DC030912 by The DC

INSIDE

Spring break movies

What to wear during Spring Basketball’s early exit PAGE 3

PAGE 2

Campaign finance debated

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FRIDAY

MARCH 9, 2012 Friday High 48, Low 45 Saturday High 54, Low 50

VOLUME 96 ISSUE 70 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS

women’s symposium

Matlin inspires all to dream big, defy barriers YOLONDA BATTLE Contributing Writer ybattle@smu.edu

MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus

Former SMU quarterback Kyle Padron, now transferring to Eastern Washington, carries the ball during a play against TCU Sept. 24, 2010 in Ford Stadium.

Padron to leave SMU

QB follows Bo Levi Mitchell to Eastern Washington BILLY EMBODY Contributing Writer wembody@smu.edu After leading the Mustangs to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and the Armed Forces Bowl his freshman and sophomore years, Kyle Padron will be transferring to Eastern Washington. Padron lost lost his starting job to J.J. McDermott in the opening game against Texas A&M his junior and final year as a Mustang. With two early interceptions in College Station, Padron was benched for the remainder of the game and the season as the team responded with McDermott as the starter. McDermott’s reign began

when SMU went on a five game winning streak after the A&M loss, including the TCU overtime thriller, before tailing off and losing four of their last seven. Padron decided to transfer a few weeks after the season because he wanted a change of scenery and has decided on Eastern Washington, the same school that former SMU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell transferred to and won the 2010 national championship. “It’s going to be different. It’s a quiet town. It’s strictly football and school,” Padron said about his new school where he will enroll in the fall. “I’m a Dallas kid so it will be nice to get out of my comfort zone,” Padron said of his

new opportunity. He’s excited about learning from two coaches that have great track records with quarterbacks: Head Coach Beau Baldwin, who coached Jon Kitna and then coached Eastern Washington’s quarterback coach Zak Hill at Central Washington. “Their system has more control at the line. Identifying the Mike linebacker, adjusting protections and changing the play at the line are some of the new responsibilities I’ll have,” Padron said of his new offense. Padron is focused on being a better overall quarterback and hopes to take what he has learned from the run and shoot to help coordinate with the EWU offense

and coaching staff. His ultimate goal is to get a chance in the NFL before concluding his foot career in Washington. During his time on the Hilltop, Padron has amassed more than 5,900 passing yards and 41 touchdowns putting him as the fourth all-time for passing yardage by an SMU quarterback. His mark on the SMU program cannot be ignored as one of the most important reasons for SMU’s reemergence as a football team. The run and shoot offense of Head Coach June Jones helped Padron do this and he enjoyed the options the offense gave him.

See PADRON page 3

kony 2012

Barrier-breaking, Oscarwinning actress Marlee Matlin delivered a message of tenacity and perseverance Wednesday at SMU’s 47th annual Women’s Symposium. “It’s been 25 years since a columnist proclaimed my Academy Awards win a pity vote,” Matlin said. “Yet I’m still here.” Notably known for her appearance on Donald Trump’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” “Dancing with the Stars“ and the new hit series “Switched at Birth,” Matlin has made major strides for the hearing impaired community as an actress and advocate of change. As the director of SMU’s Women’s Center, Karen Click was delighted to have Matlin as the keynote speaker for the Women’s Symposium. Click felt the hurdles of Matlin’s life and the work she does for deaf inclusion embodied the vision of the symposium’s founder, the late Emmie V. Baine. “We chose Matlin as our speaker because the total of her life spoke to our theme, ‘Women as Agents of Change,’” Click said. “We wanted to come together and celebrate, reflect and honor those women who have really transformed the planet.” As Matlin approached the podium microphone, she signed

with her hands, “I don’t need this, Jack does.” Jack Jason, her longtime friend and interpreter, accompanied her to the podium where she provided the audience with glimpses of the unglamorous obstacles that made marks in her life’s journey toward success. “I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and life in our house was like an episode of ‘The Brady Bunch.’ You had to keep on, keep on, keep on proving yourself,” Matlin said. Proving to the world that a hearing impaired girl born in the suburbs of Chicago in 1968 was capable of becoming a successful actress despite the ridicule from others and the unsettling emotions she felt about her own impairment. “I battled a drug addiction from the time I was 13 to 21 years old,” Matlin said. “I received my [Oscar] nomination while I was in rehab.” After accepting the nomination and completing rehabilitation, 25 years later Matlin is still sober and still a working actress. What many do not know is that Matlin was not born deaf. She was capable of talking and hearing until she was 18 months old when doctors diagnosed her as profoundly hearing impaired. “What happened, no one really knows,” Matlin said. “My parents were devastated. How could they raise a deaf child?” Doctors then told her parents

