Jack White’s Blunderbuss Proves to be Great Solo Album
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Vol. 106, NO. 110 UATRAV.COM
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
Faces of the 4400: ‘Go West Young Man’ by JACK SUNTRUP Staff Writer
Niels Appeldorn knows far more English than his grandfather. Coming to Arkansas from Germany may require at least a remedial grasp of the language. However, Appeldorn never bought Rosetta Stone; he never hired a tutor. In Germany, English is taught at a young age, and that age keeps getting younger. “My grandfather even used to learn English in high school and he’s pretty good,” Appeldorn said. “He can’t speak it really good, but he can read it. I just thought it was unusual in my time to start English in the fifth grade, but my brother has already started in third grade.” Appeldorn comes from Kamen, a town outside the city of Koln. He is part of a mostly bilingual German population. In a European twang, he ruminated on how Germany has changed. Before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Germany was divided between east and west; communism and democracy. The two were essentially shut out from one another, except the democratically controlled West Berlin. Because of the forced divide post-World War II, different cultures and different accents developed. Getting visas to visit
East Germany was a chore for those who lived through the Soviet era, Appeldorn said. The two regions have become increasingly intertwined, he said.
“East Germany is East Germany — nothing bad,” he said. “Basically, people in the East earn less money per hour than people in the West, but this difference becomes less and less,”
he said. “People sometimes have an animosity against ‘the others’ from ‘over there.’” A report from the BBC shows the pay gap is decreasing. Appeldorn is nearly 21, but
Staff Writer
Representatives from Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu, the two sororities set to join the UA next semester, visited campus last week to discuss recruitment plans, officials said. This is the first time both sororities have come on campus since being selected by the Panhellenic system. Both
state of Westphalia—as west as it gets in the country about the size of Minnesota. It’s a worker’s town, 50,000 strong. “It used to be steel and coal; that used to be everything,” he said. “We used to say ‘steel, coal and soccer.’ That was my parents’ life. My parents still have a big influence from that.” After the town transitioned to new industry, an influx of Polish, Greek, Italian and Turkish immigrants diversified the region. “Basically, in the area where I live, about 20 percent of the people immigrated in the last 200 years,” he said. “Before that time it was really rural. Then the Polish came in the 19th century, and later on the Turkish, Greek and Italians came. “Especially the Turkish and Polish changed the culture,” Appeldorn said. “There’s a lot of slang, a lot of different dialect. The food is like from all over, from a lot of different countries.” The city is filled restaurants of every cultural variety, he said. The national dish is currywurst: chopped sausage doused in curry sauce with fries. It’s just one of the cultural imports Appeldorn has brought with him. He’s always traveled: to Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark,
see APPLEDORN on page 2
BEN FLOWERS PHOTO EDITOR
Appeldorn comes from Kamen, Germany, a town outside the city of Koln. He is part of a mostly bilingual German population.
New Sororities Meet With UA Officials by MANDY MCCLENDON
differing international enrollment set him back to freshmanlevel courses. At Arkansas, he is one of 1,200 international students. Appeldorn came from the
groups were welcomed by several meetings with Greek Life officials and a T-shirt design by Fayetteville’s Greek store, That’s Greek to Me. Last Monday, Alpha Chi and Phi Mu officials met students outside Brough to discuss their move to campus. Sarah Margaret Pittman, sophomore member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, was able to stop by and meet the
Sculpting Students
officials. “It’s really cool to be able to actually see them on campus,” Pittman said. “Up until now, their joining our Panhellenic community has been kind of hypothetical, but now we can see their presence here. It was nice to be able to learn a little bit more about what they’re doing and
see SORORITIES on page 2
New Map Provides Bus Routes, Walking Directions by JOHN SCHLEUSS Staff Writer
University Relations Thursday announced a new digital version of a campus map that uses Google Maps to display campus buildings, paths, bus routes, walking directions, parking information and more, one director said. “The work that we’ve done
is to basically strip most of what Google provides off this,” said Chris Nixon, director of Digital Design and Development at University Relations. “While they got a lot of it right, they got some of it wrong,” he said of Google’s map of the university campus. There was no way for University Relations to update or manipulate the information
In This Issue:
News
New Mentoring Program
UA has new mentoring program for Hispanic students.
Page 2 TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012 VOL. 106, NO.110 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM
on Google, Nixon said. The map was developed internally without charge from Google. Google showed shapes for the science engineering auditorium and the geology building Sunday. The University Relations map showed the same area on Dickson Street as a gray shape, denoting it as
see MAP on page 2
News
Advising Will Not Change
Robert Lemming and Adam Crosson install a new sculpture near the Fine Arts building.
Features
Features
Don’t Worry, Be Happy, The Revolution: and a Few Ways to Students Take Steps Survive the Semester Towards Liberty
Fulbright advising will not change operations to accom- Stress relief and organizamodate the record-breaking tion are key to making it. number of students.
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WEATHER FORECAST
Sports
Page 5 TODAY 64°
Campus group Youth for Ron Paul fights to get candidate’s name out.
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WEDNESDAY 70°
THURSDAY 70°
FRIDAY 69°
Seamless Transition
KRIS JOHNSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Opinion
Health Care Reform: What’s on Our Plate
John L. Smith is keeping Arkansas’ offensive and defensive systems the same. A Traveler columnist urges health care reform to address food and eating habits.
Page 8 SATURDAY 69°
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NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
PAGE 2
TODAY ON THE HILL ABOUT THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper of the University of Arkansas, is published every day during the fall and spring academic sessions except during exam periods and university holidays. Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Traveler. The editor makes all final content decisions. One copy of The Arkansas Traveler is free to every member of the UA community. Additional copies can be purchased for 50 cents each. Mail subscriptions for delivery within the continental United States can be purchased for $125.00 per semester. Contact the Traveler Business Manager to arrange.
CONTACT Forks Over Knives Screening A screening of the documentary Forks Over Knives will be at the Union Theater on Tuesday at 6p.m.This is a part of Sustainable Food Week. 6 - 8 p.m. Union Theater
Campus Band and Symphonic Band Concert
Dr. Gates Studio Recital
Admission is $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students. All concerts are presented as a part of the Joy Pratt Markham Series.
The public is invited to attend and admission is free. 7:30 p.m. Stella Boyle Concert Hall Fine Arts Center
Beauty Beyond the Surface: Expo & Fashion Show by UP
119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701
University Programs invites you to join them for “Beauty Beyond the Surface: Expo & Fashion Show.”
