May 2, 2012 by Arkansas Traveler

Video Games of the Summer

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Vol. 106, NO. 111 UATRAV.COM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

Fighting Cancer: UA Professor Battles Adversity

by SABA NASEEM Editor in Cheif

His expected termination date was six months ago. “Why?” he asks himself. “Knowing that I should have passed away sometime ago, what is it about my life that’s different? “I’ve had 10 acquaintances or friends since January of last year to January of this year that have been diagnosed with cancer and all of them passed away. Why not me? That’s a good question. Philosophically, there are a whole lot of answers to that. Medically, I have some saviors on my side too— Dr. Suen, Dr. Oakhill, Dr. Manning—but I think that the Lord has other needs for me here.” He pauses for a second. He speaks, but there is no need. The picture frames, cards, plants and gifts in his office speak for him. “I am just exceptionally blessed. If my family and students weren’t supporting me, I don’t think I’d be here.” Dub Ashton, 65, is an associate professor of Marketing. He was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in the summer of 2010. “I feel really good, and quite honestly, the reason I feel so good is [because of] the compassion and support that I’ve had from my colleagues here at the college and my students each and every day,” he said.

The summer of 2010 started off like any summer. Ashton was teaching classes, when his throat started hurting. “My throat hurt so bad that I had a hard time talking in class,” he said. One of his students, who had thyroidectomy, an operation that involves the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, recommended to Ashton a doctor by the name of Lance Manning. Ashton made an appointment and Manning told him that he needed to do a biopsy the next day. “They did a biopsy around the first of July, 2010. I was held in the hospital overnight and in two days the pathology came back that I was stage four advanced cancer…throat cancer, specifically,” he said. Within the next eight days, Ashton began radiation. It lasted for 35 days, with 20 hits of radiation each day, for a total of 700 hits. The week after “I am just exceptionally blessed. If my family and students weren’t supporting me, I don’t think I’d be here.” cancer. In his hands, he holds a he began radiation, they start- live]. He arranged for Ashton to “Now about four weeks small 4x6 wooden frame, with ed chemotherapy, which lasthave surgery at the Rockefell- ago, I had a PET scan, which a photo of him and a young ed for eight weeks. “As I got into the fall of the er Cancer Center at UAMS. has some suspicious results girl. “This is Morgan Stelyear, the pain was burning… On Jan. 17, 2011, Ashton had on it, so they gave me an MRI a radical neck dissection, an and they gave me a sonogram phlugh, and this picture she you can see the scar on my neck where it burned,” Ashton eight- to ten-hour surgery to as well. So, where I am right took with me a year ago at the now is some indication that Beta Gamma Sigma dinner.” said. “And during that period remove his lymph nodes. Since his surgery, he has there might be spread.” In this other hand is anof time, I lost about 70 pounds been seeing Dr. Suen every ***** other photo of him with two in front of my students.” 30 days. He has to have a PET Ashton gets up and reachother students who had given In early December, Ashton Scan, a medical imaging tool es for a picture frame. him this gift before they gradwas back at the doctor’s of“I’m going to show you uated. fice, when Manning told him used to help physicians in “These are things I truly he needed surgery. Manning detecting disease and helps two more pictures,” he says. recurring of “I’ve got a lot of pictures.” cherish,” he said. “Every picgave him at most, a year [to identifying

MIKE NORTON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ture in this room has some stories with it that are wonderful, wonderful stories.” Hanging on the wall near the entrance of his office is a large photo of his former student Ashley and her husband Andrew Snieder. They’re smiling and giving him a thumps up. “When I come in everyday and see that picture, how can

see ASHTON on page 5

Bookstores Prepare for ASG Pushes for Optically Buyback Season Scanned Scantrons by KAREN STIGAR Staff Writer

Bookstores this week are bracing for the wave of UA students selling back textbooks. The day before Dead Day is usually when students will receive the most money, Hossman said. “Once the demand for certain textbooks is filling up, that

is when the price we pay students back for their textbooks goes down,” Hossman said. The Campus Bookstore usually pays 50 percent of the actual value of textbooks, Hossman said, but that is subject to change. If the textbook is in high demand, they may pay as much as 70 to 80 percent of the actual cost of the textbook. “No, I’m not satisfied with

the money I get back from book buyback,” said sophomore psychology major Kerwin Davis. “You spend so much to buy a book, only to not be able to sell it, or get less then what you spent on it in the first place. I think it is a bad system, especially for broke college kids.”

see BOOKS on page 2

by SARAH DEROUEN Staff Writer

It’s test day. Students line the halls, frantically reviewing their notes. Then comes the crucial question: Do I have a scantron? Next year, optically scanned answer sheets might be one less worry for stressed-out students, the Associated

Student Government president said. The common name “scantron” is actually a brand name. The correct name for these test material is optically scanned answer sheets. ASG has already allocated the money to cover the cost of the the optically scanned answer sheets and

blue books, which would cost about $40,000 to 50,000 for one year, according to the ASG resolution. But there is no guarantee of if the program will continue or what group will be paying for it, said ASG president Michael Dodd. The optically scanned an-

Arena, said Mike Johnson, facilities management director. “Hillside is on budget but behind schedule,” Johnson said. Construction of the new $28.4 million football complex is on schedule for a summer 2013 opening, Johnson said. This summer, some new

practice fields will be open, opening up 200 parking spots that are being built under the fields, Johnson said. Other construction projects, like the renovations of Ozark and Vol Walker Halls, are also on schedule for summer 2013 openings. “Ozark is on schedule and

see SCANTRONS on page 3

Construction Delay for Hillside Auditorium by JACK SUNTRUP Staff Writer

Construction of Hillside Auditorium won’t be complete until September, a month after the original target date, an official said. Until its completion, students will again attend classes in the Verizon Ballroom, MARY MCKAY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Students are beginning to sell back their textbooks. The university bookstore on garland has an area set up on the second floor Giffels Auditorium, the Union Theater and Barnhill designated just for textbook buyback.

In This Issue:

News

Today On The Hill Check out events happening on campus today.

Page 2 WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 VOL. 106, NO.111 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM

News

Features

Sports

see CONSTRUCTION on page 2

Opinion

UA Group Recruits Republican Rep.

