PHOTO: CHAD ARNOLD, PHTO ILLUSTRATION: ERIK NORTHFELL
Increase in Drug Violations by LANDON REEVES Staff Writer
Arrests for drug violations at UA have increased since 2007, according to UAPD crime statistics. There were 26 arrests in 2007 and 109 in 2010. Statistics for 2011 aren’t yet published, but 2012 has had at least seven arrests, according to the UAPD website. “By far, marijuana is the drug we find most often,” said Lt. Gary Crain, UAPD spokesperson. “The fact is the vast majority of people and students are not involved in that activity, [but] there are some people who are and they are being caught and arrested.” Students who break drug or alcohol policy can be sanctioned or go through the judicial process on campus. A student’s punishment depends on the degree of the sanction. Some are required to attend motivational therapy from the Student Assistance Program at the Pat Walker Health Center. Despite the increasing number of drug violations, alcohol violations remain a larger problem for SAP employees. There were only 32 arrests for liquor law violations at the UA in 2010, but
463 were referred for disciplinary action, according to the 2010 CLERY report. “The most commonly used substance we see on campus is alcohol. Up to this point, we haven’t done anything about drug education, but we do have an event planned for April 20,” said Debbie Morgan, coordinator of substance abuse prevention at the Pat Walker Health Center. “In my time, I have only seen one student referred to the Student Assistance Program for marijuana. The rest have been alcohol related,” Morgan said. SAP’s motivational therapy consists of two meetings in which students are asked to analyze their actions, change their behavior and set goals, Morgan said. Other sanctions include community service, paying fines and loss of parking privileges, according to the Division for Student Affairs website. “For any situation, whether it is drug-related or else, the most significant sanction a student can face is expulsion from the UA, and that is for any type of violation that may occur,” said Monica Holland, director see VIOLATIONS on page 6
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 VOL. 106, NO. 69 10 PAGES UATRAV.COM
A ‘Night’ to Remember
COURTESY PHOTO
Elie Wiesel, author of the novel “Night” and Holocaust survivor, will be speaking at the Walton Arts Center on Wednesday March 7 at 7 p.m. The speaker will be free and open to the public. Tickets will not distributed. Instead seating will be by first come first serve, said Kayln Williams, director of the Distinguished Lecture Committee.
Arkansas CRU Raises $11,000 for Ethiopia by EMILY HARVEY Contributing Writer
Student leaders involved in Arkansas CRU raised $11,000 last semester for meals to send to Ethiopia. These efforts included a major t-shirt sale, selling more than 600 shirts on campus. Chase Farnell, junior industrial engineering major, spearheaded the fundraising efforts. “Before I even went into it, we didn’t do much of anything. We just said, ‘God, we’re here. Use us however
you want to,’” he said. “We basically made ourselves available and He took it and ran with it.” CRU offers a large worship gathering every Tuesday night and more than 50 small group Bible studies, or community groups. “One of the biggest things we did was go to the CRU community group leaders and told them that we were having a competition to see who could raise the most money with a prize for whichever group could raise the most money,” he said.
“This is where the jewelry sale, the Halloween dance party, and the t-shirt sale came into play.” Emilee Talley, junior childhood education major, wanted to help the organization when she learned of the group’s goal. “We partnered with the organization Feeding Children Everywhere, which raises money for the starving children in Ethiopia,” Talley said. “My Bible study girls and I were able to put together a t-shirt design. We figured
out that if you bought just a t-shirt that it would feed 11 Ethiopian children,” she said. “It was so encouraging to see how many people wanted shirts.” The group sold 663 t-shirts and raised nearly $4,000. “At Winter Conference” —an annual gathering of regional CRU teams —“the total number of money raised was about $19,000, but then students gave over $50,000 on top of that in just one night,” Talley said.
see CRU on page 6
FEATURES THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
by KELSI FORD Asst. Features Editor
With Valentine’s Day approaching, some couples have already bought each other’s gifts, made plans for a date and have thought about how they’re going to spend every minute of the most romantic day of the year. However, if you’ve been slacking on making Valentine’s Day plans with your special someone, it’s not too late to plan something romantic and fun. While some couples will embrace the traditional dinner-and-a-movie-date, many others will want to do something a little more original. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy a memorable date night with your crush or the one you love.
Drive 30 miles north of campus to Bentonville to explore Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a world-class collection that opened in November 2011 and showcases hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of American art. Plan to spend at least two hours walking through the museum’s more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space. Then bundle up and head outside to enjoy the beautiful trails surrounding the museum. Afterwards, warm up with a vanilla honey latte or a glass of wine at Pressroom, a cafe on the Bentonville Square.
If your ideal date includes dinner and a movie, take your crush to a romantic restaurant to show them how much you care. Bordinos, located at 310 W. Dickson St., and Theo’s, located at 318 N. Campbell Ave., are the ultimate locations
by KIMBERLY McGUIRE Staff Writer
When you judge a book by its cover, you often miss out on a good story. The same can happen when you judge a restaurant by its exterior. Many hole-in-the-wall places are home to the finest delicacy or the friendliest wait staff. On the opposite end of the spectrum, many establishments with sparkling facades serve lackluster meals and offer halfhearted service, yet we constantly visit such places. It is out of habit or are we just too tolerant? I often catch myself driving past a lot of places because it’s too new, too old, too typical. It might save me from disappointment, but in my most re-
FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD
for a romantic dinner. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, because these places will likely fill up on Valentine’s Day. After dinner, make your way to the movie theater to watch The Vow or Perfect Sense, or rent a couple of movies and head home to snuggle up on the couch. Casablanca, The Notebook, Love Actually and Notting Hill are sure to put your honey in a loveydovey, romantic mood.
For a truly unique date, drive an hour and 10 minutes to Eureka Springs. Pay a few bucks to park and walk hand-inhand through the city’s charming downtown streets. Be sure to stop and admire the Flatiron Building, and check out the many gift shops and boutiques Eureka Springs has to offer. Then head to The Crescent Hotel for a spooky date that you won’t soon forget: ghost hunting. The hotel is rumored to be one of the most haunted buildings in the world, and being scared out of your wits will give you the perfect excuse to get closer to your date! Ghost tours start at 8 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, and tickets are $19.50 per adult.
