Hogs Bounce Back at Home Page 7
PAGE 1
Vol. 106, NO. 70 UATRAV.COM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Memes Take over Page 5
Project Clean Plate to Reduce Dining Hall Waste by JANNEE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
Officials at Chartwells Dining Services and the Office of Sustainability are instituting Project Clean Plate, a sustainability movement which will run from Feb. 6 to Feb. 16. The project follows a year in which the UA sent approximately 240 metric tons of food waste to landfills. Students can always go back for seconds if they are still hungry, but they should be more mindful of how much they put on their
plates, said Kim Johnson, Chartwells marketing director. “The best description of it would be that it’s an informal buzz campaign,” Johnson said. “Student volunteers will be intercepting students in the dining halls, during dinner hours and talking to them about being more mindful of the food they waste.” To raise awareness on campus, officials will offer the chance to win one of two free Kindles through a raffle. Winners will be chosen at the end of each week,
Johnson said. Food waste is an issue Chartwells officials have tried to address for four years, Johnson said. UA officials made a “gigantic stride” in reducing food waste when Chartwells officials stopped providing trays in the dining halls four years ago, Johnson said. This campaign seeks to reduce that waste even further. Approximately one in six Arkansans live below the poverty line and struggle to provide enough food for
see CLEAN PLATE on page 2
LAUREN HUSBAND STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTLEY CLAWSON, PHOTO COURTESY
Project Clean Plate is a conservation effort executed by Chartwells dining services. Students are encouraged to waste as little food as possible by being more intentional with the amount of food they put on their plate.
This past weekend the Facebook page UARK Memes generated more than 1,500 ‘likes’ from UA students.
Black Students Association UAPD Program To Retrieve Stolen Items Perform for Historical Fashion Show by AMANDA POGUE Staff Writer
by SARAH DEROUEN Staff Writer
The Black Students Association presented a fashion show Thursday as a part of a celebration of Black History Month. The fashion show featured prominent blacks throughout history, with students dressing as everyone from Charles Hamilton Houston to Malcolm X. The finale featured President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. “All the amazing figures that we have seen tonight makes us wonder who of these people that are sitting here today might be the next ones that we’re talking about,” said Stacee Lambey, who moderated the show with Marteze Hammonds. “It just makes us sit back and wonder, ‘What are we doing to make a change in our world today?’” Lambey said. The show featured different forms of art from a range of decades, including a reading of a
poem by Langston Hughes, a gospel performance, a swing dance and a contemporary dance. BSA president Raven Cook, an African American studies major, said that it is very important for students to participate in Black History Month. “If you are an African-American or just anyone in general, you must come to a Black History Month program. There is no excuse why you shouldn’t celebrate your history,” Cook said. Black History Month started as a week-long celebration in 1925 called Negro History Week, but was extended in 1976 to the month-long event with which most Americans are familiar, according to the Library of Congress. “Seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,” said President Gerald R. Ford, according to the Library of Congress.
The University of Arkansas Police Department officers premiered a program designed to help people retrieve stolen merchandise, officials said. LeadsOnline is a national program used by law enforcement agencies to record data on personal property, said UAPD Lt. Gary Crain.
“The program is simple to use and open to everyone. You simply go onto the website, sign up and enter your information. The program asks for serial numbers, descriptions and photographs of your property. The service is completely confidential and is not accessible even by law enforcement agencies,” Crain said. “The information is password protected and accessible only by the person who submitted it,” he said.
The purpose of the service is to give people a database to collect all of their information and keep it in one place, Crain said. “If something is stolen, they can then retrieve their information and give it to the police. That way we can enter it into a database and find it if it’s sold,” he said.
see UAPD on page 3
NAMIKO BAGIRIMVANO PHOTO COURTESY
FROM LEFT: Kesha Boyles, Brittany Rogers-Means, Ashyle Horton, Camilla Harris and Addie Danielle perform at a fashion show Thursday.
In This Issue:
News
News
Features
Features
Sports
The marching band will have auditions until mid April.
Nanotechnology professors spur innovative research.
Top Five Ways to Enjoy UA Student Lights Up Bouncing Back Valentine’s Day Local News, Raises MS Arkansas beat South Carolina 76-65 to snap a Valentine’s Day can come Awareness Profile on Channing Barker, two-game losing streak
Page 2
Page 3
Page 5
Razorback Band Auditions
Research Beat
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 VOL. 106, NO. 70 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM
WEATHER FORECAST
with pressure, but these tips will help you enjoy the day.
TODAY 42°
UA student affected by multiple sclerosis, and KNWA producer.
Page 5 TUESDAY 52°
WEDNESDAY 57°
THURSDAY 55°
Opinion
Plan B: Obama’s Failed Policy Alternative
and set a school record for home wins.
Obama’s new policies have religious groups up in arms. How this will affect the upcoming election year.
Page 7
Page 4
FRIDAY 52°
SATURDAY 53°
Follow us on Twitter at @uatrav
NEWS BRIEFLY SPEAKING: February 13
ASG Executive Election Packet Available
Application packets are available for Associated Student Government executive officers (president, vice president, secretary and treasurer) starting Feb. 1. Applications will be due at noon Friday, Feb. 17, to the Office of Student Activities.
American Institute for Foreign Study Representative on Campus
American Institute for Foreign Study representative Michelle Walters will be on campus to chat about the program opportunities offered by AIFS on Monday, Feb. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Arkansas Union Food Court.
Student Organization Outreach & Involvement Experience Interest Sessions
Student Organization Outreach and Involvement Experience, SOOIE, is a new student organization that is looking for members and officers. SOOIE members will be trained to lead teambuilding activities, retreats, and workshops to help other Registered Student Organizations succeed. Executive officers positions are selected through an application and interview process. This session will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. in Union 507.
February 14
Extreme Makeover: Resume Edition
All business majors are invited to stop by the second floor entrance of the Walton College to get their resumes ready for the upcoming campus career fairs and recruiting season. Walton College Career Center staff will be providing quick 5-minute resume revisions on Feb. 14 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m., and Feb. 15 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Saving lives by utilizing Automated External Defibrillators
This training will cover how and when to use the Lifepak Automated External Defibrillators that have been distributed in buildings on campus. All University employees interested in learning how to use the AEDs should attend this training. The session will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Union room 510.
February 15
International Business in Ireland Drop-In Info Session
Visit Walton College of Business froom 343 to learn about business study-abroad opportunities in Ireland. This informational session will take place from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. Food will be provided.