UA Students Share Experiences with MS

Video Games of the Summer

Razorbacks Top Tigers

Student Media: Thanks for a Great Year

Page 3

Page 5

Page 7

Page 4

Seven members of the Students for Concealed Carry group are getting ready for the upcoming election.

WEATHER FORECAST

Students with parents that have Multiple sclerosis work to fight against the disease.

TODAY 70°

THURSDAY 70°

Once finals are over and summer break is here, students can relax with video game new releases.

FRIDAY 70°

SATURDAY 69°

SUNDAY 69°

Managing Editor reflects on No. 21 Razorbacks defeated the 2012-2013 school year. No. 5 Florida 3-1 Sunday afternoon at McKethan Stadium.

MONDAY 73°

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 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 Finals Car Smash

Planting Workshop

Our Finals Car Smash wants to help you with your stress. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is hosting a Finals Car Smash Fundraiser in the Union Mall.

A planting workshop will be available Wednesday sponsored by RIC and the Student Sustainability Council. This event is a part of Sustainable Food Week.

9 a.m. - 4p.m. Union Mall

1 - 3 p.m. Union Mall

How Flavor and Smell Perception is Enclosed in the Brain Dr. Gautam will speak about his research at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Wednesday, May 2. Please contact Dr. Woodrow Shew for more information.

7:30 p.m. Walton Arts Center

Political wrangling over the college vote is underway. In 2007, Congress passed a law lowering the interest rates on subsidized Stafford Loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent. Those cuts are set to expire July 1. The result could cost recipients thousands and affect the way students finance their education, said Wendy Stouffer, executive director of Academic Scholarships. “Families are definitely going to have to look at finances as a whole,” she said. “Is getting a loan at 6.8 percent the best way to go?” According to a report by USA Today, 7.5 students receive Stafford loans. The change could affect more than 6,000 UA students that accepted loans last semester, Stouffer said. Both parties, in an attempt to gain the political upper hand, have authored bills keeping the rates lower, but both proposals have been unpalatable to the other side. The House bill would take some funding out of the president’s health care law, a

BOOKS

from page 1 The Campus Bookstore would give students more money if possible, Hossman said. “We cannot fill our shelves with just buyback books, so we have to buy wholesale. We would much rather just give as much cash to students as we can,” Hossman said. There are three factors in how the Campus Bookstore pays students during buyback season. If the bookstore is not already fully stocked with the

CONSTRUCTION from page 1

on budget. It will be ready a year from this summer,” Johnson said. “[Vol] Walker is almost on the same track, same thing. It’s a little more extensive, though.” More work was required to remove bookshelves from the basement

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STAFF

Politicians Tussle Over Student Loans Staff Writer

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move Obama said he would veto. “This doesn’t have anything to do with health care,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor. “This is about student loans, and I’m not quite sure why [they are] making it about health care, whereas the Senate is focused more on paying for it by fixing tax loopholes.” The Senate Democrats’ bill centers around cutting subsidies for oil and gas companies and raising social security and medicare taxes for some high earners, a plan Republicans oppose. Republican Sen. John Boozman supports the House bill. He said that when Obama federalized student loans in 2009, the profits the government made went to fund the health care law, making partially defunding the law relevant. “There’s a slush fund in the Obamacare health plan, that’s really not much of anything,” Boozman said. “We’re going to take money out and pay for it that way.” Because neither bill will become law in their current forms, the symbolic votes are part of an effort to shore up support in the general elec-

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by JACK SUNTRUP

119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701

UA Symphony Orchestra Concert

tion, said Janine Parry, UA professor of political science. President Obama spent last week barnstorming college campuses and “slow jamming the news” with Jimmy Fallon, trying to portray Republicans as hostile to student loans. “They’re shaping the constituency that they hope to have in November; in many ways that’s their goal,” Parry said. The president has spent a good part of the year courting college students. In January, he proposed increasing federal funding for schools that kept tuition down and decreasing it for schools that could not. He has also attacked the Republicans’ budget plan because it cuts money from Pell Grants and education. The new issue will help Obama, Parry said. “In the case of the President, it will probably help him generate a little more excitement among young people, but Republicans probably aren’t counting on a lot of that support anyway, but they’d like to diminish any possible damage,” Parry said. Ideally, legislators would book, students will receive 50 percent of the wholesale price. If the UA bookstores met their bookstore quota for a particular book, then they compare against a wholesalers database. Students can also use Hog Auction, where students auction their used textbooks to the highest bidder, according to the UA bookstore website. The demand for the textbook is finite and is maintained in real time. The demand for textbooks decreases instantly with every sale and can expire quickly as other

of Vol Walker Hall, Johnson said. Energy efficiency is a priority for both halls. Much of the work being done now is to install new windows, improve air quality and control utilities like air conditioning and electricity to shut off when people leave rooms, Johnson said. Ozark Hall will be add-

support more education funding, but Republicans are concerned about a lack of tax revenue and growing deficits, Boozman said. Democrats have argued that though revenues have fallen, education funding is a necessary investment for the country. “[Democrats] don’t want to talk about the red ink,” Boozman said. “We can’t continue to have a $1.3 trillion deficit.” Though the two Arkansas senators disagree on how to resolve the issue, they both acknowledged it has been exaggerated in this election year. “You have a problem that we shouldn’t of been in in the first place and there’s all kinds of people that are trying to point the finger,” Boozman said. “I think that it probably has been blown out of proportion.” Pryor agreed. “It is a presidential election year and sometimes in a hotly contested race like you have for president, one side comes out for something and the other side feels like they have to be against it,” he said.

students sell their books back, according to the UA bookstore website. The best times to sell textbooks back are near the end of a semester just before and during finals. Wholesale prices dominate the rest of the year. Textbooks used in fall- or spring-only courses may have a lower demand, according to the UA bookstore website. Rising enrollment at the UA has increased demand at the Campus Bookstore, but not the amount paid back to students, Hossman said.

ing a whole new wing, marking the first time the Honors College will be housed in one building, he said. “It’s a historically designated building, but essentially the new building will have a new interior with the historical exterior,” Johnson said.

