DC020812 by The DC

INSIDE

Beware of sugary corn syrup GOP alienates LGBT Basketball looks for a crowd

‘Take Me Out’ scores PAGE 3

PAGE 2 PAGE 4 PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

Wednesday High 49, Low 35 Thursday High 57, Low 45

VOLUME 96 ISSUE 57 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS

e vent

Professor spearheads Latin American Queer Film Festival SARAH KRAMER Editor in Chief skramer@smu.edu

SPENCER J. EGGERS / The Daily Campus

Dambisa Moyo spoke in part of the Anita and Truman Arnold Lecture for SMU’s Tate Lecture Series. She spoke mainly about African aid.

Author discusses international aid CHASE WADE Managing Editor cdwade@smu.edu International economist and world-renowned author Dambisa Moyo spoke to a packed McFarlin Auditorium Monday night about international aid and its harsh effects on the global economy. Moyo’s first visit to Dallas came as part of the Anita and Truman Arnold Lecture in part of the Tate Lecture Series. Moyo began her speech simply defining the word “incentive” and continued her 45-minute-long talk at the podium discussing topics that ranged from China’s economic emergence to Africa’s aid-based developed culture. “No country in the history of mankind has achieved long term growth by relying on aid,” Moyo said.

Moyo, who completed her Ph.D. in economics at Oxford University and holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University, has written a number of book pertaining to the world’s macroeconomics. “Over the past 50 years, a culture of bad policy has eroded in the West,” Moyo said. “Specifically in the U.S.” Moyo continued her speech by presenting an economic plan that focused on giving people incentives for doing good things. These subjects consisted of parents sending their kids to school, eating healthier and making positive life choices. She also spoke about American’s political scene and the changes it has undergone over the past 50 years. “Some people consider longer term cycles as a way to change

policy,” Moyo said. “This takes the pressure off of the politicians to get re-elected and change their focus on longterm policy.” Perhaps Moyo’s most specific criticism of U.S. policy is when she spoke about the United States “Housing For All” initiative. “[The U.S] overstepped their boundaries and essentially acted as a portfolio manager or a stock picker,” Moyo said. Zane Cavender, a sophomore political science major, was in the audience for Moyo’s speech. “Moyo’s take on foreign aid and emphasis on the need for African self-sustainability is a call sign for the West to take a more hands-off approach,” Cavender said. “Given the fragile global economic environment, I completely agree. If policies don’t

work they need to change.” Moyo concluded her speech by simply stating that if the U.S. does not change its policies, then the former economic powerhouse would be doomed. “Moyo gave a great argument for the need to wean aid-reliant nations from the support of Western countries, which is a refreshing and unique outlook on how to handle many of the problems African nations are facing,” sophomore Jeff Whalen said. Moyo concluded her stay at SMU by taking questions and answers from the audience. Topics ranged from her wouldbe career aspirations to the U.N.’s involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo. SMU’s next Tate Lecture will feature best-selling author Micheal Pollan.

award

SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/ The Daily Campus

The Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education was just named LEED Certified Gold. This award deals with the school’s low environment impact.

Simmons goes for the (environmental) gold TASHIKA VARMA Assignments Desk Editor tvarma@smu.edu Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development recently attained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, a descriptive measure to promote a building as a whole approach to sustainability. Through an extensive fivestep process of registration, application, submittal, review, and certification, Simmons is now the newest LEED building on campus. LEED buildings stress sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere,

materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. The review process is spilt into three steps. First is the initial review where the review board makes comments on the designs. The team then takes the comments and resubmits the design with more clarification. Then the board rewards points. If points are denied, the team can reevaluate strategies to attain more points. “The separate reviews help streamline the process and allow the design team to make adjustments to the building if certain strategies aren’t working or need to be revised,” Simmons’ Senior Project Manager Trisha Mehis said.

A LEED building, during the review process, has a possibility of attaining 110 points. Simmons attained 62 points, resulting in Gold certification, which is the second best certification. The levels are certified, silver, gold and platinum. It is SMU’s policy for a LEED building to be at least a Silver certification. Now that Simmons is registered with the LEED Existing Building and Operations Maintenance, SMU must report energy usage and water consumption for Simmons to keep LEED guidelines. This achievement was a collaborative effort between SMU, the General Contractor RogersO’Brien Construction, HHS

Architects and the design team. Simmons is now the third building on the Dallas campus to attain a LEED Gold Certification. The others two are Embrey Hall and Caruth Hall. The building design will be added to a database so other buildings can replicate the design practices. SMU has continually been making strides toward being more “green” and Simmons’ certification is one step of many to help this effort. “There is an increasing awareness of being sustainable and SMU will be committed to using Simmons as a way to educate current and future students, faculty and staff,” Mehis said.

