6
SMUDAILYCAMPUS.COM FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS News 1 Arts & Entertainment 2 Sports 3 Opinion 4 Health & Fitness 5 WEDNESDAY High 82, Low 61 THURSDAY High 81, Low 58 Weather A SIDE OF NEWS Index Want more news? Visit us online at Newsroom: 214.768.4555 Classified: 214.768.4554 Online: smudailycampus.com Contact Us European bailout plan rejected Slovakian lawmakers turned down a plan to increase the powers of a bailout fund for banks and troubled European governments on Tuesday. Of the 17 nation euro currency bloc members, Slovakia is the only one that rejected the plan, known as the European Financial Stability Facility, EFSF. This however does not mean the plan is dead. A second vote may be scheduled for Thursday or Friday. Senate rejects Obama’s job bill President Barack Obama’s $447 billion jobs plan fell short 10 votes Tuesday with an unofficial tally of 50 votes in support of the bill and 48 votes against the bill in the Senate. Although the official tally is being held so Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, can vote, it would not be good enough. Republicans opposed the recently added section that would pay for the measure through a 5.6 percent surtax on annual incomes over $1 million. Inmates riot, injuries reported A prison riot was reported halfway between Oklahoma City and Amariollo, Texas Tuesday inflicting injury on 20 inmates. Five of those inmates were transported to a nearby hospital. The riot broke out at the North Fork Correctional Facility in western Oklahoma Officials do not know what started the riot. Carl’s Jr. celebrates 50 years Carl’s Jr. is celebrating their 50th anniversary and would like community members to celebrate it with them. The Star Diner, Carl’s Jr.’s food delivery truck, will be stopping by the Compass Bank on Hillcrest Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m for a “Burger Break” complete with free burger, fries and drink samples. Two dogwood trees stand 16 miles south of downtown Dallas in Cedar Hill. These trees, normally found in the Pinewoods and post oak belts of Texas, are far from home. It was 18 years ago when David Hurt, an amateur, nature enthusiast, found the rare trees. His discovery was only the beginning to what would ultimately become the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. The center, which opened on Sept. 9, is special to Dallas residents because it offers them a place to learn, explore and be one with some of nature’s most unique flora and fauna. It also makes Dallas County the only place in the country to house two Audubon centers. “The National Audubon Society welcomes this beautiful addition to our network of Audubon centers across the country,” David Yarnold, president and CEO of Audubon, said. The conservation areas, known as Audubon centers, are non-profit environmental organizations dedicated to conservation, and as it turns out, Dallas County is perfect for Audubon locations. The area has both the physical and ecological characteristics that cater to Audubon development. “Not only does this illustrate the surprising natural diversity we have in our area, but it also demonstrates the strength of our philanthropic community in that it can support two such unique facilities,” Patty McGill, Dogwood Audubon Center director, said. The Center was a preservation project, explained Ross Coulter, who works with the center. The land’s topography made it a rare find where animals and plants that would not usually coexist can. “What makes it so unique is the combination of the black prairie land and Austin chalk that meet in this area,” T Hanson, nature director at the Dogwood Center, said. In addition to Hurt’s discovery of the Dogwood trees, there were many more unique finds in the over 200 acres of land, including orchids, Western Ashe Juniper and Shimmering Oaks. The Dogwood Center, although the second to be built in Dallas County, was the first to be planned. The Trinity River Center opened in October of 2008. It is located on over 6,000 acres southeast of downtown Dallas in the Greater Trinity Forest, the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States. “The Trinity River Audubon Center was a reclamation project,” Coulter said. Unlike the Dogwood Audubon Center, the Trinity River Center was not established because of its already beautiful landscape. The area was once an illegal dumping ground. It was not until Dallas residents approved a $246 million bond program that the land was reclaimed. The Trinity River Corridor Project, a Dallas public works project, funded the Trinity River Audubon Center. Though the centers began very differently, they both serve unique functions and are dedicated to promoting the protection and preservation of Texas’ land and natural species. “Both purposes meet Audubon’s goals of connecting people with the outdoors and offering unique opportunities to view various types of natural environments,” McGill said. Benjamin Jones, state director of education for Audubon Texas, helped establish a successful education program at the Trinity River location and is now helping the Dogwood Center do the same. “It is all about connecting people with nature,” Jones said. The programs established at the centers appeal to all ages and offer visitors a wide range of activities, from bird-watching to nature view trails. There are also opportunities for children to enjoy school field trips, summer camps and classes. “We’re just bringing them outside and showing them science,” Faizel Ismail, education manager, said. “It isn’t just a boring classroom; science can be an adventure.” Schools are not the only ones taking advantage of the learning opportunities Audubon has to offer. Non-profit organizations are also joining in on the chance. “These centers are a great learning tool,” Liz Rich of Big Thought, a non-profit organization in Dallas that focuses on giving children access to learning opportunities, said. McGill said the advantage for Dallas having not one, but two, Audubon centers is a testament to those in the community who made it possible. “Audubon was founded on volunteers, banding together and deciding to make something happen,” she said. The George W. Bush Presidential Center held its Topping Out Ceremony on the east side of campus Monday, bringing new opportunities for SMU students. The Bush Center will house both the presidential museum and the Bush Institute, the former president’s think tank, which will bring important figures and prominent scholars to campus. “The George W. Bush Presidential Center will guarantee that SMU students have access to nationally and internationally renowned scholars, activists and decision-makers,” senior and student trustee Adriana Martinez said. “SMU students will have the opportunity to engage with and be a part of the conversations that are shaping our world.” The center’s partnership with SMU has been a major factor in developing all aspects of both the institute and the museum. “We talk everyday to the leadership, faculty and students at SMU about how the library can be useful to them,” director of the library and the museum Alan Lowe said. “That is the whole idea, to be a useful resource to them.” The presidential library will house permanent exhibits on No Child Left Behind, 9/11 and presidential decision-making, as well as temporary exhibits and an archive of over 190 million emails and documents from Bush’s two terms in office. These archives and exhibits are available for SMU students and center visitors. “How can they use our classrooms? How can they use our archives, different programs we want to put together working with different groups?” Lowe said. “I want to get my staff into the classrooms.” “It’s a wonderful addition to campus already,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said. The building itself is a nod to SMU. The top of the Bush Center’s Freedom Hall resembles the dome of Dallas Hall, and it will use the same brick as the rest of campus. “We wanted the building to fit in with SMU, but we also wanted it to represent the first decade of the new century,” Laura Bush, who chaired the design committee, said. “It’s a great addition to our campus and to this part of the city.” Laura Bush is a SMU alumna, and her love for the school greatly influenced the building’s design and purpose. The building was planned specifically with the students in mind. “Top scholars, political figures and so on will come and spend time writing papers, thinking about the state of the world and interacting with SMU students and faculty,” Bush Center architect Robert A.M. Stern said. “That’s why the entrance faces directly to SMU.” After its opening in 2013, the Bush Center will have a widespread impact on the SMU campus and on the entire student body. But SMU students are encouraged to interact with the scholars the Bush Institute has already brought to campus and to apply for internships with the center. “For me personally, this wonderful partnership has directly led to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and meaningful relationships with extraordinary leaders,” Martinez said. “It has enhanced my understanding of the United States’ history and given me the confidence to know that I can affect our future.” WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011 VOLUME 97, ISSUE 24 PRESIDENTIAL CENTER Bush Library to offer unique resources By ASHLEY WITHERS Editor in Chief [email protected] SPENCER J EGGERS/The Daily Campus Lead architect Robert A.M. Stern explains the floor plan of the George W. Bush Presidential Center during a press tour the morning of Oct. 3. The Center will open its doors in 2013. STATE Animals included in Texas’ protective order law By TIA GANNON Contributing Writer [email protected] Alum’s book hits the big screen A&E| PAGE 2 SPORTS| PAGE 3 How did Volleyball do this weekend? Domestic violence not only affects people in a household. Often four- legged family members are victims of abuse and neglect as well. Now, the furry companions are covered under Texas’ new pet protective order law. Pets, companion animals and assistance animals are protected, along with their owners, under protective orders. They may not be removed, harmed or threatened by an abuser. Violators of a protection order involving an animal will receive a misdemeanor for a first offense and felony for two or more violations. The law went into effect on Sept. 1, making Texas the 23rd jurisdiction in the U.S. able to legally include pets as a member of the family. According to Domanick Munoz, supervisor of Dallas Animal Services who specializes in animal cruelty, about 70 percent of domestic violence victims who seek shelter report abuse inflicted on their animals as well. Munoz believes this law is long overdue. A Dallas man recently tossed his girlfriend’s dog out of a 19th floor apartment window following a heated argument. A security guard reported seeing the women with a bruised face and bloody lip. The dog was found the following morning on the apartment pool deck 11 floors below. Local animal rights attorney Yolanda Eisenstein has encountered numerous cases of animals being abused in a home where domestic violence is occurring. She recalls a story a few years ago when a Dallas man tossed his girlfriend’s dog off of an overpass onto a busy highway below. Eisenstein hopes the new law will result in increased awareness and education. Family lawyers need to be educated on this law, so they can enforce it when necessary, she said. One of the leaders in getting the law passed was Robert “Skip” Trimble, treasurer of the Texas Humane Legislation Network. The organization lobbies on behalf of animals. The network looks to the “boots on ground,” Trimble said. They are the first responders who let them know what is going on with the animals in the community. Many times a family pet is used as a lever by an abuser to gain dominance over their victims. “We hear of all sorts of horrific things happening to animals that it is hard to even believe,” Trimble said. The Family Place is Dallas’ largest family violence help program, offering a wide range of services to both victims and perpetrators of family violence. The organization provides emergency shelters, counseling and other educational programs to adults and children. Executive Director Paige Flink hopes the new law will give people peace of mind that their pet will be protected if they need to leave an abusive situation. Pet abuse is one of the primary red flags of an abusive situation. Flink explains that counselors at The Family Place often see a correlation between abusing animals and being abusive to family members or people they are dating. Perpetrators see abusing pets as a way to get back at the victim. Although some victims’ shelters in the U.S. allow pets, many do not. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, only one in eight domestic violence shelters allows pets. Rebecca Poling is the president and founder of Companions for Life in Dallas, a non-profit organization formed to promote the welfare of animals through education and shelter outreach programs. “Until domestic violence shelters start including animals, I don’t see a long-term solution,” Poling said. “But this is a start.” There is a temporary boarding program called PetSafe in Houston. The program provides shelter, medical care and food for animals of families going into a shelter in order to escape an abusive situation. The Family Place is hoping to work with animal rights groups in creating a program similar to PetSafe where people can place their animals temporarily when leaving an abusive situation. COMMUNITY Dallas County opens second Audubon nature preserve By ASHLEY STAINTON Contributing Writer [email protected] Photo courtesy of Kim Ritzenthaler Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, located 16 miles south of down- town Dallas, will open to the public on Thursday.

