satisfies, But Comes Up Short COURTESY PHOTO
by NICK BROTHERS Staff Writer
7 out of 10 With big names with big discographies in the music business, it’s natural to assume upcoming albums by those artists will receive a lot of hype before they’re released. Kanye West and Jay-Z’s Watch the Throne, released Aug. 12, is a perfect example. There was a lot of hype that claimed this would be one of the best rap albums out there, but the album comes up short – at least in the amount of potential it had going for it. Both still on a career high from the success of their previous albums, Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark
Being away from home is hard. Adjusting to living in a new space with people other than your family can be difficult, and leaving behind old friends and making new ones can be terrifying. And, for some students, being away from a religious congregation back home can be dismaying. Luckily for UA students, there are plenty of organizations on campus that want to help fulfill students’ spiritual needs during their time in Fayetteville. One of the many Christian organizations on campus is CRU. CRU is a part of Campus Crusade for Christ, an international group of college ministries that serves 1,140 campuses across the United States and throughout the world. The organization has reached more than 8 million students worldwide, according to the Campus Crusade for Christ website. “CRU’s goal is to be a spiritual resource to all UA students, to equip and challenge those that are already following Jesus and to serve those that want to investigate God,” said Tim Casteel, CRU’s campus director. Casteel said it’s important for students to connect with others of a similar faith while they are away at college, because “college campuses are not exactly known for being a spiritual greenhouse.” CRU is primarily run by students, but it also employees nine full-time staff members. Jordan Eoff, a CRU senior staff member who has worked with the group for 10 years, got involved with the ministry during his college years and said the experience transformed his entire life. “By [God’s] grace, my life went from being me-centered to being Christ-centered, although it is still a struggle at times,” Eoff said. “CRU helped me learn more about God, helped me understand more about who I am in Christ and trained me to have a ministry for a lifetime no matter my vocation.” Eoff said he hopes that every student at the UA will know someone who follows Christ and will make the decision whether or not to start a relationship with Christ. “My hope is that each student will get to hear the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was resurrected after three days so that we, too, might get to experience new life with him,” Eoff said. “All we must do is receive Christ as our savior. My hope is that each of our leaders will walk with God and be equipped to have a ministry for a lifetime.” CRU welcomes all students, regardless of religion or denomination, to its events. “CRU is interdenominational, meaning we are a Christian group that welcomes all denominations,” Casteel said. “But primarily we are a group for every student – both those that are already following Jesus and those that want to investigate God.” During the first three weeks of school, CRU will hold coed, student-led Bible studies in most dorms before breaking into small groups for the rest of the semester. On Wednesdays at 8 p.m., students are invited to meet at Humphreys Hall in the first floor great room, at Yocum Hall in the first floor lounge, at Pomfret Hall in the D-wing classroom, at the Quad across from the dining hall, in the lobby at Futrall Hall, and in room 143 at Maple Hill. There will also be a meeting at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays in the first floor study room in Reid Hall. CRU has regular meetings at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays on the Old Main lawn. They will also hold a fall retreat Sept. 23-25. More information about CRU can be found on the group’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ArkansasCru. While Cru is an organization for college students, its staff members hope to inspire students to continue a relationship with Christ throughout college and beyond. “We exist to equip students to live missionally, wholeheartedly for God in college and for the rest of their lives,” Casteel said.
You can check out the Traveler online at uatrav.com or by scanning here:
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
DOWNTIME
Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
PAGE 6 TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
LAUGH IT UP
SUDOKU
“I went to a wedding last weekend. Two antennas got married. The wedding was horrible, but the reception was great.”
Q: What do you call a fly with no wings and no legs
A: A raisin. A termite walks into a pub and says, “Is the bar tender here?”
Difficulty:
Q: What did the ocean say to the penguin? A: Nothing, it just waved.