For the past few years, SMU has been labeled as one of the top homophobic schools in the country. In August, The Princeton Review ranked it as No. 12 most “LGBTunfriendly” campus. Yet, the university is constantly making strides through on-campus LGBT organizations as well as through partnerships in the greater-Dallas area to engage students in discussions or events relating to gender and sexuality. One new initiative this year is the Latin American Queer Movie Festival, which is spearheaded by Spanish Professor Francisco Moran. This semester, Moran is teaching two Latin American Spanish classes that address the representation of gender through literature. However, he decided to extend the conversation beyond his classrooms by incorporating a movie festival that is open to the entire university. “The movies speak to us

regardless of your sexual orientation, your beliefs, your politics or your philosophy,” Moran said. “They also pose the question I have told my students the novels and short stories discussed in class ask us: How to live together?” There will be five Latin American films shown throughout February that discuss the social and political aspects of human sexuality and gender. The next film, “Plan B,” will be shown Wednesday at 6 p.m. in McCord Auditorium. While students in both of Moran’s classes are required to attend all screenings, students in his short novels class have been asked to serve as discussion moderators for one of the films. Moderating the film “Plata Quemada,” or “Burnt Money,” John McAfee believes these screenings offer a more relaxed environment for students to discuss a complex, and sometimes difficult, topic. “This festival provides an opportunity to engage in a

See FILM page 6

SPORTS

Now that Nike is here, what happens to the old equipment? KATHRYN RODEN Associate Sports Editor kroden@smu.edu Beginning in the 2012 to 2013 school year, SMU student-athletes will be decked out in brand-new Nike gear. Mustang Athletics and Nike recently entered a fiveyear agreement to make Nike the university’s official apparel, footwear and equipment provider. Now the question is: What to do with all the Adidas equipment? Although a decision has not been reached yet, Jason Reed, assistant equipment director, speculates that SMU athletics will repeat what it has done in the past with old equipment. At the end of the 2008 to 2009 season, shortly after June Jones was hired to lead the Mustangs, SMU athletics held a sale to get rid of Nike equipment when the department switched to Adidas. “That’s probably what we’re going to do this year, based on what we’ve done in the past and because it’s a smart thing to do,” Reed said. However, Head Equipment Manager Albert Veytia and others from the administration will make the final decision. Veytia came to SMU in summer 2011 from Kentucky State, a Nike-sponsored program. The agreement with the apparel giant was a joint effort between Veytia and Jones. Other options include giving the gear to high schools

or youth groups. But that process gets complicated with NCAA regulations regarding compliance and donation amounts. If the sale takes place, it would likely occur at the end of June or early July — just before the Nike equipment is delivered. It would be open to SMU faculty and staff first, and then to the public. None of the apparel would be over three years old. Ninety percent of the items will be brand-new, according to Reed. All items with an Adidas logo will need to go. They could include shoes, Polos and T-shirts ranging from 5 dollars to $20. Banners, signs, chairs and all kinds of sports bags would also be sold. The money earned from the sale would go into the athletic budget for improving facilities. Many of SMU’s sporting facilities are scheduled for renovations in the coming years. Reed sees the switch to Nike sponsorship as a good thing. “Our budget is going to be a lot bigger and we will have more money to spend on better equipment,” he said. “Adidas equipment is great, but Nike is more well-known in football and basketball.” The decision will likely be made at the end of April.

HEALTH

The Daily Campus

WEDNESDAY n FEBRUARY 8, 2012 HE ALTH

The Sweet Truth: Corn syrup explained

PARMINDER DEO Staff Writer pdeo@smu.edu

The battle rages on between two sweet contenders: highfructose corn syrup and sugar. High-fructose corn syrup, also referred to as corn syrup, was first introduced to the food and beverage industry in the 1970s. It has since been making an appearance in many commercials, highlighting the all-natural corn used in its production. What is the truth? High-fructose corn syrup is a highly processed sweetener which is much cheaper to produce than sugar. Therefore, making it a popular ingredient added into various food products. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Americans typically consume 41.5 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup per year. Both sugar and high-fructose corn syrup offer a sweet taste and have nearly the same caloric value. To see the differences you need to look at the chemical level. “I think sugar tastes better but I don’t think high-fructose corn syrup is bad for you,” first-year Bradley Schmidt said.

SPENCER J EGGERS/The Daily Campus

Corn syrup, fructose, and other additives can be easily identified in the ingredients section of most nutrition labels.

Table sugar (sucrose) is composed of 50 percent glucose and 50 percent fructose. High-fructose corn syrup closely resembles sugar with its composition roughly between 42 percent or 55 percent of fructose. The remaining sugars are mainly glucose and other higher sugars. The simplest sugar is glucose,

which is the building block for most carbohydrates. Fructose is another simple sugar, normally found in fruits and honey. In June 2008, the American Medical Association said high fructose syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners.

Campus Events

Sodas, processed foods and many of your favorite snacks are infused with corn syrup. Today, almost all foods in the modern diet contain some form of the added sweetener. The number of foods that it is found in continues to increase, especially popular consumer foods, making it tougher to avoid

February 8

Latin American Queer Movie Festival: A showcase of Latin American movies dealing with representations of gender in McCord Auditorium at 6 p.m. One28 Dodgeball: A charity dodgeball tournament in the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports at 7 p.m.

bread or anything containing white flour, high sugar cereals,and most fast food products. Choose foods such as vegetables, low-fat cheeses, lean meats and the whole grain option. The Corn Refiners Association protects the rights of high-fructose corn syrup makers and recently announced it is trying to change the name to corn sugar. The FDA is taking the request into consideration. The bottom-line is that our body can process both sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. If not used in moderation both could contribute to increased cholesterol levels, obesity and diabetes. It is not proven that either one is better than the other so don’t ban one and not the other. Not only is keeping your sugar intake under control important if you are trying to lose weight, it is equally important to maintaining a healthier lifestyle. The USDA recommends a limit of 40 grams (10 teaspoons) of added sugar per day based on a 2,000-calorie diet for adults Be sure to always check the labels of everything you eat to know what you are putting into your body.