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European bailout plan

rejectedSlovakian lawmakers turned

down a plan to increase the powers of a bailout fund for banks and troubled European governments on Tuesday. Of the 17 nation euro currency bloc members, Slovakia is the only one that rejected the plan, known as the European Financial Stability Facility, EFSF. This however does not mean the plan is dead. A second vote may be scheduled for Thursday or Friday.

Senate rejects Obama’s job

billPresident Barack Obama’s

$447 billion jobs plan fell short 10 votes Tuesday with an unofficial tally of 50 votes in support of the bill and 48 votes against the bill in the Senate. Although the official tally is being held so Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, can vote, it would not be good enough. Republicans opposed the recently added section that would pay for the measure through a 5.6 percent surtax on annual incomes over $1 million.

Inmates riot, injuries

reportedA prison riot was reported

halfway between Oklahoma City and Amariollo, Texas Tuesday inflicting injury on 20 inmates. Five of those inmates were transported to a nearby hospital. The riot broke out at the North Fork Correctional Facility in western Oklahoma Officials do not know what started the riot.

Carl’s Jr. celebrates 50

yearsCarl’s Jr. is celebrating their

50th anniversary and would like community members to celebrate it with them. The Star Diner, Carl’s Jr.’s food delivery truck, will be stopping by the Compass Bank on Hillcrest Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m for a “Burger Break” complete with free burger, fries and drink samples.

Two dogwood trees stand 16 miles south of downtown Dallas in Cedar Hill. These trees, normally found in the Pinewoods and post oak belts of Texas, are far from home.

