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Volume 93
Issue 15
Next Publication:
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
PINE LOG The
The Independent Voice of Stephen F. Austin State University
Page 6
Lauren Smith wins
second consecutive
conference title
while Ladyjacks win
conference title.
From The Washington Post
Bloomberg News Service
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have their differences
on foreign and defense policies, but the broader vision they
have offered voters is essentially the same. They claim that
the United States can remain the world's "indispensable
nation" even while retreating from global commitments,
avoiding involvement in regional conflicts and nation
building only at home. It's a dishonest promise.
In Monday's debate, as on the campaign trail, both the
president and the challenger repeatedly portrayed U.S.
leadership as essential to global stability. Obama invoked
the phrase "indispensable nation" and saluted "the kind of
American leadership that John F. Kennedy talked about 50
years ago."
Obama then proceeded to boast about the withdrawal
of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. He swore off "na-tion
building in these regions" and repeatedly promised to
transfer resources to "nation building here at home." He
defended the half-trillion dollars in defense spending cuts
he has planned, which, as Romney pointed out, will leave
the Navy and Air Force with the lowest number of ships and
planes in half a century or more.
Romney, similarly, declared that "America has a respon-sibility
and the privilege of helping defend freedom. . . .
We recognize that there are places of conflict in the world.
We want to end those conflicts to the extent humanly
possible." Of Syria, he said, "this is a critical opportunity
for America. . . . We should be playing the leadership role
there." But he then ruled out any U.S. "military involve-ment,"
including a no-fly zone, in what has become a rag-ing
civil war. Is it possible, as Romney proposes, to replace
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad "and to have in place a new
government which is friendly to us" while avoiding any use
of U.S. power? It's hard to see how.
One way of interpreting the candidates' statements is as a
commitment to retrenchment, to lowering U.S. aims in the
world after a decade of exhausting wars and an economic
crisis that has limited fiscal resources. That might be a pop-ular
course: Polls show many Americans welcome the U.S.
plan for a retreat from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Few
support intervention in Syria or a conflict with Iran.
But Romney and Obama are not defending retrench-ment.
On the contrary, Obama is saying that he will em-brace
"all options necessary" to prevent Iran from obtain-ing
nuclear weapons. He insists that "we are playing the
leadership role" in Syria. For his part, Romney said that
"we're going to have to put in place a very comprehensive
and robust strategy to help the world of Islam and other
parts of the world reject this radical, violent extremism."
In other words, both candidates are promising contin-ued
U.S. primacy in the world and deep engagement in
the troubles of the Middle East and elsewhere. Yet they
are claiming that can be done without the sacrifices of the
post-9/11 decade or the Cold War — whether it is in dollars
for the Pentagon and international aid programs or the
commitment of U.S. military force. In that, they are surely
wrong. The next president will have to choose whether to
meet the expectations he has raised for U.S. global influ-ence
or the promises he has made of a respite from its costs.
Story courtesy of the Washington Post,
Bloomberg News Service
By Aimee Bolen
Contributing Writer
In fall 2013, Nacogdoches will welcome the opening of a new
shopping center that will also be the home to a new place to dine.
The main buzz centers around Newk’s Café. According to the
chain website, Newk’s is an express casual dining experience in a
refreshing and stylish atmosphere with an emphasis on freshness
and flavor.
Elizabeth Gregory, a sophomore at SFA, has eaten with her
friend at the restaurant’s Plano location, and said, “I’m super
excited, and can’t wait to have their lobster bisque again. This
restaurant is going to be great for Nacogdoches, as well as provide
us students with a healthier place to eat and some additional
choices.”
Newk’s has won multiple awards for being the best restaurant
with meals under $10, best salad bar and best take out. Along with
that, the new restaurant will be serving fresh tossed salads, oven
baked sandwiches, California style pizzas, made-from-scratch
soups and homemade cakes from Newk’s open kitchen.
For customers in a rush, the restaurant will also have a grab-and-
go option that will include handmade ready-to-go sandwich-es
and salads available for immediate pick-up.
North Market Village and Newk’s will be located on North
Street next to Pool Real Estate and North Forest Putting Course.
The Jones and Pool families of Nacogdoches own the shopping
center. They have already begun the construction process and
hope to bring more business to the Nacogdoches area.
Kelly Daniel, membership and marketing manager of the
Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce, said, “New projects and
construction are good for Nacogdoches, and this is especially ex-
How can candidates promise global influence without cost?
Nac to get new cafe, shopping center
Aimee Bolen/Pine Log Photo
A large oak tree fell near
the music building Friday
afternoon. The tree landed
on a car that belonged to
Dr. Andrew Parr, professor
of piano in the School of
Music. Nearby cars received
minimal damage, and no-body
got hurt.
Tree falls,
crushes
professor’s
car on campus
Grant Korbel/Pine Log Photo
By Piero Pretto
Contributing Writer
Representatives of Mattress Firm, one of the nation›s top specialty bedding retailers,
visited SFA students last week to talk about their company and to set up interviews for
internships and job openings.
The information session was held on the third floor of the Rusk Building. The ses-sion
allowed students to learn more about the company culture and their aggressive
growth.
Steve Stagner, CEO of Mattress Firm and an SFA alumnus, has been involved in
recruiting more than 70 SFA graduates to the company and hopes to recruit more.
Mattress Firm currently operates over 1,000 locations across 28 states with plans to
continue to grow.
One Mattress Firm representative said, “What we are really here to sell is our culture.
What other companies out there make you excited to get out of bed in the morning?”
Other representatives followed by saying that most company employees feel like
they are a part of a family. They stressed that work is fun and competitive.
Matt Kennedy, SFA senior, said, “The thought of selling mattresses for a living didn’t
sound appealing. But I really like what they had to say about their culture.”
Representatives of Mattress Firm are currently looking for SFA graduates to join
their management team. Those interested can visit Career Services Wednesday to set
up an interview.
Students may also get involved through the sales management internship at
Mattress Firm. The internship affords students the ability to gain real-world sales and
management experience while working in a professional retail environment. The in-ternship
is designed to teach participants direct consumer sales, internal and external
marketing strategies and merchandising management.
ppretto@thepinelog.com
Mattress Firm looking
to hire college students
Newk’s, page 2