Police Reports FEBRUARY 4

WEDNESDAY

the sweetener. “I think the problem with high-fructose corn is that it is used in so many products and that a lot of times people don’t know that it is in a product they are using,” Galen Laprocido, health educator at the Memorial Health Center, said. “For example, it is used in ketchup but people wouldn’t think that you would be using a sweetener in ketchup.” Because it is found in a lot of different foods, it may negatively affect one’s diet if consumed in excess. Our body has a hunger hormone called leptin that regulates our appetite and has the potential to increase with the overeating of sugars. “The problem with [high fructose corn syrup] versus sugar or another sweetener made from beets is that your body processes it differently,” Laprocido said. “It tricks your body into conserving it more. Your body treats it differently and you store it more as fat as opposed to burning it off.” If you want to avoid or cut back on added sugars try drinking more water and unsweetened beverages. It is also a good idea to eat fewer processed foods and make sure to snack wisely. Avoid foods such as white

THURSDAY February 9

Gilbert Lecture Series presents Felicity Nussbaum: A presentation on rhetoric and representations in DeGolyer Library at 6 p.m. Son et Lumière Film Series: A film presentation on 20th century European cinema in the Owen Arts Center at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

February 10 Faith and Devotion in Mexico: A presentation and display on Mexican religion in Bridwell Library all day.

12:32 a.m. Cockrell McIntosh Hall. Officers responded to a fire alarm at this location. The building was not in alarm but a student who set off the alarm in his room was leaving the building and said he activated the alarm in his room by smoking a cigarette. UPFD responded and checked the room and reset the alarm. The student was referred to the Conduct Officer for smoking in his room. Closed.

2:46 a.m. Off Campus/3400 Block of Asbury. UPPD called to report they cited a student for a noise complaint at this location. The student will be referred to the Conduct Officer. Closed. 5:21 a.m. 3000 Block of Rosedale. UPPD called to report they arrested a student for being intoxicated in public. The student will be referred to the Conduct Officer. Closed.

1:08 p.m. Embrey Engineering Building. Unknown suspect turned over a concrete trash can on the North side of this building. Open.

FEBRUARY 5 12:36 a.m. Smith Hall. A student was referred to the Conduct Officer for underage drinking. Closed.

The Daily Campus

ARTS

WEDNESDAY n FEBRUARY 8, 2012 Theater

Art

Graduate wins conducting competition Meredith Carey Contributing Writer mbcarey@smu.edu

Courtesy of Uptown Players

“Take Me Out” actors sport the Empires baseball team uniforms in one of the play’s beginning scenes. Actors from left to right, Tony Martin as Skipper, Andrews W. Cope as Shane Mungett, Kevin Moore as Kippy Sunderstorm and Lloyd Harvery as Darren Lemming.

‘Take Me Out’ hits it out of the park Cassandra RobiNSon Arts & Entertainment Editor cassandrar@smu.edu The baseball themed play, “Take Me Out,” delves into much more than just fly balls and home runs. Produced by Uptown Players and directed by Michael Serrecchia, “Take Me Out” evokes nearly every emotion from its audience from beginning to end. “Take Me Out” has the ability to transition its viewers from laughter to grim sentiments revolving around the main character, Darren Lemming. Lemming, played by Lloyd Harvey, augments the emotion in

the play when this supernatural baseball player publicly announces that he is gay. Darren’s fictitious team, The Empires, comprised of all ethnicities from Latino to Japanese, struggles with Darren’s sexual orientation and the diversity among the team. Both the nude scenes and crude language in “Take Me Out” heighten both the dramatic and humorous aspects of the play. As the Empire ball players realize that they aren’t as relaxed in the nude as before, these uncomfortable locker room scenes are sure to amuse anyone with an R-rated eye. The narrator of “Take Me Out,” Kippy Sunderstorm,

played by Kevin Moore, acts as the central father figure trying to keep peace among the diverted team. Not an easy task, especially with lengthy and chatty monologues, Moore does a commendable job with the role. However, the most provocative and applauded role of the team is pitcher Shane Mungett. His “white-trash” rooted role, played by Andrews W. Cope, underlies the racial stereotypes the team has to deal with. The lack of censorship Mungett uses in the rare instances he does speak, creates relentless tension for the team. Moore vividly executes how his dark character creates an

unfortunate fate for himself. Although Darren Lemming is the most pertinent and divisive character in the play, the strength of actor Lloyd Harvey unfortunately does not match those of Moore or Cope. Lemming fulfilled the role, but it seems as if the other actors outperform Harvey in confidence and passion. On a positive note, the realistic locker room setting aids its actors as the plot unfolds controversial and humorous moments. Uptown Players welcomes “Take Me Out” to start off its 11th season. Running at approximately two hours, the Kalita Humphrey’s Theater’s production is bursting with entertainment.

