Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
Alex March Staff Writer The light is at the end of the tunnel. Classes for the fall 2012 semester will be over today, with only final exams separating students from a well-deserved winter break. Whether this is the first semester down or the penultimate semester before graduation, Dead Day Eve is the traditional final night of fun before the big tests. It’s like Mardi Gras before Lent — a night of depravity before a long, sobering period of sacrifice. There are drink specials, music and plays. Cut loose before you buckle down.
Dickson Street
Vol. 107, No. 63
Arkansan and Hot Shot Karate will be at Smoke and Barrel, and the cover is a mere $3. On Saturday night, the bar hosts metal band Eyes of Iron with Sound of the Mountain. Again for a $3 cover, catch Rhythm Dragons on Sunday night. Rogue has Jeff Kearney on Friday and a John Lennon tribute show “Shine On” on Saturday. Fayetteville’s own self-described “rocker, poet, bohemian and musician” Benjamin Del Shreve is releasing his new acoustic album, “The Diamond,” and on Friday night, George’s will be having a CD release party. Del Shreve has long been a local favorite, and his show won’t disappoint. To get a preview of his acoustic efforts, check out “Girl From Spain” on his 2007 album “Brilliant & Charming” or “Guardian Angel” on
2010’s “Sleeping Sweetly.” Based on those two songs alone, an entire acoustic album is going to be worth listening to. All of Del Shreve’s work is catchy and emblematic of the talent the city of Fayetteville nurtures. Tickets are $7 at the door, or $9 online. The weirdest event for the weekend is Saturday night’s Dimebag Darrel Tribute Show at George’s. For only $8 in advance or $10 at the
Regular Thursday night drink specials and happy hours on Dickson Street apply for Dead Day Eve, and chances are most people are already a little too familiar with them. Kingfish has $1 cans and $5 shots of Jack Daniel’s American Honey, as is the case every day. Buster Belly’s has $2.50 well drinks and $2.50 domestic beers. Dickson Street Pub has $3 drafts. Smoke and Barrel has half-price wells, martinis and specialty drinks. Grub’s Bar and Grille has a special Dead Day Eve promotion that pays to show up early. Wells and domestic drafts are $1 from 10-11 a.m., $2 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and $3 from 12-2 p.m. In addition, Mickey Finn’s Irish Pub has $2.50 wells and domestic drafts. For a more complete list of drink specials, the Fayetteville Flyer maintains a Deals & Specials tab on its website, fayettevilleflyer.com. They even send deals direct to Twitter under the handle @fvilledeals. For something to listen to while sipping on the cheap drinks, there is no shortage of options. Legacy Blues has blues guitarist Cadillac Jackson on Dead Day Eve with no cover. Damn
door, you can catch acts covering Pantera en homage to the late guitarist. If you’re willing to commit, this might be the most promising people-watching event since Wakarusa. Far From Driven, a Pantera cover band, will be playing a set alongside other metal bands 90 lb. Wrench, Hellbeast and Eye For A Lie.
Plays Perhaps an intellectual stimulant is in order after a weekend full of swilling depressants. If that is the case, the Walton Arts Center has “Billy Elliott: The Musical,” and TheatreSquared has Tennessee William’s “Period of Adjustment.” “Billy Elliott,” the movie, tells the story of a kid who wants to dance ballet instead of box, and the stage adaptation won 10 Tony awards in 2009, according to the Walton Arts Center. Tickets aren’t cheap at $59, but the big Broadway shows in Fayetteville are usually pricey. There are 8 p.m. shows Thursday-Sunday, and matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. “Period of Adjustment,” according to TheatreSquared, is William’s only comedy. The play tells the story of a newlywed couple’s first Christmas together, and is rarely performed. “Period of Adjustment” runs Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, with two performances on Sunday at 2:00 and 7:00. General admission tickets start at $15. TheatreSquared offers a program called 30 under 30, with 30 tickets reserved for people under the age of 30 for only $10 apiece. It’s just $10, and perfect for a date, or if you just want to feel cultured. Ticketing information for both plays can be found at waltonartscenter.org.
Badgers Moving on After Bielema Calls Hogs Bielema Bolts for Arkansas Haley Markle Asst. Sports Editor
Parker Gabriel From the Daily Cardinal
Bret Bielema’s seven-year tenure as the Wisconsin football team’s head coach came to a sudden, unexpected end Tuesday when he was hired by the Arkansas Razorbacks, throwing the UW program into a state of turmoil four weeks before the Badgers face Stanford in the Rose Bowl. At a team meeting Tuesday evening at Camp Randall Stadium, Bielema told players directly he would not be coaching the team in Pasadena, Calif. Jan. 1, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting. Yahoo! News first reported the hiring early Tuesday afternoon. “He just expressed that it was the best opportunity for him,” redshirt junior center and team captain Travis Frederick told reporters outside the stadium after the team meeting. “I think everybody faces choices in life and you have to do what’s best for you. I think he’s done tremendous things for the program and I think
Ryan Miller Staff Photographer Bret Bielema and his wife Jen call the hogs along with media and supporters Tuesday night after being introduced as the University of Arkansas’ new head football coach. he’s left us in a good spot.” The meeting lasted around ten minutes. At 6:13 p.m., UW offensive coordinator Matt Canada left the complex. He declined to comment. Over the next 45 minutes, players filtered out, mostly in groups. Some
declined to comment, though Frederick and injured redshirt freshman quarterback Joel Stave each briefly addressed reporters. “It was emotional,” Stave said of
see BIELEMA page 3
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long introduced the new head football coach to trustees and media at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. It streamed online and on loca l television stations for fans to watch as well. Bret Bielema ended his sevenyear term with the Wisconsin Badgers Tuesday, yet he did not break stride when addressing questions about his former team and his dedication to the Razorbacks. “What today brings is an opportunity for me to stand in front of you and chase a dream,” Bielema said. Bielema did not specify what the dream was, but expressed more than once that he wanted to be at a place where he could do something that had never been done before. Living in a state with no professional sports teams and no other division one college programs makes Razorback fans a passionate group, and that is something that has Bielema excited to be here, he said. “From this day forward we will do nothing but as players and coaches
Holiday Spirit on the Square
Long Concludes Eight-Month Search
Families, couples and college students are drawn to downtown Fayetteville to view the 400,000 Christmas lights that adorn the square.
For nearly eight months, UA athletic director Jeff Long searched for a new head coach at Arkansas. He found his man in Bret Bielema.
