January 29, 2013

Local Artist’s Whimsical Shadowbox Displayed at Arsaga’s Page 5 Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

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RIC Concealed Carry Bill Fails

RIC SENATORS VOTED 19-11 AFTER TENSE DEBATE MONDAY NIGHT

A UA doctoral student was the first among a group of researchers to identify the nature of a meteorite that landed in California and Nevada.

Full Story, Page 2

Mezza Luna, an Italian restaurant located on south Razorback, has delicious food at an affordable price.

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Bielema Aims for Two 4-Star Running Backs As National Signing Day approaches, head coach Bret Bielema tries to form his first recruiting class at Arkansas from top recruits.

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Today’s Forecast

Retail Strip Coming to New Founders Hall Building Travis Pence Staff Writer A portion of Founders Hall, which is still under construction on campus, will serve as an extension to both Brough Commons and the retail stores located underneath the commons, Chartwells officials said.

The first and second floors of Founders Hall will connect with the existing Brough Commons building, said Kim Johnson, marketing director for Chartwells Residential Dining Office.

“With the addition of the Founders Hall dining area on the second floor, we will add around 240 seats to the Brough Commons,” Johnson said. “Plus, a certain area will be dedicated as an additional serving line.”

UA Doctoral Student First to Identify Nature of Meteorite

Mezza Luna: Homemade Italian on a Budget

Vol. 107, No. 72

Joe DelNero Opinion Editor RIC senators voted against Joe Youngblood’s argument for concealed carry on the UA campus Monday night in a vote of 19-11.

Connor Malone Contributing Writer The Residents’ Interhall Congress voted Monday night against a bill to allow students to have concealed carry weapons on campus in 19-11 vote.

State law claims that for most of Arkansas it is legal to carry a concealed weapon if the person has proper documentation. Concealed carry on college campuses is left at the discretion of university administration and faculty.

Other laws prohibit the carrying of weapons inside of campus buildings regardless of university decisions.

The current policy at UA states that the campus is a “gun-free zone;” no weapons are legally allowed on campus.

Joe Youngblood, the RIC senator who wrote and argued in favor of the bill, said these laws leave students defenseless against attacks and

are unfair to those who have a concealed carry license.

“Disciplinary action can be taken against students, faculty and staff who are able to carry weapons in the rest of the state,” Youngblood said.

There have been 387 recorded school shootings in the U.S. since 1992, according to Stop the Shootings, an online database for statistics about school shootings with information dating back to 1992. Youngblood said the bill is an effort to curb those numbers.

“No university that goes through one of these attacks thinks that they need this legislation the day before it happens,” Youngblood said.

Many students say that if they or those around them are able to carry concealed weapons, they would feel safer because they could better defend themselves in the case of a shooting.

Devyn Grathwohl, a senior UA ambassador who attended the RIC meeting, opposed the bill. “I understand

the need for guns as protection, but it scares me to think that anyone could have a gun on them,” Grathwohl said.

“I want to feel safe walking around campus.”

Youngblood also said that more than 200 college cam-

mediately verify this information.

Officials proposed two separate bills. The first was proposed to allow anyone with a concealed carry license to take their weapons with them onto campus grounds and parking garages, but not into any university buildings.

“I want to feel safe The second bill would show university officials’ supwalking around port for state legislators to allow faculty and staff with concampus.” cealed carry licenses to carry within university buildings.

Devyn Grathwohl The debate that preceded Senior UA Ambassador the vote was tense with high support on all sides. Matt Seubert, a former ASG member, argued against the bill.

The steps necessary to gain a puses now allow concealed concealed carry license “(do) carrying and that those cam- not qualify an individual to puses have reported no harm act in a life or death circumcommitted by anyone carry- stance,” he said. ing a concealed weapon.

Tensions on the floor “Concealed holders are forced senators to a secret bal300 times less likely to com- lot vote, so no record of each mit a crime with a firearm senator’s vote was officially than the general population,” kept. The bill failed 19-11.

Youngblood said.

UAPD officials declined to The Traveler could not im- comment on the issue.

“I don’t think that there was a single person who was against this decision.”

Kim Johnson

Marketing Director for Chartwells The first floor of Founders Hall will serve as additional space for retail stores located underneath Brough Commons, Johnson said.

“As of now, the Papa John’s will be moved into the new space, along with the addition of a Slim Chickens and the Innovation Cafe,” Johnson said.

Both students and faculty are excited about the addition of Slim Chickens in the retail area, Johnson said.

“We’ve had plenty of feedback from both students and faculty over the addition of Slim Chickens in the Brough retail center, and it seems as though everybody is very excited,” Johnson said. “I don’t think that there was a single person who was against this decision.”

The decision to have a local business on campus “is great for the business, the university and its students,” said Christina Crowder, director

see RETAIL page 3

Bicycles Remain Large Target for Thieves

Jaime Dunaway Staff Writer

64 / 38° Tomorrow Sunny 43 / 27°

Bicycle theft remains a problem on the UA campus as several thefts have already been reported since the start of the semester, police said.

Last semester, 17 bicycles thefts were reported, and six have already been reported stolen since Jan. 14, said UAPD spokesperson, Lt. Gary Crain. However, only one-third of bike thefts are actually reported to the police, according to the National Bike Registry.

“This number is unacceptable,” Crain said. “Somebody is stealing these bikes, and until we catch them, they’re going to keep coming back.”

Many of the stolen bikes

were left on campus during winter break and were missing when students returned to campus in January, Crain said.

Bicycle theft is so common that 53 percent of fouryear college students get their bike stolen, according to the National Bike Registry.

Bikes are a common target because they can be sold and disposed of in several different ways, Crain said. Many stolen bikes are sold on internet sites like Craigslist or taken to pawn shops for easy money. Bike wheels and other parts can also be sold individually, while the rest of the bike is discarded.

Bikes left unchained or chained to a bicycle rack are easy targets for thieves who

see BICYCLES page 3

McKenna Gallagher Staff Photographer Students attempt to keep their bikes safe by locking them onto the provided bike racks scattered throughout campus, Friday, Jan. 25.

