March 5, 2013

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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

“About You, For You”

University of Arkansas Student-Run Newspaper Since 1906

Vol. 107, No. 91

Graduates Search for New Homes

ASG Executives Begin Campaigns

Editor’s Note: This story is part of the Graduate Series which includes information for graduating students.

Environmental Reserve Awaits UA Purchase

Jaime Dunaway Senior Staff Writer

A network of hiking and biking trails wind through some of the privately owned property.

training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The UA is one of the many nationwide universities and colleges that administers these programs.

Graduating seniors will soon decide whether to rent or buy a home after graduation, but to be approved a homeowner’s loan, students must start building credit now, bank officials said. “No credit is as bad as bad credit,” said David Ross, mortgage originator at First Security Bank on campus. Students with no credit history may be denied a small personal loan, but one of the best ways to build credit is to obtain a secure credit card, said Josh Frye, assistant market manager for First Security Bank. A secure credit card takes a sum of money and holds it in a certificate of deposit account as collateral for at least 12 months. After the 12 months, the account will be re-evaluated and the hold on the funds could be released, Frye said. Proper use of the card could lead to an installment plan for things like a vehicle loan. “Those credit cards and installment plans are going to have an impact on what your credit score and history is going to look like,” Frye said. Approval or denial of a loan

see PROGRAMS page 3

see HOMES page 2

Full Story, Page 5

Caroline Potts Staff Photographer ASG Presidential Candidates Will Simpson, left, and Bo Renner, right, pass out scantrons to students on campus, Monday, March 4.

Full Story, Page 7

Travis Pence Staff Writer The federal TRIO educational programs and research grants are on the list to lose money provided by the U.S. Congress for 2013.

Razorbacks Face Tigers at Former Home of Coach Mike Anderson will face his former team in Colombia, Mo., for the first time Tuesday night. Full Story, Page 7

42 / 26° Tomorrow Sunny 47 / 30°

TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a

College Students Face Higher Fees, Reduction in Awards With Federal Cutbacks

Carol Biliczky The Akron Beacon Journal

Today’s Forecast

Congress made the official budget cuts on March 1, according to New York University. The TRIO programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

to the federal government. That amount generally is deducted from the loan, which means there are a few dollars less to apply toward tuition for each student. For every 10,000 students who secure loans at Kent or the University of Akron, that could amount to a $29,000 reduction in tuition payments. Origination fees for the Federal Parent Loans and Graduate Plus Loans will

these reductions would apply,” she said. “We didn’t think it was appropriate to alarm them now.” What is clear is that two of the three largest federal College students are financial aid programs for among those who will feel the neediest students would the brunt of sweeping federbe cut -- or “sequestered” -al spending cuts that kicked by 5.1 percent each. The Pell in Friday. Grant, the largest financial Tens of thousands of aid program, is exempt from Akron-area students likely cuts in the first year. will lose money or federally But neither colleges nor funded jobs or pay more for students can assume that the their loans. 5.1 percent T h e “(Students) typically will think about cut will largest translate n u m b e r it when they get their new award automatiwill be af- notification.” cally into fected in a 5.1 peran increase Michelle Ellis cent loss in in originaExecutive Director of Financial Aid at the University of Akron funds for tion fees them. for federal Megan subsidized and unsubsidized grow from 4 percent to 4.212 McClean, managing direcloans -- the backbone of percent, according to KSU. tor of policy and federal many students’ financial aid That means the federal gov- relations at the National arrangements. ernment would get an extra Association of Student FiWhile the amount indi- $19.08 on a $9,000 Plus loan. nancial Aid Administrators, vidually will be small, the Financial awards and said that the complex alnet effect for all students at work-study grants also will location formula includes a any given campus could be be affected. base amount and sometimes large. Michelle Ellis, executive extra allocations for some The fee, which is charged director of financial aid at institutions. to process the loan, will the University of Akron, “It won’t necessarily afgrow from 1 percent to 1.053 said that because details fect you at a 5.1 percent percent. aren’t yet available, UA has amount,” McClean said. According to Kent State not reached out to inform The Federal SupplemenUniversity calculations, a students that some of their tal Educational Opportunity student with a $5,500 loan awards may be in jeopardy. will pay an additional $2.92 “We’re not certain how see CUTBACKS page 3

UA Honors Fulbright Legacy Through Event

Staff Report

The Fulbright Scholars RSO at the UA will be sponsoring an event to honor the legacy of Sen. J. William Fulbright and to inform students of opportunities through the Fulbright program on March 6 from 4-5:30 p.m. in Giffels Auditorium. Speakers for the event include Chancellor G. David Gearhart; Hoyt Purvis, a former Fulbright scholar; Christopher Kelley, former press secretary for Sen. Fulbright and former chairman of the Fulbright Scholarship Board; a member of the board of directors of the Fulbright Academy; and DeDe Long, director of study abroad and international exchange at the UA. The Fulbright program was started by former Sen. Fulbright. The programs allows students from other countries to come to the U.S. to study and conduct research, and for Americans to study, teach and conduct research in other countries, according to a news release. Fulbright is an alumnus and a for-

mer law professor at the UA. He also served as president o f the UA, according to the news release. Fulbright served as a senator from 1944 to 1974.

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The women’s rugby club team is now in it’s second year of competition at Arkansas.

