NEWSWIRE The Xavier
Published by the students of Xavier University since 1915 Fiat justitia, ruat coelum Volume CI Issue 15
December 9, 2015
Crowstown campout petition gains support BY RAYMOND HUMIENNY Campus News Editor With the Crosstown Shootout just days away, Cintas Center is waiting for the Xavier Nation to arrive. In recent weeks, however, a petition has surfaced from unknown origins, calling for the return of a past Shootout tradition: the Crosstown Campout. During the past decade, the Crosstown Campout has been an on-and-off tradition accompanying the XavierUC matchup. Students would camp outside Cintas Center the night before the 8 a.m. ticket pick-up. This practice has been inconsistent primarily due to university liability for students’ health and academic success, according to Student Government Association (SGA) President Andrew Redd. ´&RPLQJ LQWR RXU RIĂ€FH over the course of the summer, we were kind of planning to have the campout, something to keep with traditions, since it’s been three or four years, and there has not been a campout,â€? Redd said. “We were trying to implement this during 1831 Week.â€? Attempts to raise support for the campout lost momentum during extended discussions with administration, according to Redd. In those conversations, the timing of the Crosstown Shootout right EHIRUH Ă€QDOV ZHHN UDLVHG FRQcerns regarding the boundaries between academics and athletics. ´,W¡V Ă€QDOV ZHHN SUHFHHGing Crosstown Shootout), so we need to have a conversation about this,â€? Redd said. “What do we really need? Is NHHSLQJ WKLV WUDGLWLRQ EHQHĂ€cial for the students?â€? “In the end, even though Athletics and myself wanted
the campout to happen, to uphold the academic excellency that our school so desires, we all kind of got to a notion where we can’t ask students to camp out at a spot in line all night for a spot in the Cintas Center on the weekend before ÀQDOV ¾ 5HGG VDLG This conclusion has not prevented supporters of the campout from voicing their opinions. Senior Michael Lynch, an administrator of the @ XavierXooligans Twitter page, chimed in on how he, and others like himself, are promoting the campout petition’s goals. Lynch has primarily advertised the petition through social media and outreach on the Musketeer Report, an online
Xavier basketball newsletter. “I’ve been trying to get it out to anybody, because I was actually curious about the history of (Crosstown Campout),� Lynch said. “There were people that were talking about their stories back in the day (on the Musketeer Report forums). One guy said that in ’05 they encountered the same problem, but they let it go and let it happen. Same with 2011. In many stories, I was hearing about that (problem) as well, but it was cool to see. Even alumni back in the day were like ‘We were working hard to stand in those spots to get tickets. It’s Xavier basketball.’� “It seems like from people
in the past that this is one of those memories that will last forever,â€? he said. Lynch also talked about the time when the Crosstown Shootout took place at U.S. %DQN DUHQD DIWHU Ă€QDOV 7KLV created a dilemma for students who had purchased tickets unaware of vacation plans, according to Lynch. He said he understands the hardship of acquiring Crosstown Shootout tickets. “It’s just about time. I mean, at least for me, my dad went here, two uncles, one aunt, three cousins,â€? he said. “One of my cousins is a freshman here, and he was RQH RI WKH Ă€UVW SHRSOH , VDZ on the list. I said, ‘Hey, I will
Photo courtesy of xavier.edu
Students have camped out in front of Cintas Center in years past to secure tickets to the Crosstown Shootout.
pay you for your ticket. You’ve got three more years here.’ He ended up getting back to me, saying ‘If you don’t happen to Ă€QG DQ\WKLQJ ,¡OO JLYH \RX P\ ticket’ and I was like ‘You are MXVW JUHDW ¡ , HQGHG XS Ă€QGLQJ someone else, but it’s just a struggle, you know?â€? The recent X-Pulse initiative has been a topic of discussion surrounding this year’s Crosstown Shootout for some time. Some believe the system works as an incentive to increase student attendance at athletic events besides men’s basketball, while others criticize it for being unfair to students with busy schedules. Originally, X-Pulse was designed to award Crosstown Shootout tickets based on students’ level of involvement, according to Redd. “Initially I thought it was unequal, but again, with conversations, I got to see (Xavier Athletics’) side a little more,â€? Redd said. “What they’re trying to do is award people who do show up for those games, who are athletically driven and support the teams, who do know the cheers, who do know the chants, and are really devoted with athletics.â€? Despite frustrations with X-Pulse and Crosstown Shootout ticket sales, Lynch offered his advice regarding the new reward system and Xavier’s mission as an academic institution. “If you willing and work hard, you will make the time to go out to a game,â€? Lynch said. “I agree with the idea of academic excellency. It just becomes a matter of who is willing to work hard enough to make that time happen.â€? The Crosstown Campout petition currently has 332 supporters, 168 short of achieving its goals. The petition is available online at change.org.
CFJ hosts ‘Understanding ISIS’ discussion BY TATUM HUNTER
Editor-in-Chief
The same week that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made headlines for demanding that the U.S. ban Muslims from entering the country, two Xavier organizations hosted a talk on how to combat Islamophobia through education. Students for an Informed Society (SFAIS) and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) partnered to hold “Understanding ISIS,� a discussion on terrorism and the narratives that surround it. About 40 students, faculty
and staff members gathered in the CFJ on Monday for the presentation led by Dr. Waleed El-Ansary of the theology department, Dr. Anas Malik of the political science department and Shakila Ahmad, president of the board of the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati. El-Ansary talked about the difference between jihad — a QREOH ÀJKW IRU MXVWLFH DQG JRRGness — and irjaf — acts of terrorism. Islam condemns irjef, and Western uses of the jihad often incorrectly equate the term with violence. Malik delved into the psy-
chology of fear, examining how people wrap their minds around tragic events. He said that an “us-versus-themâ€? mentality often emerges in the aftermath of crises and that the “clash of civilizationsâ€? narrative prevalent in the Western media’s discussions of Islam has the potential to beFRPH D VHOI IXOĂ€OOLQJ SURSKHF\ “I think we’re at a moment of extreme anxiety,â€? Malik said of Muslim people in the U.S. today. “It is the responsibility of moral, ethical citizens, those who have a voice, to speak out.â€? Ahmad encouraged Muslim students to educate themselves
about their faith so that they can respond if others misinterpret or misrepresent it. She said that Islam is fundamentally opposed to acts of terrorism and violence, and students should be prepared to explain this. “Suicide is forbidden,� she said. “Taking one innocent life is like killing all of humanity.� Ahmad also said that human connection is an essential component of interfaith relationships, citing statistics showing that two-thirds of Americans have a negative view of Islam but only ten percent of these respondents have ever interacted
with a Muslim person. She said many Muslim people feel anxious in public spaces, and a simple smile is a good way to help people feel more at ease. “We are grieving just as much as anyone else,� MSA member Tamara Mahmoud said of recent terror attacks. “Learn information from multiple sources, and not just one biased source. MSA always has its doors open.� For more information on Islam and interfaith dialogue, ElAnsary suggested that students visit acommonword.org. MSA holds open meetings at 5 p.m. every Friday in GSC 310.