SMU graduate student Michelle Merrill has raised the bar for future student conductors. Merrill, who is pursuing a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting, was named one of four winners of the ninth annual International Conductors Workshop and Competition held in January. The competition and workshop, held in Macon, Ga., united 13 international participants with three days of conducting, rehearsing and learning from esteemed conductors and music professors from across the country. The three other winners of the competition were Nove Deypalan from the Philippines, Karin Hendrickson from England and Nestor Jaenz from Honduras. Merrill brought music of her choice to teach the orchestra, including compositions by Tchaikovsky. She focused on teaching and conducting the music without being overbearing. Each participant rehearsed only twice with members of various orchestras from Georgia. The participants then presented a piece of music at the final concert, held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Merrill performed Debussy’s Prelude to “The Afternoon of a Faun.” She said one aspect that excited her about this conducting opportunity was “the opportunity to get in front of different groups of people, especially mixed orchestras” whose ages and experience levels varied. After the performance, the faculty instructors and orchestra members voted on the winners. “Everyone thinks the

Courtesy of SMU Meadows

conductor is so powerful, but really we are powerless. We can only influence the orchestra and make them sound their best,” Merrill said. Thanks to the award, Merrill will return to Georgia in September to guest conduct with a local symphony. The award does not just give her a singular opportunity to conduct, but opens doors for future conducting jobs. “It’s our showing, like a job interview,” she said. “It gives you a little more credibility.” The award comes at a perfect time for Merrill. “It is a great thing for my future as I’m finishing up my Masters in Music and entering the job market.” She is in her second year of the Master of Music program at SMU, where she studies with Dr. Paul Phillips and serves as the assistant conductor and graduate teaching assistant of the Meadows Symphony Orchestra. Merrill is looking to Jacksonville, Fla. for her next conducting opportunity, since her husband has recently been hired as a performance percussionist. You can find Merrill conducting in March at a New Music recital which features new compositions by two other SMU students.

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OPINION

The Daily Campus

WEDNESDAY n FEBRUARY 8, 2012

When it comes to opera: adapt or perish Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Kramer Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chase Wade SMU-TV News Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie Brown, Meredith Carlton Assignments Desk Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tashika Varma Online Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Murphy News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rahfin Faruk Arts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cassandra Robinson Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katelyn Hall Sports Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mercedes Owens, Brooke Williamson Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Roden Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spencer Eggers Style Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelby Foster Health & Fitness Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne McCaslin Parker Food Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate Petty Opinion Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Kroeger Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan Anderson, Laura Murphy, Meghan Sikkel, Katie Tufts Video Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer Dashe, Eric Sheffield, Kent Koons

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PAUL KROEGER Opinion Editor pkroeger@smu.edu Last Sunday, Meadows Opera Theater finished “Le Nozze di Figaro” or “The Marriage of Figaro” by W. A. Mozart. I was pleasantly surprised that out of four performances, all had a nearly full house. Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s performances were sold out. As a music major, I am often disappointed by how underexposed my generation is to classical music, opera in particular. It is quite rare for me to meet another person my age who has seen an opera. When I tell someone that I am an opera singer, the most common reaction is either, “I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera!” or “So, are you going to sing on Broadway?” (Both of these are references to musicals, not operas). It is easy to attribute this misunderstanding to a lack of interest on the part of today’s

college students. However, I believe that a large part of the problem lies within today’s opera companies and professional musicians. I have experienced apathy when it comes to operas myself. After a long day at school and rehearsal, the last thing I want to do is get dressed up, pay exorbitant rates for parking, a concert ticket. A small plate of pretentious cheeses and fruits and then sit quietly in a dark hall watching an opera. But opera today is not what it was at its conception. In the 17th century, opera emerged as a sort of side entertainment for rich patrons. Think of having the television on at a dinner party, where your guests can talk and eat, tuning in and out of the program at their leisure. After many reforms, opera became increasingly populist. By the mid-19th century, Wagner advocated gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork) in opera, and he expected his audiences to sit absolutely reverently and silently

through his long productions incorporating all of the arts. Watch a good production of a Wagner opera and you’ll see that the quality of his opera deserves such attention. But today, classical music seems intimidating and stodgy to some who didn’t grow up attending classical performances. Etiquette can be strange — don’t clap between movements of a piece, even though there is a pause. The high prices required to produce an opera are reflected in ticket prices, which also deters the common man. Orchestras and operas should be cognizant of their impression on younger audiences. The average age of audience members of the Metropolitan Opera is currently 57.7 years old, which is an improvement over the previous 60.4 years old, but opera companies must draw younger crowds before their audiences become extinct. The Met launched a great new program in 2006, broadcasting live operas to movie theaters around the world. Tickets are under $30.

On April 28, the Dallas Opera will broadcast “The Magic Flute” at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on the largest HD screen in the world. The best part? Parking and tickets are free. Hopefully, programs like these will pique young adults’ interests and keep a beautiful form of art and entertainment alive. If nothing else, opera should be more accessible. I’m all for serving beer at intermission, and I’m not talking micro-brews. Let’s leave the evening gowns at home and come in jeans instead. I attribute part of Figaro’s success to the cheap tickets and casual atmosphere of Meadows’ Opera Theater. There is no reason why one shouldn’t enjoy a beautiful musical drama and be comfortable at the same time. Paul is the opinion editor. He is a junior majoring in voice performance.