International Writers Course in Galway Info Meeting
An informational meeting for students interested in the International Writers Course in Galway, Ireland, will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. in Kimpel room 339. Food will be provided.
February 16
Beginning Ballroom and Salsa Dance
This 10 week course will teach you the basic dance steps and styles for several ballroom dances. The class will start off at the Jones Center, but a few of the classes will take place at the Global Campus in Fayetteville. Those changes will be announced in class. Classes will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
February 17
Dual Speaker Event: Greta Christina and JT Eberhard
Occam’s Razors will be hosting two guest speakers, Greta Christina and JT Eberhard. They will begin speaking at 7 p.m. in Giffels Auditorim in Old Main, but there will be free snacks available at 6 p.m. The talks will be especially important to secular thinking but will apply to everyone. Classes will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Razorback Band Auditions Begin by KAREN STIGAR Staff Writer
The UA marching band will have auditions until mid-April for positions in the 2012 Razorback Marching Band, department officials said. “We encourage that if there are any current UA students that want to be on the marching band, they are welcome to set up an audition date and try out for the marching band.” said Connie Vick, administrative support supervisor for the UA band program. Any student with music ability is eligible to audition for the marching band. Students don’t have to be a music major, Vick said. “For the last couple of years there have been 340 students on marching band,” Vick said. There are already about 100 scheduled auditions for next year’s band and we usually have about 120 auditions each year,” Vick said. These auditions are competitive because they determine the amount of merit-based scholarships a band member will receive, according to the UA band website. Of the 340 members of the marching band in the 2011 year, more than 310 students received some type of financial support to help pay tuition and fees, according to the UA band website. The Department of Music offers band scholarships to students based on musical ability, academic achievement and potential contribution to music department ensembles, according to UA catalog of studies/financial aid website. Scholarships are renewable for up to five years as long as the student meets the conditions specified on the scholarship letter or contract. Music and band scholarships are available to music majors and to
CLEAN PLATE from page 1
their families, according to the Arkansas Hunger Alliance website. More than one-fourth of the northwest Arkansas population received some form of food assistance in 2009, according to the website. “Northwest Arkansas has some of the highest hunger rates in the state,” said Carlos Ochoa, interim director of Sustainability. “Think about people going hungry, and we’re just throwing food away.” Food waste also has substantial economic and environmental effects, Ochoa said. “The agriculture industry depends on oil and it takes a lot of input to make that food,” Ochoa said. “It’s also an investment just to transport that waste to a landfill. We probably spent $36,000 last year just taking that stuff to the landfill.”
students majoring in other areas who participate in certain ensembles and all scholarships require an audition, according to the UA catalog of studies/ financial aid website. Current marching band members do not have to tryout again. Tryouts are for incoming freshmen and any current student who is interested, Vick said. Music majors who want to audition should contact Connie Vick and be prepared to perform two excerpts of contrasting styles that best represent the student’s highest technical and musical achievement, according to the UA band website. Non-music majors will audition for band directors and should be prepared to preform two excerpts of contrasting styles, the chromatic and all major scales and sight reading, according to the UA band website. “Non-music majors should look on the website and choose a date to schedule an audition. Music majors will schedule a specific date with applied professors,” Vick said. All non-music major auditions will be scheduled for 12:30 p.m. according to the UA band website. “For all auditions, the students need to report to the band department. But all the music majors auditioning are held in the band building,” Vick said. There will be two auditions for percussionists. First-round auditions will be throughout February and early March. Those individuals who pass on to the final audition will be notified by email, according to the UA band website. Audition information is available on the Razorback Marching Band website. Students can schedule an audition and find scholarship information by contacting the UA band office.
ABOUT THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER The Arkansas Traveler, the student newspaper of the University of Arkansas, is published every day during the fall and spring academic sessions except during exam periods and university holidays. Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Traveler. The editor makes all final content decisions. One copy of The Arkansas Traveler is free to every member of the UA community. Additional copies can be purchased for 50 cents each. Mail subscriptions for delivery within the continental United States can be purchased for $125.00 per semester. Contact the Traveler Business Manager to arrange.
CONTACT 119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Main: 479.575.3406 Fax: 479.575.3306 traveler@uark.edu
Scan to call us!
facebook.com/uatrav twitter.com/uatrav
STAFF EDITORIAL SABA NASEEM
ZACH TURNER
Editor -in-Chief 575-8455 traveler@uark.edu
Asst. Sports Editor
CHAD WOODARD
News Editor 575-3226 travnews@uark.edu
MATTIE QUINN
Managing Editor travmgr@uark.edu
BRITTANY NIMS
LAUREN LEATHERBY
Asst. News Editor
Features Editor 575-7540 travlife@uark.edu
EMILY RHODES
KELSI FORD
BEN FLOWERS
Opinion Editor
Asst. Features Editor
Photo Editor
JIMMY CARTER
SHELBY GILL
Sports Editor 575-7051 travsprt@uark.edu
Special Projects Editor
MEGAN HUCKABY Multimedia Editor
ADVERTISING & DESIGN CANNON MCNAIR
MICY LIU
Advertising Director 575-3839 travad1@uark.edu
Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu
JAIME HOLLAND
AARON TAN
Account Executive 575-3899 travad2@uark.edu
Campus Account Executive 575-7594 travad4@uark.edu
ZACHARY FRY
ANDY KOUCKY
Account Executive 575-8714 travad3@uark.edu
Account Executive 575-8714 travad3@uark.edu
ERIK NORTHFELL
Lead Designer/ Web Developer
SARAH COLPITTS Features Designer
KATE BEEBE
CELI BIRKE
Graphic Designer
News Designer
DYLAN CRAIG
SEAN MORRISON Sports Designer
Graphic Designer
Food waste also produces methane, a greenhouse gas which is 20 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website. Chartwells officials have worked with the Sustainability Council on issues of food waste outside of Project Clean Plate, Johnson said. “We’re also looking at other options for how to handle the waste we do produce, because there’s always going to be some waste,” Johnson said. “We tried composting, using earth tubs, but due to the type of waste, composting doesn’t necessarily work.” Food waste can lead to problems that affect everyone’s day-to-day lives. When left in landfills, food waste runoff can contaminate ground water, Ochoa said. “This isn’t really about the free Kindles, it’s about education,” he said, “Knowing is an ingredient to finding a solution.”
PAGE 2
CORRECTIONS The Arkansas Traveler strives for accuracy in its reporting and will correct all matters of fact. If you believe the paper has printed an error, please notify the editor at 575.8455 or at traveler@uark.edu.
