VOLUME 102, ISSUE 45
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tuesday JANUARY 22, 2013 GO NE ONLI NOW
The Good, the Bad and the Tasty Clinical dietitian Heather Martin hosts “Superfoods,” a nutritional food seminar in the San Marcos Public Library. Watch the video at UniversityStar.com.
Low sales may affect Lyndon’s U Club By Paige Lambert News Reporter University dining officials are looking at ways to revamp Lyndon’s U Club after seeing a decrease in sales at the establishment. Bill Nance, vice president for finance and support services, brought the low sales at Lyndon’s to the President’s Cabinet’s attention during a November meeting. During a typical week, sales at Lyndon’s peak on Wednesdays and Thursdays. However, on Fridays, the on-campus restaurant pulls in noticeably lower sales, according to John Root, director of Auxiliary Services. “I regularly review the sales for numerous locations on campus, and I saw a pretty consistent drop,” Root said. “It’s one thing to see a slow day but another to see numbers below $100 dollars.” Mondays brought in low revenue in the past, but see a rise in sales depending on events and time of the semester, Root said. Sales can sometimes match the revenue of peak service days. However, he said sales on Friday have rarely topped $125. Chin-Hong Chua, Chartwells district manager, said the small amount of foot traffic on Fridays and students’ need for a grab-and-go meal contribute to the low revenue of the restaurant at the end of the week. In response to the low sales, auxiliary services will survey department chairs and contact Chartwells to revise menu options and hours of operation. Auxiliary services will launch a marketing campaign to revamp the restaurant. Nothing major will be changed this semester, Root said, but he is considering closing Lyndon’s U Club on Fridays. “It’s always tough on Fridays, so closing on those days will be less harmful,” Root said. To appeal to the grab-and-go student mentality, Chartwells added a salad bar and buffet to the restaurant. The buffet meal costs around $6, which is about the same price for a sandwich at neighboring Chick-fil-a. Even with the addition of a speedy option, Chua said Lyndon’s will stay true to its sit-down nature. “A restaurant that can hold 30 people in an hour can’t compete with a place like Chick-fil-a, which can service 30 people in five minutes,” Chua said. “But it can provide an atmosphere found nowhere else on campus.” To bring in new customers, Chua said a student-targeted marketing campaign is in development that will be focused more on people who have offices or classes within a five-minute walking distance. One tactic to build more interest in Lyndon’s is customer appreciation day, Chua said. “Once a week, we are going to pick a customer at random and pay for their meal,” Chua said. “We are hoping that they’ll tell their friends and get interest in Lyndon’s going around. Word of mouth is the best marketing tool.” Lyndon’s will offer a reserved space for large parties
READ LYNDON, PAGE 3
REC RUSH
Kristen Lefebvre, Staff Photographer
Jesus Montelongo, political science senior, works out his triceps Jan. 21 at the Student Recreation Center. Below: Students have turned out in greater numbers since the new year.
January brings spike in rec attendance By Minerva Hernandez-Garcia News Reporter January brings an increase in students to the Student Recreation Center interested in fulfilling their fitness-related New Year’s Resolutions. According to Ryan McAfee, assistant director of informal recreation, the center sees about 3,000 more students than usual per week in January, or about 500 more per day. Though the number of students visiting the recreation center spikes in January, their attendance decreases in the following months. McAfee said an average of 8,370 students visited the recreation center each week in January 2012. The number fell to 7,844 students per week in February 2012 and 6,147 per week in March 2012. McAfee said September is the
Donations, library budget fund Wittliff Collections By Natalie Berko News Reporter
Bringing authors, art and photography to The Wittliff Collections is made possible through funding from several different sources. On the seventh floor of the Alkek Library is a nearly 6,600 square foot collection of Southwestern writers, Southwestern and Mexican photography and the Lonesome Dove production archive. Joan Heath, associate vice president and university librarian, said the Wittliff Collections’ costs are funded through a combination of dollars from the library’s acquisitions budget, a small piece of its operating funds and donations from out-
side sources. Heath said of the library’s total $1.09 million operating budget, $257,692 is put toward the Wittliff Collections. The operating budget covers costs including supplies, rentals, machinery, marketing, speaker fees and travel, staff transportation, temporary employee wages and contract services. Heath said a good part of the Wittliff Collections is funded through donations, such as the “Lonesome Dove” archive and the “Las Sombras/The Shadows” photography exhibition by Kate Breakey. David Coleman, director of the Wittliff Collections, said there are
READ WITTLIFF, PAGE 3
Carlos Valdez, Assistant Photo Editor
The Wittliff Collections host a variety of events including photography exhibits, author readings and lectures.