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Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

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UA Doctoral Student First to Identify Nature of Meteorite

Chartwells to Offer Off Campus Coupon Books Bailey Deloney Staff Writer

Jaime Dunaway Staff Writer

A UA doctoral student was the first among a group of researchers to identify the nature of a meteorite that landed in California and Nevada.

Robert Beauford, a UA doctoral student in space and planetary sciences, was one of many scientists who formed the Sutter’s Mill Consortium to research the meteorite that fell near that location. The consortium was able to link many researchers together and provide a clear line of communication through which they could share their results.

“We will know a great deal more about this meteorite because of this cooperation than we would have known otherwise,” Beauford said. “The efficiency of this group, in speed of research and in the thoroughness with which results are being communicated, will allow others to build upon our team’s successes more effectively and more quickly when the next new samples arrive from space.”

Their research was published in the journal “Science”, and Beauford’s recognition of the meteorite was mentioned in the title.

“I really only played a small part, along with many other very qualified scientists,” Beauford said. “It is nice that people have found my work to be useful. Science is a team effort.”

To identify the meteorite Beauford took an extensive series of pictures and examined the meteorite with a hand lens. He observed that it was composed of fragments of rock, which were visibly different from each other.

He also noticed an unusually complex matrix that preserved the structures of the parent rocks that formed the impacted material. He said his primary avenue of research

Due to requests, Chartwells will again be offering Sweet Rewards coupon books to off-campus students and faculty who purchase a meal plan this semester.

The $68 value book contains eight coupons to various Chartwells retail options on campus, including Papa

Contact

119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Ashley Swindell Staff Photographer Robert Beauford takes a break from his work in the Planetary Science Building, Monday, Jan. 28.

Beauford was the first in his group to identify a meteorite that they were studying in California. regards impacted rock types, which helped him identify the meteorite.

“I was simply in the right place at the right time, and with the right skill set to see something interesting about it,” he said. “I did the work for the enjoyment of it, and only sent it over because I thought

tant class of meteorite, it is the single most pristine example of this meteorite type that has ever been recovered, he said.

“Meteorites are among the most unaltered materials that we currently possess from the early solar system,” he said.

“These meteorites are literal time capsules from the time of

“I did the work for the enjoyment of it, and only sent it over because I thought the observations might be useful.”

Robert Beauford

UA Doctoral Student the observations might be useful. I honestly never expected to be included in the subsequent research or in the paper that followed. It was a real pleasure to be able to contribute further.”

Meteorites are rare in general, but carbonaceous chondrites, like Sutter’s Mill, are even more so because only about 1.5 percent of them have been identified in all falls and finds, Beauford said. Not only is this a rare and impor-

the formation of our sun and planets.”

From this group of meteorites researchers have been able to recover pre-solar grains, which are older than the sun, and organic carbon molecules, Beauford said.

They also contain some of the most resource-rich materials in the solar system, which will show researchers some of the places that they should be focusing on in short-term space exploration and long-term so-

lar development.

They also inform many branches of science by offering insights into earth’s geochemical and environmental systems, Beauford said.

“Understanding this meteorite and its parent asteroid translates to an increase in our understanding of the solar system itself, including us, our own planet, our sun, and our place in space and time,” he said.

Beauford is involved in three other projects regarding the Sutter’s Mill meteorite in addition to answering some questions about known impact craters on the Ozark Plateau. He said he is also working on refuting or confirming the location of two other possible impact craters and is in the process of researching and writing for several books.

“I achieved what I hoped for: to contribute my time and effort to the advancement of science,” Beauford said, “and to help other people’s research to be able to reach its potential by accurately and precisely informing their efforts with the results of my own investigations.”

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eaten in any of the campus dining locations,” Johnson said. “This is a way to capture those students, so that they can know what is available.”

Many off-campus students purchase meal plans out of the convenience it offers.

“It’s convenient, and the food is prepared,” said Kelli McGhee, sophomore biology major. “It’s a time-saver.”

Freshman Allie Elliott said she plans to buy a meal plan next year when she

“They should be able to weigh the value of retail options on campus against the time it takes to pack a lunch.”

Kim Johnson

Marketing Director of Chartwells John’s, Starbucks and breakfast in the Union food court, said Kim Johnson, marketing director for Chartwells. The coupons are dated throughout, with the intent of them being used as the year goes on, Johnson said.

“We want to give them the option of trying something new,” Johnson said. “They should be able to weigh the value of the retail options on campus against the time it takes to pack a lunch.”

Many students and faculty pack a lunch to take with them to campus every day, Johnson said.

“For example, I spoke to a grad student who had never

lives off campus because she doesn’t want to take the time to cook.

The coupon book was available for off-campus students last semester, and this semester it has been opened up to faculty as well, Johnson said. Faculty members are able to purchase a meal plan that is very similar to an off-campus meal plan, Johnson said. This coupon book serves as a particularly nice perk for faculty, since their plans do not include flex dollars, Johnson said.

The coupon books can be picked up in the Union card office with confirmation of a meal plan.

RETAIL continued from page 1 of dining services for Associated Student Government.

“If the opening and service of Slim Chickens has positive feedback, perhaps other local favorites could become part of the campus cuisine,” Crowder said. ”Slim Chickens is a first step in bringing the students what they have requested.”

Some students are excited about the new Slim Chickens location.

“I have always been a fan of Slim Chickens,” said Laman Fountain, broadcast journalism major. “Now I won’t have to travel all the way to College Avenue to get their food. This new location will be much more convenient for me.”

The Innovation Cafe will be used as a “laboratory” for Chartwells to test new formats of campus dining, Johnson said.

“Chartwells will be working with students from the hospitality department to develop new ways of serving food to students and to test different food trends,” Johnson said. “They will then adjust their methods based on student feedback.”

“We want to keep up with current food trends,” Johnson said. “The general

preferences of students are constantly changing. The Innovation Cafe will help us to keep up with the times and modify our services to better suit the entire campus.

