Meadows Brown Bag Preview
INSIDE
Outdoor adventure thrills
PAGE 2
Diversity on campus
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Women’s soccer seasons starts
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MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 MONDAY High 97, Low 72 TUESDAY High 95, Low 72
VOLUME 98 ISSUE 18 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
ACADEMICS
SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus
SMU has risen four points in the U.S. News and World Report’s Rankings.
SMU’s academic ranking rises Courtesy of Hillsman Jackson
Meadows School of the Arts Dean Jose Bowen and Dedman College student Julian Spearman jamming on keyboards at the close of TEDxSMU Hilltop.
TEDx spreads ideas on Hilltop JAN ANDERSON Staff Writer jnanderson@smu.edu More than 200 people gathered in the Bob Hope Theatre Friday to listen to 21 SMU students, faculty and alumni relate “ideas worth sharing” at TEDxSMU Hilltop. Ideas at the event ranged from a very colorful form of music notation and high performance dress shirts to why everyone should learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable to the importance of coding. Even though TEDxSMU has been in existence for about four years, this was first time the TEDxSMU conference has happened on the SMU campus. At the fourth annual TEDxSMU event in the Dallas Arts District this past December, SMU community members had to pay for tickets. This TEDxSMU conference was free to SMU students, faculty and staff. “The driving force behind
bringing a free TEDxSMU conference back to campus were the deans of the Lyle School and Meadows. We understand that a ticket price of $150 for our full-day conference can be unreasonable for a student so [we] worked to offer events that are lower in costs or free,” Heather Hankamer, TEDxSMU director of operations, said. TED is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to “Ideas Worth Spreading.” TEDx, a part of TED, according to the TEDxSMU website, “offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world.” “[TEDx is a] place with great ideas,” sophomore Kelly Kiser said. “We all need more of those.” SMU seniors Greg Walters and Mesa Thomas both said they had not been able to attend TEDxSMU events in the past. Walters enjoyed senior Chrisian Genco’s talk on why everyone should learn program systems. “He is really engaging, really good at bringing technical concepts
to a practical and universal level,” Walters said. Thomas liked what Christopher Bhatti, SMU director of external and alumni relations had to say about the benefit of being uncomfortable. “I liked him because he was talking about education and being uncomfortable. Many times we are always set on a plan but sometimes opportunities arrive that can change your life,” Thomas said. A friend invited senior Corinne Matthews to TEDx. Although she had heard of TEDx before she wasn’t very familiar with the concept. But once there, Matthews didn’t regret it. “I liked the opera one and I liked the general atmosphere and learning so much new about different subjects,” she said. Hankamer said her favorite moment from TEDxSMU Hilltop were the conversations that happened outside of the theater. “During the break the discussions were lively. Great ideas and passions were presented inside
the theater and it’s fun to hear the discussions they spark outside the theater,” she said. During the four-hour conference, the 2012 to 2013 TEDxSMU Young Fellows were announced. The program offers 14 selected students the chance to attend TEDxKids @SMU and TEDxSMU for free. Recipients of the fellowships came from Lyle, Meadows, Dedman Law, CaldwellSimmons, Cox School of Business, Perkins and Dedman College. In exchange for free admission, student attendees are required to complete a service project. Students who have attended TEDxKids @SMU have contributed more than 2,000 service hours to the community. The main TEDxSMU conference in December is an all-day event for pre-registered participants. The program ranges from personal discussions of physical and mental journeys to demonstrations of high-tech gadgetry to real-life lessons from entrepreneurs.
RENOVATION
KATYA DEAHL Contributing Writer kdeahl@smu.edu U.S. News and World Report’s Rankings of Best Colleges released its latest ranking of the nation’s top universities on Sept. 12. Southern Methodist University has moved four spots higher on the list. Out of 280 institutions on the list, SMU is now ranked No. 58. “It’s obviously good news that SMU continues to move up in these rankings, because prospective students and their parents do pay attention to them. As the father of a college-bound high school senior, I can attest to that,” journalism professor Mark Vamos said. Only two other Texas schools ranked higher than SMU — Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin. However, SMU is ranked higher than its biggest rival Texas Christian University, which is No. 92. “Honestly, I am not surprised SMU moved up in rank from last year. It is raising its standards for acceptances
and, in turn, raising its standards in the classroom,” junior Chelsea Harrison said. “It truly is producing more knowledgeable students.” U.S. News and World Report considered various factors for determining the rankings including peer assessment scores, high school counselors’ ratings, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni support. But Vamos cautions that rankings don’t indicate everything about the quality of a university. “It is, and should be, only a small factor in the college selection process,” he said. Location, campus life, extracurricular activities, sports, range of available academic classes, cost and availability of financial aid should also be considered. “A ranking can aggregate all the information it collects to give prospective students an idea of how a college compares to other colleges and can hint to choosing the right university when combined with a campus visit,” junior John Liedtke said. U.S. News relies on two pillars for its ranking system.