Full Story, Page 2
Full Story, Page 7
to try to give you every win you deserve,” Bielema said. A large part of the battle in college football is recruiting quality athletes, and there was some concern from fans about Bielema’s ability to recruit in the South. However, Bielema’s teams have featured multiple players out of south Florida and Texas. One of the things Bielema said he will emphasize in recruiting is putting a focus not on the player, but on the person. “We’ll recruit uncommon men here,” Bielema said. Since the hire was made, there has been speculation about what members of the current staff will be retained what new faces will be brought in. Bielema said he will talk with each member of the current staff before making any kind of decision about who will be on the staff going forward. He did say that the administration at Arkansas will make it possible to hire a top notch staff. “The staff that I’m going to assemble is going to be second to none,” Bielema said. Bielema said he left a great place, but the opportunity to coach in the Southeastern Conference, especially at Arkansas could not be passed up.
Today’s Forecast
61 / 45° Tomorrow Chance of Rain
63 /41°
Page 2
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Holiday Spirit on the Square
Contact
119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Aneeka Majid Staff Photographer Lana Sheikha (left) and Saba Kouchehbagh (right) enjoy the lights at the Downtown Fayetteville Square, Sunday, December 2. The Lights of the Ozarks is a holiday event held every year.
Jaime Dunaway Staff Writer During the holiday season, families, couples and college students are drawn to downtown Fayetteville to view the 400,000 Christmas lights that adorn the square until Dec. 31. Lights of the Ozarks started in 1994 as a way to increase the human resources tax during the winter months, said Byron Humphrey, parks and maintenance superintendent for the parks and recreation division of the city of Fayetteville. It was also a way to attract visitors to Fayetteville and to provide citizens with a light display. A committee of three people was formed to start planning a city-wide lighting project. The committee recruited businesses from the airport to the mall and sold lights door-to-door encouraging people to participate in the lighting of northwest Arkansas. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, a fire truck began at the airport, and businesses along the way turned on their lights as the fire truck passed, Humphrey said. A holiday parade, choir performances and a VW show accompanied the first lighting of the square. A sound system was added to the square so music could be
played, and the display became centered on the square throughout the years, Humphrey said. “The community loves it,” he said. “We get many compliments each year.” An estimated 300,000 people attend the event every year, and around $100,000 is spent, Humphrey said. The city pays for all costs associated with the lighting display. The Advertising and Promotion Commission paid $15,000 for the purchase of the lights and, in recent years, replaced old lights with brighter, more efficient LED lights, he said. “It’s crazy to think how all that gets put together,” said Micah Hampton, international relations major in Russian studies. “It seems like back-breaking labor.” Visitors to the square can purchase hot chocolate or take pony, camel or carriage rides for an additional charge. Carolers and holiday vendors are also present, making the square a prime date night or group outing spot for students, Humphrey said. The Lights of the Ozarks parade was organized by the UA hospitality and events class to kick off the lighting of the square. Kodi Wilson, freshman kinesiology major, saw the lights for the first time with a group
of friends during the opening parade. She said it brought back the magic of Christmas that she felt as a child. Watching the joy on the children’s faces as the square lit up was her favorite part, Wilson said. “All the kids that participated—their faces—it was so sweet,” Wilson said. “I would have loved to have done something like that when I was a kid.” For Hampton, the lighting of
the square symbolizes a time to be with family and friends. She remembers her mom and her sister going to the lighting of the square every year. “I associate the lights with the joy of being with people that I love and enjoying each other’s company,” she said. “I think they’re pretty adorable. It’s interwoven into my Christmas time, and it’s something I always look forward to.”
Pat walker health center “Your Comprehensive Wellness Center” Stress Management Awareness We understand that during finals, many of you can get stressed out. So we wanted to give you some extra tips on how to manage STRESS:
Main 479 575 3406 Fax 479 575 3306 traveler@uark.edu
facebook.com/uatrav twitter.com/uatrav
Editorial Staff Chad Woodard Editor-in-Chief 479 575 8455 traveler@uark.edu
Brittany Nims Managing Editor 479 575 8455 travmgr@uark.edu
Mark Cameron Multimedia Editor 479 575 7051
Saba Naseem Special Projects Editor Opinion Editor 479 575 8455
Emily DeLong Copy Editor 479 575 8455
Jack Suntrup Asst. News Editor 479 575 3226 travnews@uark.edu
Sarah Derouen News Editor 479 575 3226 travnews@uark.edu
Shelby Gill Asst. Companion Editor 479 575 3226 travlife@uark.edu
Nick Brothers Companion Editor 479 575 3226 travlife@uark.edu
Haley Markle Asst. Sports Editor 479 575 7051 travsprt@uark.edu
Kristen Coppola Sports Editor 479 575 7051 travsprt@uark.edu
Sarah Colpitts Lead/Features Designer
*Eat well-balanced meals *Avoid Caffeine *Get plenty of sleep *Practice relaxation techniques *Take time for you *Expect some frustrations *Talk to someone Department of Wellness and Health Promotion 525 N. Garland Avenue (479) 575-4451 Fall and Spring Sessions Monday through Friday (8 am- 5 pm) Saturday (9 am- 3 pm) - Medical Clinic Only
Romance Diamond
Bridal Collection
Emily Rhodes Photo Editor 479 575 8455
Marcus Ferreira News Designer Carson Smith Sports Designer
Here’s to the beginning of
a bright future
Come to our store and see how you shine in our exquisite collection of JB Star engagement rings ~ like this Platinum Diamond Ring with a 1.22 ct. Cushion Diamond surrounded by 0.85 ct. tw. Round Diamonds.
Advertising & Design Staff Elizabeth Birkinsha Advertising Manager 479 575 3839 lbirkins@uark.edu
Jeremy Johns Account Representative 479 575 2223
Caty Mills Account Representative 479 575 3899
Chelsea Williams Account Representative 479 575 7594
Kayla Nicole Hardy Account Representative 479 575 3439
Amy Butterfield Account Representative 479 575 8714
Emmy Miller Graphic Designer
Guy Smith III Graphic Designer
Alex Brady Graphic Designer
Corrections 248 W. Dickson St | 479.443.9289 | www.romancediamond.com |
facebook.com/RomanceDiamond
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 479 575 8455 or at traveler@uark.edu.
