Arts & Entertainment:
Opinion:
Barefoot in the park review
Unexpected optimism rises out of midterm elections. Page 3
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VOLUME 96, ISSUE 40 SMUDAILYCAMPUS.COM
Weather TODAY High 73, Low 53 TOMORROW High 77, Low 57
NEWS BRIEFS
Help donate to HSUS Buffalo Exchange is teaming up with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to help animals. From Nov. 13 through April 23, anyone wishing to donate their real fur apparel can do so through Coats for Cubs. The furs will be used as bedding for injured wildlife. The condition of the donation is unimportant. Since 2000, the partnership between Buffalo Exchange and Coats for Clubs has been strong. Buffalo Exchange has collected about 5,250 used furs for the cause. To donate, drop your used fur off at Buffalo Exchange or mail it directly to the Humane Society of the United States, Attn: Coats for Cubs 2100 L St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037.
African runners take gold On Sunday, two African runners won the female and male categories in the 2010 New York City Marathon. The female runner, Edna Kiplagat, finished the race in 2 hours and 28 minutes, while the male runner, Gebre Gebremarian, finished in 2 hours and 8 minutes. Kiplagat is from Kenya, while Gebremarian is from Ethiopia.
Three boys found in Netherlands Three boys who were abducted more than two years ago from California have been found alive in Europe. The FBI states that the boys’ fathers, brothers John and George Silah, were arrested in the Netherlands after authorities believed they were the ones who abducted their sons from Southern California. The children are now in a shelter in the Netherlands and will return to the United States to reunite with their mothers. Federal Abduction charges will likely be administered to the fathers in the U.S.
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Index News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,6 Arts & Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Health & Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
DALLAS, TEXAS
SENATE
LGBT seat in question again By MEREDITH SHAMBURGER Senior Staff Writer mshamburge@smu.edu
It’s been nearly a year since Student Senate voted against adding a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) special interest seat to their ranks. But significant changes in the makeup of Senate have caused the seat’s advocates to once again take up the issue. This time, they say, it seems likely that the legislation will pass with the needed two-thirds vote. “I think last year, a lot of senators voted based off their beliefs or their views more than their constituents because I think the campaign that was done by Tom Elliott and everyone else who helped him was a pretty strong campaign,” Lyle senator, Claudia Sandoval, said. “I think this year’s senators are more in tune with their constituents and more in tune with what they actually have to do.”
Visitors and senators have brought up the LGBT seat issue during the past three Senate meetings. While last year’s debate focused much of its attention on the issue of double representation, this year’s questioning has revolved around the legal logistics of identifying and counting LGBT students, since the University can’t ask students about their sexual orientation during the admission process. Freshman Harvey Luna is spearheading the efforts to get the seat installed. Luna, an openly gay student, is working closely with senators Grant Barnes (Perkins), Aden Abiye (Dedman I) Sam Mansfield (Dedman II) and Sandoval (Lyle). “There seems to be much more support this year in terms of the political climate in Senate to pass the legislation,” Luna said. “All we’re doing right now is working on logistics.” While many senators acknowledge that the LGBT community faces numerous issues, such as discrimination, they question whether installing a special interest seat would be the most
beneficial way to help the community. “When you open up the idea for the LGBT seat, how many other seats do you open up for others?” Mansfield said. “If this goes on, then you need to be careful about the precedent that you set. But right now, in my gut feeling, this community has a very special concern. I believe that there is enough of them on this campus to have their concern voiced.” A recent vote from the Diversity Committee determined that they were against adding the seat, with five against and one person in favor. Diversity Committee chair, Jasmine Carr, said the committee had concerns over the legal logistics of adding the seat. “That red tape is something that the senators had a concern about,” Carr said. “We’re highly behind seeing the need and knowing that there needs to be some type of representation,
SPORTS
SUSTAINABILITY
Miners bury Mustangs, 28-14 By JOHN BONADELLE Contributing Writer jbonadelle@smu.edu
SMU’s trip down to El Paso proved to be unsuccessful, as a lack of discipline and an inability to find rhythm offensively cost the Mustangs a crucial ConferenceUSA victory. The University of Texas at El Paso took advantage of their last home game of the year and gained bowl eligibility for the first time in five years by beating the Mustangs 28-14. The Miners came to play with an early scoring drive, taking five minutes off the clock and which ended with Trevor Vittatoe connecting to Evan Davis down the sideline for a 20-yard passing touchdown. After the touchdown, SMU was forced to punt the ball away. UTEP took advantage of SMU’s inability to put together a drive. Led by Vittatoe, UTEP drove the ball 85 yards on the Pony defense. Vittatoe concluded the drive by recording his second passing touchdown of the night, this time connecting to Pierce Hunter from six yards out. The first quarter came to an end, and SMU found themselves trailing their opponent on the road for the second straight week. After most of the second quarter passed without scoring, SMU put together one of their most impressive scoring drives of the year. Starting at
See SENATE on Page 6
MICHAEL DANSER/ The Daily Campus
SMU quarterback Kyle Padron searches for an open receiver during play as offensive lineman Kevin Beachum blocks Padron’s blind side.
