INSIDE
SMU hosts Patriot Cup
What to pack for spring break
PAGE 2
Debate: God and morality
PAGE 4
Dallas entertainment over break
PAGE 6
PAGE 5
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 6, 2013
Wednesday High 59, Low 41 Thursday High 66, Low 45
VOLUME 98 ISSUE 66 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
finance
Economy affects tuition, financial aid caroline morehead Contributing Writer cmorehead@smu.edu
CHRISTOPHER SAUL/The Daily Campus
Members of the 1956 men’s basketball team, which played the first game in Moody Coliseum joined current players, fans and coaches Feb. 27 at the game against Rice.
Last game at Moody Coliseum remembers past, looks to future CHRIS WARLEY Contributing Writer cwarley@smu.edu Moody Coliseum shut down March 4 to begin its $47 million renovation in preparation for SMU’s move to the Big East Conference next season. The men’s basketball team held its final home basketball game in Moody last Wednesday, toppling Rice 67-55. The Mustangs jumped out to a 35-20 lead at halftime, due in large part to a 19-2 run during the middle of the first half. The second half, however, was plagued with mistakes and mishaps. “I had some key [turnovers] down the stretch and missed a couple box-outs,” junior forward Shawn Williams said. “If we’re going to be a good team, I have got to do a lot better.” After leading by as much as 16,
SMU allowed Rice to pull within six points in the final minutes. Head coach Larry Brown thought SMU played badly in the second half. “We didn’t know if we were the blue shirts or the white shirts.” Williams pointed to SMU’s lack of depth on the bench, but thought the same about Rice. “They were thin, we were pretty thin too though. They were tired and we were just as tired.” Nevertheless, SMU extended the lead to 12 points and ended the season with a final win in Moody, the last before the renovation. “I think we owed it to all the players and alumni that have been here before us to keep a positive history here,” sophomore center Cannen Cunningham said. “It’s a great gym, and we’re looking forward to the renovations. I think tonight was
meaningful for the players that have been here before us.” SMU alumnus Bobby Mills, who scored the first basket in Moody Coliseum, was in attendance. To commemorate the renovation, Mills took the final shot after the game had ended. Mills made the last basket on the third attempt. Referencing SMU’s play in the second half, Brown said, “Mr. Mills must have watched us play. That’s why he missed the first two lay ups, but he made the one that counted.” During the game, SMU displayed various video segments called “Moody Memories” which highlighted important moments from the coliseum’s past. These included buzzer beater wins, conference titles and recordbreaking games from Moody’s past 57 years.
Freshman Kyle Douglas, who attended the game, characterized the “Moody Memories” as a notable experience. “It was like I was there when we first broke ground,” Douglas said. “I saw the resurrection of Moody.” While reflecting on the past, Douglas also looked toward the future and the $47 million renovation and expansion coming to Moody. “This is not the destruction of one stadium,” Douglas said. “It is the beginning of a new dream that Larry Brown is leading at the helm.” Douglas is hopeful for the future and maybe for good reason. The renovation and expansion adds 38,000 square feet of interior space. “We’re putting in new seats, new bleachers, a new scoreboard, an all new heating and cooling
system, more restrooms and more concession offerings,” university architect Philip Jabour said. Jabour said that, as of now, the concourse is “tight and dark, with low ceilings.” “That’s all going to be gone. The concourse will be widened. The lobby will be opened up to the bowl,” Jabour said. The renovation and expansion will continue for months and will affect several annual school events normally held in Moody. Most notably, May graduation will be moved to the main quad south of Dallas Hall. Moody is scheduled to open again in December, with the renovation and expansion fully complete. “The first event will be December graduation and basketball season will follow thereafter,” Jabour said.