For an inexpensive, dreamy date, pack a picnic dinner to enjoy with your sweetie at Wilson Park. Prepare each other’s favorite treats, grab a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider, and don’t forget to bring a cozy blanket. Have a relaxed dinner and plenty of good conversation, and enjoy each other’s company. Just before dusk, drive up to Mount Sequoyah for breathtaking views of the sunset over the city.
cent case, I now realize my quick-tojudge character had deprived me of a remarkable dining experience. Posta Plata is relatively new to town. Before my experience, I wasn’t even sure if it was an Italian or Mexican restaurant. A classic case of tooscared-to-try-something-new ignorance, I know, but every time I drove by there was no hint to me just what the eatery served. Come to find out, it serves Mexican cuisine —thank you, Facebook and Urbanspoon. Even though I did my research on Posta Plata, nothing could have prepared me for what was inside. Once you open the rather daunting black door, the inside is nothing short of chic sophistication. All the reviews I read online mentioned the “atmo-
PHOTOS: CHAD ARNOLD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Juniors Sean Wylie and Laura Finn skip out on facing the cold weather and spend their Valentines celebration inside. Grab your sweetheart and spend a nice evening cuddled up on the couch watching movies or even paint a canvas together.
sphere” and how great it was. Really, I’m quite shocked that a place like this exists in Fayetteville. The entire restaurant is black and white, with a few red accents. Many things had rhinestones (light fixtures) and shiny embellishments (wall hangings), which I couldn’t help but adore. There were crisp white tablecloths on each table that, of course, I quickly splattered with salsa, thanks to my clumsy eating. Fancily folded black napkins and high-backed, shiny black leather chairs covered the floor. The atmosphere creates a world that could only be classified as fabulous. I didn’t want to leave. I just wanted a tour and the decorator’s contact information. My dining companion and I
were the only people in the restaurant when we went to eat in the late afternoon (because we like to eat lunch when senior citizens are making their way to dinner), and we had no idea what we had gotten ourselves into. Expecting a run-of-themill Mexican dining experience, we were wide-eyed and shocked at the contrast. Right away, chips and salsa were brought to our table and the meal’s artistry began. The chips and salsa were served in a conical mechanism, somewhat resembling a spaceship. A cone, filled with chips, with two bowls of salsa hanging off either side. There were two different kinds of salsa: a spicy red and a mild verde. Remember when I said I completely tarnished the tablecloth? Imagine it
as a Jackson Pollock painting, if Pollock were famished and there wasn’t enough salsa in the world to fill his growling stomach. The tablecloth became the hypothetical canvas, much to my own embarrassment. To make the most out of our time there, we invested in the made-to-order guacamole, prepared tableside with fresh ingredients. Long story short, it was heavenly. We each ordered something different off the menu to broaden our dining horizons, which is always a wise decision at a new restaurant. The table favorite was the “Razorback’s Favorite,” a giant quesadilla
see POSTA PLATA on page 3
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
FEATURES POSTA PLATA from page 2
swimming in a creamy chipotle sauce with a hint of pineapple throughout, and in a serving big enough to feed a small army. I went with the “Molcajetes del Chef ” which was recommended to me by both our excellent waitress and our personable guacamole expert. This dish is served in the same bowl as the guacamole, described in the menu as a “smoked lava stone” and came to my table literally boiling. The dish consisted of tomato sauce, chorizo, chipotle and my choice of meat (chicken). The portion was so large that I was in serious physical pain after eating, and I still had enough food left over to fill a to-go box. In retrospect, I recommend splurging a whole dollar more and opt for steak when ordering this meal. Finally, there were the chicken habanero cream enchiladas. Surprisingly, the sauce had a sweeter taste to it despite the intimidating habanero title. Each one of our meals came with family-style beans and rice, both excellent additions to the entrees. If you are looking for a restaurant that is unique in atmosphere and in menu options, Posta Plata is a perfect choice. They have a full bar with the most extensive tequila list I’ve ever seen. They also have house margaritas and martinis that sound like the concoctions of a mad
scientist. You can even order “Bill Gates’ favorite martini.” Our guacamole maker kept reminding us of their Mexican cheesecake and tres leches cake that we should have for dessert. The fact that he toyed with our emotions like that was dastardly, but we respectfully declined the offer for fear of an overdose. Now that I know better than to inhale everything that lands on our table, I will make sure to save room the next time I visit. There are very few things better than a slice of tres leches cake; the mere sight of it makes me swoon. The bar, the atmosphere, the menu and the service all make Posta Plata a divine place to pamper yourself. Although the prices may be a little on the higher side, the cost isn’t really all that extreme for the experience. It would be a perfect spot for any kind of celebration. Must I remind you that Valentine’s Day is coming up? What a perfect, off-the-beatenpath-of-gushy-Valentine’s-romance Posta Plata would make! It’s also a great spot for those that want to satisfy the desire for the combination of fine dining and Mexican without any reason other than “Hey, I’m worth it!” It’s a step out of what’s “normal,” but who ever said normal was a good thing? Posta Plata is a very, very good thing, and I highly doubt you’ll find anything else like it in Northwest Arkansas.
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by EMILY RHODES Opinion Editor
Valentines day – you either love it or you hate it. But while cards, flowers and a romantic dinner for two might not be your cup of tea, you won’t be able to resist this recipe. While we all know we’re supposed to take our special someone on a date for the special day of the year, my husband and I prefer to stay home and whip up a meal fit for kings (and queens). Not only is staying in a great way to cut the crowded restaurant scene, but it’s a cost-effective way to celebrate your love with friends, family or your significant other. While I haven’t planned the entrée for the upcoming day of love, I am insisting on making cheesecake strawberries for dessert. This recipe has been floating around the Internet for years now, and this is the perfect time to make it. Who doesn’t love a portable strawberry cheesecake? Not to mention these can be made in a dorm room too, and the recipe costs under $10 to make – how can you resist? Don’t judge the fact that we ate about two pounds of these treats this yesterday and it’s not even the week of Valentines Day – we had to taste test, of course.
Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a small Ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the corner. Squeeze the mixture to the corner of the bag, and pipe the mixture into the hulled out part of each strawberry. When all of the strawberries are filled, crush the graham crackers and place the crumbs in a small bowl. Then, place the top of the each strawberry in the graham cracker mixture, until the crumbs stick to the filling.