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

MICY LIU

Advertising Director 575-3839 travad1@uark.edu

Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu

JAIME HOLLAND

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Account Executive 575-3899 travad2@uark.edu

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Account Executive 575-8714 travad3@uark.edu

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Features Designer

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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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

UA Group Recruits Republican Rep. in Concealed Carry by JACK SUNTRUP Staff Writer

As the spring semester winds down for UA students, politics continue. Thursday, one small group of concealed carry activists talked strategy for the upcoming election. The casual discussion among seven members of the Students for Concealed Carry group centered around publishing pamphlets, targeting ASG funding and arranging trips to the shooting range. The main draw of the night, however, was Republican representative Charlie Collins, who has introduced a bill allowing faculty to carry on campus. “When you go around the United States, there are killing fields, killing fields,” he said. “Multiple times a year, crazies, nut jobs and kooks say, ‘I am going to go make my statement and I am going to go murder people.’” Collins said more often than not, schools are the target because the shooters know there are a lack of guns on campus. A logical conclusion, he said, would be to arm faculty for a deterrence effect. “Fayetteville is not necessarily the land of Texas,” Collins said. “There are a lot of people that don’t agree with stuff like that. So I got

pounded, I just got absolutely hammered. People telling me I was nuts, you know, ‘What kind of a right-wing nut are you?’” Peoples’ biggest concern in loosening on-campus gun laws is “drunk 18-yearold boys [who could] run around in dorm rooms shooting each other,” Collins said. To satisfy critics, Collins fixed the bill so that, regardless of age, no students could carry, and no guns would be allowed in dorms. After an impassioned plea in the House education committee, the bill failed because Democrats walked out of the meeting after a roll call vote, he said. “Whatever deterrent benefit we get from the bill, we should get that benefit. Because if I was a crazy and I was thinking how safe am I going to be if I go to this place and I know that only the full-time faculty could carry, heck, that would be enough to scare me away, if it’s going to scare me away at all. “The second benefit is still intact as well, which is the protection benefit,” Collins said. If Republicans gain a majority in the fall elections, the bill should pass, he said. Next, Collins looked ahead to expanding the pro-

visions to allow professors to carry on campuses where they do not work. “If everything is going great, and things are going fine, then we can talk about expanding,” he said. At least one member of the group wanted more from the representative. “You started with allowing faculty members, and then you went to faculty members [carrying on] other colleges, and at what point would you get to allowing students to carry?” the member asked. Collins said he was open to expanding concealed carry to students, but the legislature would have to work through that in phases. “I haven’t thought through it all the way, but let’s say it went perfectly,” he said. “Let’s say this bill passed with a great majority, and then it was implemented and people felt very comfortable with it. And then, six months later, the people that protested it said they were OK with it, and then other people started saying, ‘You know what, we’re actually seeing benefits.’” “If we passed this one in the spring, then in the spring of 2015, when we meet again, could we pass an expansion?” he said. “I think that’s realistic.”

SCANTRONS from page 1

swer sheets will be bought in bulk. Today Dodd will meet before a hearing the Provost and Vice Provost of Academic Affairs speak with department heads throughout campus about the optically scanned scantrons, Dodd said. “In the long run, it will make the process easier,” he said. The faculty senate executives have had a positive opinion on the new addition. “It could help our students a lot,” said David Gay, faculty senate chair. “All in all, it is a novel and unique attempt to better the test and learning atmosphere for campus.” Faculty senate can only support the actions, not initiate them, Gay said. Optically scanned answer sheets and blue books keeps academic integrity in mind on test days, Dodd said, because students are less likely to cheat by writing or bubbling in answers before the test. “This will help with faculty-student relations,”

MARY MCKAY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Freshamn Abby Wise carries her scantrons in the back of her binder. She typically purchases her scantrons from the vending machine in the Union.

Dodd said. “It will generate good will among faculty and students.” If approved, optically scanned answer sheets will be provided to students be-

ginning the second summer section, Dodd said. “ASG has been particularly active this year,” Gay said.

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OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

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EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

FROM THE BOARD

From the Traveler Staff: Good Luck and Goodbye Dead day is here in a matter of hours, and as we look on towards our last Weekender publication tomorrow, we want to wish all students good luck on their finals and a great summer. From reporting on everyday life at the UA to covering significant news events, it has been a great year here at the Traveler. We look forward to publishing our orientation issue this month, and putting out another great year of news in the 2012-2013 semesters. For all of the editors and staff at the Traveler, it has been a time of hard work and recognition for our campus newspaper. As finals week creeps up on us, we want to wish everyone good luck on those end of semester exams and finishing out the year. It’s time to buckle down - summer is only a few days away, and that is definitely something to look forward to. Whether you have 10 tests or one next week, remember to sleep well, eat well and gain as much energy to make it through the most stressful week of the year. Before we know it, the year will be over and we will be basking in the summer sun. For those of us graduating next week, congratulations and good luck in future opportunities. We hope that your time here at the University of Arkansas has been a great one. As we bring in another large freshmen class and say goodbye to many students over the summer, our Razorback family is constantly growing. Those of us who will be coming back to campus in the fall, we look forward to bringing you another great year of campus news coverage. Wherever your summer plans take you this year, whether it’s to an internship, job or time with family and friends, we hope you have a great break from classes. It’s been a long year of hard work, but we can all take advantage of some rest and relaxation in the upcoming week. To all students starting finals preparations, good luck from all of us on the Traveler staff, and have a great summer, wherever life may take you.

Baseball Season: A Retreat From Finals Week Next week marks a time for students where studying, reviewing and preparing for exams is extremely important. However, it’s just as important to gain some much needed rest and time away from campus in the midst of testing week. Though many other sports are over for the year, the Razorback baseball season extends into the summer, and is a great way to spend a couple of hours away from the mountain of flashcards and scantrons. For many of us, this is the last week we will spend on UA campus as students. For others, it’s another week of finals with more to follow in the upcoming year. Whether you are graduating or starting your first and second years here on campus, your time here at the UA will be over before you know it. Make it a point to enjoy next week as much as possible, even when stress levels are high with final exam schedules. Take some time this weekend and in the week to come to support your fellow student athletes, and take some time off to enjoy the last week of school at Baum Stadium.

Traveler Quote of the Day “I think I retreated in my fear for a few days and then decided I had a choice. I could run from this or embrace and deal with it. What made the difference for me was going back to the classroom.”