Education is expensive and cost is a factor that affects prospective students’ decisions, especially at a nationally recognized, coeducational university like SMU. Only 28 percent of the undergraduate students at SMU do not receive aid of any sort, while the majority of the student body is granted some sort of aid. The amount of aid granted could sway any student, considering the estimated tuition costs for the 20132014 school year have increased to $55,290 for total tuition fees, expenses, and room and board. Marcia Miller, SMU’s associate director financial aid for compliance and reporting, said 2,387 students applied for financial aid in 2007 and 1,627 students were awarded needbased financial aid. In the 2011 academic year Miller said 2,846 students applied for financial aid and 1,902 students were awarded need-based financial aid. "More students have applied and qualified for aid based on the downturn of the economy. Therefore, the rate has gone up," Miller said. The total amount of need-based aid granted in 2011 versus 2007 has increased over $20,000,000. The growth rate in aid from 2007 to 2011 was 56.5 percent, which is a significant jump in percentage terms. The growth rate in tuition over the same period of time was 25.9 percent, representing a $7,620 jump from the 2007 to 2011 academic year. According to Miller, SMU finds itself comparable to
See ECONOMY page 3
philanthropy
Students take Alternative Breaks to serve across nation, worldwide BRITTANY BLAND Contributing Writer bbland@smu.edu On March 10, SMU students from all academic disciplines and majors will travel to 10 different locations around the United States and abroad to serve in a various number of ways with the Alternative Breaks program. The Alternative Breaks program at SMU is a chapter of the nationwide Break Away organization based in Atlanta. Break Away is a collegiate service organization that sends students from 160 colleges and universities, including SMU, all over the world in order to volunteer during spring break each year. Katie Jones, student director of the SMU Alternative Breaks program, will be traveling to New York City this year. Students attending this trip will be working with God’s Love We Deliver. Jones said that this organization delivers food to low-income, disabled residents of the city who are confined to their homes. This trip will be Jones’ eighth trip with the SMU
Alternative Breaks program. Jones became involved in the Alternative Breaks program during her first year at SMU. “I was dragged onto a trip my freshman year spring break, and after that I just fell in love with it,” Jones said. The program is sponsored by the Community Engagement & Leadership Department. According to its website, the mission of SMU Alternative Breaks is to “provide quality service experiences and awareness to all members of the Southern Methodist University community while creating active citizens through education, direct service, and reflection.” Lisa Walters is the assistant student director of the Alternative Breaks program. She is also the site leader trainer for each program location. This year, Walters will be traveling to Crawfordville, Fla. to assist a wildlife refuge. She became involved with the Alternative Breaks program on a gap year volunteering with an organization called Ubeci in Quito, Ecuador, where she met a previous Alternative Breaks
Alternative breaks 2013 Los Angeles AIDS Project of Los Angeles (APLA)
Hands-on volunteering, working with the issue of HIV and AIDS
Taos, NM Roots and Wings
Courtesy of SMU Alternative Breaks
Students volunteer on the 2012 Alternative Break in Crawfordville, Fla.
director who had taken a group of SMU students there for a spring break. Walters believes that part of living on this planet is helping others. “I get really upset when I see social injustice,” Walters said. The main goal of the Alternative Breaks program is to give SMU students an opportunity to engage in “active citizenship by offering world changing service and life changing experiences.” Paul Curry is the site leader for SMU students who are traveling to Gallup, NM this year. Curry will be overseeing
students who will be working with Navajo school children on and off campus, as well as assisting with manual side labor in the location. “I consider the trip a success if the participants [students] get something out of the trip,” Curry said. Curry explained that being a participant is quite different from being a site leader with the program. This will be his fourth trip with the Alternative Breaks program. The Alternative Breaks program will be from March 10 to March 16.
Working with a rural charter school, tutoring middle school students
Gallup, NM
The Community Pantry Food bank that serves the elderly and families in need
New York City God’s Love We Deliver Food delivered to lowincome, disabled people
Crawfordville, Fla.
Environmental restoration in the area
Atlanta International Community School Assist low-income children
Denver Habitat for Humanity
Create affordable housing for the community
El Paso, Texas UT Southwestern Medical Center
Integrating medical training with service
Mystery location
Focused on community development and global peace initiatives
Quito, Ecuador UBECI
Youth development, community development