VOLUME 102, ISSUE 46
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THURSDAY
JANUARY 24, 2013
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City Council explains Cape’s Camp votes
MAKING ROOMS
Members of the San Marcos City Council voted 5-2 during their Jan. 7 meeting to allow the development of a student housing complex at Cape’s Camp. The property is the largest undeveloped piece of land on the San Marcos River, and more than 75 percent of San Marcos voters during the November said they wanted the 45-acre tract to be acquired as parkland. About 20 concerned residents protested the councilmembers’ votes before the Jan. 15 meeting. Despite this, the development of a 306-unit, 1,000-bedroom apartment complex called The Woodlands of San Marcos at Cape’s Camp was approved during the second reading with the same 5-2 vote. Below, the city councilmembers and the mayor explain their votes.
For: Mayor Daniel Guerrero: “There isn’t one particular reason, but when it comes to Cape’s Camp you need to consider it is private property. According to the family and attorney, the property was not and will not be for sale. They had every right to sue us if we were to pursue the property through eminent domain. And the momentary contributions to the parkland at the cost of the developer and not the city for me was enough information to vote in the affirmative. “Some of the reasons I voted in favor was that I didn’t want the city to go into litigation. I felt confident in state and federal laws federal and municipal, overseeing flooding issues. I also felt confident with the staff who review and assess some of those issues and at the same time wanted to be respectful for the property and property owners. They were willing to partner with the city and added parkland. There are other issues you have to consider as well.”
Kim Porterfield, Place 1: “It was a very difficult decision, but I think it is a good balance of development and green space. The PDD the staff negotiated was a good deal for the city. We were able to get 20 plus acres of parkland, the developer would be responsible for trash clean up and a shuttle for the students to get to the university.”
Wayne Becak, Place 4: “We can acquire additional land on the south side of the river without a costly law suit that will provide additional parkland and safer access for our citizens to enjoy along with the 20 acres that includes Cape’s Camp and Thompson Island that was given to us by the developer.”
Shane Scott, Place 6: “People wanted parkland but they didn’t want to pay for it so this was a way to solve both issues.” Ryan Thomason, Place 5, also voted in favor of the development. He did not return multiple calls and emails for comment.
Against: Jude Prather, Place 2: “For how impressive this piece of land along the river is, this development is not that impressive.”
John Thomaides, Place 3: “For one, 76 percent of voting citizens said they wanted that property acquired as parkland. We had an option to do that and a place to enjoy the river. I believe we should have done and could have done more to do so. If there is a place to put 1,000-bedroom apartments, (Cape’s Camp) should not have been one of them.” — Report compiled by Karen Zamora
Madelynne Scales, Staff Photographer
The Vistas, located at Fredericksburg and Comanche, is one of many new apartment complexes that will open for the fall semester.
Apartment complexes spring up around city By Michael Pope Special to the Star New apartment complexes are being built for student residents as more Bobcats come to Texas State each year. Four new housing complexes have been improved for student living and will be open in May and August. Students will have some new living options as a result for next fall, but there are environmental and transportation issues that could arise from construction. The Avenue Located off River Ridge Parkway, the complex consists of one- to five-bedroom flats and townhomes, with 752 beds total.
Construction is underway, and by May 9 residents will be able to move in. The Cottages at Hillside Ranch The complex will consist of one- to five-bedroom townhomes, cottages and apartments. The Cottages is located at 1410 North LBJ and has 400 beds throughout the complex. The opening date is August 12. The Vistas The complex, located at 401 North Fredricksburg Street, is under construction and will open August 15. The Vistas, which consists of one- to five-bedroom apartments, has 597 beds throughout the property.
