Hog hair heaven

KRUTH TALKS

Amber Kruth akruth@nwaonline.com

Have you visited the new Garland Center Bookstore on the north side of the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville? Ali Sadeghi, director of the University of Arkansas Bookstore, tells us the second floor carpet squares add an additional tie to the Razorback theme: The squares are made of boar hair. Is that where the spirit of the departed Tusk II mascot now resides?

Nip it in the butt

Campuses across the state and nation are adopting the Clean Air act, which prohibits smoking on the property of state-owned institutions of higher education. The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville has had a nonsmoking policy since July 2008. It is expected that enforcement will increase. Some smokers will have to bite the bullet (or Nicorette) while on campus or face a fine of $100-$500. It is the general consensus amongst campus officials that warnings will be issued first, and depending on the compliance of the smoker, a fine may or may not be warranted. Will smokers gather at the corners of the campus to get their puffs in? Will there be more dorm room or closed-window car smokers? Will Habibi open its doors for lunch to allow the more refined smokers to congregate? Where there is a smoker’s will, there is a way. For those ready to get with it and quit, go to www.stampoutsmoking.com or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and get free help and medication while supplies are available.

‘Private’ residences on state property

University of Central Arkansas President Allen Meadors got dragged into the newspapers with his devil’s advocate request to consider his household exempt from the Clean Air Act. Meadors questioned if private residences located on campus were considered in this statewide legislation. He spoke on behalf of the employees of the University and state that are required to live in designated housing within these regulated areas and used his wife as an example — a lesson every man learns in life to not make again. The Baxter Bulletin reported Meadors said his wife is a closet smoker, although he has only seen his wife smoke once in 29 years. Meadors responded his intentions were not to ask for an exemption for his household, but to make sure the law would not cross the line of privacy. That’s not the first time that line’s been used. Way to defend the “smoker rights,” President Meadors.

Fayetteville fights for the WAC

With the Aug. 2 deadline for site proposals on the expansion of the Walton Arts Center passed, it is only a matter of time until the facilities committee determines the path of arts and entertainment in NWA. There is no denying the WAC is a highlight of the area, attracting works of Broadway, legacy and wonder year-round. The Walton Family Foundation outlined they would be a lead donor only if the expansion of the center was in Benton County, although they would still support the current Fayetteville location. The city of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas have submitted a favorable offer to keep the expansion in Washington County. The UA put the use of Bud Walton Arena and Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the offering table, and the city of Fayetteville offered to refinance Town Center bonds to help build a secondary theater and improved parking facilities. It’s good to know that the toughest decisions come from bountiful offers. Let’s hope the committee has the foresight to make a beneficial decision.

Amber Kruth provides a resident’s perspective on tidbits of news from around Northwest Arkansas — tidbits that make you think and keep you informed.