See METHOD page 3
SERVICE
‘New’ Varsity fails to impress Varsity renovations not complete, Hughes-Trigg director says ERICA PENUNURI Contributing Writer epenunuri@smu.edu The freshmen may not see it, but practically every other SMU student does. What had been a vintage pub-style space lined with old dark wood, welcoming booths, a hum of conversations and warmth is now a vast room with scattered seating and harsh lighting. There it is, the former hotspot, sitting in all of its fluorescent, humdrum glory. “I used to come here all the time,” senior Brandon Frier said. “But now it just looks like a high school cafeteria.” This is the Varsity center. The old student haven is now in a state of transition. Students and administrators are disappointed in its current condition. “The thing I’m most disappointed about is that we wanted it done before the school year began,” Richard Owens, director of Hughes-Trigg Student Center, said. These days many students aren’t even aware of the renovation plan. They stroll into the Varsity
SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus
SMU’s Mustang Heroes second annual “Sleep in a Box” event promoted poverty awareness Saturday night.
Students sleep in boxes for charity SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus
The renovations for the Varsity should be completed Spring 2013.
center with books tucked under their arms, a crumpled Chick-fil-A bag in hand and a slippery cup of iced coke in the other. They only need to take their eyes off their balancing act for one moment to stop in their tracks. “When I heard ‘remodel’ I thought it would be better than Café 101,” SMU senior Mary Jordan Higgins said as she looked up from her lunch and glazed over the new Varsity center. “They definitely downgraded it,
not upgraded,” she continued and let out an exasperated laugh. “This is just awful.” It isn’t aesthetically pleasing now, but the final operation will be an upgrade according to Owens. “Heck, I walk in there and say this is so boring and bland,” Owens said. “But it’s easy for me to move past that because I know what is coming.” So, there’s the big question:
See FUTURE page 3
KATELYN GOUGH News Editor kgough@smu.edu The quad in front of McElvaney Hall was littered with boxes. Pizza boxes slightly bigger than the ones from Mac’s Place and industrial sized cardboard boxes covered the lawn. SMU’s Mustang Heroes hosted its second annual “Sleep in a Box” event to promote poverty awareness Saturday night. “I think it’s a great [way] to just promote awareness in a fun,
creative way,” freshman Sam Perry said. “It’s just a great way to get to know each other and share the same values about homelessness.” Mustang Heroes was created just three years ago. The studentrun organization already has over a hundred members and plans to raise $5000 for local organizations. President Carissa Grisham said that she hoped that the event broke some stereotypes students have about the homeless and motivated them to get involved “Everyone who comes out has a great time,” Grisham said.
Mustang Heroes partnered with Vogel Alcove, a local organization that works with homeless children. President and CEO Karen Hughes believes that raising awareness is the first step to getting people engaged in the community. “I think it’s good for this generation to understand that so much of what is good in this world comes from philanthropy,” Hughes said. “Most people don’t think of children when they think of
See DIFFERENCE page 3
2
HEALTH
REcre ation
Wellness
Get active with SMU Outdoor Adventures ANNE PARKER H&F Editor annep@smu.edu Do you love the outdoors? Want to hike? Go camping? Hang out in nature? Improve your leadership skills? AND have fun? SMU Outdoor Adventures [OA] may be right up your ally. Not only will you get to engage in outdoor recreational activities, the program strongly encourages leadership utilizing the natural environment. “We are one of the best leadership programs on campus that uses non-traditional classrooms to further leadership,” Albert Mitugo, senior coordinator of Outdoor Adventures, said. “Whether it is self-awareness, human skills, outdoor skills or leadership skills.” SMU student Jeremy Rechtien said he got involved in outdoor adventures because, “I saw early on the benefits the experiences of the OA provides to students through the Hilltop Scholars Expedition. After that, I knew that I wanted to be a trip leader and be able to provide these experiences for the SMU community in return for what it gave me.” Various trips are taken each year and cater to different interests, activity levels and the amount of time you are gone. The workshops serve as shorter
The Daily Campus
MONDAY n SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
Photo courtsey of Outdoor Adventures
Spring Break 2010 backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon.
Photo courtsey of Outdoor Adventures
SMU Outdoor Adventure leaders Pony Up at a flagpole event.
courses to help students build their outdoor skills. SMU student Matthew Deaver is the SMU climbing wall manager and enjoys challenging himself with outdoor adventures. “Working with SMU Outdoor Adventures gives me the
opportunity to fully experience the great outdoors,” he said. Located on the north end of the bottom floor in the Dedman Recreational Center, you can find out all you want to know about various trips and activity workshops that are offered.
“Spring break trips have been popular with the program,” Mitugo said. “Tandem Sky Diving is quite popular and so are other trips like zip lining, overnight backpacking, rock climbing as well as kayaking or canoeing.” “Our trips are discounted because SMU wants the SMU community to take advantage of these trips and experiences that will be hard to come by after graduation,” Rechtien said. According to Mitugo, the program serves about 4000 students at the climbing wall and approximately 250 in trips and workshops per year. “We also serve a sizeable group of students, alumni, staff and faculty through camping gear rental,” he said. Why do Rechtien and Deaver think students should get involved? “We are like nothing else on campus,” Rechtien said. “There is nowhere else that supplies these types of experiences for the SMU community the way we do.” “SMU Outdoor Adventures offers something for everyone,” Deaver said. “Whether you are experiencing backpacking for the first time, challenging yourself with a rock climbing trip or becoming an outdoor leader, you are bound to have a unique adventure that you will never forget!”
