Faced with technology changes, a loss of national advertising revenue and budget cuts, some local newspapers are adapting in ways that could change the way Fayetteville news is delivered.
The highest percentage of modern newspaper readers are male college graduates over the age of 55, according to a few studies by the National Newspaper Network Association of America. Where does this leave the newspaper industry? For a local newspaper, this could mean severely cutting the amount of staff members and evolving into a completely online publication, as the new generation looks to the Net for a majority of their daily news.
Due to budget changes and the transformation of the newspaper industry, the University of Arkansas’ newspaper, the Arkansas Traveler, will be almost exclusively an online publication beginning in August, said Tina Korbe, Traveler managing editor. This will cause many changes in the college newspaper publication, whose staff numbers have remained static in the past few years.
Unlike national newspapers, the northwest Arkansas newspapers have had an increase in readership. “A lot of the headlines you see about declining circulation are talking about the top 100 newspapers in the U.S.,” said Greg Harton, Northwest Arkansas Times’ executive editor.
Over the past five years, the Times circulation of home-delivery has increased overall by about 10,000 in Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties, according to a Northwest Arkansas Times 2008 summary. “We have about 300-400 new subscriptions each week,” said Circulation Director, Hector Cuerva.
Even though the Northwest Arkansas Times’ circulation numbers are rising, it’s not resistant to the economic downfall. “The staff has experienced some layoffs in the past couple of years and offer employees one day per month off without pay,” said NWA Executive Editor, Jeff Jeffus.
Jim Blankenship, director of sales & marketing at the Northwest Arkansas Times, said any loss in newspaper revenue is not a direct cause of advertising, but that “the enemy is the economy.”
The Northwest Arkansas Times has a loss of advertising due to the decline in the housing industry and the increasing numbers of local businesses (especially restaurants) and banks shutting down.
The use of event marketing, Twitter, advertising corner flags and the company Web site are a few reasons the NWA Times has an increase in readership. Corner flags are paper sheets that advertise the total amount of savings a customer can acquire through coupons when buying the newspaper, a critical feature when people are watching their budgets. “We [are now on] Twitter, not because we love twittering, but because it draws traffic to our Web site,” Harton said.
In the first quarter of 2009, Web traffic to newspaper sites grew more than 10 percent, according to the Newspaper Association of America. This effect is not limited to the national newspaper Web sites. Local newspaper Web sites are expanding features and seeing an increase in readership.
Brad Nichols, Internet Manager of Northwest Arkansas Times, explained the company uses animated internet ads, online Sunday real estate ads, photo slide shows and links that directly lead to the advertiser’s Web site to attract attention to their Web site. “Having links to advertiser’s sites has a twofold appeal, traffic increase to both the advertiser’s Web site and the newspaper Web site,” Nichols said. This is optimal for NWA Times, since the goal is to increase midday viewership, the slowest hours of online readership.
Stacey Roggendorff, representative of the Tulsa World newspaper, also expressed a positive reaction to the online publication of the Tulsa World. “We are striving right now…our Web site is getting more hits than it’s ever had,” Roggendorff said.
The Traveler has twice as many online readers than print copies per publication, with an approximate 10,000 registered online users and distribution of 5,000 print copies.
Jane Hocker, advertising manager for the Traveler said the advertising representatives will focus on selling advertisements for the Traveler Web site next year. Overall, the main goal of Web site ads is the same as print ads, which is to draw attention to the message; the Web ads simply have an advantage of interactive features which can make them more memorable, she explained.
The change to an internet publication is less troubling for the Traveler audience, in Hocker’s opinion, “[The] college student audience is unique because we have an especially technological audience.”
In the past, the main structure of the Arkansas Traveler staff included well over 40 employees: nine editors, four advertising representatives, several photographers, approximately 30 staff writers and various contributing writers.
The new Arkansas Traveler staff will be made of 25 people overall, which includes two sets of editors. One set of editors will work exclusively for the print publication, which will be reduced to one publication a week at an increased number of pages- 16, about twice the length of previous publications. The other set of editors will focus on the Web edition, which will be published five times a week. In addition, six staff writers will handle all stories: from news and lifestyles to sports, each writer will cover all topics.
Another possibility for national newspaper circulation decline could be lifestyle choices, such as the recent broadening in “news” source options that create low information voters and polarization, Hocker said.
Once an avid Newsweek reader, Hocker used to turn to Newsweek for world and national events and received a satisfaction that Newsweek would provide her with well-rounded, substantial news. Currently, she doesn’t depend on Newsweek heavily and takes the articles for what they are, one of many opinions. “Now it [Newsweek] is all opinion & I don’t feel that I get all of my news from it anymore,” she said.
Despite the heavy reliance on opinionated news, Harton said he believes that some people can ultimately tell the difference between opinion and “real” news. “[Eventually] we will become news delivery companies instead of newspapers,” he said.
Harton said he believes that newspapers should be geared toward the audience and that the direction is in print for now. “[In northwest Arkansas] far more readers want the paper in their hand.”
Korbe said the adjustments to the Traveler will bring great results and a myriad of opportunities for the Traveler, since the newspaper is quickly deciding when and how to adapt, “I see this as our opportunity to use the [technological] change for the better."
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
J-Days Commence This Week
A series of lectures about conflicts between the media and the judiciary titled “Judges Day” will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Monday at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. It is free and open to the public. Judges Day is among the beginning events of J-Days, or Journalism Days, sponsored by the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism.
Arkansas Supreme Court Justices Annabelle Clinton Imber and Robert L. Brown will present five of the seven speeches. The judges will co-present the address, “Reporters confidential sources from the courts perspective,” and allot a section of Judges Day to a 30-minute “Ask a Judge: Question and Answer period.” The lectures “An Overview of American Judicial System” and “Ethical considerations” will be given by Justice Imber, while “Cameras in the Courtroom” will be presented by Justice Brown. For more information on specific lecture times, visit http://www.uark.edu/~kshurlds/JudgesDay/Welcome.html.
This year’s series of J-Day events are April 20-24. Not all of the lectures and events are focused toward journalism majors.
A Putt Putt Golf Tournament and lunch is open to the UA campus. It will take place 1-3 p.m., April 24 at Gator Golf on College Avenue. In order to register, contact Carol E. Rachal at 479-575-3113. Tickets including both golf and lunch are $10 for students and $15 for nonstudents.
“Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Tips for preparing you to enter the working world” will be presented by Sam Smith of the advertising company Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. The lecture will take place twice; 9:30 a.m. in Kimpel 115 and 12:30 p.m. in J.B. Hunt 146.
The 2009 Roy Reed Lecture will be given by Philip Bruce, deputy general manager of National Public Radio West at 7 p.m., April 22 at the UA Alumni House.
The journalism-centered events include the Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception and a lecture “Multi-Media Journalism.”
The Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception will take place at 3-4:30 p.m. April 23 in Kimpel 111 and“Multi-Media Journalism” will be presented by various journalists at 11 a.m., April 24 in the UATV studio.
A few of the J-Day events are geared toward broadcasting students specifically. “Life after broadcasting,” a speech given by Jennifer Irwin, social editor of Celebrate magazine and Stacey Starck, employee of Gov. Beebe will take place at 11 a.m. Monday in the UATV studio. ESPN commentator, Jimmy Dykes will speak about the “Life of a Commentator” at 11 a.m., April 22 in the UATV studio. Philip Bruce of NPR West will speak at 10 a.m. April 23, also in the UATV studio.
Previously, J-Day was a single day of journalistic lectures. Starting in 2007, the Lemke Department of Journalism expanded J-Days to a week of guest speakers including television managers, photographers, editors, graphic designers, and UA Alumni of the Journalism department. The myriad of speakers covered various aspects of new media, alternative media and the changes taking place in the industry, according to an UA press release.
Arkansas Supreme Court Justices Annabelle Clinton Imber and Robert L. Brown will present five of the seven speeches. The judges will co-present the address, “Reporters confidential sources from the courts perspective,” and allot a section of Judges Day to a 30-minute “Ask a Judge: Question and Answer period.” The lectures “An Overview of American Judicial System” and “Ethical considerations” will be given by Justice Imber, while “Cameras in the Courtroom” will be presented by Justice Brown. For more information on specific lecture times, visit http://www.uark.edu/~kshurlds/JudgesDay/Welcome.html.