CAMPUS NUMBERS NEED EMERGENCY HELP? CALL UAPD 575-2222
The women and men of the University of Arkansas Police Department, in partnership with the community, are committed to protecting the future of Arkansas by promoting a safe and secure environment.
HAVE A TICKET? CALL 575-7275 TO RESOLVE IT
The Transit and Parking office handles parking permits and passes and transit for students, including bus routes and GoLoco Ride Sharing. Students with parking violations can contact the office to appeal their citation.
NEED A RIDE AT NIGHT? CALL 575 - 7233
Otherwise known as 575-SAFE, the mission of the Safe Ride program is to provide students with a safe means of transportation from any uncomfortable or inconvenient situation. Safe Ride brings you home safely.
NEED TICKETS? CALL 1-800-982-4647 Don’t forget to call early and reserve your student football tickets for the 2010-2011 season. The ticket office is located on Razorback Road next to Baum Stadium.
PAGE 3
NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 UAPD
from page 1
Special Traveler Beat
RESEARCH Nanotechnology Professors Spur Innovative Research by CHVEN MITCHELL Staff Writer
Officially established in 2011, the UA Nanoscale Material Science and Engineering building has quickly become a hub of new research that stands tall on Dickson Street. “The new Nano science building is very special. It’s a great place specifically constructed for high-end instrumentation,” said Mourad Benamara, director of Arkansas Electron Optics. “We want to know what happens on such an extremely tiny material scale,” Benamara said. “We also want to develop new material at that scale.” “Nanoscience refers to the ability to manipulate individual atoms and molecules, making it possible to build machines on the scale of human cells or create materials and structures from the bottom up with novel properties,” according to National Science Foundation website.
Material at the nano scale takes on different physical properties, Benamara said. These can be physical, chemical, electronic or mechanic. “For instance, paint. What if you could develop some nano material to include into the paint so that when the paint is used on a wall it will not allow anyone in the room to receive a phone call?” Benamara said. “A nano material can also be developed to reduce the penetration of electromagnetic waves inside the room,” Benamara said. “We are developing nanomaterials for the future.” The technology has great scientific implications. New materials that can be created from nano research are the basis for major technological advances of the future, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. “This work can, in the future, generate grants which will greatly benefit the students at the UA,” Benamara said.
Benamara’s department provides analytical services to a range of local scientists, which furthers its regional impact, Benamara said. “We collaborate with many people on campus, from electrical engineering, chemistry, geoscience and physics,” he said. “We characterize samples for all UA departments, supporting the scientist on campus.” This makes the UA nanotechnology a student-centered field, Benamara said. “The nanoscience building offers students an environment where they can conduct their research without having to send samples away to a nano research facility or lab,” Benamara stated. “The scientists, the materials and technology now exist here on campus, and this will generate interest from other scientist within the region wishing to use or collaborate with UA scientist and the Nanotechnology facility,” Benarama said.
The Rising Tide
The full moon rises above Old Main on Monday, February 6.
KRIS JOHNSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
People can enter the information into the website themselves or they can have UAPD do it for them. At the UAPD headquarters and substation, people can pick up a form, fill it out and return it to UAPD to be entered into the database, Crain said. While the service has not
had to be utilized by the department, UAPD hopes that students will use it. “We had an incident where some laptops were stolen. Because the students had their serial numbers recorded in some way, we were able to retrieve the laptops when they were sold to a pawn shop,”
Crain said. All property- electronics, jewelry, bicycles and moreshould be documented on the website, he said. “We ask that everyone document their property, safeguard it as much as possible and report it in a timely manner if it is stolen,” Crain said.
Above the Curve
KRIS JOHNSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior art student KC paints the front facade of Mullins Library for an advanced painting class.
OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
PAGE 4
Scan here to go to the Opinion section on uatrav.com
EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
FROM THE BOARD
Student Loan Proposal Takes Student Power to Pay It’s student loan time again – filling out the FAFSA, checking on Sallie Mae paperwork, and preparing for the summer and fall semesters. But while we’re racking up student debt, with hopes to get a good enough job after graduation to pay our hefty loans, one group of college students have come up with a different plan for repayment. “No to debt slavery.” A concept that could very quickly become one way that we repay our education debts without having to remember our bill each month. Though this might seem like a quick fix to avoiding late payments, the program could cause more problems that it fixes. The idea behind the FixUC proposal, which in time could pave the way for other colleges and universities, is to get rid of the monthly payments and let students pay for their tuition with a fixed percentage of their income for the 20 years following graduation. Though many of us light up at the idea of not having to worry about our loans, rather that they would simply be taken out of our income and forgotten about by us and our monthly budgets, how can we take this program into serious consideration when there is such a huge span in our projected income levels? Many of us are hoping that we can land a job that pays just enough following graduation, but for some of us, our paychecks could be wildly over or under our expectations. The prospect of making a $20,000 paycheck or a $100,000 paycheck makes us ask the question – if we have a fixed percentage of our paychecks taken out for tuition for a set amount of time, how is that fair to those making a larger income each year? Potentially, this could mean one student could pay thousands, while another only pay hundreds for the same level of education. With no prospect yet of making this number variable for different income levels, the idea seems entirely problematic and a bad idea for the any student. This program, though making it easier when it comes to remembering bills each month, would put students in a position to desire lower paying jobs, as one of our larger bills, our student loans, would be cheaper. Higher education institutions can’t put students in a box, making financial choices based on the “average.” We need to instead take out our loans and be prepared to pay off our individual debts, however much they may be.
Students Mourn Death Of Music Great For many of us, Saturday came and went with a schedule of sleeping in, hanging out with friends and relaxing from a busy week of school. Yet, while most us were sitting at home watching the basketball game, the news of Whitney Houston’s death came as a shock. As a music icon for our generation, many of us probably have some distinct, and entirely comedic memories of singing “I will always love you,” while bopping around our living rooms to “I wanna dance with somebody,” And while the times have moved to a radio playlist of Ke$ha, Flo Rida and David Guetta, we need to remember our past and honor the late music star who gave us so many hits to dance to while growing up. Along with other greats, Houston was just one of our icons who died at an extremely early age. At 48, Houston died on the Grammy Awards eve, making a splash in news headlines. And while many of us remember her through reports of rehab, crazed behavior and drug use, we should rather remember her for her loud stage presence, strong voice and for everything she gave to the world of music. Whitney Houston, we will always love you. Whether it’s from the Coca Cola commercials, “The Bodyguard,” or simply our memories from long ago, we at the Traveler, along with many of our fellow students, will mourn the death of pop sensation in the best way possible – by once more listening to the music great belt the words to her most popular hits.
