March 29, 2012 by Arkansas Traveler

Plasma Provides More than Entertainment

PHOTO CREDITS, LEFT TO RIGHT: RYAN MILLER, LOGAN WEBSTER, RYAN MILLER. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION : ERIK NORTHFELL

Possible Tuition Increase by BRITTANY NIMS

Assistant News Editor

CHAD ARNOLD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Collecting nearly 3 million liters of plasma a year, BioLife Plasma Services gathers high quality plasma that is used for life-saving plasma-based therapies. Plasma is the yellow liquid of whole blood that helps circulate red and white bloods cells and platelets while being easily replenished by the body. The local Biolife is located on Millsap Rd, a short drive off North College.

The UA Board of Trustees will discuss Thursday and Friday a proposed increase in tuition and fees for the 2012 2013 school year for the entire UA system, said the director of communication for the University of Arkansas System. The proposed increase between 3 and 5 percent would fund measures such as retention and graduation as well as utility costs like facility maintenance, technology upgrades, increased employee benefit costs and increases in faculty salaries, according to a press release from the UA system. Increased student enrollment at all UA colleges and universities strained state funding, said Ben Beaumont, director of communication for the UA system.

“As enrollment grows, the state budget gets tight,” he said, “and the burden shifts to the students.” Through the years, state funding has decreased, he said. At the UA-Fayetteville, state funding accounts for 40 percent of education and general revenue, according to the press release. Tuition and fees account for the rest. Ten years ago, state funding used to be higher, Beaumont said. Between 2008-2009 and 2010-2011, four-year UA universities received 11 percent less per student in state appropriations. Board committees will meet Thursday, March 29 at 1 p.m. and Friday, March 30 at 8:30 a.m. at the University of Arkansas Systems office in Little Rock.

10th Biannual Human Library Begins Next Week by MATILDE BONIFAZ Staff Writer

International Students and Scholars and the University Libraries’ Diversity Committee will partner with Student Ombuds Services to sponsor the 10th biannual Human Library from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 5 and 6 at Holcombe Hall. The Human Library, formerly the Living Library,

functions much like to a regular library, except that students “rent” conversations with a variety of UA students, faculty and staff. The UA was one of the very first universities to host a Human Library, which runs every fall and spring. “The event began at the UA in Fall 2001 after a graduate assistant in the University Ombuds Office read an article about

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 VOL. 106, NO. 93 12 PAGES UATRAV.COM

a similar event in Ms. Magazine,” said graduate assistant Jessica Pope. The Human Library has more than 30 “titles,” with subjects that include a transgender person, an atheist, a two-time cancer survivor, a person in a cross-cultural relationship and representatives from various countries. For volunteers, the event offers an opportunity to fulfill a diversity requirement for a class. For employees, the event counts as an hour toward a UA diversity certificate. Participants in the Professional Development Institute can also

receive credit toward their certificate. “My first time going to the Human Library was incredibly unforgettable. Even though I got to hear only one story, it was worth it. It is fascinating how much one can learn from someone else,” said Catalina Bonifaz, economics major. “For everyone, this is an opportunity to learn from and better understand one another and our cultures. With this event, we encourage our campus community to move towards awareness and intercultural communication. We emphasize

the importance of not judging a book by its cover,” Pope said. “It has been a joy to coordinate the event for the past two years. It has allowed me to meet wonderful people with amazing life experiences.” The library focuses on creating a comfortable, open environment that is conducive for sharing and developing increased cultural understanding, according to an online article. “Being able to connect people and then see them share their stories in an honest, even vulnerable, way is incredible. The Hu-

man Library is an opportunity to break down barriers in a safe, educational manner. This is an event that everyone should take part in at least once,” Pope said. “Reading a book is knowledgeable, yet the way you sit with these unique individuals one-on-one, as if it were a book, is irreplaceable. I am so happy the university gets to offer this type of opportunity,” said Caroline Smith, marketing major. Reading registration continues through March 30. reading appointments are required.

FEATURES THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD

Boom! Kinetic — Fayetteville’s Rising Stars

by EDDIE GREGG Staff Writer

Fayetteville’s restaurant scene continues to thrive. During the last few months, several interesting newcomers have joined the ranks of Fayetown’s culinary cadre. Here is a look at a few of them:

by MIKE MAHARDY Staff Writer

Something Better: This recently opened establishment features a menu of vegan and vegetarian dishes, including salads, wraps, sandwiches, stir-fries, pita pizzas and a list of options for custom creations. The menu is meat-free, but some dishes are made with something called “BTM,” or “Better Than Meat.” “It looks like meat. It tastes like meat. But guess what? It’s not meat!” the menu proudly declares. “BTM” can be ordered in forms resembling chicken, fish, and beef—all of which are vegan-approved, according to the menu. Sorry, vegans and vegetarians (actually, I’m not), whatever “BTM” is, it’s not as good as meat—delicious, murderous meat.

Location: 1466 N. College Ave. Phone: (479) 668-2366 Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday: Closed

Vetro 1925: I’ve visited this fine establishment several times and each time found good food, good service, a classy environment and a great bar (they have the best Manhattan in town). It’s a great place for a date, if you don’t mind bringing Ben Franklin along. And the food is almost what you would expect for the price. My biggest beef is with the portion size—it’s inconsistent. The first time I visited, I ordered the Ossobucco Milanese—a rich, ample portion of braised veal shank, roasted veggies, and saffron risotto. Absolutely delicious and well worth the cost; I highly recommend it. But during another visit, I ordered the quail. It was a tasty enough dish —not great, but okay — though the quail was a little overcooked. The portion size, however, was unacceptable.

Fayetteville is no stranger to burgeoning new artists, and the band Boom! Kinetic took advantage of that when they decided to put down roots in Northwest Arkansas. An emerging group of high-profile local artists, the band is not lacking in any area, most notably that of talent. Heavy bass lines, melodic singing, and a surrealistic sound all supplement each other in myriad ways. Although the band met to discuss the possibility of being a cover band in their early days, that notion was quickly ditched after they realized their true potential. This dance band has a somber, albeit high-energy sound that sets them apart from other up-and-comers. With a dual front man dynamic and a talented cast to support it, it is hard not to dance when one of their songs comes on. Not only is talent readily available in Boom! Kinetic’s lineup, but the band’s songwriting is superb and elicits a wide array of emotions to intensify a night out. The vocals of Wiley Seeger and Zach Gump combine to create a unique amalgam of energetic sound and ethereal melodies, while the drumming of Miguel Gamboa flows directly into the bass of Greg Guillot, highlighting the band’s darker side in songs like “Love and Reason.” With two EPs already released, it wasn’t until their debut album that they came into their own. The band’s first full-length album “Part Gray/Part Bright Light” showcases their ability to diversify, with the first half putting upbeat tempos on display for dancing crowds, and the second showing off a darker side of their songwriting. The spectrum upon which their songs lay is vast, extending from poppy dance songs to low-key emotional ballads. Each and every show has been said to keep the audience on their toes, and songs such as “Ordinary People” and “Math and Science”

Yes, I know quail are small, but if the double-digit price tag for my meal begins with a number higher than one, I expect to be impressed by the quality of the food—and come away well fed.

