April 4, 2012

Music Festivals Light Up Summer Page 5

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Vol. 106, NO. 96 UATRAV.COM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

UA Narrows List of New Fraternity Candidates

by MANDY MCCLENDON Staff Writer

In addition to adding two new sororities to campus for the fall 2012 recruitment process, Greek Life officials are looking for two new fraternities to UA this spring, officials said.

Interfraternity Council, made up of 12 chapters, want to have the new fraternities on campus for the 2012 recruitment process.

The council selected four chapters to make on-campus presentations.

The chapters chosen include Alpha Tau Omega,

Pi Kappa Phi, Kappa Alpha Order and Beta Theta Pi. Presentations will take place at 6 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Center Auditorium on March 27, March 28, March 29 and April 3.

Interfraternity Council, like Panhellenic Council, has seen a vast increase in numbers in the past few years with the increase in overall UA enrollment.

Many credit this to the Arkansas Academic Challenge lottery scholarship.

Mark Machen, Interfraternity council president, see FRATERNITY on page 3

Petrino Feels “Very Lucky”

GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino speaks at a news conference Tuesday after being released from the hospital. See page 7 for the full story.

Arkansans Marry Younger Advocacy Group Ramps Up Than National Average Medical Marijuana Campaign

by JACK SUNTRUP

by BRITTANY NIMS

Staff Writer

Asst. News Editor

June 30: save the date.

The theme will be traditional, classic and elegant. Calla lilies will decorate the sanctuary, and the bride will carry them in her hands.

The colors will be rich, navy blue and playful, canary yellow.

Her dress will be white, his tuxedo black. They will both say, “I do”.

Chris Pemberton and Kory White are getting married.

They are two of the many UA students who have promised ‘I do’ to one another. She is a graduate student in the Masters of Arts in Teaching program; he is finishing his undergraduate degree in business. They are both 22.

Arkansas has one of the highest marriage rates in the U.S., as well as one of the highest divorce rates, according to 2009 Census Bureau data. That same report states that men and women in the U.S. are waiting longer to get married.

In 1970, the median age of a couple during their first marriage was 22.5 for men and 20.6

see MARRIAGE on page 2

The effort to get medical marijuana on the ballot in Arkansas is approaching a critical phase.

The advocacy group Arkansans for Compassionate Care has yet to reach the halfway mark in their pursuit of 62,500 signatures with a July deadline, leader Ryan Denham said.

“We’ve been going at it about 10 or 11 months,” he said. “It’s a lot harder than people realize, how much work is involved to go out and get signatures.”

Because of the lack of signatures, Denham has sought to attract volunteers at the

facilitated “educational” forums and signature gathering to help.

“We are going to try to put together some events like a weekend in a different part of

see MARIJUANA on page 3

Feds’ Crackdown is a Bummer for Oakland Marijuana University Page 3

Class Breaks Could Increase to 15 Minutes

by SARAH DEROUEN Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

Arkansas has one of the highest marriage rates in the U.S., as well as one of the highest divorce rates, according to 2009 Census Bureau data. That same report states that men and women in the U.S. are waiting longer to get married. Chris Pemberton and Kory White are two UA students who will be getting married this summer.

News

In This Issue:

university level.

“One of the projects we’ve done to boost numbers up is to get 400 students to get 250 signatures apiece in the next 90 days,” he said. “That’s an extra 100,000 signatures.”

The UA group Students for Sensible Drug Policy had

Today On The Hill Check out various events happening around campus today.

Page 2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012 VOL. 106, NO.96 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM

News

If You Don’t Snooze, You Lose

Page 3

Page 5

WEATHER FORECAST

Features

Features

Feds’ Crackdown is a Bummer for Oakland Marijuana University

Enrollment has plummeted at the Oakland university.

The faculty senate is considering expanding the break between classes from 10 to 15 minutes, officials, a senate official said.

Just like students, faculty and staff also have a governing body to discuss how to make

Pulling all-nighters can be harmful to productivity and creativity.

TODAY 62°

Sports

Players React About Petrino

Music Festivals to Light Up Summer Many UA students will go to festivals such as Bonnaroo and Wakarusa.

Page 5 THURSDAY 58°

life at the UA better, said David Gay, senate chair.

Faculty senate was created in 1996 to deal with academic matters, said Gay, who was the first senate chair and is now serving his second term, teaches economics in the Walton College of Business.

The senate deals with issues such as course approvals,

FRIDAY 63°

Players and coaches react to Bobby Petrino’s Sunday injury and Tuesday return to practice.

Page 7 SATURDAY 63°

SUNDAY 63°

MONDAY 59°

changes to academic programs and the academic calendar, he said.

“Four-hundred to 600 course changes go through faculty senate,” Gay said.

The members of the senate are faculty from each college

see BREAKS on page 3

Opinion

Education Trumps Tuition Increases Though tuition increases are in the future for UA students, education proves greater than the rising costs.

Page 4 Follow us on Twitter at @uatrav

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

PAGE 2

TODAY ON THE HILL 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

A

Kitchen Kred Dinner at Pomfret

Dinner at Pomfret. Chartwells Chefs will showcase special menus. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 7 p.m. The cost is $8.75 per person. Price includes sales tax.

4:30 - 7 p.m.

Pomfret

B

American Art: A Permanent Display

Join OLLI members for an indepth study of American Art, through discussion and slide presentations. Participants must provide their own transportation to Crystal Bridges.

Class meets four times. The cost of the class is $49.

UA Global Campus

C

Starting a Business in Arkansas Workshop for Business Students

The Walton College Career Center has coordinated a workshop session for those of interested in starting a business in Arkansas. Attire is casual.

3:30 - 5 p.m.

Room 504 Willard J. Walker Hall

D

Teamwork Series: Communicating Effectively in a Team

119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701

This module will introduce students to guidelines for effective communication and help students practice ways to provide effective and constructive feedback to team members.

Cost is $39.

Main: 479.575.3406 Fax: 479.575.3306 traveler@uark.edu

MARRIAGE from page 1

for women. In 2009, the median ages had risen to 28.4 for men and 26.5 for women.

That is not necessarily the case in Arkansas, however, where the median age of a man at his first marriage is 26, and 24 for a woman.

“Typically, like everything else, it’s a lagging factor,” said William Bailey, associate professor in the School of Human Environmental Sciences in the Dale Bumpers College. “We lag behind most of the country.”

Education is another area where Arkansas falls short of the U.S. average. In Arkansas, 19.1 percent of the 25 or older population have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 27.9 percent nationwide, according to Census data.

“That would suggest that we forgo college education and marry young, many right out of high school,” Bailey said.

Pemberton and White are an exception.

They met in 2007 as freshmen in the UA Razorback Marching Band. They both played saxophone: he, alto, and she, tenor.

“I did not know he existed, nor did he know I existed,” White said. “We wound up marching beside each other and met on the 20-yard line and it just kind of went from there,” she said. “That’s where he pro-

by religion,” Bailey said, “Essentially, people still feel guilty over premarital sex, and to appear that that is appropriate, they get married.”

Couples that marry young tend to have children early in life, have less income and tend to live on the edge of poverty because “they don’t have the motivation to put up with going to school,” he said.

In contrast, couples that are older when they get married tend to live in urban areas, have college degrees, decent salaries and are “looking for opportune relationships” because “they don’t depend on anyone else,” he said.

Additionally, many young adults make the decision to never get married because of past relationships or because of the relationships they saw growing up, he said.

“There’s commitment phobia for both genders now.