busiest month of the year, when students are returning to school, followed by January. “We’re definitely busier (at the
beginning of the year),” said Miles Sedillo, finance junior and employee at the recreation center. “We’re filling out more paperwork, more
READ REC, PAGE 3
Student entrepreneurs sell environmental learning tools By Wil Slade News Reporter A Texas State student organization is building self-sufficient growing beds to help local high schools. Entrepreneurial Action Us, or Enactus, builds and sells aquaponic systems to high schools as a part of its “Project Growth” undertaking. The outreach project assembles the aquaponics systems, which sustainably grow produce and raise fish. The group, formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise, sells the aquaponic systems to high school horticultural programs for $250 to use as learning tools. Greg Souquette, member of Texas State Enactus’ executive committee, said one reason the project is so important is the amount of water the aquaponics systems conserve compared to traditional methods. “You use so much less water with these because you use the same water over and over again,” Souquette said. The systems are being built out of intermediate bulk containers, which are typically used to transport large amounts of water, Souquette said. The top third of the container is cut off and placed upside down on top of the remaining two-thirds of the container, creating the growing bed. Under the growing bed, the container is filled with water, housing fish. The water is pumped to the top, then it drips onto the plants in the growing bed and sinks back into the fish tank. Kinnon Martin, a recent Texas State graduate, said he originally conceived the idea for the project. After coming up with the idea, Martin had his team do some research on aquaponics and had a prototype
built. When Martin graduated with his MBA in fall 2012, he passed on the idea to Soquette and other members. “At the time I was a senior (vice president) on the executive committee,” said Martin. “I was looking for a new project idea. I’m the idea guy. But (Souquette) really has done all the leg work on it.” The project stemmed from working with Gonzalo Garza Independence High School in Austin, Souquette said. “They have a horticulture class, and they grow produce to sell at farmers markets in order to generate funds for the class,” Souquette said. “We stepped in and are teaching them some business principles and finding ways to increase the revenue.” Souquette said Texas State Enactus has been working with the high school for several years. The high school now has 33 aquaponics systems, Souquette said. For every system sold, Enactus donates an aquaponic system to wherever the purchaser desires, Souquette said. Marketing senior Oscar Martinez, a member of Texas State Enactus, sold one of the systems to a small high school near Corpus Christi. “I figured if I sold it to them it would keep the kids involved,” Martinez said. “They would look forward to going to that specific class.” Martinez said anything from tomatoes to herbs to melons can be grown in one of the aquaponics systems, and many kinds of fish can be raised in them. “The only limitation you have is that you can’t seed the plant in there,” Souquette said. “The plant has to already be rooted.”
A2 | Tuesday January 22, 2013 | The University Star
PAGE TWO
ON THIS wild art
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DAY IN HISTORY
1901 - Queen Victoria died at age 81 after 63 years on the British throne. 1905 - Russian troops opened fired on marching workers in St. Petersburg, killing more than 100 in what became known as “Bloody Sunday.” 1922 - Pope Benedict XV died. 1938 - Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” premiered in Princeton, N.J. 1944 - Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy, during World War II. 1953 - The Arthur Miller drama “The Crucible” opened on Broadway. 1968 - “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” premiered on NBC. 1970 - The Boeing 747 went on its first regularly scheduled commercial flight, from New York to London. 1973 - Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of the United States, died at his ranch in Johnson City, Texas, at age 64. 1995 - Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the mother of President John F. Kennedy, died in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 104. 1997 - The Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as the nation’s first female secretary of state 1998 - Theodore Kaczynski pleaded guilty in Sacramento, Calif., to being the Unabomber in return for a sentence of life in prison without parole. 2008 - Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with al-Qaida to blow up a radioactive “dirty bomb,” was sentenced by a U.S. federal judge in Miami to more than 17 years in prison on terrorism conspiracy charges. 2009 - President Barack Obama ordered the terrorist detention center at Guantanamo Bay closed within a year and banned harsh interrogation of terror suspects. (The prison remains open.) 2010 - Conan O’Brien ended his brief tenure as host of “The Tonight Show” after accepting a $45 million buyout from NBC to leave the show after only seven months.