This year’s series of J-Day events are April 20-24. Not all of the lectures and events are focused toward journalism majors.
A Putt Putt Golf Tournament and lunch is open to the UA campus. It will take place 1-3 p.m., April 24 at Gator Golf on College Avenue. In order to register, contact Carol E. Rachal at 479-575-3113. Tickets including both golf and lunch are $10 for students and $15 for nonstudents.
“Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Tips for preparing you to enter the working world” will be presented by Sam Smith of the advertising company Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. The lecture will take place twice; 9:30 a.m. in Kimpel 115 and 12:30 p.m. in J.B. Hunt 146.
The 2009 Roy Reed Lecture will be given by Philip Bruce, deputy general manager of National Public Radio West at 7 p.m., April 22 at the UA Alumni House.
The journalism-centered events include the Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception and a lecture “Multi-Media Journalism.”
The Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception will take place at 3-4:30 p.m. April 23 in Kimpel 111 and“Multi-Media Journalism” will be presented by various journalists at 11 a.m., April 24 in the UATV studio.
A few of the J-Day events are geared toward broadcasting students specifically. “Life after broadcasting,” a speech given by Jennifer Irwin, social editor of Celebrate magazine and Stacey Starck, employee of Gov. Beebe will take place at 11 a.m. Monday in the UATV studio. ESPN commentator, Jimmy Dykes will speak about the “Life of a Commentator” at 11 a.m., April 22 in the UATV studio. Philip Bruce of NPR West will speak at 10 a.m. April 23, also in the UATV studio.
Previously, J-Day was a single day of journalistic lectures. Starting in 2007, the Lemke Department of Journalism expanded J-Days to a week of guest speakers including television managers, photographers, editors, graphic designers, and UA Alumni of the Journalism department. The myriad of speakers covered various aspects of new media, alternative media and the changes taking place in the industry, according to an UA press release.
Nobel Laureate in Physics to speak at UA this week
4.4.09
Nobel Laureate Joseph Taylor will deliver the 13th annual Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecture at UA this week. The lecture series was named after Robert D. Maurer, Ph. D. who invented the first telecommunications-grade optical fiber. It is sponsored by the department of physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Each year, the lecture hosts a variety of scientists to speak on topics such as stars, lasers, molecular beams, Einstein and the Universe in general. Among the former 12 lecturers were supernova experts, three other Nobel Laureates in Physics, various professors and authors, several of which graduated from Harvard and Stanford.
The lecture “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity” will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. The department of physics chose Taylor’s lecture as part of celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, Assistant Professor in Physics, Julia Kennefick said.
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar, along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Prior to earning his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University, Taylor was educated mainly in Quaker institutions, a part of his heritage. In his autobiography, Taylor said, “Somewhat backward high-school introductions to chemistry and physics, [though] I failed to recognize them as such at the time, did not dampen any enthusiasm for science…” The last of his experience with Quaker institutions was Haverford College, where Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in physics. His teaching career began at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, but has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University.
In Taylor’s autobiography, he said his thesis was in radio astronomy and built a working radio telescope as part of his senior honors project. Radio astronomy eventually led to the interest in the study of pulsars.
Pulsars are neutron stars, but that has not always been common knowledge. According to Taylor’s Nobel lecture, when he began observing the first four pulsars in 1968 and attempting to find more, it was merely inclination that pulsars were neutron stars: orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar.
The Nobel Prize press release explains that a binary pulsar has two pulsars, each with a mass akin to the sun, that are in orbit at relatively short distances from each other. In addition to emitting radio waves, the binary pulsar emits gravitational waves. Taylor and Hulse’s discovery nullifies Newton’s gravitational physics, but aided in proving Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
Before the discovery of pulsars and binary pulsars, Einstein’s general theory of relativity was not seen as a practical theory. The finding of gravitational waves from binary pulsars brought gravitational physics into the spotlight.
Part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Nobel Laureate Joseph Taylor will deliver the 13th annual Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecture at UA this week. The lecture series was named after Robert D. Maurer, Ph. D. who invented the first telecommunications-grade optical fiber. It is sponsored by the department of physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Each year, the lecture hosts a variety of scientists to speak on topics such as stars, lasers, molecular beams, Einstein and the Universe in general. Among the former 12 lecturers were supernova experts, three other Nobel Laureates in Physics, various professors and authors, several of which graduated from Harvard and Stanford.
The lecture “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity” will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. The department of physics chose Taylor’s lecture as part of celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, Assistant Professor in Physics, Julia Kennefick said.
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar, along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Prior to earning his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University, Taylor was educated mainly in Quaker institutions, a part of his heritage. In his autobiography, Taylor said, “Somewhat backward high-school introductions to chemistry and physics, [though] I failed to recognize them as such at the time, did not dampen any enthusiasm for science…” The last of his experience with Quaker institutions was Haverford College, where Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in physics. His teaching career began at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, but has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University.
In Taylor’s autobiography, he said his thesis was in radio astronomy and built a working radio telescope as part of his senior honors project. Radio astronomy eventually led to the interest in the study of pulsars.
Pulsars are neutron stars, but that has not always been common knowledge. According to Taylor’s Nobel lecture, when he began observing the first four pulsars in 1968 and attempting to find more, it was merely inclination that pulsars were neutron stars: orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar.
The Nobel Prize press release explains that a binary pulsar has two pulsars, each with a mass akin to the sun, that are in orbit at relatively short distances from each other. In addition to emitting radio waves, the binary pulsar emits gravitational waves. Taylor and Hulse’s discovery nullifies Newton’s gravitational physics, but aided in proving Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
Before the discovery of pulsars and binary pulsars, Einstein’s general theory of relativity was not seen as a practical theory. The finding of gravitational waves from binary pulsars brought gravitational physics into the spotlight.
Part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Global Events in order for the International Year of Astronomy, 2009
4.2.09
In honor of 400 year anniversary of Galileo’s telescope, scientists have created a series of events for the International Year of Astronomy, 2009. Celebrations of astronomy are taking place in 140 countries, including global events such as 100 Hours of Astronomy, Around the World in 80 Telescopes, How Many Stars Contest, and the National Dark Sky Week.
UA hosted a few lectures in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy, as a way for local students to focus on astronomy and cosmology, which can be found on the Physics Department Calendar. These included “New Methods For Determining The Dark Matter Content Of Spiral Galaxies” and “Conflict in the Cosmos – The Life and the Science of Sir Fred Hoyle.” The most recent took place on Thursday, as Nobel Prize physicist, Joseph Taylor gave his lecture, “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity.”
“Probably the most fun and inspiring way to participate in the IYA would be to get involved with our campus astronomy group,” said Daniel Kennefick, physics professor at the UA.
The Student Astronomical Society hosts astronomy-related activities not only with students, but also with the general public. Chris Sharp, president of SAS, said their events are a good chance to connect kids and their families with the cosmos. “We host several star parties each semester where attendees
get a chance to play with telescopes and giant binoculars while enjoying the hidden views in the night sky,” he said. Friday, April 3 the star party is a Messier Marathon. Participants will try to identify as many of the 110 galaxies, clusters, and stars listed in the French astronomy guide, the Messier Catalog, as possible. Sharp encourages students to attend the star party. More information can be provided by emailing universitysas@gmail.com.
National Dark Sky Week is April 20-26 this year. It was established to raise awareness of light pollution, to initiate a time for people to enjoy the beauty of the cosmos without city lights intruding and to eliminate or improve the energy-wasting outside lights that prevent a clear view of the night sky. The National Dark Sky Week Web site suggests that citizens turn out these porch lights or sidewalk lights and use a red-tinted flashlight for necessary visibility before observing the stars, since it won’t disrupt nighttime vision. An example of outdoor light improvement would be reducing the amount of light reflected upward away from usable space. The Nature Web site adds, “Reducing the number of lights on at night could help conserve energy, protect wildlife and benefit human health.”
The 100 Hours of Astronomy will take place April 2-5 and is hosted by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. The opening event for 100 Hours is a five-month-long exhibit of Galileo’s telescope, manuscripts, paintings and other artifacts at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. This week Giorgio Strano, curator at the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy, arrived at the Franklin Institute to deliver one of the two remaining Galileo telescopes for the exhibition “Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy.” The exhibition is especially historical, since it is the only time that the artifacts have left Florence, according to a Franklin Institute press release.