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When stressed, exercise PAUL KROEGER Opinion Editor pkroeger@smu.edu January was a crazy month for many music students at SMU because we began the semester and launched an opera at the same time. After a normal day of classes, many of us were in rehearsal for five hours. For me, the first activity to be cut was exercise. By no means am I a gym rat, but I rely on physical activity and exercise for my physical and mental health. I am never more aware of this than when I stop exercising. I feel more tired and negative, sleep poorly and usually have worse allergies, as well. Unfortunately, when resources are limited, it is all too easy to cut exercise. Our education system seems to work this way too. The recession has hit many people hard and school districts haven’t escaped. At the moment, Chester Upland School District in Pennsylvania is at risk of running out of money to pay teachers. Physical education programs are particularly at risk in the U.S. as school districts try to reduce costs and improve test scores. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 60 percent of middle and high school aged students do not engage in organized physical activity outside of school. States with the highest levels of physical inactivity corresponds with a high frequency of diabetes and obesity diagnoses. At the same time, more and more evidence indicates that we need physical activity in our lives. Correlations have been reported between childhood activity levels and adult activity levels later in life. Risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other dangerous diseases can be reduced with exercise. Ironically, physical activity also improves blood flow and oxygen to the whole body, including the brain. This means that students can concentrate better and longer if they have regular exercise. Activity also stimulates the brain to retain memory and releases endorphins that can reduce anxiety and depression. When school districts cut gym classes, they are not only negatively affecting their students’ health both now and in the future, but also taking away a powerful stress reliever and mental stimulant. Generally, research has shown that regular exercise can improve students’ grade point averages, increase retention, improve emotional health and lower the risk of disease. So if school district officials and lawmakers see the need to cut gym classes, they should at least come up with an alternative for physical activity. Students should certainly be educated about the positive effects of physical activity. In addition, low cost recess breaks could be implemented with programs to encourage active organized sports. Finally, after-school programs that incorporate exercise could be very beneficial. A small workout does wonders for my stress level and ability to concentrate, and I know that other people feel the same way. Exercise also helps me to unwind at night and actually sleep. In high school, I was very inactive. I started running right before my freshman year here at SMU, but I felt uneasy in the gym because I was afraid of looking foolish while learning how to use equipment. My Wellness II class at SMU helped me overcome my fear of using some of the weight machines in the gym. Today, I try to go to the gym a few times a week. I think it is a very healthy part of my life, but I would not have added exercise to my lifestyle without some encouragement from friends, family and most importantly, school. Paul is the opinion editor. He is a junior majoring in voice performance.

POLICIES The Daily Campus is a public forum, Southern Methodist University’s independent student voice since 1915 and an entirely student-run publication. Letters To The Editor are welcomed and encouraged. All letters should concentrate on issues, be free of personal attacks, not exceed 250 words in length and must be signed by the author(s). Anonymous letters will not be published and The Daily Campus reserves the right to edit letters for accuracy, length and style. Letters should be submitted to dc@smu.edu.

Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion upon submission to dc@smu.edu. Guest columns should not exceed 500-600 words and the author will be identified by name and photograph. Corrections. The Daily Campus is committed to serving our readers with accurate coverage and analysis. Readers are encouraged to bring errors to The Daily Campus editors’ attention by emailing Editorial Adviser Jay Miller at jamiller@smu.edu.

Associated Press

Republican nominees at a debate, whose comments regarding gay rights have attracted attention from LGBT groups.

GOP has alienated LGBT citizens ALEX VOLLMER avollmer@smu.edu I would say that I am fairly politically savvy. That is, I know more than most, less than some and about enough to make somewhat educated decisions about the facts I need to consider when it comes to whom I want to vote for in any given election. I will admit, like most Americans, I am apathetic at best when it comes to local elections. However, I will hide behind the (somewhat) ignorant defense that because I am attending college at an out of state school, these elections neither help nor harm me for the time being. That being said, I also have to admit that I am infuriatingly blind to many of the issues in the looming presidential election because of what should be an inconsequential and essentially peripheral part of my identity: I’m gay. In most situations I find myself able to keep my homosexuality precisely as I described it — an

inconsequential part of my identity that, at most, is at the periphery of my non-romantic relationships and interactions. The Republican candidates, however, are doing about as much as they can to be sure that my sexuality is at the forefront of my mind in the upcoming election. To be frank, I lean pretty far to the left on most issues. I like the idea of state funded arts organizations, spending more on education and the silly little things that right-wingers hate because guns are not involved. But my most immediate issues with the Republican candidates is completely independent of those things. Whether behind the pretense of religious belief or not, every candidate has made disparaging comments about the LGBT community. Before I venture into this territory, let me be clear: I am all about religious freedom and respecting the beliefs of everyone. Unfortunately, these people are not running to be the head of the

church of America. They want to be the head of state. Therefore, their religious beliefs have no business being part of their platforms. Naturally, when candidates say they want to repeal the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell or that they want to make sure that marriage equality never happens on a federal basis, some red flags go up. What frustrates me most is that these candidates — and the Republican party as a whole — are isolating influential voters simply because they don’t think that members of the LGBT community should be treated equally. Most of the candidates are sensible enough to at least stick their heads, à la ostrich, in the ground and think that if the American public wanted equality, it would be voted upon and would subsequently happen. Newsflash folks! The reason this is an issue is because enough people are against LGBT equality. Fortunately, history has shown us that a legislative change can help spark a social attitude change

(as was the case with the Jim Crow laws). Obviously, there are still racist people in the world, but at least the law isn’t explicitly on their side. Yet, if the Republican candidates get their way, homophobes will have the law on their side. See the problem? This November I more than gladly am going to go to the ballot boxes to defend my place in American society. At the same time, I will be hoping that in the not-so-distant future, my voting choice will not be constrained by my desire to have a legal union to a person of the same sex or to risk my life for my country while having a picture of my husband on the night stand. We’ll see what the future holds for gay rights. But in the meantime, don’t be surprised to see me sporting an Obama T-shirt on the boulevard. Alex is a sophomore majoring in voice performance.

American healthcare isn’t what it’s touted to be RAHFIN FARUK rfaruk@smu.edu I made a trip to the emergency room on Super Bowl Sunday. While the injury was not critical — depending on how you classify a mild concussion and 13 stitches — my trip was a frustrating one. For decades, politicians, policymakers and social scientists have debated about healthcare, asking questions about the correct provider for healthcare service. Should healthcare be nationalized? Should healthcare be privatized? Should the government subsidize healthcare for certain segments of the population? Should the rich pay healthcare for the poor? The arguments for healthcare are based around rather simple concepts: cost of care, quality of care and access to care.