Wildwood Residents will be able to move into the Mill Street complex in August. Wildwood is made up of one- to four-bedroom flats and townhomes, according to the complex’s website. Environmental concerns The environmental implications of construction are often a concern for some members of the community when apartment complexes are developed. Dianne Wassenich, executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation, said she is opposed to The Cottages at Hillside Ranch. Her reasoning was its construction runoff causes dirt to be washed into
READ HOUSING, PAGE 3
Open house promotes Visiting climatologist master plan education talks global warming By Sonya Newman News Reporter Traffic, sidewalk conditions and development in high-density areas were among the topics considered during the Comprehensive Master Plan open house Wednesday. Business owners, homeowners and committee members gathered at the San Marcos Activity Center for the open house. The event was conducted by two city council-appointed committees, the Citizen Advisory Committee and the Steering Committee. Six different subcommittees presented their goals. Residents viewed and left comments on each of the subcommittees’ presentations. The presentations included a Preferred Growth Scenario Map in which color-coded regions distinguished the most- and leastdense areas of the city. The map has not been adopted by city council, said Emily Koller, city planner. “The objectives are to capture the essence of the plan and provide guidance for what we want to see happen in the future,” Koller said. “Our next step will be taking feedback from the community until spring, and then the plan will be revised
to implement some of that feedback.” Angie Ramirez, a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee and the Neighborhoods and Housing Subcommittee, said the scenario map depicts a guideline for zoning and placement for infrastructure. One of the more popular committees among the open house attendees was transportation. The transportation subcommittee is working to create more sidewalks and obtain “Bicycle Friendly Community” designation. This designation would require thinning out automobile traffic in high-density areas of the city and reducing the number of pedestrian- and bicyclist-related accidents. “The sidewalks are essential,” said Bill DeSoto, associate professor of political science. “We’re such a young population here in San Marcos, and it’s extremely important for students to feel safe when they are walking or biking.” The university was included in one of the master plan’s 113 objectives. This objective involves partnering with Texas State to develop programming to engage new audiences in economic development efforts in San
READ MASTER PLAN, PAGE 3
By Adrian Omar Ramirez News Reporter During her childhood in Canada, Katharine Hayhoe’s grandmother would sneak into her bedroom and cover the girl with an extra blanket for warmth. The extra blankets were often unnecessary. This experience, Hayhoe said, is comparable to what humans have done to the planet. “It already has the perfect blanket, and we’re putting an extra blanket on it by producing too much carbon dioxide,” Hayhoe said. Hayhoe is a research associate professor of atmospheric sciences and director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. She spoke to a crowd
Wednesday in the Sac-N-Pac Room of Bobcat Stadium as part of Texas State’s Ed Cape Seminar. Hayhoe said Texas is a place where it is “feast or famine”—there can be record-breaking drought and wet conditions within a few years of each other. Hayhoe said Texas’s aquifers have been the “coping mechanism” during times of extreme climate. She said aquifers are a large part of what tides the land over during dry periods. Beyond temperature measures, Hayhoe said there are more than 26,000 indicators that the climate is changing. Blueberry production in Maine is moving to Quebec,
READ CLIMATE, PAGE 3
Elise Laird, Staff Photographer
Katherine Hayhoe, research professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas Tech University, speaks at the Ed Cape Seminar Jan. 23 at Bobcat Stadium. Hayhoe discussed the effects and possible solutions to global warming.
2 | Thursday January 23, 2013 | The University Star
PAGE TWO
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health beat Take precaution when experiencing flu-like symptoms Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease. It is important to prevent the spread of infection and to protect those that may be at high risk for complications from the flu. High risk groups include children, pregnant women, persons older than 65 years of age and persons with heart/lung disease, asthma, diabetes or weak immune systems. Help keep the entire Texas State community healthier this flu season. Recommendations: • Stay home while sick: Isolate yourself for 3 days from the start of symptoms or until fever-free for at least 24 hours. • Cover coughs: Use tissues for occasional coughs and a surgical mask if you have frequent fits. • Wash hands frequently: Use soap and water or hand sanitizer. • Isolate in a bedroom: Limit contact with roommates and others. • Bed rest: Get plenty of rest. • Drink plenty of fluids: Try water, sports drinks, juices, soda or broth. • Take medications as prescribed: Alternate between ibuprofen and acetaminophen every two hours for fever greater than 102 degrees. • Monitor fever: Periodically check your temperature, especially if you are feeling worse. • Eat at home: Ask a friend, roommate or family member to get food for you. • Visitor precautions: Visitors should wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer after leaving your room. • Disinfecting: High contact surfaces such as bathroom sinks and toilets, countertops, desktops, door-knobs, remote controls and computers should be cleaned with disinfectant sprays or wipes. Wash bed sheets and clothes when well. • Contact professors: Let them know you have the flu and have been instructed to stay home.
ON THIS
DAY IN HISTORY
1908 - The first Boy Scout troop was organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell. 1924 - The Russian city of St. Petersburg was renamed Leningrad in honor of late revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. 1943 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill concluded a wartime conference in Casablanca, Morocco. 1965 - Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill died in London at age 90. 1972 - The Supreme Court struck down laws denying welfare benefits to people who had resided in a state for less than a year. 1986 - The Voyager 2 space probe swept past Uranus, coming within 50,679 miles of the seventh planet from the sun.
If living in residence hall/university apartment: • Talk to roommates: Let them know that you have the flu and are planning to isolate yourself in the room, suite or apartment. Roommates with high-risk medical conditions should contact their healthcare provider to discuss whether they should be treated with antiviral medication. • Roommate moves: Roommates may want to temporarily room with someone else to avoid being exposed to the flu. • Meals: If you cannot find a friend or roommate to bring meals to your room, contact the resident assistant or apartment manager for possible assistance. • Bathrooms: Use a disinfecting spray or wipe after using the bathroom sink, toilet or shower to protect others who might have to go into your facilities. Medicine & supplies you may need: • Advil/Motrin/Ibuprofen/Tylenol • Emetrol • Robitussin and Mucinex DM/Delsym • Bottled water, sports drinks, juice or soda • Chloraseptic lozenges • Tissue or surgical masks • Sudafed 12hr/30mg • Thermometer • Imodium/Pepto-Bismol • Hand sanitizer If medical condition worsens: • Consult a healthcare provider if you have persistent fever greater than 102 degrees, chest pain, worsening cough, shortness of breath, severe headache, neck stiffness, dizziness or persistent nausea and vomiting. Call the Student Health Center at 512-245-2161 for an appointment. Go to an urgent care center or emergency room if the Student Health Center is closed. All charges incurred are the responsibility of the patient.
