The SummaThursday, March 24, 2011University of St. Thomas Vol. 3, Issue 8

CORE, Page 2

UST gives students option on new core Matt Wood

Editor-in-Chief

St. Patrick’s Day at the University of St. Thomas was a beautiful sunny day that ushered in two great celebrations on campus. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Mass was held in the morning at the Chapel of St. Basil with Archbishop Daniel Cardinal DiNardo as principal celebrant, followed by a brunch in Jerabeck Gymnasium. Both of the events were sponsored by the William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies, under

the leadership of Dr. Lori Gallagher, featuring music directed by visiting scholar Professor Aoife Ni’ Ghloinn.

St. Patrick’s Day is a Catholic Feast Day commemorating the work of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with spreading Christianity to Ireland in the 4th Century. He was not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland.

“There were others before him who had started Christianity but were not as durable and as persevering as Patrick,” said Gallagher.

Tony Melendez returns

David Markus

News Editor

Photo by Curtis HoffStudents Support St. Patrick’s Day

www.ust-summa.com

Story on Page 6

As revolutions andunrest abound in

the Middle East, some question whether the

west should be involved.

Everybody should go see this modern

folk tale, unless that everybody happens to be a guy or a kid.

Help or Hindrance?

Story on Page 3

One UST student features a gallery

of photographs taken in Ireland

and across Europe.

Photos Abroad All Roads Lead to H-Town

Story on Page 11

Unless of course you don’t make it to the Final Four. Who will

make it to Houston and who will go home?

What Big Eyes You Have

Story on Page 8

Brien O’Donnal

Staff Writer

On Sunday, March 27, 2011, the University of Saint Thomas will host the Lenten Renewal Concert, from 6:00-8:00 PM, featuring a performance by a renowned and inspirational Christian musician: Tony Melendez

Students have always packed into Jerabeck Center to listen to Melendez’s inspiring story and to hear him play the guitar in an amazing way.

“I play guitar myself,” said freshman Anna Pelletier, “so when I heard he played guitar I thought that was cool. When I heard he didn’t have hands, I was very intrigued, because for me, it was already hard to play the guitar and move your fingers, he plays with his toes.”

Melendez was born without arms as a result of a drug called thalidomide, which had been prescribed to his mother to ease her morning sickness. Nevertheless, Tony plays the guitar for audiences across the world.

student who makes a decision in the next couple of weeks will be at an advantage when working with his or her advisor for summer and fall course selection.”

The new core reduces the number of hours needed from 72 to between 57 and 59, depending on the options selected. All other requirements for graduation, including major requirements, total credit requirements, and advanced credit requirements, will remain the same.

All the subjects required in the previous core curriculum are retained in the new core. However, the number of hours for some subjects have changed. Additionally, some subjects may now be taken as

Irish Studies observes St. Patrick’s Day

PATRICK, Page 2

means by which the university imparts its core values and carries out its combined moral, intellectual and religious mission,” said Dr. Dominic Aquila, Vice President of Academic Affairs, in an email to students. “Our strong core curriculum, dedicated faculty and innovative co-curricular programs complement each other to make our goal to ‘educate leaders of faith and character’ a reality.”

Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor to decide if choosing the new core is the right choice for them. Those who wish to opt into the new core should do so by December 2011.

“The sooner a choice is made, the better,” said Father Pilsner, Dean of Arts and Sciences. “For instance, a

“He has a completely normal life in extraordinary circumstances,” said Elsie Biron who is the Director of the Office of Catholic Outreach at UST.

The UST community hosted Melendez in concert on several previous occasions, reaching out to both new individuals learning about his story and those already familiar with it.

“I’d heard of him because my mom went to hear him before. Basically all I knew was that he played the guitar and he didn’t have any hands. I didn’t really know his story,” said Pelletier.

His powerful music and inspiring story combine to form a spiritual and faith building experience for all in attendance, regardless of age, gender, or any other criteria.

“His message appeals to all people through his songs and his triumph over adversity,” said Biron.

Individuals seeking a spiritual renewal gain such

GUITAR, Page 2

It was St. Patrick’s mission to return to Ireland and spread the faith that has helped to secure his place among the great Christian Saints.

In his homily that morning, the Cardinal spoke of the hospitality of the Irish and the message that all Christians can relate to their lives. He repeated the Irish notion of a savior in every stranger. This was an analogy referring to the time of Christ and the Apostles, when they relied on the hospitality of strangers on

Photo by Tony MelendezAn Amazing StoryTony Melendez shares his story of triumph over adversity through his concerts across the globe each year.

UST students and other members of the Center for Irish Studies marched in a parade on Sunday, March 12.

The University of St. Thomas is giving current students the option to complete their degree under the new core curriculum that was approved in April of last year or to continue under the previous core.

UST students who were enrolled in the university as of spring 2010 will have the option of opting into the new core starting in the fall 2011 semester. New students enrolling after spring 2010 or students who leave the university for more than two years will be required to complete their degrees under the new core.

“The core curriculum at St. Thomas is the principal

2 The SummaNews

Thursday, March 24, 2011

COREContinued...

PATRICKContinued...

their journey.The St. Patrick’s Day

Mass exceeded the capacity of the Chapel of St. Basil which is a testament to the reach that the UST and its Center for Irish Studies has on the Houston Community.

“In the beginning, we were upstairs in Scanlan, maybe about a hundred people. Now we’ve set seats for 360 this year. It really is a record turn out this year,” said Gallagher when asked about the attendance at the brunch.

“[Irish Studies] is promoting the idea of peace that everyone can celebrate, especially on St. Patrick’s Day that he, as the patron saint of Ireland, reaches across all boundaries,” said graduate student Jennifer Gilbert. “[These events] are promoting the Center for Irish

Studies and all the programs that they do for students, like study abroad and lots of cultural outreach programs throughout the year; concerts, lectures, things like that.”

The mid day brunch was an opportunity for people from all over Houston and other parts of the country and the globe to enjoy a great meal and fellowship with others celebrating this great day. Senior Cristina Pizano-Flores has worked with Dr. Gallagher to put on the event.

“[Dr. Gallagher] is helping with the St. Patrick’s Day mass and all the programs that she does every month,” said Pizano-Flores. “She wants everything to run smoothly and I think everything she does is brilliant.”

Pizano-Flores also attended the Mass that morning.

“The music was beautiful and the sermon as well. The

an opportunity through the concert through sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

“[The concert] has a spiritual aspect just to hear his journey -the underdog story and overcoming the trials of not having any arms,” said Pelletier. “He threw Frisbees into the crowd with his toes, and I am just amazed at his abilities and what he’s overcome without having arms.”

Melendez’s inspiring story has to be experienced in person, but a brief summary of Melendez’s life offers universal advice for anyone.

