SPORTS, PAGE 3
NEWS, PAGE 4
OPINION, PAGE 2
Red Wolves defeat UCA Bears
Front page stories continued
Letter to the editor: Islam and 9/11
THE HERALD Informing Arkansas State University since 1921
Monday, Sept. 26, 2011
asuherald.com
Vol. 90 Issue 8
SMASH! PiKA sponsors car smash for UCA game prep, scholarships
Photos by Ashley Helliwell
To prepare for Saturday's game against the UCA Bears, the Red Wolves and their supporters smashed a car Friday provided by the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Hits cost $1 each and were donated to the PiKA scholarship fund. Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze (above) was granted the first honorary smash. The Red Wolves went on to defeat the Bears with a score of 53-24.
Center hopes to remove stigma Underground campus tunnels examined Megan Heyl Staff Writer The ASU Counseling Center is committed to provide professional help to students, but many might feel hesitant to take advantage of the campus resource. Pat Glascock, associate director of the ASU Counseling Center, provides information to help students understand what services are available at the counseling center. Glascock hopes that in explaining what the counseling center does, she can remove the stigma attached to it. There is an ongoing myth that going to counseling is a sign of weakness. The counselors at ASU want to make clear that counseling is there for anybody, no matter the size of their problems. “It takes courage to want help,” the ASU Counseling Center brochure states. Logan Bushong, a junior social science major of Paragould, has been attending counseling at the ASU Counseling Center for nearly a year. “It lets me talk things out and helps me identify problems of mine I couldn't identify on my own,” Bushong said. Rachel Childers, a sophomore psychology major of Sherwood, has also participated in counseling. “Counseling can help you work through problems, and it also keeps your stress levels down,” Childers said. “ Personally, counseling has helped me learn to manage
stress in a healthy manner and communicate efficiently.” The counseling center, on the second floor of the Student Union, addresses a multitude of problems and concerns. Counseling sessions are confidential and free to students. Students can set up an appointment or come in during drop-in hours: Monday through Thursday, noon 3 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. - noon. There are three types of counseling most often provided at the counseling center: career, academic and personal. Career counseling helps students focus on possible careers. Undeclared majors can sit down with a counselor and discuss goals, interests and values to help them understand their options and make an informed decision. Academic counseling is there to help with study habits, schedule organization and stress related to course work. The counseling center will help students to perform better in class and help them learn test-taking skills, the best ways to study, how to keep on track and how to keep stress to a minimum. Personal counseling is offered in both individual and group sessions. These sessions can address depression, anxiety, relationships or other issues a student may be having. The counselor will help a student establish goals to ensure the student has the best possible experience at ASU. See COUNSELING, page 4
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What we asked you last week on asuherald.com: Are you going to the football game against the UCA Bears on Saturday?
No, I've got plans, 13%
Kayla Paine Staff Writer Mastering where everything on campus is located can be checked off the todo list after a couple of semesters for most students. But knowing about the underground tunnel system? That’s a different story. Steam tunnels were the primary source of heating for many college campuses in the first half of the 20th century, ASU included. The campus converted to boilers for each building in the 1950s. The tunnels now house telecommunication cables. “I knew that there was a steam heating system at one time, but I had no idea that the tunnels are still under the campus,” said Katherine Cole, a junior middle-level education major of Paragould. The underground tunnels spark many students curiosity. Ross Jackson, a sophomore radio-television major from Jacksonville, said, “I would feel like Indiana Jones if I could go down there and explore.” “There were a lot of areas that the tunnels could be accessed, inside building and outside in manholes, stuff like that,” Clint Halcom, assistant director of maintenance, said. “We’ve gone around and put lock systems on the access points, heavy locks so it’s hard for someone to gain access down in there.” Despite the belief that entrances are
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secure, students have found a way inside. Jessica “Pip” Worrell, a 2010 graduate in interdisciplinary studies of North Little Rock, revealed that she had been in the tunnel system about 10 times throughout her time at ASU. “You kind of feel like the Ninja Turtles when you first get in,” she said. “It’s a fun, little eerie place.” Despite however fun it may be to go down there, Facilities Management has many safety concerns about students entering the tunnels. Asbestos, slippery areas, zero lighting and possible suffocation are just a few. “Anytime you’ve got a tunnel system underground, you’ve got pockets of what we call ‘bad air’ and there may not be enough oxygen down there,” Halcom said. He mentioned that he had heard of multiple cases of people dying in confined spaces from these pockets. If a student were to be caught in the tunnel, they would be reported to student conduct. There is not a default punishment for the student, though according to the student handbook: “Unauthorized or illegal entry into a building, classroom, office, room, vehicle or residence hall,” is subject to punishment through an informal case resolution or formal conduct hearing. Worrell took a group of six people into the tunnels once and they ended up lighting a candle, due to the lack of light, and See TUNNELS, page 4
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Of interest online Watch our video of Friday's car smash at youtube.com/ASUHerald.