The enormous four day event “100 Hours of Astronomy” will include a 24-hour video footage titled “Around the World in 80 Telescopes.” It will provide coverage of the night sky from all continents in the world, according to the International Year of Astronomy press release. Among the most impressive of these telescopes are the four giant 8.2 meter “Unit Telescopes” in Chile.
A “How Many Stars” contest began Jan. 1 this year and will continue until Dec. 31, collecting observations from anyone willing to submit them. The advantage of this contest is to provide a great deal of data for annual comparisons for change in the visibility of the night sky. The observations are an estimation of how many stars are perceptible from your viewpoint without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. Estimations are to be based on a scale posted on the contest’s Web site and submitted with the time and location of the observation.
In honor of 400 year anniversary of Galileo’s telescope, scientists have created a series of events for the International Year of Astronomy, 2009. Celebrations of astronomy are taking place in 140 countries, including global events such as 100 Hours of Astronomy, Around the World in 80 Telescopes, How Many Stars Contest, and the National Dark Sky Week.
UA hosted a few lectures in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy, as a way for local students to focus on astronomy and cosmology, which can be found on the Physics Department Calendar. These included “New Methods For Determining The Dark Matter Content Of Spiral Galaxies” and “Conflict in the Cosmos – The Life and the Science of Sir Fred Hoyle.” The most recent took place on Thursday, as Nobel Prize physicist, Joseph Taylor gave his lecture, “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity.”
“Probably the most fun and inspiring way to participate in the IYA would be to get involved with our campus astronomy group,” said Daniel Kennefick, physics professor at the UA.
The Student Astronomical Society hosts astronomy-related activities not only with students, but also with the general public. Chris Sharp, president of SAS, said their events are a good chance to connect kids and their families with the cosmos. “We host several star parties each semester where attendees
get a chance to play with telescopes and giant binoculars while enjoying the hidden views in the night sky,” he said. Friday, April 3 the star party is a Messier Marathon. Participants will try to identify as many of the 110 galaxies, clusters, and stars listed in the French astronomy guide, the Messier Catalog, as possible. Sharp encourages students to attend the star party. More information can be provided by emailing universitysas@gmail.com.
National Dark Sky Week is April 20-26 this year. It was established to raise awareness of light pollution, to initiate a time for people to enjoy the beauty of the cosmos without city lights intruding and to eliminate or improve the energy-wasting outside lights that prevent a clear view of the night sky. The National Dark Sky Week Web site suggests that citizens turn out these porch lights or sidewalk lights and use a red-tinted flashlight for necessary visibility before observing the stars, since it won’t disrupt nighttime vision. An example of outdoor light improvement would be reducing the amount of light reflected upward away from usable space. The Nature Web site adds, “Reducing the number of lights on at night could help conserve energy, protect wildlife and benefit human health.”
The 100 Hours of Astronomy will take place April 2-5 and is hosted by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. The opening event for 100 Hours is a five-month-long exhibit of Galileo’s telescope, manuscripts, paintings and other artifacts at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. This week Giorgio Strano, curator at the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy, arrived at the Franklin Institute to deliver one of the two remaining Galileo telescopes for the exhibition “Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy.” The exhibition is especially historical, since it is the only time that the artifacts have left Florence, according to a Franklin Institute press release.
The enormous four day event “100 Hours of Astronomy” will include a 24-hour video footage titled “Around the World in 80 Telescopes.” It will provide coverage of the night sky from all continents in the world, according to the International Year of Astronomy press release. Among the most impressive of these telescopes are the four giant 8.2 meter “Unit Telescopes” in Chile.
A “How Many Stars” contest began Jan. 1 this year and will continue until Dec. 31, collecting observations from anyone willing to submit them. The advantage of this contest is to provide a great deal of data for annual comparisons for change in the visibility of the night sky. The observations are an estimation of how many stars are perceptible from your viewpoint without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. Estimations are to be based on a scale posted on the contest’s Web site and submitted with the time and location of the observation.
Applying for Graduation
4.10.09
With the approach of graduation, many students may wonder if the process to apply for graduation is difficult. The UA staff has taken measures to ensure the final steps to graduation are readily accessible and go smoothly. From reminders on ISIS to descriptions in the Catalog of Studies, from detailed instructions given by the registrar’s office to various advisors ready to help, students have a myriad of choices when it comes to learning how to apply for graduation.
“The first mistake students make when applying for graduation is coming to the Registrar’s Office,” said a Registrar’s Office employee. With the exception of Law, Graduate, and Architecture students, the process of applying for graduation begins at the Dean’s Office of your school or college. In the office, the student may be asked to fill out paperwork specific to his college; then he will receive a graduation application card and should have the dean sign it before going to the Registrar’s Office.
Architecture students begin the process with the Academic Counselor and Graduate students start in the Graduate School dean’s office. Those studying law are the only students that receive their application cards in the Registrar’s Office.
Fulbright Advisor Teresa Scott said a common mistake students make is waiting until their last semester to apply for graduation. When a student applies for graduation, a degree audit will be given to make sure all requirements have been met. “Students can and should apply at least one semester early,” Scott advised. “Even if the degree audit doesn’t come before registration, it is helpful because you can always go back and change your class choices.”
Once the card is completed, it should be taken to the registrar’s office along with the graduation fees. According to the Uark Web site, graduation fees are $25 for Undergraduate students, $30 for Master’s and Ed.S. students, $35 for JD and LLM students, and $85 for Doctorate students.
At the registrar’s office, the graduation fee will be collected and the student will fill out a commencement card. This card requires basic information about the student, such as full name (as the student wants it to appear on the diploma and sidewalk), address, phone number, and e-mail address. Other categories, such as degree earning, major, college/school, and which ceremony the student will participate in are also required on this card. These cards are sent through the mail, but are also available at the registrar’s office, in case the card has been lost or the student has moved and not changed an address.
The registrar will present the student with a receipt and a sheet of “Instructions to Graduates,” regarding commencement procedures, such as regalia, tassels, hoods, stoles, and after graduation services.
Classical studies major Michelle Scouten found the entire process simple. “Everything went smoothly, I’m so graduating,” she said. After applying in January, Scouten got clearance just a few weeks later.
With the approach of graduation, many students may wonder if the process to apply for graduation is difficult. The UA staff has taken measures to ensure the final steps to graduation are readily accessible and go smoothly. From reminders on ISIS to descriptions in the Catalog of Studies, from detailed instructions given by the registrar’s office to various advisors ready to help, students have a myriad of choices when it comes to learning how to apply for graduation.
“The first mistake students make when applying for graduation is coming to the Registrar’s Office,” said a Registrar’s Office employee. With the exception of Law, Graduate, and Architecture students, the process of applying for graduation begins at the Dean’s Office of your school or college. In the office, the student may be asked to fill out paperwork specific to his college; then he will receive a graduation application card and should have the dean sign it before going to the Registrar’s Office.
Architecture students begin the process with the Academic Counselor and Graduate students start in the Graduate School dean’s office. Those studying law are the only students that receive their application cards in the Registrar’s Office.
Fulbright Advisor Teresa Scott said a common mistake students make is waiting until their last semester to apply for graduation. When a student applies for graduation, a degree audit will be given to make sure all requirements have been met. “Students can and should apply at least one semester early,” Scott advised. “Even if the degree audit doesn’t come before registration, it is helpful because you can always go back and change your class choices.”
Once the card is completed, it should be taken to the registrar’s office along with the graduation fees. According to the Uark Web site, graduation fees are $25 for Undergraduate students, $30 for Master’s and Ed.S. students, $35 for JD and LLM students, and $85 for Doctorate students.
At the registrar’s office, the graduation fee will be collected and the student will fill out a commencement card. This card requires basic information about the student, such as full name (as the student wants it to appear on the diploma and sidewalk), address, phone number, and e-mail address. Other categories, such as degree earning, major, college/school, and which ceremony the student will participate in are also required on this card. These cards are sent through the mail, but are also available at the registrar’s office, in case the card has been lost or the student has moved and not changed an address.
