University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 33 text:

College Republicans smile as they watch the reports come in from the last states on Election Night. Members of the organiza¬ tion celebrated President Bush ' s victory well into the morning hours. Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Traveler a member of the Young Democrats, reacts in despair as it appears that Presi¬ dent Bush will be re-elected. As Election Night moved into the following morning and the out¬ come became increasingly evi¬ dent, democratic students lost hope and hung their heads in the midst of defeat. Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Traveler Election ‘04 29

Page 32 text:

Sophomore Me i Bright urg¬ es UA students to vote early through the Democracy on Wheels program. The program ran buses between campus and the Washington County Court¬ house, providing students with an easy way to vote early and evade long waits at the polls. Photo courtesy of the Students sit at a booth set up to encourage fellow students to vote. Various RSOs set up weeks before Election Day in order to to make the process of regis¬ tering and voting smoother for members of the UA community. Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Traveler 28 Student Life

Page 34 text:

Carolyn Finnie Renovations to landmarks on Dickson Street and the Square cause change of character in historic downtown district A gateway to the UA, Dick¬ son Street, located in the heart of downtown Fayetteville, remained a long-standing hot spot for live entertainment and the ultimate nightlife. On any given night, the famil¬ iar faces of friends and classmates could be found in any number of bars or restaurants in the area. The street, unique to the UA commu¬ nity, served as a place to relax and take a break from the stresses of student life. The downtown area was home to a unique blend of restaurants, bars and retail venues. A visitor could buy shoes at Flying Possum or Snap Dragon, grab a cup of cof¬ fee at Common Grounds, see a play at the Walton Arts Center, swing by U.S. Pizza for a slice, sing karaoke at Uno Uno’s or have a brewski at Brewski’s. Even the commercial bank, Bank of Fayetteville, converted the old train station for use as a branch in the area. The bank transformed their branch as a means of conforming to the charm of Dickson Street. However, it was apparent that Fayetteville’s downtown area ex¬ perienced a rebirth. New buildings were being constructed alongside the renovated 19th century build¬ ings that were being converted into restaurants, boutiques and antique shops. More and more, alumni returned to visit, only to find that the venues they loved had been replaced. Most recently, Dickson Street suffered a loss after the demise of two long-standing live music ven¬ ues that attracted many UA stu¬ dents. Dave’s on Dickson closed, while Chester’s Place transformed into the swanky cocktail bar, Stir, which does not provide live mu¬ sic. Adjacent to Stir, the former fa¬ vorite restaurant, Ozark Brewing Co., reopened as the Hog Haus Brewing Co. At the end of Dickson, Jerry’s Restaurant, the long-time favorite breakfast diner closed after many years of service to Razorback fans. Just a couple of blocks over, the Square offered unique charm as well. The historic core of down¬ town Fayetteville, the Square was home to noteworthy sights such as the Old Washington County Courthouse and Jail and the his¬ toric Walker-Stone House, the oldest home in Fayetteville. On the Square, Sodie’s Foun¬ tain and Grill opened in the for¬ mer post office building that previ¬ ously housed Hog City. Undoubtedly, the downtown area and Dickson Street were the most unique parts of Fayetteville, home to countless symbols of Ra¬ zorback tradition. As Fayetteville continued to experience more growth, high-rise buildings, upscale apartment lofts, restaurants, retail shops and offic¬ es were sure to appear. The town could become a suburbia, full of shopping centers and strip malls, but the only reminders of Fayette¬ ville’s historic charm would be found on Dickson Street and the Square. 30 Student Life