The Lasso_July12

DREAM Act

Pros and Cons

Denton

Partly Cloudy

pg 7

Today will bring a high of 94˚ and a low of 73˚.

>>Weather pg 2

Thursday │ July 12, 2012 │ Vol. 98, No. 31

Dennis Barbee Assigning Editor

This semester TWU will have over 1,200 new freshman/transfer students.

In Texas, according to an article in the Dallas Morning News, colleges and universities have been experiencing surges in applications and admissions. Including the new students this fall, TWU will have approximately 15,000 enrolled. With the current increases in student population and the expected increases in the next few years, university resources will be stretched.

Texas post-secondary education agencies are working to make sure that all people in Texas have access to quality education. In 2000, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board instituted a policy called “Closing the Gaps by 2015.”

The focus was to increase student participation, success, achievements, and research.

In 2010, THECB adopted an accelerated version of this plan.

Within its guidelines, TWU officials expect enrollment to surpass 16,500 by 2015.

Many factors beyond Closing the Gaps have come into play

The DREAM is still alive when it comes to growing TWU enrollment.

“We have had record enrollment for five consecutive years,” Dr. Richard Nicholas, vice president of student life, said.

Despite the push to get more students enrolled, Nicholas pointed out that TWU has not lowered its requirements for enrollment. “We are on par with other universities and ahead of some,” he noted. “We [TWU] made a change about a year ago to shift away from the standard benchmarks for freshmen [SAT/ ACT scores, position in graduating class and grade point average] to also include reviewing who might be successful here based upon research conducted by the university.”

According to a report by U.S. News and World Report, the acceptance rate for TWU was 91 percent as of fall 2011. However, Nicholas maintained that the acceptance rate is actually closer to 80 percent. That rate is on par with other regional schools here in Texas and throughout the nation.

“We use that weighted formula, we crunch their credentials against what the research says for TWU. If they are above the success number, they are admitted, and if they are below, they are rejected,” Nicholas added. “We no longer accept as high a

Shannon Quick News Editor For an innumerable amount of undocumented citizens in the United States, the dream defiantly still is alive.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order called the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act on June 15, allowing these young people to stay in the U.S. and gain an education.

According to a Daily Beast article by Frank Sherry, executive director of America’s Voice, a pro-immigration reform group, “This without a doubt will lead to a minimum of 800,000 people getting relief.” However, the relief is only for individuals who meet certain criteria.

The Department of Homeland Security, under the new law, will no longer initiate the deportation of illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before they were 16, have lived here for five years and are in school (the law does not specify high school or college), are high school graduates or veterans in good standing, have no criminal record, and are no more than 30 years old.

See DREAM Act on pg 3 RELATED STORIES >>> HEALTH CARE............... PG 5 >>> DREAM ACT OP-ED ...... PG 7 >>> OPINION IN THE NEWS .. PG 7

See Growing Pains on pg 3

First female TWU police chief named Aaron Claycomb Editor-in-Chief Walking through the doors of the TWU Department of Public Safety office is something Lt. Elizabeth Pauley has been doing for 18 years.

As a Texas native, Pauley is accustomed to her police station located under Hubbard Hall. Pauley will start on Sept. 1 as the first female police chief officer at TWU, following retired Director of Public Safety John Erwin.

Pauley graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and first started her law enforcement career in September 1973. “I have been in law enforcement for 39 years,” Pauley said. TWU is a place

she has grown to call home.

Pauley’s law enforcement experience includes working as an officer in Texas, Arkansas, Europe, and North Carolina. She has served at institutions such as Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Christian University and University of Texas.

Her professional awards include medals of valor from Texas Women in Law Enforcement and TWU DPS; Campus Officer of the Year Award from Denton Chapter VFW; and numerous other commendations and recognitions.

“We’re the cop on the beat and we want them [students] to feel comfortable with us,” Pauley said, adding that DPS officers want to get to know TWU students.

“We’ve got a really good department,” she said, “and I have no doubt that we will continue to maintain that status.” Pauley went on to note that TWU has one of the lowest crime rates for a university its size in the United States. “It’s because of the quality of officers we have and the administration totally backs us,” she said.

“We’re the cop on the beat and we want them [students] to feel comfortable with us,”

TWU DPS consists of 45 employees: the size of any small local law enforcement agency, Pauley noted. It has police officers, guards, parking personnel, administration, and communications personnel. All of these positions are crucial to the function and effectiveness of their department, she explained.

Going through her 18 years at TWU, Pauley has worked for the university DPS three separate times. Each time, she noted how the community, people, students, and administration were all great.

“The police chief job is the chief administrator officer of the law

See Police Chief on pg 3

— Lt. Elizabeth Pauley, TWU DPS Police Officer

Photography courtesy of Lt. Elizabeth Pauley

Lt. Elizabeth Pauley

Inside this issue News

Sports

Features

Opinion

West Nile.................................................3

Summer Camps.............................6

Juanita Duenez-Lazo...............................4 DREAM Act.....................................7

Affordable Care Act

Arts & Entertainment

The Law Explained..................................5 Fulbright Award...............................8

Have questions or comments about The Lasso? twu_lasso@yahoo.com

2

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Lasso staff A student-run publication since 1914 Editor-in-Chief Aaron Claycomb • aclaycomb@twu.edu Managing Editor Katie Webb • kwebb6@twu.edu New Media Editor Erin Marissa Russell • erussell2@twu.edu Copy Editor Brieanna Casey • bcasey1@twu.edu News Editor Shannon Quick • squick1@twu.edu Features Editor Dennis Barbee • debarbee@twu.edu Arts and Entertainment Editor Stanton Brasher • sbrasher@twu.edu Opinions Editor Marygail Isobel Lakner • mlakner@twu.edu Senior Staff Writer Bethany Wineinger • bwineinger@twu.edu Photo Editor Jeni Berry • jnberry@gmail.com Business Manager Alisha Sarfani • asarfani@twu.edu Business Assistant Vijaya Gaddam • vgaddam@twu.edu Advisor Bo Carter • scarter5@twu.edu

The Lasso

twulasso.com

Weekly Roundup

STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES — HOUSING WARNING Visit our website: http://www.twu.edu/legalservices/advisements.asp

A LEASE is a contract that can be enforced in court against you and cost you thousands of dollars, so: - Read the lease completely before you sign it; (It makes promises you are required to perform and restricts what you can do where you live.)

- Do not sign a lease on impulse and trust that everything will work out; (Take the lease home if you can and study it before you sign it. The apartment complex wants you as a tenant, so if the sales people pressure you to sign immediately, what will they be like later if you have a problem?)

- Do not rely on verbal promises from the apartment sales representative; (Later, the sales representative may claim that the promise was never made and the lease will probably contain a provision stating that there were no verbal promises made and that all the terms of the agreement are written down in the lease that you signed. If it is an important promise that induces you to sign the lease, make sure that it is added in writing to the lease before you sign it.)

- Do not rely on promises in a sales brochure or flyer; (Remember, the lease will probably include that all promises made to you are incorporated in the writing of the lease. If a promise in an ad is important to you, make sure the promise is either specifically stated in the lease or the flyer is incorporated in the lease as an attachment.)

- Do not expect to walk away from the lease if you change your mind; (When you sign a lease, you are agreeing to stay there and pay rent for the entire period of the lease. It is not like buying a pair of shoes and returning them to the store a few days later. The store may return your money. Your new landlord may charge you a stiff reletting fee or even sue you for the rent you promised in the lease. Look closely at the lease to determine what damages you could be made to pay, if you break your lease.)

- Bring your own roommates, if possible; (Some apartments will offer to match you with roommates, but the lease will probably keep you in the apartment even if you later have conflicts with one your new roommates. Even worse, the lease may make

Local Weather Denton

Houston

Dallas

Thursday

Thursday

Thursday

High 94˚ Low 73˚

High 83˚ Low 72˚

High 95˚ Low 74˚

Friday

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Sunny

High 85˚ Low 73˚ Isolated T-storms

Saturday

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High 92˚ Low 74˚ Partly Cloudy Sunday High 93˚ Low 75˚ Mostly Sunny

Friday High 95˚ Low 75˚ Mostly Sunny Saturday

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Sunday

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you responsible for damage done to the apartment by a roommate or a person visiting that roommate. Hence, if you go home for a weekend and a wild party hosted by a roommate results in damage to the apartment, the lease you signed and agreed to will make you just as liable as the roommate or their wild friend that did the damage.

Even worse, if you can believe it, many leases will require someone like your loving parents to guaranty that you will comply with the lease. Accordingly, your parents could be sued for the

High 95˚ Low 75˚ Mostly Sunny

damage done by the wild friend of the roommate, because out of love they signed the lease so you could be in that great apartment with the wonderful pool you liked so much. If you need a roommate, make sure the lease limits your liability for roommates or bring a roommate you trust!)