Traveler Quote of the Day
HEBRON CHESTER Staff Cartoonist
Muslim Youth— The Importance of Voting From the Editor
by SABA NASEEM Editor
Only 51 percent of Muslim youth from the ages of 18 to 29 were registered to vote in the 2008 presidential elections, according to the 2009 Gallup Poll “Muslim Americans: A National Portrait.” This is the lowest percentage recorded among young Americans, according to the findings. So why aren’t the Muslim youth voting? What is the root of this apathy (if that’s what you want to call it)? One factor is probably American foreign policy. Though most of the Muslim youth are American citizens by birth, many have parents who immigrated from the Middle
Rocket Science
by JOE KIEKLAK
Traveler Columnist
EDITOR Saba Naseem MANAGING EDITOR Mattie Quinn OPINION EDITOR Emily Rhodes The Arkansas Traveler welcomes letters to the editor from all interested readers. Letters should be at most 300 words and should include your name, student classification and major or title with the university and a day-time telephone number for verification. Letters should be sent to traveler@uark.edu.
Muslims in general as belonging to a backwards religion. The word Islamaphobia- “an unfounded fear of and hostility towards Islam,” according to the Council of AmericanIslamic relations- has worked it’s way into American life. Islamaphobia leads to alienation and the youth questioning their influence in a country where they feel like they aren’t accepted and where their religion is constantly under attack. In Tariq Ramadan’s book, “What I believe”, he discusses how Western Muslims can maintain dual identities as Muslims and as loyal citizens of their country. He writes, “When it is made clear that they are at home in the West, that the Way of faithfulness to higher principles must be followed both here and elsewhere, that they must stop considering themselves a minority but that on the contrary knowing their duties as well as their rights as citizens involved in the majority is a necessity: when all that is made clear, Muslims will be called up to take responsibility for themselves and get rid of the victim mind set.”
His point is that Muslim Americans need to make themselves a part of the majority and involve themselves as citizens. Voting, of course, is a privilege as well as a duty to one’s country, and a basic way to show that you care for your country’s future and wellbeing. On the flip side, people who are giving rise to this Islamaphobia need to be more sensitive to Islam and try to learn about it, rather than outright reject it. There is a balance to be sought out by both sides. While the American Muslim youth may be integrated into today’s society- many of them were born here and would identify themselves as more American than anything else- they need to fully involve themselves in the future of this country and take advantage of the rights they are given. Saba Naseem is a journalism, French and Middle Eastern studies major, and the editor of the Traveler. Her column appears every other Monday.
Plan B: Obama’s Failed Policy Alternative
“This isn’t really about the free Kindles, it’s about education,” he said, “Knowing is an ingredient to finding a solution.” - Carlos Ochoa, interim director of Sustainability, “Project Clean Plate Aims to Reduce Dining Hall Waste,” page 1.
EDITORIAL
East or South Asia. The relationship between America and the predominantly Muslim populated countries has been far from perfect in the past— The Gulf war, the War on Iraq, the War on Afghanistan and of course, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many Muslims have felt that American relations in the Middle East in the past have lacked an important understanding of the religion and various cultures that encompass the region. And so many may ask, why vote when the policies never seem to change? This lack of understanding has echoed in terms of Muslims in America. After 9/11, 55 percent of Muslims say it has been harder to live in the United States, according to the 2011 Pew Research Center findings. Immediately after 9/11, Islam was on the spotlight. Some wanted to understand it, some wanted to hate it and others simply didn’t see the correlation between the terrorist attacks and Islam. The media, in many instances, portrays a non-objective view of Muslims. Different media outlets have portrayed Muslim women as oppressed, bearded men as radicals and
With the general election full speed ahead, and a long break before the GOP “Super Tuesday,” all eyes have turned to Obama. An economic report card that has seemingly taken a turn for the better, along with a flourishing grassroots movement, the president’s stars may have aligned just in time to give Republican contenders a run for their money. As natural, however, the president can’t please anyone, and has one group up in arms this week Catholics. After spending 10 years in the Catholic school system and what seemed like more than that thumbing around the decades of the Rosary, I’ve taken particular interest in the issue. Yet, one need not be Catholic to see Obama’s problems on this issue. Last week, Obama was met with vehement criticism because of his recent decision to force religious-affiliated employers in Cath-
olic hospitals and colleges to include a birth control provision in their health insurance plans. Many may not see problems in this, but as is the Catholic belief to abstain from birth control as not to interrupt the natural consequences of sexual intercourse, Obama’s policies forced those institutions to inherently contradict themselves. Feeling pressure from one of the strongest coast-to-coast voting blocs and it being this close to an election season, the Obama administration quickly rescinded its original mandate, and worked quickly to ease national tensions. Obama’s “plan b” is only OK, though. Last week, the president announced that he would back down from the mandate, and tweak his recent insurance resolution. While women would still be able to obtain birth control under the mandate, Obama took the pressure off religious institutions to provide it for them. Instead, insurers would take the responsibility of including it in plans. Happy to be able to appease a majority of Catholics concerned with the matter, the Obama administration is boasting the plan. “We didn’t expect to get universal support of the bishops or all Catholics,” said White House Chief of Staff, Jacob Lew. “I think that what we have here is a policy that reflects bringing together two very important principles in a way that’s true to the American tradition.” Lew is partially correct - keep-
ing in mind the situation the president was faced with. While largely shifting the costs away from employers, Obama helped secure birth control to millions of women, which is incredibly beneficial for the Democratic Party. Each enfranchised woman is one more vote for the president who will likely be facing a close race in November. Yet, boasting aside, the problem is still is inherent contradiction in the plan. For some opponents of the original plan, most notably presidential candidate Rick Santorum, however, the compromise isn’t enough. While I’m glad Santorum is on the offensive, he’s going about it the wrong way. “There’s no compromise here,” Santorum said. “They are forcing religious organizations, either directly or indirectly, to pay for something that they find is a deeply, morally, you know, wrong thing. And this is not what the government should be doing.” Santorum, a favorite among evangelical and religious conservatives, seems to be digging himself into a hole though. Over the last four years, Obama has been able to efficiently alienate conservatives, and Santorum is playing right into his hands by attacking the president on a moral front. While Santorum is coming off three big wins in recent primary races, continuing the anti-birth control bravado is a sure way to drive him away from the coveted
Republican presidential nomination. The most valid concern of the compromise comes from House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. While Santorum attempted to shift voters into noticing the moral dilemma, taking a largely anti-contraception stance, Ryan noted the deception that the Obama administration is trying to sell to voters. The lie is in that many religious organizations are self-insured, meaning they still front the costs of birth control, Ryan said. Religious institutions will still face provisions that are contradictory to their beliefs. Without taking sides, it’s overwhelmingly illogical for the Obama administration to do this. The issues isn’t the morality of birth control, it’s the freedom of companies to have those morals and beliefs. “This should be rescinded, not compromised like this, because I would, again, say it’s not a compromise,” Ryan said. “The president’s doubling down.” Ryan is exactly right, and we need to see the president guarantee those freedoms to those institutions while extending birth control to women - they are not mutually exclusive. Joe Kieklak is a Traveler columnist. His column appears every Monday.