Location: 17 E. Center St. Phone: (479) 966-4649 Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. & 4 – 10 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. & 4 – 11 p.m. Saturday: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Posta Plata: Under the auspices of award-winning chef Omar Covarrubias, a native of Mexico City, Posta Plata offers upscale, modern-Mexican cuisine in a trendy environment. The menu features refined versions of the most common standbys of Mexican cuisine: tacos, quesadillas, as well as some very unique options. During a recent visit to Posta Plata, I ordered the Molcajetes del Chef. The dish, which is served in a lava stone bowl with tortillas on the side, consists of a red tomato sauce, chorizo, chipotle and your choice of meat. I went with the skirt steak. It

see FOOD on page 3

MIKE NORTON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Posta Plata, an upscale and local Mexican restaurant new to Fayetteville, is located at the intersection of Mall Avenue and Van Asche Drive. The restaurant is sleek and clean in both layout and design.

see BOOM! KINETIC on page 3

Geraldi’s: A Hidden Location for Good Pizza by KIMBERLY McGUIRE Staff Writer

Welcome home, spring breakers, and may your tans fade faster than you can say “Panama City Beach.” This is the time when the campus splits into two groups: those who care more about melanin content and those who wait for their Facebook newsfeeds to filter out the ambush of “SB 2k12 PCB” albums. No, of course I’m not bitter, why do you ask? I am one of the lucky people who took part in what we like to call a “staycation.” A whole week that you make plans to complete all the things you’ve wanted to get done this semester but never could because school was bogging you down. Or you stay home because rent was due and you don’t have excess funds in your account to spend on vacations that will only result in skin cancer screenings. Woe is me, my stay-cation was fruitless. My to-do list is just as long as it was pre-break and the vile thing just keeps on growing. Perhaps the only thing I did accomplish was trekking to an Italian eatery only to find that people have incredibly low expectations for spaghetti. Yes, this is probably my first negative article. Queue the post-race interview scene in Talladega Nights. That’s exactly how I feel. I don’t know what to do with my hands… We were out for a friend’s going away party and while we were waiting for our food, I asked if anyone had an idea for my next article. Geraldi’s was ranted and raved about so I decided to give it a try. Following up with a little research on the place, I consulted the Internet. A majority of blogs and food related websites give Geraldi’s high marks, and 90 percent of people who voted on Urbanspoon said they liked

Diners enjoy an afternoon meal of Italian cuisine at Geraldi’s, located on University Avenue in Fayetteville. it. I departed for the eatery that I never knew existed with the highest of hopes. I arrived two hours before closing time, yet half of the restaurant was closed for cleaning. This would have been fine if I didn’t have to listen to the scuffle and scrape of what sounded like a wire-bristle broom on a chalkboard during my meal. I tried to focus on the task at hand (ordering), but the mysterious sound effects were grating on my nerves. After the waitress came back to refill my water for the third time, I had reached a decision. My friend and I decided to sample as much of the menu

as our wallets would allow. I went with a side of spaghetti because I had heard nothing but good things about it. She ordered a dinner salad, which was also highly recommended. Then, we were to split a sausage and mushroom pizza. At a nearby table, we overheard that the calzones are “exceptional” and once their calzone made it to the table, I would have picked a word more like “monstrous.” A calzone big enough to feed three people and then some was covering the entire pizza pan, and I looked at it with lust in my eyes. Before I knew it, our meal was at our table,

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

and I was not as lustful towards our decision. The grass is always greener, I suppose. Starting off with the dinner salad that wasn’t very impressive. The dressing was said to be a “feta vinaigrette” which completely piqued my interest, was more of a let down than something to be going on about. The dressing resembled more of Kraft Italian dressing from a bottle and feta crumbled on top. At least the lettuce looked nice. As for the spaghetti that was absolutely doted on, it was completely lost on me. I can boil noodles and spoon

warm ketchup on them, too. It was completely generic, and I have no idea what people who think this is creamof-the-crop spaghetti have been eating, but they must have little to no Italian know-how. For those of you who have endured a sorority’s spaghetti dinner fundraiser, this is the closest thing I have to compare it to—sitting in a can before the house cooks nuke it to a warm simmer. Because I like to end things on a high note, and because the pizza truly was tasty, I recommend getting Geraldi’s pizza. It’s what they are known for, and it’s clearly what they do right. The crust is hand tossed yet still relatively thin, and had a different flavor to it. It was almost sweet. There was very little sauce, which was made up for with copious amounts of cheese. The sausage was some sort of “sweet” Italian sausage, which was wonderful and the mushrooms were well, mushroomy. As we were checking out, the desserts kept staring at me from their little refrigerated display case. The cake, the cannolis, the cookies. Though I never had the chance to try them, I think it’s safe to say that they would be pretty delicious. Our medium pizza rang up at $16, a little high for those of us who are used to ordering from the nearest chain. Though it truly was a good pizza, I don’t know if I would pay another $16 to experience it again. In fact, the whole menu was a bit pricey. The various pasta dishes ranging from $6-10, subs, salads and sandwiches costing around the same. A medium pizza can cost you anywhere from $12-20, and the giant calzone that I think I hallucinated was $13.50. I realize that my opinion is in the minority, but I’m positive there are other local places where you can get more bang for your buck.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

FEATURES FOOD

from page 2 was great—spicy, rich, flavorful. It was as good as or better than any dish I’ve had at other Mexican restaurants in town. A dinner partner ordered the Mexican Lasagna and let me sample it. I was skeptical of the dish based on its name, but to my surprise it was excellent. The dish features shredded chicken, chorizo, poblanos and onions in a three-chile glaze, all layered with soft corn tortillas and mozzarella and smothered in a poblano cream sauce and sprinkled with cilantro. Delicious. This is what I plan on ordering next time I visit Posta Plata. If you are looking for an adult beverage, the restaurant features a full bar with an extensive list of tequilas and margaritas. Posta Plata also has a sommelier on staff who has made Mexican wines the focal point of the wine list.