- Ask friends and classmates about the apartment complex before you sign the lease.

(A little investigation may keep you from repeating someone else’s mistake.)

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

All Rights reserved. The Lasso is a weekly student publication of Texas Woman’s University, written and produced by students and printed at DFW Printing. Editors develop their own editorial and news policies. The presentation of news and editorials and the personal opinions expressed in The Lasso are those of The Lasso staff and writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, staff, students, administration, or the Regents of Texas Woman’s University.

Police Report Suspicious Person A report of a suspicious person was made at 420 E. University Dr. Saturday, June 16. No arrest was made.

Damaged Property Damaged property was reported at the TWU DPS Lobby Wednesday, June 20.

Open Container/Possession of Fireworks A report of an open container and possession of fireworks was made at 800 Texas St. and Willis St. Friday, July 1.

Disturbance/Criminal Trespassing An arrest was made for criminal trespassing and personal injury

Photography by Katie Webb

Linda Williams, lead supervisor at Aramark, said everyone needs to try these new smoothies, milkshakes, and cappuccinos. “I love the smoothies,” she says, “The mango one tastes just like fresh mango.”

after a report of a disturbance at 1600 Lowry Woods Lane Tuesday, July 3.

Damaged Property A report of damaged property was made at 1200 Frame St. Friday, July 6. It is unclear whether an arrest was made.

DUI Minor A minor driving under the influence was reported at Mingo Rd. and Ruddell St. Friday, June 8. An arrest was made.

This is a part of the daily activity log produced by the University Police Department.

To report a criminal incident on campus, please call 940-898-2911

CORRECTIONS In the June 2012 issue of The Lasso, we incorrectly stated in the article “TWU ushers in new student regent” that “[Adriana] Blanco was the first Hispanic and only first-generation college student to be appointed as regent.” We did not intend to mislead our readers. We would like to clarify that Blanco is the first one of these at TWU and one of many student regents who have been appointed at colleges and universities across Texas since Gov. Perry’s implementation of this program in 2005.

The June 7 articles “Remembering our TWU leaders” and “Whatever happened to vintage TWU sports?” listed “Marking a Trail: A History of TWU” as having been written by Dr. Phyllis Bridges in 2001. “Marking a Trail: A History of TWU” was written

by Joyce Thompson in 1982. Its sequel, “Marking a Trail: The Quest Continues” was used for the articles, and was written by Bridges in 2001. We apologize for any confusion due to this error.

TWU Calendar

July 14 Online Degrees Session at Denton campus @ 8:30 a.m.

Information sessions will cover online degrees. Visit http:// www.twu.edu/admissions/info-sessions-registration.asp.

Summer hours

Dallas Campus July 12-13: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

July 14-15: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

July 16-20: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

July 21: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

July 23-27: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

July 28-29: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

July 30-Aug. 3: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Aug. 4-5: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Aug 6-10: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Aug. 11: Closed Aug. 13-17: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Aug. 20-24: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Denton campus

August 23-26 Pioneer Camp at Student Union @ 4 p.m.

August 27 First day of fall semester

Fitness Center: M-Th 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Denton Campus Library: M-Th 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Aug. 11-12 closed Fitness & Recreation Center: M-F 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sunday noon-10 p.m.

Climbing Wall: M-F 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Outdoor Adventure Center: M-F 3 p.m.-8 p.m.

Indoor Pool: M-F 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Outdoor Pool: M-F 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Counseling Center: M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Houston Campus M-F 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Counseling Center: M-F 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Fitness Center: M-F 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

LETTERS AND VIEWPOINTS POLICY We value reader submissions. As a university newspaper we have certain criteria that limit what we will place inside our newspaper. Please limit letters to 300 words. Columns submitted should be no longer than 600 words. Please include your name, address, phone, and email address.

Your contact information will not be published. Unsigned submissions will not be published.

All submission are also edited for length and clarity. Submissions become property of The Lasso.

Email twu_lasso@yahoo.com Website twulasso.com Mail Letters from Readers The Lasso Stoddard Hall Rm 311

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Cont. from Pg 1 Growing Pains

“Housing is a challenge. We are currently doing an exploratory study about the possibility of building a new residence hall. I would expect that study would conclude mid to late fall.”

— Dr. Joe Berthiaume, director of university housing

number of applicants as we have in the past.”

As TWU gets closer to the goal of 16,500 students, housing undoubtedly will become a hotbutton topic. This year, TWU housing has begun initial inquiries into a new residence hall.

According to Dr. Joe Berthiaume, director of university housing: “Housing is a challenge. We are currently doing an exploratory study about the possibility of building a new residence hall. I would expect that study would conclude mid to late fall.”

With the funding for a

new residence hall coming exclusively from rent paid by students, Berthiaume is being very budget-conscious: “I am not willing to be using student money foolishly. We are going to be very careful with our expenditures,” he said.

TWU does not anticipate running out of rooms, Berthiaume said. “We are currently over what I would consider normal occupancy right now,” he explained. “That number is lower than what we projected in my mind.”

With the high level of enrollment that TWU is expecting for fall 2012, housing

Cont. from Pg 1

is already a hot topic. By all accounts, TWU does anticipate running out of rooms on campus for students at some point. The university continues to look for areas to make adjustments.

“If the numbers come in higher,” Berthiaume said, “we have a plan to triple our rooms, which is pretty standard around the country ... If necessary, we have contingency to put students in hotels, but I don’t think that will be necessary.”

The housing numbers change almost on a weekly basis, and this is fairly standard across the country, Berthiaume said.

Because students change their minds about where they want to go to college or find other housing accommodations, this can make forecasting student housing a challenge.

“Housing is not just incoming freshmen,” Berthiaume stated. “It also includes juniors and seniors as well.”

As TWU grows, some upperlevel students have said they feel the university is, in essence, pushing them out to make room for larger and larger classes of incoming freshmen students.

Jones Hall is the oldest active residence hall on campus. It was built in 1961.

Berthiaume said this is not the case.

“In regards to the perception, I can see how a student might feel that way. “At the same time, when we do room selection we do not see a lot of juniors and

— Lt. Elizabeth Pauley, TWU DPS Police Officer

something Pauley said she always looks forward to at TWU. Everyone is excited for its beginning, she said. “It always brings every year’s new challenges and you always have new people coming in,” she explained. “Things never stay

the same forever. I think that’s part of life, and we have to change with it.”

Pauley has tallied up a list of experiences at TWU she said she doesn’t even keep count of anymore. “We had an

active shooter, and he had some hostages,” Pauley said about a situation that happened at TWU in 2002. “This is a little city and we are reflective of society and we are going to have our own problems.”

By Shannon Quick

On June 22, an announcement was made about the new agreement between TWU College of Nursing and Collin College allowing nursing students at Collin College concurrent enrollment while completing associates degrees and the core curriculum that will provide a seamless transition to TWU’s College of Nursing in order to pursue a bachelors of science in nursing.

According to the TWU press release, the program stems from a report published in October 2010 Institute of Medicine’s “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” In an interview with Abe Johnson, Dean of Health Services at Collin College, he stated that part of the initiative is having 80 percent of all nurses obtain their bachelors of science degrees by 2020.

In the TWU press release Dr. Patricia Holden-Huchton, dean of the TWU College of Nursing, stated in the press release: “This partnership with Collin College is another excellent example of how institutions can work together to meet the state and national demand for new nurses.”

Johnson said, “This is a winwin for both institutions.”

Dr. Swigger visits Denton Public Library for 75th anniversary

By Aaron Claycomb

Dr. Keith Swigger, professor of information and library studies at TWU, hosted a talk examining the role of public libraries in America on Wednesday, June 27.

The discussion was held at Denton’s South Branch Library on Teasley Lane in conjunction with the Denton Public Library’s 75th anniversary. The celebration took place at the Emily Fowler Central Library on June 6.

Swigger holds a Ph.D. in American Civilization along with degrees in library and information sciences and American history.

Swigger led the discussion about the unique history of public libraries across America.

He examined the relationship between public library patrons and the role public libraries have had in shaping our culture.

Swigger has been a faculty member at the TWU’s School of Library and Information Studies since 1981.

When it first opened, the Denton Public Library was known as the Denton CityCounty Public Library. The library opened June 6, 1937.

It was located on the third floor of the Denton County Courthouse.

The Emily Fowler Central Library first opened its current location in 1949. O’Neill Ford, an American architect of the mid-20th century, took part in designing additions to the library. Ford also designed TWU’s Little Chapel-in-theWoods in 1939.

This training will include basic Spanish language skills, a mentoring class, a summer institute on the TWU campus, and partnerships among the surrounding Region 11 school districts, about 70 percent of which are considered rural areas, and in which 30 percent of students are ELLs. Another aspect of the program is that it will primarily utilize technology to accomplish its goals, providing a majority of curriculum online. A portion of the grant’s funds will pay for teaching supplies, including laptops, as well as an increased stipend in salary.