They’re coming from families that have been previously divorced. They’ve lived in those families, they know those struggles and the stress of watching their parents’ problems, and [are] saying, ‘Do I want to have that in my life?’”

Both Pemberton’s and White’s parents married young, they said, hers in their early 20s, his right after high school. Both are still married.

“In my opinion, I think society has changed marriage and the way it is now,” White said.

Facing Fears

White’s beliefs are similar to those of “traditional marriage”, she said, but with a “modern twist”.

“I don’t necessarily believe women should be at home and watch the kids,” she said. “I mean, I have a degree, I’m going to use it.

“I’m not going to let society and society’s views manipulate my way of thinking.”

Despite having few “models of young people having good, strong, committed relationships” in today’s society, hope remains in those individuals who make the thoughtful decision to get married, Bailey said.

“The hope for me is the fact that the people who do decide to get married in the future, because from my point of view that will become fewer and fewer, which means they are unique individuals who will put more effort into staying in that relationship,” he said.

During their time together, Pemberton and White have learned to work through conflicts, step by step.

“In five years [together] there’s been conflicts and you can’t prevent these conflicts; they’re going to happen,” White said. “Conflicts happen between friends, between coworkers and it shouldn’t be any different between a married couple and you have to work through that.”

“You’re marrying your best friend,” Pemberton said. “You’ve got to learn how to argue.”

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STAFF

Room 411 UA Global Campus

IMAGERY AND MAP DATA © 2012 GOOGLE, DESIGN BY ERIK NORTHFELL

posed to me.

“The 20-yard line, that’s where it all happened.”

They will have been together for more than four-and-a-half years when they get married this summer in DeKalb, Texas, White’s hometown.

“I think education is a big deal because it changes a lot of stuff,” Pemberton said. He will walk during graduation in May, but will finish his classes in the first session of June.

“When my dad and mom were married, they didn’t have a degree, so my mom was able to stay home. Now with us, we’ll both have degrees, we’ll both be able to have jobs, so it’s going to be different for us,” he said.

Arkansas is not the only state where people marry younger than the U.S. average. The five states with lowest median age at first marriage include: Idaho, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Utah and Kansas.

The five states with the highest median age at first marriage include: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and, highest in the U.S., the District of Columbia, with the median ages of 32 for men and 30 for women at first marriage.

Religion plays a significant role in the reasons many people marry young in Arkansas, Bailey said.

“I think one of the reasons people marry early in the state is the pressure from the community, which is driven partly

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EDITORIAL SABA NASEEM

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Editor -in-Chief 575-8455 traveler@uark.edu

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News Editor 575-3226 travnews@uark.edu

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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.

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 LAUREN HUSBAND STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior Emily Edwards uses a liquid chalk provided by the OCC when using the bouldering wall. Liquid chalk, unlike the traditional chalk balls, reduces the risk of inhaling dust and doesn’t create a mess.

Don’t forget to call early and reserve your student football tickets for the 2012-2013 season. The ticket office is located on Razorback Road next to Baum Stadium.

PAGE 3

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

Special Traveler Beat

POLITICS Feds’ Crackdown is a Bummer for Oakland Marijuana University

by PETER HECHT

McClatchy Newspapers

OAKLAND, Calif. — For the school renowned as the Princeton of Pot and the Harvard of Hemp, the high times have wafted into a downer.

Enrollment has plummeted at Oaksterdam University, the Oakland college that since 2007 has attracted 15,000 students to study cannabis cultivation and related careers, while boosting commerce in one of America’s most pot-friendly cities.

The pilgrimage for pot scholarship in Oakland is waning as California’s four U.S. attorneys wage a crackdown on medical cannabis dispensaries.

And yet, at Oaksterdam and elsewhere in the city, neither fewer students nor heightened federal scrutiny of the cannabis business seems to be killing Oakland’s vibe for promoting the possibilities of pot.

Despite the closing of hundreds of dispensaries elsewhere in California, Oakland is doubling down. It is seeking to license four new marijuana stores and attract new local pot tax revenue on top of the $1.7 million it gets from its four current dispensaries.

And Oaksterdam University — with its leafy green “CANNA-BIS crest mimicking Harvard’s crimson VE-RI-TAS seal Century Butterfly, a glass shop, is currently taking signatures for a petition to make medical marijuana legal in Arkansas.

—was drawing students recently from California, New Jersey, flour or butter with just a pinch plants glistening with potent site that now houses a cannaRhode Island, Florida, Wash- of hash. psychoactive crystals. bis museum. It features hemp ington, Puerto Rico and even While federal actions target James Silva, an Oakland tri- product exhibits and a display Japan.

California, Maya said jobs may al lawyer specializing in medi- of turn-of-the century cannabis The mere prize of an Oak- arise in other states that have cal marijuana cases, started his medicine bottles called “Maristerdam diploma was enough legalized medical marijuana. Saturday seminar telling his juana Before the Drug War.” for Aats Otoina, 33, a rice and “I’m willing to take a calculated students not to talk freely about “I think this thing is just gospinach farmer from Chiba, Ja- risk,” she said. what they do. “Please don’t raise ing to be a blip in the overall pan. His country imposes strict Oaksterdam’s enrollment your hands and say I’m grow- drug war,” Lee said of the curpenalties for pot possession. Yet began falling as some Califor- ing 500 plants in Mendocino,” rent battle. “The big thing now Otoina wants to use his status nia cities seemed oversaturated he said. is legalization is almost here.” as an Oaksterdam grad to lec- with cannabis businesses. The Lewis winced as Silva said His attitude reflects a city ture on Japan’s cannabis tradi- number of students dropped California’s 1996 medical mar- where Mayor Jean Quan hailed tions under the ancient Shinto sharply last fall when U.S. at- ijuana law can provide a le- Oakland for being in “the forereligion. torneys began sending seizure gal defense to prosecution but “You can’t talk about the notices to dispensary landlords won’t necessarily keep someone MARIJUANA Japanese spirit without talking and threatening cultivators. The from being arrested or convictfrom page 1 about marijuana,” he said. prosecutors claimed Califor- ed for selling pot. Silva added: Puerto Rican-born Jose Al- nia’s marijuana industry — sup- “There is no medical marijuaThe effort to get medical berto Irizarry enrolled in Oak- posedly nonprofit — had been na defense under federal law. Is marijuana on the ballot in Arsterdam’s $300 weekend semi- “hijacked by profiteers” oper- that clear to everyone?” kansas is approaching a critinar in cannabis law, cooking ating in violation of both state “This is very, very stressful,” cal phase. and horticulture, convinced and federal law.

Lewis said.

The advocacy group Arthat marijuana jobs will survive Oaksterdam once ran seven Richard Lee, who founded kansans for Compassionate despite federal property sei- classes, each with 70 students Oaksterdam and bankrolled Care has yet to reach the halfzures of California pot outlets. paying $700 to $800 a semes- the unsuccessful 2010 ballot way mark in their pursuit of Irizarry moved to Oakland a ter. Now, it has one class of 50. measure to legalize pot for adult 62,500 signatures with a July few weeks ago from Florida. He Introductory two-day weekend recreational use in California, deadline, leader Ryan Dengot a California physician’s rec- programs and advanced semi- characterized down times for ham said. ommendation for cannabis for nars in how to run dispensaries his school and livelihood as a “We’ve been going at it anxiety and sleeplessness, and draw about half the peak atten- mere passage in history. about 10 or 11 months,” he applied on Craigslist for a job dance of 120 students.

