The tall, athletic wide receiver picked a good game to be noticed in.
Demetrius Dean may have just been a sophomore in high school, but he played like a seasoned veteran on Sept. 12, 2008 as the Fayetteville Bulldogs triumphed, 42-37 over Jefferson City, Mo.
With Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino making the trip to watch his son, Bobby Jr., play football for the Bulldogs in Jefferson City, Dean, in only his second high school game, caught 10 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns.
The effort impressed Petrino so much that he offered Dean a scholarship, even though he had only played two varsity games.
Dean, now a 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior, plays the majority of his games just down the hill from Petrino’s office on campus.
The offer was exposure Dean wasn’t expecting but certainly wasn’t annoyed by.
“I think it’s cool that I’m getting recruited by Arkansas,” Dean said. “I like it because it’s where I’m from.”
Dean’s teammate and close friend, Dylan Hale, is a running back for Fayetteville and is also being looked at by colleges.
While he’s not getting the same press as Dean, Hale isn’t jealous at all and appreciates being mentioned with him.
“It’s really an honor to play with him because of his talent,” Hale said. “Playing with guys like Demetrius and Brandon [Allen, Fayetteville’s quarterback] is really any football player’s dream.”
Other athletes from the area have received similar acclaim for their high school exploits, but none of them as early as Dean has.
“I really think it was crazy that Demetrius got an offer just two games into his sophomore year,” Hale said. “I’m proud of him and happy for him as well.”
Not a single one of those players, however, were offered a scholarship as a high school sophomore.
Terry Wood, the former sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times from 1996 to 2009, covered a wide range of sports in Fayetteville and specifically the University of Arkansas, and said it differs with each individual how he or she views the recruiting process.
“It should be the kid’s decision,” Wood said. “A lot of times I’m surprised at how much fans are interested in recruiting. It’s kind of puzzling, I mean I know anyone would like to be popular but still, it’s gotten almost out of hand.”
Nate Olson, a sportswriter for Vype Magazine in central Arkansas, said that even with the celebrity of high school athletes gaining steam in Northwest Arkansas, there is also a strong following of these athletes in the middle and southern portions of the state as well.
“It used to be high school kids got coverage from their local papers,” Olson said. “Now, it has become big business. Web sites, magazines and TV networks cover players from all over the country. College recruiting coverage has put prep sports in the spotlight.”
As Twitter, Facebook, online message boards, and recruiting websites continue to take precedent in young people’s lives, a high school athlete rising into the spotlight by their play on the field can use these tools to their advantage or they can ignore them.
“They can be used positively or negatively,” Wood said. “Like any other tool, that person can use it wisely or it can be damaging to them. It’s up to the individual to make that judgment.”
So while recruiting can give a team an edge and helps that team develop a program, it can also be devastating to the individual who has the hopes of that team riding on his shoulders.
“A lot of privacy is taken out of their lives,” Wood said. “When they get offered like this early in their high school career, anything can happen. Kids are going to make mistakes, and they may not realize the full impact of what they say and what they do before it’s too late.”
Dean went on to set records at Fayetteville as a sophomore, but had a tough 2009 as a junior.
With the target on his back as an Arkansas commitment, he didn’t perform as he did 2008, putting on weight in the off-season and struggling to stay in games because of it.
Fayetteville limped to a 5-6 finish and a first-round playoff exit with a 45-42 loss to Conway at home.
He looks to rebound and have a big senior year before moving on to college, but he realizes that his every move is being followed now.
“The attention is not bad, but I don’t like too much attention,” Dean said. “It’s ok though, it’s not a bad thing.”
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Final Feature
The tall, athletic wide receiver picked a good game to be noticed in.
Demetrius Dean may have just been a sophomore in high school, but he played like a seasoned veteran on Sept. 12, 2008 as the Fayetteville Bulldogs triumphed, 42-37 over Jefferson City, Mo.
With Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino making the trip to watch his son play football for the Bulldogs in Jefferson City, Dean, in only his second high school game, caught 10 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns.
The effort impressed Petrino so much that he offered Dean a scholarship, even though he had only played two varsity games.
Dean, now a 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior, plays the majority of his games just down the hill from Petrino’s office on campus, at nearby Harmon Field.
Northwest Arkansas has never been confused with a recruiting hotbed for big-time Division I schools such as Arkansas, who plays in the Southeastern Conference, a highly competitive football division.
Sure, a lot of attention was given to the ‘Springdale Five,’ a collection of players from a 2005 Springdale Bulldog team that went 14-0 and finished with a national ranking by USA Today of No. 2 in the country.
Wide receiver Damian Williams is a star at the University of Southern California, where quarterback Mitch Mustain joined him after both left Arkansas at the beginning of 2007.
And a number of other athletes from the area have gone on to success.
Auburn recruited Lee Ziemba and Kodi Burns from Rogers and Fort Smith, respectively. North Carolina got Zach Pianalto from Springdale.
Fayetteville’s own Colby Berna is now a lineman for Arkansas.
Not a single one of the players listed above, however, were offered a scholarship as a high school sophomore.
Jimmy Carter, an assistant sports editor at the Arkansas Traveler, has covered high school football extensively in Arkansas this year, and said the process of recruiting has evolved so much over the past five to ten years.
“Now you have sportswriters that wouldn't normally be near a high school field covering games to try and get the scoop on where these athletes are going to attend college,” Carter said.
Carter also mentioned the fact that the increase in technology has led to the interest in these high school athletes, like Dean, when they are only 15 or 16 years old.
“Twitter and particularly Facebook are very predominant fixtures in a high school athlete's recruiting choices,” Carter said. “These high school athletes - and college athletes - will have 3,000 friends on Facebook and a large portion of those are fans of the schools that are recruiting the athlete.”
Nate Olson, a sportswriter for Vype Magazine in central Arkansas, said that even with it gaining steam in Northwest Arkansas, there is also a strong following of these athletes in the middle and southern portions of the state as well.
“It used to be high school kids got coverage from their local papers,” Olson said. “Now, it has become big business. Web sites, magazines and TV networks cover players from all over the country. College recruiting coverage has put prep sports in the spotlight.”
Some will then ask, is the attention given to these athletes healthy for them?
“On one hand, when they get to college they have had some exposure to the attention, but then it can take away from them getting to live a regular high school life,” Carter said.
So while recruiting can a team an edge and helps that team develop a program, it can also be devastating to the individual who has the hopes of that team riding on his shoulders.
“Overall, technology and the increased coverage has put athletes in a position to receive a lot of press and publication, but it also puts them under the microscope more and can blow little things about the athletes' lives out of proportion,” Carter said.
“Many athletes comment on their relief to end the recruiting process for this reason.”
Dean went on to set records at Fayetteville as a sophomore, but had a tough 2009 as a junior.
With the target on his back as an Arkansas commitment, he didn’t perform as he did 2008, putting on weight in the off-season and struggling to stay in games because of it.
Fayetteville limped to a 5-6 finish and a first-round playoff exit with a 45-42 loss to Conway at home.
Demetrius Dean may have just been a sophomore in high school, but he played like a seasoned veteran on Sept. 12, 2008 as the Fayetteville Bulldogs triumphed, 42-37 over Jefferson City, Mo.
With Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino making the trip to watch his son play football for the Bulldogs in Jefferson City, Dean, in only his second high school game, caught 10 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns.
The effort impressed Petrino so much that he offered Dean a scholarship, even though he had only played two varsity games.
Dean, now a 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior, plays the majority of his games just down the hill from Petrino’s office on campus, at nearby Harmon Field.