Students can visit http:// www.twu.edu/twunews/press_ releases/12-1-6M-grant-englishliteracy.asp for more information on the school districts being served and the SMARTTTEL program.

By Brieanna Casey

The receipt of a new federal grant will fund TWU’s Project SMARTTTELL program, which seeks to assist in the education of English language learners in rural schools in North Texas.

The U.S. Department of Education’s grant totaled $1.6 million to fund TWU’s fiveyear project and professional development program. The program, directed by teacher education associate professor Dr. Holly Hansen-Thomas, is focused mainly on the fields of math and science in fourth through 12th grades, particularly for English language learners.

The professional development project will essentially be supplemental training in the areas of ELL and English as a Second Language theory and pedagogy, so that teachers are better equipped to provide quality education to non-native English speaking students.

requirements, freshmen and sophomores will be housed first.

However, he said the university will help any student who needs a room get one.

Every time Pauley has worked at TWU, she worked with Erwin.

“He is going to be really missed,” she said. “He’s been a good mentor, he’s been a good friend and he’s been a fantastic leader. ” Erwin served at TWU for 40 years. “I think the whole university is going to miss him,” she said.

There is going to be some switching around of roles, Pauley said, as she gets ready to take her new title as chief in

September. “It’s a big domino effect,” she explained, which is going to bring “new roles and new challenges,” but she said she is ready.

“TWU’s people are fantastic and the community is great,” she said. “We’ve got support both internally and externally.”

Pauley said DPS has a good relationship with outside law enforcement agencies and the TWU administration, which she knows will continue.

single order, including an inperson pick-up on campus.

As students, we have only 100 things on our list of things to take care of between 8 p.m. and 5 p.m., so the option of ordering online at any time can save a trip, money and valuable time.

Students can visit http:// www.twu.edu/registrar/ transcript-request.asp to find more information and to take advantage of this new accommodation.

APA renews TWU doctoral school psychology accreditation

DREAM Act

Texas has had a law in place where the education of illegal immigrants is concerned since 2001. “Undocumented kids who spend their final three years in a Texas high school, and have a high school diploma (or GED), can already go to a Texas college with in-state tuition. A long-standing Texas law (the former HB 1403) requires their agreeing to seek legal status, but doesn’t inhibit their pursuing a college education — and the brighter future it offers,” Dr. LyBeth Hodges, TWU history and government professor, said

in an email.

The executive order also authorizes this same group of individuals to obtain a work permit for two years at a time with no limit to the amount of times it can be renewed.

To some this may seem a gateway to amnesty, and to others, a great humanitarian act by a sitting president. Wherever your opinions lie, one thing is for certain; this opens doors for many young people in the United States to achieve the American dream.

BRIEFLY Local News

By Erin Marissa Russell

Transcript ordering system

By Brieanna Casey

TWU grant to help rural teachers

seniors show up,” he stated.

“Juniors and seniors are limited to the selection, but we have increased the amount of rooms for them.”

Berthiaume also explained that because of residency

Cont. from Pg 1

TWU NEWS

TWU / Collin College have new agreement

3

Photography by Aaron Claycomb

“He’s been a good mentor, he’s been a good friend and he’s been a fantastic leader ... I think the whole university is going to miss him.”

Police Chief

enforcement agency,” Pauley said.

“The role is totally different from a line officer.”

Pauley said she is looking forward to the new challenges and adventures she is going to be a part of at TWU. The fall semester is

Thursday, July 12 , 2012

News

Getting ready to apply for August and December graduation?

Thinking of what lies ahead, possibly graduate school, or eyeing that doctorate’s? Making a list of graduate program requirements, and sending out those final transcripts?

Well, you asked for it — and now it’s here. Credentials, Inc.’s TranscriptsPlus has provided TWU students with the option of ordering transcripts online, just in time for summer and fall graduations.

The option of adding online ordering to TWU’s transcript services was suggested by students in spring 2011’s Student Senate meetings.

With the new system, now both current and former students can put in their orders for transcripts online.

Transcripts may be ordered online 24/7 via credit card authorization, or a student may also order over the phone during TranscriptPlus’ hours of operation.

Ordering online is now cheaper than in person, and transcripts can now be overnighted (for an additional fee).

Credentials, Inc. allows for the student to request up to five transcripts bound for five separate addresses within a

TWU’s doctoral program in school psychology has had its accreditation renewed by the American Psychological Association.

The APA awarded accreditation for seven years, its maximum period.

The accreditation period begins retroactively in 2011 and will expire in 2018. The APA is the national accrediting authority for professional education and training in psychology, according to its website.

Director of the doctoral school psychology program Dr. Denise Maricle said in a TWU press release, “APA accreditation will help our program continue to attract quality students.” Maricle said accreditation has been one of her priorities since she began as director in 2006.

According to a Denton Record-Chronicle article

by Rachel Mehlhaff, the accreditation process takes about four years. TWU hired a consultant to review the program and applied for accreditation in the fall of 2010.

Dr. Daniel C. Miller, TWU professor and chair of the department of psychology and philosophy, said in the press release, “This accreditation is important to the university, the department, the program, and ultimately to the graduate students who choose TWU for their education.”

Photography courtesy of U.S. Centers for Disease Control/Creative Commons

The mosquito, “Anopheles quadrimaculatus,” can carry West Nile Virus. In DFW, 25 cases of West Nile have been reported.

West Nile Virus update

By Aaron Claycomb

As the hot summer temperatures continue to break 100 throughout North Texas, West Nile Virus is also on the rise, raising concerns and causing many cities to act. Twenty-five people tested positive for West Nile Virus in the DFW metroplex, according to an NBC article.

The article stated: “In Dallas County, 10 people have the virus while eight are carrying the virus in Denton County and another six have it in Tarrant County. In Parker County, one person has tested positive for West Nile.”

A press release from the City of Denton stated that an “area in central Denton is scheduled for mosquito control spraying.”

The spraying started late Monday evening and concluded early Tuesday morning around 3

a.m. The control area that was sprayed was “generally bounded

by Withers Street to the west to Bell Avenue, Bell north to Schmitz Avenue, Schmitz east to Mingo Road, northeast on Mingo to Willis Street to North Ruddell Street going south until Paisley Street, east on Paisley to Frame Street,” the press release noted.

In order to prevent being infected, the NBC article advised residents to:

•“Drain standing water around their homes to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.

•Dress in pants and long sleeves when outside, but avoid becoming too hot.

•Apply an insect repellent that contains Diethyl-metatoluamide (DEET) to exposed skin and to clothing when outdoors.

•Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.”

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Features

twulasso.com

The Lasso

From TWU: born Duenez-Lazo’s green light and raised for retirement after 36 years Aaron Claycomb and Bethany Wineinger Editor-in-Chief, Senior Staff Writer

Photography by Katie Webb

Dr. Hubbard is the son of former TWU president, L.H. Hubbard, and is currently an adjunct math professor.

Dennis Barbee Features Editor In 1928, in a frame colonial house that housed the TWU president and his family, adjunct professor Dr. George Hubbard was born.

Many things have changed about TWU during his lifetime; the home he was born in has been torn down, and the Administration and Conference Tower now occupies that space.

The Little Chapel-in-the-Woods now sits next to two skyscrapers.

Women are no longer the only students admitted to TWU. In his early years, with the end of the depression still going on across the country, TWU was a perfect environment for him. “I can’t think of a more ideal existence. Denton was small, maybe a population of 15-18,000, no real problems, we never locked our doors at night,” he explained. “The depression never really bothered us. It was a peaceful, ideal setting. The kind of people that we associated with were educated, just a cut above, all very nice and friendly.”

Having the president of the college as his father made living on campus different, but his home life resembled that of any other family. “We would eat dinner, listen to the radio. We had a family life here,” he said.

“We would take trips in the summer. He [Hubbard’s father] was a sports enthusiast. One time there were four bowl games going on, so he had two radios going at once … It was a time of education and enjoyment.”

Hubbard fondly remembers some of the work his father did for the college and its students.

He abolished the uniforms.

Instead of TWU being an industrial college, he stressed the arts. “He made it a place where the girls were taught the finer things in life; he tried to make ladies out of them,” Hubbard said. “He was always available to them, tipped his hat to them.”

One fond memory of his was the art events held here.

“My dad figured that these performers, when traveling from New York to California, had to have somewhere in between to stop. That is the way transportation was in those days. So why not have them stop in Denton,” he said.

Hubbard’s father worked out a deal with Sol Hurok, an impresario who organized performances.

“He told Mr. Hurok, ‘You’ve got the performers and I’ve got the seats,’” Hubbard said. “The auditorium here in those days was a huge auditorium, and so they came to Denton.”