Main: 479.575.3406 Fax: 479.575.3306 traveler@uark.edu
7:30 p.m. Walton Arts Center
‘A-Team’ Promotes New Sororities Staff Writer
Last week marked the first assemblage the “A-Team,” a group of sorority members created to ease growing pains for new sororities. A-Team began talking to officials from Alpha Chi and Phi Mu when they visited campus last week. Dressed in the letters of the new sororities, A-Team will host focus groups on such Greek Life topics as banner competitions and
APPLEDORN from page 1
Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, China and now Arkansas. Unsurprisingly, he’s an international relations major. His post-graduation plans remain unclear, but he has a few ideas. Working for a nongovernmental organization like OxFam, being a German diplomat or spending his days lecturing at a college are all options. The constant in Appeldorn’s life, though, is his international perspective. Arkansas may seem out-of-place for a guy who’s been to Indonesia and Switzerland, but there’s nothing out of the ordinary about it, he said. Appeldorn has always liked red-blooded American pastimes. “I used the matchmaker on CollegeBoard and they gave me some criteria and let me choose the states I didn’t want to go to,” he said. “I really like warm weather, so Alaska was not on
MAP
from page 1 a construction zone, Nixon said. The new campus map, works on desktop computers and mobile devices, received a soft release April 13 as a kind of beta test. Nixon said he expects that more people will use the map from a mobile device than a desktop, he said. “To not include mobile in anything we do is just silly,” Nixon said. This map is really a first step, he said. The office used information from the previous map and combined it with a directory of departments. When the user clicks a university landmark, basic information for the building will appear, Nixon said. Search “Fulbright advising” and a map pin appears on Old Main. When the pin is
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philanthropy dinners. Members will also meet with the Director of Greek Life from time to time. “Some members on the ATeam will be in Fayetteville over the summer will help with orientation sessions,” said Susie Dagastino, director of recruitment counselors for the Panhellenic Council. “During the fall semester, these women are encouraged to help Alpha Chi and Phi Mu at the campaigning events.” Alana Gilmore, a sophomore member of the A-
Team, attended the meeting last week. “We talked about how the colonization process would look on our campus. Representatives from both new sororities were there, and we got to meet them, and that was great. As a part of the ATeam, we get to help the two new sororities with their recruitment this fall and be there as a reference for them when they have questions about how our Greek system works,” Gilmore said. Greek Life is encouraging Panhellenic members, as well
as its newly selected pool of 150 recruitment counselors, to participate in A-Team. Hanna Hearnsberger, a sophomore member of the A-Team, sees the opportunity as a unique experience within Greek Life. “I am so excited to represent Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu and help welcome them to the Panhellenic family. All of us are excited about recruitment this fall, and I am so happy to help get girls excited about our two new sororities as well,” she said.
my list.” In a country, and continent, even, that considers “futbol” the national pastime more often than not; Appeldorn took the American perspective in high school. “I played football for a couple of years,” he said. “I played outside linebacker and gunner. I like tackling people.” In America, where soccer programs receive less attention and less funding, Appeldorn’s football team wasn’t much different. Few parents showed up to the games, he said. There is not hiding the fact that Appeldorn has been more places and done more things than most of us will ever do. You get the feeling from him it’s not something that needs much critical analysis, though. “I like to meet new people, different people,” he said. “I’ve been to almost every country in western Europe and just had fun there, you know?”
SORORITIES how they’re colonizing.” Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu also engaged in meeting with Greek Life officials during their trip to campus, and were able to meet which individual sorority houses and members in order to learn more about the Panhellenic community. Here, sororities were able to give the groups tips on recruitment and philanthropic efforts. They also discussed recruitment plans. The first round of recruitment for both sororities might take place in fraternity houses on campus, according to officials. Sorority representatives also met with the “A-Team,” a group of UA sorority members created to assist in the
colonization and recruitment process. They also attended the Order of Omega ceremony, which recognized outstanding Greek members. Anna Shirley, junior member of Kappa Delta, said Order of Omega was the perfect opportunity for the new sororities. “Order of Omega honors our most outstanding members within the Greek system as a whole—not just the Panhellenic community,” Shirley said. “Alpha Chi and Phi Mu were able to see what great leadership being a Greek at UA produces, which hopefully will make them even more excited to join us here.” Updates on the colonization of both sororities can be found on the Greek Life website and on their Twitter accounts, @ArkansasAXO and @ArkansasPhiMu.
clicked, a box with the room and phone number pop up. Until now, freshman Aaron Hodges simply wandered around campus until he found his class. “Being a music major, I only really need like three buildings,” he said. Hodges said he will now use the mobile version of the campus map on his iPod Touch to find classes in unfamiliar buildings. Another student said she still uses the same map she was given more than a year ago. “My freshman year I got a planner and it had a map in the back,” said sophomore Britny Ham. Ham, who rides the Blue bus, keeps the map in a drawer at home and only uses it if she doesn’t know where a class is, she said. She said she would likely use the new map
if the buses were marked on it. She downloaded an Android application that listed bus schedules, but deleted it after she committed the arrival times to memory, she said. The Office of Admissions hands out printed maps to prospective students and their families. “We pass them out like hotcakes,” said Matt Hargis, associate director for the office. Hargis hadn’t seen the new map online Thursday, but said he anticipated they would incorporate the map in the future. The Office of Admissions had about 7,500 students visit the office during the last fiscal year, from July 2010 to June 2011, Hargis said. The office has four tours a day during the week and two on Saturdays, he said. The new map includes bus
route and stop information. By fall, the map will track buses’ location, mileage and passenger count as they drive throughout the city, Nixon said. “At this point, we’re just waiting on transit to finish installing all the GPS units in the buses,” he said. Transit plans to have the units installed by May 4, said Adam Waddell, logistics manager for the Department of Transit and Parking. “Think of it as a black box with a cell phone antenna,” Waddell said. The device will check the location of the buses every 15 seconds, Nixon said. If all goes well, University Relations will add estimated arrival times to the various stops along a route, he said. Accuracy was an important factor for that feature, he said.
from page 1
EDITORIAL SABA NASEEM
ZACH TURNER
Editor -in-Chief 575-8455 traveler@uark.edu
Asst. Sports Editor
CHAD WOODARD
News Editor 575-3226 travnews@uark.edu
MATTIE QUINN
Managing Editor travmgr@uark.edu
BRITTANY NIMS
LAUREN LEATHERBY
Asst. News Editor
Features Editor 575-7540 travlife@uark.edu
EMILY RHODES
KELSI FORD
BEN FLOWERS
Opinion Editor
Asst. Features Editor
Photo Editor
JIMMY CARTER
SHELBY GILL
Sports Editor 575-7051 travsprt@uark.edu
Special Projects Editor
MEGAN HUCKABY Multimedia Editor
ADVERTISING & DESIGN CANNON MCNAIR
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Advertising Director 575-3839 travad1@uark.edu
Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu
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CORRECTIONS The Arkansas Traveler strives for accuracy in its reporting and will correct all matters of fact. If you believe the paper has printed an error, please notify the editor at 575.8455 or at traveler@uark.edu.