Campus Events
Get your free flu shot at SMU ANNE PARKER H&F Editor annep@smu.edu It’s that time of year again. Sniffles. Coughs. Sinuses. And before you know it, everyone around you is sick and you are coming down with the flu. This fall, SMU is encouraging all students and faculty to get their flu shots to prevent it from spreading like the plague. SMU is offering free flu shots for all SMU students, benefit eligible faculty, staff, retirees and retiree spouses. All you need to bring is your SMU ID card. Before you go, make sure to complete the Flu Vaccine Form found on the SMU website and bring it with you. One of the best ways to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination. Other tips SMU recommends to avoid getting the flu: 1. Get plenty of rest to keep your immune system healthy. 2. Wash your hands. 3. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. 4. Avoid people who are sick. 5. If you are sick, stay home.
September 24
9/25: Dedman Center 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Students 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. St/ Fac/ Staff* 9/27: Health Center 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. St/ Fac/ Staff 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Students 10/5: Expressway Tower 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fac/ Staff 10/8: Law School Quad 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. St/ Fac/ Staff 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. St/ Fac / Staff 10/23: HR Fair/HughesTrigg 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fac/ Staff 10/29: Plano Campus, Bldg 2 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. St/ Fac/ Staff Before you go visit the SMU website: 1. Fill out the Flu Vaccine Form 2. Review the Health’s Centers Privacy Policy 3. Review the CDC flu vaccine information
Police Reports September 19
MONDAY
Flu Shot Schedule
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
September 25
September 26
THURSDAY
September 27
Renaissance Technology in Print in Hamon Arts Library all day.
M.S. Programs Information Session at Caruth Hall 347 from noon to 1 p.m.
This Beautiful City at Greer Garson Theatre from 8 p.m to 10 p.m.
Góngora/Picasso: Graphic Poetry at Meadows Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Remember the Ladies! Discovering Women’s History at DeGolyer Library all day.
Góngora/Picasso: Graphic Poetry at Meadows Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Diego Velázquez: The Early Court Portraits at Meadows Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This Beautiful City at Greer Garson Theatre from 8 p.m to 10 p.m.
Alpha Epsilon Delta The Health Preprofessional Honor Society presents
Empathy through Experience: Special Volunteer Opportunities A vailable in the Dallas Area for All Pre-Health Students
Followed by an Auction for One Kaplan Test Prep Course (MCAT, DAT, PCAT, OAT)
Pizza and Drinks will be served. Volunteer coordinators from Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas, Baylor University Medical Center, Prevent Blindness North Texas, and Methodist Dallas Medical Center will be present to discuss the various volunteer programs available to prehealth students as well as the importance of volunteering, how to apply, and the time commitment expected. The speakers will be followed by an auction for a Kaplan test prep course (useful for any course Kaplan offers). This is a $2,099 value. Bidding begins at $500. Be prepared to pay in cash or by check within 3 days if you win.
Wednesday, September 26 , 2012 Room 110, Dedman Life Sciences Building 5 p.m. ALL MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
2:53 a.m. Possession of Fictitious License or ID: Fondren Library. A student was referred to the Student Conduct Office for possession of fictitious license. Closed. 4:17 p.m. Theft: Junkins Engineering Building. A staff member reported the theft of a power supply. Open.
September 20 No fire or criminal incidents have been reported yet.
The Daily Campus
MONDAY n SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
FUTURE: Innovative, ambitious designs set for Varsity continued from page 1
what is coming? How about a ninety-inch plasma screen television flanked by two sixty-inch screens on the back wall for starters? Owens plans on having those centered across the back wall when you walk in along with high tables and bar stools with deep red countertops to add an SMU pop throughout the room. Many students, however, are more concerned with maintaining comfort and space. “It’s not as cozy anymore,” junior Blossom Bologna said. “And it definitely looks smaller.” Owens shared the same doubts when starting the project. “Our biggest concern was the spacing,” he said. “It felt awkward with the higher level deck and it was under utilized space. After gutting out the place there is now only two long red banquet booths lining the halls of the room and tables that, as one senior put it, “look like they were just thrown there.” According to Owens, eliminating the upper deck has now allowed room for a stage. A student from the Salsa Dancing club has already showed interest in reserving this space once it opens. He also plans to have live comedians, bands and more late night programs to come alive in the Varsity. But ultimately the life of the Varsity is in the hands of the students. “The potential in Varsity is unlimited,” Owens explained. “Honestly, it’s not up to us. It’s up to the students to drive this thing.” If the football team is having an away game, he hopes there will be watch parties. If there is a need for a presentation to be done, the flat screens can be used in that sense as well. Students won’t have to worry about their lunchtime being cut in half because there will be certain evening hours to reserve the space.
Brief
NEWS
3
Women’s health advocate Sandra Fluke to visit campus today Women’s health advocate Sandra Fluke, who made national headlines after she received criticism from the political right after she supported contraception coverage in the
Affordable Care Act, is set to visit campus at 630 in Hughes-Trigg Student Center Theater. The program will also include a panel discussion with Ken Lambrect,
president of Planned Parenthood North Texas, Professor of Human Values Charles Curran and Karen Thomas, Meadows Professor of Practice among others.
DIFFERENCE: Mustang Heroes event combats Dallas homelessness continued from page 1
Courtesy of SMU
The Varsity changed in appearance to match the rest of the renovations in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center.