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
Page 3 The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
!"#$%&$'()$*)+, -./$0,%1%2+32 Miranda Campbell Staff Writer Students may soon be able to receive doctor’s notes from Pat Walker Health Center after a proposal was passed by Associated Student Government Tuesday night. Senators also proposed to add vending machines in Mullins Library, add café furniture to the terrace above the new Hillside Auditorium and designate specified quiet and group study areas in Mullins Library, among other legislation. It is medical protocol to provide a doctor’s note for patients that may require time off from work or school, and the UA’s Pat Walker Health Center does not permit their doctors to write doctor’s notes, according to the bill. “Such a restriction poses
potential academic hardship on a student who is too ill to attend class,” according to the bill, which was authored by Sen. Alex Parish. “We, as students, pay and expect our doctors to follow protocol that is consistent with other schools and medical clinics…ASG Senate requests that the Pat Walker Health Center allow and encourage employed doctors to write absence notes for students who require time off from school due to medical reasons.” Mullins Library might undergo changes after ASG suggested to add vending machines and designate quiet study areas and group study areas. Sen. Kathryn Hudson proposed to designate silent, quiet and group study areas in Mullins Library after receiving multiple complaints from peers, she said. “ASG also suggests that
these areas will be well identified with signs and guidelines, such as no phone use in the silent areas,” according to the bill. Sen. Rachel Freeman proposed the addition of café furniture on the terrace of the new Hillside Auditorium after the UA decided to not furnish the terrace in order to cut costs. “The terrace will be an excellent place to view the scenery of our campus and the Chi Omega Greek Theater, but due to budget constraints with facilities management, they have had to remove all of the outdoor café furniture from the terrace project,” according to the bill. “Further developing the terrace with furniture will complement the already existing green space, namely the green, grass roofs of the auditorium, the terrace shade trees and the lawn surrounding the Greek Theater.”
Wishlists Not Just for Kids
UA Class Helps to Plan
Fayetteville Marathon Amanda Mazili Staff Writer
The Third Annual Fayetteville Half Marathon will take place Dec. 9 in some of the town’s most exclusive spots throughout the span of the weekend, an official said. A class at the UA is helping put together the race, as part of their own curriculum, in which students will
receive a grade for the marathon, said Taylor Johnson, an organizer for the event. All runners participating in the marathon are volunteers and the money raised will go to charities. The race will begin at 8 a.m., Sunday at the John McDonnell Outdoor Track Complex. The runners will prepare for the half marathon, a community-fundraising 5K and a mile fun run/walk. The most exciting part meets the finish line
back at the track, followed by the awarding ceremony, according to the website. Activities and race registration will take place at the vendor retail expo on the square, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Also, there will be a postrace celebration for runners at 9 a.m. at the stadium, with food provided by Hog Haus and Common Grounds. Pre-race festivities begin at 6:30 a.m., according to the website.
BIELEMA continued from page 1 the meeting. “It’s something that’s new for me, I haven’t really experienced this, but it’s something we’re just going to work through, I guess.” Each said the team was informed today and that there was no prior warning. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement he was caught off guard as well. “I was very surprised when Bret told me he was taking the offer from Arkansas,” the statement said. “He did a great job for us during his seven years as head coach, both on the field and off. I want to thank him for his work and wish him the best at Arkansas.” With Bielema gone, it
remained unclear Tuesday night who would assume head coaching duties as the Badgers prepare for the Rose Bowl. UW players were scheduled to have this week off of practice, with bowl practices beginning Saturday. The coaching decision will come from Alvarez. There has been speculation the former head coach, who compiled a 118-73-4 record in 16 seasons as the Wisconsin head coach between 1990 and 2005, could be a possibility himself. “I have no idea what Coach Alvarez is going to do, I think he’s done tremendous in the past,” Frederick said. When asked directly about the possibility of Al-
varez coaching, Frederick responded: “Like I said, I don’t know exactly what’s going to go on, and that’s up to him.” "Along with finding a new coach, my other main objective is to make sure that our student-athletes, specifically our seniors playing in their final game as Badgers, have a tremendous experience in the Rose Bowl,” Alvarez said in the statement. “We will do everything within our power to make that happen." Bielema compiled a 67-24 record as the UW head coach. He spent the final two years of Alvarez’ coaching tenure as the team’s defensive coordinator. As the AD, Alvarez then hand-picked Bielema to run the program.
1
Day Left Until Dead Day
Rebekah Harvey Staff Photographer Students pose for a photo with Santa at the Pictures with Santa event in the Union Connections Lounge, Wednesday, Dec. 5. The event was organized by University Programs.
Briefly Speaking
Thursday
Winterfest: Holiday in Song
7:30 p.m. University Baptist Church
Friday
Martin West Lecture 12 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. Graduate Education Room 343
Eta Sigma Delta Initiation Reception 12 p.m. HOEC Living Room
Sunday
Fayetteville Half Marathon
8 a.m.- 12 p.m. John McDonnel Outdoor Track Complex
ELF.
Available Now!
Make a child’s Christmas bigger, brighter and better than ever! Adopt a Salvation Army Angel. 1
Visit First Security Bank and choose a child to help.
2
Purchase gifts for the child.
3
Return unwrapped gifts.
Member FDIC
Condo
First Security will donate $10 – up to $2,500 – for every Angel adopted at our banking centers! fsbank.com
University Banking Center • 640 N. Garland, Suite 106 • 479.527.7040
2 bed 1.5 Bath 1250 SqFt Walking distance to campus
Call Today 841-4641
Opinion Editor: Saba Naseem Page 4
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
Despite Dismal Job Market, Hold on to Your Dreams
Saba Naseem Opinion Editor It’s that time of year for us seniors when we are all waiting around anxiously, hoping for those acceptance letters, or dreading those rejection letters, whether its for graduate school, medical school, law school, internships or jobs. I’d put this off long enough. College provided me with a clear path and with security—I knew where I was going and how to achieve my goals. For as long as I know, I’ve always had my path planned out and I’ve always known what was next. But now, as my graduation nears, I’m getting nervous, and I’m sure many seniors reflect my worries. I’m learning the hard way that it’s a tough world out there and that there aren’t many jobs. I used to think that after graduation, I’d get a summer internship, then get a job, work for a couple years as a journalist, eventually go back to graduate school for Middle Eastern Studies and from there, continue on my path to become a foreign correspondent. I got my first rejection letter this week, and to be honest, it was a hard blow to deal with. I had considered myself completely qualified and everybody I talked to would say, “Of course you’ll get it!” or “You don’t have to think twice about it, they’ll take you.” I got worried; I started thinking, what if I don’t get any of the internships I ap-
plied for? That had never occurred to be before, but now reality is settling in. An SPJ reports that the job market has improved slightly from 2011 for journalists, but that it is still weak, especially compared to pre-recession numbers. Total newsroom employment at daily newspapers declined by 2.4 percent in 2011, according to the article. For college graduates in general, an article from April 2012 reported that 53 percent of recent college graduates are jobless or underemployed. Of course, we all wish to be that 47 percent that do receive job offers, but in a job market like journalism, that seems to be difficult. Perhaps I do have the qualifications, but so do the hundreds of others who may have applied to the internships. These past few days, after the rejection, I sort of gave up on my dreams. I thought that if I couldn’t get this first step achieved, there was no way I could move on to the others. People kept telling me that one closed door means there is another better opportunity elsewhere. Keep your head up, they say. And I may have ignored that for a couple days, but now I’m telling all you seniors who are in the same position the same thing: Keep your head up and hold on to your dreams. Giving up is the ultimate failure. You won’t achieve anything that way. I’ve realized that perhaps I won’t achieve my goals the way I planned, but there are other avenues, and perhaps this is an opportunity for me to explore those. There is something out there for everybody. It’s just a matter of determination, of patience and believing in yourself. Saba Naseem is the opinion editor. She is a senior journalism, Middle Eastern Studies and French major.