The concept will change every year, based on its performance.”

“If the opening and service of Slim Chickens has positive feedback, perhaps other local favorites could become part of the campus cuisine.”

Christian Crowder

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McKenna Gallagher Staff Photographer Students may have noticed congestion in Harmon Parking Garage. Students should try to exit thru the lower levels, said Andy Gilbride, education instruction specialist. “As the university grows the traffic will get worse, he said.

BICYCLES continued from page 1 can easily slice through chain or cable locks with bow cutters. One way to defeat bike theft is to use bar locks, which are more difficult to cut, Crain said.

Osbourne Smith, civil engineering major, said he rides his bike around campus because it’s convenient.

He used to leave his bike unchained, but it was never stolen, he said.

“I bought a lock, and I think it’s safe,” Smith said.

“I’ll use the same old lock, and hopefully it won’t fail me when all this is happening.”

Crain also recommends that students who don’t ride regularly should periodically change the location of where they chain their bikes.

“If you leave property un-

When the Papa John’s is moved into the Founders Hall area, the Quiznos will be extended to fill its current space until another store moves in, Johnson said.

The remaining areas of Founders Hall will be used for additional dorm rooms, Johnson said.

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attended for a long time, it makes it easier for someone to take it,” he said.

Other tips include covering expensive brand names,

the bike.

One arrest was made in January for bike theft, but Crain said it did not “solve all the problems.”

“I’ll use the same old lock, and hopefully it won’t fail me when all this happening.”

Osbourne Smith

Civil Engineering Major

securing bikes in well-lit areas, and keeping a picture of the bike and serial number in case of theft. Registering bikes with the UA Department of Transit and Parking will also provide a record of

“We need to catch a couple more and maybe put a stop to this,” he said.

Those caught stealing bicycles will be arrested and taken to jail, Crain said. If the thief is also a student,

university sanctions will be handed out as well. Some stolen bicycles may be recovered without damage, but reimbursement for a damaged or unrecovered bike must be ordered by a judge.

Students who notice other people loitering around bike racks studying the bikes should contact the police, Crain said. The police should also be contacted if someone witnesses many bicycles being loaded into a car at one time, he said. This would help prevent the number of occasions in which multiple bikes are stolen at the same time.

“We need some extra help right now because someone has come up here shopping,” Crain said.

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Director of Dining Services for ASG

AT T EN T I O N !

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New ASG Legislation: Senate Bill No. 15 –Proposed to change the requirements for Senators Senate Resolution No. 34- Proposed to add use of copy machine to PrintSmart Quotas Students can make their opinion heard during the ASG meetings 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Graduate Education Building. There is a public comment section during each meeting where students can speak for two minutes before the legislation starts, said Mike Norton, ASG Chair of Senate.

Results of these legislations will be published after they are voted on.

Opinion Editor: Joe DelNero Page 4

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

Twitter Matters More than Resume

Joe DelNero Opinion Editor I am constantly reminded to “update the resume” as a senior preparing to graduate from the UA. My parents double check my references and ensure I include both producing and station managing in the list of jobs I’ve held, despite the fact they came from the same student organization and included the same responsibilities.

Meanwhile, my professors point out the flaws in my website. While overall professional, the website lacks viewers and strong organization to appeal to potential employers.

Many recent graduates say not to fret with the resume or even the interview, but instead, focus entirely on the online job and social profiles like LinkedIn and Twitter.

First impressions no longer come from the printed resume. Human resources and employers are looking at the most recent posts in personal profiles to determine your level of professionalism and the skill set you may bring to work.

Eddie Lou, from Prospectus News, says the typical resume is two-dimensional presenting only work experience and education. However, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter show outside interests, personalities, images, videos and even your ability to communicate with your peers online.

For current college students, the development of online resumes and the use of profiles for job positions

should be a good thing. According to Debbie Hatke, a writer for Strategic HR inc., online profiles also show the simple ability to utilize social media and blogs. What many of us take to as common sense is labeled a skill set employers are looking for in graduating students.

According to CBSNews. com the most important part of an online profile is allowing companies to quickly form a personal connection to you; the more likable the profile, the more likable the employee.

In 2011, almost 80 percent of hiring managers would review social profiles before making a hiring decision, and 70 percent of those managers said they had rejected applicants because of information they found online, according to Careerenlightenment.com.

Knowing this, I have started the massive undertaking of revamping my social image by going through years of Twitter and Facebook posts, along with putting my professional experience on my website. Instead of a Home Page listing education and work, I include a basic biography and list of interests to create a social connection to my future employers.

I encourage other students, especially juniors and seniors nearing the job market, to begin using social media as a tool as opposed to a public forum of nonsensical information.

In high school, my basic rule of thumb was if my mom ever happened across my Facebook, she would never find anything to oppose my use of the website. In college, I ask, if an employer happened upon my profile, what skills would make my profile stand out as a competitive applicant for open positions.

Joe DelNero is a senior broadcast journalism major, previous station manager at UATV and current opinion editor of the Arkansas Traveler.

Traveler Quote of the Day Somebody is stealing these bikes and until we catch them, they are going to keep coming back.

Hebron Chester Staff Cartoonist

Armstrong’s Wheels are no Longer Turning

T.J. Stallbaumer Contributing Columnist When I was in the sixth grade, charity became cool.

Perhaps what made it so cool was the fact we barely knew it was charity. What was most important to our sixth grade minds was not the reason for the little yellow band, but the fact everyone who was anyone had a little yellow band.

Inscribed on the top of the band was a single word: “Livestrong.” Every time I read that word, it reminded me to go farther and try harder. After all, Lance Armstrong was a survivor of testicular cancer who had a family, a budding foundation and the seemingly endless ability to win the world’s most grueling cyclist race, the Tour de France.

When news broke Arm-

“Bicycles Remain Large Target for Thieves” Page 1

Shawnya Wethington Staff Writer

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Opinion Editor

Chad Woodard Brittany Nims Joe DelNero

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the size of the audience.

