DC042312 by The DC

INSIDE

A trip to the Farmer’s Market Welcome Brown at Moody The sprinklers are on ... again

‘The Hunger Games’ fall

PAGE 2 PAGE 5

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

MONDAY

APRIL 23, 2012

MONDAY High 79, Low 48 TUESDAY High 73, Low 52

VOLUME 96 ISSUE 85 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS

president’s briefing

Turner celebrates SMU’s achievements JAN ANDERSON Copy Editor jnanderson@smu.edu

SPENCER J EGGERS/The Daily Campus

Rev. Dr. Stephen Rankin, Student body President Austin Prentice, Dr. Lori White, Caren Prothro, Dr. R. Gerald Turner, Ruth Altshuler, Carl Sewel and Dr. Paul Ludden break ground at the residential commons complex groundbreaking and dedication ceremony Friday afternoon in Doak Walker Plaza.

100 years and counting, SMU breaks ground

SARAH KRAMER Editor in Chief skramer@smu.edu Despite the rain Friday afternoon, Board of Trustee member Carl Sewell ('66) remarked that the reign of President R. Gerald Turner continues into SMU’s next 100 years. Members of the Dallas community joined SMU students,

administration and alumni to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Residential Commons and dedicate the Centennial Cornerstone during the second annual Founder’s Day Weekend. The Residential Commons, which is scheduled to open in 2014, will consist of five residential buildings that will house 1,250 first and second year students as well as faculty.

It will also contain a “It creates a new and innovative shared dining hall and a living and learning experience for parking structure. generations to come,” Dr. Lori “The Residential Complex White, vice president of student really helps identify a tie between affairs, said. student life and academic life,” “It’s the perfect way to mark Turner said. the century.” This multi-million dollar Noting that a residential complex will create a stronger commons is not uncommon sense of community for in universities striving for freshmen and sophomores, while higher education, Provost Paul supporting and sustaining See CENTENNIAL on Page 6 student development.

metropolitan

north te x as

Polo on wheels rolls into Texas CHARLES SCOTT Contributing Writer clscott@smu.edu Take a little bit of bike dork, mix it in with a pinch of jock, and what do you get? A “hardcourt” Bicycle Polo player. Dallas is home to more than 100 of them. Hardcourt Bicycle Polo has reached a new level of popularity in recent years, Dylan Holt, a veteran of the sport and a founder of the Dallas Bicycle Polo club, said. “It’s not just a fringe thing anymore. Social networking has a lot to do with it,” he said. “Thanks to Facebook and Twitter, the explosion of the game over the past five or six years has proven to make it a lot more popular.” Hardcourt Bicycle Polo is played either on a street-hockey or tennis court. The rules vary by city; here in Dallas, it’s played 3 on 3. Players ride on bicycles and use mallets made out of ski polls and

plastic tubing. Like horse polo, players try to hit a ball through the opposing team’s goal; in the hardcourt game a hockey ball is used. At the beginning of a game, one player from each team charges the middle of the court — called “the joust” — to battle for possession of the ball. The first team to score five points wins. The origins of bicycle pplo date back further than most may expect: The game was invented in 1891 by a retired Irish cyclist named Richard Mecredy, except it was played on a grass surface, not a hard one. Grass court bicycle polo was a demonstration sport at the 1908 London Olympics. Today the grass game is no longer played, replaced instead by the surge of hardcourt’s popularity. Holt and the rest of the Dallas Bike Polo club use a Facebook group called “Dallas Bike Polo” to organize their pick-up games and upcoming tournament schedules. The Facebook group is “good

Before a nearly full crowd of donors and alumni in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Theatre Friday evening, President R. Gerald Turner delivered the President’s Briefing. Turner’s speech celebrated the achievements SMU has made in the last century. He began his briefing discussing the university’s “Community and Economic Impact” on the city of Dallas. It is estimated that SMU’s annual spending impact is $7 billion. SMU’s president then discussed new spending on campus — the university is projected to expand in multiple ways in the next decade. Approximately $500 million in construction is happening on the southeast corner of the campus. The Park Cities Plaza will also undergo renovations. Its exterior will be redone with bricks to match the SMU campus. Turner and other administrators are hoping that new development will continue to increase SMU’s academic and diversity rankings. The student body is expected to be 25 percent minority with 50 percent of students coming from outside of Texas. In the last 15 years, the average SAT score of students

has increased almost 135 points. SAT scores and diversity rankings are key to SMU’s overall perception as an academic institution — a key part of US News annual university rankings. SMU has rose more than forty spots in the rankings in the last two decades. Rankings have dramatically increased student quality at SMU. More than 200 student athletes received academic honors from Conference USA for having GPAs of 3.0 and above. Turner said that SMU would continue to improve on the quality of education its students receive. Next year, SMU will unveil a new undergraduate curriculum. The curriculum will include a keystone senior project for all students. The campus is improving on many fronts. The Bush Presidential Library will open next spring, and the Meadows Museum of Art will have six new paintings on loan from the Prado Museum in Spain next year. SMU will continue to raise funds to fund all of its new projects. It has now met 81 percent of its $750 million Second Century fundraising campaign goal. “I am excited about all the new changes happening on campus. It’s a great time to be at SMU,” Mehdi Hami, a first year who attended the event, said. “I can only imagine what the campus is going to look like when I graduate.”

for organizing,” Joseph Standley, another Bicycle Polo player, said. “It’s good to see if people are up to play. It’s a quick way to check that kinda thing.” Interest in the hardcourt game increased dramatically in 2007, leading to the creation of North American Hardcourt in 2010, which Holt describes as “the sanctioning body” for bicycle polo throughout North America. North American Hardcourt is an organization thats main goal is to address the concerns of the rapidly growing bicycle polo community, according to its website. “They set the rules, schedules for qualifiers,” Holt said. There are currently 163 registered hardcourt bicycle polo clubs throughout the United States, according to leagueofbikepolo. com, a community website that players from across the globe use to communicate. Today, hardcourt Bicycle Polo

