Hilltopics | University Honors Program | Volume 14 Issue 1 | September 2017 1 2 Waves of Activism: Young

People Inspiring Change Today Lamisa Mustafa

Lisa Walters-Vargas, the Community believes the event made us realize that Outreach Coordinator of the EHRP, human rights efforts are “most effective was pivotal to making this event a with a variety of voices, pushers, and success. She told me that our HRF movers,” which should include and not sparked questions among the EHRP “tokenize” young people. Moreover, team about how they could be more she thinks that young people should involved in high schools and start stop believing that all “-isms” can wait necessary conversations about human to be tackled until after college. We rights well before college; they wanted really need to decide what side we are to fill in gaps of youth engagement in on now; I fundamentally believe that To me there are few things in life global issues. I believe this event did neutrality is equivalent to being on the more beautiful than a room of close- just that and more—it equipped youth side of the oppressor. To me, human to-300 people, from all walks of life, and educators all around DFW with rights advocacy is the best gateway to gathered to learn about human rights knowledge and tools essential to social discover how we can be upstanding activism from each other. What’s more activism. global citizens in our own ways. awe-inspiring is that this group was Highlights from the event include In light of the recent violence in primarily made of high school students, a speed-networking session with Charlottesville, Hope asserts that gathered at SMU on a Saturday morning prominent social activists based human rights violations and hate during their summer vacation. in DFW, poetry by Dr. Candice groups are “just as accessible and This event was known as the Human Bledsoe about the black experience destructive today” as they were during Rights Youth Summit, the first of its kind in America, live painting by Riley the Holocaust and Jim Crow. Human in Dallas, organized by SMU’s Embrey Holloway, and student reflections on rights education is meant to be “a Human Rights Program (EHRP) and steps that could be taken right away to platform to interrupt [the hateful] the World Affairs Council of Dallas- help communities in need. The event rhetoric” and it should make us realize Fort Worth. I was both an observer embodied the idea that “if you can act that the “other” has rights as valid as (assessing the success of the program) on an issue here in Dallas, then you our own. and a participant (learning about human can do it everywhere else.” I hope that like me, other student attendees felt Everyone has something that touches rights with other young people). What them and gets them going every brought me great pride that day (and empowered to take action because of this event. morning; human rights activism is makes me proud everyday) was that I about, as Hope passionately says, would be joining the EHRP as a human Hope Anderson, a recent human “connect[ing] your own story to a rights major. rights graduate and the first recipient larger [human] narrative.” It’s about I was elated to be attending the program of its Post- with my Newman Smith High School baccalaureate Human Rights Forum (HRF) family. Our Fellowship, organization focuses on outlets through is leading the human rights activism is which students can inspire a shared sense path forward. of humanity among our community. Looking After a field trip to SMU last year, our back on the about...“connect[ing] forum was forming a partnership with Summit the EHRP that ultimately culminated two months your own story to a larger into this Summit. later, Hope [human] narrative.” 3 “taking power into your own hands, that all human beings are born with important.” I wholeheartedly agree—I making connections happen, [developing fundamental rights that cannot be believe that human rights education is an] on-the-ground understanding... [and taken away. quintessential to realizing that we are fostering] real world skills.” all bigger than ourselves. Perpetrators Dr. Halperin is often referred to as the of injustice do seem to have the most Dr. Rick Halperin, the Director of the face of human rights in Dallas; but to powerful voices right now, but I am EHRP and a personal human rights him, “without a doubt, students are the impatiently waiting to see the work hero of mine, puts into perspective what most inspiring part of this program.” that this program and all champions human rights scholarship means in this He believes he’s incredibly of human rights will accomplish in the moment in history: “Human rights “fortunate in getting to meet, work very near future. education should be offered throughout with and mentor young, idealistic, all American educational levels, from passionate and creative students who In joining our journey, you’ll find an grades K through university... [T]his want to be the agents of change for a outlet to shape your own identity and country is in dire need of a younger just… society.” transform society for the better. After generation with more knowledge and all, human rights include all people. understanding of human rights and our As I begin my journey in one of the few Every person›s unique light is responsibilities [toward] ALL people, undergraduate human rights programs important to our human rights regardless of who they are.” in the US and the only one of its kind story—I hope that you’ll share and in the South, I often think of when embrace yours. At the Summit, he passionately affirmed Cecily Cox, a student leader in the that “if you believe in human rights, then EHRP, told me and a group of first- you believe that there is no such thing as year human rights majors and minors Image courtesy of Riley Holloway’s artwork, “Equal a lesser person—no exceptions.” To me, that we are “so lucky to be learning Rights for All!”, which was painted live at the Human there is no greater truth than this. At human rights now... right now in this Rights Youth Summit on July 15th, 2017. Photo Taken the heart of human rights is the belief country. This has never been more by Lamisa Mustafa. up when my friends wanted to go do things, and I had to say no because we didn’t have any money and no way to get there. I missed out on a lot of things—I felt trapped. Evicted: the SMU Version Student 2: No. The only people we Lorien Melnick told were very close family friends. We never wanted to tell people because In honor of the SMU common reading expensive. One day, after we moved being homeless makes you an outsider. book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the out of my grandparents’ house, I asked It also causes a shift in the power American City by Matthew Desmond, for a candy bar, and my parents said dynamic in a relationship, and some of SMU students were interviewed about yes. That’s always stuck with me. our friendships never recovered from their experiences with homelessness. that. When people help you, you’re all Student 2: When you’re homeless, you of a sudden beneath them. What was your experience with being always feel like you don’t really have an homeless? anchor or belong anywhere, like you’re Did you get any help from the floating. Home is a place where you government while you were homeless? Student 1: When I was little, my can be yourself, and when you don’t Student 1: No. parents couldn’t afford housing, so we have a home, you have to find that were forced into my mom’s parents’ familiarity in somewhere else. Because Student 2: No. house. Usually in Hispanic families, no we didn’t have a place to relax, my mom one lives on the streets; they’re taken and I became each other’s home. We’re How do you feel being at SMU now, in by family. The experience helped me really close now, and I see that as one where most people can’t relate to your to appreciate family more and made of the highlights of our experience. experiences? me very reliant on my family, even now that we’re not homeless anymore. While you were homeless, did other Student 1: Alienated. Lots of people I’ll always remember how, when I was people in your life (classmates, teachers, here grew up knowing [that] they little, I always really wanted candy parents’ coworkers) know about it? could ask for anything, and I always bars, but even [the] candy that was feared that I would ask for too much. twenty-five cents, they said was too Student 1: Not really. It only came I still feel that way, like we don’t have