Tiffany Gordon, studio art senior, works on a corset made from cotton linter and abaca Jan. 17 in JCM.
Elise Laird, Staff Photographer
library beat Use library resources for research, not Google Google is cool. Just last week, I went to the Google search page and ended up clicking on that day’s image again and again to make the white polar bear come out. I was hooked by the polar bear and forgot what I went there to look up. So, now I’m going to advise you not to use Google—at least not when you do research for your academic papers. Sure, you can find information on any topic, but you’ll have to sort through a whole lot of unreliable stuff and apply strong intellectual filters (your brain) to find articles written by experts in the field. That’s the kind of information professors want to see in your research papers. In fact, there’s a much easier way to get reliable information, and that’s where Alkek Library comes in. Alkek subscribes to hundreds of databases that contain articles from every field of study. And many of these articles are not available through Google. Sometimes you will find a good one but can only access it by paying a fee. Don’t do it! We can get almost anything for you for free.
Searching our databases for articles is easy once you’re familiar with the tools. You can limit your search to “academic journals” or scholarly articles that have been “peer reviewed” or “referred.” That means not only are they written by professors and other experts, but they have also been reviewed by a committee of experts. So instead of digging through a long list of Google hits to find something good, let the databases do the work for you by filtering your results. Come to the 2nd floor reference desk at the library and let us show you how easy and convenient it is to find exactly what you need in the databases. Or, if you prefer, go to our YouTube channel from the library homepage and let one of our tutorials walk you through it. No polar bears come out when you click on the Alkek search page, but searching from the library website can save you a lot of time and trouble. With all that extra time, you can play with Google all you want. -Courtesy of Kay Hetherly
-Courtesy of The New York Times
CRIME BLOTTER
Jan. 1, 2:47 a.m. Jacinto Hall Criminal mischief under $500 University property had been intentionally damaged. This case is under investigation. Jan. 1, 3:12 a.m. Comanche Street Public intoxication A non-student was cited and arrested for public intoxication and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 1, 5:08 a.m. Comanche Street Evading arrest, detention using vehicle A non-student was arrested for evading arrest and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 1, 9:11 a.m. School/ Higher Education Graffiti University property had been vandalized with graffiti. This case is under investigation. Jan. 1, 4:40 p.m. Bobcat Village Possession of a controlled substance Two non-students were arrested for possession of a controlled substance and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 4, 9:11 a.m. Bobcat Village Apartments Public intoxication A student was cited and arrested for public intoxication and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 5, 4:35 a.m. Comanche Street Graffiti, loss under $500 University property had been vandalized with graffiti. This case is under investigation. Jan. 6, 4:04 a.m. End Zone Complex Criminal mischief under $20,000
University property had been intentionally damaged. This case is under investigation. Jan. 6, 7:37 p.m. Hillside Ranch Apartments Driving while intoxicated A non-student was arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center.
You have the
RIGHT TO KNOW
Jan. 7, 12:59 a.m. Wood Street Parking Garage Warrant service A non-student was arrested for a warrant and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 7, 8:00 p.m. Saltgrass Steak House Theft under $500 A student reported that their personal property had been taken without consent. This case is under investigation. Jan. 9, 2:50 a.m. University Drive Driving while intoxicated A student was arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 9, 8:21 a.m. Other Reckless Damage or destruction A vehicle was left abandoned on property. This case is under investigation. Jan. 9, 1:00 p.m. Thorpe Lane Trespassing An unknown individual trespassed onto university property causing damage. This case is under investigation. Jan. 9, 6:00 p.m. Student Recreation Center Theft under $1500 A student reported that their personal property had been taken without consent. This case is under investigation.
How are public school teachers trained? The National Council on Teacher Quality asked Texas State to participate in a review of the nation’s teacher preparation programs.