Although the new Varsity will instill more up-to-date styles, history is also part of the plan. “The theme is ‘Our Past Meets Present’,” Owens said. The theme may sound familiar because Owens has been involved in other renovations such as Café 101, the M Lounge and Centennial Hall. “The plan is you can walk into the Varsity and see history and present at once,” he said. “That way it’s something that all students, faculty, staff and alumni can relate to. His vision consists of giant foam board pictures of SMU events such as Celebration of Lights or Boulevarding displayed throughout the room. He also plans to insert props. He used examples like a set of drums from the SMU band accompanied by a pair of cleats from a football player and other Mustang memorabilia. There are six concepts that Owens and his team will paint throughout the Varsity center: student life and campus, athletics, annual events and traditions, graduation, Greek life and famous alumni. “Nothing is set in stone but it would be nice to get the creator of TOMS shoes to donate a pair of shoes,” he said. TOMS is a renowned shoe company created by former Mustang Blake Mycoskie that donates a pair of shoes for
every pair sold. Owens points out that these contributions would not only reinforce a Mustang pride for students and alumni, but for future Mustangs as well. “Parents visiting with their kids can look at these contributions made by former Mustangs and say, ‘That could be my kid one day.’” But today, SMU students will have to wait until spring semester for any changes — at least that’s the goal. “It took way longer than anticipated,” he said. “The challenges are, unless you have unlimited funds, it’s not going to go the way you plan.” They were working with a budget that has run dry but have contacted Student Senate and partnerships to make the new Varsity vision become a reality. Until then, students are playing a waiting game that has left them with doubts. “I feel like they should’ve never messed with it,” senior Holly Baird said. Others feel like it’s going to be worth the wait. “It definitely sounds like a good idea,” senior Christie Catgrove said. “It’s just a matter of executing it.”
homelessness. Half [of] the homeless population in Dallas are women and children.” Hughes recognized “the difference that just intervening in [children’s] lives early on can make” is imperative. Mustang Heroes also works with local children in poverty as part of tutoring programs and other service projects. Junior Jordan White, who began Mustang Heroes with Grisham his freshman year, said that ‘Sleep in a Box’ was all about educating the SMU community on just how much goes on just outside of Highland Park. ”Five miles south, north, east, west, there are people that are homeless and there are people that are in need that we can do something for,” White said. “I think people… just haven’t had the opportunity to realize how much goodness they can do. [We’re] trying to create
SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus
Students spent the night in cardboard boxes on Friday to raise funds for Alcove.
service, kindness, and make that an integral part of the culture on campus.” White says homelessness isn’t “going to get any smaller.” But he hopes that by students seeing more and more of the
homeless population near campus, they can “develop a deeper understanding of what’s really going on.” “I think it’s really important for us to not neglect that part of our community,” White said.
METHOD: US News uses two step process to develop academic rankings continued from page 1
The formula applies quantitative measures as reliable indicators of academic quality and research on what U.S. News’ believes is important in education. First, the U.S. News categorizes schools by their mission, classifying higher education institutions by the
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s 2010 Basic Classification method. Second, U.S. News gathers data from each college that reflects academic excellence. Each of the 16 factors is given a weight that reflects U.S. News’ opinion on the factors importance. The final rankings are based
on each college or universities combined, weighted score. “I think if SMU keeps focusing on academics it will better its ranking to a certain extent. The true boost will come from the school’s support of its students in a well-rounded lifestyle, including sports and university extra curricular,” Harrison said.
4
OPINION
The Daily Campus
MONDAY n SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
Editorial board
Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tashika Varma Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rahfin Faruk SMU-TV News Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kent Koons, Molly McKone Assignments Desk Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ashley Stainton Online Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelby Foster Arts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chase Wade Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parminder Deo Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katy Roden Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Charles Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sidney Hollingsworth Associate Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathleen Strauss Style Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hillary Schmidt Health & Fitness Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne McCaslin Parker Food Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexandra Spitzer Opinion Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tucker Keene Chief Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leila Mustafa Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kian Hervey, Prithvi Rudrappa, Essete Workneh
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Alumni Corner
Fort Worth, Dallas have history of rivalry Rick Larson
Teacher tenure a huge obstacle to meaningful education reform The recent strike by the Chicago Teachers Union sparked renewed interest in the education reform debate, but no reform would be meaningful without putting an end to teacher tenure. Teacher tenure, both in universities and public schools, largely removes any sense of accountability for the teachers. Tenure is received far too quickly, and very often does not provide a long enough amount of time for an in depth evaluation of the professor’s relationship with students or skill at teaching. Once a teacher gets tenure, they have job security for life. Firing them for egregious abuses of the system, of their power or of students becomes much more difficult than it should be. The 2010 documentary Waiting for Superman shows that 1 in 57 doctors have their medical licenses revoked and 1 in 97 attorneys lose their license, but only 1 in 2500 teachers lose their jobs. Surely this isn’t because teachers are generally better humans than are doctors or lawyers. It also doesn’t mean that the people who become teachers are predisposed to being better at their jobs than doctors or lawyers, but is much more likely purely the result of tenure. Teachers and professors sometimes feel they can get