their own one yard line, quarterback Kyle Padron guided the offense 99 yards to the end zone. Padron looked for his favorite target, Aldrick Robinson, consistently throughout the drive. He and Robinson hooked up three times; the third reception was a 31-yard post pattern that capped off a Mustang drive, quieted the Miner crowd and pulled the Mustangs back to within one possession. Unfortunately for the SMU defense, Vitattoe was not done. With four minutes left in the half, Vitattoe had no issue with carving up the Mustangs’ secondary and driving UTEP down the field. On the Pony 13-yard line, Vitattoe placed a ball over the outstretched arms of SMU linebacker Pete Fleps and into the hands of UTEP wide receiver Marlon McClure. These late half heroics put UTEP back in the driver’s seat by giving them a two possession lead at 21-7. SMU ran out the clock for the remaining seconds of the half and utilized halftime to make some needed adjustments. After the half, SMU’s offense failed to get moving, but the defense came up strong. When UTEP
See FOOTBALL on Page 3
SMU earns ‘B’ for green grade By TAYLOR ADAMS News Editor tadams@smu.edu
SMU’s Sustainability Report Card for 2011 has been released, raising the campus’ overall green grade up to a “B.” The rating that was recently released by greenreportcard.org’s compiled data from survey responses to generate grades for areas ranging from administration to investment priorities and shareholder engagement. Our “A” in food and recycling is primarily due to SMU spending over onethird of its food budget on local products and avoiding using trays in cafeterias. Where the grade really falls, however, is in endowment transparency and shareholder engagement. Standing at a “C” rating, SMU’s endowment transparency isn’t up to par for greenreportcard.org; however it does make a list of holdings available to trustees, senior administrators and other select members of the SMU community. SMU received an “F” in shareholder engagement.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Children walk with ‘buddies,’ get inspired By SARAH KRAMER Staff Writer skramer@smu.edu
Nine-year-old Jordan Steele could not stop smiling as she got her face painted, jumped on a moon bounce and played basketball at the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas’s 10th annual Buddy Walk Sunday at Flag Pole Hill. With more than 260 walks nationally, the Dallas-area Buddy Walk had more than 6,000 participants this year, according to Terri McKinney, president of the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas. The one-mile Buddy Walk is one of many events the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas holds promoting awareness and acceptance of people with Down syndrome with the help from many sponsors, including Park Place Volvo, The Rise School of Dallas and Radio Disney. “It really is a great fundraiser,” McKinney said. “It builds awareness in the community, and it lets people with Down syndrome see they are not alone.”
The Steele family has been participating in the Buddy Walk for seven years. “We’ve watched it grow from 500 people to 5,000 people,” Jordan’s mother, Samantha Steele, said as she smiled watching Jordan dance to the live music. Tripp Steele, Jordan’s father, said, “Getting to see normal kids interact with kids with disabilities is the best part of the day.” However, families with children with Down syndrome were not the only people affected by the community support at the Buddy Walk. SMU junior Mallorie Wicker has been participating in the Buddy Walk for the past three years. “Getting out and playing with people with Down syndrome, while raising awareness, really makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something and helped people, especially in your community,” Wicker said. Around 1 p.m., after awards were given, McKinney shouted, “Let’s get ready to
See WALK on Page 6
SARAH KRAMER/ The Daily Campus
Nine-year-old Jordan Steele lines up with her cousin, Ben, before the kickoff of the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas’ Buddy Walk at White Rock Lake Sunday afternoon.
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Health & Fitness
• Monday, November 8, 2010
The Daily Campus W O R K
The Daily Campus
O U T
of the week
Front Raises with a pair of dumbbells at your sides 1 Stand with the palms of your hand facing your thighs.
Arnold Presses on an exercise 1 Sitbench with back support and hold two dumbbells in front of you at upper chest level.
Be sure your back is straight, and tighten your core. This will be your starting position.
Face your palms towards your body and bend your elbows. When you lift, rotate your forearms outwards. Lift the dumbbells 2 until your arms are extended above
you in a straight-arm position. maintaining a 2 While stationary core, lift the left dumbbell to the front with a
Be sure to exhale when lifting the weights to full extension.
slight bend on the elbow and your palms facing down. Continue this motion until your arm is parallel to the ground. Exhale on the motion up, and inhale while returning the weight to its position.
3
After a second pause at the top, begin to lower the dumbbells to the original position by rotating the palms of your hands towards you.
3
Finally, lower the dumbbell back down slowly to the starting position as you simultaneously lift the right dumbbell.
Tip: The left arm will be rotated in a counter clockwise manner while the right one will be rotated clockwise. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement.
Work out and photos provided by: Jovin Lim, Health and Fitness Editor. For more tips and information, email sylim@smu.edu
Bend Over Flys dumbbells 1 Hang freely in
each of your hands and bend at the waist until your torso is nearly parallel to the floor. Your legs should be slightly bent and your knees relaxed. both 2 Lift dumbbells and
contract your shoulders to lift them parallel to the ground. Exhale on this motion.
Now, 3 lower the dumbbell
back down slowly to the starting position.
Be sure to maintain a stationary core during the full motion.