Northwest Arkansas has never been confused with a recruiting hotbed for big-time Division I schools such as Arkansas, who plays in the Southeastern Conference, a highly competitive football division.
Sure, a lot of attention was given to the ‘Springdale Five,’ a collection of players from a 2005 Springdale Bulldog team that went 14-0 and finished with a national ranking by USA Today of No. 2 in the country.
Wide receiver Damian Williams is a star at the University of Southern California, where quarterback Mitch Mustain joined him after both left Arkansas at the beginning of 2007.
And a number of other athletes from the area have gone on to success.
Auburn recruited Lee Ziemba and Kodi Burns from Rogers and Fort Smith, respectively. North Carolina got Zach Pianalto from Springdale.
Fayetteville’s own Colby Berna is now a lineman for Arkansas.
Not a single one of the players listed above, however, were offered a scholarship as a high school sophomore.
Jimmy Carter, an assistant sports editor at the Arkansas Traveler, has covered high school football extensively in Arkansas this year, and said the process of recruiting has evolved so much over the past five to ten years.
“Now you have sportswriters that wouldn't normally be near a high school field covering games to try and get the scoop on where these athletes are going to attend college,” Carter said.
Carter also mentioned the fact that the increase in technology has led to the interest in these high school athletes, like Dean, when they are only 15 or 16 years old.
“Twitter and particularly Facebook are very predominant fixtures in a high school athlete's recruiting choices,” Carter said. “These high school athletes - and college athletes - will have 3,000 friends on Facebook and a large portion of those are fans of the schools that are recruiting the athlete.”
Nate Olson, a sportswriter for Vype Magazine in central Arkansas, said that even with it gaining steam in Northwest Arkansas, there is also a strong following of these athletes in the middle and southern portions of the state as well.
“It used to be high school kids got coverage from their local papers,” Olson said. “Now, it has become big business. Web sites, magazines and TV networks cover players from all over the country. College recruiting coverage has put prep sports in the spotlight.”
Some will then ask, is the attention given to these athletes healthy for them?
“On one hand, when they get to college they have had some exposure to the attention, but then it can take away from them getting to live a regular high school life,” Carter said.
So while recruiting can a team an edge and helps that team develop a program, it can also be devastating to the individual who has the hopes of that team riding on his shoulders.
“Overall, technology and the increased coverage has put athletes in a position to receive a lot of press and publication, but it also puts them under the microscope more and can blow little things about the athletes' lives out of proportion,” Carter said.
“Many athletes comment on their relief to end the recruiting process for this reason.”
Dean went on to set records at Fayetteville as a sophomore, but had a tough 2009 as a junior.
With the target on his back as an Arkansas commitment, he didn’t perform as he did 2008, putting on weight in the off-season and struggling to stay in games because of it.
Fayetteville limped to a 5-6 finish and a first-round playoff exit with a 45-42 loss to Conway at home.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Revised Human Interest Feature
On Halloween last year, sixteen-year-old Aaron Leslie’s car ran off the road in the early morning on Highway 16, flipping over a bridge and plunging into the cold waters of the White River.
Leslie, who was traveling from his father’s house to his mother’s before school, was trapped underneath the vehicle for nearly 15 minutes before emergency responders and passersby could assist him.
It would be a nightmarish time for any parents, especially for Leslie’s, who share custody of their son.
Friends of Leslie, now 17, describe them as being very strong and supportive of the doctors the whole way as Aaron underwent treatment and testing.
As he made strides daily, it was clear that he would recover from this enormous obstacle, but the time frame of that recovery was the unknown.
Upon being reached, Leslie didn’t have a pulse, but the EMT managed to revive him once they got him into the ambulance.
At the time, it was unclear what would come of Leslie. He had significant brain damage as a result of being underwater for so long.
Friends of Leslie began pouring into the hospital daily with cards, flowers, and support for him and his family as he came out of a coma and into the realization that things were different than before the accident.
Chaz Williams, 18, is one of Leslie’s closest friends, and he says that Leslie is an inspiration to him every day for overcoming enormous odds.
“I became good friends with Aaron sophomore year [of high school], and we’re now best friends,” Williams said. “We’ve had a lot of great times together and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
Looking at pictures before and after the accident, Leslie looks like nothing has changed. The only noticeable difference is that he seems less aware of his surroundings that he used to be.
Leslie attends Fayetteville High School and has a select group of friends who he is close with, but is well thought of by all he comes into contact with.
Before the accident, Leslie was fairly outgoing and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, although primarily sticking close to his friends.
Now that he’s had a lot of the memories of his school years wiped away along with having to re-learn some basic skills and concepts, he has acted noticeably different while at school.
Marshall McComas, who has attended school with Leslie since junior high, said that Leslie is a different person since the accident.
“He’s definitely not the same as he was before the accident,” McComas said. “I have a friend [Josh Hale] who goes to school with us who works at Harp’s, and Josh went up to him [Leslie] while he was working and he tried to talk to [Leslie] and he just acted real confused.”
What some may not realize is that Leslie’s progression is fluctuating day-by-day.
“He has the same personality as he did before, he’s just gaining his memory and how to do certain things,” Williams said. “It’s affected his family in the fact he has to be taken care of a little more, but everything else is the same.”
Some days, he may make significant headway and remember things just like they were, but at other times, he is slow to pick up the pieces.
“Aaron’s progression was really rapid at first,” Williams said. “It’s become a much slower pace as of late, but he continues to get better all the time. As long as he keeps getting better he has a chance at a full recovery.”
The support network of his family and friends continuously aids him in his journey back to normalcy.
“Life goes on, except for his friends and family of course,” Williams said. “We’re hanging out with him and hoping he gets better as soon as possible.”
Leslie, who was traveling from his father’s house to his mother’s before school, was trapped underneath the vehicle for nearly 15 minutes before emergency responders and passersby could assist him.
It would be a nightmarish time for any parents, especially for Leslie’s, who share custody of their son.
Friends of Leslie, now 17, describe them as being very strong and supportive of the doctors the whole way as Aaron underwent treatment and testing.
As he made strides daily, it was clear that he would recover from this enormous obstacle, but the time frame of that recovery was the unknown.
Upon being reached, Leslie didn’t have a pulse, but the EMT managed to revive him once they got him into the ambulance.
At the time, it was unclear what would come of Leslie. He had significant brain damage as a result of being underwater for so long.
Friends of Leslie began pouring into the hospital daily with cards, flowers, and support for him and his family as he came out of a coma and into the realization that things were different than before the accident.
Chaz Williams, 18, is one of Leslie’s closest friends, and he says that Leslie is an inspiration to him every day for overcoming enormous odds.
“I became good friends with Aaron sophomore year [of high school], and we’re now best friends,” Williams said. “We’ve had a lot of great times together and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
Looking at pictures before and after the accident, Leslie looks like nothing has changed. The only noticeable difference is that he seems less aware of his surroundings that he used to be.
Leslie attends Fayetteville High School and has a select group of friends who he is close with, but is well thought of by all he comes into contact with.
Before the accident, Leslie was fairly outgoing and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, although primarily sticking close to his friends.
Now that he’s had a lot of the memories of his school years wiped away along with having to re-learn some basic skills and concepts, he has acted noticeably different while at school.
Marshall McComas, who has attended school with Leslie since junior high, said that Leslie is a different person since the accident.
“He’s definitely not the same as he was before the accident,” McComas said. “I have a friend [Josh Hale] who goes to school with us who works at Harp’s, and Josh went up to him [Leslie] while he was working and he tried to talk to [Leslie] and he just acted real confused.”
What some may not realize is that Leslie’s progression is fluctuating day-by-day.