4 enough, whereas people around me understand these issues are more always seem to have too much. diverse than you might think. Student 2: To be honest, it wasn’t until Student 2: Most people here have had I got to SMU that I admitted to myself no contact with this issue and have that I was ever homeless at all. I always no idea what it’s like. Going through thought that the word “homeless” was this experience taught me about how for people who lived under a bridge. much worse it could have been. In the I thought that, since we had friends moment, there was always something and places to stay, we weren’t homeless. off about the situation, but I was never Once, though, we were over at a family absolutely miserable. friend’s. Their son was a little older than me, and he asked, “Mom, why are these It’s such a big part of who I became, hoboes here?” For a while, I tried not to and most people here have never gone acknowledge that that ever happened. through that experience. Everyone has problems, but having something Why do you think it’s important that disturb your home is on such a different students at SMU learn about homelessness? level that it’s impossible to understand. Evicted was such a good book because Student 1: Because it’s a very real issue, it put faces to the issue. Some people and it’s swept under the rug a lot. A lot tell me, “But I couldn’t keep the of people think that the only ones who characters straight,” and I think that are homeless are the ones who live on reflects the general view of the issue. the street, begging for money. But there To lots of people, homelessness is just [are] a lot of people who don’t have a a general mass of people who don’t real home, but who live in some kind have personalities and lives. Evicted of housing or shelter, and they often is important because it gives identities can’t get government help. We need to to homeless people so that readers can continue talking about it, so that people sympathize with them. increasing the level of harshness in our criminal justice system. So, why do many Americans feel so From Crime to Cruelty strongly about making sure criminals are punished rather than rehabilitated? Alec Mason The answer to that question is complicated, but one explanation The recent presidential pardon criminal justice policy, so I will avoid could stem from a human desire of former Maricopa County Sheriff creating a strawman by claiming that for order. People tend to feel more Joe Arpaio raised quite a few eyebrows anyone who prefers to be tough on comfortable knowing that there is across the political spectrum. Arizona crime wants to go as far as he did. some sort of higher power present to senator John McCain claimed that the However, the problem lies in that restore balance when things go awry. pardon “undermines [the president’s] it becomes exceedingly difficult to Whether it be a deity or a government, claim for the respect of the rule of law.” be tough on crime while respecting many find comfort in the idea that the While the charges against Arpaio for human rights and eschewing cruel forces of said entity will eventually refusing to follow a court order to end punishments. Research suggests that deliver justice to those who disrupt his racial profiling of Latino people harsh punishments may have no order. Rehabilitation often fails to are undoubtedly awful, I am not going benefit other than making those on satisfy this desire for vengeful justice. to dedicate this article to debating his the outside have a sense of vengeance. Harsh punishments, on the other conviction nor his pardoning. Rather, I In fact, research done by the solicitor hand, can create a grand display out wish to briefly discuss the problematic general of Canada showed a slight of revenge. This is part of the reason it ethics of the criminal justice policy that increase in recidivism rates among becomes difficult to repeal what some leads many conservatives to admire him those with harsher punishments for view as the ultimate punishment— – his toughness on crime and lack of the same crime.1 The data calls into the death penalty. The philosophy of sympathy for criminals. question the reasoning for the general “an eye for an eye” is exceptionally 2 Arpaio is undeniably an extreme case in American support for maintaining or attractive to many, and it can become

