www.InsideVandy.com HUSTLER THETHURSDAY, FEBRUARY VANDERBIL 2, 2012 ★ 124TH YEAR, NO. 7 ★ THE VOICE OF VANDERBILT SINCE 1888 T New kids on the block U.S. ambassador talks Egypt, Vanderbilt head coach James Arab spring KATIE KROG Franklin and the SENIOR PRODUCER coaching staff Students, faculty and guests crowded into Buttrick 101 Wednesday evening to listen to celebrated one former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey speak. of the best The event, which included a talk and a ques- tion and answer session, focused on Egypt signing classes and the Arab Spring, a series of protests and demonstrations that began in 2010. in Vanderbilt Scobey referred to the Arab Spring as “un- doubtedly the most exciting event of my ca- football history reer.” She added, “It was really just kind of on Wednesday, amazing to see a country of 82 million people rise up and say ‘enough.’ It was a very exciting welcoming 21 time, very momentous, and I think it’s going to have long term impact on a variety of is- new players to sues.” According to Scobey, a key priority for the Nashville. United States is “advancing peace, security K EVIN BARNETT/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER and opportunity in the Middle East, not only because of the long-term benefits to the na- signees receiving less tional order and global prosperity, but to the than a three-star rating here-and-now issues that we are confronting.” according to Rivals.com 6’5” Scobey said that these current issues in- 0 average height clude the defeat of al-Qaeda and other extrem- 285 of the six ist groups; the erasure of the spread of nuclear weight of three different signees with offensive line weapons; the promotion of Arab-Israeli peace; offensive line signees the increase of commerce; the countering of offers from other signees aggression; and furthering the spread of de- SEC programs signees who led mocracy and respect for human rights. 16 Scobey served as the U.S. ambassador to their high school Syria between 2003 and 2005 and the U.S. teams to state of Tennessee’s average yards per carry for four-star ambassador to Egypt between 2008 and 2011. championships top 25 prospects 10.5 signee Brian Kimbrow She has also served as political counselor in 5 6 Bagdad; the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. days until Vanderbilt opens the 2012 embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; director of For more coverage of Signing Day, see PAGE 6 season against South Carolina Arabian Peninsula affairs; and deputy chief 209 of mission in Yemen. She currently works as the deputy commandant and international af- fairs adviser at the National Defense Univer- sity in Washington. In response to a question about her experi- ence as a woman working in Egypt, Scobey said, “I don’t think that it has made very much of a difference. The fact of the matter is Town hall brings concerns, when you are a U.S. diplomat, I’m not speak- ing as Margaret. I’m speaking as ambassador ... Diplomats, I think, have a slightly different edge here.” She said that in some countries, including Saudi Arabia, being a woman meant that she misconceptionsKYLE BLAINE out into open was able to interact with men, women and SENIOR REPORTER children, while male ambassadors were only allowed to interact with other men. Two members of Vanderbilt According to Scobey, many groups in Egypt University’s administration ar- that are supportive of women and minority ticulated the school’s stance on groups had “been pushed aside,” but are now nondiscrimination with regard being supported by U.S. initiatives. to registered student organiza- Scobey was born and raised in Memphis, tions at a town hall held Tues- Tenn., received bachelor’s and master’s de- day night, as students and fac- grees in history from University of Tennessee ulty members questioned the at Knoxville and pursued a doctorate at the ability of religious groups to University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. maintain their identity in the Vanderbilt’s history and political science face of an “all-comers” policy. departments sponsored Wednesday’s event. ★ Emotions ran high at the three-hour forum, which drew a crowd well over the 203-per- son occupancy limit of Furman Hall room 114, causing univer- sity staff to turn people away at the door. Yet the real tension was in- side the room. This pressure KEVIN BARNETT/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER reached its breaking point Vice Chancellor for University ing, we don’t feel that’s a prob- when starting quarterback for Affairs and Athletics, General lem ... and I think (the policy) P rovost Richard McCarty, the Vanderbilt Commodores Counsel and University Secre- undermines the mission of ev- left, and General Counsel David Williams, right, field Jordan Rodgers spoke out on tary David Williams — Rod- ery organization on campus.” questions during the town behalf of the Fellowship for gers delivered a defense for Rodgers’ comments drew hall