CAMPUS NUMBERS NEED EMERGENCY HELP? CALL UAPD 575-2222
The women and men of the University of Arkansas Police Department, in partnership with the community, are committed to protecting the future of Arkansas by promoting a safe and secure environment.
HAVE A TICKET? CALL 575-7275 TO RESOLVE IT
The Transit and Parking office handles parking permits and passes and transit for students, including bus routes and GoLoco Ride Sharing. Students with parking violations can contact the office to appeal their citation.
NEED A RIDE AT NIGHT? CALL 575 - 7233
Otherwise known as 575-SAFE, the mission of the Safe Ride program is to provide students with a safe means of transportation from any uncomfortable or inconvenient situation. Safe Ride brings you home safely.
NEED TICKETS? CALL 1-800-982-4647 Don’t forget to call early and reserve your student football tickets for the 2012-2013 season. The ticket office is located on Razorback Road next to Baum Stadium.
NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
UA Students Drink Soda Despite Health Risks by BAILEY KESTNER Staff Writer
Many UA students say that while they sometimes drink water, it is often not the most common choice of drink. Kim Snyder, freshman music major, said she hardly ever drinks water. “I just prefer the taste of sugary drinks,” she said. “I drink either Dr. Pepper or Sprite at pretty much every meal. I’ve always been this way.” Freshman Kaitlin Moos made it her New Year’s Resolution to drink water instead of soda. “I know water is better for you, but it is hard to get in the habit of drinking the amount you should,” she said. “I had caffeine withdrawals the first few days of not drinking soda, but I found that once I started drinking more water, I had a lot more energy.” About half of the U.S. population consumes some type of sugary drink on any given day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. The consumption of sugary
drinks in the U.S. has shown an increase in the last 30 years among both adults and children. This increase has been linked to weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and poor diet quality, according to the CDC. “Pat Walker sees students with dehydration from time to time,” said Mary Alice Serafini, executive director of Pat Walker Health Center. “Most of these students have gastrointestinal problems where vomiting and diarrhea occur.” Common symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration often include thirst, sleepiness, decreased urine output, dry skin, constipation, dizziness, headaches and dry, sticky mouth, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Additional symptoms such as sunken eyes, a lack of sweating, low blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, fever, delirium and unconsciousness can be seen in severe dehydration. “We often first take care of dehydration with Gatorade, but in severe cases, some people have to be rehydrated with IVs,” Serafini said. Susan Rausch, UA health educator, said soft drinks, cof-
fee and energy drinks are largely to blame. “Drinks with high amounts of caffeine dehydrate people quickly,” Rausch said. The American Heart Association recommends a consumption goal of no more than 450 kilocalories of sugar-sweetened beverages per week. This is fewer than three 12-ounce cans of any carbonated soft drink. Some students said they try to drink sugary drinks in moderation. “I drink about an even amount of both water and soda,” said Andy Rowan, senior music major. “I normally drink more water when I know I will be doing an extra amount of physical activity.” Water keeps the body’s system flushed out, keeps the electrical impulses in the brain and central nervous system working and gets rid of toxins, Rausch said. “Extensive physical activity and time in the heat call for even more water,” she said. If you don’t continually keep yourself hydrated, especially the few days before the activity, you could easily get dehydrated.”
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OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
PAGE 4
EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
FROM THE BOARD
Student Summer: Time To Gain Work Experience Summer is right around the corner, and although most of us are looking forward to sleeping in, taking time off from class and spending our three-month break with friends, it’s a great time to buckle down and gain some experience outside of the classroom. It’s no news to college students that successful job candidates today need internships and work experience on a resume, so what better time to gain these skills than over our summer break? Many businesses and companies offer summer internships that students can use for credit and many times earn a little extra money at, so what better opportunity than now? In our busy academic semesters, many of us don’t have the time to pick up an internship or major-related job, but with a three-month break from classes and work, summer can be the perfect time to expand our classroom learning to the real world. Taking the time to check out a few local businesses offering work experience gives us the opportunity to network with those around us, build relationships and practice our skills outside of campus. For those of us looking for a summer outside of Arkansas, the time is now to fill out some last minute applications for summer internships across the nation. The semester is winding down, but it’s important to make sure that we don’t shut off our drive to succeed this summer. It’s as important as ever to gain as much experience as we can, and it’s up to us to find the opportunities available. With a few weeks free from class after finals, even those of us signed up for summer classes can take a break from studying and search for a few work opportunities. There are countless freelance and in-house jobs available to students, and taking a summer to immerse yourself in one of them can build a strong resume and give you the chance to work in a professional atmosphere. Whether you spend the summer volunteering, job shadowing or simply working on your resume, remember that although summer can be a great break for students it’s also a big opportunity to gain some experience and build a career.
Kid Cudi Concert An End of Semester Celebration As we prepared for our end of semester finals and got ready for a busy summer over the weekend, we had the opportunity to take a night off from our study guides and packing boxes to enjoy a night at Barnhill Arena with Kid Cudi, Big Boi and Chip tha Ripper. For those of us who made it to the concert, the sold out show was a fantastic opportunity to spend some time away from our studies with friends. We have a great Headliner Concert Committee here at the UA, and we look forward to who will come to campus in the future. Bringing musicians such as Kid Cudi, Foo Fighters, T.I. and Snoop Dogg, these free admission events are a great way for students to enjoy what the UA offers to students. It’s important during these last few busy days to enjoy everything on our campus, and our headliner concerts are just one way to spend some much needed time taking advantage of what our student fees cover.
Traveler Quote of the Day “I like to meet new people, different people. I’ve been to almost every country in western Europe and just had fun there, you know?” Niels Appeldorn, an UA international students from Kamen, Germany. “Faces of the 4400: ‘Go West Young Man,’’ page 1.