The registrar will present the student with a receipt and a sheet of “Instructions to Graduates,” regarding commencement procedures, such as regalia, tassels, hoods, stoles, and after graduation services.
Classical studies major Michelle Scouten found the entire process simple. “Everything went smoothly, I’m so graduating,” she said. After applying in January, Scouten got clearance just a few weeks later.
Farmer's Market Springs Up This Week
Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Plans Special Events for 2009
4.10.09
The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, located on the Fayetteville Court Square, opened this Saturday and will continue until November 21. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. three days a week, Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Started in 1974, the market is an area for local farmers, crafters, chefs, musicians, flower-gatherers, the Humane Society and artists to display their work, products, or pets that are available for adoption.
This month the market presents the Garden Series on the Square during the market hours. The first will be a lecture on various soils given by Berni Kurz on April 11. Sara Pollard of the Mountain Greenery Farm will speak about assorted use of herbs during the Tuesday market, April 14. An instruction on ornamental plant sowing and placement will be given by Joan Sorn and Mark Corly on April 18. Each of these three lectures will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. outside on the court square. “If we have a large turnout, then we might move the lecture to the food court [near Jammin’ Java] so we’ll have more seating,” said Cara Corbin, assistant manager for the Farmer’s Market.
Traditionally, the market distributes a free tree to each of the participants of the spring season-opening farmer’s market, but that day has been pushed back this year. The free tree give away will be on April 25 this year; the supply is limited to one tree per person.
The main objective of this year’s farmer’s market is to “Be Green…Healthy, Safe and Clean.” Administrators are asking that market-goers keep in mind their responsibility to the environment while participating. “Other businesses have had to make changes, now it’s time for us to do the same,” Corbin said. Suggestions to be green, healthy, safe and clean include:
--bringing your own coffee cup
--bring your own shopping bags/canvas bags
--ride your bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to the market
--if you bring your pet, make sure to clean up after it
On this season’s opening day, farm-grown produce was only the beginning of products available to Fayetteville consumers. Entertainment was on every corner of the square, as three separate music ensembles were present and one solo artist. Woven baskets, wooden vases and cutting boards, flower bouquets, watercolor and photo prints, pottery and woven blankets were also for sale. Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center had representatives set up a table to advertise art classes, the Walton Arts Center representatives handed out brochures about their upcoming events and had a drawing for free tickets, and the Humane Society employees walked dogs through the crowds, in an attempt to find more families to adopt pets.
“We love to have elementary field trips come to the market, but we’re also looking for ways to incorporate junior high schools, high schools and even UA students,” Corbin said.
UA student, Sparsh Agrawat said he never attends the farmer’s market, “I’ve never really heard of anything about it that would attract me to go.”
Anthropology major, Maggie Strain said she finds the farmer’s market to be an overall pleasant experience. “The couple of times I’ve been to the market, I enjoyed talking with the vendors there, it’s a good way to learn about gardening and save money in this economy,” she said.
According to the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Web site, several special events will be included in the 2009 market. At the moment, the Web site includes a list of events and their dates, but the main description of each will be posted at a later date. The first of the three farm tours is a tour of spring flowers, which will take place on April 18. The remaining tours are scheduled for October and will focus on pumpkin and squash farms. Three “Kids Days” will go on April 28, June 16, and Aug. 13.
Crafts will be sold all through the year, but two craft showcases will feature these works in particular. May 2 is the Spring Craft Showcase, while Oct. 17 is the Fall Craft Showcase.
The farmer’s market has Holiday celebrations for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween. Mother’s Day has a two correlated events, a Flower Arranging Demo on Thursday, May 7 and a Flower Fair May 9. For those that struggle to find Dad a gift each year, there is a Father’s Day Gift Showcase on June 20. Since the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, the market is having a Picnic in the Square Grill Out for the public. Customer Appreciation Celebration is planned for Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5. Finally, near the close of the farmer’s market, will be a Costume Contest for Saturday, Oct. 31, Halloween.
For additional information, visit www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.com, email fayettevillefm@gmail.com, or call 479-236-2910.
4.10.09
The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, located on the Fayetteville Court Square, opened this Saturday and will continue until November 21. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. three days a week, Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Started in 1974, the market is an area for local farmers, crafters, chefs, musicians, flower-gatherers, the Humane Society and artists to display their work, products, or pets that are available for adoption.
This month the market presents the Garden Series on the Square during the market hours. The first will be a lecture on various soils given by Berni Kurz on April 11. Sara Pollard of the Mountain Greenery Farm will speak about assorted use of herbs during the Tuesday market, April 14. An instruction on ornamental plant sowing and placement will be given by Joan Sorn and Mark Corly on April 18. Each of these three lectures will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. outside on the court square. “If we have a large turnout, then we might move the lecture to the food court [near Jammin’ Java] so we’ll have more seating,” said Cara Corbin, assistant manager for the Farmer’s Market.
Traditionally, the market distributes a free tree to each of the participants of the spring season-opening farmer’s market, but that day has been pushed back this year. The free tree give away will be on April 25 this year; the supply is limited to one tree per person.
The main objective of this year’s farmer’s market is to “Be Green…Healthy, Safe and Clean.” Administrators are asking that market-goers keep in mind their responsibility to the environment while participating. “Other businesses have had to make changes, now it’s time for us to do the same,” Corbin said. Suggestions to be green, healthy, safe and clean include:
--bringing your own coffee cup
--bring your own shopping bags/canvas bags
--ride your bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to the market
--if you bring your pet, make sure to clean up after it
On this season’s opening day, farm-grown produce was only the beginning of products available to Fayetteville consumers. Entertainment was on every corner of the square, as three separate music ensembles were present and one solo artist. Woven baskets, wooden vases and cutting boards, flower bouquets, watercolor and photo prints, pottery and woven blankets were also for sale. Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center had representatives set up a table to advertise art classes, the Walton Arts Center representatives handed out brochures about their upcoming events and had a drawing for free tickets, and the Humane Society employees walked dogs through the crowds, in an attempt to find more families to adopt pets.
“We love to have elementary field trips come to the market, but we’re also looking for ways to incorporate junior high schools, high schools and even UA students,” Corbin said.
UA student, Sparsh Agrawat said he never attends the farmer’s market, “I’ve never really heard of anything about it that would attract me to go.”
Anthropology major, Maggie Strain said she finds the farmer’s market to be an overall pleasant experience. “The couple of times I’ve been to the market, I enjoyed talking with the vendors there, it’s a good way to learn about gardening and save money in this economy,” she said.
According to the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Web site, several special events will be included in the 2009 market. At the moment, the Web site includes a list of events and their dates, but the main description of each will be posted at a later date. The first of the three farm tours is a tour of spring flowers, which will take place on April 18. The remaining tours are scheduled for October and will focus on pumpkin and squash farms. Three “Kids Days” will go on April 28, June 16, and Aug. 13.
Crafts will be sold all through the year, but two craft showcases will feature these works in particular. May 2 is the Spring Craft Showcase, while Oct. 17 is the Fall Craft Showcase.
The farmer’s market has Holiday celebrations for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween. Mother’s Day has a two correlated events, a Flower Arranging Demo on Thursday, May 7 and a Flower Fair May 9. For those that struggle to find Dad a gift each year, there is a Father’s Day Gift Showcase on June 20. Since the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, the market is having a Picnic in the Square Grill Out for the public. Customer Appreciation Celebration is planned for Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5. Finally, near the close of the farmer’s market, will be a Costume Contest for Saturday, Oct. 31, Halloween.
For additional information, visit www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.com, email fayettevillefm@gmail.com, or call 479-236-2910.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
National Bike Month in Fayetteville
Resources available to students during National Bike Month in Fayetteville
In order to kick off the National Bike Month of May, Fayetteville is sponsoring a “Bike to Work Week” on May 11-15 this year. There are many convenient trails available for Fayetteville public use this spring, as well as free use of bicycles for UA students.
In preparation of hitting the trails this spring, students might consider bike availability, parking permits, trail options and reasons to choose bicycling to work and school, instead of other transportation means.
U of A Transit and Parking is in the process of changing their bicycle policy, according to the administrators of U of A Students Against Bicycle Parking Fees on Campus. In the future, bicycles must be registered and display a UA bicycle permit. Due to student protesting, the permit will not cost $15; instead the permits will be free.
