Feb. 22, 2012

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Hogs Walk By Demons Page 7

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Vol. 106, NO. 76 UATRAV.COM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

In This Issue:

25,000 Enrollment Cap Will Not be Implemented

News

UA Professor Contributes to Racial-Divide Poll

A UA professor, in collaboration with the Winthrop-Rockefeller Institute, looks at today’s racial views.

Page 3

Features

News

Personal Best Program Improves Athlete GPAs

The Personal Best Program has made significant steps in improving student athlete’s GPAs.

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Cajun Cuisine in Arkansas Hill Country

Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy Cafe offers authentic cajun food in Northwest Arkansas

Features

Page 5

Greers Ferry Fracking: What the Frack?

A look at fracking and the impact that it has on the Northwest Arkansasarea.

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Year-to-year UA administration is adapting and finding new ways to accommodate the ever increasing enrollment. Story on page 3.

Sports

Hogs Cutting Back Practice Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said he is cutting back on practice time with the Hogs’ three games in six days starting Thursday.

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Opinion

Planned Parenthood: Not A Choice

A Traveler columnist looks at how many abortions Planned Parenthood performed last year and how abortion alternatives give mothers a choice.

Page 4

UA Hosts Prize Giveaway for Thank A Donor Day by BAILEY KESTNER Staff Writer

Students have the opportunity to participate in the second annual Thank a Donor Day Feb. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Union Connections Loung and submit a video to win an iPad 2, officials said. “The main purpose of this event is to educate students on the impact UA donors have on campus,� said Merin Macechko, assistant director of Annual Programs. Alumni and friends give profit gifts of their own money that help with scholarships, research, facilities and technological upgrades, she said. The winning video will be revealed at that event, Macechko said. “In the contest, students record a 90 second or less video of themselves thanking donors,� Macechko said. “The winning video submitted will win an iPad 2.� There is also a chance to win two Arkansas Basketball game tickets for the

Construction Edges Out More Than 700 Parking Spaces by BAILEY KESTNER Staff Writer

UA officials closed nearly 730 parking spaces for the construction on the Football Operations Center, officials said. “The major changes that have been made to parking recently are mostly near Pomfret and the HPER,� said Andy Gilbride, spokesperson for UA Transit and Parking. Lot 55, formally an all-Green lot off of Meadow Street, has been reduced to faculty and paid parking spots to accommodate new football

practice fields, Gilbride said. There is a temporary loss of 466 parking spaces and will be a permanent loss of 260 parking spaces behind the HPER building, according to the Parking and Transit website. After the Football Operations Center is completed, the UA will add 80 parking spaces. There also will be a temporary loss of half the spaces in Lot 40 because of the Hotz Hall Renovation. “I used to always park in the large Green Lot behind Pomfret,� said Emily McLain, freshman communication disorders major. “It

is very frustrating that I can’t park there. I have to park by either the baseball or softball field most of the time now.� Lot 67, once faculty and HPER parking, is now closed because of construction for the practice field, Gilbride said. “Both Lot 74 and 47 North do not allow overnight parking anymore,� he said. The pedestrian entrance off of Razorback Road is also closed because of construction on the practice facilities, he said. “I’m not sure where students

who used to park in Lot 55 are parking now,� said Isaac Boroughs, freshman music education major. “It is frustrating to have to park so far away just because you don’t have a Resident Reserved parking pass.� “It seems like maybe some students left their cars at home when coming back to campus for the second semester,� he said. “I don’t see how everyone would find a spot otherwise.� The UA currently has enough parking spots for the number of students owning Green parking passes, Gilbride said.

Bike Thefts A Common Occurence, Officials Say

the March 21st game against Nevada for those who RSVP to the event on Facebook. The event will have a thank you card to sign for the donors along with free food and prizes, Macechko said. “It is just a great time to give thanks to the donors and all that they do for the school,� she said. “Last year was the first year for the event and we received around 10 videos, all of which were very good,� Macechko said. After the event, a compilation of all the videos will be sent to the donors. “The event and the videos really make them feel appreciated,� she said. For more information on the judging process and to view the winning video from last year, visit http:// annualfund.uark.edu/ thankadonorday. To submit a video, go to http://annualfund.uark.edu/videocontest. The deadline to submit videos is Monday, Feb. 27th at 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 VOL. 106, NO. 76 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

by AMANDA POGUE Staff Writers

UAPD has had reports of bicycle thefts all year, officials said. To protect bikes, there are simple ways to prevent theft. Students who get their bikes stolen most of the time don’t get them back, said UAPD Lt. Gary Crain. There are some very simple ways to protect bikes from theft and, in the case of theft, get it back. UAPD shares the top 10 ways to do so. t3FHJTUFS CJLFT XJUI 6" 1BSL ing. This keeps it tagged and makes a record of the bike. t3FDPSE BMM PG JOGPSNBUJPO Keep records of the serial number, description and photographs of the bike. t6TF -FBET0OMJOF ć JT TFSWJDF Bike thefts occur every year. Students can take simple steps to prevent their bikes from being stolen.

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY 67°

THURSDAY 63°

FRIDAY 49°

SATURDAY 54°

LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SUNDAY 56°

MONDAY 53°

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

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TODAY ON THE HILL D C

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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

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Amjad Faur: Bethlehem In Wax

Bethlehem In Wax, a collection of recent photographs by artist and UA instructor Amjad Faur will be displayed in the Fine Arts Center’s hallway cases. Feb. 13 – 24

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National Fitness Day

Group Cycle classes will be free. Zumba and Turbokick from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the HPER. Free resting metabolism tests from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Check out Goal Ball in Gym 1 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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Music Therapy Lecture

Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.

D

Graduate Research Awards Ceremony

The Awards Ceremony and Networking Workshop for the Graduate Student Reserach Poster Competition will take place in the Arkansas Union.

