Vol. 5, Issue 9 The Summa - Feb. 21, 2013

The Summa

ENTERTAINMENT

LONG.LIVE.A$AP Collaboration success finds Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky’s debut album in the critic’s limelight.

HEALTH

Vol. 5, Issue 9

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

A Lemon’s Way to a Sweet Spa You’d be surprised what you can use to give yourself a spectacular spa experience in your own home.

» PAGE 10

ustsumma.wordpress.com WORLD

STUDENT GOV’T

SGA Investigating GSA Bar Tabs, Expenses

By KATIE THOMSON Editor-in-Chief Marcin Mazur - Catholic Church of England and Wales / Courtesy Photo

A PAPAL DECISION Pope Benedict XVI greets an audience in St. Peter’s Square during a conference on human trafficking with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in the Vatican in May 2012. The pontiff recently announced his intent to resign his papal office at the end of the month of February.

Pontiff Stuns World with Papal Resignation Benedict XVI first pope to resign office since 1415

By STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ News Editor

Pope Benedict XIV‘s decision to resign from his papal office stunned Catholics and non-Catholics alike after his announcement on Monday, Feb. 11.

The papacy has traditionally been a lifetime job, held by the appointed

pontiff until death. Benedict’s resignation is the first in several centuries. The last resignation, by Gregory XII, was in 1415.

“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” said the pontiff to a group cardinals gathered in Rome to canonize new saints.

Steven John Meyer, assistant professor at the school of theology at St.

Mary’s Seminary, said that based upon the pope’s age, Pope Benedict XIV must have felt it would be best for the Office of the Papacy and for the greater good of the Church to step down.

“Part of my training is to study Church history and to study systematic theology and theology of the pope,” Meyer said. “[Benedict] says that he is no longer suited for the job. To be a pope requires quite a bit of energy; it’s a very rigorous schedule that you

BENEDICT, Page 2

The Student Government Association said Monday that it is investigating whether the Graduate Student Association is misusing its annual cut of about $67,000 from fees paid by students enrolled at the University of St. Thomas.

SGA President Jose Bolivar and Graduate Senator Landon Keating confirmed that the GSA’s expenditures for 2011 and 2012 were being reviewed after the SGA received records showing GSA President Clint Mendonça had been reimbursed several thousand dollars from the fund for expenses that include hefty bar tabs incurred during club meetings.

“The SGA is to act as prudent stewards of the activity fee and, in allocating student

activity fee money to the various [Student Organization Committees], we believe they too will act in good faith and use the money responsibly and keep us apprized of their expenditures,” Keating said in a statement to The Summa.

Mendonça did not respond to several requests for comment concerning the investigation.

In an e-mail to The Summa, GSA Faculty Advisor Ramon Fernandez defended Mendonça against what he said were “libelous allegations of misuse of funds by GSA.” “The GSA officers have voted unanimously to first settle this matter directly with the UST administration before they speak to anyone else about it,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez added that the university was looking into

GSA, Page 2

CAMPUS LIFE

Best Buddies Participate in Annual Campus Tradition Student volunteers and athletes bring new friendships to Day of Service

By STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ News Editor

UST hosted the annual President’s Day of Service on Saturday, Feb. 16.

Projects involved campus beautification, creating Texas Children’s Hospital child patient care packets, and making fleece blankets for the Houston Fire Department.

New this year was the collaboration between UST

Best Buddies and the UST Celts athletic teams for a new event to the day’s schedule.

“We try to create friendships between the St. Thomas students and people with mental disabilities,” said Micaela Brebion, a senior international development major. “That’s what Best Buddies is all about. Basically, whenever we have an event, I try to organize and make it as fun for the Buddies.”

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization which works to give people with intellectual disabilities, such as Down Syndrome and

BUDDIES, Page 2

James Ramos / The Summa

Houston Artist ‘Weah’ Merges Art, Activism

By CHRIS POWERS Staff Writer

The International Studies Society hosted worldrenowned artist and Houston native, Daniel ‘Weah’Anguliu, to share his personal stories of creating mural paintings while traveling worldwide.

Anguliu introduced himself not primarily as a street artist, but rather as a muralist with an activist

mission during the ISS Friday Lecture Series on Feb. 15.

“I observe, analyze and question the essential components in life and human condition,” Anguliu said, when describing the kind of work he produces. “The murals that I create are my contribution to stop any type of injustice and to bring awareness to social, cultural, and political issues.”

Though he works hard in creating works of art that

promote humanitarian issues, he acknowledges that the lifestyle as a traveling artist can be somewhat nomadic and fanciful.

“The lifestyle that is created in doing art this way, is something you usually only read about,” Anguliu said, recalling how reading about people travelling and creating art sparked his interest. It

ART, Page 2

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The News

The Summa ART Continued...

motivated him to develop his talent as an artist and capitalize on the opportunity that life presented to him.

“Now I get the chance to meet them [his heroes] through painting,” Anguliu said.

During his lecture, Anguliu emphasized the importance of travel, not just for a maturing artist, but for everyone everywhere.

“The lecture was different from what has been heard in the past,” said Elena Petre, a sophomore.

“We usually hear from diplomats, foreign affair officers, lawyers, etc. But [Anguliu] was very humble, and I appreciated his on-theground perspective.”

Anguliu’s stories about how he has found his creative muse through world travel were also inspirational for UST students.

UST students also visited Anguliu’s art exhibit at the Contemporary Art Museum of Houston.

“It was really beautiful to hear him talk about how he found inspiration by traveling, and how he was able to take his experiences while traveling and put them into his work,” said Adrienne

GSA Continued...

SGA’s “unauthorized public release of GSA expense reports” approved by Mendonça and Fernandez, which he said contains information protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. But Keating said that the SGA, which created and funds the university’s SOCs including the GSA, “has the right to review the accounts and dealings of any SOC at any time.” Keating noted that the SGA obtained the expense reports and copies of several cancelled checks to Mendonça after the GSA filed a bill in January seeking to remove itself from SGA oversight.

As the student-led legislative body at UST, the SGA is responsible for allocating annual student activity fee revenue among the university’s five SOCs, which include the GSA, the Student Activities Board, the Council of Clubs, the Sports Clubs Associations and the SGA. During the 2012-2013 academic year, the SGA raked in about $312,000, disbursing around $69,000 to COC, $67,000 to SAB, $65,000 to SCA and $67,000 to the GSA, according to Bolivar and Keating.

While debating GSA’s

Copeland, a junior studying Music and Theology.

Anguliu’s artwork has been exhibited at many venues around Houston, including the Mexican Consulate of Houston, Poissant Gallery, Aerosol Warfare Gallery, The Orange Show, and Houston Times Eight. A 2011 exhibit was aptly entitled “Famous Monsters,” as the majority of his artwork has a uniquely vibrant life, and features monster-like images, and vivid, contrasting colors enclosed in sharp lines; artwork that he uses as his own personal reflection of the social causes he wants to bring awareness to.

His other projects include exhibits at DiverseWorks and the Houston Skate Park.

Previously, he has received and accepted commissions from Neiman Marcus and Converse. Currently, Anguilu is focusing on painting public spaces in the Houston area, as well as working in concert with local businesses and home owners to bring his art to public and private spaces.

Some of his mural art or graffiti is permanently displayed on buildings in the downtown and Montrose area.

His current exhibit artwork is currently at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art of Houston for a limited time. proposal, the SGA says it began reviewing expense reports obtained from the university’s business office and discovered several payments to Mendonça reimbursing him for, among other things, GSA meetings hosted at restaurants and bars with average bills ranging from $100 to nearly $300.