5 4 nearly impossible to resist the desire did. Nor should our goal be to murder FOOTNOTES: to inflict equal suffering on those who those who commit murder. Rather, our 1) https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ committed a crime. focus in designing an effective criminal rsrcs/pblctns/pnshnt-rcdvsm/in- This leads us to a struggle that can justice system should be to reduce dex-en.aspx recidivism by preparing prisoners for define the moral standing of an entire 2) http://www.gallup.com/ civilization. A society is far better off if its an eventual return as a productive poll/196568/ameri- population can look past its animalistic member of society. cans-views-shift-toughness-jus- tice-system.aspx longing for vengeance to instead embrace Of course, none of these reforms can 3) the ideas of forgiveness and rehabilitation. happen without a movement in our http://www.apa.org/monitor/ju- laug03/rehab.aspx Those who commit crimes are often at democracy towards candidates who one of the lowest points in their lives, respect human rights and prioritize 4) http://www.thedailybeast.com/in- mates-left-to-rot-in-120-degree- and around 15-20% of those in prison rehabilitation. We must be wary heat are mentally ill.3 Can we truly claim to be of candidates like Joe Arpaio who at a higher moral standing than criminals emphasize rigid, unsympathetic if we inflict such inhumane suffering on enforcement of law and order above all some of the most unfortunate people else. Therefore, we cannot sit silently in our society? In my opinion, no. We as our systems and leaders practice absolutely cannot. As a society, we need cruelty towards prisoners, lest our to take a step back and reevaluate the goal moral standing be diminished as well. of a criminal justice system. We should resist the will for revenge and instead work towards a humane, rehabilitative system. Our goal should not be to make those who commit crimes live in tents that reach temperatures of 145°F in the sweltering Arizona heat as Joe Arpaio

6 We felt the Cape, deserted, silent, cold.

The Cape The early summer rain brought back the breeze Kevin Wang of winter’s deed. You hid your heart of gold

inside your cloak as if it were to freeze.