It was 18 years ago when David Hurt, an amateur, nature enthusiast, found the rare trees. His discovery was only the beginning to what would ultimately become the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center.

The center, which opened on Sept. 9, is special to Dallas residents because it offers them a place to learn, explore and be one with some of nature’s most unique flora and fauna. It also makes Dallas County the only place in the country to house two Audubon centers.

“The National Audubon Society welcomes this beautiful addition to our network of Audubon centers across the country,” David Yarnold, president and CEO of Audubon, said. The conservation areas, known as Audubon centers, are non-profit environmental organizations dedicated to conservation, and as it turns out, Dallas County is perfect for Audubon locations. The area has both the physical and ecological characteristics that cater to Audubon development.

“Not only does this illustrate the surprising natural diversity we have in our area, but it also demonstrates

the strength of our philanthropic community in that it can support two such unique facilities,” Patty McGill, Dogwood Audubon Center director, said.

The Center was a preservation project, explained Ross Coulter, who works with the center. The land’s topography made it a rare find where animals and plants that would not usually coexist can.

“What makes it so unique is the combination of the black prairie land and Austin chalk that meet in this area,” T Hanson, nature director at the Dogwood Center, said.

In addition to Hurt’s discovery of the Dogwood trees, there were many more unique finds in the over 200 acres of land, including orchids, Western Ashe Juniper and Shimmering Oaks.

The Dogwood Center, although the second to be built in Dallas County, was the first to be planned. The Trinity River Center opened in October of 2008. It is located on over 6,000 acres southeast of downtown Dallas in the Greater Trinity Forest, the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States.

“The Trinity River Audubon Center was a reclamation project,” Coulter said. Unlike the Dogwood Audubon Center, the Trinity River Center was not established because of its already beautiful landscape. The area was once an illegal dumping ground. It was not until

Dallas residents approved a $246 million bond program that the land was reclaimed.

The Trinity River Corridor Project, a Dallas public works project, funded the Trinity River Audubon Center.

Though the centers began very differently, they both serve unique functions and are dedicated to promoting the protection and preservation of Texas’ land and natural species.

“Both purposes meet Audubon’s goals of connecting people with the outdoors and offering unique opportunities to view various types of natural environments,” McGill said.

Benjamin Jones, state director of education for Audubon Texas, helped establish a successful education program at the Trinity River location and is now helping the Dogwood Center do the same.

“It is all about connecting people with nature,” Jones said.

The programs established at the centers appeal to all ages and offer visitors a wide range of activities, from bird-watching to nature view trails. There are also opportunities for children to enjoy school field trips, summer camps and classes.

“We’re just bringing them outside and showing them science,” Faizel Ismail, education manager, said. “It isn’t just a boring classroom; science can be an adventure.”

Schools are not the only ones taking advantage of the learning opportunities Audubon has to offer. Non-profit organizations are also joining in on the chance.

“These centers are a great learning tool,” Liz Rich of Big Thought, a non-profit organization in Dallas that focuses on giving children access

to learning opportunities, said.McGill said the advantage for

Dallas having not one, but two, Audubon centers is a testament to those in the community who made it possible. “Audubon was founded on volunteers, banding together and deciding to make something happen,” she said.

The George W. Bush Presidential Center held its Topping Out Ceremony on the east side of campus Monday, bringing new opportunities for SMU students.

The Bush Center will house both the presidential museum and the Bush Institute, the former president’s think tank, which will bring important figures and prominent scholars to campus.

“The George W. Bush Presidential Center will guarantee that SMU students have access to nationally and internationally renowned scholars, activists and decision-makers,” senior and student trustee Adriana Martinez said. “SMU students will have the opportunity to engage with and be a part of the conversations that are shaping our world.”

The center’s partnership with SMU has been a major factor in developing all aspects of both the institute and the museum.

“We talk everyday to the leadership, faculty and students at SMU about how the library can be useful to them,” director of the library and the museum Alan Lowe

said. “That is the whole idea, to be a useful resource to them.”

The presidential library will house permanent exhibits on No Child Left Behind, 9/11 and presidential decision-making, as well as temporary exhibits and an archive of over 190 million emails and documents from Bush’s two terms in office. These archives and exhibits are available for SMU students and center visitors.

“How can they use our classrooms? How can they use our archives, different programs we want to put together working with different groups?” Lowe said. “I want to get my staff into the classrooms.”

“It’s a wonderful addition to campus already,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said.

The building itself is a nod to SMU. The top of the Bush Center’s Freedom Hall resembles the dome of Dallas Hall, and it will use the same brick as the rest of campus.

“We wanted the building to fit in with SMU, but we also wanted it to represent the first decade of the new century,” Laura Bush, who chaired the design committee, said. “It’s a great addition to our campus and to this part of the city.”

Laura Bush is a SMU alumna, and her love for the school greatly influenced the building’s design and purpose. The building was planned specifically with the students in mind.

“Top scholars, political figures and so on will come and spend time writing papers, thinking about the state of the world and interacting with SMU students and faculty,”

Bush Center architect Robert A.M. Stern said. “That’s why the entrance faces directly to SMU.”

After its opening in 2013, the Bush Center will have a widespread impact on the SMU campus and on the entire student body. But SMU students are encouraged to interact with the scholars the Bush Institute has already brought to campus and to apply for internships with

the center.“For me personally, this

wonderful partnership has directly led to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and meaningful relationships with extraordinary leaders,” Martinez said. “It has enhanced my understanding of the United States’ history and given me the confidence to know that I can affect our future.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011VOLUME 97, ISSUE 24

PrESIDENtIAl cENtEr

Bush Library to offer unique resources By ASHLEY WITHERS

Editor in [email protected]

SPENCER J EGGERS/The Daily Campus

Lead architect Robert A.M. Stern explains the floor plan of the George W. Bush Presidential Center during a press tour the morning of Oct. 3. The Center will open its doors in 2013.

StAtE

Animals included in Texas’ protective order lawBy TIA GANNONContributing [email protected]

Alum’s book hits the big screen

A&E| PAGE 2 SPORTS| PAGE 3

How did Volleyball

do this weekend?

Domestic violence not only affects people in a household. Often four-legged family members are victims of abuse and neglect as well. Now, the furry companions are covered under Texas’ new pet protective order law.