TODAY’S SOLUTION
“The frustrated cannibal threw up his arms”
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 Grafton’s “A” 6 Mill fill 11 Witchy woman 14 Aristotle forte 15 Major outlet 16 Chemical ending 17 Start of a quip 19 Lot 20 First name in hair products 21 Spanish possessive 23 Like the 4-Down in a 1960 chart-topper 25 Quip, part 2 26 Bear 27 Champagne designation 28 “them” author 29 Payoff 30 Acquire 31 Word in a current account? 32 Quip, part 3 35 Take willingly 38 Dreyer’s partner in ice cream 39 River wriggler 42 Don’t just want 43 Top-secret org. 44 PETCO Park player 46 Quip, part 4 48 Hawks’ homes 49 Outclassed by a large margin, as competitors 50 You are, in Yucatán 51 Mid-seventh-century date 52 End of quip 56 Deborah’s “The King and I” costar 57 Thumbs-up person, perhaps 58 “Amazing” magician 59 Ike’s WWII domain 60 Alex’s mom on “Family Ties” 61 Words of reassurance
1 Poetic pugilist 2 Online chuckle 3 “Tell me already” 4 See 23-Across 5 Stranded in winter, perhaps 6 Reading pen? 7 Fabled flier 8 Like many “Twilight Zone” episodes 9 Pub choice 10 Pay after taxes 11 Member of an ancient Asia Minor empire 12 Beautifier 13 Columbus, by birth 18 __ Bo 22 Exchanges 23 “Conan” channel 24 Handel cantata “__ e Leandro” 25 Least arid 27 Go out with 30 It’s eight hours later than PST 31 Singer Grant 32 Cut 33 Forest safety concern 34 Actress Lupino 35 Wool-coloring agent 36 Close-cropped hair style 37 Italian horse 39 Inventing family 40 Prior to 41 French article 43 Feature of one who is barely sleeping? 44 “Great” czar 45 Former PLO leader 47 Corolla part 48 Pompeii burier 50 French 101 verb 53 Nintendo’s Super __ 54 Meter lead-in 55 Hägar creator Browne
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
Tony Piro
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
Scan here to go to the Sports section on uatrav.com:
PAGE 7 TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER FOOTBALL
Hocker Ready to Kick Off Season by RUMIL BAUTISTA Staff Writer
Sophomore kicker Zach Hocker had a freshman AllSEC season in 2010, but Arkansas’ coaches want more from the Russellville, Ark., native this year. Hocker will take over kickoff duties this year, after handling just field goals and extra points last season. We’ve been trying to add more and more with the kickoffs and different kinds of kickoffs, what he can do,” Arkansas special teams coordinator John L. Smith said. “He’s doing good. I like Zach.” Hocker made 16 of 19 field goals last season, including 7 of 9 kicks longer than 40 yards. “I missed three field goals last year. Any kind of misses we want to try to critique.” Hocker said. “This team has huge expectations. I know that we had a pretty good season last year but I’d like us to improve in any way I can.” Hocker became the starting kicker after beating out Alex Tejada and Eddie Camara in fall practice last season. Before earning the job, he competed with Dylan Breeding for the starting punting job. “I was sitting there thinking, ‘What am I gonna do? Dylan’s a year older than me and our other kickers are doing really well,’” Hocker said. “Fortunate enough, one day coach just game me a shot
and I was super fortunate for it and it worked out. It meant the world to me, but that was the last thing I was expecting.” Not only did he beat out Camara and Tejada for the starting spot, he had one of the best seasons in the SEC. Hocker’s field goal percentage ranked third in the SEC and school history, ty-
Zach Hocker POSITION: KICKER HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 180
YEAR: SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: RUSSELLVILLE, ARK.
ing for 21st in the country. He made all 56 extra points, good for second in the SEC and tied 12th nationally. Hocker hit his longest field goal – a 51-yarder – in the Hogs’ 41-20 win at No. 18 South Carolina. It set the school freshman record and is the longest field goal made by an Arkansas kicker since 1988. He attended the Kohl’s Kicking Camp in the off-
see HOCKER on page 8
Sophomore Zach Hocker will handle kickoffs this season, in addition to kicking field goals and extra points. He earned freshman All-SEC honors last season.
FOOTBALL
FILE PHOTO
VOLLEYBALL
Hogs Release Depth Chart Tale of Two Sports by ZACH TURNER
Assistant Sports Editor
After naming junior quarterback Tyler Wilson starting quarterback last week, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino announced the depth chart for season opener against Missouri State. Running back Ronnie Wingo earned the starting job after All-Southeastern Conference first-teamer Knile Davis went out in Arkansas’ first scrimmage with a fractured ankle. Wingo has started six games in his two seasons as a Razorback, but has more receiving touchdowns than rushing. “He has concentrated on getting to his speed quick,” Petrino said. “A year ago, you had four guys back there all splitting reps in practice and they were the freshest group after Thursday practices than anybody. Now that he’s getting more reps, it’s challenging his conditioning and recovery.” Wingo has compiled 945 yards of total offense in his two seasons for the Razorbacks.