Sports
The Daily Campus
Monday, November 8, 2010 •
3
FOOTBALL: UTEP beats SMU CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
received their first possession of the second half, they were held to a short and quick three and out, which helped to put some of the momentum back into SMU’s corner and slowed down the Miner offense. The SMU offense did not disappoint when they had their second chance of the half to put points on the board. Padron slowly guided the Mustangs down the field and managed to eat up over seven minutes of the clock in the process. Down on the one yard line, Padron called his own number and plunged behind center into the end zone to bring the Mustangs back into the game and make the score 21-14. Again, SMU’s defense showed that its halftime adjustments had paid off as it held UTEP to another unsuccessful drive. After SMU received the punt, the offense began to methodically move the ball down field again, as Padron continued to find Robinson and Bradley Haynes. SMU began to work their way into the heart of UTEP territory when two costly clippings and personal foul penalties drove SMU backwards and halted the drive. With 10 minutes left in the game, SMU turned to punter Matt Stone to pin the Miners up against their end zone and to rely on their defense to get the ball back with time left on the clock. Instead of pinning UTEP deep in their territory, Stone booted an 11-yard punt that was capped off by a personal foul by sophomore linebacker Taylor Reed. The 11-yard punt and costly penalty allowed UTEP to get
the ball on the SMU 37-yard line. This challenge proved to be too much for the SMU defense, as UTEP running back Leilyon Myers plunged into the end zone from two yards out to make the game a two possession game once again at 28-14. This final touchdown was just out of reach for for SMU, who could not manage to find the scoreboard for the remainder of the game. Vittatoe took the final kneel, and the Miners celebrated as the clock wound down to zero. As for the Mustangs, their failure to win Saturday puts them back at the 500 mark once again. Padron ended the day with 28 completions with 44 attempts for 255 yards. It is also the second week in a row in which Padron has rushed for a touchdown. Robinson continued to add on to his impressive statistical season with a nine-catch, 131-yard outing that included a touchdown catch. Combined, Zach Line and Chris Butler rushed for 18 carries for 98 yards. The Mustangs have two games left to get their sixth win of the season and return to the promised land of the bowl season. SMU has a crucial game Nov. 20 at home against Marshall, in which they will try to clinch their second bowl berth under Coach June Jones’ third season at the helm. If the Mustangs do not win against Marshall, they will need to win on the road against East Carolina (5-4) in the last game of the season in order to be bowl game eligible.
Lady Mustangs battle it out By EJ HOLLAND Sports Editor eholland@smu.edu
The SMU volleyball team improved to 20-5 overall and 12-2 in conference play with a 3-1 set victory over Marshall on Friday night at Moody Colesium. The Thundering Herd got off to a great start early, taking the first set 25-19 and leading early in the second. However, the Mustangs would rally to take the second set 25-22. SMU dominated the next two sets 27-25 and 25-21 to win the match. SMU outside hitter Dana Powell recorded her teamleading 18th double-double of the season. The junior recorded 16 kills and 16 digs against Marshall. Fellow outside hitters Kathryn Wilkerson and Jessica Oliver tallied 14 and 12 kills respectively. Mustang setter Kelli Becerra notched 53 assists in the match, which is the second highest total for the junior this season. She also registered five kills and had a match high .444 percent hitting percentage. Senior Caitlin Adair, who was named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-District team, also contributed with nine kills and three blocks.
This is only the third time in program history that the Ponies have reached 20 victories. SMU is currently second place in Conference USA. Unfortunately, the SMU women’s soccer team did not fair as well on the field as the volleyball team did on the court. The ladies suffered a heartbreaking 2-0 loss at the hands of the UCF Knights in Friday night’s Conference USA Tournament semifinal match in Orlando. The Knights got on the board early, when Kim Newsome took advantage of SMU turnover and put the ball in the back of the net in the third minute. UFC was not done. Later in the first half, the Knights added to their lead courtesy of Nicolette Radovic. Katie Jackson fired a shot on goal, but SMU goalkeeper Courtney Webb was there for the save. However, Radovic scored off the rebound in the 29th minute. Webb, who led Conference USA with 47 saves during the regular season, finished the game with seven saves. The score would remain 2-0 for the rest of the game, and the Ponies were sent home packing. With the loss SMU falls to 11-7-4 on the year and now must await the NCAA Tournament selection, which is slated to take place Monday.
MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus
SMU midfielder T.J. Nelson scored SMU’s game winning goal in the 99th minute during overtime against Florida International University Friday evening. Nelson scored two goals during the season, both occurring in overtime. SMU finished this year 15-1-0 overall and 7-1-0 in Conference USA.
Ponies pounce Panthers By EJ HOLLAND Sports Editor eholland@smu.edu
The No. 5 SMU men’s soccer team closed out regular season play with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory against Florida International on Friday night in Miami. The Mustangs posted a 15-1 overall record and 7-1 record in Conference USA action. “The game was a hard-fought battle,” SMU head Coach Tim McClements said. “I think that it really shows FIU’s drive and dedication. They could have easily folded up, but they did not - they came out fighting. They played like they didn’t have anything to lose, and that’s a dangerous recipe for us going in to the game.” “We scored early in the first half, but then the game kind of opened up and that really favored FIU. It was a really end-to-end game. We played hard, but we didn’t play as well as we normally do because they played so hard and never gave up,” he said. SMU senior midfielder Josue Soto got the Mustangs on the board early with a goal in the third minute of the game. FIU goalkeeper Shane Lopez and another unidentified Golden Panther collided in the box which allowed Soto to score his sixth goal of the year with ease. The score would remain 1-0 until early in the second half when FIU midfielder Carlo Schmid took a cross
from forward Marcus Hairston and struck the ball to the far post for his second goal of the season. Both teams would play extremely tough defense for the rest of the second half forcing overtime. Before the extra period began McClements received a red card which fired up the Ponies. The game proved to be a war as the two conference foes finished with a combined seven yellow cards and 37 total fouls. In the 99th minute, SMU midfielder Payton Hickey fired a shot on goal, but Lopez was able to make a diving save and knock the ball back into the playing field. Fortunately for the Mustangs, fellow midfielder T.J. Nelson was there to gain possession of the rebound and bury the ball in the back of the net. Nelson’s second goal of the season was also his second overtime game winner of the year. “The season has been great,” McClements said. “The players have been great, and they have responded anytime there has been a difficult situation or distraction. We are just trying to get ourselves ready to win the conference championship and go to the NCAA tournament.” SMU will head to Memphis to compete in the Conference USA Championship on Wednesday through Sunday. The Mustangs are the No. 1 seed and have a bye in the first round.