Pets, companion animals and assistance animals are protected, along with their owners, under protective orders. They may not be removed, harmed or threatened by an abuser. Violators of a protection order involving an animal will receive a misdemeanor for a first offense and felony for two or more violations.

The law went into effect on Sept. 1, making Texas the 23rd jurisdiction in the U.S. able to legally include pets as a member of the family.

According to Domanick Munoz, supervisor of Dallas Animal Services

who specializes in animal cruelty, about 70 percent of domestic violence victims who seek shelter report abuse inflicted on their animals as well. Munoz believes this law is long overdue.

A Dallas man recently tossed his girlfriend’s dog out of a 19th floor apartment window following a heated argument.

A security guard reported seeing the women with a bruised face and bloody lip. The dog was found the following morning on the apartment pool deck 11 floors below.

Local animal rights attorney Yolanda Eisenstein has encountered numerous cases of animals being abused in a home where domestic violence is occurring. She recalls a story a few years ago when a Dallas man tossed his girlfriend’s dog off of an overpass onto a busy highway below.

Eisenstein hopes the new law will result in increased awareness and education. Family lawyers need to be educated on this law, so they can enforce it when necessary, she said.

One of the leaders in getting the law passed was Robert “Skip” Trimble, treasurer of the Texas Humane Legislation Network. The organization lobbies on behalf of animals.

The network looks to the “boots on ground,” Trimble said. They are the first responders who let them know what is going on with the animals in the community. Many times a family pet is used as a lever by an abuser to gain dominance over their victims.

“We hear of all sorts of horrific things happening to animals that it is hard to even believe,” Trimble said.

The Family Place is Dallas’ largest family violence help program,

offering a wide range of services to both victims and perpetrators of family violence. The organization provides emergency shelters, counseling and other educational programs to adults and children.

Executive Director Paige Flink hopes the new law will give people peace of mind that their pet will be protected if they need to leave an abusive situation.

Pet abuse is one of the primary red flags of an abusive situation. Flink explains that counselors at The Family Place often see a correlation between abusing animals and being abusive to family members or people they are dating. Perpetrators see abusing pets as a way to get back at the victim.

Although some victims’ shelters in the U.S. allow pets, many do not. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, only one

in eight domestic violence shelters allows pets.

Rebecca Poling is the president and founder of Companions for Life in Dallas, a non-profit organization formed to promote the welfare of animals through education and shelter outreach programs.

“Until domestic violence shelters start including animals, I don’t see a long-term solution,” Poling said. “But this is a start.”

There is a temporary boarding program called PetSafe in Houston. The program provides shelter, medical care and food for animals of families going into a shelter in order to escape an abusive situation.

The Family Place is hoping to work with animal rights groups in creating a program similar to PetSafe where people can place their animals temporarily when leaving an abusive situation.

cOmmuNIty

Dallas County opens second Audubon nature preserveBy ASHLEY STAINTON

Contributing [email protected]

Photo courtesy of Kim Ritzenthaler

Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, located 16 miles south of down-town Dallas, will open to the public on Thursday.

Page 2: 101211

• Wednesday, October 12, 20112The Daily Campus

Arts & Entertainment

“A Bird of the Air” is an unassuming yet satisfying tale about two polar opposite personalities coming together and helping one another confront what troubles the other the most.

Although the dramedy struggles to take flight at first, stick with it. Like the provocative parrot that sets the plot in motion, this film has something meaningful to say.

Lyman is a loner with a troubled past.

He works the night shift as a courtesy highway patrolman and takes classes at the local college during the day.

Fiona is the sassy, loquacious university librarian who has always eyed Lyman from afar.

When a green parrot unexpectedly finds its way into Lyman’s dingy silver bullet trailer, Lyman becomes obsessed with tracking down its former owner and figuring out where the bird’s oddly well-timed wisecracks and aphorisms originated.

When Fiona uses her sleuth-like research skills to aid Lyman in his search, the two ricochet off of one another and then gravitate together again ad infinitum. The audience is left to watch the tension between them unfold slowly, wondering if Lyman will ever open up and allow Fiona past the walls he has built.

Audiences who quickly tire of the couple’s predictable dynamic will only be wondering whether or not Lyman will ever notice that he has a smoking-hot librarian

throwing herself at him.Lyman’s Jackson Hurst,

known for his role on Lifetime series “Drop Dead Diva,” easily transitions to the big screen. His piercing blue eyes say what Lyman refuses to explicitly communicate.

Although it seems excessive just how shut off Lyman is, we can’t help but be drawn back in by Hurst’s charm and rugged good looks. Vulnerable and troubled, guarded but compassionate, Hurst’s portrayal of Lyman is difficult to resist.

Rachel Nichols’ performance as Fiona is arguably the most refreshing element of the film. Her bold, devil-may-care attitude makes her the quick-witted bombshell that all women wish they could be.

Her awkward obsession with Lyman and the matching pajama set she dons while dealing with her meddling mother on the phone make Fiona the character all woman can all relate to.

Based on the novel “The Loop” written by SMU alumnus Joe Coomer, “A Bird of the Air” is director Margaret Whitton’s feature directorial debut. She defied current indie clichés, opting instead for quirky points of interest that are relatively fresh.

“A Bird of the Air” is worth watching, even it is if only to get some sage advice from a talking parrot and gawk at how good Hurst looks even in a hideous orange jumpsuit.

The movie does lack the rawness and dimension that could make it a truly captivating love story.

As we sit down, Joe Coomer, author of the novel “The Loop,” on which new release “A Bird of the Air” is based, jestingly asks me if I know what his connection to The Daily Campus is.

I was aware that he graduated from SMU with an English and creative writing degree, but worried that I might have neglected to research some integral background information on Coomer – did he run the paper when he was here?

Was he involved in some epic The Daily Campus scandal once upon a time?

I reply with a genuine air of surprise and interest, inquiring as to his connection.

“I wrote articles for the paper,” he says with a devious smirk, “but only because my

college girlfriend was the editor.”

Jackson Hurst, who plays the lead in “A Bird of the Air” and is known for his role as Grayson Kent on “Drop Dead Diva,” also got his career start at SMU.

A business graduate from Baylor, Hurst received a call from a high school friend who was in need actors for his senior thesis project.

Completely unaware of what the auditioning process entailed, Hurst showed up “in a wife beater. With [his] dog. To audition for the role of an accountant.”