Senior De’Anthony Curtis will back up this weekend, earning second-team status ahead of junior Dennis Johnson. Johnson has struggled to overcome a hamstring injury the last two weeks. Curtis played running back as a freshman, fullback as a sophomore and receiver last season until the Sugar Bowl, when he switched to cornerback. He moved back to running back after Davis was injured Aug. 11. “He’s been a pleasant surprise for us, coming back over from defense and understanding the offense so quick,” Petrino said. “He’s the ultimate team player and we certainly root for him to do real well. Curtis spent his freshman season as a running back and was third on the team in rushing with 76 yards He was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Offensive Player of The Year as a senior in high school at Fairview High School in Camden, Ark.
see FOOTBALL on page 8
Missouri State SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 6:00 PM PPV ARKANSAS 0-0, 0-0 SEC NO. 10 AP, NO. 11 USA MISSOURI STATE 0-0, 0-0 SEC LAST MEETING ARKANSAS 48-10 (2009) SERIES ARKANSAS 6-0-0
Sophomore Charmaine Whitmore loved basketball before she discovered a talent for volleyball
by MARTHA SWEARINGEN Staff Writer
A few years ago, Arkansas sophomore middle blocker Charmaine Whitmore would have told you her life-long dream was to play college basketball. Volleyball was just a fun sport on the side to Whitmore. Basketball consumed her life since age 5 and it was where her heart truly belonged. In just one year, she realized her true talent and passion was playing on a court, but on one where the lines are painted
see VOLLEYBALL on page 8
GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Charmaine Whitmore (23) was a star basketball player in high school before concentrating on volleyball.
COMMENTARY
Over/Under Hogs vs. Missouri State Extra Points
JIMMY CARTER
jicarter@uark.edu Arkansas will rout Missouri State in its season opener Saturday. That is almost certain. The Razorbacks are 40-point favorites against a team picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Conference. The game should be over by halftime. If betting were legal in Arkansas, I might bet on these things to keep myself entertained. Missouri State at Arkan-
sas (-40): Arkansas 45, Missouri State 6 The Hogs dispense the Bears easily, but don’t cover the spread. Winning by 40 points isn’t easy and the backups should get plenty of playing time in the second half, opening the door for mistakes. Over/Under: 4 --- Minutes Missouri State leads in the game In 2009, Dennis Johnson returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, sparking Arkansas’ 48-10 rout of the Bears. Last season, Ryan Mallett threw an interception on the first drive of the season and Tennessee Tech led 3-0 after the first quarter. Tyler Wilson and the Razorbacks’ offense will score early and often if they don’t make mistakes. My bet: Under.
The Hogs get a wire-towire win. Over/Under: 309 --- Tyler Wilson’s passing yardage Wilson gets his first career start against the same opponent Mallett – his predecessor – faced. The current New England Patriots quarterback threw for 309 yards and one touchdown. Can Wilson best Mallett’s numbers against bad competition. My bet: Under Mallett was on fire against the Bears in 2009, completing his first nine passes. Wilson will throw for more than 250 yards, but coach Bobby Petrino will rep the running game and Wilson will be out early in the second half. Over/Under: 100 --- Ronnie Wingo’s rushing yardage The junior has impressed
in spring and fall practice, running north and south between the tackles. Missouri State won’t have an athlete to match up with the 6-foot-3, 231-pounder with 4.27 speed. Dennis Johnson has struggled with hamstring issues and Petrino won’t want to risk him aggravating the injury further against inferior competition. That leaves Wingo and freshmen Kody Walker and Kelvin Fisher. My bet: Over Wingo is too big, fast and strong for the Bears’ defense. Over/Under: 2.5 – Turnovers forced by the Hogs’ defense Missouri State starting quarterback Trevor Wooden was suspended for the game for breaking team rules. Sophomore Mitchell Jenkins or freshman Kierra Harris — an Arkansas native — will start.