“He uses all of his talents to glorify God,” said Pelletier.

Tickets for the concert will cost $3 in advance and

$5 at the door. If anyone is interested in attending, send an e-mail to Elsie Biron at the Office of Catholic Outreach at biron@stthom.edu. Payment will be accepted at the Office of Catholic Outreach on 1211 Colquitt for presale tickets or at the doors to Jerabeck on the day of the concert.

Prior to the event, Fr. Michael Buentello, CSB will be hosting a barbeque dinner. The menu will consist of barbecued pork, coleslaw, potato salad, and all of the traditional side dishes.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help sell tickets and serve as ushers at the doors of the concert are asked to contact Biron. Four to five individuals are needed to help make sure that the concert goes well, and will be given free entry into the concert for their efforts.

GUITARContinued...

Stephanie HernandezStaff Writer

Handgun legislation proposed in Texas

The Texas State Legislature has resurrected a bill that would allow concealed handguns to be carried on university campuses by both students and faculty. The legislation, Senate Bill 354, sponsored and co-written by San Antonio Republican Senator Jeff Wentworth, was first proposed in 2009.

It states that “A license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder’s person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state.”

“I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, an NRA member, and I support the legislation,” said Dr. Jon Taylor, Chair and Associate Professor of the Political Science Department.

He also expressed his support of the student group TexasStudentsCarry.com.

In a report supporting the bill, the group states, “CHL holders carry handguns for personal protection, not so they can act like amateur one-man SWAT teams.”

It then goes on to cite a Center for Disease Control Report from 2007 which states that “individuals between the ages of 21 and 24, the age group most likely to carry concealed handguns on a college campus, accounted for fewer than 70 fatal gun accidents that year, nationwide.”

“I believe in the right to have guns,” said Hannah Foshee, a junior majoring in Communications.

Despite Foshee’s support of the Second Amendment, her view of SB364 is quite different.

“I think it is beyond ridiculous,” said Foshee. “And think about it from an officer’s perspective: when he rushes into the scene, he doesn’t know which kid is the shooter, or know who to take down . Don’t buy a gun, don’t carry it, unless you’re ready to take a life. How many people can honestly do that?”

When thinking of university shootings, the first incidents that usually come to mind are the Virginia Tech massacre of 2007, and the University of Texas massacre of 1966.

In both cases, the gunmen, Seung-Hui Cho and Charles Whitman respectively, purchased guns through legal means. Neither, however, had a CHL, and both gunmen dealt with psychiatric health problems.

The University of Texas Health Center psychiatrists knew of Charles Whitman’s problems due to a series of counseling sessions with campus psychiatrists, which were largely caused by dysfunctional family issues.

Seung-Hui Cho had been diagnosed with severe anxiety and major depressive disorder as an adolescent, and received therapy until his high school years.

The Virginia Tech faculty,

however, did not know of his mental condition.

The psychiatric problems of both gunmen did not prevent them from purchasing handguns through legal means.

SB364 is currently being debated in Texas Legislature committees, and will be brought to the Senate Floor before the end of the 2011 Legislative Session.

The University of St. Thomas may not be affected by the legislation due to an amendment made in Section One of the bill.

The amendment differentiates between public and private institutions, stating that “A private or independent institution of higher education in this state, after consulting with students, staff, and faculty of the institution, may establish rules, regulations, or other provisions prohibiting license holders from carrying handguns on premises that are owned or operated by the institution and located on the campus of the institution.”

All public universities will be subject to the bill’s stipulations if it passes the House and Senate floors and Governor Rick Perry signs the bill into law.

“Imagine if someone plans a shooting massacre, and when they show up to the campus they see a ‘NO GUNS ALLOWED’ sign,” said Elizabeth MacArthur, a freshman at UST. “Do they say ‘Oh well! Guess I can’t kill people here?’ No, they ignore the law and carry on with their plans.”

Cardinal, like he said; it is the sixth year that he has done the mass for St. Patrick’s Day and he does a beautiful job,” said Pizano-Flores.

Dr. Gallagher was especially pleased by the event and wanted to give special attention to two individuals.

“I would like to dedicate the day, in a way, to two people. One is Professor Aoife Ni’ Ghloinn. She is our Irish visiting scholar from Ireland and she teaches Irish language and music and has been with us for the last three years. Also to William J. Flynn after whom we named the center,” said Gallagher. “From 1999 to the present he has been very active in the peace process in Northern Ireland.”

Next year there may be even more who come to enjoy this day at the University of St. Thomas.

Photo by Tony Melendez

alternatives to others. A full list of the requirements for each core are available on the UST website.

The most notable addition to the core is the new synthesis course, which will be chosen by each student in consultation with their advisor. It is intended to link the student’s major field of study with the Catholic intellectual tradition through theology, philosophy, or Catholic studies.

“Students should consult with their academic advisors about the new core during their next advising session,” said Fr. Pilsner. “Those who decide to switch will be directed to a form by which they can declare their intention to graduate under the new catalog. Those who wish to graduate under the old catalog need not fill out a declaration

form.”Once a student makes a

decision to change to the new core they will not be allowed to transfer back to the previous core.

“Those charged with implementing the new core were concerned that unlimited switching between catalogs would inevitably cause confusion, and that students would be the ones most disadvantaged by this,” said Fr. Pilsner.

One of the guiding forces behind the development of the new core curriculum was the document Ex Corde Ecclesiae, published by John Paul II.

“Our university’s decision to look to Ex Corde as a guiding document was the right one; Pope John Paul II’s vision harmonizes beautifully with the best traditions of the Basilian Fathers,” said Fr. Pilsner.

“But when you talk about destruction, don’t you know that you can count me out” - The Beatles

The SummaUniversity of St. Thomas Student Newspaper

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The Summa is the official newspaper of The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. It has a circulation of 2,000 copies. The Summa is a student run organization, whose purpose is to inform, comment, and interpret events of local, national, and worldwide importance. This paper serves as an open forum of student expression and welcomes letters from the UST community. All submitted materials will be printed at the discretion of the editorial board. The Summa is dedicated to serving as a model of ethical journalism, acting with honesty, objectivity, and integrity.

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Action through Inaction Middle Eastern Democracy?

Editor-at-LargeRebecca Mechler

As you know, over the past few months every news source has been littered with the reports of pro-democratic protests throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The countries currently experiencing rampant protests include Egypt, Libya, Iran, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, and Bahrain. There are varying reasons as to what has caused these sudden uprisings in each of these countries, but what it all boils down to is possible good news for the United States and its allies.

Democracy in the Middle East has long been a dream of the United States and something that the government has been working toward for many years. The recent protests do not necessarily mean a U.S.-friendly government, however. It will be the responsibility of the United Nations and the international community to foster these democratic protests into actualization and ensure that the current regimes are not violating international law while trying to suppress the revolt, like what has already been happening in Libya (military attacks on the civilian population).