Despite having an office on campus, the SGA says that Mendonça hosted off campus GSA meetings as often as three times per month. None of the other SOCs spend as much on their meetings as the GSA, according to Bolivar and Keating.

SGA says it also learned that the GSA regularly holds monthly socials followed by “post-socials” or “after-socials,” for all of which Mendonça is reimbursed.

On one night in January 2011, the GSA held a social followed by a “post-social” event at Zake, a sushi restaurant, that cost around $327, and then held an additional “after-social” at a local bar called Poison Girl, that cost about $54, according to the records.

During the summer of 2012, GSA paid $232 to host a laser tag event at Laser Quest, and then ran up a $160 bar tab at a “post-social” gathering at Bull & Beer, the records indicate.

BUDDIES Continued...

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 talk to everyone, and we have the Buddies who are specific to UST. There are also people from Rice and University of Houston that participate. We bring a lot of joy in their lives.”

The Buddies were a new part of the President’s Day of Service.

“With President’s Day of Service, ... the Buddies [were] involved with the athletes on campus; a lot of our athletes are involved with Blue Cure, Breast Cancer Awareness,” said Brebion.

“We thought it would be a great idea to involve them with Best Buddies. Basically the Buddies played sports with the soccer, basketball and volleyball teams during the event.”

In addition to bringing the Best Buddies to campus, the Day of Service gave back to other in-need members of the community as well.

“The care packages are a new thing that we decided

to do this year. The packages go towards the patients at Texas Children’s,” said Leticia Gordillo, a graduate fellow student with the Student Activities Board.

“It’s something I thought earlier during the semester, that it would be nice to bring something to the kids over there. Luckily, we were able to make it happen.”

A decent amount of students participated in this year’s event.

“We had an RSVP for eighty students,” said Gordillo.

“It was a team effort, and there were a lot of people involved who helped make it happen.”

For more information about Best buddies, visit bestbuddiestexas.org.

Since the President’s day of Service is an annual event with the university, those interested in becoming involved next year should contact Angie Montelongo at SAB.

have to keep.”

The election process for the next pope is relatively simple; though the beginnings stages will be different because of the non-traditional resignation, the papal election process will be the same.

“It’s done by the College of Cardinals - they literally vote to elect the next Pope,” said Meyer, who studied at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

“Normally, [after] a pope dies; there would be a period of about nine days that would allow for the mourning of the previous pope. But this time it’s different, because he’s still alive.” The cardinals will still gather in mid-February to elect the new pontiff.

For Americans, Houstonians in particular, there is speculation on the possibility that Cardinal

Daniel DiNardo will be a frontrunner for the next pope.

“I do know that trying to predict a pope is usually not very successful,” said Meyers.

“Ultimately we trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in this, that whomever God wants to be pope will be pope. And if God wants it to be Cardinal DiNardo, that would be awesome.”

The frontrunners for the papacy are unknown despite media speculation, meanwhile Catholics wait worldwide for the meeting of the cardinals.

“It’s still too early to tell. In the next week or two ... keep an eye on the many reports coming out [on the next potential papal candidate],” said Meyers. “[These experts] are going to call these guys ‘papabile,’ and that’s the term for who will be the next pope.

We’ll start seeing all kinds of candidates emerge. You’re going to be inundated with media reports about these

guys. After the pope is elected, it’s probably going to be a surprise to a lot of people.”

Students who take an avid interest in their Catholic faith were shocked as well, while anticipating the election of the new pontiff.

“I came to the conclusion that his act was a selfless act of humility that truly reflects how he is Christ incarnate on Earth,” said Jennifer Benitez, a junior theology major. “I am sad as a Catholic that he is resigning, but I support him 100 percent and will always keep him in my prayers.”

Pope Benedict will officially step down from his role as the Holy Father on February 28, 2013.

With a legacy of three written encyclicals, the German pontiff traveled to a record number of 26 foreign journeys, making him the oldest pope to visit Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.

Mendonça also claimed a $65 payment to cover “overage” for GSA’s social in September 2011. But according to check request forms and receipts he submitted to the UST Business Office, the payment covered a $30 bar tab at Howl at the Moon, which included a $35 tip.

And during the last GSA election meeting, the group spent $355 at Crave Sushi--a total three times higher than the average activity fee paid by a UST student.

But restaurant and bar bills are just a small portion of the GSA expenses for which Mendonça was reimbursed according to 63 pages of expense reports, cancelled checks and

receipts the SGA provided to The Summa.

During 2011 and 2012, Mendonça received GSA reimbursements ranging from several hundred dollars to more than $7,000, with several payments exceeding $1,000, to pay for door prizes, gift cards, food, professional sporting event tickets and a variety of other GSA social activities.

As a result, Keating said that all of the GSA’s expenses were under review.

“The Student Government Association here at UST does not approve of this sort of financial callousness and we look forward to dealing with the improprieties we find in the

GSA, its accounts, and ensuring that the student activity fee is well used towards the benefit of our student body,” he said.

Bolivar added that Mendonça has denied any impropriety but allegedly suggested legal action for the alleged disclosure of GSA’s expense records by SGA Vice President Jenny Ayala.

GSA also submitted a bill to the SGA calling for Ayala’s impeachment, which failed after student senators refused to lend their support to the legislation, Bolivar said.

And at the SGA’s Feb. 19 meeting, senators took no action on GSA’s petition for independence, according to Bolivar.

autism, the opportunity for employment and socialization.

Established by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989, the movement was brought to St. Thomas in 1990.

In the program, UST students are paired with a buddy, with the goal of building great friendships through social events and fun interactions. Brebion, who has been involved with the group since freshman year, has found the experience to be a rewarding source of club involvement.

“I didn’t know what Best Buddies was about, but I’ve always wanted to be part of a non-profit. We hang out with people who are older than us, 40 and 50 years old,” Brebion said. “They live in the Center, which is close to campus. We have Center visits twice a week, and we just hang out,

BENEDICT Continued...

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

The Opinion

The Summa

3

“The new pope knows that his task is to make the light of Christ shine before men and women of the world.” - Pope Benedict XVI

Famous Relationships

By BIANCA GOMEZ Copy Editor

In our day and age where social media and electronic devices take over every aspect of our lives, it’s almost impossible to not hear about celebrity news or the “gossip” that buzzes the Internet and TV shows.

Where reality shows rule over watching the daily news reports, our generation is easily sucked into this notion that celebrity news is “the news”. People of all ages across the board look up to celebrities and idolize them, but my question is, where do we draw the line?

I’m talking about these toxic relationships celebrities put themselves into and the type of message they give to our young audiences. Let’s take the classic example of Chris Brown and Rihanna; I know that Rihanna is capable of being a strong, independent woman that many girls or people in general could admire.

But the fact is that even after Brown has beaten her and her photo has leaked online of the aftermath, she went back to him. And it scares me how a lot of people seem to be okay with it – I’ve heard more than once from friends who say, “Chris Brown can beat me any day!”

So I guess if it’s a celebrity, its okay to be an abusive boyfriend? But if it’s just any regular guy, he has the stigma of being labeled as a monster. Just because Brown is a celebrity that does not mean it makes it okay for him to swing at whomever he wants.

And the fact that Rihanna took him back after he did that to her sends a very negative message to girls who look up to Rihanna: As long as he’s

rich and famous, it’s okay to take a slap or two in the face.

Now, let’s move on to Taylor Swift. I loved her when I was in high school singing “Teardrops on My Guitar” and “Mine.” But then again, I was about 16? Swift is 23 years old now and she still sings about the same things.

