Mustangs anticipate UCF rematch
INSIDE
The benefits of weight lifting
PAGE 2
Tattoo artist shares interests
PAGE 3
Petition sparks responses
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PAGE 5
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 4, 2013 MONDAY High 63, Low 57 TUESDAY High 72, Low 64
VOLUME 99 ISSUE 32 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
STUDENT LIFE
POLITICS
App changes dating scene Caroline Morehead Contributing Writer cmorehead@smu.edu SMU senior Terah Kimbrell did not have high hopes playing around with Tinder, an online dating app, while abroad in Switzerland. But in Europe, she noticed people were more trusting of strangers. So when she met her now boyfriend she agreed to meet him after they talked for a while on Facebook and Tinder. “I didn’t expect to get a relationship out of it and I mostly just joined Tinder because I thought it was funny, but I definitely think it is geared towards our generation, most of the people I encountered on the app were close to my age,” Kimbrell said. Is this instantaneousness and spontaneity the missing piece in the ongoing search for the perfect match? Is it more fun when there is less to create? A quick ego boost and the ability to avoid rejection? In this generation, the answer is yes. Recently, a new wave of dating apps have sprung up specifically targeting a younger more carefree demographic. These Smartphone apps offer easy access and instant acceptance or rejection. The most popular apps of 2013 include Tinder, Pure, Coffee Meets Bagel, Date My School, Bang With Friends, Lulu, Snapchat and Grindr. But some experts say they have concerns that these apps rely too heavily on looks rather than substance. Karen E. Brown, a licensed professional counselor-supervisor and founder and director of the Dallas Counseling and Wellness Center, said she is certainly no expert on apps like Tinder but she does have concerns with the focus being so much on looks. “In my practice I see many couples who originally got together for the wrong reasons and it comes back to haunt them at some point. Physical attraction gets the motor running, chemistry keeps the motor running, but when the motor breaks down now mutual respect, trust and compatible value systems will get the car back on the road again,” Brown said. Mobile dating apps offer a more personalized experience, no lengthy introduction, no online dating profiles, no “favorite book,” no monthly fees, just sign up and find matches based on personal interests and conquest. Most importantly, the process is fast, giving users instant satisfaction. However, not all 20-somethings are big fans. “I have used Tinder, but personally I am better in person; however, for people who are having a hard time meeting people or may not be outgoing it could be a good idea or maybe even for people who are too busy to spend time looking for a significant other,” Senior Elizabeth Scotti said. Match.com, eHarmony. com and OkCupid.com offer a traditional approach to online dating with personality tests, user-generated questions and compatibility testing. These websites and many others make up a dating industry that is worth over $1 billion, but also an industry that might have reached its peak. According to Tinder, just one year after launching, Tinder users have swipe-rated each other 13 billion times, three billion in August alone. Two million matches happen each day and there are 150 known engagements through the app. It’s the fastest growing free dating app in the U.S. Tinder has become one of
Photo courtesy of WEBmlive.com
Protesters hold signs supporting the legalization of medical marijuana during a protest in Michigan.
Student support for marijuana legalization hits new high Brie STriCkland Contributing Writer bsstrickla@smu.edu
ELLEN SMITH / The Daily Campus
A student browses through Tinder on his cell phone.
the most popular dating apps of 2013. It is similar to the original idea behind Mark Zuckerberg’s creation, Facemask, at Harvard University in 2006. Hot or Not? Look at a picture and then swipe right to make it a match, or swipe left to move onto the next headshot. Many have used the location-based app in search of long-term or formal dating while others use it to find a quick romantic getaway near them. SMU senior Courtney Michalek said she was not meeting nice guys at bars while she was interning in New York this past summer. So, it was Michalek’s spontaneous personality and thrill for meeting new people that drew her to Tinder. “I have dabbled around with the Tinder app. I think it is an extremely entertaining and it was quite the ego boost. I will admit that I have gone out on a limb and gone out on quite a few Tinder dates…but because everyone is so busy in New York, Tinder is totally normal, it serves as a practical outlet to meet singles,” Michalek said. Whitney Wolfe, SMU alumna and co-founder and director of marketing at Tinder, handles events, college outreach and other marketing initiatives for Tinder. Wolfe said that Tinder caters to everyone because it emulates real life. When someone walks into a coffee shop or down the street people don’t see other’s interests and hobbies written on their foreheads. They notice their initial appearance. Natural human instinct is to say “yes” or “no” to these people when you see them, based on what they choose determines if they approach these people or not, she said. “Tinder has been wildly successful all over at this point. Dense cities are obvious major pockets of success, so NYC, Rio, London. Tinder is now in every country and is growing like wildfire domestically and internationally,” Wolfe said. Date My School, founded by a group of students at Columbia University, is another successful dating platform. The app grants access solely to college students and alumni. Users can restrict viewing of their profile to certain areas of study or specific universities.
“I have not used any online outlets at SMU because when I am trying to meet people online, it is usually to get away from the SMU crowd and experience new things and new people,” junior Jenny Shaw said. Mobile is the future not only for dating, but also for all social media. Online dating has only tapped into five percent of the single population so the potential for mobile is immense. Online dating apps serve as an ideal outlet for social discovery in today’s modern generation. “I don’t think online dating is always successful, but in my case it was. I think online dating apps are successful because our generation is extremely technology driven, everyone is constantly busy and on their phones, so why not target the generation that is immune to communicating through a smartphone?” Kimbrell said.
