Southern Methodist University SMU Scholar Hilltopics University Honors Program 8-22-2005 Hilltopics: Volume 2, Issue 1 Hilltopics Staff Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.smu.edu/hilltopics Recommended Citation Hilltopics Staff, "Hilltopics: Volume 2, Issue 1" (2005). Hilltopics. 21. https://scholar.smu.edu/hilltopics/21 This document is brought to you for free and open access by the University Honors Program at SMU Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Hilltopics by an authorized administrator of SMU Scholar. For more information, please visit http://digitalrepository.smu.edu. special thanks to the University Honors Program volume two, issue one week of august 22, 2005 Break out of the bubble with Barbara Ehrenreich’s best-selling Nickel and Dimed by Rebekah Hurt Last Monday afternoon, SMUʼs incom- use a set of national statistics to indicate ing freshman gathered to participate in just how wide-spread are the problems that a lively campus-wide discussion of the surface in her anecdotes. She cites govern- book that many of the universityʼs upper- ment sources that indicate a “living wage” classmen and faculty members have been to be “$30,000 a year for a family of one buzzing about for the past year: Barbara adult and two children, which amounts to Ehrenreichʼs Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) a wage of $14 an hour […] The majority of Getting By In America. This controversial American workers, about 60 percent, earn text consists of a socially sobering but of- less than $14 an hour” (213, emphasis ten funny and always readable exposé of added). Ehrenreich demands that this situ- Ehrenreichʼs experiences working “under- ation be seen for what it truly is – a state of cover” for minimum wage (or close to it) as national emergency. She further surmises a waitress in Florida, a maid in Maine, and (whether correctly or not), that “the appro- then a Wal-mart associate in Minnesota. As priate emotion is shame – shame at our own an in-road to the consideration of domestic dependency, in this case, on the unpaid la- labor policies and, more microscopically, of bor of others” (221). In any case, what does Dallasʼ own town-and-gown relations, this this mean for the “average” incoming SMU is a text that deserves to be perused by the student? The proud SMU moniker for its SMU community at large. campus, “The Hilltop,” immediately betrays I must admit up front that before crack- the universityʼs often “bubble”-like quali- ing the book, I was hugely skeptical of Eh- ties - as if the huge, Georgian columns, renreichʼs ability, as a well-off author with a PhD, to convinc- spectacular fountains, and compulsively-manicured flower ingly render the hardships of poverty on this experimental beds (which we all appreciate greatly) were not enough to basis. mark out the schoolʼs differences from its urban surround- Yet as I read on, I shed my antagonism bit by bit, and grew ings. That is not to say that SMUʼs student body does not to tremendously appreciate the study. Ehrenreich does, un- within itself represent a diverse smattering of economic avoidably, remain acutely aware of the differences between backgrounds, because it surely does. But regardless of how herself and the people she is impersonating, but as her nar- much change is in your pocket, the mere existence of the rative evolves she juggles her alliances and experiences de- “free” time youʼve spent reading this article testifies to your grees of crippling anxiety and physical shut-down that she privileged educational status. So, embody that status consci- associates with the reality of low-wage life. Ehrenreich, as a entiously. Part of the administrationʼs purpose in requiring temporary member of the working poor, finds, “I need a job this new common-reading was to introduce the class of ʼ08 and an apartment, but to get a job I need an address and to the types of intellectual discourse that are fostered here. a phone number and to get an apartment it helps to have Hilltopics is pleased to participate in that conscientious evidence of stable employment. The only plan I can come up conversation: whether youʼve read the book or just heard with is to do everything at once” (54). Her several stories in- about it, write in and tell us how the thoughts Nickel and dicate that sometimes you get “lucky,” but for the most part, Dimed has provoked can be transformed into practical action “doing everything at once” verges on impossible. on campus. In her eventual conclusion, Ehrenreich powerfully puts to Rebekah Hurt is a junior English and French major. Campus: If your lack of a des- World: The G8 Summit last Be Heard: Got an opinion? ignated driver is cramping month raised awareness of Hilltopics is always look- your social style, see page 3. critical issues, page 4. ing for good submissions Football: The preseason hype Politics: Roberts confirmation and interesting feedback was boring, but this NFL