See POLO on Page 6

No-kill animal shelter opens new big-breed dog kennel LAURA C. MURPHY Contributing Writer lmurphy@smu.edu It used to be that the dogs at Operation Kindness in Carrollton were crammed in small rooms. Today, the pups have spacious new digs: a 2,000 square foot brick building with a private courtyard that would have any dog howling. North Texas’ oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter recently opened its new kennel exclusively for large dogs. The new building, called Bear’s Den, will allow Operation Kindness to save an additional 600 dogs each year. The new addition has increased capacity for small dogs by 50 percent by making room in the smaller kennels. Donor Norma Carney

LAURA C. MURPHY/The Daily Campus

The new 2,000 square foot brick building exclusively for large dogs is named after Bear, a Great Pyrenees adopted from Operation Kindness.

made Bear’s Den a reality for the shelter, donating $250,000 for the expansion. Carney wanted to help the shelter after she and her husband adopted their Great Pyrenees, Bear,

from Operation Kindness eight and a half years ago. “I wanted to make it possible

See KENNEL on Page 6

FOOD

The Daily Campus

MONDAY n APRIL 23, 2012 Review

GUIDE

Pause for breakfast, lunch at Southpaw’s Organic Cafe

Spend your weekend at the Dallas Farmers Market

KATE PETTY Food Editor kpetty@smu.edu This modest, cafe-style restaurant is hidden away in Preston Center, but is making a big name for itself among health food aficionados. Southpaw’s boasts a menu of sandwiches, salads and smoothies that good for you in a multitude of ways. Their sandwich meats are nitrate free and preservative, as is their bread, which is dairyfree as well. It’s up for debate whether their whole ingredient list is organic, but at least fifty items are, according their website. And though every dish isn’t remarkably healthy, Southpaw’s plays it honest by detailing calorie, protein and carbohydrate information for each menu item. Beyond being good for you, the food at Southpaw’s tastes pretty good too. A wide range of foods are available, including avocado bowls: half of an avocado filled with your choice of hummus,

SPENCER J EGGERS/The Daily Campus

Southpaw’s Organic Cafe is located in Preston Center near Northwest Highway and Douglas Avenue.

tabbouleh or tuna. The largest portion of the menu, however, is devoted to sandwiches with a wide range of flavors. On the sweet side of spectrum are fun variations on PB&J’s, such as the Soopaman, which is made with sliced

bananas, vanilla-almond granola and agave nectar. More savory options include the Pavo Guacamole sandwich, which combines turkey, swiss cheese, mixed greens, tomatoes and spicy guacamole. For $7.25, you get a decent sized sandwich and a few

Campus Events

pieces of fresh sliced fruit on the side. Because the restaurant is so small, lunch time can get crowded quickly. Fortunately, the crowd splits between Southpaw’s Preston Center location and their second location in Uptown.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Coach Larry Brown Celebration: SMU celebrates its new basketball coach in Moody Coliseum at noon.

Student Senate Inauguration: Recently elected student body officers and senators are inaugurated in the Hughes-Trigg Commons at 3 p.m.

Collegiate Recovery Community Support Group: A meeting for recovering alcoholics in the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports Conference Room at 6 p.m.

Human Rights Coffee House: An informal coffee discussion for human rights professors, students and activists in the Hughes-Trigg commons at 7:30 p.m.

pring is in full bloom. The weather is beautiful and all you need is an excuse to be outside and enjoy it. For a nice change of pace, try the Dallas Farmers Market. Located down on Pearl Street, it’s close enough to go on a whim, yet once you’re there you feel a world away from campus. The market isn’t just for purchasing plants and produce. Feel free to meander through the stalls, sampling the local fruits, veggies and homemade goodies. The real draw of the market is the specialty food building. Inside you will find a vast assortment of locally made food and treats. There are canned fruits, made-from-scratch jellies, and homemade fudges and breads. For lunch, plan on a stop at the Old World Deli, which has an array of creative versions of hot dogs and sandwiches. The hot dogs are served with their version of relish that falls

somewhere between a sweet pickle relish and jalapeno jelly. Perhaps their best offering, however, is the Reuben. The sandwich is served open faced with a very generous portion of corned beef atop two slices of rye bread, a heaping mound of sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and a drizzle of their specialty dressing. All these ingredients combine to form a huge sandwich, definitely big enough to share, all for only $6.99. After sampling desserts from various vendors, make a final stop at Ain’t No Mo! Butter Cakes. This cleverly named kiosk is owned and operated by a husband and wife duo who know a thing or two about cake baking. At least a dozen varieties of individual serving cakes are available, along with a wide assortment of toppings including strawberry, dulce de leche, caramel, lemon and many more. While the Dallas Farmers Market may be a trek for some who are more fond of the Park Cities area, fresh food and stellar dishes awaits those who aren’t afraid to travel.

Police Reports APRIL 18

April 23

KATE PETTY Food Editor kpetty@smu.edu

April 24

Mr. and Mrs. SMU Bodybuilding Contest: SMU students partake in a weight lifting contest in the HughesTrigg Theater at 6 p.m.

April 25

Blues for Mister Charlie by James Baldwin: A play dedicated to the memory of murdered civil rights activist Medgar Evans in the Greer Garson Theatre at 8 p.m.

Pi Beta Phi/3101 Daniel Avenue. A student reported theft of her bicycle. The theft occurred sometime between 4/17 7:00 p.m. - 4/18 7:45 a.m. Open.

Peyton Parkway. A student reported he was assaulted in his dorm room. Open.

Law Parking Garage/3330 Daniel Avenue. A student reported some unknown person keyed his vehicle causing damage to his vehicle. Open.

APRIL 19 12:08 a.m. Mary Hay Hall/3323 Peyton Pkwy. A student was issued a University Park citation and referred to the Student Conduct Office for being intoxicated in a public place and for possessing drug paraphernalia. Closed.