The yonder sea sang songs of her own beach

of beauty; yet, I heard the gloomy song

of falling rain and saw our growing breach

between our lips, our hearts, our journeys long.

But Love, could you not hear the rhythms of

the gorgeous sea whose waves were kissing our

own feet? Our hearts united with the dove

who sought with hope another sunny hour.

One day we’d walk and feel the Cape again

“The Cape” to kiss the waves with lasting love’s reign. Original photo by Kevin Wang

anything legal. As a first-year student, I took that piece of advice very seriously, to the point where I was overwhelmed Freshman Year: Lessons Learned by the seemingly endless possibilities. If you reach that point, and if you are a naive little overachiever (like me) you most definitely will, then a and Memories Made time will come when you’ll be forced to ask yourself where your interests Karen Guan truly lie, and you’ll know to follow One of the hardest things for me the way. your passions, rather than the advice to do, even as a writer, is to bring my ide of strangers who still probably don’t as to life, or at least to this Google Doc. Here are four of the most important know what they’re doing. However, as someone who just crossed the pieces of advice I have for first-year students, which you are, by no means, 2. The Feeling of Wanting to Do threshold from freshman to sophomore Nothing: College is the first time the not too long ago, reflecting on what has forced to comply with. You do you, fam. majority of you are on your own, which become the most important year of my means you can basically do whatever life is pretty much inevitable. At this time 1. The Feeling of Wanting to Do the hell you want, whenever the hell in 2016, I, like virtually every other first- Everything: From the day we officially you want. Let me tell you that that is year student at SMU, had absolutely no commit to SMU (and lose several (fortunately!) not the case. In college, idea what I was doing. However, as the hundred dollars thanks to that one of the first things you ought to do year progressed I managed to accomplish infamous deposit), we are constantly is learn to prioritize everything in your a few things, made a few (okay, many) advised and coerced to get involved life, from academics to extracurriculars mistakes, and learned a few lessons along with clubs, organizations, and basically to parties. Nowadays, the college

7 experience is heavily influenced by the times last year at SMU when I felt so aspect of your wellbeing you should abundance of social media in our lives, confused, anxious, and alone that all not ignore, especially when you are which forces people to, naturally, present I wanted to do was to return to the undergoing a lot of changes in virtually a certain, and often narrow and one- bubble of familiarity I had known every aspect of life. Looking back, my dimensional, version of themselves. It’s for years. But I had to continue to mental health was the one thing I also incredibly easy to get caught up move forward and push through the should have taken more seriously as a in what is perceived as the ideal, but if struggles and move forward because I first-year student, and now that I am there’s anything I can tell you about this didn’t want to live with the regret of a sophomore, the consequences of not aspect of college life, I just hope you don’t knowing I could have done something doing so have caught up to me...which try to change yourself, whether it’s your had I tried just a little harder. And I’m is why I cannot stress how important personal values or even your style of dress, sure you don’t want to either. it is to take care of yourself, or at least to fit an arbitrary standard. Remember to try. Don’t be afraid to slow down, that you’re living for yourself, not societal 4. The Feeling of Everything and even when it seems like no one else standards. Nothing All At Once: I know this will. sounds incredibly vague, and if you 3. The Feeling of Missing Home: Even want to stop reading my advice College can be exciting, confusing, if you’re from the Dallas-Fort Worth because I’ve confused you, go ahead. and terrifying all at once, but I hope Metroplex like me, or you don’t feel as But I purposely kept the title vague the wisdom I’ve imparted upon you, if there is much to look forward to in because it leads to my discussion of as well as the mistakes I’ve made, will your hometown, you will begin to miss a somewhat vague, which is that of serve you well in the present and the the comfort and familiarity of home. mental health. However, the definition future. Class of 2021, your first year I am from Colleyville, a suburb of Fort of mental health should be pretty really will end too fast, so don’t be Worth about 40 minutes west of Dallas, obvious to you, and because I am not a afraid to be spontaneous, make dumb and to be perfectly honest, I was excited professor, I’ll skip the formal definition mistakes, and create memories you’ll to finally leave the small, homogenous and just tell you my personal belief hold onto for the rest of your life. suburb and finally start my life outside that mental health should be personal of its confinement. However, there were to everyone. Not only that, but it is an Official class photo of SMU Class of 2021 taken on August 19, 2017