Gary K. Smith, UA Director of Transit and Parking said once the policy is established, registration will be made easy, especially in obtaining permits. The new bicycle permits will be distributed either outside the Union Station or Arkansas Union.
The use of highways, the headache of street lights and crosswalks might discourage an interest in bicycling, but the Fayetteville Alternative Transportation & Trail Plan is developing an intricate set of trail systems that are more pedestrian and bicycle-rider friendly.
This is the sixth of 15 years in the FATT plan. The plan was developed to establish alternative modes of transportation and active recreation as an integral part of daily life in the City of Fayetteville, according to the FATT executive summary. The goal of the Trail Construction Program is to construct about five miles of new trail each year, which in FATT’s terms translates to a trail within a half-mile of every home.
The City of Fayetteville now offers ten miles of paved trails and will ultimately include 129 miles of trails and 163 miles of on-street linkages, according to the Trail Construction Program. The Frisco and Scull Creek trails are the base for this trail network. The two trails run north and south through Fayetteville and will have trails built from them extending east and west.
The Frisco Trail on Center Street near to the UA campus is 0.6 of a mile. It passes the Blair Library as well as the “Trailside Café and Tea Room”, and then opens onto Dickson Street.
Nearby, Scull Creek Trail begins on Gregg Street and passes through various Lindsey & Associates properties and the Washington Regional Medical Center in its four miles. The concrete trail is 12-feet wide, has benches along the way, and has many tall lamps to maximize safe riding hours.
Things to keep in mind when hitting the trail this spring include clothing choice, distance of your trip, weather, safety, and bicycle accessories. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing maximizes the cyclists’ comfort. If you wish to change into work clothing after the ride, rolling the clothes prevents wrinkles. U-locks are optimal for parking and storing your bike while at school or work. A basket, rear-rack or pannier (a bag that fits onto a rear rack) are useful when riding destinations that require luggage.
Even if students do not have their bike in town, there are resources available at no charge.
Razorbikes is a group that distributes community bikes to UA students, alumni, faculty and staff, according to the UA Transit and Parking Department Web site. After registering with Razorbikes in the Parking Office, the bicycles are available for a full day at no fee and can be taken off campus. Basic Razorbike guidelines include wearing a helmet, following state and local bicycle laws and not sharing the combination with another person while using the bicycle. The first Razorbikes were supplied by the Regions bank and other businesses, but the program accepts donated bikes from students, alumni, faculty and staff.
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department outlines a few straight forward laws for bicyclists. Cycle on the right side of the road (never the left side or the sidewalk), obey all traffic signals and control devices, yield to crossing traffic, when changing lanes yield to traffic in the new lane, at intersections face the direction of your destination and also position yourself according to the speed relative to other traffic.
In order to kick off the National Bike Month of May, Fayetteville is sponsoring a “Bike to Work Week” on May 11-15 this year. There are many convenient trails available for Fayetteville public use this spring, as well as free use of bicycles for UA students.
In preparation of hitting the trails this spring, students might consider bike availability, parking permits, trail options and reasons to choose bicycling to work and school, instead of other transportation means.
U of A Transit and Parking is in the process of changing their bicycle policy, according to the administrators of U of A Students Against Bicycle Parking Fees on Campus. In the future, bicycles must be registered and display a UA bicycle permit. Due to student protesting, the permit will not cost $15; instead the permits will be free.
Gary K. Smith, UA Director of Transit and Parking said once the policy is established, registration will be made easy, especially in obtaining permits. The new bicycle permits will be distributed either outside the Union Station or Arkansas Union.
The use of highways, the headache of street lights and crosswalks might discourage an interest in bicycling, but the Fayetteville Alternative Transportation & Trail Plan is developing an intricate set of trail systems that are more pedestrian and bicycle-rider friendly.
This is the sixth of 15 years in the FATT plan. The plan was developed to establish alternative modes of transportation and active recreation as an integral part of daily life in the City of Fayetteville, according to the FATT executive summary. The goal of the Trail Construction Program is to construct about five miles of new trail each year, which in FATT’s terms translates to a trail within a half-mile of every home.
The City of Fayetteville now offers ten miles of paved trails and will ultimately include 129 miles of trails and 163 miles of on-street linkages, according to the Trail Construction Program. The Frisco and Scull Creek trails are the base for this trail network. The two trails run north and south through Fayetteville and will have trails built from them extending east and west.
The Frisco Trail on Center Street near to the UA campus is 0.6 of a mile. It passes the Blair Library as well as the “Trailside Café and Tea Room”, and then opens onto Dickson Street.
Nearby, Scull Creek Trail begins on Gregg Street and passes through various Lindsey & Associates properties and the Washington Regional Medical Center in its four miles. The concrete trail is 12-feet wide, has benches along the way, and has many tall lamps to maximize safe riding hours.
Things to keep in mind when hitting the trail this spring include clothing choice, distance of your trip, weather, safety, and bicycle accessories. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing maximizes the cyclists’ comfort. If you wish to change into work clothing after the ride, rolling the clothes prevents wrinkles. U-locks are optimal for parking and storing your bike while at school or work. A basket, rear-rack or pannier (a bag that fits onto a rear rack) are useful when riding destinations that require luggage.
Even if students do not have their bike in town, there are resources available at no charge.
Razorbikes is a group that distributes community bikes to UA students, alumni, faculty and staff, according to the UA Transit and Parking Department Web site. After registering with Razorbikes in the Parking Office, the bicycles are available for a full day at no fee and can be taken off campus. Basic Razorbike guidelines include wearing a helmet, following state and local bicycle laws and not sharing the combination with another person while using the bicycle. The first Razorbikes were supplied by the Regions bank and other businesses, but the program accepts donated bikes from students, alumni, faculty and staff.
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department outlines a few straight forward laws for bicyclists. Cycle on the right side of the road (never the left side or the sidewalk), obey all traffic signals and control devices, yield to crossing traffic, when changing lanes yield to traffic in the new lane, at intersections face the direction of your destination and also position yourself according to the speed relative to other traffic.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Fate of a ballerina
My Christmas seasons always came with certain routine comforts. There were typical things, such as decorating the house, learning to cook various desserts with Mom; Dad teaching me how to perfectly wrap a present, and listening to my family read the story of Jesus’ birth before opening gifts.
Among my favorite tradition was watching The Nutcracker on PBS. I didn’t usually have anyone else join me on this one. I suppose everyone else might have seen it a hundred times, but by the time I turned nine, I was prepared to see it one hundred more times. The elegant costumes seemed so beautiful, even through the glass of a fuzzy TV screen that didn’t provide many close-ups. My fourth grade reading program was slowly teaching us the importance of plot. This, coupled with watching the same story once a year, meant I practically memorized the story of the Nutcracker.
At some point, my mom decided she wanted to see the Nutcracker as a family. As a school teacher, she had always harbored a love for the arts of piano, ballet and written works, but hadn’t had many aesthetic experiences. My dad has been a postman through most of his career, but enjoys all music and literary experiences from the comfort of his car or home. He listened to books on cassette in his mail-vehicle and kept the Bose radio playing constantly with blues, jazz and classical works. One thing he did not appreciate was seeing men in tights, so he reduced ballet to this ghastly image. “Why would you want to see that…men in tights should be reserved for Robin Hood: men in tights and that only,” he said. After mom’s convincing, we all headed to the Robinson Center in Little Rock for an aesthetic family experience.
In preparation for the ballet, mom chose a dress and jewelry from her closet, advised dad on a button up shirt and slacks, then tried to work on my outfit. Although I had not been to any professional concerts or ballets, I was convinced that no one would really want or need to get that dressed up for such an event. If you are going to enjoy something, why does the enjoyment come with stipulations, like wearing a dress? Mom had grown used this attitude, so our truce on my outfit was a teal-colored jumper over a teal & lavender shirt, complete with cute little tights and Sunday shoes.
As the evening began, I’m sure my dad had more than one fantasy about bailing on the ballet. At this point, he had lost the argument whether to go or not, then was forced to dress up (something he hadn’t done in years) and was the chosen driver (and supply of a new tank of gas) to make the one hour trek to combat the “city traffic” of Little Rock, which had never failed to irritate him. Later, he would be expected to sit quietly through the program he so hated, possibly buy a souvenir, then drive us home in the premature dark of winter.