APRIL 20 1:30 a.m. Boaz Hall/3200 Binkley Avenue. A student was referred to the Student Conduct Office for underage drinking. Closed.

The Daily Campus

ARTS

MONDAY n APRIL 23, 2012

BOX OFFICE

OPER A

‘The Magic Flute’ mystifies audiences Paul Kroeger Opinion Editor pkroeger@smu.edu

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Steve Harvey’s book adaption “Think Like a Man,” won over audiences and the weekend with $33 million.

‘Hunger Games’ dethroned CHASE WADE Managing Editor cdwade@smu.edu Katniss Everdeen may able to survive brutal combat, but she can’t make it as a four week box office victor. In a surprisingly strong surge, Sony’s “Think Like a Man” proved estimates wrong and debuted to the tune of $33 million. Studios expected the film to debut to almost half that amount. Coming in behind “Think Like

a Man” was Zac Efron’s “The Lucky One” with $22.3 million. “The Hunger Games” concluded its stellar box office run as it earned $14.5 million, ending its three-week run as box office champion. However, don’t write “The Hungers Games” off, the film still managed to be gross $357 million worldwide. In other news, DisneyNature’s “Chimpanzee” garnered the best opening for the brand ever as it earned $10.2 million in its opening weekend.

Dallas Opera's recent production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's “Die Zauberflöte” (“The Magic Flute”) truly is opera for the masses. Resplendent with entertaining and surprising special effects, a high level of musicianship and a tasteful and appropriate storybook milieu, Dallas Opera's production is sure to please audiences of any age. Today, it is all too easy to think of opera as an elitist art form that is inaccessible to the common man. However, in Mozart's day, opera buffa, or comic opera, was a genre of opera that served as entertainment to a burgeoning Enlightenment middle class. Some comic operas were similar to our slapstick comedies with cheesy acting, predictable plots and raunchy humor. “The Magic Flute” has a combination of comic and serious elements that make the plot and heroic characters compelling, but keeps the overall feel of comedy throughout the opera. In brief, the opera is a fairytale love story. Tamino, a prince, meets the Queen of the Night, whose

daughter was taken prisoner by the evil Sarastro. With the help of his comically incapable sidekick, Papageno, Tamino rescues and falls in love with the Queen's daughter, Pamina. Meanwhile, Papageno finds a girl named Papagena. However, the characters quickly realize that Sarastro is actually the good figure. In a series of tests, Tamino and Papageno prove themselves honorable and strong, and the opera ends happily with the Queen banished to hell and the main characters reunited with their lovers. Shawn Mathey plays a capable and endearing Tamino. His voice handles melismatic passages with ease, though he sounded slightly forced on occasion. He is convincingly brave and certainly looks the part of a prince. Patrick Carfizzi is a natural as Papageno. Carfizzi consistently has the audience in stitches, and he sings Papageno's comic arias with panache. L'ubica Vargicova plays the Queen of the Night. The role is notorious for its difficulty. The Queen is only on stage for a small amount of time, but every appearance is brutally high with angular melismas. Vargicova's

coloratura is impressive and clear, though her voice thins towards the top of her range, and she couldn't quite get the high notes in her famous aria. Ava Pine is charming and endearing as Pamina. She displays remarkable control in dynamic. Raymond Aceto's Sarasto is stoically benevolent and strong. Aceto's voice is consistently rich and impressive. Surprisingly, the three ladies, who attend the Queen of the Night, sung by Caitlin Lynch, Lauren McNeese and Maya Lahyani are both entertainingly funny and musically adept. The trio nearly always sing in unison rhythms, which presents the danger of ensemble problems if a singer is slightly ahead or behind the others. But Dallas Opera's ladies were perfectly together and in tune the entire performance. Angel Mannino played her role as Papagena well. The carefully choreographed staging in this production adds to the performance. The three ladies are staged in a detailed manner that enhances their individual characters. In addition, the production is lush with special effects. Flowers pop out of the stage, characters shoot flames

from their hands, ships fly overhead and water spouts from a moving stone lion. The orchestra, normally strictly omitted from a drama, plays a role in the opera. When Papageno is running away in fear, he is blocked by on stage explosions. Finally, he runs toward the orchestra pit, where he is greeted by a flurry of raised bows and a collective "zurück" ("back"). The orchestra played well, although a few exposed sections in the violins were slightly out of tune on opening night. Overall, Dallas Opera's “The Magic Flute” is highly entertaining. Opera purists might be offended by the production's flaunting of convention, but I'm quite certain that Mozart would be pleased with Dallas Opera's interpretation. After all, The Magic Flute was meant to be a fun opera. There isn't any reason to miss this production. On Saturday Dallas Opera is broadcasting the performance to the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on the world's largest HD screen. Tickets and parking are free. Otherwise, students can get best available rush tickets for $25 and $50.

Since 1951

U 4070 N Central Expwy Dallas, TX 75204

Stow & Go is proud to offer the “Pony Special” Come in today to claim your special that includes: $29 Move-In, 5 free boxes & Special Pricing on Penske Trucks.

Go Mustangs!

Join Us for the U Arise Spring 2012 Lecture Series This Thursday! Join nationally-recognized experts as they share their insight and experience in powerful 15-minute presentations and Q&A on relevant topics including ADD, anger, forgiveness, loneliness and depression PLUS Coach June Jones will be sharing his personal story.

Kerby Anderson

Dr. Rick Fowler

Coach June Jones

June Hunt

No cost to attend. Includes free boxed lunch.* COME AND GO OR STAY* WORKSHOPS WHEN

April 26th

WHERE

The Mustang Auditorium Lower Level Loyd Bldg

TIME

10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Hosted by the SMU Football Department To View the Schedule or to Register, go to uarise.org/register by Tuesday the 24th.

www.watsontaylorselfstorage.com

* First Come, First Served. Seating is Limited.