Personal Best Program Improves Athlete GPAs Staff Writer

Amid the busy schedule of a student athlete, many struggle to maintain a high grade point average. But the Personal Best program, which UA officials began last semester, has made promising improvements in student athlete grades, officials said. “This program allows student athletes to translate their athletic drive in

THEFT

from page 1 records all of the information about your personal property-serial numbers, descriptions, photographs, priceand allows sharing it with law enforcement in the event that it is stolen. t,FFQ CJDZDMFT MPDLFE BOZ time they are unattended with a good “U� type lock. Second choice would be a good case-hardened padlock and cable. Be sure the “U� lock or cable go through the front wheel, rear wheel and the frame, and secure it to a fixed object. “U� locks are available for purchase at UAPD headquarters. t$IFDL UIF MPDL CZ QVMMJOH on it to make sure it is secure. Use an engraver to place an identifying mark on unpainted major bicycle components. t/FWFS MPBO B CJLF UP strangers. t3FQPSU UIFę JO B UJNFMZ manner. The sooner it is reported, the more likely it is that it will be found. t1VU CJLFT JO SPPN IPVTF during university breaks, such as Thanksgiving or Spring Break. During breaks, it is easier to steal a bike from a bike rack because there are less witnesses in the area. t5BLF CJLFT IPNF EVSJOH TVNNFS CSFBL #JLFT MFę PO campus over break will either be stolen or confiscated by UA Parking staff.

their respective sport into the classroom. So far, it has been a success,� said Jon Fagg, senior associate athletic director. The program contributed to 88 of 460 UA student athletes achieving their personal-best GPAs last semester. Student athletes had a 3.059 GPA overall, and 43 students achieved a 4.0 GPA. Fourteen football players achieved their personal best GPA in the fall semes-

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STAFF IMAGERY AND MAP DATA Š 2012 GOOGLE, DESIGN BY ERIK NORTHFELL

by JARED LAGINESS

119 Kimpel Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701

ter to lead all other sports. “We are very proud of our student athletes this year not only for their individual success, but also because this is a personal best for our athletes as a whole,� Fagg said. The UA provides free tutoring for all of its student athletes, and some have mandatory tutoring to ensure that they maintain a high GPA. A network of more than 100 people work with student athletes

on their academic careers. There are some challenges teaching student athletes how to focus their drive on academics, Fagg said, but he believes that they will continue to push themselves and achieve higher GPAs in following years. “This program is perfect for student athletes because it gives them support to do well in the classroom and challenges them to improve every semester,� Fagg said.

View from the Top

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

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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

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AARON TAN

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ANDY KOUCKY

Account Executive 575-8714 travad3@uark.edu

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Lead Designer/ Web Developer

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News Designer

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SEAN MORRISON Sports Designer

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 MIKE NORTON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The crater, formally known as the Science Engineering Auditorium, is beginning to take form again as the Hillside Auditoria comes together with concrete walls and pillars. The project is expected to be done by August 2012, ‘give or take 30 days’� according to Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor for facilities.

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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

Special Traveler Beat

COLLEGES UA Professor Contributes to Racial-Divide Poll by JACK SUNTRUP Staff Writer

A report released by the Winthrop-Rockefeller Institute in collaboration with a UA assistant professor proved what many already suspected: electing Barack Obama has not led to a post-racial society. “For many persons it was a confirmation of what they perceived was happening in America as far as racial realities,” said Pearl Dowe, assistant professor. Polls, including the Blair-Rockefeller poll Dowe worked on, do not show any positive or negative effect because of Obama’s election, Dow said. “It’s consistent and has not changed,” she said. “In looking at previous opinion polls, much of the same issues and experiences of AfricanAmericans are consistent. So the president’s office did not change the actual day-to-day experience of being AfricanAmerican.” The discrimination poll,

which Dowe started work on following the 2010 mid-term elections, surveyed 3,400 Americans, with 800 black respondents. Usual polling normally has a smaller black survey group, she said. About 80 percent of blacks nationwide said they experienced day-to-day discrimination. Sixty-two percent of southern Latinos and 66 percent of non-southern Latinos answered said they experience daily discrimination, according to the poll. The poll also showed that whites, blacks and Latinos still harbor racial stereotypes toward each other. Fifteen percent of whites thought blacks were intelligent, while 40 percent of blacks thought whites were intelligent. Asians were thought to be the most intelligent by all groups. The poll contrasts in part with other studies, however. A report, published by the University of Michigan, stated last spring that “many Americans changed their perceptions of discrimination and racism after Barack

Obama became the nation’s first black president.” The poll was taken directly after the 2008 election and featured a smaller sample survey group than the BlairRockefeller study. Michigan’s research was compared to a pre-election poll in which 61 percent of respondents said blacks were discriminated against. After the election, the number fell to 50 percent. Because of the timing of Michigan’s poll, Dowe contends the hype after the election contributed to a perceived drop in racial disparities. She also noted a difference in the polling styles. “Of course after the election, there was a perception by the media and persons who were not consistently impacted by racism in America that racial tensions had dropped,” Dowe said. “The difference between our poll and the Michigan study is that they asked about perceived racism and discrimination. We actually asked respondents what they experienced,” she said.

No Enrollment Cap to Relieve Crowding by SARAH DEROUEN Staff Writer

Students will not get any relief from crowding on campus next year as a result of an enrollment cap, a UA official said. In fall 2011, UA officials had originally said that a 25,000 cap would be put on enrollment, but officials have since changed that statement. “We do not have a cap on enrollment,” said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for Enrollment. The freshman class will be about the same size as this year’s freshman class, she said. The target number of freshmen next year will be

4,500 students. In fall 2011, 4,447 freshmen entered the UA, according the Office of Institutional Research “The freshman class size for fall 2012 will be approximately the same as last year, so we are not planning growth there, though the quality of the freshman class will likely improve,” McCray said. Even though the amount of students will not diminish, some construction projects should be complete. The Epley Center for Health Professions, the Arkansas Union Fit-Out, the Campus Walk Extension and Pi Beta Phi Centennial Gate, the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center, the

football practice fields/parking facility construction, the Hillside Auditoria, various housing facility renovations/ upgrades, various classroom/ teaching lab, modernization projects, various campuswide major maintenance/ renovations and utility system projects are all set to be complete by August of next year, said Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor for facilities. The Hillside Auditoria will include two auditoriums with a total of 760 seats. “That should go a long way to relieve the classroom issues we have experience during this academic year,” McCray said.

Hitting the Books

MARY MCKAY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Christina Murray, freshman food science major, studies chemistry in the multicultural center of the Union.