Armstrong may have shown up at the interview for the same reason—a chance to get some good P.R., and retain any dignity he still had in the public’s eyes. It didn’t work.

Armstrong appeared wholly unapologetic. He painted himself the victim of a cruel world of competition where the only way it is humanly possible to be the best is to cheat.

Naturally, he blamed the media for facilitating a story that was “just too perfect” to be true, despite the fact he was arguably the largest facilitator of his own story.

Armstrong was adamant no one could maintain a perfect family, lead a successful humanitarian effort and win races without cheating. He pointed to his “ruthless desire to win,” as the very thing that got him through cancer only to acknowledge it as his downfall a mere two seconds later.

The only point during the interview it appeared Armstrong may be feeling remorse was when questioned about his family. He has a thirteen-yearold son, who has been defending Armstrong from attacks in school and on social media.

“They know a lot, they hear it in the hallways,” Armstrong

said. “Where you lose control is when they go out of that space. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter—that’s when the feedback comes. I saw my son defending me. What you’re saying about my dad is not true.

He trusted me.” Remorse appeared in Armstrong’s eyes as he said those three words. “He trusted me,“ may have been enough to pause the critics but clearly wasn’t enough to turn the tides in his favor.

Armstrong made an attempt to fix his image, if at all possible. The fact that he had cheated was suddenly the fault of everyone else. Lance Armstrong did not speak to Oprah because he was truly sorry. He spoke to Oprah to shift the blame. He ended up closing his case through arrogance and remorselessness.

The last words of George Danton, who lost his life in the French Revolution, seemed to echo in my head as the cameras stopped rolling: “You will show my head to the people— it is worth seeing…”

T.J. Stallbaumer is a sophomore journalism major and contributing columnist for the Arkansas Traveler.

The Pursuit of Happiness is Fleeting; Pursue Meaningfulness

Lt. Gary Crain, UAPD

Editorial Board

strong had been “doping,” using illegal performance enhancing drugs, he remained relatively silent, neglecting to share the full story.

But last week, Armstrong spoke to the only women who can get an interview with anyone she wants: Oprah Winfrey. What stuck out to me about this interview was not the list of things I admired Lance for in the sixth grade— quite the opposite. The Armstrong interview appeared to me as nothing more than a chance for some good publicity—on both sides.

Since launching the OWN Network in January of 2011, Oprah has come under some serious pressure to improve ratings and bolster views, according to the Huffington Post. The network, which Oprah started when she left daytime television two years ago, is expected to finally break even later this year, according to Adage.

Among the all-time views record is an interview Oprah conducted with Rihanna shortly after drama ensued over alleged beatings from rapper Chris Brown—which leads me to believe Oprah wanted Armstrong for the sake of a dramatic story to improve

Don the pearls, or throw on sweats? Study English prose, or get a degree in biochemical engineering? Buy Cocoa Puffs, or grab the quasi-healthy Special K? Serious or mundane, we’re surrounded by decisions.

Some choices are less clear-cut than others. When that happens, we’re told to follow our hearts and pick what will make us happiest.

Doing what makes us happy is often spouted as the sole secret to leading a good life, but is that all there is to it?

Choosing bliss solves our problems, at least for the moment; however, that happiness doesn’t have much endurance.

Meaningfulness, on the other hand, lasts much longer.

Sometimes the line be-

tween leading a life of meaning and of happiness gets smudged so badly they look like one and the same. However, there is a difference.

The pursuit of happiness is the instinctive yearning for pleasure. It is not bad nor ignoble. Nobody is going to mock you for trying to be happy. It is a carefree state of simple delight, free from stress and worry.

However, happiness can only take you so far. A truly full life comes when you have something of merit worth living for.

In the study “Some Key Differences between a Happy Life and a Meaningful Life,” psychologists found happiness and meaningfulness were largely independent of one another.

In the study, researchers found happiness was linked to receiving things. It places an emphasis on fulfilling wants to attain pleasure. The emotion is a temporary state of being and, eventually, you will have to do something else to keep being happy.

Even though “money can’t buy happiness,” it can do so indirectly. Salted caramel mochas, new shoes, dark chocolate — I know I find it incred-

ibly difficult to frown when I have these things in hand.

Meaningfulness is linked to giving, the researchers found.

It’s not something you can buy no matter how many quarters you feed the vending machine.

It comes from your relationship with other people.

When you are using your strengths to serve a purpose that exceeds yourself, your life starts to hold significance.

These are people who are continually pushing themselves to be better and striving for perfection. It is a selfless inner drive for the good of others.

Sometimes, meaning is pitted against happiness.

A meaningful life generally entails other people are counting on you. This reliance can lead to stress, which, as most people can attest, is not associated with happiness. With the horrors of last semester’s final weeks still fresh on our minds, I am sure most college students agree.

The benefit of a life of meaning is inherent in the value of your life. Since what you do has an impact on others, even in times of duress, you can live with reason and purpose.

A Springer Science Journal of Happiness study in 2005

found meaning or engagement were stronger individual factors leading to life satisfaction than pleasure alone.

Think of happiness as eating your favorite cookie, and meaningfulness as knowing how to bake those scrumptious goods. Those who just eat experience the temporary bliss while they happen to have the cookie in hand.

The bakers know the cost of the ingredients, how laborintensive the recipe is and how difficult it is to get the timing just right so the cookies don’t overbake. The happiness of their friends is resting in the baker’s flour-dusted hands.

In the Journal of Happiness study, researchers found the that this combination of factors leads to the highest level of life satisfaction. Instead of choosing between meaning and happiness, look for ways for them to mingle.

Slip on your apron and hit the market. Just be sure to take the time to enjoy the gooey, fresh-from-the-oven cookies with your friends. Live your life with meaning and happiness.

Shawnya Wethington is a sophomore staff writer for the Arkansas Traveler.

“Making Your Journey Worthwhile” Companion Editor: Nick Brothers Assistant Companion Editor: Shelby Gill Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

Casey Freeman Staff Writer One early foggy morning, Ben Strawn was walking to an art class at Yale when he came upon hundreds of red salamanders blocking the trail he was on. It was a magical moment for him, a “bookmark experience,” as he called it, that would later inspire much of his artwork.