Texas State refused
Help us do what your school would not.
nctq.org/righttoknow
A3 | Tuesday January 22, 2013 | The University Star
NEWS
Check out more at UniversityStar.com
Melissa Millecam
City Spokeswoman
Photo courtesy of Melissa Millecam
By Wil Slade News Reporter Melissa Millecam, spokeswoman for the City of San Marcos, discusses the town’s recent ban on alcohol in its parks and what changes residents can expect it to bring. WS: What positive changes do you hope to see come from the recent ban on the display of alcohol in San Marcos city parks? MM: The new rules are intended to increase the safety and family-friendly character of San Marcos city parks by reducing the number of alcohol-related
WITTLIFF
incidents and accidents. WS: What were the main concerns that prompted the city to act on this issue? MM: The alcohol ban in city parks is comparable to rules in place for university, county and state parks. It was prompted by the number of disturbances, injuries and arrests related to alcohol. The other rules were prompted by the need to protect a significant environmental resource. Again, we are striving to create a family-friendly and safe experience in our parks. WS: What was the biggest challenge the city faced when putting the new regulations in place? MM: The city is striving to get the word out to park patrons and community organizations now in preparation for our busy summer season. We are getting the most questions at this point about the rules on spear fishing. WS: Do you think this law will result in a lack of tourism revenue?
MM: No. San Marcos parks are exceptionally beautiful, popular and wonderful amenities in our community. We have more than 1,700 acres of parks and green spaces that attract tens of thousands of visitors and residents during the year. Enhancing a familyfriendly environment in conjunction with active water features, responding to the needs of differing users by our rules, will promote an overall wonderful experience for tourists. This area and the river have attracted human beings for some 12,000 years, and we expect this will continue. WS: In your opinion, how has the local community responded to this action? MM: It’s a little early to tell. Our park ranger conversations with people one-onone so far are pretty positive. They see the need to control alcohol and eliminate litter and Styrofoam in the river system. We will get more feedback in the coming months as park and river use increases.
REC
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memberships.” Sedillo said recreation center employees have had to prepare for the spike in attendance seen in January. “We have a lot more employees per shift,” Sedillo said. “We make sure all our equipment’s filled and everything’s clean, especially with the flu season right now.” Though students are eager to exercise at the beginning of the year, Sedillo said there is always a decline in people visiting the recreation center as the semester progresses on, which is something frequent visitors are aware of. New Year’s resolutions may have an impact on the number of students visiting the recreation center in January, but Sedillo said it is not the only time of year employees see an increase in attendance. The weeks before spring break are also a popular time for students to visit the recreation center, he said. Ciara Knight, communication design junior, said she has seen a definite increase in students visiting the recreation center this month.
LYNDON
“It’s kind of packed at the moment, but I think in a couple of weeks it’ll probably die down,” Knight said. However, the influx of students does not inhibit the smooth operation of the recreation center, Knight said. “Even when it was crowded, (students) could find machines,” Knight said. Marco Lozano, international relations sophomore, said the recreation center is “really crowded” this time of year. “Everyone thinks that they can try to work off their holiday weight,” Lozano said. “If they didn’t pig out in the first place, they wouldn’t have to be there. It’s always been crowded right after the holidays, but it gets better. People’s resolutions start to fail and things go back to normal.” Lozano said he is going to the recreation center to stay fit, not because of any new year’s resolutions. “It’s just because I’m trying to stay healthy, and a lot of the time new year’s resolutions don’t follow through,” Lozano said. “I think you should just follow your routine and not make any changes.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
or meetings. Chua said he hopes the appeal of not having to pay and go through the paperwork of reserving a room at an outside restaurant or large classroom will bring in more business. Although efforts to make adjustments are forthcoming, old assumptions about the restaurant may still keep some students from walking in. Dana Allen, aquatic biology junior, said she has never been to Lyndon’s U Club, and probably never will.
“I wouldn’t go because it’s expensive and nice looking,” Allen said. “Plus, I need something really quick that I can eat on the way to class.” Even so, Root and Chua believe improvements to Lyndon’s are worth it. “You don’t want to have all fast food. You have to mix it up a little,” Root said. “Something will always be in that space, and you have to give it some time to figure itself out and grow.”