The landlord for Lee’s Cofsaid. “It’s a lot harder than delivering marijuana to mediSome students who do sign feeshop Blue Sky dispensary people realize, how much cal users. up want to hear whether they got a letter from San Franciswork is involved to go out and “I’m tenacious,” he said. can even contemplate cannabis co-based U.S. Attorney Melinget signatures.”

“Where I come from, it is total- careers in the current climate. da Haag, threatening to seize Because of the lack of sigly illegal. I wouldn’t be able to “Hell yes, it freaks me out,” the building unless its marinatures, Denham has sought get an education like this and a said Michael Lewis, 53, refer- juana sales ceased within 1,000 to attract volunteers at the job on a regular basis.” ring to the federal crackdown. feet of a charter school that had university level.

Skittish about exposure, The former U.S. Marine and opened years later.

“One of the projects we’ve many students who enrolled in firefighter at the Alameda Naval Lee closed his famous downdone to boost numbers up is the recent Oaksterdam semi- Air Station, who said he suffers town Bulldog Coffee Shop, a to get 400 students to get 250 nars would not divulge their from post-traumatic stress and popular haven for marijuana signatures apiece in the next full names. rheumatoid arthritis, helped smokers under liberal Oak90 days,” he said. “That’s an Maya, a Bay Area property start a dispensary in Placerville land laws making pot the lowextra 100,000 signatures.” manager, said she went to Oak- in 2005. est priority for police. The place The UA group Students sterdam to plot a career producLewis wants to open a Bay had stopped operating as a disfor Sensible Drug Policy has ing gourmet cannabis products. Area medical marijuana deliv- pensary in 2004, but Lee shut it facilitated “educational” foShe listened raptly as professor ery service. But he wasn’t get- down anyway when a U.S. forrums and signature gathering Sandy Moriarity, acclaimed for ting the assurances he wanted, feiture notice scared the buildto help.

“Aunt Sandy’s Medical Mari- even as faculty members touted ing owner.

“We are going to try to put juana Cookbook,” taught how the medicinal benefits of canHe moved his one dispentogether some events like a to prepare savory chicken and nabis, advocated for its legal- sary — now called Oaksterdam weekend in a different part of breaded sole with cannabis ization and taught how to grow Blue Sky — to a former college

BREAKS

from page 1 and depend on the number of faculty in the college, Gay said.

This year, there are about 45 senators. The senators have twoyear terms and the executives are elected like in Associated Student Government.

“I’m proud to have colleagues so willing to give up themselves to make this a better place,” Gay said.

The faculty senate also collaborates with the university administration, staff senate and ASG.

“We are part of shared campus governance,” he said.

Last year, the faculty senate made some changes to the academic integrity policy and the student code of conduct and made an overhaul of course evaluations, he said.

The senate has some plans for changes to be done at the end of the year, Gay said.

The faculty senate meets about once a month. At the next meeting, the senate will vote about legislation to adjust the break between classes from 10 minutes to 15 minutes.

FRATERNITY from page 1

said he’s happy to see new chapters coming to UA. “Our numbers continue to grow each year, and we believe it is time for us to expand to provide additional opportunities for students to be a part of our Greek community. We are excited about expansion,” Machen said.

UA Greek Life informed the public of its wishes to

expand in December and received seven applications from national organizations. The Interfraternity Expansion Council chose four, which were then invited to make formal presentations on campus.

“Several national organizations will be on campus to share what their organizations have to offer.

The university community is encouraged to attend the presentation and provide feedback during this selec-

MADDIE LOGAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

front of the compassionate-use movement” for seeking to license four new dispensaries, even after federal threats forced it to junk earlier plans for massive marijuana cultivation centers.

But, notably, Oaksterdam’s lowest-attended seminars on this weekend were on running marijuana dispensaries.

In his “Patients Relations” class, Dave McCullick of the Sonoma Patient Group dispenthe state to go over there and collect signatures,” said group leader Stephen Duke.

While attendance at events has been good—Duke said 450 people showed up to one speech—Denham said students not switching their registration to Arkansas could be a pitfall in the effort.

“A lot of students, who say they’re going to switch over or say they’re going to register don’t ever do it,” Denham said.

“I would like students to be a bigger part of this campaign and the vote, however, I don’t really think the students are going to be a very decisive part of that,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean they can’t be.”

This is not the first time Denham has meddled in drug policy. In 2008, he and other UA students successfully got a city-wide resolution passed stating that misdemeanor amounts of marijuana possessed by adults should be the least of Fayetteville’s worries.

“What we did was symbolic, but it still sent a strong message to officials,” Denham said. “We called that group Sensible Fayetteville and students were involved in that on campus.”

Like Sensible Fayetteville,

tion process,” said Parice Bower, director of Greek Life.

Housing options for the fraternities and how their recruitment processes will begin will be decided after the fraternities are chosen.

Daniel Bingham, a senior member of Lambda Chi Alpha, said adding new fraternities is good for UA Greek Life.

“Clearly, Greek Life is growing here, and it’s a compliment that so many

sary in Santa Rosa told students to learn enough about marijuana varieties to satisfy the “bud snobs.” He urged them to comfort first-time customers and guide them to less potent pot.

He also said this isn’t the time to give up on dispensary careers.

“I would encourage people to go ahead and open them,” McCullick said. “We have to keep taking the fight. Revolutions do not go backwards.” the resolution is sort of an anomaly in the South, where no states have implemented medical marijuana legislation.

Still, Denham is confident that an accurate portrayal of the resolution will lead to its passage.

“I think it’s going to be fairly close, but it will pass,” he said. “It all comes down to how you phrase this thing and how you frame it.”

Framing the ballot measure as a medical issue and not a path to legalization is key, he said.

“We can talk about the full drug war later, but for right now, patients need to be protected,” he said. “Patients need to be taken off the drug war battlefield and if someone has MS, cancer or AIDS, then we need to take care of them right now and make sure they get the medicine and care they need.”

Duke said Arkansas has a chance to be a regional leader on the issue.

“If it were to pass and we were to have medical marijuana in Arkansas, I think it would be an important first step in removing the stigma associated with medical marijuana,” Duke said.

new chapters are needed to accommodate the numbers we have coming through recruitment. It also opens up a lot of opportunities for students who may not have been able to pledge otherwise,” Bingham said.

Greek Life officials and the Interfraternity Extension Committee will consider all four formal presentations and announce its selection later in the semester.

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

OPINION PAGE 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

Scan here to go to the Opinion section on uatrav.com

EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN

FROM THE BOARD

Controversial College Paper Makes National News It’s not uncommon, especially in a student newspaper, to see controversial articles written by opinion writers. Here at the Traveler, our opinion page strives to be fair while allowing students to express their opinions that are many times highly debatable. Whether we cover topics such as healthcare, politics or campus issues such as parking and construction, there will always be disagreements among students in regards to what is acceptable.

Though the opinion page is many times controversial among students, it is important as editors and writers to maintain fair and respectful content to readers. When content becomes offensive to students, newspaper staff must look at whether articles and cartoons should be placed and published.

In current news, offensive content through college newspaper editorial cartoons became an issue at several universities last week. The Daily Texan, the student newspaper at University of Texas-Austin, and the Daily Tar Heel, the University of North Carolina student newspaper, both were scrutinized for their editorial cartoons regarding the Trayvon Martin case. Both schools received backlash from students and alumni upset over the cartoon content, voiced through social media sites, comment sections and letters to the editor.