Scan here to go to the Features section on uatrav.com:
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
FEATURES PAGE 5
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
by LAUREN LEATHERBY Features Editor
The recent fad sweeping the UA campus is the Facebook page UARK memes. In 24 hours, nearly 100 students posted memes on the Facebook page, making jokes about everything from the lacking air conditioning in Humphreys Hall to the Arkansas Newswire emails that flood UA students’ inboxes at 2 a.m. in the morning. Memes (pronounced meems for students who may not be familiar with them) have long been popular on sites like Reddit and 9gag, but have recently become popular on Facebook as well. One student saw genius in this and started the UARK memes page on Thursday evening. The tagline on the Facebook page reads, “Avoid homework. Post memes,” and it seems that many UA students have heeded the call. Since UARK memes joined Facebook Thursday evening, more than 1600 students have ‘liked’ the page, and hundreds have posted memes. Some of the memes have gotten as many as 400 ‘likes’ from other students. “I think they’re funny,” said Macy Brisben, junior. “It brings students together in a relatable way because we all know what it’s talking about.” The memes can be addicting, too. When junior Paige Nelson showed her friend Jordan Hilton the Facebook page on Friday, Hilton was hooked. “I couldn’t fall asleep until I read a lot of them,” Hilton said. Alex Kidd, the UA student who started the page, was surprised at the page’s rise to popularity almost overnight. “I have always assumed that people who read Internet memes were a minority at the UA, but it appears that
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
quite a few people here are familiar with some of the best,” Kidd said, “Just when I thought I was forever alone,” he said, in reference to the ‘forever alone’ meme. Kidd decided to start the page after he saw a friend from another university post a meme that was specific to their university. He got the idea to make a page for students to share their experience at the UA through memes. Sophomore Grayson Barber first saw the page on Friday afternoon. At that point it had about 600 ‘likes.’ By that evening, he said, the page had more than 1000 ‘likes.’ Barber has made four memes so far using sites like memegenerator.com, he said. “I think that UARK memes allows students to express their feelings about the UA in a humorous way,” Barber said. “Memes are an Internet culture, and their humor applies to all sorts of people, so it’s not really surprising that UARK memes became so popular.”
Some of the students who post memes on the page, though, get frustrated when they see other students using the memes incorrectly. “I have noticed quite a few mentions on the page about the ‘improper use’ of certain memes,” Kidd said. “Not everyone has a PhD in meme-origins and their uses. Memes are supposed to be clever and fun, nothing more. Everyone should feel free to give meme-making a shot and share theirs with other students.” As the number of UA students that ‘like’ the page grow, memes will continue to come in, causing students to come together and laugh about things to which all UA students can relate.
BY: COREY BRADY BY: KEVIN SIMMONS
by CAITLYN SWAIN Staff Writer
Rick’s Bakery offers a wide variety of Valentine’s day treats every year.
While advertisements repeat over and over that students need to buy their special someone a perfect gift, effort and thoughtfulness are much more important than money spent. Often a homemade gift or a wellthought-out date idea can mean more than an expensive teddy bear.
Even though there is pressure to have your special date on Valentine’s Day itself, sometimes homework and work schedules can make a Tuesdaynight date nearly impossible. Deferring dinner to another night, especially considering how crowded restaurants can be on Valentine’s Day, is completely understandable.
Often a creative date with an experience to remember can be bet-
BY: BRYCE JORDAN
JACKI FROST STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ter than splurging on roses, boxes of chocolate and teddy bears for your special someone. Creative dates could include a trip to the Gentry Zoo, Eureka Springs, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art or Mount Sequoyah, among others.
With a pen and clipboard in hand, Channing Barker clocks in to produce the KNWA evening news. As the cameras get ready to roll, she prepares for another broadcast. During the week, Barker works at UATV, where she has produced and anchored since 2007. With an already impressive career, Barker derives inspiration from an unlikely source. At age 16, Barker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease that damages the myelin sheath of the brain and spinal cord. MS has affected millions of Americans, from comedian Richard Pryor to actress Annette Funicello. As an overachieving broadcast journalism and political science student, Barker uses her diagnosis to inspire awareness for multiple sclerosis.
“It was very important to me to get the word out on multiple sclerosis. It often seems to go unnoticed,” she said. In April, Barker will participate in the Walk MS Northwest Arkansas, a rally to raise awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis research. The walk will consist of more than 500 Northwest Arkansas residents of all ages, and participants hope to raise a minimum of $40,000 for research. The cause has given Barker an opportunity to reach out to other UA students with connection to the disease. “One of my friends, Jordan Carr, has done monumental things for MS awareness in the community,” Barker said. “When his mother was diagnosed with MS, he chose to spearhead the walk.” Barker’s journalistic career has also opened doors for her cause. Last summer, while living in Washington, D.C., she advocated on
Capitol Hill for MS awareness. After college, Barker hopes to remain in Arkansas and continue working as a television broadcasting producer. “I really love my job at KNWA. Working there has been an amazing experience thus far,” she said. “I really love the environment of the workplace.” Likewise, Barker loves her experiences at the university’s own UATV. Since 2007, she has produced student television, anchored, and was even recognized as a senior staff member in 2011. For those affected by MS, Channing offers words of encouragement. “It’s very important to feel connected to one another,” she said. To learn more about multiple sclerosis, visit nationalmssociety. org for more information on the program, how to become a participant and how to donate to the cause.
By this time, Valentine’s Day reservations at Fayetteville’s hottest restaurants may already be booked up. Getting a recipe and cooking a homemade meal can be even more romantic, and won’t require a long waiting time in a crowded restaurant. Cooking together can even be part of the date.
For students that will be on a first date for their Valentine’s Day, it is important to remember to relax and be who you are. Put some effort into your outfit, but there’s no need to spend hours to look perfect. Enjoy yourself and be genuine, because that’s the most surefire way to enjoy a first date.