One of the more popular reports that has been playing out over the headlines is the role of Facebook and other

social media sites in fomenting protests. The truth is that these websites had very little to do with actually creating the atmosphere of protests amongst the populations. The role that social media played is important only in regards to information-sharing during the protests and their aftermath.

Citizens have used social media to share information and help organize, but it is more traditional problems with the governments that are the root causes of the people’s anger. Simply put, Facebook did not create these feelings, but rather only helped unite people with the information needed to effectively take to the streets. For this reason, some authoritarian regimes have attempted to block social media sites throughout their countries.

The true causes of the Middle East protests are not unlike those protests we often see here in the United States. There is rampant corruption within the various governments; there is a widening gap between the rich and the poor; inflation has risen; and there is little or no transparency in the governing of the countries involved.

Among the more uncommon causes, dissimilar to the protests in the United States, are the long reigns of authoritarian leaders, such as Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak (30 years) and Libya’s Muammar al-Gaddafi (32 years). These men have been in power for so long, it is easy to see why the populations claim they are out of touch and corrupt, as these so-called leaders amass great amounts of wealth while the average citizens struggle with poverty.

In addition to the democratic principles that the U.S. wishes to impart upon the Middle Eastern region, there is the little matter of political and economic interests. The U.S. has a lot at stake in the

future of these countries, as is evidenced by the recent spike in oil prices.

There is also the little matter of strategic military bases in the area and other political relationships. If the region can become more democratic, there is a likelihood of better trading partnerships and cheaper goods exchanged between the United States and Middle Eastern nations.

More importantly, there is our need for oil in the West, especially in the United States. Yes, the idea of creating better ties with democratic Middle Eastern regimes for the purpose of obtaining more, or cheaper, oil might sound deplorable to some, but it is a reality that we have to face. The industrialized world runs on oil, and if we can obtain it at a better price because those nations that have it are now more friendly to us, then such a result is something that the United States and the West should actively pursue.

In the end, the people of the Middle East should form a government of their own choosing. Having a democracy or another autocratic government should not matter as long as it is what the people choose for themselves.

These nations are in serious need of reform, and in a world where information is freely shared via the internet, it is a safe bet that whatever government comes to power will bring more freedom than what is currently afforded to the populations.

It should be a priority of the international community to provide for a safe and stable transfer of power from the current Middle Eastern governments to the new ones that form in the wake of these protests. We can only watch as these events unfold and pray for the safety of all those involved.

With the recent events unfolding in the Middle East, comments are often made about the slowness of America’s response. Many view this as a weakness of U.S. foreign policy, arguing that as the cornerstone of democracy, the U.S. should be actively helping protesters. But many forget to see America’s, or any nation’s, primary function – to pursue its own national interest. Taking into account national interest, one can understand reasons for America’s hesitation: the cost of intervention, wanting to maintain a regional balance of power, and assuring the trust of its regional allies by not intervening in internal affairs.

A primary reason for America’s apprehension is cost of involvement. The Afghan and Iraq wars exemplify this. Besides the financial costs, there is also the cost in American lives. Given these costs, it is understandable as to why the U.S. is apprehensive towards involvement in the Mid-East – a region with a not-too-favorable opinion of the U.S. Hence, although protesters are asking for help, the U.S. feels that any involvement - diplomatic, financial, or military - might turn into a protracted engagement. For all liberators eventually become occupiers.

The second reason the U.S. should hesitate is to maintain a balance of power in the region. Mid-East democracies may not serve U.S. interests: a central feature of democracies is the uncertainty of results. Generally, the U.S. does not have to worry about regional treaties being voided by incoming administrations in certain Mid-East authoritative regimes – Mubarak’s stable relation with Israel, for

example. In addition, many of these authoritative countries have disenfranchised the Shias. Currently, the U.S. has a balance of power against Shia Iran through Sunni allies. Allowing Shia-run regimes to arise may undermine this balance of power.

In order to maintain the trust of its authoritative allies, the U.S. must reassure them that it will not act against them. According to the democratic peace theory, a democracy is not willing to attack another democracy but is just as willing as a non-democracy to attack a non-democracy. From this theory, most of America’s Mid-East authoritative allies should be hesitant towards the U.S. Hence, if the U.S. was to directly intervene in any of the Mid-East uprisings, it would signal to other key allies, such as Saudi Arabia, that America can quickly turn on its allies. The U.S. wants to do everything to maintain good diplomatic relations, and the best signal the U.S. can send is, “Your internal affairs are not our business.”

America’s only action should be inaction. To avoid the cost of intervention, maintain a regional balance of power, and keep the trust of its regional allies, the U.S. should avoid intervention if possible. Yet while it is clear that the U.S. has no driving force to take a leading role in dealing with the Mid East uprisings, this does not mean the U.S. should turn a blind eye to extremely oppressive regimes. In Libya’s case, America’s involvement should become supportive, relying on multi-lateral action to deal with the situation; hence, France and the U.K. must take the lead with the U.N. and Arab League against Gadhafi. The U.S. should focus on national interest, not global interest, to better serve its American citizens.

Brien O’Donal

Staff Writer

Dominic Kisielewski

Guest Writer

4 The SummaOpinion

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Guns on Campus

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Homesickness Attacks!

Chelsea Ferramosca

Staff Writer

Dr. Liviu Librescu was born in 1930 to a Jewish family in anti-Semitic Romania. He spent five years in Nazi Germany during World War II in numerous ghettos and concentration camps before returning to Romania in 1946. There, he obtained a degree in engineering and was offered a position to teach mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech University. It was there, on Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2007, that he and thrity-one others were murdered by shooter Seung-Hui Cho.

Dr. Librescu did not believe in violence, but Cho did. He showed this as he went from classroom to classroom, killing everyone who came into contact with him. As he approached the solid mechanics room, Dr. Librescu told his students to go out the windows while he barricaded the door shut. Unable to move any sort of barricade on his own, the seventy-six-year-old man held his body against the door as Cho tried to enter.

Unable to get in, Cho shot through the door, shooting Dr. Librescu five times, including one shot to the head. He was killed, but Cho walked into an empty classroom. All twenty-three students had escaped.

The students at Virginia Tech, as well as all universities, should have the right to defend themselves if need be. Texas is currently poised to pass a bill that would allow just that. The bill will allow students and faculty with concealed handgun licenses to carry weapons on campus.

However, there will be restrictions. Guns will not be allowed in any type of on-campus housing or in any other building the school deems inappropriate for a weapon. The bill will also allow private universities,

such as UST, to opt out. If the restrictions are

properly enforced, I think this bill is a great idea. I agree that there is too much alcohol and too high of a risk of suicide to allow guns in on-campus housing, but allowing students and faculty to carry a weapon to class if they have a license to do so is their Second-amendment right.