Ingredients 1 pound large strawberries 8 ounces of cream cheese 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 4 graham crackers, crushed And there you have it, the simplest recipe for your special day. These took about 20 minutes from start to finish and are one of the easiest desserts to make. They look picture-perfect, and your dinner guests will love them. These strawberries are sweet, creamy and just like your favorite restaurant cheesecake. Serve with chocolate for dipping, a fruit platter or simply on their own for a beautiful, simple dessert that everyone will love.
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Interior of Posta Plata Mexican restaurant. Posta Plata is located at 3675 N. Mall Ave.
Place the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl and whisk until well incorporated and smooth (using an electric whisk is much easier and faster than a hand-held whisk, but either will work). When the cream cheese mixture is ready, set aside. Wash and dry the strawberries, and cut the tops off using a regular kitchen knife. Then, with a paring knife, hull out the inside of the strawberry by making a circular motion with the knife. Make sure not to slice too close to the edge, so that the strawberries stay intact.
PHOTOS BY: EMILY RHODES
OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 4
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
EDITOR:SABA EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
CORRECTION Tuesday we ran a cutline that stated special events in the HPER would be held February 23. National Fitness and Recreation Day will actually be held in the HPER on February 22.
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.
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Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent From Washington
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by JORDAIN CARNEY
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WASHINGTON - It’s cold and Republicans are slinging verbal mud at each other as we slide into a month with no primary debates. The few weeks of the spring semester – though it hardly feels like spring nowseem to drag by as we adjust from our sleepy month away from school. I’ve found myself trying to keep this in mind as I’ve looked over ASG minutes and legislation during the last few meetings. Perhaps the most contentious piece of legislation brought before Senate this academic year, the medical amnesty bill, was pulled, after being sloshed around Senate for a few weeks at the end of last semester and tabled during the last meeting in December. I’m not saying that medical amnesty would
have gone anywhere, but I think it should have been voted on. In fact it probably should have been voted on last semester, so that students could know how each ASG legislator felt about this issue. Back in October I wrote a column about bland ASG Senate legislation. I said then, and I would still agree now, that bland isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It has become more apparent to me though that it isn’t blandness, or frankly boring legislation, that seems to be plaguing ASG Senate this year, like I thought it was a few weeks into school last semester. It seems more and more apparent that ASG senate members have turned their gaze inward - if they’re producing legislation at all. A lot of the legislation this year has been related to ASG, or what I consider standard happens-every-year ASG bills, for example Rolling and appropriations funding. The legislation that is on second reading this week is legislation for an ASGRIC mid-year retreat. (How this relates to anyone outside of ASG or RIC is beyond me, except that it involves student fees.) Perhaps it’s this self-focus by senate members that makes it seem like ASG Senate has been less active than last year. More than likely it’s the fact that they have discussed and passed less
legislation than last year. That isn’t too say it’s been all bad so far. Senate Chair Grant Hodges has fulfilled, or is in the process of fulfilling, many of the points he included in his ASG chair platform. Legislation is being added to the website so students can comment and know what is going on Senate, and the fromtime-to-time cattiness that underlined some ASG debates last year hasn’t been present. (On an unrelated note, ASG as a whole has been better at using social media tools, mainly Twitter, to get student opinion and provide updates.) There isn’t as much legislation being written by executives this year either. I like that. I would like it even more if Senate was as active as it was last year which isn’t a high bar to begin with- and having senator-driven legislation. Maybe the reason I am so easily discontented, though still enjoying, ASG Senate is because I think it could and should be much more than it currently is. As I said in October, and still contend, ASG Senate should be the easiest way for UA administrators to find out what students support and what concerns them. It should be a forum where all students can bring ideas and frustrations to the senators that are supposed to represent them.
Frankly, If you aren’t in ASG senate to do this, if you aren’t continuously researching and proposing legislation about issues that are important to students, if you don’t think it’s important to be a voice for students - and realistically, in Senate the easiest way to do that is through legislation - then being a member of ASG Senate is pointless. Don’t get me wrong, Hodges and other members of ASG Senate have good ideas. I can only hope those good ideas come to fruition in the continuously decreasing amount of time that is left in the spring semester - as we say every year, it goes by way too quickly. I get that we’re all busy. We all have multiple things competing for our energy and time. It’s great to brainstorm, but eventually, and the time to start this has already passed, these ideas have to turn into concrete actions. There have obviously already been some in ASG Senate this year which is great, but there need to be more. As Clint Eastwood infamously said, it’s halftime -except for ASG Senate it’s actually past halftime - and if ASG senators don’t step up and reach for higher goals it only hurts the relevancy argument surrounding ASG Senate. Jordain Carney is a Traveler columnist.