Howl yes! 87%
Hear something funny or interesting on campus? Tweet it to @OverheardAtASU and you could see it printed in The Herald!
PAGE 2
OPINION
Monday, Sept. 26
The Herald is a public forum. Its content is written by students, for students, faculty and staff of Arkansas State University. Student editors of The Herald have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.
The Herald
Repealing discrimination pure Goldwater
— Our View —
Get well soon As we are getting into the part of the semester with ever-changing weather, those of us blessed with sinus trouble and allergies find this is the most “fun” time of the year, right? Wrong. In high school, getting sick wasn’t as big of a deal. You could stay home with Mom or Dad taking care of you and be back at school the next day. You didn’t have to worry about eating healthy and staying in shape because, most meals were fixed at home and your extra-curricular activities kept you active. In college, it is important to be aware of your health and wellness. It may be easy to grab something quick to eat or skip meals, but it’s not the right thing to do especially when you’re on your own. Good health starts with a good diet. Eating fruits and vegetables in place of junk food and keeping yourself well hydrated is the easiest way to get on track to a healthy life. If you worry about not getting all the nutrients you need, adding daily multi-vitamins will help as well. If you do find yourself feeling sick, take advantage of the services on campus. The student health center provides care to students throughout the week free of charge (excluding prescriptions and tests). The center has a number of services ranging from treating minor illnesses and injuries to providing physicals and immunizations. Always put yourself before your schoolwork. If you feel sick, you aren’t going to do your best work so, get plenty of rest and please don’t attend class unless you absolutely have to. You don’t want to run the risk of getting everyone else around you sick. To be your best, you have to feel your best and it all starts with taking care of yourself.
“It really is about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all of us.” Anthony Childress
It is doubtful that many students here (or elsewhere) have heard of the late Arizona Republican Senator Barry Goldwater. And, it is just as unlikely that they will ever conceive more than a passing reference to his lengthy congressional career, 1964 losing, yet prophetic, presidential campaign that gave rise to conservatism within the Republican Party, his passion for photography, successful career with the family business prior to politics, etc. Something else about Goldwater is largely unknown when his name comes up. The one-time chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee - himself a proud veteran and the
man whose public career had been largely seen in hard line conservative terms - was actually a Libertarian (fiscally conservative, socially progressive) at heart in many of his aims. From battling an everincreasing federal government dominance in many areas of America’s economic, social and cultural life to standing firm on preserving an enduring faith in our Constitution’s stated limits on such matters, Goldwater consistently leaned on his principles. It often put him at odds with not just Democrats but his own party, particularly where individual rights and liberties were concerned. He was troubled by the “marriage” of traditional libertarian and conservative positions with those from the burgeoning values/morality community in the 1980s. His trepidation was confirmed in the years
ahead. Among the thorny issues to make headlines and splinter many in the Republican Party a decade later was a proposal by then-President and Arkansas Democrat Bill Clinton to allow gay people to serve openly in the nation’s armed forces. The move came not long after Clinton was sworn into office and, given the national mood about gay rights at that time, infuriated many on the right and some in the president’s own party. Enter the retired Barry Goldwater . “The conservative movement is founded on the simple tenet that people have the right to live life as they please, as long as they don’t hurt anyone else in the process,” he stated in June 1993 remarks before the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy was enacted. The quote stands as part of his later years chapter
in the book “Pure Goldwater” written by his son and former Nixon-era White House Counsel, John W. Dean. In the same chapter Goldwater puts things in stark perspective and again invokes his rock ribbed belief in freedom’s promise to everyone, no matter their characteristics and how it extends to honest, open military service for gay Americans. “Anybody who cares about real moral values understands that this isn’t about granting special rights - it’s about protecting basic rights.” With DADT now officially tossed into the ash pit of history, Goldwater’s wisdom couldn’t be more relevant. It really is about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all of us. Childress is a graduate student in political science of Jonesboro.