Quality of care is perhaps the most important in a postindustrial society that has already normalized its cost and access to care. There are certainly a plethora of problems with healthcare in America, but politicians on the left and right — but mostly from the right — stress that the quality of American healthcare is the highest in the world. The argument goes that if healthcare costs are completely subsidized by the government— like in socialist England and Scandinavia — people will overburden the system. Horror stories are often used for rhetoric purposes: five-week wait times for critical surgery, visits to the ER for minor cuts and coordinated family trips to the hospital.

But, my question is: for all the privatization in the American healthcare system, are we that much better off ? While I was bleeding and groggy, a secretary told me to fill out a patient form. After a wait, I was pushed into a small room. I passed a sigh of relief as I thought a nurse was going to give me stitches and stop my bleeding. When they sent me back to the waiting room after just checking my vitals, I realized I had jumped the gun. After two more hours of more forms and more diagnostics by four different people — a secretary, a nurse, a physician’s assistant and a doctor — I finally received my stitches and a CT scan. It wasn’t a busy day on Sunday. There were 10 other people in the ER waiting room.

And yet, I had to go through hoops and hurdles to be treated for a non-critical issue. What if I had a critical injury that did not have apparent symptoms? It’s hard to point the finger at anyone. It’s an institutional problem. Frivolous lawsuits by attorneys caused hospitals to be extra careful. Doctors afraid of malpractice claims regulated every part of the emergency room process. But I do know one thing: don’t buy an American politician at his word, especially on the greatness of the American healthcare system. Rahfin is the news editor. He is a freshman majoring in economics, math and public policy.

The Daily Campus

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY n FEBRUARY 8, 2012

FOOTBALL

basketball

Jared Williams’ road to recovery

Associated Press

TCU’s J.R. Cadot drives along the baseline against San Diego State Saturday in San Diego. SMU and TCU will face off Wednesday evening in Moody Coliseum.

Mustangs await Horned Frogs AUSTIN MANIERRE Staff Writer amanierre@smu.edu

The SMU men’s basketball team will take on rival TCU at Moody Coliseum on Wednesday night. The Mustangs will be looking to snap a losing streak and improve their overall record to 11-13 while the Horned Frogs will try reach 14 wins on the season with their nine losses. No matter what sport, SMU’s meetings with TCU this academic year have generally been pretty intense, and in most cases, close games.

SMU beat 20th ranked TCU 40-33 in an overtime thriller in Fort Worth during this year’s Iron Skillet. TCU head coach Gary Patterson was fiery after a few Mustang postgame comments offended the coach and he essentially stated that whatever decent relationship the two programs had is now over. However, besides football, SMU sports teams in general have had TCU’s number all year. The equestrian team beat TCU in late September. The women’s basketball team beat them in November. The men’s swim and dive team easily cruised through the Horned Frogs in a January meet.

The women’s swim and dive team beat them, too. Now it’s time for the SMU men’s basketball team to follow suit. The Mustangs are 6-3 at home this season while TCU has a 2-5 away record. The teams met once last year at TCU in a game that the Horned Frogs won 84-64. TCU was a much better team at home last year, just as they are this year. At Moody Coliseum, it’s a different ball game. Unfortunately, the Mustangs have dropped five straight. Two out of the last three losses have been at home. On-court issues aside, what the

MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus

Running back Jared Williams takes a hand-off from J.J. McDermott.

team needs is support and a decent fan base this season. The team’s attendance numbers dip when the Mustangs are home and peak anytime they are away from home. On Wednesday night, Southern Methodist University has proposed the SMU 1K. It’s a challenge to the SMU student body for at least 1,000 students to come to the game. Fans may just be the good luck charm the Mustangs need to break their losing streak and fry the Frogs. Tip off is at 7 p.m. TCU will surely be a challenge, which is why the team needs all of the fan support it can get.

TR ACK AND FIELD

SMU track finishes strong in Lubbock KELSEY CHARLES Contributing Writer kcharles@smu.edu The SMU Track and Field squad traveled to Lubbock, Texas last week to compete in the Red Raider Open. The Mustangs finished strong winning four events and placing 15 competitors in top-five positions. Senior Amber Evans proved to be a leader, coming away with three top-five finishes of her own.

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They included a first place with a time of 24.37 in the 200-meter dash. Evans placed fifth in the 55 meters, tying her personal best of 7.18 seconds and came in fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 55.86 seconds. The Mustangs dominated the distance events, winning 1,000 meters, 3,000 meters and the mile. Junior Kristine Eikrem-Engeset took the 1,000-meter event with a time of 2:54.20, her second win this season.