UArise SMU Ad.indd 1

4/19/12 9:17 AM

OPINION

The Daily Campus

MONDAY n APRIL 23, 2012

Stay ‘Hungry’ for reading BRANDON BUB bbub@smu.edu Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Kramer Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chase Wade SMU-TV News Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie Brown, Meredith Carlton Assignments Desk Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tashika Varma 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, Meghan Sikkel, Katie Tufts Video Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer Dashe, Eric Sheffield, Kent Koons

Advertising Staff Advertising Sales Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Alvrus, Paige Evans, Audra Fulp, Sean Gatz Classified Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demetrio Teniente Marketing Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bree Ungar Sales Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hillary Johnson

Production Staff Advertising Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riane Alexander, Kelsey Cordutsky Nighttime Production Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Palomo

Business Staff Business Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Felix Curry The Daily Campus, a student newspaper at Southern Methodist University is operated by Student Media Company, Inc., Hughes-Trigg Student Center, 3140 Dyer Street, Suite 314 Dallas, TX 75275 The Daily Campus is published daily Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the academic semester. For local, national, and classified display advertising, call 214-768-4111. For classified word advertising call 214-768-4554.

Student Media Company, Inc. Staff Executive Director / Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay Miller Associate Director / Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dyann Slosar Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana L. Denton Operations / Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer A. Cannon

The Daily Campus Mail Subscription Rates One year (Academic year) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $110 Order forms can downloaded at smudailycampus.com/dcsubscriptions/ To charge by VISA, Mastercard, Discover, call 214-768-4545. Send check orders and address changes to Student Media Company, Inc., PO BOX 456, Dallas, TX 75275-0456.

dc@smu.edu • http://www.smudailycampus.com SMU Box 456, Dallas, TX 75275 214-768-4555 • Fax: 214-768-8787

editorial board

And the grass is watered ... again SMU is arguably the best-watered piece of fertile ground in Dallas County. The university is continuing its watering campaign. Last week, an email was sent out to the student body that said, “The seeds must be kept wet so they will germinate properly. This means they must be watered several times throughout the day for about two weeks.” Beyond the ethical implications of over watering in a waterdeprived world, there is a larger problem with SMU’s water policy: a complete lack of transparency. As with many university policies — from student fees to tuition increases — there is a lack of data available to the student body. Questions like “How many gallons of water per day are used by SMU?” and “How green does the grass need to be?” will remain unanswered until SMU releases numbers to its student body. Transparency is key to any stable institution, especially a university where faculty, administrators and students must trust each other. As students, the consumers pay SMU, the supplier, for a quality education (among other things apparently), students have the right to know where their money goes. In the status quo, this is not the case and it has long-term implications. Robert Staub, a writer for The Business Journal states, “Anything that damages the faith and trust of those within an enterprise damages the ability of the leaders to lead and of the enterprise to accomplish its mission and goals. Thus, at the forefront of any leader’s mind should first be the establishment and maintenance of the faith and trust of the people comprising the enterprise that they serve, whether it be a department, an organization, a community or nation.” The current dynamic at SMU ignores the fact that the university serves the students. Without student tuition payments, the university would not be able to support itself. And, thus, the fundamental question should be asked: what do students want? As a Tier 1 university, SMU students surely value rigorous classes, top-notch professors and research opportunities. If this is assumed to be the first priority of the super majority of students on campus, the university should move to increase funding, disproportionately, towards the wants and needs of students. While a beautiful campus is a potential recruiting tool for students (and increased water usage for even greener grass is a necessary element in that plan), it will not attract the best students — better academic opportunities will. It may be that SMU’s water usage is reasonable, especially on a per capita level. It may be that SMU is allocating more and more money towards research and professors. But, the fact that SMU is not completely transparent — in what percentage of its operating budget goes towards aesthetic improvements in comparison to academic ends — will continue to frustrate this board and SMU students. Unless SMU plans to release more detailed numbers about its spending, another email about increased watering will only lead to increased frustration. Opinions expressed in each unsigned editorial represent a consensus decision of the editorial board. All other columns on this page reflect the views of individual authors and not necessarily those of the editorial staff.

EDITORIAL BOARD Chase Wade Rahfin Faruk

Tashika Varma Spencer Eggers

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.

"simple" piece of fiction if the work is actually engaging and pleasurable. We should be lauding young adult fiction for encouraging readers of all different stripes to satisfy their literary diet rather than criticize its readers because they're apparently not allowed to enjoy the same books that teenagers might. Moreover, I wonder why exactly a person can't enjoy "high-minded literature" as well as "lower" forms of fiction. Though I might not enjoy most forms of young adult fiction, I consider myself to be a sci-fi junkie. Star Trek: The Next Generation is still one of my favorite shows on television, and I've played through the Mass Effect series more times than I can count. Does my fascination with science fiction suddenly make it impossible for me to appreciate the verse of W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney? I doubt it.

Literature is literature; while not all forms of it might be of the same caliber, people shouldn't feel ashamed for enjoying one form of fiction over another. To claim that people who enjoy young adult fiction are small-minded and of immature taste is elitist, audacious and downright obnoxious. Mr. Stein need not enjoy “The Hunger Games,” but at the same time he need not parade around his pretentious aura in his op-eds either. He did, after all, start off his career writing for Martha Stewart Living, and I think he'd be hardpressed to defend that publication as having any more intellectual merit than even something by Stephanie Meyer. Brandon is a sophomore majoring in English, political science and history.

American Idol politics dominate election Andrew Fiepke afiepke@smu.edu

Sarah Kramer Paul Kroeger

I'm going to preface this article by saying that I haven't read or watched “The Hunger Games” and I can't say I have much of an intention to do so. Young adult fiction just isn't really my thing. I distinctly remember reading the Harry Potter books as a child and enjoying them for a brief while, but I never felt compelled to dress up as one of the characters while going to see one of the movies. The same goes for “The Hunger Games;” references to Katniss and Peeta and whichever other characters might be in the story have gone over my head for weeks now, and I have to say I'm pretty okay with that. What I'm not okay with, however, is people disparaging readers of young adult fiction as if those readers' preferred pleasure is beneath other more "enlightened" literary indulgences.