“He has the same personality as he did before, he’s just gaining his memory and how to do certain things,” Williams said. “It’s affected his family in the fact he has to be taken care of a little more, but everything else is the same.”
Some days, he may make significant headway and remember things just like they were, but at other times, he is slow to pick up the pieces.
“Aaron’s progression was really rapid at first,” Williams said. “It’s become a much slower pace as of late, but he continues to get better all the time. As long as he keeps getting better he has a chance at a full recovery.”
The support network of his family and friends continuously aids him in his journey back to normalcy.
“Life goes on, except for his friends and family of course,” Williams said. “We’re hanging out with him and hoping he gets better as soon as possible.”
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Human Interest Feature
FAYETTEVILLE--To say that Aaron Leslie has come a long way would be an understatement.
On Halloween last year, Leslie’s car ran off the road in the early morning on Highway 16, flipping over a bridge and plunging into the cold waters of the White River.
Leslie, who was traveling from his father’s house to his mother’s before school, was trapped underneath the vehicle for nearly 15 minutes before emergency responders and passersby could assist him.
Upon being reached, Leslie didn’t have a pulse, but the EMT’s managed to revive him once they got him into the ambulance.
It was a nightmarish time for Leslie’s parents, who share custody of their son.
At the time, it was unclear what would come of Leslie. He had significant brain damage as a result of being underwater for so long.
And he was comatose in the hospital for days before he came around.
Friends of Leslie began pouring into the hospital daily with cards, flowers, and support for him and his family as he began the road to recovery.
Chaz Williams, 18, is one of Leslie’s best friends, and he says that Leslie is an inspiration to him every day for overcoming enormous odds.
“I became good friends with Aaron sophomore year [of high school], and we’re now best friends,” Williams said. “We’ve had a lot of great times together and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
Leslie, now 17, attends Fayetteville High School and has a select group of friends who he is close with, but is well thought of by all he comes into contact with.
Before the accident, Leslie was fairly outgoing and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, although primarily sticking close to his friends.
Now that he’s had a lot of the memories of his school years wiped away along with re-learning some basic skills and concepts, he has acted noticeably different while at school.
Marshall McComas, who has attended school with Leslie since junior high, said that Leslie is a different person since the accident.
“He’s definitely not the same as he was before the accident,” McComas said. “I have a friend who goes to school with us who works at Harp’s, and he went up to him [Leslie] while he was working and he tried to talk to him and he just acted real confused.”
What some may not realize is that Leslie’s progression is fluctuating day-by-day.
Some days, he may make major strides and remember things just like they were, but at other times, he is slow to pick up the pieces.
“Aaron’s progression was really rapid at first,” Williams said. “It’s become a much slower pace as of late, but he continues to get better all the time. As long as he keeps getting better he has a chance at a full recovery.”
On Halloween last year, Leslie’s car ran off the road in the early morning on Highway 16, flipping over a bridge and plunging into the cold waters of the White River.
Leslie, who was traveling from his father’s house to his mother’s before school, was trapped underneath the vehicle for nearly 15 minutes before emergency responders and passersby could assist him.
Upon being reached, Leslie didn’t have a pulse, but the EMT’s managed to revive him once they got him into the ambulance.
It was a nightmarish time for Leslie’s parents, who share custody of their son.
At the time, it was unclear what would come of Leslie. He had significant brain damage as a result of being underwater for so long.
And he was comatose in the hospital for days before he came around.
Friends of Leslie began pouring into the hospital daily with cards, flowers, and support for him and his family as he began the road to recovery.
Chaz Williams, 18, is one of Leslie’s best friends, and he says that Leslie is an inspiration to him every day for overcoming enormous odds.
“I became good friends with Aaron sophomore year [of high school], and we’re now best friends,” Williams said. “We’ve had a lot of great times together and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
Leslie, now 17, attends Fayetteville High School and has a select group of friends who he is close with, but is well thought of by all he comes into contact with.
Before the accident, Leslie was fairly outgoing and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, although primarily sticking close to his friends.
Now that he’s had a lot of the memories of his school years wiped away along with re-learning some basic skills and concepts, he has acted noticeably different while at school.
Marshall McComas, who has attended school with Leslie since junior high, said that Leslie is a different person since the accident.
“He’s definitely not the same as he was before the accident,” McComas said. “I have a friend who goes to school with us who works at Harp’s, and he went up to him [Leslie] while he was working and he tried to talk to him and he just acted real confused.”
What some may not realize is that Leslie’s progression is fluctuating day-by-day.
Some days, he may make major strides and remember things just like they were, but at other times, he is slow to pick up the pieces.
“Aaron’s progression was really rapid at first,” Williams said. “It’s become a much slower pace as of late, but he continues to get better all the time. As long as he keeps getting better he has a chance at a full recovery.”
Thursday, October 22, 2009
News Feature II (Revised)
In a little over a year, Hilary Davidson has seen what her efforts have led to.
After her father was killed by a driver who was text messaging on his cell phone in July 2008, the Arkansas State student went to her state representative and asked that something be done.
The result?
The state took action by introducing a bill in the state senate that would ban text messaging from all drivers.
That action was “Paul’s Law,” which was drawn up by state Rep. Ray Kidd, D-Jonesboro, with its objective to get texting outlawed completely.
It is known as “Paul’s Law” at the request of Davidson, whose father’s name was Paul.
“We hope and pray it’s going to save lives in Arkansas,” Kidd said.
In 2008 alone, Arkansas police reported 787 auto crashes that occurred involving cellular devices, but Arkansas has only been tracking cell phone roles in accidents since 2007, according to http://www.handsfreeinfo.com.
Anything other than concentrating on the road is dangerous while driving, but texting involves having the eyes on the phone the entire time, whereas talking on the phone can involve the use of a headset or a hands-free device.
It didn’t go through exactly how Kidd wanted, but it did manage to get teenage drivers disallowed from texting.
“Some law is better than no law,” Kidd said.
Kidd had wanted cell phones to be banned completely while driving, but revised the bill so that it had a better chance to pass in the state Legislature.
Conditions of the law say that 18 to 20-year-old drivers must have a hands-free device if they are to talk on the phone and are not to engage in “interactive communication,” which is defined as text messaging and typing.
Violators of the law can receive a fine of up to $100, and it is considered a primary offense.
With that being said, police officers will now have to employ new tactics to enforce these new laws.
It used to be easy to see if drivers on the phone usually because they will not drive as fast or will be swerving in and out of their lanes, but sometimes they can disguise whether or not they are on the phone by placing it in their lap or memorizing the keyboard and not looking at it.
“I’m going to have trouble enforcing it,” Springdale police officer Blake Reed said. “I’m not used to looking to see if people are on their phones.”
With a world increasingly relying on digital media and technology, some may argue that it’s hard to not constantly be on a phone or a data provider.
They may go so far as to say even while driving, because sometimes information doesn’t care if someone is in a car or asleep.
There are also those, however, that say there are worse distractions that can contain their attention in the car other than texting.
“I don’t think it should be illegal, because there are so many distractions possible while driving that aren’t illegal,” Gina Smith, a Fayetteville citizen, said.
Smith said she notices plenty of other things diverting drivers’ attention from the road other than sending text messages.
“There’s the radio, changing CD’s, reaching for purses, dealing with children,” Smith said. “I think people should be responsible with their actions, but I don’t think that texting should be illegal.”
Whatever the case, the fact remains that text messaging has caused accidents, and just like drinking while driving, if a person is caught texting while driving, they now have to pay the consequences.
Because when people’s lives are threatened, texting can take a backseat to keeping eyes on the road.
Just ask Hilary Davidson.
After her father was killed by a driver who was text messaging on his cell phone in July 2008, the Arkansas State student went to her state representative and asked that something be done.