Strawn strives to create pieces of art that give glimpses into these magical moments, pieces that can leave the viewer with a feeling of mystery.

Growing up with four siblings who were also very artistic, Strawn has been around art his entire life. After two years of studying art at a community college in Hot Springs and a summer at Yale, he received his M.F.A. from the UA. During that time, his art style changed, largely due to studying artists like Joseph Cornell, a personal inspiration to Strawn.

“They really took emphasis away from how well you could draw or paint and focused more on creating an object that has its own value outside of how it’s made,” Strawn said. “It isn’t hard to paint. There’s a ton of people that can paint well, and I was there with them, so I wanted to move past that into this object-making.”

From there, Strawn went on a journey that would eventually lead to the shadowbox series he has focused on for the past few years. In the artist statement for the show at Arsaga’s, he wrote, “The paintings displayed are acrylic on multiple transparent layers of plexiglas … The transparent painting surface, when held to a light source, allows light to interact with the painting. Scratches, sanding, and transparent glazes create depth and optical distortions.

When it works well it can create an

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atmosphere like in a shoebox diorama.

The dust and scratches are not always purposeful, but I like them. It reminds me of noise on old records.”

His hope is that the uniqueness of the shadowbox paintings gives them an objective value and worth. He describes the images he paints on them as “magical,” “whimsical,” “soulful” and “mysterious.” Some of the more common images include woodland creatures in suits, wooden toys, rainbows, headless creatures, and worlds within people and animals. Strawn said that if there were any theme among this series, it would be the “end of days.”

“I grew up as a Christian kid and now I’m not so much, but I have that kind of imagery in my head,” he said.

“I used to read Revelations all the time.

Religion made me think about mortality early on, and heavy stuff like that.

These things hang over you. So it was a kind of tongue and cheek, thinking about that a lot. Ultimately, though, the imagery is almost as rambling as I am, and there’s not really a story.

When something becomes ‘too narrative,’ then it’s less interesting because then you can figure out the puzzle. If I was a good narrator I would be writing, but I’m not. I just have imagery.”

As an artist, Strawn feels Fayetteville is an interesting place to live.

Although there is not a big art market, there is still some business for art, just not so much that it distracts from having a life outside of it. Strawn has a wife and a 3-year-old daughter.

He has worked as a framer, which is how he gained the experience to make his own frames. Strawn had three art shows at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles about four years ago. He now works at B-Unlimited doing graphic design.

Strawn has connections with many artists in the area, including Cindy Arsaga, who asked him if he would have

Photos by Kathleen Pait Contributing Photographer Ben Strawn showcases his shadowbox art at local coffee shop Arsagas on Dickson Street. Strawn used layers of plexiglas as his medium for his painting series. an art show at the Arsaga’s off Dickson.

His shadowbox series will be displayed throughout the month. He hopes the community will enjoy being around the paintings for a time and is glad he gets to share them. It also gives people the opportunity to purchase any of his pieces if they would like to.

When asked what his advice to an art student would be, Strawn said, “Generally, the advice to an art student shouldn’t matter. The art student should be doing it because he can’t not do it. My only advice would be to use interesting materials in an interesting way no matter what your narrative is, and to follow your obsession.”

The Bargain Shoppers Bible Justin Bryant Staff Writer Follow him on Twitter @Just_InStyle

Emily Rhodes Photo Editor Mezza Luna sits in a small location off the main roads of Fayetteville, tucked away in a small strip mall on Razorback Road by Baum Stadium.

The location, no bigger than a fast food restaurant, sits far from the gastronomical delights of Dickson Street and Joyce Boulevard, though the food is worth a trip down the beaten path.

I must have driven past Mezza Luna a hundred times since I started school at the UA and repeatedly moved my car down to Baum Stadium for each football and basketball game. Though it took five years to make my way to the little slice of Italy, it was well worth the wait.

Arriving at Mezza Luna promptly at 11 a.m., I eagerly awaited what I believed would be the best lunch I would probably eat this week — homemade sandwiches couldn’t really compare to what the Mezza Luna menu offered.

The atmosphere was particularly simple, with red tablecloths draped over each table, black cafeteria-style chairs and the sound of big band music playing in the background. The decor was certainly nothing spectacular, but I wasn’t here to judge the cutlery design and wall decorations; I was here for the food.

At first glance of the menu, a slew of Italian favorites — fettuccine alfredo, sicilian pizza and caesar salad — popped out for a delicious lunch or dinner option, but what I was interested in was a flavorful recommendation from the kitchen. After a warm welcome from our server, she recommended the Siciliana pasta, a freshly prepared mix of penne, spicy Italian sausage, baby spinach, diced tomato garlic and basil in a creamy white wine sauce. This sounded nothing short of heaven in a bowl. Served with a house salad and Italian bread for $7.95, the price was nothing to complain about.

From the fresh Mesclun salad topped with dry fig vinegar and goat cheese, to the Pescatore pasta with white wine broth and mussels, clams and calamari, the possibilities are endless for a great Italian dish. Mezza Luna offers great options for vegetarians such as traditional Margherita pizza,

Page 5

Emily Rhodes Photo Editor Siciliana Pasta at Fayetteville Italian restaurant, Mezza Luna. Mezza Luna is located at 1021 S. Razorback Rd. along with meat-eater favorites like the 14-ounce ribeye served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a red wine balsamic.

Pizza, pasta, salad, and favorites such as lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken picatta — there really is just a little bit of everything at this place. Not to mention the great-sounding appetizers such as the smoked gouda cheese dip or traditional crab cakes, or sweet-ending-note desserts such as ricotta cheesecake or tiramisu.

Though everything on the menu sounded like a great option, I wasn’t swayed on my decision of the Siciliana with other ridiculously delicious sounding dishes. Shortly after ordering, my salad arrived. Though nothing spectacular, the mix of lettuce, mozzarella and grated carrot with caesar dressing was tasty and a good way to start my meal. Then, the real treat came.