away with quite a bit because of this lack of accountability, and the inevitable sense of complacency isn’t conducive to a continued effort at being good at their job. Tenure leads to ludicrously inefficient systems of discipline for teachers, such as the infamous rubber rooms of New York City, where, before they were abolished two years ago, teachers accused of wrongdoing would be sent and get paid a full salary while waiting for a conduct hearing. Some teachers would end up waiting years for a hearing, just going to these rooms and sit all day, getting paid to do nothing. It’s hard to imagine a less cost-effective system, but some other states have done just that. As was shown in Waiting for Superman, some states allow teachers to be terminated from their job at one school, but are then sent to teach at another school instead of being fired. This has come be known, in different regions, as the “Turkey Trot,” “Pass the Trash” and “Lemon Dance.” It should be a no-brainer that if a teacher isn’t good at their job, they should be terminated, not sent to a different school to wreak havoc on more impressionable students. One of the main arguments in favor of tenure is that it prevents teachers being fired for frivolous reasons, but this
seems like a weak argument. There are other protections against wrongful termination, notably the threat of lawsuits alleging wrongful termination. Other professions do just fine without total job security, and theoretically teachers should as well. The teachers unions seem to be one of the major forces behind securing tenure, and value it over virtually everything else. In 2008, Chancellor of the D.C. Public Schools Michelle Rhee offered D.C. teachers performance-based salaries of up to $140,000, nearly doubling salaries in some cases, in exchange for giving up tenure. It threatened the teachers unions so much that they refused to even let it come to a vote. Much of the talk about the need for tenure discusses protection for teachers from being fired for political reasons, but it is unfortunately the current laws on education that will not be changed for political reasons. Teachers unions are the largest political contributor of any special interest group,
bigger than the Teamsters, the National Rifle Association or any other group. To some extent tenure does have a place, but only in universities. It does give professors a degree of freedom, which can be helpful in conducting research and in teaching their students in their own unique style. But it should not be handed out very easily, and still doesn’t have a place in public elementary, middle or high school systems. Educating young students is one of the most important jobs out there, one with longterm implications for the future workforce and the strength of our economy. Children who are educated by second-rate teachers lose interest in school and aren’t as likely to succeed both in school or when they get out of it. Their value to the economy is therefore much lower, and this can’t easily be reversed. With such long running and permanent consequences to poor teaching, shouldn’t this be a job with as much accountability and efficiency as is possible?
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 W. Tucker Keene Tashika Varma Rahfin Faruk Leila Mustafa
Sidney Hollingsworth Ashley Stainton Shelby Foster Prithvi Rudrappa
Contributor
To wear an SMU logo on anything in Fort Worth would make you about as popular as a guy in a Yankee’s hat at Fenway Park. Fort Worth folks go to great lengths to perpetuate the one-sided rivalry: a popular barbecue restaurant in Cowtown whose employees wear T-shirts that say, “Life Is Too Short to Live in Dallas,” their city magazine with an annual, “100 Reasons Not to Live in Dallas,” cover and a list inside extolling the virtues of Fort Worth versus the horrors of living in “Big D.” I moved to Fort Worth to be involved with my children and, of course, have lived in Dallas by way of SMU (I tell everyone that I once “had a place in Highland Park for four years.”) But, all things being equal, I’d rather live in Austin. The “rivalry” is seemingly in jest but not really. Many people in Cowtown really do believe that people who live in Dallas are snobs and are rather “plastic,” though my research shows just as many bleach-blondes, breast implants, expressionless, botoxed faces and lot-line-to-lot line homes in both cities. Whenever I’m sitting with my Dallas buddies over at Al Biernat’s, they are quick to ask how things are “over in Fort Worth,” and most complimentary of all things concerning the town. If I’m sitting alone in a bar in Fort Worth—not by choice—I get remarks like, “I see you went to SMU. Best team money can buy, huh?” One TCU old timer looked at my SMU hat, then at me, and asked, “If you love Dallas so damn much, then why don’t you live there?” I told him it was because I was in a Witness Protection Program. TCU and its purple patrons will come to Dallas this weekend, though some will hold their noses and others will be dismayed that we don’t have a place on campus for their covered wagons. Frog fans will converge on the Boulevard and probably remark about the smallness of it all, compared to the acres of “tailgates” that surround their newly, incredibly well-done (and it is) stadium. If they’re honest, they’ll acknowledge that their over served students and alumni mirror those of our own. Perhaps this will be the year that they throw down their swords and embrace SMU in a Love Fest, but I doubt it. TCU is back to avenge the Pony Surprise of last year when the Mustangs came over to Fort Worth and ended the Frog’s 22-game home winning streak and knocked them out of the top 25. Though the Frogs are 3-0 and looking good and SMU is at a tipping point, TCU coach, Gary Patterson has chastised his team for not being nearly as good as they should be. This might be the time to take the Frogs and the points given Patterson is a mastermind at rallying his troops, especially after seeing a complacent Frog team underestimate the Ponies last year. A loss to SMU, again, would derail TCU in its debutante, Big 12 season. The Ponies are going to need more than a penny on the track to shake that train. Is there another Christmas in June Jones? I hope so, though I doubt either he or I would be allowed back into Colonial Country Club if that happened. But there’s DCC, right down Mockingbird, where he’d be most welcomed and I could stand another year of insults from the locals. I’ll have my red on around here, all week.
Racial and religious bias on SMU’s campus remains a problem, though it really shouldn’t be anymore Michael Graves Contributor mgraves@smu.edu In lieu of this month’s hatespeech attacks on both the Muslim Students Association and Association of Black Students, it’s time for my yearly writing about religious and minority freedom on SMU’s campus. And to be quite frank, I’m tired of having to write these pieces. Over the past two months, I have had more students come to me with concerns about their freedoms not only at SMU, but in Highland Park and Dallas as well. I hurt for those students. They’re trying to create a safe space at SMU and receive an education, and yet they have to deal with overcoming oppression at an institution that promote the pursuit of higher education. Hate crimes like this shouldn’t be happening. The fact is, folks, we live in a
diverse world. We may not see it much here, but when you cross the boundaries of the Platinum Corridor, we run into a great deal of diversity. For many, it may feel like I’m preaching to the choir, so to speak. And the intent of my article is not to pass judgment on those who have not been exposed to a great deal of diversity. However, we are all a part of a very small minority who has the opportunity to receive a phenomenal education and make a big difference in the world. In order to do so, we have to educate ourselves about those who are different than us. That doesn’t just mean the white kids need to make a few black friends, or the Christians meet a Muslim student or two. It means that we all need to engage those around us who are not of the same race, not of the same religion and those who do not come from a similar background.
