Paintball Excels Nationally Page 5 University of Arkansas Student-Run Newspaper Since 1906
“About You, For You”
Vol. 107, No. 11
More Leads on Rape Suspect
Sooners Roll Over Razorbacks
Staff Report
New Flea Market Offers Fresh Picks The newest retro store in town, In Retrospect, offers students a place to find vintage fashion and furniture. Full Story, Page 5
Logan Webster Staff Photographer Kasey Heckelman spikes the ball between two defenders Tuesday. The Arkansas Razorbacks lost to the Oklahoma Sooners in four sets.
New Sororities Make Home on Campus New sororities, Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu, have been added to the UA campus. Full Story, Page 3
Things That Matter to Students Kayli Farris Staff Writer
Couples on Campus An inside look at students that are dating, engaged and married, and what it is like. Full Story, Page 5
Check Out More Traveler Stories At UAtrav.com Today’s Forecast
97 / 69°F Partly Cloudy Tomorrow’s Forecast 95 / 70°F
Many social and political issues have a direct impact on college students and young adults, with the upcoming presidential election. “In many ways, young people aren’t all that different from other voters in that various aspects of the economy, together with education, tend to be the central issues they identify as most important,” said Janine Parry, political science professor. Student loans constitute a major issue that affects a large proportion of college students. Both interest rates and loan debt are key aspects of this issue. “What is going to be done about student debt?,” said Arkansas alumnue Dylan Frost. “Few politicians talk about this. We are America’s future, yet few of us will be able to start families and contribute to the economy, because we are tens of thousands of dollars in debt.” Taylor Loy, a second year graduate student studying political science, also has concerns about student debt. “I am also saddled with student debt in order to be more competitive in this economic downturn,” Loy said. “Subsidized loans were ended for grad students, which not only doubled the interest rate, but made loans accrue interest immediately, as opposed to only after (a student) graduates.” Additionally, the health care reform of 2010 has already impacted some college students and young adults, Parry said. This revision has allowed students to stay on their families health insurance until the age of 26. Kerrie Snyder, a former UA student, is concerned
see ISSUES page 2
UA police continue to pursue leads in identifing the suspect involved in the reported sexual assault of a student on campus Sunday morning. The suspect is described as a white male with dark complexion, short brown hair, 5’10, muscular build, in his mid-20s, wearing a dark gray shirt and khaki shorts and has yet to be identified, said Lt. Gary Crain, spokesman for UAPD. The victim was attacked in the southeast area of Lot 14, near Gregg Avenue, according to a UAPD news release. There was no new information pertaining to the rape investigation as of Monday afternoon, Crain said. It is unknown if the attacker was a student. Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity or location can contact UAPD at 479575-2222. Tips can also be sent by text message to the UAPD at 479800-0405.
!"#$%&"'()*+%,-%&.% /0"1(20&3%&"-0&'(
Photo Courtesy MCT Campus Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney wave to the delegation at the end of the 2012 Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum Thursday, Aug. 30, in Tampa Bay, Fla.
Miranda Campbell Staff Writer Two UA students are at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.,
“I think students should also pay attention to Obama’s plan for the economy, as it’s entirely crucial for them.” Ezra Smith
Co-Founder of NWA Students for Obama
this week and three students attended the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., last week, as politically active student organizations like the Young Democrats and College Republicans prepare for the presidential election in November. UA students Ezra Smith, co-founder of Northwest Arkansas Students for Obama, and Aaron Gibson, vice president of the UA’s Young Democrats, were selected by delegates to attend the DNC for their active involvement in the Barack Obama campaign, Smith and Gibson said. Both students are excited to attend speeches by President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton, among others, they said. Smith hopes to see the
“The failed policies of Barack Obama have plagued our generation long enough, and the RNC was very on message.” Isaac Foley
Executive Director of the Federation of College Republicans DNC remain issue-oriented, claiming that the RNC seemed mean-spirited in its focus on attacking Obama rather than focusing on the issues, he said. “As a really politically involved student, I would also
like to see DNC speakers defend the Affordable Care Act, which is something I believe we desperately need in this country,” Smith said. “I think students should also pay attention to Obama’s plan for the economy, as it’s entirely crucial to them.” Smith and the NWA Students for Obama are focused on actively campaigning and
see RNC/DNC page 3
For Another Story About the Democratic/ Republican National Conventions see Page 3
Page 2
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012
Page 3
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Briefly Speaking Matt Miller Exhibit
Anne Kittrell Art Gallery 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
History of Science Discussion Group Arkansas Union Room 308 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Master’s in Social Work Information Session Social Work Building Room 107 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
So Practical it’s Radical: Mainstreaming Sustainability
Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development Auditorium 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Disgruntled Drivers Need Not Fear Maple Street Cobblestone
Democrats Opened New Sororities Make Convention Seeking to a Home on Campus Re-Energize Campaign
A new cobblestone area within the Pi Beta Phi Centennial Gate construction should not be a hazard to students or their cars, officials said. A section of a cobblestone area located on Maple Street was installed “the week prior to the beginning of the fall semester,� said Todd Furgason, campus planner. The issue, some students said, is the fear that cars may become damaged or pedestrians might be injured by slippery or loose cobblestones. “[It] looks sketchy, it doesn’t match up with the rest of the road at all,� said Jesse Anderson, a student and UA employee. This cobblestone area is part of the campus walk extension. “The sidewalk is meant to serve as an entrance from Maple Street leading to Old Main,� Furgason said. “If the cobblestones were not placed, the area would have had yellow painted lines to inform drivers to be cautious,� he said. Cobblestone is a more reliable substance than pavement. “(The) cobblestones are more textured than regular pavement. If anything, they would be less slippery than the average wet pavement. We use top of the line materials and maintenance to prevent any damages to any of our structures,� Furgason said. Cobblestone is a hard substance that helps to prevent flooding, said Tom Paradise, geology professor. “The
Thousands of Democrats kicked off their convention yesterday in a decidedly different mood than four years ago. The enthusiasm and inspiration of Denver 2008, Missouri and Kansas delegates said Monday, have largely disappeared. Democrats are fairly confident of holding the White House for President Barack Obama, but agreed the campaign has turned into a difficult boots-on-the-ground, precinct-by-precinct grind, not a hope-and-change crusade. The challenge in Charlotte: Find the energy for a different kind of campaign. “Right now, I think we’re sort of sluggish,� said Carolyn Wims-Campbell, a Kansas delegate from Topeka. “I’m very disappointed in us ... It’s going to take a lot of energy and working, for registration and to get out the vote.� Longtime Missouri Democratic operative Roy Temple senses a similar mood shift, prompted by the need to defend a presidential record. “When you’ve got the White House, you’ve also got the problems of the country on your shoulders,� Temple said. “You seldom get to have soaring rhetoric.� Democrats haven’t completely dismissed the idea of using the convention to convey their re-election message. Like the Republicans, party heavy hitters -- from Michelle Obama to Bill Clinton -- will get prominent speaking roles. Indeed, Democrats believe their three-day gathering and Obama’s acceptance speech on Thursday should easily match the just-concluded GOP convention in Tampa, Fla. But unlike Mitt Romney, Obama is well-known to voters. That means he must use the convention to lay out a specific list of proposals for a second term. “He’s had a lot of visibility and publicity,� said Kansas delegate Norman Kahn of Prairie Village. “It’ll be easier to make his case this time
Contact
119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Main 479 575 3406 Fax 479 575 3306 traveler@uark.edu
facebook.com/uatrav twitter.com/uatrav
Editorial Staff
Mary McKay Staff Photographer Cobblestone is paved in front of the Pi Beta Phi gate on Maple street. The cobblestone acts as a boundary and is not to be driven on. stones are made of basalt, which is a relatively hard material,� he said. “In some cases, cobblestone is used to slow rainwater and prevent flooding in storm drains. So it is a fairly reliable material.� Students should not have to worry about damaging their cars by driving on the cobblestone, because the area
is meant for pedestrian traffic only. “(The cobblestone) section on Maple is supposed to act in the same way as a rumble strip does on the highway, preventing cars from moving into that lane. It’s meant to protect students, which are exiting buses and cars into campus from other vehicles.� Furgason said.