Yet, the two studies do have similarities. Dowe’s report found that a majority of whites thought federal government intervention ensuring equal jobs, education, housing, healthcare and treatment in courts unjust. The University of Michigan also found that because of a perceived drop in discrimination, respondents were less likely to support affirmative action and social programs. The Arkansas study also found deep seeded trust issues between the races. In all cases, less than 25 percent of respondents thought other races were trustworthy. Stereotypes so deeply entrenched in our history and culture were not thought up over night. Many beliefs people may have about another race are because of media, Dowe said. “A lot of stereotypes are driven by the media,” she said. “As long as we continue to see stereotypes about all groups being portrayed in media interviews and reality

television shows, stereotypes will be easily projected.” The pervasiveness of the media is not the only factor holding back a post-racial society, Dowe said. “There is a lot of layers to this because racism is still ingrained in American society,” she said. In Arkansas, though polling data could not provide an official sample, Dowe recognizes much progress needs to be made. “When we look at measures and comparisons to other states, Arkansas has a lot of issues, particularly with education, with constant poverty,” Dowe said. “So there’s a lot of issues we need to address.” Minority congressional districting is a threshold the state has yet to cross, Dowe said. “We still see racism as a particular factor when we look at congressional districts,” she said. “The congressional lines have been drawn in a way that AfricanAmericans concentrated in

the delta region of Arkansas don’t have the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.” Because of factors like this, the poll found that nation-wide there is a constant feeling of lost opportunity among blacks. Fifty-nine percent of southern blacks thought there was less opportunity compared to 34 percent who though they had the same level and 4 percent who thought they had more. Moving into a society where racism is not a factor is important, but forgetting a group’s own identity may have the opposite effect, Dowe said. “I think [not recognizing] another group’s culture or identity contributes to these issues and people don’t understand or respect what makes these different groups unique,” she said. “Historically, different groups have different things about their culture that have been and should be celebrated.”


OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

PAGE 4

Scan here to go to the Opinion section on uatrav.com

EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

FROM THE BOARD

Student Opinion: What is Truly Acceptable? When news broke yesterday that a student journalist was attacked for writing a pro-gay marriage article in The Comment, the campus newspaper for Bridgewater State University , Mass., issues arose and questions were asked as to what students should be able to write for campus publications. At the Arkansas Traveler, when dealing with opinionbased articles, we must be careful that content is appropriate and true while reflecting the writers opinion. Yet, as students and readers, we must be accepting and understanding of our fellow student opinions and thoughts. Our campus has thousands of different students who house many different ideas - whether you are pro-life or anti-abortion, for or against gay marriage, or have a defined stance on other highly controversial issues, we have to remember that though we may have differing ideas, we are a unified student body that works together to respect and accept one another. We at the Traveler understand that not all articles published will be accepted and liked by all students, yet we should all have the right to voice what we think and believe. We have the opportunity to see different ideas and thoughts from many different people, learning about one another and the many stances that students have on issues concerning our society. However, when students act out on their opinions about certain ideas, this becomes an unacceptable outlet of making our voices heard. As students at a public university that has both conservative and liberal students all on one campus, we have to remember that we are all different in our beliefs, yet we all deserve respect from one another. When we have a differing opinion, we can make our voices heard through comments, letters to the editor and discussions with other students. Yet the age-old idea remains the same. Violence is never the answer.

UA Construction Reaches New Heights It’s time for more construction on UA campus. When we thought that we couldn’t house any more cones, fences and construction, another month of shutting down our roads is in the Razorback campus future. The north bound lane of Razorback Road between Cleveland and Maple streets will be closed for construction until March 31, 2012, posing more traffic problems for students and faculty. This asks the question - when is enough finally enough? We now have construction on almost every corner of our campus, from Old Main Lawn to Razorback Road. And while the construction has become a joke on campus, gaining student attention even through our UARK memes, closing another part of our campus just becomes plain annoying and entirely problematic. As it is one of the main roads around campus, we will now have to spend more of our time between classes driving through detours to park and get around. Now, we all know that when the construction is done, our campus will be a much better place to be, but let’s be honest, it’s not the place we looked forward to during orientation and our campus tours. The reality is that most of us will graduate with fences and construction signs in the background of our senior photos, and our memories of the last years of our college education will be that of a construction plagued campus. Thankfully, the Razorback Road construction will be completed in a little more than a month, yet is this the first of month-long construction jobs that will come to our campus in the near future? With this news, we have only another detour sign to look forward to, making mornings just a little more hectic for all of us.

Traveler Quote of the Day “The freshman class size for fall 2012 will be approximately the same as last year, though the quality of the freshman class will likely improve. -Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment, “No Enrollment Cap To Relieve Crowding,” page 3.

HEBRON CHESTER Staff Cartoonist

Planned Parenthood: Not About Choice Good To Know

by WILL SIMPSON

Traveler Columnist

Unintended pregnancy happens. If it happens to you and you show up at the Pat Walker Health Center, they give you a packet of information and flyers. It has colorful pages about emergency contraception, an adoption agency list, free prenatal care, and a very innocent-looking info-graphic brochure called “Unsure About Your Pregnancy?” It walks you through very reasonable-sounding questions, like “what are two or three things that I hope to have or achieve in the next five to ten years?” Then, it moves to “how would becoming a parent help?” On the back page, it gives the toll-free number for the abortion information hotline. And the National Abortion Federation (NAF) publishes the brochure. The NAF protects the big abortion industry. It is an industry that hides behind the façade of choice, while discouraging mothers from evaluating all options and actually making a choice. The NAF fights laws requiring informed consent that would give patients detailed information about abortion and an ultrasound, hates parental consent, and is apathetic about adoption promotion—the

by JUAN HOLMES

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.

Life advocates are broken hearted to see the rampant human rights abuse that is abortion, but they are equally moved and compassionate for the young women who are in the impossibly difficult situations that lead them to groups like Planned Parenthood.

“Regardless of your opinion on the issue, don’t force us all to pay for its flagship provider. Planned Parenthood is not in the business of offering choice. We should be.” There are far more crisis pregnancy centers nationwide than abortion clinics. They are, in reality, what Planned Parenthood is in its own imagination. They are compassionate centers that provide free counseling, free prenatal care, pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, adoption information and everything else expectant mothers need to make a choice. Loving Choices, for example, is a low-key yet highly effective non-profit in Fayetteville. Scores of volunteers and counselors offer free services with compassion and love to women on a daily basis. No pressure to make money off an abortion, but free services that women need. But those aren’t the types of groups that “choice” advocates defend with taxpayer money or Komen grants. They insist on the one institution that also takes unborn life. Komen wasn’t even “getting political” by pulling its Planned Parenthood support. It was trying to exit the

fray, to get out of the business, but activists wouldn’t let that happen. How much choice is offered at Planned Parenthood? Again, going back to their annual report, they claim responsibility for 329,445 deaths by abortion and a paltry 841 adoption referrals. That’s it—three digits. 0.3 percent of the abortion total. It’s the full extent of “choice” offered by America’s largest abortion provider. If you believe life begins at conception, abortion is not just a social issue. It’s the defining human rights cause of our day. The entire discussion about how abortion is only one part of Planned Parenthood misses the mark. We wouldn’t tolerate small bits of human trafficking or abuse, we shouldn’t tolerate an organization that profits from death. Planned Parenthood is not in the business of offering choice. We should be. People arguing that life begins at conception are not primarily pastors and protestors. It’s people like Dr. Micheline Mathews-Roth from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Jerome Lejeune, the father of modern genetics; Dr. Hymie Gordon, chairman of the Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Landrum Shettles, the father of IVF—all of whom testified before Congress this belief. We should be in the business of protecting life. We should preserve its sanctity, its intrinsic value, its unending worth from conception to death, and fight for its quality in between. Will Simpson is a finance and economics major, and a Traveler columnist. His column appears every other Wednesday.