Classic example is “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – if terrible song writing could get me a Grammy, then sign me up.

Otherwise, I would like to know why is Swift still writing and singing about the same thing she did when she was 17 years old? Taylor, did you ever think that maybe you are the problem?

The fact that her song writing constantly fallen back on not getting the guy she wants, and bashes on the other girl really tells me she has not grown up at all.

It gives a message to young girls that it’s completely okay to talk trash about another girl who receives attention from the guy you want.

And if you’re dating guys who are barely 18 and you’re in your mid-20s, you’re definitely not the problem when it comes to immaturity.

It’s everyone involved.

So keep on writing your songs and making hits, Taylor Swift. Maybe I’ll take up on that and makes millions myself.

When it comes down to it, I just don’t understand why young girls look up to couples like Jay-Z and Beyoncé.

They did everything the right way – dated for several years, got married and then had a child together.

And they’re not afraid to show their love in public.

Celebrities need to start watching the kind of impact they have on their younger audiences, because I can only hope it won’t be catastrophic later.

The Summa

University of St. Thomas Student Newspaper

3800 Montrose Blvd. • Houston, TX 77006 • 713.525.3579

The Summa is the official newspaper of The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. It has a circulation of 2,000 copies. The Summa is a student run organization, whose purpose is to inform, comment, and interpret events of local, national, and worldwide importance.

This paper serves as an open forum of student expression and welcomes letters from the UST community. All submitted materials are due by the last Friday of the month.

The Summa is dedicated to serving as a model of ethical journalism, acting with honesty, objectivity, and integrity.

We Need a Smoke-free Campus

By CHELSEA FERRAMOSCA Opinion Editor

Have you ever noticed the unbelievably large amount of students and staff on UST’s campus that smoke?

They smoke on the benches in front of Guinan, the steps in front of Young, in front of the lounge, outside of Crooker, next to ‘no smoking’ signs, while walking through the mall, and anywhere else they can pollute the air the non-smokers breathe. Recently students have been raising questions about a smoke free campus, which I am strongly in favor of.

While I was growing up, I lived next door to a woman, Mrs. Pope, who rescued abandoned and abused dogs.

Nearly everyday she let my sister and I come over and help her take care of the animals.

I bring this up because of the packs she used to smoke a day.

Mrs. Pope started

smoking while she was in high school during the 1970s, 30 years later she was still chain smoking her days away.

The impacts to her health were devastating, including several miscarriages and the illness that would take her life; lung cancer. I was in fifth grade when she was diagnosed, and over the next few months she went through chemo and radiation, but ended up dying a short time later at a young age.

Her husband eventually found homes for the dogs she had rescued, and moved away.

After 10 years of learning how to work hard, love animals, and care for those in need, the house next door to me was empty and sold to a new family only a few months after her diagnosis.

After her death, my sister and I were given a letter she had written for us. At the end she had written, “...promise me you guys will never smoke.”

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 5 American deaths are caused by the negative effects associated with smoking. There are more deaths caused by smoking than

by HIV, murder, drug, alcohol, motor vehicle accidents and suicides combined. These negative effects include stroke, heart disease, emphysema, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive lung disease, etc.

In addition smoking has been determined to be a cause of countless cancers, including lung, bladder, mouth, stomach,

pharynx, larynx, pancreas, kidney, cervix, esophagus, leukemia and lymphoma.

As of right now, students can smoke 25 feet away from the entrance of any building.

Technically smoking is not allowed within courtyards, not that this is enforced whatsoever.

No one can walk past the lounge and argue that the numerous smokers are 25 feet away from the door.

Those walking into the wind throughout the mall may be 25 feet away, but not anymore considerate of the health of those walking behind them.

Even when there is not a crowd of smokers, the black disposal areas for cigarettes allow the left over smoke from thousands of butts to leak out.

A smoke free campus would not only help those who do not smoke, but it would give the students and faculty that do smoke a reason to quite. What smoker wants to drive off campus just to smoke a cigarette or two?

Do you really think smoking is worth your life?

Further, is smoking worth the pain you will cause your family if you die at a young age as a result?

I know quitting is not easy, but aren’t your children or parents worth it? Do you really want to leave them with nothing but a letter begging them to never smoke?

Letters To The Editor The Summa welcomes letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please include your name and classification or position. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

The Summa reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and inappropriate content.

Submit your letter to The Summa by e-mailing thesumma@stthom.edu Legal Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in The Summa are those of the writer of the article, the editor or the Editorial Board. They are not necessarily those of the UST administration, the Board of Directors or governing organization.

Jeremy Heallen • Faculty Advisor Katie Thomson • Editor-in-Chief Chelsea Ferramosca • Managing Editor Stephanie Hernandez • News Editor Claire Logue • Features Editor Chelsea Ferramosca • Opinion Editor Sarah Oyarce • Entertainment Editor Sandra Efraimson • Health Editor Claire Logue • Sports & Clubs Editor

Staff Writers & Photographers Mason Burruss • Alex Carrejo Jeff Coburn • Kenneth Depew Sandra Efraimson • Chelsea Ferramosca Bianca Gomez • Stephanie Hernandez Claire Logue • Sarah Oyarce Chris Powers • Rida Qadri Katie Thomson Design Editor James Ramos

Distribution Aamir Mazhar

Copy Editors Syeda Batool Hosain • Bianca Gomez Brittany James

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The Summa

Marco Rubio’s Dream Act

By STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ News Editor

In February, President Obama took steps to begin bipartisan immigration reform. Sen. John McCain was among the most notable Republicans to be in this bipartisan “gang of 8,” four Democrats and four Republicans, to craft the foundation legislation for this reform. Almost immediately, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio condemned this legislation, claiming that it wasn’t harsh enough on border security and that it was merely cloaked amnesty. Coming from Marco Rubio, a man who is being called by some as the savior of the Republican Party, this does not bode well for him, or for the Republican Party, as they struggle to rebuild their credibility with an often-derided demographic. For Rubio, in particular, this issue presents a quandary: he is the son of Cuban immigrants. Unlike many politicians, he does not have a background of affluence or connections. His mother was a maid, and his father a security guard, and both came to this country with next to no money. Rubio struggled through his bachelors, then through law school, paying for all of it with student loans; he attained his Juris Doctor in 1993, and at last finished paying off his $100,000 school loan debt in 2012. He often hails his parents immigration story as the story of what America really is, people who struggled, worked hard, and now have the living they deserve.

Thanks in part to his Latino background, some Republicans view him as the savior who will help bring back the Latino vote for the Republican party. But heritage has not been enough to prove his loyalty to Latino issues.

Rubio supported a revised version of the Dream Act – a piece of legislation that would make undocumented young adults and children legal resident status (which would enable them to attain jobs), if they were brought to the United States as infants or children. Though he has supported this wonderful pieces of legislation, he also supported the controversial Arizona 1070, and opposes President Obama’s proposed immigration reform, saying that it fails “to secure our borders….creating a special pathway for those who broke the law,” according to a Wall Street Journal interview. It’s easy to see how the issues may present a quandary to Rubio: he must remain loyal to his party platform while at the same time, being aware of his heritage as the son of immigrants who came here illegally themselves, immigrants who naturalized due to the Cuban Refugee Adjustment Act of 1966.