HEBRON CHESTER STAFF CARTOONIST

Student Media: Thanks for a Great Year

by MATTIE QUINN

Managing Editor

What. A. Year. When I accepted my position as Managing Editor of The Traveler, I was pretty terrified. I wasn’t sure I was going have what it takes to manage a newspaper, especially faced with the news that The Traveler was going to be transitioning to four-days-a-week after just coming out once a week for the past couple of years. Now here I am, nine months later, and I can safely say this is the best job I have ever had. Never have I ever enjoyed coming to work more than when I have been running around this window-less office, yelling random things and generally being ridiculous. Over the course of the school year, I like to think

by ROSALYN TAYLOR Traveler Columnist

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.

to think that I won’t get to come back to a workplace where Joe DelNero waltzes over from UATV and finds a new way for us to get into an argument. Also, a huge shout out goes to Nick Carter, the wonderful editor of the Razorback Yearbook. Without your freak outs, constant teasing and our frequent trips to Taste of Thai, well, this year just wouldn’t have been as fun. And most importantly, of course, is a huge thank you to Saba Naseem, otherwise known as Wonder Woman. What began as a professional relationship between two girls who wanted to create a better newspaper, has turned into an extremely close friendship that I am so incredibly grateful for. Let’s face it, with the amount of time we spend together, you are probably closer to a sister than a friend. I am glad that I had someone to dance with during those long nights when we never thought we’d leave the office. I know that no matter where we both end up in life, you will always be one of my best friends. For my first column of the school year, I expressed how important it is to get

involved, to study abroad, to meet as many people as possible. Now that I have my last year under my belt (well at least 95 percent of it,) I want to press that issue one last time. If I had never walked into the Traveler office as a scared sophomore and introduced myself to the Editor at the time, I never would have met people that feel more like family than friends. I never would have gotten to go on paid trips to Orlando and St. Louis. While I am not guaranteeing you will get paid trips or meet people who you consider family by getting involved in what you’re passionate about, I can guarantee that the positivity that will come out of it will make it worth your while. While I have had experiences that’ll sound great in job interviews, more importantly, The Traveler has given me experiences that I will have framed on display no matter where I am living. Mattie Quinn is the 2011-2012 managing editor. She is a senior majoring in journalism.

All Mixed Up:Interracial Relationships

- Dub Ashton, Marketing professor, “Fighting Cancer: UA Professor Battles Adversity”

EDITORIAL

that I’ve written some decent enough columns with my take on important events that have occurred both on campus, nation-wide and around the world. So for my goodbye column, I hope you all forgive me for making this one just a series of shout outs to the people who have made this school year as memorable as possible. First and foremost, my staff is perhaps the sole reason why this job has been as much fun as it has. From laughing hysterically with Lauren Leatherby to sharing knowing glances across the newsroom with Chad Woodard, and of course I can’t forget all of those potlucks that left me five pounds heavier. I honestly could not have asked to work with a better group of people. While the home of student media is a windowless basement that sometimes feels like a prison, I think I have Stockholm Syndrome for this place. All of the these kids, from those who work at The Traveler, UATV and Razorback Yearbook have all grown to be my favorite people in the world. It makes me sad

As a country, we’ve come a long way in terms of racial equality and discrimination. Many people are moving past racial stereotypes and becoming more open minded and understanding of other cultures. The increase in interracial couples and children is proof that Americans are supporting this idea. Interracial relationships can be a touchy subject for some. The thing is, they are nothing new. During slavery, owners would have sexual relationships with their slaves. Though they weren’t always consensual relationships, they existed

nonetheless. Movies have been made, and plays and books have been written on this subject. It’s something that interests many people historically and socially. From my experience with interracial relationships, I’ve never put a lot of thought into the race of the person I was dating. If they were cute, they were cute, it just didn’t matter their race. As I got older, I found that this didn’t always translate to my partner or their families. My sophomore year I dated someone outside of my race and I had the opportunity to meet his parents on several occasions. They were very nice and welcoming and always seemed to be very accepting of their son’s and I relationship. A year after we ended our relationship, I found this to be different. Our break up was unexpected and he told me it was because his father didn’t approve of him dating a black girl. Because of his father’s constant jokes and taunting, he felt that we’d be better off as friends. Though I liked him a lot

I had to learn the hard way that prejudice still exists and that it can easily overpower someone’s feelings for one’s feelings for his partner in a relationship. Dating interracially is often seen as taboo in many cultures. In America, it has grown into a more accepted idea. According the most recent census data, 10 percent of all oppositesex married couples differ in race. This is a 28 percent jump from 2000. With these numbers, it is obvious that America is taking its “melting pot” reputation to a new level. With schools now being more integrated, there are now more minorities going to college and entering the professional world. This is helping to change the notions and ideas many have about different ethnicities. Citizens are finding it hard to blame their hesitation to date outside of their race on the socioeconomic statuses of their counterparts. So, they have stopped blaming and started embracing. I conducted a survey this week and shared it on my

Twitter and Facebook. 71 people responded and the results were quite interesting. About 53 percent said they had dated outside of their race but when asked if they would consider marrying someone of a different race, 21 percent said no. Only 5.6 percent felt that race was a “deal breaker” when it came to dating where 28 percent said they race was completely unimportant in determining who to date. These numbers hardly reflect a precisely accurate opinion of our peers, but it does give us some sort of idea of how we are viewing each other in terms of relationships and race. We’re working toward a greater good in terms of appreciation, love, life, equality and education. So try “Something New” and get your “Jungle Fever” on. Rosalyn Taylor is a journalism and African American studies major, and a Traveler columnist. Her column appears once a month.

