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VOLUME 96, ISSUE 3
MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010
VOLUME 97, ISSUE 3 SMUDAILYCAMPUS.COM
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FOOTBALL
Mustangs open fall practice
TODAY High 101, Low 81 TOMORROW High 99, Low 82
NEWS BRIEFS
By JORDAN JENNINGS & AMBER HARRIS Sports Editor & Associate Sports Editor jjennings@smu.edu aharris@smu.edu
SMU Student Senate funds $12,170 during last meeting At its Aug. 8 meeting, the SMU Student Senate had $18,385 to give away. By the end of the (approximately) 75-minute meeting, $6,215 was left. According to Senate advisor J.J. Jones, the remaining money will roll over to the Fall semester. One28 (one of the tabled requests) received $3,400 for their annual Fall retreat. They had originally requested $5,000. Senators felt that $5,000 was too much, based on the amount of people who go to the event. LEAD requested $2,000 to pay for the keynote speaker for their Crain Leadership Conference. Senators balked at the high price but eventually agreed to fund the request in full after discussing the conference merits (SMU students get in free; others pay $10). The Outdoor Adventure Center received $2,250 to buy 10 more bikes for their bike leasing program. $1,920 went to SAMSA to fund a Boulevard tent. Senate also funded $2,250 for this year’s ¡Viva! America showcase, which celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.
New online store for Mustang fans SMU has launched a new online store through TeamFanShop where Mustang fans can purchase accessories and shirts to wear to games by brands such as Nike, Under Armour and Adidas. “We have been following the success of TeamFanShop for awhile, and as our athletic program continues to grow, we decided now is the time to move to a more innovative and competitive online platform in order to better serve our fans,” says Brad Sutton, associate athletic director for public relations and marketing. Fans can access the site at: http:// shop.smumustangs.com
ONLINE POLL Who do you think is the best candidate for the Republican nomination in 2012?
Mitt Romney: 27% Bobby Jindal: 12% Ron Paul: 14% Sarah Palin: 41% Jeb Bush: 6%
The results of this poll are not scientific and reflect only the views of those who voted online. To take part in future polls, go to smudailycampus. com
MICHAEL DANSER/ Daily Campus
Members of the SMU football team stretch during their first practice of the 2010 season Aug. 7.
SMU denies student athletes for academics By TAYLOR ADAMS Senior Staff Writer tadams@smu.edu
The SMU football team received significant attention in early July as media outlets revealed that SMU had denied the admission of two athletes. With the attention came comments from alumni and other fans, worried the university was not taking correct action for the advancement of the rising team. Brenham defensive back Jeremy Hall and offensive tackle Darryl Jackson from Lakewood, Calif. were
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in this kind of a situation, the athletic department may choose for them to go under the review of the Faculty Athletic Admissions Subcommittee. “The athletic department has been very good,” Tunks said. “They tend not to send over cases that they think would be denied based on their history.” In the athletic department, if an incoming student has an SAT score
See FOOTBALL on Page 11
PROPOSITION 8
Students speak out on Proposition 8 By JESSICA HUSEMAN Editor in Chief jhuseman@smu.edu
Proposition 8 was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge in California Aug. 4, a decision met with mixed responses from across the nation. Gay marriages will resume legality Aug. 18 in the state of California, but those who oppose the idea will continue to fight through appeals. SMU’s student body has been following the issue closely. The Daily Campus spoke to the leaders of College Democrats, College Republicans, University Libertarians, and Spectrum, SMU’s LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning) organization, to gauge their stances on the issue. “The overturn of California’s Prop 8 in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
was a victory not only for marriage equality supporters but for those who believe in due process and equal protection,” said David DelaFuente, president of College Democrats. He said the overturning of Proposition 8 restored equal rights and protections to all Californians. Stephen Cesson, Red-President of University Libertarians agreed with DelaFuente. “We, as Libertarians, are first and foremost Constitutionalists. We believe the decision by Judge Walker was in line with the principle of equal protection under the law outlined in the 14th Amendment,” said Cesson. “We believe, that regardless of race, religion or, in this case, gender, that all individuals must have equal protection under the Constitution.” Cesson noted that Libertarians believe that marriage “is a personal
matter between two people, and it should not be regulated.” He said as long as the government issues marriage licenses, “they must do so in a matter consistent with the principles America was founded on–that is, Liberty and Justice for all citizens.” Chad Cohen, president of College Republicans took a different stance. He believes the judge did not present “a compelling reason that established the inadequacy or inferiority of domestic partnerships in satisfying the rights of same-sex couples.” He noted that, “Going forward, the solution to the issue of the rights of same-sex couples must satisfy the need to respect the rights of samesex couples while still maintaining traditional values.”
See PROP 8 on Page 11
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Gay couple Jeff Tabaco, left, and Thom Watson react as they learn they must wait at least another 6 days to marry Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, outside City Hall in San Francisco. Federal judge Vaughn Walker put gay marriages on hold for at least another six days in California.