The result?
The state took action by introducing a bill in the state senate that would ban text messaging from all drivers.
That action was “Paul’s Law,” which was drawn up by state Rep. Ray Kidd, D-Jonesboro, with its objective to get texting outlawed completely.
It is known as “Paul’s Law” at the request of Davidson, whose father’s name was Paul.
“We hope and pray it’s going to save lives in Arkansas,” Kidd said.
In 2008 alone, Arkansas police reported 787 auto crashes that occurred involving cellular devices, but Arkansas has only been tracking cell phone roles in accidents since 2007, according to http://www.handsfreeinfo.com.
Anything other than concentrating on the road is dangerous while driving, but texting involves having the eyes on the phone the entire time, whereas talking on the phone can involve the use of a headset or a hands-free device.
It didn’t go through exactly how Kidd wanted, but it did manage to get teenage drivers disallowed from texting.
“Some law is better than no law,” Kidd said.
Kidd had wanted cell phones to be banned completely while driving, but revised the bill so that it had a better chance to pass in the state Legislature.
Conditions of the law say that 18 to 20-year-old drivers must have a hands-free device if they are to talk on the phone and are not to engage in “interactive communication,” which is defined as text messaging and typing.
Violators of the law can receive a fine of up to $100, and it is considered a primary offense.
With that being said, police officers will now have to employ new tactics to enforce these new laws.
It used to be easy to see if drivers on the phone usually because they will not drive as fast or will be swerving in and out of their lanes, but sometimes they can disguise whether or not they are on the phone by placing it in their lap or memorizing the keyboard and not looking at it.
“I’m going to have trouble enforcing it,” Springdale police officer Blake Reed said. “I’m not used to looking to see if people are on their phones.”
With a world increasingly relying on digital media and technology, some may argue that it’s hard to not constantly be on a phone or a data provider.
They may go so far as to say even while driving, because sometimes information doesn’t care if someone is in a car or asleep.
There are also those, however, that say there are worse distractions that can contain their attention in the car other than texting.
“I don’t think it should be illegal, because there are so many distractions possible while driving that aren’t illegal,” Gina Smith, a Fayetteville citizen, said.
Smith said she notices plenty of other things diverting drivers’ attention from the road other than sending text messages.
“There’s the radio, changing CD’s, reaching for purses, dealing with children,” Smith said. “I think people should be responsible with their actions, but I don’t think that texting should be illegal.”
Whatever the case, the fact remains that text messaging has caused accidents, and just like drinking while driving, if a person is caught texting while driving, they now have to pay the consequences.
Because when people’s lives are threatened, texting can take a backseat to keeping eyes on the road.
Just ask Hilary Davidson.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
News Feature II
FAYETTEVILLE—Driving down the road, the person operating the vehicle sends a text message to one of his friends, trying to figure out what they will do on a boring Monday night.
Unbeknownst to this 25-year old male, a young girl is attempting to cross the road.
And with his eyes on his iPhone instead of what’s in front of his car, he hits the little girl with his car, killing her instantly.
This is the danger of text messaging while at the control of a motor vehicle.
The state of Arkansas recognized that fact by making it illegal earlier this month to text on a mobile device while driving.
Anything other than concentrating on the road is dangerous while driving, but texting involves having the eyes on the phone the entire time, whereas talking on the phone can involve the use of a headset or a hands-free device.
In 2008 alone, Arkansas police reported 787 auto crashes that occurred involving cellular devices, but Arkansas has only been tracking cell phone roles in accidents since 2007.
The state decided to take action by introducing a bill in the state senate that would ban text messaging from all drivers.
A law, “Paul’s Law,” was drawn up by state Rep. Ray Kidd, D-Jonesboro, with its objective to get texting outlawed completely.
It is known as “Paul’s Law” at the request of an Arkansas State student whose father was killed by a driver who was texting and hit him.
“We hope and pray it’s going to save lives in Arkansas,” Kidd said.
It didn’t go through exactly how Kidd wanted, but it did manage to get teenage drivers disallowed from texting.
“Some law is better than no law,” Kidd said.
18 to 20-year old drivers must have a hands-free device if they are to talk on the phone and are not to engage in “interactive communication,” which is defined as text messaging and typing.
Violators of the law can receive a fine of up to $100, and it is considered a primary offense.
What has become interesting, however, is how police officers will enforce the new laws.
It’s easy to see if drivers on the phone usually because they will not drive as fast or will be swerving in out of their lanes, but sometimes they can disguise whether or not they are on the phone by placing it in their lap or memorizing the keyboard and not looking at it.
“I’m going to have trouble enforcing it,” Springdale police officer Blake Reed said. “I’m not used to looking to see if people are on their phones.”
With a world increasingly relying on digital media and technology, it’s hard to not constantly be on a phone or a data provider.
Even while driving, because sometimes information doesn’t care if someone is in a car or asleep.
Some people even feel that there are worse distractions that can contain their attention in the car other than texting.
“I don’t think it should be illegal, because there are so many distractions possible while driving that aren’t illegal,” Gina Smith, a Fayetteville citizen, said.
Unbeknownst to this 25-year old male, a young girl is attempting to cross the road.
And with his eyes on his iPhone instead of what’s in front of his car, he hits the little girl with his car, killing her instantly.
This is the danger of text messaging while at the control of a motor vehicle.
The state of Arkansas recognized that fact by making it illegal earlier this month to text on a mobile device while driving.
Anything other than concentrating on the road is dangerous while driving, but texting involves having the eyes on the phone the entire time, whereas talking on the phone can involve the use of a headset or a hands-free device.
In 2008 alone, Arkansas police reported 787 auto crashes that occurred involving cellular devices, but Arkansas has only been tracking cell phone roles in accidents since 2007.
The state decided to take action by introducing a bill in the state senate that would ban text messaging from all drivers.
A law, “Paul’s Law,” was drawn up by state Rep. Ray Kidd, D-Jonesboro, with its objective to get texting outlawed completely.
It is known as “Paul’s Law” at the request of an Arkansas State student whose father was killed by a driver who was texting and hit him.
“We hope and pray it’s going to save lives in Arkansas,” Kidd said.
It didn’t go through exactly how Kidd wanted, but it did manage to get teenage drivers disallowed from texting.
“Some law is better than no law,” Kidd said.
18 to 20-year old drivers must have a hands-free device if they are to talk on the phone and are not to engage in “interactive communication,” which is defined as text messaging and typing.
Violators of the law can receive a fine of up to $100, and it is considered a primary offense.
What has become interesting, however, is how police officers will enforce the new laws.
It’s easy to see if drivers on the phone usually because they will not drive as fast or will be swerving in out of their lanes, but sometimes they can disguise whether or not they are on the phone by placing it in their lap or memorizing the keyboard and not looking at it.
“I’m going to have trouble enforcing it,” Springdale police officer Blake Reed said. “I’m not used to looking to see if people are on their phones.”
With a world increasingly relying on digital media and technology, it’s hard to not constantly be on a phone or a data provider.
Even while driving, because sometimes information doesn’t care if someone is in a car or asleep.
Some people even feel that there are worse distractions that can contain their attention in the car other than texting.
“I don’t think it should be illegal, because there are so many distractions possible while driving that aren’t illegal,” Gina Smith, a Fayetteville citizen, said.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Revised News Feature I
It’s a Wednesday afternoon, nearing 5 p.m., and you know you’ve forgotten to do something.
In years past, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now it does.
You’ve forgotten to redeem your ticket voucher to get a ticket into the big game with Georgia on Saturday, and now you’ll be stuck in your dorm watching it on ESPN.