FEATURES THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

ASHTON

from page 1 [I] not be positive?” Ashton’s students, work colleagues and other faculty at the UA are a major part of the reason he is still alive today, he said. “I’ve very grateful for all these people. What I’ve been able to achieve in the last 18 months is supported by all the souls and personalities in my life and they’ve stabilized me in so many ways – they’ve brought me back to reality, they’ve supported me, they’ve embraced me,” he said. “And geez, if I could take out a billboard that says thank you world and list all their names, I’d have to have a mile of billboards to be able to do that.” He immediately mentions two groups— Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma. “I could probably give you 15-20 names from both groups of people who come by to check on me, see how I am. They’ve sent me some absolutely beautiful cards,” he said. Ashton is also the adviser for Pi Beta Phi, which have supported him through his toughest times. “They’re kind of like an extension of my family and to some extent they’ve adopted a soul in need,” he said. “And the good part of about that is that the adoption process has given me additional emotional energy to not let this condition that I have, be a distraction. “There’s a warmness, there’s an embrace, there’s a genuine compassion and understanding that both of these groups have given me.” There is one young woman in particular whose name Ashton brings up many times—Sarah Brady. Brady, a junior psychology major and member of Pi Beta Phi, has known Ashton from her childhood. “We call him Uncle Dub,” she said. “He’s like a member of our family.” Ashton started traveling with Brady’s father for business trips, and has seen her and her twin sister grow up. “He was always at our birthdays, and would come watch us play soccer,” Brady said. Brady and her sorority sisters often send him cards and flowers, she said. “If we send him flowers, he always sends a bouquet back to us. And it’s always a bigger and better bouquet.” She describes him in three words— encouraging, compassionate and passionate. “He is one of the sweetest people anyone could ever meet. He is still up here teaching classes, [which is] encouraging and motivating to me.” Ashton never stopped teaching. When he had surgery, he was told to take six weeks off. He took off 2.5 weeks, but because of the snowstorm, he only missed two days of class. “There are people who say they like what they do. I truly love what I do. I love being in contact with people,” he said. Students are the “wind beneath my wings,” he said, in reference to a song by Willie Nelson. When he first found he had cancer, he “was frightened,” he said. “I think I retreated in my fear for a few days and then decided I had a choice. I could run from this or embrace and

deal with it. What made the difference for me was going back to the classroom.” He smiles. He is 70 pounds thinner than he was a year ago, and signs of aging and fatigue show in the not-so-perfect creases lining his face. However, the smile remains the same—just as big and just as sincere. “He not only has a passion for teaching, but a passion for connecting with students,” said Nick Carter, a former student. Carter recalls how the first day of class, Ashton stood at the door, greeting each student and making a quick association. More than 75 students came through that door and Ashton remembered every one of them. “When professors know your name and know you, you try harder and want to make them proud,” Carter said. “It’s been three years and he still remembers me.” ***** Every week, Ashton takes his wife out to eat. This is their tradition. If they are at Outback and his wife, Sandra, orders a specialty steak, Ashton orders the same meal. However, his meal goes home with them and is Sandra’s lunch the next day. When Ashton had his biopsy in July 2010, he couldn’t swallow anything because they had extracted matter tissue, which prevented food from passing through the throat. He feeds himself by funneling Glucerna 1.2, a special formula for those who use feeding tubes, into his stomach. Ashton recalls a day in September, when Sandra said to him, “I don’t want to eat out anymore.” “Why?” he asked her. “You’re not ordering anything. I’m out there eating by myself and I feel kinda conspicuous,” she replied. “Listen,” he said. “We’ll solve that problem.” Eating out is their peaceful time together. It’s their “only vice,” he said. When he talks about her, he speaks with love and admiration. Sandra and Ashton have been married for 36 years and he sees her as his “best friend beyond any shadow of a doubt,” he said. “She’s the one that’s suffering through this, I’m not. She’s a very strong and wonderful lady” Ashton is not certain what the future will bring, but he is positive about one thing: even when he leaves this world, he will always be near his wife. “I’m not going to have a funeral. I’m going to be cremated and my ashes will be strewn over the southern edge of Cumberland Island.” The island is located on the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Georgia. It is three miles north of where Ashton’s next house will be. “When she [Sandra] goes out to eat at the Marina Café, she’s going to be there with her next main squeeze, whoever that’s going to be…maybe nobody. But as the tide comes in and out, I can have dinner with them because I’ll be on the tide coming in and out. “I’ve planned all this stuff and this is definitely what I want to do. This way, I can be with my wife everyday when she walks on the beach.”

by MIKE MAHARDY Staff Writer

Vacation is almost upon us, and with the lazy days of summer fast approaching, students can take the time they need to relax. Inevitably, inclement weather will occur a few times over break. With rainy days and nothing to do, video games are a sure thing for someone looking for a method to kill time until the sun breaks through the clouds again.

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

COURTESY PHOTO

Participants walk in the recent MS Walk at Lake Fayetteville on April 21, 2012. Organizers hope to see next year’s walk grow to be bigger and better than it has been before.

UA Students Share Experiences with MS by LAUREN LEATHERBY Features Editor

A few years ago, she got her diagnosis - Multiple sclerosis. Jordan Carr’s mother, once a triathlete who ran eight or 10 miles nearly every weekday morning, has had to slow down significantly. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic, disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. Though the symptoms vary from person to person, most patients experience some degree of weakness and problems with muscle movement, such as with walking. “It’s difficult to see your mom go from that athletic state to now, where her legs will get tired and she can still walk, but you can tell it’s labor-intensive,” Carr said. “Sometimes you just want to scoop her up and say, ‘I’ll carry you!’” Katherine Davis’s mother was diagnosed with MS when she was only about two years old. “It wasn’t until my eighth-grade year that she had a really bad attack that kept her bedridden,” Davis said. “She’s still kind of bedridden to this day. She can get up and drive places, but not very far.” As the child of someone who has MS, Davis has had to adjust to a lifestyle different from most of her peers. She had to step up during her highschool years to do a lot of the things that her mother no longer could. “I guess I didn’t realize the true effect of caregiving until I went to college, when I was able to remove myself from the situation. I realized it completely changed me,” she said. “It’s difficult, you know, you can’t lie about that. My mom was hospitalized three or four times within a period of two years.” Some of the most difficult times for Davis came when her two older sib-

Diablo III- May 15

This is one that should be saved for when there are no other priorities on your list. Whether it is work, summer classes or an internship, Diablo games are as addicting as they come. Finding new armor, weapons and treasure will make this loot fest last long into the night. Exploring dungeon after dungeon and hacking through legions of enemies is an art perfected by developer Blizzard, best known for their game World of Warcraft. Using the Havok physics engine, the environments of Diablo III are going to be destructible, with in-game damage effects that make the exploration of the game’s two main continents more engaging. Character classes such as the mage, barbarian and demon hunter all utilize techniques in magic, brawling and assassination, respectively. People with addictive personalities should avoid Diablo III. Ten minutes into this game, and it may affect your summer duties at work or school.