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Red, White and Paul - Inside the Revolution by JUAN HOLMES
Guest Columnist
Ron Paul - it’s the name you’ve heard but know nothing about. He’s the senator offering more than just the status quo, while being hidden from the mainstream media. Who exactly is this 76-year- old rock star who has the most youth and veteran support than any other candidate? Interested yet? You should be. According to Slate and Fox News, Paul won the youth vote in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. His executive summary states that he is the only candidate who has a full plan to balance the budget in his third year of presidency. Amazed yet? You should be. Let’s keep it real and realize that as a nation, our economy is broken. We cannot afford several wars in the Middle East region anymore and we cannot afford to act
as the “world’s police.” While we can applaud Obama on his ability to end Iraq and follow Bush’s lead, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen and now Iran are in the crosshairs. Paul wants to bring the troops home and is one of the only candidates who has had the honor of military service. He is the recipe that Americans are hammering for but whom the public does not know is on the menu. I’ve spoken to dozens of students around campus, and while they all tell me that they like many of his ideas, they don’t feel that he could be a match for Obama’s billion-dollar campaign machine. Yet, showing from the Gallup Poll matchup between Paul and Obama, Paul won 46 percent of nationally registered voters to Obama’s 49 percent, meaning he is just as electable as Obama in the 2012 election. What he first needs to do is rally votes and win the Republican
nomination. It’s either that or having Romney and Gingrich drop out of the race, but since neither of them are going to quit, Paul needs to beat them. Romney has the money and Gingrich has the stubbornness to remain in the race, though neither of them is actually in touch with the American public. This is where we as students need to step in and do what we can to support Paul. Settling for the lesser evil is not democracy - we need to put aside social issues and focus on getting rid of this deficit that is in fact the greatest threat to American sovereignty and job creation. We cannot expect the government to bail us out when it has trillions of dollars in deb already. There is a rumbling in the souls of U.S. citizenry, and a murmuring of discontent about our current president’s ability to satisfy our hunger for jobs, national secu-
rity, and a better future. We see it here in our little slice of heaven known as Fayetteville. The Youth for Ron Paul UA chapter is the only RSO for the 2012 presidential election. It has already been holding events on-and-off campus since the start of the spring semester, and plans to hold more throughout the year. This is just one way that students can become more politically aware of their surroundings, look past candidate smiles and see what they are actually trying to do. Now is the time to do it. Ron Paul has been in Congress for longer than most readers have been alive, but what doesn’t make him part of the status quo is his consistency for liberty and proper government spending. He can reduce the deficit, which will make the country a better place to do business. And where there is business, there are jobs.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
FEATURES
WHITNEY GREEN CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Jay Travis stands outside the Salvation Army in south Fayetteville. Travis has been without a home this winter. by WHITNEY GREEN Contributing Writer
Home is a word most people take advantage of. For Vietnam veteran Ben Walker, 61, home is not a house or an apartment building, but “hiding holes.” “Most people don’t realize what we’re like. There are bad people out here on the streets, but not everybody’s bad. Every day you wake up with nothing and try to do the best you can to get what you need. It’s an all-day thing. Ain’t got nothing else. No time for nothing else, just survival,” Walker said about homeless life in Northwest Arkansas. Where to sleep at night during cold months is an important concern for the homeless. Walker sleeps “everywhere, I’ve got hiding holes. Little places where I can slip in at night and nobody knows I’m there,” he said. With a tarp and a sleeping bag, he has learned how to survive as an invisible man. Few people know his name; however his eyes reveal a story that begs to be heard.
Walker holds a strong resilience that many people never obtain. Though homeless, he has not lost his dignity or his pride. While some are forced into homelessness, others choose it. For some, living on the streets is a way of life free from worldly constraints and overbearing expectations. Walker gave up on the idea of having a home a long time ago. He’s been off and on the streets for 26 years, since 1986. Homelessness has become his home. “If you stay out here too long you get stuck,” he said. “It gets to the point where you just give up. Homeless is your only thing.” There are more than 1,200 homeless adults and youth in Benton and Washington counties according to the NWA 2009 Point-In-Time Homeless Census. More than two-thirds are between ages 25 and 54. “The fastest growing segment of homelessness in NWA is college students,” said Major Tim Willaford, Salvation Army area commander. “There are not enough dorms at the UA
and we are seeing many college students losing their housing. But there’s a big difference between the sophomore crashing on his friend’s couch and the homeless guy sleeping in the woods.” The NWA Salvation Army motto is to “provide spiritual, physical and emotional care for men, women and children in Benton and Washington counties.” They are doing just that. The Salvation Army provides two guest shelters housing 42 men, women and families where guests can stay up to 10 days as they try to get their feet back on the ground. The shelters are intended to be a safe house for guests as they look for a job; however, finding a job as a homeless person proves its challenges. “Nobody will hire you. They look at you and think, ‘Oh God, I don’t want that guy working for me; he will probably steal me blind,’” Walker said. “Cause that’s the way they all think about you. But there are a whole lot of folks who want to work. People need to realize that one bad egg isn’t every-
body.” The Salvation Army also has a drug and alcohol rehab program, social services, thrift stores, churches and severe weather shelters. The severe weather shelters house guests for the night when temperatures are below 39 degrees Fahrenheit. They serve dinner and breakfast, and guests must leave by 8 a.m. To fund its programs, the Salvation Army relies on private donors and income generated from its thrift stores, more than $2 million annually. It also depends on volunteers. “We served almost 99,000 meals last year,” Willaford said. “Somebody’s got to cook those meals. Somebody’s got to wash all those pots and pans. Somebody has to throw that trash away. We have 60 employees and an army of volunteers. There’s no way we could do all that without help.” The Salvation Army does a lot to help the community, but the homeless community still has a lot of needs. Walker fears the dangers that come with homelessness and said, “There’s a bunch of bad stuff happening out here and a lot of people don’t know it. I have to keep my eyes open all the time.” While there are many physical needs in the homeless community, Walker’s greatest desire is to see people’s mindsets change toward the homeless. “When you walk up to a stoplight and people start looking at you and locking their doors, it makes you feel so small,” Walker said. “There are bad people everywhere you go. You can’t get away from them, but people need to realize that they’re not all bad.” Like most people, what makes Walker happy is “a good day and sunshine. If I have about $20 in my pocket I can do anything I want. I can survive a couple days on $20, but most
people couldn’t do it. They’d have it spent in five minutes.” Whether a person lives in a mansion, an apartment or a hiding hole, everyone wants to be loved and respected. Next time you see a homeless person, consider being the bright spot in that person’s day. When asked if strangers
PAGE 5
ever give Walker money he said, “Sometimes. I’ve had some nice people. Yesterday I was sitting at a Burger King with no money in my pockets and a man came over, laid a $10 bill on my table and said, ‘Have a good day.’ It surprised the hell out of me. Every once in a while you get lucky like that.”
NEWS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 6
NEWS EDITOR: CHAD WOODARD ASST. NEWS EDITOR: BRITTANY NIMS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
UA Competes in SEC-Wide Recyclemania by BAILEY KESTNER Staff Writer
UA staff and students will continue to compete with other universities in Recyclemania, an intercollegiate competition within the Southeastern Conference that encourages students and staff to minimize waste, a campus sustainability official said. “The UA has been involved for the last five years and has won awards in various categories for three consecutive years,” said Carlos Ochoa, program manager at the Office of Campus Sustainability. The program, made up of more than 630 colleges and universities and 7.5 million students and staff members, has recovered 91 million pounds of material, according to Recyclemania.org. Each university reports weekly weight recycled and the organization manages the statistics to conclude to a winner, Ochoa said. “Students and staff can participate anywhere at anytime just by minimizing waste and trying to recycle as much as possible,” he said. About 2.8 ounces of food are wasted per meal at the UA, Ochoa said, and an average of 3 million meals are served each year. That means that more than 200 metric tons of food are wasted on the UA campus every year, he said. To eliminate this kind of
VIOLATIONS from page 1
Monica Holland, director for the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct. Before any sanction is decided, students are given due process by OAISC. “If a student is referred for any type of case they receive a letter requesting they meet with a member of the office so we can discuss the information
waste, Recyclemania officials have partnered with Chartwells officials in Project Clean Plate, which encourages students to take only as much food as they will eat. “The UA recycles a little less than two tons a day, including paper, cardboard, cans and bottles,” said Gary Enzor, recycling coordinator for Facilities Management. The UA is now recycling #1 and #2 types of plastic, which includes common items like milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles, he said. “Facilities Management is in charge of the recycled material from the classrooms and main buildings on campus, but other programs take care of recyclables too,” Enzor said. “Housing drops off the material they are responsible for at Facilities Management. [Officials in] Athletics and the Union dispose of material themselves.” UA officials will host mini programs in March to promote recycling on campus, including a junk-mail drive where students have the opportunity to opt out of junk mail subscriptions to save paper, Ochoa said. “Though it is a competition within the SEC, the universities compete mainly for bragging rights,” he said. “There may be a few small trophies involved, but the main focus is on the recycling.” The program began Feb. 3 and will continue for eight weeks, he said.