See SYMPOSIUM page 5

campus

Invisible Children brings viral video to campus AMANDA COLON, RAHFIN FARUK acolon@smu.edu, rfaruk@smu.edu An international movement for human rights has knocked on the doors of SMU. KONY 2012, an initiative started by the non-profit Invisible Children, wants to bring the actions of Joseph Kony to light. As the leader of Central Africa’s Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony’s recruiting tactics involve the heavy exploitation of abducted children — boys are forced into the military and girls are turned into sex slaves. “Where you live shouldn’t determine whether you live,” Jason Russell, Invisible Children’s co-founder, said in his film “KONY 2012.” The 30-minute production has sparked global interest in Kony. In just a matter of days, the film has received more than 5 million YouTube views. On Wednesday, the Invisible Children campaign stopped at SMU for an awareness screening of the video. “I think our generation is really hungry for activists… [The

movement] encourages college kids like you and me to go out and do something about it and more interestingly gives us an actual deadline to do it,” Ayen Bior, a junior, said. Bior was not the only student to react so strongly to the event. Whether they were unaware of the cause before the screening or not, the line to purchase KONY 2012 T-shirts, bracelets and posters was out the door. Among those who organized the event was a young African woman who served as a guest speaker from Uganda, a woman who saw her own uncle murdered by the Liberation Army. While sharing her story, she expressed her determination to raise awareness in America. The northern region of Uganda is safer now then it was years ago, but Joseph Kony and his rebels are still out there and it is just as important now for them to be stopped as it was years ago. “I think it was great to see how big of a turnout SMU had for the screening. There is a large support group for the Invisible Children at this university” Andrew Byrum, Invisible Children representative, said. The excitement for the cause

upon the conclusion of the awareness screening was prominent as students rushed to the tables to donate money and buy T-shirts. While skepticism of the movement exists, students seemed convinced the cause was worth the attention. In April, students are planning to plaster SMU, the Park Cities and other Dallas areas with KONY 2012 posters to increase awareness about an issue rarely discussed in international discourse. “This is what makes Kony such a critical issue. We are so focused on the here and now that we often forget about important global events that affect hundreds of thousands,” Tyler Douglas Anderson, a political science major, said. “The least we can do is act and let more of the politic know about Joseph Kony and what he represents.” But, not all students agree with Anderson. “We have to look at the whole issue. Is Invisible Children the best organization to donate to? Is mass activism really going to solve the problem? I think people should look at all sides of the issue,” Laura Chen, a sophomore, said.

SPENCER J EGGERS/The Daily Campus

Comedian Will Ferrell addresses an audience in the Hughes-Trigg theater Wednesday evening following a screening of his new Spanish-language film, “Casa de mi Padre.”

Humor on the Hilltop: Will Ferrell comes to campus SPENCER J EGGERS Photo Editor seggers@smu.edu Actor and comedian Will Ferrell visited SMU Wednesday evening to answer a few questions posed by SMU students directly after a screening of his new film, "Casa de mi Padre" in the HughesTrigg Theater. The event was put on by the Office

of Multicultural Student Affairs and the College Hispanic American Students (CHAS) in conjunction with Pantelion Films. Students, faculty and staff had the opportunity to view the new Spanish-language film before its release on March 16. Only two schools, SMU and U.C. Berkley, were granted the opportunity to screen the movie, and of those two, SMU was the only school to receive a

visit from Ferrell himself. Ferrell addressed a full house after the screening ended, discussing a variety of topics ranging from body piercings (or the lack thereof) to the possibility of a “Step Brothers” sequel. Audience members were given the chance to ask the "Anchorman" star questions.

See FERRELL page 5

STYLE

The Daily Campus

FRIDAY n MARCH 9, 2012

what to wear: SPRING nautical

red, white and blue arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just for the Fourth of July

BREAK 2012

tribal

let your wild side show with animal prints and neutral colors

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by Shelby Foster, Style Editor

pull on pops of color as bright as the sun

Cover-up, ViX, $103. Cuff, Bauble Bar, $36. Swimsuit, Norma Kamali, $175. Sandals, Rebecca Minkoff, $125.

Cover-up, Nanette Lepore, $104. Earrings, Bauble Bar, $28. Wedges, Splendid, $118. Bikini, ASOS, $28.

Campus Events FRIDAY

Police Reports SATURDAY

March 9

Sandals, K. Jacques, $252. Swimsuit, ASOS, $170. Cover-up, Tigerlily, $128. Necklace, Pamela Love, $253.

March 10

Saudi Women Day: A discussion on the role of Saudi women in rights discourse and politics in the HughesTrigg Ballroom at noon.

SMU Around the World: A display of SMU people and events around the world in the Fondren Library Center all day.

Unbridled Broadway: In honor of the ongoing SMU Centennial celebation, singers will showcase popular Broadway hits from 1911 through 2012 in the Bob Hope Theatre Lobby at 1 p.m.

Four Centuries of Religious Books for Children: An exploration of a variety of Bibles, hymnbooks and moral works from the 16th through 19th centuries in Bridwell Library all day.

