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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2012

VOLUME 96ISSUE 58

FIRST COPY FREE,ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS

Dallas’ new science museum

This weekend, 17 SMU students, one professor and one student from Texas Women’s University will join approximately 2,500 people in the 20th annual Midwest, Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) at Iowa State University.

However, what makes them stand out from the other participants in the conference is that they are the only southern school attending.

Together, these 19 people will represent Texas through Spectrum, SMU’s undergraduate LGBT organization, in the largest LGBTQA college conference in North America.

Working to show that SMU is a progressive campus, participation in this event alone jumped from four students last year to 18 students this year, more than quadrupling attendance at this conference.

After attending last year’s MBLGTACC, Co-President of Spectrum Harvey Luna was motivated to increase activism

on campus. However, he knew he couldn’t do it alone.

Once he was elected co-president, Luna brought in funds from Student Senate, North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce, in addition to private donors and other conference attendees.

“[The conference] inspired me to spread the message and bring a sense of activism back to SMU,” he said.

At the time, Luna was a Dedman II Senator working on two bills in Senate — one to denounce homophobia and the other to implement a LGBT seat. While the first bill passed, the second did not.

In spite of the setback, Luna saw a change in attitude in the adopting of the bill.

“The change of the tone from ‘we shouldn’t have the LGBT seat’ from two years go to ‘how should we implement the LGBT seat’ last year is one indicator of how insightful and influential this conference can be on individuals on matters of activism,” he said.

Through this year’s theme, “The Butterfly Effect: Evolution

INSIDE

Valentine’s Day style picks PAGE 2

PAGE 7

A sartorial look at smoking PAGE 6

‘The Vow’ lacks heart

PAGE 7

Engaged Learning, a SMU initiative in the making for the past year, launched in January.

The initiative focuses on students being able to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the community.

“We recognize there are students doing research, service and internships that are really touching others lives, but the university hasn’t had a vehicle to celebrate the students,” Engaged Learning Director Susan Kress said.

The initiative oversees the Unbridled Learning Project, which allows students to receive funding and support for ideas they have developed.

The Unbridled Learning Project allows students to propose an idea they would like to initiate and impact the community.

If selected, students must complete the project within a year and meet a set list of requirements.

Three students have participated in the Unbridled Learning Project with projects such as teaching dance in Zambia, teaching photography to girls in the Dallas area, and building a database to benefit veterans.

The Unbridled Learning Project should not to be confused with Big Ideas or other programs on campus that help students initiate ideas in the community, but a student can benefit from both if they participate in this project.

Students who are already on projects, such as Big Ideas and the Maguire Center of Ethics, are welcome to apply to make it an Unbridled Learning Project.

An Unbridled Learning Project provides students with a variety of benefits that would not have been available before the initiative started.

Students can receive funds up to $2,000 for their project and have his or her project listed on their transcript.

An SMU transcript only lists a student’s personal information, GPA, courses taken and whether they graduated with distinction.

“My project was a photography workshop for high school girls which promoted natural beauty inside and out, including the natural beauty around them in their everyday lives,” Colby Kruger, marketing major, said.

She had been waiting to do her photography project for two years but had not been able to

get funding. “It is a wonderful opportunity to make your dreams a reality... if anyone has a great idea for a project I encourage them to do it!” Kruger said. “The SMU Unbridled Learning grant made it all possible for me!”

Upon acceptance, the student must complete the project by end of fall semester. They will present their work the following spring.

As long as the student meets all of the requirements on their project, their work will be published by Central University Libraries over the summer.

The participants are invited back for a celebration in the fall ,celebrating their publication and introducing the new project participants.

Lindsay Abigail, a dance performance major, completed the project on teaching orphans in Zambia dance for a week.

Abigail’s project evolved while she was working with the students in Zambia.

“I was equipping them with different skills like how to have a creative outlet, how to express yourself,” Abigail said.

Engaged Learning Director Susan Kress, who previously served as director of education abroad, was a driving force in the rebranding and expansion of the SMU Abroad program.

She has now taken on the task of Engaged Learning. “I inherited a lot of great ideas but had to work with a small hard-working focus group to take these great ideas and turn it into a plan,” Kress said.

The initiative hopes that in the future, all SMU students choose to participate in Engaged Learning.

An Engaged Learning student panel, made up of representatives from a variety of lead organizations on campus, ensures it is working in the best interest of the students.

Engaged Learning has also been focusing on building partnerships between SMU and the local community.

Next fall, the initiative will be hosting a networking event called “Get Engaged” that will be open to the whole SMU community and allow students and faculty to meet a variety of community partners.

The initiative’s Engaged Learning Day on Monday will have events around campus consisting of workshops on applying for an Unbridled Learning Project, presentations by the students who completed projects and an awareness event at the flagpole.

To find out more about applying for an Unbridled Learning Project or about the day’s activities, go to www.smu.edu/engagedlearning.

SMU launches out-of-classroom

initiative

ACADEmICS

OOPS, we did it againmen’s basketball upsets TCU at moody Coliseum

The SMU men’s basketball program defeated TCU with a score of 68-62 during a cross-town show down at Moody Coliseum Wednesday.

Both teams put up a tough fight during the ball game, on both the offensive and defensive end.

With only one minute remaining in the first half, SMU and TCU were tied with a score of 35-35.

Mustangs Jeremiah Samarrippas, Robert Nyakundi and London Giles proved to be a powerful trio. However, it was Aliaksei Patsevich who set the Mustangs ahead with a 37-35 lead in the last minute of the half.

Despite their efforts, TCU’s Hank Thorns connected a lay-up to once again to tie the game 37-37.

Nyakundi was the leading scorer for the Mustangs in the beginning half with 10 points, while Giles followed closely behind with seven points.

Horned Frogs Garlon Green and Kyan Anderson led the men in purple during the first half with Green racking up 10 points and Anderson closely behind with eight.

Returning from the half, both teams refused to let up on either side of the court. The game remained tied for the first three minutes of the half, until SMU’s Shawn Williams connected a three-point basket to gain a lead of 44-41.