However, I have heard many arguments against the bill. One of these arguments is that statistically, universities are safer than most crowded areas; therefore, there is no need for a student or a faculty member to have a gun. This is true. Despite recent school shootings, a university is still safer than the average mall or movie theater. However, universities are home to crimes other than school shootings. The rates of rape, murder, and robbery are the same on university campuses as they are in the rest of society. Students should be allowed to defend themselves against these crimes as well.

Another argument made is that a taser or pepper spray would work just as well for self-defense. This is also true, if you have only one attacker and that attacker is less than fifteen feet away and you can get away before the effects of either wear off. And like guns, tasers and pepper spray are not allowed on most university campuses.

The biggest argument I have heard is that the answer to a bullet is not more bullets. This is not true. The answer to a bullet is always more bullets. That is why police officers bring guns when they respond to any type of shooting. A student or faculty member trained to use a gun would be able to stop a shooting faster than would the authorities.

I’m not saying that allowing students to carry guns would solve every problem. I do think there should be more preventative measures in place so people like Seung-Hui Cho don’t get a chance to obtain a gun. I also think there should be more training and psychological testing before a concealed handgun license is given. But what if just one of Dr. Liviu Librescu’s students had a gun? Maybe they could have stopped Cho, maybe the outcome would have been the same. Either way, Dr. Librescu deserved the chance to defend himself as he defended his students.

Rebecca Mechler

Editor-at-Large

Letters to the EditorThe Summa welcomes letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please include your name and classification or position. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

The Summa reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and inappropriate content.

E-mail The Summa:thesumma@stthom.edu

I don’t get homesick. Ever. Usually I get sick of being stuck at home.

When I would go to summer camp as a kid, at the end of the week when my parents came, I was never quite ready to head back home.

When I moved into Guinan my freshman year, albeit only an hour away from home, I was never really too nostalgic for good ol’ Klein.

Even living an ocean away for two months now I haven’t been overly homesick for the sights, smells, and routines of Houston beyond my typical cravings for legitimate BBQ and tacos, warm weather, and a comfy bed. Just my usual longings at home, on campus, and on trips anyway.

So imagine my surprise when I got teary-eyed while saying goodbye to four very awesome friends who I was able to hang out with when

they were in London for their spring break. I hadn’t really realized until that moment how much I missed everybody and everything back home and how much I do consider Houston and UST my home. I suppose it was inevitable, getting homesick, I hadn’t really expected it to hit me like a sledgehammer though.

I’ve made friends studying abroad, I’m in good classes, the food hasn’t killed me, but I’m not as invested in St. Mary’s University College as I am in UST. It’s partially due to time. I entered SMUC in the spring and will only be around for the semester so there aren’t a ton of groups to join or the space to really get uber involved.

It’s like what Bianca says in 10 Things I Hate About You, “There’s a difference between like and love. Because, I like my Skechers, but I love my Prada backpack.”

Which is exactly how I feel sometimes. I like London a ton, but I love Houston, as odd as that may sound. I could spend months in England and be perfectly happy, but I think I will always return to Texas. Texas is home. I claim it, flaws and all. Same as I do UST. Neither is perfect but both are worth it. They have given me a wonderful education and I am incredibly grateful for that.

I don’t dislike studying abroad at all, quite the opposite. I really am enjoying my time in London and the opportunity to

travel around Europe. Classes are so different than in the States and so are the people. My education certainly has expanded in ways I hadn’t ever thought about – who knew cricket had so many rules or that professors go on strike? I have come to appreciate my time at UST so much more, even – especially – the core and the Liberal Arts education that is so strong at UST.

It’s good that I’m stepping outside my box before I graduate next spring. That would be a nasty shock come graduation – to move away from family, friends, and school and then wretchedly miss home. I now have time to adjust to the idea that I can’t stick around campus forever, it is possible to leave, I can make new friends but they won’t replace the crew back home, everything will work out, and most of all that I have a home I love to return to when the journey has ended.

I’m halfway done with my adventures in London. Soon enough I’ll be back in Houston and probably missing London’s weather by then as well. I wish neither for it to rush by nor for it to creep along at a snail’s pace, but just that I simply have enough time to enjoy myself thoroughly, fulfill my wanderlust, and not overstay my welcome.

I have just 8 more weeks here, my friends, and then it is home sweet home, until the wander bug bites again.

The Summa 5Thursday, March 24, 2011The Features

Many students play a sport, exercise, or read a book to relax or relieve stress. Some students on campus say they find the 24-Hour Eucharist Adoration a means of relieving stress and putting their lives in perspective each week.

For senior Rachel Aoughsten, who has participated in Adoration for the past three years, devoting time to Adoration gives people the opportunity to reflect on Jesus Christ and the sacrifices that He made.

“It’s just an hour of your time,” Aoughsten said. “It’s like going to Mass on Sundays, but really it’s just an opportunity to go pray and reflect.”

Adoration is when people adore and admire Jesus Christ. It’s done through a consecrated host which is put on display in a monstrance.

In the Catholic tradition, the bread that has been consecrated in Mass becomes the body of Jesus Christ: hence people genuflect to show reverence to the Blessed Sacrament when entering the chapel and immerse their hands in the holy

water to bless and remind themselves of their baptism.

“Adoration is when we have the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance on the altar and we sit and meditate on God’s presence,” Father Mike Buentello said. “So it’s a very sacred time and people sit there in presence of God, giving praise and glory to God.”

Although many people bring the Sacred Scriptures with them when coming to Adoration, there is no one way to worship. There are variations as to what people can do (singing hymns in a group or reading any religious book that people may like) but the main goal is to recognize the presence of God in their lives for an hour.

“The idea is to keep your mind on Christ that entire hour that you’re there,” Aoughsten said.

Students often think about how they will be able to make time for Adoration in the midst of their classes, assignments and such. But once they’ve arrived, students feel much more relaxed and closer to God than before.“[Adoration] reminds [students] that they are a child of God and God should play an essential

and critical role in our lives whether we’re students or not students,” Father Buentello said. “It’s essential that we do these things because it’s so easy in our society to casually put God in another category with everything else, God is other than that.”

Sophomore Zoe Knippa says she always saw her mother go for Adoration and when Knippa came to UST, she decided to participate as well.

“I’d never done it before until I came to this school […] it’s very rewarding and I didn’t think it was going be because I didn’t know what to expect,” Knippa said. “But when I go I enjoy it, it’s calming and it’s very relaxing.”

Father Buentello says attending Adoration puts life in perspective for students and non-students and at the end of the day, people want to maintain a relationship

with God and communicate with him through prayer.