MARCH 6

MARCH 8

8:26 a.m. Boaz Lot/3200 Binkley Avenue. A student was issued a citation and referred to the Student Conduct Office for using a handicapped placard not registered to her. Closed.

4:47 a.m. 6000 Block of Ash Street. The City of Dallas Marshalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office called to report the arrest of three students. One student was arrested for DWI and the other two students were arrested for being intoxicated in public. All students were referred to the Student Conduct Office for the violations. Closed.

11:31 p.m. 6500 Airline Road. A student reported she was struck by a vehicle while she was walking across the crosswalk. Open.

Hilltop News at Your Fingertips

Visit us online at smudailycampus.com

The Daily Campus

SPORTS 3 Mustangs close out season with loss to Marshall

FRIDAY n MARCH 9, 2012 Basketball

SMU falls short to Memphis KELSEY CHARLES Staff Writer kcharles@smu.edu

Qaadir ended with 16 points of her own. Senior forward Jasmine Lee was strong under the basket, pulling down eight rebounds and putting up 10 points. As a team, Memphis scored 28 points in the paint — one third of their final 77-point effort. Despite the loss, several Mustangs stepped up to bring the team within 10 points of the Tigers. They opened the game strong, connecting on five out of their first 12 shots, and were able to hold Memphis to a mere three for 13 from the field. Sophomore Akil Simpson posted her ninth double-double of the season, with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Samantha Mahnesmith ended her college career with a bang, leading SMU in scoring with 15 points. She was three for four behind the arc — placing her at a tie in fifth place at SMU of all time 3-point shots — she had 128. Krystal Johnson came off of the bench to score 11 points, all

The women’s basketball team was knocked out of the Conference USA Championships yesterday after suffering a tough loss to Memphis — the final score was 77-67. The Mustangs left everything they had on the court; their efforts were strong, but not enough to avoid elimination. Memphis, the tournament host, had quite the advantage coming in to the game — they were the No. 2 seed and had previously beaten the Mustangs at home in February 60-55. Memphis had four players that ended with double digits in the game yesterday. Senior Brittany Carter came off the bench and put up an impressive 18 points all while grabbing four rebounds on the run. Forward Nicole Dickson had 17 points and six rebounds, and sophomore guard Bilqis Abdul-

while shooting 50 percent from the three. Alisha Filmore, a key player for the team, only played 10 minutes the entire game — she was injured in a collision with Memphis’ Ramses Lonlack. In her few minutes on the court she had five points, two steals, two assists and a rebound. Memphis capitalized on Filmore’s absence in the second half and forced the Mustangs to pay dearly for their eight turnovers that they committed — adding 12 points off of those steals and scoring eight fast break points. The Tigers scored 24 points throughout the game off of turnovers alone. As a team SMU shot 40 percent from the field and connected on seven of their 16 attempted three-pointers — both significantly higher statistics than their season averages. The ladies ended their season just below the .500 mark, with an overall record of 14-17.

FOOTBALL: Padron moves on Continued from page 1

“There are so many options on any given play that you can score on. It’s easier on the quarterback once you get an understanding of it,” Padron said. His fondest memories as a Mustang include the Hawaii bowl where he was named MVP as well as the many practices he had with his teammates and friends. While the MVP award was a career highlight, Padron’s favorite memory as a Mustang was when students rushed the field after beating UTEP his freshman year to become bowl eligible. “The Hawaii Bowl game was blown out of proportion. A lot of my yards were from Al

or Emmanuel running after the catch and me just throwing it up for them,” Padron said. “Winning that game for Coach Ganz and Coach Jones was the best part,” Padron said. “It’s cool to have the record and the accolades, but it is a team game and the most important thing is getting the win.” His play and quiet leadership on and off the field cement Padron’s place in SMU football history forever. He was one of the leaders on the team and continued to be humble even after he lost his starting role. Quarterback’s coach Dan Morrison remembered one story of just how humble Padron is. “He didn’t tell anyone about

him being named ‘One of the Players to Watch’ in 2010 by the Columbus Touchdown Club after the Hawaii Bowl win. We found out shortly before the awards banquet because he did not tell anyone in the football offices about it,” Morrison said. Padron’s quiet demeanor will serve him well as he moves on to Eastern Washington and his new home. His leadership skills and his endless preparation for games will be one of the reasons why his transition to a new offense and school will go relatively smooth for him. Padron leaves the Hilltop as one of the leaders and key reasons why SMU football is where it is today.

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Jones was 5-6 from the free throw line and finished second all-time for a freshman with 142 free throws. Senior Robert Nyakundi finished his SMU career 15th on the list of all-time leading scorers 1353 points. Nyakundi is also second all-time on the SMU three-pointer list with 267 made. During his final game as a Mustang, Nyakundi shot just 2-10 from behind the arc, an unusual low for the C-USA leading shooter. “Robert is the focus of scouting reports. He didn’t look like he had his legs today for whatever reason,” Doherty said. SMU’s season ends with almost no chance at any postseason tournament bid after going to the CIT last year. With the conclusion of the 2011 to 2012 season SMU set a new record for scoring defense at 60.1 percent and a season-high 6 blocked shots.