A hefty portion of pasta made its way to the table, along with two slices of fresh bread. It didn’t take long to dig in to the Italian feast, and the medley of fresh flavors was delicious with a capital “D.” The Italian sausage added a great spicy note to the dish, while the fresh vegetables and herbs kept a great balance with the creamy white wine sauce. I managed to make it through half of the dish before exhausting my palette, taking the rest home for lunch

another day. After tax, getting lunch with leftovers for under $10 is a great deal. There aren’t too many places where you can get such value in northwest Arkansas, especially at a locally owned eatery.

After tasting and trying almost every Italian restaurant in Fayetteville, I greatly recommend taking a break from the chain restaurants and heading to a fresh and local option.

Mezza Luna offers tasty Italian dishes at student-friendly prices, along with a great location and quiet break from busy campus days. Open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5-10 p.m. for dinner, Mezza Luna has the potential to become an Italian food staple in northwest Arkansas.

The art of bargain shopping is an art envied by many, but mastered by few. This skill is one that requires logical thinking, prior planning and most importantly budgeting. With tons of retail stores having continuous sales and constant price markdowns. There are three main commandments you must take into consideration when bargain shopping: quality, utility and longevity.

The first and most important step in the bargain shopping process is identifying the quality of the clothing.

When looking at an item, examine the inside tag and identify what kind of material the garment is made of.

Your goal is to try and get an item that is 100 percent of one material, such as cotton. Try to avoid polyblends if possible. Usually this is an indicator of a synthetic material and that is never what you want in a clothing item.

Synthetic items usually have poor wear quality, such as fading, considering how many times you wear the garment. This is a great indicator of price versus value when purchasing an item. If you feel that the quality of material and the number of wears it would provide are minimal then you definitely want to avoid spending a lot of money for that piece.

Commandment number two dictates the recognition of the usability of the items that you want to purchase are for your current wardrobe.

When you define usability you can’t just think of now, you have to think of long term use as well.

The final commandment consists of evaluating an items trend worthiness and longevity. When the price of an item is large and you’re trying to determine its worth, you should evaluate the novelty of the piece and the usefulness that it will provide.

Also, if possible, you should consider when and where you would wear this item. Furthermore, ask yourself will you be able to wear this item next year. Sometimes the most popular of item may look amazing but might not

Here are a few key questions to ask yourself, before buying a garment: Will this be a staple piece in my wardrobe? Staple pieces are those that are simple and timeless. These can be mixed and matched with any number of items and will provide tons of use on multiple occasions.

What makes this garments special to me?

Do I have anything similar in my closet currently? This is the final question you should evaluate when deciding on an items utility. even be in style next year. Items with extreme enhancements and design are direct indicators of what some refer to as “one time wear” garments.

You should never overspend on these items because they will never return a profit. The best bet when looking to purchase garments that are on trend and currently popular is to search for what I call the “Forever 21 Quick Pick.” These quick picks are items that will be in every store in tons of variations with ranges of quality from high to low, as well as in a range of prices depending on what exactly you want out of the item.

Bargain shopping can be complicated only if you make it that way.

An important factor that resonates throughout all the commandments is a thorough knowledge of your current wardrobe and moreover an understanding of your personal style and what direction you would like to go in the future with it. Also, bargain shopping is one of the best ways to try new styles and reinvent yourself. A helpful hint would be to establish relationships with the retail help in your favorite stores so that you can get the inside scoop on when the largest sales are and maybe even possibly receive an additional discount. Relationships are important in any field of life even when shopping.

Page 6

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

Comics Pearls Before Swine

Dilbert

Calvin and Hobbes

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

Sudoku Stephan Pastis

Scott Adams

Bill Watterson

© 2011 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

Crossword

Doonesbury

Non Sequitur

Garry Trudeau

Wiley Miller

By Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke

The Argyle Sweater

Scott Hilburn

ACROSS 1 Bit of high jinks 6 Eastern European 10 Sounds of disapproval 14 Team leader 15 Hang (around) in a hammock, say 16 Dos cubed 17 Second-largest Indian city 18 Play parts 19 Say grace, say 20 *4-0 World Series win, e.g.

22 Salad fish 23 Make illegal 24 Spy for Moses 26 Bit of schoolyard disagreement 29 Gardner of Hollywood 32 Under the covers 35 “The Shield” force, briefly 36 Diabolical sorts 39 “Norma __” 40 Pooling vehicle 41 *Broom alternative 42 www bookmark 43 Org. with many specialists 44 Online newsgroup system 45 Nora was his mistress

46 Justin Timberlake’s former band 48 Fir feller 49 Bok __: cabbage 50 Nudges 53 Corrosive stuff 55 Cashless deal 57 Designed for two functions, and a hint to the answers to starred clues 63 Buffalo’s lake 64 Not nuts 65 Run to the window 66 Gave for a while 67 Malevolent 68 Great enthusiasm 69 Colony critters 70 Riga resident 71 Scatter about DOWN 1 Adapter letters 2 Carolers’ offering 3 Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s __” 4 Sleepy Hollow schoolteacher Crane 5 Plates for company 6 Side with a sandwich 7 Bridal gown trim 8 Ancient Mexican 9 Italian scooter 10 David Letterman list

11 *Scouring aid 12 Genghis __ 13 Tofu source 21 Bureaucratic bungles 25 Speech therapist’s concern 26 Highway to Fairbanks 27 Sirs’ counterparts 28 *Graffiti maker’s medium 30 Clamping device 31 MetLife competitor 33 Turn a deaf __ 34 Airport annoyance 37 Carlsbad Caverns locale: Abbr.

38 “I’m listening!”

41 “Watch your head!”

45 Prevailed against, slangily 47 Common rental restriction 51 Four-wheeled flop 52 Dry Italian wine 54 Safecrackers 55 Ward of “CSI: NY” 56 Small songbird 58 Army division 59 Shot at the bar 60 Cold War country: Abbr.