Black History Month: The Political Present

Contributing Writer

EDITORIAL

“choose life” Arkansas license plate were a political nightmare. It all hit the fan a couple of weeks ago when the Susan G. Komen Foundation decided that fighting cancer—after all, what they are about—was more important than subsidizing America’s largest abortion provider. The media jumped on board like five college kids in an F-150 headed to the Waffle House, parroting every line big abortion fed them. Students defended Komen’s $700,000 donation as cancer awareness and screening, despite the fact that Planned Parenthood typically doesn’t offer mammograms, it just refers women to other clinics. They always hide behind other services that are widely available to protect the procedure that is usually exclusive to them. Lots of free clinics and non-profits offer pregnancy help and breast cancer screening, but very few will perform secondtrimester abortions in routine dilation and evacuation abortion procedures. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood rakes in millions from women’s pain. Planned Parenthood’s own Guttmacher Institute said that each procedure billed an average of $451. Planned Parenthood ended 329,445 innocent, unborn lives in 2010, according to their annual report. In addition to millions of dollars in abortion revenue, Planned Parenthood’s annual report showed that they scored nearly half a billion dollars in taxpayer money. It’s all under the pretense that it goes to their other services. Regardless of your opinion on the issue, don’t force all of us to pay for its flagship provider.

It’s Black history month, but what does that mean for college students here at the UA? I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say that we’re are all in college to get good jobs, to meet our future spouse and prepare ourselves for a great career. Yet, what does it mean to be black and in college? I’ll take another shot in the dark and say that being black and in college is the same as being white and in college in that regardless of melanin content we all want to get a good job. So since we are finishing up Black History month and everyone is wistfully remembering some of

the greatest people in American history, it’s time to take a look at the black present. The African-American present, according to the Business Insider, shows that black youth unemployment was 46.5 percent in August of last year. The black present shows that “the wealth disparity between white and black households has more than quadrupled, regardless of income bracket,” according to the Institute of Assets and Social Policy. The black present shows us that more than 70 percent of black mothers are single parents, according to reports from the U.S. center for disease control. It also shows us that almost half of African-Americans go to schools in low-income areas that have a high percentage dropout rates, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Now I’m not screaming for reparations or for President Obama to pay special attention to the African-American agenda, as I know he is the president of “everyone.”

Yet, I think it is a sad day in history when the black caucus brought these same issues to the president’s attention at the Congressional Black Caucus annual dinner in September of last year and he responded in a rallying speech by saying nothing more than, “stop complaining.” Had the president told the Hispanic Caucus or leaders of organizations such as LGBT, MAAD, AARP or APEC, he would have been met with a bigger public outcry. As president, Obama has set a dangerous precedent. The leader of this nation, has allowed its citizens to say to all black people, “quit complaining”. Had Bush Jr. said this, the White House would be in flames. President Obama is a unique politician indeed. He is unique in that when a white critic tries to bring up any issues with the president, he is in danger of being called racist. If a black critic brings up any disagreement with the Commander in Chief, he is deemed an “Uncle Tom.”

This golden ticket of passage allows him leverage to avoid any hard critiques about himself or his administration. Black history is a solemn one indeed. As college students, we should be able to look upon our leaders with eyes of accountability, not color. When will we actually use black history to create a better black present, and when will we have a president that will truly work for a better future for us all? Whether we are white or black, if Obama wants the title of “everyone’s president,” then he should actually address everyone instead of a single group’s agenda. As our leader, the president should be a unifier, not a divider. That is true change, and we can only hope that our politicians and future presidents do something about it. Juan Holmes is an English major, and a contributing writer at the Traveler. His column appears every other week.


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THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

FEATURES PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

by BRITTANY NIMS Asst. News Editor

Jambalaya, etouffeé, courtbouillion, shrimp creole, andouilles, po’boys, gumbo, pistolettes and boudin: cuisine of the Cajun, creole South, the food of Louisiana. Lyn and John Defelice don’t call their food Cajun; it’s Louisiana food. In Northwest Arkansas, only a small handful of restaurants serve this southern, soulful cuisine. Lyn D’s is one of them. Lyn and John Defelice, owners of Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy Café, are both natives of Lake Charles, La., where they met. They lived in northwest Arkansas in the ‘80s and moved back again in 1993, for family, they said. They’ve now been married for 32 years, working together for many of them. They run the café along with their youngest daughter of three, Katie, and occasionally bring in additional outside help. The Defelices are a friendly, comfortable couple. They bring something much more wholesome and hearty to Fayetteville’s melting pot of culture and individuality: “down home” Louisiana cooking and a genuine interest in the hungry people that walk through the doors of their tiny restaurant. Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy Café started out as a small concession trailer serving festivals and craft fairs across the South during the summer of 1997. The Cajun Gypsy, as it was known back then, made appearances at the Applegate and Mulberry arts and crafts festivals, the Autumn and Renaissance festivals, and several others. “Where’s your restaurant?” people would ask Lyn. The couple thought there might be a market for Louisiana food in northwest Arkansas, that maybe they could make it. “It was my baby,” Lyn said. “It’s still my baby,” she whispered. The history of Louisiana cooking is as expansive as the history of the state. Louisiana food is a combination of ingredients, spices, flavors and preparation and presentation styles from several cultures such as that of Native Americans, the French, the Spanish and African communities. Cajun food is generally spicy and flavorful; popular dishes include jambalaya, gumbo, boudin and etouffeé. In the South, family gatherings have one thing in common: good, hearty, down-home cooking from family-born recipes and the experience of enjoying a family meal with people you know and love. “I learned [to cook] from Mr. Ledoux,” Lyn said. “Pam Ledoux was my best friend, and her daddy was the one who taught me to make the gumbo. My daddy is the one who taught me how to make the courtbouillion.” “My daddy’s courtbouillion, it made your eyes water. Daddy made it so hot, but we couldn’t stop eating it,” she laughed. “But daddy was the cook. Daddy taught momma how to cook.” Lyn’s courbouillion is toned down, she said. “My grandmother taught me how to make my potato salad. I love the way she does her potato salad,” she said. After several years in business, Lyn and John have built up a hefty client base, with many regulars, they said. “I talk to people like I’ve known them for years. I want everybody to