And I think SMU tries to create those conversations on campus. There are countless events throughout the year that try to educate students about the cultural and religious diversity that exists on campus. But are we really listening to those students who just want to expose the rest of the population to their culture and their beliefs? I can’t, in good conscience, say that we are listening. I can’t say that I always listen either. And that’s a problem. One of the reasons why I am so passionate about the Religious Studies Club is I fully believe that we try to expose not only students at SMU, but the community that surrounds SMU to individuals who they would never interact with had they not attended one of our events. I cannot speak for other organizations on campus that do the same, but I think they share my sentiments.
I hope they share my sentiments. I will never understand what it feels like to be a Muslim student who has to watch their back on Sept. 11 because some think they are responsible for what happened eleven years ago. I will never understand what it feels like to be a black or Hispanic student trying to make friends where everyone seems so incredibly different from them. However, I do know we have all felt nervous in different environments. So, to some degree, we can all relate. But we can always educate ourselves further. Want a good place to start? Attend “The Elephant in the Room; Battling Bias” this Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Hughes-Trigg. I’ll leave you all with that, and with good hopes that you’ll attend. Graves is a junior majoring in communication studies.
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Larson is an SMU alumnus from the class of ‘82.
POLICIES The Daily Campus is a public forum, Southern Methodist University’s independent student voice since 1915 and an entirely student-run publication. Letters To The Editor are welcomed and encouraged. All letters should concentrate on issues, be free of personal attacks, not exceed 250 words in length and must be signed by the author(s). Anonymous letters will not be published and The Daily Campus reserves the right to edit letters for accuracy, length and style. Letters should be submitted to dc@smu.edu.
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The Daily Campus
SPORTS
MONDAY n SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 soccer
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Bechtel, Cuadranti represent SMU in NTC invitational DEMETRIO TENIENTE Contributing Writer dteniente@smu.edu
JAYSON SALOMON /The Daily Campus
Sophomore Olivia Elliot scored SMU’s second goal in the Mustangs’ 3-0 victory against Oklahoma on Sept. 16 at Westcott Field.
SMU starts conference play 0-1-1 Matthew Costa Contributing Writer mcosta@smu.edu Twice the SMU Women’s Soccer team (4-5-1, 0-1-1 in C-USA) found itself down a goal, and twice the Mustangs found a way to even the score for a 2-2 final in its first C-USA match versus Houston on Friday night. After going down 1-0 throughout most of the first half, senior forward Kenzie Scovill found the back of the net on a pass from junior defender
Amelia Ambrose. The goal, Scovill’s fifth of the season, helped SMU even the score in the 48th minute. It did not take the Cougars long to regain the lead, acquiring a foul within the SMU goalie box less than two minutes later. The subsequent penalty was taken by Jasmine Martinez, who scored against sophomore goalie Lauryn Bodden. Penalties were not a major concern for the team, who was only whistled eight times and conceded only two corner kicks.
The team also gained six corners of their own. Down 2-1, the Mustangs did not go away as the Cougars undoubtedly hoped. Instead, sophomore midfielder Rikki Clarke accepted a pass from Courtney Smith and struck the left corner of the net. Clarke’s goal was her first of the season helping the Mustangs square the score again. Neither team could find a winner after that as both defenses stepped up to allow four shots by either squad as the game finished
in double overtime, 2-2. On Sunday, the Mustangs faced Rice in Housto, coming out with the loss, 2-3. Scovill and Shelby Redman scored SMU’s first and only goals in the first half. Shannon Moroney had three saves in the goal but couldn’t stop the Owls from scoring its third goal for the win in the 86th minute. The Mustangs continue C-USA play with two games at home this weekend— Friday against UTEP at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. against Colorado College.
Start off Rivalry Week the right way— be one of the first 1,000 Mustang fans to have a Beat TCU yard sign and T-shirt. Distribution begins at noon today in the lobby of the Loyd All-Sports Center. The Battle for the Iron Skillet kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. in Ford Stadium.