This is the first novel of Coomer’s that has made it through production and into theaters and this is Hurst’s silver screen debut.

Hitting such a marker makes Coomer “feel undeniably cool,” while Hurst mostly feels as

if he is in “a constant state of stress” with the onslaught of press days and talk backs, and the frightening possibility of forgetting the name of someone important.

A long-time Fort Worth resident, Coomer got the inspiration for “The Loop” one night when driving home on Loop 820.

As he passed a grassy median, his headlights landed on a courtesy highway patrol man. The patrol man was burying a dead dog.

This episode sparked an interest with Coomer, who couldn’t help but wondering what sort of person would take on such a job.

Weeks after, a woman came into one of Coomer’s antique stores and began buying up any and all of his parrot figurines. When asked if she had a bird

of her own, she replied in the affirmative and told Coomer that her bird “looks people in the eye and says ‘I’m an eagle.’”

Years later, those two simple stories inspired a powerful message of hope that became what Hurst calls “a serious film about human beings.”

While Hurst points to the importance of the deep themes explored in the film, he also laughs about what it was like to work with the animals on set.

“Everyone warns you about working with kids and animals,” Hurst said slyly. “I have a cosmic connection with animals…but you still get bit a lot.”

As for wearing that obnoxious orange jumpsuit day in and day out? “I never want to see the color orange again,” Hurst said.

“A Bird of the Air” is now playing at The Angelika Theater.

By AMANDA PRESMYKContributing [email protected]

By AMANDA PRESMYKContributing [email protected]

FIlm

Alum’s book hits the big screen

“A Bird of the Air’” starring Jackson Hurst and Rachel Nichols is movie based of Loop 820 in Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Richard Foreman, Jr.

IN thEAtErS

‘A Bird of the Air’ flys with wit, charm

Page 3: 101211

The Daily Campus Sports Wednesday, October 12, 2011 • 3

The SMU Volleyball team was defeated 3-1 by Tulane Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.

The Mustangs only defeated the Green Wave three out of the 15 times that they have paled up leaving the match record to 12-3.

The Mustangs wore pink uniforms in support of breast cancer awareness and funds from the game went towards breast cancer research as part of their participation in the Side-Out Foundation’s Dig Pink Campaign during the match.

SMU started off the match strong and took the first set from Tulane. The Mustangs were able to record 11 kills in the first set with the help of junior middle blocker Courtney Manning, who earned her first

double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 blocks. After the set was tied 10-10, SMU crushed Tulane by outscoring them in the set 25-14.

The Green Wave controlled the second set by gaining a six point lead with a score of 18-12. The Mustangs could not overcome the lead and fell short in the attempt for a comeback, losing the set 25-23 and heading back to the locker room with the match tied at 1-1.

The Mustangs started off the third set strong but were soon outscored by the Green Wave. Tulane took a 6 point lead with a score of 16-10 and SMU could not recover. The Green Wave captured the set with a score of 20-25.

In the fourth set, the Mustangs were down by three points with a score of 7-4, but were soon able to recover and take the lead. The

Mustangs strived for a comeback and were able to cut down the lead by three points with a score of 22-21. Tulsa closed out the set before any comeback could emerge and took the victory home with a score of 25-22.

The Mustangs drop down to an overall record of 6-12 and a conference record of 2-4, while Tulane improves their overall record to 6-10 and conference record to 1-4.

The SMU Women’s Volleyball defeated the Tulane Green Wave 3-1 Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.

The Green Wave took a early win in the first set making the score 29-27, but the Mustangs conquered the last three in the game.

The score stayed a even 10-10 midway in the second set. The

Mustangs took the lead causing them to win the second set 15-5. The Mustangs brought the fire in the third set outscoring Tulane 25-15.

The Mustangs continued the scoring streak in the fourth set scoring 8 of the first 12 points. The Green Wave cut the lead one point twice in the middle of the set. The Mustangs came back five points completing the final match 25-19.

Senior Dana Powell led the team with 13 kills and matched fellow senior Sydney Steward with 14 digs. Senior Jessica Oliver and freshman Caroline Young each added 12 points to the win.

The Mustangs advanced their season high with 16 blocks, while the Green Wave only had four blocks.

The Mustangs travel to Tennessee Friday to take on the Memphis Tigers at 7 p.m.

FEAturE

KARISSA JOBMAN/The Daily Campus

Volleyball wins one, loses one game against TulaneBy SMU Sports Team

Sports [email protected]

Senior outside hitter Dana Powell returns a volley during play against Tu-lane Saturday afternoon. SMU lost 3-1. They will play Memphis on Friday.

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• Wednesday, October 12, 20114The Daily Campus

Opinion

What good is freedom of speech if you’re not going to use it? Would you like to see your opinion published in The Daily Campus? Is there something happening on campus or in the world you really want to say something about? Then The Daily Campus is looking for you!

E-mail your columns and letters to [email protected] or to the com-mentary editor. Letters should not exceed 200 words in length and columns should be 500-

700 words. Submissions must be in either text format (.txt) or rich text format (.rtf).

For verification, letters and columns must include the author’s name, signature, major or department, e-mail address and telephone number. The Daily Campus will not print anon-ymous letters. A photograph will be required to publish columns. The editor reserves the right to edit for length, spelling, grammar and style.

SUBMISSION POLICY

ALUMNI CORNER

TCU coach Gary Patterson took offense to a compliment that the good guys’ coach, June (now October) Jones, made after the Pony victory in Cowtown. Too bad Patterson’s team didn’t play better defense that day. There has always been this dislike among many in Cowtown for high-falluting Dallasites while the many Dallasites, I know, have nothing but good things to say about the town I live in, Fort Worth. An iconic barbecue joint has its employees wear T-shirts daily that

say, “Life is Too Short to Live in Dallas.” Hmm..Dallasites might agree, seeing as many of them don’t live in “Dallas” either, having settled in Highland Park, University Park, Plano and summering in Aspen or Taos. TCU would be smart to take SMU with them into the Big 12, seeing as how natural the rivalry is and how large the Dallas TV market is. It’s not like we aren’t competitive with the Frogs! Actually, life is too short to bitch about Dallas.