“I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here, even though some time back, they may have entered this country illegally.” What bleeding heart liberal spouted these obvious race-pandering words? Wrong; it was President Ronald Reagan. In 1986, he signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986, an act which legalized immigrants who came to the United States before January 1, 1982. Reagan, who is often elevated to a godlike status by mainstream Conservatives, and his every policy deemed as perfection struck gold…everything, except, his policy on amnesty and a compassionate understanding for those who came to America illegally. The simple answer is that in tough economic times, it is often immigrants who are attacked first as tacking the jobs and being “freeloaders.” Then, the conservative voice is curiously quiet.

Why this change? Because back then, perhaps, it earned the party nothing in terms of votes and campaign monies? If that was their belief then, it is changing. The Republican party needs to realize that a change in policy over the contentious issue of immigration should not merely be done to attain “the Latino Vote”, but should be done because it will make life better for the people of this nation. For people like Marco Rubio, who is one of few prominent Republican Latinos, the issue takes on greater personal meaning: unlike most Republicans, he cannot leave the issues at the legislative desk, nor is it something confined merely to the words of statistics and reports: when he goes home to his family, he is surrounded by the reality that Latinos are a part of this nation, and do their part to work hard to support themselves the same way as any other American. In a Time Magazine February 7 cover story on him, his mother was quoted from a phone conversation she had with her son over the status of immigrants: “They’re human beings and they came for the same reasons we came. To work. To improve their lives. So please, don’t mess with them.” Whether Rubio will realize that mother knows best remains unclear. In the coming weeks, as the battle once again inflames over immigration reform, Rubio will be closely watched by both sides. Its up to him whether or not he decides to vote to please his Republican constituents, or vote out of loyalty not only to his heritage, but to help people who deserve it.

The Opinion

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Will President Obama’s Minimum Wage Bump Worsen the Economy?

By KENNETH DEPEW Staff Writer

In his fifth State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama unveiled plans for his second term. Among the many initiatives he wants Congress to consider is a proposed increase to the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $9. He framed this request by citing the injustice of his perspective of the traditional family: two kids living below the poverty line.

With his request the President declared that, “…in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full time should have to live in poverty.” However, if we remove the emotion and rhetoric, and debase the call from ideology, we will see the increase could have the opposite of its intended effect.

Sure it sounds good; more money in everyone’s pocket, right? Not necessarily. In order to pay each minimum wage worker $1.75 more per hour ($70 more per work week), employers will have to get the money from somewhere, most likely from customers by raising the price of goods and services. That would effectively negate any gain brought about by the increase. Given that minimum wage workers are also consumers, they will have to pay the higher prices adopted by businesses in order for their employer to be able to afford their new minimum wage paycheck.

Or, instead of raising costs, the employer could take another approach; simply lay off some of its minimum wage workers. This approach would leave those still employed better off, with no cost increase, but a substantial wage increase. However it would also leave those laid-off in a worse position than they were before the government tired to “help.”

Outside of the workers, an increase in the minimum wage would affect those who do not work in the area because of the businesses that will most likely see price increases; service industry at restaurants, gas stations, grocery markets, retail stores and recreational businesses. The fact that increases will hit everyone will cause those who are slightly above the minimum wage to bear a heavy burden of the increase because they would not have an increased income to make up for the increased prices, or they would be forced to work harder to make up for the loss of their minimum wage coworkers who were laid-off. The chain of events that would unfold with the wage increase would leave us all as victims. How fair is it for someone who, through their merit, received raises to bring their hourly pay from $7.25 to $9? Not only would the raise devalue the hours of hard work, it could possibly pull

them into the upper end of poverty. This should be especially worrisome to those just entering the work force. While minimum wage jobs are far from glorious, they are, or were, many people’s first job. Since the unemployment rate has gone up to where the “new normal” hovers around eight percent, unemployed workers have to go back to minimum wage jobs to provide for their families. Employers will always want the best person to fill a position and it should go without saying that someone with work experience is more likely to get a job than someone with no work experience.

This is one of the many factors contributing to the 17.1 percent unemployment among 16-24 year-olds.

I, for one, do not want to see millions of my fellow Americans in poverty. Unfortunately, as I believe I have lain out, raising the minimum wage is not the solution. If it were, then why not raise it to $10, $15 or $20? That would be better, right? While I do not have the complete answer for eradicating poverty, which I don’t think is possible, I do have two simple solutions to increase the purchasing power of Americans.

The first is to stop devaluing the dollar through “quantitative easing.” Printing more bills decreases the value of those already in circulation and being printed, which is nothing more than an invisible tax. A few keystrokes only results in awarding credit of fake dollars, which in turn will further decreasing the value of “real” dollars. Second is to stop with excessive regulation, especially among small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration estimated the cost of regulation compliance by small businesses to be $1.75 trillion dollars. That is $1,750,000,000,000.

To put it into context, 1.75 trillion seconds ago was 53987 B.C. Yes, 56000 years ago.

While it would be naïve to think business owners would put all of that money saved from not having to deal with excessive regulation into salaries, it would allow them to create more businesses and more jobs. The money they do “pocket” would be put into the market creating the need for more businesses, because contrary to popular belief, the wealthy and even well-off do not have a room full of money to swim around in, they have money, or more correctly, assets of value, that is in the market, be it in their business or other investments.

I do not doubt the President’s care for the impoverished, or even his desire to help; I just doubt the possibility of success in his approach, because it will not work.

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The Features

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

5

Claire Logue / The Summa

Edwin Vences junior

Claire Logue / The Summa

“I like to sit down, watch it rain and read a book.”

“I like watching movies on rainy days.”

Sara Roque sophomore

The Summa

Mall Talk: What your favorite rainy day activity?

Four UST students shared their favorite rainy day activities with The Summa. As spring steadliy grows nearer and dreary, rainy days are appearing in more frequency, we asked students to pass on some of their favorite ways to spend those rainy, when they’re not in class, that it.

“Wakeboarding.

In the rain.”

“I love to sleep when it’s raining outside.”

Henry Byford freshman

Brittany James senior

Claire Logue / The Summa

Claire Logue / The Summa

By: CLAIRE LOGUE Features Editor

There is even more of The Summa to experience online!

» Be a part of the Story...

Tell us what you think by posting comments and submitting Letters to the Editor. Your letters and submissions could be featured in The Summa’s next print edition.

All this and more online at USTSUMMA.WORDPRESS.COM! facebook.com/thesumma

@thesummaUST

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6

The Features

The Summa

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

History of papal resignations, history in the making

By CLAIRE LOGUE Features Editor

Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation the morning of Feb. 11, to surprise and disbelief amongst the masses. The world is still buzzing with confusion over the unexpected announcement, tossing around phrases such as “600 years” then “700 years” for time between now and the last papal resignation. With all of the buzz, everyone seems to be asking questions: “is this allowed?” “what does this mean for the church?” and “what does this mean, period.” In order to fully understand what has occurred, one must be knowledgeable of the history regarding this kind of occurrence.

The pope is a figure who historically remains in office from election until death, and then a new pope is selected for the position.

In recorded history, and as far as one can tell with any kind of historical certainty, there have only been five papal resignations, all but the most recent, with Benedict XVI, taking place between the 11th and 15th centuries.

According to Charles A. Coulombe, author Vicars of Christ: A History of the

Popes, the earliest recognized papal resignation in the ordering of popes occurred with the resignation of Pope Benedict IX. Pope Benedict IX is the only recorded pontiff to have held the position on three separate occasions.

He is also the youngest pope ever recorded in history and the only pope to have sold the papacy. He came into office the first time officially in 1032, and resigned for the last time in 1048.