from ISSUES page 1 about health care issues involved with this election. Snyder is unable to work after being in a car wreck that caused her to have a traumatic brain injury in
“It is the job of voters to figure out what is most important to them and to make an informed decision.� Dylan Frost
Arkansas Alumnus June 2011. “It’s not like I’m employed right now, so I couldn’t afford my own coverage,� Snyder said. “I love still being able to be on my parents’ policy. I’d hate to see that change.� Other issues students have said they are concerned about are women’s abortion rights, foreign policy, tax cuts and credits, marriage equality and the D.R.E.A.M. (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) act. “Young people will see the
Dave Helling and Steve Kraske The Kansas City Star
Travis Pence Contributing Writer
effect in more abstract ways as well, in our approach to climate change, for example, which will drive fuel prices, job creation in the energy sector and global conflict or cooperation over threatened resources,� Parry said. The two presidential candidates, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, have different perspectives on the government’s role in society, which leads to divergent policy proposals concerning health care and tax cuts, Parry said. “These candidates seem to be polar opposites on many issues,� Frost said. “It is the job of voters to figure out what is most important to them and make an informed decision.� Even here in Arkansas, there are political and social issues on the ballot that could affect students, Parry said. Presidential elections gather more attention than local races, but the local ones can often have greater effects on everyday lives, Parry said. “They determine whether or not the trash gets picked up, if and where schools are built and how clean our drinking water is,� Parry said.
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
Saba Naseem Special Projects Editor 479 575 8455
Emily DeLong Copy Editor 479 575 8455
Joe Kieklak Opinion Editor 479 575 8455
Sarah Derouen News Editor 479 575 3226 travnews@uark.edu
Jack Suntrup Asst. News Editor 479 575 3226 travnews@uark.edu
Nick Brothers Companion Editor 479 575 3226 travlife@uark.edu
Shelby Gill Asst. Companion Editor 479 575 3226 travlife@uark.edu
Kristen Coppola Sports Editor 479 575 7051 travsprt@uark.edu
Haley Markle Asst. Sports Editor 479 575 7051 travsprt@uark.edu
Emily Rhodes Photo Editor 479 575 8455
Sarah Colpitts Lead/Features Designer
Marcus Ferreira News Designer
Carson Smith Sports Designer
COLLEGE SKI & BOARD WEEK Breckenridge Keystone
• •
Vail • Beaver Creek Arapahoe Basin
breckenridge
20 Mountains. 5 Resorts. 1 Price. FROM ONLY
plus t/s
Advertising & Design Staff Elizabeth Birkinsha Advertising Manager 479 575 3839
Jeremy Johns Account Manager 479 575 2223
Caty Mills Account Manager 479 575 3899
Chelsea Williams Account Manager 479 575 7594
Kayla Nicole Hardy Account Representative 479 575 3439
Amy Butterfield Account Representative 479 575 8714
Emmy Miller Graphic Designer
Guy Smith III Graphic Designer
WWW.UBSKI.COM
1-800-SKI-WILD • 1-800-754-9453
Part Time Community Assistants needed for brand new student-housing community
e-mail resume to : Info-Frisco@sterlinghousing.com
Apply in person at :
653 W. Dickson, Fayetteville, AR
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.
(than in 2008).� Romney’s own speech focused on broader goals, not specific programs, Democrats noted. But it worked, at least in the short term. For the first time in almost a year, Romney on Monday pulled even with Obama in the Real Clear Politics average of polls -- although the Democratic incumbent still leads in projected electoral votes. Also on Monday, GOP surrogates pounded Democrats after party members initially hesitated when asked if the country is better off today than four years ago. “We’re worse off,� said Republican national Chairman Reince Priebus. But at a Labor Day rally in Detroit, Vice President Joe Biden fired back, maintaining that America “is better off today than they left us when they (Republicans) left,� pointing to the taxpayer-supported rescue of General Motors and the death of Osama bin Laden as examples. Some Democrats, however, acknowledged the Obama campaign must do a better job of communicating that record to voters. That’s particularly true in Missouri, they said, which still has an outside chance of voting for the Democrat. State party Chairman Mike Sanders, who’s also Jackson County executive, said he’s hearing that Missouri could become a key state in the last 60 days of the campaign. “It was made very clear to us that Missouri under no circumstances would be in play in the 2012 election,� Sanders said, recalling an early party strategy session. “The conversation now is no longer adamant that Missouri will never be in play. I think it’s possible. Things have changed so much in such a short amount of time for the better that it’s possible that Missouri could be back in play.� Other Democrats also believe the campaign remains volatile, pointing to the changed landscape of the Missouri Senate race following U.S. Rep. Todd Akin’s nowfamous remarks about rape and abortion, for which he has apologized.