Childcare AFTER SCHOOL HELPER/ driver for two older children. Pick-up from schools; To/ from afterschool activities Four days per week; Minimum of 3 paid hours on days worked. $12/hr PLUS MILEAGE. Lakewood Area. 469-441-6930 or cerwinlarkin@yahoo.com LOOKING FOR MATURE, responsible student who is wonderful with small kids. We have two awesome boys 3 and 4 years old. Close to SMU. Flexible hours. Email Megan:mleighcurry (at) gmail (dot) com NEED DEPENDABLE DRIVER and sitter for 3 fun boys ages 10-14 becaus emom works and dad travels. Need help mon-fri 3pm to 7pm. Email dperotti@sbcglobal.net
Employment BEST JOB ON CAMPUS! The Daily Campus is seeking advertising sales reps. This is an opportunity for advertising, marketing, or business majors to acquire “real world” experience. Looks great on resume! Earn commission while learning outside sales. Flexible hours. Call Diana at 8-4111, come by HughesTrigg, or e-mail ddenton@smu.edu FALL INTERNSHIP INVITATIONS and events. Minimum 20 hrs per week. Errand, assembly, event work. Pays mileage. The Mathes Collection. Call/email 214-350-6360 or lauren@themathescollection.com. Near campus! WINSTONS SUPPERCLUB in Uptown is now recruiting IN -HOUSE PROMOTERS to bring the cool kids out to Dallas’ most exclusive nightclub. Must be 21 or over, have an outgoing personality, dependable and be comfortable using social media profiles and face to face interaction to promote Winstons Supperclub. Compensation is based on performance and ability to bring in guests (via personal guest lists) and book tables for bottle service. Must
be available to party/host at least once a week (Friday or Saturday). Bonus incentives available. To apply, submit resume, recent headshot and links to personal social media profiles to info@ winstonsdallas.com.
Food Listen carefully and you can hear the sound of your mouth watering. N.Y. Sub 3411 Asbury 214-5221070. SOME CALL IT a trend- we call it a tradition. N.Y. SUB 3411 Asbury 214-522-1070.
For Rent 2BD WALKING DISTANCE SMU on McFarlin Approx. 1100sf Recently Updated Hardwood Floors Large bedrooms Large Closets separate dining Covered parking starting at $1395 214-520-7337 need something smaller or larger? We have other properties. info@ apartmentdivas.com
fenced yard. City views from rooftop terrace. Convenient to Katy Trail/ Uptown. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage! Wood floors, granite. $485. Debi Leavitt Ebby Halliday Realtors (972) 567-9107
Services EXPERIENCED NANNY/ GOVERNESS/BABYSITTER/ TUTOR Experienced caregiver for infants, children, young adults. Native Spanish speaker. Texas teacher certification. ESL instructor. Caring, responsible, reliable. I have my own transportation. dbw@europe.com
Tutor Services ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE TUTOR. Statistic tutor. Voted “The Best” for 16 years. “College is more fun when you have a tutor.” Lee Lowrie, CPA, MBA cell 214-208-
Sudoku
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alumna; M.S. Math; 20 years Texas Instruments; 2 years college math instructor; 12 year professional tutor. Sheila Walker (214) 417-7677 or email smumath@sbcglobal.net
ACCOUNTING, MATH, CHEMISTRY, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Physics, Rhetoric, Tutoring. “Learn to work smarter not harder.” David Kemp Tutorial Services. Call 469-767-6713. Math Tutor $25 / hour. 10 years college teacher. Over 80% Satisfaction rate. Review sheets making the complex simple. Overviews omitting detail clutter. FredHalp@Gmail.Com 214636-9113
Tutor Wanted ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOMEWORK help for daughter. Basic Math, reading, writing. $15 hour, minimum four hours/ week. Very flexible. Two miles from campus. Call Laura 214-392-8624
MATH, STATISTICS TUTOR for all ages, levels. Successful track records put you on fast track, and time and money! Sue Ashton 214302-7319 MATH, STATISTICS TUTOR for MBA, college, HS students. Highland Park, Austin College, SMU
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Real Estate For Sale THE VINE-ELEGANT townhome w/
© 2012 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
09/24/12
SMU began its season with three players in the NTC Invitational at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center [NTC] were in New York City this weekend. The Mustangs also represented by four athletes at Tyler Community College in the Tyler Invitational. At the NTC Invitational, the Mustangs competed with elite programs and faced some of the nation’s toughest teams. The invitational was hosted by the U.S. Tennis Association at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park area of Queens, N.Y. Freshman Evan Bechtel fell to first-seeded Mike Lampa of St. John's 1-6 and 2-6, advancing to the round of 16 in the C-group of men's singles. Later Bechtel competed in the men’s doubles with Arturs Kazijeves in the A group. The tandem lost to a Farleigh Dickenson University pair 8-6 in the second round.
In high school Betchel led his high school team to a state championship in 2011 and, as a senior, won the Ohio High School singles championship. Arturs Kazijeves, the 2011 to 2012 freshman of the year, was selected to All-Conference USA Second Team for doubles with a 14-6 overall record. He also led the team with a 12-6 record in singles play. Senior tennis player Gaston Cuadranti competed in the A- group of men's singles. He defeated his first two opponents but lost to Winston Lin, the No. three seed from Columbia, in the quarterfinals. Cuadranti was SMU’s leader in wins for the 2011 to 2012 season and was a Second Team All-Conference USA selection for singles. After both invitationals, SMU will set their sights on Tulsa and the All-American Championships Sept. 29 to Oct. 7. The team will participate in the Collin County Invitational before heading to the TCU-hosted Texas Regional Qualifiers. There, the team hopes to secure a return trip to New York for the National Indoor Championships.
TW/The Daily Campus
Tobias Flood is a red shirt senior member of SMU’s tennis team.