Location: 3675 Mall Ave. Phone: (479) 527-6714 Hours: Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

BOOM! KINETIC from page 2

have launched the group into minor stardom. They’ve booked gigs in venues from Memphis to New Orleans, and though the band mainly travels around the lower Midwest and Southern states, they are almost guaranteed to expand in the next few years. Their Youtube video views and iTunes purchases foretell a promising career in the near future. Kevin Kinder of TunedIn.com marks the band as a “great way to celebrate,” while Makes You Cooler has labeled them “Arkansas’ biggest party band.” In addition, their album has been called a “spiritual pilgrimage in which they find exactly what they needed to be looking for” by the aforementioned site. “Go to George’s and ask around. Everyone there will tell you that Boom! Kinetic sells out the place every time. Their experimental recording techniques coupled with their amazing vocals lead the group into a sonic landscape,” said Aaron of the reviewing site Makes You Cooler. Boom! Kinetic will be playing at local live band hotspot George’s Majestic Lounge on March 30 and 31, finishing out

Friday - Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Silver Stream Cafe: Ah, the Airstream trailer—the silver bullet of the American Dream. What could be more post-modern American than selling pork tenderloin chili with organic chips and other deliciously crunchy items out of said road-conquering relic of the mid-20th century? The contents of Silver Stream’s menu shift from day to day, but the options are always listed on a chalkboard fitted to the interior of the trailer door. The menu often features soups and sandwiches and other lunch items made with locally sourced or organic ingredients.

Location: 617 N. College Phone: (479) 463-0443 Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

the month with a bang for those just returning from spring break. The front men dressed in white suits and sunglasses will be hyping the crowd into a frenzy, ensuring an intense experience in one of Fayetteville’s most promising venues.

Fresco Cafe & Pub: This trendy eatery and lounge is located on the first floor of the EJ Ball building on the square in downtown Fayetteville. “We believe in the use of Local Fresh Ingredients to Create Incredible and Healthy Cuisine. Italian Fresh, Fayetteville Good!” Fresco’s menu proclaims. The menu features Italian-American standards, including meatballs and marinara, flatbread pizza, soups, salads, a variety of paninis and sandwiches and more. One notable menu item is the fresh mozzarella cheese made daily. Fresco has a to-go menu and delivers in the downtown area. The establishment also has a full bar and HD televisions for your viewing pleasure.

Location: 112 W. Center Street Ste. 100 Phone: (479) 455-5555 Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday: Closed

Tickets sell out fast, so everyone is encouraged to buy now, considering the band always sells out, and the place is very likely to be packed toe-to-heel. Bring a few friends, and get lost in Boom! Kinetic.

COURTESY PHOTO

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OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

EDITOR:SABA EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN

FROM THE BOARD

Comedian Takes the Stage at Verizon Ballroom When we thought our week back on campus following spring break would never end, the weekend is almost here and we can look forward to beautiful weather, a camping trip or two and a break from our classes. Yet, in the midst of busy test preparations and returning to hitting the books instead of the beach, our weekend can start early at the Verizon Ballroom tonight by hanging out with comedian and “Chelsea Lately” round table favorite, Sarah Colonna at her performance and book signing. Heading to the ballroom after our busy Thursday schedule is a great way to relax and have fun with friends after a stressful week on campus, so make sure to take an hour or two out of your evening plans tonight to see Colonna and hundreds of UA students, 8 p.m. in the Arkansas Union.

MARCUS FERREIRA Staff Cartoonist

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.

Reason to be Hopeful: New ASG Execs

CONTACT 119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Main: 479.575.3406 Fax: 479.575.3306 traveler@uark.edu facebook.com/uatrav twitter.com/uatrav

STAFF EDITORIAL SABA NASEEM Editor -in-Chief 575-8455 traveler@uark.edu

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byJORDAIN CARNEY Traveler Columnist

With Associated Student Government Senate off this week, let’s circle back to that thing most of us have probably forgotten about by now— ASG executive elections. If you have forgotten — or simply weren’t part of the less than 20 percent of students who voted— let me briefly refresh your memory. Tori Pohlner and Bobby Pennington, and Tim Tucker and Courtney Kleine ran for president and vice-president, respectively. There were some interesting similarities to last year’s ASG executive election. Pohlner and Pennington won. So let’s focus on Pohlner and Pennington. It’s easy to make promises during campaign events or in a plat-

form that aren’t realistic. It would be easy to point at almost any candidate and pick these things out. I was originally going to write about things I was worried about with the new ASG executives. It dawned on me though that it isn’t really a fair thing to do. The election is over so it wouldn’t be timely, the new executives haven’t been sworn in yet and undoubtedly some plans will likely change between now and even the beginning of May. For the sake of giving the newly-named executives time to actually do their job before judging them, let’s instead focus on something that seemed to be a theme in the Pohlner and Pennington campaign —and a theme in these columns— ASG expansion. I don’t mean expansion in pure terms of numbers, but expansion with students involvement in ASG. It’s one of the things I have constantly debated about in these columns, with other people and from time to time even with myself. It’s also something that I was glad to hear Pohlner talk about both in the ASG debates and throughout her team’s platform. As I said way back last semester, if you’re a member of ASG and you aren’t worried about ASG’s relevancy, you aren’t paying atten-

tion. Sadly, approximately seven months later that’s still true. I look forward to seeing how the new executives plan to do this. It’s certainly easier to say than actually do. You can’t force students to be involved or care or even know what student government does. The lack of public comment at Senate is a good example of that reality. One of the best ways to assure ASG’s importance and improve its relevance is to increase student awareness and involvement and boost ASG’s presence on campus. Both of these were a constant in the campaign. Pohlner also mentioned that ASG should be the voice for students to the administration. I don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned that in the past year. For me, it’s one of the most important things ASG should be doing. I can only hope that once in office, Pohlner will continue to make this a priority, and seek out opinions from students that don’t fall within the usual suspects. No offense to those students, after all ASG needs interested students to keep it going, but student government members can’t consider themselves the voice for students unless they reach out to groups that are otherwise unrepresented or underrepresented

students on campus. (If this isn’t your goal please stay away from student government.) There have been things that I have disagreed with Pohlner on during the past year— The Razorback Ball for instance. (For more on that you can check out my previous column, and a 1,000plus word response from Sen. Ellie Keffler.) I hope that during the next year the ASG executives won’t limit itself to similar events. During the campaign and in her platform, Pohlner seemed to have a wider vision for events and issues that affect all students. Again it’s all too easy to make these promises without much of a plan for meaningful follow up. During the upcoming year I hope the incoming ASG executive team will use its experience to make sure next spring we aren’t looking back on a year of empty campaign promises. That isn’t to say there aren’t some unrealistic ideas. There are, just like there were last year. But there are also plenty of reasons to be hopeful. Jordain Carney is a Traveler columnist. Her column appears every other Thursday.