“If you look at Claire (McCaskill) and Todd Akin, she was behind 8 or 9 (points), then he made that huge gaffe, and she picked up,� pointed out former Kansas City Councilwoman Cathy Jolly, who’s attending the convention as a guest. “I’m not saying it will take Romney to make a mistake for Barack Obama to pick up, I just feel like as long as he keeps on doing what he’s doing, delivering the right message, making sure Missourians hear his message, that I think people will end up voting for him,� Jolly added. But other Democrats fear Missouri may be lost to their party, at least at the presidential level, for some time. In 2008, Obama’s campaign poured millions of dollars into the state for television ads and voter outreach, eclipsing the more modest effort of Sen. John McCain. The theory at the time was that Missouri -- a state whose voters closely matched the nation’s demographics -- was up for grabs by both nominees. That last part turned out to be true. In fact, McCain’s slim 4,000 vote victory in the state, out of 2.9 million votes cast, was the closest in the nation in that presidential race. But the results also proved what many had suspected: Missouri’s voters no longer mirrored the nation’s. Instead, the state had moved into the Republican column, at least at the presidential level, and looked more like Alabama or Arkansas than, for example, Iowa. “I don’t think there’s any one thing you can pinpoint,� said outgoing U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan of Missouri when asked why the state has shifted to the right. Missouri Democrats worried about their new Republican leanings might ask their western neighbors for help in coping with the recent switch. Kansas has been reliably Republican at the presidential level for generations. “I tell people I’m a proud Democrat,� said Kansas delegate Wims-Campbell. “I talk positive about what I think we stand for, the principles that we stand for.�
Foley said. “We were able to attend RNC thanks to the generous support of Congressman Steve Womack, Congressman Tim Griffin and Sen. John Boozman,� Foley said. “Other than a brief period of rain, there were virtually no repercussions of the hurricane.� Foley attended speeches by Gov. Mike Huckabee, Nikki Haley, Artur Davis, Sen. Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney and Clint Eastwood, he said. As a student, jobs and economy were important issues in going to the RNC, Foley said. “Youth unemployment is double the national average,� he said. “This is simply unacceptable because 50 percent of college students cannot find a job when they graduate, leading to 27 percent of students defaulting on their student loans,� Foley said. “Every single speaker addressed this issue. The failed policies of Barack Obama have plagued our generation long enough, and the RNC was very onmessage.� The level of planning and organization at the RNC was top-notch, as was the accessibility to “famous� people, Foley said. “I got to meet speaker John Boehner, and literally almost bumped into former Mayor
of New York and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani,� Foley said. “Getting to hang out with elected officials from across Arkansas was also a great experience, as was networking and learning priceless pieces of information for the future.� Grant Hodges, chairman of the College Republicans was unable to go to the RNC this year but thought the convention was a resounding success. “I got together with some friends each night to watch the main speakers,� Hodges said. “Conventions are a way to introduce the candidates to the American people as they start really paying attention to the campaign,� he said. “It’s a way to shape the message, reach out to constituencies, clarify positions and highlight the candidates’ backgrounds and strengths.� The College Republicans are trying to reach out to students and get them involved this semester, Hodges said. “We had over 200 students sign up at our table during Razorbash, which we are very excited about,� Hodges said. “We’re working with candidates and party officials to determine where our members can be most effective in winning races and making a difference.�
from RNC/DNC page 1 helping other students do the same, he said. “We’ll be doing a lot for state and local races, but our main goal is to be actively involved in phone banking swing states,� Smith said. The DNC will remind students of what political issues are important to them as Obama presents the platform for his 2012 campaign, said Matt Seubert, president of Young Democrats. “Students should be interested in Pell grants, student loan rates and what America will look (like) when they graduate and enter the workforce,� Seubert said. “There are very stark differences between the Obama and Romney campaigns in this regard.� Seubert hopes to garner student participation in the voting process this November and will be working hard with the Young Democrats this semester to register students to vote, he said. “We want students to have an impact in November,� Seubert said. “We want them engaged with candidates and the democratic process.� Despite Hurricane Isaac, UA students Isaac Foley, executive director of the Federation of College Republicans, Taylor Eberhardt and Cathryn Fleener, were able to attend the RNC last week without any weather related issues,
Photo Courtesy MCT Campus Phi Mu alumni watch as UA students check in at the Phi Mu recruitment event at the Alumni House Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Jaime Dunaway Staff Writer New sororities Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu have been added to the UA campus to accommodate the growing number of students interested in Greek Life, officials said. “We’re growing,� said Parice Bowser, director of Greek Life. “This is the largest women’s recruitment class we’ve ever had.� Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Mu were chosen to rejoin the UA campus because of their commitment to strong alumni support, their philanthropic activity and their ability to secure permanent housing, Bowser said. “Phi Mu truly feels at home at the University of Arkansas. We have enjoyed our time in Fayetteville and appreciate the support from the UA administration, Greek Life staff and the Greek community,� said Jessica Winkles, extension director for Phi
Mu. “We are impressed by the strength of the chapters on campus and the positive difference that they make, both at the U of A and within the Fayetteville community,� she said. Both sororities have had information tables set up at the Arkansas Union to answer questions and provide important rush information for possible recruits. “We cannot wait to welcome Phi Mu’s newest members at the UA,� Winkles said. “We are looking forward to social functions with fraternities and sororities, sisterhood retreats and philanthropy events to raise money for our national philanthropy.� Unaffiliated women from all classes have shown interest, Winkles said. Though their rush date is after the one for existing sororities, the rumor that the new sororities will only receive girls that did not get bids is false, Bowser said.
“It’s not quite the same process. It follows traditional recruitment, but on a smaller more laid back scale,� said Rebecca Travaglini, early childhood education major. “I was worried about the time commitment rush would require, especially with my position as a resident assistant, but when I heard they weren’t going through the normal recruitment process, I figured why not take a chance and see if this is something for me.� Preference night is set for Sept. 7, and bid day will be Sept. 9 at the Greek theatre. Attending a sorority sponsored get-to-know-you event and a personal interview are requirements for every girl planning to rush. Permanent housing has not yet been secured, but communication with their national headquarters about building places of residence continue. Construction on houses will begin fall 2013, Bowser said.