PHILANTHROPY
Class of 2014 shows willingness to serve By ESSETE WORKNEH
Newsroom: 214.768.4555 Classified: 214.768.4554 Online: smudailycampus.com
the only two of 17 recruits who were considered by the Faculty Athletic Admissions Subcommittee at SMU. Though this news upset various mustang fans, SMU actually admitted nearly twice as many of these special cases than they did the previous year. For the 2009-2010 academic year, the eight prospective students who were presented were accepted. While these students may be impressive on the field, they may not be as impressive on paper, according to Thomas Tunks, associate provost and professor of music. For those students
The SMU Mustangs kicked off their first fall practice Aug. 7, just a month shy of their season opener in Lubbock, Texas against Texas Tech September 5th. Players completed the annual 220-yard sprint conditioning tests, based on specific time restraints according to positions. Players who participated in voluntary workouts over the summer only had to complete six sprints, while others did 10. Players had to complete their annual conditioning test — the 220s, which required players to complete 220-yard sprints depending on their positions. Only few players fell short and were unable to finish. The Mustangs have remained in the media spotlight, since their Bowl Game Championship and a Conference USA Western Division Co-Championship in 2009. News outlets such as Fox Sports, USA Today and several others have payed special attention to the team, ranking the Mustangs in their Top 25 polls. “Physically, we’ve really improved our looks,” Jones said. “We look like a football team. A lot of guys have matured…I think defensively we are in better shape than we are offensively,”
said June Jones. Jones said the team is still thin on the D-Line and there is better depth on defense. Jones said he feels like Padron is one of his better players. “He’s one of the most committed kids to being good. He’s stayed all summer and worked his rear-end off.” Padron, a sophomore, was named the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl MVP for SMU and to ESPN.com’s Non-AQ AllBowl team last season. Jones plans to get the Mustangs to another bowl game, with hard work and commitment from the team. The Mustangs continue to receive media attention from Fox Sports and the Orlando Sentinel ranked SMU No. 24 in its top 25 preseason. June Jones has completely changed the perception of what is possible at SMU, helping a once-proud program recover from some of the harshest sanctions in the history of the NCAA,” said Sentinel columnist Iliana Limón. Practices are open to the public until August 23. Season tickets are available for purchase through the SMU Ticket Sales representatives. The Mustang 2010 season consists of 6 home games, including the ESPN televised, annual State Farm Battle for the Iron Skillet, on September 24 at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Contributing Writer eworkneh@smu.edu
The summer before freshman year in college is a daunting period for many students — the school workload, the independence, the notion of stepping into adulthood — the pressures are myriad and taxing. Although countless students succumb to the obstacles and demands, a group of incoming 2014 freshmen have not only managed to begin their college careers with leadership and service at the forefront of their concerns,
but have geared their skills towards helping the underprivileged in the Dallas community. SMU freshman Daniel Poku founded the service organization Mustang Heroes, and used social networking to not only promote his cause, but to get others students involved in the process as well. All of the Mustang Heroes officers were acquainted through Facebook and have found a common bond in their desire to help others. The Facebook group currently has 183 members and is growing daily; the members credit
much of their initial success to the site. Poku was inspired by “an empathy and passion of helping the underprivileged, and touching service experiences in high school that taught me that even young students like us can make a more permanent and positive impact in another person’s life.” Mustang Heroes plans to set themselves apart from other campus service organizations by creating sustainable service projects that leave a meaningful impact. They plan to
steer clear of simply providing “the touch-and-go type of service that does nothing but help someone for an hour or a day,” said Poku. Mustang Heroes Co-President Carissa Grisham echoes Poku’s sentiment; “if in the first two years we only rescue one child from the grips of poverty, that is enough - we have done our job.” Mustang Heroes is awaiting their meeting with the Student Organization Committee and is currently not an official campus group; however, if their 18-month probationary status is
successful, the group will become a chartered campus organization. While they may lack an official position with the University, the group continues to formulate service projects for the upcoming semester. The Band-Aid book drive is the first service drive that Mustang Heroes plans to complete. “We are collecting used books and band-aids that have characters printed on them such as
See HEROES on Page 11
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The Daily Campus
GREEN
SENATE
Student senate proposes new tuition based legislation By MEREDITH SHAMBURGER Senior Staff Writer mshamburge@smu.edu
MICHAEL DANSER/SMU Daily Campus
The 68 solar panels on a low roof of Patterson Hall provide energy as well aseasy and safe use for educational puposes. The solar panels are part of the Prothro project’s LEED initiative.
SMU encourages sustainability with Prothro LEED initiative By TAYLOR ADAMS Senior Staff Writer tadams@smu.edu
The SMU campus has been reflecting this summer with its solar panels on the low roof of Patterson Hall. While the 68 panels provide the more obvious assistance in power, they also offer a learning experience for area schoolchildren. Michael Paul, executive director of Facilities Management and Sustainability at SMU, has been ready for a project like this for a while.
“We had always wanted to do a demonstration project,” Paul said in an e-mail interview. “With the Prothro project’s LEED initiative, we felt that we had the best opportunity to get a LEED point for on-site renewable.” The panels’ location of Patterson Hall was chosen specifically for the low roof, providing an easy and safe visit for educational purposes. These 68 panels, installed in November 2009, produce 81-kilowatthours of electricity on an average, sunny day—enough electricity to power 336 laptop computers for eight
hours—according to SMU News. This is a small portion of the campus’ energy usage, however, and Paul intends for more panels to be installed as they become more affordable. Efforts have also been made for the education provided by these panels to reach beyond schoolchildren. An online system allows users to access data concerning the panels. It shows the science behind the absorption of the sun into transformation into energy, along with this is the panels’ history of energy
production. Two portable solar panels have also been created to use in various classes in the Lyle School of Engineering. Paul believes that many universities are doing similar projects as the common effort to encourage sustainability continues. As of now, what sets SMU slightly apart from others is the ground level roof, Paul said. The next step is to gain K-12 students’ involvement. Paul said as they conduct the LEED tours, they encourage the students to do more.
The fall semester hasn’t even begun, and Student Body President Jake Torres and Student Body Vice President Austin Prentice have already begun working on their legislative goals for the upcoming Student Senate. Among those goals include a significant focus on finances. Torres particularly wants to introduce legislation for “sweeping” financial reforms for the University, which would discuss tuition prices, financial aid advising and scholarships. Torres emphasizes students’ thoughts on “how frustrating it is to come to the University, pay a certain amount of money, and then [tuition] goes up arbitrarily afterwards.” Torres said he wants to see a system where seniors would pay the same amount they did for their junior year. “We’re going to try and work with the administration some way where we can get that, or at least make sure that the increases are predictable,” he said. “Because there’s been semesters where it’s gone up like six percent, and sometimes it has gone up 12.” Tuition and fees increased by 5.7 percent for the 2010-11 academic year, bringing the total to $37,170. Additionally, Torres would like to set up a fund for needbased scholarships by taking a small percentage of the tuition
increase—$11 per student—and using that money to start an endowment. Torres also wants to improve the financial advising process, especially for graduate students. Torres said graduate students have told him that it was difficult to even get in contact with their advisors. Prentice wants to take a closer look at student fees and see if Senate can get an increase in the amount of funding it receives. An increase in funding would allow Senate to give more money to student organizations. Prentice will also focus on reading days. The 2010-11 calendar has one reading day scheduled for the fall semester and none for the spring semester. Prentice said he will push for at least one reading day per semester with legislation and possibly a student petition. “We need to have reading days,” he said. “I mean, for those that take challenging loads and challenge themselves, I think [not having at least one reading day is] a disadvantage.” If passed, any legislation that does not directly concern Student Senate does not automatically become University policy. Instead, the legislation is sent with the stamp of Student Senate approval to President R. Gerald Turner for consideration. Turner, and ultimately the Board of Trustees, have final approval.