Traveler Quote of the Day I associate the lights with the joy of being with people that I love and enjoying each other’s company. Micah Hampton, international relations major “Holiday Spirit on the Square,” Page 2
Marcus Ferreira Staff Cartoonist
!"#$%"$&'()*)+$%,+$!"-*./01$ 2*%,$/$3"%4&"45+(6+7%$8/9*-0
Brittany Nims Managing Editor ‘Tis the season, my friends. We are on the downswing of the semester, and the only things separating us from late-night caroling, making lopsided gingerbread houses with our siblings and unbearably-awkward dinners with our not-so-perfect families are those few lingering finals. I’ve never been a die hard fan of holidays — there’s something about awkward dinner conversations and reuniting with high school friends who still live at home and work at the same fastfood joint they did four years ago — that I just don’t enjoy. Maybe what turns me off from the holidays is the recurring thud I heard every year as my parents’ heads hit the dinner table when I tell our family and friends that I’m studying journalism.
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Opinion Editor
Chad Woodard Brittany Nims Saba Naseem
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.
hard, but isn’t impossible. Those of us with broken families are not alone, especially among our generation. About half of all U.S. marriages end in divorce, according to Census data, and about 50 percent of children born today will witness the divorce of their parents before they turn 18. When you’re a college student returning to a broken family for the holidays, you have to accept a different kind of a reality than you’re used to, especially if you’re parents divorced while you were in college, like mine did. We all have our own way of dealing with uncomfortable situations, especially when it comes to our families. Through trial and error, however, I’ve stumbled upon a few way to cope with the holidays. 1. Lean on your friends when you need to. Your friends are your steady rock when your family can’t be. Two years ago I spent Thanksgiving with my best friend and her family, and although it made me miss my family (broken pieces and all), it was a good way for me to reevaluate my family and what the holidays should be. 2. Don’t be afraid to carry on family traditions. It might seem weird, but carrying on small family traditions, like opening a gift on Christmas Eve or decorating the tree after Thanksgiving dinner, will
reinforce some stability within your family. Plus, most people carry on traditions with the idea that they will one day pass those traditions along to their own children. 3. Focus on others to take some of the stress and attention off yourself. Spend Christmas Eve with your family, then spend Christmas Day volunteering at a local soup kitchen. At the end of the day, you’ll feel like you accomplished something worthwhile, rather than having spent your day exchanging polite small talk with extended family you hardly know. Keeping in mind the spirit of the season, don’t forget about those who aren’t looking forward to the holidays. Every family has its quirks — the drunk uncle, the troubled cousin, the exuberant, too-happy aunt — but some are harder to deal with than others. This year, whether you’re sitting down to your first of two holiday dinners with half of your family, volunteering at a local shelter or enjoying a traditional holiday celebration at home, remember the day for what it is: a time for good food, rich drinks and candid memories. Brittany Nims is the managing editor of The Traveler. She is a senior journalism major.
Never Stop Traveling, Learning
Jack Suntrup Asst. News Editor
Editorial Board
Who knows. Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of holidays — the Christmas lights, the sweet smell of goodies in the kitchen, the spiced drinks and seeing long-lost family members — but that’s all that I enjoy. The idea. There are plenty of you out there who are counting down the days until your last final is finished. You’ll pack your clothes, burn your semester’s notes in an act of liberation and peace out for the next month as you spend your time on your mother’s couch, moving only for food, water and to let nature take its course. But what about those of us who will remain in Fayetteville, savoring every last moment of our sweet, sweet freedom, as long as possible? What about the few, the proud, the loners? What about those of us who have broken families to go home to? My parents separated and divorced during my sophomore year of college, and since then holidays haven’t been the same. It’s not my parents’ faults the holidays are uncomfortable; they do their best. Yet, there’s something about having two Thanksgivings and Christmases that takes away from the spirit of the season. Surviving the holidays with a broken family can be
Well, I’m leaving. After a year and a half of studying here, it’s time to transfer to a campus that you don’t have to hike up a hill to get to. Mizzou or bust. Depending on who you are, you may be disappointed I’m making the move. You “could’ve seen it coming” or you’re thinking: “good riddance.” No matter your thoughts, my thoughts toward you probably reflect accordingly. I tried to like it here, I really did. But when it came down to it, I was just lying to myself. I finally had to bite the bullet and transfer. The decision was hard, and as I’m writing this, it’s the last night of production that I’ll be a part of. I just took my headphones out because I want to laugh
with my friends one more time before I leave. Working for The Traveler has really been the highlight of my time here. This department, the Traveler staff and Professor Gerald Jordan have given me many opportunities that I am thankful for. If you were fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to cross paths with me during my time at this school, you might’ve been on the other side of the table as I riddled off questions indicting you for something I found unjust (though journalists aren’t allowed to have opinions, for legal purposes.) You and I might’ve become good friends while I was here—but let’s face it—probably not. I’m really not good at going up to people and talking to them and making friends. I’d like to, but it just doesn’t work
that way for me. That’s why I’ve become good friends with so many people at this newspaper. I mean these people are forced to interact with my snarky, sarcastic attitude on a daily basis, and after while maybe they just got used to it. Anyway, here’s a list of things that since I won’t be here any more I can sound off on: I really hated when Kimpel Hall was vibrating for six-weeks straight; parking was crazy, but you all knew that; there’s no connectivity on this campus—it feels like everyone just goes about their day without paying mind to anyone. The lengths people go to not to make eye contact with someone as they’re walking to class (I’m guilty) are crazy. This region and school have taught me a lot about the South. As a journalist,
it’s my job to learn as much as I can about the task at hand and translate it in a way that anyone can understand. Before the election, I ventured across the state and talked with voters about their values, aspirations and heritage, writing about the state’s shift toward Republicanism. It was humbling. The people of this state are independent, welcoming and charming. I hope I’ve told their stories and the day-to-day story of this university effectively and fully, though, as a student, there’s always room for improvement. Jack Suntrup is the assistant news editor of The Traveler. He is a sophomore journalism and international relations major.