feel real comfortable here, I talk to them like they’re my family,” she said. Lyn said she makes an effort to call her customers by their first name. “I had a guy come in the other day. I said, ‘Gah, where have you been?’ He said, ‘Oh, I moved away. I’m back now.’ They’re still coming back here,” Lyn said. Wherever life brings them, they always come back to Lyn D’s. “One couple, they were dating when they lived here. They lived right down there in those apartments, so they’d just come down here. They’re married now and they have twins,” Lyn said. “They brought the kids in.” Now in their 60s, Lyn and John aren’t sure about the future of their business when they decide to retire. “We don’t know if anybody wants it,” John said. “We don’t know if Katie’s interested,” Lyn added. “They see how hard it is, they might not want to,” he told her. “We haven’t gotten that far yet,” she said. From the outside, Lyn D’s looks like nothing more than a small, rundown brick building displaying an odd assortment of Mardi Gras decorations in its windows year-round. Located on the industrial side of Fayetteville, Lyn D’s has been in business for almost 14 years. The café opened in September 1998. Lyn and John thought about expanding and finding a larger, better known location. Several of their customers suggested it, anyway. They changed their minds. “We got older and said we’re too tired,” Lyn said. “I think we probably would have had we been younger.” Today, expanding is not an option for Lyn and John. “It would mean more business, but in the long run it would be a lot more hectic,” John said. From the inside, Lyn D’s nonchalant, informal setting immediately tells you you’re about to experience something unique. Purple and green Mardi Gras beads dangle from ceiling above the ordering window. Several caricatures of Lyn and John are displayed in the front right corner of the café. A large green banner depicting a crawfish wearing a Santa hat hangs next to the dining room and a small sign, ‘Complaints to the Cook Can be Hazardous to Your Health,’ is perched next to a bulletin board displaying local business cards. Perry Como’s ‘And I Love You So’ played through the overhead speakers as a young couple entered the restaurant. They were new to Lyn D’s. “Do you guys know anything about Louisiana food?” Lyn asked the couple. Not really, they replied. “Well I’ll give you a sample of anything you want so you can make sure it’s what you want to eat,” she told them. Running a business together comes naturally to her parents, Katie said. “One’s left hand, one’s right hand,” she said. “They don’t even have to tell each other what to do, they just do it.” If they weren’t working together it wouldn’t work, she said. “They’re both very talented cooks,” she said, “but they’re tired, like every other business owner.” Katie said she is “possibly” interested in taking over the business from her parents, but said she would definitely expand if she did take over.

BRITTANY WULF STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Steve Meldrum, 1991 UA alumini with a business degree, enjoys a sausage gumbo and sweet tea for lunch at Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy Cafe.

FEATURES EDITOR: LAUREN LEATHERBY ASST. FEATURES EDITOR: KELSI FORD

COURTESY PHOTO

Greers Ferry Fracking: What the Frack? by LOGAN GILMORE Staff Writer

Fracking is a system of energy retrieval being conducted all over the country, including within the state of Arkansas. The process involves pumping chemicals into the earth in order to capture natural gas for use. While this has led to area job creation, heavy criticism has been directed at the issue nationwide, but not much discussion has taken place here in Arkansas. One UA student, senior Jake Fair, has become deeply concerned with this issue and its effects on his hometown and other surrounding areas near Greers Ferry Lake. Greers Ferry Lake supplies water to several cities in Arkansas, including Little Rock, Conway and Batesville. The effects of fracking within the area are already visible, as numerous reports have arisen of water pollution within citizens’ homes. “Gray, cloudy, odorous, red, orange, muddy, slick, and particle-filled” are just a few descriptions of the tap water coming out of homes near fracking sites. “The chemicals used in fracking are very harmful to the environment,” Fair said. The chemicals common to the process have included benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, according to the “Gasland” documentary website. These chemicals are known to cause human ailments ranging from minor skin irritation to cancer. Each frack job takes about 2 to 7 million gallons of water from surrounding bodies of water and 20,000 to 70,000 gallons of chemicals to accomplish, according to nonprofit group Stop Arkansas Fracking. The problem with regulation of these chemicals arises with something

called the Halliburton Loophole. According to the New York Times, the Halliburton Loophole “stripped the Environmental Protection Agency of its authority to regulate [fracking].” This places the regulation of many unknown chemicals within the hands of private natural gas companies. These companies can also leave these chemicals in surrounding homes and water sources without proper regulation. In the documentary film “Gasland,” there are several scenes in which a flame is brought to a fracking-area home’s water tap. The result of this is frightening, in that the home’s flowing tap water erupts into a ball of flame. These flammable water instances have also occurred in Arkansas, even in Fayetteville, according to the Arkansas Times. Recently, natural gas company Chesapeake Energy proceeded to test underneath Greers Ferry Lake. The company did this without any public hearings, input or notifications of what would be occurring, according to the non-profit group Save Greers Ferry Lake. “This is public property,” its website states, sounding off on the group’s outrage over the drilling taking place within the area and the damage being done to the local environment. While hydraulic fracturing has been limited thus far to areas away from the lake, testing could be a sign of future endeavors. Fair hopes the gas companies will limit their drilling to at least two miles away from the lake. But that may not be enough to preserve the lake’s integrity, as the area is home to more than 100,000 people, and hosts more visitors per year than the Grand Canyon, according to Stop Arkansas Fracking. Drilling in the area does not only affect the lake region itself — it has the potential to affect everything that flows

into it, Fair says. “We owe it to our future generations to have them enjoy the lake, because without it the whole area will die. Maybe some companies will make a profit, and people will have jobs for a little while, but you’ve got to look at the bigger picture,” Fair said. While the complete removal of fracking from the area seems like a hazy dream, Fair wants to harness awareness and involvement from Arkansans and those who have had the pleasure to spend time in the state. “The best thing for people to do is have strong public opinions against it. They need to find out who their state representatives are and start pressuring them to do something about it,” Fair said. He also wants full disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracking process. Throughout this struggle to protect the Greers Ferry Lake area environment, the gas companies have stood their ground. Fair disagrees with them, saying, “I understand their position as a business major, but at the end of the day you have to think about your priorities. If you’re going to side with holding a job and having effects on the environment, or are we going to go about protecting the environment at all costs.” “No one job is greater than sacrificing the environment we live in,” Fair said. There are several ways to get involved in this issue. Non-profits like Save Greers Ferry Lake and Stop Arkansas Fracking can be accessed at www.savegreersferrylake.org and w w w.stoparkansasf racking.org. Contact information for Arkansas representatives and senators can be found at www.arkansashouse.org and www.state.ar.us/senate/senators respectively.