Before Pope Benedict IX, there are single records of popes resigning, being excommunicated, being exiled and being deposed, but these accounts are only recorded in single locations, and are therefore not considered to be the most accurate.

The next pope to leave office, Pope Gregory VI was technically deposed, after he was accused of simony, the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church. He accepted the title in 1045 and resigned in 1046.

The next pope to resign, Pope Celestine V, resigned due to his personal claim of his incompetence to the role of pope and his preference to the simple life of a monk rather than the majesty of being the

head of the church. He then set in place the guidelines for a pope to resign from the position.

This case of resignation is the most like Benedict XVI’s resignation, just based on the premise and ways in which the resignation occurred.

Celestine V officially resigned in 1294.

The last pope to resign before Benedict XVI, was Gregory XII, who resigned to end the Western Schism, a separation of the church, when two men claimed to be the true pope. This schism was driven primarily by politics and not by theological beliefs. A council was called by Gregory XII’s opponent and Gregory XII abdicated the position.

This occurred in 1415.

Technically speaking it has been 598 years since the last papal resignation.

Theoretically speaking, it has been 719 years since the last papal resignation similar to Benedict XVI’s.

The resignation of the pope is something the world has not seen in nearly 600 years and not so diplomatically since the 13th century.

The world is currently watching the unfolding of some of the most unique historical events in history.

Commuter’s Corner Gas prices have risen close to $0.45 in the last month. Where near campus can you get the cheapest gas? Here are some of the gas prices at local gas stations over the past week. For updated gas prices at your request, GasBuddy provides a helpful smartphone app.

GasBuddy-iMap/courtesy photo

M.Mazur-Catholic Church of England and Wales/courtesy photo

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

The Entertainment

The Summa

7

LongLiveA$AP proves rapper A$AP Rocky to be a great collaborator

By SARAH OYARCE Entertainment Editor

Rapper A$AP Rocky definitely has one of the most interesting styles in hip-hop.

If you are into hip-hop, then you probably can tell where a rapper is from just by listening to their flow, or the rhythm in which they rap. When I first listened to his mix-tape, LiveLoveA$AP, he had such a southern, more specifically Houston, flow that I did not believe him when he said he was from Harlem, New York.

Rocky, like many other rappers, are inspired by all MCs but he has stated in many interviews and it is obviously shown in his music that the South, and especially Houston based rap duo UGK, which consists of rappers Bun B and the late Pimp C, had a great influence in his upbringing and work.

The release of LiveLoveA$AP, as well as the exposure of opening up for rapper/singer Drake on the first leg of his Club Paradise tour (which mostly hit colleges and college towns), made him one of the most talked about up-and-coming rappers of the time. From that point on, his debut album would be greatly

anticipated and after many push backs, fans got the official release date of Jan. 15.

His debut album, LongLiveA$AP starts out with a title track which was named one of Pitchfork’s “Best New Tracks” in December when the song was released.

“LongLiveA$AP” sets the tone for the album which is basically saying that he thought he would have probably ended up in prison but now he has money, women and power in the rap game. Although Rocky does not say anything revolutionary for a rap album, this does not mean it is bad. Even critics, like Pitchfork, praise Rocky for what are his best assets, his flow and delivery. The way he rhymes words so effortlessly is what makes him so intriguing to critics and fans alike.

The deepest song on Long LiveA$AP is a track called “Suddenly” which describes his quick rise in popularity, “Now the kids all look up to me… my idols say ‘What’s up’ to me, from ugly to comfortably, suddenly.” The beat drop in about the middle of the song makes the song even catchier as you get to hear Rocky’s incredible flow.

Another aspect of this

album, which is seen as an advantage to some and a flaw to others, is the amount of featured artists on LongLiveA$AP. The good thing about having a lot of features is that you get their fans to listen to at least one of your tracks but. People, especially hip-hop fans, start to doubt you can hold your own.

In my opinion, Rocky delivered the same flow and delivery he had on LiveLoveA$AP and did not lose his style in the songs featuring pretty outlandish artists to be featured on a rap album which include musicians Skrillex and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine. In fact, the coming together of two entirely different genres in these collaborations is something to be celebrated on this album.

Another important song on the album is the track “1Train” that includes verses from rappers Kendrick Lamar, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Big K.R.I.T. and a stand-out verse from the 18-year-old Brooklyn, New York rapper Joey Bada$$. His verse was the best on the entire album with lines like, “Barely even conscious, talking to my conscience, getting deeper in these flows like conches” to start off his verse and to later

Ysa Pérez / Courtesy Photo

rhyme “Somehow bypassed the bias and the –isms, the violence and the killing, so given, they see my pigment and thought I was the ign’ance…” Bada$$ has released the best mix-tape of 2012, 1999, and is in a place similar to where Rocky was when he released his first mixtape so I thought it was very interesting to hear both rappers’ progression.

Stand-out tracks on LongLiveA$AP include

“1Train,” “LongLiveA$AP,” “Suddenly” and his collaborations with Schoolboy Q, “PMW (All I Really Need),” and Welch, “I Come Apart.”

Rocky may not be the most conscious rapper, even he states it in “Suddenly,” “Don’t view me as no conscious cat, this ain’t no conscious rap…” but his flow and delivery of rhymes make him one of the greatest technical rappers of this generation.

Possible features on Nintendo’s new Pokemon X and Y Versions game

By ALEX CARREJO Staff Writer

If you read my review of Pokémon Black and White 2 Versions, you will know that fans of the series were surprised by the announcement of two sequel games rather than a third “successor” game. After BW2 came out and the shock had worn off, we got ready for the announcement of remakes of the third generation games Ruby Sapphire and Emerald.

Well, Nintendo has thrown out another surprise completely out of the blue by announcing the sixth generation games, titled Pokémon X and Y Versions.

So far, very little is known about X and Y, but a lot of what is known will be new for the Pokémon series. For example, a worldwide release date for X and Y has been set for Oct. 13 of this year for the 3DS. A simultaneous international release is pretty rare for any game and is a first for any Pokémon game.

This is great news for fans outside of Japan because it used to take about six months for translated versions of the games to come out. It is pretty surprising, however, since the release date is less than one year after the North American release of BW2 and about two

and a half years after the release of the original Black and White Versions.

The fact that the new games will be for the 3DS is also very significant. For those who do not know, the 3DS has much higher graphical capabilities than any of the DS systems. Game Freak is capitalizing on this power by making the entire game, both the overworld and battles, in full 3-D, which is a first for any handheld Pokémon game.

The result is a similar look to previous console games like Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Coliseum. Despite the fact that these are regarded as good games by fans, the reaction to the addition of 3-D to a main series game has been mixed.

The optimists feel that it is time for Pokémon games to move into the 3-D era and will benefit from the change, while the pessimists argue that the power of the 3DS is too limited compared to any home console and the graphics will not looks as good as other 3-D games. Personally, I feel that it is too early to pass judgment considering how little gameplay was shown in the trailer, but I am confident in Nintendo putting out the best product it can.

Next we have the new

Pokémon. So far, only five Pokémon have been confirmed; the three Starter Pokémon and the two “Version Mascots.”

The Starters are the Grass-type Chespin, the Fire-type Fennekin and the Water-Type Froakie.

Again, fan reactions have been mixed. Some people have been saying that these Starters look really cool, while others have been saying that they are the worst Starter Pokémon yet. I am not a huge fan of any of the three, but once again, it is too early to say anything for certain, especially since their final evolutions have not been revealed yet.

The title legendary for X Version is named Xerneas.