“I do say that every time we pray to God we should experience a greater sense of God’s presence […] ,” Father Buentello said. “The overall experience [of Adoration] is very very positive.”

Fr. Buentello says a state of peace and tranquility comes to the person. Many people agree and even find adoration is useful for meditating.

UST students seek peace with 24-hour Eucharistic AdorationAnum Khan

Staff Writer

Photo by Michael Brannon

Do you know what your minor is? At this point in your college career have you even thought about it? For about 18 hours worth of courses University of St. Thomas students can earn a minor in many different fields of study.

Whether it complements their major nicely or they’re just interested in the subject matter, many students in past years have chosen to take advantage of the core curriculum at UST in order to earn a minor for just three hours.

The 2010-2011 core curriculum assured that entering freshman would need to take nine hours of theology, nine hours of philosophy, and six hours of either. A little math shows that if a student took 15 hours of either they would only need one additional class to achieve a minor in the subject.

So how does one choose which field to study? For some the choice is easy simply because they are more interested in one than the other. Others decided that the addition of this minor could compliment their major

and allow them to better express themselves to others. This was the case for UST Alumnus Tomas Diaz, who graduated with a theology major and philosophy minor.

“The philosophy minor allows you to get a better framework and grasp of theology,” said Diaz. “It lets you get a framework to better express theological ideas to those around you.”

Philosophers try to answer the fundamental questions about human nature.

A background in philosophy, which the minor provides, may very well help theologians in their quest to become closer to God through prayer and meditation by allowing them to focus on the fundamental questions that religion poses

Helping to answer fundamental questions is exactly what makes this minor so appealing. Potential employers and graduate schools enjoy seeing it on a resume. The addition of philosophy courses can

show that a student has the capability to employ critical thinking skills and work through a problem to the best and most logical solution.

What about a theology minor though, what does it have to offer that can compete with it’s counterpart? That’s really for you to decide. Studying theology can be an extremely enlightening subject to those who choose to study it. For Catholics especially, a theology minor from UST could help to increase the

knowledge one already poses about their Church, their faith, and themselves.

The theology one studies does not necessarily have to be about the Catholic faith either, UST offers courses in other faiths such as Judaism and the Protestant teachings. Having a background cultured with religion could help employers see that a potential employee would be tolerant to diversity or changing environments, a trait also widely viewed as beneficial to companies.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that the philosophy and theology departments are always happy to have more graduates. Even with the changes to the core curriculum a minor is not terribly far out of ones grasp.

As of the new core you will now be required to take three less hours of theology and philosophy. This will mean that instead of just one additional class students wishing to pursue a minor will need to take two additional courses. All things considered, a minor could be one of the easiest additions you’ve ever made to your resume.

Theology versus Philosophy: Which quick minor is right for you?Michael Brannon

Features Editor

Adoration can help some students collect their thoughts with prayer, music, and dedication. Learn more about how adoration can help you by contacting campus ministry.

Photo by Michael Brannon

6 The Summa Thursday, March 24, 2011Features

Last weekend Scanlan was home to a photography exhibit entitled “Ireland: Beyond Gray/Beyond Green.” The exhibit featured pictures that University of St. Thomas senior Shannen Garza took during her semester abroad in Ireland. The photographs featured various sights Shannen captured during both her semester abroad and previous trips to Ireland.

Shannen first discovered photography shortly before she graduated high school when her mother gave her a box full of her grandfather’s old cameras. She began experimenting and cultivating a skill that changed the course of her life.

While at St. Thomas, she met an Irish exchange student and they began dating. She wanted to know more about his culture and where he came from and decided to go to Ireland to visit him. The trip was so enjoyable that she went again, decided to join UST’s Study Abroad program and studied for a year at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.

“Ireland made me comfortable with being uncomfortable,” said Shannen. “I was in an unfamiliar place and learned more about myself

and my identity as an American. The Irish are very friendly and laid-back, which made it easy for me to reach out to people and introduce myself.”

Shannen fell in love with Europe and began traveling all over, even venturing to Spain and Germany. Her love for photography was inspired by the beautiful landscapes. She took pictures of anything and everything that stood out to her, from people to animals to landscapes to daily life. While in Berlin, she had an experience that helped inspire her future photography exhibit.

She fell ill and couldn’t figure out how to communicate her needs to her German hosts. She needed a doctor, but couldn’t explain how all she needed was some medicine and not emergency medical treatment.

“It was so hard to communicate what I needed,” said Shannen. “I ended up having to call a friend to translate. I was trying to communicate ‘doctor’ to them and they ended up calling me an ambulance. Suddenly, I was so aware of the communication gap and I felt embarrassed at being an uneducated American. I understood how important it is to be adaptable. A trivial situation was made in to such a big deal because I couldn’t

just say what I needed. So many Europeans speak three or four languages, and in America we just don’t seem to have that same curiosity about the world around us.”

This experience helped shape the rest of her trip. “I r e a l i z e d that there were only three other exchange s t u d e n t s for me w h o ’ d e n r o l l e d in the p r o g r a m for a full year. I wondered why there w e r e n ’ t more of us.” Shannen was the recipient of the Bishop McCarthy Travel Grant, which helped pay for her trip and some of the expenses.

Shannen returned stateside and realized that while the Irish were very knowledgeable about Americans and their culture, the American perception of Ireland was very different from the Ireland she experienced. She felt a need to “bring Ireland home.” She wanted a way to share her experiences in Ireland with other people and also make more students

aware of the rewarding experience of a semester abroad. While thinking of a way to do this she realized that “people respond most to what they see in front of them.” She decided to combine her love of photography, her fascination

with Ireland, and her new passion for i n s t i l l i n g a curiosity in others about the world around them and d e v e l o p e d the concept for the e x h i b i t .

T h e r e was just one thing

missing: money. Suddenly, she had an idea to develop a project in conjunction with the Irish Studies Program and try to raise money for a scholarship. Ireland: Beyond Grey/Beyond Green was born. Shannen used her communication skills, Facebook, and word of mouth to raise money to fund the project. Now the pictures from the exhibit are all available to purchase, as well as some of her other photographs of Europe.

“What I’d really like to do is raise enough money for one student to go to Ireland and one student to go

wherever else they’d like to study abroad. That’s the ideal. But if that doesn’t happen, raising enough money for one student to be able to study abroad that may have missed out because they couldn’t afford it is more than enough. If I can help one student enrich their life and have the same wonderful, enlightening, self-discovering experience I had, I will consider this a success.”