Dragon’s Dogma- May 22

CHAD ARNOLD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Developer Capcom has already released its fair share of video games this year. From the Japanese revenge tale Asura’s Wrath to the darkened halls of Resident Evil: Revelations, the company has not taken 2012 slowly by any means. Dragon’s Dogma is a chance

lings left home for college, and she and her younger sister remained at home during the time when her mother began to have more frequent symptoms. “One time, my mom was walking up the stairs when she had a spell, and she fell backwards and rolled down the stairs,” Davis said. “My sister came running, but I was so paralyzed by what I saw, I had to go in my room and cry. I didn’t know what to do.” While Carr’s mother has not experienced the effects of MS to the same extent, he has had to deal with seeing his highly athletic mom go from competing in triathlons to no longer being able to run, even though she keeps an optimistic attitude. “She’s super positive about everything. She never complains. She could have a bone sticking out of her neck and would say, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine.’ She’s super tough,” he said. “It’s admirable. She takes it like a champ, and she would never fuss about it.” Both students have chosen to react to chronic illness in their family by working hard to help in whatever ways they can. “The thing with chronic illness is that when you’re a child caregiver, it can go one of two ways,” Davis said. “You can choose to do something positive with it, or you can look at it the opposite way and go down the negative path where you get into drinking and drugs.” She attributes the strength with which she has handled her mother’s illness to her strong support system. When her mother began to more intensely feel the effects of MS during Davis’ early high school years, she had a strong network of friends to help her through it. After Carr’s mother was diagnosed with MS, he and his older brothers immediately sprung into action, researching how they could help her. Carr’s older brother organized the first

MS Walk in Northwest Arkansas, and Carr took over when came to school here. Since the walk began four years ago, the walk has seen great amounts of growth. “The walk just got bigger and bigger,” Carr said. “Instead of just on the University of Arkansas campus, we wanted to branch it off to the greater Northwest Arkansas area.” When the walk started, all of the participants were able to fit into one room in the Union, but at the most recent walk on April 21, the group grew to around 350 walkers that came to Lake Fayetteville to participate. Because next year will be Carr’s senior year, he hopes to see the walk grow to be something bigger and better than it ever has been before. “I hope to tap into some resources to make some bigger teams. When teams compete more, they raise more money,” he said. “I hope to look for more corporate sponsorships and get more donations that way. I’d like to set the goal at $50,000 and then exceed that. Planning for the next year always starts two days after the last walk finishes.” Davis, who has helped Carr with the local MS walk, someday hopes to work with the MS Society or even be on the National MS Society Board. She also wants to help children dealing with some of the same issues she has experienced. “One of the things I hope to establish is a camp in Arkansas for kids whose parents have a chronic illness. Just a place where they can get away,” Davis said. “It can be an outdoor camp, an adventure camp, but at night you deal with emotions you would experience, and you get to know other people who are like you. It doesn’t specifically have to be children of parents with MS because people with chronic illness often go through the same experience.”

for the developer to branch into unfamiliar territory. Based in a medieval setting, Dragon’s Dogma pits the player and up to three other AI players against beasts ranging from chimeras to griffins. The pawn system allows the gamer to characterize their allies, and share them with other players online. The fact that players’ pawns generate experience points even when being used by other gamers is the most enticing part about this feature. Community interaction has proven to be a great method to promote longevity in a game, especially when the role-playing market is still clogged up by titles like Skyrim and Kingdoms of Amalur.

story involving four soldiers fighting an entire army, the single player is sure to turn a few heads also. Environments spanning the globe will create numerous approaches to each mission.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier May 22 (360, PS3, PC)

With an upcoming release on May 22 with Dragon’s Dogma, Future Soldier will put advanced military technology on display with an elite group of special ops soldiers. Previous Ghost Recon titles have impressed gamers with their cooperative gameplay and tactical approach to shooting games. With even more streamlined ways to communicate with AI teammates, and a slew of new weapons and maps to keep players busy, Future Soldier is guaranteed to provide a visceral firefight experience. Firing from cover as teammates flank the enemy never fails to provide an adrenaline rush. With a

Darksiders 2-June 26 (360, PS3, PC)

The first Darksiders impressed gamers with an original story loosely based on biblical conflicts. With myriad puzzles, battles and new weapons to obtain, the adventure that the Horseman of War embarked upon reverberated for months after completion of the game. In the sequel, players will take control of another horseman, Death. With more agile attacks than those of his brother, Death will bring a whole new experience to fans of the original. New weapons such as the scythe and hammer will make the fighting more dynamic, while the open world mechanic being implemented is a great way to increase the game’s appeal to fans of the RPG genre. Following a storyline parallel to the first title, Death will attempt to absolve his brother of the crimes against the mysterious Charred Council that he supposedly committed. If the screenshots and gameplay are any indication of the quality of this upcoming title, gamers should clear their schedule come June.

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

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

DOWNTIME PAGE 6

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

Comics, Games, & Much Much More!

LAUGH IT UP

SUDOKU

Q: What happens when a T-Rex bites you?

A: You get a dinosore. Q: Why isn’t Barney the Dinosaur allowed to drive?

A: Because everybody knows Tyrannasaurus Wrecks!

Q: Did you hear about the plumber who

Difficulty:

worked a top a skyscraper?

A: He plunged to his death.

TODAY’S SOLUTION

Q: What do you get from a pampered cow?

A: Spoiled milk.

