The SummaThursday, March 1, 2012University of St. Thomas Vol. 4, Issue 11

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Photo courtesy Aslan Media

Revolutionary fightersPeaceful protestors gather in Damascus to show their dissent of the al-Assad Regime

Recent Rain Causes Leaks, Repairs in Chapel of St. BasilDavid Markus

Staff WriterRecent changes in

weather conditions led to the discovery of several leaks in the ceiling of the Chapel of St. Basil. Pools of water collected in two locations, one of which had never been affected by the presence of leaks in previous instances of rain.

The primary leak, located over the altar, has been a recurring problem for chapel-goers since its initial construction. What was originally a small leak is now a large patch of discolored plaster that conforms to the interior curve of the dome that gives the Chapel its trademark shape.

Two additional problems grew from the growing discoloration of the ceiling plaster. First, pieces of plaster began to crumble off from the whole, and fall onto both the altar itself and the area immediately surrounding it. This presents a hazard for the clergy and laity who find themselves in that area while celebrating Mass. Second, the pooling water, left unattended or unnoticed for prolonged periods of time, will cause the tile underneath it to grow discolored. The potential exists for such pools to erode the

President Dr. Ivany and Fr. Michael Buentello urge UST to stand against the HHS mandate.

»INSIDE» Opinion

Page 5

University Appeal

The Get Real Barbie campaign helps women across campus improve their body image.

» Features

Page 6

No to Barbie

BBC’s Sherlock Holmes comes to take America by storm as it is reintroduces the classic character in a modern way.

» Entertainment

Page 9

It’s Elementary

With only a few games left, the Celts have just enough time to end the season on a high.

» Sports & Clubs

Page 11

Nearing the End

THIS ISSUE

LEAKS, Page 2

Syrian uprising continues to put pressure on Assad’s regime Stephanie Hernandez

News Editor

When the Arab Spring ignited last year, the Syrian people began an uprising against the Assad regime, ruled by President Bashar al-Assad, son of previous president Hafez al-Assad.

Both father and son have allowed for only one political party, the Ba’ath party, to rule Syria for the past several decades.

“As a kid growing up in Syria, I learned that Assad’s regime created a society of inequality, corruption, discrimination, and injustice. For 17 years of my life I was forced to keep my mouth shut; we were never allowed to talk about politics or the government, or else I would be silenced the regime’s old fashion way, with ‘torture and death,’” said Mohamad Nour Khiami, a student at the University of Houston. “I always felt like a caged falcon; and we never got the chance to

elect a president or any other government officials. We always had to keep a low profile and could do nothing about our misery. Coming to the USA and settling here was the best thing that ever happened to me in my whole life. I’m very thankful for the constitution of the United States, though many people take the constitution for granted, I guess you don’t know what you have until you lose it.”

Khiami has been involved in freedom campaigns for Syria as well as other countries gripped by the Arab Spring, such as Lybia. Khaimi has also participated in numerous UST clubs and events such as S.W.A.T.

“Hafez al-Aassad has repressed his own people, in a very brutal way. He ordered the Hama massacre of 1982, which has been described as the single deadliest act by any Arab government against his own people in the modern

Syria, Page 2

Photo by David Markus

The recent leak in the roof of the Chapel of St. Basil was caused by the recent onslaught of rain after the year-long drought. Repairs are on-going to solve the problem.stone facing that serves as the foundation of the altar, thereby undermining it, and causing further inconveniences in the

daily operations of the Chapel.“It makes the ascetic of

the chapel seem rather off,” said Senior Marissa Sears. “I

am really worried that the rest of the roof will leak and there will be damage to the

2 The SummaNews

Thursday, March 1, 2012

SyriaContinued...

UST alum appointed Auxiliary Bishop

Pope Benedict XVI announced on February 21, the appointment of Monsignor George Sheltz as the new auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Bishop-elect Sheltz, who was born and raised in Houston and attended St. Thomas High School and UST for his undergraduate degree, has served the Archdiocese as Vicar General and Chancellor since 2010 and will be ordained as a bishop in late April at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

“I am thankful to the Basilian fathers, who educated me at St. Thomas High School and were so instrumental in encouraging my vocation

Rebecca MechlerEditor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Middle East, in addition to other massacres against Syrian people. Human Rights groups have also detailed thousands of extrajudicial executions he committed against opponents of his regime,” said Khiami.

“Bashar Aa-Assad, his son, has continued his father’s brutal and deadly dictatorship legacy. He is now famous for many recent massacres that happened in 2011 and 2012, in the cities of Homs, Hama, Idlib, parts of Damascus, and many other parts of Syria. Bashar al-Assad is using the national army to oppress and silence all the protestors, and is holding tightly to the presidency chair, because his power is more important to him than the safety and the well being of his own people.”

“My older sister, her husband and their four year old son have been moving from one safe house to another, because in many parts of the country, basic utilities don’t exist anymore. In most cities, there is no water, food, electricity, medication, phone lines, internet, or any kind of communication method,” said Khiami.

“Three people from my family have been arrested because they were protesting, and we haven’t heard anything about them for four months now. Some people are saying that they were tortured to death, but nothing is confirmed yet. Every time I talk to family back home, they get so scared to tell me what is really going on. All phone

lines are tapped, but through our coded language I learned that they have witnessed many awful crimes against humanity. There is gunfire all day long; and the dead, disfigured, tortured bodies of protesters are thrown on the streets, with tanks targeting random civilian buildings. All I can tell you is that Syria needs help, now.”

The most recent developments as of February 26, are the creation of a new “constitution.” President Bashar and other leading Ba’ath party members are filling ballots in voting booths as they take a referendum on the amendments of this new constitution.

Even as a constitution is being written, recent Associated Press news continues to report battles raging between the Free Syrian Army and Assad loyalists; in cities across Syria, with dozens of civilians and protestors die each day in the gunfire and explosions.

United Nations estimates that 5,000 or more Free Syrian Army fighters and civilians have died in the battles.

Though Western countries have taken different forms of action against the Assad regime – from increasing economic sanctions to the Syrian Ambassador being uninvited from the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton last April – there is little that Western nations have done that have made a lasting impact for the Syrian people, according to Khiami.

“The Syrian regime has not been impacted by the US and the UN sanctions as much

crucifix and other statues and icons.”

A new leak appeared over the course of the spring semester. A steady fall of droplets fell onto the first pew in the centermost section of pews during a storm in early February.

Buckets placed at the base of the leak prevented it from pooling, but revealed the severity of the new leak. Soon afterward, a sheet of plastic was placed on the pew to prevented any damage to the wood and stone tile underneath.