No student wants to face this dilemma.
That dilemma was the way in which UA students received their tickets.
Instead of just purchasing a ticket that would be taken to the game along with scanning their ID card, students were required to buy vouchers that would be redeemed on the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday leading up to that week’s game.
Upon returning your voucher, the student receives the actual game ticket that in previous years, they had just received from the beginning.
University officials said that the reasoning behind the change in administering the tickets was a trend that had developed in the previous couple of seasons.
Even though the Hogs were performing well on the field, the student section wasn't filling up like it was supposed to.
With a change in both the head football coach and director of athletics, a serious look was taken on how to increase the efficiency of ticket sales and get students in the seats.
The athletic department figured that if the students weren’t going to fill up the section that it could sell the unused tickets just like any other ticket in a different section of the stadium and make more money.
It seems like a viable solution to pouring more money into athletics and getting the stadium to capacity on game days, but it’s not necessarily the most popular idea with students.
“It’s just a hassle,” said UA sophomore Chelsey Humble.
Other UA students have not liked the fact that they have to make the effort to go down to the ticket office or other locations on campus to redeem their vouchers.
They’ve cited long lines and only having that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to get it done as major drawbacks to having the voucher system.
“It’s a bit of a hassle, but if they fill up [the stadium], then I guess it’s alright,” UA sophomore Collin Sanders said.
Sanders is a former walk-on football player for Arkansas who now watches from the student section. He said he noticed a definite increase in the quality of the section and the passion of the students who came out in droves to the Georgia game.
Some students, though, are on the other side of the fence.
They feel that the change is doing a lot of good for not just the students, but rather all of the 74,000 people that on average attend Arkansas home games in Fayetteville.
“I think it’s a good idea,” UA junior Drew Marshall said. “It allows people who actually want to go to the game to go, and helps us fill up the student section which we never could before.”
Another positive for Arkansas students, was that the ticket price remained the same.
The economy may be in a recession, but it still only costs $1 for entry.
Whereas at other Southeastern Conference schools, it costs the same, if not more, as normal game tickets for students to watch their fellow students perform.
So while the voucher system may not be the most popular or the easiest option, the objective has been fulfilled of getting students in the seats.
In years past, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now it does.
You’ve forgotten to redeem your ticket voucher to get a ticket into the big game with Georgia on Saturday, and now you’ll be stuck in your dorm watching it on ESPN.
No student wants to face this dilemma.
That dilemma was the way in which UA students received their tickets.
Instead of just purchasing a ticket that would be taken to the game along with scanning their ID card, students were required to buy vouchers that would be redeemed on the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday leading up to that week’s game.
Upon returning your voucher, the student receives the actual game ticket that in previous years, they had just received from the beginning.
University officials said that the reasoning behind the change in administering the tickets was a trend that had developed in the previous couple of seasons.
Even though the Hogs were performing well on the field, the student section wasn't filling up like it was supposed to.
With a change in both the head football coach and director of athletics, a serious look was taken on how to increase the efficiency of ticket sales and get students in the seats.
The athletic department figured that if the students weren’t going to fill up the section that it could sell the unused tickets just like any other ticket in a different section of the stadium and make more money.
It seems like a viable solution to pouring more money into athletics and getting the stadium to capacity on game days, but it’s not necessarily the most popular idea with students.
“It’s just a hassle,” said UA sophomore Chelsey Humble.
Other UA students have not liked the fact that they have to make the effort to go down to the ticket office or other locations on campus to redeem their vouchers.
They’ve cited long lines and only having that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to get it done as major drawbacks to having the voucher system.
“It’s a bit of a hassle, but if they fill up [the stadium], then I guess it’s alright,” UA sophomore Collin Sanders said.
Sanders is a former walk-on football player for Arkansas who now watches from the student section. He said he noticed a definite increase in the quality of the section and the passion of the students who came out in droves to the Georgia game.
Some students, though, are on the other side of the fence.
They feel that the change is doing a lot of good for not just the students, but rather all of the 74,000 people that on average attend Arkansas home games in Fayetteville.
“I think it’s a good idea,” UA junior Drew Marshall said. “It allows people who actually want to go to the game to go, and helps us fill up the student section which we never could before.”
Another positive for Arkansas students, was that the ticket price remained the same.
The economy may be in a recession, but it still only costs $1 for entry.
Whereas at other Southeastern Conference schools, it costs the same, if not more, as normal game tickets for students to watch their fellow students perform.
So while the voucher system may not be the most popular or the easiest option, the objective has been fulfilled of getting students in the seats.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Ticket Vouchers?
The lines were long but that wasn’t stopping thousands of Razorback students from flocking to Sept. 19’s Fayetteville home opener against Georgia.
Even though Arkansas was coming off a dismal 5-7 season in the second year of head coach Bobby Petrino’s reign, the anticipation and excitement for Razorback football still remained.
One thing that differed this season, however, was the way in which UA students received their tickets.
Instead of just purchasing a ticket that would be taken to the game along with scanning their ID card, students were required to buy vouchers that would be redeemed the week heading up to the game.
University officials said that the reasoning behind the change in administering the tickets was a trend that had developed in the previous couple of seasons.
Arkansas won a SEC Western Division title in 2006 and had Heisman Trophy hopeful Darren McFadden return in 2007, but students weren’t filling up the section they are given despite the team’s success.
With a change in both the head football coach and director of athletics, a serious look was taken on how to increase the efficiency of ticket sales and get students in the seats.
The athletic department figured that if the students weren’t going to fill up the section, that they could sell the unused tickets just like a ticket in a different section of the stadium and make more money.
It seems like a viable solution to pouring money into athletics and getting the stadium to capacity on game days, but it’s not necessarily popular with all students.
“It’s dumb,” said UA sophomore Chelsey Humble. “It’s just a hassle.”
Other UA students have not liked the fact that they have to go down to the ticket office or other locations on campus to redeem their vouchers.
They’ve cited long lines and only having Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to complete the objective as major drawbacks to having the voucher system.
“It’s a bit of a hassle, but if they fill up [the stadium], then I guess it’s alright,” UA sophomore Collin Sanders said.
Sanders is a former walk-on football player for Arkansas who now watches from the student section. He said he noticed a definite increase in the quality of the section and the passion of the students who came out in droves to the Georgia game.
Some students, though, feel that the change is doing a lot of good for not just the students, but rather the entire fan base of 74,000 that attend Arkansas home games.
“I think it’s a good idea,” UA junior Drew Marshall said. “It allows people who actually want to go to the game to go, and helps us fill up the student section which we never could before.”
Fortunately for Arkansas students, the ticket price remained the same.
The economy may be in a recession, but it still only costs $1 to get into the games.
Whereas at other Southeastern Conference schools, it costs the same, if not more, as normal game tickets for students to watch their fellow student-athletes perform.
Even though Arkansas was coming off a dismal 5-7 season in the second year of head coach Bobby Petrino’s reign, the anticipation and excitement for Razorback football still remained.
One thing that differed this season, however, was the way in which UA students received their tickets.
Instead of just purchasing a ticket that would be taken to the game along with scanning their ID card, students were required to buy vouchers that would be redeemed the week heading up to the game.
University officials said that the reasoning behind the change in administering the tickets was a trend that had developed in the previous couple of seasons.
Arkansas won a SEC Western Division title in 2006 and had Heisman Trophy hopeful Darren McFadden return in 2007, but students weren’t filling up the section they are given despite the team’s success.
With a change in both the head football coach and director of athletics, a serious look was taken on how to increase the efficiency of ticket sales and get students in the seats.
The athletic department figured that if the students weren’t going to fill up the section, that they could sell the unused tickets just like a ticket in a different section of the stadium and make more money.
