INSIDE
Fashion Night Out preview
PAGE 3
Cowboys set to open season
PAGE 4
Eastwood speech has supporters
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Dean Bowen discusses new book PAGE 3
WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
Wednesday High 104, Low 81 Thursday High 100, Low 79
VOLUME 98 ISSUE 9 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
PREVENTION
SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus
SMU posted yellow sheets around campus that describe certain details of the assault.
Courtesy of Niddal Abedrabbo
Muslim Students Associations from north Texas universities gathered at SMU Saturday to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr at an inclusive event.
Eid, Pray, Love unites campuses ABRIL MURILLO Contributing Writer amurillovill@smu.edu SMU’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) usually brings together just SMU students for fun and social activities. Last weekend, MSA brought four north Texas schools together for “Eid, Pray, Love,” an event celebrating the end of a Muslim holiday. The inaugural event celebrated Eid-al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of fasting Ramadan. The evening consisted of a banquet followed by entertainment and a film festival. “Eid, Pray, Love” took place Saturday inside the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Ballroom. The SMU MSA invited the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at Arlington, University of North Texas and Collin College. Two UTD graduates, Nimesh Patel and Farhan Anwar, amused the audience of more than three
hundred with jokes as they emceed the film festival, the most awaited part of the event. Only three schools submitted their films into the competition. Out of the eight awards presented, SMU and UTD each won three. But UTA ended up winning the most coveted award for “Best Picture.” “Even though SMU organized the event, the rest of the schools were essential in putting it together, making the event [about] teamwork too,” MSA President Zain Rizvi said. UTA contacted all the guest speakers, UTD donated the trophies and the goody bags, UNT organized the icebreakers, and Collin College provided the food for the banquet. The atmosphere of the evening was very colorful and tolerant. Students of any religion were welcomed in the event to learn about Muslim culture, the ultimate goal of the event. Those involved hoped “Eid, Pray,
Love” helped other cultures better understand Islam. “Anybody from any religion should come, is a good way to learn about different cultures, bring MSAs from other schools together and meet other Muslims,” UTD sophomore Sheeren Ibtesam said. Doors opened at 5:30 p.m. sharp for registration. Early attendees had time to socialize before the event officially started around 7:20 p.m. Rizvi welcomed the students and introduced the featured entertainment of the night, Fez Meghani and Aftab Ali, a famous Arabic duet. Meghani and Ali performed two songs. Right after their performance, some guests opted to go to a prayer room before the banquet. After praying, the invitees headed back to the ballrooms to begin eating. While people ate, Imam of the Mesquite Mosque and Harvard doctoral student Abdul Atif Abuzaid spoke about some Islamic
precepts and the shared measures between all three Abrahamic faiths. His lecture reflected his noteworthy scholarship as a professor at the Suffa Islamic Seminary. SMU’s MSA hopes to host “Eid, Pray, Love” every year to bring all MSAs in Texas together. The groups will meet again at an annual showdown in the spring. For Rizvi, it is very important to make connections with other organizations inside and outside the university. He has plans to include more Texas universities in the event next year. While five local schools attended the event on Saturday, the MSA is working to ensure that the University of Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech and Rice University attend the event next year. “We have good ideas, but we tend to localize. If we get together and make connections, they can become great ideas and make great things happen.”
REPRESENTATION
Self-defense offers students protection KATIE GOUGH Contributing Writer kgough@smu.edu Most students know to not walk alone at night, always use the “buddy system,” and constantly be aware of his or her surroundings. Some put away distractions such as headphones and texting when walking, but do most students really heed safety advice? “The bad guy gets to pick the when, where, and how to attack,” C.O.B.R.A. self-defense instructor Jim Dryburgh said. Last Tuesday, a female student reported an aggravated sexual assault near the Dedman Law Quad. SMU Police Lt. Jim Walters said that while the university is “fortunate” to have a “very safe campus,” assaults still happen. “[Attacks occur when] you have to have a victim that is vulnerable and susceptible,” Walter said. Justin Everman, founder and chief self-defense instructor at Combative Warrior Arts in Richardson, said that preventing sexual assault
starts by being on the offensive. A person should present his or her self as someone who would be a problem to a predator. Everman’s program refers to this person as a “hard target— someone who does not look like a victim.” Everman teaches his students to communicate hardness in four ways: awareness of what’s going on, body language that conveys confidence and engages eye contact, assertive and sure voice tone and knowledge of basic self-defense. While the first three are achievable without any significant practice or preparation, learning selfdefense requires a little more effort. Most people neglect selfdefense training even though it may very well be the most important. Knowing basic maneuvers can make a huge difference in saving yourself or someone else being attacked. “The odds are whoever you’re up against is fairly unskilled.
