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

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WILD HOGS STORY Ayana Gray PHOTOS Enn Blasdel, Mandi Havens, Whit Pruitt The roar, deafening, like an approaching mon¬ ster, grew louder as the smoke filled the air in great wisps and gales of grey. Across campus, the usual combination of raised eyebrows and deep sighs of exasperation filled the air; Bikes, Blues and Barbeque was on. One of the na¬ tion ' s largest conglomerations of bikers in the country, the annual Bikes, Blues, and Barbeque Weekend was an event that attracted hundreds of thousands in 2011. The annual festivity opened and closed with vivacity that left students at the University of Arkansas feeling everything from gleeful and amused to disgruntled and disgusted. Perhaps the perspective depended on age. Senior Brian Guard, for example, enjoyed the events on Dickson Street. You get to see so many people, Guard said. Though he admitted some annoyance when the streets around Dickson became uber crowded with people, Guard still enjoyed the weekend, especially the diversity. What seemed like a hoard of wild-haired, chap wearing bikers actually maintained another identity behind the bikes and tough attitudes. They have their bikes, but really a lot of them are professionals... not hardcore bikers at all. They are doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women... It ' s interesting to see them all, Guard said. Not all students enjoyed the festivities of the weekend, however. Freshman Michael Marquez had a different perspective. Even in reminiscence, a light frown played across his face as he recalled his visit to Dickson Street. It was kind of disgusting, Marquez said. I felt like I was inhaling carbon monoxide down there ... and worse, there were young kids down with their parents smoking in front of them. If I was uncomfortable breathing it in, I know they were. At the end of the weekend, some found Bikes, Blues and Barbeque annoying, yet some—like Guard—remained inspired. I went to Dickson because my friend has a bike [and] I want one... It is cool to look at them all ... to see everything, Guard said. I liked be¬ ing there, but I would have felt more a part if I had a bike. Hopefully, someday. V MJr ■ I ' Pi n f J 1 JQHL cS SM f H J Y ' M 0 Hr w m LEFT Gangs of frater¬ nity boys take to the streets on mopeds, laughing all the while. Many students joined in on the motorcycle rally and explored the booths and restaurants on Dickson during the event. BIKES, BLUES BBQ 15

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f r i is k 1 V? J ABOVE Packs of bikers cruise down Dickson Street during the four day Bikes, Blues BBQ motorcycle rally Sept. 28- Oct. 1. Profits earned from the event were given to local charities around the Fayetteville area. ABOVE Dim lights stream across the stage as a band performs during the final hours of the day. Concerts were held as late night attractions for the bikers and other visitors. RIGHT Set up on the side of Dickson Street, a man works to cook barbecue ribs for visitors. Vendors lined the area to sell food and other items to local guests. 14 STUDENT LIFE

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m i j DEVASTATION IN JOPLIN STORY Sydney Hoffmans PHOTOS Jacki Frost May 22, 2011 was supposed to be a historic day in freshman Stewart Pence ' s life. High school graduation. A time of hope. A new beginning. It lasted too long, had too many speeches and too many people Pence said. But when it was over, I couldn ' t believe I was finally there. Graduated. I couldn ' t wait to go home and be with all of my family. Still wearing his cap and gown, Pence jumped in his vehicle and headed home, only to be greeted with a sight more horrific than ever imaginable. From where I was driving, I saw the tornado. It was directly over Rangeline road, directly over the path I was going to take to go home, Pence said. Pence immediately turned on the radio to hear the record-breaking one-mile wide monster tornado tear through six miles of Joplin. I have never felt so shocked or helpless as I was listening to reports of the damage, Pence said. All I could do was listen to the radio name off building after building that had been destroyed. Pence volunteered for days after, navigating through debris, the smell of natural gas and newly homeless citizens to help in any way he could. I will never forget the things I saw trying to do search and rescue, Pence said. At one point I remem¬ ber sitting down and crying because I couldn ' t tell where I was because all of the city ' s landmarks had been destroyed. Cell phone service was out and so was power. That week was the slowest of my life. Pence learned that a good friend was one of the estimated 153 re¬ ported tornado victims. Grasping the loss was almost impossible, Pence said. The more time that passed, the harder it be¬ came on me emotionally to under¬ stand the gravity of the situation. Though hard to leave behind, Pence said moving to Fayetteville for college provided a very welcomed change of scenery. Getting away has helped me to cope with the situation, Pence said. It ' s weird going home and seeing open fields instead of piles of debris, but incredible seeing how the town has reacted. Everyone in Joplin is closer, and the rebuilding effort has been nothing short of excellent. I couldn ' t be more proud. 16 | STUDENT LIFE