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

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WINTER WONDERLAND Even with a foot of snow on the ground and classes canceled, a student braves the weather and attempts to walk through the unplowed snow on the Union Mall. P. Walrod photo S tudents went to bed on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 14 with alarms set for classes on Monday morning. However, students waking up early were not only greeted by the morning sun, but also by approximately 10 inches of snow. The snow storm took Fayetteville by surprise and the heavy accumulation forced the University to cancel classes for the first time since 1989. “I was shocked,” junior Tara Lavy said. “1 am from Fayetteville and 1 was surprised. Closing the school does not happen very often. I was a junior in high school the last time the University was closed due to snow.” The decision to close the University was not made until 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 15 after the Parking and Transit Department decided it would be unsafe to run the buses. Mike Andrasek, a physical plant employee, said that a large number of students were able to make it to their 7:30 a.m. classes before the University was closed. After talking to a Parking and Transit representative, Chancellor Dan Ferritor decided that classes should be canceled since the transit system could not transport students to ca mpus. “The early decision was to stay open,” Ferritor said. “When we found out that the buses were not going to be able to even run, it would have been hard to expect the students to make it to class.” Obviously few students complained about the unexpected two-day winter ICE GAPADES Taken by storm, students take advantage of an impromptu four-day weekend by sledding, throwing snowballs and building snowmen after a foot of snow cripples campus transit and forces Chancellor Dan Ferritor to cancel classes. holiday, and most said the impromptu four-day weekend was exactly what the doctor ordered. It was a needed break for everyone in the middle of the semester, Lavy said. Even though we had to do a little catch-up work afterwards, it was worth it. To clear the roads, the University used a truck equipped with a snowplow. The plow was effective in clearing some of the roads until the weight of the wet, frozen snow broke the plow, Ferritor said. Difficulty plowing the snow forced classes to be canceled again on Tuesday with some area elementary and high schools closed through Thursday. Sophomore Paul Vaughn was shocked that classes were canceled. We never get out of school, Vaughn said. It was weird. I had heard that the snow plows broke and that was why we got out. It was not expected, but the break was fun. Other students spent their two-day holiday indoors passing the time. Getting out for two days was awesome, senior Tracy Moncrief said. We played Spades, watched soaps, rented movies, slept and did not study one bit. Although classes were closed, some University departments were still open. Mullins Library, the Union, and the Department of Public Safety were all still in operation. Ferritor said the two snow days made University history since classes were rarely canceled because of snow. He said the University closed a couple of times in the late 70s and in 1989. Y K I M T A C E Y Snow Days 21

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SNOW JOB Constructing a snow house behind the Christian Student Center, Scott Karnes, Don Wilcox, Shay Wright and Dennis Roote enjoy the unexpected break. The men said they planned to sleep in the frozen structure that night. P. Walrod photo SNOWBALL FIGHT Taking advantage of the unexpected winter snow, students went outside and had giant snowball fights. Since classes were closed for two days and driving was hazardous, students went outside to play in the snow to break cabin fever. P. Walrod photo SKI VACATION Skiing in front of Old Main, graduate student Laura Haas took advantage of the foot of snow that accumulated on Feb. 15. “I never thought that I’d get to actually ski in Fayetteville,” Haas said. “I thought I would only ski at resorts. I fell on Dickson Street, but it was worth it.” Skiing was probably the easiest way to get across campus because buses were not running and sidewalks were covered with ice. P. Walrod photo 20 Student Life

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SPEAKING OUT Sharing his memories of Barnhill Arena, athletic director Frank Broyles led the festivities, bringing basketball players and coaches to midcourt to speak of their memories of Barnhill. Guests included former coaches Glen Rose, Lanny VanEman and Eddie Sutton; former players Marvin Delph, Ron Brewer, Martin Terry, Aimer Lee and Todd Day; former band director Jim Robken and Nancy Barnhill Trumbo, daughter of former athletic director John Barnhill. P. Walrod photo A NEW BEGINNING Construction of the new arena reminded students that a new tradition was about to be established when the doors of Bud Walton Arena open for the first home game of the 1993-94 season. The new arena will be the fifth largest facility of its kind in the nation. M. Wichser photo Razorback fans, including those gathered in front of the television at the White House, said goodbye to historic Barnhill Arena with a post-game ceremony honoring current and past players and coaches. AT ONE TIME “The Barn” was not just a colloquial term — the arena was really a barn. In 1955 Barnhill Arena, named in honor of head football coach and athletic director John Barnhill, was not only the basketball arena, but an indoor football practice facility, with a dirt track and sawdust floors where the football team practiced during the off-season. The old Barnhill seated 5,000, recalled former head basketball coach Eddie Sutton. “You could shoot a gun into the stands and not hit anybody,” Sutton said. However, Sutton soon converted Arkansas basketball from a step-child pro¬ gram to a national contender. In 1974, people started to fill the seats of Barnhill, and the Razorbacks have played before sell-out crowds for 20 consecutive seasons. The arena was renovated in 1979 increasing capacity to its current 9,000. “Barnhill is a beautiful arena, but we’ve outgrown it,” head coach Nolan Richardson said. “Our family has gotten too big and when that happens, it’s time to get a new house. I know that our Southeastern Conference opponents are glad to leave Barnhill, but once they get into the Walton Arena, they may wish they were back in the Barn.” The Razorbacks’ new home, Bud Walton Arena, will seat approximately 19,000 making it the fifth largest on-campus arena in the country. On March 3, emotional fans, former coaches and players gathered for the last game and a special tribute to the history-filled arena. After the game, the lights were symbolically turned out for the last time. Even President Clinton watched the ceremony from the White House. While cheers roared from the stands and students welcomed the new arena, tears were shed as they remembered the good times. “I thought the last game was going to be the best because it’s my fifth and last season here,” senior Bryan Harp said. “I enjoyed every minute of it.” Senior Roy Hill sat on the front row of every home game. “There is not enough ink to write all the fond memories I have had in Barnhill,” he said. Senior band member Cary Martindale said the final game was the best game she attended. “It is my last game as well as Barnhill’s,” Martindale said. “It’s kind of like Barnhill leaves with me, so to speak. The thing about Barnhill, it’s big enough, but yet small enough to still be wild. Barnhill was very unique, and I have never been in a stadium that got as loud as it did. It’s special.” B Y KIM TRACEY HEATH WILLIS 22 Student Life