Shortly after taking the lead, the

Mustangs and Horned Frogs fell back into a tied ball game.

The two teams continued to keep the game within two points until Nyakundi’s shot from outside the three-point line gave the Mustangs a three-point lead, 57-54.

With new found lead, the Mustangs energy took on a new level, both on the court and in the stands.

Once again pulling points for TCU in the final minutes of play, Thorns made a three-point shot to close SMU’s lead to only one point, 58-57.

A series of TCU fouls and a lane violation assisted SMU in taking over the ball game, with a score of 68-62 and 17 seconds remaining on the clock, ultimately leading to a Mustang victory.

Finishing with a final score of the rivalry match-up snapped SMU’s five game losing streak.

The Nyakundi, Giles and Samarrippas trio finished the game with points in the double digits. Nyakundi led the pack with 17 total points and five rebounds.

SMU finished with 26 points in the paint and 22 points off TCU turnovers, shooting 52.1 percent from the field.

TCU’s J.R. Cadot led the Horned Frogs with a total of 14 points and an impressive nine rebounds.

Next, the Mustangs will face-off with the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas for the second time in the 2011 to 2012 season. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. Saturday.

JOHNATHAN MACHEMEHLContributing Writer

[email protected]

MERCEDES OWENSSports Editor

[email protected]

Is “True Blood” the new Bible? Not exactly, but the vampire television series and its counterparts are becoming increasingly influential to viewers in today’s media-obsessed society.

And that might not be such a bad thing, an expert in media and religion told an SMU audience Thursday afternoon at a symposium on public life and personal faith hosted by the Perkins School of Theology.

Diane Winston, the Knight Chair in Media and Religion at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, examined the blurred lines between entertainment and religion during her presentation in Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall, “Saving Grace: Ritual, Re-enchantment and Redemption in a Mediatized World.”

“The growing chasm between institutional religion and the American public … reflects, in part, the growing influence of media in our lives, specifically its challenge to traditional religious authority,” Winston said.

She likened “True Blood’s”

Bill Compton to Moses to make her point.

“I really don’t think that Moses has anything to worry from vampire Bill,” Winston said. “But I wanted to make the point that an increasing number of people find more meaning and inspiration in popular entertainment than they do in religious texts.”

But instead of blasting the media for their role in this shift in values, Winston revealed a surprising thought: mediatized culture can be religious.

Mediatization, she said, is

SARAH KRAMEREditor in Cheif

[email protected]

EVENT

Expert discusses media, religion

CAmPUS

SPECTRUM represents Southern

schools in conference MEGHAN SIKKELCopy Editor

[email protected]

See MEDIA page 8See LGBT page 8

SPENCER J EGGERS / The Daily Campus

Earning a total of 17 points, senior forward Robert Nyakumdi was SmU’s top scorer in Wednesday evening’s game in moody Coliseum.

In the Wednesday, Feb. 8 edition of The Daily Campus, it was reported that head equipment manager Albert Veytia joined the Mustang Athletic Program from Kentucky. However, Veytia was previously with Kansas States before making the switch to SMU.

CORRECTION

Photo Courtesy of SmU News & Communication

FEBruary 612:03 p.m. Panhellenic House 2. A staff member reported someone made suspicious charges on her credit card. Open.

2:46 p.m. Umphrey Lee Center. A staff member reported an assault at this location. Open.

9:46 p.m. Daniel Ave. A student reported the theft of his bicycle. Open.

Police ReportsFEBruary 7

2:14 p.m. Pi Kappa Alpha House. A staff member reported the theft of Greek letters. Open.

5:12 p.m. Owens Arts Center. A student reported the theft of his laptop. Open.

11:22 p.m. Duty on Striking Mead-ows Museum Parking Garage. A staff member reported a vehicle struck an unattended vehicle and fled the area. Closed.

Campus Events

FRIDAYFebruary 10

SATURDAYFebruary 11

Ice, Ice Baby: Program Council presents a skating rink at 7 p.m. by the flagpole.

Four Centuries of Religious Books for Children: A presentation of Bibles and other works from the 15th to 19th century in Bridwell Library all day.

Community Service at the Animal Shelter: Join Mustang Heroes at the Operation Kindness Animal Shelter at 10 a.m.

Faculty Piano Recital: Solo piano music by Beethoven and Chopin in the Owen Arts Center at 8 p.m.

STYLE FrIDay n FEBruary 10, 2012 The Daily Campus 2

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3SPORTSFRIDAY n FEBRUARY 10, 2012The Daily Campus

SMU women’s basketball played what was considered one of their toughest games yet against Memphis. Playing at Moody Coliseum Thursday night, the Mustangs took a tough 60-55 loss within the last minutes of the game.

Memphis, wearing pink shoes and shirts in efforts to raise money and awareness for breast cancer, came ready to play against the Mustangs. The game began strong and stayed powerful throughout the entire game as both teams were vying for the win.

However, coming off the tough loss against Tulane 75-63 did not get the Mustangs down as they did not let Memphis lead by more than three points the entire first half.

The score had been tied seven times with three lead changes when SMU went into halftime with a four-point lead over Memphis, 38-34.

While the Mustangs out scored the Tigers during the first half, the game took a quick reverse as Memphis took control.

Dominating on defense, Memphis only allowed SMU to score 19 points the last half of the game as they sailed by with 37 points.

Simpson, a sophomore forward from Duncanville, Texas, is currently leading Conference USA in scoring. During Thursday night’s game,

Simpson led the way for SMU with 14 points and a solid 11 rebounds.

The women’s basketball program won’t have much time to shake off the loss as they gear up for another home game Sunday

against Southern Mississippi. The ladies, coming off of a win/loss last night against Memphis, are hoping to keep the momentum going and picking up momentum with a win this weekend.

SMU sophomore, Akil Simpson was named Conference USA’s Player of the Week for the second time this season. She averaged 21 points per game last week, including 17 points against Houston and a career-high

of 25 points against Tulane. Much to Tulane’s despair,

Simpson also earned her sixth double-double of the season that night, collecting 10 rebounds along with her 25 points.