32
Opinion Editor: Joe Kieklak Page 4
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012
!"#$"%&'(%)*% +,*-,-%.*/0'$" Editorial Board The Arkansas Traveler The journalism department is full of storytellers. Students in this department regularly hear incredible stories ranging from a crazy night on the town with Johnny Cash to tales of embedded reporters working in Afghanistan and Iraq. One of the most common stories is that of professors who attended the UA “back in the day”. “Tuition was $50 when I went here,” or “there were only a few thousand students enrolled in my day,” they say while laughing. The idea that the UA has undergone a lot of changes through the years is obvious by these stories. What is less obvious, especially after a UA student was raped Sunday morning near a campus parking lot, is how quickly the UA is changing from a small campus located in a quaint town to a much larger entity located in a growing metropolitan area. UA students and northwest Arkansas residents now have more opportunities for jobs and places to enjoy entertainment. The need for more safety is pertinent. With the population boom in northwest Arkansas and on campus, comes danger people are not accustomed to. Many Arkansas residents attend UA but not every student comes from a city the size of Fayetteville. In 2008, there were 11 reported sexual offenses, which included UA students, according to the UAPD Clery Report. There were nine reported sexual offenses in 2009 and two in 2010, according to the report. In 1995, the first year data was collected for the report, there was one reported sexual offense. Our campus is 10,000 students larger than in 1995, according to the Office of Institutional Research. As our enrollment grows, it can be shown that our oncampus risk grows as well. We argue this not to paint growth as something that
should be despaired. We argue that our risk has increased, which has the unfortunate partner of increased crime. Unfortunately, the clery report cannot account for unreported sexual offenses that occur on college campuses each year. One in four women will be sexual assaulted on a college campus, according to “Fraternities of Fear: Gang Rape, Male Bonding, and the Silencing of Women” a report prepared by Professor Kathleen Hirsch who has taught at Boston College, Harvard University, Wellesley College and Brown University. We must be safe as students and equip ourselves for the historical growth that we are apart of by being on this campus. We have a lot of ways that we can equip ourselves to be safer on The Hill. We should all remember to exercise with a friend at night as well as use caution when walking to parking lots or even across campus. Students who feel unsafe or even question the safety of a situation should remember to use our UA student escort services. Night Owl, which operates Monday and Tuesday nights, will escort students to locations on campus 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Safe Ride, which operates Wednesday through Saturday nights, will escort students anywhere in the Fayetteville city limits as indicated on your ISIS 11 p.m.-3 a.m. Our escort services are not just for those trying to get a safe ride home from a party. Our services are for any situation that a student may be uncomfortable. While a lot of alumni remember their version of the UA and Fayetteville, our reminiscent UA story will not mirror the ones told by our families and professors. It also will not be marked by crime, or even construction, but it will be marked by growth. Unforgiving, rapid growth.
Traveler Quote of the Day
Jackson Been Staff Cartoonist
This Week, Obama Must Fight Back Los Angeles Times Editorial
It’s fashionable to disparage party political conventions as “infomercials.” But the Republican National Convention that concluded Thursday in Tampa, Fla., was informative - and not just about the techniques of modern political communication and the dangers of allowing octogenarian actors to improvise. That’s not to say there weren’t empty phrases, misrepresentations and endless cliches. Details and substance took a back seat. But principally through the well-received acceptance speeches of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, the party made it clear that it intends to contest this election on a simple proposition: that President Obama, who raised so many hopes so high four years ago, has been a disappointment, particularly in his stewardship of the economy. It’s a potentially potent message that the president needs to rebut this week at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. There were other messages, of course. Some were mendacious, such as Ryan’s
Matt Seubert, President, UA Young Democrats Studdents Experience the Conventions, Page 1
Juan Holmes Staff Columnist
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Opinion Editor
Chad Woodard Brittany Nims Joe Kieklak
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.
But the Democrats also need to confront what the Republicans obviously hope will be the take-away from Tampa. It was encapsulated in two of the convention’s biggest applause lines: Romney’s “You know there’s something wrong with the kind of job he’s done as president when the best feeling you had was the day you voted for him.” And Ryan’s generational spin on that buyer’s-remorse argument: “College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life.” A cheap shot, perhaps, but one that resonates in a lot of those bedrooms at a time of unacceptably high unemployment. So do charges by Republicans that the Obama administration is unwilling to control the growth of entitlements, including benefits for the elderly (however inconsistent that is with the claim that Obama is “raiding” Medicare). To some extent, that defense will consist of factchecking the opposition - for example, by pointing out that the much-maligned stimulus did save and even create jobs, and that it was Republican obstructionism that helped
to sabotage a “grand bargain” on tax reform and deficit reduction. But we hope Obama does more than boast of modest progress and shift the blame for what hasn’t been accomplished. The best response to Romney’s challenge would be to explain how, with a renewed mandate, the president will be able to enlist a Congress that may not be all that different from the current one in efforts to combat unemployment, repair the economy and move forward with the rest of his program, from climate change to immigration. Even before the Republican convention, a lot of Americans otherwise favorably disposed to Obama were growing frustrated by Washington’s political paralysis. While much of the blame for that should fall on his GOP opponents, the president nevertheless needs to explain how his second term would be different. Whatever else Romney accomplished in Tampa - humanizing his image, uniting his party - he succeeded in moving that question to the fore. How Obama answers, in Charlotte and in the campaign, could make all the difference.
This is an editorial from the Los Angeles Times that appared Sept. 3.
Diversity Grows Amid UA Construction
We want students to have an impact in November. We want them engaged with candidates and the democratic process.
Editorial Board
misrepresentation of the effect of the Affordable Care Act on Medicare benefits and Romney’s tired canard that the Obama administration has “thrown allies like Israel under the bus.” Others were merely misguided. Both in their platform and in speeches, the Republicans left no doubt that extreme social conservativism and science-denial now define the party’s orthodoxy. Romney’s gibe that Obama “promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet” was partly an attack on the alleged grandiosity of Obama’s 2008 campaign, but it also reflected the Republicans’ indifference to climate change, a term the GOP platform encloses in mocking quotation marks. And while Romney didn’t dwell on abortion or same-sex marriage - promising briefly to “protect the sanctity of life (and) honor the institution of marriage” - he didn’t have to. He long ago signed on to the agenda of the religious right. Democrats will remind the nation of that fact this week, and they should. Even if Romney and Ryan mute their positions on social issues for tactical purposes, those positions would have important consequences if they were elected (not least in the selection of Supreme Court justices).
The school year begins again and so do the hog calls, nearly 24,600. UA is growing as enrollment continues to climb. Despite this historic allotment; its effects are all too apparent on campus. Congestion outside of Kimpel Hall is at an all time high with stand-still lines, classes have been slung to faroff buildings all around campus, dining halls have become standing room only and the buses squeeze as many people they can often resulting in students having to wait for the next one. Computer labs look more like lines for the newest iPhone release and the holy Starbucks has a hellish wait time. The giant gaping hole next to Brough isn’t the new dish
return but is actually to be a brand new dorm — years from now. At peak times, dining halls are standing room only while the new “To-Go” bag lunch rooms are trying to keep up with the pace. While we seniors wrestle for Lot 56 parking, Housing has its own problems to deal with. After being moved out of Hotz Hall to make more dorm rooms, the UA mandate requiring all freshmen students to live on campus complicates the housing situation for everyone involved. Many students slated to live on campus this year were moved to Crowne apartments to accommodate the influx of students. Overflow issues range from RAs having to room with residents or residents being placed in maintenance rooms and study rooms converted into makeshift rooms are just some of the dorm woes. The construction has even led to several injuries during the summer such as Dr. Montgomery of the English Department suffering a fall close to a dig site. Mass construction projects have only aggravated the real problem, in what can be seen
as a gap between enrollment and infrastructure. Despite these obstacles, the numbers of differing opinions are as numerous as the freshmen class. There are mixed feelings about all the construction on campus in that although students are happy about the expansion, the building zones are somewhat daunting. Among the proposed solutions suggested by officials such as finding an alternate route to your class or getting Brough-to-Go, there are few other options available to the student body that could avoid those long wait in the dining halls. Students have thought of their own ways to bypass the foot traffic. “Perhaps more automated crosswalks between Kimpel and the Greek theatre could speed up the foot traffic and increased bus routes could alleviate the congestion at the stops,” said Peter Hamby, a music education and Spanish double major. The many streets blocked off with fences have bottlenecked traffic between buildings. Some may feel that the root of the problem lies within admissions, citing that
the standards for admission should be raised, thus lowering the amount of incoming freshman per year. Despite the different ideas, there is a general consensus in the point that too much construction is going on at once. While some students focus on the construction, others focus on the growth as a positive thing for the UA. The increase of the international student presence has become the norm on campus. Groups such as the International Cultural Team and the International Student Organization want to attract the new freshmen and with the Chancellor’s unveiling of the Connections Lounge last semester we can see a direction of inclusion and innovation Regardless of how you look at it, it’s great that our campus is growing and we can see that in our ever growing diversity, a key part of the UA’s mission. With aspirations for campus expansion, there are few remedies to the necessary growing pains of becoming a better university and a conduit for diversity and excellence. Juan Holmes is a staff columnist. He is a senior English- creative writing major.