CHAD ARNOLD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
When she isn’t occupied by her involvement in multiple sclerosis causes, senior Channing Barker is hard at work producing and anchoring for UATV. Barker has been at the station since 2007 and a part of the senior staff since 2011. “UATV has grown tremendously, from the people to the actual station itself,” Barker said about working throughout the years.
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
DOWNTIME Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
PAGE 6 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
LAUGH IT UP
SUDOKU
Q: Why did the skeleton skip the party? A: He didn’t have anybody to go with. Q:Why do gorillas have big nostrils? A: Becuase they have big fingers Q: What do you call a pony with a sore throat?
A: A little horse.
Difficulty:
Q: What has 4 legs and says “boo?” A:A cow with a cold.
TODAY’S SOLUTION
You want to hear something corny? Iowa.
WELCOME TO FALLING ROCK
Josh Shalek
THAT MONKEY TUNE
Michael A. Kandalaft
BREWSTER ROCKIT
Tim Rickard
BLISS
Harry Bliss
CALAMITIES OF NATURE
CROSSWORD ACROSS
DOWN
1 NASDAQ debuts 5 Silly 10 ‘60s-’70s pitcher nicknamed Blue Moon 14 Attic-dweller of ‘70s-’80s TV 15 Home of a mythical lion 16 Admonition to Nanette? 17 State of the Union, say 20 Miniature surveillance gadget 21 Rear ends of a sort 22 What there oughta be 24 Skirmish 25 Military tradition 33 Sch. with a Narragansett Bay campus 34 Odin’s group 35 Tuned to 36 Word with mala or bona 38 Works in a Catalonian museum 40 Classico competitor 41 Element 100 eponym 43 Betty Crocker salad topping 45 Crosswalk sign word 46 Looney Tunes genre 49 Eastern tongue 50 It might be a close call 51 Japanese golfer in the World Golf Hall of Fame 56 Make a connection (with) 60 Useful waste, what’s literally hidden in 17-, 25- and 46-Across 62 Leafy veggie 63 Merge 64 Scot’s vacation site 65 Insult 66 Try to persuade, with “with” 67 Sean’s mom
1 Troublemakers 2 Info 3 French touchdown site 4 Alpine wear 5 Like many short films 6 Workout target 7 Jobs creation? 8 “The Fugitive” actress Ward 9 Easy-Bake Oven maker 10 Used car selling point 11 Performs 12 Singly 13 Mineralogist Friedrich 18 Two-time Oscar nominee Shire 19 Standard partner 23 Horseradish relative 25 Blows 26 Cantilevered window 27 Libya’s Gulf of __ 28 Not a deep purple 29 Pains in the neck 30 Bivouac 31 Wreaked havoc, as a battle 32 Prepare, in a way 37 Strike target 39 Of questionable repute 42 First name in sci-fi 44 Balkan capital 47 Install needed equipment 48 Like five per cent, to a server 51 Nettles 52 Sea World clapper 53 First Amendment advocacy gp. 54 __ Ration 55 Romeo’s last words 57 “Am __ late?” 58 Twisted 59 Comeback 61 Harper Valley org.
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
Tony Piro
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
PAGE 7
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Scan here to go to the Sports section on uatrav.com:
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER BASKETBALL
BASEBALL
Hogs Trying to Heal by MARTHA SWEARINGEN Staff Writer
With just a few days left until the season opener at Baum Stadium against Villanova, the weather has been less than average and several Razorbacks are still trying to heal from injuries sustained in practice. Junior outfielder Matt Vinson and junior third baseman Matt Reynolds both sustained injuries in practice. “Vinson’s back is bothering him a little bit, hurt it the other day,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “He actually hurt it in the weight room, which isn’t a good thing.” Reynolds also suffered a minor injury during practice last week. “I strained my hip flexor
on Sunday during the scrimmage, so I’m just trying to take it day by day right now that way I’m 100 percent on opening day,” Reynolds said. Vinson is close to a full recovery and Van Horn said he thinks both players will be okay by Tuesday. Pitching rotation undecided Arkansas pitching staff is led by team captain and pre-season All-American DJ Baxendale and Ryne Stanek, Baseball America’s No. 3 sophomore prospect in the country. The duo will be the Razorbacks’ Friday and Saturday starters in the season opening series. “Our staff is ridiculously
see BASEBALL on page 8
TRACK
RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas freshman guard BJ Young scored a home career-high 27 points in the Razorbacks’ 76-65 win against South Carolina. Young led all scorers and was part of the Razorback’s 51 points off the bench, outscoring South Carolina’s bench by 28 points.
Hogs Bounce Back at Home by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor
The difference between playing at home and on the road was on full display Saturday in Bud Walton Arena. On Wednesday, Arkansas lost 81-59 at Georgia, a team that entered the week tied for last in the Southeastern Conference. Saturday the Razorbacks earned a 76-65 win against South Carolina, a team that entered the game last in the conference standings. The Hogs (17-8, 5-5 SEC) remained undefeated at Bud
Walton in their arena-record 17th win this season. “They showed what they’re made out of, I think more than anything,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. “When we’ve lost a game, we’ve always responded well. To me, that’s been the tale of this team all year long. I thought the Georgia game we just didn’t play well at all. “So now we had an opportunity to just get that taste out of your mouth. Just get that feeling out of knowing that you’re better than what you played.” South Carolina tied the game at 27, then the Razor-
backs went on a game-defining run. Arkansas held the Gamecocks scoreless for more than eight minutes as part of a 17-0 run that spanned both halves and turned a close game into a double-digit cushion. “It was like 3:50 left (in the first half) and we were in the huddle and Coach (Anderson) told us we want to really extend this lead,” freshman guard BJ Young said. “We do four minute drills in practice just to see how intense we can get and how much pressure we can put on a team. “So we said let’s do a fourminute drill right here and put
as much pressure on them as we can and that’s what we did.” The Razorbacks led by as many as 23 in the second half, pressuring South Carolina into 21 turnovers. “It’s not just turning the ball over but turnovers that lead to easy baskets for them,” South Carolina coach Darrin Horn said. Young scored a home career-high 27 points and had four assists, leading the Razorbacks to their first win in three games and snapping a skid of
see HOGS BOUNCE on page 8
Mitchell Provides Hardwood Spark
by ZACH TURNER
Asst. Sports Editor
South Carolina coach Darrin Horn said Arkansas’ football player was a non-factor in the Razorbacks 76-65 win over the Gamecocks. However, forward Brandon Mitchell posted eight points and four rebounds in the winning effort while Gamecock starting point guard Bruce Ellington, also football player on the Gamecocks football team, scored nine points and pulled down four rebounds. “Brandon Mitchell, who is in better basketball shape and you can see that, has a good basketball IQ,” coach Mike Anderson said. “That is not bad for a football player who you can tell RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER has basketball in his blood. He Arkansas backup quarterback and sophomore forward Brandon Mitchell dunked in two of his eight made a lot of very very good depoints while also pulling down four rebounds for the Razorbacks in their 76-65 win over South Carolina. cisions.”