Letters to the editor
“Our View” is written by the editorial staff. The opinions are not necessarily reflective of the student body, faculty or administration of Arkansas State University.
The Herald welcomes letters to the editor in electronic form and under 300 words. We reserve the right to edit for space.
Please email letters to: bethany.bright@smail.astate.edu samuel.smith@smail.astate.edu
Putting others over self can be rewarding “... let’s seek out people we can serve, even in the midst of our busy lives.” Jeff Davidson
The start of the week for me always feels like the same old, same old. Another week of classes, another week of homework, and another week of procrastinating on that study guide for next week’s test. Sometimes things like going to class, doing homework, and meeting deadlines are just too methodical for my liking.
Are these daily duties really all that important? Maybe they are, as one of my friends so humbly taught me this past week. When it comes to gen ed courses, there’s apparently more to them than simply getting good grades and fulfilling requirements. A couple of weeks ago, my friend realized that two of her Chinese classmates were having trouble in their history class. History classes can be hard enough for most people, but try to learn English at the same time, and
you might just understand how these two girls felt. She helped them with their homework, which meant several hours of her time with them and not on her own homework. But what began as a little study session with two fellow classmates turned into bonding time with two new friends. My friend told me this story, and naturally I was excited for her. “What an amazing opportunity,” I thought. My excitement, however, seemed to wear off as
I quickly realized my own shortfall in this area. Here I am just trying to get through each day at a time. Sleeping, eating, going to class, doing homework— how could I possibly commit to helping a few classmates on top of the things I’ve already committed to? Once I finish these things up, I can then do these other things, right? But this line of thinking is flawed—maybe more selfish than anything else. I am reminded of a person in the New Testament.
Her name was Martha, and as the story goes, she was “worried about so many things.” While Martha was busy getting everything done – and done perfectly at that – Mary, her sister, decided to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His teaching instead. When Martha started complaining, Jesus kindly rebukes her and says, “Mary has chosen what is important.” If you’re anything like me, you may get so bogged down with the details and events of everyday life that you forget what is truly important. We tell ourselves that we should help more or serve more, as long as we finish up the things we have to do first. Now, don’t get me wrong
– of course there are commitments we all have and we must be sure to complete (e.g. school). But in the craziness of life, perhaps it would be good to just step back and look to see how we can serve others in the midst of our daily routine. And by the way, those two Chinese girls I told you about introduced my friend to several more Chinese girls. I’ve had the opportunity to hang out with some of them, and it’s been a blast. So here, at the start of another week, let’s seek out people we can serve, even in the midst of our busy lives. We just might make new friends. Davidson is a sophomore education major of Bryant.
Letter to the editor: Response to ‘Muslim student reflects on tragedy’ Regarding the article by Abdullah Raslan about Muslims and Sept. 11, a few things come to mind. When Pat Robertson contradicted Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, and redefined the rights of a man to divorce his wife, I did not hear anyone condemn Christianity. Jesus said that the only act that gave a man the right to divorce his wife is adultery, but Robertson thought he knew better and said that a man could divorce his wife if she has Alzheimer’s disease. Robertson had a lot of arrogance to criticize his own professed Lord. I heard criticism in the media of Robertson, but not criticism of Christianity. This is just one example of how the world judges Islam by a different measure
