Arts Beat: Visions in Prophecy

Prophecy telling has always been a part of human history. Recently, Nancy de Grummond, a professor from Florida State University, came to visit SMU and share some of her 15 years of knowledge about the Visions in Prophecy in Estruscan, Greek and Roman art. Personally, I didn’t know what to think. I’ve actually never heard about prophecy telling in art. Apparenlty the position of the people in the Etrucen art has a lot to do with who’s meditating, reading a prophecy or receiving the message. I never really got into the presentation. A big part of it being that I had no idea what Etruscan art is about.

Honestly it was a little weird for me.

–Posted? by Josh Webb

Students Feel Effects of Thursday Night Party Ban

By Natalie Stephens
nstephen@smu.edu

Last year, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity member and sophomore Rafael Acosta often hopped a bus on Thursday nights for Greek parties at nearby clubs. He remembers Thursday nights as a popular and safe night. But this year, it’s different because of a controversial new rule. Acosta still goes out, but doesn’t have that secure feeling of safe transportation.

“A lot of people are mad. Now, we [fraternity members] have to provide sober drivers,” Acosta said.

SMU recently adopted 36 of 38 recommendations made last spring by the University’s Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention. One of those new rules eliminates organized parties on school nights, including the use of buses, and requires parties to be registered by the Dean of Student Life Office.

The new rule eliminates Thursday night parties, which were popular social events. The Task Force hopes to reduce class absences on Thursdays and Fridays and the risk of substance abuse.

“It’s not safe to party three nights in a row,” junior Ruthie Keister, Alpha Chi Omega Student Social Chair, said.

But she said she sees why the new rule is controversial.

Without Thursday parties, there are only two party nights available for event planning– Friday and Saturday. Keister said that renting venues is more expensive on weekends, and they are more crowded.

“A lot of people are upset because fraternity parties have been on the same night and because there are only two days to choose from,” Keister said.

Thursday night bus parties were often a highlight of the many students’ week. The parties usually incorporated a theme like “80s” or “islanders”. Around 10:30 p.m., students would head to the intramural field to board the buses. These buses safely transported hundreds of students to local bars and clubs.

Under the newly-implemented recommendations, police reports show that the August 2008 number of alcohol violations has decreased significantly since last year. Violations that referred students to the SMU judicial office last August totaled to 107. This August, the number was 30.

Even with the new rule and the drop in number of violations, some students say they still party on Thursday nights. The major difference now is that there is no bus to take them there and bring them back. Some students think it’s an opportunity for dangerous behavior.

“It encourages drinking and driving, unless sober drivers are provided,” Keister said.

Student Body President and junior Rob Hayden said he knows that drinking and driving is a potential problem.

“Of course, there’s concern with DUI’s,” he said.

The alternative for some students is SMU Rides, which provides free taxi rides to campus. Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity, runs the program that operates from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The service is confidential, free with an SMU ID and will stop on campus or at local residences.

Hayden said that the Student Senate is working on the budget for SMU Rides to increase advertising and provide more rides.

“I have never heard of it, but I would use it,” sophomore Kaitlyn Hall said.

Hall said that SMU Rides needs more publicity.

“I know that the police will give rides. Giddy-Up does on campus, but they don’t even go to the sorority houses,” Hall said.

Giddy-Up provides rides, using golf carts, across campus from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., Monday through Sunday.

Hall still goes out on Thursday nights, and she does not think Thursday night partying will stop.

Hayden said that the Task Force made general recommendations to reduce alcohol violations and risks.

“The event registration document is what made the rule function,” Hayden said.

This registration form is a new requirement for all Greek events on campus. It must be turned in and approved by the Social Event Registration Committee.

There have been a few Thursday night bus parties this semester, officials said.

“Those bus parties were only approved because they were prior financial commitments made by organizations in the month of August or before,” Emily Lauren Epstein, Social Event Registration Committee member, said.