“Making Your Journey Worthwhile” Companion Editor: Nick Brothers Assistant Companion Editor: Shelby Gill Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Page 5
Page 6
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Comics Evan Barber Staff Writer Christmas is just around the corner, and on the off chance that NSYNC’s emblematic “Home for Christmas” album just isn’t doing it for you anymore (a long shot, I know), a handful of artists are releasing some notable Christmas music for the holiday season. On November 13, chamber pop poster boy Sufjan Stevens released “Silver & Gold,” six years after releasing “Songs for Christmas, Vols. 1-5” in 2006. With “Silver & Gold,” Stevens brings five more volumes of very quirky, very indie, acoustic, symphonic, and electronic Christmas music. The album is almost three hours long, featuring re-imagined versions of classic Christmas hymns, like ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’ Stevens’s version of ‘Joy to the World’ breaks into a disco beat and auto-tuned vocals halfway through – and does so without becoming cheesy. The album also includes several original works, with titles like “Lumberjack Christmas / No-one Can Save You From Christmases Past.” The closer is a 12-minute original called “Christmas Unicorn,” a sarcastic and playful rhapsody for the contemporary status of Christmas: “Oh I’m a Christian holiday, I’m a symbol of original sin / I’ve a pagan tree and a magical wreath, and a bow-tie on my chin,” and then later, he sings, “Oh I’m hysterically American, I’ve a credit card on my wrist / And I have no home or a field to roam, I will curse you with my kiss.” Also on the album, in the middle of the third disk, immediately after
an auto-tuned version of “Good King Wenceslas” comes a baffling cover of “Alphabet St.” by Prince. The entire album promises to be a fun and rewarding listen, but as NPR suggests, it’s probably best “doled out over the course of several days.” Also releasing his Christmas album is The Voice coach, singer, and former Gnarls Barkley member Cee-Lo Green. His album is titled “Magic Moment,” and boasts a glamorously absurd cover photo of white horses drawing his red convertible through a glowing purple sky. The album features contributions from Rod Stewart, his NBC costar Christina Aguilera, and after they got on so well in at the Grammys in 2011, The Muppets also join Cee–Lo for a song called “All I Need Is Love,” which is basically “Mahna Mahna” meets Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5.” Green himself called the album “a soulful take on a host of Christmas classics.” Katie Hasty, writing for hitfix.com wrote that “about a third of his 14-track Christmas album is solid,” while Jessica Hopper for Pitchfork concedes that the album is “a pleasure to listen to, especially if you are fond of Christmas standards and loud singing.” On a different note, “Grease” co-stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John just released a holiday collection called “This Christmas,” which also features contributions from Barbra
Pearls Before Swine
Dilbert
Streisand, James Taylor, and Kenny G. Apparently Travolta got the idea after Newton-John sent him a text about how their 1978 duet ‘You’re the One I Want’ had just become the best-selling duet in pop history; the album marks the first time the “Grease” co-stars have recorded together in over three decades. Artist proceeds will be donated to the Jett Travolta Foundation, which combats child disabilities, and to Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Well-
ness Center. “We all felt a wonderful, joyful energy while recording this album,” Newton-John said. “We want to make a lot of people smile and happy. It’s a project that we’re hoping turns into a perennial, one that can continue to raise money for these causes year after year.”
Calvin and Hobbes
Sudoku Stephan Pastis
Scott Adams
Bill Watterson
© 2011 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
Crossword
Holiday Opera ‘Christmas Around the World’ to Perform in Fayetteville Evan Barber Staff Writer Nick Brothers Companion Editor
Far Away - Instrumental All India Radio
Postcard From 1952 Explosions In The Sky
Adagio For TRON
Like A Dog Chasing Cars
Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG’s
Nimrod
Daft Punk
Edward Elgar
In Motion
Thistle
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
NYM
Yellow
Old School Frieght Train
Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 (1995 - Remaster) London Symphony Orchestra
Some Chords Deadmau5
Concerning Hobbits
Lord Of The Rings Soundtrack
It’s easy enough to put on the average Christmas concert. All of the melodies are already written and freely available in the public domain for any tone-deaf, bathroom-mirror Christmas rockstar to print off. A performance that features movements from classical operas, however, is something much rarer, and a group of UA students are orchestrating just that. On Sunday, Dec. 9, Jonathan Chavez and Allison Dean will be performing at an operatic Christmas music recital. Admission is free, but the organizers will be accepting donations to support the mobilization of global workers to South Asia, Albania and India as part of Lightbearers Ministries Inc. The recital will happen at 3 p.m. in the University Baptist Church sanctuary and will feature Rebekah Martin on piano and Hannah McCollum on harp. The concert is called “Christmas Around the World,” and it will be roughly one hour long, including songs sung in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. “It’s mostly Christmas music, but we are opera students,” said Chavez, a recent graduate from the UA music program. “So it will have that classical feel in a way.” Alongside traditional Christmas carols and hymns, Dean and Chavez will be performing operatic arias from Bolcom’s 1999 adaptation of Arthur Miller’s play “A View From the Bridge,” and from Puccini’s Italian opera “La Boheme,” which takes place on Christmas Eve. “La Boheme” was the inspiration for the popular musical “RENT,” which adapted Puccini’s bohemian world to portray the culture of impoverished artists and musicians in New York’s Lower East Side. “I’m just super excited, mostly because I’ve been wanting to do a recital for the past two years,” Chavez said. “I feel like a have to give in my singing, and I feel like I’ve been keeping it to myself. I feel like I’ve been wasting the gift that God gave me.” Chavez graduated from the UA with a bachelor’s in music and voice performance. He has been accepted and offered scholarships to graduate programs at the Manhattan School of Music and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, which is widely considered the best opera school in the country. “This is my first recital thing I have planned on my own,” Chavez said, “and this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to sing and make money for mission work and for charitable causes.” Compared to the university’s instrumental music programs, the voice department at the UA is relatively small, “because there are just so many instruments they can choose from,” Dean said. Dean, who is also a music major with an emphasis in voice performance, credits the brilliant and encouraging work of her professors, especially Janice Yoes, who retired last year but decided to stay on staff as an adjunct professor until her students graduated. “She’s a fantastic teacher with a great record for turning out great singers,” Dean said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her and my other great professors.” For the recital, Dean’s performance will include a few traditional Christmas songs, but also a couple of “art songs” — one in French and one in German — which differ from operatic arias in that they are generally less theatrical and better designed to stand up as isolated pieces. “Who doesn’t like to sing Christmas songs?” Dean asked. “It’s a really fun opportunity because as a music student you have to sing so many certain requirements for your repertoire, and with this we get to sing some fun Christmas songs. So when Jon asked me I thought, ‘You know, why not?’”