Acts that came to Denton

included John Philip Sousa, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Amelia Earhart, Robert Frost, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Isaac Stern, The Vienna Boys Choir, and Carl Sandburg. “I can’t even begin to name all of the various troupes and acts that came here,” Hubbard said. “It was a marvelous introduction to culture and the arts and the finer things in life.”

Hubbard grew up in a campus that was more like a community. “The students lived here on campus and lived their whole life here. We have so many commuters now,” he said. Schooling was no different as he attended the local public schools. “I went to TSCW Demonstration School, then junior high and senior high here in Denton. I went to North Texas for one year before I went down to the University of Texas for four years,” he explained.

As he grew, the young ladies became a focus. In 1951, Hubbard married the woman he met and dated here. “I met my wife here on a blind date,” Hubbard said. “She lived in Stoddard Hall. We would meet in the foyer to go out.” After his marriage, the Hubbards moved to California.

“It wasn’t hard to move away,” Hubbard said “but I did miss it. I missed the people and the environment. I missed the weather.” “When the opportunity came up to move back, it seemed like the thing to do.”

Hubbard has seen many changes at TWU, and he remembers the protests when the Board of Regents voted to allow men to enroll fulltime in 1994. “There were feelings that the change was snuck through by the board,” he said. Other changes beyond the geography occurred over the years, such as the rebuilding of Stoddard Hall and the addition of buildings for science and art.

Not all the change has been positive, Hubbard said. Because of how hard his father worked, when the towers for Guinn and Stark Halls were built, he was upset by the location. “If I had a favorite building, it would be the chapel,” he explained. “He [Hubbard’s father] wanted a special, secluded place where students could go meditate and commune with their maker.

When those two dormitories were built next to the chapel, I think they desecrated the whole idea of the chapel.”

Hubbard believes TWU has changed a lot over the years, but remains a good university. “The most positive change I see is that back then, this was a school for white women only, and now it’s a school for everybody,” he said.

As Juanita Duenez-Lazo wakes up every morning, she never forgets to put on her 1976 TWU class ring and golden James Avery necklace with a chapel charm.

TWU is not only a noticeable part of her wardrobe but also a major part of her life, ever since the first time she walked on campus as a freshman. Now, after 36 years of hard work, memories and friendships, Duenez-Lazo has ended her employment at TWU but said she will continue to hold her Pioneer pride for years to come. “I am retiring from TWU,” she stated, “but TWU is not retiring from me.”

Duenez-Lazo joked that she tells everyone she’s been at TWU for 100 years and she’s part of the fixtures. “Because I have been,” she emphasized, “and I’ve had a ball at it.”

Duenez-Lazo was a history and government major and lived in the dorms for her entire undergraduate career.

During this time she was heavily involved in campus life. “I think I almost failed my freshman year because I majored in student activities,” she teased. “I loved everything about it … I felt really at home and it was the place where I wanted to try everything and do anything and be as involved as I could be.”

Shortly after Duenez-Lazo graduated in August 1976 she was offered a position at the Houston campus as its first registrar. Duenez-Lazo pioneered from the Denton to the Houston campus, working there for five years and later returning home to the Denton campus, this time for her wedding at the Little Chapelin-the-Woods.

Duenez-Lazo met and married her husband at TWU. Upon returning to Denton, she was given an opportunity to work as the director of Student Activities and coordinator of New Student Orientation.

Photography by Katie Webb

At the end of the spring semester, director of International Education and Study Abroad Juanita Duenez-Lazo retired from TWU. “It was the perfect job for me, because I’m so noisy,” she said.

Seven years ago, DuenezLazo received the job she most recently held — director of International Education and Study Abroad. She said she appreciates the opportunity to work with the international student population and to help the campus to grow and appreciate its diversity. DuenezLazo considers herself “a conduit or an agent for making those possibilities happen for students,” she stated. “I’m a green light thinker.” She spent her time at TWU inspiring and motivating students to be the same way.

“I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world,” Duenez-Lazo said. She has also had the opportunity to work with the Alumni Association, coordinate federal grants and more.

Several of Duenez-Lazo’s family members have graduated from TWU, including her son.

“He was the 13th member of my family to graduate from TWU,” she said. Duenez-Lazo is a part of a legacy at TWU; her daughter, husband, nieces, nephews, and cousins have all

graduated from the university.

Duenez-Lazo was at TWU was when she went into labor with her son, Arthur, who would later graduate from the university. She was working a major event, she explained.

“The event was supposed to start at 5 p.m. and my son was born at 4:55 p.m., so I had my own little fiesta,” she laughed.

Arthur eventually started commuting with her to the child development center at TWU. “I’d pack him up and bring him with me, and then after some time when he started getting older, the kids would pick him up for me,” Duenez-Lazo said. “They would leave me notes saying, ‘Arthur’s at Guinn Hall,’ or ‘Arthur’s in Jones Hall.’”

At TWU, Duenez-Lazo said, she always wanted to come to work. Even after working at the university for 36 years, she enjoyed every day, all the way until her last day. This is a special place for her, she said. “It wasn’t just about the job. It was about me, too,” she said. “I was supported here.”

When associate vice president of student life Dr. Monica Mendez-Grant first

joined TWU in 1993, she saw first-hand how DuenezLazo shared her spirit, pride and charm with TWU and its students. “She has tried to epitomize our student motto of ‘We Learn to Do by Doing,’ Mendez-Grant said.

“She has been a living example.”

Despite all her roles at TWU, Duenez-Lazo commented, she never applied for a position. It was her involvement. And after everything she contributed and gave, Duenez-Lazo is not leaving her home at TWU. She will always remain a fixture on campus, a part of the university.

“If they don’t keep me around for anything else, maybe they will keep me around to read names at graduation,” she joked. For 15 years, Duenez-Lazo has been the commencement reader at every graduation. Her most memorable time at TWU was when she was able to watch her son, Arthur, cross the stage to graduate as she called his name. ”If you don’t love what you’re doing, it’s going to be a long 36 years,” Duenez-Lazo affirmed.

TWU alumna fourth generation to serve Aaron Claycomb and Bethany Wineinger Editor-in-Chief, Senior Staff Writer Ever since Tiffany Johnson could remember, the photographs of her great grandfather, grandfather, and mother, each in uniform, have been on the mantle.

As a child she waited for the day when her picture would also be up there, in a frame right next to her mother’s, next in line. Now, as a TWU alumna, Johnson is in training for the National Guard and the opportunity to join her mother in uniform on the mantle.

Johnson will be the fourth generation in her family to serve her country.

Johnson started her college career at TWU in 2007 as a transfer biology major, then went on to receive a master’s degree in business administration in December 2011.

She said when she first came to TWU she was “incredibly shy,” but faculty encouraged her to become active in student activities. “I was in all the clubs,” Johnson said. “Everything I could think of.”

Participating in Students in Free Enterprise, working with the Campus Activities Board and helping the chemistry and biology departments with TWU’s Garden Workday were some of the many avenues she used to get more involved on campus. “I discovered that I had a passion for my environment and sustainability,” Johnson commented, adding that one day she would like a job working for small businesses

promoting sustainability.

Cynthia Maguire, senior lecturer in the chemistry and biology department, had an important role in shaping and molding Johnson’s character in her time spent at TWU. Johnson quickly learned that it was important to become active and be immersed in everything; her senior year, she became president of SIFE. Because of her experiences and opportunities, Johnson said, she is now able to pursue her career goals and join the ranks.

Johnson said it was her leadership experiences that taught her time management and how to work with people.

“Everything that I have learned at TWU carries over to my time in the Guard and I am happy for that,” Johnson said. She said that just joining one club at TWU will affect students’ time and opportunities.

Johnson is a Pioneer who knows about the importance of having a strong support system. She said she never met a more encouraging group of people in her life than she did at TWU. Professors are dedicated to helping and pushing students to succeed, she said, they stay late, and they are in their offices at 9 p.m. to help students excel.

Johnson knew when she was a small child that she was going to be serving her country, just like her mother, grandfather and great grandfather. It was her dream, and when she saw women before her who went to TWU and became officers in several different branches of the military, Johnson said she knew she was in the right place.

Photography courtesy of Tiffany Johnson

Tiffany Johnson poses in her uniform for National Guard graduation. She completed her initial training and is now training to become an officer.

Director of the Leadership Institute, Major General Mary Saunders (Ret.), was someone Johnson said she admired and looked up to at TWU. “She was a tremendous inspiration to me,” she said. “I knew that if she was able to graduate from TWU and go on and have a wonderfully impactful military career, I knew that I could go into any branch I wanted to.”

Saunders was the first female

general officer selected as the director of transportation in the Air Force.

“I only hope that new Pioneers get to have the experience I had,” Johnson said. She insisted that every student at TWU should join at least one student organization.