Sequester Might Cut into UA Outreach, Research

Courtesy P

Rugby: A Sport for the Tough Athlete


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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

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The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

Planting Knowledge About Edible Gardens

CUTBACKS continued from page 1

Contact

Grant funding will be cut nationwide from $739 million to $701 million, she said. According to a state-by-state breakdown provided by the White House, Ohio would see the fifth-largest cut in the grant. Assuming a 5.1 percent cut, about 75 KSU students could lose their awards in the coming school year, the university said. About 1,175 KSU students currently receive the grant. Cuts widespread At UA, about 100 students could lose their $400 awards, Ellis, the head of financial

aid, said. The amount of the award is determined by each college. At UA, about 2,800 students get the grant. Meanwhile, the 5.1 percent cut in work study funds will reduce the program nationwide from $983 million to $933 million. That could amount to a decrease of $100,000 at Kent State, spokeswoman Emily Vincent said. About 800 KSU students now get workstudy in varying amounts. At UA, 20 students could lose the work-study grant out of the 416 who now receive it, Ellis said.

In addition, the federal TRIO programs -- which provide outreach to lowincome students who are the first in their family to go to college -- also would be reduced. Finally, sequestration would take a bite from research. Grant McGimpsey, KSU vice president for research, said it already has. “Federal funding agencies have delayed funding decisions and canceled or postponed programs,” he said in a media release. The effects of a prolonged sequester “will be negative and

long-lasting.” The federal government provides about 60 percent of research funds nationwide, according to the American Council on Education. Still, Ellis has not been hearing from students alarmed about the possibility of losing funding: “They typically will think about it when they get their new award notification.” Universities send letters to students in March and April about their awards for the coming year. The changes kick in with the start of the 2013-14 year.

119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 McKenna Gallagher Staff Photographer Fayetteville locals discuss seeds and gardening at one of the Ozark Natural Foods Tasting tables set up in the Dig In Food Festival, Saturday, March 2.

HOMES continued from page 1 is based on credit history, personal income ratio and credit score, Frye said. “You to have to have some sort of pay history or else there’s nothing the bank can make a decision on,” Ross said. Determining whether to rent or buy is a personal decision based upon how committed a student is to establishing ownership, maintaining property and building equity, Ross said. “Buying a house is very beneficial in the long term,” he said, “but a lot of people like to be mobile and pick up and go at a moment’s notice. If you’re

positive you want to remain in the area, it might be the best thing for you.” For students wishing to buy, the housing market is gradually improving from the 2007 collapse, Ross said. Values are slowly increasing, and interest rates continue to hover around an all-time low. “It’s still very much a buyers’ market,” he said. Students need a credit score of 660 for a personal loan and 620 for a mortgage loan, Ross said. They would also have to meet debt-ratio guidelines, meaning a person’s debt-toincome ratio cannot be more

than 45 percent. There are four types of loans students should consider when buying a home, Ross said. A Federal Housing Administration loan allows lower-income students to borrow money for the purchase of a home, he said. Conventional loans require a 5 percent minimum down payment, and students must provide bank statements from a savings or checking account. There are also Rural Development loans and VA loans for veterans. Down payments are required, and in most cases, they can be gifted, Ross said.

However, some students still prefer to pay rent for apartments. Maria Herrera, senior international relations and Latin American studies major, said she is still living with her parents, but will decide to rent or buy depending on what type of job she is offered. “For now I’ll just be renting, but I might try and buy a house depending on how the economy is,” she said. “If you rent, you don’t have to worry about your house getting taken away by the bank, compared to buying a house. You can move out without any consequences.”

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Main 479 575 3406 Fax 479 575 3306 traveler@uark.edu

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Speaker Discussed Elements of Religion Nuri Heo Staff Writer

Unity of Fayetteville welcomed a speaker Monday night to allow for inspirational, informative and like-minded people to explore and express themselves. The speaker, Lothar Schafer, Ph.D., spoke on quantum reality and the spiritual mind from 7-9 p.m. on Wedington Drive. Schafer is the author of “In Search of Divine Reality: Science as a Source of Inspiration” and “Infinite Potential: What Quantum Physics Reveals about How We Should Live.” He is a professor of physical chemistry at the UA. Schafer was to lecture on the phenomena of quantum physics that lead us to a metamorphosis of our consciousness, because they show that the basis of the material world is non-material, and that a non-empirical realm of reality exists, which does not consist of material things but of nonmaterial forms, according to

the Unity website. Unity of Fayetteville hosts speakers twice a month for their Monday Night Speaker Series, according to their website. Their speakers generally have a refreshing new idea, a spiritual message or books to promote. Unity looks to hear the latest on quantum physics, do music immersion or even be the host for a live radio talk show program through their Monday Night Speaker Series. They pick different topics each month and find a speaker who is able to inspire and enlighten people, as well as give honest feedback. Some students had positive reactions to the speaker. “Most people are materialistic as new materials have shown in society, so that they cannot see what the real importance is in life,” said Annabelle Young, UA student. “The series should be good for people to learn what the important things are in our lives. I think it will help me to connect the non-material world with material one.”

Editorial Staff Chad Woodard Editor-in-Chief 479 575 8455 traveler@uark.edu

Brittany Nims Managing Editor 479 575 8455 travmgr@uark.edu

Mark Cameron Multimedia Editor 479 575 7051

Joe DelNero Opinion Editor 479 575 8455

Emily DeLong Copy Editor 479 575 8455

Kayli Farris Asst. News Editor 479 575 3226 travnews@uark.edu

Sarah Derouen News Editor 479 575 3226 travnews@uark.edu

Shelby Gill Asst. Companion Editor 479 575 3226 travlife@uark.edu

Nick Brothers Companion Editor 479 575 3226 travlife@uark.edu

Haley Markle Asst. Sports Editor 479 575 7051 travsprt@uark.edu

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Sarah Colpitts Lead/Features Designer

Emily Rhodes Photo Editor 479 575 8455

Marcus Ferreira News Designer

Carson Smith Sports Designer

Olivier Douliery Abaca Press/MCT President Barack Obama speaks to the media after Friday’s sequester meeting at the White House, March 1 in Washington, D.C.