Recently Joel Stein wrote an op-ed in the New York Times in which he proclaimed that "adults should read adult books." Stein believed that seeing adults reading young adult fiction on airplanes is about as embarrassing as seeing someone watching pornography in public: "I'm sure all those books are well written. So is 'Horton Hatches the Egg.' But Horton doesn't have the depth of language and character as literature written for people who have stopped physically growing." I can understand Stein's point: when it comes to literary depth, there's a marked difference between J.K. Rowling and James Joyce. However, the fact of the matter remains that although James Joyce might have been one of the most accomplished novelists of the 20th century, Ulysses does not make for particularly good bathroom reading. I see no reason why a person shouldn't be able to enjoy a more

The level of political discourse in this country is embarrassing. For most Americans, politics no longer feature a serious discussion of policies and issues. Instead, 24-hour cable news, social media and a variety of other things make our elections about a never-ending series of something-gates. For example take cookiegate, where Mitt Romney insulted some cookies from a famous bakery that he thought looked weird. Is this really news worthy? Or look at Massachusetts, where there is an uproar over Senator Scott Brown’s acceptance of a campaign donation from the owner of the Yankees. The Sox-loving people of Massachusetts of course despise the Yankees. This is kind of a fun little issue, but the sad thing is that an authority no less important than the Boston Globe weighed in. However, the most ridiculous feature of this year’s presidential election has been the almost obsessive discussion of dogs. As most people who have even paid a modicum of attention to the election so far know, Mitt Romney put his dog on the roof of his car on a road trip once when the dog had the runs. Now, this is a little weird,

considering I, like most people, would never do that to my dogs. But here’s the thing: news organizations have run countless stories about it. Gail Collins, a columnist for the New York Times has mentioned it in more than 50 columns since this fall. This week, the Republicans came up with their dog counterattack. In President Obama’s book, he admits to having eaten dog when he was a child. The campaign managers of both campaigns have commented on this issue with their Twitter accounts, and the weird dog experiences of our presidential candidates continue to be discussed in depth. There are countless other pseudo-scandals that could be mentioned, like Hillary Rosen’s comments on Ann Romney or Ted Nugent’s comments on President Obama, but the point is that almost everything that the media focuses on in every political race is nonsense. The reasons that campaigns and the media focus on this stuff are because it’s easier than actually debating issues and it drives ratings. In other words: we like it. To be fair, silly political squabbling has been going on forever, but only in recent decades has it reached a fever pitch. It is now starting to harm our democracy. Elections are now more popularity contests than

actual debates. In this century, the presidential elections have been particularly void of serious discussion of the issues. It was in 2000 that people started talking about whom they’d rather have a beer with. Charismatic George W. Bush of course beat the robotic Al Gore on this test. In 2004, John Kerry focused on his military heroism as the defining issue of his campaign. George W. Bush’s campaign sought to discredit his military record and portray him as an aloof, robotic, flip-flopper. Of course, they succeeded. But it was the election of 2008 that truly showcased the ridiculous nature of our politics. For the first time in our history, a presidential candidate was more of a celebrity than an accomplished politician. He had no experience and no record to run on. Yet, that did not matter. He was cool, he hung around celebrities, Europeans adored him, the media adored him, he was articulate and he gave stirring speeches. Apparently that is all that is needed to persuade the average voter. The Republicans were no better. They nominated an undisputed national hero in John McCain, and although he at least had an impressive legislative record to run on, the selling point

of his campaign was his heroism and national service. I sincerely hope that this election is not another popularity contest, yet it seems that the media and the respective campaigns are content with it being just that. I would just like to remind these campaigns that they are running for the office of President of the United States. The person we select will be the most powerful person in the world. Their policies will have real affects on our lives. I hope the campaigns and the media will seriously present the competing visions for the future of this country, instead of just squabbling about who won the news cycle. There are serious choices we face in this election, and we need the voters to be as informed as possible. This is the public service that the media and the campaigns are supposed to provide. Yet, when Americans turn on the TV, they are more likely to see the latest dog story than a description of the candidate’s plans for Medicare and Social Security. The Founders would be so proud. Andrew is a sophomore majoring in finance, French and markets and culture.

Thank the Lord, Santorum’s gone. SPENCER J EGGERS seggers@smu.edu Just this past weekend, a few friends and I paid a visit to Campisi’s Egyptian Restaurant on Mockingbird Lane because — as everyone knows — Campisi’s has some of the best pizza around. Never one to keep my opinions to myself, or rather, never one to ignore an opportunity to extort the opinions of others, I immediately struck up a conversation about Catholicism before moving on to health care, marriage equality and finally, gun control. Half the fun in provoking my friends comes from the stark contrast in our political values. Having grown up in a conservative home with conservative parents who raised me in the ultra-conservative Lutheran church Missouri Synod (the right-wing branch of the Lutheran Christian denomination), I’ve never gotten used to people employing the word “liberal” to describe my views. I don’t think I’m particularly liberal, but I suppose that, next to my more radical Republican friends, I look like a hell-raising left-wing nut. I always try to respect their values—as ridiculous as they may seem to me—because there really is so much more to life than illegal immigration, but there is one thing I refuse to tolerate. I admit, I gave a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus Christ the day Rick Santorum announced he would suspend his

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sen. Rick Santorum announces the suspension of his presidential campaign, April 10, 2012, in Gettysburg, Pa.

political campaign. It’s not that I thought he would win, no, it was that every day Santorum stood in front of a microphone and spewed ignorance, hate and bigotry was a tangible reminder of our failures as a society. I am certain that, 50 years from today, we will look back at these failures with shame and disbelief. Our grandchildren will ask us how a man who equated homosexuality with bestiality could ever be seriously considered as a candidate to the office of President of the United States, how this country could set a limit on the basic rights of an entire group of people because of another group’s religious beliefs, how we could tell

a woman that the child growing inside her after she was raped was a blessing from God, how someone could look at an 8-year-old boy who was murdered for being gay and say, “he was asking for it.” How will we answer for our complacency? I’m not afraid to admit that I thanked the Lord for Santorum’s departure. His stance on the economy was unoriginal; his direction for the country uninspired, and his opinions on American’s personal lives downright insulting. Fifty years from now we will wonder why we let him get as far as he did, but the raging liberal that I (apparently) am isn’t satisfied. Why we continue to allow history

to repeat itself is astounding to me. Whether it’s slavery, suffrage, civil rights, women’s health or marriage equality, we have a habit of dehumanizing one another only to realize the sin in our actions years later. How’s this for an idea: shut up about my personal life and check your religion at the door when you run for office. I’m tired of listening to your bigotry, and quite frankly, I’m tired of everyone else putting up with it. Thank GOD Rick Santorum will never lead this country, but next time, let’s weed out the doctrinarians at the start. Spencer is a senior majoring in accounting and Spanish.