Xerneas looks like a giant deer with ridiculously big antlers and a lot of fans have commented on its resemblance to other Pokémon, most notably Arceus and Dialga, two legendary Pokémon from the fourth generation. There has also been quite a bit of speculation as to what its typing will be; the trailer does not give a lot of clues, so it could be almost anything, but my best guess is the Grass/ Psychic type. The other title legendary, for Y Version, is a monstrous bird with huge claws named Yveltal and looks really cool. As for typing, I would really love to see a Fighting/ Flying type Pokémon, but its color scheme looks more like

Flying/Dark type.

The Pokémon series has been a powerhouse of the video game world for almost 15 years now, and a new generation of games makes it clear Pokémon will be around for a long time.

It does not matter whether you play for the thrill of battle or for nostalgia. It does not matter whether you play to test your skill or just for fun, and it does not matter if you have become the Champion five times or if the last Pokedex you got was from the Kanto region. Now is the perfect time for any fan to get excited and get back into the series. Because one thing will never change: “you’ve Gotta Catch ‘Em All.”

The Pokémon Company International / Courtesy Photo

8

The Entertainment

The Summa

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Silver Linings Playbook deserves every one of its Oscar nominations

By MASON BURRUSS Staff Writer

Take a premise that sounds like a bad romantic comedy, an unnecessary gambling subplot and give it a weak script. The film sounds like it could hardly be worth your time. However, with the addition of four flawless leads and a great director, Silver Linings Playbook has become undoubtedly one of the best films of the entire year and definitely one of the happiest.

The cast manages to take the flaws of the script and turn into something unique. I left the theatre with a general feeling of happiness about everything, and I think many others will too.

Silver Linings Playbook tells the story of Pat Solitano, who was newly released from a mental asylum eight months after a violent attack on his wife’s lover due to his bipolar disorder. With his marriage in tatters, he moves back in with his parents. Solitano resolves to restore his marriage and get back in touch with his wife, despite the restraining order she has placed on him. Soon he meets Tiffany, a recovering sex

addict, widowed by the loss of her husband. These two form a growing friendship while Solitano continues his efforts to reconcile with his wife.

Meanwhile, Solitano’s father, who suffers from obsessivecompulsive disorder, keeps gambling away his money on football.

The film’s script is a little weak, with some overtlyobvious dialogue and an unnecessary gambling subplot that feels like it was taken out of a bad rom-com.

However, these small flaws are barely noticeable against the overwhelming amount that is right with the film. Director David O’Russell gives his usual assured direction. The acting is astounding, with the four leads all giving Oscarworthy performances. Bradley Cooper shows himself to be a far better actor than I ever gave him credit for, and Jennifer Lawrence once again proves her great talent. Robert De Niro provides great support as Solitano’s dad, and it is largely due to his efforts that his gambling sub-plot does not detract from the overall film. Jacki Weaver, despite her small amount of screen time, still manages to give a

Bones (FOX)

FOX / Courtesy Photo

What’s it about? A forensic anthropologist, an FBI special agent and their team work together to solve cases and murders.

What’s happened so far? The team investigates the remains of a seemingly smart and shy 15-year-old boy but later it is discovered that the boy participated in illegal activity that includes drugs and possibly even rape.

Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)

ABC Family / Courtesy Photo

What’s it about? The series trails four girls who started receiving threatening messages after their leader Allison died.

What’s happened so far? Aria, Emily and Hanna try to seek out more information about Detective Wilden and his past but in doing so they realize that he is hot on their trail and ill do anything to stop them.

The Weinstein Company/ Courtesy Photo

note-worthy performance as a mother desperate to keep her family together. Even Chris Tucker, who in the past has managed to create some of the most annoying film characters ever, gets just the right amount of screen time to be memorable without distracting form the film. Even when the film begins to stretch believability the actors work to make the suspension of disbelief a lot easier.

The best part of the entire film is the romance between Cooper and Lawrence, who have the kind of chemistry

that most screen couples can only dream of. So many film romances fall flat because the two leads struggle to convey the attraction and connection between two people. If done poorly the romantic angle can be one of the least interesting aspects of a story, as has happened to so many films before. However, when done correctly it becomes one of the best parts of any film. This happens perfectly in Silver Linings Playbook. Cooper and Lawrence are a joy to watch; you actually feel that these two are falling in love right in

TV Tracker The Walking Dead (AMC)

AMC / Courtesy Photo

What’s it about? The Walking Dead is a TV series that documents survivors’ experiences and adventures in a world ridden with flesh-eating zombies known as walkers.

front of you as they struggle to overcome the darker sides of their personality.

Silver Linings Playbook is one of the best movies released last year. It is one of those movies that make you leave the theater completely happy, as films so rarely do.

It is charming, funny, and intelligent all at the same time, with characters you can genuinely care about.

It has been nominated for eight Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards, and basically deserves every one of them.

By Sarah Oyarce

Modern Family (ABC)

ABC / Courtesy Photo

Whats it’s about? This “mockumentary” style show showcases the lives of three families that come together to make a “modern” family.

What’s happened so far? Glenn makes the decision to fortify the prison going against the Governor while Merle and Daryl help a family fight off walkers.

What’s happened so far? Claire and Phil offer to babysit Joe so Jay and Gloria can have Valentine’s Day to themselves and Mitch and Cam throw a “Lonely Hearts Party” for their single friends.

Revenge (ABC)

Catfish (MTV)

ABC / Courtesy Photo

MTV / Courtesy Photo

What’s it about? Emily Thorne returns to the Hamptons to seek revenge against whoever framed her father and sent him to prison for a crime he did not commit.

What’s it about? This documentary reality TV show follows Nev Schulman who helps people find out if the person they have been talking to online is actually who they say they are.

What’s happened so far? In the aftermath of the explosion of the boat, we find out that Nate snuck on the boat to shoot Jack and then blows up the boat and Amanda dies in the explosion.

What’s happened so far? On the season finale, a man named Mike has been talking to Felicia and after being stood up once and lying about her location, can he forgive and forget?

The Entertainment

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

The Summa

9

Move over Instagram, Topture is next big thing in photo sharing

By RIDA QADRI Staff Writer

The new Topture app is the next big thing in the photo-sharing industry. In this generation, millions of us tend to share our photos wherever we go, which is why Instagram, Facebook and Twitter came to be. As popular as these apps are, we all need that one app which fits in every feature possible. This is where Topture comes in, because it combines all the best features these apps have to offer in one versatile app.

Topture is a simple iPhone photo app. One is able to find out what is going on throughout the world with pictures that are trending of different topics. You can edit and share pictures with your friends and family. With unique filters, borders and various editing tools, one can definitely look forward to uploading their photos.

Now how is this different

from Instagram? Well for one, it focuses on viewing trending topics through pictures instead of boring texts.

The cool thing about Topture is that it is basically Twitter, Facebook and Instagram put together. You have a profile like Facebook, and you also have a cover photo and trends and different topics, like Twitter and instead of liking, you will be able to “checkmark” someone’s photo, filter photos and share them amongst all your followers, like Instagram.

As similar as this app gets amongst other apps, its uniqueness will be the one to stand out amongst all the other apps.

Some awesome features Topture has to offer is the fact that you do not have to crop your photos anymore. When using Instagram you always have to crop the photo so that it fits the Instagram screen. When using Topture, you can simply upload the photo and it will fit the entire screen. Topture

includes a direct messaging feature that allows you to communicate with your peers and followers through the app.

Topture has a separate section where you are able to find your complete list of tagged photos.

You are going to be able to slide photos from one photo to another, without having to go back to the original profile and going through the hassle. You can view photos in full screen mode while also zooming into photos with a touch of a finger.