News
The Daily Campus
Monday, August 16, 2010 •
SHOPPING
TRANSPORTATION
How to survive SMU without a car By ELENA HARDING Features Editor eharding@smu.edu
While the majority of SMU students who live on campus drive a car, day-to-day travel can be a nuisance to those who do not. However, Grad student Sherry Shi said the Mustang Express is convenient for those who do not have cars, or for students, like herself, who find it difficult to find a parking space or can’t afford a parking permit. Purchasing a Dallas Area Rapid Transit pass is a convenient and cheap option for running errands, like grocery shopping and banking, and also provides access to entertainment venues. Transit passes are available to SMU students for $5 through the Park N’ Pony office, and it pays for itself after the first use. SMU grad students Mikesh Triveti and Lucia Wang said they ride the Mustang Express out of necessity, and chose to live along the route to make getting to school and buying groceries easier. Students have many options for grocery shopping. The Market in Hughes-Trigg is the most convenient choice. However, for a wider selection,
there are various grocery stores within walking distance, and more that are accessible by the bus. Plaza Health Food and Tom Thumb are located in Snider Plaza, a short walk across Hillcrest. There is a Kroger at Mockingbird Station and Central Market on Lovers and Greenville, and both are on the Mustang Express Route. Many major banks are within walking distance of SMU. Bank of America, Chase and Bank of Texas are all on Hillcrest. Wachovia, Wells Fargo and Legacy Bank are located in Snider Plaza, and Park Cities Bank is in Mockingbird Station. Juan Garcia has a car, but uses Mustang Express when he needs to go to Expressway Tower for work. He said he does not use public transportation all the time because he does not want to time his activities to a bus schedule. However, he said it is a good option for students without a car. There are food options galore along both bus routes and within walking distance. In Park Cities Plaza, there is Pokey O’s, a cookie and ice cream place, Starbucks, Roly Poly, a sandwich shop, and La Madeleine. In Snider plaza, well within walking distance and also on the bus route,
there is Jiang’s Cuisine, Cisco grill and another Starbucks. On Hillcrest there is Sushi Kyoto, Jimmy Johns, and an I Heart Yogurt. Along the Mustang Express is Mockingbird Station, also walking distance, which has Café Express, RockFish, Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks. Additionally along Mustang Express Route, is a Jamba Juice at Greenville and Southwestern Blvd., and the Rusty Taco at Greenville and SMU Blvd. Another bus route, the 539, stops by Inwood Village, which boasts Café Istanbul, Cantina Laredo and Raffa’s among others. Inwood Village also houses the Inwood Theatre, a small three-screen theatre that plays an eclectic selection of films at midnight on weekends. Mockingbird Station has the Angelica, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel and the Gap. Across the street in Mockingbird Central Plaza is the Pocket Sandwich Theatre, a dinner theater that shows mainly comedies, melodramas and musicals. “Obviously not everyone can bring a car on campus, and you won’t have to rely on other people to give you a ride,” Garcia said.
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Businesses offer deals for students By TAYLOR LACK Staff Writer
tlack@smu.edu
MICHAEL DANSER/SMU Daily Campus
The Mustang Express, DART route 768, has stops on Bishop Blvd. and DART passes can be purchased through Park N’ Pony in Expressway Tower.
Late night Pluckers, weekend outings, clothes for the Boulevard and even books take a toll on the SMU student’s budget. The stereotype of the college student trying to stretch a dollar is not far from the truth. Shopping centers around town and the SMU campus offer discounted rates to their closest and target consumer: the college student. Sophomore Journalism major Summer Dashe said, “I think for privately owned and small businesses it is especially important to offer student discounts. We are their major clientele and appealing to us is smart. Draw us in with a quick discount and assure our return.” Many times people, especially students, fall into the trap of paying full price because they are not aware of the discounts available.
See DEALS on Page 4
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The Daily Campus
DEALS: Local discounts for SMU students CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Michael Danser/SMU Daily Campus
The SMU Campus Coupon Book, another great discount source, is provided free to all students.
In regards to J.Crew’s 15 percent off student discount, Junior Bianca Marzullo said, “Love it! Found out about it over a year ago because my friend works there. It benefits the company because it encourages students to shop there.” Fashion items are not the only things SMU students can receive discounts on; they are eligible for discounts on food, electronics and entertainment as well. Vapiano, the Italian restaurant and bar located in Mockingbird Station, offers 50 percent off an entire meal on Sunday nights exclusively for SMU students. The Angelika Theater in
Mockingbird Station sells movie tickets at discounted rates for SMU students and the Park City Nail Salon in Snyder Plaza also offers a 15 percent discount. The SMU Campus Coupon Book, another great discount source, is provided free to all students. The spring/summer 2010 Book featured coupons for Pluckers, Betty’s Best Around Chinese Food, Roly Poly, Park Cities Tan, the SMU Bookstore and many more. Sign up for free online memberships at your favorite companies and you receive endless coupons and insider savings advantages. Sophomore Jordan Bowles said, “I signed up with the Amazon. com college student membership for
free and now I can find extremely discounted books and get free shipping for a year.” Another component of becoming a smart consumer is timing. Wait for the sales and for certain items to go on clearance, this could mean extra cash in the piggy bank. Dashe said, “My best way to get discounts is simply by waiting for the sales. Yeah, you risk not finding your size or not finding the item all together, but it’s worth the wait if you do.” Save yourself some gas with online shopping. Many websites provide discounted rates on in-store items. Some include overstock.com, bluefly.com, rulala.com, ebay.com, craigslist.com, retailmenot.com, twitter.com and more.