It seems like a viable solution to pouring money into athletics and getting the stadium to capacity on game days, but it’s not necessarily popular with all students.
“It’s dumb,” said UA sophomore Chelsey Humble. “It’s just a hassle.”
Other UA students have not liked the fact that they have to go down to the ticket office or other locations on campus to redeem their vouchers.
They’ve cited long lines and only having Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to complete the objective as major drawbacks to having the voucher system.
“It’s a bit of a hassle, but if they fill up [the stadium], then I guess it’s alright,” UA sophomore Collin Sanders said.
Sanders is a former walk-on football player for Arkansas who now watches from the student section. He said he noticed a definite increase in the quality of the section and the passion of the students who came out in droves to the Georgia game.
Some students, though, feel that the change is doing a lot of good for not just the students, but rather the entire fan base of 74,000 that attend Arkansas home games.
“I think it’s a good idea,” UA junior Drew Marshall said. “It allows people who actually want to go to the game to go, and helps us fill up the student section which we never could before.”
Fortunately for Arkansas students, the ticket price remained the same.
The economy may be in a recession, but it still only costs $1 to get into the games.
Whereas at other Southeastern Conference schools, it costs the same, if not more, as normal game tickets for students to watch their fellow student-athletes perform.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Revised Profile
BY DEREK OXFORD
FAYETTEVILLE—Steve Percival had no idea what he was running himself into in 1993 when he and a group of Fayetteville school administrators met to develop a mission for a fledgling school district.
“About 30 of us spent three days on the top of Mt. Sequoyah talking, debating, compromising, and agreeing on what the district mission should be,” Percival said.
But the three-day Mount Sequoyah summit in March of that year and the vision that was finally settled on paved the way for the Fayetteville School District to become one of the premier educational systems in the United States.
“The mission that was formed during those three days has stood the test of time,” Percival said. “It still exists today.”
The district’s website, http://www.fayar.net, describes the district’s mission as being that “every student will leave with a full understanding of his or her potential and the skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing, global society.”
Percival, who has served on the district’s school board since 1995 and was president for several years, describes the time he’s put in on the board as “tremendously rewarding.”
“I still can’t believe I was that lucky,” Percival said. “To be able to be associated with outstanding teachers, dedicated administrators, and focused school board members, has been one of the highlights of my life, outside of my family.”
The vision statement is the mission that Percival and his colleagues drew up in order to cater to a fast –growing student population that was aggressively testing the limits of what high school students normally accomplished.
So the 1993 excursion took care of that, revitalizing the curriculum while providing for the students’ needs as they appeared.
Needed improvements were made to the high school and other schools in the district, elementary and middle schools were built to facilitate growth, and technological innovations were implemented to keep Fayetteville ahead of the curve.
At the time, however, Percival and the rest of the administration did not realize that down the line, the facilities that the students were utilizing were going to need more than just a touch up.
Now with 2009 inching closer to its conclusion, the community is in serious debate about what is to be done with building a state-of-the-art new high school.
“The new high school is an investment in our children and our future,” Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan says. “We must be bold in securing that future and prepared to make the commitment now.”
With students’ getting their athletic and scholastic expectations met, however, some members of the community might wonder why a new high school needs to be built.
The answer?
“This is Fayetteville,” Percival said.
“Fayetteville is a community that is well known for its population and their diverse interests and beliefs about what’s best for the town. That’s one of the things that make Fayetteville a great place to live. People care about where they live, are passionate about what they believe, and become interested and engaged in the things they hold dear.”
The difference here though is that the issue of a new Fayetteville High School is colossal compared to what has been dealt with in the past, as noted by UA Journalism and International Relations professor Hoyt Purvis.
“A subject such as this has stirred considerable public interest and involvement,” Purvis said. “Fayetteville is also a community that highly values education, and as a result of that and the proximity to the university, the high school will always receive lots of attention.”
With the dreams of the Mount Sequoyah meeting fulfilled, along with expectations for learning not only met but surpassed, Percival says that in order to continue have a great school system, there must be great employees and great facilities.
“We will have both [with the new high school],” Percival said.
Percival obviously knows the ramifications of the actions the administration is taking. It’s not the first time he and his colleagues on the school board and subsequent committees met and discussed the future concerning the district.
His arrival in Fayetteville back in 1989 from his hometown state of Ohio to accept a job at Washington Regional Medical Center was his first foray into a community brimming with potential.
The potential, over a span of twenty years, has become reality to Percival.
“When I applied for the job at Washington Regional, I didn’t even know where Fayetteville, Arkansas was,” Percival said. “Now I can’t imagine raising a family anywhere else.”
FAYETTEVILLE—Steve Percival had no idea what he was running himself into in 1993 when he and a group of Fayetteville school administrators met to develop a mission for a fledgling school district.
“About 30 of us spent three days on the top of Mt. Sequoyah talking, debating, compromising, and agreeing on what the district mission should be,” Percival said.
But the three-day Mount Sequoyah summit in March of that year and the vision that was finally settled on paved the way for the Fayetteville School District to become one of the premier educational systems in the United States.
“The mission that was formed during those three days has stood the test of time,” Percival said. “It still exists today.”
The district’s website, http://www.fayar.net, describes the district’s mission as being that “every student will leave with a full understanding of his or her potential and the skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing, global society.”
Percival, who has served on the district’s school board since 1995 and was president for several years, describes the time he’s put in on the board as “tremendously rewarding.”
“I still can’t believe I was that lucky,” Percival said. “To be able to be associated with outstanding teachers, dedicated administrators, and focused school board members, has been one of the highlights of my life, outside of my family.”
The vision statement is the mission that Percival and his colleagues drew up in order to cater to a fast –growing student population that was aggressively testing the limits of what high school students normally accomplished.
So the 1993 excursion took care of that, revitalizing the curriculum while providing for the students’ needs as they appeared.
Needed improvements were made to the high school and other schools in the district, elementary and middle schools were built to facilitate growth, and technological innovations were implemented to keep Fayetteville ahead of the curve.
At the time, however, Percival and the rest of the administration did not realize that down the line, the facilities that the students were utilizing were going to need more than just a touch up.
Now with 2009 inching closer to its conclusion, the community is in serious debate about what is to be done with building a state-of-the-art new high school.
“The new high school is an investment in our children and our future,” Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan says. “We must be bold in securing that future and prepared to make the commitment now.”
With students’ getting their athletic and scholastic expectations met, however, some members of the community might wonder why a new high school needs to be built.
The answer?
“This is Fayetteville,” Percival said.
“Fayetteville is a community that is well known for its population and their diverse interests and beliefs about what’s best for the town. That’s one of the things that make Fayetteville a great place to live. People care about where they live, are passionate about what they believe, and become interested and engaged in the things they hold dear.”
The difference here though is that the issue of a new Fayetteville High School is colossal compared to what has been dealt with in the past, as noted by UA Journalism and International Relations professor Hoyt Purvis.
“A subject such as this has stirred considerable public interest and involvement,” Purvis said. “Fayetteville is also a community that highly values education, and as a result of that and the proximity to the university, the high school will always receive lots of attention.”
With the dreams of the Mount Sequoyah meeting fulfilled, along with expectations for learning not only met but surpassed, Percival says that in order to continue have a great school system, there must be great employees and great facilities.
“We will have both [with the new high school],” Percival said.
Percival obviously knows the ramifications of the actions the administration is taking. It’s not the first time he and his colleagues on the school board and subsequent committees met and discussed the future concerning the district.
His arrival in Fayetteville back in 1989 from his hometown state of Ohio to accept a job at Washington Regional Medical Center was his first foray into a community brimming with potential.