A DISTURBING IMAGE AND A CRUDE GESTURE

Experience the difference.

In the first round of the Conference USA Tournament the SMU Mustangs men’s basketball team lost 74-65 to Marshall in Memphis, Tenn. on Wednesday. Senior Rodney Clickscales had a team high of 17 points, marking the third consecutive time he has scored 10 or more points. SMU Head Coach Matt Doherty expected something like this output from Clinkscales. “Rodney’s got that toughness. He’s not afraid of the moment and not afraid to stick his nose in there and he was a bright spot for us today,” Doherty said. Marshall senior Damier Pitts scored all 16 of his points in the second half after SMU came back from a 33-26 deficit at the half to tie it before Pitts went off on his scoring streak. Marshall capitalized on SMU’s

12 turnovers to score 29 points off turnovers to SMU’s five. “We played against men. It was men against boys at times. We didn’t match their toughness inside,” Doherty said after the game. “It’s frustrating. Our guys got better throughout the season and played some of our better basketball at the end of the season and I’m proud of them for that.” SMU finishes the season 13-19 while going 4-12 in conference play. SMU heads into an off-season where the team leaders graduate and the remaining players get ready for another round. “Cannen, Leslee, Ryan, Jalen, all the first-year guys got better. I think this will be good for them,” Doherty said. Three of the top five scorers for the Mustangs were playing in their very first season as a part of the Mustang Nation.

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Column

Sound off strings Orchestra for non majors MONICA HERNANDEZ mnhernandes@smu.edu

Once a week, a small group of stringed-instrument-wielding musicians from every corner of SMU gets together in the choral hall of Meadows School of the Arts to make music in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. That group is known as Mustang Strings, a new orchestra that’s being offered for the first time ever at SMU this year. For those who haven’t heard of it, Mustang Strings is open to anybody who wants to join. It meets on Tuesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to rehearse, and presents a small concert at the end of the semester. Mustang Strings is a very diverse group, consisting of undergraduate and graduate students in numerous areas of studies. Everybody has experience playing instruments, and the orchestra plays a wide variety of classical and contemporary pieces. Here’s my story of how I came to join and love Mustang Strings: I have been playing the violin since I was 11. I started in the introductory sixth grade orchestra program at my school and progressed through middle and high school until I made my way to the top orchestra in the school district in 11th grade. I devoted many hours of rehearsals and individual practice to perfecting my technique with the violin, but I knew that I never wanted to make a career out of it. I faced a predicament when I began planning for college. I wasn’t going to major in music, but I was still very passionate about playing the violin and didn’t want to throw away all the time I had spent practicing by simply abandoning it. What options did I have? I could take my violin to school and practice my own music alone when I had the chance. Or I could leave my violin at home, pick it up over breaks and try to revive my old skills every now and then. Neither option was very appealing. Then I heard about a new group called Mustang Strings that SMU was offering for the first time, and its first semester happened to be my own first semester at SMU. I joined immediately and became a member of the first ever Mustang Strings orchestra last fall, with about a dozen other students who, like me, wanted to continue playing through college. Like most other college kids I know, I have a pretty hectic schedule. Going to Mustang Strings once a week gives me a chance to put aside all of my physical and mental stress, and just focus on making music. I find the whole experience relaxing and energizing, and I always leave rehearsal feeling refreshed and ready to take on even the most daunting pile of homework. Having this opportunity to continue playing violin has also helped me in my studies as a dance major. By paying very close attention to the nuances of a piece of music and studying it more closely as I learn to play it, I can form a deeper connection between music and dance in the studio later. All in all, Mustang Strings is a great experience for any string player. Our group started out very small, but we are continuing to grow as the program gradually gains publicity, and we hope to gain even more members with every new semester. So if you miss playing in an orchestra, come join us next semester for music and fun. Monica is a freshman dance major and arts management minor.

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.

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The Daily Campus

FRIDAY n MARCH 9, 2012

Weekly Daily Campus Debate: Citizens United Ruling DEMOCRAT MICHAEL WILBURN mwilburn@smu.edu The Citizens United ruling has opened Pandora’s ballot box. In the first election since the Citizens United ruling where the Supreme Court overturned law that regulated campaign finance, Super PACs have become a predominant factor in major elections. An article in The Los Angeles Times reports, “Much of the focus on super PACs has been on their ability to raise unlimited sums from a cadre of super-rich donors. Less attention has been paid to how they use their money and the fact that they do not have to contend with the same kind of internal scrutiny as the candidates and political parties they support.” The Citizens United ruling granted corporations some of the same rights as people when it comes to campaign contributions. Utter chaos has ensued from this ruling, as one can observe in the latest Republican presidential race. The voice of the average voter is not being heard by most of the candidates. Citizens United has muted the voice of the average person. Statistics taken from the Huffington Post show that “Super PACs, in existence for the first time in a presidential race thanks to the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United v. FEC decision, are disproportionately funded by a handful of donors. USA Today analyzed super PAC donations since Jan. 1, 2011, and found that one out of every four dollars came from just five spectacularly wealthy donors.” Allowing unlimited campaign contributions corrupts the government. If a certain lobby pays for a campaign, that candidate has to answer to them. This has led to elected officials fighting for their lobby, and not focusing on governing their constituencies. Citizens United allows for corporations to run the United States if they choose, allowing the wealthiest entities to influence elections as they see fit. I view the government as a