Outlet stores also provide great alternatives for savings on designer name brands. The Allen Premium Outlets located 20 miles outside Dallas in Allen, Texas provide the same products in department stores at largely discounted rates. An excited Dashe said, “Only a few minutes down the highway are some of the discount stores like Nordstrom Rack and Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth. Those are both amazing! Great quality and designer brands at half the price... doesn’t get much better than that!” There is no need to sacrifice quality for a good discount. Pay attention and exhaust your resources to become an informed customer and save some money.
EDUCATION
Teacher layoffs spark debate about education By ALEXANDRA MEAKER Contributing Writer ameaker@smu.edu
Stephanie Munves, a senior SMU student, spends her days as a student teacher in a math class of fifth grade school children. Without a salary, Munves’ work is a labor of love. She teaches to help bring the students up to their grade level; Dallas Independent School District students average two years behind what is expected. “You never know what a kid has going on at home, but all I can do is make their day the best it can possibly be for that little time I share with them,” said Munves. While she is ready to dedicate herself, the profession is not necessarily ready to dedicate itself to her. For her first few years on the job, Munves could be a target of layoffs. In many districts, including DISD, a system of seniority requires that the most recently hired teachers be the first to get laid-off, regardless of ability. The Texas State Teacher’s Association backs this system. “If
layoffs are absolutely necessary, we believe job priority should go to the most experienced teachers,” TSTA Public Affairs Specialist Clay Robison said. “Teacher effectiveness increases with longevity, and teachers who have demonstrated loyalty to a district by staying on the job for several years also should be given some consideration for that loyalty.” The TSTA is an affiliate of the National Education Association, which is the largest democratically run, member controlled, professional organization in the world. Its primary goal is the protection of teachers. The Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is trying to prevent drastic layoffs. In an April press release he said, “(it) not only creates hardships for educators who lose their jobs and the children they teach, but the damage ripples through the economy as a whole.” “I think there are a lot of really good people who get up every day and do really good work as teachers and administrators,” Lance Weaver, a
professor at the University of Delaware and member of the Tower Hill school board in Wilmington, said. “However the public education system is broken to a certain degree. It is an outdated model that hasn’t been reshaped in the past hundred years.” However, tax revenues are low due to the economic downturn and many states must make budget cuts. Without enough funding, education reform is not financially feasible. With the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, a different system was created to determine the best and most effective teachers. A teacher’s ability was determined by the success of his or her students on standardized tests. If the students were underperforming, funding for the school was held back. “I think No Child Left Behind is a double-edged sword,” said Tracy Schandler, a teacher of three years. “If you are at an inherently low performing school or at a school with mostly English as a second language students, their performance on
standardized tests often have nothing to do with a teacher’s ability.” Bilingual educator, Lorena Canellos, encounters these difficulties daily. “Tests have become a bit more ‘friendly,’ but yes the bilingual population always has a slight disadvantage because of vocabulary and their lack of experiences that many of the tests assume most children have prior knowledge about,” Canellos said in an e-mail interview. President Obama made plans during his campaign to reform the No Child Left Behind Act. A statement on his presidential campaign website reads, “teachers should not be force to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests.” Instead, President Obama’s Race to the Top fund has asked states to advance education reform through competition, which resulted Delaware and Tennessee were given six hundred million dollars in grants while 10 to 15 other states will share the remaining
$3.4 billion of remaining grant money. Now as president, the TSTA is more skeptical of his reforms. “We dislike the No Child Left Behind Law because of its over reliance on high-stakes, standardized testing,” said Robison. “But we also oppose the Obama administration’s proposal for reauthorizing it because it also would continue to rely on highstakes testing and competitive grants. States and school districts shouldn’t have to compete against each other for funding.” Instead of waiting on grant money, California is taking action. Legislation is currently being drafted to overhaul education after over 26,000 California teachers have been given pink slips this year. Schandler, one of those teachers, said, “It is hard because there are teachers with tenure who are complacent and don’t want to be there, and you really do want to be there but you are the one laid off.” Locally, Plano Independent School
District has created a new strategic plan for reform by 2012. The plan is entitled “future focused” and looks to incorporate technology and in-depth curriculum choices for students. But for now with such little funding, districts have no choice but to lay off teachers. In an inherently low-performing school, the school will get even less funding based on low standardized test scores. Without a way to determine the best educators, teachers without tenure are laid off. This circular problem in education is a difficult one to fix. In defense, Duncan said the economic stimulus package saved at least 320,000 education jobs last year. However, in this global economy, education matters more then ever. Students are not only competing for jobs regionally or nationally but now globally, said Weaver. “This generation is the fuel that is going to power our nation and economy and ensure the US remains a global leader,” Weaver said.
News
The Daily Campus SENATE
Photo courtesy of Katie Perkins
SMU junior and Student Body Secretary Katie Perkins.
Meet your student body secretary By JESSICA HUSEMAN Editor in Chief jhuseman@smu.edu
Katie Perkins is a junior double majoring in English and political science and minoring in human rights. She can usually be found in the Student Senate office in the SAMSA. Perkins is originally from Greenville, Texas. And, while she may have small town roots, she has definitely adapted well to the big-city life of SMU. In addition to serving as Student Body Secretary, she is also the new member educator in the Christian Sorority Eta Iota Sigma, a member of College Republicans and a resident and active participant in the Service House. Perkins’ favorite food is anything of
the Tex-Mex variety, and she also enjoys sampling the occasional cup of yogurt from Yogurtland. Her favorite colors are Harvard Red and Yale Blue. She also interns with the youth group at First United MethodistRichardson, so if you are looking for her on the weekends, that is probably where she can be found. Her favorite part about SMU is the people. “Everyone is so incredible, and very friendly,” Perkins said. “Meet as many people as you can, SMU is great.” Her biggest piece of advice for freshmen is to study hard, even for the easy classes. “Go to class, do your homework, and don’t care what other people think about you,” Perkins said. “Oh, and join Student Senate.”