Many of us like to make a collage to put photos together, which requires other apps like PicStitch, but in Topture, you are able to add a layout with tons of different photos. It also has an awesome slick icon which is black metallic so it is unisex and gives photo sharing a bit more of a professional and sleek feel.

If you download this app, you will not be disappointed.

If you are worried that you are going to be missing your old Instagram photos, worry not, because you can transfer

your photos from Instagram to Topture, so get ready to start toppin your photos! I have been testing it out and I love it! It really is something that I have grown to use daily. I would recommend it to everyone with an iPhone. I recommend you download it, you have nothing to lose!

To top it all off, this app is

completely free. The app is out for the iPhone right now and it will be created separately for the Android users very soon.

If you have any questions regarding the application, please contact Topture at 512537-2225. You can also email Topture at press@topture. com and checkout the website www.topture.com.

Topture / Courtesy Photo

PUZZLES CORNER february Crossword

Sudoku

Created by Sarah Oyarce

2

1 4

12

11

5 6 8 9 13 10

14

7

Dan Rice / Courtesy

Riddle of the Month!

Q:You answer me, although I never ask you questions. What am I?

3

ACROSS 5. Nocturnal birds 7. Largest planet in the solar system 8. Benjamin Franklin’s assumed persona; Silence 9. Selena star; Jennifer 10. Name given to young dolphins 12. Another word for

clay 13. CEO of Target; Steinhafel 14. Second most populous state in the US DOWN 1. Capital of Mississippi 2. May have invented the cat door; Isaac

3. 3.14 4. First artist to have five No. 1 albums under the age of 19; Justin 6. Artist that won six awards at the 2012 Grammys 11. “Hey Ho” sung by The ________

A: A telephone.

10

The Health

The Summa

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Homemade beauty products for a relaxing spa day

By SANDRA EFRAIMSON Health Editor

We are all on the same boat when it comes to cutting luxuries such as a day at the spa but beauty products do not have to be expensive. There are a few things around the house that you can use to give yourself a homemade spa.

First, begin by revitalizing brittle and dry hair by removing excess build up and deep conditioning once a week. Use a clarifying shampoo to remove excess build-up that accumulates with time. There is no need to buy an expensive clarifying shampoo to do this, simply add some baking soda to any shampoo, lather and rinse with cool water.

For deep conditioning all you need is two eggs and a tablespoon of olive oil.

Separate the yolks (keep the egg whites for a face cleanser) and beat them with the olive oil. Add a cup of lukewarm water to dilute the mixture or you can use mayonnaise, which is essentially the same thing. Work in the mixture throughout your hair; leave in for 30 minutes by covering your hair with a shower cap, and rinse with lukewarm or cool water, but not hot water.

While you wait for your hair, give yourself complete facial.

First, remove any makeup or moisturizers, by applying olive oil all over your face, including eyelids, and washing it off with a warm, wet washcloth.

Follow up by cleaning your face with a homemade face cleanser using one

tablespoon of yogurt and one tablespoon of dark honey; mix it in a small bowl with warm water until mixture is smooth.

Cleanse your face and rinse off with warm water.

The next step is using a scrub to remove dry skin from your skin’s top layer. To make your scrub you need one tablespoon of sugar and one tablespoon of honey to make a paste. Gently exfoliate your skin using your two middle fingers in a circular motion for several minutes. Then rinse with warm water and pat dry.

If you have dry chapped lips, you may wet your lips with some water and simply rub sugar on them to remove the dead skin. Rinse your lips and rub a few drops of olive or almond oil for moisture.

To make a moisturizing face mask for all skin-types, use the two egg whites that you separated from your hair conditioner and some plain yogurt. Mix in a small bowl and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Use the tea bags that you used for the homemade toner that follows, and place them over your eyes while you wait to reduce puffiness around your eyes.

Relax.

When the time is up rinse off mixture with warm water and pat dry.

It is important to use a toner to reduce redness and inflammation. Brew some green tea ahead of time and refrigerate. Dip a cotton ball in the green tea and apply it to your face and let it dry. It is not necessary to wash your face after applying the tea.

After your facial is complete you need to moisturize. One of the most

Design Spade / Courtesy Photo

effective and inexpensive options is plain margarine (not butter or you will get clogged pores).

Lightly dab the margarine around your face and allow 10 to 15 minutes for it to absorb. If you have oily skin, simply avoid the t-zone area.

To make a full body scrub, use a cup of sea salt and mix it in with lemon juice.

Use all over, concentrating primarily in the dryer areas of the body such as the soles of the feet, knees and elbows, by gently massaging in circular motion. This will leave your skin feeling refreshed and invigorated. Rinse.

For a pearly white smile, rinse regularly with a three percent solution hydrogen peroxide, which is safe for oral use. Swish for a minute as it begins to foam.

The foaming means it is working. Spit it out, rinse your mouth and follow with normal brushing of your teeth.

Once a week, make a hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and salt paste. Combine two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide, three of baking soda and a dab of mint toothpaste, or mint extract. Mix in a dash of salt for exfoliation.

Brush in small, circular motions until all of your

teeth are covered and leave in for two minutes.

Rinse off the paste with water and then brush with toothpaste to remove any remaining hydrogen peroxide.

All of these homemade beauty products are cheap and easy to make. You may do this entire spa treatment once a week.

It is important to spend at least one day relaxing and undoing some of the damage that our bodies get through out our busy weeks.

Yeah we are students, and we don’t have money, but that does not mean that we do not deserve a spa day!

Health and Awareness Fair provides free services to UST students

By SANDRA EFRAIMSON Health Editor

The annual Health and Awareness Fair is one of the biggest events set up by the Office of Health Promotion & Wellness to reach students at the University of St. Thomas.

This event is a grand event, that took place on February 19th that lasted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year there was a special nutrition presentation with Registered Dietitian, Nathalie Sessions who is a UST Alum that aimed at informing students about eating healthy.

The fair was also setup with food vendors such as My Fit Foods and Smoothie King.

The Old Bookstore was filled with exciting booths with ReAction Spine & Sport Chiropractic and personal training. Several screening

Sandra Efraimson / Courtesy Photo

were provided such as Prevent Blindness of Texas with vision screenings, HEB with blood and cholesterol screenings, MD Anderson with skin cancer screenings and West U. Wellness with spinal screenings. Also, Be The Match had a booth to register

students in the bone marrow registry.

In the Crooker Hallway, there were chair massages provided by three different volunteers and nutritional supplements from the USANA. Other sponsors included the Health Museum,

Live Beautiful Now and UST Counseling and Disability Services.

Outside the Crooker Center, there was a mobile unit from CHRISTUS that provided blood and cholesterol screenings as well. Also, a Tai Chi demonstration was done

outside at the Student Activity mall.

This fair was a great opportunity for UST students to receive many free services and learn about health. Year after year, this event is a huge success and it is exceptionally well organized.

The Health

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

The Summa

11

Teenager invents effective, inexpensive test for pancreatic cancer

By SANDRA EFRAIMSON Health Editor

During the time in which most of us are discovering the magical time of our lives called High School, a young teenager, Jack Andraka from Crownsville, Maryland spends countless days in a laboratory making a breakthrough test in medicine.

At the age of 15, he won the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair award, with a reward of $75,000, last spring of 2012 for making an inexpensive pancreatic cancer test. This test detects pancreatic cancer at its early stages and its inexpensive. He attends North County High School and is years ahead of his time.

According to WebMD, pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the pancreas.