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more than 200 images in the “Las Sombras/The Shadows” exhibit, all donated by Breakey. Heath said the materials acquired by the Wittliff Collections are kept, and some manuscripts and photographs are being digitized online. “Now (we) have significantly increased the opportunity for people worldwide to learn about these materials,” Heath said. Coleman said The Wittliff Collections hosts anywhere between 10 and 12 authors, photographers and other guest speakers annually, and these events are usually free of charge to attendees. Coleman said the Wittliff Col-
lections invites speakers, but also collaborates with the Master of Fine Arts-Creative Writing program and hosts other sponsored events by different academic programs and centers on campus. Coleman said speakers who come for Wittliff sponsored events are funded through the library’s operating budget. Tom Grimes, director of the MFA Creative Writing program, said it and the Department of English choose the writers who speak at the Wittliff Collections each year. The department and the Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center in Kyle fund the visits. Grime said an annual budget of
$25,000 from the Therese Kayser Lindsey Endowment is set aside to bring in guest authors, along with additional funding from the Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center. Michele Miller, media relations and publications specialist at the Wittliff Collections, said she advertises events throughout the San Antonio/Austin corridor. Miller said the advertising portion of the Wittliff’s operating budget is not very large, so she instead relies on free press and interest in what is going on at the Collections. “We try really hard to seduce the students to come in and see some great stuff,” Miller said. Heath said founding donor Bill
Wittliff’s original vision for the collections was to expose the writing processes to visitors. “The purpose of the collection is to help people, particularly students, who have an interest in writing but not the courage to do it yet to make that leap,” Heath said. “I think that is a great mission.” Miller said the Wittliff Collections are a great place for students to come between classes. “We are open, and we are free,” Coleman said. “We are a great escape from the busy hectic life of school.”
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A4 | Tuesday January 22, 2013 | The University Star
OPINIONS
For more viewpoints or letters to the editor, e-mail staropinions@txstate.edu
Kara Ramer, Star Illustrator
Noise complaints blown out of proportion
N
oisy neighbors are a common complaint around San Marcos, but few have been as accommodating as Zelicks Icehouse. According to a Jan. 17 University Star article, the bar's conditional use permit was appealed by Barry James and his wife Brenda Smith, both of whom practice law across Hopkins Street from Zelicks. The lawyers cited the volume of Zelicks' live music in their appeal, which city council approved. Undoubtedly, blasting live music does not promote an ideal work atmosphere for the law office. However, Zelicks has hosted live music events a grand total of two times—hardly a regular offender. Although the occasional live music events may be bothersome for the lawyers, it would be difficult to find a San Marcos resident who has
not had to deal with unruly neighbors at some point. This is not Zelicks' first run-in with nearby businesses. In Feb. 2012, the bar was ordered by the city to resolve noise complaints with neighboring Crystal River Inn before its conditional use permit could be renewed. Zelicks obliged, spending approximately $10,000 on insulation for Crystal River Inn and reorganizing its outdoor parking and games to keep noise away from the bed and breakfast, according to the same University Star article. Zelicks' owners, brothers Seth and Chase Katz, seem willing to cooperate on noise concerns and obey ordinances prohibiting loud music, live or otherwise, between certain hours. Most of the city's noisy residents likely would not spend $10,000 to improve
the situation, especially when the improvements are for the complaining party's building. It is unreasonable, then, for the law office to take a step as drastic as appealing Zelicks' mixed beverage permit, which is a major necessity for a business that relies on alcohol sales. Furthermore, alleging that live music is the main culprit is a blatant exaggeration on the lawyers' part—again, all parties involved agree such performances have only happened at Zelicks twice. There may be legitimate noise complaints to be resolved between the businesses, but live music is not one of them. The blame for any inconvenience the situation causes ultimately rests not with Zelicks for being a bar or with the law office for being uptight. The blame
lies with the city for zoning the area in such a way that allowed a bar next to a law office and a bed and breakfast. It is a shame the parties cannot agree, though, as patrons who habitually leave from long nights at the bar are more likely to need a lawyer and a place to sleep than the average resident. The area in question on and around The Square depends on local businesses to keep its unique atmosphere and attraction. Zelicks, though noisy, is a successful business owned and operated by Texas State alumni who chose to keep their careers in San Marcos. Such businesses benefit the city's local economy and image and face enough difficulty in the current economic climate without other locals appealing their ability to do business.
The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University-San Marcos Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University-San Marcos.