Paycheck To Poverty: The Wage Debate by MIKE NORTON

Traveler Columnist

The minimum wage debate has returned. With rising inequality in incomes and opportunity, New Jersey and New York are now discussing raising the minimum wage. Many other states like Oregon and Washington State have already done so, each with new minimum wages of $9.04 and $8.80, respectively. The current federal minimum wage is set at $7.25. But, because it is not pegged to any cost-of-living index, the real value of the wage has been in decline ever since it peaked in 1968, making it more difficult to survive on. Had it kept up with inflation since then, the minimum wage would be $9.85 in 2011. Pegging the minimum wage to inflation is nothing new either. New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, one of the wealthiest men in the world, has advocated an increase. Even Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, has supported it, only recounting his statements when Rush Limbaugh lambasted him for the stance. Working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks a year at $7.25 an hour comes out to about $15,000 in annual income. For a family of two or more with

one breadwinner, that is at or below the poverty line. I am all for business and free markets that reward hard work and innovation, but what does this say about our society? As New York Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver said, “People who work full time should not be poor.” Demographics are important though. People will argue that minimum wage workers are just middle class teenagers. That is somewhat the truth. They are a portion of the minimum wage workforce, so increasing the minimum wage for them will do little for poverty and a lot for Call of Duty and iPhone sales. Nevertheless, 50 percent of minimum wage workers are 25 or older. Giving these people additional income would drastically change lives, reduce poverty and grow the economy, a winwin-win. Now, we’ve heard it time and time again, starting in your intro to economics courses and continuing all the way to the talking heads on television - minimum wage increases unemployment. As mentioned recently in the Wall Street Journal, if an employer must pay $8.50 an hour to an employee, then they will be less likely to hire a low-skilled worker worth $5 an hour. This argument is ignoring the fact that low-skilled workers

will always lose in any economy, regardless of what the minimum wage is. By paying them subpoverty level wages, we are hindering their ability to gain more education and develop skills that the economy needs. Even more, paying a greater wage reduces employee turnover and transitions businesses away from lowhuman capital models and to systems in which workers stay attached to the workforce and employers make stronger investments in human capital. The Deere, Murphy and Welch study is also often pointed to as proof that unemployment increases with a higher minimum wage. Yet, it clearly illustrates the inelasticity associated with small increases in the minimum wage. For instance, an 18 percent increase in 1990 led to a decrease in employment of 4.8 percent among teenage men and 1.5 percent among male high school dropouts age 20-54. The Card-Krueger study even found an increase in employment, and the Economic Policy Institute has shown that benefits of an increase in wage outweigh the costs from a corresponding cutback in hours worked. Nevertheless, the overwhelming evidence with either viewpoint is any change in unemployment is small. The people gaining great-

er opportunity through higher wages outnumber those being forced out of the labor market. Even those forced out of the market could re-enter if the government instituted temporary payroll tax and benefit exemptions for employers while they train employees lacking necessary skills before they hire. Georgia has instituted such a program with the combined effect of a quicker hire and less time spent on unemployment. Still, I realize increasing the minimum wage is no silver bullet. We must reinvent high-tech American manufacturing and make education affordable for all. This is just a start. As an economy and society, we should reward hard work, whether it is happening in the CEO’s office or at the front desk of a fast food counter. By increasing wages, we are placing the responsibility in the hands of the workers themselves, providing them a chance to build their own, better future above the poverty line and off welfare programs. Everyone should be given the opportunity to climb the ladder of success. It is about time we give America’s poor a raise. Mike Norton is an agricultural economics and poultry science major, and a Traveler columnist.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

FEATURES

by EMILY RHODES Opinion Editor

Spring break brought a lot of rest, quite a few episodes of Mad Men (my new Netflix obsession) and quite a lot of decadent food. From visiting parents and eating steak on the grill to revisiting our first job at Fuddruckers in Tulsa and tasting only the best three-cheese burgers, my husband and I made it a point to gorge ourselves full of delicious food before returning back to Fayetteville for the last few weeks of school. Now that we’re back and feeling rather guilty about our nutritional choices for the week, I decided to put all of the fast food behind me and start a vegetarian diet for the week – a “detox,” if you will. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to reward myself for getting all of my early week goals completed, so doughnuts were the only obvious answer for how to celebrate. Using a recipe that one of my very first friend’s mom used to make for us after every Friday night sleepover, my two best friends and I reunited over the break and created these treats in remembrance of the many sleepovers we had in middle school. Add in a good dose of manicures, pedicures and a corny movie, and you have a great night with friends. These doughnuts are an incredibly easy alternative to heading to the store for this dessert favorite and use only four ingredients. In a time when sweets are the last item budgeted into our monthly expenses, these are an inexpensive and delicious way to still indulge.

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Ingredients: 1 can refrigerated biscuits (I used Pillsbury Grands Jr.) Vegetable oil, for frying 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon 1 cup white sugar

Remove the doughnuts from the hot oil and set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and ground cinnamon together and set aside. When the doughnuts have cooled slightly, dip in the cinnamon sugar and enjoy. This recipe will make 10 doughnuts and 10 doughnut holes.

Heat up the vegetable oil in a saucepan on medium heat. Pop the can and separate the biscuit dough, flattening each biscuit and pulling out the center to create a doughnut shape. Set aside until the oil starts to bubble slightly, making sure to maintain a constant temperature. When the oil is ready, place one biscuit at a time in the hot oil and fry until golden brown and cooked throughout (you can test this by checking the inside of the doughnuts – if the dough is still sticky, place the doughnut back in the fryer).

PHOTOS BY: EMILY RHODES

Using only four ingredients, this recipe is the perfect way to take a break from the busy semester and indulge. Moist and light with a sweet and crunchy coating, these doughnuts are a decadent treat that are the best way to end a day on campus. Serve with a glass of cold milk or coffee for a treat that is sure to please everyone. Serves five people or less – depending on how hungry you are.