8 Positivity During Hurricane Harvey Mahesh Ramgopal

As Hurricane Harvey pounded the they had their prediction of 59 feet, physical damage that Houston is Houston area, the American people were we were terrified. We thought it was experiencing, but a lot of us don’t inundated with numbers on the lives gonna be up to my second floor. really understand the emotional toll lost and the damage caused. However, it’s taking on people like you. Could few people knew what the day-to-day So what’s the prediction now? you elaborate on that? struggles the people of Houston were, Right now, they’re saying the highest it I am beyond fortunate that no one I and still are, facing. To help solve this will be will be 57.9 feet, and I believe, issue, I contacted my friend in Houston, love has been lost to [the] flooding. right now, we are around 55 feet, I have several friends and family that Megan Welty, and tried to understand [which is] the highest it’s been ever what she was going through. have lost their house. My grandpa, he before. We had Memorial [Day] flood lost his house. But that’s not a problem. How are you doing? How are you last year and that terrified us, [and] We know how to build houses. Thank handling all of this? that was almost at the top of our levee. god, [he] and his wife got out. My So, it’s even higher. The police today brother’s girlfriend, they had to leave We’re doing pretty good. We’ve moved shut people off from going to the levee. their dog in the rush of the flood. That almost everything—at least everything I was gonna check on it because we was pretty hard for their family. It’s of value—from my first floor up into my went last night, and it was really high. really hard, a lot of people…are being second floor. There [are] washers and But, we had a couple feet of clearance hurt, losing their lives, losing their dryers, my refrigerator, my entire kitchen. last night, so we still have…all of today houses, losing everything, but at least You know, everything is upstairs in case and part of tomorrow to wait. And we we still have each other. And the great the levee fails or breaks—which the river are so lucky I’m…floodgate 11. That’s thing is, last night I was watching the hasn’t crested yet. It will crest Friday my levee number. And that’s the only news, and there were hundreds and sometime, and that’s when we will know levee that has put above and beyond hundreds of cop cars from San Antonio if our levee is safe or not. effort into making [it]. Everyone and Dallas and everywhere, and yeah, else’s has been mandatory evacuation. it’s a hard time, but it’s great because If the levee does break, what’s going to Houses flooded. The levee on the other happen? this is when people are bonding side of the river…broke yesterday, and together. My school was opened as a There will be water at least as high as my their houses are gone. They’re ruined. shelter, and everyone who could make cabinets in my house. And I mean, I live Which I mean is horrible, but that it out of the neighborhood, made their at the other end of my neighborhood, provides relief to my levee. way to volunteer. There [are] lines for so everyone closer, even if they have a So a lot of people know about the volunteering. And there [are] lines for second floor, that would be ruined. When donations. In all of these difficult times, what is giving you happiness and hope? Well, it was actually funny, so the first two days before the flooding actually started it was a lot of tornados and rain. My fence in my backyard is gone. Trees are down. And then the flooding first started. And, our neighbors and I…we aren’t great friends. But we got a canoe out, and we started playing around in the circle. ...My dad is always beyond busy. He never has time for the family. But it was really nice because we spent Original photo by Mahesh Ramgopal an entire day outside and laughing and having fun.