Of all the books you will read this year, textbooks or for pleasure, the one book any student or alum should read was written by an SMU alum himself, Bob Beaudine, entitled, “The Power of Who.” Some alums might find themselves out of work right now or not happy with the work they are doing. While students aren’t overly concerned about their future job prospects, despite a 9 percent unemployment rate, Beaudine’s book is a must-read for anyone who seeks their “dream job” or is simply trying to advance themselves in any area in which they wish to succeed. What you learn in all the textbooks you will ever read pales in comparison to the lessons that you can glean from this short, entertaining and strategically informative read. I don’t know that I’ve ever needed to know what H2So4 stands for since I left campus.

If you’re an alum, I’d read this one before I’d hire a headhunter or head to yet another networking happy hour.

There’s the old saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” Touche! You need to know some folks. Boudine’s methods take this to modern day with a more focused, specific course on how to make in roads into where you want to be. Beaudine says, “Everyone you need to know you already know.” I’ve been a stockbroker for 26 years and I sort of knew that but “The Power of Who” has cemented that. As someone who prospects constantly for new business, I found myself calling on people I didn’t know and who didn’t know me while failing to call on people who already liked and trusted me and who were willing to help — if only I’d let them know that. I’d been stepping over quarters in order to pick up a nickel.

Students, you can submit e-mail applications or show up for the on-campus interviews when it comes time to get a job. Or, you can read Bob’s book and potentially save a lot of time and frustration and circumvent that. It might be the difference in being like BOB Beaudine instead of JETHRO Bodine. The wealth of your campus colleagues or alumni buddies is waiting for you.

Rick Larson, the Alumni Guy, is a 1982 graduate of SMU as well as a mem-ber of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He has been a stockbroker/investment banker for 26 years. He can be reached for comment at richardelarson@

gmail.edu

A must read for alums

and students

A Publication of Student Media Company, Inc.Editorial Staff

Executive Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie CollinsEditor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ashley WithersManaging Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah KramerNews Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bridget Bennett, Andy GarciaNews Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meredith CarltonAssociate News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia BohArts & Entertainment Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Natalie Blankenship, Chase WadeAssociate Arts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christine JonasSports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E’Lyn TaylorAssociate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erica PenunuriStyle Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelby FosterHealth & Fitness Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bethany SubaPolitics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica HusemanOpinion Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brandon BubChief Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tashika VarmaCopy Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meghan Sikkel, Katie TuftsPhoto Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spencer EggersAssociate Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor HenryVideo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summer Dashe, Sydney Giesey, Wesleigh Ogle, Ali Williams

Advertising StaffAdvertising Sales Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Alvrus, Audra Fulp, Hanna Kim, Paige EvansClassified Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demetrio TenienteMarketing Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bree UngarSales Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hillary Johnson

Production StaffAdvertising Designers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riane Alexander, Kelsey Cordutsky, Virginia LichtyNighttime Production Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Palomo

Business StaffBusiness Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felix Curry

The Daily Campus, a student newspaper at Southern Methodist University is operated byStudent Media Company, Inc.,

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The Daily Campus is published daily Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the academic semester.For local, national, and classified display advertising, call 214-768-4111.

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THE ALUMNI GUY

Rick Larson

What good is freedom of speech if you’re not going to use it? Would you like to see your opinion published in The Daily Campus? Is there something happening on campus or in the world you really want to say something about? Then The Daily Campus is looking for you!

E-mail your columns and letters to [email protected] or to the com-mentary editor. Letters should not exceed 200 words in length and columns should be 500-

700 words. Submissions must be in either text format (.txt) or rich text format (.rtf).

For verification, letters and columns must include the author’s name, signature, major or department, e-mail address and telephone number. The Daily Campus will not print anon-ymous letters. A photograph will be required to publish columns. The editor reserves the right to edit for length, spelling, grammar and style.

SUBMISSION POLICY

ALUMNI CORNER

TCU coach Gary Patterson took offense to a compliment that the good guys’ coach, June (now October) Jones, made after the Pony victory in Cowtown. Too bad Patterson’s team didn’t play better defense that day. There has always been this dislike among many in Cowtown for high-falluting Dallasites while the many Dallasites, I know, have nothing but good things to say about the town I live in, Fort Worth. An iconic barbecue joint has its employees wear T-shirts daily that

say, “Life is Too Short to Live in Dallas.” Hmm..Dallasites might agree, seeing as many of them don’t live in “Dallas” either, having settled in Highland Park, University Park, Plano and summering in Aspen or Taos. TCU would be smart to take SMU with them into the Big 12, seeing as how natural the rivalry is and how large the Dallas TV market is. It’s not like we aren’t competitive with the Frogs! Actually, life is too short to bitch about Dallas.

Of all the books you will read this year, textbooks or for pleasure, the one book any student or alum should read was written by an SMU alum himself, Bob Beaudine, entitled, “The Power of Who.” Some alums might find themselves out of work right now or not happy with the work they are doing. While students aren’t overly concerned about their future job prospects, despite a 9 percent unemployment rate, Beaudine’s book is a must-read for anyone who seeks their “dream job” or is simply trying to advance themselves in any area in which they wish to succeed. What you learn in all the textbooks you will ever read pales in comparison to the lessons that you can glean from this short, entertaining and strategically informative read. I don’t know that I’ve ever needed to know what H2So4 stands for since I left campus.

If you’re an alum, I’d read this one before I’d hire a headhunter or head to yet another networking happy hour.

There’s the old saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” Touche! You need to know some folks. Boudine’s methods take this to modern day with a more focused, specific course on how to make in roads into where you want to be. Beaudine says, “Everyone you need to know you already know.” I’ve been a stockbroker for 26 years and I sort of knew that but “The Power of Who” has cemented that. As someone who prospects constantly for new business, I found myself calling on people I didn’t know and who didn’t know me while failing to call on people who already liked and trusted me and who were willing to help — if only I’d let them know that. I’d been stepping over quarters in order to pick up a nickel.

Students, you can submit e-mail applications or show up for the on-campus interviews when it comes time to get a job. Or, you can read Bob’s book and potentially save a lot of time and frustration and circumvent that. It might be the difference in being like BOB Beaudine instead of JETHRO Bodine. The wealth of your campus colleagues or alumni buddies is waiting for you.