The Daily Campus

SPORTS

MONDAY n APRIL 23, 2012 Football

basketball

Brown to be introduced to SMU Brooke Williamson Sports Editor kbwilliamson@smu.edu Larry Brown will be introduced to the SMU community Monday afternoon. The athletic department wants to introduce a “new era of basketball” to the students and staff while introducing the new head basketball coach, Brown. SMU President R. Gerald

MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus

Junior linebacker Taylor Reed, left, assists in a tackle during the Sept. 10, 2011 game against UTEP in Ford Stadium.

Star linebackers prepare for last season with lofty goals

Linebackers Taylor Reed and JaGared Davis express their expectations for the upcoming 2012 football season. BILLY EMBODY Staff Writer wembody@smu.edu Senior linebackers Taylor Reed and Ja’Gared Davis are coming to the culmination of their four years at SMU. They have high expectations for the defense as well as the team taking the next step in Coach June Jones’ plan for the program. As the two seniors progess into their final season, the two players openly share on what they think would make for a successfull football team. The defense fell off last year in the turnover ratio department, but ended up as the #37 defense in the country. The unit is looking to step up

in trying to get other offenses off the field more to help the offense get in better position to make plays more often. Reed believes the turnover ratio that they had needs to get better. “In 2010 we were pretty high up there and then this past year we fell off. I know we were negative 12, negative something like that so we have to pick that up as a defense,” Reed said. Their senior year goals include bringing the defense into the top ten of the college football, winning ConferenceUSA and setting their sights on an undefeated season. Reed and Davis both agree that their games need to improve with the rest of the defense for these goals to become reality. Davis believes the entire unit must elevate its game to play at its potential. “We are all just trying to step our game up to the next level. There is no one particular part on our defense that needs improvement, but as a whole

CHILDCARE

FOR Lease

DALLAS FAMILY SEEKS nonsmoking concierge, $13/hr 12-14 hrs/week. We reimburse $.55/ mile. Main duties include groceries, returns, pharmacy, USPS, dry cleaning, scheduling services, some laundry and light housework. Childcare experience a plus! Please e-mail resumes to 75230Family@ att.net or fax resume to 972-4044619.

#1 MUSTANG REALTY GROUPThe proven choice to aid the SMU Community Lease or Rent Houses, Condos, Apartments and Townhomes in the M Streets, Uptown, and within Walking Distance to Campus. Contact us at (214) 563-1131 or www. mustangrealty.com

LOOKING FOR FUN, creative, hihg-energy summer nanny for North Dallas family. Kids are 8 and 11. Need Nanny who can drive, inspire, entertain two smart and funny kiddos. Must be strong swimmer(pool). Contact me lynda@ smu.edu 5/28-8/24/12

EMPLOYMENT ARE YOU DRIVEN? WANT A ON CAMPUS JOB THIS SPRING/ SUMMER? BEST JOB ON CAMPUS! The Daily Campus is seeking sales reps. This is an opportunity for advertising, marketing, or business majors to acquire “real world” experience. Looks great in resume! Earn commission while learning outside sales. Flexible hours. Call Diana a 214-768-4111, come by Hughes-Trigg, or emailddenton@ smu.edu LEVEL X NUTRITION located at 75 and Knox is seeking energetic outgoing personalities for sales associate positions. All training is provided. Call Andrew 214-587-9669 MARKETING INTERN OPPORTUNITY. Fun sales environment! Flexible Hours. Send resume to: info@unicarddeals.com OPTOMETRIST/OPTICAL OFFICE in Uptown are looking for an enthusiastic and reliable individual for a part-time position. No experience needed, will train. Saturday’s a must. Please email resume to: opticaljobdallas@gmail. com

FOOD WHAT IS OUR deepest fear? Its not that we arent delicious, but that we are tasty beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to taste so good, to look so appetizing, filling, satisfying? Actually, who are we not to be NY SUB 3411 Asbury 214-522-1070. FINALS ARE AROUND the corner... do you have the fuel it takes to make that last push? Better stop by and pick up a couple of subs just be safe. You wouldnt want to be caught stranded without a great sandwhich now would you? N.Y. SUB 3411 Asbury 214-5221070.

TURTLE CREEK CONDOS for lease. New units at the Renaissance. Best high rise views in Dallas! 2 bedrooms from $1,950 to $3,900. Penthouses available! Every amenity! Alan 972333-4755. Jon 214-395-2277.