by ROSALYN TAYLOR Fashion Columnist

During the cool months, it’s easy to get caught up in the earthy tones that tend to set your mood. As a result, everyone is counting down the days until spring break. Students are spending hours in the HPER working to get back their beach body that Thanksgiving and Christmas has softened up. Students are also spending plenty of cash on brightly colored swimsuits and beach wear that will be covering very little of their toned and tanned bodies. But why wait until spring break to bring in the color? Instead of subjecting yourself to the bleak and boring colors of winter, do it now! We may have to wait on hot sun and sandy beaches, but in the eyes of the fashion gods, spring is already here! Here are a few ways to bring some fun color into your existing winter wardrobe. A great way to bring in some color is to pull out some of your summer accessories. If dressing in browns or reds, grab some coral-colored earrings. They can be circular or long and chandelier like. Coral contrasts well with these hues but is more bold than going with gold or bronze-colored jewelry. Add bracelets or large rings for a more eyecatching look. Fun-colored scarves, undershirts, tanks or hats are useful pieces that can gradually add excitement to bland winter wardrobes. Choosing only one colorful piece to wear at a time gives the perfect amount of color without going over the top. Though spring brightening up a winter wardrobe is always a

COURTESY PHOTO A bold, colorful necklace can dress up any dull winter outfit. The necklace pictured is from Maude Shoppe, a boutique at 704 N. College Ave.

great thing, simplicity should still be considered for winter wear. Colorful patterns should be kept to a minimum, because too much color can be a little bit of an overload this early in the spring. When wearing black or dark blues, try to bring in pinks or really light baby blues to make your outfit a bit more interesting. This can be done by wrapping a baby blue scarf over a simple black tunic or top or draping a pink cardigan over a navy V-neck to make a quaint yet sassy statement. Leggings, legwarmers and socks are also good items to use to brighten up

your winter wear. Using legwarmers as a boot liners is a great idea. Instead of wearing black, blue, gray or brown ones, try pastel colored green, yellow or purple. These colors give your dullcolored outfit a little personality and spunk without going over the top. A few great places to grab some nice pieces to compliment your existing winter attire include: Ultra Studios, RiffRaff, Daisy Exchange, Maude and of course the good ol’ NWA Mall. Let these tips guide you in your search for all things Spring. Happy shopping everyone!


You can check out the Traveler online at uatrav.com or by scanning here:

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

DOWNTIME

Comics, Games, & Much Much More!

PAGE 6 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

LAUGH IT UP

SUDOKU

Q: Does Sean Connery like herbs? A: Only partially. Q: What’s black and white and eats like a horse?

A: A zebra Q: What lives in the kitchen and drinks your blood?

Difficulty:

A: Spatula Q: Which side of a gorilla is the hairiest? A: The outside

TODAY’S SOLUTION

Q: What do Winnie the Pooh and Frosty the Snowman have in common?

A: The same middle name

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 Long-necked waders 7 Sgt. Friday’s employer 11 Blow away 14 __ pork: Chinese dish with pancakes 15 Fairy tale villain 16 Betty Crocker product 17 Click-and-drag tool 19 Impersonal pronoun 20 Barnyard brayer 21 Half an Orkan goodbye 22 Enjoyed, as a lollipop 24 Filming locations 26 More out of practice 28 Reunion attendee, briefly 30 Libyan or Liberian, e.g. 34 Tequila plant 37 Kimono sash 38 Hefty volume 39 Learner’s permit prerequisite, often 43 Guitarist Hendrix 44 Reveal, in verse 45 Thick, like fog 46 Step on the gas 48 Jack of late-night TV 50 Legislative period 52 Mex. ladies 56 Samples a bit of 59 Univ. military org. 61 Dada co-founder Jean 62 Actress Gardner 63 Memorable surprise attack site 66 Deafening noise 67 Sprinter’s path 68 “Seinfeld” woman 69 Fruit drink ending 70 Egg foo __ 71 Name associated with the start of 17-, 39- or 63-Across

1 Actresses Watson and Thompson 2 Fairy tale Mother 3 Shake awake 4 Superman’s monogram 5 Afterwards 6 Forester automaker 7 Legs-intertwined meditative position 8 Player’s rep. 9 Very productive 10 Naysayer 11 Helter-skelter 12 Rosé or Cabernet 13 Crossed (out) 18 U.S. motto word 23 Animals, casually 25 Most well-informed 27 Dana’s “forbidden fragrance” 29 Grant wartime foe 31 Nickel or dime 32 “Famous” cookie guy 33 Hawaiian goose 34 Descriptive wds. 35 Golf club part 36 “Je t’__”: French “I love you” 37 Shelley work 40 Philosopher Jean-Jacques 41 “House” actor Omar 42 Oral health org. 47 With intense feeling 48 Motel amenity 49 “O Canada,” e.g. 51 Discount rack abbr. 53 Former Israeli leader Yitzhak 54 “The San Francisco Treat” suffix 55 Shopper’s indulgence 56 “I did it!” 57 Raring to go 58 Of sound mind 60 Colombian city 64 __ Arbor, Michigan 65 Took flight

Crossword provided by MCT Campus

SOLUTION

Tony Piro


SPORTS THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER

PAGE 7

Scan here to go to the Sports section on uatrav.com:

SPORTS EDITOR: JIMMY CARTER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: ZACH TURNER

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

BASEBALL

BASKETBALL

RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas sophomore guard Mardracus Wade and his teammates have had shorter practices as the season progresses and the Razorbacks enter a stretch of three games in six days.

