A look into DTC’s ‘School for Wives’
INSIDE
Spring Break essentials
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UC Curriculum changes pt. 2
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Women’s Basketball preview
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WEDNESDAY
MARCH 4, 2015
Wednesday High 52, Low 25 Thursday High 41, Low 21
VOLUME 100 ISSUE 65 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS 1915 - 2015
NEWS Briefs World
SHANGHAI— China played down U.S. concerns that proposed anti-terror legislation would give the Chinese government power to police electronic communications. SANAA,Yemen— Yemen’s president Tuesday proposed the Saudi capital of Riyadh as a possible venue for the resumption of U.N.-sponsored talks with Shiite rebels who have seized Yemen’s own capital, Sanaa.
National FARGO, N.D.— Four American missionaries released after several days of detention and questioning by Venezuelan authorities arrived home saying they were glad to be back Tuesday. LOS ANGELES— A homeless ex-convict killed by police was wanted for violating probation in a bank robbery case. The federal warrant was issued for Charley Saturmin Robinet after he didn’t provide monthly reports to a probation officer from Nov. to Dec.
Texas HOUSTON—A tea party-backed Texas state lawmaker has filed a bill to fully legalize marijuana, seeking to strike any prohibition of it from state statute. Republican state Rep. David Simpson of Longview filed his proposal late Monday. He said he seeks to “reframe the current marijuana discussion.” Simpson has long championed top libertarian causes but supports legalizing marijuana because of his devout Christian beliefs.
Former President George W. Bush to speak at May Commencement CHRISTINA COX Assignments Editor clcox@smu.edu George W. Bush will deliver the address at this year’s Commencement ceremony, SMU announced today. The 43rd president of the United Staes will speak to the more than 2,000 undergraduates, graduates and professional degree recipients, in addition to their family members and friends. “This Commencement is especially noteworthy because 2015 is the 100year anniversary of SMU’s opening. So it is fitting that we should hear from a president who led our nation and the world during historic times and is a valued member of the campus community,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner in the press release. This will mark Bush’s second time speaking at SMU Commencement.
He delivered his first Commencement speech at SMU in 1999 when he was the governor of Texas. The Bush family has several ties to the SMU community. His wife Laura Bush is an SMU alumna and member of the SMU Board of Trustees; George W. Bush recently opened the George W. Bush Presidential Center on campus, offering opportunities, resources and internships to SMU students. The center has also collaborated with various schools and faculty members on campus. George W. Bush continues to remain an active member of the SMU community by attending events and visiting classes. This year’s Commencement will be held May 16 in Moody Coliseum. SMU schools and departments will host individual ceremonies throughout the day following the University-wide Commencement ceremony.
Courtesy of SMU
In May 1999, then Governor George W. Bush gives the address at SMU’s Universitywide Commencement ceremony.
REligion
education
NFL player Husain Abdullah kicks off Islam Awareness Week
A-LEC responds to student concerns
Shabnam Amini Contributing Writer samini@smu.edu Abdullah is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). He was asked to come in by SMU’s MSA to kick off Islam Awareness Week, which this year, holds the theme of the All-American Muslim. The hardships of being a Muslim in America, religion and race on the football field, and how to deal with prejudice were some of the main topics Husain Abdullah focused on while speaking on Monday night in the Hughes-Trigg Commons at SMU. The crowd filled up the Commons around 6:30 p.m. as refreshments were being served by SMU’s Muslim Student Association (MSA). “I’m a big NFL fan in general,” said Josh Doerr, a senior at SMU. “The topic of the forum tonight seemed very interesting to me.” Abdullah is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). He was asked to come in by SMU’s MSA to kick off Islam Awareness Week, which this year, holds the theme of the All-American Muslim. “Usually at MSA events, it’s a whole lot of Muslims and a small minority of friends of other faiths” said Amaan Charania, master of ceremonies for the event. “It is nice to see it the other way around tonight.” Abdullah, a Muslim, is known to observe fasting in the month of Ramadan—even during football season. He sat out the 2012–2013 season to make his Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca with his brother Hamza Abdullah, who was also in the NFL. Abdullah started off the lecture by