Real Estate FOR sale DUPLEX: 5501 WINTON 2602SF 3bed 3.5 bath 2 garage for $395,000 plus attached 5503 winton 1295sf 2bed 2bath 2 garage for $195,000 SMU alum owned, Chris 214-766-1206

FOR RENT #1 MUSTANG REALTY GROUPThe proven choice to aid the SMU Community Lease or Rent Houses, Condos, Apartments and Townhomes in the M Streets, Uptown, and within Walking Distance to Campus. Contact us at (214) 563-1131 or www. mustangrealty.com

we all do,” Davis said. Reed, who just returned this spring after having to take care of some class work the first week of spring, says both Davis and him will have to step up as leaders after losing Chris Banjo, Richard Crawford and Taylor Thompson on defense. “Both of us are going to be more of a leader out there. We have to get better at pass coverage and keeping our cool in the game,” Reed said. Reed and Davis, who have been roommates since their freshman year, have an incredible feel for each other on the field because of growing up through the system together. “I can easily read off of him. I’ve been playing with him; this will be our fourth year playing together so I can easily know what he’s thinking out there. I know what he’s thinking and he knows the same with me,” Reed said. There was speculation that maybe the two star linebackers were considering looking into their draft prospects earlier this spring

Real estate Services * SMURENT.COM PROVIDES FREE help for students looking to lease, rent, buy, or sell. Walking distance, uptown, town homes, apartments. SMU alum owned. SMUrent.com 214-457-0898 BaileyRealtyGroup@ gmail.com #1 MUSTANG REALTY GROUP - The premier name real estate brokerage. Let our professional team show you why we are the best at helping the SMU community Buy, Sell or lease properties near the campus. Visit our website www.mustangrealty.com or call us at 214-563-1131.

Services

SMU GIRL TO help file and shred papers. Organize closets. 4-6 hrs/wk. Job carries over into the beggining of summer if you so choose. I live close to SMU & will work with your school schedule. $10.00/hour. Call Jacque (214) 528-5918. Jaque apologizes for losing former applicants contact info.

TUTOR SERVICES

MATH, STATISTICS TUTOR for MBA, college, high school students. Highland Park, Austin College, SMU alumna; M.S. Math; 20 years Texas Instruments; 2 years college math instructor. Sheila Walker 214-417-7677. smumath@sbcglobal.net

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE TUTOR. Statistics tutor. Voted “The Best” for 16 years. “College is more fun when you have a tutor.” Lee Lowrie, CPA, MBA cell 214-208-1112. SMU Dallas, Texas. Stats 2301- Accounting 2301, 2302, 3311, 3312, 6301 - Finance 3320 - Real Estate 33811

NORTH DALLAS FAMILY needs afternoon driver for child carpool. 1.5 Hours per day Monday thru Friday 3:00pm to 4:30 p.m. Very close to campus. $100 per week. Female prefered. Driving record history required. emailghorton223@hotmail. com for inquiries. Summer opptis also available. Non-smoker.

Sudoku

DELIVER!

They say they never thought one minute about it. Instead they continue to work to finish off their legacy at SMU by tutoring the younger players and fine tuning their game. With Reed and Davis’ help, the younger players have grown up quickly. “The younger linebackers have been able to pick of the system much better than they did in the fall, because they have more time to learn, as a result they are preforming a lot better, making big strides for a young linebacker core,” Davis said. The two seniors’ leadership will be much needed running the defense this year after a few keep spots opened due to graduation. If their growth continues and the take an expanded role in leading and teaching other players, the defense has the opportunity to rebound from a down 2011 campaign and return as one of the better defenses in the conference and country.

ACCOUNTING, MATH, CHEMISTRY, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Physics, Rhetoric, Tutoring. “Learn to work smarter not harder.” David Kemp Tutorial Services. Call 469-767-6713.

By Michael Mepham

5711 MORNINGSIDE “M” STREETS. 1/1 CH/A Hardwood, updated, dishwasher, w/d, reserve parking. $695/month, + electric. Non-smoker. Available Now. 214-826-6161. APARTMENT SUBLET: BEAUTIFUL two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, with parking, close to campus on McFarlin, available for summer. One bedroom available June and July; other July only. Contact Charlotte at cseelen@smu.edu or 781-974-8288. FULLY FURNISHED APARTMENT three blocks from SMU - private entrance, parking, full bath, kitchen, washer dryer, newer construction, all utilities paid. $1,300 Donna 214-5352666. MILTON STREET CONDO just renovated new appliances 2br/2bath on SMU Shuttle Road Big closets Stackable W_D connections recent HVAC $850 Lane 214-608-8949

04/23/12

Turner and athletic director Steve Orsini will welcome the new coach at noon on Monday in Moody Coliseum. For those in class, or unable to attend, SMU is broadcasting the event through a webcast. Brown was named SMU’s head basketball coach last week after weeks of searching. He is the only coach to win both an NCAA title and an NBA Championship.

FREAKY FAST

ACROSS 1 Get really high 5 Overhaul 9 Archipelago unit 13 Six-sided shape 14 Captain’s “Hold it!” 16 Corrosive liquid 17 Gillette razor brand 18 Do a two-step, say 19 Broadway award 20 Providence native, for one 23 Spectacular failure 24 Nutritional fig. 25 Writer LeShan 28 Part of PST: Abbr. 29 Saintly glow 32 Marries in secret 34 Skipped the saddle 36 Cathedral niche 39 Hot brew 40 Wedding vows 41 Steered the skiff beachward 46 Tentacle 47 Petrol station name 48 Juan Carlos, to his subjects 51 RR terminus 52 Prime rib au __ 54 “From the halls of Montezuma” soldier 56 Crosby/Hope film 60 Visibly wowed 62 “Vacation” band, with “The” 63 Baseball stitching 64 Kate, to Petruchio, eventually 65 China’s Zhou __ 66 “__ la Douce” 67 Well-protected 68 Desires 69 Armchair quarterback’s channel DOWN 1 Eats, with “up” or “down” 2 Bat for a higher average than 3 Overseas

By Bonnie L. Gentry and Victor Fleming

4 Curls up with a book 5 Commercial on AM or FM 6 Actresses Gabor and Longoria 7 Frontiersman Boone, familiarly 8 Hollywood award 9 “Musta been something __” 10 Scrabble sheet 11 Surprise 2012 New York Knick standout Jeremy __ 12 Joseph of ice cream fame 15 Painfully sensitive 21 Off-the-wall effect 22 Chip’s partner 26 Geometric art style 27 Raises a question 30 “Panic Room” actor Jared 31 More than chubby 33 Off-Broadway award 34 Fishing line holder 35 Sighs of relief