“Making Your Journey Worthwhile” Companion Editor: Nick Brothers Assistant Companion Editor: Shelby Gill Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Baked Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy Emily Rhodes Photo Editor
The quest to create the perfect pork chop is one that is not easily accomplished. Believe me, I’ve tried for years to craft that juicy and flavorful first bite, and after watching hundreds of hours of Food Network stars grill, saute and bake their favorite pork cut throughout the summer, I decided that I simply had to learn the secret to cooking chops. Thankfully, the best chef I know was in town to teach me her ways. Don’t get too excited — there was no “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” or “Iron Chef America” competition in my kitchen. However, the guest of honor, more affectionately known as my mother, did teach me how to make the most delicious pork chop you could ever consume. After finishing up a two-week dorm move-in span with my younger sister, we checked out of campus and into the kitchen to pan-fry, bake and mash together. The only thing better than spending some much-needed time together after being apart since the start of the year was the actual meal. Yes, it was that good.
Servings: 4
4 thick-cut pork chops Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons margarine 8 oz. sliced portabella mushrooms 6 oz. heavy whipping cream ¼ cup brandy 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place the pork chops on a plate, and season liberally with salt and pepper. Heat a large frying pan, and place the chops in the pan, panfrying each side until brown (including the sides to lock in the flavor and moisture), about 5 minutes per side. When the chops have browned on both sides, place on a metal baking tray and bake for 20 minutes, or until the chops reach an internal temperature of 165 F. While the chops are baking in the oven, heat 2 tablespoons margarine in the frying pan used to brown the pork chops (this is what gives the gravy the rich flavor, so don’t rinse the pan first).
When the butter has melted, saute the sliced mushrooms until light brown. Add the brandy (to substitute, add extra Worcestershire sauce) and lower the heat, cooking gently until the brandy almost boils off completely. The brandy will mix with the butter and create a beautiful dark color.
Once the brandy has reduced, add the heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Let the sauce thicken on a low heat. Allow the chops to rest for 5-10 minutes, covering the pan in tin foil once out of the oven, and pour the drippings into the mushroom sauce, mixing well.
Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetable. This is one recipe you simply have to try. It’s simple, inexpensive and packed full of flavor. The pork chops are rich, melt in your mouth and are so simple to make. Accompanied by the fantastic tangy yet silky mushroom sauce, you can create an amazing meal in less than an hour and on a budget. Who can resist that? A few simple ingredients are transformed into a fantastic meal that will go down well with any crowd — just one more example that you don’t need a pantry full of high-end ingredients to make something delicious. For a dinner party in the dorms or a night at home with roommates and family, this dinner recipe is sure to please.
Emily Rhodes Photo Editor
Page 5
New Flea Market Offers Fresh Picks Georgia Carter Staff Writer
Flea markets are usually not very popular places to shop for college students. Most students associate flea markets with their grandmothers, and many think that they are only full of creepy dolls and dusty knickknacks. In Retrospect takes the idea of a flea market and puts a modern twist on it, abandoning the dark, antique vibe of a traditional flea market and creating a store full of fun, unique items. “I have rented booths at other flea markets in the past and wanted a flea market with a different environment,” said Liz Konig, In Retrospect’s owner. “I wanted a place that was clean and had good lighting so you are able to see everything.” Konig also wanted to sell more than just the mishmash of old items usually found at flea markets. “I wanted the merchandise to be vintage and retro and wanted to sell one-of-a-kind stuff,” Konig said. Konig’s booth-renters have filled the store with items that would be difficult to find anywhere else. Some booths in the flea market specialize in unique furniture. One of the most unique pieces was a glass table, held up by a bear sculpture. There are booths that have handmade Razorback picture frames and serving platters. You can also find old records, clothing, jewelry, home decor and even Star Wars memorabilia inside of the store. Konig was selective with her booth renters, making sure that they fit her idea of what In Retrospect was. She put up ads on Facebook, Craigslist and
eventually word of mouth sent many renters her way. Konig also knew of some renters she wanted in the store from her days as a booth renter at other flea markets. Items from In Retrospect can be used to decorate a bland apartment or to add more interest to an already-decorated room. One of the most common items in the booths at In Retrospect are one-of-akind lamps. These lamps have brightly colored lamp bases in a variety of shapes and styles. They also have a multitude of lamp shades in all different colors and patterns. These can be used to spruce up a dark corner or be placed next to a bed for a pop of color or to add pattern to a room. Homemade throw pillows also populate In Retrospect. Whether you want a brightly colored patterned pillow for your couch or a simple pillow for your bed, a throw pillow to suit your style is easily found in many of the booths. In Retrospect is also a good place to check out if you are looking for a unique gift. They
have many distinctive pieces of jewelry that are either vintage or vintage pieces repurposed to look more stylish for today’s standards. If you are friends with a collector and want to get them an additional piece to add to their collection, then checking out some booths at In Retrospect would definitely be worth your time. Many booths have cute, kitschy figurines that could add that special something to someone’s assortment. In Retrospect is open six days a week: Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12-5 p.m. The flea market is located on Township Street, between Gregg Avenue and College Avenue. In Retrospect is the place to go if you are looking for something distinctive to decorate with or something that no one else will have. It is also a fantastic place to visit if you are a lover of all things retro, vintage and kitschy. It is also a shop to visit if you are skeptical about the existence of a “cool” flea market — In Retrospect is sure to change your mind about that.
Courtesy Photo
Conversations with Couples on Campus
Alex March Staff Writer
College brings with it its own sets of responsibilities, privileges and pressures. For many students, however, it is not just themselves they worry about. Relationships are common on campus, all the way from casual dating to marriage. For three couples, one dating, one engaged and one married, their significant others provide the love and support to keep them going when school and life outside of campus get tough.