than it does other religions or institutions. We have a situation here where a Muslim student spoke out of turn. It is he should be taken to task, schooled in his own faith and take correction from his elders; it is not Islam that should be under scrutiny here, it is the shallow knowledge of one young man who thought he knew more than he does about his faith. It is said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and that is true. Whatever was said by this young man that appeared to be incorrect or incomplete, there is a clear explanation that comes from a more knowledgeable and wiser perspective, if one truly seeks knowledge and has no bias or prejudice in his or her heart that will reject any-
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thing about Islam no matter what it is. As for the comments submitted by “melkor.” if they are sincere and want to know the truth and do not have preconceived ideas he or she is attached to, then there is hope for a meaningful communication wherein something might be learned and understood about this maligned religion and way of life called Islam. Melkor speaks of submission to God as if it is a bad thing, when actually that is exactly what Abraham and Jesus in particular, peace be upon them, are known for. Abraham said “I submit” when God asked him to become the founder of Monotheism in the world. It is common knowledge that a quote is attributed to Jesus saying “not my
The Herald is published twice weekly during the fall and spring semesters and is distributed around the Jonesboro campus. Its content is normally written by students. “Our View” represents the opinions of the editorial staff. Columns, letters to the editor, cartoons and other content on the opinion page are the views of the author. Content does not necessarily represent the opinion of The Herald. Editorial Number (870) 972-3076 www.asuherald.com
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will but Thy Will be done,” and in the prayer he gave to his followers, it says “Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Peace be upon them both. These quotes represent the essence of what Islam stands for, submission of our wills to God’s Will and is nothing new, but the credo of every prophet and messenger of God who ever walked this earth, peace be upon them all. Islam means literally “peace through submission to God,” and Muslim literally means “one who has willingly submitted to God.” True Islamic Monotheism – not as seen on TV, but the real thing – strives to walk the straight way and practice the religion of all the prophets and messengers. - Samuel G. Smith, editor
As for the introductory comments about 9/11 that were injected by the Herald staff, please allow me to suggest a few links for your professional investigative consideration. As a Muslim, it is an offense and a bias that the college newspaper would associate the tragedy of 9/11 with Islam in the introduction. When Timothy McVeigh blew up the building in Oklahoma City, they did not call him a Christian terrorist, or the group he was with. I challenge you to search out the following links and do your due diligence as journalists: www.ae911truth.org (over 1500 architects and engineers demand a new investigation of 9/11) www.pilotsfor911truth. org
www.firefightersfor911truth.org These are but three of many sites that are telling the truth but are not being covered by major media. You have a moral and legal obligation as journalists to print the truth and not just what you are told by other media sources. I would not have put this information here in this letter if you had not introduced the story as you did, and linking 9/11 to Islam. Islam condemns terrorism, and anyone who commits terrorism is misguided, be they Jew, Christian or Muslim. May God guide us all to the all-encompassing truth and help us to communicate better.
raven.hearton@smail.astate.edu
- Beth Bright, opinion editor bethany.bright@smail.astate.edu - Michaela Kaberline, campus corner editor
- Lindsey Blakely, photo editor
michaela.kaberline@smail.astate.edu
lindsey.blakely@smail.astate.edu
- Daniel McFadin, sports editor
samuel.smith@smail.astate.edu
- Raven Hearton, news editor
daniel.mcfadin@smail.astate.edu
- Sanford Pass ASU student - Rachel Carner, online editor rachel.carner@smail.astate.edu
- Rachel Meredith, ad manager rachel.meredith@smail.astate.edu - Bonnie Thrasher, adviser bthrasher@astate.edu
PAGE 3
Monday, Sept. 26
SPORTS
The Herald
What the howl? Conference Mayhem
Abdullah Raslan/Herald
Daniel McFadin Sports Editor
Senior wide receiver Dwayne Frampton attempts to break loose from the clutches of a Central Arkansas defender Saturday at ASU Stadium. Frampton earned 100 yards on eight catches and also ran for a touchdown in the Red Wolves 53-24 win over the Bears.