PROGRAMS continued from page 1 The UA provides three Talent Search programs, four Upward Bound programs, including one for veterans, and Student Support Services, which has worked with qualified UA students since 1976, said Gina Ervin, Talent Search director. “If these budget cuts do go into effect, all TRIO programs will lose over 5 percent of their funding,” Ervin said. “I’m afraid it will mean that fewer young people have an opportunity to go to college.” “The saddest thing about this is that these programs are economically efficient, and they work,” Ervin said. “We spend $454 per student per year in the Talent Search program, and last year 89

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Guy Smith III Graphic 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 479 575 8455 or at traveler@uark.edu.

percent of our students went to college. And the retention rate for our students is exceptional. Our Talent Search students’ retention rate was 80 percent.” Furthermore, the TRIO students learn the discipline and study skills they need to succeed in college, and they get the encouragement and support they need as well, she said. “For a very small investment we are getting a new generation of college students, an educated workforce ready to help move our country forward,” Ervin said. Talent Search programs recruit sixth- and seventhgrade students from local schools. This includes 31

schools from the northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith and Eureka Springs areas, Ervin said. Talent Search staff members work in those schools with the students from the time they enter the program all throughout high school, Ervin said. Staff will help students strengthen their academics, provide ACT preparation and payment, explain what they need to do to qualify for college and scholarships, and assist them with the application and financial aid processes, Ervin said. “I don’t think Congress should cut spending for these programs,” said Jesse Anderson, senior information systems major. “There are many

other ways they could cut spending that wouldn’t affect children’s education.” UA officials are not sure how much research grants will be affected at the moment, said Chris Branam, a research communications writer. The National Science Foundations has indicated at the national level that funding will be cut by 5 percent, Branam said. This means 1,000 fewer grants this fiscal year, he said. “If the sequester continues through the rest of this fiscal year, it will hurt the university in nanotechnology, energy, health and wellness, disease research, food safety — areas funded by federal dollars,” Branam

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Briefly Speaking Why Integrated STEM is Essential at the Elementary Level Lecture 2-3:30 p.m. Arkansas Union Room 509

Dennis O’Neil LectureSession

6:30-7:30 p.m. Fine Arts Center Room 213

ASG Legislation:

ASG Senate Bill No. 18- Committee Restructuring ASG Senate Resolution No. 39- Club Sports Indoor Athletic Facilities

ASG Senate Resolution No. 40- First Time Parking Violation Warnings ASG Senate Resolution No. 41- Lower Unauthorized Permit Fines

ASG Senate Resolution No. 42- Consistency in University Grading ASG Senate Resolution No. 43- Scantrons

ASG Senate Resolution No. 44- Syllabus Information on ISIS 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.

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Opinion Editor: Joe DelNero Page 4

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Library Needs Long Weekend Hours

Joe DelNero Opinion Editor It’s scary how soon I will be graduating. A few months and I will be leaving the UA with my broadcast journalism degree, ideally with good standing in the honors college. I say ideally because it is likely I may not finish my honors thesis in time. There is such thing as cramming. I have been cramming for weeks. Unfortunately, my cramming can only be done on Mullins Library time when it happens to align with my non-class time. That’s more rare than you would imagine. You see, for my thesis, I am comparing some newspapers that are only found in the complete form on microfilm in the library. I can’t work from home or even from another building on campus that would be 24/7 because I don’t own a microfilm reader. With my schedule, I can stay late on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As much as I enjoy taking the weekend to have a stellar time, a thesis, as I’ve learned over the past two years, will not write itself. I tried to stare at my computer screen willing it to write for me, but that miracle will not happen. Unfortunately for me and my thesis, Mullins closes at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, instead of the usual 2 a.m. For my research, those six hours would be nearly three newspapers coded for. I only have 15 left, so that would make a solid dent. My lack of time during the week is mainly due to my morning classes and

afternoon work schedules, along with meetings and other bizarre, but necessary, schedulings. Between my appointments, it is increasingly difficult for me to get to Mullins before 10 p.m. on weekdays. My weekends I keep free from work for both the sake of my research and my sanity. In this time crunch, though, my sanity is waning and my time researching is taking over. Carnegie Mellon recently opened its library to be 24/7. MIT, Penn State and other schools have all-day libraries. If students don’t have time during the week, the library needs to be available. I understand for a large part of the semester, it is unnecessary to have a 24/7 library. Getting a staff, and the number of students that would take advantage, is just not enough for such drastic actions. There just aren’t enough students using the resources to implement that change. I do not think the UA should go 24/7, but I believe weekend hours need to be extended to accommodate students wanting to get their work done early in the weekend, rather than Sunday evening. Even if it wasn’t the entire library that remained open for the extra six hours, but just portions that are more widely used. The first and second floor, with computers, periodicals and study rooms are more important for group projects and for students with files saved on their UA accounts. I know for a fact extending Mullins’ hours Friday and Saturday to 2 a.m. would help accommodate my schedule. I know there are other students in the same boat. Halfway through the semester, as midterms approach, getting some heavy studying done before Sunday would help distribute the workload through the weekend. Joe DelNero is a senior broadcast major and the opinion editor of the Traveler.

Traveler Quote of the Day “I’m afraid it will mean that fewer young people have an opportunity to go to college.” Gina Ervin, Talent Search Director

“Sequester Might Cut into UA Outreach, Research” Page 1

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Opinion Editor

Chad Woodard Brittany Nims Joe DelNero

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.