system to maintain order and serve the best interest of the people. I am not a constitutional originalist. I believe that the Supreme Court should reinterpret the constitution to best fit modern times while keeping the spirit and ideas of a democratic society in mind. But I believe this case is one where you would want to stick with the framers intent. Instead of giving guidance to help our country, the Supreme Court has just created more problems. Citizens United goes against the basic ideas that were intended to separate American democracy from an oligarchy. The original idea was for the citizenry to have their voices heard through their representatives. This can be found in the Declaration of Independence “to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Corporations are not governed like citizens, so therefore the government should not derive their power from them. One reason for the gridlock that plagues our government is the influence of special interest groups. Citizens United helped entrench the power of special interest. Reforming campaign finance and how officials are elected is the first step toward improving the bitter partisanship in our government. The United States is dangerously close to becoming an oligarchy unless people vote intelligently in upcoming elections. Maybe once the influence of wealth is lessened, then government officials will make the compromises needed to run an effective government. Michael is a freshman majoring in human rights and political science with minors in Arabic and religious studies.

REPUBLICAN PAUL KROEGER OPINION EDITOR pkroeger@smu.edu On Jan. 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court made a 5-4 decision that the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act) was unconstitutional. The McCain-Feingold Act restricted expenditures from corporations and unions. In effect, corporations and unions are now free to spend money freely through political action committees (PACs). The decision was just because it rested on one of our democracy’s most central tenants: the First Amendment. The McCain-Feingold Act prevented organizations from speaking their minds in the political sphere. Corporations were previously covered under the First Amendment, so this decision was only a continuation of the Supreme Court’s previous stances. In the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy called attention to the fact that Congress cannot “fine or jail citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech.” In effect, Justice Kennedy granted corporations the same right to speech to which people are entitled. Furthermore, the McCainFeingold Act allowed media corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to spread their opinions about candidates, while non-media businesses were restricted from spending more than a set amount of money to share their opinions on candidates. As campaign finance attorney Cleta Mitchell pointed out, “The real victims of the corporate expenditure ban have been nonprofit advocacy organizations across the political spectrum.” Why should media organizations be permitted to endorse candidates whenever it suits them when other corporations are subjected to restrictions on political speech within so many days of an election? Before the Citizens United ruling, there was a dangerously blurred line between media corporations

and other corporations that could potentially be used to suppress certain endorsements and criticisms, but not others. Now corporations and unions are also able to broadcast their views freely, so the political playing field is now more equal. Furthermore, campaign donations themselves are a form of free speech. By donating to a candidate or a PAC, one makes a political statement. After the Citizens United ruling, corporations, unions and individual citizens could legally contribute unlimited amounts of money into one PAC. These broadly funded PACs have been labeled as super PACs. To preserve campaign integrity, super PACs are still not allowed to communicate with a particular candidate. As a result, a PAC can influence an election, but candidates still have individual limits to campaign contributions. This preserves the integrity of the electoral system, but allows citizens and companies to highlight issues and stances that are particularly important to them. One of the most common challenges to the Citizens United ruling is the categorization of corporations as people. But the Court did not rule that corporations get all of the rights that people get. The decision merely allowed corporations, which are composed of people, to present their political views. We cannot allow our national fear of class division and symbols of wealth to cloud our understanding of the First Amendment. The Citizens United ruling merely upheld the vital role of free speech. Our regular Republican contributor, Tucker Keene, was unavailable to write this week, so I will write the conservative side for this issue. I do not necessarily hold this opinion, but I will do my best to represent the general Republican view of the Citizen’s United decision. Paul is the Opinion Editor. He is a sophomore majoring in voice performance.