we have received and hear their side of the story,” Holland said. Students then choose between an administrative hearing and going before a conduct board made of UA faculty, staff and students, she said. “There are nothing but problems with drug possessions,” Crain said. “People should give some thought before they get involved in drugs. It could be a hindrance to your career.”
Arkansas CRU members packaged 75,000 meals to send to Ethiopia through the humanitarian group Feeding Children Everywhere.
CRU
from page 1 Megan Fenderson, CRU employee and UA graduate, described a few things Cru has recently been involved in. “CRU’s Winter Conference was Jan. 1 through 5 in Fort Worth, Texas, where 700
students came from college campuses in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana,” Fenderson said. “Eighty Arkansas students were there.” CRU members packaged the 78,000 meals at the conference to send to Ethiopia through Feeding Children Everywhere. A five-person CRU team, which includes two UA
graduates, will receive and distribute the meals in Ethiopia over spring break. Emilee Talley attended the Winter Conference and described it as one of the highlights of her Christmas break. “This was such a cool experience to be a part of, especially after I heard that over 30,000 children died of star-
COURTESY PHOTO
vation just last summer,” Talley said. “God provided all that money in just a semester and it was such a blessing to witness all that He was doing on different college campuses in not only Arkansas, but Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma as well,” she said.
Distance Learning
KRIS JOHNSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
UA law students watch Jason Aamodts v. City of Northfork, Arkansas live in the lobby of the law building. The case is being argued in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on the second floor of the law building. Feb. 8
Chi Alpha Hosts Biggest Loser Competition by EMILY HARVEY Contributing Writer
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Chi Alpha student leader Mack Clements in front of a banner advertising the Biggest Loser competition. More than 100 participants have signed up for Chi Alpha’s Biggest Loser competition and registration is still open for more participants.
More than 100 students have registered for the Biggest Loser Competition, a contest hosted by Chi Alpha that will run through mid-March, organizers said. Anyone can join the competition, said Courtney Hoover, junior student leader at Chi Alpha. “The way it works is a participant registers with a $20 entry fee, and then they weigh in. The start date was Feb. 1, however, anyone can enter now through March 14,” Hoover said. Upon registration, every participant receives the following gifts: a water bottle from Chi Alpha, unlimited tanning and a free gym membership from Powerhouse Fitness through April 1, a t-shirt and a two-week membership to World Gym, free membership to Anytime Fitness for two weeks and 30 free days of Jenny Craig,” she said. Along with the free amenities offered with participation in the competition, there are also opportunities to win prizes at the final weight-out, Hoover said. “On March 14, at 7:30 [p.m.], there will be a Biggest Loser Weigh Out Rally. The
overall winner is determined by percentage of weight lost,” she said. “The winner will receive $500.” “In addition, our local community sponsors have donated several free gifts to give as door prizes. Any participant is eligible to receive the door prizes but must be present to win,” she said. The goal of the competition is to promote not only a healthier lifestyle, but to expand oncampus community and raise money for local non-profit organizations, said Mack Clements, Chi Alpha student leader. “To every student at the UA, whether they registered for the Biggest Loser Competition or not, we are offering accountability groups,” Clements said. “These free groups promote a healthier lifestyle by encouraging physical health as well as social health forming healthy relationships with other students,” he said. Katie Dowdy, junior communication disorders major, said the competition is an opportunity for students to combine a community environment with healthy lifestyle choices. “Having an accountability group with you along the way could really ensure that you stay on track, and you make some new friends,” she said.
DOWNTIME THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 7 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011
LAUGH IT UP
Comics, Games, & Much Much More!
SUDOKU
Q: Want to hear two short jokes and a long joke?
A: Joke Joke Jooooooooooooke Q: What did the farmer say when he lost his tractor?
A: “Where’s my tractor?” Difficulty:
Q: What do you call a nosey pepper? A: Jalapeño business
TODAY’S SOLUTION
Q: What are Charlie Brown’s favorite shoes?
A: UUUUUUUUUGGGs
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 Persian Gulf emirate 6 Aptly named novelist 11 Check for drinks 14 Rocket scientist Wernher von __ 15 Use for dinner, as dishes 16 Realm from 800-1806: Abbr. 17 Jazzy O’Day 18 On the __: broken 19 Approx. landing hr. 20 Daydreaming 23 More intimate 25 __-mutuel: type of betting 26 Funny Costello 27 Abel’s slayer 30 Tsar or emperor 32 It follows the overture 34 Pressed for time 36 Failing to grasp a key element 41 Conceived of 42 IRS agent 43 What ballerinas dance on 46 Slangy agreement 48 HVAC measure 49 Utah city near Provo 50 Uproar 52 Not expected back at work until tomorrow 58 Econ. yardstick 59 Nebraska city 60 Tee shot 63 Mauna __ 64 Lees competitor 65 Ocean ship 66 Bigger picture: Abbr. 67 Kosher deli offering 68 Sharp-eyed bird
1 Trade name abbr. 2 Caterer’s vessel 3 Controversial financial rescues 4 Cars 5 “Be right there!” 6 Get a better int. rate, probably 7 Make on the job 8 Working busily 9 “The lady __ protest too much”: “Hamlet” 10 Automaker Ferrari 11 Store to “fall into,” in old ads 12 Prefix with -scopic 13 “Scram!” 21 New employee 22 End result 23 Littleneck, e.g. 24 Centers of activity 28 Actress Swenson 29 Smartly dressed 30 Obstetrician’s calculation 31 Psychic’s asset, for short 33 “Surely I’m not the only one?!” 35 South Korea’s first president 37 Altar promise 38 “Drinks are on yours truly” 39 MLB league 40 Letter-shaped fastener 43 Flip back and forth, as an on-off switch 44 Like some denim patches 45 Letter-writing friend 47 Circular gridiron gathering 51 “West Side Story” heroine 53 Music genre that experienced a ‘50s-’60s revival 54 Sign of the future 55 Sitarist Shankar 56 That’s partner 57 Corned beef dish 61 Commercial prefix with -cro 62 Prior to
Crossword provided by MCT Campus
SOLUTION
Tony Piro
SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER WEEKENDER
PAGE 8
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER BASKETBALL
MEN’S TRACK
UA MEDIA RELATIONS Freshman Gunnar Nixon set the junior world record in the heptathlon in his last meet and will lead Arkansas in the Tyson Invitational this weekend.