Dating Couple:
Ashleigh Alecusan and Matt Bakke
Junior Ashleigh Alecusan and senior Matt Bakke began dating Alecusan’s freshman year at Fayetteville. They met at a Delta Delta Delta/Beta Upsilon Chi function, Alecusan’s first on campus. “Matt was basically a blind date,” Alecusan said. “It should have been the most awkward blind date ever, and it turned out to be my favorite night of college,” Bakke said. Alecusan, an accounting and marketing major, and Bakke, an entrepreneurship major, must work to balance school and dating at times. “We just have to make time for each other, even if it means staying up late,” Alecusan said. “Sometimes the time that we get to hang out is also time spent studying.” Alecusan and Bakke also have wildly different study habits. “I make it a point to not go to class, and Ashleigh has never missed a class,” Bakke said. The easy part about making school and dating work is the support they provide each other. “Matt keeps me calm when I'm stressed about classes and tests,” Alecusan said. “I get stressed easily by schoolwork and tests, but it's much easier to deal with when I have Matt to talk me through my stressful
Courtesy Photo Drew Werner and Kaitlyn Smith pose in their engagement photos. The couple got engaged last December on a bridge in Tulsa. days and bring me coffee when I'm running on three hours of sleep before a test.” Bakke said his girlfriend provides him with reminders and forces him to study. “Quite simply, I would have failed out of college without her,” Bakke said. Through it all, Alecusan and Bakke work to put their relationship with each other first in their busy schedules. “You have to make an effort to make your relationship a priority,” Alecusan said.
Engaged Couple:
Drew Werner and Kaitlyn Smith
Drew Werner and Kaitlyn Smith got engaged last December. Smith, a junior pre-med biology major from Antlers, Okla., and Werner, a senior finance and accounting major from Broken Bow, Okla., first met in high school. Their first date was on Smith’s 16th birthday, Werner said, and they have remained together ever since. With both in demanding academic programs, the two must maintain a delicate balance between planning for the big day and getting their schoolwork done. Smith, who is also studying for the MCAT, has to keep herself from getting distracted. “I just had to make rules with myself not to daydream on Pinterest when there's biochemistry and physiology
to do,” Smith said. “I want to spend every waking moment dreaming about centerpieces, invitations and flowers, but I really have to restrain myself and manage my time carefully.“ Werner, on the other hand, finds respite from the wedding planning in school. “You spend so much time talking about the wedding and planning for the wedding that it's a relief when you don't have to focus on the big day,” Werner said. Having each other makes all the excitement and hurry easier, though. Smith said people often think that they have made a huge personal sacrifice by getting married in college and that it is a big distraction. Both Werner and Smith strongly disagree. “We've found that we work better as a team, and having each other makes everything easier,” Smith said. They both have big plans for after college, too. Smith wants to go to medical school, while Werner wants a Master of Accountancy. “His goals are mine, and mine are his,” Smith said. “That's the only way we can succeed.”
Married Couple:
Page Summers and Heather Dale Summers
Page and Heather Summers tied the knot on Aug. 3, 2011. Since then, they have
both continued their studies, Page as an English major, and Heather as a nursing major. Both from Berryville, Ark., they met at the movies through Heather’s sister. After the proposal, the two were left with the looming task of planning their wedding and keeping up with classes. It required sacrifices from both. “I stayed in Fayetteville and worked as a server at two restaurants and as an orientation mentor at the U of A, ” Heather said. She added that she wasn’t able to do much hands-on preparation, leaving much of that work to Page and her family. Page went back to Berryville and helped Heather’s family prepare for the wedding when he wasn’t working. Since the wedding bells have rung, the Summers family has found that life has slowed down a little bit. “It's great to be a part of a team. Everything is easier when we combine our efforts,” Page said. Other day-to-day changes were necessary to keep the household functioning smoothly, including an investment in Wi-Fi and sack lunches for Page. Page, who plans on getting his Master of Arts in Teaching and teaching high school English, enjoys having Heather as an inhouse proofreader, too. But marriage comes with added pressures as well. “Now that we're married, none of our behavior is excusable because ‘we're college students,’” Heather said. “We have to be adults now, which is kind of scary.” But a lot of the responsibility and stress melts away when they spend time together. Page said one of his favorite parts about being married is getting “to come home to your biggest fan every day.”
Page 6
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
Comics Pearls Before Swine
Dilbert
Calvin and Hobbes
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012
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 Barry C. Silk
The Argyle Sweater
Scott Hilburn
ACROSS
1 Stinger 5 Banded marble 10 Saudi Arabia neighbor 14 Earthen pot 15 Gruesome 16 Got up 17 Brisket-making flair? 20 Diver’s concern 21 Perps’ patterns 22 Blood of the gods 23 1988 self-titled C&W album 25 Brilliance 26 Hidden dietary supplements? 31 Broke (in) 32 Zap 33 Mil. authority 36 Pasta __: food brand 37 Smallest 39 Verve 40 Restful retreat 41 Talking iPhone feature 42 __ rod 44 Teen’s response to “You need to shave”? 46 Medium card 48 The Eagles’ “__ Eyes” 49 Film director Morris
50 PC key 52 John or Christine of Fleetwood Mac 56 Annoyance ... and a hint to how 17-, 26- and 44-Across are formed? 59 Snippy retort 60 Harden 61 Avant-garde 62 YouTube co-founder Steve 63 Plant sometimes called heart’s-ease 64 Conks out
DOWN
1 One of six in this clue 2 Soothing balm 3 Insult 4 Deli choice 5 Poetic pugilist 6 Perp, perhaps 7 Ship that survived the Clashing Rocks 8 Advice 9 Author LeShan 10 Ancient source of counsel 11 Starbucks flavor 12 “Give it __” 13 Poetic negative 18 Motif
19 Specific market type 24 Set of potential suppliers 25 Bliss 26 TV adjuncts 27 Place to see stacks 28 Talking Heads bassist Weymouth 29 Say with assurance 30 Small power sources 33 Marsh critter 34 Ho Chi __ City 35 Tablespoon, maybe 38 Significant period 39 Diverged, with “off ” 41 White Russian spec 43 “... __ to be born and ...” 44 Like some T-shirt images 45 Stomach issues 46 Pan 47 Get up 49 Large-scale work 50 View from Catania 51 Avoid 53 Part of Caesar’s boast 54 “Bus Stop” playwright 55 Company that created Rocky Road ice cream 57 Barely beat 58 Ottoman official
Sports Editor: Kristen Coppola Assistant Sports Editor: Haley Markle Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012
The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
CLUB SPORTS
Page 7
CROSS COUNTRY
Members of Competitive Club Razorbacks Excel Nationally in Paintball Out Run Lions Andrew Hutchinson Staff Writer
For nearly a decade, UA students have had the opportunity to participate in the paintball club, either as a recreational sport or a competitive club sport. Currently, nine students compete on the tournament team that is a member of the National Collegiate Paintball Association. While the NCPA season ends in April, the team continues to compete in a regional league. “It’s a year-round sport,” said sophomore Travis McCaghren, vice president of the club. “We travel to tournaments all over the country.” Last year, tournament sites included Chicago, St. Louis and Lakeland, Fla. In all, the club traveled 5,800 miles and expects to travel travel approximately 10,200 miles this year. “We went the most miles of any club last year,” McCaghren said.