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
Doonesbury
Non Sequitur
Garry Trudeau
Wiley Miller
By C.C. Burnikel
The Argyle Sweater
Scott Hilburn
ACROSS 1 Sundsvall rollers 6 Trickeries 11 Pops 14 Portion out 15 Knighted conductor 16 Took in 17 Typically pinkflowered bloomer 19 Paris pronoun 20 Title words preceding “beneath the milky twilight,” in a 1999 hit 21 “So relaxing!” 22 Worrisome engine sound 23 Gateway Arch architect 26 Set straight 29 Hit, maybe 30 Breeders’ Cup event 31 Loses on purpose 34 Light touch 37 Key Egyptian artifact unearthed in 1799 41 Coll. applicants 42 Big name in beer 43 Mindless process 44 Manitoba tribe 46 Blood sugar regulator 49 Postwar reception 53 Neutrogena rival 54 Like “ifs” and “buts”:
Abbr. 55 Throw a feast for 59 Back talk 60 Tools of the mischievous god hidden in 17-, 23-, 37- and 49-Across 62 Cézanne’s summer 63 Pad user 64 Light wash 65 Le counterpart, in Leipzig 66 Like-minded gps. 67 Guide DOWN 1 Grain holder 2 Jai __ 3 Mass robes 4 Raspy-voiced “Like a Rock” singer 5 Where the anther is 6 Dallas-to-Houston dir. 7 Wedding dances 8 HI hi 9 Highest peak in the Calif. Cascades 10 “Sprechen __ Deutsch?” 11 Single-and-looking group 12 Do a makeup job? 13 Stoop
18 “Unfaithful” co-star 22 One that stands to prevent a strike 24 More strange 25 Soft-spoken painter Bob 26 Liberal subject? 27 1939 Garland co-star 28 Defroster alternative 32 “Who am __ say?” 33 Moral principle 35 Con 36 Summer intern, often 38 Plural medical suffix 39 Stock holders? 40 John Wayne classic 45 Campanella of Cooperstown 47 North of Paris 48 Mascara mishaps 49 Sank, in a way 50 High class 51 Cary of “The Princess Bride” 52 Blond comic strip teenager 56 Secretary of Education Duncan 57 Get whipped 58 Fancy pitcher 60 Org. with Eagles 61 Hardly shows of support
Sports Editor: Kristen Coppola Assistant Sports Editor: Haley Markle Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Page 7
FOOTBALL
Long Concludes Eight-Month Search Andrew Hutchinson Staff Writer
For nearly eight months, UA athletic director Jeff Long searched for a new head coach at Arkansas. He found his man in Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema. Although rumors of everything from ESPN’s Jon Gruden, to Boise State’s Chris Petersen, to LSU’s Les Miles were swirling, Long kept his search quiet. Long credits Chancellor David Gearhart, President Donald Bobbitt and the members of the Board of Trustees for allowing him to do so. “The thing that meant the most to me was that they entrusted me to carry out this process, and that trust meant everything to me,” Long said. “I kept them informed, but they allowed me to do my job. That’s all an athletic director can ask of those above him.” Senior Associate Athletic Director Jon Fagg, CFO Clayton Hamilton and Associate Athletic Director for Academics Eric Wood were also “critical” to the search, Long said. While looking for a new coach to lead the Razorbacks, he wanted whoever it was to have certain characteristics. The new coach needed to have a “passion for success and be able to embrace the passion of (the Arkansas) fan base,” Long said. Long also wanted a coach with “honesty, integrity and
class.” “There is no question that our new head football coach embodies all of these characteristics,” Long said. “He also brings a commitment to impacting the lives of the student-athletes he works with.” For Bielema, the ball started rolling last Sunday, the day following him leading Wisconsin to a 70-31 victory over No. 14 Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game. After not getting back to his hotel room until 1:30 in the morning, he had a conversation with Fagg Sunday morning. Bielema agreed to meet with Fagg and Long in New York City while he was there for the College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony. “Late Sunday night I went back to the hotel, thought about it, processed it, and met with Jeff (Long) again on Monday morning,” Bielema said. “I saw (Wisconsin athletic director) coach Barry Alvarez about 11:30, then at 2:30 I was in the air flying to Madison. It happened very quickly.” Rumors of other coaching prospects were still circulating until late Tuesday afternoon, when news of Bielema being hired leaked out. Both Long and Bielema are happy with the way everything turned out. “This (search) was pretty interesting because it’s lasted almost eight months,” Long said. “We’ve had quite a process.”
BASKETBALL
Razorbacks to Face No. 17 Kansas
Eric Harris Staff Writer
Ryan Miller Staff Photographer Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long introduced Bret Bielema to the trustees and media Wednesday afternoon.
The Razorback women’s basketball team will be facing their toughest test in Bud Walton Arena Thursday when the No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks come to town. Arkansas has had a steady start to the season. Their most recent 64-39 win over Pepperdine was Head Coach Tom Collen’s 100th win at Arkansas and improved the team’s record to 7-1. The Razorback defense stifled the Pepperdine Waves all night as they were held to 27 percent shooting. The Hogs also forced 23 turnovers in the game. Offensively, the Hogs were not as efficient as they had been earlier this season, going 1-12 from 3-point range, but they were led inside by Sarah Watkins, who had 18 points. Senior Erin Gatling also put up a career-high 11 points, while Dominique Wilson had eight points in her first career start. The Hogs have had a good opening run to the season, with wins away from Fayetteville over Hawaii and Oregon. The Razorback’s only loss
see JAYHAWKS page 8
FOOTBALL
Irish, Tide to Play for Title; NIU Crashes Party Jessie McMullen Staff Writer
The final BCS standings are in and the bowl games are set. Most of the games feature expected matchups, but there is a surprise this season. The BCS National Championship game will be played Jan. 7 in Miami with a matchup of Notre Dame and Alabama. Led by Nick Saban and Brian Kelly, the Tide and the Irish, respectively, are two very well-coached teams. Alabama will have an advantage in experience, as they are playing for their second straight title. Notre Dame lacks experience in the national title, since the last time they played in one was 1988. Notre Dame, the only undefeated team in football, is led by Heisman hopeful, linebacker Manti Te’o. Alabama suffered one loss on the season to Texas A&M. Notre Dame ranks first in points allowed, only allowing 10.3 on
the season, while Alabama ranks second only allowing 10.7. This game will come down to offense and which team can execute. The Rose Bowl will be played by Wisconsin and Stanford. Both teams made a BCS bowl game by winning their conference. Wisconsin will be playing in their third straight Rose Bowl game. Wisconsin destroyed Nebraska to win the Big Ten. Stanford beat UCLA two weeks in a row to take home the Pac12. These two teams may not be the most talented, but the game should be very entertaining. The Fiesta Bowl will feature Kansas State and Oregon. Both of these teams were hoping to be national title contenders until both teams suffered a loss, on the same day, that ruined their hopes. This will be a very offense focused game. Both teams average over 40 points. Whichever team’s defense can cause the most stops will win this
game. It should be a highscoring game. Florida and Louisville will be competing for the Sugar Bowl. Florida earned the BCS bowl game by being the second highest ranked SEC team and taking the final BCS bowl game bid for the Southeastern Conference. Louisville won the Big East and earned a bid to the Sugar Bowl. The game could possibly be determined by Louisville head coach Charlie Strong’s decision to stay at Louisville or move on. This game should be an interesting BCS bowl matchup. The Orange Bowl will be played by Florida State and Northern Illinois. Both teams received BCS bowl bids by simply winning their conference. Northern Illinois busted the BCS by winning the Mid-American Conference. Florida State won the ACC and received a bid. This will be a very interesting matchup between two non-top 10 BCS teams.