Vice President for Student Affairs Advisory Board The purpose of the Vice President for Student Affairs Advisory Board is to provide feedback to the Vice President of Student Affairs on critical issues impacting student life that may arise during the course of an academic year. The Board will meet once each month throughout the academic year. Membership on the Vice President for Student Affairs Advisory Board includes the student body president (or her/his designee), the two student representatives on the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, and the Student Trustee. Additionally, six other students will be appointed to the Board through an application process. Ex officio members of the Advisory Board include the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life; the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs; and the Executive Director of Student Development and Programs. Others, such as SMU faculty members or SMU alumni may also be appointed as Ex officio members of the Advisory Board. The Board will meet on the following dates in the spring semester of the 20102011 Academic year: April 13, 2011 February 16, 2011 January 19, 2011 4 pm to 5 pm 4 pm to 5 pm 4 pm to 5 pm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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Students interested in applying for the board must be in good academic standing with the university (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) as well as be in good student conduct standing. Applications for the 2010-2011 Advisory Board are due November 15, 2010 by 5 pm. Applications should be submitted to the Vice President for Student Affairs Office. Perkins Administration Building (PAB) Room 203. Website is http://smu.edu/studentaffairs/advisoryboard/
Opinion
• Monday, November 8, 2010
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News from...
un ro
ASIA-PACIFIC
Burmese hold first national election in 20 years: Ruling generals say the polls mark a transition to democratic civilian rule, but critics say they are a sham. The National League for Democracy, the main opposition party led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, boycotted the vote, saying it was manipulated. “The authorities of various levels forced the people to cast advance votes,” said Sai Ai Pa O, the president of Shan National Democratic Party, which is fielding the fourth largest number of candidates. Foreign journalists and monitors have not been allowed into the country for the election. Candidates supporting the military are expected to win the most seats. The two junta-linked parties are fielding the most amount of candidates.
MIDDLE EAST
Illegal mosque raided in Israel: Police and residents clashed in the southern Israeli city of Rahat as an illegally built mosque was demolished. Protesting residents said the police used rubber bullets and tear gas against them, while the police accused locals of throwing stones at them.
SOUTH ASIA
Obama criticizes Pakistan on terror fight: President Barack Obama has criticized the pace of Pakistan’s fight against militants within its borders. Obama called for dialogue between India and Pakistan, adding that India was the country
with the biggest stake in Pakistan’s success. Many Indians think the U.S. cannot be trusted as long as it continues to supply weapons to Pakistan’s army, this country’s “enemy number one,” adds our correspondent. He said that India would benefit the most from a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan, and that it did not need the distraction of instability in the region.
EUROPE
Pope consecrates Gaudi’s Church: Pope Benedict XVI has consecrated Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished church, the Sagrada Familia, as a basilica in the Spanish city of Barcelona. The Pope sprinkled holy water on the altar before a congregation of more than 6,500 people. Gaudi’s greatest work has been under construction for more than a century, and will not be finished before 2026. Sagrada Familia is currently funded by private donations and visitors’ fees.
LATIN AMERICA
Mass grave found in Mexico: A mass grave discovered in Mexico contained the bodies of 18 kidnapped tourists. They disappeared on Sept. 30 after they left their hometown of Morelia. Witnesses last saw them looking for their hotel in Acapulco. They are believed to have been kidnapped by a drugs gang, but it is not clear why. The region is the scene of a violent turf war between rival drug cartels.