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Opinions | The University Star | Tuesday January 22, 2013 | A5
City officials must clarify alcohol ban before river season
By Alex Pernice Opinions Columnist
T
he recent ban on the public display of alcohol in city parks will discourage residents and visitors and harm business and tourism profits if San Marcos does not communicate the new rules effectively. The recently-enacted ordinance seems good on the surface as an effort to foster a cleaner, more family-friendly atmosphere, while still allowing visitors to consume alcohol in the river. However, it sounds as though there is a bit of a gray area regarding the transport of alco-
hol in and out of the water. According to a Jan. 15 University Star article, those wishing to bring alcoholic beverages to Rio Vista Park or City Park will have to enter and exit through designated points. These check points must be clearly marked and visible so river-goers are able to locate them. Residents and visitors come to the parks to have an enjoyable experience and do not want to worry about abiding by confusing rules and regulations. Outside of the water, alcohol is now only allowed in rented areas such as pavilions for special events in the city parks. This new rule could deter tourists who plan to drink, but cannot afford a rented area or are not hosting a special event. The only way for these people to be able to consume alcohol legally in the parks is to float the river. This option will likely not be alluring to those who prefer lying out and catching rays. The San Marcos River has a certain atmosphere maintained by the crowds it gathers during the warmer seasons
Obama’s gun violence plan falls short, misses mental health mark
By Jose R. Gonzalez Opinions Columnist President Obama’s official plan for reducing gun violence is largely well intentioned but also deeply flawed. Communities such as San Marcos and Texas State will not see greater protection as a result. Current state law prohibits concealed carry on campus. However, the Associated Student Government has voted twice within the last three years in favor of firearms on campus, according to an Oct. 22 University Star article. Overall, decisions on the issue of concealed carry, whether for or against, are best left to the state legislature and the university being affected instead of the federal government. The third part of the plan released Jan. 16, “Now is the Time: The President’s Plan to Protect Our Children and Our Communities by Reducing Gun Violence,” aims to make schools safer. This particular proposal simply fails to take into account the complexities found within the American college system. The plan says that it will “give schools and other institutions a model for how to develop and implement reliable plans.” Although these models may be helpful for some, what may work in one place will not necessarily do so elsewhere. The needs of a public university in the South, like Texas State, are uniquely different to the needs of a private university in the Northeast. The third portion is not the only part of the presidential plan with issues. The fourth part of the plan, which attempts to address issues on mental health, should have been included in a separate agenda. Regrettably, the plan currently sidelines issues related to mental health to promote gun control simply for the sake of promoting it. The presidential plan cites approximately 30,000 firearm-related homicides and suicides a year. According to data in the National Vital Statistics Reports “Deaths: Final Data for 2010,”
there were 19,392 suicides by firearms in 2010. The suicide statistic makes up almost two-thirds of the total number of firearm-related deaths cited in the presidential plan. Suicide is not a direct by-product of a lack of gun control. It is largely a by-product of issues related to mental health. Sadly, the administration is shamelessly inflating the numbers by lumping an unrelated events such as suicide with homicide numbers to denounce firearms. Another proposal in the president’s plan is to “end the freeze on gun violence research.” The plan proposes a presidential memorandum for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to “conduct research on the causes and prevention of gun violence.” If the presidential administration still needs the CDC to research “the causes and the prevention of gun violence,” then this stands to prove the plan is premature and currently largely uninformed. However, the CDC could better invest money in specific studies on the causes and prevention of mental health instead of spending on research of gun violence overall. According to the spring 2010 American College Association National College Health Assessment II, 8.5 percent of students reported experiencing one mental health issue. In the same report, 38 percent of students reported feeling overwhelming anger within the last 12 months of the survey time period. Many Texas State students would benefit greatly from an increase in CDC funding to further education, support and research for mental health issues. Support for the presidential plan is largely contingent on the perceived urgency of gun control to prevent another mass shooting like the incidents in Newtown, Conn., and Aurora, Colo. According to a Dec. 15 Associated Press article, experts like James Alan Fox, criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston, say there has been no pattern or increase in the frequency of mass shootings. Now may be the time to protect our communities from gun violence. The Texas State community should ask itself if the proposals in this plan are really in the best interest of this city or if they are merely reactionary. —Jose R. Gonzalez is a mass communication senior.