Anderson Cutting Back Practice by ZACH TURNER

Asst. Sports Editor

GARETH PATTERSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas sophomore catcher Jake Wise drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to drive in the winning run in the No. 4 Razorbacks 8-7 comeback win against Northwestern State. The Hogs play the Demons tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. and will start freshman right-hander Greg Milhorn on the mound.

Hogs Walk Past Demons Razorbacks rally late to remain perfect

8

7

by MARTHA SWEARINGEN Staff Writer

No. 4 Arkansas rallied to defeat Northwestern State 8-7 in a walk-off in front of 2,144 people at Baum Stadium on Tuesday. Sophomore catcher Jake Wise drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Razorbacks (4-0) rallied from a 6-4 deficit to remain perfect this season. “Most of our runs and rallies were scored with two outs,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “We got some big base hits with two outs

that got us back in the game.” A pair of runs in the top of the seventh gave the Demons a 6-4 lead and it was another scoreless inning for the Hogs. Arkansas’ offense came to life in the bottom of the eighth with three runs on three hits. Left fielder Jimmy Bosco and center fielder Jacob Morris each had RBI doubles, followed by senior shortstop Tim Carver’s RBI single to give the Razorbacks a 7-6 lead. “I was expecting off speed and that’s what he came with,” Carver said. Arkansas had two outs when third baseman Nick Hinojos’ RBI double tied the game 7-7. Northwestern State almost took a lead, but Wise tagged out a Demons runner at the plate to end the inning. During the Razorbacks’

last at-bat, right fielder Sam Bates’ bunt advanced first baseman Dominic Ficociello to second base and pinch runner Brian Anderson to third. Sophomore third baseman Matt Reynolds also walked, loading the bases. Wise’s walk allowed Anderson to score the game-winning run. “It just shows what kind of team we’ve got,” Morris said. “We believe in every player on the team. We know that when their name is called they’re expected to do something, and it comes through.” Four Arkansas pitchers saw time on the mound tonight, including junior lefthanded pitcher Cade Lynch, who struck out four hitters and allowed just two runs. Sophomore right-hander Brandon Moore started, but allowed four runs, two

earned, in just 3 1/3 innings before being lifted for junior left-hander Cade Lynch. Lynch helped the Hogs get out of a jam in the fourth inning and struck out four despite allowing two runs in three innings. “I was just trying to come in and get us out of that inning,” Lynch said. “Just fill up the zone, let the infielders and guys behind me make plays.” Northwestern State took an early lead after scoring four runs in the top of the second. The Demons were aided by the Hogs’ four errors in their worst defensive game of the season. Arkansas rallied back in the third with three runs after Jacob Mahan’s single to left field scored second baseman Bo Bigham to put

see BASEBALL on page 8

Beginning Thursday, Arkansas will have three games over the course of six days. With just eight healthy scholarship players available, coach Mike Anderson said he has started to reduce practice time as the season progresses. “I think we’ve already, not necessarily changed it, but I think we kind of scaled it back,” Anderson said. “It’s more of a tuneup now. My practices are going to last, yesterday we went 43 minutes at the most. It was more shooting and some instructions and just tuneup and get prepared for Alabama.” The Hogs host Alabama on Thursday night before hitting the road for a con-

ference matchup on Saturday with Auburn. Alabama is coming in off a 62-50 win against Tennessee and is 6-6 in Southeastern Conference play, just one game ahead of the Razorbacks. “Everything’s in now,” Anderson said. “So it’s about going out and playing with the energy, the passion and I always want our team to hang our hats on our defense. So hopefully that’s what we’ll see here these next few ball games.” Arkansas (17-10, 5-7 Southeastern Conference) has lost three of its last four games, allowing a staggering 85.3 points per game in the three losses.

see BASKETBALL on page 8

TRACK

Hogs Have Revenge on Schedule by ZACH LIGI Staff Writer

Arkansas has had a history of winning indoor SEC Championships in men’s track, but it didn’t happen last year. In the SEC Championships last season, the Razorbacks came up short of the win, placing second behind No.1 Florida. Since joining the SEC in 1992, the Hogs have won 17 conference titles, the most by any team in that period of time. Arkansas had won six consecutive SEC championships before Florida took the crown last year. The Gators got the better of Hogs last time, but this time Arkansas enters the meet as the favorite. The No. 1 Razorbacks hope for a different outcome this year and want revenge on No. 2 Florida. The Gators aren’t the only team standing in the Hogs way, though. Arkansas will also have to face the rest of

the top conference in track and field, including No. 4 LSU and No. 10 Mississippi State. “It’s certainly an important date for us,” Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam said. “We’re looking forward to getting over there and competing.” Following the Feb. 10-11 Tyson Invitational, Arkansas got a break last weekend before their big meet, a crucial break that was key for the team’s development. “I think we’re in pretty good shape,” Bucknam said. “I thought a couple of weeks ago we weren’t ready for the SEC Championship and two weeks is a lifetime in indoor track. As we approach this weekend I like where our team is at, I like our mindset.” The meet starts Friday in Lexington Ky., the beginning of the championship phase of the season. After the SECs is the Arkansas Last Chance,

see TRACK on page 8

COMMENTARY

ESPN’s Tebow v. Lin Comparison is Nonsense Old Fashioned 3-Point Play

ZACH TURNER

zwturner@uark.edu For people who thought ESPN and the rest of sports television got carried away with Tim Tebow, what about

the coverage overnight sensation Jeremy Lin has been receiving? It might be a downfall, in a way, that sports media conglomerate ESPN can constantly push and promote new superstars in way that print media can’t. New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin has been on a tear, not news to anybody, but you can’t turn on the television without hearing about it. Highlights, one-on-one interviews, postgame press conferences, Top Plays segments dedicated to the Harvard grad. Worst of all, con-

stant comparisons to Tim Tebow. These comparisons are absurd. I credit ESPN for basically starting this debate, regardless of where it originated, about which popular name became a bigger story in their respective sport. The answer, for me, is not even close. Tebow was a revered college quarterback, has his infamous crybaby speech plastered on the side of a University of Florida building, was a first-round draft pick and was given an opportunity to start when the Broncos traded their starter.

Lin was undrafted out of an Ivy League school, got cut by three teams before finding himself buried on the New York Knicks bench and through hard work finally got to play because of a series of injuries to players in front of him. There is no valid comparison. The sports world knew of Tebow since his high school games were televised by ESPN. Lin burst onto the scene within the last three weeks with consecutive 20plus point outbursts before exploding for 38 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Again, not even close. It is easier for one guy to dominate in the NBA than in the NFL, but when the guy dominating is doing so for the fourth team he has been on in two years, in the nation’s biggest media market, that’s the winner in this debate. The Knicks had won eight of their last nine games, including a primetime game against defending NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, propelled by the superb play of the only Asian-American in the league. With jersey sales ranking No. 1 in the NBA, who would have ever thought?