Hebron Chester Staff Cartoonist

Students are Dependent on Caffeine and Pills Hayley Noga Guest Columnist When you are at the library, look around. Many of the students diligently working have a cup of coffee or energy drink by their side, shaking that dreaded 2:30 feeling or prepping for the late night ahead. Students turning to pills and caffeine to aid in studying has become increasingly common. It almost seems as if most students cannot perform even simple daily tasks without a cup of caffeine or a focus aid. There’s nothing like a good old cup o’ joe to start the day. However, the morning cup has multiplied into numerous cups a day. Students drink coffee like water. Forty percent of 18-24 years olds are drinking coffee daily, an increase in nine percent since 2010, according to a 2012 National Coffee Association study. I am among that growing number. I drink at least two full cups of coffee a day, sometimes three. People always question how my heart doesn’t explode because they see me drinking so much of it. However, I’ve become so immune to coffee I can drink large amounts and not have

any intense side effects. The negative effects of caffeine on college students include “dependency, high blood pressure, withdrawal, stomach upset and intoxication,” according to a LiveStrong article. Although there are side effects from too much caffeine, college students can’t stop drinking it. There is so much to do, so many papers to write and so little hours in the day. The only way to get through it all is to down endless cups of coffee. In addition to coffee spurring long study sprees, students prescribed drugs such as Adderall and Vyvanse sell it to other students to help them concentrate. They may see this as harmless; however, the side effects of the drug for the improper patient can be detrimental. The risks associated with Adderall abuse and nonmedical use include “seizure, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, psychosis, aggressive behavior and sudden death,” according to Rehabinfo.net. Many students do not comprehend the risks of taking drugs they are not prescribed. Some think these intense side effects could never happen to them, but the fact is they could happen to anyone who misuses Adderall.

“Ninety percent of those using Adderall non-medically were reported binge drinkers, and more than 50 perfect were reported to be heavy drinkers,” according to rehabinfo.net. The dangers of mixing such drugs and alcohol is life-threatening. There are other ways to naturally increase alertness and productivity that college students seem to be missing. Students need to learn how to plan ahead so they don’t need to cram study sessions late at night. They get so stressed when a huge test or a long paper is coming up, but most of the time it’s because they left it to the last minute. While trying to get one of my sorority sisters to join a dance competition, she said, quite dramatically I might add, “Ugh. I just don’t have any time. Literally, I have no time.” She said this while lounging in the kitchen, backpack zipped and no books in sight. Of course, we are all extremely busy, but if we took just one hour a few days a week to go to the library or a quiet study area and get some busy work done, we will be amazed at how less stressed we are later on. Opposed to popping pills or chugging caffeine, stu-

dents should take a healthier approach. Plan your time wisely. I suggest getting a planner and taking it with you everywhere. If you write down every single thing you need to remember or remind yourself of an upcoming assignment or appointment, you will rid yourself of any scatterbrained stress. Get some sleep. Although this seems impossible in college, taking a weekend off of social events or parties could be beneficial. Catching up on sleep makes for a better week to come. Stop thinking the only way to be productive is drugs on drugs on drugs. They did it without ADD medication and energy drinks in the old days, so we can handle the workload, too. You are obviously going to need more help on certain days than others; it’s college, we can understand that. But don’t become so reliant on study aids, and use your natural intelligence instead. But, let’s face it, maybe just one venti Starbucks coffee is a daily necessity. Hayley Noga is a sophomore political science and drama major and a guest columnist for the Traveler.

UA Needs to Increase Diversity Dylan Jones Guest Columnist Affirmative action is the United States’ attempt to reverse disadvantages put on minorities and women in the workforce and school system. It requires hirers and application processors to factor in building a larger ratio of minorities into whether they accept the application of a student or potential employee. As one would expect, affirmative action is a subject of great controversy nationwide. Some believe the plan redirects discrimination toward Caucasian-Americans, as it puts them at a disadvantage when compared to a minority amongst applicants for a position. Here at the UA, affirmative action seems to be almost ignored completely. While the ratio of male to female students is balanced out — almost 50.3 to 49.7

percent male/female attendees, according to the UA Mini Fact Book — of the 24,537 students who attended the UA in fall 2012, over 75 percent of them were Caucasian. The other 25 percent was split between Asians, Hispanics, African-Americans and other even smaller minority groups. Some students are more aware of this off-balance demographic than others. “I feel like if it was down to me and another Caucasian, they would accept my application to make the school look more diversified,” said Morgan Lloyd, an Asian-American sophomore, about the UA. Not everyone agrees with Lloyd. “I do not think the university is diverse in the least,” said Flannery Watson, a Caucasian junior. “I’m not sure if it’s the lack of African-Americans or what, but I would not call the U of A diverse or sup-

portive of diversity amongst American students.” “I personally don’t believe the U of A has made headway bringing diverse students to the university,” said Reon Mobley, an African-American junior. “At least not outside of international students. It’s even hard to find ethnic scholarships at this university.” Mobley brings up an excellent point. Why doesn’t the UA offer more ethnic scholarships? According to the vice provost for diversity, the school doesn’t even consider race when choosing its applicants. “The university will admit any high school graduating senior regardless of race or ethnicity that has the appropriate high school credits and at least a 3.0 GPA,” said Charles F. Robinson, vice provost for diversity. “We do not consider ethnicity or race when making admission decisions.” Does the UA completely ignore the Affirmative

Action Act altogether? It surely looks that way. The UA has African-Americans and other minorities in its pictures on the website and billboards, but the UA isn’t anywhere near as diverse as we advertise. Fayetteville is a predominantly white city, and it would be easy to say most UA students must be coming from around here. However, under half of the student body is even from Fayetteville. The University of Arkansas ignores the affirmative action plan harshly — there’s just no nicer way to put it. Affirmative action was supposed to bridge the educational gap years that discrimination has left minorities facing. But the UA is all too happy with ignoring that fact and pretending as if the minority-majority playing field is an even one. Dylan Jones is a junior journalism major and guest columnist for the Traveler.


