DC090712

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INSIDE

Lumen opens new restaurant

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No words for ‘The Words’

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Boulevard pointers

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Special sports pullout inside PAGE 7

FRIDAY

SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 FRIDAY High 106, Low 68 SATURDAY High 90, Low 64

VOLUME 98 ISSUE 11 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS

DISCOURSE

SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus

SMU’s debate team hosted a public debate on energy on in the Hillcrest Foundation Amphitheater.

Debaters take sides on fossil fuels Courtesy of AP

Bill Clinton spoke to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mustangs jump into DNC politics KATELYN GOUGH Contributing Writer kgough@smu.edu The Democratic Party took its turn in the political spotlight at this week’s national convention. And once again, members of the SMU community were right in the middle of it. “This is the major leagues,” communication studies professor Rita Kirk said. Kirk accompanied research partner professor Dan Schill and several undergrad students to Charlotte this week as a part of Hilltop on the Hill, a program for students interested in careers in politics. The students — interning with the same CNN programs as those at the Republican National Convention last week had the opportunity to see what Kirk calls a “rally of the faithful.” Kirk says students witnessed firsthand the Democratic volley to last week’s Republican convention. “How do they rally the delegates, what messages do they

send them back with?” Kirk said. “This is really the kickoff of the fall campaign.” According to the Romney campaign, the Obama administration has a lot to prove after four years. For a real change, Romney called for Americans to elect a real leader. But Obama supporters said that a desire for “change” shouldn’t take priority over the “American Dream.” “We all understand that freedom isn’t free. What Romney and Ryan don’t understand is that neither is opportunity,” San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro said Tuesday. “We have to invest in it.” Castro emphasized the necessity of “a country where everybody pays their fair share” and is offered equal opportunity—especially when it comes to education. First Lady Michelle Obama also echoed those sentiments Tuesday night. She focused on Americans valuing “everyone’s contribution” and treating “everyone with respect.”

“When you work hard and walk through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it behind you. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances,” she said. SMU political science professor Cal Jillson says conventions are critical during the election cycle. “The campaigns and parties are very careful to figure out what [their] message is going to be,” Jillson said. “It’s an opportunity to speak to that part of the country that’s paying attention and try to establish your claims, your arguments.” The Democratic Party made its message clear, defining America’s need for a unified country that will “invest” today for the sake of lasting prosperity in the future. Former President Bill Clinton did not shy away from evaluating Obama’s impact over the last four years Wednesday night. He knows it could be a long road to prosperity. “For more than 200 years, through every crisis, we’ve always come out stronger than we went

in,” Clinton said. “And we will again as long as we do it together.” Obama accepted his party’s nomination in his own address Thursday night. The week’s focus on earning what one receives through dedication and hard work resonated with many in the SMU community. SMU College Democrats President Michael Wilburn hopes the convention will inspire university students to explore their political interests. “They’re good messages,” Wilburn said. “We [should] keep the opportunities the same for everybody.” Sophomore Sarah Mowery hopes to bring some of those messages back to SMU after interning at the convention. “It’s just been really interesting and educational to see how these people work and how they handle themselves,” Mowery said. “This week has been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s absolute­ly surreal.”

DISCOURSE

BEIONNY MICKLES Contributing Writer bmickles@smu.edu Two coaches from the SMU debate team alongside director of debate and chair of the communications studies program Ben Voth, held a public debate at the Hillcrest Foundation Amphitheater in the back of Caruth Hall on Tuesday evening. The purpose of the debate was to present the two sides of an issue being talked about by many American economists and environmentalists: Should America produce fossil fuels domestically or make the transition to renewable resources. Coach Tim Glass, who argued the affirmative, said that fossil fuel production within the United States is a good idea based on four main principles: fossil fuels are the leading source of energy today, the transition to renewable energy is inevitable but not yet obtainable, fossil fuel production must be used for specific and clearly defined reasons. Lastly, it’s preferable to produce domestically rather than relying on other countries. Glass also believes that drilling on our own soil creates jobs for the American people and will in turn build the U.S. economy.

“More research, more development, better systems ­— that’s more jobs, that’s more investment, that’s better for the economy,” Glass said. In arguing against fossil fuel production in the United States, coach Lauren Sabino posed questions about the sustainability of the jobs that Glass mentioned as well as the extreme dangers that the American people could face if there were to be drilling on our shores. “A transition to renewable energy is inevitable,” Sabino said. “If we begin to drill in the U.S. and eventually transition to renewable energy, all of the people that got jobs in domestic energy production will automatically be out of jobs once we transition.” Sabino said that the energy that the United States could produce is not readily usable and it would be very expensive to fund the resources needed to convert the domestic fossil fuels into a usable form of energy. The process of obtaining the fossil fuels is incredibly dangerous in itself. “Fracking, transporting tar sands through pipelines and drilling underwater are all extremely dangerous,” Sabino

See ENERGY page 5

FUNDR AISING

Only on the Hilltop Meadows’ dean teaches first years PARMINDER DEO Associate A&E Editor pdeo@smu.edu First-year Meadows students from a variety of disciplines are taking a course that is preparing them for today’s market as artists. Titled the “First-Year Arts Community Experience (FACE),” students are learning what it means to be a successful artist. Students can all agree they are given the same orientation survival tools about learning how to navigate through college, what classes to take and how to live well with others, but what about how to be successful after college? “I know you just got here but you have only four years to plan for that career. Start planning your exit strategy, you might want to take one course on branding,” José Bowen, dean of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, said. With over 30 years of experience from jazz performance to his travels across the globe Dean José Bowen takes the role as lead instructor. The mandatory FACE class is not focused on hours and hours of practice but rather preparing the

SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus

President Turner spoke on the Second Century Campaign on Wednesday in Dedman Recreational Center. MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus

Dean José Bowen teaches a class in Owens Fine Arts Center for first-years.

future artists for the real world. The students are learning how to be their own manager, public relations officer, CEO and how to market themselves to get hired. “You have to stand out because it is a tough business. Most arts schools don’t talk about jobs they talk about the craft. You are here to learn and be good at your craft but also be good at promoting yourself. You need to have both,” Bowen said. Dean Bowen also introduces a new learning style into the classroom. After recently

publishing his new book titled Teaching Naked. The inverted style engages the students through discussions. These interactions, between professors and students, make students critical thinkers. Assistant professor Rita Men has taken the new style into her classroom as well. The teaching style uses technology in a strategic way, outside of the classroom. When students

SeeVALUE page 3

Faculty, staff give to SMU LEAH JOHNSON Contributing Writer ljohnson@smu.edu SMU faculty and staff promoted improvements in student life, academic excellence and overall campus experience at the fourth annual Second Century Campaign kickoff event Wednesday afternoon. The Second Century Campaign has included projects that have awarded more students scholarships, recruited noteworthy professors and improved Mustang

Band Hall. Many more projects are scheduled for this year. Almost 250 faculty and staff attended the two-hour Olympicthemed event. President R. Gerald Turner offered remarks around 4 p.m. The crowd enjoyed a variety of activities and games including a create-your-own button booth, ring toss, darts, indoor archery and basketball. On the other side of the Dedman basketball courts (where the event was located), the faculty

and staff could sit and enjoy refreshments and finger foods such as fruit, carnival-style pretzels dipped in cheese or mustard, cookies and more. Project Coordinator Jasmine Efrussy came with the Project, Planning and Construction Department. “[I had] lots of fun,” Efrussy said, sporting a gold medal around her neck. Efrussy said she and her entire

See DONATIONS page 5


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