VOLUME 102 • ISSUE 25 MARCH 9, 2017 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS ampusM U W S E T I WCELEBRATING 100 YeeklyEARS 1915 - 2015 A V N E G R M P ADN ESS FEATURE STORY Story Tag GIVINGLOCATION BACK How one Mustang is sending a message through his generous donation PAGE 3 SPORTS FASHION ARTS & LIFE Preview of the AAC tournament RewardStyle launches new app Inside look at SMU Ballroom Dance PAGE 8 PAGE 5 PAGE 11 2 | Thursday, March 9, 2017 SMU Campus Weekly ADVERTISEMENTS [email protected] BEBE SEENSEEN BEBE HEARDHEARD CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS FREE ADVERTISING SPACE OR TO SUBMIT AN AD, CONTACT THE STUDENT SENATE COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR: [email protected] SMU Campus Weekly Thursday, March 9, 2017 | 3 NEWS smudailycampus.com/news @SMUCW_News Fellow student donates on Giving Day in honor of late friend LISA SALINAS people to be different," Robertson said. "Jamie's life was Editor-in-Chief part of that broader story of all of us trying to find space [email protected] to be ourselves." Robertson said he hopes to help the Women and LGBT Giving Day at SMU is an annual opportunity for donors Center in any way he can with his donation. to fund organizations and ideas on campus. Every dollar that a donor gives on Giving Day will be Donors can choose from providing air fare to students matched by Robertson's dollar; the university will also give studying abroad, educating future business leaders, money to match Robertson's. replacing furniture in buildings on campus.. the list goes "For example, if they want to hire a guest speaker, or if on and on. they want to do an event and it costs money for catering or Giving Day was on March 7 this year. One Mustang things like that," Robertson said. took advantage of this day to give back to a cause that is Program Advisor of the Women and LGBT Center Val dear to his heart. Erwin is very grateful Senior Michael Robertson for Robertson's will donate $5,000 anualy donation. She for five years as a matching believes the purpose gift to SMU's Women and behind this donation LGBT Center, student sends a message to the organizations affiliated with SMU community. the center and the center's “We were alumni outreach to honor the incredibly grateful for life of SMU student and late such a generous gift to friend of Robertson, Jaime the Women & LGBT Shim, who died last year Center," Erwin said Photo by Mollie Mayfeld The entry to The Women & LGBT Center by suicide. in an email interview. Robertson recalled first "The fact that it was a meeting Shim a couple gift from a student in Photo by Mollie Mayfeld years ago. memory of a student SMU’s Women & LGBT Center "Jamie and I first met in made the gift even fall 2014 at the Umphrey Lee cafeteria actually," Robertson more touching and powerful. It is the type of gift that can said. "And then we had classes together because we were add to the work we do as a center, especially since the goal both political science majors." is to help encourage other donations to the center." Robertson had not seen Shim for a while before his Erwin believes the gift will help spread the ultimate death. purpose of the Center. "He had cut off contact with his friends and his "This gift allows for the Women & LGBT Center to professors, so I hadn't actually seen him for over a month expand our education about the LGBT community on before he committed suicide," Robertson said. campus," Erwin said. Shim suffered from depression, which made academics Erwin said Center staff already has plans for how they and life hard for him, according to Robertson. will allocate the Robertson's donation. "Jamie was a very driven and successful student so it was "We are specifically planning on using it for the LGBT extremely difficult for him and his image of himself when Equality Forum, to bring the AIDS Memorial Quilt to he was having trouble in school because of the depression," campus, and to create an LGBT student leadership award," Robertson said. Erwin said. Shim was very open about being a transgendered male, Ultimately, Robertson's goal in creating this fund is to something that he never hid, according to Robertson. honor Shim's courage and let the SMU community know "Jamie, I thought showed a lot of courage for expressing that diversity is welcomed. his gender identity and sexual orientation," Robertson said. "I wanted to do something to acknowledge the sacrifices "He was never shy; he was never closeted in any way." Jamie made and to also sort of think about in this broader However, Shim faced adverse reactions due to his gender context of how this community and