The potential, over a span of twenty years, has become reality to Percival.
“When I applied for the job at Washington Regional, I didn’t even know where Fayetteville, Arkansas was,” Percival said. “Now I can’t imagine raising a family anywhere else.”
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Profile
BY DEREK OXFORD
FAYETTEVILLE—Who would have thought that a three-day summit on the top of Mount Sequoyah in March 1993 of a group of 30 administrators would set the stage for a school district that has since catapulted itself into being not one of the state’s, but the nation’s best?
No one, probably, unless you were crazy.
But Steve Percival was at that Mount Sequoyah summit, and his vision, along with the others involved, paved the way for the Fayetteville School District to become arguably one of the premier educational programs in the United States.
“The mission that was formed during those three days has stood the test of time,” Percival said. “It still exists today.”
Percival, who has served on the district’s school board since 1995 and was president for several years, describes the time he’s put in on the board as “tremendously rewarding.”
“I still can’t believe I was that lucky,” Percival said. “To be able to be associated with outstanding teachers, dedicated administrators, and focused school board members, has been one of the highlights of my life, outside of my family.”
The district’s website, www.fayar.net, describes the district’s mission as being that “every student will leave with a full understanding of his or her potential and the skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing, global society.”
That vision statement is the mission that Percival and his colleagues drew up in order to cater to a fast –growing student population that was aggressively testing the limits of what high school students normally accomplished.
So the 1993 excursion took care of that, revitalizing the curriculum while providing for the students’ needs as they appeared.
At the time, however, Percival and the rest of the administration did not realize that down the line, the facilities that the students were utilizing were going to need a significant upgrade.
Now with 2009 inching closer to its conclusion, all anyone converses about is what to be done about building a new high school.
“The new high school is an investment in our children and our future,” Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan says. “We must be bold in securing that future and prepared to make the commitment now.”
With students’ getting their athletic and scholastic expectations met, however, some members of the community might wonder why a new high school needs to be built.
The answer?
“This is Fayetteville,” Percival said.
Translation: that this college town tucked away in the northwest corner of Arkansas is fueled by constant debate and relentless discussion whenever an issue creeps up.
“Fayetteville is a community that is well known for its population and their diverse interests and beliefs about what’s best for the town,” Percival said. “That’s one of the things that make Fayetteville a great place to live. People care about where they live, are passionate about what they believe, and become interested and engaged in the things they hold dear.”
The difference here though is that the issue of a new Fayetteville High School is colossal compared to what has been dealt with in the past, as noted by UA journalism and international relations professor Hoyt Purvis.
“A subject such as this has stirred considerable public interest and involvement,” Purvis said. “Fayetteville is also a community that highly values education, and as a result of that and the proximity to the university, the high school will always receive lots of attention.”
With the dreams of the Mount Sequoyah meeting fulfilled, along with expectations for learning not only met but surpassed, Percival says that in order to continue have a great school system, there must be great employees and great facilities.
“We will have both [with the new high school],” Percival said.
Percival obviously knows the ramifications of the actions the administration is taking. It’s not the first time they’ve met and discussed the future concerning the district.
His arrival in Fayetteville back in 1989 to accept a job at Washington Regional Medical Center was his first foray into a community brimming with potential.
The potential, over a span of twenty years, has become reality to Percival.
“When I applied for the job at Washington Regional, I didn’t even know where Fayetteville, Arkansas was,” Percival said. “Now I can’t imagine raising a family anywhere else.”
FAYETTEVILLE—Who would have thought that a three-day summit on the top of Mount Sequoyah in March 1993 of a group of 30 administrators would set the stage for a school district that has since catapulted itself into being not one of the state’s, but the nation’s best?
No one, probably, unless you were crazy.
But Steve Percival was at that Mount Sequoyah summit, and his vision, along with the others involved, paved the way for the Fayetteville School District to become arguably one of the premier educational programs in the United States.
“The mission that was formed during those three days has stood the test of time,” Percival said. “It still exists today.”
Percival, who has served on the district’s school board since 1995 and was president for several years, describes the time he’s put in on the board as “tremendously rewarding.”
“I still can’t believe I was that lucky,” Percival said. “To be able to be associated with outstanding teachers, dedicated administrators, and focused school board members, has been one of the highlights of my life, outside of my family.”
The district’s website, www.fayar.net, describes the district’s mission as being that “every student will leave with a full understanding of his or her potential and the skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing, global society.”
That vision statement is the mission that Percival and his colleagues drew up in order to cater to a fast –growing student population that was aggressively testing the limits of what high school students normally accomplished.
So the 1993 excursion took care of that, revitalizing the curriculum while providing for the students’ needs as they appeared.
At the time, however, Percival and the rest of the administration did not realize that down the line, the facilities that the students were utilizing were going to need a significant upgrade.
Now with 2009 inching closer to its conclusion, all anyone converses about is what to be done about building a new high school.
“The new high school is an investment in our children and our future,” Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan says. “We must be bold in securing that future and prepared to make the commitment now.”
With students’ getting their athletic and scholastic expectations met, however, some members of the community might wonder why a new high school needs to be built.
The answer?
“This is Fayetteville,” Percival said.
Translation: that this college town tucked away in the northwest corner of Arkansas is fueled by constant debate and relentless discussion whenever an issue creeps up.
“Fayetteville is a community that is well known for its population and their diverse interests and beliefs about what’s best for the town,” Percival said. “That’s one of the things that make Fayetteville a great place to live. People care about where they live, are passionate about what they believe, and become interested and engaged in the things they hold dear.”
The difference here though is that the issue of a new Fayetteville High School is colossal compared to what has been dealt with in the past, as noted by UA journalism and international relations professor Hoyt Purvis.
“A subject such as this has stirred considerable public interest and involvement,” Purvis said. “Fayetteville is also a community that highly values education, and as a result of that and the proximity to the university, the high school will always receive lots of attention.”
With the dreams of the Mount Sequoyah meeting fulfilled, along with expectations for learning not only met but surpassed, Percival says that in order to continue have a great school system, there must be great employees and great facilities.
“We will have both [with the new high school],” Percival said.
Percival obviously knows the ramifications of the actions the administration is taking. It’s not the first time they’ve met and discussed the future concerning the district.
His arrival in Fayetteville back in 1989 to accept a job at Washington Regional Medical Center was his first foray into a community brimming with potential.
The potential, over a span of twenty years, has become reality to Percival.
“When I applied for the job at Washington Regional, I didn’t even know where Fayetteville, Arkansas was,” Percival said. “Now I can’t imagine raising a family anywhere else.”
Profile
BY DEREK OXFORD
FAYETTEVILLE—Who would have thought that a three-day summit on the top of Mount Sequoyah in March 1993 of a group of 30 administrators would set the stage for a school district that has since catapulted itself into being not one of the state’s, but the nation’s best?
No one, probably, unless you were crazy.
But Steve Percival was at that Mount Sequoyah summit, and his vision, along with the others involved, paved the way for the Fayetteville School District to become arguably one of the premier educational programs in the United States.
“The mission that was formed during those three days has stood the test of time,” Percival said. “It still exists today.”
Percival, who has served on the district’s school board since 1995 and was president for several years, describes the time he’s put in on the board as “tremendously rewarding.”
“I still can’t believe I was that lucky,” Percival said. “To be able to be associated with outstanding teachers, dedicated administrators, and focused school board members, has been one of the highlights of my life, outside of my family.”
The district’s website, www.fayar.net, describes the district’s mission as being that “every student will leave with a full understanding of his or her potential and the skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing, global society.”