Simpson was 16 for 26 from the field and 10 for 11 from the line in the two conference games, earning an outstanding field goal percentage of 61.5 percent.

The Mustangs, following Simpson’s lead, are 12-10 for the season and 5-4 in conference play.

Not only is the game this weekend important for conference standings, but this Sunday is also National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

SMU will be holding an auction during the game to raise money and awareness for the “Play for Kay” initiative, which benefits breast cancer research.

The “Play for Kay” fund is named in honor of the late North Carolina State University coach Kay Yow, who passed away after fighting her third bout with breast cancer in 2009.

Yow was a past president and founding member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and made a huge impact on many women in the basketball community. The aim of the fund is to one day “hold claim to funding one or several research projects that ultimately lead to a cure for cancer.”

For those of you planning on cheering the girls to a win, make

sure to come early at 11:45 a.m. for Fan Fest in Crum Auditorium.

Tip-off is set for this Sunday at 1 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. The game will also be televised on CBS Sports Network.

KELSEY CHARLESContributing [email protected]

Mustangs move forward after Memphis lossBAskEtBAll

tCU’s J.R. Cadot drives along the baseline against san Diego state saturday. sMU and tCU will face off Wednesday evening in Moody Coliseum.

MICHAEl DANsER/the Daily Campus

CHARItYsWIMMINg

Bringing in the ‘Doh’

Infiniti, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the NCAA and ESPN are partnering for the second time after last year’s successful Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge.

The partnership has announced that this year’s contribution will not change from the $100,000 awarded to the designated charity of the winning coach.

The other coaches will still receive

a $5,000 donation as opposed to the $10,000 that was donated to the coaches last year.

This year Infiniti has expanded the number of coaches participating in the challenge from 14 to 48 of the nation’s top NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball teams. Infiniti will be donating more than $300,000 all in total after the challenge is finished.

SMU men’s basketball head coach Matt Doherty is among the 48 participating coaches representing Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

“The Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge is a way to add a greater

level of support to our ongoing partnerships with the NABC and NCAA and their fine efforts in raising funds and support for their designated charities,” Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore said. “It allows us to bring awareness to the outstanding community efforts of these respected coaches, and hopefully inspire fans to learn and give more to each charity on their own.”

The charity’s winning coach will be determined by fan votes. They are able to select and submit their favorite coach to be eligible to receive

the grand prize. The fans have eight weeks,

beginning Jan. 18, to register and vote on www.ESPN.com/Infiniti.

There will be four brackets with 12 coaches each for the first six weeks.

The coaches will be paired against each other and one winner will emerge from each of the four brackets, in which then the four winners will head over to the next round for week seven.

The two finalists will then compete in the third and final round on week eight.

SMU swimmer Rachel Nicol, a freshman breaststroke specialist, was named Conference USA Swimmer of the Week.

The Longhorns won the meet 155-139 but Nicol, who came to SMU from Alberta, Canada, took first place in two races.

In the 100-yard race, she finished ahead of freshman teammate Erica Donadon by just one-hundredth of a second with a time of 1:03.74.

Nicol clocked in at 2:15.28 in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Other top-finishers at the meet include All-American senior Therese Svendsen and senior Denisa Smolenova.

Svendsen proved she deserved an All-American title during the match by taking home two first-place finishes in the 100 and 200-yard backstrokes.

Along with her top placement, the senior also rallied in a second-place title by swimming the

opening leg of the 200-yard medley relay squad. During the relay, the Mustangs finished with a time of 1:42.02.

Also having an impressive match against the Longhorns, Smolenova had a pair of first-place titles in the 100-yard butterfly in 54.87 seconds.

Her second title came from her 1:59.26 finish in the 200-yard butterfly.

Sopohomore Nina Rangelova also joined top ranks with a top title in the 200-yard freestyle and a second place title in the 500-yard freestyle (4:49.75).

Rangelova also took part in the Mustangs second place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay team. The team finished the relay in 1:32.77.

The loss to Texas Saturday in Perkins Natatorium moved the No. 13 women’s swim team to 5-2 this season. Both losses were from top-six teams.

The Mustangs will compete at the C-USA Championships in Houston Feb. 15 to Feb. 18.

Nicol named Swimmer of

the WeekKATHRYN RODEN

Assc. Sports [email protected]

CEASAR RINCONStaff Writer

[email protected]

ADVERTISEMENTS FRIDAY n FEBRUARY 10, 2012 The Daily Campus 4

5ARTSFRIDAY n FEBRUARY 10, 2012The Daily Campus

The perfect movie for you this Valentine’s Day

Girls night in

Sometimes you just need to cry. “P.S. I Love You” is the perfect tear- jerker for a Valentine’s Day

night with your girlfriends. The beautiful romance centers around a widow named Holly who

treks to her husband’s homeland of Ireland and finds love. Sweet, sad, and ultimately happy, this movie is the perfect addition to a night of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

‘P.S. I Love You’For the loner

‘(500) Days of Summer’

Let’s face it: being alone on the day meant for couples is not ideal. But sometimes not having someone can be the best thing. No other movie paints an honest picture of falling in and out of love like “(500) Days of Summer.”

The movie follows Tom, a hopeless romantic searching for “the one.” He ends up falling head over heels for Summer, a girl who doesn’t believe in the existence of love. This candid tale is the perfect flick to watch when single on Valentine’s Day.

With furry friend‘Marley and Me’

Want a heartwarming film that is fit for a perfect snuggle night with your furry friend?

“Marley and Me” will have you laughing and crying throughout the life of the precious yellow Labrador Retriever Marley.

By the end of the comedy-drama, you’ll be thanking your lucky stars you don’t have to deal with the chaos Marley stirs up.

Whatever your situation, we have you covered

With your significant other‘The Notebook’

“The Notebook” is one of the greatest love stories of all time. It is about a love that surpasses many trials from social status differences to Alzheimer’s disease. The story, loosely based on a book by Nicholas Sparks follows Noah and Allie, a couple that fall madly in love.

Their love is a love that never goes away. Almost everyone has either seen the movie or heard of it. It may seem cliché to watch it yet again, but no other movie compares when it comes to showing the meaning of love.