9 the nick of time.” The themes of loss and cynicism are further emphasized in the bridge when Swift repeats, “I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts Look What the Media Made me.” The quote shows Swift as cynical in that she trusts no one, and it shows her as a victim in that no one trusts Swift Do her, both sentiments molded by how the media portrays her. Even the Nicole Kiser hyperbolic “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. “Look What You Made Me Do” by show Swift as manipulative and overly Why? Oh, ‘cause she’s dead!” sets up Taylor Swift is a record-breaking song. ambitious. Swift as a victim of some crime. The song broke Spotify’s record for number of first-day streams and for most However, the deeper I fell down the The danger of Swift’s careful narrative streams by one song in a single day. It also rabbit hole of Taylor Swift gossip of victimization is already displayed broke the record for number of first-day and tabloid trash, the more I realized in comment sections from YouTube plays on YouTube and is currently the how shallow all the “scandals” were. to Tumblr. While some think she is a No. 1 song in the country (Flanagan). Much of what was said about Swift victim of the cruelty of the media and included indefinites: “seem,” “maybe,” stardom, others see her as playing the Honestly, I hate it. I don’t think it is a and “perhaps.” I was tired of the media victim in order to cover-up for her less- good song, but I also don’t think it jumping to conclusions, and I was not than-graceful media slipups. Can we matters if it’s a good song. the one in the article. really know whether her victimhood is real or fabricated? The current split Despite the general ambiguity of the The music video of “Look What You in audience between those who see actual lyrics, the pointedness of some of Made Me Do” ends with Taylor Swift Swift as petty and those who see her the symbols in the music video and the as she was from the 2009 VMAs (where as empowered is fairly equally divided. tendencies of the media to sensationalize Kanye interrupted her award speech, The majority cares more about her everything Swift were bound to send the beginning their infamous feud) saying, music than her life in the tabloids. In song to No. 1. The capacity for speculation “I would very much like to be excluded the end, her freedom as an artist means and interpretation was too large. from this narrative.” While the music she can write whatever she wants, no video of “Look What You Made Me matter what we as an audience think Some of the symbols in the music video Do” embraces—and exaggerates— of it, but her popularity means we will are easily interpreted to align with Swift’s the media narrative forced on Swift, think of it. various feuds and media run-ins. In the the lyrics create a different narrative. music video’s opening scene, one of the From the very title—“Look What You Even though I really hate that gravestones has the name “Nils Sjoberg” Made Me Do”—there is a narrative of song. engraved—the pseudonym Swift used victimization. The idea of having been WORKS CITED when she co-wrote “This Is What You made to do something, being forced Came For” with her then boyfriend, Flanagan, Andrew. “Taylor Swift’s ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ into action against your will, allows Breaks Records, Stops ‘Despacito’ Short.” NPR, NPR, 5 Sept. 2017, Calvin Harris. The pseudonym’s use www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/09/05/548624239/taylor- Swift to carefully cultivate an image swifts-look-what-you-made-me-do-breaks-records-stops-despacito- eventually led to Swift and Harris’ breakup of innocence being stripped. The pre- short. Accessed 5 Sept. 2017. and some tense tweets from Harris. In chorus circulates around the idea of “I IMAGE COURTESY OF: another example, the many snakes that got smarter, I got harder,” emphasizing www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Taylor-Swift-Look-What-You-Made- Me-Do-Video-Meaning-43944635. Accessed 5 Sept. 2017. accompany Swift throughout the video how her very public life forced the appear to reference the incident between construction of a jaded worldview “in the Wests and Swift. On Instagram, Swift posted disparaging remarks about the couple and their use of her in “Famous,” after which Kim Kardashian West released an edited phone call of Swift appearing to approve Kanye West’s line about her in his song “Famous.” Kardashian West’s actions led to many posting the snake emoji on Swift’s social media, calling her a manipulator and liar. The overall tone of the music video uses symbols from her past media scandals to

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Mahesh Ragmopal Contributors Lamisa Mustafa Lorien Melnick Alec Mason Special thanks to : Karen Guan Nicole Kiser Dr. David Doyle and Sally Spaniolo