ACROSS 1 Collected 5 Tilting tool 10 Swift 14 Apple application no longer in use 15 Eponymous William’s birthplace 16 Gospel writer 17 One who illegally brings home the bacon? 19 God in both Eddas 20 The orange kind is black 21 Tape deck button 23 Uno e due 24 Fairy tale baddie 25 Mistakes in Dickens, say? 33 Sound, perhaps 34 Insect-eating singers 35 Rapper __ Jon 36 Lasting impression 37 Just a bit wet 38 Stove filler 39 “__ American Cousin,” play Lincoln was viewing when assassinated 40 Go green, in a way 41 Linney of “The Big C” 42 When to send an erotic love note? 45 English class assignment word 46 Ottoman title 47 Remote insert 50 By oneself 55 Big-screen format 56 “Something’s fishy,” and a hint to this puzzle’s theme 58 Pantheon feature 59 “Fear Street” series author 60 Modernize 61 Tools for ancient Egyptian executions 62 16th-century English architectural style 63 Zombie’s sound
9/24/12
By Neville L. Fogarty
DOWN 1 Andy of comics 2 Soothing agent 3 Bird symbolizing daybreak 4 ’70s TV teacher 5 Idle 6 Farm unit 7 Sports gp. with divisions 8 Garfield, for one 9 Budding 10 Blossom 11 European wheels 12 Crispy roast chicken part 13 Take care of 18 1996 Reform Party candidate 22 Messes up 24 Short tennis match 25 Biker helmet feature 26 Provoke 27 Nurse Barton 28 Willing words 29 Stand 30 Not just mentally 31 Papal topper 32 Soothe 37 Lauded Olympian
Friday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
38 One might keep you awake at night 40 Fishing gear 41 By the book 43 Prehistoric predators 44 Like Everest, visà-vis K2 47 Musical with the song “Another Pyramid” 48 Hebrew prophet
49 Pitch a tent, maybe 50 Enclosed in 51 TV host with a large car collection 52 Circular treat 53 Bupkis 54 David Cameron’s alma mater 57 Early Beatle bassist Sutcliffe
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ARTS
The Daily Campus
MONDAY n SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 ME ADOWS
CONSTRUCTION
Courtesy of the Perot Museum of Science and Nature.
An architectural rendering of the Perot Museum’s entrance.
SPENCE J. EGGERS/The Daily Campus
Sophomore Kathryn Schaible performs during the Brown Bag Dance Series in the Bob Hope Theatre Lobby at the Owen Fine Arts Center
Leap through lunch: Brown Bag returns next week in full force PARMINDER DEO Assoc. A&E Editor pdeo@smu.edu The Meadows dancers are known for putting in long rehearsal hours and having strict schedules. Now it’s time for round one of this year’s Meadows Brown Bag Dance Series showcasing the talent of student dancers at the Bob Hope Theatre Lobby in the Owen Fine Arts Center. “A lot of dance majors are double majors in other disciplines actually. Rehearsals are like the homework of the dance department, only with very physical and emotional assignments. Dancers eventually learn how to manage time very wisely — we have to,”
sophomore dance major, Alexandra Nowlin, said. The Brown Bag dance series has been a part of SMU since 1983. The dance series parades student choreographed dance pieces. The student choreographers decide everything from the music to the dancers to the costuming. “Some people choose a song that they love and fit everything around it, some choose a story or theme they wish to convey and find just the right music, look and dancers and some choreograph a phrase that they feel ownership over and build from there,” Nowlin said. “It’s amazing to observe everyone’s creative process. The way people teach their dancers and conduct their rehearsals will also reflect their personality.”
Brown Bag is not just for upperclassman dancers. Firstyear dance majors also take center stage with choreography designed just for them. Students will see a flurry of intricate dance moves, facial expressions and emotions that highlight the success of Meadows Division of Dance. Tenley Dorrill’s choreography will be featured again along with new choreographers. “Dance is not only a visual experience, but a very active performance that can inspire your spirit. Choreography is both intelligent and simple because it’s open to interpretation, but there is almost always a deeper intention. Art enriches the soul because it puts the beautiful and
tragic parts of life in a frame,” Nowlin said. The series will take place during lunchtime, at noon, next Oct. 1 to Oct. 5 (Monday to Friday). The dance routines will accommodate for all types of genres. There will be between 10-15 performances which include dance styles of ballet, modern, and jazz. “The choreography is increasingly more idiosyncratic than the season before. The emotions evoked will be a wide range and the music equally as eclectic,” Nowlin said. “This series offers works set to dub step, classical, R&B, soft rock and pop music — something for everybody’s taste. That said, you’ll get a balanced lunchtime smorgasbord of dance.”
Dallas’ newest museum announces early opening CHASE WADE A&E Editor cdwade@smu.edu Well, that was quick. It seems like it was yesterday that the team at the Perot Museum of Science and Nature announced that Downtown Dallas would be home to the very angular, very modern building in honor of Margaret and Ross Perot. Citing an aggressive construction schedule and cooperative weather, the museum announced that 4.7acre site at the corner of N. Field Street and Woodall Rodgers Freeway in Victory Park, just north of downtown Dallas, would open a month ahead of schedule on Dec. 1, 2012. Patrons looking to buy tickets early can purchase them as soon as Oct. 2 at www.perotmuseum.org. “It’s been our objective to not only finish on time but to
beat our deadlines on multiple fronts. Thanks to the hard work of our board leadership, project team and the museum staff, our $185 million fundraising goal was met more than a year ahead of schedule, and now we will open our doors before the end of the year,” Nicole G. Small, The Eugene McDermott chief executive officer said in a release. “So we look forward to December 1, when the public gets to experience the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.” The $185 million museum, designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects, will feature five floors of science and nature oriented content. During the announcement, the Perot Museum unveiled one of its first temporary exhibits, “Building the Building,” which takes a look into the museum’s construction.