Once in Little Rock, I marveled at the large buildings and bright lights of the city. The steps leading to the front door of the Robinson were intimidating, but certainly worth it. Even as a fourth grader, I was becoming increasingly embarrassed by my corduroy jumper as I eyed the golden silk, mauve taffeta, and black velvet gowns that surrounded us in the elevator.
All the stress of preparation and my embarrassment melted away as we stepped into the grand Robinson Theatre. There were so many seats…there were so many people, even several ushers to show you where to sit. How could mom and dad find our seats, even with the ushers’ help? Sure, I would watch the Nutcracker on television again next year, but I realized I would be jealous of myself sitting here now, seeing the grandeur right before me. The stage was no longer 20 inches wide, it was larger than life. Larger than my life, that’s for sure. After the introduction to the ballet, the same blue spotlight came on the curtain, as I watched the very video-cameras prepare to record what they had provided me with so many times.
The Nutcracker was more than I had hoped it would be. The colors were vivid now, not chromatic shades of one color as the TV had reduced them to. Sure, there were men in tights, but what did I know about their bodies? Whatever it was, I wasn’t concerned about their appearance. Their movements mesmerized me. From the suspended movements like something you would see underwater and not the air, to the hurried, accurate movements of the spinning top-like tutus, each was graceful. So graceful, it inspired patience in my musical focus. They were true artists and they had each experienced a first year of dancing. Maybe there was hope for me to become a true pianist, even though I was in my first year of piano.
During the intermission, my family returned to the theatre-red lobby, where several vendors had set up. They sold everything from coffees to wines, Christmas ornaments to ballet collectibles. The graceful audience members bustled in their netted skirts, tasteful black suits and uniform black patent leather shoes without seeming hurried like people on the street. They were all speaking, catching up in a quieter way that didn’t remind me of anything else I had seen or heard before.
While we were perusing the many items for sale, Dad allowed me to choose one item to take home. “That’s easy,” I thought. There were many beautiful things in the lobby, but the one that topped all was obvious. Shining faultlessly, glistening under the dimmed lighting was the frosted glass figure of a poised ballerina. Since I chose so quickly, Mom & Dad took me around the room once to make sure I wouldn’t see something else and regret my choice. As we came around again, Dad realized I had my mind made up. The ballerina was just right. I squealed with delight and gave him a kiss on the cheek as he presented me with my first (non-homemade) Christmas ornament.
There was really nothing particularly unique about it. Clear glass without a spot of color, the ballerina was wearing the traditional tutu, standard shoes, had her hair in a bun, and formed her arms in an oval, the same gesture that little girls make when imitating these lovely artists.
Following the show, I paid little attention to our reverse-trek to the vehicle. Mom and Dad knew their way out of the confusing building, back to the parking garage. I used this carefree time to relive the fabulous experience. Once we made it to the car, my parents surely thought half the battle was over. We simply had to maneuver out of the garage and then hit the freeway home. Unfortunately, our old Eddie Bauer Bronco began smoking as Dad attempted to pull it out of the parking space. It was barely detectable at first, a slight smell that made us wonder if it was another vehicle. I was turning the ballerina in my small hands, wondering how someone could train movements into something so stunning.
A few moments later, it was obvious that the Bronco wasn’t acting normally. Mom and Dad’s stress brought me out of my artistic daydreams. Dad never panics, but his urgent way of checking things on the vehicle signaled that something was going wrong. Suddenly, as Dad realized what was happening, he leapt out of the Bronco, slammed the door and grabbed the fire extinguisher from the back. “Grab April and get out of the car NOW,” he yelled at Mom. Mom didn’t waste any time, but I was still holding the ballerina and had to grab my coat and book. Those precious seconds could have been too long, but there was no time to explain that to a nine-year-old.
Mom dutifully hustled me to the far wall, within sight of our vehicle. Surrounded by a constant line of vehicles of our fellow audience members that were still elegantly dressed, now opened their car doors and each waved cell phones and yelled at us, “Who should we call?!” Their eyes nervously darted from us to the front windshield, wondering how long it would take to get their own families out of the underground parking garage.
Fear gripped my entire being while I watched dad dodge flames, trying to extinguish a fire that could spread to that full tank of gas he bought in mom’s and my best interest. Sweating, running back and forth, he sprayed the underside of the vehicle, trying to figure out where the fire was coming from. Next, he opened the hood of the Bronco. Mom and I cried out in shock as my dad narrowly missed the large, collective tangerine flames lashed out as a huge orange tongue of our once-trusty old vehicle. I’m not sure how long we spent frozen in fear and huddled together in our winter coats by that grey concrete wall. Too long, I think. We had nowhere to sit, not that we could have relaxed anyway.
The sophisticated people were now realistic with normal, room-volume voices. Finally, my mom had had enough with the audience’s yelling. When you are in a crisis, the only way to handle it is to do the most you can and leave the rest up to God, she always told me. We briskly walked up to the vehicle of the loudest dainty shouter. “STOP YELLING AT US…WE ARE TRYING TO PRAY,” she said. The lady didn’t miss a beat, “We have a cell phone, who should we call for you?” Since we didn’t have any family or friends in Little Rock, mom told her, “Call 911 and call God.” That was the extent of the conversation, there was no way mom would waste her time explaining to others when she had a direct line to the only being that could help us. Others had called 911 as well, but the fire department hadn’t arrived yet. Nor could they drive right up to us, since the traffic blocked us on all sides.
After what felt like hours of praying, hours of listening to distraught people trying to get our attention, hours of holding onto my glass figurine, I started to feel helpless. We were going to die here, in a slow-motion picture that only a few could see at such a high cost? Is this the way to go as a nine-year-old, to die in an underground parking lot explosion? Had God allowed me a beautiful evening to conclude a short life and a new comfort object to die with?
Dad’s fire extinguisher had run out, so there was little more that could be done.
Then Mom and I saw a figure come through the thick smoke. Did the fire department finally make it? No, it was just some guy, an ordinary-looking man wearing glasses, but…he had a fire extinguisher that was twice as big as what ours had been. Together, he and my dad made quick-work out of the rest of the fire.
In what seemed like a few seconds, the fire was finally put out, the rest of the nobly-dressed shouters had exited the garage and suddenly the man with the extinguisher was nowhere to be seen. Dad returned to us, ashen and spent; the perfect ending to his ideal night. As we celebrated our reunion, the firemen came walking towards us calmly and check the Bronco over, in case there was anything left to finish.
We returned to the theatre-red lobby, this time in search of a phone and a phone book to make arrangements for the vehicle and find a ride home. After Mom explained the situation to my sister, she came to pick us up.
After returning home, I was thankful to place the ballerina on our Christmas tree. Thankful that I would return to my last few days of classes and thankful that I’d be watching the Nutcracker on TV next year. For the first time, Christmas had a different meaning for me. Someone had helped my family, helped a crowd of ballet-goers survive. We had done more than just survived, no one was injured and eventually Dad would restore the vehicle.
For some reason, Mom, Dad and I were not supposed to die that night.
Christmas, the celebration of a savior, doesn’t begin until I reunite with the ballerina, until I have a thanksgiving for life, for safety and forgiveness. She is wrapped separately from the other ornaments, kept in a different place. It’d be such a waste for her to narrowly miss a fire, only to be crushed by Grandma Swindle’s hand-me-down ceramic ornaments. Multi-faceted, the artistic creature reminds me of eminent death, of the reason for life. It gave me something to look forward to; now that I was sure a protective God existed.
Each time I step off the bus, each time I leave the campus in the middle of the night, anytime that I am in public by myself, I feel his strong presence with me. I may not have a roommate, but I am not alone. After a long day of work, I sense the peace from his generous provision. I have a place to stay. I never go hungry. My only sickness is an annual bout with the flu. Each Christmas, I can go home and place the ballerina on the tree and enjoy the company of my family.
The frosted ballerina pirouettes on the tree, catching each primary hue of the Christmas light string, transforming from a royal blue ballerina to a golden-orange ballerina; ruby red ballerina to an evergreen ballerina.