“Making Your Journey Worthwhile” Companion Editor: Nick Brothers Assistant Companion Editor: Shelby Gill Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Madelynne Jones Staff Writer When the line at Starbucks is long, when class gets dull, when conversations get personal, when loneliness strikes, we grab the phone like an Old West quick draw. Though our generation is marked by social media, experts are anxious of its effects on relationships, specifically our capacity for communication. “We’re setting ourselves up for trouble,” said Sherry Turkle, psychologist and cultural analyst, at a recent TED talk. “Trouble certainly in how we relate to each other, but also in how we relate to ourselves and our capacity for self-reflection. We’re getting used to a new way of being alone together.” “From social networks to sociable robots, we’re designing technologies that will give us the illusion of companionship without

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

the demands of friendship,” Turkle said. “We turn to technology to help us feel connected in ways we can comfortably control.” Students’ thoughts on conversational texting and social media’s effects on relationships teeter between convenience of control and the desire for true communication. “I think it’s made it easier to hang out with people and make plans and talk to people throughout the day, though you may not be able to hang out with them,” said Haley Brisben, sophomore. “You can talk to whoever you want, whenever you want. It’s just easier to communicate.” Senior Macy Brisben agreed. “Some people are always on their phones, and it makes it hard to even talk to them in person,” Macy Brisben said. “Otherwise, you can just use it to hang out more and see each other more.” Young people ages 18 to 24 are racking up the most time on the In-

ternet. In the past year, consumers increased their social app time by 76 percent, and overall time spent on social media sites increased 24 percent, according to an annual social media report by the Nielsen Company. But the Internet’s most valued customers are becoming more aware of the dangers of overexposure to social media, hoping to improve their conversation skills. “I think it (texting) makes it harder for us to talk to people face to face,” said Avery Zorn, sophomore. “We are a lot more comfortable in confrontation and talking about bigger issues through texting than when we have to talk to the person. You can just text them and not have to look them in the eye.” Zorn and her friends gave up from social media for February. “It really has affected us,” Zorn said. “We went on a road trip and none of us had social media. We had three hours of talking to each other, and it was really good. We

Page 5

were forced to sit and have conversation with one another.” “I used to wake up and immediately check my Twitter,” Zorn said. She said she would get on social media when she didn’t want to study or didn’t want to look bored walking across campus. “It’s probably more comfortable to have a conversation over text, but it’s not something we can’t escape from,” Zorn said. “Doing this for a month, it’s been a lot easier to talk to people face to face about things that are hard to talk about.” In Turkle’s talk, she said that if we don’t have connection, we don’t feel like ourselves, resulting in connecting even more to feed our loneliness. “When we don’t have the capacity for solitude, we turn to other people in order to feel less anxious or in order to feel alive,” Turkle said. “When this happens, we’re not able to appreciate who they are.” Real conversations take place in real time, making people anxious and unable to control the conversation, Turkle said. “Texting, email, posting, all these things let us present the self as we want to be,” she said. “We get to edit, and that means we get to delete. Not too little, not too much, just right.” Turkle called this the

Goldilocks effect. “I have used the ability to edit so many times that it’s hard to deny the fact that I don’t just love that,” said Lawson Wright, freshman. Wright said that he does his best to avoid conversational texting, since he’s an animated talker and many of the facial expressions and tones he uses when he speaks, especially sarcasm, do not translate well over text. “A lot of people I know have been able to perfect, somehow, their messages so it’s read just the way they want it to be,” Wright said. “I think that’s why I don’t like texting, because I can’t do that well.” Wright said engaging in more face-to-face conversations has made him more confident in developing his language and conversational abilities. “When you’re able to edit what you’re about to say, it makes faceto-face things hard because you can’t,” Wright said. “People just sit there and trip over their own words because they can’t edit what they’re saying; they’re so used to being able to change what they’re about to say. To craft and mold, that works when you’re trying to write a poem where you have to write and rewrite, but when you’re talking to people, that’s a whole different animal.”

Rock City: Local Environmental Reserve Awaits University’s Purchasing Decision Alex March Staff Writer

As he wanders between clusters of boulders on Fayetteville’s Mt. Kessler, nicknamed “Rock City,” Frank Sharp reminisces. Looking south, the expansiveness of the Ozark Mountains unfurls behind him. “I used to play here when I was a kid,” Sharp said, “and then my kids, and now my grandkids.” The pristine view that Sharp and his family have known may be in jeopardy, however. During northwest Arkansas’s economic boom of the mid-2000s, housing developers purchased large tracts of land surrounding the area. Luckily for Sharp, the developer went bust when the housing bubble burst after the financial crisis in 2007. The area, deemed the Mt. Kessler Preserve, is a patchwork of private land, university and city holdings, and repossessed, bank-owned areas. Now, Sharp and a coalition of conservationists, outdoors enthusiasts and concerned residents find themselves engaged in a struggle to protect this part of Arkansas’ natural beauty. As housing and land prices creep back up, Sharp believes the time for action is now. Located five minutes away from campus on Smoke House Trail off of Highway 62, a network of hiking and biking trails wind through some of the privately owned property. Built and maintained by Ozark Off-road Cyclists, the 8 miles of trails are open to the public after registration with Mt. Kessler Greenways, an advocacy group created in 2004. For those looking for more information, the group has a website at mtkesslergreenways.com. The namesake Phillip Kessler, a German immigrant, arrived in Fayetteville in 1866 with his wife, Kate. The Kessler family purchased a small plot of land atop the mountain and opened a winery and brandy distillery. Although the winery and house are long gone, Phillip Kessler is still buried in a small cemetery on the south side of the mountain, according to research collected by Mt. Kessler Greenways. Old rock houses, decades removed from the subdivisions and strip malls that dominate northwest Arkansas, still line the road leading up to the trailhead. In the yard adjacent to Frank Sharp’s