Ellington committed four of South Carolina’s 21 turnovers as Mitchell just turned it over three times for the Razorbacks. With a shoulder injury sidelining starting forward Michael Sanchez, Mitchell saw his minutes increase logging a careerhigh 16 minutes for the Hogs. “He really helped our basketball team with Mike Sanchez not playing today,” Anderson said. “Our bench played well, they scored 51 points and we scored 76 total points so that tells you the strength of our team.” Mitchell, the Hogs backup quarterback on the football team, had seen just four minutes of action over the course of three games since joining the team after Arkansas’ Cotton Bowl win against Kansas State.
see MITCHELL on page 8
Arkansas Shines at Tyson Invitational byZACH LIGI
Staff Writer
The top ranked Arkansas men’s team punched its ticket with a national qualifier in the men’s 4x400 relay at the Tyson Invitational Saturday. The Razorbacks 4X400 team had a dominating performance in their event of the USA Track and Field Classic, missing the national record by only two-tenths of a second. The Razorbacks finished the relay with a time of 3:03.76 with second place going to South Plains’ time of 3:05.41. “Great great effort from all four guys in that relay,” assistant coach Doug Case said. “We knew we could run really fast, we didn’t necessarily know we’d two-tenths off the collegiate record. We thought we’d run really fast, threeoh three is a great effort from everybody, we feel accomplished.” The annual Tyson Invita-
HARRISON STANFILL hstanfill@uark.edu CAUTION: You are about to read a way too early, reactionary column about the first four games of Jeremy Lin’s career as the New York Knicks starting point guard. Proceed accordingly.
No matter what people say, everybody loves an underdog story. Jeremy Lin is Rudy, Average Joe’s Dodgeball, Bosie State and Tim Tebow all rolled into one. An Asian-American, Harvard graduate, undrafted free agent has done the unthinkable and taken New York by storm. New York is a tough town, just ask Eli Manning, who, after two Super Bowl wins, is still going to be booed after a bad game. If you don’t win, especially in New York City, nobody cares and the Knicks were on the verge of being a WNBA team. Until Jeremy Lin showed up. The New York Knicks are
one of the most storied teams in the NBA. When you think about all the great players that have played in the Garden like Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Walt Frazier, Earl Malone and Carmelo Anthony, the last person you would think to be on that list would be a former Ivy League guard who has started in four games, but that is exactly where this is going. The Jeremy Lin phenomena has taken on a life of its own, inspiring an array of nicknames, masks that fans can wear, a hilarious and quite amazing rap song on YouTube and pissing off Kobe Bryant. So needless to say, New York is in love.
“Linsanity” is approaching “Tebowmania” and it’s coming up quickly. The two movements have their similarities. Both involve players that most people didn’t give a chance at the next level, two well-spoken athletes who have gained more notoriety off the field than on (in a good way), two last names that have been added into normal words and they both win. The Knicks have won five straight since Lin became the starting point guard, but here is where Lin and Tebow separate –– the Knicks are winning BECAUSE of Jeremy Lin not despite him. In his five games as a start-
see TRACK on page 8
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior distance runner Lane Boyer ran a first place time of 14:15.81 in the 5,000 meter run at the annual Tyson Invitational.
Linsanity is Coming Going for it on 4th
tional meet is held at the Randall Tyson Indoor Track Center and is televised by ESPN. “The home crowd is huge,” Case said. “Calling the hogs before and after the race, those type of things, they take us to another level. We are very appreciative of that, from everybody. Qualifying in the 4X400 was not the only highlight of the meet for the Hogs, they also placed first in two other events. Senior distance runner Lane Boyer ran a first place time of 14:15.81 in the 5000 meter run, and runner Anthony Lieghio placed first in the 800 meters with a time of 1:48.58. Other than the collegiate teams that Arkansas faced, there were also professional and Olympic athletes competing at the meet. The USATAFC was held in Fayetteville this
er, Lin has dropped 25, 28, 23, 38 and 20 points. It is one thing to have good games against Washington, Utah and New Jersey, but where players are really measured is how they perform against the best. Great players shine on the big stage, and there was no greater stage than Friday night, Madison Square Garden, on ESPN, against the Los Angeles Lakers. Lin came to ball. He dropped 38 points in front of a packed house with Spike Lee running around on the sidelines and Kobe Bryant purposefully trying to outplay him. Well, better luck next time Kobe.
COMMENTARY
Jeremy Lin is slaying giants and is going to go down as the best player in the history of the New York Knicks. Without their two best players, the Knicks have won five straight on the back of Jeremy Lin. Before I go let me leave you with this: “The haters gonna hate and call him lucky / first Ivy Leaguer in the league since Chris Dudley.” –Random Rapper on YouTube If that doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what does. Harrison Stanfill is a staff writer for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Monday.