of the year. The option to “BYOB” has been made more difficult by the city, especially since plastic foam products are banned and container lids must be secured in the river. In the coming months and years, the amount of business surrounding river activities could significantly decrease. The city’s recent ordinance follows New Braunfels’ similar “can ban.” Since early last year, disposable containers have been banned in the Guadalupe and Comal River parks. According to the same University Star article, some tubing locations reported an estimated 40 percent reduction in business during the first tourism season under the New Braunfels ordinance. The nearby city has seen fewer citations and arrests since the implementation of the ban, but some businesses in the area are struggling from a loss in profits. San Marcos needs to ensure its rivercentered restaurants and varied businesses, including tubing, kayaking and canoeing outfitters, do not suffer from
the new ordinance like some of those in New Braunfels. The city needs to do its part to get easy-to-follow, simple rules and regulations out to residents and visitors before river season picks up to keep tourism profits from falling. Those who are confused or misinformed about the rules may find themselves at odds with local authorities through fines of $250 or more for littering, citations or even arrests. Those who do not want to risk getting in trouble may leave the remainder of their beverages in the river, thus contributing to the litter the ordinance is looking to reduce. Alcohol is not necessary to have a good time at the river, but for many it is just the norm. It is important for the city to foster the same atmosphere that has always been offered to visitors. If it is not, the consequences could turn out to be harsher than expected for business and tourism profits in the long run. -Alex Pernice is a mass communication sophomore.
Campus parking rules hinder studies, student activities after hours
By Christian Penichet-Paul Opinions Columnist
T
he Texas State parking system must be reformed to provide students with the possibility to park on campus and avoid fines after 5 p.m. without necessarily purchasing a permit. The university has a list of regulations to manage its parking resources. According to Texas State’s parking services webpage, parking rules are enforced 24 hours a day, and vehicles parked on campus must always display a valid parking permit. Students must register their vehicles with parking services and purchase the appropriately colored permit, which can cost as much as $245 for the “green permit” for residence hall lots. If the regulations are not followed, students can face numerous fines, including a $150 fee for those who are chronic parking violators. The parking rules are firmly enforced, as many students know from personal experience. However, the current state of these regulations can have a negative effect on students and their education overall. Parking services must consider the financial position of the average student and remember education is the main objective of the university. In turn, it is important for Texas State to reform specific areas of the parking system to better assist students. For one, parking services does not allow “after hours,” or the ability for offcampus students to park on campus late in the evening without a permit. This 24hour permit rule is not conducive to the education and activities of many Texas State students. A substantial number of students depend on the library to study late at night, especially during midterm and final exams. Other students participate in organizations and clubs that have late-night meetings. According to Texas State’s transpor-
tation services webpage, the night bus service is provided Monday through Thursday with buses leaving The Quad every 45-50 minutes beginning at 8:40 pm through 11:05 p.m. Students should not have to depend on a restrictive and inconvenient bus schedule to study for an exam or finish writing a major paper. Additionally, students should not have to walk home late at night when there are numerous parking lots, including the Matthews Street Parking Garage, with a visible number of empty parking spaces. Students involved in organizations and clubs with evening meetings must walk to campus or purchase a commuter parking permit if they want to avoid fines. It is contradictory for Texas State to encourage student organization involvement, but fine students $40 for using an empty parking space without a permit. In addition, campus student workers who may work late hours have to purchase permits. Aside from residence hall parking lots, there is no reason the university should fine students for parking on campus after 5 p.m. without a permit. Parking services must remember student education is one of the main priorities of the university. Parking services must manage the university’s resources, but must also consider the impact of its permit prices and fines on students. According to the parking services webpage, its system is self-supporting, deriving two of the top three main sources of revenue from permit fees and fines. In honesty, Texas State’s permit prices are on par with other universities in the state, according to the parking services webpage. However, this fact does not debase the argument that the university’s desire to encourage student education and organization involvement might be challenged by parking services’ necessity to fund its own operations. Texas State must ensure every office in the university, including parking services, recognizes the importance of education and student involvement in activities and work schedules. Students should not be limited by strict parking regulations and high prices of permits and fees. --Christian Penichet-Paul is a history senior.
Grace Perkins, Star Illustrator
A6 | Tuesday January 22, 2013 | The University Star | Advertisement