Red Wolves claim victory in ‘Centenniel Shoot-out’ Daniel McFadin Sports Editor Ryan Simpson Staff Writer In the first in-state game for Arkansas State since a one-point win over Central Arkansas in 1997, the Red Wolves defeated the Bears 53-24 Saturday in the “Centennial Shoot-out.” After scoring only one offensive touchdown in the first half, in addition to four field goals from Brian Davis, Arkansas State (2-2) took control of the Southland conference Bears (1-3) in the second half and scored 34 points in route to the win. Brian Davis, the sophomore kicker from Brentwood, Tenn., kicked six field goals in the game to break both an ASU school record and a Sun Belt record for most field goals in a single game. Davis was just one field goal away from tying the NCAA record. “I’m very thrilled for Brian…yesterday I was ready to bench him and go for it on fourth down every time,” ASU head coach Hugh Freeze joked following the game. “He told me he had it and we trusted him and he executed very, very well.” Davis, who had never kicked more than two field goals in a game before Saturday, was part of a night where the Red Wolves were 100 percent on drives that reached the red zone. On 10 trips to the red zone, ASU scored on three rushing touchdowns and one passing in addition to the six field goals. The first score of the night for the Red Wolves came when Davis kicked a 24-yard field goal with 8:46 left in the 1st quarter. UCA then briefly led when Jackie Hinton ran a touchdown in from three yards out with 2:40 left in the first to make it 7-3. The Red Wolves’ only offensive points in the first half came when junior quarterback Ryan Aplin completed an 11-yard pass to senior Taylor Stockemer with 1:39 left in the first
quarter. Stockemer finished the game with three catches for 67 yards. After the teams exchanged field goals to make it 13-10 in favor of ASU, Davis kicked two consecutive field goals of 33 and 34 yards in the second quarter under a steady amount of rain to go up 19-10 at the half. “We did a good job moving the ball down the field,” Aplin said. “We had only two negative plays…but the biggest thing, we have to put the ball in the end zone. We can’t settle for field goals anymore.” At halftime, Freeze made few adjustments on offense but held a meeting with the defensive players to make much beeded adjustments. “They had hurt us too much with the quarterback counter,” Freeze said, “they were going three speed receivers on the field…and had us a man short there several times.” The second half started with an Arkansas State drive that resulted with Jermaine Robertson scoring on a oneyard run to cap off a 10-play, 83-yard drive that consumed only 2:53 off the clock, making the score to 26-10 in favor of Arkansas State. On the next ASU drive, Brian Davis kicked another good field goal from 21 yards out, tying the Sun Belt and school record and giving ASU a 29 – 10 lead. The Bears attempted to jump start a comeback in the 3rd quarter when Wynrick Smothers completed a 57yard touchdown pass to Jesse Grandy to make the score 36-17. UCA would only score one more time in the fourth quarter when Smothers, on a trick play, caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Terence Bobo. Andre Smith replaced Aplin in the 3rd quarter and scored on a two-yard run with 3:36 left in quarter to give ASU the 36-10 lead. Smith completed all four of his pass attempts on the night for 51 yards. “I thought the defense came out and played with some passion in the third quarter and got a few stops early on,” Freeze said.
The defense held UCA to just 97 yards rushing and kept the Bears to an average of three yards per rush. Smothers was sacked twice in the game, once each by senior lineman Brandon Joiner and senior Justin Robertson. Senior receiver Dwayne Frampton took a direct snap six seconds into the 4th quarter and ran 10-yards into the end zone to make the score ASU 43UCA 17. The final ASU score came from the defensive unit when Sterling Young picked Smothers off and dashed 31-yards to the north end zone for a touchdown to put the Red Wolves up 53 – 17. The Red Wolves had 14 drives for the game and faced only had onefourth down, which they converted on, thus keeping the punting unit off the field for the entire game. The only misstep on offense for the Red Wolves came with 6:39 left in the game, when the Red Wolves turned the ball over to UCA on a fumble. The Red Wolves had 646 total offense yards while holding the Bears to 322. Aplin passed for 220 yards and one touchdown and rushed for another 84 yards. Frampton led in receiving with eight catches for 100 yards. Freshman running back Frankie Jackson, who had three rushes for 14 yards, left the game in the first half with a sprained ankle. Freeze said the team would know how serious it is by the middle of the week. “Give UCA a lot of credit for coming out and giving us their best shot,” Freeze said. “We knew it was coming and we knew they would.” The win in front of 27,918 people closed out the non-conference part of the season and gives the Red Wolves their best start to a season since 2008 going into Sun Belt conference play next week. Arkanss State will now go on the road for two weeks against Western Kentucky (0-3) and LouisianaMonroe (1-3) before facing Florida International (3-1) at home on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
Lady Red Wolves lose to Florida Int. 2-1 in overtime Meredith Scott Staff Writer