“I used to play here when I was a kid. And then my kids, and now my grandkids.” Frank Sharp

Local Resident house, goats greet the growing number of hikers and bikers. South of Smoke House Trail, the city is planning a new sports complex for a portion of the reserve off of Cato Springs Road. Chambers Bank, who acquired the repossessed land, has donated 200 acres to the city for the project. The UA is also looking at expanding its intramural fields near the city’s park. It’s the remaining Chambers Bank property that has Mt. Kessler’s advocates worried. Mt. Kessler Greenways is proposing that the UA purchase the remaining 387 acres to serve as an outdoor laboratory. The purpose of an outdoor lab site is fourfold, according to Sharp. The lab can serve as an outdoor classroom for both UA students and local K-12 students. With the closing of Huntsville’s Ozark Natural Science Center, Sharp said Mt. Kessler can fill the need for environmental education in the area. An outdoor lab also provides space for outdoor recreation, much like the current system of trails on private property. Watershed protection is another pillar of the proposal. Encompassing portions of both the White and Illinois watersheds, the property is a small part of the growing battle over water pollution in the area. The fourth tenant of the proposal is that protecting the area preserves a portion of Fayetteville’s natural resources. Sharp hopes the UA will recognize the ecological and educational value in acquiring the property. To lobby their point, Mt. Kessler Greenways is collecting correspondence sent to UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart in a neatly packaged report. Sharp has collected letters from a diverse group, including the Department of the Interior, the National Parks Service, the chair of the Biological Sciences department on campus and several students who want to see Mt. Kessler protected. The Ozark Off-road Cyclists even organized a “Save Mt. Kessler” ride that departed from

Chancellor Gearhart’s residence. Sharp said over 80 people participated in the group ride. Sharp said the advocacy group has pledged to assist the UA in purchasing the property and has secured donations from several individual donors and foundations. At the trailhead, the group set up a trail login sheet. He asks that those affiliated with the UA, either as students, faculty or alumni, mark down their relation. He hopes to see roughly one-third of all users come from the UA community. In only the first six weeks of 2013, amidst the dreary weather, over 100 people have used the trails. With broad support for the project, Sharp hopes it is only a matter of time before the UA acts. Sharp, who ran the former Ozark Mountain Smokehouse on Dickson Street, seems confident Mt. Kessler will be saved. As for the property itself, it sits unchanged, waiting on a decision.

Kathleen Pait Staff Photographer Kessler Mountain is located 10 minutes from Razorback Road on exit 60, and is one of the well-known spots in Northwest Arkansas.


Page 6

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

Comics Pearls Before Swine

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Sudoku Stephan Pastis

Dilbert

Scott Adams

Calvin and Hobbes

Bill Watterson

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

Crossword

Doonesbury

Garry Trudeau

Non Sequitur

Wiley Miller

By Mel Rosen

The Argyle Sweater

Scott Hilburn

ACROSS 1 Politicos Reagan and Paul 5 Do some healing 9 Mallorcan seaport 14 Lit sign in a dark theater 15 Operatic song 16 Regions 17 Playground frolicker 18 Singer called the “Godmother of Punk” 20 Not getting any younger 22 Mozart’s “Così fan __” 23 Misdemeanor 26 Reheat leftovers, in a way 30 “Bambi” doe 31 Pep rally yell 32 Grabbed at will 34 Triangular Indian pastry 37 Bufferin targets 38 Set in opposition to 41 Land, in Le Havre 42 Puts into office 43 Enthusiastic reply to “Who wants ice cream?” 45 Classical lead-in 46 Involuntary sign of nerves

49 Color for a panther? 50 One given to bad language 54 Movie reviewer Roger 56 China’s Zhou __ 57 Finishing the 18th, say 62 Caplet or gelcap 63 Dentist’s insertion 64 Where the clergy sit, in many churches 65 Mayberry boy 66 It’s found in veins 67 Tiny time div. 68 MADD ads, e.g. DOWN 1 Put on a new cassette 2 Roughly 21% of the atmosphere 3 “La Femme __” 4 Angioplasty implant 5 “You are here” document 6 Timeline time 7 Capone cohort Frank 8 Factual tidbit 9 Yesterday’s tense 10 Azerbaijani’s neighbors 11 Welcoming wreath 12 Welcoming floor covering

13 Bit of fire evidence 19 Adherents: Suff. 21 Danced wildly 24 Amounted (to) 25 __ Island 27 Weapons from Israel 28 Mild-mannered fictional reporter 29 L.A. Times staffers 33 Exemplification 34 Ump’s call 35 Erie Canal mule 36 Athlete’s promoter 38 Mani partner, salonwise 39 Laundry room tool 40 __-deucy 41 Advice at the track 44 Pop one’s cork? 46 Blooms from bulbs 47 Home to Firenze 48 __ rellenos: stuffed Mexican dish 51 Church keyboard 52 Sporty car roofs 53 Seuss’s “Hop __” 55 Difficult situation 57 Pollutant banned by Cong. in 1979 58 www address 59 On top of everything else 60 Employ 61 Investigator, slangily