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 Short trips 5 Daylong march 10 Baseball cards unit 14 Swiss river 15 Stereotypical dog name 16 __ Bator, Mongolia 17 *Steady, unobtrusive background sound 19 Pixar fish 20 “Roots” hero __ Kinte 21 China’s Mao __-tung 22 Gap rival 23 The Blue Jays, on scoreboards 24 *Highly charged, as a topic 26 Bustle of activity 28 Kids’ touching game 30 Automaker with a fourring logo 31 *Sleeper sofa 34 Soothing words 38 Bk. before Job 39 Slow-moving tree-hanging animal 41 Fingered, as a perp 42 Arnaz-Ball studio 44 *Nouveau riche 46 Feudal slave 48 Chou En-__ 49 Intractable beast 50 *Especially favorable agreement 54 Dallas sch. 56 Shopping meccas 57 D-Day craft 58 They’re often cluttered in offices 61 Entr’__ 62 Mr. who debuted 5/1/1952, or in a way, what the first word of the answers to starred clues can be 64 Hershey’s toffee bar 65 __ Gay: WWII plane 66 “See ya”

1 Taloned bird 2 Pacific island on which much of “Lost” was filmed 3 Hard copies 4 Contentious confrontation 5 Directional ending 6 Dental whitening agent 7 French order-carrying craft 8 Former coin of Spain 9 Cockney’s “in this place” 10 Strict observance of formalities 11 Warning 12 Brief acting role 13 Familiar 18 Only planet with exactly one moon 22 Sensei’s teaching 25 Baloney 26 Scored a hole-in-one on 27 Unit of reality? 29 Silly 32 Con men 33 King of the ring 35 On and on and on and ... 36 Average marks 37 Ice cream brand 40 Revealing, like the heart in a Poe title 43 “We’re in!” 45 Mess up 47 More than a misdemeanor 50 Hard tennis shot 51 Screwball 52 “Your Song” singer John 53 Fur tycoon 55 Zubin with a baton 59 Green Hornet’s sidekick 60 State west of Minn. 62 Get-up-and-go 63 Income __

Crossword provided by MCT Campus

SOLUTION

Tony Piro

SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

PAGE 7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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

Razorbacks Top Tigers

BASEBALL

Hogs extend win streak to three

by MARTHA SWEARINGEN Staff Writer

No. 18 Arkansas extended its winning streak to three games by defeating future Southeastern Conference foe Mizzou 6-3 Tuesday night in front of 4,245 fans at Baum Stadium. Junior left fielder Derek Bleeker led the Razorbacks (32-13) with three hits and two RBIs. “I was just trying to be real frisky at the plate,” Bleeker said. “Just try to get aggressive and get after some pitches and make sure my timing is on time.” Bleeker had a two-run triple in the second inning and doubles in the sixth and eighth. “He smoked those two balls,” Van Horn said. “It was good to see.” The Hogs got on the board quick in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead when senior shortstop Tim Carver scored on a sac fly from sophomore first baseman Dominic Ficociello. The Razorbacks struck for four runs in the third to extend the lead to 5-0 over the Tigers (23-20). The big inning started with a single from junior designated hitter Jacob Mahan. Senior third baseman Matt Reynolds then singled to left field, advancing Mahan to second. Senior second baseman Bo Bigham also singled and an error by the Tigers allowed Reynolds to advance to third and Mahan to score. Then Bleeker tripled to right field, driving in Reynolds and Bigham. Freshman catcher John Reeves’ single through the middle scored Bleeker to stretch Arkansas’ lead to 5-0. Morris’ RBI double in the bottom of the sixth scored Bleeker and gave the Hogs a 6-0 lead. The Tigers scored their first two runs in the top of the eighth inning off

see BASEBALL on page 8

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas players gather around home plate to congratulate junior left fielder Derrick Bleeker after Bleeker scored following his two-run triple in the Razorbacks’ 6-3 win against Missouri on Tuesday night at Baum Stadium.

TRACK

COMMENTARY

Tidbits From the Bizarre Sports World Old Fashioned 3-Point Play

ZACH TURNER

zwturner@uark.edu

UAMEDIA RELATIONS Arkansas sophomore distance runner Grace Heymsfield battled back from an emergency appendectomy last summer to shatter her career-best times and play a key role for coach Lance Harter and the No. 10 Razorbacks in the outdoor season.

Heymsfield Steadily Improving by ZACH LIGI Staff Writer

Grace Heymsfield has gotten faster almost every meet this season. The sophomore distance runner has repeatedly set career bests then broken them in later meets. The season didn’t always look promising for Heymsfield, though. She underwent an emergency appendectomy in July after the Pan American Junior Championships. She missed the cross coun-

try and indoor seasons recovering from the injury, but returned strong to begin the outdoor season. Heymsfield cut more than 30 seconds off her initial 3,000 meters steeplechase time. She started the season with a personal-best 10 minutes, 45 seconds, then ran it in 10 minutes, 13 seconds over the weekend at the Payton Jordan Invitational. “I would have to give some credit to the surgery she went through,” Arkansas coach Lance Harter said.

“The results have been very, very positive, but Grace has also matured to realize that she’s as capable as anybody in the race and she’s starting to run with more confidence.” Heymsfield isn’t the only Razorback putting up great statistics, Senior Tina Sutej won the pole vault at the Penn Relays for the third consecutive year and was named Southeastern Conference Field Athlete of the Week for her performance.

Coaches unfazed by ranking Following a national runner-up finish in the indoor season for the men’s track team and a fifth-place finish for the women, neither team is ranked as highly early in the outdoor season. The women have steadily slid down the rankings and are No. 10. “I think it’s a motivation,” Harter said. “Everybody

see TRACK on page 8

A sports writer is typically not one dimensional, which means not limited to one sport. Sure you have the major league sports writers that cover the local professional team, but they can still weigh in on other sports. The thoughts and storylines in sports are endless. Which is the same point of the column as well, but don’t worry, it will have an end. Amare Stoudemire’s Idiotic Injury The Knicks All-Star forward punched a fire extinguisher Monday after 10-point loss to the Miami Heat in the second game of the series. Smooth move. Stoudemire’s frustration could be that he only took nine shots because that would make any player with his ego mad, but perhaps it is because the Knicks are better without him. Remember the Linsanity era? Amare did not play in the first five games that Lin started.