Despite both team’s efforts to finish the game before a possible rain delay, they went into extra minutes. It was a fight until the finish for the The goalies were on their toes, Arkansas State girl’s soccer team in keeping their eyes on the ball amidst their home match against Florida Ina mob of determined players. ternational Sunday afternoon. In the end, FIU came out on top The Red Wolves were defeated by when an assist from Ashleigh Shim the Golden Panthers (6-5, 3-0), 1-2 in helped April Perry from the top of the extra minutes. Arkansas State is now box. 3-5-2 for the season and 1-1 in Sun Belt ASU goalie Aja Aguirre leaped Conference play. into the air, but the ball bounced off Coming off their shutout win against the cross bar and into the goal with Florida Atlantic Friday, ASU was 0:53 remaining in extra play. ready to make FIU work hard, forcing “We did a good job of fighting back them to run up and down the field. against one of the top teams in the The first goal of the game came with conference,” Ziyenge said. 6:22 left in the first period. The Gold“What we wanted was a win and en Panthers’ Kelly Hutchinson assistwe didn’t get it. But we’re going to ed Nicole DiPerna in a shot from the stay positive and just look forward to top of the box into the left side, giving playing against Middle Tennessee. FIU a 1-0 lead. “It’s coming. One way or the other, After a 60 minute battle in the secthat victory is going to come.” ond half, freshman Jessica Jingblad The Red Wolves travel to Murfreeshad an unassisted goal from the top of boro, Tenn. to take on the Middle the goal to far point of the goal. Tennessee Blue Raiders at 7 p.m. Ashley Helliwell/Herald With the game tied, 1-1, ASU gained Freshman Katie Hosea kicks the ball out of the this Friday. momentum and maintained better con- reach of a FIU defender Sunday at the ASU Soccer The next home game is Oct. trol of the ball. 7 against Louisiana-Lafayette folComplex. “We are the type of team where evlowing another away game against eryone fights hard and we don’t rely on defend and it was all three units that Western Kentucky on Oct. 2. one player,” ASU head coach Tafadzwa helped us to go forward and get the Ziyenge said. “All three units helped to equalizing goal.”
The last two months in the world of college football have left me feeling like Ed Helms in “The Hangover”, screaming “What is going on?!” while stuck in the back of a demolished police cruiser. After the storm known as conference realignment dissipated last summer following the departure of Nebraska and Colorado from the Big 12, it seemed schools had put the idea of changing loyalties behind them for awhile. Last month that conversation returned with a vengeance when Texas A&M acted on its growing misgivings toward the University of Texas and its Longhorn Network and began efforts to become the 13th member of the Southeastern Conference. Finally, after weeks of speculation, the Aggies were officially invited to join the conference. However, smaller schools in the Bif 12 like Baylor, desperate to keep the conference together, refused to give up their right to sue both A&M and the SEC over “collusion.” Ultimately, the SEC officially accepted the Aggies as the 13th member of the conference on Sunday. But a literal sign that showed the frustration of fans was commissioned in Waco, Texas last week. A billboard admonishing Baylor’s efforts to keep A&M from leaving read “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors’ conference deal.” That should also be a message to college big wigs that their decisions regarding alignment affects the emotions of fans that supporter their programs, not just the schools themselves. While some schools, specifically Texas, want to change conferences to help protect their television deals, some are changing loyalties out of fear that they will be left behind in the continuing evolution of college football. Just last week, in a whirlwind of three days, the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse high tailed it from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference, though they won’t officially change conferences until 2014. This is the first of potentially many examples of schools making snap decisions in response conference realignment. Even the Mountain West and Conference USA are discussing the possibility of merging to form a 22-school conference. The Pac 12 officially ended any discussion of expansion last Tuesday and the remaining schools in the Big East have pledged to stay together (but remember that the Big 12 did that last year). However that does not mean they will not accept more schools. The remaining nine schools in the Big 12 once again announced they are going to try stick it out, though with the SEC only at 13 teams, many think that Missouri could jump ship at some point in the future. The uncertainty of how long schools are willing to stick together is the worst part about all of this conference talk. Fans like myself want to know there is some level ground to stand on. While most will voice their concerns on internet message boards, there are a select few who will go the extra mile as the bill board in Waco proves. While it probably is not logistically possible, fans would feel better if they had an official say in their schools conference fate. If the Big 12 does eventually disband, it would take with it decades of rivalries. While I’m not a fan of either Texas or Oklahoma, losing the annual Red River Shoot-out would leave a strange void in the college football schedule. It’s games and rivalries like this that make college football what it is. Not about the money or glory, but about school, state and conference pride. The only good thing about conference realignment is getting to see schools we’ve never seen compete break new ground. But I’d rather that happen through athletic departments bold scheduling of competitive teams and not Division 1-AA teams. We don’t know where the college athletics will be in five years, let alone next year. Here’s to hoping it’s in the right place when it’s all said and done.