d the Wor l
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Editorial Staff Editor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Huseman Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Simon News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Adams Associate News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meredith Carlton Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Smart Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Jennings Style Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Bray Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EJ Holland Health & Fitness Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jovin Lim Opinion Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adriana Martinez Chief Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Hawks Copy Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Traver, Tashika Varma, Amrita Vir Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Danser Layout Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helena Bologna Online Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Josh Parr
The Daily Campus
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U.S. & CANADA
Obama announces Indian trade deal: President Barack Obama has announced $10bn in new trade deals with India. U.S. President Barack Obama has announced $10bn in new trade deals with India. Obama also announced an easing of U.S. export controls and rejected caricatures of India as a nation of “call centers.” The new deal will create around 54,000 new jobs in the U.S. On his trip, Obama is expected to announce a “comprehensive partnership” including economic ties in Indonesia, attend a G20 summit of global economic powers in Seoul and participate in an Asia-Pacific economic forum in Yokohama, Japan. Source: BBC News
SMU
Big iDeas Symposium: On Friday, students will present their research projects. Presentations are open to the SMU community and will be held in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Forum at 2:30 p.m. Impact of Technology on National Security: Past, Present and Future: The John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies is hosting its third annual conference on national security and defense on Tuesday and Wednesday. For more details or to RSVP email tower@smu.edu. Source: SMU.edu
CARTOON
EDITORIAL
Big words can be quite bemusing STAFF
Some big words are arcane, abstruse and frankly annoying—not-so-subtle attempts on the part of the writer to aggrandize an otherwise simple concept into a bombastic string of braggadocio. Such conflated speech shows self-confidence that is more bumptious than sincere. A writer who expatiates on a topic with such a stuffy vocabulary comes off as callow rather than experienced, vague Rebecca Quinn instead of cogent. But I am willing to throw caution to the wind and hold my usual preference for brevity in abeyance to demonstrate that even the biggest of words can serve the most amusing of purposes. What follows is an incomplete, rather inchoate example of some capital ways to incorporate advanced vocabulary into everyday usage. Try to keep apace in your reading or you may get left behind. Take the college party, for example. At any one of the bacchanalian university festivities on any given weekend, it is easy to spot some of the more notorious female students in all of their bedizened, overly-made-up glory, carousing with their libertine male counterparts. The typical hoydenish female animal, known for her excessive and ritualistic ablutions in preparation for such parties, may not be as innocuously frivolous as she appears. Some stereotype her as glib—claiming that she prefers to ramble on and on about just about anything but never reaches any depth of meaning in her speech. She reportedly culls her gossip from a variety of sources and is ever so eager to decant such calumny to just about anyone who will listen. Cosseted by her parents since youth and benighted through an insular lack of exposure, she is apt to practice endogamy by seeing, dating and marrying strictly within her own social circle, which is, if I might add, minutely exiguous. The juvenile louts that populate such scenes are stereotyped equally severely. Such a young man must certainly be rich, set for life by a trust fund that will carry him from cradle to dotage very comfortably. Too indolent to pay attention to his education and too impolitic to care, he copies and pastes sheer doggerel from Wikipedia and turns it in as his own. He finds himself in a violent fracas almost every night at the bar, causing contusions to be inexorable mementos every morning after. He is toned and slim now but will undoubtedly be hirsute, hoary and corpulent later due to the insidious effects of his gluttony and poor personal hygiene. He malingers his way out of obligations, pretending to have a fever or cold or broken bone. These mendacious antics are notorious in and outside of the classroom. He will leave college without even a modicum of knowledge but rather a finely honed vocabulary for his ribald locker-room talk. Are the ladies and gentlemen of the Hilltop (or hummock, if you will) really so fatuously air-headed? I think not. Although some are more apt to partake in libations than others, I sincerely doubt anyone begins their night with the aim of having their friends hold back their hair while they engage in emesis. While some may be more esurient for knowledge than others, there is a paucity of students who come to college with no desire to learn. Students could use to hone their moral thinking a little further, but there is no gross and sweeping lack of probity among us when it comes down to it. In this prolix article, consisting of a veritable gallimaufry of words, concepts and perhaps a bit of criticism, I hope I have not been too sententious in my critiques nor too optimistic in my hopes. I hope, too, that you have learned just enough to pedantically get your way through the rest of the semester with a few new locutionary tricks in your bag. Rebecca Quinn is a senior art history, Spanish and French triple major. She can be reached for comment at rquinn@smu.edu.
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.
SCHENEMAN / MCTCampus
A Note from the Editor: Is your opinion being heard? As a part of the “college experience,” students are encouraged to consider, to question and to debate. New ideas presented in and out of class are not meant to be taken on the word of a professor, news source or peer. Rather, each person is encouraged to think for him or
herself and develop an informed opinion. But, there is a further obligation that is all too often forgotten: the need to share that opinion with others in order to promote an elucidating dialogue. It is for this explicit purpose that the opinion
section of The Daily Campus exists. If you have an opinion, reaction or response to SMU, local, national, international happenings or to life in general, e-mail it to adrianam@smu.edu. Continue the conversation here. This is your page.
OPINION
What happens the day after tomorrow? Reaction to 2010 midterm elections reflects overall optimism, expresses an unexpected sense of hope
STAFF
The midterm elections have come and gone. The Republican Party made significant Nathaniel French gains around the country, picking up six seats in the Senate, nine governorships and control of the House. Neither the hailstorm of fire and brimstone liberals thought nigh, nor the songs of Hosanna conservatives-anticipated have come to pass. The day after the election looked pretty much like the day before it. I’m pretty happy with the results. Although some of the races didn’t go the way I’d hoped—Russ Feingold
will be sorely missed—but most of the candidates I was rooting for pulled through. That’s not the way many of my friends see it. When I signed onto Facebook last Wednesday morning, I thought the world must have come to an end without my knowing it. My friends’ statuses were many and varied, but they all boiled down to one general theme: America had just shamed itself by voting in a bunch of ignorant fools. Now, there certainly were some ignorant fools elected—my home state is now governed by a man with no real qualifications, a highly questionable ethical past and a mother he once sent to stand in for him at a debate. But victories like Rick Scott’s were the exception. Overall, America rejected the crazies.