Shannen has learned a lot in her time abroad, in America, developing her project, and finally, succeeding in “bringing Ireland to America.” She said:

“America as a whole needs to take a step back from the perception of the American Dream. Everything is too fast-paced to truly enjoy. How do you know that the way you live is the best way until you see how the rest of the world is? The college experience is based on achievement, when it should be about becoming a more knowledgeable and well-rounded person. What are we working towards? Step out of your comfort zone gain a new perspective by seeing how other people around the world are living. We owe it to ourselves to know our own world. Let the bullet points on your transcript or résumé be what experiences you’ve gained from learning about the world.”

Bringing Ireland to America through photography and experienceBecky Tapia

Staff Writer

‘What I’d really like to do is raise enough money for one student to go to Ireland and one student to go wherever else they’d

like to study abroad.’Shannen Garza

UST Senior

Photos by Shannen Garza

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The Summa 7Thursday, March 24, 2011Advertising

The Entertainment8 The Summa Thursday, March 24, 2011

Staff Writer

Red Riding Hood matures classic folk tale into plot with a lot of twists

We all remember the timeless fairy tale of “Little Red Riding Hood.” A little girl in a red cloak brings food through the woods to her sickly grandmother. On the way, she tells a disguised wolf where she is going. The wolf then goes ahead of her to the grandmother’s house, eating the grandmother and disguising himself as her so the little girl will come in. However, the little girl notices and states, “Why grandmother, what big teeth you have,” to which the wolf responds, “All the better to eat you with, my dear.” Then the hunter comes in, saves the little girl, then fills the wolf with stones so he will sink in the river. The end.

Red Riding Hood premiered on March 11 as a remake of this fairy tale classic. The movie stays true to the fairy tale, but with a modern twist that gives the plot new life. With a growing

TV Tracker

Coming Up: It’s nationals time! The New Directions once again face underdog odds as they try to reign supreme.

Worth it?: New Directions as the underdogs is nothing new. While the singing may be fabulous, Glee may be one of the most overrated shows on air. It’ll also be worthwhile to see what happens with the all-boy choir the Warblers who, surprisingly, don’t make it to nationals.

Photo courtesy FOX

love triangle, a crazed priest, and a village living in fear of the “big bad werewolf,” the movie held the attention of the audience for the full 100 minutes.

The movie takes place in a small village on the edge of “the dark woods.” Amanda Seyfried stars as Valerie, or Red Riding Hood, with Shiloh Fernandez playing Peter, the adventurous boy with whom she is madly in love. However, just as in any fairy tale, love does not come easy. Max Irons also stars in the movie, playing the part of Henry, the successful, sensitive sword maker with whom Valerie has been arranged to marry. Valerie begins the movie with the decision of making her family happy by marrying Henry, or saving the happiness for herself by marrying Peter.

However, love takes a backseat after the much feared werewolf begins murdering the people of the village during the full moon, starting with Valerie’s sister. As the

village begins living in fear, the men decide that they will capture the wolf and end the terror once and for all. To do this, they call Father Solomon, a questionable priest who has dedicated his life to killing the werewolf. Fr. Solomon insists that the wolf is a member of the village and sets out to discover who it is.

In the mean time, the village refuses to believe that

Chelsea Ferramosca

one of their own could be responsible for the horror, but when Valerie discovers that she can talk to the wolf, she begins to suspect that it is someone she knows. The wolf tells her that if she joins him, he will leave the village alone, but if she refuses, he will kill them all. In the end, Valerie must hide from Fr. Solomon, the people of the village, and the “big bad wolf,” leaving

her with only one place to go: grandmother’s house.

Red Riding Hood proved to be a pleasant surprise as it carried out an entertaining, mature version of the classic fairy tale. This movie is not for children or guys, but if you like modern-day fairy tales with action, romance, and a little humor this movie is definitely the movie for you.

Photo courtesy Warner Bros.

Photo courtesy ABC Photo courtesy CBS

Photo courtesy FOX Photo courtesy ABC Photo courtesy CW

Coming Up: The end of the world.

Worth it?: Love triangles between the potential savior/destructor of two universes and two versions of the same woman, crazy fathers with parts of their brains missing, insurmountable odds at every turn, cross-dimensional story lines, bald men that pop up across every important event ever. This isn’t your typical soap opera people.

Coming Up: It’s soon to be a musical good time as the doctors of Seattle Grace show off their singing chops in a special episode. Can the emergency room continue to get any more exciting?

Worth it?: Absolutely! Kevin McKidd (Owen) has already shown off his singing skills multiple times on the drama so its only time for the rest of the cast to prove their worth as well.

Coming Up: Steve Carrell will be signing off soon as the ubiquitous Michael Scott. Will Farell, creator Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett will all be stepping up to the plate in special roles to transition between bosses at Dunder Mifflin.

Worth it?: It’s about time for some fresh air in Scranton. The past few seasons have yet to live up to the humour of the early years. We love you Michael Scott, but it’s time to say goodbye.

Coming Up: Now that it has been renewed for two more seasons, perhaps we may finally get around to meeting the Mother that Future Ted has been discussing for the past few years.

Worth it? : For a show about a man telling his kids about their mom, it certainly does not live up to its promise. We better be meeting this mother soon because why else have we hung on this long?

Coming Up: The next episode isn’t for another month but get prepared for major fallout after Dan and Blair’s actions.

Worth it? : Gossip Girl is like the Ice Cream Man. Same time, same tunes, and always a pleasure. It doesn’t matter who is with who or what’s going on, these kids are always up to something, and it is bound to be entertaining, or at least distracting enough to avoid doing any real homework.

Rebecca Mechler

Glee (FOX) Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Fringe (FOX) The Office (ABC) Gossip Girl (CW)

The Summa 9Thursday, March 24, 2011Entertainment

Laura Gonzales

Staff Writer

Four years have passed since Avril Lavigne released her last full-length album, The Best Damn Thing, in 2007. Since then, her appearance on the music scene has been almost non-existent except for an appearance on Almost Alice, the sound track to Tim Burton’s film Alice in Wonderland. She has instead ventured into other grounds, appearing in films, launching a fashion line, and releasing her own perfume. With Goodbye Lullaby, released on March 8, Lavigne attempts to move away from the bubble gum anthems that made her pop’s punk princess towards becoming a more serious musician and songwriter.

Having had a part in writing each of the album’s thirteen tracks, Lavigne covers a lot of territory, with the songs ranging from spirited, pop tunes to wispy love ballads.

The album’s lead single “What the Hell” first appeared in early January and was instantly compared to Lavigne’s 2007 hit “Girlfriend” because of its irresistible catchiness. Written by both Lavigne and maverick

Avril Lavigne shows romantic side, making comeback with latest release

songwriter-producers Max Martin and Shellback, who are also responsible for Britney Spears’ “3” and Usher’s “D.J. Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” the song is easily the most upbeat on the record, but it is also clearly the least personal on the album. Other tracks such as the erratic “Smile” that speaks of accidental tattoos and

doctored drinks are incredibly catchy and will undoubtedly appeal to many.