Contractors attempted to seal the leaks from the exterior of the Chapel on several occasions, to no avail. A cherry-picker placed along the southern face of the chapel on February 24 gave workers access to the roof for yet

LEAKSContinued...

another attempt at staunching the leaks.

The chapel itself remains structurally sound, and has suffered no other adverse effects from the leaks.

The leaks only emerged in the recent bouts of severe rain. In fact, such downpours have been rare in the past year, as it was a record-setting drought year in the state of Texas.

The UST facilities staff will not know if the most recent patches will prove successful until the next round of rains fall upon the chapel.

In the meantime, members of the UST Campus Ministry team will keep buckets and plastic wrap ready for deployment at the sites of the leaks. Such tools have proven valuable to curbing the disruptive effects of leaks on the celebration of Mass and other functions held in the chapel.

as the general population has. There is not enough food supplies, medicine, or other necessary resources available for either the revolutionaries or the civilians,” said Khiami.

He went on to state that, “the government froze all bank accounts and withdrew almost all the money, which caused the financial and economic infrastructures in Syria to collapse. Over a long period of time this ends up doing more harm for the common people than it did to the Syrian government.”

Since the beginning of the Arab Spring and Syrian Uprising, outside powers have attempted to intervene.

President Obama has asked for President Bashar to step down, and the United Nations has sent officials to monitor the humanitarian situation.

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton recently issued harsh condemnation against the Assad government, with a Reuters report stating: “I know what will happen: more bloodshed, increasing resistance by those whose families are being killed and whose homes are being bombed, and a greater likelihood that Syria will descend into civil war.”

“Call your senators and tell them to make productive foreign policy that will help the Syrian people to oust Bashar al-Assad and his corrupted regime. Syria needs our help,” pleaded Khiami.

“We have the right to speak up, and we need to value that right. We can be the voice to the voiceless.”

to the priesthood,” Bishop-elect Sheltz said in an official statement upon hearing the appointment.

The auxiliary bishop position within the Archdiocese has been open

Romney still strong in Republican primary race

Republican primaries have taken place nearly every week since the Iowa Caucus on January 3, 2012. The top nominees left in the race include frontrunner, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

“[Romney’s] wins can’t be looked at separately from the wins of the others,” said Kenneth Depew, a Political Science major and Chairman of the UST College Republicans.

“With the exception of New Hampshire, Governor Romney’s wins have been largely attributed to his ability to outspend opponents, a luxury he may not have leading into November.”

Governor Romney has certainly been the frontrunner in raising the most money out of all the GOP candidates. According to a January 31 Washington Examiner Report, “The Superpac Restore our Future,” which backs Romney, has spent an estimated $17.4 million.

“Super PACs have, unquestionably, had a big affect this cycle. They have been used as attack dogs allowing candidates to keep their hands clean whilst the super PAC lands blow after blow on opponents,” said Depew. “The problem of super PACs would be eliminated if people were allowed to exercise free speech beyond the $2,500 contribution limit.

When the primaries come

Stephanie HernandezNews Editor

to Texas, there is some concern how the delay may impact the voting,which could possibly perpetuate Romney’s primary wins. “By pushing the primary date back we may have removed the influence of our 155 delegates from deciding who the next Republican Presidential nominee is,” said Depew about the Texas primary, which is projected to take place during the first week of April.

“A recent University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll has Santorum with 45%, about 30 points ahead of the others who are about even in the mid teens. It appears to be Santorum’s loss, but, if this cycle has taught us anything thus far, it’s that presumptive winners will lose.”

Though Romney holds the majority of primary wins, this may yet be changed due to delegate voting. “This year the Republican National Committee (RNC) decided to organize the primary more like the Democrats inadvertently had done during the 2008 primary cycle,” said Depew. “The lack of a clear front runner who has been able to win in successive states has all but insured the race will continue beyond April 1st, and the decision may end up in the hands of delegates at the Tampa 2012 Republican National Convention in August.”

The February 28 Michigan primary marked Romney’s fifth win, attaining 41% of the votes.

since March 2012. Bishop-elect Sheltz will assist the Archbishop, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo in ministering to the 1.2 million Catholics in 10 counties within the Archdiocese.

“Education without values seems to make man a more clever devil” - C.S. Lewis

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The OpinionSecrets are no Fun For the Love of Roller Derby

I didn’t join a roller derby league in order to get out of the depression I fell into my freshman year. Looking back, I don’t know how I ever thought one had nothing to do with the other.

You know what roller derby is, right? The full-contact, super-fast, bump-and-bruise-filled passion that is currently the fastest-growing female sport in America? Maybe you’ve seen Ellen Page zoom around the track in Drew Barrymore’s 2009 film, Whip-It. These days, chances are you even know a roller girl or two. Perhaps you’ve witnessed a bout for yourself. If you haven’t, do yourself a favor and grab some friends and go. It just might change your life.

Odds are if you’ve heard of roller derby, it’s almost certainly not quite what you think it is. The game is a full-contact sport played on quad roller skates that has seen explosive growth over the past nine years. The sport was reborn in 2003 when a group

Last semester, I addressed several areas of life at St. Thomas and as a college student in general – basic courtesy, proper attire, etc. I don’t particularly enjoy writing on these topics. It makes me feel rather preachy and bombastic. I would much prefer to discuss my love for pie (See Vol. 1, Issue 6) or my television addiction (Vol. 2, Issue 5).

However, in this season of Lent, as I examine the way I live my own life, I have realized several of my own faults and weaknesses. I’m fairly certain that a lot of people on this campus struggle with as well. I have even written about this topic this school year, but like washing between your toes, there is no such thing as being reminded too often that gossip is always unacceptable.

At the beginning of last semester, I discussed the prevalence of gossip through modern media and how even so-called news services spread scandal and rumor as if it was newsworthy hard news.

Other writers in the past few months have expressed their frustration with the way we treat others on campus.

Gossip is one of the surest ways to hurt others. I’ve been on both ends of the situation; I’m not proud of it either.

My freshman year, I learned a really great Greek word – pleonexia. It basically means lifting one’s self-esteem or position by crushing others.

I think it applies to gossip incredibly well. After all, when you talk about others behind their back, isn’t the ultimate goal, most of the time, to put them down in the eyes of others and increase your own standing

by comparison?Destroying someone

else’s reputation will not give you a better one; you certainly aren’t a better person after doing so. It’s also hard for people to trust someone they know is willing to spread malicious talk about others.

Let’s look at some clichés to better illustrate my point; after all, they are clichés for a reason (which in itself is actually a cliché).

There is a great Spanish proverb that states, in translation, “Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.”

If they are willing to spill everyone else’s secrets, chances are they will be just as willing to share yours.