Stephen Broden, who suggested a violent overthrow of the federal government might soon be appropriate, lost in the Texas 30th Congressional District. Christine O’Donnell, who actually had to begin a campaign ad with the words, “I’m not a witch,” lost her bid to become the next senator from Delaware. Despite the sheer ineptitude her rival, Harry Reid, had shown as Senate majority leader, Sharron Angle, who invented a town in Texas that she claimed was governed by Muslim Sharia law, still went down to defeat in Nevada. Linda McMahon, the former WWE executive whose family yacht is named “Sexy Bitch,” lost her Senate bid in Connecticut. And my favorite candidate of this election cycle, Alvin Greene, who
was nominated for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina, despite the fact that he’s facing felony obscenity charges and that his job creation plan involved hiring people to make action figures of Alvin Greene, was handily defeated by Jim DeMint. Call me sentimental, but I have to feel a little bit proud of the American people. They may have condemned the federal government to impossible gridlock for the next two years, but they had the good sense to keep Broden, O’Donnell, Angle, McMahon and Greene out of Washington. That’s got to count for something. Nathaniel French is a senior theater major. He can be reached for comment at nfrench@smu.edu.
Arts & Entertainment
The Daily Campus
Monday, November 8, 2010 •
THEATER
5
CONCERTS
Lady Antebellum brings their music to Grand Prairie By Jordan Jennings A&E Editor jjennings@smu.edu
GEORGE WADA/Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
Will Christoferson and SMU alumni Carrie Slaughter-Whittlesey star in Neil Simon’s optimistic comedy as a newlywed couple who might not be the perfect fit.
‘Barefoot in the Park’ doles out the charm By LAUREN SMART A&E Editor lsmart@smu.edu
The season opener for Contemporary Theatre of Dallas is sweet, funny and full of heart. Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” is delightfully adorable and leaves the audience with an optimistic message. The play opens at the beginning of Corie and Paul Bratter’s marriage, just after the honeymoon. They have just moved into a less-than-perfect apartment and will soon discover that their marriage itself might be less-thanperfect. The first act serves as the exposition for the second. Corie, played with an irresistable energy by Carrie Slaughter-Whittlesey, is the flighty, unpredictable, glasshalf-full wife. Will Christoferson’s drudging, by-the-book Paul makes them a balanced couple. Then enter the truly amusing characters – Corie’s uptight mother Mrs. Banks (Marcia Carroll) and their eccentric upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco (John S. Davies). Invite the two of them to a dinner party, and the fun begins. The first act of the play is short because the transition to the
second requires the apartment to be completely furbished. The second act is the mayhem that ensues around the dinner party. The opposites in this play, between Corie and her mother, Corie and Paul, and Mrs. Banks and Velasco, are compressed like a spring until the end of the play in which everything is let loose. Corie and Paul have the muchanticipated fight that seems destined for divorce and Mrs. Banks releases all restraint. Every performance in this play is a must-see, as the entire cast plays their characters with heart and nearly perfect comic timing. Dallas veterans Carroll and Davies may be the biggest reason to see this show. Mrs. Banks’ transformation throughout the play at the encouragement of Corie and Velasco is a riot to watch. Carroll is hilarious, playing a character older than herself, but refusing to become a caricature—a challenge rarely accomplished by anyone other than Betty White from “The Golden Girls.” Every joke she tells is delivered in a perfect Brooklyn accent and keeps the audience in stitches. Davies plays Velasco with a somewhat insane magnetism that keeps the audience laughing from
the minute he enters the stage. Even Francis Henry, as the telephone repair man, adds energy to a play that is already spilling over at the edges. Although Christoferson comes across as a little bit dry at first, when he gets drunk near the end he breaks out of his shell and is the perfect match for SlaughterWhittlesey. This is the perfect entrance into the Contemporary Theatre of Dallas’ ninth season, welcoming in a large audience base. There’s something for everyone in this play, and if nothing else it’s just a whole lot of fun. “Barefoot in the Park” runs through Nov. 21. Students pay less at the Contemporary Theatre of Dallas. Tickets are a third of their normal price if you purchase a student rush ticket with your ID 15 minutes before curtain time. For more information or to purchase tickets today, visit www. contemporarytheatreofdallas.com. Coming up next on their schedule, is David Sedaris’ oneman show “Santaland Diaries” adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello.
Verizon Theater at Grand Prairie was a full house on Friday. Cowboy boots and hats galore filled the venue as Texas country fans arrived to see the Grammy award-winning group Lady Antebellum rock out live. Their Need You Now tour performance wowed the crowd. Many fans agreed that their CD does not do this talented trio justice and that the country band is here to stay. Their raw talent is addicting. The newly-famed country band stole the stage, performing all of their top hits including “Love Don’t Live Here,” “Our Kind of Love,” “I Run to You,” “American Honey” and “Need You Now.” Lead singers Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood had their own solo cover-song performances, showing off each artist’s individual vocal talents. Since their debut in 2007 as guest
vocalists on Jim Brickman’s single “Never Alone,” Lady Antebellum has had several songs top the charts. The country band was named New Artist of the Year in 2008 by the Country Music Association, and Top New Duo/Group in 2009 by the Academy of Country Music. This year, the trio has seven nominations for the American Country Awards including Artist of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Single by a Duo/Group, Music Video of the Year, and Video by Duo/ Group. Lady Antebellum will attend the 44th CMA music awards on Wednesday before finishing up their nationwide tour. Can’t get enough? The band also just released their first Christmas album, “A Merry Little Christmas,” just in time for the holiday season.