Reap rewards by putting self second BRAD RAY bray@smu.edu I think we can all agree that the world is kind of sucky. There is enough wrong with it. The world doesn’t need our help to make the situation worse than it is. Life’s too short to spend it angry. Instead, if you’re unhappy with something, try and make it better. Fixing “little things” can make a huge difference to the people they affect. For instance, Engineers Without Borders is doing something pretty awesome over spring break. The students are going to a tiny village in Guatemala to start installation of a water tank and piping system. The village has a spring, but no way to safely store water. A good friend of mine is on the first team, which is going to start the installation and leave

some work for the villagers. Then, a few months later at the start of summer, a second group will visit and finish the job. How cool is that? It’s people like this that truly make a difference in the world, and I think that’s awesome. One of my favorite examples of someone who puts others first is the Lamplighter in “The Little Prince.” By the way, if you have gotten this far in life and have not read “The Little Prince,” you should stop everything you are currently doing and read it. Anyway, the Lamplighter is one of the people that the Little Prince meets on his journey. This man puzzles the Little Prince because he finds him much less absurd than any of the others he has met thus far (including a greedy businessman, a hopeless drunk and a ridiculous king to name a few). The Lamplighter has a simple job. He lights the

lamp at night and puts it out in the morning. The only problem is that a day on his planet is only a minute long and thus his job is quite tiresome. A lot of people see the Lamplighter as someone who blindly follows what they are told without question. I however, have always seen him as someone who fulfills his duty and puts others above himself and his own desires. His job is hard, no doubt, but he reaps great rewards by putting others above himself. The Little Prince notes that the businessman, the king, the drunk and all the rest of the people he met would look down on the Lamplighter for his selflessness and humility. The Little Prince, however, notes that the Lamplighter was the only person he had met that, “did not seem to me ridiculous. Perhaps that is because he is

thinking of something else besides himself.” And the great rewards I mentioned earlier? Well, because of the quick rotation of his planet that led to his tedious burden, the Lamplighter (and the Little Prince who visited him) got to experience 1440 sunrises every day. Side note: I don’t know if you’ve ever witnessed a beautiful sunrise, but it is pretty awesome. Wake up early one day and watch the sun rise over White Rock Lake. Then perhaps, the Little Prince’s final thoughts of the Lamplighter will make a bit more sense. If we had a few more people like the Lamplighter, the world would be a much better place. Brad is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.

The Daily Campus

NEWS

FRIDAY n MARCH 9, 2012

finance

Don’t bank on banks

RAHFIN FARUK News Editor rfaruk@smu.edu

SPENCER J EGGERS/The Daily Campus

Will Ferrell gives his best impression of Harry Caray, as made famous by his popular SNL sketch.

FERRELL: Star

Financial efficacy is necessary in an increasingly global economy. Knowledge about personal budgeting, tips and savings are critical to survive in the short term –paycheck-to-paycheck and monthto-month. But, if one successfully follows the steps to a financial future, an entirely new dilemma arises: how can one grow savings in the long run? Sitting money is the worst form of money. With inflation, which

decreases the value of your money as time progresses, a $100 today might turn into only $90 in ten years. Inflation increases the prices of goods and services and results in a decrease of the purchasing value of money. In 1931, Babe Ruth made $80,000 per year. He had the wealth equivalent to a millionaire today. What would have happened if he had simply put that money in the bank? With an interest rate of 3 percent compounded once a year, his 1931 salary would have been the equivalent of approximately $877,000.

Money that sits in the bank accumulates interest ever year. Interest — a fee paid on borrowed funds — can grow original wealth to a certain degree. For students, who make much less than any professional athlete, the same principle applies. If a freshman places $4,000 in the bank, the same formula will return her of $4,502 when she graduates. There are easier ways to make money than relying on a financial institution and its interest rates. Bonds, stocks and portfolios are all places to invest. While the risk is higher, the return is greater. The average corporate bond has

double to triple the interest rate of a traditional bank. Stocks can return triple to quadruple what an average bond does if smart investment decisions are made. And the risk can be mitigated through diversification – investing in bonds and stocks in multiple industries and sectors. For students entering into the workforce, knowledge about how to grow a paycheck is critical in an economy where job security is not the norm. In times of emergency, everyone will benefit from not only better spending habits but also greater wealth generation techniques.

determination to raise Matlin as a normal kid regardless of her impairment eventually rubbed off. “My parents showed me that if I had the will, the desire and most importantly the opportunity to make a change happen for myself, despite what people thought of me, I could be whatever I wanted to be,” Matlin said. Symposium attendee and SMU senior environmental engineering major Ingrid Castillo admired the willingness and desire Matlin expressed. She felt empowered by Matlin’s message. “I agree with this idea that if

you will it then it will happen,” Castillo said. “You don’t need someone else’s approval. It was important to see and witness a strong independent woman.” Although Matlin’s parents raised her to be independent and fight for what she wanted, she admits her mother was not always convinced that going to Hollywood and becoming an actress was ideal. “In her mind, no one would ever give a deaf woman a chance in Hollywood,” Matlin said. “I was determined to follow my dreams and fight for what I wanted.” After receiving a Golden

Globe and later the infamous pitydepicted Academy Award, Matlin has achieved more than she ever envisioned including four Emmy nominations, two People’s Choice Awards and numerous other award nominations. She’s also a wife and mother to four children, and she credits her parents for instilling in her the fight she needed to dream big and define her own destiny. “Life is about having the courage to dream and affect change despite what barriers are out there,” Matlin said. “No matter how society labels us, in the end success comes as it can to anyone.”