Monday, August 16, 2010 •
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Sports
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Former Mustang becomes Cowboys star By AMBER HARRIS Associate Sports Editor aharris@smu.edu
fact he was considered a long-shot draft pick when he began his senior year. Other teams that were looking to pick up the cornerback included the Houston Texans, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts. “I got a letter from the Philadelphia Eagles that said, ‘If you’re not drafted, we want you to join our team as a free agent.’ That letter is going to be framed in my house until the day I die, because it’s a reminder of all of the work I put in to get where I am, and to get the chance to go up another level,” said McCann. McCann has faced obstacles throughout his life. When he was a child, he had a surgery to repair a hole in his heart. He was also told he was too small to be an offensive player in high school. During his senior year, a broken leg almost ended his dreams of becoming a college football player. “My eyes filled up with tears. The doctor walked out of the room, and I just sat there with my dad. I said, ‘it’s over.’ I thought there was no way I’d still get to play in college,” said McCann during an interview with PonyFans.com. While Bryan McCann played for SMU, he trained with Emmanuel Sanders, former Mustang wide receiver, who was third-round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bryan McCann jumps out of bounds during Thursday’s Dallas Cowboys preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.
Former SMU cornerback Bryan McCann kicked off his career as a Dallas Cowboy at the preseason game against the Cincinatti Bengals with a 16-7 win. McCann was not able to finish the game due to a heavy blow during a punt return. Another backup cornerback, Cletis Gordon, was also injured. McCann signed as an undrafted free agent for the Cowboys earlier this summer. Before he went to practice at mini-camp, he signed a three-year contract with the team, which will become effective only after he proves he belongs. During an interview with www. ponyfans.com, McCann expressed how happy him, and his family was when they were told he would be trading in the Mustang helmet for a Cowboys helmet. “I went around the corner and told my mom. She hugged me and was talking in my ear and crying. When she didn’t let go, then it hit me, and I started crying like a baby, too,” said McCann. After running a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash during Pro Day, which was the fastest any player ran in the country, McCann put himself in the position for possibly being drafted, despite the
Kershaw to be team manager of U.S. men’s Pan Pacific Games
Mustang swimming ranked 15th in the United States
Photograph by Associated Press
By JORDAN JENNINGS Sports Editor jjennings@smu.edu
USA Swimming has announced that Andy Kershaw, SMU ‘s assistant men’s swim coach will be the Team Manager of the US Men’s Pan Pacific Games to be held August 18-21 in Irvine California. The Pan Pacific Games includes top-competitors from around the world, including US gold medal winners Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. The Pan Pacific championships that
the US has hosted an international meet since short course world championships in 2004 in Indianapolis. This is the second time this year that Kershaw will represent the US. In December, he was Team Manager for the Duel in the Pool meet. During his seven year coaching career with the SMU swim team, Kershaw has helped the team win seven conference championships, and has led 36 swimmers to All-American status. Kershaw will begin his eighth year on the hilltop this fall.
By JORDAN JENNINGS Sports Editor jjennings@smu.edu
CollegeSwimming.com recently ranked SMU’s men’s swimming and diving-team newcomers 15th in the nation. In the 2009-2010 season, three Mustang’s qualified for the NCAA Championships, including swimmers Tom Cole and Pontus Renholm, and diver Matt Culbertson. In a recent press release, Coach Eddie Sinnot said, “We will be relying on this
group to help maintain our tradition of being a top 15 swimming and diving program in the country. We look forward to helping theses guys reach their goals in and out of the pool.” The eight new teammates include swimmers and divers not only from the US, but also from Denmark, Lithuania, Thailand, and Canada. One newcomer is transfer student and Danish national champion Nicolai Graae. The new swimmers are expected to add speed to the already impressive freestyle and medley relay teams.
Monday, August 16, 2010 •
Sports Highlights - SMU ranked Best Overall Athletics Program in C-USA, the 11th time in the last 13 years. - Six SMU Track Athletes named All-Academic by USTFCCCA: Lauren Kuhner, Silje Fojortoff, Mary Allenbratt, Klara Bodinson, Kristine ElkremEngeset, and Ayla Gill. - Men’s basketball hires Jerry Hobbie as new Assistant coach. -Natalie Burton Named Equestrian Assistant coach - SMU Athletic Department hires new Assistant Athletic Directors : Tim Murray for Assistant A.D. for Development and April Taylor for Assistant A.D. for Compliance. - Ryan McCabe receives new position as Athletic Coordinator for Compliance and Life Skills
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The Daily Campus
Padron improves, receives honors By AMBERHARRIS
Associate Sports Editor aharris@smu.edu
MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus
SMU sophomore quarterback Kyle Padron, named to the Manning Quarterback Award watch list for 2010, warming up during practice on August 7th.