Because of her degree at TWU, Johnson is now following her childhood dream to take her place on the mantle.

The Lasso

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Affordable Care Act

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Affordable Care stands; what next?

Shannon Quick Senior Staff Writer

On Thursday, June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling in what reporters are calling one of the most unprecedented decisions since Roe v. Wade in 1973.

With Chief Justice John Roberts reading the decision, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare, is constitutional and stands as a tax.

PPACA reads like a lesson in legalese via “War and Peace.” It takes time to decipher everything in the large bill, which was 955 pages before the final additions were included (a final bill could not be obtained). Analysts, attorneys and the Congress are still finding new things within the pages of HB 3590. “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it, away from the fog of controversy,” former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said at the 2010 Legislative Conference for the National Association of Counties.

Since the act stands, unless the law is later appealed, it is time to look at how it affects each of us.

Finding out the facts can be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, but it can be done. So here are the facts, just the facts, and how citizens will be affected.

Medicaid

Medicaid, the statefunded health care option, will expand by changing its minimum income requirements for acceptance.

This will allow more people to be covered by the Medicaid plan, which will add costs for the states. This cost is to be supplemented by the federal government. According to National Public Radio, the federal government would pay 100 percent of the expansion at its beginning, stepping down to fund 90 percent by 2020.

On Monday, July 9, Texas Governor Rick Perry made the decision to reject Medicaid expansions and a state-run health insurance exchange.

“I will not be party to socializing health care and bankrupting my state in direct contradiction to our Constitution and our founding principles of limited government,” Perry said in a letter to Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This means that Texas will not be raising the ability to receive Medicaid to individuals earning 133 percent above the federal poverty level. According to Richard Whittaker at The Austin Chronicle, Texas will also not be accepting $13 billion in federal funds; making it available to other states.

Photography by Pete Souza [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

President Barack Obama signs The Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Act’s Constitutionality on June 28. The Act will address health care, including expanding Medicaid to individuals earning 133 percent of the federal poverty level in states that opt in; removing the ability for insurance companies to drop coverage if people become ill; allowing children to remain on parents’ health insurance until the age of 26; and other initiatives, detailed below.

Other changes

Children can stay on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26.

Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children who have pre-existing conditions.

Insurance companies can no longer drop coverage if people become ill while on their plan.

In companies with more than 50 employees, nursing mothers will be provided a place other than a restroom to pump breast milk, as well as reasonable breaks to pump.

Also under the law, any restaurant with 20 or more locations must list the calorie information for all to see.

In effect now

There are a few laws that have been implemented

already since the bill first was signed. Many you may know about, some may come as a surprise.

In 2010, the preventative care portion of the bill went into effect. This means that physicals, colonoscopies, mammograms, HIV and HPV testing, cholesterol screenings, and other procedures are now covered by insurance companies.

Also in 2010, tanning salon consumers were charged a 10 percent tax increase for services, so if you wondered why you were paying more, this is why.

Tax penalties

What about the fees citizens may or may not incur as a result of this bill?

There will be penalties to individuals and families

for not obtaining insurance, levied as a tax, per the Supreme Court and handled by the Internal Revenue Service. This tax will range from $695 to $4,700 per person, depending on the income earned.

As it stands now, families making over $250,000 per year or individuals making $200,000 or more per year will pay more into Medicare beginning in 2013. This will be as surtax on wage income and a new tax on investment income.

The facts listed above are only a glimpse into the large and complex PPACA. For now, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling that the act is constitutional. As of this writing, it remains a strongly controversial topic.

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Students Respond: How do you feel about the Affordable Care Act? Tiara Lamply, Junior, Nutrition

“I like it. I can stay on my parents’ insurance. Personally, it [calorie information] helps you make conscious decisions.”

Lisa Steinbach, Doctoral Student, Special Education

“Biggest thing that bothers me is that they are going to force me to buy health insurance. It’s the intrusion into my life.”

“I will not be party to socializing health care and bankrupting my state in direct contradiction to our constitution and our founding principles of limited government.”

— Texas Governor Rick Perry Photography contributed by Gage Skidmore

Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks at the 2012 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 9.

Stephen Cook, Sophomore, Business

“Not excited about forced health care; it’s a violation of my freedom and my right to choose. It is a disservice to small business owners.”

Skye Mergerson, Sophomore, Nutrition

“There is some more work they need to do with the plan.”

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6

Thursday, July 12, 2012

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Sports

TWU hosts youth sports summer camps Softball superstar racks up awards

Shannon Quick News Editor

This summer has been a busy one for the athletics department at TWU as it hosted 10 sports camps, including basketball, gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, and softball. Each of the camps was led by players and coaches with trainers on location for any injuries.

Basketball TWU held one basketball camp June 25-28 in the Kitty Magee Arena in Pioneer Hall. The camp was for boys and girls grades kindergarten-8th and was set up so that children competed against others in their age groups. The camp focused on the basic fundamentals of basketball, including defense, shooting, ball handling, and passing. The campers participated in station drills, competitive contests and scrimmages.

>>>>>>> Volleyball

Volleyball offered the most camps, with four options. The instructional camp for girls aged 12 and up was June 18-21. This camp was designed for both commuter and resident campers. The instructional camp worked to improve individual skills and participants did not have to be on a team to join. Grouped according to skill level, campers competed in doubles, triples and round–robin competitions. At the hitter/setter skills camp on June 21, girls aged 12 and older trained in the technical skills of hitting and setting.

The last two camps required the girls to be on a team. The first was the Youth Team Camp for third to fifth graders. The second was the Middle School Team Camp for grades 6-8. Included in the camp were several team building activities.

Photo contributed by TWU Athletics

A camper practices dribbling at a TWU Athletics basketball summer camp June 25-28.

Shannon Quick News Editor Number 23 has scored again. Bailey Vrazel, a TWU sophomore who plays shortstop for softball, has had an amazing year on and off the field. Vrazel’s most recent achievement came earlier this week, when it was announced that she was the recipient of the 2011-2012 President’s Award.

This award tops off a year that has been full of honors and accolades. In May, Vrazel was named as one of the 2012 Capital One Academic All America Second Team, which is decided by the College Sport Information Directors of America, according to an Athletics Department press release.

Vrazel is a kinesiology major, and maintains a 4.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. She starred in all 54 softball games this past season and leads the team in batting average (.414), runs (61), walks (31), on-base percentage (.514), and stolen bases (75).

For the second time, Vrazel also leads college players in steals.

Last season, she managed to break her own TWU and Lone Star Conference records for stolen bases and set a new record for a single season in runs and

walks.

Vrazel’s softball achievements this year include being named the Second Team Dakronics All-American. She was selected to play on the Daktronics All-South Central Region first team, the NFCA All-South Central Region second team and the All-Lone Star Conference first team. Vrazel was also named the 2012 Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the year, and was picked for the Capital One Academic AllDistrict first team.

All of this by May, and there was more to come. In June, Vrazel was named the Fred Jacoby Female Academic Athlete of the Year, which makes her the first TWU student-athlete to receive this award. This award is chosen and voted on by a vote of the league’s sports information directors, according to the press release.

The 2011-2012 President’s Award, given out by the TWU Athletics Council, recognizes excellence in sports, the classroom and promotion of TWU Athletics.

Vrazel is also a member of the TWU Honors Scholars Program and the Athenian Honor Society.

Photo contributed by TWU Athletics

Gymnastics

> > > > > > > > >

Trainees work on gymnastics basics during a TWU Athletics summer camp June 10-14.

The gymnastics camp June 10-14 was also held in Kitty Magee Arena. This camp allowed both residential and commuter campers, including girls eight years and older at all ability levels. The stringent daily schedule had campers hitting the ground running

at 7:30 a.m. for a full day, including six training sessions consisting of instruction on the bars, beam, vault, and floor as well as dance training in a formal studio.

Photography by Jeni Berry

TWU softball player Bailey Vrazel (right) waits to tag a player out during a game against Truman State Feb. 24 during Spring Fling. Vrazel was honored with the 2011-12 President’s Award.

VOLLEYBALL 2012 2012 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Classic 8/31: vs. East Central vs. Arkansas Monticello 9/1: vs. New Mexico Highlands vs. Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras

2 p.m. home 7 p.m. home 11:30 a.m. home 4:30 p.m. home

Holiday Inn Crossroads Classic (in Grand Junction, Co.) 9/7: 9/8:

vs. Fort Hays State vs. Western State College of CO vs. Grand Canyon vs. Colorado Mesa

11 a.m. away 5:30 p.m. away 10 a.m. away 12:30 p.m. away

Lone Star Conference play

Photo contributed by TWU Athletics

Softball offered two camps as well: the general skills day camp June 4-5 and the pitcher/catcher day camp June 6-7, both open to students from second-12th grades. The general skills camp emphasized the overall skill development of the players in each age group.