Or take Benjamin Franklin’s great quote from the July 1735 edition of the Poor Richard’s Almanac, “Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”

The opposite may also be true, as expressed by the popular school-yard rhyme, “secrets, secrets are no fun; secrets are for everyone!”

It is close to impossible to keep a matter private if anyone’s been told. Either no one knows your business, or everyone knows. This might not necessarily be a problem in and of itself; however, truth can be distorted or deliberately twisted.

Discussing others business, no matter how innocently it starts out, just cannot end well.

So this Lent, it is my goal to step back from the gossip culture and I hope you can help me and perhaps do the same yourself. The mission statement of the University states that UST aims at “educating leaders of faith and character.” It is hard to fulfill that when obliterating someone’s reputation behind their back.

And remember one last cliché: “Loose Lips Sink Ships.”

Katie ThomsonEntertainment Editor

Rebecca MechlerEditor-in-Chief

Corrections and ClarificationsIn the Events Calendar for the February 16 issue of The Summa, “Almost, Maine” was said to be a musical when in fact it is a play.

We have a correction concerning the Dr. Ulyses Balderas profile that also in the February 16 issue. Upon graduating with a B.A from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Dr. Balderas did not, as stated, work at the United States Department of Commerce. He worked for the Mexican Department of Commerce, and immigrated to the United States after his time working as a staff advisor.

Additionally, the correct order of his academic achievements as follows: earning his M.A. in Economics in 1999, and his Ph.D. in Economics in 2005.

of women in Austin revived the 1970s version and took it to the flat track, dragging it into the modern era. It’s often fast-moving, always hard-hitting, and entirely played by women.

Since I’ve taken up derby, I’ve often been approached with the stereotypical images and thoughts people have about the sport – “do you throw elbows, and get into fights?” I was even asked recently if my teammates were “a bunch of lesbian losers and weirdos,” or something to that effect. My answer to all of these wild assertions is most definitely not. In fact, my teammates are professional women who work hard, have families, and do things for the community. Many of the girls I skate with are teachers and mothers; some are even lawyers or dentists. By day, we’re the most ordinary women you’ll meet, but by night, we’re true derby athletes.

And yes, I said “athletes.” Roller derby is hard work. It truly takes blood, sweat, and tears. Practices are long and sometimes involve seemingly endless drills consisting of squats, push-ups, jumps, sprints, stops, and falls. This is a sport in which you play offense and defense at the same time. That means every two minutes, you’re in the middle of a new challenge, a new game, a new puzzle to solve. All we need are our helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, mouth guards, skates, and everything we’ve got inside. It takes every bit of strength and courage.

My experience with

Houston Roller Derby has been something that’s truly defined me more than anything else ever has during these past three years. I’ve learned so much about myself and have fallen in love with it. I know it sounds cliché, but I am genuinely able to say that roller derby has saved my life. Along with accepting me into its twisted sorority, derby has given me an outlet to channel my inner warrior –on the track I play by my derby name, which allows me to switch over to this alter-ego version of me who’s capable of being a super hero. Players play under pseudonyms –Houston Roller Derby, for instance, includes skaters named Jekyll & Heidi, Carmen Geddit and Beverly Kills. This world of pseudonyms, fishnets, and hot pants can seem at odds with a serious sporting endeavor, but it all adds to the unique experience of watching and taking part in the game, and is in no small part responsible for its success and appeal. It’s a sport that thousands of people enjoy watching, but that’s almost a secondary issue for the majority of skaters. At its heart, roller derby is simply about being who you want to be – and being good at it.

If you’re interested in checking it out, look up Houston Roller Derby online. We’ll be playing our first game of the season this St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 at Bayou Place Live (formerly Verizon Wireless Theater). You may not see ‘me’ there, but you might spot my derby-persona flying around the track.

4 The SummaOpinion

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Qur’an RiotsAt the Bottom of the CupChelsea Ferramosca

Opinion Editor

Hien TranStaff Photographer

When it comes to the interactive lectures being held during Bottom of the Cup, students have found that they are pleasantly interactional. I’ve never taken part in a lecture where the audience sends a text to answer a question to be discussed.

In other words, how many ordinary lectures have you attended that have asked you to interact in a way similar to this? In my opinion, the Bottom of the Cup series is anything but ordinary.

I have many different angles to the lectures. When it comes to faith and reason, they both go hand in hand. Reasons can authenticate your faith in your religious views.

Having faith in someone can bring out reasons you would not have expected. Now when it comes to the

human person, he/she can have both faith and reason. Reason can be the proof that affirms your faith in several ways. The lectures have help college students bridge this gap between faith and reason.

The topics discussed at the Bottom of the Cup are quite controversial, especially if they were to take place anywhere else. They could be viewed as quite inappropriate if at a public university, considering the first session was on pornography and the second session was about if women and sex.

The topics were chosen by Paradisus Dei with the belief that they can help bridge the gap between faith and reason. I have found myself asking if lectures of this nature would be allowed on other campuses?The way these lectures are structured is like a question and answer forum. They take place in Jones Hall every Tuesday during activity period.

Before the lecture even begins, students are asked to text in their gender along with other basic questions. The host then introduces the topic and the speakers, who have been directly involved in what the topic pertains to

Throughout the lecture, students are asked to participate in numerous polls that ask questions, and then show the results in terms of

male and female statistics on a table.

This table shows how manly gentlemen said yes or no and how many ladies answered yes and no. Then the projector will show a similar poll that was taken decades ago asking the same questions with a similar audience. The lectures are structured around the consistency of answers seen throughout time.

When it comes to what people think of these lectures, there have been positive reviews. Many people have stated that they think it is an experience they will never forget.

I think the lectures are something that everyone of any faith should go to. When it comes to Mariel Machuca, a freshman at the University of Saint Thomas, she states, “...I’ve really liked them…they are brutally honest, but that’s we should hear.”

Freshman Lina Salem has also been attending the lectures, and says that, “these lectures are very interesting.”

I think the positive feedback is due to the interactive set-up of the lectures as well as the interesting topics discussed.The reviews have been positive across campus. I have to agree on all these positive reviews. The Bottom of the Cup has been both interesting and informative.

It has been almost two weeks since Americans working on a NATO base sparked a string of riots around Afghanistan.

On February 20, a group of Afghan landfill workers happened upon what appeared to be an American man and a woman in NATO uniforms throwing numerous copies of the Qur’an into a pile for incineration.

With the fire going in full blaze, the workers began throwing their helmets and shouting in both English and their native Pashtun at the Americans. One of the workers was able to get to the fire, only to pull out a bag of charred Holy Books.

The incident has sparked outrage throughout the country, despite the president of Afghanistan accepting the apologies given by both NATO officials and President Obama.