It’s important, as students and readers, to voice our opinions about articles and cartoons that are controversial, and express what we believe about issues that are written about. As a campus publication, the Traveler not just a place for writers to express their feelings; it’s a place for students to respond and voice their thoughts on what is published. Whether it’s through writing a letter to the editor, commenting on the Traveler website or commenting or liking social media posts through Facebook and Twitter, our newspaper can become a better publication when hearing student suggestions and responses.

Take the time when reading to express your thoughts and opinions about issues that are written in your campus newspaper.

HEBRON CHESTER STAFF CARTOONIST

Education Trumps Tuition Increases From the Managing Editor

Petrino to Make Full Recovery Amid Student Panic After news released that Bobby Petrino, UA head football coach, was involved in a motorcycle accident Sunday, students across our campus panicked for the future of the Razorback football program. However, as Monday news expanded, reports stated that Petrino is in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery, according to statements released by his family.

It’s important to note that while most football-loving Razorback students idolize Petrino and our football team, this time of recovery is crucial to bringing Petrino back well to our campus.

Petrino’s family has requested privacy during this time, and students should be aware of respect this. Students had the opportunity to see Coach Petrino in a press conference Tuesday, and can access the video on the Arkansas Razorback website, www.arkansasrazorbacks.com. Any additional news will be directed through our athletic director, Jeff Long, and will no doubt be passed on to news sources that students can access.

Though we won’t be seeing Petrino on the field for the next few practices, we can keep him and his family in our thoughts and wish them well. From all of us at the Traveler, we wish Petrino a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him on the field very soon.

Traveler Quote of the Day “I think one of the reasons people marry early in the state is the pressure from the community, which is driven partly by religion. Essentially, people still feel guilty over premarital sex, and to appear that that is appropriate, they get married.”

- William Bailey, associate professor in the School of Human Environmental Sciences in the Dale Bumpers College, “Arkansans Marry Younger Than National Average,” Page 1

EDITORIAL EDITOR Saba Naseem MANAGING EDITOR Mattie Quinn OPINION EDITOR Emily Rhodes 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.

by MATTIE QUINN

Managing Editor

I like to think that I am a pretty passionate person.

In the Traveler office, my fellow editors know not to get me started on a topic because I will give a speech for the whole office on why something is good or bad.

Among the things that I care about is affordable college education. In an age where it is nearly impossible to rise within the ranks without a bachelor’s degree, I believe that anyone who wants higher education should be able to receive it.

Given this information, you may think that I find

the recent tuition increase deplorable. In fact, I find the opposite to be true.

If you don’t know what I am referring to (or if you didn’t pick up Monday’s issue of the Traveler,) let me give you some context.

The System Board of Trustees recently approved a measure that will raise tuition $370 for undergraduates. The reasoning behind this is simply that the cost of running the UA has increased, according to John Diamond, associate vice chancellor for University Relations.

While this may seem like an extremely vague reasoning for pushing up tuition at first glance, I couldn’t agree more.

You would have to be extremely dim not to realize that this university is expanding in ways that many of us cannot even fathom at this current moment.

Construction is everywhere, and while annoying, promises of state-of-the-art, efficient,

‘green’ buildings are waiting for us at the finish line.

Of course I believe that the UA has always been a great school full of tradition and affordable, quality education. However, in more recent years I truly believe that UA has really skyrocketed as a nationally competitive institution others should take note of. And let’s face it, when there are certain non-SEC schools in the Natural State that are fighting tooth-andnail to get on our level (I’m looking at you, UCA,) it is just necessary to step up our game a little bit.

When discussing the issue of tuition increases, it is important to look it from a national perspective.

California universities jumped their tuition 21 percent in the past year. Not far behind California are the University of Arizona and Washington, who raised tuition 17 and 16 percent, respectively. When you look at numbers such as that, a $370 increase doesn’t seem so bad.

The sad truth is that college will probably always be a pricy investment that most of us will be paying off for several years after we get that degree. So of course it is discouraging to hear that students are going to have pay more yet again next year.

However, when it is all said and done, we can say that we went to a nationally competitive research institution that has every opportunity that another (more expensive) state university has. We can only hope that if tuition continues to increase, financial aid opportunities will as well.

Other schools in the state may be less expensive, but other schools are also not the home of the Razorbacks.

Mattie Quinn is a journalism major, and the managing editor.

Her column appears every other Wednesday.

Student Fees: Get What You Pay For

by BAILEY MOLL ASG Secretary

Students attending the UA are very blessed. While there has been some talk about tuition rising next year, let us not forget that the Chancellor was able to keep tuition from rising for two years.

When ASG hosted the SEC Exchange, I had the opportunity to talk to student leaders from every school in the SEC. These schools consistently complained that their state legislators were significantly defunding their school and tuition was rising dramatically.

All the while, the fees they were using for student activitites were being taken by the administration to cover other costs.

This conversation caused us to take a minute and be thankful for all of the great opportunities the You of A has to offer.

The Distinguished Lectures Committee has brought Rudy Giuliani, President H.W. Bush and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

among others. Headliners Concerts Committee has brought acts such as T.I., Blake Shelton, OAR and is bringing Kid Cudi this semester.

While these big profile events seem to garner the most attention, let us not forget the other events that occur thanks to our student fees, such as printing, Friday Night Live, UP Concerts, all that free food at your RSO meeting and much more.

Many of our student fees are the reason for many of my favorite college memories. My concern for many students is that they pay their student fees and then do not take advantage of all the opportunities the fee money provides.

Whether you think we need more fees to fund new initiatives on campus or you think we have too many already, the fact is you have already paid them so take advantage of it.

For example, if you take 30 hours over the course of this school year, you will have paid nearly $21 for the media fee. This pays for

those “free” copies of the Traveler and the Yearbook.

So go ahead and pick up that paper, take your yearbook photo and get the yearbook when it comes out-you paid for it. When you see the word free on campus, know what free means. For HCC alone, a student enrolled in 15 hours a semester will spend almost $8 a semester.

When you think of it, with all those free events you missed, how much of your spent money did you fail to utilize? So take some time to read through your student fees. You can find a detailed list of these fees in the Catalogue of Studies.

If you have thoughts about how your student fee money is being spent, take advantage of the public access to weekly ASG meetings. Note these meetings occur every Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Next week, the Program Allocations Board will decide how to spend several million dollars of student fee money on next year’s student programs and RSO’s.

Also, many applications to be on the committees that decide individual student fee areas, which are student run, are currently available.

If a particular fee area interests you come up to the ASG office in the 6th floor of the Union and find out how you can get involved with these committees.

I hope we have a huge increase in applications for these committees.

The more people who are involved in making these decisions, the better chance we have in effectively using the student fee money. So please take some time to research how much you pay in student fees and get involved with how that money is spent.

Like I said, if you have an opinion on it come to ASG Senate and let your voice be heard. Attend every event you can and get the most out of your student fee money.

Bailey Moll is the ASG secretary for the 2011-2012 year.

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

Scan here to go to the Features section on uatrav.com:

FEATURES PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

FEATURES EDITOR: Lauren Leatherby ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: Kelsi Ford

If You Don’t Snooze, You Lose— The Dangers of All-Nighters

by STEPHANIE EHRLER Staff Writer

It’s ten o’clock on Sunday night, and when the stress of preparing for a midterm the next day is burdening the mind the only thing left to do is to pull an “all-nighter”. Procrastination is the biggest epidemic in the college student population, and staying up all night to study or finish an essay has become the normal way to deal with looming deadlines and tests.