promotes new movie, SYMPOSIUM: Women, agents of change ‘Casa de mi Padre’ Continued froM page 1

Continued froM page 1

While some chose more serious questions such as what advice Ferrell could give to burgeoning comedians, others chose more humorous alternatives such as, "could you please rub my wife's pregnant belly?" (Which he promptly agreed to do). During his brief time in the Hughes-Trigg theater, Ferrell spoke about his encounter with President George W. Bush during his time doing impressions of the thenpresidential candidate on "Saturday Night Live" and even stirred some excitement with an impression of the former president. When provoked, the comedian even took the time to revive an old

impression from his storied past — that of late-Major League Baseball television personality Harry Caray, an impersonation made famous from the recurring "SNL" sketch. After about 30 minutes of dialog, Ferrell's publicity representative called the session to an end and, escorted by SMU police officers, Ferrell left the scene amidst the screams of college-aged fans and the flash of hundreds of hand-held point-and-shoot cameras. Ferrell expressed his gratitude, wished the audience well and made an attempt at the "pony up" sign — but not before exclaiming, "Go USC!"

that Matlin should attend a school for the deaf. Her parents were never satisfied with that idea because they did not want their child to go to bed each night without having someone to tell her they loved her. So instead they defied the doctors and raised Matlin at home. “In 1968, it was a novel concept to send a deaf child to a hearing school,” Matlin said. “My parents encouraged me to explore and be independent. Sometimes I got a little too independent, but it was all a part of growing up deaf or not.” Her parents’ defiance and

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The Daily Campus

FRIDAY n MARCH 9, 2012

>> SPRING BREAK AT THE MOVIES >> written and designed by Chase Wade

>> ‘John Carter’ not out of this world

>> Jason Segel and Ed Helms on being on-screen brothers [Ed] How similar [Ed] Describe Q: are you to your Q:your character character?

Pat in the movie?

I don’t think I’m quite as dysfunctional as this guy, at least I hope not, but I do share that kind of struggle to be a better person.

Pat is someone who is very desperate to portray himself as someone who has their stuff together when he really doesn’t have his stuff together in any fashion.

[Jason] What was it like working with actress Susan Sarandon?

I was in awe the whole time. Anytime you get to work with someone you have admired for so long, there is a little part of you that feels like you’ve made it. Like you are coming up in the world.

For a budding sci-fi franchise flick, “John Carter” is sort of spacey. In fact, the first thirty minutes of the movie is spent telling the main character’s bulky back-story. Disney certainly took a risk when giving the $250 million flick the green light, but will it pay off ? Probably not. “John Carter” centers around a former Confederate soldier who lands on the planet Mars after encountering a magical (or scientific?) medallion.

[Jason] What challenges did you face when it came to filming?

logically and I gained 25 pounds during the movie.

as Dejah and John try to uncover the secret known as the “Ninth ray.” Perhaps “Carter’s” biggest problem comes with the bulk of information the audience must learn about the movie’s characters. It’s almost as if Disney should have supplied encyclopedias for the audience beforehand. Playing the title character is Taylor Kitsch. Kitsch, a regular on the small screen, makes a fine transition in his first lead movie role. With enough grit and grime to pull of the sometimes-unlikeable Carter, Kitsch shows that even 30 year olds can tackle the most

physically demanding roles. “John Carter’s” biggest flaw comes within the simple realm of storytelling. The movie’s writer/ director, Andrew Stanton (the Pixar genius behind “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E”) underestimates his audiences’ IQ as he spends far too much time explaining each character’s back-story. While Edgar Rice Burroughs’s “John Carter” series may have been the inspiration for such famous films like “Star Wars” and “Avatar,” the big-budget movie adaption is certainly in need of a muse.

A childhood dream come true

much A: asWeweshotcouldaschrono-

On the red planet, Carter discovers that due to lesser gravitational pull, he is gifted with almost super-human powers. Carter uses his powers to aid in the 1000-year war that is happening on Mars. Initially Carter is captured by enormous green creatures that are treated as refugees on the planet. Upon escape, Carter falls in love with Dejah, the gorgeous princess of Helium. Dejah is played Lynn Collins. Collins’ rendition of the princess is too heavy and almost laughably stoic. The remainder of “John Carter” takes its audience deep into Mars

READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH ‘JOHN CARTER’S’