According to the NATO officials, the Qur’an’s were taken from prisoners being held at the Bagram Airbase after it was discovered that the suspected Taliban and al Qaeda members were using them to communicate with each other rather than a form of worship.

Although NATO has defended their decision to take the Qur’an’s away from the prisoners, they have acknowledged that burning them, even as a means of disposal, was inappropriate.

Before I get to the actual point of this article, let me say that I do agree with NATO in certain regards. The burning of any Holy Book, whether it be the Qur’an, Torah, or the Bible, is wrong in most situations.

The military has respectful ways of disposing of religious items that are being used in inappropriate manners by those accused of plotting against the United States. I do believe that burning the books was disrespectful to Islam and those who practice it.

However let me also say that my number one priority is the safety of our soldiers, not how sensitive we are to the religion throughout the Middle East.

Since the riots broke out, two American soldiers have been killed, along with 33 Afghan civilians and numerous injuries reported.

Units near the Bagram Airbase have been pulled

off their own bases to help the Afghan police control the riots, but with the riots escalating, many units have been told to return to their bases to hunker down until the violence subsides.

A n t i - A m e r i c a n sentiments sky-rocketed as civilians vowed to push soldiers out of their country once and for all. Yes, Americans made the mistake of burning their Holy Book, but the fact that the civilians of the country responded with violence goes to prove that the region, as with much of the Middle East, is still unstable and unpredictable.

I’m not saying that they don’t have any right to be upset. If I found out that foreigners burned a stack of Bibles on American soil, I would be furious.

But no matter how mad I was, I would never pick up a gun and start rioting in an attempt to drive those who did it out.

What the Afghans are choosing to ignore is that the Qur’an’s were taken because the prisoners were writing in them in an attempt to communicate with each other.

The fact that they were using them as a tool to plot against America justified our soldier’s decision to confiscate and dispose of them.

What has really has me confused in this situation is the lack of anger from the Afghans towards those who disrespected the Holy Books in the first place.

Now I’m obviously not Muslim, but it would seem to me that writing in the Qur’an would be an insult to Islam itself, just as using the Bible as a means of communication with malicious intent would insult most Christians.

I would hope that Muslims would acknowledge the wrongdoing of their own people in this regard.

The Afghans no longer want Americans in their country, and soldiers burning the book most important to them did not help the situation; however the riots must stop.

They are putting the lives of American soldiers at risk while distracting them from accomplishing the goals we are fighting for.

As long as the Afghans continue to respond to every action taken by Americans with violence, I will continue to assume that the country is not ready to be left to their own accord.

The Summa 5Thursday, March 1, 2012Opinion

Dear Members of the University Community,

Americans of faith today face a major crisis and a unique opportunity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a mandate, the Patient Protective and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requiring Catholic universities and other institutions to provide sterilization, abortifacients and other contraception services that Catholics and many people of faith believe violates our constitutional religious liberty. We oppose the HHS mandate as an infringement of our freedom of conscience. While we will take vigorous steps to oppose this mandate, we realize that the mandate provides us with an opportunity to educate our community and rally support for our beliefs.

Our archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have forcefully and clearly articulated why the present mandate violates our beliefs and we must take steps to rescind it. As a Catholic liberal arts institution, we have the joyful obligation to support our religious leaders and, at the same time, to educate our community on the fundamental issues. Cardinal DiNardo has asked us to contact our elected representatives in both houses of Congress to voice strong support for the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act” (H.R. 1179, S.14567). This legislation, recently introduced in the Senate, will ensure that the requirements under PPACA will not be

A Message to the University Communityused to deny us a freedom of conscience that we have enjoyed under federal law until now.

We are blessed with a vibrant democracy, and we must act to make our voices heard in this crisis. We must urge our congressmen and senators to vote in favor of this legislation. We have listed the addresses of our local congressmen and state senators for your information. We can also voice our concerns online through the USCCB website at http://www.usccb.org/conscience or locally on www.archgh.org/Get-involved/Conscience-Protection.

A university such as ours also has the obligation to do all in its power to educate our campus and community on the impact of PPACA and on the overall threat to our liberties

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that the mandate represents. The present administration has abrogated the protection that the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States grants us: the freedom of religious liberty. Such an unjust mandate requires us to address its many implications in a thoughtful and thorough manner. Virtually all of our academic disciplines have a role to play in the education of our campus and community.

We encourage our deans, heads of centers and leaders of affiliated organizations to integrate discussions on this topic into their classrooms, meetings and outreach activities. The USCCB website contains considerable information that examines the USCCB position on health care for those without it and on this assault on our freedom of conscience. At the university

level, we will be hosting a distinguished panel led by Cardinal DiNardo to examine the issue and provide us with a deeper understanding of the ramifications and consequences of the mandate.

With our good Lord’s help we will change the PPACA mandate through legislation and use this opportunity to educate our campus and community on the danger to our constitutionally-guaranteed religious freedom.

With best wishes and confidence in our efforts,

Robert IvanyPresident

Fr. Michael Buentello, CBS

Basilian Superior and Director of Campus Ministry

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6 The Summa Thursday, March 1, 2012The Features

Features Editor

Get Real Barbie Project

In 1965, Mattel released 'Slumber Party Barbie.' Included in Barbie's accessories was a scale permanently set at 110 pounds and a book entitled 'How to Diet' that when opened stated ‘Don't Eat!’

The real shocking part though is if Barbie was a real girl, standing at about 5'9", her dimensions would be: 36" bust, 18" waist, and 33" hips. These dimensions would give her a 16.24 Body Mass Index, which would qualify her as an anorexic, and keep her body from being able to perform the most basic female functions.

University of St. Thomas' Counseling and Disability Services (CDS) is tackling the issue of unhealthy body images and eating disorders during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Their goal is simple.

"We had talked about doing something big for eating disorder awareness week," said 20 year old junior and student assistant for CDS, Chloe Jester, "We didn't want to just talk to students about eating disorders - we wanted to get students really involved and highlight

what an eating disorder is."Unhealthy body image,

alongside environmental and emotional stressors, is a breeding ground of potential for eating disorders. The CDS instantly knew that a hands-on approach along with something visual was their best route to approach and raise awareness on the issue of body images and eating disorders. Their creation was the 'Get Real Barbie Project' that would run February 23, 2012 to March 2, 2012 outside of Crooker.

"We thought we would trace what Barbie would look like, then trace students all over campus so that people see that these are real people, real sizes - we come in all different shapes and sizes. We also wanted to do something visual of course because we are having to challenge all the visual images in the media," said Coordinator for CDS, Jennifer Shannon.

Although Barbie was the main target for the CDS's awareness, they are very aware that she is not the only negative visual escalating body image issues. Whether male or female, everyone is faced with the ‘ideal’ body type everyday through magazine ads, television, movies, and even

toys. Conditioning of what we should look like starts at a very young age and follows us well into adulthood.