The plot draws you in and you root for the couple from beginning to end. You aren’t just watching their love grow, you feel as if you are experiencing it yourself.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Photo courtesy of NewLine Cinema

Visit us online at smudailycampus.com

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Letters To The Editor are welcomed and encouraged. All letters should concentrate on issues, be free of personal attacks, not exceed 250 words in length and must be signed by the author(s). Anonymous letters will not be published and The Daily Campus reserves the right to edit let-ters for accuracy, length and style. Letters should be submitted to [email protected].

Guest columns are accepted and print-ed at the editor’s discretion upon submission to [email protected]. Guest columns should not exceed 500-600 words and the author will be identified by name and photograph.

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POLICIES

COLumn

Marginalization of the moderate

Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Kramermanaging Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chase WadeSmu-TV news Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie Brown, Meredith CarltonAssignments Desk Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tashika VarmaOnline Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Murphynews Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rahfin FarukArts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cassandra RobinsonAssociate Arts & Entertainment Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katelyn HallSports Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mercedes Owens, Brooke WilliamsonAssociate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn RodenPhoto Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spencer EggersStyle Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelby FosterHealth & Fitness Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne McCaslin ParkerFood Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate PettyOpinion Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brandon BubCopy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan Anderson, Laura Murphy, Meghan Sikkel, Katie TuftsVideo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summer Dashe, Eric Sheffield, Kent Koons

Advertising StaffAdvertising Sales Representatives . . Jamie Alvrus, Paige Evans, Audra Fulp, Sean Gatz, Huston SmithClassified Representative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demetrio Tenientemarketing Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bree UngarSales Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hillary Johnson

Production StaffAdvertising Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riane Alexander, Kelsey Cordutskynighttime Production Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Palomo

Business StaffBusiness Assistant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felix Curry

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If you plan to cast a ballot in this year’s presidential election, your choice will be this: Would you like the leader of these United States to be a radical or an extremist?

On one side, there is President Obama whose usual rhetoric takes mainstream American liberalism to lengths not seen in decades. Obama is no socialist, but it’s not by a total misunderstanding of the term that he is often labeled as such. On the other side, there is a rather motley assortment of well-off white folk, all of whom believe — or have been taught to say, in the case of Mitt Romney — that tax increases (or repealed tax cuts), entitlement programs, same-sex marriage, secular education, reproductive rights and those uppity Palestinians directly undermine the vision of the founding fathers.

The result for many Americans is a choice between two largely undesirable ideologies. If you think, for example, that marriage rights should be extended to gay and lesbian couples (or even just that states should decide this for themselves) but also that the federal government should institute radical spending cuts, there is not a candidate for you. If you happen to believe that schools should teach children about STDs and contraception but are not a fan of using taxpayer money to fund abortions, there is not a candidate for you. In short, if you are a moderate, there is not a candidate for you. You are not even taken into consideration. On the eve of potentially one of the most influential elections in our nation’s history, the levelheaded voter has been taken out of the race.

The phenomenon is not restricted to politics, either. The mainstream media ensures that no measure of moderation ever appears in the headlines. Think about it. Which gets more airtime: Westboro Baptist, or First United Methodist? Which are you more likely to read about: peaceful Sunni imams or fundamentalist suicide bombers? Sports: When is the last time you heard, “Tony Romo is a talented quarterback with a solid statistical résumé, but his occasional fourth-quarter mistakes are somewhat frustrating?” It’s always, “Romo sucks — trade him!” “Awesome” is the new “good.” “Crisis” is the new “problem,” and if it isn’t a crisis, it’s a “triumph.”

For this, we have only ourselves to blame. Ours used to be a nation that welcomed multipolar dissent and open-minded discourse. Now, we are dominated by hyperbole and duality. To be a member of a political party is to say that your opponents are wrong in all cases. Gray areas are drawn black or white. What ever became of empathy? Of compromise?

Extremism receives popular support because it is easy. Far more difficult is accepting that no issue worth a debate is as simple as today’s politicians make it. But if we ever want another decent presidential candidate, we are going to have to take it upon ourselves to elevate our political dialogue. It may be a tired cliché, but we will get the government we deserve.

Recent spikes in Ron Paul’s polling numbers should be seen as evidence that more and more Americans are getting fed up. He’s no moderate, and he may not be a viable candidate, but he reconciles a number of the differences between the Republicans and Democrats. He is the option C that we crave. But look at how he is treated by the media, by his peers — he deviates from the talking points, so he is swept aside. The problem with having two fundamentally opposed parties is that anyone who dares to think that both sides might be flawed can only be crazy.

As it stands, on Nov. 6 of this year, the voters will elect either Obama or, presumably, Romney. Neither will be the right choice. One can only hope that come 2016 it will be the extremists, not the moderates, who have been marginalized.

Eli is a sophomore majoring in creative writing and human rights.

OPInIOn FRIDAY n FEBRUARY 10, 2012 The Daily Campus 6

ELI [email protected]

I am an avid smoker. If we’re being honest (and

aren’t all publications honest?), I go through about 10 cigarettes a day. Therefore, it may surprise many of you that I’m writing to talk about the dangers of smoking.

We have all heard the cigarette-smoke-will-blacken-your-lungs-give-you-cancer-and-have-deformed-babies argument 5,043 times. I try to act utterly surprised when someone comes up to me telling me that smoking is harmful for me. While I appreciate your concern, I can clearly read the health effects on the side of the box. Indeed, I know what I’m putting in my body.

I think people could make a much greater case if they talked about the immediate, negative affects of smoking cigarettes,

cigars and *achem* other things. First, I have a hole the size of a

silver dollar in my jacket. It’s not a fashion statement; I purchased the jacket sans-crater.

I was walking to class the other day, and gave my friend a hug on the Boulevard. I accidentally shed my cigarette (for those of you who don’t know what this means, ask someone with a cigarette sticking out of their mouth), and thought that the smoldering tobacco just fell to the ground.

I walked into my class and smelt something burning. There, on my arm, was a hole, increasing in size with orange light emitting from the edges. I had caught my arm on fire.

I ran to the bathroom to put the mini-campfire out and then returned to the classroom uttering a few choice words under my breath.