Lavigne’s romantic side begins to show in the second half of the album, with songs such as the titular “Goodbye” and the love song fittingly named “I Love You.” Although these songs are sweet, you cannot help but

feel the repetition as the lyrics ponder love’s complications again and again.

This album is distinguished from prior ones by the reduced use of instruments, allowing her vocals to be completely displayed, functioning as the primary instrument throughout the track.

Despite the problems that arise with the softer ballads that seem to weigh down the second half of the album, Goodbye Lullaby is an interesting composition that demonstrates Lavigne’s growth as a singer-songwriter while still retaining her trademark pop-punk attitude.

Matthew Ramirez

Staff Writer

Lasers, the third album from Chicago-based rapper Lupe Fiasco, is one of the worst hip-hop albums in recent memory. Taking everything that’s currently wrong about mainstream hip-hop—the overwrought, rock-influenced hooks sung by interchangeable male and female crooners, the overwhelming, synthesizer-heavy beats that obscure rather than complement the rhymes—at times makes Lasers sound like a subversive parody of this kind of thing.

While much of what’s terrible about the record has less to do with Lupe and more to do with major-label politics and what record execs think it takes to move CDs off shelves post-Adventures of Bobby Ray, that still doesn’t take away from Lupe’s sloppy, not-too-clever rhyme, and complete lack of a palpable personality: on previous records, he was the nerdy but intelligent backpack rapper; here, he feels like a featured guest on his own album.

When I heard “The Show Goes On,” Lasers’ first single, it sounded to me like a

Lupe Fiasco seems absent from his own work in newest album Lasersjoke. First of all, the “show” as a metaphor for life was already covered on “Superstar,” one of Lupe’s finest tracks from 2007’s The Cool. Second, that horribly-butchered Modest Mouse sample is such a rip from the B.o.B. playbook, and as a whole the song just has that feel of self-aware satire, a send-up of the current attempts at “crossover,” complete with a sing-song chorus, the guitars turned up high in the mix, and some of the most generic rhymes imaginable. The track was written for someone else and handed to Lupe for this record; he was told not to “rap too deep” on it, to make it appeal to as wide an audience as possible. Although it starts with “Have you ever had the feeling that you were being had?” Lupe addresses the behind-the-scenes drama with such broad strokes that it’s hard to really know what went wrong; as a result, the song is a cop-out.

In interviews, Lupe has straight-up confessed that he “hates” this album, mostly because of the long process it took to finally get released, and has serious reservations about most of the songs that made the cut. He reduces his

role in the process as a rapper-for-hire, and most of what is wretched about Lasers truly has nothing to do with his raps. But putting all politics aside still doesn’t make Lasers a good pop album.

You don’t go to Lupe records for beats, but the cheap, thin-sounding “Letting Go” is terrible, and that “whoa-oh-oh-oh” chorus just emphasizes how amateurish the tracks sounds. The tinny piano-bounce on “Till I Get There” is supposed to sound funky, I guess, but sounds cheesy and awkward after the go-for-broke crossover attempt “Words I Never Said,” and before Lasers bottoms out completely on “I Don’t Wanna Care Right Now,” with a terrible hook by MDMA and a truly embarrassing beat that is such a bald-faced attempt at a club song. While most reviewers have saved “Words I Never Said” or “Beautiful Lasers” as favorites, I maintain that the only song that genuinely works on the record is “All Black Everything.” It’s got a good, dramatic, string-soaked beat, and the lyrical conceit—an alternate history where slavery never happened—is an intriguing

one, at least for four minutes. Lasers is more depressing

than your average forgettable hip-hop album because it deflates a formerly good artist into a non-entity. If it were just a creative misstep, then it would be easy to forgive and

forget, but because it’s the product of so many hands that plays to the worst of Lupe’s instincts, it ends up being a failure beyond Relapse-level lows. Here’s hoping that Lupe regains some creative control for album number four.

Photo courtesy Avril Lavigne

Photo courtesy Lupe Fiasco

Entertainment10 The Summa Thursday, March 24, 2011

Puzzles CornerSudoku March Crossword Created By Katie Thomson

Answers at www.ust-summa.com

Joke of the Month: Q:Why did Beethoven get rid of his chickens?

A: Because they kept saying “Bach, Bach, Bach, Bach!”

ACROSS 1. Red Lobster freebie3. To knock off the track7. “La Danse” painter8. Color on the Irish flag10. Animal rights organization13. Royal Arms of England symbol15. Carnival city

16. Knight wear17. Makers of Pianos and Bikes

DOWN 2. Shot from an air gun3. Morning moisture4. _____ hand: assist5. Santana’s “___ Como Va”6. Travel document

9. Cinnamon gum brand10. Digital dots11. Organized string of gigs12. Army attack helicopter14. Thomas of the NBA?18. One of two authorized U.S. iPhone carriers

Katie Jahangiri

Sports & Clubs Editor

I have always been a fan of fried food. From the first time I tasted Fried Oreos at the Rodeo years ago I was hooked. It comes as no surprise that since then, I have made it a point to try all of the seemingly disgusting, interesting, and calorie filled foods every chance I get.

This year, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo had some wonderful choices. By comparison to Fried Butter, the Fried Oatmeal Cream Pie from Sills Funnel Cake Hause sounded almost ordinary. Outshined by its siblings, Fried Snickers, which took first place, and the Banana Split Funnel Cake, which took second, it didn’t win awards in the Third Annual Gold Buckle Foodie Awards.

I was hesitant that the woman behind the counter would think there was something wrong with me for ordering so much fried food, but when I placed my order,

Rodeo food: the weird, the wild, the wonderfulshe beamed at me. “Good choice,” she said, “That one’s my favorite,” in response to the Fried Oatmeal Cream Pie.

In the same way birthday cake calories don’t count on your birthday, the word “oatmeal” stood out, among the choices, as being almost healthy. Served up warm, the Fried Oatmeal Cream Pie wraps the thick, creamy goodness of toasted oatmeal, warm cinnamon, and melted brown sugar flavors inside a soft shell of sweet, fried dough similar to a funnel cake, with a light dusting of powdered sugar.

The Fried Snickers was what you would expect from Fried Snickers: delicious.

Chocolate is always good, and frying it only makes it more heavenly; however, the Banana Split Funnel Cake was almost too much, because it was so sweet. Sounds ridiculous, I know, given the other comments I just made.

I always look forward to random fried food finds, like Fried Beer at the State Fair (don’t knock it until you try it), and I hope that next year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has even more interesting, (and mildly gross) fried foods to try. Don’t want to try them because you’re afraid of calories? Trust me, after all the walking you will do at the Rodeo, the calories don’t count.

Photo courtesy Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Why read when you can write?