Photo Courtesy of Associated Press BCS busters Norhern Illinois earned a chance to play against Florida State in the Orange Bowl after winning the Mid-American Conference.
COMMENTARY
Records Break at the UA, and Not Just in Football
Tamzen Tumlison Staff Writer Adrian Peterson, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings, had a standout performance against the Green
Bay Packers Sunday and yet the Packers still won. Sounds a bit familiar, doesn’t it? Peterson managed to makes Sunday’s game the sixth straight game in which he ran for over 100 yards and scored the longest touchdown in his career. He also ran for his third game of over 200 yards, pushed his career yards to over 8,000 — the sixth fastest man to do so — and this is all after a knee surgery before the season began. It’s almost impossible to believe that the Razorback football team pulled out
things like this as well — multiple records and career bests — and still lost. The Razorbacks may not be the premier sports program in the nation, but the Hogs have quite a few records up their sleeves. Most well-known are the records of Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton set at the end of the football season. Wilson passed for the most all-time career yards at Arkansas with 7,765. Hamilton broke the record for receptions with 175, surpassing former Hog Jarius Wright’s record of 168. The swimming and diving team also saw UA records
broken at the Houston Cougar Invitational, all in relays. Shana Lim, Nikki Daniels, Susanna White and Nina Drolc broke the 400 medley relay previously set in 2010, and the same team broke the record in the 200-yard medley the next day. Drolc, Maddie Monroe, Anna Mayfield and White earned a UA record in the final event, the 400 freestyle relay. Daniels broke the 100 breaststroke record for Arkansas in individual competition in the same invitational. As Razorback fans, we have a lot going for us, especially in
places we don’t expect. How many swim meets have you made it to this year? With the amount of records broken on the swim team in just one invitational, this season might be the season to try it. I remember last year when I went to the Razorback gymnastic team’s meet against LSU. Not only did the team break the UA record team score, but the attendance at the event was a record-breaker. The team also hoisted itself to No. 1 for the first time in program history that season. Getting to witness, and even be a part of, perfor-
mances that break records, is one of the most unique experiences you can get while in college. Where else can you go to a sporting event for free almost every week, sometimes in which future professionallevel athletes give the college a new reason to be proud? Be sure to check out as many different sports as you can while attending Arkansas, and get the opportunity to witness one or more records shatter before your eyes. Cameron McCauley a staff writer for the Arkansas Traveler. Follow the sports section on Twitter @UATravSports.
Page 8
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
COMMENTARY
10 Sporting Events to Watch During Break Andrew Hutchinson Staff Writer
During winter break, students will have certain freedoms they did not have during the semester. Instead of worrying about studying for tests or doing homework, they can relax and enjoy a full month of free time. How they choose to spend their time will vary from student to student, but there will be many great sporting events over the next month that will definitely keep the sports-loving students busy. Here’s a look at just some of the great games coming up.
1. Dec. 8, 2012 – Army vs. Navy Start finals week by watching one of the most storied college football rivalries. Back in the day, this game had National championship implications, but today it is just a matchup between a 2-9 team, Army, and a 7-4 team, Navy. Navy has already clinched a spot in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, while Army’s season will be over after this Saturday. If you like passes thrown all over the field, this game isn’t for you. Army and Navy are last and fourth-to-last in passing yards per game in the country, respectively. However, they are dominant in the running game, ranking first and sixth in the country, respectively. The two military academies square off at 2 p.m. on CBS.
2. Dec. 9-30, 2012 – Late Season NFL Games Thirteen NFL weeks are in the books, but several playoff spots are still up for grabs. The last four weeks of the regular season will help determine which teams make the playoffs, as well as where they will be seeded. The Texans and Patriots face each other on Dec. 10 for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. The Texans have the best record in the AFC, but Tom Brady and the Patriots have played very well this season. This could be a preview of the AFC Championship game. The Packers at Bears game on Dec. 16 (noon, FOX) and Cowboys at Redskins game on Dec. 30 (noon, FOX) will also be key games in divisional races.
3. Dec. 8-29, 2012 – Top Ranked Soups_NewsAd_3colx7.pdf Nonconference Showdowns
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
The first part of the college basketball season provides fans with many great nonconference games that they otherwise wouldn’t see until March. These include non-traditional ranked teams playing teams from bigger conferences, such as No. 24 Wichita State at Tennessee (Dec. 13, 6 p.m.) and No. 18 New Mexico at No. 11 Cincinnati (Dec. 27, 8 p.m., ESPN2). It also gives us games between traditional basketball powers, such as No. 9 Kansas at No. 7 Ohio St. (Dec. 22, 3 p.m., CBS), No. 13 Illinois at No 12 Missouri (Dec. 22, 5 p.m., ESPN2), and Kentucky at No. 5 Louisville (Dec. 29, 3 p.m., CBS).
4. Dec. 15, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013 – Non-BCS Bowl Games The 35-game college football bowl season kicks off with the New Mexico Bowl between Nevada and Arizona at noon on Dec. 15. Just because 30 of them are not BCS games, doesn’t mean they don’t have great matchups. If you like scoring, the Holiday Bowl between Baylor and No. 17 UCLA (Dec. 27, 8:45 p.m., ESPN) appears to be a good choice. For a more local flavor, tune in to the GoDaddy.com Bowl between No. 25 Kent St. and Arkansas St. (Jan. 6, 8 p.m., ESPN). 5. Dec. 25, 2012 – Christmas Day NBA Games Every year, the NBA comes out with a great slate of games for Christmas Day. There are five games this year, with two on ABC and three on ESPN. ESPN starts things off at 11 a.m. with the Celtics at the Nets, and then ABC’s doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. with the Knicks at the Lakers and continues at 4:30 p.m., before it switches back to ESPN with the Rockets at the Bulls at 7 p.m. and concludes with the Nuggets at the Clippers.
Bowl, facing No. 21 Louisville (Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m.). The Fiesta Bowl features two one-loss teams, with No. 4 Oregon and No. 5 Kansas St. (Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.). Finally, the SEC will go for its seventh consecutive National Championship on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. when No. 2 Alabama squares off with undefeated No. 1 Notre Dame. All five games will air on ESPN.
7. Jan. 5-6, 2013 – NFL Wild-card Games The NFL playoffs begin with two games on Saturday, Jan. 5 and two games on Sunday, Jan. 6. These games will be played between the wildcard teams from each conference, as well as the third and fourth seeds from each conference, while the top two seeds receive byes. The last two seasons, the eventual Super Bowl champion played on this opening round weekend.