As you might imagine, that much travel is very expensive. The University Recreation Department provides some funds for the club, however it only covers a portion of the expenses. “We are very grateful for UREC’s help, but we still have to pay a lot out of pocket. It is very expensive,” McCaghren said. Between all nine members of the tournament team, they spent $15,491 out of their own pockets last year. With so much money invested into the sport, the members take it seriously and practice once or twice a week. “I take paintball every bit as seriously as I took football, and (as a team) we take it as seriously as any of the other sports,” McCaghren said.
They have practice at Arkansas River Valley Paintball in Alma, and during these practices, they work on communication, do situational drills and scrimmage. At tournaments, they play 5-on-5 matches in which they attempt to hang their flag on the other team’s side. They typically play a “race to four” format, where the first team to hang their flag four times wins. If neither team scores four points, then the team with the most points when time expires, wins. At the NCPA National Championships last year, they finished in the top 20. “Last year’s and this year’s teams
are probably the most talented teams we’ve ever had,” McCaghren said. Even if a student doesn’t want to dedicate a lot of time to the club, they can still be a part of it. There are 20-25 students who are on the recreational team. “You can take it as seriously as you want,” McCaghren said. “It’s a way to get away from everything else. It takes your mind off school and work, and it’s a way to make new friends.” Students on the recreational team can play and practice anywhere from once a week to once a year, depending on their interest levels. As for McCaghren, he has been playing
of Travis ourtesy Photo C ren McCagh
since he was in fifth grade. “I got invited to a birthday party and was scared to death, but my dad told me to give it a shot. Luckily the first time I got hit was from a long way away and it didn’t hurt, and I got addicted to (the sport),” McCaghren said. He expects this season to be another successful one for the tournament team and the recreational team. “I think we have a great shot at bringing a national championship back to Fayetteville,” McCaghren said. “The sky is the limit to what this group of guys can accomplish this year.”
VOLLEYBALL
Razorbacks Lose to Sooners Liz Beadle Staff Writer
After a trip to Ann Arbor, Mich. over the weekend, the Razorbacks (6-2) returned to Barnhill Arena for a midweek match against the Sooners of Oklahoma (6-3) Tuesday night. The Razorbacks eventually lost after four sets (25-19 Oklahoma, 25-18 Arkansas, 27-25 Oklahoma, 2518 Oklahoma).
This was the second loss in a row for the Razorbacks after losing a close match at Michigan Saturday night, but it is only the second loss total on the season and the first home loss for the Hogs. “We got a little complacent today,” said head coach Robert Pulliza. “You get complacent against a good team and you’re in trouble fast. Oklahoma is a good team.” The Razorbacks were behind for a vast majority of the first set, with a hitting average
of .297 to Oklahoma’s .519. Both teams had 15 kills on the set and Arkansas ended with eleven digs to Oklahoma’s 13. The second set went very differently. Arkansas did not trail at all this set and eventually won it 25-18. The Sooners’ hitting average was .129 compared to the .519 they hit in the first set. Arkansas also led the set in kills with 15 to Oklahoma’s 11. The third set was the most thrilling of the night, eventually ending in favor of the
Sooners by a score of 27-25 after being tied at both 24 and 25 points. Oklahoma head coach Santiago Restrepo was involved in several heated arguments with the officiating crew throughout the set. Both teams hitting averages were low in the third set—Oklahoma hit a .058 and Arkansas hit a .036. Despite losing the set, the Hogs led the Sooners in both digs and kills. In the fourth set, the Ra-
VOLLEYBALL page 8
COMMENTARY
Eric Harris Staff Writer
The Arkansas Razorback men’s cross country team opened up the season with an easy win in the Razorback Invitational at the Agri Park in Fayetteville Aug. 30. The invitational was a dual meet with Missouri Southern State University, one of the more competitive teams in the region in NCAA Division II. Junior All-American Solomon Haile ran away with the victory by the end of the race, beating teammate and former Southeastern Conference Runner of the Year Eric Fernandez. Razorbacks finished in six of the top seven places as Eric Schott from Missouri Southern finished third. Dave Flynn, Cale Wallace, Layne Nixon and Cameron Efurd finished in the next four spots to give the men’s team a convincing 18-43 victory.
Haile missed last cross country season with a medical redshirt and looks to be back in top form once again, finishing with a time of 19:51.4 on the 6,600-meter course. Haile was named SEC Co-Runner of the Week for his performance. “It’s good to have Solomon Haile back,” coach Chris Bucknam said. “He’s been out of the cross country scene for two years so it’s good to see him look controlled in within himself.” Haile and Fernandez should continue to show their dominance and place at the top in most meets as the season progresses. Bucknam was also impressed with true freshman Cale Wallace and his performance, as he could be a potential factor in upcoming races. “I thought Wallace did a nice job in his first varsity race at the collegiate level,” Bucknam said. The next event is the First to the Finish Stampede in Joplin, Mo., Sept. 15.
FOOTBALL
Smith Has Confidence in Razorbacks
Andrew Hutchinson Staff Writer
Following a 49-24 victory over Jacksonville St. on Saturday, head coach John L. Smith is pleased with his team but still sees areas that could be improved. “After reviewing film, there were a lot of good things and a lot of things we need to improve on,” Smith said. “We’re going to build on the positives and correct the negatives.” The offense performed well, and that team leadership and maturity helped them get back on track after the three lost fumbles, he said. “There was no sense of panic at all,” Smith said. “Everyone was very confident about what we had to do.” Senior Brandon Mitchell helped the offense by catching four passes for 122 yards in his first game as a wide receiver. “We’ve seen that day in, day out at practice this fall, so it’s not a surprise to us,” Smith
said. “It was a good outing for a guy’s first time out of the block as a wide-out.” Part of Mitchell’s and the other wide receivers’ success can be credited to senior quarterback Tyler Wilson, who made some “tremendous throws,” Smith said. At running back, senior Dennis Johnson “ran hard,” Smith said, and junior Knile Davis returned to the field after missing the 2011 season due to injury, rushing for 70 yards on 18 carries. “I feel good. I’m a little sore, but that’s to be expected,” Davis said. “My speed, cuts, and vision were there.” Smith said that the offensive line played well, but still needs improvement. He expects senior Jason Peacock back this week and added to the mix. He also said senior wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, who was injured during Saturday’s game, will be back in practice
see SMITH page 8
Hogs Have Tools to Become National Champions Jessie McMullen Staff Writer
The Arkansas Razorback football team has everything going for them this season. The Hogs began the season ranked 10th in the preseason AP poll, which is the highest preseason ranking for the Razorbacks since 1980 when they were ranked sixth. The team moved up two spots to No. 8 after the first week of the season.