Upcoming events at Verizon Theater at Grand Prairie: Nov. 11: Levon Helm & Ray LaMontagne 7 p.m. Nov. 12: Celtic Thunder 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26: Selena Gomez with Forever the Sickest Kids 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27-28: Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Big Happy Family” 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 2: “Fantasia” 7:30 p.m.
STAGE
‘The Pitchfork Disney’ keeps Halloween alive By LAUREN SMART A&E Editor lsmart@smu.edu
Theater is not always easy to watch. Sometimes art will force your mind to wrestle with it, and upon leaving you will either leave stronger or somewhat defeated. One of the few productions in Dallas this fall that asks the audience to struggle with it is Broken Gears Project Theatre’s “The Pitchfork Disney.” Phillip Ridley’s one act play has been challenging audiences for nearly 20 years. When it opened in New York, The New York Times called it “a descent into a black hole of disturbance.” Thanks to the strength of BGPT’s staging of this play, Dallas audiences are in for a sinister, somewhat strenuous show. But don’t let that keep you away,
even if you should be scared. “The Pitchfork Disney” is an experience unlike any other. The audience is literally the guest in Broken Gears’ new home, which has been masterfully redecorated as the house that the twins Haley (Misty Venters) and Prestley (Clay Wheeler) inhabit. Wheeler and Venters skillfully occupy this world of adult, sexually confused childhood, hiding from the world in their shambles of a home, which is in a state of disturbing disarray thanks to Cindy Ernst’s disconcerting design. Everything about the play blurs the line between nightmare and reality, between fear and comfort. These 28-year-old children who grew up watching Disney are now living out a terrifying existence in which the only comfort is to imagine they are the only humans left, a la Samuell Beckett.
If about 45 minutes into the play you aren’t already unhinged by the twins, enter Cosmo Disney (Joey Folsom). Folsom’s understated incubus of this nightmare adds a sense of detached calm, which although lacking in energy serves as a frustrating juxtaposition to the deranged Prestley. The Pitchfork half of the title enters at what would be the climax of the play, if the entire play didn’t feel like one giant crescendo, and is the icing on this crazed chocolate cake. Halloween might be over, but this haunted house runs through Saturday. If you’re ready for a night of challenging, creepy theater – this show is for you. For more information, visit, www. brokengearstheatre.com.
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11/08/10
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For solutions to our Sodoku puzzles, checkout our website at www.smudailycampus.com/puzzles. © 2010 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
ACROSS 1 Like 20 Questions questions 6 Put together, as a book 10 Ratchets (up) 14 Halloween option 15 Over, in Germany 16 Loughlin of “90210” 17 Last resort actions 20 Celery pieces 21 Icy space streakers 22 “The way I see it,” in online shorthand 24 Sorrow 25 __ moment: sudden realization 26 Vote against 27 2009 Clooney/Streep film based on a Roald Dahl book 31 Display ostentatiously 32 Landlord’s contract 33 Holler 34 “__ the season to be jolly ...” 35 Soccer moms’ transports 39 Malia Obama’s sister 42 Gripe and grouse 44 Scrunchie, e.g. 47 “One Day __ Time” 48 Pull a scam on 49 Dali display, say 50 Biblical beast 51 Abandon on an island 53 Giorgio known for snazzy suits 55 Kitschy lawn ornament 59 Peru’s capital 60 Message passed in class 61 Like some gases 62 Posing no challenge 63 Glittery rock style typified by David Bowie 64 Lymphatic tissue masses DOWN 1 Since Jan. 1, on a financial report
By Neville L. Fogarty
2 Botch something up 3 Like corn and apples 4 Condé __ Publications 5 From Canada’s capital 6 Water carrier 7 PCs from Big Blue 8 Maiden name lead-in 9 Old Greek coin 10 Former student 11 Rita who shouted “Hey you guys!” on “The Electric Company” 12 Before the state’s cut, as income 13 Actress Spacek 18 Words of defeat 19 Flies in the clouds 22 Uncertain 23 Masculine 25 Top poker pair 28 Oklahoma oil city 29 Hipbone-related 30 Flu symptom 34 Like a fine line 36 Reached, as goals 37 Mark Harmon military TV drama 38 Women
11/08/10 Friday’s Puzzle Solved
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40 Fancy scarf 41 Saint Stephen’s punishment for blasphemy 42 Destiny 43 A, B, C, D, E, or K 44 And others: Latin 45 ’80s-’90s Anaheim Stadium NFL team 46 Apollo Theater site
47 More than enough 52 “The StarSpangled Banner” start 53 Mennen shaving lotion 54 El __: climate pattern 56 KFC’s Sanders, e.g. 57 Univ. sr.’s exam 58 NBA tiebreakers
6
• Monday, November 8, 2010
News
SENATE: LGBT special interest seat
once again in debate, proponents prepare bill
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
and the question now is the best way to do that. Is it supplying one seat on the Senate floor or is it going by another means?” Carr said the committee voted so that Student Senate and the student population could decide how the student population feels about the seat when legislation is eventually introduced. Seat proponents hope to have a bill ready for presentation to Senate before Winter Break. “I know that the conversation in Student Senate has been looking towards having a new special interest seat,” Carr said. “Even though that legislation hasn’t come out yet, we still want to be open to finding” other options. Sandoval is one of the senators writing legislation. She said her bill will focus on the logistics of counting LGBT students, since that seems to be the area in which most senators are concerned. She said she thinks there’s a great chance the bill will pass. “I think one thing is we’ve already seen the issue last year,” Lyle senator, Claudia Sandoval, said. “And if it’s coming back around a second time, I think it’s because we all know our students really want it, and Student Senate is here as a voice of the student body.” Luna argues that the LGBT community needs the seat. He said an