8. Jan. 7-13, 2013 – Top Ranked Conference Basketball Games At the beginning of January, college basketball teams across the country begin conference play. The most interesting early games right now appear to be No. 22 Notre Dame at No. 11 Cincinnati in the Big East (Jan. 7, 6 p.m., ESPN2), a potential bracketbuster game in No. 21 UNLV at No. 18 New Mexico in the Mountain West (Jan. 9, 9 p.m., CBS Sports Network), and No. 3 Michigan at No. 7 Ohio St. in the Big Ten (Jan. 13, TBA, CBS).
9. Jan. 11, 2013 – ESPN NBA Doubleheader ESPN’s NBA doubleheader features four teams that could make deep playoff runs this season. It starts at 7 p.m., with the Bulls at the Knicks, and continues at 9:30p.m., with the Thunder at the Lakers.
6. Jan. 1-7, 2013 – BCS Bowl Games
10. Jan. 12-13, 2013 – NFL Divisional Round Games
The Rose Bowl features the 8-5 Big Ten champions, Wisconsin, and No. 6 Stanford (Jan. 1, 4 p.m.). No. 15 Northern Illinois crashed the BCS by finishing in the Top 16 and winning the MAC and will face No. 12 Florida St. in the Orange Bowl (Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m.). The Southeastern Conference will 1:20 be PM represented 1 11/28/12 by No. 3 Florida in the Sugar
The NFL playoffs continue this weekend, as the top two seeds in each conference will face the winners of the previous weekend’s wild-card games. Again, two games will be played on Saturday, Jan. 12, and two will be played on Sunday, Jan. 13. After these four games, both of the conference championship games will be set.
COMMENTARY
Bielema Makes Perplexing Decision to Leave for Arkansas
Vince Huth The Daily Cardinal
Saturday night in Indianapolis, Bret Bielema hoisted the Stagg Championship Trophy, his Badgers having just throttled Nebraska 7031 to win their third-consecutive Big Ten title and claim their third-straight Rose Bowl appearance. Less than 72 hours later, word broke that Wisconsin’s head coach had agreed to take the same position at Arkansas. It’s uncertain when Bielema actually accepted the position—some reports say Bielema informed athletic director Barry Alvarez a couple weeks ago that he would bolt from Madison at season’s end—but it certainly came as a complete shocker to everyone but the Badgers’ last two head coaches. To be blunt, I can’t believe he left. Granted, I’m a huge Wisconsin fan, but I don’t understand why Bielema would leave a Badger program that’s on its way to elite status, to take over an Arkansas team that will fight to be the third-most relevant program in the Southeastern Conference’s West Division. While the Razorbacks just capped a 4-8 season, Wisconsin’s football program was headed in the opposite direction. No Big Ten team had reached three straight Rose Bowls since 1979. The athletic department has undergone construction for its state-of-the-art Athletic Village student-athlete training facility, and part of the near-$80-million project includes renovations to Camp
Randall. All three of those are phenomenal recruiting pitches, which leads me to believe the sky was the limit for Bielema in Madison. On the flip side, I certainly understand the SEC is the cream-of-the-crop conference in college football—for the guys in Bielema’s field, it has to be damn intriguing to be a head coach in that conference. However, Arkansas simply isn’t one of the conference’s premiere teams. An SEC team has won the Bowl Championship Series national championship game each of the past six seasons, but the Razorbacks have played in just one BCS bowl over that time span. No, they didn’t play in a national title game. And no, they didn’t win their lone appearance. Beyond the perplexity of taking a job at a middleof-the-pack program, it’s well documented Bielema hates the SEC. When one of Wisconsin’s verbally committed prospects flipped his allegiance to Ohio State— who had recently hired former Florida coach Urban Meyer—Bielema criticized Meyer’s recruiting tactics, knocking the SEC in the process. As recently as this summer, Bielema said the Big Ten didn’t want to be anything like the SEC, “in any way, shape or form.” Some reports said Tennessee also reached out to Bielema about filling its coaching vacancy. If he truly wanted to coach in the SEC, I’d argue the gig in Knoxville, Tenn., would be more appealing than the one in Fayetteville, Ark., despite
the fact Tennessee might not shell out quite as much money as Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long. Bielema reportedly signed a six-year contract with the Razorbacks that will pay him $3.2 million annually. Given he was making $2.5 million per season in Madison, I’d have a hard time believing Alvarez would refuse to negotiate a new contract if Bielema used Arkansas’ offer as leverage. If Bielema doesn’t like the SEC, yet agreed to man the sidelines at Arkansas despite an underwhelming contractual difference, my way-tooearly conclusion is that Fayetteville is simply a stepping stone. While I don’t think Arkansas is any more prominent of a program than Wisconsin, perhaps Bielema thinks he needs to prove himself in SEC country. Perhaps he thinks a successful tenure with the Razorbacks would land him an offer from a more prestigious college football team. Maybe the guy has NFL aspirations. Whatever Bielema’s reasoning is for bolting, I highly doubt Arkansas is his dream job. As perplexed as I am by the move, however, I do understand Bielema’s decision to leave before the Rose Bowl. I hate that he’s bailing on the seniors just four weeks before their chance to finally finish things the right way in Pasadena, but Arkansas’ 2013 campaign has already started. Bielema needs to fill out his coaching staff and hit the recruiting trail yesterday.
JAYHAWKS continued from page 7 on the season was an overtime thriller to No. 13 Oklahoma. Kansas is coming off an impressive win over Minnesota 63-53 that improved their record to 7-0. Kansas has had a slightly weaker schedule than the Hogs, but their undefeated record still features impressive wins over previously mentioned Minnesota, Wake Forest and a road win over Creighton. The game between the Razorbacks and the Jayhawks looks to be a battle of strengths, as the powerful offense of Arkansas will go against a very dominating Kansas defense. The 64 points Arkansas scored against Pepperdine
was tied for a season low. They average 76 points per game and are led by Kiera Peak’s 16 points per game. The Hogs also do an excellent job of taking care of the ball. So far this season Arkansas has averaged only 12 turnovers a game while forcing over 20. Kansas’ strength this season is their defense. They allow only 51 points per game and have not let an opponent get above 60 points this season. They held two teams, Washburn and Idaho State, to just 35 and 36 points, respectively. Much like the Hogs, Kansas has very balanced scoring and they are led by senior Carolyn Davis who
averages 16.6 points per game. To go along with a strong defense, Kansas is also very strong on the boards, averaging 44.4 rebounds per game compared to Arkansas’ 39.1. Junior Tania Jackson leads Kansas with 7.1 rebounds while the Hogs are led by Peak’s 6.6 per game. Arkansas has a distinct advantage from behind the 3-point line, as the Hogs have made 51 shots from beyond the arc at a 30 percent rate, while Kansas has only made 19 at a much lower rate of 23 percent. After this game, the Hogs are back on the road in Furman, S.C., to take on the Furman Paladins.