"Barbie is sort of the scapegoat, but there are so many images that we are actually bombarded with that are unhealthy and unrealistic," said Shannon, "we are all constantly being told that we need to look like this. We see all these pictures in magazines

and of celebrities that are front and center - these are body types that we can't all achieve. We wanted to counter all that."

Shannon warns that although there are women who are naturally skinny - that skinny is not a body type that we should all strive to be. For this reason the CDS also asked students who participated to

come up with attributes that they liked about themselves that did not have to do with their physical appearance. This dared students to look at themselves in a different light and forced them to acknowledge qualities about themselves that they do not normally celebrate.

"As a girl you understand that you are bombarded with photoshopped images every single day. I went to an all girls high school and - girls are mean. They would tear apart each others bodies. Remember that scene in Mean Girls where they stand in front of the mirror and pick apart their bodies for five minutes? In the movie it was meant to be comical, but it's so real. We are taught to pick apart our bodies."

Turning the conversation around, Jester concluded, "You are beautiful the way you are and you don't have to

live up to that standard."The internal monologue

that people play in their heads is what makes things rough. College is a sensitive time in a person’s life where they go from living with parents and having a routine to suddenly having to figure things out for themselves. This can be a confusing time for students, but

it does not have to be. Physical perfection should not be a goal, instead we should strive to be the best person that we can be.

Such is the goal of CDS's event.

"I think it could touch everyone […] your body is a beautiful thing and you don't have to listen to that voice inside your head that is telling you that you have to be perfect at everything you do. Trying to think of something nice to say about yourself is just a different way to think," Jester said.

Jester highlights the profound power that a simple shift in thinking does. Perhaps we are just looking at ourselves and our bodies in the wrong perspective and striving for the wrong goals. Instead of reaching for a superficial goal - why not try to genuinely be a healthier and happier person inside and out?

"I love doing body image stuff because I know everyone struggles with it," Shannon said.

"I try to take happiness in 'oh I am healthy and can keep up in my kickboxing class' instead of thinking 'oh I need to loose 20 more pounds.' I appreciate this project because it celebrates that I am healthy."

Jacqueline Lopez

“Your body is a beautiful thing and you

don’t have to listen to that voice inside your

head that is telling you that you have to be

‘perfect’.” Chloe Jester, Junior

The Summa 7Thursday, March 1, 2012The Features

The TV show Glee has in the last couple of years become a true sensation. The show strives to teach us the value of accepting others that are different than we are.

Recently the episode entitled ‘Yes/No’ followed Becky Jackson, a cheerleader with Down Syndrome as she depicted a day from her perspective. We were shown how crushed she was by rejection and how truly strong she needs to be in a society that will not accept her.

Her strength is exactly what makes actress Lauren Potter fit to be a voice for the new national campaign: Spread the Word to End the Word. The movement is focused on bringing awareness to the hurtful nature of the word ‘retarded.’

The premise and initial goal behind the campaign is a simple and humane one. As listed on the website for the campaign, www.r-word.org, “respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities.”

The Best Buddies Program is partnered with the campaign. The University of St. Thomas chapter of Best Buddies created their own pledge available to students of the university on March 8, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. At the event students of the university

Jacqueline LopezFeatures Editor

Spread the Word to End the Wordwill have the opportunity to take a stand for humanity, by making a pledge to stop using the ‘r-word.’ Best Buddies members will also be selling their signature Best Buddies t-shirts for $12 in order to help raise money and awareness for their club and cause.

Their unique relationship with the Center gives Best Buddies members a unique insight to people with intellectual disabilities.

“People say it all the time and don’t even really realize how hurtful it can be,” Best Buddies member and Junior Bonnie Treece, offered her insight continuing, “I interviewed people at the center and right when I said the word some of them actually started crying. It’s not that big of a deal for us to just stop saying it. You never know if there is someone around you who has an intellectual disability, it’s not like they have it written on their forehead. It’s a bigger deal than most people think.”

While using the ‘r-word’ most of us do not mean it to stigmatize anyone, but by using a word that specifically labels a group of people and spinning it to have a negative connotation in jokes or amongst friends, we are propagating offensive and hurtful language.

“One of the buddies, Greg, his idea basically was - we are not stupid, we are not unlike anyone else, I am not retarded […] They go out and ride the buses - when they

are out - people will say mean things to them. You don’t realize how big this is until you see how people react to them and what a big deal it is for them,” Treece said.

Treece reflected on how Best Buddies works alongside those with intellectual disabilities to spread knowledge about the ‘r-word’.

“It hurts because it’s exclusive and goes to one group of people. It’s derogatory. I think people with intellectual disabilities sometimes can not fully express how they feel and I think recently people have started to make an effort to get to know them and learning that it is offensive. We are now speaking out of them and with them to end the use of the ‘R-word’,” said Treece

Best Buddies participant Greg had a point. He is not unlike us. In fact, we are more similar then different. In judging or outcasting

people for intellectual or developmental disabilities, we deprive ourselves of not only an opportunity to learn more about them, but also the chance to learn more about ourselves and the world.

“I was matched with my buddy Lisa, she’s 52 years old and she’s amazing. I can’t imagine now not being apart of [Best Buddies] - it’s a huge part of my world. After I have had a bad day and I want to be alone I still end up going [to the center] for Lisa and my day is instantly better,” said Treece. “The second you walk in the door everyone runs up to you just so happy. You see people who can barely walk or have a hard time speaking and it sort of makes you realize - I really thought that I had a bad day - really? I am in it for the people, I am in it for Lisa - it’s like experiencing God’s grace every time that I go.”

Treece’s face lit up as

she described her experiences with the buddies. She claims that there is so much that we can learn from the optimistic attitude and strong nature of people with intellectual disabilities. It is important that we realize that we are all people amongst any other label. Use of the ‘r-word’, or any word for that matter that isolates a group of people for their race, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation should not be utilized.

Treece concluded, “If people really took notice of the event and learned what it was really all about they would learn that simple everyday words have such deeper meaning and can be way more stigmatizing then we intend.”

Difference is not wrong. Difference is beautiful and awareness is key.

Help Best Buddies celebrate dignity March 8 at 12:30 p.m. on the seal.

Photo courtesy www.r-word.org

Mall Talk

Students across the Academic Mall and other parts of campus unveil their Lenten goals. Ranging from Freshman to Seniors, students offer you their truth, dreams, and wisdom.