PAGE 4
Monday, Sept. 26
NEWS
The Herald
Blues music speaker to Since January, 50 smoking fines given visit for Lecture Concert ASU Press Release Acclaimed professor/ author/filmmaker William R. Ferris will present the Corinne Sternheimer Greenfield lecture as the second event of Arkansas State University’s 20112012 Lecture-Concert Series. Ferris will present “Memory and Sense of Place in the Blues,” on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in ASU’s Carl R. Reng Student Union Auditorium. This presentation is funded by Drs. Rosalee and Raymond Weiss of Teaneck, New Jersey, through an endowment supporting an annual lecture in the ASU College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The lecture is in memory of Rosalee Weiss’s mother, Corinne Sternheimer Greenfield, who was born in Jonesboro. The Corinne Sternheimer Greenfield lecture (like all events in the Lecture-Concert Series) is free, and the public is invited. Ferris, a widely recognized leader in Southern studies, African American music and folklore, is the Joel R. Williamson Eminent Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the senior associate director of its Center for the Study of the American South. He is also adjunct professor in the curriculum on folklore. He presently serves as chair of the National Advisory Board for the Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program at Arkansas State. The former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Ferris has conducted thousands of interviews with musicians ranging from the famous (B.B. King) to the unrecognized (Parchman Penitentiary inmates working in the fields). He has written or edited 10 books and created 15 documentary films. He coedited the massive “Encyclopedia of Southern Culture” (UNC Press, 1989), which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. His other books include: “Mule Trader: Ray Lum’s Tales of Horses, Mules and Men” (1992), “Local Color” (1982, 1992), “Images of the South: Visits with Eudora Welty and Walker Evans”
(1978), “Mississippi Black Folklore: A Research Bibliography and Discography” (1971) “Blues from the Delta” (1970, 1978, 1988), and “Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of Mississippi Blues” (2009). Ferris’s films include “Mississippi Blues” (1983), which was featured at the Cannes Film Festival. He has produced numerous sound recordings and hosted “Highway 61,” a weekly blues program on Mississippi Public Radio, for nearly a decade. He also has published his own poetry and short stories. A native of Vicksburg, Miss., Ferris was the founding director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, where he taught for 18 years. He also taught at Yale University and Jackson State University. A graduate of Davidson College, he received a Ph.D. in folklore from the University of Pennsylvania (1969). He has won many prestigious honors, including the Charles Frankel Prize in the Humanities, the American Library Association’s Dartmouth Medal, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award, and the W.C. Handy Blues Award. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine named him among the Top Ten Professors in the United States. He is a Fellow of the American Folklore Society. At UNC-Chapel Hill, Ferris has been teaching classes on the history of music in the American South and its impact on the region’s history and culture. His students have explored Native American songs, Appalachian folk ballads and Afro-American hymns, spirituals and work chants, and considered a range of forms including blues, country music, gospel, jazz, rock, and rap. ASU’s Lecture-Concert Series Schedule is online at http://www2.astate.edu/a/ finearts/lecture-concert/ LCschedule_2011-2012. dot. All Lecture-Concert Series events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Tim Crist, chair, Lecture-Concert committee and professor of music (tcrist@astate.edu), (870) 972-2094.
Kim MyoungHyang Staff Writer
It was more than a year ago on Aug. 1 when ASU became a smokefree campus as a result of The Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009. Non-smokers are happy with the law and want it enforced more stringently. “I really like that I don’t have to walk through smoke when going to my classes,” said Aaron Householder, a senior physical education major and general business minor of Piggott. “Students who do smoke should have some respect for students who don’t smoke.” Nathan Williams, sophomore chemistry major of Jonesboro said, “I think the biggest benefit is not seeing the cigarettes butts lying about; that is litter, and belongs in the trash bin, not upon the ground.” According to the ASU home page, any person that is convicted of violating any provision of this year-old state law shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500. University Police Chief Randy Martin said a citation issued for smoking would have to appear in the Jonesboro District Court. “Any fines levied would be up to the court, and the funds would be retained by the court and the city of Jonesboro,” Martin said. Since Jan. 1, the police depart-
