INSIDE
Veggie Fair strikes back
PAGE 2
‘Argo’ hits a home run
PAGE 3
Asians don’t get fair draw
PAGE 4
SMU looks to continue C-USA streak PAGE 5
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 12, 2012 FRIDAY High 88, Low 68 SATURDAY High 86, Low 64
VOLUME 98 ISSUE 26 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
CRIME
Sexual assault reported day before task force meeting JULIE FANCHER HALEY THAYER Staff Writers jfancher@smu.edu hthayer@smu.edu
Courtesy of AP
Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan debated on domestic and foreign policy issues Wednesday night in Danville, Ky.
Biden, Ryan aggressively spar KATELYN GOUGH News Editor kgough@smu.edu The 2012 vice presidential candidates delivered an energetic, sparring match Thursday night during the second debate of the election season. Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan faced off under moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC News. She was a controversial selection given her personal background with the Obama family. In a debate “that’s important mostly to partisans,” Ben Voth, chair of SMU’s communication studies department, said that the candidates did in fact appeal to their most prominent audience of the night. “I think both sides gave their partisans something to be happy about.” Voth said. After Romney’s triumph in the first presidential debate, Biden was
expected to make up for lost ground in the second round. “[The Democrats] wanted Biden to step up more than President Obama did, and I think he did that,” Voth said. “[He] was trying to be more aggressive and hit points Obama missed.” Foreign policy and defense budgets dominated much of the debate. Accusing the Obama administration of having “no credibility” on foreign policy and handling Iran’s nuclear activity, Ryan asserted that the next President needed to take more direct action. “They are not changing their mind. That is what we have to do—change their mind,” he said. Biden, considered by many to hold his expertise in foreign policy, appeared confident in the foreign policy growth that has been facilitated over the past four years. “This is a guy who has repaired our alliances so the rest of the world
will follow us again.” Biden. When the question of defense cuts was posed, Biden made clear the Obama administration’s nonnegotiable stance on ending the war in Afghanistan by 2014. “Unless you set a timeline, [their government] will not step up. They are happy to let us do the job,” Biden said. “It is their responsibility to take on their own security.” Ryan was sure to clarify that the Romney campaign does not “want to extend beyond 2014,” but that it also does not “want to embolden our enemies” by leaving behind a premature government. Tensions flew again with the facilitation of economic discussion during which Raddatz confronted Ryan on evading tax cut logistics, saying he had “refused again to offer specifics.” Ryan accused the Obama administration of getting “caught with their hand in the cookie jar” and trying to use Medicare money
for Obamacare. But Biden called the Romney campaign out on not following through on assertions and promises. “Stop talking about how you care about people — show me,” Biden said. When abortion was approached, Ryan articulated the Romney campaign’s official stance and leaded with the assertion that “our faith informs us in everything we do.” “The policy is to oppose abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother,” Ryan said. Biden, a practicing Catholic, then took his turn on the issue. “I accept my church’s position, but I refuse to impose that on others.” Biden said. The next debate, which will be in the town hall format between the presidential candidates, will be Oct. 16.
SMU police released a crime alert Wednesday to students reporting the off-campus sexual assault of an SMU female student by an SMU male acquaintance. This is the fifth sexual assault crime alert released to students this year. The alert also comes one week after President R. Gerald Turner released the names of the 20 members of the Task Force on Sexual Misconduct Policies and Procedures. The crime alert stated that a female SMU student reported to University Park Police that she had been sexually assaulted by a male acquaintance, who is also an SMU student in the early morning of Oct. 5. The alert stated that the alleged assault occurred at an apartment in the 3400 block of Asbury Avenue, just west of campus. One day after the fifth crime alert was issued in 2012, SMU’s new Task Force on Sexual Misconduct Policies and Procedures received its first charge from President R. Gerald Turner. The task force, whose members were appointed on Oct. 4, was created in response to the arrests of two SMU students for sexual assault this past September. The charge explains that SMU is “committed to providing the best possible learning environment for students to achieve their personal goals.” And in doing so SMU must maintain model programs that can be looked at by other schools when it comes to sexual misconduct. The task force was established
to examine SMU’s current procedures and policies related to sexual misconduct, and to “ensure that all students are treated with care and fairness.” The task force will evaluate reporting procedures for sexual assaults, including the Clery Act compliance. It will also look into the student conduct process, specifically at the structure of the internal grievance procedure as required by Title IX. In addition to on and offcampus support services for victims, orientation, training and education programs will be established for faculty staff and students, especially those who may be involved in the conduct review process or the process of reporting a sexual assault. Edward N. Stoner II, a former attorney with Reed Smith LLP and an expert on student conduct issues, spoke to the task force. He is the author of 50 articles and presentations, specifically the model code of conduct for colleges and universities. He is also an expert on Title IX. Stoner is the first expert called in to speak to the task force. “Our first meeting was productive and informative. As an SMU trustee and the parent of college-age students, I deeply appreciate the care and deliberation that is being given to this issue, which requires our best thinking and highest level of compassion,” Kelly Compton, chair of the task force, said. Once deliberations are complete, the task force will submit their recommendations to President Turner. Compton said, “I’m confident that the best interests of our students will be well served by the task force. Everyone is united behind this goal.” The task force will have a full report to be completed on or before March 1, 2013.