So, that’s number one — cigarettes make your clothes look

like swiss cheese. Another story comes about

because of the massive collection of lighters I now have.

I used to use a Zippo in an attempt to be classy and sophisticated while lighting up. That went out the window right after I lost my lighter in my mother’s couch cushions (thought I’m almost certain she just stole it from me).

Now, I resort to purchasing 99 cent Bic lighters from the 7-Eleven across the street. Of course, I almost always mistake the lighter for chap-stick every morning before I walk out of the door and then have to buy yet another lighter from 7-Eleven. I’ve compiled quite the collection.

The other day, a friend walked into my room, looked directly at my nightstand and stared with eyes the size of large walnuts. When I asked her what was wrong, she asked if I had an issue

with flames. I looked, laughed and then

explained to her that I buy a new lighter about once a week because I always leave mine in my room. She has not been back since.

So there’s danger number two — friends will think you’re a pyromaniac and abandon you forever.

I guess with all of these negative things that come from smoking one would think I would quit.

Of course, my argument is that I met my last lover while smoking so I’m hoping to have that happen again.

But who knows? Maybe when I have kids I’ll finally quit.

Or, maybe when I run out of jackets.

Michael is a sophomore majoring in communications studies and religious studies.

Before May 2008, it was illegal

for gay and lesbian couples to marry in California. But that month, the California Supreme Court ruled that the law, which barred same sex marriage, violated California’s Constitution. However, on Nov. 4, 2008, Proposition 8 was passed by a very narrow margin. This bill states marriage should be defined as exclusively between a man and a woman.

While only 52 percent of California voters approved the proposition, the margin was sufficient for it to become a state law. I find it extremely unsettling that the simple right for any two people who are in love and wish to make their union legally recognized, can be denied by such a small percentage. Opponents of Proposition 8 submitted a formal argument to a state court calling for a repeal of

the law. However, the courts upheld the bill.

I fully agree with these dissenters. It’s my opinion that marriage should be allowed between any two people, regardless of their genders. If you ditch the arguments, laws and opinions you’ve heard about marriage and consider it with an unbiased mind, it seems blatantly obvious that two people, regardless of their gender, should be able to marry. Not only is it natural, but it’s also moral.

The ability of two lovers to marry should never be barred under any circumstance. It is a basic human right, which should be afforded to all people.

I believe those who wish to ban basic human rights, such as same sex marriage, are on par with those who advocated for a separate set of laws for people of race. It’s simple discrimination against a certain group of people.

No group of people should ever be denied basic rights, such as

marriage or voting rights.This is simple discrimination

based on tradition, hate, fear, selfishness and a sense of superiority.

Thinking back on our country’s history, many examples of discrimination based on a simple trait quickly come to mind.

For example, women were not allowed to vote until 1920 simply because of their gender. They were viewed as lesser humans. This discriminatory mind set against a particular group of people with a natural, unchangeable trait is despicable.

From my perspective, same sex marriage is very similar to the past issue of women’s suffrage. The fact that such blatant discrimination is still built into laws is mind blowing. This highlights society’s ability to ignore obvious violations of equality. Perhaps, this discrimination continues because the majority people are so caught up in their hateful and condescending

mind set toward people different from themselves.

Whether the majority of people actually have this unacceptable mind set or they choose to ignore the issue doesn’t make a difference. Those who ignore the issue are equally responsible for the continuation of the hate. Ignorance or complacency is another way of condoning, though passively, the inequality. People must become more informed, concerned and involved on this type of issue.

Action must be taken. Everyone is equal and shares a human connection. We are all part of a global family. Laws and mind sets must change as we move toward a better global community. This hatred, fear and discrimination must be stopped. We need less discrimination and more acceptance. Love needs to prevail over hatred.

Michael is the online editor. He is also a senior majoring in philosophy and journalism.

College, more than any other stage of life, is a time of freedom and opportunity.

We join reputable clubs and organize charitable events. We are constantly surrounded with opportunities to give and volunteer.

I was once of the mindset that the motives behind philanthropy should not matter.

If good is accomplished, if people are helped, if society benefits, the intentions are irrelevant.

Generosity, whether of time, energy, or money, is still generosity. The end result is what counts.

However, I have since witnessed the difference between sincere and artificial giving.

Many people “do good” in order to improve appearances, receive reward, or alleviate some degree of moral guilt.

Especially in a college atmosphere with philanthropy opportunities always available, it

is easy to donate and volunteer simply to fill a résumé or meet social expectations.

In these instances, these personally-beneficial results are temporary: fulfilling service hours, receiving approval from your sorority or fraternity, or just feeling like a good person.

The difference between this sort of giving and an authentic investment in the charity or organization is not immediately noticeable.

The people receiving the charity or volunteerism are not even aware of the distinction. But when it comes to making a sustainable change, intentions make all the difference.

For example, Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser and SMU’s largest annual on-campus event, achieves the level of success that it does only because of students who are honestly and emotionally invested in the cause.

They have a true passion for finding the cure for cancer.

The event grows and improves

each year because of students’ long-term investments.

Were it characterized simply by a sense of obligation, guilt, or the desire to be viewed as a good and moral person, the event would be far less successful and remain stagnant.

This same concept can be projected onto a global scale. As Dambisa Moyo so effectively argued in Monday’s Tate Lecture, U.S. foreign aid to emerging countries is not as altruistic as many people think.

Moyo recognized that it is not uncommon for people to give to a charity without actually knowing where the money goes.

Some might argue that people are simply trusting, but I perceive it as chosen ignorance, taking the easy way out.

Were people to invest in ways beyond monetary offerings, they might discover that much of foreign aid is actually detrimental to emerging economies. A true interest in the issues and their causes would more effectively foster sustainable reform in developing countries in Africa.

As young Americans living comfortable lives and receiving incredible educations, it is natural to feel a sense of guilt and regret for the needy, the hurting, and those lacking the opportunities that we are so lucky to have.

Carelessly giving is a quick way to ease this guilt.

If we donate a certain amount or volunteer a certain number of hours, then we’re exempt from feeling bad about living privileged lives.