Rick Larson, the Alumni Guy, is a 1982 graduate of SMU as well as a mem-ber of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He has been a stockbroker/investment banker for 26 years. He can be reached for comment at richardelarson@

gmail.edu

A must read for alums

and students

A Publication of Student Media Company, Inc.Editorial Staff

Executive Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie CollinsEditor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ashley WithersManaging Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah KramerNews Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bridget Bennett, Andy GarciaNews Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meredith CarltonAssociate News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia BohArts & Entertainment Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Natalie Blankenship, Chase WadeAssociate Arts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christine JonasSports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E’Lyn TaylorAssociate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erica PenunuriStyle Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelby FosterHealth & Fitness Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bethany SubaPolitics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica HusemanOpinion Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brandon BubChief Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tashika VarmaCopy Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meghan Sikkel, Katie TuftsPhoto Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spencer EggersAssociate Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor HenryVideo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summer Dashe, Sydney Giesey, Wesleigh Ogle, Ali Williams

Advertising StaffAdvertising Sales Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Alvrus, Audra Fulp, Hanna Kim, Paige EvansClassified Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demetrio TenienteMarketing Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bree UngarSales Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hillary Johnson

Production StaffAdvertising Designers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riane Alexander, Kelsey Cordutsky, Virginia LichtyNighttime Production Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Palomo

Business StaffBusiness Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felix Curry

The Daily Campus, a student newspaper at Southern Methodist University is operated byStudent Media Company, Inc.,

Hughes-Trigg Student Center, 3140 Dyer Street, Suite 314Dallas, TX 75205.

The Daily Campus is published daily Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the academic semester.For local, national, and classified display advertising, call 214-768-4111.

For classified word advertising call 214-768-4554.

Student Media Company, Inc. StaffExecutive Director/Editorial Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay MillerAssociate Director/Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dyann SlosarAdvertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana L. DentonOperations/Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer A. Cannon

The Daily Campus Mail Subscription RatesOne year (Academic year) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $110

Order forms can downloaded at smudailycampus.com/dcsubscriptions/To charge by VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or Pony Express, call 214-768-4545.

Send check orders and address changes to Student Media Company, Inc., PO BOX 456, Dallas, TX 75275-0456.

Entire contents © 2011 The Daily Campus.

[email protected] • http://www.smudailycampus.com SMU Box 456, Dallas, TX 75275

214-768-4555 • Fax: 214-768-8787

In politics, what’s God got to do with it?Religion is

a funny theme when it comes to American politics. In spite of Thomas Jefferson’s warning about creating a “wall of separation” between church

and the state, strategic politicians have found that they can easily capitalize off of religion to gain votes in elections.

I remember studying John F. Kennedy’s election in high school and learning about how Kennedy’s Catholicism became a major point of contention during the nomination and election process. Coming from a Catholic family, I feel like I was often shielded from this nation’s strong Protestant roots, and it amused me to hear that some people legitimately thought Kennedy would bring the pope over on a ship and give him a room in the White House to write his own

policy. Kennedy managed to win that

election, but God showed no signs of leaving the political arena. Reagan won the favor of evangelicals in the 80s by criticizing recent Supreme Court decisions that sought to “take God out of the classroom.” Indeed, many politicians have found highly impassioned voting blocs in some of the more religious communities of this country, and they know how to get people fired up.

And the issue is hardly gone. In 2008, rumors circulated for months that Obama was a “secret Muslim.” This talking point always upset me to no end. For one, Obama makes his Christianity quite obvious (sometimes as if he needs to prove it to us), but even beyond that, what would it matter if Obama was a Muslim? Does that suddenly make him anti-American? I like to think we’re not that bigoted, but then again, I’m an optimist.

Today, I read headlines about the battle between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry to capture the

evangelical wing the Republican Party. Perry of course gave himself an advantage by hosting “The Response” in Houston a few months ago, but Romney runs into problems in this area. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (which is a denomination of Christianity, as much as some folks try to deny it), Romney faces criticism from many other Christian groups. Last Friday, while introducing Rick Perry at the Values Voter Summit, Baptist Minister Robert Jeffress called Mormonism “a cult,” a sentiment he originally professed in 2008 when Romney first ran. Jon Huntsman, another candidate for president who happens to be a Mormon, has decried these controversies as a “political sideshow.”

Personally, I think Huntsman hits the nail on the head. If any of the presidential candidates practiced ritualistic cannibalism as part of their worship proceedings, I might be more concerned, but we’ve reached a point where religion

should not be so contentious of an issue in elections. Our nation faces mounting problems both abroad and domestically; are we really going to view our political landscape through such a narrow lens that we would oppose a candidate because we don’t like the god they worship?

While a candidate’s religion might shape how they feel about certain issues, (I’m looking at Michele Bachmann and her statements about American homosexuals), a candidate ought not to be written off immediately because of their religious background. There are plenty of reasons to hate our politicians; let’s leave their deities (or lack thereof, in the case of my atheist brethren) out of it.

Brandon Bub is a sophomore majoring in English and edits The Daily Campus opinion column. He can be reached for comment at [email protected]

OPINION EDITOR

Brandon Bub

Finding meaning in pain of deathIs there

really any way to prepare oneself for death? Perhaps it’s easier for those who believe in an afterlife; it’s not an ending of life–it’s only a

disruption.I don’t share that same belief.

Death is sudden, crude and curt. Even as a rational person, I can’t wrap my mind about ceasing to exist. But maybe that’s for the better.

For me, the past months have been full of loss. From the passing of high school friends, college colleagues and revolutionary executives, it becomes hard to handle. Furthermore, it raises questions of semantics. Is there a purpose to the life we live? Or is our

existence merely futile?I prefer to hypothesize for the

former. Still, the intricacies of my personal definition change every day. Experience shapes us with every emotional invocation, both joyful and tragic.

For me, I focus on people. Even if an action is small, I try my hardest to remain outwardly perceptive. How could I make today better for a stranger? Before I say this, what would my friend think? Am I doing all that I should be right now?

It just seems that with all of the world’s tragedy and injustice, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. How do we retain hope when every newspaper has a window into suffering?

The answer, unfortunately, is not a clear one. It’s one that requires much introspection, much thinking about difficult quandaries and the willingness to feel and get hurt. But

this is what makes us better. This is how we grow.

On death, I try to view it as an invitation to the life that I want; to realize that our time on this planet is too short to strive for anything less than fulfillment; to appreciate life’s challenges, but take the occasional moment to lie on a bench and stare at the stars or play piano in a dark, solitary room.