The pancreas is the organ that creates various digestive juices that help with the break down of food.

It is also responsible for making hormones, such as glucagon and insulin that regulates the blood sugar levels and helps store and use energy it gets from food.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult

By SANDRA EFRAIMSON Health Editor

Life as a student can be very stressful and of course time consuming, so you may assume that adding on the responsibility of being a pet owner is out of the question, unless of course having a pet is actually good for you.

According to WebMD, studies show that having a pet is actually good for your health.

Simply watching your pet, such as a dog, cat or fish, makes you feel less anxious and less stressed. This reduction in stress lowers your cortisol levels, the “stress hormone” and increases your “feel-good hormone” serotonin.

Another reason having a pet is good for your health is that it can help with lowering cholesterol levels and losing weight.

These claims are mainly attributed to the fact that pet owners, mainly dog owners that take their pet for a walk or to the park, generally have a more active lifestyle.

Many dog and cat owners know that these little creatures love to cuddle.

This cuddling can help people with chronic pain because they are warm and this can be

to diagnose in early stages because the pancreas is hidden behind other organs, such as the stomach.

Andraka got the idea after a close family member died of pancreatic cancer.

His test strips are made to be inexpensive and to detect high levels of mesothelin, which is a differentiation antigen that is produced by various tumors.

He used his knowledge from high school biology to connect the dots about the way that antigens bind to particular proteins in blood. Most of his knowledge about the pancreatic disease came from scientific papers that he pulled up from the Internet where he learned about mesothelin.

His father is a civil engineer that exposed him to the significant uses of nanotubes when he used them for testing the water in a nearby bay.

He began to think about the possibilities of nanotubes, which are small carbon tube that are stronger than steel and conduct energy better than copper.

Andraka came up with a smart solution to detecting mesothelin in the blood in patients that have a developing tumor in the pancreas.

He thought about coating

American Society for Clinical Pathology / Courtesy Photo

the nanotubes with mesothilinspecific antigens so that when blood from a pancreatic cancer patient was introduced, the antibodies would bind to the mesothilin.

The Smithsonian reports, “…antibodies would bind to the mesothelin and enlarge.

These beefed-up molecules would spread the nanotubes farther apart, changing the

electrical properties of the network.

“The more mesothelin present, the more antibodies would bind and grow big, and the weaker the electrical signal would become.”

After 7 months of working in one of the labs at Johns Hopkins University, his idea to came to fruition.

Many drug companies are

Man’s best friend, health benefits

soothing to the muscles.

Pets have been known for a long time to help with reducing the symptoms of depression. This is because they make good listeners and companions.

Also, pets such as dogs and cats love the attention they receive when being petted and are happy when properly taken care of. The pet will show the

owner its affection when they are happy, which gives the owner a good feeling.

Having a pet can also make the pet owner a more sociable person. People love to share with others their pet stories. Talking about pets is a great icebreaker for meeting new people.

Pets are known for being in tune with their owners.

There are many stories of dogs that save their owner by making emergency calls when their owner are suffering from a stroke or heart attack.

Even people with diabetes can get a recognizable reaction from their pet when their blood sugar drops because animals have different acute senses.

Dogs are often used as

interested in his invention, but it is not expected that these dip sticks will be used regularly for another ten years or so.

Almost a year after his award-winning discovery, Andraka has patented his invention and is eager to continue making more of his ideas come true.

service dogs for individuals with PTSD, autism, ADHD and people that suffer from seizures. They depend on their service dog to do whatever they were trained to do to help them in a time crisis.

Pets, although they are an added responsibility, they give back so much. When the right pet is found you get better health and a loyal little friend.

Scott King / Courtesy Photo

12

The Summa

The Sports & Clubs

Rockets on the Rise?: A ‘13 Season Update

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Upcoming Events Thursday, Feb. 21 NIRSA Fitness Day 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Campus Life Mall

Friday, Feb. 22

Homecoming 2013 – Celtic Corral Days 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Link-Lee Mansion & Chapel of St. Basil

Tuesday, Feb. 26 Intramural Rodeo 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Campus Life Mall

NBA / Courtesy Photo

A BAYOU CITY BASH The Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, played host to the 2013 NBA All-Star game. Top Rockets star James Harden helped lead the West over the East on Sunday, Feb. 17.

By JEFFREY COBURN Staff Writer

The Houston Rockets’ 2013 season has been marked by both sucesses and setbacks.

They began January with four straight wins, defeating the New Orleans Hornets (104-92), Milwaukee Bucks (115-101), Cleveland Cavaliers (112-104), and Los Angeles Lakers (125-112).

Directly after the Rockets’ win over the Lakers, NBA analysts called the 21-14 Rockets “one of the biggest surprises in the NBA.” However, the Rockets proceeded to lose seven straight games, to the New Orleans Hornets (88-79), Boston Celtics (103-91), Philadelphia 76ers (107-100), Los Angeles Clippers (117109), Dallas Mavericks (105100), Indiana Pacers (105-95), and Minnesota Timberwolves (92-79).

As of January 28, the Rockets possess a 25-22 record and are clinging to the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference.

The Rockets’ recent strong play has been sparked by the emergence of James Harden as a bona fide superstar.

Last season, Harden averaged roughly 17 points per game as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s sixth man.

This season, Harden is averaging 26 points per game, 5.5 assists per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, .54 blocks per game, and just 3.8 turnovers per game.

According to NBA pundits, Harden has been able to parlay his versatility and efficiency into his first AllStar game selection as well as consideration for both the Most Valuable Player Award and the Most Improved Player Awards.

Another noteworthy aspect of the Rockets’ season has been Jeremy Lin’s

consistent contributions.

He is averaging an impressive 13.1 points per game, 6.7 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, .4 blocks per game, and 2.2 steals per game.

In addition, he is averaging significantly fewer turnovers per game than last season.

An upcoming documentary that Rockets fans may be interested in is “Linsanity: The Movie.”

This documentary details the undersized AsianAmerican’s journey from bench warmer to star. In the documentary’s entertaining trailer, Lin essentially says, “Once, I was trying to enter an NBA arena, and a security guard told me, ‘Only NBA players

are allowed to go through here.

Are you a trainer?’”

In February, the Rockets have to played numerous quality opponents.

During one particularly brutal fourgame-stretch, they played four serious title contenders (the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Brooklyn Nets).

However, if the Rockets are able to keep on an even keel, reduce turnovers, and improve their defensive prowess, they may be able to solidify their status as an NBA team on the rise.

For the most up-todate information, visit the Rockets website. http://www.nba.com/rockets/

Tuesday, March 5 B.K. Smith Lecture 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Jones Hall

Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 21-23

The Fine Arts & Drama Department Presents “All in the Timing” 8:00 - 10:30 p.m.

Jones Theater

Monday - Thursday, Feb. 25-28 Be Comfortable in Your Genes Campaign All Day UST Seal

Thursday-Sunday Feb. 28-March 3 Spring Break All Day

SIDELINE HTX UST Celts Men’s Basketball Jerabeck Center, 4000 Mt. Vernon Feb. 23 | Celts vs. LSU Shreveport

UST Lady Celts Basketball Jerabeck Center, 4000 Mt. Vernon Feb. 23 | Celts vs. LSU Shreveport

Houston Rodeo

Reliant Stadium, 8400 Kirby Drive

Feb. 24 - March 17 Rodeo Houston

Houston Rockets (NBA) Toyota Center, 1510 Polk Street Feb. 27 | Rockets vs. Bucks

March 3 | Rockets vs. Mavericks

NBA / Courtesy Photo