When Carmelo Anthony logged his second-career triple-double late in the season versus the Celtics? Amare was on the bench with an injury. With the Knicks down 2-0 to the reigning Eastern Conference Champions and the series not looking any better for the blue and orange, it seems like Amare’s days of calling Madison Square Garden could be numbered. That is after he gets his $100 million contract paid in full, though. 2013 NFL Draft Yes, I realize the 2012 NFL Draft just ended, but it is not against the law to look forward to next year’s draft. Depending on who is picking first, Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley will be the first quarterback taken. Also Tyrann Mathieu, let the Honey Badger jokes begin, will be the first defensive back taken, though he is very undersized at just 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. You can’t underestimate a nose for the ball. However, Arkansas will be well represented in the first round if the Hogs continue to win games in 2012 like they have the past two seasons. Tyler Wilson will be the second quarterback taken, while running back Knile Davis will be the second running back taken if he plays in all the Razorbacks games during the 2012 season.

see COMMENTARY on page 8

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

PAGE 8

Chris Smith Defensive End 6’3’’ 251 lbs. Junior

Chris Smith talks about his big spring game, learning a new defensive scheme and if the unit will be improved in 2012. Smith had a team-high two sacks in the Red-White game after recording 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore. How did installing new defensive coordinator Paul Haynes’ system go this spring? We practiced hard all spring. Give credit to Paul Haynes. He is a great coach and has been helping us since before the Cotton Bowl. We had to come out and make statement. You looked explosive in the spring game and got two sacks. What have you been working on? Coach Caldwell has been working with me and I worked with Jake Bequette over the summer. Just staying low pads and leverage. Trey Flowers and Flynn and Colton, all our D-ends did good. Was the spring game frustrating because you and the rest of the starters were going against reserves a lot? Yeah as far as technique and in the first half we were going against guys like Alvin Bailey and Jason Peacock who are ones and things of that nature. Just working technique was all we could do. What did you think about drawing a crowd of more than 45,000 fans? That was a great, a great turnout, especially coming in from my freshman spring year. There were more people. Obviously people want to see how we will respond with Coach Petrino gone. I think he responded well. What has changed for you since your freshman season? I feel like I’m more of a student of the game and am really excited about this season. I am going to work my tail off to help my teammates and help my team. Do you feel like the defense is ready to take a step forward and be more consistent in the fall? What will the keys be? It all starts up front guys like Robert Thomas and Byran Jones and DeDe Jones. It always starts up front. We do that and it will carry over. And having Tenarius Wright at linebacker helps out a lot. We get Alonzo Highsmith back it is going to be scary. We have got a good defensive coordinator, a good leader. So I am happy to see what happens.

RYAN MILLER Staff Photographer from BASEBALL on page 7 freshman right-hander Chris Oliver. Missouri sophomore second baseman Dillon Everett scored on a wild pitch while junior pinch hitter Gavin Stark was at bat. Freshman catcher Patrick Quintanilla singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Stark and cutting the deficit to 6-2. The Razorbacks started sophomore right-hander Nolan Sanburn, his third start of the season. Sanburn (3-

1) struck out seven batters, walked two and allowed one hit and no runs in four innings. “I just I felt like I almost just turned into a pitching machine when I got out there in the third and fourth inning,” Sanburn said. “Just throwing a lot of strikes, getting ahead of guys.” Junior left-hander Tyler Wright relieved Sanburn in the fifth and struck out three, walked one and allowed one hit in three scoreless innings. Oliver came out of the bullpen in the eighth inning, but

was relieved by right-handed sophomore Brandon Moore after recording just one out. Moore closed the game and allowed one hit and a ninthinning run. The Razorbacks will conclude the midweek series with Missouri on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. in Baum Stadium. “It’s a really good twogame series match-up between two pretty good teams,” Van Horn said. “As a team, we are just trying to continue to get better because we feel like we are starting to play some really good baseball.”

from TRACK on page 7 scratches their head and wonders exactly how they do this poll. Two weeks ago we had 12 lifetime bests, things went great. Yet we moved in the poll from sixth to ninth. I think it’s just a formula someone’s devised. Ultimately what we’re doing is trying to get the kids ready for the SEC meet.” The men’s team dropped eight spots in one week, but has since slowly risen back up to No. 11. “There are a number of teams ahead of us on the na-

from COMMENTARY on page 7

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas junior left fielder Derrick Bleeker running on his two-run triple in the third inning of the Razorbacks’ 6-3 win against Missouri on Tuesday night at Baum Stadium.

If Cobi Hamilton puts up impressive numbers, similar to Vikings draftee Jarius Wright in 2011, he, too, will be a first-rounder. Hogs Football Success in 2012 Staying on the topic of Arkansas football, now would be a good time for a pre-summer prediction of the Hogs’ record in the first and morethan-likely only season of the John L. Smith era. Until a coach can prove to beat Alabama by actually doing it, I will continue to pick Saban’s team over anyone. Same goes for LSU, even though Bobby Petrino was

tional list,” men’s coach Chris Bucknam said “This is the best conference in the country. Overall I think we’re getting there. Hopefully we’re a team that can contend for the outdoor title, that’s our number one priority right now.” No place like home Arkansas will finish the regular season at home Friday, competing in the Arkansas Twilight. The meet will be the Razorbacks’ last opportunity qualify for nationals before the SEC Championships. “This meet, I guess you can call it a fine tuner meet,” Bucknam said. “We’ll com-

pete a number of athletes. Maybe we’ll rest a few but for the most part it gives us an opportunity to be on our home track. The weather looks good and the track is fast, hopefully we can improve on a few performances and hopefully get a few more national qualifiers. Looks like a pretty good meet.” The women will also compete in the meet. “We jump into final exams starting next week,” Harter said. “We’ve been traveling and we need some time in the library and study hall. A few of them are saying they just need one more (meet) to tune up.”

2-2 against the Bayou Bengals. Arkansas will lose to both Southeastern Conference juggernauts and end 2012 with another Cotton Bowl victory, this time over TCU. Razorback Basketball Comes Up Short This will be the headline in mid-March when Arkansas fails to make the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. The Hogs are on the brink, but will be ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s favorite bubble team on all his SportsCenter segments coming down to Selection Sunday. The reason? Just like last season, zero significant wins against teams

away from Bud Walton Arena. Though coach Mike Anderson might finish his 2012 recruiting class with a bit of steam, it is still lacking. However, the former Nolan Richardson assistant will load up a top 10 2013 class and have the hoop Hogs in the midst come March Madness that season. Closing Thought No, I will not have a column in next week’s Arkansas Traveler. There is no Traveler next week and this is my last column. Zach Turner is the assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Wednesday. Follow him on Twitter @zwturner.