However common and seemingly smart it is to stay up all hours to be more prepared for what the following day of academics bring, studies show that not getting adequate amounts of sleep can actually negatively affect students’ GPAs. In 2011 The Bullet surveyed 1,125 college students and found that 20 percent of them had pulled at least one “all-nighter” in the last month.

Another study performed at St. Lawrence University found that twothirds of the students surveyed had pulled an “all-nighter” once a semester as found on The Bullet website.

This study also revealed that those students — two-thirds of the population surveyed — had lower GPAs. Research done by the University of Minnesota found that students who slept less had a grade point average 0.3 points lower than students who did not pull all nighters.

Students who become occasional night owls agree that lack of sleep takes a toll on mental concentration in lecture the following day.

“Lack of sleep from the previous night causes me to be not able to focus in class which makes it harder to make good grades in the class,” said

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Studies show that the human body needs a daily minimum of six to eight hours of sleep in order to function properly, getting less can deteriorate a persons health in the long term.

Brian Stallard, freshman civil engineering major. “Staying up all night also makes me tired the whole next day making my likelihood to skip class increase.”

College students sleep on average of six to 6.9 hours per night, according to the New York Times. This averaged decreased from measurements taken in a 1980s study which found the average sleep amount to be seven to 7.5 hours. The typical imperative amount of sleep required for young adults is eight to 9.25 hours each night.

However, staying up all night is sometimes necessary to finish school work adequately and on time.

“I’ve only pulled three all-nighters in my whole college experience, and one of them was due to a group member not finishing their part of the project in a group of four,” said Michelle Walton, senior computer engineering major. “The other group members had to pick up the slack and pull two all-nighters in order to have a chance at finishing the project within the deadline and to the high standard we wanted.”

Lack of sleep causes irritability, impatience, and even depression among students while undermining creativity and efficiency, according to Princeton researchers.

Going to bed and waking up at routine times everyday can also help students manage stress, according to the staff of the Pat Walker Health Center.

“When I’m tired from the night before I’m very irritable and people should definitely not mess with me,” Stallard said.

While the majority of students

will stay up all hours of the night sometime in their college career, the belief that they are essential to the college experience is not held by all.

“Lack of sleep in college is not necessary because if you budget your time properly and start assignments at least two days before they are due, you can more than likely get them done and still get a full night’s sleep,” Walton said. “On average I get around nine hours of sleep every night because if not it’s hard to pay attention in class as well, which affects my study habits and ultimately test grades.”

But even if good habits are already in place, the likelihood of not getting enough sleep increases the night before a paper due date or as an upcoming test nears.

“I consider myself to be a night owl, but I’m trying to force myself into being more of a morning person so I can do better in school,” Stallard said. “I usually sleep 6 to 7 hours on a normal night, but much less the night before assignments are due.”

So the choice to delay starting homework or studying can determine the amount of sleep a student gets, but regardless of if procrastination is practiced, any college student can attest that 24 hours in a day is just not enough to accomplish daily missions.

“Staying up late is not necessary if you manage your time and devote all of your time toward school, but that’s not all college is about,” Stallard said.

“The social aspect is part of the college experience, and in order to balance both it may sometimes be necessary to stay up late when you don’t need too.”

Aiding the Animals through Running and Dog Walking

by MIKE MAHARDY Staff Writer

BEN FLOWERS PHOTO EDITOR

Bassnectar performs at Wakarusa last year. Wakarusa is a four-day music festival located near Ozark, Ark. Previous headliners include The Flaming Lips, Wilco and The Black Keys.

Music Festivals to Light Up Summer

by MIKE MAHARDY Staff Writer

It is that time of year again when music is in the air, and plenty of it. RVs from all over the United States will be streaming into music festivals for tunes, camaraderie and partying.

For die-hard music fans with above average endurance and a healthy passion for the arts, music festivals are the quintessential live show experience. Some, like the grassroots festival Wakarusa, are just around the corner. Others require a little more traveling.

Wakarusa boasts an amazing 2012 lineup and beautiful scenery, with artists like Pretty Lights, the Avett Brothers, and Matisyahu combining to light up the outdoors at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Ark. Dance music, rock and country all coalesce to provide excitement for fans of any genre.

This Midwest classic moved from its origins near Lawrence, Kan., for a more breathtaking vista. Camping and partying have never been more relaxing, and every fan that has attended Wakarusa can testify to that.

“I can’t stress enough how

awesome ‘Rusa is,” said Mike Bay, a junior majoring in English. “There’s a bunch of great bands for four days, and everyone is friendly to their camping neighbors.”

The amalgam put on display on May 31 will inevitably be one of the highlights of the year for music, with travelers converging from all over the country, especially from the South and Midwest.

“You meet a lot of people during the weekend,” Bay said. “As with any music festival, there’s people from all over the country, so it’s a really eyeopening experience.”

The four-day, three-night festival known as Bonaroo has become a legend in the music festival world. Lineups consistently rivaling that of a modern-day Woodstock and fresh Tennessee air provide one of the most epic experiences for live show fans.

Joey Wilson, a freshman from Hamilton, N.Y., is one of the distant travelers who has attended Bonaroo.

“Oh man, it’s absolutely amazing,” Wilson said. “Three nights of dancing, and you still want more when it’s over.”

Stamina plays a large part in surviving music festivals,

and Wilson has advice for the rookie.

“Bring plenty of water, try to get at least four hours of sleep each night, and save your best dance moves for your favorite bands,” Wilson said.

The lineup this year is headlined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish and Radiohead, while talent like the Beach Boys, Fun and the Shins will be lighting up the stages also.

Wilson loves the Bonaroo lineup every year. “Dave Mat-

music festival magic. The west coast sensation attracts headliners who electrify the California atmosphere every year.

Indio, Calif., has casinos, the outdoors and a multitude of stages for the impressive 2012 lineup. The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and the Shins have all agreed to make the trip on April 13 for the two-weekend show.

While the distance is a little more intimidating, peren-

“Three nights of dancing, and you still want more when it’s over.”

- Joey Wilson thews and the Kings of Leon were definitely the best last year," he said. “I can’t wait for the Chili Peppers this year, it’s going to be epic, guaranteed.”

Bonaroo begins on Thursday, June 7 and continues until Sunday, June 12. Although tickets can be pricey, the plethora of talented bands attending will be well worth the money.

Some fans like music festivals. Others love them. For the latter group of hardcore travelers, Coachella is the apex of

nials at Coachella like Travis Barker, the drummer for Blink 182 and Angels and Airwaves, always have something unique to make every year unforgettable.

Those who love music in any shape or form and don’t mind making a trip to see it live cannot afford to miss the music festivals the country has to offer this summer. Whether right around the corner or 1,000 miles away, there’s a show for every fan.

For the UA horse herd of Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Foxtrotters and Appaloosas, the upcoming Dash 4 Cash 5k fundraiser will provide a livelihood.

The Razorback Roundup Auction in November will be the fruit of the D.E. Equine Program’s hard work. Community members can donate and purchase healthy horses to benefit the program after students and staff of the Dale Bumpers College care for the horses.

The 5k event will be held at the University of Arkansas AGRI Park Pavilion and Whitaker Arena on April 7, along with the one-mile dog walk.

Proceeds will go to the care of the UA Horse Herd and to the Humane Society of the Ozarks.

All ages are welcome, and there is an equal opportunity for everyone to receive prizes over the course of both events.