With his return to the lineup last night, all-star Carmelo Anthony probably wishes Lin was never a thought. The Knicks started both Anthony and Lin for the first time together and it didn’t work out so well. Lin played decent and reduced his turnovers to just one, but Melo picked up the slack and turned it over six times in a losing effort to the lowly New Jersey Nets. Time to hit the drawing board Mike D’Antoni. Zach Turner is the assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Wednesday. Follow him on Twitter @zwturner.


SPORTS from BASEBALL on page 7 Arkansas’ first run on the board. The Razorbacks cut the deficit to 4-3 on a tworun double from Ficociello.

“We knew it was going to be tough to score with four runs the way things were going,� Van Horn said. The Hogs tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth after scoring on a walk with

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 the bases loaded, but the Demons responded quickly to take a 6-4 lead. Arkansas will conclude its series with Northwestern State on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. in Baum Stadium.

PAGE 8

Razorback  Q&A Marvell Waithe t GPPU t 4FOJPS t 'PSXBSE t 5PSPOUP $BOBEB

Arkansas has struggled down the stretch the last few years. How important are the four games to finish the season strong? It’s inevitable. It’s very important. With us being on this little losing streak and with four games left, it’s inevitable that we play well and that we pick it up. We have no choice.�

I looked up at the scoreboard and I was flustered as well. Nobody was expecting that. I wasn’t. I’m sure the guys weren’t, but what determines how good you are is how you bounce back from something like that. So I think we will bounce back.�

What is the team’s mindset after losing by 19 at Tennessee and 30 against Florida?

How important is it to bounce back against Alabama?

I don’t think we’re thinking that we’re great right now. We know that we’ve got to pick it up. So I mean, our mindset is a sense of urgency and we’ve got to pick it up. We’ve got no choice. Especially with those kind of losses.

I don’t think everybody thinks since we lost that one game, just the whole vibe I get, is that we never had a good home record so far. I think we have had a good home record and I think we’re going to be OK. I know all the fans are still behind us. I think we’re going to be OK.

Is the team still feeling good? We feel good. We feel great. Spirits are high. We know we’re a good team. We know what we can accomplish and we know we can do more. So, I mean, we’re ok.

RYAN MILLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Arkansas senior forward Michael Sanchez has missed three games with a sprained shoulder and is day-to-day heading into the Razorbacks’ 6 p.m. game against Alabama in Bud Walton Arena. Sanchez’s 18.5 minutes per game leads the Hogs’ big men this season. from BASKETBALL on page 7 The Razorbacks have allowed just 66.5 points per game in conference wins this season. Freshman BJ Young has seen his minutes increase to 29 per game the Hogs’ last four games, an increase from his season average of 26.3. Starting sophomore guard Mardracus Wade, the team’s third-leading scorer, averaging 9.6 points, is playing 28 minutes per game over the last four games, primarily because of his defense and 3-point shooting abilities. “I’m used to it,� Wade said. “I’m in shape. For the young guys it’s probably kind of new to them, so for the most part

it will probably be on them more than any of us, but I’ve been feeling fine. Coach has been cutting back on practice. Practice has been no more 45 minutes to an hour long. Weights have been 15 to 20 minutes. “So we’ve just been preparing and trying to save our body.� Sanchez still day-to-day Senior forward Michael Sanchez, who has started 23 games this season, is still day-to-day after missing Arkansas’ last three games with a sprained shoulder, Anderson said. The 6-foot-9, 235-pounder led Razorbacks’ big men with 18.5 minutes per game before the injury. “I think Tuesday he may

try to do some things,� Anderson said. “He just shot around a little bit on the side Monday, so that’s the most I’ve seen him out here since he got injured. But that’s a day-to-day situation.� Sanchez is averaging 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds, while shooting 40.7 percent from the field this season. Powell progressing in rehab Arkansas has been without junior forward Marshawn Powell since the third game of the season. The Newport News, Va., native tore ligaments in his knee prior to Arkansas’ 87-78 loss Houston on Nov. 18. “He’s rehabilitating while we’re practicing,� Anderson said. “He’ll come out at the

agree with that?

Coach Mike Anderson used the word “shock� about the Florida game. Would you

With the offense struggling in the halfcourt recently, how important is reestablishing an uptempo pace? We just know we have to push the ball. We’re a fast-paced team. Fast-tempo team. We take a lot of quick shots. We just know we have to keep pushing the ball and play within ourselves and I think we’ll be OK.

end there. I saw him rehabilitating yesterday. It’s been as good as it can be. You’re talking about a guy that’s been starting ever since he’s been here. Now he’s on the sideline.� Powell was averaging a career-best 19.5 points per game and pulling down 6.0 rebounds prior to his injury. Being one of Arkansas’ most experienced players, Anderson said Powell has continued to lead from the sidelines. “I think at times he tries to talk and counsel with the young players,� Anderson said. “We took him with us on I think a couple road games. I’m sure he enjoyed being around the guys. We don’t want him to just be isolated over here.�

FILE PHOTO Arkansas senior distance runner Lane Boyer will lead the No. 1 Razorbacks in the SEC Championships this weekend in Lexington, Ky. from TRACK on page 7 then the NCAA Championships. Razorbacks in three-way battle for SEC The regular competition of the indoor track season is over. Arkansas’ No. 4 women’s track will participate in the SEC Championships this weekend. No. 2 LSU and No. 6 Florida are the two teams posing the greatest threat to the Razorbacks entering the meet. “Obviously this is one of the highlights of the year, going to the conference meet,� Arkansas coach Lance Harter said. “The SEC, it never fails, we’re going right into the fire. You’ve got four teams in the top eight in the nation.�

Arkansas will try to fend off the Tigers and Gators to earn the win. “I see Florida and LSU and ourselves just being in a three team battle,� Harter said. “It could come down to the mile relay, which would be really exciting, but I would prefer it to not be that exciting.� Whichever of the teams comes out first will also have a huge impact nationally. The winner is likely to be ranked No. 2 behind a dominant Oregon team that has been ranked No. 1 all season. After the SEC championship, the Razorbacks have another meet to prepare for nationals, hosting the Arkansas Last Chance on March 2. Following that meet, is the NCAA Championships.


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