SMU quarterback Kyle Padron has been put on the 2010 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List. The award is presented to quarterbacks annually. The list of candidates will be narrowed down to 16 on Oct. 25. Padron is also on the Manning Award watch list. One year ago, Padron was an unknown freshman. He has shown great improvement since then. “Half the games last year, I’d call a play and he didn’t know it, or generally knew it,” Jones said. Padron’s school record-breaking 460 yard pass and two touchdowns during the SMU Hawaii bowl game last December caused Padron to become fifth in the nation with a 5-1 record as a starter and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. He also posted a 159.9 passer rate and was named MVP after the Mustang’s 44-10 win against Nevada. CollegeFootballNews.com ranked his performance in the bowl game eighth
best among all players. “The light came on in the bowl game. And the production will quickly show up as we go to competition,” said Coach June Jones Although Padron has been put on the watch list due to his performance during the bowl game, he still continues to work even harder during summer practice. According to Jones, Padron exceeded expectations during the offseason. “He didn’t miss a day of running during the summer. He went over and beyond what he was required to do…“He’s a gym rat, he wants to be good. He’s an accurate passer, he’s a leader He’s what you’re looking for in a quarterback,” Jones said. The season will open on Sept. 5 against Texas Tech, which will be an ESPN-televised game. “Everybody’s starting to get it because we won last year,” Padron said. “It’s more excitement than anything. Pressure comes with it. ... I can’t wait for the season opener, and to show that SMU’s back.”
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SMU receiver Bradley Haynes receives a pass during drills during the Aug. 7 first practice.
MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus
SMU wide receivers coach Jeff Reinebold, right, works with a freshman wide receiver during the Aug. 7 first practice.
Mustang soccer kicks off fall season By AMBER HARRIS Associate Sports Editor aharris@smu.edu
The fourth annual Jordan Mann Alumni soccer game will be held Saturday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Westcott field. The game is an opportunity for current SMU soccer players to reconnect and meet former SMU students who played on the men’s team. Following the game will be a social, which will give allow alumni to mingle with the current soccer team as well as other SMU students who would like to attend. The soccer game honors the life of Jordan Mann, a 2007 graduate who passed away in his sleep due to a brain aneurysm.
Mann majored in business finance and was a well-respected soccer player, contributing to the team’s national ranking. In 2005, he played in the Final Four Tournament, and was also selected for the Southern Conference and the Conference USA Honor Rolls. Mann grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas. While in high school, he was named to the All-State, All-Metro, All-Sunflower League, All-Sun Country and All-Johnson County first team soccer teams. During his senior year, he was awarded with the Art Newcomer Award, which was for outstanding student athletes at Shawnee Mission East High School. Before the alumni game, the men’s soccer team will kick off their
pre-season at 5 p.m. against Houston Baptist. The official season begins Sept. 1 against Missouri State at 7 p.m. The women’s soccer team begins its season Aug. 20. The day before the men’s soccer team is scheduled to play, the women’s soccer team will be playing against Florida International University. Students should look out for newcomers on the team such as Jessica Bartol, Amanda Burgardt, and Courtney Smith. Bartol was recently named IMG Soccer Academy’s Player of the Year and has trained with a national team. nal Team this year and has played in Olympic Development tournaments around the world.
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Women’s Soccer Oregon 3:00 PM Eugene, Ore
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FB Luncheon Khmer Pavilion 12:00 PM Hilton Anatole Hotel
Women’s Volleyball Pre-Season Scrimmage 6:30 PM Moody Coliseum
Men’s Soccer Central Arkansas 8:00 AM Westcott Field
SMU Athletics makes appearance at AARO By JESSICA HUSEMAN Editor in Chief jhuseman@smu.edu
SMU Athletics introduced college athletics to new students early this year, holding talks at AARO sessions concerning the benefits of attending sporting events. Each of the 14 AARO sessions this summer included a “Red & Blue Luncheon” put on by the Athletics Department. The luncheon included a talk from an SMU coach to introduce incoming freshmen and transfer students to Mustang Athletics and the wide range of SMU traditions. Each coach discussed ways undergraduate student life would be enhanced by being an active participant in athletics and attending athletic events. Lexi Oman, SMU junior and former cheerleader says that visits like this from the Athletic department are important because “SMU athletics is a growing program, and the way to build a program is by getting new students and their families excited about attending games.” She says, “A team only improves when it is backed by fans that care about it and with families and students more involved, the teams will get better and traditions will begin to form.” The Athletic Department feels that it is important to introduce SMU’s athletic department to students right from the beginning. “We want these incoming students to know that athletics are important at SMU,” said Brad
Sutton, SMU’s Associate A.D. for Public Relations & Marketing, in a press release. “Sports play a big role here on our campus and we want them to come back in August excited about SMU Athletics and ready for the 2010-11 seasons.” Incoming freshman Katherine Ladner was pleased with the presentation by the Athletic Department. “I came into AARO knowing that SMU had a great sports program, which made me excited to attend the school wear the red and blue,” said Ladner.
Photo Illustration by Michael Danser
SMU Cheerleader Roy Bailey introduced the pony ear hand sign in the 1970s. Students are taught the sign each summer during AARO.