Sports Editor: Kristen Coppola Assistant Sports Editor: Haley Markle Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

Page 7

CLUB SPORT

Rugby: A Sport for the Tough Athlete Ben Enyart Staff Writer

There are certain sports that require a different level of intensity, and rugby is one of those sports. Rugby involves all levels of the athletic spectrum, from strength and power to speed and agility. “It’s its own thing and it’s awesome,” said Natalie Shuff, president of the women’s rugby club at UA. “So get into rugby if you’re not into it.” “I would describe it as nonstop as soccer, and you have to tackle like in football, but it’s not football. You pass the ball backwards, you run forwards, everyone tackles, everyone does everything. It’s really so unique, and you run as much as soccer for forty minutes per half. You are getting tackled and basically doing a pushup off the ground and then go back to running again. You really have to be in shape to play this sport,” Shuff said. Shuff founded the club in the spring of 2012. This is the first year of actual competition for the team, because last year was the start-up and it took a while to get the number of girls needed involved. The game is played with 15 athletes on the field at a time, and it is divided into two 40-minute halves where the girls run nonstop up and down the field, tackling and taking hits all the while. Shuff ’s biggest concern when starting the club was that there would be no one willing to give women’s rugby a try

TENNIS

Hogs Split Against 2 SEC Foes

Eric Harris Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy of UA Women’s Rugby Club The women’s rugby team participates in a line-out against Truman State in a match last season. The team lost to Oklahoma Saturday. since it is such a physical sport that has yet to be well established. Although she had her concerns, the team has been created and the athletes have shown up to play. The team is comprised of mostly freshman, and all but Shuff have no prior experience with competitive rugby. There are 25 members on the 2013 team. “I could not be happier with the turnout,” Shuff said. “I need at least 20 girls to be coming out every practice because 15 play at a time. Those 20 girls that are coming out have the heart for rugby and I’m so

blessed with those girls. I was afraid that no one would give it a chance. But the kind of girls that I would want are the kind of girls that would try something new anyways.” The team is part of the Heart of America League, in which Arkansas plays against Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Central Missouri and Truman State. The team’s first official game was against Oklahoma Saturday. Arkansas lost the game as a whole, but won the second half hands down. They were supposed to have two games prior to the Oklahoma match, but both were snowed

out. The growing team wants to set up either a Zaxby’s night or a Chick-fil-A night in order to raise money. They are also hoping to receive funding from the university next year, because a club must have one year under its belt before being allowed any school funds. It takes $65 in order to play rugby, but that is not part of the team dues. The $65 is for USA Rugby, which requires anyone to pay the insurance if they are playing any form of rugby other than on a backyard level. Team dues have yet to be figured out, seeing that it is their first year as a team, and

so it is a pay-as-it-comes sort of deal. Shuff hopes to continue to grow the team as time goes on and is banking on having next year’s incoming freshman to give the team a more solid number of participating players. Anyone with any kind of athletic background can get involved, Shuff said. “If you want to try a new sport and you’re tough and you’re any kind of athlete,” Shuff said. “You can be small and fast but then you could be big. We need strength, we need speed. Any kind of athlete can play. “

BASKETBALL

The Razorback women’s tennis team opened Southeastern Conference play at the Billingsley Tennis Center this weekend and split with a win against Kentucky and a loss to No. 12 Vanderbilt. The Hogs had a fast start against the Wildcats and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Arkansas swept the doubles matches to win the first point of the match. Claudine Paulson and Segou Jonker won a tough 9-8 tiebreaker over Caitlin McGraw and Nadia Ravita while Yang Pang and Brittany Huxley cruised through their match to earn the victory 8-4. Claudine Paulson and Ana Lorena Belmar Hernandez picked up singles wins to pull the Hogs’ lead to 3-0. The Wildcats attempted a small rally, as McGraw and Stephanie Fox got wins over Kimberley-Ann Surin and Huxley to pull within a point. With the Hogs within one point to victory, they relied on Pang and Sarah McLean to get the win. “I was very happy to have Pang and Sarah out there in that situation at the end,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “I knew at least one would pull through.”

see SPLIT page 8

Razorbacks Face Tigers at Former Home of Coach Andrew Hutchinson Staff Writer

Mike Anderson returns to Columbia, Mo., Tuesday for the first time since leaving Missouri two years ago, but he said he sees it as an important Southeastern Conference game. Missouri comes into the game with a 21-8 overall record and tied for fourth in the SEC with a 10-6 conference record. The Razorbacks are 1811 and one game behind the Tigers with a 9-7 conference record. A win would put Arkansas in fifth place in the SEC, as they would own the tiebreaker with Missouri. “It’s a huge game for a lot of reasons,” Anderson said. “It’s one of two games left and everyone is jockeying for posi-

COMMENTARY

tion and momentum.” An Arkansas victory would also bolster their NCAA tournament hopes because they have only one conference road win and Missouri has a No. 32 ranking in the RPI. However, Anderson said he thinks Mizzou Arena will be a tough place to win. “It’s a good environment to play in,” Anderson said. “There’s tradition there and the fans are engaged.” It will be senior night for the Tigers and Missouri seniors Laurence Bowers, Keion Bell and Alex Oriakhi, all of whom were recruited by Anderson, will be playing their final games in Mizzou Arena. “There are a lot of good memories there. I brought those guys in as freshmen,” Anderson said. “That’s an in-

see MIZZOU page 8

Addison Morgan Staff Photographer Head coach Mike Anderson speaks to the media Monday about the upcoming game in his former home arena against the Missouri Tigers. The Razorbacks face the Tigers today at 6 p.m.