61 Mal de __: Henri’s headache 62 “That hurts!”

Sports Editor: Kristen Coppola Assistant Sports Editor: Haley Markle Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

TRACK & FIELD

Page 7

FOOTBALL

Men Clinch 1st, Women 4th Bielema Aims

for Two 4-Star Running Backs Andrew Hutchinson Staff Writer

Logan Webster Staff Photographer Senior Drew Butler competed in the Razorback Invitational last weekend. The Razorbacks came in first place, besting opponents including No. 3 Florida and No. 6 LSU.

Cameron McCauley Staff Writer The No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks men’s indoor track & field team won multiple events to score 124 points and capture the top prize in the Razorback Team Invitational Jan. 26 at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Probably the most prestigious meet of the indoor season so far, the Invitational featured six of the top 25 men’s teams ranked by the USTFCCCA, and eight of the

top 25 women’s teams. The team win for Arkansas’ men signified that they will surely hold on to their No. 1 ranking following this event.

The feel-good story of the weekend was certainly Tarik Batchelor’s win in the men’s triple jump, as he posted a season-best 53-8 1/2 inches.

The All-American Batchelor missed all of 2012 after rupturing a patella tendon, so the team was more than pleased to see a return to form from him.

Sprinter Akheem Gauntlett ran his best time of the

year while taking the top prize in the 400-meter, finishing at 46.44 seconds. The Jamaica native also finished second in the 200 final with a time of 20.97.

Caleb Cross ran a personal best 7.69 in the 60-meter hurdles, the third fastest time in the NCAA this year, winning the event in a photo finish by one hundredth of a second.

In the men’s 800, Patrick Rono and Ryan Thomas finished first and third, respectively, as Rono ran the third fastest 800 time in the NCAA

BASEBALL

this year at 1:48.98.

In the heptathlon, junior Kevin Lazas scored a school record of 6,042 points in the seven event competition, which was also the best score in the NCAA this year.

“Our goal is to bring it all together, and I am just impressed with the team right now. We’re just going to focus on the fact that we won the meet,” said men’s head coach Chris Bucknam.

The Arkansas women’s track and field team finished

see T&F page 8

With National Signing Day quickly approaching, Arkansas is beginning to finalize its 2013 recruiting class, but several recruits’ decisions remain up in the air.

Much of the buzz amongst Razorback fans has been about a pair of four-star running backs. North Little Rock’s Altee Tenpenny is committed to Alabama and South Plantation, Fla.’s Alex Collins is still undecided, but coaches and fans are optimistic that they could end up in Fayetteville.

by Rivals.com, took an official visit to Arkansas Jan. 18.

While eating at the Catfish Hole with 11 other recruits on their official visits to Arkansas, he apparently got “on a chair to lead the Hog call,” tweeted Danny West, recruiting analyst for Rivals.com.

Many fans, Razorback and Crimson Tide alike, saw this as a sign that he could flip his commitment to Arkansas.

However, the following day, Tenpenny announced that he was still committed to Alabama and that he would make his final decision on National Signing Day.

Collins Tenpenny Tenpenny, rated the No. 8 running back in the country

Collins, rated the No. 7 running back in the country

by ESPN.com, took an official

see RECRUIT page 8

Countdown to Diamond Hogs: Batting Lineup Haley Markle Asst. Sports Editor

The Razorback baseball team that finished last season with a College World Series appearance hit .271 as a team.

The Hogs will need to hit at least that well this year to compete in a Southeastern Conference, which head coach Dave Van Horn said might be the toughest group of teams in all of his time at Arkansas.

The batting lineup is an important part of delivering another high team batting average.

“I could write a lineup right now, but there’s a few kids that are right there,” head coach Dave Van Horn said to media Friday.

The biggest difference between this year’s team and team’s of the past is depth, Van

Horn said.

“There are guys pushing each other. Over the past couple of years if a guy was struggling at the plate we just kind of stuck with him. Now he might have to sit down a game or two,” Van Horn said.

Junior Dominic Ficociello hit .335 as a freshman, but fell into a sophomore slump last season, and hit only .290.

“I think this year he’s a little more on a mission. Last year, he swung at a lot of bad pitches.

You’ve got to stay in the zone. If he wants to hit he needs to stay in the zone,” Van Horn said.

During the fall season, Van Horn moved Ficociello from first to second, something that gave many Razorback fans a scare.

“I think he’s very comfortable at second base. He was a

see BATTING page 8

Logan Webster Staff Photographer Redshirt junior Jacob Morris had a .236 batting average last year with three home runs and 23 RBI. Head coach Dave Van Horn said Morris will start at center fielder if he continues to hit well.

COMMENTARY

Fading Luster of the No. 1 Rank in College Basketball

Zack Wheeler Staff Writer Many sports teams would love to be claimed as the No. 1 team in the country. For some reason, teams in college basketball don’t seem to want to keep those rankings. It seems

every week we are seeing a new No. 1 atop the polls. This may not necessarily be a bad thing, but it is straying away from the past.

Number one. It is a very simple term that holds so much meaning. It seems like teams would step their play up to keep this honor. The last two rankings have heralded Louisville and Duke as the top ranked team.

Both lost almost immediately after receiving this socalled honor. Teams that typically inhabit the top spot are in the mix, but the No. 1 spot has changed many times and will likely continue to change

throughout the season.

It seems as if teams no longer take pride in being ranked; just making the NCAA tourney at the end of the year is sufficient. Teams in this position seem to let their guard down, almost as if they don’t expect teams to play with that extra chip on their shoulder, hoping to knock them off.

I am in no way suggesting the coaches aren’t getting players prepared, but merely being No. 1 isn’t as important anymore.

Our own baseball team has received a No. 1 ranking in three of the five preseason polls. Head coach Dave Van

Horn made a reference that the goal is to stay in the top 10 this year and not get caught up in a No. 1 preseason rank.

Coaches have put more emphasis into playing better at the end of the year, not keeping a No. 1 ranking necessarily.

Another point to be derived from all this is that parody is evident in college basketball. Talent is spread out among teams and many of the top stars will leave for the NBA after one year.