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Freshmen Kajsa Barr and Frida Kristiansson placed first and second in the mile, respectively, with times just above the five-minute mark. Senior Monika Korra rounded out the top five in the event, with a time of 5:19 flat. Junior Mary Alenbratt won the 3,000-meter event with a time of 10:13.70, while Kristiansson added another second place finish to her record. The Mustangs’ success didn’t stop on the track, much to their

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02/08/12

Event

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With 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter of the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., SMU was beating The University of Pittsburgh 28-3. Running back Jared Williams was leading the Mustangs with 11 carries for a total of 40 yards when he was placed on a stretcher and carried off the field. “The most difficult part of my injury is not being able to really walk,” Williams said. It was his 11th and final carry of the game when Pittsburgh’s safety hit Williams in just the wrong way. The tackle snapped Williams’ femur in three places. Since the injury, Williams has had a successful surgery and is now in rehab at IMG Academy in his hometown of Bradenton, Fla. He will remain in Florida for the spring semester. “I hope to be ready by the end of April so I can start training for practice in the summer,” he said. In his first season with the Mustangs, Williams had a total of 42 carries and 180 rushing yards. William’s injury affected linebacker Ja’Gared Davis. “Jared is like my little brother,” Davis said. Davis tries to keep up with

Williams and his progress despite the distance. Davis hopes Williams will make a full recovery so he can join the stampede back on the field for the 2012 to 2013 season. “He is a major part of our team and family,” Davis said. Upon getting a medical release, Williams wants to get back into football and be with his teammates. SMU football fan Trevor Wolfe was watching the game when Williams’ injury occurred. “When the safety hit him low you could see his leg flop,” Wolfe said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be good.” Wolfe is looking forward to the rest of Williams’ career. Despite his broken leg, it was a successful game for Williams and his first bowl game victory. The Mustangs finished the game ahead of Pittsburgh, 28-6. SMU defense played an impressive game. Pittsburgh was unable to score any points in the first half and ended the game without a single touchdown. This was the first time the two teams met since the 1983 Cotton Bowl, which SMU won 7-3. The BBVA Compass Bowl was the second bowl game victory for SMU in the past three years. Despite a long road ahead of him, Williams is working for a full recovery.

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Sudoku

competition’s despair. In the field events, senior Ayla Gill threw her second-best toss this season (17.73) in the weight throw, winning second place. Sophomore Helena Perez placed third in the “section A” shot put. Freshman Rayann Chin won the “section B” shot put event with a season-best toss of 12.92m. The Mustangs travel to Ames, Iowa Feb. 9 to Feb. 11 to compete in the Iowa State Classic.

MERCEDES OWENS Sports Editor mmowens@smu.edu

ACROSS 1 Organic fuel 5 Beggar’s returns 9 Out-and-out 14 Soprano Gluck 15 Tree nursery? 16 Winnebagos’ kin 17 *Vaudeville headliner 19 Actress Kelly 20 Anaheim team, to fans 21 Splotch 23 Fishing gear 24 *Count Basie’s theme song 28 Garment border 29 Michael of “Caddyshack” 32 Marbles competition 36 Get out in the open 38 Singsong syllables 39 *Too-small quantity 43 Open mic performer, often 44 Bruins legend 45 “My love __ a fever, longing still”: Shakespeare 46 Deeply rooted 48 Gandalf portrayer McKellen 50 *1959 Monroe classic 57 “Go team!” 59 Well out of range 60 It may be captioned 61 Hoover rival 63 What many sports cars lack, and, in a way, what the ends of the starred answers are 66 Bench clearer 67 Pitcher Pettitte with a record 19 post-season wins 68 Out of the cage 69 Less hardylooking 70 Early Iranian 71 “America’s Next Top Model” host Banks DOWN 1 Logical start?

By Jack McInturff

2 Online mortgage broker 3 More than enough 4 It’s not done 5 “State of Wonder” novelist Patchett 6 Country expanse 7 “A Fuller Spectrum of News” network 8 Bit of rhubarb 9 Middle of nowhere, metaphorically 10 Hugs, symbolically 11 Cult classic of 1990s TV 12 It passes between Swiss banks 13 Would-be One L’s hurdle 18 Author Sholem 22 Eye of el tigre 25 Tilt 26 Fail to mention 27 Overseas thanks 30 Lab coat speck? 31 Chow 32 Year Elizabeth I delivered her “Golden Speech” 33 Caddie’s suggestion 34 Jaw-dropping news

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

2/8/12

35 Veep before Gerald 37 Letter after pi 40 Motel convenience 41 “Gymnopédies” composer Satie 42 Scot’s bluff 47 Dict. offering 49 Small bites 51 NFLer until 1994 52 Castle with many steps?

53 Museum concern 54 White with age 55 Weasel-like swimmer 56 Where captains go 57 Frolic 58 Field of expertise 62 GPA reducer, usually 64 Put in 65 Deli choice

Can’t wait until tomorrow for Crossword solutions? For solutions to our Crossword puzzles now, checkout our website at www.smudailycampus.com.

NEWS

The Daily Campus

WEDNESDAY n FEBRUARY 8, 2012 campus

Student Senate seeks to add graduate student seat

OLIVIA LUDWICK Contributing Writer oludwick@smu.edu Student Senate met on Tuesday to focus on the possible addition of a graduate chair, which would

be called vice president of graduate affairs. The amendment to facilitate communications would provide a different viewpoint from a graduate student’s perspective and voice graduate students’ concerns. According to the amendment’s authors, this is a necessary change because there is currently a weak connection of communication and understanding between the graduate student body and undergraduate students. The benefit would be that possible troubles due to lack of shared experiences and understanding

would be avoided in the future. Also graduates’ needs could be more adequately assessed. Focus on communication is crucial to the perspective of the graduate members, like understanding issues such as funding and full-time student status that are difficult to understand for undergraduates. One problem that needs to be resolved is that graduate students do not have access to the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-L.E.C.). For some graduate students, English is a second language, and they would deeply benefit from shared access to the

A-L.E.C. Also this would be the first time a graduate student will hold an executive position on the student senate. “This amendment will allow for undergraduate and graduate students to effectively work together on a level never before achieved in student senate in order to adequately represent the interests of the 4,421 graduate, professional and doctoral students who make up 44 percent of the SMU student body,” Law Senator James Miers said about the proposed amendment. “I agree with the sentiment that graduate students need more

FILM: Gender, sexuality issues

representation on senate. However, I feel that creating a SBO position to compensate for that would be opening Pandora’s box. Historically, the undergraduate vice president controls the senate chamber. What would this vice president do?” Senator Savannah Stephens said. A resolution concerning the extension of course drop dates was another topic discussed. The proposed plan will extend the drop date to two weeks after classes begin. The hope is that this proposed resolution would reduce the amounts of “Ws.”