ment has contacted 50 persons violating the Clean Air on Campus Act. Of those contacts, 20 of those have occurred since school started in August. Those violations were handled as outlined in the ‘Smoke Free Campus Enforcement Procedures’ document, issued in August 2010. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, there are now at least 530 smoke-free campuses in the United States. Student on-campus housing facilities are included in the smoking bans. In Arkansas, all 33 public college and university campuses banned smoking on campus. Iowa and Arkansas are the only states with statewide campus smoking bans. In Iowa, at least 65 campuses are carrying out the smoking prohibition. “I usually smoke in front of my house,” said Naohiko Kawai, a preMBA from Japan. Kawai, who lives off campus, used to smoke on campus before ASU became a smoke-free campus. “I think it is good and quite understandable because of secondhand smoke,” Kawai said. Compared to the last year, the number of cigarettes butts lying on the ground around ASU’s campus has declined. “They have been reduced a lot, but still we find several around,” ASU staff, Debbie Greenway of Jonesboro, said. She said she still finds several, when she is cleaning the road on
campus in the morning. Meanwhile, the police department has witnesses who contact them concerning violations of the smoking law. The department gets approximately two calls from witnesses per week. Grant Cagle, a senior biology preprofessional major of Bernie, Mo., said, ”If I find someone smoking on campus, I would personally ask them to move to an appropriate area.” On the other hand, for some people, it is not easy to quit smoking. Last year there was a four-week program that helped faculty and staffs who wanted to quit smoking or were thinking about quitting. Robyn Whitehead, director of the Department of Wellness and Health Promotion, said there would be another Smoking Cessation program starting in October. Many students also are trying to quit smoking or thinking of quitting smoking. “Find a strong group, find activities you can do when you have the urge to smoke,” Whitehead suggested. “And exercise.” Meanwhile, the price of pack of cigarettes is more than $5 in the Jonesboro stores. Marlboro 100’s cost $5.53 at Walmart and $5.26 at Kroger. The cigarettes tax per pack in Arkansas is $1.15. The tax is ranked 29th among all states.
COUNSELING, CONTINUED “Counselors are like one-on-one coaches to motivate and create a warm, caring environment that helps students grow and make changes,” Glascock said. The ASU Counseling Center has several events planned over the next few weeks to increase awareness about different issues that may affect students. Sept. 26 – 29 is Domestic Violence/ Sexual Assault Awareness Week. The counseling center along with many other student organizations will set up in the Student Union and help spread awareness about this issue. The Gay-Straight Alliance will help by spreading awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault among gay relationships. Cody Campbell, a sophomore midlevel education major of Jonesboro, is
the current president of the GSA. “When most people think of domestic violence and sexual assault, they generally think of heterosexual relationships, but its just as likely to occur in a homosexual relationship,” Campbell said. Human silhouette cutouts with information about victims of domestic violence and sexual assault from the year 2010 will be set up on the second floor of the Student Union. A candlelight vigil will be held on Tuesday of that week to honor those affected by this problem. Nationally known speaker, Amanda Lee, will speak at the candlelight vigil. Kate Krueger, assistant professor in the English and philosophy department, and Niya Blair, assistant dean of students and multicultural director, will also speak at the event. Oct. 3 will begin Depression Aware-
ness Week. Throughout the week free, confidential depression screenings will be available. Bushong said he started attending counseling after having one of these screenings at last year's Depression Awareness Week. Then Oct. 17 – 20 will bring Alcohol Awareness Week to help students understand the dangers of alcohol and how to drink responsibly. An alcohol-free party will be thrown the Wednesday of that week. “I think counseling is one of the most needed, but least used resources on this campus,” Campbell said. “If utilized correctly, it can be used to proactively deal with situations, but more often than not students do not seek out the center until after the problem has persisted.” “I feel much better when I walk out than when I walked in,” Bushong said.
TUNNELS, CONTINUED telling ghost stories. “College definitely wouldn’t have been the same, I think it was a vital and essential
part of my experience at ASU,” she said. “It helped me identify and bond with the school by having the chance to explore.”
Briefs If you are interested in study abroad, please join us Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2:30 - 3:30 pm in Wilson Hall 317 or Friday, Sept. 30, 12 - 1 p.m. in Wilson Hall 317. Information will be provided on the Costa Rica program, the Europe program, semester exchanges with our partner universities in Germany, France, China and Spain and the other 200+ study abroad options available at ASU. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at the Fowler Center Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 3, 4 & 5 at 7:30. A “meet the company”�dessert reception will follow the Sept. 30 opening night performance. Tickets may be purchased for reserved seating in advance at the ASU Central Box Office in the Convocation Center or by calling 972-ASU1. Tickets are also available online at tickets.astate.edu. The Student Health Center will start giving flu shots on Oct. 3 and the cost this year is $21 each.
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