how Americans identity, according to Robertson. will generally think about issues about gender identity "It was very difficult, because even here at SMU he and sexual orientation," Robertson said. "I wanted the faced discrimination from fellow students, people who were SMU community to say that we are open to this and we uncomfortable with who he was," Robertson said. are supportive." Robertson created the memorial grant in honor of Shim Robertson said he hopes his grant will eventually change to bring awareness of the LGBT community to SMU and on-campus culture. also to make a statement about diversity on campus. "This will help to give the Women & LGBT Center a "The pressure to be the same or to fit societal norms is larger voice on campus, which we hope in turn will help very strong, but even though there is this natural tension change the culture on campus, make it more inclusive," and tendency to conform, there is space here at SMU for Robertson said. 4 | Thursday, March 9, 2017 SMU Campus Weekly NEWS smudailycampus.com/news @SMUCW_News President George W. Bush honors war veterans with a paintbrush LAUREN is part of President Bush’s and the Bush nation’s military. It’s great to see and WINTERHALDER Institute’s Military Service Initiative goal know that.” Contributing Writer to support post-9/11 veterans and their Other visitors experience the same [email protected] families in their transition back into society feeling when viewing the portraits. Bush Not just any President uses his time after and eliminate the stigma veterans face when Library docent Sandra Mallon has seen his presidency to honor veterans, let alone speaking about their mental and physical a steady stream of visitors since the with a paintbrush. well-being. exhibit started. Former President George W. Bush’s Bush took up painting in 2012 and “So far, everyone who walks into the painting pastime has now turned into a way first released a series of portraits of world exhibit has been moved by the portraits. for him to honor members of the United leaders in 2014. My favorite portraits are the two of veteran, Photo by Lauren Winterhalder States military. He then realized he wanted to paint Christopher Andrew Turner,” Mallon said. George W. Bush painting His paintings will be featured at the portraits of service men and women who In the first portrait he looks sad and George W. Bush Presidential Center on served while he was their commander- sunken in and the second is him months SMU campus in the exhibit “Portraits of in-chief. later happier. It’s very moving.” Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute Vibrant portraits of military veterans line Patrons can see the moving exhibit to America’s Warriors.” the walls of the exhibits that leave visitors in painted by our nation’s 43rd President The exhibit will showcase 66 portraits awe of the former President’s skills. from March 2 through Oct. 1, 2017, and a four-panel mural of 98 veterans, Exhibit visitor Brooke Swan found who leaves visitors with the reason for his including men and women still in the portraits to be a surprisingly beautiful exhibit on the wall of the George W. Bush active duty. tribute to our military’s service. Presidential Center: Bush has made supporting war veterans “I didn’t know what to expect when “I painted these men and women as a a top priority and the George W. Bush coming to the exhibit, but I am pleasantly way to honor their service to the country Institute since his presidency ended in 2009. surprised by it,” Swan said. “The portraits and to show my respect for their sacrifice Photo by Lauren Winterhalder The exhibit “Portrait’s of Courage,” show President Bush’s dedication to our and courage.” George W. Bush painting SMU students show out for 24-hour musical auditions ALEXIS KOPP Contributing Writer [email protected] Students of all majors belted high notes and busted out dance moves March 5 during a 24-Hour Musical auditions. SMU Student Theatre (SMUST), Program Council and Student Senate have come together once more to put on the third annual 24-Hour Musical. SHOW YOUR SMU ID CARD AND GET 10% OFF Kaylyn Buckley and Katie Ibrahim will direct this year’s show “Chicago,” at 2 p.m. April 15 in the Greer Garson Theatre. SERIOUS CRAFT BREWS, Potential cast members prepared 16 to 32 bars of an appropriate musical theatre song and attended a dance ™ call, where choreographer Sam Weber taught 30 seconds SERIOUSLY GOOD FOOD. of a routine. Specialty Pizzas, 90 Craft Beers & Taproom Fare! Sophomore Matthew Holevas left his audition confident. “I think I did well,” Holevas said. “I was trying Photo by Alexis Kopp Open until 2am.