The question on everyone’s mind this season is how the Razorbacks will respond to a coaching change. After the firing of head coach Bobby Petrino, Arkansas hired John L. Smith. Smith was the special teams coordinator and offensive line coach for the Hogs from 2009-2011. He is entering his 40th season in collegiate coaching. Smith has served 19 years as head coach, with a record of 132-86. Smith has shown a tight bond with players and other coaches during the offseason. There is no question that the players respect him. There is also no question that a new head coach will not have a negative effect on this team. The Razorbacks’ offense is arguably the best offense in the nation. The Hogs will be returning key offensive players such as Tyler Wilson, Knile
Davis, Cobi Hamiltion, Chris Gragg, Jason Peacock, Travis Swanson, Alvin Bailey, Zach Hocker, Ronnie Wingo Jr., Kiero Small and Dennis Johnson. Wilson and Davis are possible Heisman Trophy candidates this season. True freshman wide receivers Keon Hatcher and Mckale McKay will also show significant playing time and help improve the depth of a remarkable offense. Arkansas is the only team in the SEC to return a quarterback with a 3,000-yard passing season and a running back with a 1,000-yard rushing season. Wilson threw for 3,638 yards last season. Davis, who sat out last season with an injury, ran for 1,322 yards in 2010. In addition to getting Davis back, the team also returns last seasons top rushers in
Johnson and Wingo. Last season, the offensive line struggled for the Hogs, allowing Wilson to take many hard hits. This season the offensive line will show much more maturity and experience, returning Brey Cook, Travis Swanson, Alvin Bailey and Jason Peacock. The offense is under the leadership of Paul Petrino, brother of former head coach, Bobby Petrino. Paul is in his third season as offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks, the first two coming in 2008-09. A major set back last season was the defense, but it has improved significantly since then. Paul Haynes is now the defensive coordinator. Haynes was put on the staff in December of 2011 and helped lead the team to a victory in the Cotton Bowl over Kansas State.
In the Cotton Bowl, Arkansas held Kansas State to 87 rushing yards. The Razorbacks recorded 11 tackles for losses and 7 sacks and allowed only 4 conversions out of 15 third down opportunities. Much improvement was shown in the Cotton Bowl from the regular season. The Razorbacks will be returning key players Tenarius Wright, Alonzo Highsmith, Tevin Mitchell, Dylan Breeding, Jerry Mitchell, Darius Winston and Ross Rasner on the defensive side of the ball. The Hogs went 11-2 last season, losing to only Alabama and LSU, who went on to play each other in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game. Arkansas finished fifth in the final polls, marking the program’s first top-five finish since 1977. This season, the Hogs will
take on Alabama and LSU in Fayetteville. This marks only the second time that LSU has played in Fayetteville, the other being in 1992. Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, while LSU is No. 3. With the Hogs returning last season’s leaders in total offense, all-purpose yards, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, tackles for loss, quarterback hurries, scoring, field goals, extra points, punting and kickoffs; there is no doubt the Razorbacks have what it takes to win the BCS National Championship this season. Jessie McMullen is a staff writer for The Arkansas Traveler. Her column appears every other Wednesday.
Page 8
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012 The Arkansas Traveler Newspaper
VOLLEYBALL from page 7
from SMITH page 7
zorbacks got down early and never recovered, despite having bursts of energy and fight, they simply came up short. The set was owned by the Sooners who hit a .333 to the Hogs’ .200. Oklahoma won the set 25-18. Coming off being named SEC defensive player of the week, Arkansas libero Emily Helm led the Razorbacks’ defensive attack with 14 digs. “Emily is a great competitor,� Pulliza said. “She plays with a chip on her shoulder every day and she’s a great teammate. Christa Alvarez, Jasmine Norton, and Raymariely Santos also each had double-digit digs with 13, 12, and 11 respectively. Both Arkansas and Oklahoma ended the match
on Monday. The defense has areas to improve, as well. Smith thought the Hogs played the run well, but their secondary and tackling need a little work. “We need to tighten some things up in the secondary, which we’ll work on,� Smith said. “We have some tackling circuits we’re going to put in and try to improve on that. (Tackling) was not near as good as it should be.� Smith was particularly happy with the second half because the Gamecocks didn’t score any touchdowns. At linebacker, Smith said seniors Tenarius Wright and Alonzo Highsmith were “rusty� and that it was “good for them to get some work in.� Senior cornerback Darius Winston struggled against Jacksonville State before being replaced by senior Kaelon Kelleybrew. “Kelleybrew came in and did a decent job,� Smith said. “Darius has to step up now and go earn that spot back.� Smith was also pleased by junior defensive end Chris Smith’s play, which earned him SEC co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He said senior safety Ross Rasner played “one of his better games,� as well. This Saturday, the Hogs take on the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. “We’re looking forward to going to Little Rock. (The players) are excited about it,� Smith said. “The fans there are as good as it gets. It’s a great atmosphere.� As for Louisiana-Monroe, Smith expects them to spread the field and throw the ball more than Jacksonville State. “There are going to be adjustments made on the sideline and some in halftime,� Smith said. “That’s what you have to do in the first few games.�
with 66 team digs each. Jasmine Norton led all players in kills with 19 of the Razorbacks’ 59 total kills. The Sooners ended the match with 51 total kills. However, Oklahoma outdid Arkansas in blocking, recording 14 total team blocks to Arkansas’ nine. “We have to have fight, hard work, and commitment to being great,� Pulliza said of the improvements his team needs to make. “At some point, you just can’t teach that.� Up next, Arkansas will host the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville this weekend. They play HoustonBaptist Friday then Louisiana Monroe and Texas-El Paso Saturday.
Logan Webster Staff Photographer The Razorbacks fell to the Sooners in four sets Tuesday night at Barnhill Arena.
university of
arkansasÂŽ
bookstore
September Product Spotlight Razorback Shop
Clinique
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion $
24
Soften, smooth, and improve the condition and texture of your skin with Dramatically 50 Different Moisturizing Lotion.
Supplies
3� x 5� Index Cards
Nike Polos Start your new year with Razorback gear.
COUNT
1
Ruled & Blank $ Available
99
This semester you will want to dress like a champion.
359
$
Computer Store
General Books
&AYETTECHILL
$ON T GO TO CLASS WITHOUT ONE
flash drives Available in 8GB, 16GB, & 32GB
starting at
$
9
Fall & Winter line available mid September
95
UOFASTORE COM s s . 'ARLAND !VE &AYETTEVILLE