NEWS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER

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NEWS EDITOR: CHAD WOODARD ASST. NEWS EDITOR: BRITTANY NIMS

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Special Traveler Beat

ARTS & CULTURE

UA to Have Opera Performance April 3 by SYDNEY GANUS Staff Writer

The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall will have an opera performance by Anna Caterina Antonacci at 8 p.m. April 3. This concert is open to the public and will feature Antonacci’s vocals accompanied by pianist Donald Sulzen. Antonacci’s performance is brought to the UA through sponsorship from the John Harrison Opera Foundation. Antonacci, an Italy-born soprano, began building a fan base in the late ‘80s, “winning three of the most prestigious international contests: the Verdi in Busseto, the Pavarotti Competition in Philadelphia and the now defunct Maria Callas Competition,” according to Parterre, an online opera forum. “The latter revealed particularly useful for her career as it was televised all over Italy,” according to the forum. Antonacci’s April 3 performance will mark another stop on her North America tour, which has included performances in the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York and the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Proceeds from the concert will help promote

the establishment of opera in Northwest Arkansas as well as fund vocalist scholarship at the UA, according to the John Harrison Opera Foundation website. The non-profit foundation was established in memory of the late director of the Mullins Library and avid opera aficionado John Harrison. “I like listening to Antonacci when I’m writing a paper or cramming for a test,” said sophomore Shelby Tarver. “I really wish the concert tickets weren’t quite so expensive, but I know it’s being put back into the community and therefore benefiting a good cause.” The foundation is recognized as one of the first in the Northwest Arkansas area to solely benefit the education and preservation of opera. The $100 tickets may still be purchased up until an hour before the performance on the day of the concert, according to the Walton Arts Center online website. Those who wish to purchase tickets on the day of the concert are encouraged to do so early as seating in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is limited and may fill up quickly. All of the proceeds from this event will directly benefit the sponsor foundation.

COURTESY PHOTO

The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall will have an opera performance by Anna Caterina Antonacci at 8 p.m. April 3.

WEEKEND ON THE HILL A

Circus Oz to Visit Walton Arts Center by MATILDE BONIFAZ Staff Writer

C D

Thursday, March 29

Kitchen Kred Dinner Dinner at the NW Quad. Chartwells Chefs will showcase special menus. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.. $8.75 person. Price includes sales tax.

Beginning Ballroom and Salsa Dance This 10 week course will teach the basic dance steps and styles for several ballroom dances. The class will start off at the Jones Center.

4:30 - 7:30 p.m. NW Quad

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Jones Center

Thursday, March 29

Comedian Sarah Colonna Comedian Sarah Colonna will be performing live in the Verizon Ballroom. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and performance starts at 8 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Verizon Ballroom Arkansas Union

Thursday, March 29

UA Tuba and Euphonium Studio Recital The public is invited to attend and admission is free. 7:30 p.m. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall Fine Arts Center

Walton Arts Center officials will bring the Australian outfit Circus Oz to Northwest Arkansas from Thursday, March 29 to April 3. Circus Oz, which is more than three decades old, will consist of “two hours of absurd acrobatics, aerial performances, comedy and much more, all set to the rocking sound of the live Circus Oz band.” The show will include a woman who can juggle a table with her feet, a “super-strong trapeze artist who can climb through a tennis racket,” and an acrobat “who can balance on a precarious stack of five rolling tubes,” said Bethany Goodwin, public relations manager at WAC. Javier Goitia, engineering major, said he was excited for the performance. “I am excited to always see what type of performances the Walton Arts Center brings, especially the Broadway Series. Also the fact that we have a chance to get students discounts, makes it a lot more reachable,” Goitia said.

On Friday, March 30, Walton Arts Center will invite people to dress up as characters from “Steam Punk,” a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history and fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. “Works of ‘Steam Punk’ often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art.” “We wanted to bring something new to an opening show. This way, people can dress up as the Victorian fashion and culture and share their costumes with other people present,” Goodwin said. “It is my first time seeing an international circus like this one in Fayetteville, especially one all the way from Australia. It is definitely going to be a mind-blowing performance,” said Andres Paz, business major. Tickets for Circus Oz range from $29 to $49.

NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

PAGE 7

DOWNTIME THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER

PAGE 8

Comics, Games, & Much Much More!

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

LAUGH IT UP

SUDOKU

Q: How did the chewing gum cross the road?

A: By sticking to the chicken’s foot. Q: Why was the teacher cross-eyed? A: He couldn’t control his pupils. Q: How do you know when there’s a elephant under your bed?

A: Your nose is pressed against the ceiling.

Difficulty:

Q: If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do astronauts get?

TODAY’S SOLUTION

A: Missile toe. Q: Why was the blood donation unsuccessful?

A: Because it was all in vein.

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 Dark, to a poet 5 Tony who played a sitcom 17-Across employee 10 Sitters’ charges 14 Lee with frozen desserts 15 Barkley who served under 41-Across 16 “... thunder, lightning, __ rain?”: “Macbeth” 17 It arranges pickups 19 Modest dress 20 Like a crowd in awe 21 End-of-week exclamation 22 Vagrants 25 Emir 28 Mocedades hit whose title means “you are” 30 Golf units 31 Slippery swimmer 32 How Dennis Eckersley pitched 36 Simple ... or a hint to the hidden puzzle theme in 17-, 25-, 50- and 59-Across 40 Desexes 41 FDR’s successor 44 Outbursts that provoke blessings 47 Harley alternative 50 Maryland seafood fare 54 The Lusitania, e.g. 55 Sidewalk border 56 Guitarist, slangily 58 Carlisle’s wife in “Twilight” 59 Sit-up relatives 63 It may be barred or bolted 64 Songs for two 65 English aristocrat 66 __, meeny ... 67 Muslim god 68 June 6, 1944

1 Key to the left of F1 2 Sheepish reply? 3 Heavenly body 4 Cheese-topped snacks 5 Electricity generators 6 ___-Bits: cereal 7 Pro hoopster 8 “The Prisoner of __” 9 Vague quantity 10 Tiny fairy tale hero 11 Starting point 12 Cleaned (up) 13 Searches like a detection dog 18 Give the boot 22 Donkey syllable 23 Cinnabar or magnetite 24 Lugosi of “Dracula” 26 Having a lot of nerve 27 Chef Cat __ 29 Patriotic Olympics chant 33 Believer’s suffix 34 Gray hair disguiser 35 Place for a ring 37 Elitism 38 Fed. anti-discrimination org. 39 Biggers’s detective 42 54-Across pronoun 43 Pit goo 44 Acquiesce 45 Defoe title surname 46 Longtime Tiger Woods coach Butch __ 48 Astronaut Shepard 49 Chopped, as garlic 51 Afghan capital 52 Stand out in a field 53 Mattress giant 57 Sled dog command 59 Drillers’ org. 60 “I’ve been __!” 61 Important time 62 Surreptitious

Crossword provided by MCT Campus

SOLUTION

Tony Piro

SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER

PAGE 9

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER FOOTBALL

RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas starting quarterback Tyler Wilson (left) was the first Razorback in school history to be named All-Southeastern Conference first-team quarterback but the Hogs are in open competition in spring practice for Wilson’s backup. Redshirt freshman Brandon Allen (center) is listed as the Hogs’ No. 2 quarterback while junior Brandon Mitchell is listed as third. Allen saw no action in his first year as a Hog in 2011, while Mitchell played in nine games as Wilson’s backup throwing two touchdowns and rushing for another two.