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Women’s Soccer Florida International 7:00 PM Westcott Field
Women’s Volleyball Butler 4:00 PM Waco, TX Women’s Soccer Portland 9:00 PM
Men’s Soccer 5:00 PM Jordan Alumni Game Houston Baptist 7:00 PM Wescott Field Women’s Volleyball Baylor 12:30 PM & Stephen F. Austin 5:00 PM Waco, Tx
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ART
BOOKS
‘Zeitoun’ tells poignant story of Katrina victim By VINCENT CERVANTES Book Critic vcervantes@smu.edu
I can remember being stunned by the indelible images -- people dead in the streets, the dispossessed sleeping in refugee-like camps, a region submerged like “Water World” -- that Hurricane Katrina left in its wake. These images were brought back to me when I read Dave Egger’s latest nonfictional novel “Zeitoun.” While trolling for a story, as the consummate good-doer Eggers often does, he found a short version of Abdulrahman Zeitoun’s story in a collection titled “Voices from the Storm.” From this, he immediately pens “Zeitoun,” the legend of one man’s experience after Hurricane Katrina. And in relating this account, Eggers carefully disentangles the skein of the Bush-era crisis management that was stranger than most fiction. “Zeitoun” begins two days before Katrina hits with Abdulrahman, -known to everyone as Zeitoun -- the successful Syrian-American owner of a painting and contracting business, deciding to stay in New Orleans and hold down the fort while his wife and four children flee the city at the urgency of Mayor Nagin that people move inland. Kathy, his wife, takes her children to her sister’s house in Baton Rouge to wait out the storm. However, ever since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, her family incessantly beleaguer Kathy about her hijab. Having been born in America and brought up Southern Protestant, her family cannot fathom how she has found peace in Islam and happiness with Abdul. Stressed by her inability to persuade her dogged husband to evacuate their
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home and fed up with her family, Kathy drives with her kids to Phoenix to stay with her longtime friend, Yuko. Morning, Aug. 29, Katrina makes landfall as a Category 3 storm with winds up to 115 mph breaking windows, causing leaks and relocating peoples’ possessions. But Zeitoun, an experienced storm survivor and more concerned with his company’s properties, manages to patch up holes and cover windows as best he can. And with his 16-foot aluminum canoe that he had purchased for $75, Zeitoun worries little about his fortune. For the first post-storm day, with only about a foot of water on the ground, his suspicions seem correct. Yet, day two proves drastic as Zeitoun wakes to a sea of water, after the faulty levees break. After the deluge, Zeitoun is limited to paddling his trusty canoe around New Orleans in this post-apocalyptic setting where roof tops look like lily pads floating just above the surface. While touring the city, he rescues elderly and dehydrated denizens stuck
in their soon-to-be former homes and feeds neighborhood dogs left behind by their owners. With a sense of accomplishment and purpose, Zeitoun rows his way through oil, garbage, and disease infested water, while at night mulling over the day’s events in his provisional tent atop a flat portion of his roof. The longer Zeitoun stays in New Orleans the bleaker his surroundings become. And when a group of officials show up at one of his properties, Zeitoun assumes they are there for aid. But when he is arrested by the armed squad and swept forcefully away, he finds that is not the case. Now, Zeitoun, off the map in some makeshift prison and not permitted to contact the outside world, he worries that after a week his wife will assume the absolute worse. And when a guard accuses him of being a member of Al Qaeda, he sees that the color of his skin and very appearance may be the reason for his plight. Eggers, with his sharp journalistic skills wove “Zeitoun” from threads of interviews with Mr. and Mrs. Zeitoun. Eggers has a way of bringing his subjects close to readers and establishing a relationship that is cemented in the end; meanwhile, refreshingly eschewing from the tired tirades and diatribes that have been published since Katrina. “Zeitoun” indirectly comments on the once-flawlwss FEMA and the age of Bush’s presidency, allowing Zeitoun’s harrowing tale to speak for itself. His prolific storytelling is on display as readers will feel sympathy and an emotion in Zeitoun’s thoughts. As readers, we are thrown into prison with him. We feel the absurdity of it, feel the humiliation endured. And we, perhaps, ask isn’t this the country with laws that protect against this?
Mobile art in front of Owens Art Center
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES
‘Eat, Pray, Love’ perfect for girl’s night out By LAUREN SMART Arts& Entertainment Editor lsmart@smu.edu
Face it, ladies – we all have priorities. At the end of the day, if someone asked you to narrow down what the three most important things in life are, we’d probably reply with an answer similar to –“Eat, Pray, Love.” So when a book with that title arrived on the shelves in 2006, chronicling Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey around the world to discover herself, it’s little wonder that it became a New York Times bestseller. And when fan favorite Julia Roberts was later cast in the feature film- women everywhere rejoiced. The movie does the book justice on many levels, although it does stray from the raw emotion of the book, in which Gilbert finds
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Now through August 22 Coastlines: Images of Land and Sea Dallas Museum of Art This is the final week of the DMA’s summer exhibit, which focused on the natural beauty of the edge of land. Go on Wednesday and pay half-price. www.dm-art.org
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herself at the end of a now loveless and broken marriage, ready to hurt herself, just to feel alive. Instead, she takes a yearlong journey to three countries – Italy, India and Bali. The cinematography of the film
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takes the picturesque scenery of each place and creates a video collage that allows you to feel as though you are looking through her memories with her. From the rustic villa she stays at in Italy to the hut with drapes rather than doors in Bali, each leg of her journey has you falling in love with the world. If two-and-a-half hours of Julia Roberts traveling around the world to discover that it’s OK to be at peace with herself isn’t enough to lure you to this movie – Javier Bardem might just do the trick. From their meet-cute in which he accidentally runs her off the road, to their torrid love affair that has you wishing the movie hadn’t wanted its PG-13 rating, Bardem plays her Brazilian lover with the passionate grace that every woman hopes for. There are only two complaints to be made about this movie, the first is that the pray section in India is rather boring and uneventful, compared with the liveliness of Italy and Bali. Secondly, the perfection of her trip can seem a little bit forced. The odds of anyone being able to afford a year off from work to discover who they really are is idyllic and artificial, but Gilbert had the dream job before she needed to find inner peace, lucky for her. As long as you are willing to accept that Gilbert’s life is better and more economically advantageous than yours probably is, and embrace the fairy tale aspect of the trip, “Eat, Pray, Love” is the perfect girl’s night out movie.