The truth is, we do live privileged lives. That is exactly what should inspire us to do more than just the bare minimum.

We have the resources, education, and ability to create sustainable change in the areas we feel passionate about.

We can go beyond careless charity. We can do better than fulfill our self-centered need to feel like a good person.

Katie Schaible is a freshman majoring in dance, international studies and human rights.

Doing good for others or yourself?KATIE [email protected]

No hate: Why Prop 8 needed to fallmICHAEL muRPHY

Online [email protected]

The unseen, sartorial dangers of smokingmICHAEL [email protected]

Associated Press

Jeff Giard, right, holds up a rainbow flag in support of same-sex marriage in Marysville, Calif. after a federal appeals court declared California’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional on Tuesday.

7ARTSFRIDAY n FEBRUARY 10, 2012The Daily Campus MOVIES

Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams play Paige and Leo in the romantic drama “The Vow.”Photo Courtesy of Sony Pictures

‘The Vow’ less than wows

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is the time of year when Hollywood releases a slew of sappy romantic movies hoping that witless boyfriends will sacrifice two hours of their life to make their significant other happy.

The movies are never too good, in fact, Valentine’s weekend is usually known to release some of the worst movies of the year.

Keeping with the tradition this year is Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum’s newest film, “The Vow.”

“The Vow” revolves around Paige and Leo, a love-drunk couple who look as if they jumped off the pages of a J. Crew catalogue.

The two live in a chic loft on the northside of Chicago.

Tragedy strikes when the couple gets into a car accident that leaves Paige in a coma.

The movie takes a surprising turn when Paige wakes up.

As if some divine entity pressed Paige’s reset button, McAdam’s character wakes up from her coma with no recollection of the past five years.

In fact, the memory loss is so bad that Paige has no idea she is even married to Leo.

In her mind, Paige is still

engaged to her former fiance, Jeremy. With Paige’s memory loss

comes the reintroduction of Paige’s family into her life.

Before Paige met Leo, she was in law school and still talking to her upper-class family.

However, after an affair tears her family apart, Paige left law school to move to Chicago and pursue a career as a sculptor.

With the addition of Paige’s family, Leo finds it even harder to win back the love of his life.

The rest of the movie follows Leo’s quest to win back Paige and convince his wife of the love they once shared.

With a story rooted within itself, “The Vow” spends too much time explaining each character’s reason for being in the picture.

Perhaps the biggest problem with “The Vow” lies in its casting. In this critic’s opinion, Rachel McAdams can do no wrong on screen. As Paige, McAdams possessed the casual demeanor of the character necessary for the role.

However, McAdam’s co-star, Channing Tatum, lacked the skills necessary to keep up with his leading lady.

While “The Vow” may not be the best movie to be released on Valentine’s Day, it certainly isn’t the worst.

At parts, “The Vow” lives up to its blockbuster billing, but ironically lacks the heart necessary to be a touching romantic film.

Witless boyfriends beware.

Seven years after the 4.7 acres in Victory Park were purchased, and 21 months after construction began, the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science is beginning to show Dallas what a $185 million state-of-the art museum looks like.

This month, North Texas media had the opportunity to go on a hard hat tour of the 180,000-square-foot museum that is slated to open in early 2013.

The 170-foot building will be home to five floors for exhibition halls.

“That’s because dinosaurs are very tall,” Jennifer Scripps, director of strategic initiatives, said as she explained that all the ceilings were built extremely high to most effectively display the exhibitions.

The unique architecture on the outside of the building is representative of geologic rock strata. But the more obvious aspect is the 150-foot rectangular glass structure that will house a 54-foot continuous escalator.

Museum architect and founder of Morphosis Architects Thom Mayne referred to the escalator as the “A ticket” to the city. With a one of a kind view of Dallas, the escalator takes visitors from the entrance up to level four.

“Literally, no matter where you are, you are a part of the city,” Mayne said.

Visitors will enter the museum grounds through a musical forest, which has instruments immersed for visitors to enjoy. Then, at the entrance plaza, visitors will be greeted by a digital theatre, retail store and Real. Delicious. café by Wolfgang Puck.

Up to this point, all of these amenities are free and open to the public.

“It is an attraction in and of itself,” Scripps said.

After crossing a bridge, visitors enter into the main lobby on the second floor where tickets may be purchased.

Even when going down to the underground level, natural light filters through the entire building. Museum attendees can stand here, below the entry bridge, look up and see all the way to a skylight, interrupted only by the series of stairways circulating through the building.

The museum will have 11 permanent exhibition halls, including everything from life-sized dinosaurs, gems, space, sports and a children’s museum.

“There are going to be things that haven’t been seen,” Paul Bernhard, principal at Paul Bernhard Exhibit Design and Consulting, said.

There will also be a temporary exhibition hall that will allow the museum to host traveling exhibitions

that the old Fair Park facilities were not accommodating.

Museum officials guarantee that the facility’s technology will be the latest and greatest.

“We want the ability to bring content in from anywhere and send content out to anywhere. And we’ve been granted that capacity,” Steve Hinkley, vice president of education for the museum, said.

Hinkley explained that within the six classrooms provided for education, the technology will offer Dallas students the opportunity to watch live broadcast of lectures at the Smithsonian Institution or collaborate with other students around the world.

“We are thrilled to be able to provide this directly to them,” Hinkley said.

The museum is also at the forefront with its “green” technology.

All the water in the building, with the exception of drinking water and water for the sinks, will be recycled on site from rain water collected on the roof.

Scripps and the rest of the museum team are dedicated to keeping the institution up-to-date and continuously improving itself.

“We think about opening day as the day you bring the baby home from the hospital,” Scripps said. “You are not done. The vigilance starts then.”