Tuesday night. Christian Athletes, a group religious organizations before applause from the audience, currently on provisional status walking out with a small group which mostly consisted of tioners. Rodgers and a group because it restricts its leader- of audience members. members of religious groups of around 20 other fellow stu- ship positions to only members “The purpose of this organi- opposed to the university’s dents then got up from their who affirm the organization’s zation is to teach this faith,” policy. After several minutes seats and walked out of the core beliefs. Rodgers said. “So, the fact that of back and forth, the modera- room. During the walk out, a Taking a confrontational we are not going to change the tor James Hudnut-Beumler, student yelled “shame on you” tone with the university rep- fact that you have to affirm dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity to the panel. JNO MUNOZ/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER resentatives — Provost and your faith in Jesus Christ to be School, said that nothing new McCarty and Williams, F ormer U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Vice Chancellor for Academic a teacher, to be a leader ... we was coming from the exchange representing the views the Margaret Scoby spoke on the Arab Affairs Richard McCarty and don’t feel that’s discriminat- and moved onto other ques- see TOWN HALL page 3 Spring on Wednesday. ARK JOIN THE MAKE YOUR M NEWS STAFF Learn more at our info session: AT VANDERBILTMONDAY, FEB. 6 at 8 P.M., SARRATT 130 ★ ★ ★ 2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM S tudent discussion: Panel offers conflicting Stephen Colbert views of Tennessee and super PACs TYLER BISHOP about the role of money and super PACs in the STAFF REPORTER election process,” Bartels said. password sharing law Super PACs are already a heated point of de- BEN RIES Political Action Committees, or PACs, are bate in the 2012 election. Newt Gingrich and SENIOR PRODUCER gaining more notoriety this election season Mitt Romney, candidates for the Republican as a result of Stephen Colbert’s creation of his presidential nomination, both received support A panel of high-profile own Super PAC. “Americans for a better to- from major super PACs in states like Iowa and speakers reviewed a new morrow, tomorrow” was created in an attempt South Carolina. Tennessee law that crimi- to satirize the role of PACs in modern politics. In Iowa, Gingrich challenged Romney to nalizes password shar- The place of Super PACs in the 2012 presi- shut down his super PAC’s negative ads. These ing for online subscription dential election will be the center of discussion PACs spent millions in Iowa on television ads services at an event at the at Thursday’s event called “Could Stephen Col- against Gingrich. In response, super PAC sup- Vanderbilt Law School on bert Win the Presidency?” sponsored by Cur- porters of Gingrich in South Carolina spent Wednesday. rent Events and Critical Conversations. It will millions against Romney. Both candidates The new law extends a be held at 7 p.m. in Furman Hall room 114. have challenged the other to focus their super restriction on cable theft Larry Bartels, co-director for the study of PACs on positive issues, but neither has taken to also include unauthor- democratic institutions, Shayne chair in Pub- action yet. ized password sharing of lic Policy and Social Science and professor of The question of whether or not these super subscription services such political science, will moderate the discussion. PACs truly influence voters remains a topic of as Netflix, Hulu, and Spo- Bartels said that he doesn’t want to take the consideration. tify. Over $500 of illegal WWW.SXC.HU discussion in a particular direction but instead “Even though a huge amount of money has use constitutes a felony. wants to allow students to direct the topic of been spent, I can’t point to one specific instance The panel, moderated N ew password-sharing legislation has raised conversation. where it changed the outcome of an election. by Vanderbilt Law School concerns among Tennessee residents. “I hope to get a conversation going with the Things seem to be going about as usual as of Professor Daniel Gervais, students. I expect that they will voice concerns now,” Bartels said. ★ featured an array of con- money to file and password by illegalizing too many flicting perspectives. Mitch sharing, but nevertheless activities. Glazier, senior executive sees these practices as the Questions from the au- vice president of the Re- inevitable future of the in- dience, which mostly con- Mannafit cording Industry Associa- dustry. sisted of students and pro- tion of America, justified “The conversation is in- fessors at the law school, the law as a response to credibly irritating to me expanded the scope of the illegal practices that in because we can’t stop it, so conversation to deal with one decade have cut music why try?” asked Montgom- people indirectly involved industry in half.