Life is too short to stop pretending. Apparently, when growing up, most have lost their sense of fantasy. It’s a travesty; the worlds of our mind’s eye create possibilities with infinite possibilities and without ideological restrictions. How selfish are we not to access them because we put on suits in the morning?

Life is too uncertain to not tell that person you love them, before it’s too late. A trusted confidant could quickly become nothing more

than a story and a picture.Put simply, life is an inexplicable

process that we try to understand as best we can. But when paradigms are shattered, it’s up to us to pick up the pieces. We only gather what we know, what we feel and what we believe to push forward.

In essence, I challenge us to not take our individual journeys for granted. But further, I charge us to not only be reminded of our mortality and temporal nature only by the passing of those close to us. Sources of passion, be them in nature, companionship or a personal endeavor, should make us thrive to achieve our purpose — whatever that may be..

Andrew Pinkowitz is a sophomore majoring in financial consulting and Spanish with a minor in communication studies. He can be reached for comment at [email protected]

CONTRIBUTOR

Andrew Pinkowitz

Think again about personal informationThink for a

minute about the word privacy and what it means. Maybe your mind wanders to a bedroom or the bathroom, a place where you’re pretty

much on your own, blocked off from other people. Or, maybe you think about certain bits of life that are for you and you alone, and quite frankly aren’t anybody else’s business.

But what about other pieces of information, say your address, telephone number, past residences or living family members? How about your age and date of birth, your parents’ ages and their job lengths, descriptions and payrolls. How much of that do you think the general public knows or should know? It’s a little unnerving to imagine all of that information, readily available to anyone who

happens to look for it. Yet, that’s exactly where it is.

During a recent homework assignment in my Information Technology class, I was instructed to use a search engine to look for my parents and see what I found—the narcissist in me decided to go ahead and search for myself too. The amount of data available about my family and myself was unbelievable. Very real, very accurate facts about my life since birth, and my parents since before, were staring at me, just from a simple Google search with a first and last name. Every city I’d ever lived in and phone number I’d ever had up to the current date were right there, in a neatly organized list.

Admittedly, my initial reaction was defensive, and I wondered who had stolen this kind of information and thrown it all over the Web for anyone to see. But, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered how much of this information we had really provided ourselves. How many times have

any of us just clicked agree on the iTunes terms and conditions update or entered credit card information while online shopping without really reading the fine print? How much privacy have we given up, for the convenience of access to the whole world over the Internet?

I know I’m certainly guilty of this. Even now I have both of my e-mail accounts, online banking access, Facebook, Skype and Apple account all linked to not just my computer, but also my cell phone. With that sort of information so readily available on a device so easily lost or stolen, it’s no wonder identity theft is such an increasing problem in the United States. In 2010, 8.1 million people were victims to identity theft of some sort, the majority of which took place over some sort of digital exchange.

Now of course, I absolutely love the ease of access I have with today’s modern technology. I’m a huge fan of Facebook “check-in” and I don’t know how I’d survive

without being able to buy music on iTunes from home on the computer. Nobody wants to forgo progress; how could we with the breakneck speed that technology is moving? Every day there are more and more exciting new ways to make our lives more interconnected with the Internet, connecting with people continents away and lifetimes ago. The ability to work from home has never been easier, not to mention shop, bank and chat.

Nobody wants to see this kind of connectivity go away and no one expects it to. But, with all the fast-paced progress happening around us, it is wise to every now and then stop and think about just how much of ourselves we are really putting out there. After all, what are our future children going to find when they do a Google search on us?

Cody Barras is a freshman majoring in English with a minor in education. He can be reached for comment at [email protected]

CONTRIBUTOR

Cody Barras

cArtOON

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The Daily Campus News Wednesday, October 12, 2011 • 5

It is the academic version of steroids, only easier to get. It is a drug that inhibits focus and energy; two side effects college students would pay, steal and pop pills for.

“I think there’s too many of them, too many kids taking it that don’t really need it,” Howard Darby, a CVS pharmacist, said.

When asked to speak on adderall issues, most students were reluctant and declined. The problem is not that student’s don’t know it’s wrong, it’s that it has become somewhat of a social norm.

Adderall and related drugs are prescribed to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and are in a class of drugs known as central nervous system stimulants. Students use the drug to help them focus on their studies.

“Some students get it from their friends, some get it illegally online,” John Sanger, a drug councilor at the Memorial Health Center, said.

It is popular, according to Darby, and easy to get. Many students, who would not allow their names to be published, said their friends would either give them the drug or sell it to them. They said everyone knows someone who has it and everyone knows someone willing to give it up.

Students’ talk about adderall like ibuprofen, you simply take it when you need it and it helps you. There is a nonchalant vibe surrounding the drug and one that is generally campus wide. It is a federal crime to sell the drug, but that doesn’t stop 51 percent of students on this campus. Out of 50 students polled, 51 percent admitted to using the drug even though they did not have a prescription.

It has become as common as cough drops. One staff member said he finds the little blue and pink pills laying around classrooms weekly. Those little colorful pills can be more harmful than most students are aware.

“You have to think about that, if you’re taking someone else’s prescription that that drug is not designed for you,” Alison Mcdonagh, a junior SMU student prescribed adderall for

Adderall abuse causes concern on campus

By SUMMER DASHEVideo Editor

[email protected]

DrugS

ADHD, said.Adderall and related drugs

are addictive. They can cause serious heart problems and mental impairment. Mcdonagh says she has to hide her prescription out of fear that someone may attempt to steal it. She also said having the drug causes pressure since it is a drug “that is high in demand.”

Universities across the country are experiencing the adderall epidemic. According to a national statistic, six percent of college students have abused adderall. The number is much higher at SMU according to the poll.

Students who abuse adderall are much more likely to abuse other illegal drugs. Studies show that

prescription drug abuse often leads to other drug abuse. Much like marijuana being the gateway drug to illegal drugs, adderall seems to be a gateway drug to prescription drug abuse.

It’s a problem officials say they don’t know how to fight. According to the Memorial Health Center, nothing is currently being done to diminish the abuse of adderall on the SMU campus. However, they do offer education on prescription drug abuse.

Go to: smudailycampus.com

for Video

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• Friday, June 3, 20116The Daily Campus

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