MUSEUMS

Media attends a project update and hard hat tour of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science 2013 opening.Photo Courtesy of Jason Janik

Perot Museum of Nature and Science nears completion CHASE WADE

Managing [email protected]

KATHARINA MARINOContributing Writer

[email protected]

CHILDCAREAFTERSCHOOL CARE T,W,TH 3-7 for three boys, ages 7,9,11. Duties include carpool, homework help, playing outside, errands, preparing simple, healthy dinners. $15/hr. Tollway/NWHwy area. [email protected]

AFTER SCHOOL SITTER for two boys (6-9) Pick up at school, take to activities. Monday and Wednesday, 3-6:30. Family at mockingbird and preston. $31-15/hr Catherine 214-862-2717

AFTER SCHOOL SITTER wanted. Two kids 9 and 13. 2-3 days per week, 3-6pm. Flexible days. McCommas and Greenville area. Light driving required. Tom 214-827-2245

DALLAS FAMILY SEEKS non-smoking concierge, $13/hr 12-14 hrs/week. We reimburse $.55/mile. Main duties include groceries, returns, pharmacy, USPS, dry cleaning, scheduling services, some laundry and light housework. Childcare experience a plus! Please e-mail resumes to [email protected] or fax resume to 972-404-4619.

SEEKING NANNY tTOhelp w 3 kids (ages 9,7,3) in Christian home. 35-40 hrs/wk, some flexibility, most hrs between 8am-6pm Mon-Fri. Evening help approx 1weeknight/wk and 1 weekend evening/mo. College and/or childcare exp. A plus; can accommodate some class schedules. Salaried position w 2 wks paid vaca. Park Cities Area. Mid-Feb start.214-395-4087

EMPLOYMENTARE YOU DRIVEN? WANT A ON CAMPUS JOB THIS SPRING/SUMMER? BEST JOB ON CAMPUS! The Daily Campus is seeking sales reps. This is an oppotunity for advertising, marketing, or business majors to aquire “real world” experience. Looks great in resume! Earn commision while learning outside sales. Flexible hours. Call Diana a 214-768-4111, come by Hughes-Trigg, or [email protected]

A+ STUDENT STAFFING seeks college students for part time and full-time office positions. Call 214-357-9500 to set up an interview. Jobs pay $10-12/hr www.studentstaff.com

HIGHLAND PARK DESIGN firm seeking office assistant to update contact list, run errands, file paper work. Flexible hours. Contact Whitney, [email protected]

FOODFORGET THE CHOCOLATES and gigantic teddy bear. Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a tasty sandwich. N.Y. SUB 3411 Asbury 214-522-1070.

NOW DO YOU believe in love at first sight…or do you wanna see the sandwich again? N.Y. SUB 3411 Asbury 214-522-1070.

FOR LEASETURTLE CREEK CONDOS for lease. New units at the Renaissance. Best high rise views in Dallas! 2 bedrooms from $1,950 to $3,900. Penthouses lkllkavailable! Every amenity! Alan 972-333-4755. Jon 214-395-2277.

FOR RENTFRESH BEAUTIFUL APARTMENTS, loft 2 blocks west of campus. Loft $575, 1 Bedroom $800, 2 bedrooms available. 214-526-8733.

FULLY FURNISHED APARTMENT three blocks from SMU - private entrance, parking, full bath, kitchen, washer dryer, newer construction, all utilities paid. $1,300 Donna 214-535-2666.

REAL ESTATE SERvICES

* SMURENT.COM PROVIDES FREE help for students looking to lease, rent, buy, or sell. Walking distance, uptown, town homes, apartments. SMU alum owned. SMUrent.com 214-457-0898 [email protected]

TUTOR SERvICES

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE TUTOR. Statistics tutor. Voted “The Best” for 16 years. “College is more fun when you have a tutor.” Lee Lowrie, CPA, MBA cell

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MATH, STATISTICS TUTOR for MBA, college, high school students. Highland Park, Austin College, SMU alumna; M.S. Math; 20 years Texas Instruments; 2 years college math instructor. Sheila Walker 214-417-7677. [email protected]

Sudoku 02/10/12

© 2012 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.For solutions to our Sodoku puzzles, checkout our website at www.smudailycampus.com/puzzles.

By Michael Mepham

Can’t wait until tomorrow for Crossword solutions?For solutions to our Crossword puzzles now, checkout our website at www.smudailycampus.com.

ACROSS1 Classic British

two-door5 “That’ll do,

thanks”10 TiVo products14 Had too much,

for short15 Gulf of Guinea

capital16 “The Caine

Mutiny” novelist17 Fight fan’s

accessory?19 Skye writing20 Where a soldier

may be out21 Do22 Davis of the silver

screen23 Augment25 Preacher’s

accessory?28 Like preachers29 Basketball filler30 Spot markers?31 “Freeze!”32 Checkout device36 Conductor’s

accessory?39 How villains act40 Feature of a good

essay43 Texter’s “No

way!”46 Chemical suffix47 Colleague of

Ruth and Antonin48 Donald Trump

accessory?52 When Peter Pan

grew up53 Love interest54 “Mysterious

Island” captain56 Two-yr. degrees57 Input, often58 Vampire’s

accessory?61 Uncommon

blood type, briefly62 Squash variety63 Actress Petty64 Antiquity65 Layered skirts66 Help the chef

DOWN1 Bonnets for

ColonialWilliamsburgreenactors

2 Skeltoncatchphrase

3 Across thedriveway

4 Forest’s Oscarrole

5 “Thus do I evermake my fool mypurse” speaker

6 Golden Archespork sandwich

7 Le Guin genre8 Cliff nester9 It may keep you

from gettinghome safely

10 One in with theout-crowd

11 Spinning mass12 Take stock?13 ’50s-’60s country

singer McDonald18 Boot camp VIPs22 Special Forces

hat24 Ill-fated rapper26 Hackneyed27 Aviation

nickname32 Hurled33 Skulk34 MSN alternative35 Springfield, for

one

37 Holmesadversary Adler

38 It has its ups anddowns

41 Decent plot42 Armada

component43 Below-par

period44 City west of

Venezia45 Latke maker’s

need

47 Adequate, inverse

49 Public persona50 Pricey bar51 India’s longest-

serving primeminister

55 Chain links?:Abbr.

58 D.C. athlete59 Hosp. area60 Climber’s

destination

Wednesday’s Puzzle SolvedBy Julian Lim 2/10/12

(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

NEWS FRIDAY n FEBRUARY 10, 2012 The Daily Campus 8

Advertising and marketing campaigns always lead us to believe that we need the newest and flashiest items. Generally, it’s better to ignore these ads because there is no advantage to buying a brand name item over its store brand counterparts. However, here are five things that you should not skimp on because it could end up costing you more in the long run.