Homecoming 2012

“I am giving up fast food and soft drinks as a sign of sacrifice

and worship for Jesus because Jesus sacrificed

everything for us.”Brian Bui

Junior

“I usually listen to my iPod when I walk - I gave up that and now do the rosary while I walk. I gave up fried foods and sweets. I am doing the heroic minute...I just really

want to grow more in faith.”Andrea Bonilla

Sophomore

University of St. Thomas Celts celebrated homecoming on February 18, 2012. Although both the Lady Celts and men’s Basketball teams lost the homecoming games against Wiley College, there was still much fun to be had. The activities for the weekend included: a mass to kick it all off, the Dean’s dinner reception, a family-friendly tailgate, an alumni vs. current student soccer

game, and an official after-party at UST alumni owned pub ‘Jackson’s Watering Hole.’

“I’m trying to give up cursing. I feel like it’s

entered my life a bit too much.”

Paul Gries Freshman

Photos by Micael Brebion

The Entertainment8 The Summa Thursday, March 1, 2012

News Editor

Act of Valor: a powerful, awing ode to United States Navy SEALs

Act of Valor, directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh, is undoubtedly unique in that the directors choose to cast actual SEALs in some of the movie’s lead roles. The film presents fictional stories about SEAL team members that are inspired by true events.

Film writer John Kurtstead, whose previous screenplay credits include 300, managed to combine elements that are both cliché and subtle throughout the plot. The story revolves around several covert operations, with each successful operation drawing the SEAL Team 7 closer to the unfolding of a destructive terrorist plot against the United States.

The film opens with an immediate emotional punch, as dozens of Manila school children are killed in an explosion, innocent collateral an assassination against

Out and About: Houston in March

Compiled By Katie ThomsonTrain Photo Courtesy Allan Ross Thomas

March 2: Megadeth will be playing at Bayou Music Center (aka Verizon).

March 2: John Legend is performing at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 3: Flogging Molly will be at the House of Blues

March 3: Radiohead is going to play at the Toyota Center

March 5: Eli Young Band is playing at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 6: Enrique Iglesias will perform at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 8: ZZ Top will be at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 8: Janelle Monáe is scheduled to perform at Toyota Center

March 9: Reba is playing at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 10: Chris Young will be at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 11-12: Heart will be performing at House of Blues

March 11: Of Montreal is scheduled to play at Fitzgerald’s

March 13: Miranda Lambert will be at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 15: Jason Aldean is playing at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 16: Train is performing at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 17: Brad Paisley will be playing at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 18: Alan Jackson will be at the Rodeo (Reliant Arena)

March 20: Fun. will be playing at Warehouse Live

March 22: Young the Giant is going to play at Warehouse Live

March 28: Protest the Hero, Periphery, and Jeff Loomis will be performing at Warehouse Live

March 29: Bret Michaels is going to be at House of Blues

Radiohead Photo Courtesy captainsdead

the American Philippines Ambassador. The horror of this atrocity is smoothed over, as the SEAL team bids farewell to their loved ones on the final days before deployment. A particularly poignant goodbye is when the pregnant wife of the SEAL commander puts on a brave, smiling face, saving her tears for when he is gone.

The action scenes clearly had input from the actual SEALs. The team creeps into enemy territory, communicating with each other in clipped military lingo, each SEAL focused on the mission. The operations are heart-pounding, as the viewer is at times put in the SEAL’s point of view (avid players of first person shooter games such as Call of Duty would feel instantly familiar). In this part, you can hear their ragged breathing and pounding heartbeat as they dodge bullets and shoot any belligerents that stand in their way with laser precision.

The absence of celebrities to portray the SEAL characters brings another level of reality to the movie. There are terrifying moments during the missions, as the SEAL team flees with a hoard of enemies in pursuit, when the viewer realizes that death could befall any one of those soldiers at any given moment. The end of each mission brings the discovery of new intelligence, or “intel,” of a terrorist plot. The discovery of the terrorist plot takes the SEAL Team 7 across the globe, as they travel from Costa Rica to Africa to Mexico and finally back to the U.S. in pursuit of the terrorists.

Unfortunately, the plot falls victim to some clichés: the mastermind villains who orchestrate these plans are lacking in originality, paragons of underworld kingpins who control illegal drug and arms sales, their plotting done in a proverbial hidden dark tower while sipping on Chianti. Such cinematic elements

Stephanie Hernandez seem completely out of place when compared to the visceral fighting of the SEALs. The viewers are left to wonder if the writers were attempting to avoid giving the appearance of political incorrectness (i.e. Middle Eastern jihadists); or if perhaps they were protecting mission classification by simply shifting the geographic location and ethnicity of the actual missions that inspired the SEAL Team 7 actions portrayed in the film.

Despite that the film has received many poor reviews, neither money nor patriotism knows the difference: the film opened with $24.7 million, topping the box office for the weekend of February 24, 2012. It may not be the best war film ever made, but it was made with the noblest intentions.

The ending credits state that the film was made as a dedication to all Naval Special Warfare soldiers who have died after September 11, with pictures of actual soldiers and

their families rolling across the screen. The names of several dozen SEALs who have given their lives are listed in the credits.

The ending burial scene of a grieving family receiving the flag will undoubted wrench tears from any viewer, and bring back to life painful memories for those families who have actually lost a loved one.

Those critics who attempt to tack on a political message of far-right jingoism may kindly keep quiet, and instead be thankful for these soldiers that face danger to defend this nation.

These critics would also do well to remember that the film pays homage to the skill, bravery, and ultimate sacrifices that our troops give to defend this country.

Remember that both the troops and their families possess a great fortitude when facing the possibility of death that few are capable of.

Jihane RodriguezStaff Writer

This past Sunday the 84th annual Academy Awards, better known simply as The Oscars, took place in Hollywood, closing the round of spring awards that celebrate the cinematic and small screen productions.

This year, the dashing men in Hollywood looked classic and effortless. George Clooney and Antonio Banderas dazzled in black Armani Tuxedos. Brad Pitt opted for an equally gorgeous Tom Ford tux and his best accessory was his date, Angelina Jolie who wore a black gown with a revealing side slit by Atelier Versace and Neil Jane jewelry.

The women sparkled on the red carpet and the trend seemed to be mostly whites, soft pinks and creamy colors with a few bright exceptions, providing a pop of color such as Michelle Williams. Williams wore a beautiful, romantic, multi-layered chiffon dress by Louis Vuitton in coral. Natalie Portman also stood out in red as did Viola

Fashion at The Oscars: best dressed stars on the Red Carpet Davis in an emerald green, beautifully tailored dress by Vera Wang.

In my opinion, without a doubt, one of the best dressed of the night was 11-year-old Amara Miller, who was at the Oscars for her performance in The Descendants. Amara wore a cream Valentino Couture gown which was pretty, girly, and elegant. Her assembly was simply flawless - an inspiration for many young girls out there.

