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

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HELLO WALMART, WELCOME TO CAMPUS HISTORY IN THE MAKING, THE LARGEST RETAILER FINDS A HOME AT THE UA ist retailer in the world has shifted to a on campus. On Jan. 14, 2010 , the first ever Walmart on Campus store opened on the UA grounds. Although miniscule in comparison (the store is only about 2 percent of the average Walmart Supercenter), the new store in the Garland Avenue Parking Garage has been the perfect on-campus convenience. I THINK THAT IT IS PRETTY COOL THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS THE FIRST PLACE FOR THE WALMART ON CAMPUS, BUT I DON ' T LIKE THAT THE PRODUCTS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.” -BLAKE WATSON Nearly half of the UA traditional student population lived on campus and only about half of those students had cars, thus, many were stuck without a constant means of transportation. And sometimes, as much as students try to avoid spending extra money, everyone made a Walmart run. The new store didn’t have the massive selection of merchandise that traditional Walmarts do, but it sold general 12

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PLAYING IN THE RAIN UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS DECIDES TO HOST ITS YEAR-END CARNIVAL IN SPITE OF THE DOWNPOUR OUTSIDE THE UNION showers overtook the nation and the ensuing UA to close the campus for the first time in history. It seemed there would be no respite for the overall gloomy niood plaguing students. Shoulders slumped and splashing through puddles, students trudged their way to class, when a sight outside the union lightened the dark mood. The smell of free food and the look of f un games turned the day from one of gray to one of play. Despite the rainy day, many students and staff ventured out to enjdy the spring carnival sponsored by University Programs. 1 wanted to do an event that was a big bang to end the year,” hrittaney Wooldridge, chairperson for the University Programs Daytime Committee, said. With face painting, a photo booth, free food and much more, the spring carnival had something for everyone. Carnivals make me feel like a little kid again,” Jasmine Alexandria, freshman criminal justice major, said. “They bring back the excitement °f that time.” Th ' ls event was also held last year but with an increased budget of 25,000, there was more carnival than in the past. The rain put a bit of 1 damper on the festivities, moving the majority of events indoors and aUs ing some to be cancelled, but students still had a good time. “It s a great stress reliever now that it s test time,” Kristen Johnson, freshman biological engineering major, said. The event was paid for out of the University Programs budget, which was funded through student fees. “CARNIVALS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A LITTLE KID AGAIN. THEY BRING BACK THE EXCITEMENT OF THAT TIME.” -JASMINE ALEXANDRIA “Tm glad to see our student fee money [is] going to something enjoyable,” DeShaun Artis, freshman broadcast journalism major said. Students took away fun memories and several tangible remembrances as well. “All the little details were the hardest part,” Wooldridge said, “but we w anted to do things the students can take away.” And take away they did. Wax roses, balloon animals, caricatures and full stomachs elated students’ overall mood as they left the carnival world and returned to the rainy weather outside. SPRING CARNIVAL | STUDENT LIFE

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Displaying its products, the Walmart store entices students to shop at their convenience. The Walmart on campus was the first of its kind to be located at a PHOTO ERIN BLASDEL - conveniences such as milk, juice, junk food, school supplies and even a greeting card aisle for those forgotten roommate’s birthday. In an effort to expand its growing empire, Walmart planned to open dozens of small stores across the nation to fend off the competition of small, general store chains, Bill Simon, president and CEO of Arkansas-based Walmart, said. Smaller stores would also allow Walmart to branch out into crowded metropolitan cities. During the “Snowpocalypse” in the months of January and February, Walmart on Campus was swarmed with snowed-in students too afraid to venture out on the roads. “Even though I live in Yocum, its still a lot easier to walk across campus to go to Walmart than walk all the way down to the pit and move my car,” sophomore Emily Hiegel said. “Plus, the one on campus has just what I need, as opposed to the big store has too much stuff everywhere.” Some UA students have different opinions about the retailer. “I think its pretty cool that the University is the first place for the Walmart on Campus, but I don’t like that the products are more expensive,” sophomore Blake Watson, a civil engineering major, said. “That’s why I’ll only be shopping there when it’s an emergency.” STORY KAITLYNN BIANCONI WALMART ON CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE 13