The add date is not under discussion due to the amount of class work that will be missed, however, current enrollments would be able to be dropped after the first two week period if approved. The question of how to deal with waiting lists still needs to be worked out. Senate also congratulated the football team for a successful 2011 to 2012 season and the women’s basketball Head Coach Rhonda Rompola. A biking safety campaign regarding biking lanes on campus was also briefly discussed.

Politics

discussed outside classroom

Courtesy of Oh My Gomez! Films

“Plan B,” a film dealing with the elasticity of human sexuality, will be shown at SMU’s Latino Queer Film Festival. continued from page 1

meaningful academic discourse about the topic, but in a more informal setting than the classroom,” he said. Joining McAfee in the panel discussion is Co-President of Spectrum Sammy Partida. While Partida agrees with McAfee, he also thinks many people are unaware of the influence films have on popular culture.

“These movie screenings are a great opportunity for students to talk about the politics that influence the representation of gender and sexuality,” he said. “This festival will be the space where the cultural significance of these films, and the structures in which they are produced, will be highlighted and investigated.” Moran invites anyone who

appreciates good cinematography and a compelling story to join him and his students Feb. 8, 15, 23 and 29 at 6 p.m. in McCord Auditorium. “I would like to see the festival turned into an exchange of ideas, a communal enjoyment of good movies and an experience from which all of us have a lot to win and nothing to lose,” Moran said. Associated Press

President Barack Obama’s recent poll numbers have shown that the American public favors him more.

Obama’s re-election campaign finds fuel with new job reports, GOP primaries RAHFIN FARUK News Editor rfaruk@smu.edu With the Republican presidential nomination process in a three-week hiatus after Tuesday night, pundits are focusing in on the man who still holds office. Six months ago, President Barack Obama’s chances at reelection were low because of the state of the economy. No presidential incumbent since Franklin Roosevelt has won re-election with unemployment higher than 7.2 percent. The economy is one of the most important issues in the 2012 presidential election, experts say. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 243,000 jobs were created last month —far above the projected 150,000 jobs that a Bloomberg survey of economists said would be created. Obama has benefited from the public perception that the economy is improving. His approval rating increased two percentage points over the last two months. In his latest speech, he stressed jobs as the number one concern for the executive and legislative branches. “The economy is growing stronger, the recovering is speeding up and we’ve got to do everything in our power to keep it going,” Obama said. The president has continued to emphasize the impact a divided Congress has on policy. Tea party members in the House — standing by a platform of balanced spending — have been opposed to many job stimulus

packages. But Obama stressed that there is a long way to go on jobs. “Now, these numbers will go up and down in the coming months and there are still far too many Americans that need a job, or need a job that pays better than the one they have now,” Obama said. His speech resonated with many moderate and undecided voters — voters that will eventually decide the outcome of the 2012 election. “I think Obama’s speech was really inspirational. We’ve been fighting so hard to get America back to where it should be, fighting for a livable wage, more jobs and the ability to be selfsufficient and Obama has been listening,” Cassandra Dean, a college student from Soldotna, Alaska, said in an interview with Yahoo News. But even more voters were frustrated with Obama’s performance on jobs and other policies. “I didn’t like Obama when he ran for election, and I still don’t like him now… It’s still the same old, same old. Obama can preach about change all he wants, but America is in the same spot it was when he took office,” Rebecca Windslow, an accountant, told Yahoo News. As the country continues to grow more divided, Obama’s supporters are hoping that a far-right GOP presidential hopeful will help the president on Election Day. Candidates like Mitt Romney have had to appeal to an ultraconservative base in the first string of primaries. Romney’s opponents have jumped at the chance

of attacking his record as Massachusetts’s governor. “RomneyCare and ObamaCare, they’re too similar,” Gingrich said to a crowd of supporters in Ohio on Tuesday. “There’s been a lot of talk about the Obama administration’s attack on the Catholic Church. Well the fact is, Gov. Romney insisted that the Catholic hospitals gave out abortion pills against their religious belief when he was governor.” Romney, the Republican front-runner for the presidential election, has also been accused of changing his platform on environmental energy, subsidies, healthcare and abortion rights. An exit poll among primary voters in Florida indicated that four in 10 voters wanted someone else to run for the nomination. With Republicans uneasy about Romney and his record, Obama is benefitting from a Republican nomination process where big hitters in the Republican Party — Gingrich, Paul and Santorum — continue to fight it out with Romney. As the election and Republican nomination date grow closer, voters can expect an expensive and close race. “Primary contests are not easy, and they’re not supposed to be,” Romney said in his Florida primary victory speech. “Our opponents in the other party have been watching, and they like to comfort themselves that a competitive primary will leave us divided and weak. A competitive primary does not divide us, it prepares us and we will win.”