That vision statement is the mission that Percival and his colleagues drew up in order to cater to a fast –growing student population that was aggressively testing the limits of what high school students normally accomplished.
So the 1993 excursion took care of that, revitalizing the curriculum while providing for the students’ needs as they appeared.
At the time, however, Percival and the rest of the administration did not realize that down the line, the facilities that the students were utilizing were going to need a significant upgrade.
Now with 2009 inching closer to its conclusion, all anyone converses about is what to be done about building a new high school.
“The new high school is an investment in our children and our future,” Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan says. “We must be bold in securing that future and prepared to make the commitment now.”
With students’ getting their athletic and scholastic expectations met, however, some members of the community might wonder why a new high school needs to be built.
The answer?
“This is Fayetteville,” Percival said.
Translation: that this college town tucked away in the northwest corner of Arkansas is fueled by constant debate and relentless discussion whenever an issue creeps up.
“Fayetteville is a community that is well known for its population and their diverse interests and beliefs about what’s best for the town,” Percival said. “That’s one of the things that make Fayetteville a great place to live. People care about where they live, are passionate about what they believe, and become interested and engaged in the things they hold dear.”
The difference here though is that the issue of a new Fayetteville High School is colossal compared to what has been dealt with in the past, as noted by UA journalism and international relations professor Hoyt Purvis.
“A subject such as this has stirred considerable public interest and involvement,” Purvis said. “Fayetteville is also a community that highly values education, and as a result of that and the proximity to the university, the high school will always receive lots of attention.”
With the dreams of the Mount Sequoyah meeting fulfilled, along with expectations for learning not only met but surpassed, Percival says that in order to continue have a great school system, there must be great employees and great facilities.
“We will have both [with the new high school],” Percival said.
Percival obviously knows the ramifications of the actions the administration is taking. It’s not the first time they’ve met and discussed the future concerning the district.
His arrival in Fayetteville back in 1989 to accept a job at Washington Regional Medical Center was his first foray into a community brimming with potential.
The potential, over a span of twenty years, has become reality to Percival.
“When I applied for the job at Washington Regional, I didn’t even know where Fayetteville, Arkansas was,” Percival said. “Now I can’t imagine raising a family anywhere else.”
Saturday, February 28, 2009
1994
"Right side Thurman, he's open for 3, GOOD! Scotty Thurman with his third three, Arkansas leads it by three with 48 seconds to go..."
That shot sealed Arkansas' 1994 national championship with a 76-72 victory over Duke, giving the Hogs their first national championship in their first try in the title game.
Now they return to Bud Walton Arena this Sunday where they will find a young Razorback team in disarray, 1-12 in the Southeastern Conference, hosting SEC East doormat Georgia.
20,000 plus will hopefully be on hand to see the 1994 squad, return in all its glory.
The original broadcast of the Duke game will be played over the video boards and throughout the arena from 12:30 to 2 p.m., with players and coaches from the '94 team signing autographs as well in the concourse.
I can't wait for the halftime recognition, and seeing Nolan, Scotty and Corliss reunited with the Hog faithful once more.
Maybe their presence alone will lead the Hogs to an SEC win.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII
*Photo courtesy of Al Tielemans/SI
So, watched 1/2 of Super Bowl XLIII.
Wanna guess which half?
The fourth quarter was possibly one of the best NFL quarters I've ever seen, and I've followed the league since I was like four, so that's saying something.
Watching great athletes perform on the highest level is something I'll never pass up, and the play of Larry Fitzgerald, Santonio Holmes, Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner down the stretch was downright legendary.
I thought it was over when Fitzgerald blazed through the Steeler secondary for a 23-20 lead, but Holmes and Roethlisberger and Co. proved me wrong.
I had the Steelers winning 30-17 and after three quarters, that looked like a safe bet.
But to no avail.
I'm glad I witnessed it.
Was it a fumble at the end? Should Harrison have been thrown out? Was his interception return the greatest play in Super Bowl history?
All valid questions. I won't answer them. Because I don't care. The game's over. Ha.
I will say this, however. Pittsburgh is now the greatest NFL franchise. I judge it by championship rings and they have the most. One more than my beloved Cowboys. Maybe next year we will join them.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Desperation
Arkansas finally got the SEC win it needed, 89-80 over Alabama, in front of a sparse but strong 14,000-plus at Bud Walton Arena.
Rotnei Clarke finally showed Razorback fans what he was recruited for, hitting six 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 26 points.
The Hogs got the win in desperation mode, already under their worst start in SEC play ever, a span of 17 years.
Head coach John Pelphrey asked the players to play like they were desperate, desperate to get a win--desperate to get that loose ball, to knock down that open shot, to box out on the backside, to hedge on a screen.
And by doing that, Arkansas (13-5, 1-4) delivered to its fans the kind of basketball they saw in wins over then No. 4 Oklahoma and then No. 7 Texas.
If the Razorbacks can ride the momentum of this one, and manage to win six of their last 11, 7-9 should be decent enough to warrant a fourth or fifth place finish in the Western Division, maybe higher.
Maybe Arkansas can win out. Who knows.
But one thing is for certain. This team will come to play from now on, with this desperate attitude that Pelphrey is looking to instill in them everyday. Desperate to prove to the country that those wins over OU and Texas were not flukes, but that they are indeed a good basketball team.
Another thing is for certain--the power of the Courtney Fortson wig must live on.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Really?
Check out this new quote from Mike Tyson, after watching a documentary based on himself, 'Tyson,' at the Sundance Film Festival.
"I never used to understand why people perceived me as such a monster," Tyson said. "And then I saw the movie, and it all made sense."
Ya think?
Was biting another human being's ear off not enough? Saying you wouldn't talk to a female reporter unless she fornicated with you? Saying you wouldn't believe the ruling of a fight unless the other boxer was dead? Trying to bite Lennox Lewis in a pre-fight PRESS CONFERENCE and all the theatrics that went along with it?
Come on Mike, you know you had to have been at least somewhat aware of your actions before you did them...but maybe you didn't.
Here's a link to some of Mike's craziest moments. Disclaimer=plenty of strong language and sexual references, just a warning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwFW834Mrcc&feature=related
"I never used to understand why people perceived me as such a monster," Tyson said. "And then I saw the movie, and it all made sense."
Ya think?
Was biting another human being's ear off not enough? Saying you wouldn't talk to a female reporter unless she fornicated with you? Saying you wouldn't believe the ruling of a fight unless the other boxer was dead? Trying to bite Lennox Lewis in a pre-fight PRESS CONFERENCE and all the theatrics that went along with it?
Come on Mike, you know you had to have been at least somewhat aware of your actions before you did them...but maybe you didn't.
Here's a link to some of Mike's craziest moments. Disclaimer=plenty of strong language and sexual references, just a warning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwFW834Mrcc&feature=related
Friday, January 9, 2009
Sooners Suck
The Oklahoma Sooners received the rude awakening that is the Southeastern Conference Thursday night in Miami.
Behind the wrath of Timmy Tebow, the Sooners lost by 10 [which was actually what I predicted before the game] and effectively have lost FIVE CONSECUTIVE BCS games.
Is Bob Stoops no longer 'Big-Game Bob?'
I think that's a question that is getting repeatedly answered day in and day out.
Really, the Big 12 just doesn't like the SEC right now. Arkansas has owned their two Top-10 teams in basketball and Ole Miss and Florida ran over two of the class teams in the Big 12.
Rick Barnes, UT basketball coach, said it best in his postgame press conference Tuesday that the Razorbacks belonged in the Big 12.
Maybe they do. But I think Arkansas will stay in the SEC, because if the Hogs went back to the Big 12, they would just dominate like they did for so long in the SWC.
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