MARCUS FERREIRA STAFF CARTOONIST
Health Care Reform: What’s On Our Plate
by MIKE NORTON
Traveler Columnist
Our tests are almost over, and summer will be basking us in its wonderful warmth soon enough. Not soon after, another big test will be coming along, except this time we won’t be the ones being tested—the Obama administration will be. In June, the Supreme Court will decide the fate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s healthcare law. Debate goes everywhere as to what should or shouldn’t have been in the law, but there’s one thing that nobody seems to mention—health care reform should start at the very beginning of our health, what and how we eat. Our eating habits can have
by CHRIS SONNTAG
EDITOR Saba Naseem MANAGING EDITOR Mattie Quinn OPINION EDITOR Emily Rhodes The Arkansas Traveler welcomes letters to the editor from all interested readers. Letters should be at most 300 words and should include your name, student classification and major or title with the university and a day-time telephone number for verification. Letters should be sent to traveler@uark.edu.
won’t work. Farming requires heavy upfront costs like land and equipment, oftentimes with debt obligations, to produce, so it’s highly sensitive to interest rates. Just as much, production is dependent on weather, the price of oil and other inputs, and modern technology. If we pull the rug, food prices will go up, which means less money will be going to the rest of our already weak economy. Subsidies should instead focus on protecting farm revenue when the worst happens with expanded crop insurance, both private and public. The idea is to partially reintroduce the food system to the free market with more targeted support so that supply and demand can become close friends once more. This alone isn’t the silver bullet though. We must start looking at fast food and junk food like we do other disease-causing agents— think cigarettes and asbestos. Obesity is quickly overcoming tobacco as the leading cause of death so policies must shift. To part ways with obesity, we should follow the same strategy we used to wean society off of
cigarettes: taxes and education. It will take a strong excise tax on unhealthy fast food and snacks in combination with educational programs focused on children, because what you eat as a kid primarily controls your adult habits. Yet, we can’t just tax the bad food. We should use that tax revenue to reduce the price of healthier foods we always hear we aren’t eating enough of, like fruits and vegetables. In the next year the Farm Bill will be coming before Congress. That bill may be the real opportunity for lasting health care reform by directly affecting the reason for health care, our health. Even sooner, best-selling author Michael Pollan will be discussing his ideas for our food system at the Walton Arts Center this Thursday night for Artosphere 2012. It’s about time we realize that a big part of our fate lies in what’s on our plate. Mike Norton is an agricultural economics and poultry science major, and a Traveler columnist.
Our Best Role Model: Close to Home
Traveler Columnist
EDITORIAL
profound effects on our health, either positive or negative. When done wrong, those daily meals can compound over time with disastrous effects to our overall health: heart disease, diabetes, obesity, food allergies, the list goes on and on. Changing how or what we eat is not easy policy, however. Eating is a core part of the human experience and the deepest connection to the natural world. Rightfully so, people get concerned when you touch their food supply, so reforms must be well sought. The reforms must happen though. We need changes to get society’s food-related diseases in check. We should start with ag subsidies. Blanketing subsidies across the board can lead to overproduction of some crops like corn, soybeans, and rice, while under-producing others like tomatoes or lettuce. This can cause artificially low prices that can make for cheap junk food and fast food. Still, this isn’t the primary cause of obesity, but it contributes to the problem. Nonetheless, we can’t just get rid of all farm protection. It
This last Saturday was a calm, clear, and cloudless spring day. This last Saturday, I buried one of my oldest and best friends. He was a loveable little yellowwhite, floppy-eared mutt born of a purebred cocker spaniel mother and a rascally beagle. He had stuck with me for fifteen years— all the way from kindergarten to the end of my sophomore year of college. His heritage gave him a predisposition to be very fond of chasing rabbits and barking at pretty much anything that came onto my family’s property without one of us around. I have trouble thinking of anyone who’s ever been more of a loyal, loving friend than Toto. Early last Friday morning, I got a phone call telling me that our dog’s condition had
worsened. He’d been getting old, slowing down and losing weight for a long time, so I knew that he probably didn’t have long. Over the previous week, he had gotten very lethargic, stopped eating as much, and seemed to be in pain. After class, I hopped on the freeway, sped towards Lowell, and met my mom at the vet clinic. What I saw broke my heart a bit—he wasn’t really walking and hid his face as if he were ashamed of being so weak, but he would sometimes turn towards me to make sure he was still getting petted, trying to wag his tail. It turned out that he was in kidney failure. He ended up staying there that night, but the next day it was clear that he wasn’t going to get better. So my family said goodbye to Toto, and my mom and I stayed their while he was put down. It was over in less than a minute—he seemed sleepy and just lied down, finally at peace and in no pain. After we drove home, I carried his body up to his tree, where we dug a hole for him. I buried him there, and I honestly feel as if I buried a part of my childhood with him. I still remember getting him when I was a little five-year-old out of the back of a pickup truck at a McDonald’s. I remember
how he used to pull my brothers and me around a church parking lot on a little red wagon. We’d try to guide him with a bone on a string tied to a stick—it didn’t always work, as a few skinned knees would attest. I remember looking for him when he was lost. I remember sitting with him when I was sickened by people in junior high. I remember the way he would try to drag me down the street sometimes, how he would so often try to jump out of the tub we used for his baths outside. I remember staying with him for hours outside when he was very sick, almost dying from an infection and massive muscle spasms, just trying to comfort him. There is more I could write about him, but I think that most of us know the kinds of thing I’d say. But I’ll say one last thing about him: he was a good boy and a solid, loyal companion for fifteen years, and that’s all a guy can ask of a dog. When I needed a friend, he was there and reminded me of the good in this world. And really, I think people should take a lesson from the dog, the creature that went from being a competitor to being a protector, coworker, and friend. A dog doesn’t care about who you are, he just cares about if
you’re a good person. They don’t care about fancy toys, clothes, homes, or anything—a ball or a stick will do nicely. And I don’t mean to go all “Marley and Me” on you, but I have to quote it. “Give him your heart and he’ll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?” Be like the dog—live simply, love generously, care deeply. Run to greet your loved ones and never say no to the opportunity of an adventure or a long walk. Enjoy the fresh air, lie on your back in the grass on a warm day. When you’re happy, show it, and never pretend to be something you’re not. Be tireless and don’t stop until you’ve dug up what you’re looking for. When someone is having a bad day, be silent and just sit close by—it’ll be one of the best things they could need. Be loyal. Enjoy every moment of every day. Take a lesson from man’s best friend, because in reality, he’s also man’s best role model. Chris Sonntag is a biochemistry major, and a Traveler columnist. His column appears every other Tuesday.
FEATURES THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
PAGE 5
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
The Revolution: Students Take Steps Towards Liberty by EMILY RHODES Opinion Editor
Junior Sarah Brady uses her planner to manage stress. “My planner helps me stay organized and on top of everything that I have going on,” Brady said.