See SAFETY page 5
RESTAUR ANT
Senate discusses SMU pride, honors students
SMU STUDENT SENATE KATELYN HALL Staff Writer khall@smu.edu Student Senate seemed to have swung into full gear after Tuesday afternoon’s meeting. On the agenda was recognizing SMU Olympians, discussing community relations and setting the tone for the upcoming semester. Student Senate continued its discussion of a resolution commending SMU athletes who participated in this summer’s London Olympic Games. There were 14 SMU students, coaches and alumni representing nine different countries at the 2012 Olympic Games. Kelly Kiser, a sophomore who sat in on the meeting, approved of this resolution. “We can all be really proud of our peers who achieved these amazing feats,” Kiser said. “I am glad to see that Student Senate took the time to recognize them.” Student Senate President Alex Mace spoke on the current football season. After acknowledging the
Mustangs’ Sept. 2 loss against Baylor, he encouraged SMU students to support their team in the upcoming game on Saturday against Stephen F. Austin College. “One thing you can do is continue to be a strong voice of support,” Mace said. Support for the Mustangs continues to build annually as season tickets sales are the highest they have been since 1986. In his community update, Mace discussed engaging the Dallas and Highland Park communities in SMU events. Additionally, the Student Senate will begin using a new texting system, SendHub, which will release urgent news and updates to senators. Cox Senator Nikki Ruh is excited for this change. “Senate is always thinking of ways to keep updated and connected,” Ruh said. “SendHub allows quick and effective communication.” Vice President Zane Cavender discussed Student Senate Committee appointments and addressed senate relations with oncampus organizations. Each organization has a student senator liaison. While some have been left without a senator, these organizations will be assigned a senator when vacancies are filled this month. “It’s all about communication,” Cavender said. “If our house is in order and everyone is doing their
job, we’re doing what we’re here to do and being the best we can be.” General Membership Chair Anthony McAulliffe discussed senate vacancies, general member applications and first-year senator applications. Thirty-six students applied for first year senator. There are still Senate vacancies for the Simmons School of Education. Allison Dupuis, a career coach from the Hegi Career Center, visited Senate to present the upcoming event Career Prep Day. The day features sessions like Resumania, where students can meet one-on-one with employers and receive feedback on their resume, a LinkedIn photo booth and a work abroad panel. All events will be held in Hughes-Trigg Student Center. Executive Director Jennifer “JJ” Jones shared the Senate’s “Thought of the Month.” She suggests that success stems from loving what you do. While you may not always enjoy your current task, you can make your own value in your work. International Senator Ramon Trespalacios found this talk valuable and applicable to life at SMU. “JJ’s talk about being sincere in what we do reminded me how passionate I am about SMU,” Trespalacios said. “I am in a position where I can create positive change—I have responsibilities with my constituents, and I know that I’ll enjoy working hard to improve life on the Hilltop.”
Courtesy of AP
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a franchise in California that is expanding to the DFW area.
California-based Coffee Bean plans to expand to DFW MAGGIE JONES Contributing Writer mjones@smu.edu When you feel a bad day brewing and you need something to perk you up, what is a better cure than a big cup of California coffee? But when you’re in Dallas, what can you do? An acclaimed California coffee shop, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, plans to expand its fame to the Dallas Metroplex this fall. One Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf cafe is already located at the Dallas North Tollway and Arapaho in Dallas.
More locations are expected around the Metroplex in the upcoming months. Brewing 30 different types of coffee and offering over 20 varieties of handpicked teas, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf attracts an elite crowd and occasionally some top celebrities. The shop has found a strong, reliable client base at each of its current locations, and expects the same customer satisfaction in north Dallas. “Since the opening of the first café in 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has built a legendary following of loyal customers. We are so excited to bring this experience to the many coffee and tea aficionados in the Metroplex,”
Bill Duffy, Chief Operating Officer of Lone Star Bean, said. The wide range of coffees and teas isn’t the only thing attractive about this California transplant. The Coffee Bean is also home of the very first iced coffee. The “Original Ice Blended” has rapidly become one of its most popular drinks. The Coffee Bean offers their original iced coffee in a number of flavors, including white and dark chocolate and hazelnut. The Coffee Bean’s initial success led the company to seek expansion. In 2009, a Texas franchise,
See DRINKS page 5