Among my favorite tradition was watching The Nutcracker on PBS. I didn’t usually have anyone else join me on this one. I suppose everyone else might have seen it a hundred times, but by the time I turned nine, I was prepared to see it one hundred more times. The elegant costumes seemed so beautiful, even through the glass of a fuzzy TV screen that didn’t provide many close-ups. My fourth grade reading program was slowly teaching us the importance of plot. This, coupled with watching the same story once a year, meant I practically memorized the story of the Nutcracker.
At some point, my mom decided she wanted to see the Nutcracker as a family. As a school teacher, she had always harbored a love for the arts of piano, ballet and written works, but hadn’t had many aesthetic experiences. My dad has been a postman through most of his career, but enjoys all music and literary experiences from the comfort of his car or home. He listened to books on cassette in his mail-vehicle and kept the Bose radio playing constantly with blues, jazz and classical works. One thing he did not appreciate was seeing men in tights, so he reduced ballet to this ghastly image. “Why would you want to see that…men in tights should be reserved for Robin Hood: men in tights and that only,” he said. After mom’s convincing, we all headed to the Robinson Center in Little Rock for an aesthetic family experience.
In preparation for the ballet, mom chose a dress and jewelry from her closet, advised dad on a button up shirt and slacks, then tried to work on my outfit. Although I had not been to any professional concerts or ballets, I was convinced that no one would really want or need to get that dressed up for such an event. If you are going to enjoy something, why does the enjoyment come with stipulations, like wearing a dress? Mom had grown used this attitude, so our truce on my outfit was a teal-colored jumper over a teal & lavender shirt, complete with cute little tights and Sunday shoes.
As the evening began, I’m sure my dad had more than one fantasy about bailing on the ballet. At this point, he had lost the argument whether to go or not, then was forced to dress up (something he hadn’t done in years) and was the chosen driver (and supply of a new tank of gas) to make the one hour trek to combat the “city traffic” of Little Rock, which had never failed to irritate him. Later, he would be expected to sit quietly through the program he so hated, possibly buy a souvenir, then drive us home in the premature dark of winter.
Once in Little Rock, I marveled at the large buildings and bright lights of the city. The steps leading to the front door of the Robinson were intimidating, but certainly worth it. Even as a fourth grader, I was becoming increasingly embarrassed by my corduroy jumper as I eyed the golden silk, mauve taffeta, and black velvet gowns that surrounded us in the elevator.
All the stress of preparation and my embarrassment melted away as we stepped into the grand Robinson Theatre. There were so many seats…there were so many people, even several ushers to show you where to sit. How could mom and dad find our seats, even with the ushers’ help? Sure, I would watch the Nutcracker on television again next year, but I realized I would be jealous of myself sitting here now, seeing the grandeur right before me. The stage was no longer 20 inches wide, it was larger than life. Larger than my life, that’s for sure. After the introduction to the ballet, the same blue spotlight came on the curtain, as I watched the very video-cameras prepare to record what they had provided me with so many times.
The Nutcracker was more than I had hoped it would be. The colors were vivid now, not chromatic shades of one color as the TV had reduced them to. Sure, there were men in tights, but what did I know about their bodies? Whatever it was, I wasn’t concerned about their appearance. Their movements mesmerized me. From the suspended movements like something you would see underwater and not the air, to the hurried, accurate movements of the spinning top-like tutus, each was graceful. So graceful, it inspired patience in my musical focus. They were true artists and they had each experienced a first year of dancing. Maybe there was hope for me to become a true pianist, even though I was in my first year of piano.
During the intermission, my family returned to the theatre-red lobby, where several vendors had set up. They sold everything from coffees to wines, Christmas ornaments to ballet collectibles. The graceful audience members bustled in their netted skirts, tasteful black suits and uniform black patent leather shoes without seeming hurried like people on the street. They were all speaking, catching up in a quieter way that didn’t remind me of anything else I had seen or heard before.
While we were perusing the many items for sale, Dad allowed me to choose one item to take home. “That’s easy,” I thought. There were many beautiful things in the lobby, but the one that topped all was obvious. Shining faultlessly, glistening under the dimmed lighting was the frosted glass figure of a poised ballerina. Since I chose so quickly, Mom & Dad took me around the room once to make sure I wouldn’t see something else and regret my choice. As we came around again, Dad realized I had my mind made up. The ballerina was just right. I squealed with delight and gave him a kiss on the cheek as he presented me with my first (non-homemade) Christmas ornament.
There was really nothing particularly unique about it. Clear glass without a spot of color, the ballerina was wearing the traditional tutu, standard shoes, had her hair in a bun, and formed her arms in an oval, the same gesture that little girls make when imitating these lovely artists.
Following the show, I paid little attention to our reverse-trek to the vehicle. Mom and Dad knew their way out of the confusing building, back to the parking garage. I used this carefree time to relive the fabulous experience. Once we made it to the car, my parents surely thought half the battle was over. We simply had to maneuver out of the garage and then hit the freeway home. Unfortunately, our old Eddie Bauer Bronco began smoking as Dad attempted to pull it out of the parking space. It was barely detectable at first, a slight smell that made us wonder if it was another vehicle. I was turning the ballerina in my small hands, wondering how someone could train movements into something so stunning.
A few moments later, it was obvious that the Bronco wasn’t acting normally. Mom and Dad’s stress brought me out of my artistic daydreams. Dad never panics, but his urgent way of checking things on the vehicle signaled that something was going wrong. Suddenly, as Dad realized what was happening, he leapt out of the Bronco, slammed the door and grabbed the fire extinguisher from the back. “Grab April and get out of the car NOW,” he yelled at Mom. Mom didn’t waste any time, but I was still holding the ballerina and had to grab my coat and book. Those precious seconds could have been too long, but there was no time to explain that to a nine-year-old.
Mom dutifully hustled me to the far wall, within sight of our vehicle. Surrounded by a constant line of vehicles of our fellow audience members that were still elegantly dressed, now opened their car doors and each waved cell phones and yelled at us, “Who should we call?!” Their eyes nervously darted from us to the front windshield, wondering how long it would take to get their own families out of the underground parking garage.
Fear gripped my entire being while I watched dad dodge flames, trying to extinguish a fire that could spread to that full tank of gas he bought in mom’s and my best interest. Sweating, running back and forth, he sprayed the underside of the vehicle, trying to figure out where the fire was coming from. Next, he opened the hood of the Bronco. Mom and I cried out in shock as my dad narrowly missed the large, collective tangerine flames lashed out as a huge orange tongue of our once-trusty old vehicle. I’m not sure how long we spent frozen in fear and huddled together in our winter coats by that grey concrete wall. Too long, I think. We had nowhere to sit, not that we could have relaxed anyway.
The sophisticated people were now realistic with normal, room-volume voices. Finally, my mom had had enough with the audience’s yelling. When you are in a crisis, the only way to handle it is to do the most you can and leave the rest up to God, she always told me. We briskly walked up to the vehicle of the loudest dainty shouter. “STOP YELLING AT US…WE ARE TRYING TO PRAY,” she said. The lady didn’t miss a beat, “We have a cell phone, who should we call for you?” Since we didn’t have any family or friends in Little Rock, mom told her, “Call 911 and call God.” That was the extent of the conversation, there was no way mom would waste her time explaining to others when she had a direct line to the only being that could help us. Others had called 911 as well, but the fire department hadn’t arrived yet. Nor could they drive right up to us, since the traffic blocked us on all sides.
After what felt like hours of praying, hours of listening to distraught people trying to get our attention, hours of holding onto my glass figurine, I started to feel helpless. We were going to die here, in a slow-motion picture that only a few could see at such a high cost? Is this the way to go as a nine-year-old, to die in an underground parking lot explosion? Had God allowed me a beautiful evening to conclude a short life and a new comfort object to die with?
Dad’s fire extinguisher had run out, so there was little more that could be done.
Then Mom and I saw a figure come through the thick smoke. Did the fire department finally make it? No, it was just some guy, an ordinary-looking man wearing glasses, but…he had a fire extinguisher that was twice as big as what ours had been. Together, he and my dad made quick-work out of the rest of the fire.
In what seemed like a few seconds, the fire was finally put out, the rest of the nobly-dressed shouters had exited the garage and suddenly the man with the extinguisher was nowhere to be seen. Dad returned to us, ashen and spent; the perfect ending to his ideal night. As we celebrated our reunion, the firemen came walking towards us calmly and check the Bronco over, in case there was anything left to finish.