That should bode well for the Razorbacks’ defense. My bet: Over The strength of the unit is the defensive line. Jake Bequette, Tenarius Wright and the group of big tackles should get pressure on the quarterback, providing opportunities for Tramain Thomas, Jerry Franklin and the rest of the defense to make plays and force turnovers. Over/Under: 1.5 --Touchbacks by Zach Hocker Hocker will take over kickoff duties from graduated Alex Tejada this season. The sophomore from Russellville, Ark., proved his kicking ability last season, making 16 of 19 field goals and earning freshman All-SEC honors. Kicking off is different, though. My bet: Under Unless it’s a windy night, I expect angled kicks to pin the
Bears’ kick returners. Over/Under: 69,000 --Attendance The Hogs are ranked in the top 15 and expectations are high. The season opener is always big. Tyler Wilson making his first start should help fill up the 72,000-seat stadium. My bet: Over Even if it was under, I’m sure Arkansas would inflate numbers. I feel confident about all of these. Want to place a wager, let me know. I could use the extra cash. If betting was legal in Arkansas, that is. Jimmy Carter is the sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter @jicartersports.
SPORTS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
t 7BSHBT 7FOF[VFMB Arkansas Traveler staff writer Monica Chapman talked to Razorbacks’ junior outside hitter about the volleyball team’s progress. The two talked about how coach Robert Pulliza has helped her, other favorite sports and why she chose to attend theUA. Acosta was selected to the Arkansas Invitational All-Tournament team. What made you want to come to Arkansas? I want to major in accounting. What to do you want to do as a profession? I want to continue playing volleyball professionally. Is there anything different about how they play volleyball here and how they play in Venezuela? The defensive formations are different. What expectations did Coach Pulliza set for you this year? He helped me a lot to attack harder and jump higher, especially with my block because I can help the team go to the NCAA tournament.
How do you plan to make that happen? I practice hard every day because I want to learn more to help the team because I really want to go to the tournament. What do you think the team needs to work on after this tournament? We played very good in this tournament. We need to continue to practice hard and working hard every day. Do you like playing any other sports? Soccer because I always played that before I started to play volleyball. Is anybody else in your family as tall as you? My dad. He’s about 6’1. What do you like most about volleyball and why? I like the attack because it’s the most exciting part of the game. How does it feel to be named to the Arkansas Invitational All-Tournament selection? I feel really good, but I want to just continue to play and keep working hard.
from HOCKER on page 7 season to work on his technique. “We’re going to try to up the ante a little bit and get a couple more kicks in,� he said. “This year. I’m definitely going to strive for 100 percent.� Hocker has tried to prepare himself for adding kickoff duties this season. “Last year it was a bit less of a load on me because [Tejada] was doing it, so I had time to focus on the field goals and he had time to focus on kickoffs,� Hocker said. “[Splitting roles] did help out a lot, but I did both
in high school and I’m really fortunate to have any job this season.� He’s tried to pace himself in fall camp to keep from overworking his right leg. “It’s like pitching almost,� he said. “You don’t want to go out there and throw too many balls or your arms will get super sore and worn out. So the coaches do a really good job of that.� The coaching staff is confident in his ability to handle the workload. “He’ll miss one here or there, but he’s like a duck, [he] lets the water roll off his back and makes the next one,� Smith said. “Some days he’ll come out and be perfect. I like Zach.�
from VOLLEYBALL on page 7 differently. “To me, basketball was everything,� Whitmore said. “It wasn’t until my sophomore year that my high school coach got me into playing volleyball. She wanted me to play really bad, and I didn’t even go to the first tryouts as a sophomore.� Four years ago at Northside High School in Fort Smith, Ark., Whitmore was shining on the hardwood with a vertical of 27.5 inches. As a three-time Arkansas 7A West All-Conference basketball selection, her goal in high school was to play college basketball. She is more talented in her side sport, though. Her vertical jump, an essential skill for the game of volleyball, was an invitation to college recruiters. During Whitmore’s senior year, she further developed her volleyball game by playing for the Ozark Juniors Volleyball club, where she could compete against players from across the country and expose her abilities to coaches on a national level. She received several offers from schools to play volleyball, but chose to stay in her home state to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. “By the time Arkansas offered, I knew I wanted to play volleyball, so it was more exciting than anything because a school in the SEC offered,�
Tuesday
t GPPU t +VOJPS t 0VUTJEF )JUUFS
Athletics Schedule
Friday
Roslandy Acosta
The offensive line still has ongoing competition at the weak tackle. True freshman Mitch Smothers and junior college transfer Jason Peacock are listed even on the depth chart. “They have basically been competing all preseason,� Petrino said. “They both have some things they need to improve on. Peacock needs to get off better on the count and Smothers just needs to keep on getting better.� Junior Colton Miles-Nash was listed as the starter at tight end after moving from defensive end in the summer to help block. Junior Chris Gragg – the expected starter – was on the second team. “They’re both starters, it just depends on what package we’re in,� Petrino said. “They both do different things well and both have different talent.� True freshman Brey Cook was listed as the second-string strong tackle, but will continue to work at guard, too. “That’s why I hate these depth charts,� Petrino said. “When you set it up, he’s probably going to practice more at strong tackle, but he will rotate with [Chris] Stringer between guard and tackle.� Although the depth chart was released, senior defensive end Jake Bequette said this doesn’t mean the team has quit fighting for a spot. “We always come in every day with the idea that we’re competing for a job. No one’s job is announced and no one’s job is really earned until the first game,� Bequette said. “We have young guys hungry for playing time and some veterans that want to establish themselves. I wouldn’t say that anything’s set in stone or any job’s safe.� Sports editor Jimmy Carter contributed to this story.
Volleyball Oral Roberts– 7:00 p.m.
Volleyball Charleston Southern– 12:00 p.m. @ Winston-Salem, N.C. Wake Forest– 6:00 p.m.
Women’s Cross Country
Razorback Invitaional– TBA
Men’s Cross Country
Razorback Initational– TBA
Soccer
Nebraska– 7:00 p.m. @ Lincoln, Neb. Saturday
Get to Know a Razorback
from FOOTBALL on page 7
PAGE 8
Football Missouri State– 6:00 p.m.
Volleyball
Georgetown– 9:00 a.m. @ Winston-Salem, N.C.
Whitmore said. “That’s big time right there.� During her freshman season at Arkansas, Whitmore had to adjust to collegiate volleyball. “I had to learn the game instead of just playing it,� Whitmore said. “I have a great coaching staff behind me to help me learn the game and every little aspect of the game that I needed to know.� As a veteran player, Whitmore said things are much different from her freshman year. “I’m pretty sure it’s an honor,� Whitmore said. “I’m so happy I made it through my freshman year. Being a veteran has more say-so in things, and I know the game better because last year I was kind of like a newbie, so now I know the system.� “I feel like our team is really good. We’re older, more mature, wiser, and know the plays better. I think we have a good run in the SEC.� A middle blocker, Whitmore doesn’t play back row, but would like to work more on her passing. “I’m not a back row player, but I would like to be able to pass a little bit,� Whitmore said. The 6-foot-1-inch middle blocker was the No. 2 blocker for the Razorbacks last season with .91 blocks per set. “It’s a great blessing to be a part of the Arkansas Razorbacks,� Whitmore said.
Volleyball Hosting ORU by MARTHA SWEARINGEN Staff Writer
Fresh off a season-opening 2-1 weekend in the Arkansas Invitational, the Razorbacks’ volleyball team will host Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnhill Arena. Arkansas topped McNeese State and Middle Tennessee after losing to No. 15 Colorado State. The Golden Eagles went 0-3 in the Nike Invitational in Norman, Okla., dropping matches to Missouri State, No. 16 Oklahoma and SMU. “A gigantic match. I mean, emotional weekend, long weekend, a lot of volleyball and now we’ve got to bounce back in two days and play Oral Roberts,� Arkansas coach Robert Pulliza said. “The good thing is that it’s here at home, but those guys have some Brazilian players that are very, very experienced.� ORU junior outside hitter Tatum Fredeen is from Bentonville, Ark. The Razorbacks beat the Golden Eagles 3-2 last season. “They have a player from around Northwest Arkansas,� Pulliza said. “She’s going to come ready to go. She’s a good player. So they’ll be ready. It will be exciting to come here. We had a five-set battle with them last year, and we expect nothing less.�
STEPHEN IRONSIDE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Arkansas’ volleyball team hosts Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Barnhill. The Razorbacks (2-1) had a program-record 1,407 fans in attendance for their season opener Friday against No. 15 Colorado State.