Options Under Center Hogs have three capable quar terbacks

by ZACH TURNER

Asst. Sports Editor

Tyler Wilson was the first Arkansas quarterback to be named first-team All-Southeastern Conference. That doesn’t mean he is the only serviceable quarterback on the Razorbacks roster, though. Junior Brandon Mitchell completed 69 percent of his passes in nine games last season, throwing two touchdowns and adding two more scores rushing. Mitchell was the backup to Wilson last

season, but is No. 3 on the spring practice depth chart behind rising redshirt freshman Brandon Allen. “I think that is always a good problem,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said about the quarterback depth. “At any position, the more good players, just like running back, having good players that compete against each other and push each other to be their very best every day in practice, it is a great problem to have.” Wilson spent his time

FOOTBALL

Wright in the Middle Senior full-time at linebacker for spring byJIMMY CARTER Sports Editor

Arkansas’ coaching staff moved senior Tenarius Wright from defensive end to linebacker on March 15, the Razorbacks’ final practice before spring break. When the Hogs started spring practice back up Tuesday, Wright was a fulltime middle linebacker. For the rest of the spring, at least. “I’ve been asking about it, playing around with it throughout the whole workout before spring ball started,” Wright said. “It’s a dream come true. I’m trying to live it.”

Wright, nicknamed Tank, was a highly-regarded middle linebacker prospect when he signed with the Razorbacks as part of the 2008 recruiting class. He moved from linebacker to end during his redshirt season and hadn’t practiced at his old position since the move. “The transition is going pretty good since I’ve kind of experienced it playing it in high school,” Wright said. “This is a different level. This is the SEC, so going against one of the best offenses that we have here is only going to help me

see SPRING PRACTICE on page 10

RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior Tenarius Wright (43) was moved from defensive end to middle linebacker during the Razorbacks’ second spring practice.

learning behind All-SEC quarterback and current New England Patriots backup Ryan Mallett during his sophomore and junior seasons and is now the guy Mitchell and Allen are trying to become —the starter. “Coach (Bobby) Petrino has always done a great job at quarterback,” Wilson said. “Anytime you get a skill set to build around, like the guys that we have got, it makes playing the position fun. We have a lot of weapons back there throwing it and running it.”

The 6-foot-3 Greenwood native threw for 3,638 yards with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions last season. Wilson also showed off his mobility, rushing for four touchdowns. Mitchell was surpassed by Allen on the depth chart during the offseason because Mitchell missed several offseason workouts while playing for Mike Anderson and the basketball Hogs. Allen redshirted last season, but Wilson said the battle for the backup position between the Mitchell and Allen has been

going well. “They have done a great job each and every day,” Wilson said. “They take care of business just like anybody should and they work hard because they know what is expected out of them. That is what is great because you have a number of guys at the quarterback position that their care factor is high.” Even with the logjam of talent at the quarterback position, the Arkansas coaches are finding ways to get every quarterback plenty of action. “We go fast and get them

a lot of reps,” Paul Petrino said. “We get them a lot of reps and they probably get more than a lot of places that have just two guys rotating. “I think it is great competition and that they have both improved a lot in these three days on practice. It is something we evaluate every day and we chart every single period.” Arkansas only used Wilson and Mitchell at quarterback last season, but

see FOOTBALL on page 10

BASEBALL

On the Road Again Bas e b all away f r om Baum f o r s e c o n d c o n s e c u ti v e w e e k by MARTHA SWEARINGEN Staff Writer

After winning its first conference road series of the season at Mississippi State last weekend, No. 3 Arkansas will be on the road again this weekend to face rival LSU. The Razorbacks (22-3, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) lost the opening game against Mississippi State on Friday, but won 8-0 Saturday and clinched the series with an 8-5 victory on Sunday in 11 innings. Defeating the Bulldogs was the Razorbacks’ first SEC road series victory since winning two of the three games at Vanderbilt during the 2010 season. A pair of Razorbacks earned individual honors after their performances last weekend. Senior shortstop Tim Carver was named SEC coPlayer of the Week after hitting .400 with three RBI against the Bulldogs. He leads Arkansas with 12 stolen bases. Sophomore right-hander Ryne Stanek was selected as Pitcher of the Week by SEBaseball.com after throwing 6.1 shutout innings while striking out six and giving up just three hits on Saturday.

see BASEBALL on page 10

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas right-hander Ryne Stanek was named Pitcher of the Week by SEBaseball.com for his performance against Mississippi State. Stanek pitched 6.1 innings allowing no runs on three hits while striking out six batters.

PAGE 10

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

from FOOTBALL on page 9 Allen was a highly-regarded high school recruit. The son of Arkansas’ secondary coach Bobby Allen, Brandon threw for more than 3,400 yards and 38 touchdowns while leading Fayetteville High School to the state championship as a senior in 2010. “So far so good,” Allen said about his progress

from SPRING PRACTICE on page 9 out … I’ve had some different looks, some different schemes thrown at me. The best thing that is going for me right now is the effort I’m putting in.” The 6-foot-2, 252-pounder had to overcome a broken forearm suffered against Alabama in September last season, but started all eight games he was healthy for and recorded 25 tackles, including five tackles-for-loss. He was moved to middle linebacker to try to help an Arkansas defense looking for a replacement for graduated Jerry Franklin, whose 382 career tackles is second in UA history. “I was joking around with coaches asking them can I play middle?” Wright said. “Can I play middle with Jerry leaving? Can I play middle? Since the move, all I can do is try to be the best mike linebacker that Arkansas has had.” Sophomores Braylon Mitchell and Tyler Gilbert

this spring. “I am getting a good understanding of what I am supposed to be doing. It has been awesome to get out there and have fun with the guys.” Watching Wilson and Mitchell has helped Allen gain a better understanding of the game. “Being behind Tyler and Brandon and learning from them gave me a huge boost of confidence,” Allen said. “There are still things for me to work on and room for im-

provement so I can do my best.” No matter who is where on the quarterback depth chart, Wilson said there is a common goal . “They all want the team to go in a successful direction,” Wilson said. “There is no animosity and that is what we need to have a successful team and have great leaders. I think that is what we got.”

