Daily Toreador The
TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2013 VOLUME 87 ■ ISSUE 151
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Serving the Texas Tech University community since 1925
David Perlmutter begins position as CoMC dean David D. Perlmutter assumed his position as the dean of the College of Media and Communication on July 1. According to a news release, Perlmutter said he is honored to be following in former dean Jerry Hudson’s footsteps. “I am humbled and honored to take the reins from Jerry,” he said in the release. “In our industry and academic circles, he is known as one of the great administrators, as well as a visionary, innovator and bold strategist.” Perlmutter was excited to join Texas Tech, and the community is full of ambition, he said in the release. “I’ve never been on a campus such as Texas Tech, where everyone — from undergraduates to the chancellor — has taken on such an excitement for the future,” he said in the release. “Texas Tech is such a can-do place, I’m eager to join you and feel right at home.” ➤➤atubbs@dailytoreador.com
Senate gavels in for 2nd special session on abortion AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas Senate has convened for a new 30-day special session to take up contentious abortion restrictions bill and other issues. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst gaveled in the chamber shortly after 2 p.m. The Senate was the scene of the filibuster and crowd outburst that stopped the abortion restrictions bill last week. Gov. Rick Perry called lawmakers back for a new 30-day session and pledged the bill will pass this time. Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, whose nearly 12-hour filibuster made her a national hero for abortion rights advocates, returned to the chamber wearing a bright orange dress but without the pink tennis she wore that night while she stood. The Senate gallery was full but calm as the session began after a boisterous demonstration outside.
OPINIONS, Pg. 4
Silva: Texas Legislature should pass abortion bill
Looking for Larva — Page 3
INDEX Classifieds................3 Crossword....................3 Opinions.....................4 Sudoku.........................2
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Student loan rates may double WASHINGTON (AP) — College students taking out new loans for the fall term will see interest rates twice what they were in the spring — unless Congress fulfills its pledge to restore lower rates when it returns after the July 4 holiday. Subsidized Stafford loans, which account for roughly a quarter of all direct federal borrowing, went from 3.4 percent interest to 6.8 percent interest on Monday. Congress’ Joint Economic Committee estimated the cost passed to students would be about $2,600. “It’s kind of surprising; that’s a big jump,” said Rebecca Ehlers, an Iowa State University senior majoring in math. A $1,000 subsidized Stafford loan is part of her financial aid package and she said she’s reconsidering how she pays for school.
“I may work more or ask my parents for money rather than going through all that,” said Ehlers, 21. She — and millions of others who use federal student loans to pay for their education — has some time before she has to make that decision. But not much. “The only silver lining is that relatively few borrowers take out student loans in July and early August. You really can’t take out student loans more than 10 days before the term starts,” said Terry Hartle, a top official with colleges’ lobbying operation at the American Council on Education. But that is little consolation for students looking at unexpected costs waiting for them on graduation day if Congress doesn’t take action before it breaks again for the month of August. “I’m upset by it,” said Kolton Gustafson, a George Washington University
By EMILY GARDNER Managing editor
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tor with consumer advocate U.S. PIRG. Lawmakers knew for a full year the July 1 deadline was coming but were unable to strike a deal to dodge that increase. During last year’s presidential race, both parties pledged to extend the 3.4 percent interest rates for another year to avoid angering young voters. But the looming hike lacked sufficient urgency this year and Congress last week left town for the holiday without an agreement. Instead, the Democraticled Senate pledged to revisit the issue as soon as July 10 and retroactively restore the rates for another year — into 2014, when a third of Senate seats and all House seats are up for election. Even when lawmakers return, there’s no guarantee there will be the votes to restore the lower rates. LOANS continued on Page 2 ➤➤
Tubby Time
Researcher finds cancer risk doubles with chemical combinations Combinations of chemicals can cause cancer in human prostate cells, two Texas Tech scientists discovered. Kamaleshwar Singh, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at the Institute of Environmental and Human Health, conducted a study focusing on carcinogen effects of combinations of the chemicals arsenic and estrogen in relation to prostate cancer with the help of his doctoral student Justin Treas. The reason Singh said he decided to focus on this area was because people are exposed to drinking water daily that contains arsenic and studies have tested the effects of being exposed to one chemical at a time, but not more than one. “People have tested one chemical at a time,” he said. “They have seen the effects of one chemical at a time, but in the real world, we are not getting exposed to just one chemical.” For six months, Singh said normal human prostate cells were exposed to arsenic and estrogen together and separately, and after the six months the effects were observed. “We tried to see the constant effect of these two chemicals alone and in combination on the prostate cells,” he said. “And we found that combination has much greater effect in terms of carcinogenic effect than the individual exposure.” The Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to decide on a policy to determine safe levels of exposure for these chemicals, Singh said, but the research is being completed on only one chemical at a time. Based on his study, Singh said the EPA’s levels are not safe if a person is exposed to more than one chemical at a time. Arsenic levels above EPA’s safelevels can be found in Lubbock’s ground water, Treas, a doctoral student in environmental toxicology from Texarkana, Ark., said. Estrogen can be found in items such as birth control, camp food and plastics, while also found inside the body. “Arsenic is pretty much everywhere,” he said, “and estrogen is everywhere so co-exposure is a likely scenario.” The prostate is a target organ for arsenic-induced cancer, Singh said, and estrogen also plays a part in prostate cancer development.