Staying on Track RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas freshman guard Ky Madden and the Razorbacks fell to 0-8 away from Bud Walton Arena in an 81-59 loss at Georgia, a team that had lost four consecutive games and entered the game tied for last in the Southeastern Conference. With the loss, the Hogs dropped to less than .500 in SEC play for the first time this season.
Road Woes Continue by JIMMY CARTER Sports Editor
81
59
Another game outside Bud Walton Arena. Another step closer to an NIT berth. Arkansas trailed by as many as 27 and dropped to 0-8 away from Bud Walton in an 81-59 blowout loss at Georgia. The Bulldogs shot 53 percent from the field and outrebounded the Razorbacks by 23. The Razorbacks (16-8, 4-5 Southeastern Conference) struggled mightily in their
halfcourt offense and shot just 37 percent, again struggling away from home. “These are hard lessons that we’re learning, but hopefully they’ll be valuable lessons,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. “When you come into different venues, you’ve got to play with a different mindset. You’ve got to do a lot of good things and you’ve got to play with toughness. You’ve got to create your own energy. Georgia (11-12, 2-7) used a 15-0 run to take a 23-8 lead midway through the first half and never looked back. The Razorbacks didn’t break into double figures until guard Julysses Nobles’ layup with 8:05 left in the half. “We dug a hole early and when you dig that kind of
hole, it’s an uphill battle the whole game,” Anderson said. Georgia guard Gerald Robinson had a game-high 27 points and controlled the tempo, also dishing five assists. “Robinson’s so quick with the basketball,” Anderson said. “We knew that was going to be a big key to this game, containing a guy like him. He just did a good job of attacking. When he didn’t attack he did a good job of creating for others.” The Hogs trailed by as many as 24 in the half and allowed an offensively-challenged Bulldogs team easy layups and open jump shots. Georgia entered the game averaging just 56.2 points in SEC play and hadn’t shot better than 41 percent from the field in
eight conference games. “They got a couple layups starting off then they hit a couple 3’s,” Anderson said. “I just didn’t think our defense was where it needed to be. Whether it be in the halfcourt (or) full court. It just seemed like we where a half-step slow. You can’t do that when a team is shooting the ball (well) and they’re playing at home.” When the Bulldogs didn’t make their first shot, they got offensive rebounds. Georgia outrebounded Arkansas 44-21, including 15 offensive boards that led to 18 secondchance points. “They got some second shots,” Anderson said. “I
see ROAD WOES on page 10
BASEBALL
Ficociello Has High Expectations by MARTHA SWEARINGEN Staff Writer
Arkansas baseball has completed the first week of practice and sophomore first baseman Dominic Ficociello is just more than one week away from opening the 2012 season with his 60th career start as a Razorback. Unlike last year, the No. 4 Razorbacks have been able to have a full week of good weather to open spring practice. “Practices are well advanced over any we’ve had here just because of the weather,” Van Horn said. “But it’s been great so far. The pitching staff is obviously ahead of the hitters and this past weekend they were outstanding. Almost to the point of where they were dominating us a little bit.” Ficociello, who hit a teambest .335 with four home runs last season, also said pitching has been one of the strong points in practice along with defense. “We’re going to pitch no matter what,” Ficociello said. “Defensively, we look really good. We’re going to field the ball. We’re going to get outs this year, that’s for sure.” Individually, Ficociello said he hoped to improve his eye from 2011, when he walked six times and had 45 strikeouts. “I’ve tried to work on laying off of bad pitches,” Ficociello said. “I walked all of maybe six times last year. I think so far, just since being back from
Hogs host top teams for Tyson by ZACH LIGI Staff Writer
With one meet left before the SEC Championships, Arkansas’ No. 1 men’s track team still has a lot left to accomplish. The Razorbacks will try to build momentum this weekend when they host top teams in the Tyson Invitational at the Randall Tyson Track Arena. Arkansas has had four national qualifiers, but its first was a surprise to most. Freshman Andrew Irwin set a school record in just his second meet as a Razorback, automatically qualifying in the Arkansas-Texas dual meet. “He’s getting stronger and faster,” Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam said. “He’s a freshman and he lacks speed on
the runway that I know coach (Doug) Case has been working hard with, along with being able to use that speed correctly at the takeoff. He’s been working awfully hard, Andrew has a big upside to him, there’s no question about that but we have to remember too that he is a freshman, this is all new to him. “He’s dealing with all the newness of being a collegiate athlete.” Despite Irwin’s youth, his 5.50-meter jump while fighting through a cold was enough to become a national qualifier. His jump was the first ever by a Razorback to clear 18 feet indoors and only the fourth including outdoor. He
see TRACK on page 10
GYMNASTICS
Can Gymnastics Pass the Road Test? by HARRISON STANFILL Staff Writer
After a big weekend including two meets against top-15 teams, Arkansas’ gymnastics team has a short turnaround for a road game No. 6 Georgia on Friday. The Razorbacks dropped from No.2 to No.3 in the national rankings following their home loss to Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon, an uncharacteristically sloppy meet for Arkansas. “Sunday we were pretty flat,” co-coach Mark Cook said. “Made a few mistakes, it was sporadic.” Arkansas will try to get back on track against the Bulldogs. Coming off of a big weekend and with a short week to prepare for the Bulldogs, the
Razorbacks coaching staff has let the gymnasts “You have to let them rest,” Cook said. “Come down a little bit and do some conditioning, keeping their body strong. “ A key to Arkansas’ success is its ability to start fast in its first two events, vault and bar. The Razorbacks are No. 1 in the nation on bars and No. 6 on vault. Continuing that trend to continue at Georgia will be important for Arkansas to win its first SEC road meet. “Go in there and be aggressive, stay within our circle,” Cook said. “Just focus on execution and focus on good technique, our goal is to go down there and beat Georgia.” Even though Arkansas’ has
see GYMNASTICS on page 10
GARRETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas sophomore first basemen Dominic Ficociello was ranked Baseball America’s No. 14 prospect in the sophomore class and will be relied on for hitting and leadership for the No. 4 Razorbacks.