The pitcher/catcher camp worked on the technical skills of pitching and catching.

Campers work on their technique during a TWU Athletics soccer camp June 18-22.

Soccer

> > > >

Softball

> > > >

A camper sharpens her hitting skills at a TWU Athletics softball camp June 4-5.

Photo contributed by TWU Athletics

There were two choices for soccer: the day camp for boys and girls grades kindergarten-8th June 18-22, and the elite camp for girls ages 14-18 June 24-26. The day camp was held on the TWU Soccer Field located behind Pioneer Hall, where campers competed against each other and worked on improving their passing, heading, dribbling, and shooting techniques. The elite camp was open to commuter as well as resident campers. This camp was for experienced players looking to sharpen their competitive edge while receiving training like that of a college athlete. These elite campers competed in small sided games, where teams of three or four players developed technical skills and participated in full-out scrimmages.

9/14: vs. Texas A&M — Kingsville 9/15: vs. Incarnate Word 9/21: vs. Eastern New Mexico 9/22: vs. West Texas A&M 9/25: vs. Abilene Christian 9/28: vs. Cameron 9/29: vs. Midwestern State 10/5: vs. Angelo State 10/6: vs. Tarleton State 10/12: vs. Incarnate Word 10/13: vs. Texas A&M — Kingsville 10/19: vs. West Texas A&M 10/20: vs. Eastern New Mexico 10/26: vs. Midwestern State 10/27: vs. Cameron 10/30: vs. Texas A&M — Commerce 11/1: vs. St. Edward’s 11/3: vs. Abilene Christian 11/9: vs. Tarleton State 11/10: vs. Angelo State

7 p.m. away 2 p.m. away 5 p.m. home 2 p.m. home 7 p.m. away 7 p.m. away 2 p.m. away 7 p.m. away 2 p.m. away 5 p.m. home 2 p.m. home 7 p.m. away 3 p.m. away 7 p.m. home 2 p.m. home 7 p.m. home 7 p.m. home 2 p.m. home 7 p.m. home 2 p.m. home

For details and more sports schedules, students can visit the TWU Athletics website at:

www.twuathletics.com.

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Opinions

7

Dream Act: Amnesty? Gateway to Amnesty How about honesty?

Shannon Quick Staff Writer

Dennis Barbee Opinions Editor

have to ask, why would we not talk about amnesty in the first place? It seems like we are simply using illegal aliens as pawns and distractions. It seems like we are concentrating more on the color of their skin and where they come from and less on some of the truths about them.

So why all of this race baiting and hate towards aliens?

We are constantly inundated with people screaming to close the borders and ship everyone home — that they came here

growth in a capitalist society. Let us also be clear about another issue that always comes up – the jobs America is offering to Some younger illegal immigrants (legal or not) aren’t immigrants have a little exactly white-collar jobs in the workforce. Aliens have been less to fear. For now. coming into the United States When President Barack illegally for decades; only recently Obama signed an order allowing to become pawns in a high-stakes certain illegal aliens who meet game called politics. specific conditions and are Do I favor securing the under age 30 a reprieve from borders? Yes, absolutely. Orderly prosecution, many of them were immigration is a good thing for able to breathe a bit easier. all of us. Do I favor shipping h o m e millions The real reasons are simple. of people Ignorance, fear, indifference, fanaticism, apathy, and outright lies. who follow the laws of the land, This means that young illegal illegally and there is no other way work hard every day, go to school, aliens can focus on the myriad of to solve this than deport them and dream of being able to ask other issues that face them on a all. Why are we barraged with a for a day off without fearing their daily basis and not have to worry variety of reasons, from welfare employer will turn them in to the about being deported for two to health care, that our system is law? No. In the strongest way I years. failing because of them? Society can possibly say it, no.

Many are arguing that the in the U.S. is primarily Christian, It is time to stop oppressing president is simply doing this according to a report published illegal aliens when it suits us. We for political points. I agree and by the Pew Forum on Religion need to provide them with a path disagree. This is an election & Public Life, yet we seem to to citizenship. We need to find year. Keep in mind, both parties forget one of the tenets of that a way to grant them amnesty, are guilty of playing the game, faith: to treat our neighbors in a so millions of people can have regardless of what they say. The Christian manner. their dignity back. We need to banter out in the media that the Who knows what the reasons stop focusing on how over 11 president is guilty of unseemly are? But I have a guess. million people got here (some for behavior by passing this before I assume that the real reasons decades) and start focusing on the election simply just is not are not that far from why women how to help them succeed, just true. This is politics. Does it were kept from voting or black like the rest of us. Because all of really matter when a good order people were kept from being us are immigrants or children of is signed? The policy is good, and freed from the shackles of slavery. immigrants in this country. the policy is what we should be The same reasons that people The president has taken a talking about. always single out those who are small step forward in treating We have over 11 million not white, are not educated or aliens like human beings. people in this country illegally, come from somewhere else. The I support him fully in this according to a 2011 New York real reasons are simple. endeavor. Illegal aliens have Times article. The vast majority Ignorance, fear, indifference, committed a crime. Let’s give of illegal aliens just want to be fanaticism, apathy, and outright lies. them a way to “get right” and able to live and work exactly Let’s banter over some facts. give them a decent, fair, quick as they do now, without the Immigrants who came and took way to become citizens who fully constant fear of being arrested the land from the very people contribute and are fully protected and ripped from everything they who lived here originally, without by the system we all share in. know, love and work for. going through any immigration Many claim this order programs, have built this country. clears the way for amnesty. I Immigrants are necessary for Opinionated?

Network News: Sifting Out Opinions Erin Marissa Russell Managing Editor

If you were flipping through major news networks when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional a few weeks ago, it was hard to tell exactly how the action would affect us as citizens (and I’m not talking about the initial confusion over the facts).

Depending on which network you landed on, the decision was either lauded as a step forward in getting Americans much-needed health care or vilified as a step toward socialism. The question is, on shows dedicated to bringing citizens the news, why were the anchors introducing their own opinions at all?

The role of reporters and news anchors is not to have their voices heard on issues they care about — the role of reporters and news anchors is to convey up-todate news information in a way viewers can understand easily, providing them with a variety of perspectives so they can make their own decisions. This sort of news coverage is a rarity today, especially on broadcast news channels.

There is no reason to have separate news networks that pander to different political beliefs — after all, if just the facts are reported, the news is the same if you’re telling a Republican as it is if you’re telling a Democrat.

What’s different is how people will feel about the news and what they may speculate will happen as a result of the news. If anchors remained unbiased and presented different viewpoints by interviewing people from various political affiliations, viewers would have to think things through and decide for themselves what they thought.

Because this rarely happens,

viewers tend to choose a channel that reinforces their own beliefs. They agree with the news anchors’ observations, and their minds aren’t challenged by having to sort through information and come to an independent conclusion. This way of presenting the news precludes viewers having to think.

As news consumers, it’s important to pay attention to how information is being presented and do some research on your own. If a fact or figure is thrown out without any mention of where it came from, do a quick check on Google to make sure it’s legitimate. When anchors are talking about what will happen as a result of a news item, ask yourself whether they are really qualified to make that prediction. Listen for opinion words that aren’t backed up by fact: it’s factual to say that a tax increase is smaller than increases in 2010, for example, but it’s opinion to say that a tax increase is small.

Most importantly, watch a variety of news channels to hear sides of the story (or entire stories) that your favorite channel may choose not to present. Read articles about the same issue in several newspapers. Always refer back to an original document if possible — a bill or a study is a more reliable source than an article or blog post. Absorb as much information as you can, question all of it, and decide for yourself what you think is right.

No one is policing news networks to be sure they remain objective, and it’s unlikely that anyone is going to start. As educated citizens, it is our responsibility to be sure information we base our political decisions on is correct.

Angry?

Want others to hear your voice?

The Lasso wants to hear from YOU. Send your opinions to: twu_lasso@yahoo.com

Being a successful college graduate, owning a home with a two- or three-car garage and having 2.5 kids is the quintessential American dream, but what do you do with the children of illegal aliens who happen to be brought onto U.S. soil because their parents wanted this American dream? If you are President Barack Obama, you simply disregard the U.S. Constitution and the will of the Congress and place in effect an executive order which allows the offspring of illegal aliens the ability to obtain the American dream through newly-created legal channels.

The U.S. Senate decided in December 2010 with a 5541 vote to not pass the Dream Act, a law that would give qualifying children of illegal aliens a conditional pathway to permanent residency. When Obama signed his executive order allowing parts of the Dream Act to move forward, he ignored the wishes of his Senate and overstepped his executive duties as president. In an interview with Fox news,

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act is the gateway to amnesty for millions of illegal aliens, when you add the 800,000 people Frank Sherry at the Daily Beast estimated are able to use the law and their parents, to obtain citizenship without having to ever go through the lengthy and at times costly channels to become a legal citizen that have been in place for decades. The executive order signed by Obama will stop deportation of illegal aliens who came to the U.S. before they were 16, have lived here for five years and are in school (the law does not stipulate whether college counts toward the “in school” rule or not), are high school graduates or veterans in good standing, have no criminal record, and are no more than 30 years old.