This allows for teams that haven’t been traditional powerhouses to compete at a higher level. Kentucky, for example, is playing nearly all freshman

this season. They have struggled thus far, but what should we really expect from a team with that much youth?

Being ranked No. 1 may not amount to a whole lot, but it should create some kind of pride. Players should want to stay in college longer to better their game and before making the jump to professional ball or other careers. The sense of urgency to restore the nature of the college game seems to be very low.

The regular season of college basketball has lost some luster, but when it gets down to March, teams regain that urgency. The problem is that

what if the buttons to push no longer work? Urgency should be present all year, not just during conference and tournament play.

I may be overreacting to the constant changing of the guard at the No. 1 position, but then again maybe not. College basketball lacks some of the aura it had a few years ago, and I feel the lack of urgency and parody have a major part to do with it.

Zack Wheeler is a writer for the Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday.

Follow the sports section on Twitter @UATravSports.

Page 8

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

RECRUIT continued from page 7

T&F continued from page 7

visit to Arkansas on Jan. 25.

This visit came one week after his official visit to Miami, Fla., which is considered his other top choice. He will announce his decision Feb. 4.

Co-Defensive Coordinator Charlie Partridge is seen as the key to the Collins recruitment. He had developed a relationship with Collins while he was a coach at Wisconsin and fans think that now Partridge is at Arkansas, that bodes well for the Razorbacks.

Along with Tenpenny, four other players that took official visits on Jan. 18 were not committed to Arkansas.

Australian punter Sam Irwin Hill and Hawaiian offensive lineman Reeve Koehler committed the following day.

Koehler, who played at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, was greeted with Hog Calls and yells of “Go Hogs” in Hawaiian at the Catfish Hole. He is a four-star offensive lineman according to Rivals.com.

Offensive lineman Dan Skipper was committed to Tennessee, but flipped his commitment to the Razorbacks yesterday. He is a threestar recruit and the No. 32 offensive tackle according to Scout.com. Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma and Ole Miss were among the 21 schools to offer him.

Athlete Dominique Alexander is the only other player that visited on Jan. 18 and is not committed to Arkansas.

Alexander is committed to Oklahoma, but still has some interest in the Razorbacks.

Several other recruits took official visits with Collins on Jan. 25. Among them were offensive linemen Denver Kirkland, Kenny Lacy and

Logan Webster Staff Photographer Senior Regina George ran a personal record of 52.26 and earned first place in the 400-meter. That is also the best time in the NCAA this year.

Dwayne Johnson.

Kirkland is a four-star recruit, while Lacy and Johnson are three-star recruits.

They are the No. 12, No. 38 and No. 42 offensive tackles in the country, respectively,

by ESPN.com. Kirkland and Johnson are undecided and have Arkansas in their top five choices. Lacy is committed to UCLA, but has some interest in the Razorbacks.

All three were impressed with Arkansas’ facilities on their visits and will factor them into their decisions.

Kirkland will announce his decision on ESPN on National Signing Day. Safety De’Andre Coley, cornerback D.J. Dean and defensive lineman Ke’Tyrus Marks also committed following their visit Jan. 25.

Dean is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com and had offers from Illinois, Utah and Washington State, among others. Marks is a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com and had nine offers, including one from Wake Forest.

With only 17 commits thus far, Arkansas’ recruiting class is consistently ranked in the middle of the FBS. Scout. com and Rivals.com have them ranked No. 60 and No. 54, respectively, and both have them ranked last in the SEC. The 17 commits are fewest in the SEC and one fewer than Tennessee, who has the next fewest recruits. Six of Arkansas’ recruits are junior college players, which is tied with Auburn for most in the SEC. Arkansas’ ranking in the FBS and SEC will likely rise if they land Tenpenny, Collins or any of the linemen that visited on Jan. 25.

BATTING continued from page 7 good shortstop in high school,” Van Horn said.

The reason for the move was to get another strong bat in the lineup. The spot at first base could be filled by freshman Isaac Hellbusch or senior Jacob Mahan, Van Horn said.

Another freshman infielder that Van Horn will look to fit in the lineup from time to time is Willie Schwanke.

“He knows the zone. He doesn’t swing at a lot of stuff out of the zone, which gets him in some positive counts and he gets a good pitch to hit,” Van Horn said.

At this time, sophomore Brian Anderson has earned the third base spot, but has also been working in the outfield.

Rounding out the infield, sophomore Brett McAfee has earned the starting job at shortstop.

“He’s got some seriously good feet, he’s quick as a cat,” Van Horn said.

“I see him hitting down in the order early in this year and

if he gets it going a little bit I can move him to the top. He’s a guy that I think is going to hit a lot of doubles,” Van Horn added.

In the outfield, sophomore Joe Serrano will likely be the starting left fielder.

Senior Matt Vinson and redshirt junior Jacob Morris are in competition for the starting spot in center field. Vinson is the preferred bat to have in the lineup, but Morris is much better defensively.

“Morris is a great center fielder, he may be the best in the country. I think Morris has big league defensive skills. He cold play in the big leagues in center field right now, that’s how good he is. With his arm and his jumps and his speed and his range, he’s the total package,” Van Horn said.

If Morris doesn’t start in center field, he will be a defensive replacement late in games.

Freshman Tyler Spoon will be the starting right fielder and will hit in the top of the order, Van Horn said.

fourth at the invitational, behind elite competition in Florida, LSU and Texas.

Sprinter Regina George ran a personal record of 52.26 to earn first place in the 400 final, which is also the best time in the NCAA this year.

George went on to place second in the 200 final, running

a 23.61.

The women’s 4x400 relay, having posted the best time in the world this year at the Texas A&M Triangular meet at 3:36.03, dropped the baton in that event and had their time bested by Florida, who finished at 3:31.68.

Pentathlete Makeba Al-

cide finished first in the women’s pentathlon with a score of 4,464, a school record and the third best collegiate score of all time.

Next up, both the men’s and women’s teams travel to the New Balance Invitational in New York City on Feb. 1 to contend their high rankings.