Christmas break, I’ve already walked about 10 times, so I’m trying to work on that.” Ficociello is entering his sophomore season with numerous honors and records following the 2011 season. His performance earned him Southeastern Conference All-Freshman and All-Defensive Team honors and a bid to play with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer, where he played with teammates DJ Baxendale and Matt Reynolds.
Ficociello finished the summer on an eight-game hitting streak and was nearly flawless on defense. He committed just one error out of 120 chances, giving him a.992 fielding percentage. “Ficociello is still the best first baseman I’ve ever coached,” Van Horn said Monday at the monthly Swatter’s Club meeting. With his freshman season behind him, Ficociello said his expectations are high for his first veteran season and he is
prepared to take on a leadership role. “As a freshman you have to come in, you have to know how to follow,” Ficociello said. “You have to listen to the older guys that have the experience. They (Bo Bigham and Tim Carver) have both been to Omaha, so we had to listen to them.” Now, ranked Baseball America’s No. 14 prospect in
see FICOCIELLO on page 10
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior Mariah Howdeshell is the Razorback’s No.1 gymnast in the bars event. Howdeshell’s best score of the season was 9.925 against Auburn.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
SPORTS
PAGE 9
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas junior forward Quistelle Williams is averaging just under 17 minutes off the bench while scoring 5.0 points per game and pulling down 4.3 rebounds per game for the 17-5 Razorbacks.
Chasing History Collen’s  Razorbacks  on  a  roll by MONICA CHAPMAN Staff Writer
Arkansas is on the longest win streak in the Southeastern Conference right now. The six consecutive wins is the longest conference streak in Razorback women’s basketball history. Arkansas (17-5, 6-4 SEC) will try to extend that streak Thursday against No. 24 South Carolina in its final game of a three-game home stand. “It’s a big game for us,� Arkansas coach Tom Collen said. “You know we’re rolling. We’ve got six wins under our belt. We really want to do everything we can to keep that momentum going. We’re excited and looking forward to a good game
with South Carolina.� South Carolina has won four in a row, including a 6460 win at then-No. 8 Tennessee last Thursday. That was the Gamecocks (18-5, 7-3) first win against the Volunteers since 1980 and first at Tennessee. “They obviously went in and beat a very good Tennessee team on the road which you know that hasn’t been done for a long time,� Collen said. “Very competitive. Take care of the ball, play good defense and a lot of the time that’s going to put you in position to win any game you play.� The Razorbacks have a chance to beat the Gamecocks shortly after their upset of the Volunteers, a win that could turn heads on the
NCAA Tournament committee. “Well I think the fact that they’re coming off that win, that’s the last game they played, I think if we can find a way to beat them at home I think that makes our win against them look a lot bigger than maybe it would have if they had not beat Tennessee,� Collen said. Both teams are coming off a bye after not playing Sunday. “I just think they’re going to have a little momentum coming in this game,� junior post Sarah Watkins said. “I think we’re ready to battle and hopefully get another win in the SEC�
see CHASING on page 10
PAGE 10
SPORTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
from ROAD WOES on page 8 think the story of the night is rebounding the basketball. That’s a sign of toughness.” The Razorbacks shot just 26 percent in the first half as it fell behind too far to mount a comeback. The Hogs cut the deficit to 15 early in the second half, but the Bulldogs responded with a 12-0 run to stretch their lead to a game-high 27. Arkansas joined the 2003
Razorbacks as the only teams in school history to start 0-8 away from home in the last 40 years. The Hogs remain the only Division I team with a winning record that hasn’t won away from home. “It just kind of seemed like we just kind of hit a wall tonight,” Anderson said. “The energy level was not where it needs to be on the road. I was really, really surprised.” Arkansas guard BJ Young broke out of a recent slump by scoring a team-high 16 points
on 6 of 11 shooting. The freshman didn’t get much help from his teammates, though. Sophomore guard Mardracus Wade scored all 15 of points in the second half when the game was out of reach. “You want some of the older guys to lead,” Anderson said. “Mardracus got it going in the second half … Those holdovers, in terms of veteran guys, they didn’t get it done. So now you’re really relying on freshmen guys.”
GEORGIA 81, ARKANSAS 59
ARKANSAS (16-8, 4-5 SEC) FG 3pt
H. Mickelson, f 2-5 0-0 M. Sanchez, f 1-3 0-0 M. Wade, g 5-9 5-5 R. Scott, g 0-3 0-2 J. Nobles, g 1-4 0-2 R. Madden 0-7 0-4 D. Abron 0-1 0-0 B. Young 6-11 3-8 M. Waithe 3-4 1-2 Totals
FT
3-5 0-0 0-0 2-2 1-1 4-4 0-1 1-1 3-3
O-T
1-4 2-4 0-1 0-2 0-0 0-2 0-0 0-0 1-6
F
1 2 0 0 3 2 3 2 4
GEORGIA (11-12, 2-7 SEC) FG 3pt
Pts.