began the spring battling for the starting middle linebacker job, but the coaching staff added Wright to the mix hoping he could transfer his physicality and experience from defensive end to his new position. “In your mike backer you want a thumper,” defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said. “You want a guy that can sit there and take on the Iso. You also want a guy who’s a great leader. He calls the defense for us. Those are the things you look for out of a mike backer and that was one of the reasons why the move happened because Tank gives us that.” Wright has impressed his position coach, Taver Johnson, in his first three practices at linebacker. “The good thing about Tank is he’s a natural football player,” Johnson said. “He understands to keep his shoulders squared. He understands pad level and things like that. I think that’s what has been a big plus for him.” Wright won’t try to lose

weight despite the position change. “I want to stay around 245, 250,” Wright said. “Don’t want to go under 245. It will help me out against the run.” When h ealthy l ast s eason, Wright started at defensive end opposite Jake Bequette. Wright’s move to linebacker and Bequette’s graduation left a trio of prospects fight- ing for the two starting end positions this spring. “You’ve got Chris (Smith), (Trey) Flowers and (Austin) Flynn all working in at starting positions,” Haynes said. “They’re kind of going back and forth with left and right. They’re doing good. Flynn is coming along for us.” Wright could be rejoin- ing them after spring practice. It will depend on how he readjusts to his old position. “We’ve got him on film doing end,” Haynes said. “So we can always move him back, but if he can sit there and become our mike, it’d be good for us.”

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas shortstop Tim Carver was named Souteaster Conference co-Player of the Week after batting .400 with three RBIs in the Razorbacks’ 2-1 series win over Mississippi State. Carver leads Arkansas with 12 stolen bases. from BASEBALL on page 9 Last year, the Razorbacks swept the Tigers (18-6, 3-3 SEC) at home, but it wasn’t easy. Arkansas won 2-0 in the opening game of the series, 4-3 in game two and 5-4 in the finale. “If you look at their numbers, we’re pretty close to the same team,” coach Dave Van Horn said. LSU has not announced their starting pitchers for this weekend, but sophomore

right-hander Kevin Gausman opened last weekend’s series on Friday while sophomore right-hander Ryan Eades started Saturday and freshman right-hander Aaron Nola earned the nod Sunday. “They can pitch,” Van Horn said. “They have really good starting pitchers.” “The freshman, Nola, really picked them up the last couple of weekends on Sunday. Good arm, 90 miles per hour. He throws strikes. Got a good breaking ball so he gives them a chance. He’s had really good outings lately.” LSU has four players strong at the plate with a batting average better than .300. Junior outfielder Ralph Rhymes is hitting .473, while junior infielder Mason Klatz is hitting .360. Senior infielder Tyler Hanover is hitting .345 and sophomore catcher Ty Ross is at .342. “They’re not showing the power they’ve shown in the past, but they’re hitting around .300 as a team,” Van Horn said. “They don’t walk a lot; they don’t strike out a lot. They go up there swinging.” Junior right-hander DJ Baxendale and Stanek are set to open for the Hogs on Friday and Saturday, respectively, but Sunday’s

opener is undetermined. “It kind of depends on who we use,” Van Horn said. “We want everybody available if we have a chance to win game one or game two. We’ll make a decision; see where we’re at Saturday after the game.” Baxendale is carrying a 5-1 record this season with a 4.15 ERA, but struggled last Friday against Mississippi State giving up nine hits and eight runs, seven earned, in just three innings, his shortest outing of the season. Stanek has won eight consecutive games dating back to the 2011 season and is 6-0 this season. His 1.25 ERA ranks second in the SEC and his six wins are a conference-high. “He’s been kind of a goto guy,” Van Horn said. “If we win Friday we’ve got a chance to win the series on Saturday. If we lose Friday, it gives us a chance to even it up. He’s confident, I mean back to last season, summer baseball, and fall ball. He was pretty good early in the spring, but he’s a lot better now.” All three games of the LSU series will be televised. Friday’s game will be on CSS and CST, while the Saturday game will be aired on ESPN. The finale on Sunday will be shown on CST.

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

PAGE 11

GYMNASTICS

The First Building Block

Collen, Razorbacks enjoy groundbreaking season by MONICA CHAPMAN Staff Writer

Arkansas’ women’s basketball team had an up-anddown season that resulted in the programs’ best season in more than a decade. The Razorbacks won 24 games, had four wins against ranked, overcame an 0-4 conference start to go on an eightgame winning streak and recorded their first SEC Tournament win in 2005. Arkansas ended the season with by advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in its first NCAA appearance since 2003, falling just short of making the Sweet 16 in a 61-59 loss against No. 3 seed and defending national champion Texas A&M. “Obviously we had a fantastic season,” Arkansas coach Tom Collen said. “I hope our fans, our boosters and everybody out there agree. We

gave them certainly an exciting finish. We wish we would have made one more basket to make it to the Sweet 16. It would have been just a great, great thing for this program. The things we accomplished through the course of this year, almost too many to mention. “Coming within an eyelash against the defending national champions, Texas A&M, almost making it to the Sweet 16 speaks for itself.” Collen and the Razorbacks will start to rebuild in the offseason, starting with replacing five seniors, including several who were key contributors. Arkansas loses C’eira Ricketts, Ashley Daniels and Lyndsay Harris to graduation, all of who stepped up in big moments and sparked Arkansas when it was needed. Ricketts led the Razorbacks in scoring, assists and steals. Daniels led the team in

rebounding, while Harris led the team in 3-pointers made. Julie Inman and Jamesha Townsend are also graduating. “I was excited for our seniors,” Collen said. “I think they went out with a bang. I told them in the locker room afterwards there are very few groups, very few groups of seniors that end their season with a win. The national champion, that’s it. If you’re going to go out with a loss, I can’t imagine a loss, for this program, more impressive to having a chance to defeat the defending national champions on their home floor in the last second.” Arkansas isn’t losing all its key players, though. Post Sarah Watkins, forward Quistelle Williams, forward Kiera Peak, forward Dominique Robinson and

see WOMEN’S BASKETBALL on page 12

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas forward Sarah Watkins will be the Razorbacks’ returning leader in points and rebounds for the 2012-2013 season. Watkins and the Razorbacks finished with a 24-9 record in 2011-2012, the best season under coach Tom Collen.