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

4/23/12

36 Barking sounds 37 One writing verse 38 Quit cold turkey 42 __ vu: familiar feeling 43 Plod 44 Diffusion of fluids, as through a membrane 45 Thunderous noise 48 Potato presses 49 Pitch a tent

50 Naval petty officer 53 Full of rocks 55 Riveter painted by Rockwell 57 Architectural Scurve 58 Eye lasciviously 59 Sound of suffering 60 “How cute!” sounds 61 Italian actress Scala

NEWS

The Daily Campus

MONDAY n APRIL 23, 2012

CENTENNIAL: Residential POLO: From hooves to wheels Commons underway continued from page 1

continued from page 1

Ludden said that it is a critical component of SMU’s Second Century Campaign. “It’s our lasting mark on this campus during the centennial and into the unbridled future,” he said. Celebrating the laying of the cornerstone of Dallas Hall on Thanksgiving Day in 1912, SMU honored the vision of SMU’s founders by dedicating the Centennial Cornerstone 100 years later. “This cornerstone is a symbol of our gratitude,” Sewell said. These were only two of SMU’s many accomplishments honored during Friday’s event. Turner announced that as of this week, SMU has reached

$610 million of the Second Century Campaign’s goal of $750 million. “This is our contribution to the future — the next 100 years,” he said. “Our purpose is to open the doors and begin the second century.” Turner also acknowledged the final phase of SMU’s Centennial Master Plan to build and renovate campus facilities with the renovation of Moody Coliseum, Fondren Library Center and the Memorial Health Center, which is to be renamed the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center; the expansion of the tennis complex; and, construction of the Mustang Band Hall. He also revealed the generous

gift of $5 million from Paul and Penny Loyd. This donation will go towards the Loyd Commons, which will be located on the east side of campus across from the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Student Body President Austin Prentice reflected on SMU’s first 100 years, noting the accomplishments the university has made. “Now is the best time to be a Mustang,” he said. “God bless and go Mustangs.”

is most popular in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Poland and the United Kingdom, according to the website. There are many other places, including China, Romania, Malaysia and Mexico, where the sport hasn’t made as much of an impact yet. In Texas, there are clubs in Austin, San Antonio and Houston.

smudailycampus.com for Video

help.” “People’s first reaction to it is that it looks dangerous,” Holt said. “It just looks a lot more dangerous to the untrained eye [compared] to what it is in reality.” Members of the Dallas Bike Polo club can be found playing throughout the week at Norbuck Park in West Dallas, just off Northwest Highway. Holt says there is always extra equipment he and the other players bring out for newcomers wanting to test out their skills.

KENNEL: Exclusive to big dogs continued from page 1

Go to:

Holt said that it all “sounds professional,” but that “it’s pretty laid back.” Injuries aren’t too common in the world of bicycle polo. “Serious ones are pretty rare,” Holt said. Players have to wear the proper gear, though. “You get your shins cut up a lot if you don’t have guards,” Jackson Armstrong, a Dallas native who has been playing Bicycle Polo now for a little over a year, said. “Gloves

to save more large dogs and Operation Kindness wanted to expand their dog area so it was meant to happen,” Carney said in an interview. Unlike most shelter kennels, Bear’s Den has an open and welcoming atmosphere. The new building houses 30 state-of-theart dog runs and includes large glass garage doors that open to an outdoor play yard. SMU student Skylar Kelsven loves dogs, especially the larger breeds. She immediately noticed the kennel’s unique ambiance when she visited the shelter on the opening weekend of Bear’s Den. “I thought it had a really nice atmosphere that gave those big dogs enough space to live in and run around in outside, but I thought it was most amazing that it didn’t have the type of cold, sterile atmosphere that most dog kennels have. It seemed more calm and relaxed,” Kelsven said. The shelter can now care for an average of 280 dogs and cats on a daily basis, with another 60 to 80 animals in foster homes. Last year, almost 3,000 animals were adopted from Operation Kindness. As a no-kill shelter, no animals are euthanized in order to make room for another, so the shelter has to turn away about 80 percent of the animals brought in.

While Bear’s Den will increase the shelter’s capacity for dogs, they can only take in as many animals as they adopt out. Cat lover Jill Cohn was in need of a feline fix after her own cats died about eight years ago. Adopting a new cat was not an option, so she decided to volunteer in the cat rooms at Operation Kindness instead. Cohn loves socializing with the cats and getting to know their personalities. “Because it’s a no-kill shelter, they’re going to be here until they’re adopted. So if you can get them socialized to where they can come out and [interact], then people will adopt them,” Cohn said. Since Operation Kindness is a nonprofit organization, they do not receive any government funding and are always looking for donations. All of their income comes from donations, adoptions, fund-raising activities and pet-related merchandise. The shelter also strongly depends on their 700 active volunteers and foster parents. Volunteers help seven days a week, 365 days a year, and must be at least six years of age. “We rely on volunteers to help us give the animals a little extra love,” Development Director Nikki Walker said. Big breed dog fans are sure to get

their “fur fix” when they volunteer in Bear’s Den. Prospective volunteers must fill out a volunteer application and submit two letters of reference. Once accepted, candidates are required to attend a mandatory two-hour training session. “I can have a bad day and come up here and when I leave I feel great,” volunteer Valerie Spott said. The shelter offers a wide variety of volunteer activities, ranging from kennel work to publicity. Volunteers are matched with the work that meets their interests and skills. For Trish Barnard, volunteering at Operation Kindness is a two-way street. Not only does it serve as an escape from hectic everyday life, but Barnard also thinks that the animals can teach people a lot about patience, tolerance and how to bounce back from a bad situation. Many of the dogs are abused, injured, or emotionally damaged when they come to the shelter, including those that will be staying in the Den, but before you know it, they are happy and their tails are wagging. “You learn a lot from these guys,” she said. “You come out here, there’s no phone, no computer, no TV; it’s peaceful. You’re helping the animals,” Barnard said.