7 2 15 2 3 4 0 16 10
Assists: J. Nobles 2, Waithe, M. 2, Mickelson, H. 1, Young, B.J. 1 Turnovers: J. Nobles 1, B. Young 2, R. Scott 1, D. Abron 1., Madden, R. 3 Steals: M. Wade 2, J. Nobles 1, R. Scott 1, Mickelson, H. 1 Blocks: H. Mickelson 3
ARK GEO
from FICOCIELLO on page 8 the sophomore class, it is Ficociello’s turn to set an example for the underclassmen. “This year, since I succeeded somewhat last year, I can take talk to the freshman, give
from GYMNASTICS on page 8 lost two if its last three meets, the individual performances from its top athletes hasn’t suffered. All-Americans Jamie Pisani and Katherine Grable have been some of the most consistent performers on the team and their consistency has been rewarded with high individual national rankings. Pisani and senior Mariah Howdeshell rank No. 1 in the
Caldwell-Pope 6-10 3-6 Thornton, M 4-4 2-2 Ware, D. 0-8 0-5 Williams, D. 3-6 0-0 Robinson, G. 10-13 1-1 Williams, V. 0-1 0-1 Florveus, J. 1-2 0-0 Sherrard, B. 0-1 0-1 Connor, N. 0-1 0-0 Totals
FT
O-T
3-4 1-5 0-0 1-5 0-0 1-2 0-0 3-9 6-7 0-6 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-3 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1
F
2 2 1 3 3 1 2 1 1
Pts.
18 10 0 6 27 0 2 0 0
Assists: Ware, D. 6, Williams, D. 1, Robinson, G. 5, Brantley, S. 1 Turnovers: Thornton, M. 1, Robinson, G. 4, Williams, V. 2, Bucklin, M. 1, Florveus, J. 1, Djurisic, N. 1 Steals: Caldwell-Pope , k. 3, Ware, D. 1Blocks: Thornton, M. 1, Florveus, J. 1
24 35 43 38
---- 59 ---- 81
them clues on what I know and what I learned as a freshman,” Ficociello said. “How to deal with adversity, because there’s going to be struggles as a freshman, regardless.” Despite the honors and awards, Ficociello said he is focused on reaching new nation in bars and vault, respectively. The consistent performance from the senior class is what Arkansas has counted on in every meet to lead them to success. Despite the one-spot drop in national ranking, s the individual performances from the Razorbacks has stood out not only in the SEC, but also nationally. “We are still very proud of our girls and our team,” Cook said “They are establishing themselves as the premier ath-
heights for himself during the 2012 season. “I wouldn’t say (the awards) adds pressure,” Ficociello said, “but now I know what I’m capable of doing in college baseball. Division I, SEC college baseball. Now I know I need to aim higher.” letes in the country. They are just really doing good routines and are very consistent and that is how you get to be ranked where you’re at.” Arkansas has only had one away meet this season, a 197.775-196.70 loss at Florida on Jan. 27. After a split weekend against Auburn and Oklahoma, Cook said there is only one goal for the meet against Georgia. “Beat them” Cook said. “That is all there is to it.”
from TRACK on page 8 is second in the nation with his performance. Irwin didn’t score in the Razorback Invitational because of a planning error with the team, but will compete in the SEC Championships and NCAAs. Irwin is part of Arkansas’ 2011 recruiting class that ranked No. 4 in the nation and includes Gunnar Nixon, the junior world record holder in the heptathlon. Bucknam signed a new recruiting class last week, a group that will be on campus in the fall. It is still early, but the Hogs have already signed five big athletes, one from Jamaica, one from Kenya and three from Texas “We came off a signing week last week,” said Bucknam “We are thrilled with the first wave of kids that we’ve signed. We’re extremely excited about it, my staff did a phenomenal job. We’ve got a heck of a group coming in next year and we’re not done
from CHASING on page 9 Arkansas and South Carolina are the Nos. 7 and 8 teams in scoring offense in the SEC, second and first in scoring defense, respectively. “South Carolina, they’re actually very similar to us if you look at them statistically,” Collen said. “We’re both very good defensively. They’re ranked a little higher than us. They’re not a big team, but they’re very physical, they pressure the basketball well.” Arkansas senior guard C’eira Ricketts leads the Razorbacks defense and has a chance to break Tracy Webb’s school steals record of 293. Ricketts has 288 career steals, including 63 this sea-
yet, but certainly that first wave was outstanding. We’re excited about our new signing class.” That class won’t be able to help the Hogs in their important meet this weekend, though. “If we had the SEC meet this weekend, we would not be ready” Bucknam said. “So this is an important part of our step towards that.” The Tyson Invitational could be the biggest meet yet for the Hogs, with a total of nine ranked teams competing. No. 3 LSU will be at the meet, an SEC rival and familiar face that Arkansas has faced once once this season, at home in the Razorback Invitational. “This is a big meet from around the country,” Bucknam said. “The spotlight is on Fayetteville, Arkansas for a lot of different reasons, we happen to think that the track teams we’ve put together here are one of those reasons.” The meet won’t have a score or overall winner, so it will be the Razorbacks last
chance to focus solely on making qualifiers and not winning a meet. “We have more work to do,” Bucknam said. “We are not, as a team, full strength yet. This is another important step towards that. There’s a few areas that kids need to step up and shine. Here’s an opportunity one more time, a pure championship caliber chance to get after some marks. Let’s face it, that’s what we have to do. Probably everybody that we have racing is going for a qualifier mark. “That’s why we work hard to bring in some outstanding programs.” The biggest event of the weekend will be the USA Track and Field Classic, this year being hosted in Fayetteville. It will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday and features 10 professional events. The athletes competing have a combined 21 Olympic medals and 60 World Championship medals. The USATFC will be televised on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
son. She is averaging 2.9 steals a game, which is second in the SEC and helps Arkansas’ 10 steals per game rank third in the conference. “I think all season we’ve fed off our defensive intensity to our offensive presence on the court so we just need to keep doing that because when our shots aren’t falling our defense needs to stay strong so we’re still in the game when we’re having shooting drought,” Watkins said. “When we’re shooting well, we also have to be in good defense so we just have to feed off the defensive end.” A win at home over South Carolina would move the Razorbacks into a tie with the Gamecocks in the SEC standings and give Arkansas
the tiebreaker. “The streak, it’s just wins,” senior forward Ashley Daniels said. “It’s kind of behind us. Like I’ve said previously we don’t focus on what we’ve done but what we have ahead. If we were to get this win over South Carolina is would be a big win for us. “Not only because they’re ranked, but they’re above us in the conference play right now.” The Razorbacks wouldn’t mind to getting the seventh win in a row and keep the streak alive, though. “I can’t say it wouldn’t matter because it would,” Daniels said. “Our team would be very excited about that and I think it would be history for the program.”