lacks the political passion Email your thoughts to season looks good, page 3 expected, page 2. [email protected]. We welcome submissions from all members of the SMU community. Letters to the editor should be up to 300 words in response to a previously published article. Contributions should be articles of up to 300-600 words on any topic or in response to another article. Please email your submission to [email protected] by Wednesday at 8:00 PM to be included in the following weekʼs publication. Special deadlines will be observed for breaking campus events. The opinions expressed in Hilltopics are those of the authors solely and do not reflect the beliefs of Hilltopics or any other entity. As such, Hilltopics does not publish anonymous articles. page 2 week of august 22, 2005 Regardless of political posturing by both parties, John Roberts’ confirmation seems a formality by Michael Hogenmiller When Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OʼConner an- made harder by the Bush administrationʼs refusal to release nounced that she would be retiring from the court back in some documents from the nomineeʼs work as a lawyer for July, many were surprised that the announcement wasnʼt the GOP. coming from an ailing Chief Justice, whose medical prob- One month and over 75,000 released documents later, lems had been widely reported in the media. John Robertʼs upcoming confi rmation hearings are sizing Politicians on both sides of the aisle dug in for what was up to be a political formality. Though Roberts has taken sure to be another political battle over a conservative Bush professional stances on school prayer, gay rights, the envi- nomination, and political news shows reintroduced cover- ronment, and several other key political issues while work- age of the ʻnuclear optionʼ and the bipartisan ʻgang of 14.ʼ ing as a D.C. lawyer, how can anyone really know how Rob- The impending political battle never materialized. erts will conceive his own role on the Court until the robes When John Roberts was named as OʼConnerʼs succes- come on and he can begin to piece together his jurispru- sor, a group called NARAL Pro Choice America ran an ad dence, case by case. campaign claiming that Roberts supported the bombing of Liberal political groups have shown distress towards abortion clinics. The commercial stated that Roberts had Democrats on Capitol Hill over the lackluster opposition to “fi led court briefs supporting violent fringe groups and a Roberts. Many worry that a mild opposition to the nomina- convicted court bomber.” Surely this would promise imme- tion will signal a change in approach to reviewing Supreme diate political bloodshed, right? The commercial practically Court nominees, essentially a truce in which ideology is placed the bomb in Robertsʼ hands while young mothers- taken off the table when considering a justice. Democrats, to-be received counseling on pregnancy options. on the other hand, are concerned that a strong opposition The campaign backfi red violently, as it should have, and to Roberts could damage the party and instead are focus- advocates both for and against abortion denounced the in- ing on fulfi lling their role in the constitutional procedures nuendo created by the commercials. Senator Arlen Specter, of the confi rmation with dignity while stressing important the chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a rare party values. pro-choice Republican wrote a scathing letter to the orga- Like I said, a political formality. nization that demanded the commercial be taken off the Michael Hogenmiller is a senior political science and music air because of the harm and embarrassment it caused for major. the pro-choice movement. The group quickly canceled the remaining run of the campaign. After the NARAL campaign, Senate Democrats drafted few offi cial criticisms of Roberts. Instead, they are calling on an ʻhonest look at John Robertʼs record,ʼ which they say is SMU RIDES returns to Hilltop as an option for students concerned about drinking and driving by Dawn Jenkins Upperclassmen may remember RIDES with a mixture of program is still free and anonymous, but for liability reasons, emotions. Some students remember fondly (if not so well) no longer referred to as “safe.” While the university wonʼt the night they dialed the hotline for a free ride home after a guarantee your safety, Executive Taxi promises to guarantee rollicking good time out on Greenville Avenue. Other more your satisfaction. No more scrambling for the exact address jaded students may remember the night when a mix-up of that bar you just left – club names or cross streets will left them stranded and searching for their cab. And others suffi ce. And no more waiting around for your cab – RIDES (the more clueless among us) may mumble, “RIDES was shut will have its own fl eet of designated drivers at your disposal down? No wonder they didnʼt answer my calls,” or even ask, ready to answer the call.