The staff at the Dale Bumpers Animal Science Program hopes to aid the already sterling reputation of the Equine Program, and assist with the care of animals in the area in any way they can.

Kathi Jogan, the barn manager for the event, is optimistic about the fundraiser. “Basically, we just want people to enter,” she said. “Any support that can be given will be helpful, and the proceeds will take care of the herd and the animals at the Humane Society.”

The UA Horse Herd consists of many different kinds of horses, including Palominos, Quarter Horses and Paints. The horses have all been donated by members of the community, and require ample amounts of food, grooming and care. The fundraisers aim to supply all of that.

“We need to give the horses food, shots and vaccinations throughout the year,” Jogan said. “The Horse Festival on

April 13 is a great way to bring the community together even more, and the auction shows off the horses in November.”

Partnering with the Humane Society is a way for the program to further their community-oriented agenda.

“We want to help the horses, but there are a lot of animals in need, and most of the programs that take the time to care for them are self-funded,” Jogan said. “That’s why it’s so helpful to give donations or get involved in any way.”

Optimism and involvement in the programs by community members is a surefire way to make a difference.

“You really don’t have to do all that much,” Jogan said.

“Honestly, any help that people can provide is helpful, even if it doesn’t seem like a life-altering decision, it is.”

Entrance forms can be found on the events website, for $25, and the awards ceremony will take place after both of the events. As long as the dogs are friendly with each other and have proof of rabies vaccination, they are more than welcome to come.

Licious, the miniature horse who doubles as the mascot for the Equine Program, will attend the 5k and one-mile dog walk, and pictures can be taken with the horse at the end of the events.

Dash 4 Cash fundraisers have been held from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to the University of Minnesota Duluth for all kinds of different causes, and the D.E. Equine Program hopes the turnout for theirs will rival those across the country.

“People are already coming out of the woodwork to help out the program and its horses, and the animals at the Humane Society,” Jogan said. “We’re already on course to raise a lot of money, and hopefully the community will prove once again how strong it is.”

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

DOWNTIME

You can check out the Traveler online at uatrav.com or by scanning here:

PAGE 6

Comics, Games, & Much Much More!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

LAUGH IT UP

SUDOKU

Q: What happened when Abel died?

A: He became unable.

Q: Why is the letter E like London?

A: Because it is the capital of England.

There was a man who entered a local paper’s pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, hoping that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.

Difficulty:

Q: What did the carpet say to the floor?

A: “Don’t move -- I’ve got you covered.”

TODAY’S SOLUTION

Q: When should you charge a battery?

A: When you can’t pay cash.

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 Utah Jazz’s gp.

4 Slopeside structure 10 Sodas 14 DDE opponent 15 Dugouts, e.g.

16 Frizzy do 17 *Worm change?

19 Sci-fi saucers 20 Shimmery sushi fish 21 Lush 22 Speck in the sea 24 Lender’s product 26 Hardly a tough decision 29 Decelerate 31 Dough dispenser, briefly 32 Craps cube 33 Words before “Here’s to,” perhaps 36 Remain unsettled 37 *Relocation company’s cocktail mixers?

41 Without accomplices 42 Didn’t run the ball 43 Nice vacation time?

44 Old word of annoyance 46 Twitches 50 Kentucky’s state flower 54 Sacro- ending 55 “How Do I Live” singer LeAnn 56 One of a salty seven 58 Architect Saarinen 59 Start of a coconut cocktail name 60 *Court mistake?

63 Former Israeli president Weizman 64 Shoelace holder 65 Canapé topper, perhaps 66 Corporate freebie 67 Breaks down in English class?

68 Word usually found in the answers to starred clues

1 Pooh-bahs 2 “C’mon, sport, help me out” 3 Cheese from Italy’s Veneto region 4 IV amounts 5 Hesitating sounds 6 Negatively charged atom 7 Game with scratching 8 Treaty of Rome org.

9 Top at the beach 10 St. __ Girl beer 11 Lawbreaker 12 Dietary needs found in beef 13 Titanic signal 18 Coordinated fan effort at a stadium 23 One of the Warner Brothers 25 Bard’s instrument 27 Bubbly soothers 28 Wine choice 30 __ favor: señor’s “please” 34 According to 35 Retirement org.

36 One on a bike 37 Add an engine to 38 Quick joke 39 Biblical mount 40 Foreign Legion cap 41 Hose filler?

44 Giant’s first word 45 Arched foot part 47 __ Nevada mountain range 48 Strand on a 22-Across 49 Made a basket, say 51 Old German money, for short 52 Wickerwork willow 53 Antes precede them 57 On the sheltered side 59 Vim 61 Shaggy Scandinavian rug 62 Sci-fi invaders, for short

Crossword provided by MCT Campus

SOLUTION

Tony Piro

SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

PAGE 7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

Scan here to go to the Sports section on uatrav.com:

SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER FOOTBALL

COMMENTARY

College BBall’s OG Starts His Streak Old Fashioned 3-Point Play

ZACH TURNER

zwturner@uark.edu

GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino speaks at a news conference Tuesday, April 3, 2012 after being released from a hospital following his Sunday motorcycle accident.

Petrino Feels “Very Lucky”

Coach in neck brace, badly bruised after wreck

by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor

Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino watched practice in the Reynolds Razorback Stadium press box on Tuesday afternoon, less than 48 hours after he was hospitalized following a Sunday night motorcycle accident.

It will take Petrino a while to recover from the injuries sustained in the crash, though, including four broken ribs in his upper chest, a cracked or broken C2 vertebrae and numerous cuts and bruises.

Petrino was wearing a neck brace and still had a badly bruised face when he spoke at a Tuesday afternoon press conference before football practice.

Despite his injuries, he was able to walk without assistance and didn’t show signs of pain.

“I am very fortunate and feel very lucky to be here and be in good health,” he said.

Petrino will likely be in the neck brace “one to two” weeks, he said. He didn’t rule out riding a motorcycle again, though.

“I can’t say that I’m not going to ride a motorcycle again,” Petrino said. “Because I might do that.”

He was released from a Physicians Specialty Hospital in Fayetteville around 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, met with senior associate athletic director John Fagg around 2:20 p.m. in the Broyles Center and then went to the team’s meeting rooms, he said.

“I love our staff,” Petrino said. “I think they’ve done an excellent job. I have complete confidence that any time I step out of the room that they’re running it just like it should be ran.”

Petrino said he will “be up early” Wednesday to work, but athletic director Jeff Long said he wants the coach to take time to make a full recovery.

“I want him to make sure he takes the time to heal properly,” Long said. “We’ll be advising him along the way. Now, whether he takes that advice or not that remains to be seen.”

see PETRINO on page 8

SOFTBALL

S o f tball S k id

by CATIE WALKER Staff Writer

Arkansas’ softball team left Louisiana after last weekend after being swept in a tough threegame series against LSU. The Razorbacks (18-14, 2-10 Southeastern Conference) have lost seven consecutive conference games, eight overall, in their current skid. Arkansas one-run games on Friday and Sunday, sandwiching a 9-1 loss on Saturday.

“On Friday and Sunday I thought we competed very well and we knew going in that runs were going to be hard to come by,” Arkansas coach Mike Larabee said.

The Tigers scoring at the bottom of the seventh inning for the only run Friday.

“That’s just a classic fast pitch softball game,” Larabee said.

Junior pitcher Chelsea Cohen lost, but had a strong outing with solid defense behind her.

“Chelsea has come so far since last year,” Larabee said.