Last week, USA Today reported on a recent Gallup poll, which indicated increased nationwide support for cannabis legalization. Meanwhile, college students and professors across the country are voicing their blunt opinions on the matter. The Gallup poll, which has been gauging public support for cannabis legalization since 1969, reported that 58 percent respondents were in support of decriminalizing the potent product. When surveying 18 to 29 year-olds, approval increased to 67%, also a record high. Just as the USA Today article surveyed professors and students alike, the Daily Campus reached out to the Southern Methodist University population to weigh in on this burning topic. In terms of financial prospects, USA Today quoted Carian LoebMuth, 22, as someone who felt that the legalization of marijuana would bolster the economy. “I feel the legalization would significantly help America’s economy,” the Georgia State University junior said. “A good chunk of the profits go towards taxes.” Students on SMU’s campus seemed weary of the long-term financial benefits with a handful of students arguing that the impact from sales would be “marginal.”
Even though legalization support has increased, the poll indicated decreased use among young adults. Approval percentages indicate that though parents are less accepting of legalization, they admitted to using marijuana more in their younger years. About 36 percent of millenials admitted to “trying weed,” as compared to 56 percent of young adults in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Senior Lecturer in English Bruce Levy comes from that older generation whose overall support waives below the national average but he views the debate as a matter of moderation. “As compared to other intoxicants, including alcohol, marijuana is a generally safe source of bodily pleasure. Of course, any intoxicant, stimulant or depressant can be abused, but smoking a little marijuana is probably safer than drinking five cans of Red Bull and certainly safer than smoking a pack of cigarettes, or drinking half a bottle of Grey Goose, Levy said. “The smoking of marijuana is not the problem, the problem is the creation of a black market for drugs and the legal intoxicant industry that thrive on its criminalization. And anyway, the real issue of substance abuse issue in this country is hardly about pot, it is about alcoholism, problem drinking, and the fact that so many of us are over-medicated with legal, prescription drugs.” SMU students overall seemed indifferent to the recent poll results
and legalization itself, adopting a mentality that Americans should be free to do whatever they so please, granted that it didn’t compromise the safety of others. In reference to Professor Levy’s previous comments, the real societal issue at hand isn’t usage, but instilling in young adults that moderation is the key. The war on drugs is taking on a new face in the 21st century. “I think people are seeing marijuana in a different light now. Do I think it’s a gateway drug? Absolutely. But I also think that if you’re of a certain age, you should be entrusted to use marijuana at your own [discretion],” argues a current SMU senior who asked to remain anonymous. “I think it is more responsible to take it out of the hands of drug lords and into the control of the federal government. I know people that even find it to be more of a functional recreational substance than alcohol — it’s just a way to relax.” Regardless of someone’s personal beliefs, there is no doubt that this recent poll denotes a wave of change in America. Hayley Waring, an SMU junior journalism major, chooses to keep her legalization sentiments to herself, but boldly believes the poll results are indicative of our time. “The poll reflects a change in the way our generation views government,” Waring said. “It’ll no doubt be interesting to watch how our generation’s attitudes mold public policy in the years to come.”
ACADEMICS
SMU geothermal lab a hot spot for research KIAN HERVEY Contributing Writer khervey@smu.edu Right now, SMU may not be known as a nationally recognized research institute, but the university’s Geothermal Laboratory is looking to change all that. “Because geothermal energy is in the ground, it’s not on people’s minds—it’s out of sight out of mind,” Staff Researcher Maria Richards said. “This generation could really change that because they share so much.” The U.S. Energy Information Administration describes geothermal energy as energy collected from hot water or steam reservoirs deep below the earth’s crust. As energy consumption continues to increase and traditional resources become depleted, alternate, sustainable energy sources such as geothermal technology become increasingly important. SMU’s Geothermal Lab identifies and maps geothermal resources around the world, connecting knowledge of the
energy source to consumers and commercial developers. “We educate the public about geothermal energy in hope that we can push for better energy policies and gain the interest of potential investors,” graduate student Ramsey Kweik said. “Unlike wind and solar, geothermal energy is seldom mentioned in the media and has not received the recognition it deserves.” National Public Radio thinks so too. NPR recently featured SMU’s Geothermal Lab in a State Impact report detailing how Texas’ numerous oil and gas wells could be a hot spot for geothermal energy. But according to the radiocast and Geothermal Lab Researcher Maria Richards, limited funding often dismantles geothermal projects. “They made (the power plant) work, they proved it was successful, and then they dismantled it because they didn’t have funding to keep the project going,” Richards told NPR. Fortunately, SMU’s Geothermal Lab has not always been so strapped for cash. Since its inception, the program, nearly 42 years old, has been awarded over $9
million in research grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and other sources. Tech giant Google and the federal government took an interest in geothermal research a few years ago. Google granted the lab half a million dollars in 2008 and President Obama announced a $350 million stimulus for geothermal energy projects in 2009. For SMU, the additional resources allowed more room for research. “We’re using data collected from the Google grant and building a national database for the Department of Energy,” Richards said. “We [also] complete research for companies who come to us with something they need done for a specific site or location.” Students working in the lab are assigned projects across the nation in Oregon, Nevada, Oklahoma and beyond for large organizations like the U.S. Navy and Davenport Oil & Gas. Research conducted by graduate student Andres Ruzo has lead him on an adventure in Peru for
National Geographic. “One day I could be working in the lab, the next day I could be… in the desert temperature-logging wells, in the Andes searching for mining holes, [or] in the Amazon rain forest studying the geology of the area,” Ruzo shared on his National Geographic profile. With geothermal energy available around in the world, the possibilities for finding and harvesting sustainable energy are endless. Kweik, working with Hunt Oil Company in East Texas, describes the industry and field as good business. “We get to play outside and get paid. As a base load renewable energy source, geothermal energy is by far the most efficient and the most reliable of the other renewable resources,” Kweik said. More information about geothermal technology is available online at energy.gov. Students of all majors and disciplines are encouraged to visit the Geothermal Lab in Heroy hall. The lab will host a public conference and workshop exploring topics relevant to geothermal energy next semester.