LGBT senator can work 110 percent on issues facing the community. “I know there are senators who say, ‘Well we can present the legislation ourselves,’ but there’s no guarantee that they will put a lot of time and all the effort to make sure that the legislation they do support will be passable,” he said. “So having that senator will make sure that the legislation passes.” Cece Cox, director of the Resource Center of Dallas, spoke to Senate at their Tuesday meeting about her time at the Dedman School of Law as an openly gay student. Cox argues that the LGBT community needs the seat. Cox works for the Resource Center for Dallas, which works with the LGBT and AIDS community. Cox stressed that an LGBT senator would work on issues that are particularly relevant to that community, such as AIDS testing and harassment. “What I am suggesting about the LGBT special Senate seat,” she said. “There are mental health issues... health issues... safety issues and feeling part of the community issues,” concerning which the LGBT senator would be the best to deal with. Luna agreed with Cox, explaining that having an LGBT senator would let students in the community feel like they have someone who is working for them.
He said one of the things the senator can do is make “sure that there is a more efficient way to file possible hate crimes or file ways to report harassment.” “I know SMU is a great partner with the LGBT community as far as providing services to those students, but at times the students have this fear of being discriminated against because of the perception that SMU is too conservative,” he said. “Having an LGBT senator would alleviate some of those concerns and will make sure that there is a student who is willing to represent them if there were to be any implications when a student files a harassment claim,” he said. Sandoval, who was the HispanicAmerican senator last year, said that special-interest seats are needed for minority populations. “People just don’t realize the specific issues a community can face on a campus where you’re—out of 6,000 students you’re only 800, and out of those 800 you only see 100 faces that look like yours,” she said. “Sometimes you’re the only person in the classroom by yourself, and they just don’t realize the effect that that can have on a person.” If the bill passes, proponents of the seat face another hurdle: getting the student body to ratify it.
They would need to do so within three weeks after Senate approves the bill because it would amend the Student Body Constitution. If the bill is not ratified, then it fails. SMU has a reputation for being conservative on social issues, which suggests that getting the student body to ratify an LGBT seat could be difficult. The Princeton Review ranked SMU 16th in the nation in homophobic schools. “The problem isn’t just homophobia,” Mansfield said. A lot of SMU’s social problems take their own form in a lot of different ways. There’s a lot of social trouble on this campus. There’s some funny, strange, but very intense, bias on this campus.” Luna said he’s seen a lot of support for the seat, but he agrees that there is a perception of SMU as conservative. This, he said, is one of the things an LGBT senator can work to fix. “If there’s someone who’s out there who is constantly advocating for the LGBT community, then the perception quickly changes,” Luna said. “If we do not have somebody who we can see in the public eye who says ‘Oh, this senator is supportive of the LGBT community…’ If there’s not that perception, then it’s very easy for the student body to continue on the path of not being as open because of the fear of the unknown,” he said.
The Daily Campus
Alpha Chi fills runway to help Genesis Center
MICHAEL DANSER/ The Daily Campus
SMU senior Maddie Kamp, a member of Chi Omega, walks the runway, modeling Vince clothing line for Alpha Chi Couture on Friday at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. The fashion show began after a silent auction, the two of which benefited victims of domestic violence through the Genesis Women’s Shelter and Alpha Chi Omega Foundation.
WALK: Dallas Community raises awareness for Down Syndrome CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
walk!” Cheers and clapping erupted from the crowd as participants lined up under a blue and yellow balloon arch to start their one-mile walk around Lake Highland’s neighborhood. Wagons with balloons tied to them, strollers, posters, banners and
dogs crowded the street as participants joined together to walk. The Gradt family showed their support for their 3-year old son Jason as they carried a banner with the words, “The Jay Walkers: Making the journey one step at a time at my own pace.” With 66 participants this year, “The
Jay Walkers” raised approximately $2,500. “It really is great to get support from friends and family,” Bonnie Gradt said, noting that this year’s online donation section really helped them raise money. Gradt also said their family could not have done it without the help and
support of the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas. “They are our life line” Gradt said. “They have been there since day one answering any questions and concerns we have.” Along the route were signs portraying facts and statistics about Down syndrome. Before the walk,
awards were given out to teams and individuals who raised the most money. Raising $14,176, Ty Wyl-E’s Coyotes, one of the 92 teams that participated, got creative in their fundraising this year, auctioning a cow. Luke O’Brien, a buddy who participates in SMU’s Best Buddies
chapter, won second place, raising $2,600 this year. Polly Redden, a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, looks forward to this event every year. “As a parent it’s a great way to see and feel the outpour of support not only from family and friends but also from the community,” she said.