“She stayed here for summer school this past summer and worked hard at her pitching and I think that is a big part of her success this season.”

At the end of last season, Cohen struck up a 6.75 ERA. This season,

see SOFTBALL on page 8

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas sophomore shortstop Clarissa Navarro leads the team in batting average, doubles and stolen bases but the Razorbacks have lost 14 of their last 16 games and have a 2-12 record in Southeastern Conference play.

Players, Coaches React to Petrino Injury

by ZACH TURNER

Asst. Sports Editor

With Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino confined to the press box at practice Tuesday, younger brother and offensive coordinator Paul Petrino led practice on the field.

Having his older brother in the stadium less than five hours after being released from the hospital following a Sunday motorcycle accident wasn’t surprising to Paul Petrino, though.

“He is a Petrino,” Paul said.

“He is tough and I never had any doubt that he was going to be here. Most people would have been, but there was no doubt he was going to be here.”

Petrino had a walkie-talkie in the press box to communicate with the coaches on the field.

“Anytime there was something he didn’t like that was going on he would communicate it to us and we would get it fixed right away,” Paul Petrino said.

Returning to practice with cracked vertebrae, four broken ribs and a sprained neck isn’t

the toughest thing Paul Petrion has seen his brother do before.

“I have seen him do some other tougher things,” Paul Petrino said. “I have seen him play a game with a blown out knee in college. I have seen him do a lot of tough things, but there was no question he would be here.”

The single-vehicle motorcycle wreck occurred Sunday evening near the town Crosses, about 23 miles southeast of Fayetteville.

Players like junior running back Knile Davis found out the news about his coach via social networking.

“I found out through Twitter,” Davis said. “I saw a lot of trending topics and he was a trending topic. I text him and was like ‘I am praying for you.

How are you doing, are you okay?.’ Then he texted me back and was like ‘I am doing fine.’”

Hearing the news was hard for senior quarterback Tyler Wilson.

see FOOTBALL on page 8

Kentucky coach John Calipari finally got one.

The way things look, it could be the first of many championships for the outspoken recruiting guru of college basketball.

For Calipari, his unorthodox method is where its starts.

Recruiting the new-age “one-and-done” college basketball player is his expertise.

Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are just the latest players in the Calipari sweepstakes. If the Wildcats tandem declares for the 2012 NBA Draft, Davis will go No. 1 and MKG No. 2, ESPN.com’s Chad Ford writes.

While college basketball fans point to other reasons why the Wildcats defeated the Jayhawks 67-59, look no further than Kentucky having the two best amateur players in the entire nation.

Add in a pin-point shooter in sophomore Doron Lamb along with a manimal, as I call him, in sophomore Terrance Jones and the Wildcats earned Calipari his first NCAA Championship after never reaching the goal with talented teams in the past.

Calipari doesn’t have to worry about scandals at previous coaching stops anymore.

Players the caliber of Marcus Camby at UMass and Derrick Rose at Mem-

phis want to come to the basketball mecca University of Kentucky. They don’t have to be ineligible or illegally recruited to end up playing in front of Big Blue Nation.

Calipari has mastered the art of recruiting and his success will only continue.

The Wildcats will probably lose four or five players from their starting lineup, but are ready to reload next season.

Kentucky already has commits from blue-chip prospects Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress, as well as four-star 7-foot center Willie Cauley, according to Rivals.com.

Not to mention, Calipari and the Wildcats are still in contention for the unanimous No. 1 prospect in the nation, Shabazz Muhammed.

If college basketball’s OG –– original gangster –– Calipari can find a way to persuade Muhammed to don the blue and white in the commonwealth, the Wildcats will be among the handful of favorites to cut down the nets again in 2013.

Goodwin, already drawing comparisons to NBA Finals MVP and All-NBA guard Dwayne Wade, is a game-changer that will slide right into one of the starting spots left vacant by MKG or Doron Lamb if both or either declare for the NBA Draft.

Goodwin has slasher, shooter and go-to playmaker skills all wrapped into one. Poythress is a solid offensive and defensive threat at power forward, which is bound to be available with Davis and Jones likely early entrants into the NBA Draft.

Cauley is still a bit raw, but his talent and size will be an undeniable advantage

see COMMENTARY on page 8

TRACK

Track Freshmen Make Impact

by ZACH LIGI Staff Writer

Arkansas’ men’s track team has already gotten big results from one of the last year’s highest-rated recruiting classes.

Freshman pole vaulter Andrew Irwin was the indoor national champion and has set indoor and outdoor records. He is the headliner of the class, but he isn’t the only one making an impact for the Razorbacks.

Freshman Gunnar Nixon had a huge debut for the Hogs, breaking the 6,000 point mark in the heptathlon and setting a junior world indoor heptathlon record in his first meet before placing in the top 10 at the NCAA Indoor Championship.

Another freshman, Patrick Rono, was a part of the distance medley relay team that went to nationals and won the 800-meter relay in the outdoor opener for the Hogs.

“We’ve got a pretty good freshman class,” Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam said.

“Our freshman class has really done an outstanding job. You look at Patrick Rono, you look at Andrew Irwin, you look at Gunnar Nixon, across the board.

That freshman class is do-

ing a good job and competing hard and showing a lot of promise.”

Arkansas’ current recruiting class has been ranked in the top five of the early publications.

Sutej Stays Strong Senior pole vaulter Tina Sutej has been consistently great for Arkansas’ women’s track team.

She has set NCAA records, won two national championships and earned points for the Razorbacks when they needed it most.

Coming off of her second indoor national championship, Sutej won the pole vault at the Texas Relays for the second year in a row while setting a meet record.

“Tina is the consummate competitor,” Arkansas coach Lance Harter said.

“She keeps everything in focus. It doesn’t matter what the conditions are, what the competition is what situation might arise, she just figures out a way to master it and move forward accordingly. To be undefeated in any event in track and field is a very difficult situation.”

Sutej isn’t the only

see TRACK & FIELD on page 8

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas pole vaulter Andrew Irwin has set both the outdoor and indoor pole vault school records for the Hogs during his freshman season, but isn’t the only freshman contributing heavily for the Razorbacks in 2012.

SPORTS from PETRINO on page 7 Monday night, Petrino went over grades from the Razorbacks’ Friday scrimmage with brother and offensive coordinator Paul Petrino.

“I was able to go through everything,” Petrino said. “Last night, helped with the practice schedule with him in … the hospital.”

Petrino revealed he wasn’t wearing a helmet during the wreck on Highway 16, just outside the town Crosses and about 20 miles southeast of Fayetteville.

“The ironic thing is we were sitting there in the kitchen, (wife) Becky and I,” Petrino said. “I had two helmets out and I said ‘This one’s going to be really heavy and hot. This one makes me look like a cone head. I think I’ll just go with the hat.’ Obviously a bad call.

We wouldn’t have converted the third down.”

Petrino joked several times about the wreck and his condition.

“I don’t think I have any brain damage, but that’s yet to be seen,” he said. “If I start not punting at all in the games or something, then we’ve got a problem.”

There is nothing in Petrino’s contract about riding motorcycles or wearing motorcycle helmets. Arkansas doesn’t have a state law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets.

from FOOTBALL on page 7 “It is tough when you hear someone you are close to and work with every day got in an accident,” Wilson said. “That is never good, but I am glad he is OK.” Davis, Wilson and the rest of the team were addressed by their head coach prior to the start of practice.