MIKE NORTON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Don’t Worry, Be Happy, and a Few Ways to Survive the End of the Semester by STEPHANIE EHRLER Staff Writer
The feeling of wanting to violently throw a textbook off of a high building does not mean students have gone crazy; it just means that stress has taken over. With the school year ending and finals looming, student stress rates at the UA are dangerously rising. Those borderline grades — the 89s and the 79s— put the pressure on for performing well on a final exam, while senior projects and essays are due, too. The assignments keep piling up, but those 24 hours in a day are not getting any longer. A study done at Arizona State University found that 26.7 percent of the school’s population said stress negatively affected their grades, but fortunately there are many cures that can prevent the impending nervous breakdown. The saying “two is better than one” is key to decreasing stress levels. Studying with friends in the same class can benefit everyone. Group influence has shown to increase focus. Group studying can also allow convenient peer tutoring, instead of making an appointment with the professor or going to the ELC. Friends that study together can also take breaks together. During crunch time, it may seem foolish to lose precious minutes by taking a break to have a dance party or to watch a movie, but actually giving the mind a break can be beneficial. A 10-minute study break about once
every hour (or a five minute break once every 30 minutes) can help maintain concentration, according to the Pat Walker Health Center’s website. That group study system can also become a venting support system. Simply talking to a kind friend about a heavy workload and having other people around who share the same arguments about an issue can aid the stress level. All those group fitness classes at the HPER are also great opportunities to take a break from reviewing class material. An article on the ABC news webpage found that exercise and stress levels have a direct relationship. Going for a run or going on a bike ride can help both the body and the mind be in better shape. Aerobic exercise and weight lifting were reported to be the best exercises for mental attitude, also according to the ABC webpage. Yoga can also strengthen muscles while providing a calming atmosphere to soothe a study-weary brain. The Livestrong website reveals that researchers have found that laughter can reduce hormones that cause stress while increasing natural killer cells that destroy tumors and viruses. Therefore, people who laugh more stress less -that “Marcel the Shell” YouTube video could actually help with finals studying, after all. For those who live in dorms, taking “me time” can help foster more focused studying later. Reading a book and listening to music can calm nerves and help unwind from a busy day. The idea of a writing in a diary or journal
may seem juvenile, but keeping a stress diary can help analyze the stress and how to deal with it. A template for a diary can be found on the mindtools.com. While it would be convenient to blame endof-the-year anxiety on all of those professors who give us finals, projects and essays, procrastination has to take some credit for the worries, too. To fight this, organization is key. Keeping a planner handy to schedule study time will also help with keeping track of the many due dates that loom on finals week. Places such as Hobby Lobby offer dry-erase board calendars so students can keep up with tests and other events 24/7. Organizing a month’s activities can seem like a task in itself, but having a visual for the near future can valuable. Writing down a party or event on the calendar can provide motivation for studying and offers something to look forward to. Smart phone carriers offer apps such as stress-relieving quotes, stress-relieving games, and stress checks to help relieve tension on the go. Reminder apps, alarms and calendars provide a tech-savvy solution to mobile planning issues. Sweet summertime is almost here, but surviving the last two weeks of school can be a challenge. Students can go into summer vacation without worries of failing finals by simply taking the time to manage stress levels and remember that taking a moment to smile and hangout with friends can be the best remedy.
Jack White’s Blunderbuss Proves to be Great Solo Album by NICK BROTHERS Staff Writer
8.5 / 10
Underneath his ghostly powdered face and long, greasy locks of black hair is a living rock legend. In an era of music where rock n’ roll has taken a backseat to other genres, Jack White keeps it alive and well with his first-ever solo album, Blunderbuss. A prolific artist, White has established himself as one of most talented rock musicians of the 2000s. After meeting his now ex-wife Meg White in Detroit, they formed The White Stripes and went on to release six critically acclaimed rock albums that support the backbone of rock music in the ‘00s. White also was a featured member of both The Raconteurs as a singer/guitarist and drummer/singer of The Dead Weather, releasing two albums with each band. In an interview, White described Blunderbuss as “an album I couldn’t have released until now. I’ve put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas.” The music, of course, begs to be compared to his work with his first band The White Stripes. While it does retain at its core what made The White Stripes great, (minimalistic punk/blues rock-style songwriting and d*** good guitar riffs), it manages to keep things unique enough. One difference is the inclusion of some very impressive piano playing. In most of the later songs on the album, guitar takes a back seat and only comes out occasionally to do a solo. White still does the guitar justice on the earlier tracks, especially “Sixteen Saltines,” which for how it sounds, could have been a White Stripes song. There is a diverse display of musicianship across the album, as White plays not only the guitar, but the piano as well and just about kills it with both, not to mention he composed all the other parts of the album, too. The album is really an impressive apex of White’s music career. The music makes sense added alongside his discography; you can tell this is Jack White in his element. It’s everything you could envision him writing for himself - aggressive rock, folksy and moody at times. Blunderbuss brings together all of Jack White’s capabilities His patent fuzzy guitar tone, encasing lyrical writing, impressive piano playing and a little bit of country flavor solidify the album. To expect anything less, well, you just don’t know Jack. (I’ll go ahead and show myself out now.)
COURTESY PHOTO
Standout Tracks:
“Missing Pieces” is a fantastic lead off to the album. It’s just fun to listen to, features some classic Jack White guitar solos and it has a great momentum to it, it can get you grooving. “Weep Themselves to Sleep” is stunning and straight jammin’ piano leads in this song. It’s moody, and it really punches. The song features the standard fuzzy guitar solo and wonderful cascades of piano chords. If you’ve ever wept yourself to sleep from loving someone, you’ll find solace in this driven song. “Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy” is folksy, catchy and chipper with its acoustic guitars and mandolin. The music’s flow has a skip to its step. It’s a sunshine kind of song about being the underdog.
Musicianship: 9
Everything in the album was written and composed by White, and that’s pretty impressive, considering how it covers a lot of different sounds. Bluntly, this s*** is good. It won’t melt your face or get you jumping up and down much, but it serves its purpose and it’s delightful.
Originality: 8
If home style rock n’ roll were a genre, it would be this album. There are definite rock and blues influences in all of the songs, but most keep things simple and sensible-- home style. The music is refreshing in this day and age, but that type of thing is expected from Jack White. The strongest thing about the album is its capability of variance and movement from start to finish.
Lyricism: 9
There are several gems in the lyrics of Blunderbuss, especially the possibly morbid yet profound, “Sometimes someone controls everything about you, and when they tell you they can’t live without you, they ain’t lyin’, they’ll take pieces of you.” from “Missing Pieces.” All of it is both understandable and yet complex. This is out of context for a jealousy song, but “I’m sure she’s drinking two, but wondering why and for who,” from “Sixteen Saltines” is another fine example. Jack White is a stellar songwriter.