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior Jamie Pisani was named Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year becoming the first Razorback to win the award in program history. Arkansas will host the NCAA South Central Regional next weekend in Fayetteville and will look to bounce back from a sixth place finish at the SEC Championships. No. 3 UCLA, No. 15 Boise State, No. 19 Missouri, No. 29 New Hampshire and No. 34 Maryland will compete in the regional as well.

Razorbacks Trying to Regroup for NCAA Regional by HARRISON STANFILL Staff Writer

Coming off a disappointing sixth place finish at the SEC Championship, Arkansas’ gymnastics will try to bounce back as it hosts the NCAA South Central Regional on April 7 at Barnhill Arena. This is the Razorbacks’ ninth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and the third time in program history they have hosted the South Central Regional. Arkansas advanced to the NCAA Championship the previous two times in 2006 and 2009. “You look forward to starting the season and then from there you are busy every weekend, meet after meet, but you are really trying to focus on that Regional Championship,” Arkansas co-coach Mark Cook said. “Because in reality that is the most im-

portant meet of the year prior to going to nationals.” The Razorbacks will welcome No. 3 UCLA, No. 15 Boise State, No. 19 Missouri, No. 29 New Hampshire and No. 34 Maryland to Fayetteville for the regional. With the meet two weeks away, the coaching staff is planning on taking the extra time they have to get ready for the new format of the regional. “The competition has some unique things with individual and all-arounders

from other teams coming in so there is a time management situation on several events that we need to rehearse,” Cook said. “We will do that Saturday so we can fine tune that so when we go into the competition it is not an uncomfortable feeling.” The extra week before the meet will not only give Arkansas time to prepare for the new format but it also gives

see GYMNASTICS on page 12

PAGE 12

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Junior quarterback Brandon Mitchell was Tyler Wilson’s backup last season, but is locked in a battle for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart with redshirt freshman Brandon Allen after playing for the basketball team this spring. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more last season. How have the quarterbacks looked so far this spring? I think it’s been really good. While I was at basketball, those guys always stayed crisp in throwing right after workouts and things like that. Even when spring break started we were always throwing it. Over spring break all of us down in Florida were still throwing it on the beach. We have a lot of chemistry. These are the same guys we’ve been throwing to since we’ve been on campus. Tyler, Brandon, all those guys did a great job. We still have our chemistry going on right now. Who went to Panama City on spring break? Pretty much the entire team. I’d say about 80 percent of the team was down there hanging out on the beach with each other, still building chemistry and waking up every morning and running and playing football on the beach basically. What was it like running on the beach? It was a good workout. I thought I was in shape before I got out there in the sand. That was a double workout there. Were all three quarterbacks there? 7\OHU GLGQ¶W FRPH , WKLQN 7\OHU ZHQW JRO¿ QJ RU VRPH thing like that. It wasn’t anything we all were planning to do. We just all saw each other down there in Florida and we just hung out and got together. It just worked out. Has it taken a while to get back in football mode after basketball season? It didn’t take that long. It took probably a couple of periods. I was still working out with football while I was out there with basketball. So there wasn’t too much of a transition, but I hadn’t thrown the ball a lot like that. So my shoul- der took a little bit of a toll, getting tired and fatigued on me. Other than that, just icing and recovering and just keep working every day. What did you think about slipping to No. 3 on the depth chart That’s something you expect. Once you leave your sport and you go play two sports, that’s something that’s going to happen anywhere you go. I don’t care if you’re the starter or not. You have to earn everything you get here. It’s something that I like. Every year it’s a competition, not just at quarterback. At every position. Do you want to play basketball again next season? Right now I don’t have any plans. Right now I’m just 100 percent into football. Once football season is over, that’s something that I might do. I don’t know for sure. After this year I have one more year in football and one more in basketball if I choose to do, but I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet.

Brandon Mitchell Quarterback 6’4’’

Have you been getting third-team reps or has it been more of a mix with Brandon? It’s just a mixture. If it’s eight plays we’re just splitting them in half. Just keeping the competition and keeping each other on our toes and making each other better. We know if one has a bad day it can be a drop on the depth chart.

230 lbs. Junior RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER from GYMNASTICS on page 11 the injury-plagued team a chance to rest and get players healthy for the postseason. “It definitely gives us a breather,” Mark Cook said. “We haven’t had one for the last month. We can get some kids a little more therapy and a little more rest. Staying at home this weekend is going to be good as well. “We are hopeful we can get a couple more kids back in the lineup that have been out.” Arkansas has struggled with injuries to key gymnasts, an accumulation of issues that led to the sixthplace finish and season-low 194.175 score at the SEC Championship. Though the Razorbacks have suffered injuries throughout the year, there has remained one constant –– the performance of All-American and newly crowned SEC Gymnast of the Year Jamie Pisani. Pisani is ranked No. 1 in the nation on

from WOMEN’S BASKETBALL on page 11 point guard Calli Berna will return. The group combined to start 80 games and average 29.8 points per game. “I think we’ve got enough players in this program right now to continue that upward climb,” Collen said. Collen will utilize that group as a base to prepare for next season, but he still wants to add some more pieces. “It’s hard to look forward that fast especially at this point in time because we’re still trying to put together a few pieces of the puzzle together,” Collen said. “But I can tell you as much as I’m going to miss this senior class and

floor and in the all-around. “She has been the rock of our team this year; you have to give her a lot of credit when the team has had struggles,” Mark Cook said “She is not just worried about herself, she is worried about her teammates too, she is an unselfish person in that way.” Arkansas has relied on Pisani’s performance to carry them while they have had to deal with injuries to other All-Americans Katherine Grable and Kelci Lewis. With the extra time before the meet, co-coach Rene Cook said the team is in a good position to get some of their lineup back and add some much-needed firepower headed into postseason. “We are going to get Kat (Grable) back on three events, and that is just going to be great.” Co-Coach Rene Cook said “Kelci dinged her ankle again at SEC’s so we are hoping to rearrange her floor routine and make it simpler so she can be ready for regionals.” there may be times I look out on the flood and wish I had C’iera Ricketts out there or I wish I had Lyndsay Harris to knock down some threes, I am equally excited about the foundation that we’ve laid with the players returning.” Next season, Collen and the Razorbacks will try make an NCAA Tournament appearance and earn 20 wins for a second consecutive season, landmarks that haven’t been accomplished since the 2002 and 2003 seasons. “We’re returning six of our top nine players,” Collen said. “We’ve signed some good recruits. We’re still trying to find some more. I just have every reason to believe we’re headed in the right direction.”