thanking SMU for having him. “This is a great school and I want to come here once I retire,” said Abdullah. “Getting a Master’s in Sport Management at SMU is my next goal.” Abdullah recently made headlines for getting penalized for a post-touchdown prayer bow. The refs flagged the 29-year-old for dropping to his knees after a successful play, technically a violation of the NFL’s celebration rules. But it was rather apparent to others that Abdullah, was practicing the Sajdah, a religious prayer position common in the Islamic religion. The Kansas City Chiefs player explained how people are taught to dislike others. He stated it is not human nature, just something put into our heads. “You go to SMU, so you automatically dislike TCU, because that is what you were taught,” said Abdullah. “Even though half the students here probably applied to TCU before deciding what college to go to.” He then brought that analogy back to how people are taught to dislike others just because of how they look. Someone may see a Muslim and automatically dislike them solely because of what they have heard others say about Islam. “The only thing we as Muslims can do in this situation is show peace and give them the greetings of love,” said Abdullah. At the end of the lecture students got to ask Abdullah questions. He emphasized how his religion motivates him to be a better player and a better person overall. “It was very interesting to hear a different perspective of a football player,” said Emma Hutchinson, junior at SMU. “Usually it’s football first then family and religion, but in Husain Abdullah’s case, it’s the opposite.”
Kasey Ruth Contributing Writer kruth@smu.edu SMU first-year Hayley Halliburton was recently in a time crunch to get help on her paper at the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC). Halliburton questioned why it took so long to receive help. “I had to wait an hour for help on my four-page paper,” said Halliburton. Halliburton isn’t the only one that has some concerns about the A-LEC. Other students say they have problems with language barriers, and others want more one-on-one tutoring made available. But some students, like sophomore Andrew Appleby, have no problem with the facility or its tutors. “The staff at the A-LEC is very helpful and I always feel more prepared leaving the A-LEC than I did before going in,” said Appleby. Sue Bierman, director of the A-LEC, sat down on a cold afternoon recently to address these concerns. “I like hearing what students have to say because that helps us help them,” said Bierman. The A-LEC is located on the corner of Ford Stadium. It offers tutoring in many subjects for all undergraduate students free of charge. Many of the tutors that work in the A-LEC are juniors and seniors whose grades qualify them to be a mentor for students coming in for help. Bierman’s advice to Halliburton and others worried about a long wait is to remember that the A-LEC is open to all undergraduate students, so there is bound to be a wait for students seeking writing help. Bierman said the A-LEC knows when professors assign papers during the semester. Because they know students will be seeking help on those specific weeks, they try to plan accordingly by putting more
tutors on the schedule. “The center tries its best to accommodate all students and is very mindful of the students’ time,” said Bierman. There are two types of writing assistance at the A-LEC. One is through its writing center, which is staffed by faculty from the English department and takes students by appointment. The other option is for students to seek help from writing tutors, who are upperclassman trained by the A-LEC. A common misconception among students is that the A-LEC tutors and professors are there to edit their papers. Bierman made it clear that the A-LEC staff does not edit student’s papers. “What the writing center faculty and writing tutors do is help students focus on where weak areas exist in their drafts,” said Beirman. “They help the student find these areas and together, find options on how to better express and clarify thoughts.” Sophomore Bari Kesner said she goes to the A-LEC often for help. Her concern is the language barrier between her and some of the A-LEC tutors. “Some of the tutors are so hard to understand because they are international,” said Kesner. Bierman’s advice for Kesner and others is simply to ask for a different tutor if language is a problem. Bierman again stressed how important it is for students to voice their needs. Sophomore Thomas Thayer said he prefers going to the A-LEC for one-on-one tutoring rather than group tutoring. “I benefit more from the A-LEC when working with a tutor individually rather than working with a tutor in a group session,” said Thayer. Bierman said the center is focused on communication with faculty, students, and with other staff colleagues, “so we don’t change what’s working and see in what areas we need to try new things.”
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