The first item that is worth spending more on is tools, spending a little more to get good brands such

as Craftsman and Snap-On can help you save more money in the long run because you can use the same tools for years; more importantly, using poor quality tools poses a safety hazard and can be harmful if the tools malfunction. Craftsman is known more as the brand of choice for personal home use and is less expensive than Snap On, but has a solid warranty program; Snap On is used by many professionals in the auto industry and is known for their tools’ durability and quality, but requires a slightly larger investment.

The second item worth investing a little more in is a mattress, considering you spend (or should

spend) a third of your life on one. A durable, long-lasting, comfortable mattress is important because it can single-handedly be responsible for poor posture and orthopedic problems. The best-known mattress brand is Tempur-Pedic, which allows users to adjust the mattress’ firmness and allows settings to be different on each side of the bed, but they are usually upward of $1,000. A more affordable and reputable brand is Sealy, which is the largest mattress manufacturer in the world and actually has quality mattresses ranging anywhere between $400 and $5000.

The third item worth spending

more money on is a good set of knives because it is easily one of the most important items to have while cooking and should last a lifetime. Also, having bad knives could result in the knife slipping and causing severe injury, so having a good, durable knife is essential to anyone that cooks at all. A very trusted and reputable brand called Wusthof is recommended by many chefs. They can range in price from $35 to $200 depending on which knife you get and have a great warranty that says if it breaks you can ship it back and get a replacement.

The fourth item that is important to pay more for is durable luggage.

Even if you do not travel much, durable luggage is a necessity when it comes to travelling because cheap baggage will not be able to withstand baggage handling and transport when flying somewhere. Many cheap bags are also notoriously frustrating because their zippers tend to break or malfunction under any stress at all, so getting luggage that is more durable is worth the investment. The best-known brand for quality is Samsonite because it is known for being long-lasting and affordable. Their bags usually start at around $60 and can be up to $400.

Lastly, the fifth item you should not skimp on is a high-efficiency

showerhead. These small investments can singlehandedly save you several hundred dollars a year in water and energy bills, which means that it basically pays for itself.

There are several different showerheads that are highly regarded as extremely efficient, so any that says “1.5 gallons per minute (GPM)” will work and can be as inexpensive as $30.

Although more research might be necessary to apply these tips directly to you, investing in these items will save you money in the long run, and it will give you more money to spend on things you want to indulge in.

MEDIA: Speaker correlates between pop culture, religon

“the ongoing process in which media becomes more and more a part of our everyday life, society and culture.”

Winston says the positive side to this phenomenon is that the media provide an outlet for audiences to vent their spiritual struggles, as well as seek comfort in observing those of others.

“TV has entered a new age of storytelling that explores longstanding spiritual and ethical issues in today’s vernacular,” Winston said, highlighting TNT’s “Saving Grace” as an example.

According to Winston, the crime drama provides a case study of how a television show can “create community, present a spiritual narrative and offer illuminating questions, if not answers, for viewers.”

“‘Saving Grace’ speaks to viewers who believe in miracles but don’t belong to religious institutions or who belong to religious institutions but are not

quite sure what they believe,” she said.

At the beginning of the series, protagonist Grace battles a deflated sense of purpose and self-worth. After calling upon God for guidance, Grace comes to accept herself, develop strong relationships and accept a power greater than herself. It is through this struggle that she becomes a relatable character to the audience, Winston said.

“Grace finds redemption on her own terms,” she said. “Thanks to the media, viewers may too.”

Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics Robin Lovin, who served as a respondent at the lecture, agreed with Winston’s interpretation of the series.

“These TV dramas provide us with shared images by which to understand our experience and communicate it to others,” Lovin said.

However, Winston said it is

important to examine how TV affects our relationship with religion and spirituality.

“My aim is to be more intentional about what we watch and how it influences what we believe, what we think and what we do,” Winston said.

Jaime Clark-Soles, SMU associate professor of New Testament and also a respondent at the event, reflected on Winston’s lecture.

“Dr. Winston is right about mediatization,” Clark-Soles said. “She is leading out regarding how to engage this reality well, and I, for one, intend to follow her.”

As a continuation of the Public Life/Personal Faith Symposium, Winston will give a lecture titled “Soup, Soap and Salvation: William Booth’s Legacy for the 21st Century” at a luncheon Friday from noon until 1:30 p.m. in the Umphrey Lee Ballroom.

CONTINuEd fROm PagE 1

LGBT: Spectrum represents SMU in Midwest this weekend

to Revolution,” students will learn how to combat the challenges that LGBTQA students face daily on college campus.

“We are to take back what we learn to improve our campus,” Andrew Aldrete, a member of Spectrum, said.

Aldrete wanted to attend

last year’s conference but was hesitant because it was being held in the Midwest.

SMU was the only southern school in attendance.

Though SMU is still the only southern school this year, Aldrete hopes that their attendance will inspire other schools to go next year, or even enable SMU to be the host.

“DFW has one of the largest LGBT populations in the country, and it is time that we rid ourselves of our homophobic image,” he said.

“As a Texas born and bred, I would love to see SMU and Dallas as a progressive community. The North does not have a patent on progress.”

CONTINuEd fROm PagE 1

FINANCE

Splurging on big items can actually pay offPARTH SHETH

Staff [email protected]

ENGAGED LEARNING DAYMonday, February 1311:30 am – 2 pm Open HouseClements Hall, Garden Level

2 pm Workshop: Engaged Learning 101Clements Hall, Garden Level

3 – 4:30 pm Student Presentations Hughes-Trigg Forum

4:30 pm Workshop: How to Make It CountClements Hall, Garden Level

5 pm Flagpole

smu.edu/engagedlearning

120812 EngagedLearning DC Half PG ad_Layout 1 2/3/12 2:52 PM Page 1