TAYLOR KITSCH ONLINE

For almost 35 years, director Andrew Stanton has been reading Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “John Carter” book series. The 1970 sci-fi series paints the world of tattooed Martians, enormous green creatures and the super-human Earthling sent to save them. After Stanton’s success with films like “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E” Disney made Stanton’s childhood dreams come true when they offered the animator a chance to write and direct “John Carter” for the big screen. “I’ve read the books my whole life. I’m probably one of the more rabid fans,” Stanton said. “I told Disney I’d be happy to make it once I finished ‘WALL-E’ and suddenly they said yes.” To write the story, Stanton enlisted the help of friends Mark Andrew and Micheal Chabon to turn the series’ first three books

into a feature lengthed movie. “I don’t like to write by myself. I need objectivity, I need people to bounce stuff off of,” Stanton said. “I’m always smarter and funnier when I’m working with somebody else, so I got myself two people that were huge lovers of the books growing up as well. Not only did I get better writing by having these two guys there, but I had people that knew all the material and cared about it.” Perhaps Stanton’s biggest challenge was transitioning from the world of animation to the world of live-action film. While the two genres may seem to be very different, Stanton looks at them as one. “People think that when you work on an animated film that you’re talking to a bunch of computers,” Stanton said. “I actually talk to two hundred people every day when I’m working on an

animated film.” While Stanton may have used “John Carter” as his first live-action platform, the director was able to utilize his work on animated films on the set as well. “Making ‘John Carter’ was like making two movies,” Stanton said. “One was the live-action side that took almost a year to make and then we had to go back and add the computer graphics to the film. Half of my main characters were computer generated.” Even though Stanton’s childhood dreams may have been fulfilled with “John Carter,” it was the story’s driving theme that really spoke to him. “There’s a timeless human aspect about ‘John Carter.’ It’s about having a person find their purpose in life who was misguided to begin with,” Stanton said. “I think that’s what all of us are searching to do.”

>> Talking more than Eddie Murphy Clark Duke shares stories from ‘One thousand words’

How was it working with Eddie Murphy?

>> ‘Casa de mi padre’ Ferrell’s finest The premises of a spaghetti western, a Spanish novella and Will Ferrell’s signature comedy all combine to make “Casa de mi padre,” Ferrell’s first foray into the Spanish-speaking world. Ferrell plays Armando Alvarez, a simple Mexican rancher who spends his days tending to his family’s farm. Alvarez’ simple life is taken for a spin when the rancher’s drug-dealing brother comes into town bringing trouble along the way. Like most of Ferrell’s movies, “Casa de mi padre” doesn’t

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take itself too seriously. From the set, the dialogue and even the plot, “Casa de mi padre” is a not-so-serious look at a very serious problem. At times, “Casa de mi padre” borders on being political, but as soon as the story starts to gain some substance, a comedic antic knocks it down a peg or two. Even though “Casa de mi padre” may not be the world’s most serious film, it certainly is funny. From Ferrell’s thick Hispanic accent to a plethora of animatronic animals, “Casa

de mi padre” defied typical Hollywood convention to deliver one of the funniest movies of the year. With a relatively unknown cast, director Matt Piedmont constructs a solid team of both American and Mexican stars that mesh well under Ferrell’s wing. Andrew Steele, the film’s writer, combines political commentary and classic crudeness to deliver a fastpaced story that doesn’t give its audience a chance to blink. Ferrell stays within his

wheelhouse of familiar characteristics when tackling the role of Armando Alvarez and just like most of his roles, Ferrell provides an abundance of quotable one-liners. While some missteps were made in the film (particularly Ferrell’s journey back to life after being shot) “Casa de mi padre” is a solid comedy with cross-cultural appeal. Considering that the movie is playing in more screens in Mexico then it is in America, expect for some interesting boxoffice numbers.

Working with Eddie was great. I’ve been watching him on Saturday Night Live tapes since I was a little kid.

What was the hardest film to scene in the movie?

There was one scene in the movie where I had to imitate Eddie at a meeting. It was pretty hard to give a really bad impression of Eddie Murphy right in front of him.

You’ve had a lot of roles in major motion pictures lately, how does it feel to gain such quick stardom?

Quite honestly, it doesn’t feel like a quick rise to stardom as I’ve been in Los Angeles for almost a decade trying to make it in the business.

>> MOVE WITH THE MOVIES AT AMSTAR 14 Imagine speeding away in “Fast & Furious,” fighting in “The Hunger Games,” joining the crowds in “John Carter.” As a moviegoer, you usually sit back and watch the story unfold, but a new technology now available in local theater AmStar 14, lets you experience the movements and actions for yourself. AmStar 14 is the first in Dallas to host a revolutionary addition to the movie experience: D-Box. The D-Box system allows you to engage with the movie as your seat vibrates and tilts with the actions on screen. “We add a new element to the moviegoing experience by creating motion effects as close as possible to everything you would feel if you were right there in that scene,” Amy La Sala of D-Box Motion Code said. The seat has been programmed to move or vibrate in timing with the movie in a motion that is exhilarating, but also smooth and comfortable. AmStar 14 offers 25 seats with D-Box technology. Currently, the theater is showing Disney’s new movie “John Carter” in D-Box, and next up is the long-awaited “The Hunger Games.” - compiled by: Katelyn Hall.