Sports:
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Feature on running back Zach Line
Man on the Street finds necessary classes to take Page 5
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VOLUME 97, ISSUE 22 SMUDAILYCAMPUS.COM
Weather
DALLAS, TEXAS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
STATE NEWS
TODAY High 83, Low 61 TOMORROW High 85, Low 61
CONGRESS
Rep. Johnson dropped from alumni award
NEWS BRIEFS
BlackBerry unveils their version of the iPad On Monday the makers of the BlackBerry introduced a new tablet computer that is set to hit the market in 2011. Research In Motion said at a developer conference that the new tablet, PlayBook, will weigh about .9 pounds and have a 7-inch screen. As of now, the tablet will only be able to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. The price of the Playbook is yet to be released.
Landslide in Mexico causes damage Up to 1,000 people may be trapped by a landslide that occurred on Tuesday in Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico. The landslide occurred when a hill, about 650 feet wide, collapsed. According to Gov. Ulises Ruiz, about 300 homes were affected and as many as 1,000 people may have been killed. The death count as of Tuesday afternoon was at seven but 100 were confirmed missing. Heavy rain and additional weather conditions are making the rescue efforts challenging.
FDA sends letters to mouthwash makers Johnson & Johnson, CVS and Walgreens received letters from the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, warning them to stop making “unproved” claims on their mouthwash products. These products claim to be effective in removing plaque or preventing gum disease but the FDA has found that sodium fluoride, the active ingredient contained in all three brand’s mouthwashes, is only effective in preventing cavities. The FDA said in their letter that the companies have 15 days to “take appropriate action.” This letter comes at a bad time for Johnson & Johnson as they were just issued a second Congressional hearing in regards to recalls concerning nine of their non-prescription drugs .
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Index News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,3 Arts & Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
By Jessica Huseman Editor in Chief jhuseman@smu.edu
DEREK STOUT/ The Daily Texan
The University of Texas was officially locked down by local authorities Tuesday, after reports of two gunmen on campus were issued.
Shots fired at UT Student opens fire before taking own life By ROBERT CLEMENTS News Intern rclements@smu.edu
The University of Texas locked down around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning in response to a suspect firing several shots before turning the gun on himself. The suspect, UT student Colton Tooley, had entered the campus’ Perry Castaneda Library (PCL). Tooley, a 19-year-old math major, had used his own AK-47. He was pronounced dead on the library’s sixth floor. No injuries or deaths of other UT students, faculty or staff have been reported. Senior Robby Rebb told ABC News, “I was walking from the business school, and a guy sprinted
past me screaming, ‘There’s a guy with a gun.’ I looked up and saw a man in a ski mask, wearing a suit and carrying an assault rifle. And I called 911.” UT closed mid-morning and cancelled all remaining classes for the day. UT freshman Bonnie Tibbs had not yet left for class when the University locked down. “I received a UT text alert at 8:23 a.m. stating there was an armed suspect last seen at the Perry Castaneda Library,” she said. “A second message came shortly after alerting us to take shelter and stay where you are.” At 11 a.m., the campus sirens continued to blare as the SWAT teams searched every building for a second suspect.
“We have reports of a second suspect that was wearing a beanie with a long rifle, wearing blue jeans and a black top that we’re looking for that may or may not be a white male,” Chief of Police Art Acevedo told an Austin radio station. By noon however, the lockdown was lifted as police called off their search for the alleged second suspect. “I feel that the campus has handled the situation very well and students were alerted promptly about the situation. I think universities, such as UT, have learned a lesson from the Virginia Tech shooting three years ago,” Tibbs told The Daily Campus.
See UT on page 3
GREEK LIFE
Communication rules change for Panhallenic women and PNMs By WESLEIGH OGLE
competition as to who could meet the most PNMs. “It is my hope that this campus Outsiders may think it is early to be can slowly progress to a more “natural” communication focusing on Panhellenic recruitment, but process, but until affiliated potential new members and sorority women stop breaking rules women are already feeling the and competing against one effects of the new guidelines put in another, these rules must be place this year. In addition to the old guidelines, in place,” she said. active members and freshman The “no contact” rule has been in effect before, potential new members but for the last two years, (PNMs) have to obey the “no sorority women and PNMs contact” rule established by the were allowed to call, text and Panhellenic Executive Board and voted upon by all eight chapters. Facebook message each other. The new guidelines state, Reverting to the old guideline has been “Actives and PNMs may have a surprise to many, and opinions are no contact via cell-phone, which varied about the benefit of the rule. “It may be harder to coordinate includes, but is not limited to, calling or texting” and “via online communities, meetings with girls on campus because you can’t check in which includes, but is not limited to, with them to confirm,” Facebook or MySpace messaging.” Illustration by HELENA BOLOGNA The same rule applies sophomore sorority woman to e-mail, except for academic purposes, on campus Savanna Hogan said. “I was supposed to organizations, honor societies, Mustang Corral, AARO meet a [PNM] today, but she couldn’t remember and other similar activities. what time we were meeting, and I had no way to Ali Frymark, the Panhellenic vice president of See SORORITIES on page 3 membership, said the rules were changed because of Contributing Writer wogle@smu.ediu
U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) will not be receiving a SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award on Oct. 21. Johnson had to back out of the event because of a scheduling conflict, and therefore, cannot receive the award. SMU Alumni Relations said that honorees are required to be present at the ceremony to receive the award. Dina Craig, media director for Johnson’s office, said Johnson had
to back out because she is recovering from back surgery. “She’s excited about [it], she wants to,” Craig said. “But right now she just can’t.” SMU spokesman Kent Best said Johnson notified SMU that she would be unable to attend the event. Best said she will receive the award at a later date, which is yet to be determined. Craig said the surgery pushed other important events forward and has made it impossible for her to
See AWARD on page 3
SENATE
Reading days to return... in 2012 By MEREDITH SHAMBURGER Senior Staff Writer mshamburge@smu.edu
SMU Student Senate’s quest to get reading days added to the spring 2011 semester and 2011-12 academic year ended Tuesday, when Student Body President Jake Torres explained to senate that the academic calendar was already set in stone. Torres met with the faculty senate committee in charge of the calendar that morning, as he is the student senate representative on the committee. Torres said the committee was “very receptive” to senate’s request, although they could not change the upcoming calendar. However, Torres said the committee did put two fall reading days and one spring reading day into the 2012-13 calendar.
“It’s better than what we have now,” Torres said when directing senators to encourage faculty senate members to approve the calendar. “Hopefully Faculty Senate will pass it,” he said. If Faculty Senate does not approve the calendar, it will go back to the subcommittee. Torres brought 553 signatures on a petition to the meeting with him in an attempt to get reading days back in the academic calendar. The petition was intended to show that the student body supports the inclusion of reading days in each semester. Torres urged senators to get “as many students as you can” to sign the petition.
See SENATE on page 3
CRIME
Student reports sexual assault A crime alert has been issued, warning students with posts on doors around campus By MEREDITH SHAMBURGER Senior Staff Writer mshamburge@smu.edu
SMU issued a crime alert last Thursday after a female student reported that she had been sexually assaulted by an acquaintance on Sept. 19 around 3 a.m. in his residence hall room. SMU police are currently investigating the matter. The student told police that she and her acquaintance, a student, had gone to a party after the previous
night’s football game. They later returned to campus and went to his room, where she was assaulted. Police urge anyone with information about this matter to contact the SMU Police Department at 214-768-3388. Anonymous tips can be made to 214-SMU-2TIP or by going online to smu.edu/2tip. Students seeking more information about personal safety tips can visit the SMU PD website at smu.edu/pd.