The fashion surprise of the night had to be Rooney Mara who, for the first time, ditched the color black and opted for a light, white Givenchy dress; however, she perhaps kept it too simple by not having any jewelry. Her only accessory was her red lips. In my opinion, she could have done much better, considering she is the “it” girl in fashion at the moment in Hollywood.

Octavia Spencer also wore white with silver embellishments, which were provided by friend designer Tadashi Shoji, who also designed the dress Spencer wore for the Golden Globes.

The celebration of white dresses, however, didn’t end there. Gwyneth Paltrow looked extraordinary in her figure-hugging white gown and Sandra Bullock wore an amazing monochromatic black and white long dress by Marchesa. Although some critics are calling Bullock a worst-dress nominee, I think she looked rather ladylike – I say, scrap the gold flower detail. Cameron Diaz also wore white with a Gucci dress which had a short flared train, and Jennifer Lopez looked dazzling with another figure-hugging white and silver gown by Zuhair Murad featuring a deep-plunge V in the front and back.

The prank on the night was courtesy of Sasha Baron Cohen and his newest persona for The Dictator after covering Ryan Seacrest in what looked to be bisquick during an interview on the red carpet. Sasha Baron Cohen was holding an urn and jokingly claimed they were the ashes of Kim Jong Il. Cohen then pretended to accidentally dump ashes onto the E!

Red carpet host. Seacrest did not appear to be amused and repeatedly mentioned the incident throughout the event.

As for the winners this year, “Best Supporting Actress” went to Octavia Spencer for her performance in The Help while “Best Leading Actress” went to Meryl Streep for her leading role in The Iron Lady. The men of the night were Jean

Dujardin taking an Oscar for “Best Leading Actor” for his performance in The Artist and Christopher Plummer, who won “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in Beginners. The winner for “Best Animated Feature Film” this year was Rango and the “Best Foreign Film” category went to Tami Katzoff for A Separation from Iran. Concluding the evening, the “Best Motion Picture winner” went to The Artist.

Melyssa NavaroStaff Writer

The modern reimagining of Sherlock Holmes returned earlier this year for its second season, nearly two years since season one premiered in the summer of 2010 on BBC One. The show enjoyed unprecedented success worldwide, as fans everywhere prepared for the conclusion to the last episode’s (“The Great Game”) cliffhanger as Sherlock and John Watson were trapped in a lonely swimming pool at midnight with snipers, a bomb, and their nemesis himself, Moriarty.

Sherlock BBC does not compare to other adaptations of the great detective and his doctor’s adventures through Victorian London. Rather, it makes a name for itself as the modern update on Sherlock Holmes that somehow manages to keep true to the very essence of the stories. That may very well be because the show’s creators, Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Tintin) and Mark Gatiss (Doctor Who) are great fans of Sherlock Holmes themselves, and have tried to maintain some elements from the stories. And yet they’ve made the show as their own, Sherlock stalks around present-day

Must-See TV Update: Sherlock Holmes (BBC One) recap, predictions London with flatmate Dr. John Watson (who was invalidated from Afghanistan). No horse-drawn carriages here; the duo get taxi cabs, text each other, and use modern lab equipment at St. Bart’s hospital, where Sherlock even goes to steal eyeballs to experiment on. Even Dr. Watson’s account of their adventures is modern; he posts on his blog about their cases. Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft Holmes, often manipulates CCTV cameras to make sure his younger brother is not getting into too much trouble.

The cast consists of Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse) as Sherlock Holmes, Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Love Actually) as Dr. John Watson, Lara Pulver (True Blood, MI-5) as Irene Adler, Andrew Scott (Band of Brothers, Lennon Naked) as Jim Moriarty, Mark Gatiss (Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders) as Mycroft Holmes, and Rupert Graves (V for Vendetta, Death at a Funeral) as DI Lestrade.

Season two only has three episodes in it (as with the previous season) but they’re ninety minutes each and packed with drama, action,

and mystery.

A SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA:

We begin where the last episode left off: at an abandoned swimming pool where Sherlock and John are threatened by their enemy, Moriarty, with a bomb and snipers trailing their movements. With a better offer hanging over him, the consulting criminal unwillingly releases them to safety and the pair settle back into life at 221B Baker Street with a series of cases that seem to echo the original stories.

Soon, that is forgotten as they are summoned to Buckingham Palace where they take on a new case by request of the royal family. Someone has possession of compromising photos and the Crown puts Sherlock on the job of retrieving them. The problem? Irene Adler may be the closest match to Sherlock’s genius mind. She is known as “The Woman” professionally, she specializes in ‘recreational scolding’ and plays a daring game with Sherlock as they dance around each other.

THE HOUNDS OF THE BASKERVILLE:

In the modern version

of one of the most famous Sherlock Holmes stories, a man, named Henry Knight, comes to Sherlock in the hope that he will help him solve the mystery of his past: the traumatizing murder of his father when he was young and the rumors of a great hound from hell roaming the moors. Initially disregarding Henry’s story as boring, Sherlock realizes that there may be something more to the tale told by the tortured young man that what is seen originally. Sherlock and Dr. Watson travel to Dartmoor to look for clues themselves. When infiltrating the “Baskerville” government base using Mycroft’s credentials, they find a link to a previous case there and maybe even something that points to Henry’s past. Sherlock and John find that in the fog of Dartmoor, there are some truths that come out with damaging results.

THE REICHENBACH FALL:

If you have any knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes stories, you know that the words ‘Reichenbach Fall’ can strike woe into your soul. A prelude to the coming events, John struggles to speak to his therapist about the series of events that led to tragedy.

The focus shifts back to the past, sometime before John is plagued by anguish, where Sherlock is surrounded by the publicity that John’s blog has given him. An amazing sequence follows during which Moriarty waltzes into the Tower of London, steals the crown jewels, robs the bank of England, and releases all the inmates in a prison- all at the same time. He is arrested wearing the crown jewels and is tried in court, where Sherlock testifies against him. And so begins another dangerous game between the two adversaries as they battle it out across London in a game of wits; a risky gamble that may just end in death.

The new episodes seem to even exceed the sheer ingenuity that the previous season had; the soundtrack, cinematography, script, and acting all make this TV show well worth watching.

The new season already premiered and concluded on the United Kingdom’s BBC One in January, but will make a run here in the US on May 6 (“A Scandal in Belgravia”), May 13 (“The Hounds of Baskerville”), and May 20 (“The Reichenbach Fall”) at 9 p.m. on PBS’ Masterpiece Mystery.