A handful of students stand on the corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue, waving handmade signs, wearing campaign shirts, badges and other memorabilia and taking the opportunity to address Fayetteville locals about the upcoming presidential election. A few days later, Dominic Box and Dylan Stewart sit in RZ’s Coffee Shop, a haughty, yet friendly aura surrounding them, as they prepare to share their candidate with another UA student. They are the passionate, the dedicated, the supportive. They are the Youth for Ron Paul, a distinguished group of students promoting what they like to call “true liberty.” Box, the loud, yet welcoming face of the local organization, along with his co-founder Stewart, his sleepy-eyed, relaxed counterpart, are what one could describe as “over the top” about their favorite presidential candidate. Showing support through window boards at his apartment, donning promotional stickers, pins and other mementos on everyday outfits, and changing his social media profiles to Ron Paul promotions shows a level of dedication by Box not many students reflect in their political outlook. But for him, it’s a part of everyday life in the months leading up to the election. While many students believe that the group is overthe-top in its political support, Juan Holmes, an English major and member of Youth for Ron Paul, describes it as just another part of the group ideology. “Our personality definitely coincides with our mission – the abundance of information, that hunger for freedom and the honesty that rings true throughout the group. Ron Paul is the only candidate who actually believes the message of true freedom, which is the entire reason I’m working with the group,” Holmes said. “Really, what we’re trying to do here apart from to support Paul is to get involved,” Box said, a large grin spreading across his face at the opportunity to market the name and campaign of Paul, “But having a group specifically for Ron Paul gives us the ability, those who are passionate, to come together and get our message out there in ways that other candidates aren’t taking advantage of.” Box, a political science major, and Stewart, a history major, began the group Jan. 15, 2012, after feeling a need to bring back support for Paul and his movement. Only five weeks later, the group boasted more than 50 members, and it is quickly gaining student attention. In traditional UA style, “I first learned about Ron Paul through some sidewalk chalk on a campus visit back in 2007. That’s how Dylan and I really got connected,” Box said. Starting with a conversation outside the Union, Box and Stewart eventually formed the group and now have 78 members. In an age of what Stewart calls empty political promises, the ideas behind Paul’s messages are simple – a chance for personal freedom returned to the constitution, and diplomacy. “Paul is really the only candidate who offers true honesty. Although other candidates might attract people at first with their catchy campaign slogans, once they find out what they are all about, it’s a lot easier to not be totally swayed,” Stewart said. A three-time candidate for the U.S. presidency, in 1988, 2008 and 2012, Paul’s platform includes his “Plan to Restore America,” a three-year budget that includes cutting $1 trillion during the first year of presidency, a repeal of the Obama’s Affordable Care Act and provision of tax credits for medical expenses, immigration reform that radically enforces border security and abolishes illegal amnesty, and a national defense program that supports returning veterans – all vital parts of his “Restore America Now” campaign. While Paul’s poll numbers have varied over the past years of political campaigning, Paul still manages to hang in for another campaign, another platform. Which is where the Youth for Ron Paul comes in – a national organization that localizes itself on college campuses, bringing youth support to an all-time high. “What Ron Paul means is not just a political change but a change in mindset,” Box said. “It’s a realization that we aren’t the policemen of the world, it’s not the government’s job to feed, rear and provide for us from the day we are born until the day we die – it’s about the government only doing what it’s allowed to do and not overstepping its boundaries. It’s about making us safer as a nation.” While the group advocates the messages and ideas promoted through the national campaign, Box and Stewart work towards gaining the youth vote, specifically that of UA students. Working alongside the Northwest Arkansas for Ron Paul statewide campaign, which has more than 150 supporters, the Youth for Ron Paul student involvement has reached high numbers through heavy distinctiveness and promotional events. Straying away from the general Democrat-Republican student groups, the Youth for Ron Paul gives UA students an opportunity to buy into a specific candidate platform. Though the UA College Republicans group has more than six times the amount of support, with 497 Facebook “likes” and many more members, Holmes believes that the Youth are a force to be reckoned with. “All 78 of us truly believe that Ron Paul is different from all of the other candidates in the fact that he isn’t just another man – he is a person, a movement and a libertarian. He is the only choice for the 2012 election, which separates us from the College Republicans in that we are devoting all of our time and effort to him winning Washington County and the state,” Holmes said. “Ron Paul truly takes an interest in the youth population – that’s something that his campaign realized was so vital with a large youth population,” Box said. “You don’t see a group for Mitt Romney or a students for Santorum group, it’s just not out there. But being exclusive is just part of the Paul movement – at the end of the day, it goes back to how you run and value your campaign.” With a bubbling excitement and a passion to increase numbers and interest, Box and Stewart hold weekly meetings, cookouts and other events, as well as traveling across the region to participate in Ron Paul rallies and statewide conventions. Hoping to bring Paul to campus in the upcoming months, the group is becoming a frontrunner in student campaigns.
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
You can check out the Traveler online at uatrav.com or by scanning here:
DOWNTIME PAGE 6
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
LAUGH IT UP
SUDOKU
Q: What do you get when you drop a stick of dynamite on a French kitchen floor?
A: Linoleum Blownaparte. Two dragons walk into a bar. One dragon says to the other “Gosh, it sure is hot in here.” To which the other dragon replies, “Shut your mouth.”
Difficulty:
Q: How do crazy people go through the forest?
A: They take the psychopath.
TODAY’S SOLUTION
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like bananas.