SPORTS from HOGS BOUNCE on page 7 three losses in four games. “We were ready just to come back home and show our fans that we had some ups and downs, but we’re still a pretty good team,” Young said. “We’re just a work in progress. Just came out here and wanted to show our fans we’re getting a little better every day.” Young scored 16 in the first half, including five in the run before halftime. He pushed the pace throughout. “BJ came off the bench and gave us a big lift in terms of scoring,” Anderson said. “When the game is up and down, you can see he’s at his best, knocking shots down, getting to the basket.” The Gamecocks used a 16-0
from MITCHELL on page 7 The 6-foot-4 multi-sport athlete threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns while also adding two rushing touchdowns for the 11-2 Razorback football team this season. “He brought great energy to the game because he is in basketball shape now,” freshman forward Devonta Abron said of Mitchell. “He can get up off the floor. In practice it is 94 feet but we play 95 feet because we play outside the lines. We bang, hustle, get scratches and bruises but we still come back and bang. He has helped us a lot.” Mitchell had registered just one rebound this season prior to Saturday’s game. South Carolina sophomore Bruce Ellington played receiver for the Gamecock’s 11-2 football team, hauling in 17 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown. The 5-foot-9 guard averages 10.7 points and 2.7 assists for the 9-15 Gamecocks. “I thought we dictated the tempo of that game trying to get the ball out of Ellington’s hands,” Anderson said. Mitchell played in four games his freshman season un-
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
run to pull within 68-61 with less than three minutes remaining, but the Hogs clamped down late. “They wouldn’t go away,” Anderson said. “At times their pressure bothered us, which it shouldn’t have. I thought we were a little careless. I thought we started playing not to lose, as opposed to playing to win.” Arkansas outrebounded South Carolina 32-30 one game after being outrebounded 44-21 by Georgia. “We were real hungry,” freshman forward Devonta Abron said. “We just went after the ball. We just challenged each other to see how many rebounds we can get apiece. We go out and challenge each other.” Devonta Abron scored an SEC-high 10 points and
grabbed six rebounds for the Razorbacks. “Devonta set the tone,” Anderson said. “I even showed him to the guys. He had blood on his pants. On his shorts. That told me then, he was in the trenches tonight. He was in the trenches this afternoon. He just gives us a presence.” The Hogs play on the road for the third time in four games Wednesday at Tennessee. It will another opportunity to win away from Bud Walton, something Arkansas hasn’t done in eight opportunities. “It feels great to have the record at home, but it would feel even better to go out on the road and take one in somebody else’s house,” Young said. “Hopefully we can transfer it over to the road and get a road win soon.”
der coach John Pelphrey, averaging 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds. The Amite, La., native was a member of Arkansas’ 2009 football recruiting class, while Ellington took the basketball route out of high school and was a member of the 2010 South Carolina basketball recruiting class. Two of Mitchell’s points came on a dunk off an assist from freshman guard Ky Madden. Mitchell also made an impact on the defensive end blocking one shot and stealing one pass. “He is very athletic,” freshman guard BJ Young said. “He has become better conditioned so he was able to get out there and give us some minutes, quality minutes. He helped us out rebounding and even put in a couple of buckets for us.” Richardson Reacts to “40 Minutes of Hell” Documentary Legendary Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson was on hand for the Razorbacks win over the South Carolina. After the game, ESPN premiered its documentary on the coach who led Arkansas to three Final Fours and the National Championship in 1994.
“I have always said that sometimes things you see sometimes don’t set really smooth with some people,” Richardson said. “But the truth of the matter was they were able to investigate and come up with a lot of things I had even forgotten. I am very proud and satisfied with what I saw.” Richardson was 389-169 as coach of the Razorbacks in his 17 seasons at the school. The film was produced by NASCAR Media Group and directed by Kenan Harris-Holley. Included in the 48-minute documentary were interviews with current coach Mike Anderson, ESPN college basketball personality Dick Vitale and even several bits with former president and Arkansas native Bill Clinton. “When you get to Bill Clinton let him hear what we are asking for,” Harris-Holley said he told Clinton’s public relations people. “Once we got to him he was like ‘Oh for coach, for Nolan?’ and he was so happy. You should have seen him the day we interviewed him. He pushed his aides away and said ‘Lets talk’ and he wanted to talk all day but they made him get up and leave.”
from BASEBALL on page 7 deep,” Stanek said. “And we have 12 really, really good arms. We have six guys that started on the weekends for us last year, all returning. And we’ll have eight guys that throw low- to mid-90s.” The Hogs still have to identify a third weekend starter, though. “It’s going to be Baxendale, Stanek and we’re not sure yet,” Van Horn said. “Fant has been throwing well
but his arm is a little tender. We’re just going to take it easy with him a little bit. Could be Moore, but we’re just not sure yet. Hopefully we’ll know in the next couple of days.” Wise earns catcher job Sophomore Jake Wise and freshman John Clay Reeves competed for the starting catcher job in practice, but Van Horn said Wise will most likely be opening Friday’s series behind the plate. “Jake has done real well,” Van Horn said. “I think last week Reeves just got a little
PAGE 8
tired with the grind or whatever, but I thought Wise had some really good practices and a couple of good scrimmages and he’ll get the nod for first game as of right now.” Wise learned playing behind graduated All-SEC performer James McCann during 2011 and appeared in some Tuesday games, while Reeves was an honorable mention All-State catcher in his senior season at Ouachita Christian High School and was a first-team all-district selection twice.
2012 Upcoming Schedule Date February 17-19 February 21-22
Opponent
Time
Villanova
3:05 p.m.
Northwestern State
3:05 p.m.
February 24-26
Valparaiso
1:05 p.m.
February 28-29
BYU
3:05 p.m.
from TRACK on page 7 year, with some of the top athletes in the world competing. The men’s two mile American record was broken by Galen Rupp, representing USA. Rupp won the race by a landslide with a time of 8:09.72, the next closest time coming from USA runner Andrew Bumbalough at 8:30.05. The Tyson Invitational was the last meet for Arkansas before the Southeastern Conference championships. Arkansas will travel to Lexington, Ky. for the SEC Championships with events starting on Friday, Feb. 24. Razorback Women Finish Biggest Meet of Season Arkansas women’s track team went into their biggest meet of the season over the weekend, and came out with another nationally qualifying time at the Tyson Invitational. The Razorbacks won five events overall with a one-two
finish in the 400 meter dash. Junior Regina George placed first with a time of 52.73 while senior Whitney Jones came in second with a 53.13. “The kids performed outstanding this weekend,” assistant coach Rolando Greene said. “Regina George running the third fastest time in the 400 meters in the country, Whitney Jones running number five in the country. It was a successful race, it was a successful weekend. Every kid in the program performed like a champ.” Arkansas sophomore Keri Wood placed first in the 800 meter run and second in the mile with first place going to junior Stephanie Brown. The last win for the Razorbacks came from senior Tina Sutej, in the pole vault championship. “This weekend we have had record after record after record, personal best after personal best after personal best,” Greene said. “When you line up against the nation’s best, people expect you to break re-
cords or beat them at all times. At this level, anything can happen at any given time. Anybody can perform at any given level.” The Tyson Invitational wasn’t the only track meet in Fayetteville over the weekend, Randall Tyson Track Center was also chosen as the host for this year’s USA Track and Field Classic. The USTAFC brought many professional athletes to Fayetteville, some of the Olympic athletes that will be competing in London also showed up for the meet including former Razorback Veronica Cambell-Brown. Cambell-Brown represented Jamaica and finished second in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.08, just .06 behind first place. A new womens shot put record was also broken by Jill Camarena, who threw a distance of 19.89 meters. Next up for the Hogs is a trip to Lexington KY. for the SEC championships. The championships start on Friday, Feb. 24th.