“They are Americans in their heart, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper,” Obama said, while announcing the new policy in the White House Rose Garden. He went on to say he was taking “a temporary stopgap measure” that would “lift the shadow of deportation from these young people” and

Did the president step up to open the door and make it “more fair” for this woman to come here with her husband? No. Judge Andrew Napolitano stated: “The President has unilaterally changed the law. He has rewritten the law. His heart may be in the right place for a group of people that he feels will have to stay here, but he can’t do that. Only Congress can change the law. The law requires predictability. It requires fairness and it has to be constitutional.

If the President writes it, it’s not constitutional, and if he changes the law, there’s no predictability and only the Congress can decide whether coming before age 16 is fair. How about 15? How about 17? The President made it out of his own head and we don’t have a system that permits that.”

I am not a heartless individual who thinks that these people do not need or deserve the opportunity for the American dream, but I am the kind of person who believes that the Constitution was put in place to keep rogue presidents from passing their agendas of amnesty cloaked in dreams via executive orders.

make immigration policy “more fair, more efficient and more just.” My question is, more fair for whom? I had a classmate who was married to a woman from Germany. They met when he was teaching English in Germany a few years back. She had the hardest time trying to get a visa to reside in the U.S. with her husband. After last semester, he was headed back to Germany to reside there, giving up on a system that only seems to reward the law breakers.

Did the president step up to open the door and make it “fairer” for this woman to come here with her husband? No, and they were going about it the proper way, through legal channels.

Instead, he awarded the children of illegal aliens the ability to stay in America as long as they meet 13 criteria, including not having a criminal record. What about the parents of children who are over 18? Will they be deported?

How about the illegal aliens who have criminal records? Of course not because the president only

handled part of the issue, leaving unresolved issues with parents and other children. If this had been handled through Congress as is the law, these questions may have been answered. Why would the parents of the newly “legal” citizens not be deported?

Because they have not been deported thus far, either. This has been a building issue and will continue to build until we have real immigration reform.

With crime rates among illegal citizens on the rise, it makes one wonder why the president was in such a hurry to pass this piece of legislation.

Why did feel the need to usurp his executive duties and sign the executive order? Is it because it is an election year and he is pandering for the Latino vote; even though Latinos make up only a certain percentage of illegal aliens? Could it be because this was already denied by congress? Or is it just another power play to show off his prowess in an election year as a fear tactic toward Americans who may not be on his side.

Only President Obama knows his true ideals behind the sneaky and underhanded way he went about passing this law, by sidestepping Congress and expanding the executive branch of the Constitution.

Even Obama knew that the people would see this as a step toward amnesty, and set out to squelch that thinking right away. “Now let’s be clear: this is not an amnesty,” the President said in his Rose Garden address, anticipating the Republican response. “This is not a path to citizenship. It is not a permanent fix.” I disagree. First, there are zero regulations on how many times a person can reapply and receive their work visa, essentially making this a “permanent fix.”

Secondly, you will have more parents coming across the border claiming that they have been here for five years in search of visas for their children, and themselves.

What Obama has created is de facto amnesty.

Amnesty or not, it is clear that the president and his policy makers should have taken a little more time to think through his executive order before placing it into effect. There are still many unanswered questions that need to be looked at and policies created to handle the many issues.

Wine Squared: Some bars aim for relaxation Marygail Isobel Lakner Opinions Editor

If you’re looking to go out for a drink but don’t want to deal with big crowds, loud music and having to shout to have a conversation, it can feel like there’s nowhere that will do.

Sure, you can sit at home with friends, but sometimes that’s not enough.

Thankfully, there is a solution.

Wine Squared is located on Denton’s historic square, right next to The Candy Store. Once inside, you’ll hear a variety of easy listening, see a variable amount of people on any given night and find a collection of board games to enjoy from Scrabble to Risk to Parcheesi.

Patrons can even take a blanket and their wine to have a small picnic on the courthouse lawn, provided they leave behind a debit/credit card for collateral — Wine Squared does want to ensure it gets its wine glasses back, after all.

Not being too familiar with wine, I had no idea what to order. I knew what kind of

flavor I was looking for, though: something floral and not too sweet. I asked Douglas Smith, waiter and wine aficionado, what he would suggest with that criteria. He poured me a small sample of a rose, Bardolino Chiaretto.

He had nailed it. The chilled wine was soothing on that warm evening, and though it wasn’t a particularly dry wine, it wasn’t too sweet either. I also got the chance to taste a sparkling, sweet red wine, a Rosso Dolce.

For a sweet wine, it was very good. It would be easy to drink it like juice, though, so might pose a bit of a problem for someone wanting to take it slowly.

Wine Squared doesn’t only serve wine, though. Patrons are also offered a variety of beers and charcuterie plates, with a generous selection of meats and cheeses to enjoy with their wine.

My plate held salami, warm bread, a Spanish manchego cheese which tasted like a nutty Parmesan, and a Norwegian Jarlsberg — a sweeter, softer cheese.

Smith, the only one holding down the fort that evening, said he would get the plate I ordered out to me in a few minutes.

Considering there were several more people for him to attend to, I had no problem waiting. He had it out before I had expected, speaking to his prompt skills as well as his

Photograph contributed by Marygail Lakner

Wine Squared offers Denton a relaxed experience. knowledge of wine.

All in all, the customer service at Wine Squared was great.

Another patron, drama sophomore Melanie Welch, ordered a dry red, Spellbound Petite Sirrah, and warm bread with spiced dipping oil. “I feel so fancy being here, but it’s not

too expensive,” Welch said.

Considering that the cost of my one glass of wine as well as everything I got on the charcuterie plate, which was more than enough to share with friends, was only $14, I would have to agree with her.

8

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Lasso

twulasso.com

Arts & Entertainment

Country goes Hollywood: Southern musicians cross over Stanton Brasher A&E Editor

Actors have a long history of making terrible forays into music.

Minus the success of Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars and Zooey Deschanel’s duo She and Him, most actors have failed to make a successful crossover. Some that come to mind are Keanu Reeves’ terrible alt-rock excursion (Dogstar) or Crispin Glover’s oddly frightening

song, “Clowny Clown Clown.”

Though the road that leads out of Los Angeles is narrow, the road for musicians to enter via the Sunset Strip is wide. Ice Cube has become a household name that can be enjoyed by all, from the youngest “g” (for “gangster”) to the oldest “g” (for “grandma”). Ice Cube has appeared in “Friday,” ”Are We There Yet” and “Barbershop.”

Harry Connick Jr. has had many memorable

7. Tim McGraw in “Friday Night Lights” and “The Blindside”

10. Toby Keith in “Beer for my Horses” This movie not only stars Toby Keith, he is also accompanied by country music comedian Rodney Carrington and Willie Nelson. The slapstick action-comedy is surprisingly funny despite its low-budget look. It is definitely not the best film on this list, but it is definitely worth a viewing from Netflix on a slow night. Just don’t let your horses drink all the beer.

If you want to make a high school football film, Tim McGraw is the go-to guy. His performance in “Friday Night Lights” was a real head-turner. In Roger Ebert’s review of the film, he applauded Tim McGraw for playing his role with “great power.” A few years later, Tim McGraw would play a sappier role in an even bigger high school football film, “The Blindside.”

Image courtesy of CMT Films

Kristofferson has been crossing over into Hollywood for years. “Blade” was not his first movie, but it was his introduction to many from my generation. When I first saw the film, I did not know who was tougher: the half-vampire bounty hunter or the old guy with the stone cold eyes.

Considering his character (Whistler) died and resurrected, I am going to go with him.

I never saw “Joyful Noise,” because I did not want to see Queen Latifah be mean to sweet, little old Dolly Parton. I have seen “9 to 5” and “Straight Talk.”

Both movies have huge hair, bright clothes and charming stories. Also, James Woods is always awesome, even in cheesy films.

Image courtesy of Alcon Ent.

8. George Strait in “Pure Country”

TWU graduate student Elizabeth Claffey has won the 2012-2013 U.S. Fulbright Fellowship Award for her proposed photographic collection of works titled “Home: Images of Domestic Traditions in Albania.”

Claffey graduated from TWU with a master’s degree in visual arts with a concentration in photography and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in women’s studies at TWU. The Fulbright Fellowship Award is a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of State that will allow Claffey the chance to travel to Albania to complete her proposed project.

“Funding for artists is rare, and the Fulbright not only provides incredible financial support but also the chance to travel abroad and learn from people and cultures that I would not otherwise have access to,” Claffey said.