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 Ginger cookies 6 Take down __: humble 10 1040, for example 14 Stand-up in a club 15 Close by 16 Ireland’s best-selling solo artist 17 Plentiful 18 __ Bell 19 Sinister look 20 Christian led by the Pope 23 Passionate 24 “Amadeus” subject 27 Paper with NYSE news 30 300, to Caesar 31 Federal agency support org. 32 Michele of “Glee” 33 Lotion ingredient 35 Road for Caesar 37 Brook or lake fish 39 Equine that originated in Italy’s Campania region 42 Iraqi currency 43 “Pleeeeeease?” 44 Wedding cake level 45 Part of USDA: Abbr. 46 RR depot 48 Big name in kitchen gadgets 50 Harris and McMahon 51 1862 Tennessee battle site 53 Dolly the sheep, e.g. 55 Slatted window treatment 60 Tiny dog biter 62 Balkan native 63 Eagle’s dwelling 64 Nerd 65 Machu Picchu resident 66 Boa or mamba 67 Like an optimist’s point of view 68 Big Dipper component 69 Facilitated
1 Capone facial mark 2 Pitcher Hideo 3 Clock radio letters 4 Seasoned rice dish 5 Like many postcard photos 6 Continent with penguins 7 Like bogs 8 Apiece 9 Cleans and brushes, as a horse 10 __ Navidad 11 Diet soda claim 12 Deli bread choice 13 Fold, spindle or mutilate 21 Director DeMille 22 Disinclined 25 Acted in an environmentally conscious way 26 Spuds 27 Comedian Sykes and a fish 28 “... in a one-horse open __” 29 “Can We Talk?” comedienne 31 Nature Valley snack 34 Govt. antipollution org. 36 Inbound flight approx. 38 Decay 40 Welles of “Citizen Kane” 41 Watergate president 47 Grad student’s paper 49 Having just hit a double, say 52 Like a faulty pipe 53 Approximately, in dates 54 Supreme Court justice Kagan 56 Camping gear 57 Some nest eggs, briefly 58 Swoosh logo company 59 Accomplishment 60 WWII leader 61 Brit’s bathroom
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
Tony Piro
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
PAGE 7
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
FOOTBALL
Red-Zone Weapon
Gragg emerging as one of top threats by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
FILE PHOTO Arkansas head coach John L. Smith will allow defensive coordinator Paul Haynes (left) to continue to implement his scheme, while also allowing offensive coordinator Paul Petrino to maintain his system.
Seamless Transition
Chris Gragg wanted to cement his status as one of Arkansas’ top offensive weapons in spring practice. Following the graduation of receivers Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs, the 6-foot-3 senior made plays all spring, including a big performance in the Red-White game. “I think I have got a lot better at playing the tight end position,” Gragg said. “Being a tight end blocker and a pass catcher as well as being that pass catcher they want to go to on third and fourth down when they come to me.” The Warren, Ark native hauled in nine catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns as part of the Red team’s 65-0 win in the annual spring game. “I just tried to go out there and make plays for Tyler (Wilson) when my number is called,” Gragg said. Gragg had both touchdowns in the first half and was a focal point of the Razorbacks offense early in the spring game. “That was kind of what we try to do when we script our opening plays,” offensive coordinator Paul Petri-
no said. “You try to get your studs the ball early to get them going and feeling good. That’s always the plan. It’s always good to see it happen.” Gragg missed all of the 2009 season because of an ankle injury, but caught eight passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns in 2010 behind Mackey Award winner DJ Williams. In 2011, Gragg became a starter and was one of quarterback Tyler Wilson’s favorite targets for the 11-2 Hogs. He was third on the team with 41 catches for 518 yards and two touchdowns. Now, Gragg and senior receiver Cobi Hamilton return as Wilson’s two most proven targets following the graduation of the receiving trio. Hamilton caught 11 passes for 156 yards in the spring game, giving the duo a combined 20 catches for 286 yards and two touchdowns. “He’s a great guy on third down,” Hamilton said. “He’s the best tight end in the country in my opinion. His work ethic is unbelievable. The way he keeps improving it will be fun.” Though Gragg is the starter and a vocal leader on
see RED-ZONE on page 8
Smith gives assistants control
by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor
Knile Davis was used to the joke. He just hadn’t heard it in a while. New Arkansas head coach John L. Smith paused during his introductory press conference to ask Davis a question. “Kuh-nile, nice to see you,” Smith said, pronouncing the silent ‘k’ in Davis’ first name. “Kuh-nile, did you practice at all this spring?” “A little bit,” the AllSoutheastern Conference running back said, laughing from the back of the Miller Room in the Broyles Center. He hadn’t been called that
since Smith left to take the Weber State head coaching job Dec. 6, after three years at Arkansas. “He used to call me that when he was here,” Davis said. “He’s fascinated with the silent K … That’s him all day. 24-7. That’s John L.” Having Smith as head coach will be a change for Razorbacks players who played for former coach Bobby Petrino and worked under his demanding coaching style. “If there’s a time in which a team is mature enough to handle a change, it’s now,” senior quarterback Tyler Wilson said. “We’ve had that other way. The intense way for four or five years.” The personality of the
Hogs head coach changed when Smith was hired as Petrino’s successor. Arkansas offensive and defensive schemes will stay the same, though, allowing continuity for a team that will return 16 starters and try to win 10 or more games for the third consecutive season in the fall. There will still be a Petrino, offensive coordinator Paul, running the offense. New defensive coordinator Paul Haynes will continue to install his system. “I have always let my coordinators coordinate,” Smith said. “I see my role as a mentor. As an advisor. As someone to say ‘I don’t think that’s going to work’ or ‘I think that’s real good, let’s go
ahead and do that.’ As a final decision maker on not only recruiting, but gameplanning and things like that.” Petrino rejoined his older brother’s staff in December after two years as Illinois’ offensive coordinator and will have control of a Razorbacks offense that led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, passing and total offense last season. “Once in a while you might say we ought to do this or give me your best run play,” Smith said. “I’ve not been one to step in and veto everything that’s going on. I’m a big believer I’ve got to listen to my guys.” Smith coached linebackers
see FOOTBALL on page 8
RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior Chris Gragg caught nine passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns during the Razorbacks’ spring game. The 6-foot-3 tight end enters the 2012 season as the Hogs’ starter for the second consecutive year.
COMMENTARY
Anderson Closing Strong? Extra Points
JIMMY CARTER
jicarter@uark.edu Mike Anderson pointed out three needs he wanted to fill on his roster after Arkansas’ postseason basketball banquet. Guard play, toughness and size. The next day, Houston combo forward and Little Rock native Alandise Harris announced he would transfer to play for the Razorbacks. He provides toughness and some size.