“I didn’t know he owned a motorcycle, so I was shocked because it kind of came out of the blue,” Davis said. “Coach preaches about being tough and he had a cracked vertebra and still stood up in front of the team and addressed us. That shows how tough he is.”

Paul Petrino is entering his third overall season as the Hogs’ offensive coordinator, but his

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012

“He has the right to entertain himself,” Long said. “Certainly would wish he’d wear a helmet, but that’s his decision.

I think you heard today that in the future he will.”

Petrino had blood tests done following the crash.

“I absolutely had nothing to drink,” Petrino said. “I spent the day at the lake with my wife working. She works me hard when I’m up there, but I absolutely had no alcohol in my system.”

As of Tuesday night, the police report for the wreck hadn’t been released. Arkansas State Police policy allows two to three working days for troopers to submit reports.

Petrino wrecked on his way back from a short ride Sunday night as the sun was setting, he said.

“I didn’t feel like I was speeding,” Petrino said. “I felt like I was going the same speed that I did when I maneuvered through those turns going that way. The last thing I remember was looking up at the sun and saying, ‘Oh, I’m going to have the sun in my eyes the whole way back.’ Then there was a gust of wind that came up. Whether that did it, I don’t know.”

After wrecking, a “lady was there that had flagged down a car”, Petrino said.

“The guy that was in the passenger seat said, ‘Get in, we’ll just take you right to the hospital instead of waiting,’” Petrino said. “So I got in the car

and they headed towards Fayetteville.”

Once in the car, Petrino got a call from state trooper Lance King, who works as a team security guard, to arrange a meeting point, Petrino said. After meeting, King drove Petrino took the hospital.

Team doctor Chris Arnold was in Fort Smith when the accident occurred, but “made all the arrangements” at the hospital, Petrino said. Multiple surgeons aided Petrino when he arrived.

“They were ready to go right when I hit the hospital,” Petrino said. “We had the surgeon that did surgery on my neck last spring there, we had a plastic surgeon who stitched me up, Doctor Arnold checking other areas. So it was quite an amazing medical staff that they put together in such a short period of time.”

Long was in New Orleans for the Final Four and didn’t find out about the accident until 1 a.m. Monday.

“In those immediate hours, you’re concerned and you don’t know what the status is and my being not in town made it amplified for me,” Long said.

He visited Petrino in the hospital Monday afternoon and said Petrino looked “much better” Tuesday than he did Monday.

“I would not question his toughness and I’m sure his players don’t either,” Long said.

first since returning in December from a two-year stint at the same position for Illinois.

“I thought Paul Petrino did a good job of stepping in and keeping practice going as usual,” Davis said. “We know how to practice, whether he is here or not, and is it our job to have a good practice and we did that today.”

The Razorbacks practiced for the first time this week and the first time since the first scrimmage of spring practice on Friday.

“You can always tell when there is an absence, especially of the head man,” Wilson said.

“I thought practice ran smooth though and that is what you like to see.”

The timetable for Petrino’s return the field is still uncertain.

“I think he is anxious to get

better and in time he will,” Wilson said. “He is just happy to be in the shape he is.”

Peacock Back After Suspension Arkansas senior offensive lineman Jason Peacock returned to practice Tuesday being suspended following an arrest on a felony theft charge before spring break.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound offensive tackle was arrested on March 16 after using a stolen credit card to buy gas.

“He was out there practicing today,” Paul Petrino said.

Peacock played in all 13 games last season as a junior after transferring from Citrus Community College in California.

Petrino wouldnt comment any further on the status of Peacock because of team rules.

from SOFTBALL on page 7 she has lowered it to 2.95.

Sophomore Clarisa Navarro has been solid at the plate and defensively this year.

“As far as defensively, a lot of her errors are on routine stuff,” Larabee said.

“But I do not think there is a more athletic shortstop in the country. She has a very bright future, she keeps working hard, but she does need to get more consistent with routine plays.”

Navarro is hitting .355 batting this season.

“Sunday’s game was an-

see TRACK & FIELD on page 7 standout pole vaulter for Arkansas, though.

Senior Tara Diebold has had plenty of success, too, despite being overshadowed by Sutej. Diebold has finished near the top of the rankings in the vault just as consistently as Sutej.

Together, the duo is the most successful pole vaulting team in the nation.

Sutej is a first-team AllAmerican and Diebold is a second-teamer.

Pole vault coach Bryan Compton won the Collegiate Pole Vault Coach of the year award during the indoor season thanks in large part to the work of Sutej and Diebold.

see COMMENTARY on page 7 for the Wildcats, especially in the Southeastern Conference.

With Arizona having all but locked up the nation’s No. 1 overall recruiting class by signing three of the top 10 players in the nation, according to Scout.com, Kentucky could pull down the nation’s No. 2 class.

This season, Calipari was able to put together all the pieces necessary to be the best college team in the nation from start to finish.

Attribute that to senior leadership of Darius Miller

other great game with a couple of controversial calls in the bottom of the sixth inning which may have cost us the game,” Larabee said. “I felt very well about their performance and our team competed well.”

This weekend, the Razorbacks will take on Mississippi State with a doubleheader on Friday and one game on Saturday.

“We need to get our pitchers to throw well enough to give us a chance to win the game,” Larabee said.

Routine plays on defense and timely hitting is the key to winning this weekend, Larabee said.

PAGE 8

“We have got to do a better job executing the short game when we get the opportunities,” Lara bee said. “It’s a big series this weekend.”

The Razorbacks have just two SEC wins, but Mississippi State has just three.

“We need to put ourselves in the position to get into the SEC tournament, and winning this weekend will be a big help,” Larabee said.

The SEC Tournament only allows the top eight teams to participate. Arkansas is last.

“We do not have any mid-week games this week, so we are going to be able to have three days of solid practice,” Larabee said.

After the weekend opener for the outdoor season Arkansas will travel to California.

Both men’s and women’s Razorbacks teams will be competing against some of the toughest competition they will face all season.

Neither program will be taking the full team.

Arkansas men’s track will be focusing on their middle distance and distance crew, entering the 800-meter, 1,500-meter, 5,000-meter and the 3,000 meter steeplechase.

“We’re used to going out to Palo Alto,” Bucknam said. “So we don’t think it’s

going to have a great effect.

We’re taking our middle distance and distance runners out there. We did run some of them this weekend in some odd events. We will continue to run them every weekend.”

The women will be taking and the 400-meter relay team.

“I think there’s no doubt when you look at national polls and things like that, they’re reflective of the summation of all the individual events,” Harter said. “We haven’t even run a third of our athletes. This is the weekend when some of our younger kids make their debut. Obviously we’ll pop right up in the national rankings and help the whole team score.”

and experienced McDonalds All-Americans like Jones and Lamb returning for their sophomore seasons.

The recipe for success was perfect.

I am confident Calipari will get Lamb and potentially freshman point guard Marquis Teague to return, returnees who would give the Wildcats a similar roster to this season.

Sharpshooting 3-point specialist Kyle Wiltjer will return with more muscle and skill than he had during his freshman year to complement the overload of talent on the Kentucky roster next season.

Calipari just laid the solid foundation to building an empire in college basketball and did it with the best college basketball recruiting strategy in the nation.

In three seasons at Kentucky, Calipari and the Wildcats have gone from an Elite 8 to a Final Four to a national title.

Next stop –– best believe Calipari has already made reservations for Atlanta, the site of the 2013 Final Four.

Zach Turner is the assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Wednesday.

Follow him on Twitter @zwturner.

Long Road to California