Photo Courtesy CELEBUZZ

The Summa 9Thursday, March 1, 2012Entertainment

Sarah OyarceStaff Writer

Premiering the weekend after Valentine’s Day, it was apparent that filmmakers wanted to capitalize on the holiday and get every penny they could from those movie dates with the romantic comedy This Means War. Although it is not your typical rom-com the chemistry between the actors and the hilarious scenes will leave you wanting more, unless you are a serious critic.

The story line for this movie is quite simple and very overdone: Lauren is a pretty, perky girl (Reese Witherspoon, of course) who is feeling lonely

This Means War proves to be an obnoxiously ‘macho’ rom-comat the sight of running into her old boyfriend with his new fiancé. Her best friend decides to sign her up for an online dating site in which she meets British undercover federal agent Tuck (Tom Hardy). She later hits it off with FDR (Chris Pine), who is also a federal agent and also happens to be Tuck’s partner and best friend. They decide to not tell her of their relationship and to play it out until she chooses one. FDR and Huck claim that their relationship will not be affected by this competition but, as you can tell, it will have more of an affect than they think.

Aside from being overdone and a little on the

unrealistic side… I mean, come on, two trained federal agents are not going to simply toss aside their jobs and spend tax-payer money on gadgets to woo a girl into liking them. (In one scene, FDR sends a plane to spy on Huck’s date with Lauren). This Means War was a cute, hilarious movie (hilarious, mostly by the part of Trish, Lauren’s best friend played by Chelsea Handler).

Another standout feature for me was the great comedic chemistry between Pine and Hardy, they played great friends and the jabs they took at each other were endlessly funny. Being a romantic comedy, this is a perfect movie to see on a date or just to see

Puzzles CornerSudoku March Crossword Created By Katie Thomson

Riddle of the Month:

Hint: An iron horse with a flaxen tail.

The faster the horse runs,the shorter his tail becomes.

What is it?

A: A needle and thread

ACROSS1. Nile risks2. Volcano of Sicily5. Start of many a rap moniker7. Big birds that cannot fly8. Gentleman friend9. Reply from Miss Piggy10. Do an

impersonation of 11. ___ Khan14. Enmity16. Come to the point?17. Furry creature18. Four-and-twenty blackbirds? DOWN1. “Island in the Sun” novelist Waugh3. Summer Palace

residents, once4. “Die Lorelei” poet Heinrich6. Mount Moses climbed12. Battling it out13. Smidgen15. Projecting window design17. Farmer’s moneymaker

Entertainment10 The Summa Thursday, March 1, 2012

with friends. Surprisingly, the film

also had a fair bit of action in it by showcasing the “macho” bravados of Pine and Hardy. It also made the film a little unorganized and random because it had a side plot in which an assassin (Til Schweiger) wanted to kill the two federal agents and their girlfriend. I say this because the film had to flip between random scenes of action and then the love stuff, in which the filmmakers succeeded more in the action aspects.

Critics may hate this movie (and they do), but it is not like Witherspoon and others signed onto the movie because they wanted an Oscar,

they agreed to do the movie because the script appealed to them and they thought it would be fun. Yes, fun, critics, there is such a thing as wanting to make a fun movie instead of it having to be a critical success and Oscar-buzz worthy. Is that not what movies are about anyway? To escape from your troubles and be entertained for two hours? Besides, Witherspoon already has an Oscar.

For general audiences, this movie will have you laughing along with Witherspoon, Pine and Hardy. In the end, she does choose one of the two and although the ending is a bit “Disney-ish,” it is a must-see, nonetheless.

Thursday, March 1, 2012The Sports & Clubs

The Summa 11

Thursday, March 1Get Real Barbie Campaign

All Day Academic Mall

“Almost, Maine”Spring Play

8:00 PM Jones Hall

Friday, March 2From The Pew to the Public Square: Pursuing

the Common Good9:30 AMScanlan

“Almost, Maine”Spring Play

8:00 PM Jones Hall

Saturday, March 3“Almost, Maine”

Spring Play8:00 PM

Jones Hall

Monday, March 5HHS Mandate: Understanding the Rule, Constitutional Issues & What is at Stake

12:00 PM Art Gallery

Tuesday, March 6Bottom of the Cup

12:15 PMJones Hall

Wednesday, March 7Lemonade Day Kick-off

11:00 AMAcademic Mall

Wednesday, March 7 The Heartstring Quartet

7:30 PMJones Hall

Friday, March 9Celts for Life: “Religious Freedom: Conscience

Clause & Life”7:30 PM

Anderson 103

Saturday, March 10Free Income Tax Filing Service

9:00 AMMD Anderson YMCA

Monday, March 12 - Sunday, March 18

Spring BreakNo Classes

Upcoming Events

Photo by Micaela Brebion

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams encountered strong competition in recent games as they faced off against Wiley College on February 18 and Texas College on February 23.

During the Homecoming weekend festivities, the Lady Celts played against Wiley College. Despite the support of the crowd, the women’s team lost to the Lady Wildcats 35 to 81.

The men’s team faced similar opposition as they too were unable to gain victory over the Wildcats. Junior guard Travis Lampley led the scoring for the Celts with 17 points. The final score read a close 57 to 61, with the win to Wiley College.

“The homecoming game I think was really special for them, especially to see a big crowd out there and a lot of people cheering them on,” said

Teams experience mixed results against Wiley, Texas CollegeRebecca Mechler

Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Nicole HicklPhoto by Nicole Hickl

FOCUS missionary and fan Greg Johnson. “I think they really appreciated that. They played really well that game.”

Despite their defeat, the Celts gained victory on another field as they championed for the BlueCure. While the women’s volleyball team brought recognition to breast cancer awareness month, the men’s basketball team found their own cause to support.

“BlueCure is an organization that is aiming to heighten awareness about prostate cancer and living a healthy lifestyle. The BlueCure game was a way for us to help promote the organization because they hope to aim their campaigns towards college students and campuses. We felt lucky to be a part of it and to have UST be the first university to accept and promote BlueCure,” Senior Forward Anthony Medina said.

February 23 marked the

back to back games for the men and women against Texas College.

The men walked away victorious against the Texas College Steers with a score of 67 to 53, bringing their Red River conference record to 15 wins, 8 losses. The Lady Celts were not as lucky as they ended the game with a close 64 to 65. Sophomore Gaby Guzman led the scoring for the team with 20 successful points, just one behind the game leader, Keyara Criner from Texas College.

“This year has been a pretty good year for them I think, compared to last year. I know their goal all season has been to win their conference tournament and go to the national tournament,” said Johnson. “Hopefully they will continue to work hard and play hard and make a run in the conference tournament.”

The regular season wraps up on March 5 as both teams face Texas College again.

12 The Summa Thursday, March 1, 2012Advertising

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Jackson’s would like to welcome back the UST students and faculty. Have a great 2012!