The day after that, Anderson signed Dee Wagner, a playmaking point guard who was named Mr. Basketball in Louisiana following his senior season. Now, Anderson has an opportunity to close the class by signing Mouhamadou Jaiteh, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound forward from France. Anderson is two puzzle pieces away from having a team that can compete for an NCAA Tournament berth next season. Harris and Jaiteh could make his second team a contender in the Southeastern Conference. If Harris’ waiver for immediate eligibility is granted and he’s able to play next season, he will provide toughness, athleticism and experience for the Hogs. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds for the
Cougars last season. At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, he can play both forward positions and fits the bill of the athletic players Anderson’s system thrives on. Jaiteh would be a huge get this late in the recruiting process if he decides against entering the NBA Draft this spring or playing professionally in France for another year before entering the draft next year. Jaiteh has a 7-foot-4 wingspan and drew attention as an NBA prospect when he was 16 because of his athleticism and build. He and Hunter Mickelson would give Anderson two big bodies to take pressure off Marshawn Powell. If Harris and Jaiteh are playing in Bud Walton Arena next season, Anderson would have a deeper, more well-rounded team than the
one that finished 18-14 in his first season at Arkansas. If nothing else, the Razorbacks will have depth. If Harris and Jaiteh are playing, Anderson will have 13 scholarship players, four more than he did last season. A healthy Powell gives the Hogs a complimentary scorer to BJ Young and takes pressure off a group of guards that was forced to carry the scoring load almost every game last season. Jaiteh, Mickelson and Devonta Abron would join Powell down low. If Mickelson progresses in the offseason, he could be one of the better big men in the SEC. Anderson will have long, athletic athletes on the wing, an important part of his system he had to do without in his first season. If Harris is eligible, he
could be the most valuable newcomer. If not, 6-foot-8 Jacorey Williams provides size and skill on the wing, while 6-foot-5 Michael Qualls’ long arms and 42inch vertical are suited for Anderson’s up-tempo, pressing game. Young was one of the best scorers in the SEC as a freshman. After offseason improvement and with a better supporting cast, he could challenge for conference player of the year and play his way into being a lottery pick next spring. Rickey Scott and Mardracus Wade will be experienced juniors. Wade needs to devlop an ability to attack off the bounce and Scott needs to hone his jumper, but both players have shown signs of being solid SEC players. Point guard play could be
the key. Scott played there last year and could do it again. Wagner is unrated by every recruiting service. His high school team stays together in the summer, so he didn’t play AAU basketball, a potential explanation for his lack of exposure or acclaim outside the Mr. Basketball honor. Anderson must like him, though. He didn’t put up much of a fight to Julysses Nobles’ transfer, then replaced him with Wagner. Ky Madden’s progression could be the difference between another postseason miss, an NIT bid or an NCAA Tournament berth. He showed signs of being a playmaker and controlling the game as a freshman, but
see COMMENTARY on page 8
SPORTS
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012
Alonzo Highsmith
PAGE 8
Senior linebacker Alonzo Highsmith talks about John L. Smith’s hire, where Arkansas goes now and how he’s recovering from a pectoral injury that caused him to miss spring practice. Highsmith is the Razorbacks’ leading returning tackler after racking up 80 in his first season.
Linebacker 6’1’’
What did you think when you heard John L. Smith was going to be coming back as the new head coach?
233 lbs. Senior
I heard John L. from another teammate and I didn’t believe it. I just dismissed it. Then later on that day Jeff Long told us. Once he told us, everybody was like, ‘Yes.’ There was a happy feeling going around when he let us know it was going to be him. It gave us a boost and we felt now it’s time for us to keep going on this national championship run. Coach Smith seems like a much different personality than Bobby Petrino. Oh yeah. Their styles of coaching are different, but both of them mean business when they’re on the field. If the team wins, the current staff could stay in place. Have players talked about that? We just found out, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to go out and win games. If that’s going to help him, then we’re all for it. What does it mean to the players that coach Smith would leave Weber State — his alma mater —to come back and coach you? He loves us. Plain and simple, he loves us. For him to do that shows he loves us. Is it nice to get closure on the coaching search so you can focus on football again? Oh yeah. It’s nice because we know who are coach is going to be and there’s no more guessing or wondering what’s going to happen, if they’re going to keep the coaches or not. Now it’s set in stone. Now we’re ready to keep moving. Coach Smith talked about making a run to glory. Is that exciting to the players? It is. It is. What we’re going to do to help him is, we’re going to go out and win games. He’s a great coach, so the more we win, in the eyes of the fans and Jeff Long, who knows what can happen at the end of the season? How are you doing in your recovery? I’m doing good. I’m on schedule with my rehab. I haven’t had any setbacks. ... I’ll be back for camp, ready to go full speed and tackle.
GARETH PATTERSON Staff Photographer
from RED-ZONE on page 7 the offense, he isn’t the only tight end who improved during spring practice. “They are all coming along,” Gragg said. “The young ones like Demetrius Dean just have to get in his playbook and that will make him play faster. He is going to be a great player. (Aus-
tin) Tate is an older guy and he knows what he is doing. When he gets back healthy he is going to help us out a lot.” Tate missed the Hogs’ spring game with a leg injury, but Dean, an early enrollee freshman, caught two passes for 20 yards as part of the White team. Entering his final season as a Razorback, Gragg said
he was impressed by the school record 45,000 turnout for the spring game, less than two weeks after Bobby Petrino was fired. “They are ready for the season,” Gragg said about the fans. “I was signing autographs after the game and they were telling me how they can’t wait to the point it was giving me goosebumps.”
from FOOTBALL on page 7 and special teams his three seasons in Fayetteville. Now he’ll have to spend time on the offensive end of the field during practice. “I’ll spend more time on the defensive side of the ball without a doubt, but it’s also vital that those guys on the offense get to hear me yell at them, too,” Smith said. “You better get down there and you better be excited about what is going on offensively and let them know how im-
portant they are as well.” That won’t be a problem for one of the Hogs’ returning leaders. “We’ve got a figurehead that’s so positive and so enjoyable to be around,” Wilson said. “He’s going to work us, too.” Smith went 79-66 in 12 seasons as a Division 1 head coach, leading seven teams to bowl games while at Utah State, Louisville and Michigan State. In the fall, he’ll lead a team that could begin the season ranked in the top 10.
Arkansas will try to win 10 or more games for the third consecutive season, an accomplishment that would be a first in program history. “We have some good guys,” Smith said. “We have a top 10 football program. Hopefully I can do what I can to add to us getting it done and going all the way. In this game and being a part of coaching, it comes down to the pressure you’re going to put on yourself … Certainly there will be plenty on me from me.”
UA MEDIA RELATIONS New Arkansas head coach John L. Smith adresses the team during a practice when he served as special teams coordinator. Smith will again work with the special teams in his second stint with the Razorbacks, but will also work with the offense and defense. from COMMENTARY on page 7 looked turnover-prone and lost other times. If he continues to progress, he could take over the starting job. A lot of the success for next season will depend on progression. Anderson has a pretty good track record of that
in previous head coaching stops. At UAB, he turned a downtrodden program around and took it to the Sweet 16 his second season. At Missouri, he led a school riddled with NCAA issues when he arrived to an Elite Eight appearance his third season. He reminded his current
players about those teams during his speech at the basketball banquet. Then he posed a question. “What do you think’s going to happen next?” Jimmy Carter is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter @jicartersports.
RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas tight end Chris Gragg was third on the team in catches with 41 while compiling 518 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. Last season the Hogs went 11-2 during the Warren, Ark. native’s first season as the Razorbacks starting tight end.