Now through September 5 “Sherlock Holmes in the Crucifer of Blood” Theatre Three A dramatic, mystery tale that can only be solved with the help of literature’s most famous detective. Runs throughout the week until September 5, ticket prices vary. www.theatrethree.com Now through October 31 Dreams of Flight:A Journey through Air and Space The Women’s Museum This exhibit takes its visitors through the progress that women have made in the realm of air travel. From the first woman in flight through women in space. www.thewomensmuseum.org August 18 Rodney Atkins: Granada Theater. Country music artist, with hits including “If You’re Going Through Hell,” “Farmer’s Daughter” and his latest single “Watching You.” www.granadatheater.com August 19 Natalie Merchant Winspear Opera House This concert is a collaboration of the ATTPAC and KXT 91.7 FM. It will be a night filled with her beautiful, soothing voice and songs from her new album “Leave Your Sleep.” www.attpac.org August 20 A Prairie Home Companion Winspear Opera House A night with the whole gang. Garrison Keillor hosts this unique night of stories, song and all the classic bits. www.attpac.org ‘Til Midnight at the Nasher Nasher Sculpture Center This monthly event includes a concert and movie outside in the serene sculpture garden. The concert begins at 7 p.m., with a showing of “Dreamgirls” at 9 p.m. www.nashersculpturecenter.org August 21 The Goo Goo Dolls Superpages.com Center
Even though they’ve released new music, this band will always be a middle school classic. Relive your first crush when they play their hits. August 22 “Drawing from the Masters” 1-2:30 p.m. Meadows Museum An afternoon of informal drawing instruction led by artist Ian O’Brien open to all levels of experience. www.smu.edu/meadowsmuseum August 24 Billy Idol Palladium Ballroom This is a must-see concert, with a playlist that begins with “Dancing with Myself ” and “White Wedding” and includes two new songs that he recorded for his greatest hits album. Your parents may want to stay in town a couple days longer. www.thepalladiumballroom.org August 25 Memoryhouse & Twin Sister The Loft These unique bands headline a night of fun, ethereal songs that will soothe your soul. www.theloftdallas.com August 26 Rooney Granada Theater This fun, upbeat band will be taking over the Granada August 26, for a night of music perfect for jumping and head bobbing. www.granadatheater.com Green Day & AFI Superpages.com Center Face it, you’ve been dying to “American Idiot” live and then whip out the Zippo app on your cell phone to “Good Riddance (Time of your life).” August 27-29 Gershwin Favorites with Marvin Hamlisch Meyerson Symphony Center This special weekend features Kevin Cole, ‘America’s Pianist,’ as he tackles music from George Gershwin’s jazz portfolio. www.dallassymphony.com August 30 7 p.m. The Taste Series: New York Avant-Garde Film Greer Garson Theatre – Owen Arts Center This series will be an exploration of experimental film during an important period of American art. The night will include screenings from filmmaker Peter Kubelka on 16mm prints. 214-768-2129
News
The Daily Campus
Photo courtesy of Daniel Poku
Class of 2014 students (from left) Carissa Grisham, Daniel Kwabena Poku, and Jessica Gardner pose for a photo as they volunteer in a new service organization called Mustang Heroes.
HEROES: Community Service Hannah Montana, and Spongebob…on August 18th from 5:007:00pm in front of Dallas hall, near the flag pole,” said Co-President Jessica Gardner. Although Mustang Heroes was founded primarily by members of the Class of 2014, its members
encourage the participation of all SMU students. “We are even working on developing a campaign to encourage professors and faculty to help out as well,” said Poku. The group plans on holding their first meeting on the second week of classes, and plan to meet in the Varsity on the first Thursday of every month.
SMU sophomore and AARO leader Roza Essaw already backs the group, “it just shows the potential that the incoming class of 2014 can have,” said Essaw, “most students are worried about roommates, moving in, and mustang corral, while these students care about impacting the metroplex.”
PROP 8: Students share their views CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
He also believes Judge Walker overstepped his judicial authority by overruling the vote of “over seven million voters in the state of California.” “Changes in the law, especially significant changes such as this, merit deliberate consideration and measured action,” said Cohen. “A sweeping decision of this nature runs contrary to the principle of judicial restraint that should inform all rulings from the bench.” DelaFuente disagreed, “The will of the people in a referendum cannot be
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Monday, August 16, 2010 •
heard if the referendum itself causes harm to a minority population,” said DelaFuente. Aaron Barnes, co-president of Spectrum, said that the overturning of Proposition 8 “restored hope in all corners of the queer community,” and noted that the most important effect will be “the restoration of zeal in the queer rights movement, our faith in ourselves and our cause.” Barnes said he was “appalled” when Proposition 8 passed. “It seemed like, for all the nobility of our cause, nothing beat the power of money and blind, ignorant hatred. Joke’s on me–all it took
was one judge, one person in a position of real power, put there by US - that is, we the people - to see the truth, and restore justice. God Bless America.” Red-President of University Libertarians, Spencer Matthews, said that University Libertarians will begin to “work more closely” with LGBTQ groups on campus. “It is one thing to write that we support their fight on paper, but we want to really walk with them so we really know what the fight is about, not just what they want to achieve with it,” he said. “We want to do this because we want to show them they are not alone.”
below 900, the equivalent on a similar entrance test, or a GPA below 2.5 in high school, his application is then reviewed by the five-person appointed committee. The five professors then come to a decision based on their own judgments of whether the prospective student stands a reasonable chance of success at SMU. “A coach doesn’t want to have to spend a scholarship on a student who is ineligible to play,” Tunks said. Each member looks at trends in the prospective student’s history. For example, there may have been a family tragedy, causing a dip in the student’s GPA for a year. Tunks believes the efforts of the committee are justified, as they are in the best interest for the prospective student’s success. He explained that for a student to be admitted without evidence
of potential success, that student might not be able to succeed at SMU. “Who would want to crush a kid like that?” he asked. If someone is denied admission, it can be appealed to the Dean of Admission, an opportunity both Hall and Jackson chose to pursue, but didn’t succeed in. For Hall and Jackson, a more difficult part of the news was its arrival time. The two found out in July, after passing other opportunities to sign with different schools. Tunks believes the two students “expected to get into the university” before receiving the results of the committee. Hall’s and Jackson’s cases were brought to the committee on June 23, according to Tunks. Before then, the members had never seen the prospective students’ material, as the athletic department was waiting for the two
students’ spring grades of their senior year. The athletic department isn’t the only area on campus to have this kind of special consideration. Similar processes exist in the performing arts, where a professor can take a prospective student’s application directly to the Admissions Committee. Tunks explained that it could even happen in a school such as the Lyle School of Engineering, though it’s more rare. Tunks feels the process for the prospective athletic students is one that has proven to be successful in previous years, and hasn’t affected its track record with denying the two athletes’ admission. “In a sense, we’re all trying for the same thing. We want to have winning teams, but at the same time we don’t want to put students in a position where they’re likely to fail: that would be abusing people,” he said.
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