political science major heading into his senior year. “I wish there was a larger reaction to it.” “Many students are saying and thinking, ‘I’ll pay it later,’” the Grand Junction, Colo., native added. “That’s why you don’t see more people fighting back.” Students only borrow money for one year at a time. Loans taken before Monday are not affected by the rate hike. Both political parties tried to blame the other for the hike and student groups complained the increase in interest rates would add to student loan debt that already surpasses credit card debt in this country. “The federal loan program is burying them in debt. With the doubling of the interest rate, Congress is pushing student borrowers to their limit,” said Michael Russo, federal program direc-
CARSON WINDHAM.The Daily Toreador
MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH Orlando “Tubby” Smith speaks at the Wind Power Facility on Thursday night.
Smith recognized by African American Leadership Council By CARSON WINDHAM Staff Writer
Men’s basketball coach Orlando “Tubby” Smith greeted a room full of Texas Tech fans at the Wind Power Facility on Thursday night. The event was hosted by the African American Community Leadership Council in honor of Smith becoming the first African American head coach of Tech men’s basketball. Djuana McPherson, president of the African American Community Leadership Council, said 350 guests came to celebrate
and welcome Smith to the community, and this large turnout means a lot to the council. “It means we can come together,” she said, “and recognize and encourage him to do well, being the first African American coach at Texas Tech University.” Smith said he has started to love Lubbock and looks forward to guiding the men at Tech and giving back to the community. “We feel like it is a place that we all can continue to grow,” he said, “and continue to inspire and motivate.” Smith was the head basketball coach at the
University of Minnesota before he was hired at Tech and is one of four coaches who have won 365 games in less than 16 seasons, according to a news release. After practices, workouts and getting to know his players, Smith said he is impressed with the athletes he has seen. “I love the heart of these young men,” he said, “and I love the toughness that they have shown, their dedication, and their love. They love Texas Tech.” SMITH continued on Page 3 ➤➤
Students: Final exams damper July 4th celebrations By ASHLYN TUBBS Photo editor
July Fourth is a holiday to celebrate America’s birthday by fellowship, festivities and, of course, firework displays. Although some summer school students may have plans to travel during the holiday, others have finals the following day. “Since it’s my philosophy final, I’m going to have to literally chain myself to the chair in the library,” Bayley DeHaven said, “and force myself to study to avoid the urge to go out.”
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DeHaven, a senior electronic media and communications major from Frisco, is not the only student in this situation who said it is unfair. David Lyons, a junior business management major from San Angelo, said his final on the fifth has put a damper on his July Fourth plans. “I will spend most of my 4th inside studying for my final until I feel comfortable with the material,” he said. “Texas Tech has made July Fourth my dead day to prepare for my final instead of spending time with friends and family on Independence Day watching
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fireworks, cooking out, and relaxing.” Reagan Lancaster, a junior business marketing major from Plano, understands some circumstances of students taking final exams on the fifth. “I think that if people need the time to study and get themselves good in their classes,” he said, “they should be able to take the exam on the fifth.” However, he said there should be an option for people to take the exam before the July Fourth holiday, if they are fully prepared.
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FINALS continued on Page 3 ➤➤
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