The Summa is now accepting applications for the

2011 - 2012 School Year!

Positions Available:

Section EditorsWebmaster

Business ManagerStaff Writers

PhotographersAd Sales Reps

Experience is welcome but not required: Applicants must be willing to learn on the job.

For more information or to apply,e-mail thesumma@stthom.edu.

Thursday, March 24, 2011The Sports & Clubs

Friday, March 25A Musical Night at The Artery

The Artery Houston7:30 P.M.-9:30 P.M.

Minimum $5 donation

Sunday, March 27UST World Cup 2011: Eliminatory Round

Hackett Field1:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M..

A Lenten Renewal Concert Featuring Guitarist Tony MelendezJerabeck Gym

6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.$3 advance, $5 at the door

Saturday, April 2Concert in the Mall Campus Life Mall

4:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.

Sunday, April 3UST World Cup 2011: Semi-Final and Finals Round

Hackett Field2:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.

Upcoming Events

The Summa 11

NCAA March Madness comes to Houston

“...And it’s game over here in the nation’s capital!” It’s also game over for a lot of brackets picked by the millions of college basketball fans who suffer from something called March Madness.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s annual basketball tournament kicked off on Tuesday, March 15th and will be ending in Houston, Texas on Sunday, April 4th where one college will be given the crown of collegiate basketball champions!

After last year’s unexpected results, many were hoping that this would be just as crazy of a year for the NCAA Tournament.

68 teams were selected on Sunday, March 13 to participate in the national tournament. The results, as usual, received vocal criticism and support. Many people thought certain teams got “robbed” of a chance, such as the Virginia Tech Hokies. Others questioned the inclusion of teams like, the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers.

Even seeds were questioned. Many wondered why the Florida Gators were given the Number 2 seed in the Southeast Region and the University of Texas Longhorns as the Number 4 seed in the West Region. A lot of concern was focused on why the Big East Conference had 11 teams, more than any other conference, in the tournament. However, when play started on Tuesday, everyone forgot all of that and became engulfed by the “Madness.”

The NCAA instituted a new format by including three additional teams. Four play-in games in Dayton, Ohio determined who would play in the first weekend. To determine who would play against the East’s Number 1 seed and heavy favorite to win the top prize, the Ohio State Buckeyes, University of Texas-San Antonio Road Runners defeated the Alabama State Hornets for the 16th seed

in their first ever win in the NCAA Tournament.

Also, for a 16th seed, University of North Carolina-Asheville Bulldogs played a tough tournament opener by escaping past the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans, who had the lead for much of the game, in overtime. They moved on to face the Southeast’s Number 1 seed Pittsburgh University Panthers. The Clemson University Tigers showed why they were a force to be reckoned with by clinching the Number 12 Seed in the East by blowing out the Blazers from UAB to move on and face the West Virginia Mountaineers. Finally, the last playoff game was for the Southwest’s 11th seed where the Virginia Commonwealth Rams knocked out the University of Southern California Trojans.

Once the seeds were finally set, the second round gave fans a run for their money. Early on, last year’s tournament Cinderella story,

the 8th seed Butler University Bulldogs in the Southeast, looked to repeat.

A repeat first weekend matchup between the 9th seed Old Dominion Monarchs saw a last minute buzzer shot by the Bulldog’s Senior Forward Matt Howard to clinch the game 60-58. Butler continues their repeat run with the glass slippers by later upsetting Pittsburgh to enter into the Sweet Sixteen. As if that wasn’t enough madness for one day, Southwest Region’s 13th seed Morehead State Eagles upset a very strong 4th seed Louisville Cardinals team with just seconds to play, ending on 62-61.

Similar notable upsets occurred the following day when another team that seems to be wearing the glass slippers, the VCU Rams, upset 6th seed Georgetown University’s Hoyas and moved on to the Sweet Sixteen by ruining the Purdue Boilers’ chances at the title. Both games were not close, as the Rams defeated both teams by 18 points at 74-

56 and 94-76, respectively.With teams like the

Longhorns, Cardinals, and Panthers, should the Number 1 seeds be worried? Reigning champions Duke University Blue Devils, Kansas University Jayhawks, and the Buckeyes hope the answer is no. However, only time can tell when March Madness comes to Houston in April!

Samrat Bhattacharya

Staff Writer

Student Government Expenditure ReportKatie Jahangiri

Sports & Clubs Editor

9/7/2010 Bill #1 Sub-Ledger* Allocation Bill(SGA Rainy Day Fund)

*Pursuant to Article VII, Section 1 of the SGA Constitution, any funds remaining in the Sub-ledger Account at the end of the year shall roll over into the Student Activity Fee Fund Account.

$29,538.90

11/9/2010 Bill #3 Celtic Discount Card $1,000.0011/24/2010 Bill #4 SGA Christmas Social

(Funds were allocated but were not spent)$4,500.00

2/1/2011 Bill #5 Free Printing on SGA $13,940.00

2/15/2011 Bill #6 Concert in the Mall $7,500.00

3/8/2011 Bill #7 Cameron Business Society Ping-Pong Tournament

$750.00

TOTAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED $57,228.90TOTAL AMOUNT UNALLOCATED $63,705.40

Weekly Expense:A maximum of $200 is spent on lunch for

SGA’s meeting every Tuesday.(All unused funds are returned to SGA)

The Student Government Association is charged with the responsibility of allocating the Student Activity Fees collected from the student body at the University of St. Thomas.

In accordance with its

constitutional duties and as a service to the university community, the SGA is providing the following expenditure report.

The SGA meets after the spring elections each year to allocate the student activity fee funds for the upcoming year. Any member of the SOC (except the SGA) may petition

for funds at this meeting. To gain entry into the

SOC, a group must have successfully petitioned the SGA for money and functioned for at least one semester. The organization may then become a full SOC member by three-fourths approval of the SGA.

Contact the SGA for more information.

Spreadsheet compiled by SGA Vice President Nicole Hickl

Final Four EvEnts

The Big Dance*at Discovery Green-Downtown

April 1: Sublime with RomeApril 2: Kings of LeonApril 3: Kenny Chesney

Team Practices*at Reliant Stadium - Friday

12 - 12:50 p.m. | Game #1 Lower Seed1 - 1:50 p.m. | Game #2 Lower Seed2:10 - 3 p.m. | Game #1 Higher Seed3:10 - 4 p.m. | Game #2 Higher Seed

Bracket Townat George R. Brown Convention

Center - DowntownThursday, March 31: 5 - 10 p.m.Friday, April 1: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.Saturday, April 2: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.Sunday, April 3: 12 -- 8 p.m.Monday, April 4: 12 -- 7 p.m.

*Free Eventncaa.com/finalfour

12 The Summa Thursday, March 24, 2011Advertising

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