“One of the most attractive aspects of the grant is that it encourages you to go beyond your project and/or medium of study to engage with the community.”

Claffey, who has always considered herself primarily a photographer, explained that she was very scattered as a child. Photography helped her to focus on one moment and give her full attention to it. She also felt that it allowed her to look at things for longer than she would otherwise be allowed to.

She received her first working camera from her mother at eight years old, a Woolworth, and started working in darkrooms at age 13. Her first camera, the one she calls her first “real” camera, was a Pentax K1000, a camera she still uses today.

Many diehard fans did not enjoy the big screen reincarnation of this 1970s country comedy. In fact, there are only two things that I truly remember about this film: Jessica Simpson’s outfits and Willie Nelson’s hilarious turn as uncle Jesse Duke. Pot jokes, moonshine and Willie are just about enough to make any movie funny.

Image courtesy of New Line Cinema

5. Taylor Swift in “The Lorax” Taylor Swift was good, but “The Lorax” is the best Dr. Seuss movie of all time. The environmental cautionary story was full of hilarious moments and colorful characters. “The Lorax” was a monster success. It has already grossed $213 million domestically.

Image courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

“I received my first grant with a project I made with it in 2005,” Claffey said.

Claffey explained that the Fulbright application process was expansive, requiring applicants to call upon all of their previous experiences and education. Mentors seemed to have a solid place within those applications, she recalled, whether it was intended or not. The three women who mentored Claffey during this process were TWU art professor Susan Kae Grant, assistant art professor Jana Perez and visiting women’s studies professor Dr. Christa Downer.

“These three women demonstrate, through their own work and teaching practices, how to define your own success and then work to achieve it,” Claffey said.

It was not only educators who helped her along this process, though. One example Claffey gave of additional guidance and help was from her sister, who found the time late at night, after her children were asleep and she had graded her students’ work, to help edit and re-edit Claffey’s essays for the Fulbright application.

“Friends, family, mentors, and strangers all contributed to this application. People in Albania who I have never met took the time to consider my work and wrote letters of affiliation to strengthen my application. Being able to share the good news and thank the people who put time and effort into my application is so rewarding,” Claffey said.

Currently, Claffey is focusing on her upcoming year abroad, but she certainly has more artistic projects to aspire to. She also wants to teach and continue to make her artwork.

“I’m not sure which grant I will apply for next, but I know there is one out there, just waiting,” she said.

When I first saw this film, I had no idea that the leader of the biker gang was Trace Adkins. All I knew was that I loved the film and thought the character was really cool. Hopefully, he will stick to a similar trajectory and take on more quality film roles.

Image courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

2. Dwight Yoakam in “Sling Blade” and “Panic Room” Yoakam, who sings a lot about heartbreak and partying, really nailed these two roles. In “Sling Blade” he plays a drunk, abusive boyfriend with scary conviction. In “Panic Room” he plays a spastic robber with an excessive amount of energy. In both roles, it is easy to forget that the guy sings about guitars, Cadillacs and hillbilly music.

Image courtesy of Miramax

1. Reba McEntire in “Tremors” Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

4. Trace Adkins in “The Lincoln Lawyer”

TWU graduate student wins Fulbright Award Marygail Isobel Lakner Opinions Editor

3. Willie Nelson in “The Dukes of Hazzard”

6. Kris Kristofferson in “Blade”

9. Dolly Parton in “Joyful Noise,” “9 to 5” and “Straight Talk”

OK, so this pretty much the equivalent of Eminem playing an upand-coming rapper in “8 Mile,” but this flick is cheesier than a queso factory.

Strait never really made an attempt to return to film after this movie bombed.

He should have stayed in the business making soundtracks, because the album peaked at No. 1 for Billboard top country albums and spawned three Top 10 singles.

Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

roles, from “Independence Day” to “Copy Cat.” Also, a certain American Idol finalist (Jennifer Hudson) was able to not only snag a starring role in “Dreamgirls,” but also turn in an Oscarwinning performance.

July is Country Music Appreciation Month, and to show our appreciation for country music, The Lasso selected highlights from some popular performances.

Image courtesy of Lionsgate

I have seen all of the “Tremors” films multiple times. I am a big nerd. The film, about a small town in Arizona that gets overrun by giant man-eating worms called graboids, has become a cult hit since it was released in 1990. Reba is only in the first one.

She plays the hardcore, gun-toting wife of Burt Gummer (the paranoid gun enthusiast who helps save the day more than once from the graboids). In one scene, a graboid tries to dig into the basement of the Gummer’s house. Reba is not even phased when she has to shoot one of the monster’s tongues directly off her husband’s foot.

Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

Be kind, rewind: ‘Shakespeare in Love’ Marygail Isobel Lakner Opinions Editor “Shakespeare in Love,” starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench, Ben Affleck, and Joseph Fiennes, won seven Oscars in 1999, including Best Actress and Best Picture.

Say what you want, but that says a lot about the quality of the movie. With that cast, though, how could it be bad?

The movie follows Will Shakespeare (Fiennes) as he tries to write a new play- “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter.”

Viola (Paltrow) is a wealthy lady who loves the theatre and longs for romance and poetry in her life. When she auditions for Shakespeare’s new play dressed as a boy under the name of Thomas Kent, Shakespeare is taken with her performance and casts her. After following her back to her home to deliver her character assignment, Fiennes meets Paltrow dressed as the woman she is, and they fall in love.

The play that Shakespeare

is writing, “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter” slowly evolves into “Romeo and Juliet” as Fiennes is inspired by the love he shares with Paltrow. There is an obstacle in the way, though, aside from his already being married to Anne Hathaway back in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Paltrow is betrothed to Lord Wessex, a financially failing member of the English nobility who aims to gain fortune by marrying Viola and whisking her off to a plantation in Virginia. Lord Wessex is played by Colin Firth.

The movie is full of Shakespearean quotes. Famous lines are even spouted by priests railing against the supposed debauchery of the theatre.

Historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth (Dench), Christopher Marlowe (Rupert Everett), and Ned Alleyn (Affleck) appear, adding a flavor of research that makes this movie feel as if it could just possibly have a ring of truth.

Dench carries the power and authority that would be expected o f someone

playing Queen Elizabeth.

Affleck, who always seems to shine in supporting roles as opposed to lead roles, doesn’t disappoint in his portrayal of a very well-known actor of the time. Rush, who plays owner of The Rose Theatre, Philip Henslowe, carries a great deal of the comedy. Other actors in the movie, while they don’t have as much screen time, definitely add personality to each character they play, giving this movie nearly an ensemble cast.

Image courtesy of Miramax

Be warned—there is some female nudity and sexual content, thus the R rating. It is easily overlooked, though, and some of it can even be skipped over if it is something potential viewers truly want to avoid.

All in all, “Shakespeare in Love” is a movie that anyone with an interest in English history, Shakespeare or classical theater can enjoy. Don’t let the rating steer you away — it didn’t win Best Picture for nothing.

‘Daedalian’ deadline approaches T h e deadline for new submissions for this year’s literary journal is Monday, July 16. Students who write poetry, short fiction or nonfiction, and those who create visual art or photographs, are invited to submit their work to The Daedalian, TWU’s literature and art magazine named after the ill-fated mythological character.

The publication has a history dating back more than 100 years, beginning as a 24-page paper, and changing its role into a literary journal and yearbook. After a 16year lapse in publication, a group of inspired Lasso staff members headed by then editorin-chief Luis Rendon decided to resurrect The Daedalian as a literary arts journal in spring 2009.

After attending a Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference, Lasso staff members were excited about literary journals and wanted to start one at TWU. After some research, Rendon discovered The

Erin Marissa Russell New Media Editor

Daedalian and decided to bring it back.

He talked with English, art and dance professors, and Lasso staff and English professors worked as judges.

“The Daedalian used to be something important and special to TWU,” Rendon said. “There was a spirit to it—something unique that captured the voice of the smart and clever women who walked the same halls I did. I wanted to capture some of that spirit and hopefully inspire others to share their creativity.”

Submissions are free and open to TWU students at the Dallas, Denton or Houston campuses as well as online students. The Daedalian welcomes literature submissions of 2,500 words or fewer (fiction, nonfiction or poetry) and photos of any artwork, sent in a graphic file of at least 300 dpi to TWU_Daedalian@yahoo. com. Artists can also arrange for a Lasso staff member to photograph their pieces. A panel of TWU faculty and staff will select from the submissions.

Image by Aaron Claycomb

“The Daedalian is a great opportunity for TWU students to get their work published,” current editor Stanton Brasher said. “Unlike in the newspaper, in The Daedalian, we want to focus on storytelling, poetry, feature writing, narratives, and visual art. If you are an aspiring writer or artist, this is your starting block.”