VACATION
SPORTS
Students look forward to fall break
Moody Coliseum renovations to set facility apart
BROOKE WILLIAMSON Contributing Writer kwilliamson@smu.edu After eight weeks of schoolwork and “Boulevarding,” students are ready for some time away from campus. “It is interesting that although the break is only four days long, many students are going to vacation spots and other cool places that seem far away for such a short break,” sophomore Devin Kerns said. Austin, Texas seems to be a top-pick among travelling students. The city’s annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, which kicks off today, draws thousands to downtown Austin every year for three days of live music. Students that are not headed down I-35 are more than likely going to visit friends or family. A number of undergraduates are heading home to rest and catch up on sleep. Junior Alex Bjornes is going to visit his family in the
northern U.S. “It’s a nice mind break and refreshing to be in my old room and neighborhood and to see some of my high school friends,” Bjornes said. Others are taking trips with friends to popular travel destinations. Napa Valley, Walt Disney World and Las Vegas all made the destination list for SMU fall break spots. Senior Kenzie Schott is traveling to Napa with some of her closest friends. “My friends and I so excited to visit the wine country for our senior fall break at SMU,” Schott said. Some students have decided to stay in Dallas. Austin Manierre, a Chicago native, is staying here for the break hoping to visit one of Texas’ biggest seasonal attraction — the State Fair. Regardless of what students do, students will enjoy fall break. “It’s our choice whether to take a trip or stay and study or catch up on work,” Aydam said. “Fall break is great either way.”
BILLY EMBODY Staff Writer wembody@smu.edu SMU Athletics jump started its fall season with a “Tipoff at Moody” event spotlighting SMU basketball and volleyball on Oct. 10. Team members and coaches honored donors who gave more than $1 million to the renovation and expansion of Moody Coliseum. A stage was set up like a suite for honored guests and school officials. The “starting lineup” included SMU President R. Gerald Turner, Athletic Director Rick Hart, men’s head basketball coach Larry Brown and women’s head basketball coach Rhonda Rompola. “Many of you are regulars at this building and you have certainly let it be known for years that there needed to be some updates and improvement,”
Turner said. “Antiques are only good for so long and we decided after half a century it’d be about time for a touch-up. The three-hour event focused on expansion and renovation plans for Moody. Renovations have already begun on the north side. Turner explained all the steps to designing Moody and how school officials have toured other arenas around the country for inspiration. Turner pointed out that once the renovations are done, Moody will feel like the storied Cameron Indoor at Duke University. The cost of the Moody renovations is estimated at $47 million, but the final cost will not be known until the end of October. SMU has already raised $36 million for the renovation thanks in part to major gifts by the Moody Foundation and the Miller family. “When we enter the Big East for the first basketball season, Jan. 1 of 2014, Mustangs will be very proud
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SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus
SMU celebrated upcoming Moody renovations on Oct. 10.
to have schools from all over come in here and play our basketball and volleyball teams,” Turner said. SMU Board of Trustee member Paul Loyd spoke about bring back the tradition of “Moody Madness.” “Certainly for me and a lot of other people here, there is a lot of tradition in this building. We’re going to get that tradition back where you have conference championships, and NCAA tournament appearances,”
Loyd said. New SMU Athletic Director Rick Hart spoke about how happy he is to be welcomed by a renovated arena. “There are few things better to welcome a new athletics director than to learn that your coliseum is going to be renovated to a level, which will compare with some of the finest athletics facilities in the country,” Hart said.