Winning Streaks in Athletics Are No Common Feat

Zack Wheeler Staff Writer Streaks are very special in the world of sports. Long winning streaks don’t necessarily translate into championships, but they are fun to experience while they last. Sports have become a focal point in our

culture, and winning streaks add another element to slip into casual conversations. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in overtime Sunday afternoon to extend their point streak to a record 22 games. According to ESPN, the Blackhawks have earned at least one point in 28 straight games dating back to a March 25, 2012 loss in regulation to Nashville, which ties for the second-longest streak in league history. The highest ranked conference opponent the Blackhawks face over their next eight games is No. 4, so this historic streak could continue.

The Miami Heat also have a streak of their own going on right now. The Heat defeated the New York Knicks Sunday afternoon to extend their winning streak to a franchise record-tying 14 games. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are nearing the form they were in during last year’s championship run. They now have their eyes on the Clippers streak, as they reeled off 17 consecutive wins earlier this season. This storyline could get even more interesting if the two teams happened to meet in the NBA finals. Though some streaks aren’t recent, they are impressive enough to recognize. UCLA

reeled off 88 wins under John Wooden beginning in 1971 through 1974. Another impressive basketball streak was guided by Geno Auriemma as the Connecticut women recorded 90 wins in a row. It is truly hard to comprehend how both of these teams were able to accomplish such streaks. These numbers seem like something more out of a video game rather than real life accomplishments. The Boston Celtics winning eight world championships in a row from 1959-1966 catches many people’s attention. Brett Favre starting a record 297 consecutive games as a member of the Green Bay Packers and a late stint with

the Minnesota Vikings is a tribute to his ability to stay healthy. Cal Ripken’s 2,632 consecutive games played was also impressive. Favre and Ripken accomplished two streaks that are so hard due to the fact that injury always lurks. If a person dug deep enough, streaks would continue to jump off the page. One I can’t go without mentioning is a few Michael Jordan put together. He led the Chicago Bulls to six championships, both in series of three. The first series was from 1990-91 season through 1992-93 season, followed by the second from 1995-96 to 1997-98. A true

basketball junkie could write a book on the accomplishments and streaks he put together, but these two are ones that are definitely worth noting. Streaks are going to continually be built and broken by the next wave of athletes. Streaks continue to set bars that athletes can strive to attain. Competition is a huge part of sports, and these aspects of the game bring an extra dimension that is truly unique and special to the world of sports. Zack Wheeler is a writer for the Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow the sports section on Twitter @UATravSports.


Page 8

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper

SPLIT continued from page 7

MIZZOU continued from page 7

Addison Morgan Staff Photographer Freshman Yang Pang sets up for a serve against the Razorbacks’ SEC opponent Vanderbil, Sunday, March 3. The match concluded with a 3-4 loss for the Hogs. Pang was the one to come through in her match, beating No. 51 Ravita in a come-frombehind, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 win. The win moved the Hogs up to 6-5 on the season while Kentucky dropped to a record of 8-3. The Commodores proved to be a much tougher foe, beating the Hogs in yet another close match. Vanderbilt won the doubles point as the combination of Paulson and Jonker was the only duo to win for Arkansas. That point proved to be the difference as the teams

split the six singles matches, with all the matches ending in straight sets. “On a day like today, you have to get the doubles point. Credit to Vanderbilt for executing better when it counted in doubles,” Hegarty said. This match, the Hogs were the ones in the 3-0 hole after Flavia Araujo and Hernandez dropped their matches to Ashleigh Antal and Frances Altick. In their final four games of the match, Arkansas finished 3-1, but that one point was enough for a Commodores

victory. Pang topped Lauren Mira 6-3, 6-3, while Paulson defeated Marie Casares 6-4, 6-2. Paulson’s win gives her a team-leading 10th win on the season. Belmar Hernandez is second on the team with nine. Sarah McLean earned the Hogs’ last point when she beat Courtney Colton 6-3, 6-3. Next up for the Hogs is a pair of road matches against two top-20 teams. The Hogs will play No. 6 Alabama Friday, then will head to Auburn to face the No. 17 Tigers Sunday.

teresting scenario.” In order to win, Anderson said the Razorbacks will need to do many things they did in their 73-71 win at Bud Walton Arena Feb. 16. Missouri’s leading scorers, Bowers and sophomore guard Jabari Brown, combine to average 28.2 points per game, but were held to a total of 10 points in their first game against Arkansas this season. They also held Oriakhi to seven points, four below his season average. “We did a good job of sending multiple people at (Oriakhi),” Anderson said. “The pressure came from several directions.” However, Bell had a solid

game for the Tigers at Bud Walton, scoring 25 points and collecting eight rebounds. “Bell was very effective,” Anderson said. “He’s playing at a high level. We need some guys that can neutralize him.” One area the Razorbacks struggled in their first matchup with Missouri was rebounds. The Tigers out-rebounded Arkansas 45 to 28 and are No. 2 nationally with 41.3 rebounds per game. “We have to (rebound) by committee,” Anderson said. “We have to be more physical. They’re one of the better rebounding teams in the country and we’ll have to address that early.”

Anderson also said he expects to continue to get production from junior forward Coty Clarke. Clarke is averaging 12 points, 6.8 rebounds and two assists per game over the last five games. He also scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds against the Tigers earlier in the season. “The emergence of Coty is big for our team because he’s another guy they have to worry about,” Anderson said. “He’s feeling a lot more comfortable and now you have to guard him.” The Razorbacks and Tigers tip off at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The game will be televised on ESPN.


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