We returned to the theatre-red lobby, this time in search of a phone and a phone book to make arrangements for the vehicle and find a ride home. After Mom explained the situation to my sister, she came to pick us up.
After returning home, I was thankful to place the ballerina on our Christmas tree. Thankful that I would return to my last few days of classes and thankful that I’d be watching the Nutcracker on TV next year. For the first time, Christmas had a different meaning for me. Someone had helped my family, helped a crowd of ballet-goers survive. We had done more than just survived, no one was injured and eventually Dad would restore the vehicle.
For some reason, Mom, Dad and I were not supposed to die that night.
Christmas, the celebration of a savior, doesn’t begin until I reunite with the ballerina, until I have a thanksgiving for life, for safety and forgiveness. She is wrapped separately from the other ornaments, kept in a different place. It’d be such a waste for her to narrowly miss a fire, only to be crushed by Grandma Swindle’s hand-me-down ceramic ornaments. Multi-faceted, the artistic creature reminds me of eminent death, of the reason for life. It gave me something to look forward to; now that I was sure a protective God existed.
Each time I step off the bus, each time I leave the campus in the middle of the night, anytime that I am in public by myself, I feel his strong presence with me. I may not have a roommate, but I am not alone. After a long day of work, I sense the peace from his generous provision. I have a place to stay. I never go hungry. My only sickness is an annual bout with the flu. Each Christmas, I can go home and place the ballerina on the tree and enjoy the company of my family.
The frosted ballerina pirouettes on the tree, catching each primary hue of the Christmas light string, transforming from a royal blue ballerina to a golden-orange ballerina; ruby red ballerina to an evergreen ballerina.
Friday, April 3, 2009
6event
Nobel Laureate in Physics, Joseph Taylor spoke at UA this week about the process of observing, data recording, and devices he used that led him to discovering the first binary pulsar. His speech was the 13th annual Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecture, a lecture that hosts a variety of scientists to speak on topics such as stars, lasers, molecular beams, Einstein and the Universe in general.
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics. When they began their observations, their goal was not to discover other astronomical bodies. Taylor said they wanted to establish how the pulsars were related to other stars and how they were distributed through the galaxies, an interest that had stemmed from the Cambridge group’s discovery of the first four pulsars. “Einstein would have made this discovery if he had our information,” he said.
Despite the late-arriving students, the audience also included many eagerly awaiting physicists. Utsab Khadka, physics teaching assistant, said he was looking forward to the insights from Taylor’s speech. In preparation, he read a couple of speeches given by Taylor, so he would be able to process the new information the lecture provided. “His Nobel banquet speech was really cool. I think he will be very inspiring,” Khadka said.
Taylor and Hulse spent their hours of pulsar research in 1974 at the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A normal day at the observatory for them included only two and a half hours of observing due to a limited window of visibility. To determine when these hours would be in the earth's orbit, Hulse and Taylor consulted “Time Keeping Bulletins”, which would arrive in the mail about every two weeks and are now available by email. “So if you ever need to know exactly where the earth is in its orbit, this is the way to go,” Taylor said. The remainder of their pulsar research days were spent recording the data and interpreting it.
The two physicists used a device that was known as a mini-computer in the 1970s. “It was about the size of a refrigerator, which we kept in the shipping crate that it arrived in and Russ would make a mark on the side [of the crate] each time we found another pulsar,” Taylor said.
The many hours of data collection and observation were a difficult endeavor since the binary pulsar was 25,000 light years away, Taylor explained. “It’s a little like studying a factory machine by standing in the parking lot listening to the squeaks,” he said.
Pulsars are neutron stars, orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar. Since pulsars are known as nature’s most accurate clocks, part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Although the binary pulsar is nature’s most accurate clock, they speed up in minute amounts, about one millimeter per orbit/approximately eight hours. Eventually, the two pulsars (that make the binary pulsar) orbits will shrink progressively until they collide. Taylor explained that at this rate, it will take about 300 million years before it creates a “hell of a big gravitational bang.”
The radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory is a web of aluminum panels held up by cables over a sinkhole. In the center of the device are two objects that swing back and forth to maintain its balance. The radio telescope serves two functions, to receive radio signals from outer space as well as emit radio signals to bounce off of objects. Both functions provide data that enable a better understanding of astronomical objects. Receiving signals provides information about bodies that emit them, such as pulsars. Emitting signals provides information about the bodies that the signals hit. This is one way that we learn about the moon and Venus, Taylor explained.
Taylor has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University and seemed to deliver the lecture primarily as a teacher, than as a scientist.
He set the foundation for his speech by giving a basic history of physics and by briefly summarizing the most fundamental physicists and their accomplishments from the 15th-17th centuries, such as Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton. The entire lecture was reinforced by a detailed, structured PowerPoint presentation, which was followed by a question-and-answer session for further clarification.
UA student Meagan Howard originally attended primarily for extra credit, but afterwards she left pleasantly surprised. Howard agreed that Taylor’s speech was accessible, even for non-science students, “I really liked that he used a PowerPoint presentation, it helped me to understand more.”
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics. When they began their observations, their goal was not to discover other astronomical bodies. Taylor said they wanted to establish how the pulsars were related to other stars and how they were distributed through the galaxies, an interest that had stemmed from the Cambridge group’s discovery of the first four pulsars. “Einstein would have made this discovery if he had our information,” he said.
Despite the late-arriving students, the audience also included many eagerly awaiting physicists. Utsab Khadka, physics teaching assistant, said he was looking forward to the insights from Taylor’s speech. In preparation, he read a couple of speeches given by Taylor, so he would be able to process the new information the lecture provided. “His Nobel banquet speech was really cool. I think he will be very inspiring,” Khadka said.
Taylor and Hulse spent their hours of pulsar research in 1974 at the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A normal day at the observatory for them included only two and a half hours of observing due to a limited window of visibility. To determine when these hours would be in the earth's orbit, Hulse and Taylor consulted “Time Keeping Bulletins”, which would arrive in the mail about every two weeks and are now available by email. “So if you ever need to know exactly where the earth is in its orbit, this is the way to go,” Taylor said. The remainder of their pulsar research days were spent recording the data and interpreting it.
The two physicists used a device that was known as a mini-computer in the 1970s. “It was about the size of a refrigerator, which we kept in the shipping crate that it arrived in and Russ would make a mark on the side [of the crate] each time we found another pulsar,” Taylor said.
The many hours of data collection and observation were a difficult endeavor since the binary pulsar was 25,000 light years away, Taylor explained. “It’s a little like studying a factory machine by standing in the parking lot listening to the squeaks,” he said.
Pulsars are neutron stars, orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar. Since pulsars are known as nature’s most accurate clocks, part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Although the binary pulsar is nature’s most accurate clock, they speed up in minute amounts, about one millimeter per orbit/approximately eight hours. Eventually, the two pulsars (that make the binary pulsar) orbits will shrink progressively until they collide. Taylor explained that at this rate, it will take about 300 million years before it creates a “hell of a big gravitational bang.”
The radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory is a web of aluminum panels held up by cables over a sinkhole. In the center of the device are two objects that swing back and forth to maintain its balance. The radio telescope serves two functions, to receive radio signals from outer space as well as emit radio signals to bounce off of objects. Both functions provide data that enable a better understanding of astronomical objects. Receiving signals provides information about bodies that emit them, such as pulsars. Emitting signals provides information about the bodies that the signals hit. This is one way that we learn about the moon and Venus, Taylor explained.
Taylor has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University and seemed to deliver the lecture primarily as a teacher, than as a scientist.
He set the foundation for his speech by giving a basic history of physics and by briefly summarizing the most fundamental physicists and their accomplishments from the 15th-17th centuries, such as Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton. The entire lecture was reinforced by a detailed, structured PowerPoint presentation, which was followed by a question-and-answer session for further clarification.
UA student Meagan Howard originally attended primarily for extra credit, but afterwards she left pleasantly surprised. Howard agreed that Taylor’s speech was accessible, even for non-science students, “I really liked that he used a PowerPoint presentation, it helped me to understand more.”
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