1987 - Gunmen in Lebanon kidnapped educators Alann Steen, Jesse Turner, Robert Polhill and Mitheleshwar Singh. (All were later released.) 1989 - Confessed serial killer Ted Bundy was executed in Florida’s electric chair. 1993 - Retired Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall died at age 84. 1995 - The prosecution gave its opening statement in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. 2003 - The new federal Department of Homeland Security officially opened as Tom Ridge was sworn in as secretary. 2004 - NASA’s Opportunity rover landed on Mars three weeks after its identical twin, Spirit. 2008 - French bank Societe Generale announced it had uncovered a $7.14 billion fraud by a single futures trader. 2011 - Jared Lee Loughner pleaded not guilty in Phoenix to federal charges he’d tried to kill U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides in a Tucson shooting rampage that had claimed six lives. -Courtesy of the New York Times
CRIME BLOTTER Dec. 17, 3:23 a.m. Sterry Hall Possession of marijuana A non-student was arrested for possession of marijuana and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center.
Dec. 18, 9:58 p.m. University Drive Driving while intoxicated A student was arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center.
Dec. 17, 5:12 p.m. Other Fire call A generator caught on fire causing smoke. San Marcos Fire Department took care of the incident and a report was made.
Dec. 20, 7:56 p.m. Bobcat Stadium Possession of marijuana A non-student was arrested for possession of marijuana and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center.
Dec. 18, 5:15 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.
Dec. 22, 5:07 p.m. Golf Course Substantial inconvenience University property was damaged. This case is under investigation.
Dec. 18, 5:39 p.m. Speck Parking Lot Possession of marijuana A student was arrested for possession of marijuana and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center.
wild art
Dec. 25, 8:00 p.m. Aquarena Center Criminal mischief under $500 University property had been intentionally damaged. This case is under investigation.
Sonja Burton, Staff Photographer
James Edwards, Spanish graduate student, plays his banjo Jan. 20 at Crook Park.
HOUSING
News | The University Star | Thursday January 24, 2013 | 3
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Saint Creek, which feeds into Spring Lake. She said runoff causes many problems for the San Marcos River and Spring Lake, such as water clarity reduction and an increase in
algae blooms resulting from a surplus of nutrients. Commuting inconveniences Nancy Nusbaum, associate vice president for Finance and Support Services,
Madelynne Scales, Staff Photographer
The Cottages at Hillside Ranch, located on N LBJ Dr., are set to open this fall. The new complex will have 1, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom units.
CLIMATE
said an increase in students is the only way new apartment complexes could affect the bus routes. She said students may have to leave earlier for their classes if more people are riding the trams. Nusbaum said if the new apartment complexes are not on the bus route, it is unfortunate because there are no more buses to send out. “The bus routes are planned due to student density based on where the most students live,” Nusbaum said. She said this is important to consider if students want to commute to school through the Texas State trams. Making sure that an apartment complex they could potentially live in has tram access is crucial for students, she said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
and the beginning of Kyoto’s cherry blossom festival has started three weeks earlier than in its first celebration, 1,100 years ago, she said. “Birds, trees, bugs, fish, ice—this is what’s telling us there is something different happening everywhere, not just here where we live,” Hayhoe said. Hayhoe said there are a number of other “usual suspects” climate researchers examine before attributing the cause of climate change to humans. These include
the Earth’s orbit around the sun, volcanic activity, climate cycles like El Niño and the impact of the Sun’s energy on Earth. Hayhoe’s solution to climate change is to transition to noncarbon fuels, such as wind turbines, which she said have brought major economic shifts. She said there have been thousands of new jobs created in Texas as a result. Jacob Wiley, water resources senior, attended the seminar with his fluvial processes class. Wiley men-
MASTER PLAN Marcos. Patrick Rose, president of Corridor Title, said it is important for the university to be a part of the master plan because it is the foundation to San Marcos’ growth for years to come. He said the university should be embraced and involved in this process. “(In) the draft proposed by the Citizens Committee, the university, the most important asset, is only mentioned one time,” Rose said. Rose said the university is mentioned 14 times in the business community’s draft of the plans. His reasoning was business owners recognize the importance of the university. “That’s why every student on campus, every profes-
tioned enjoying the seminar for the information presented and its relevance to topics he had been covering in his major. Hayhoe said by using more sustainable power, people can “build a better future.” “That’s what we all really want, is a better future,” Hayhoe said. “We don’t want economic hardship, we don’t want punitive regulations, and we don’t want children to be more restricted than we are. We want to preserve what we have.”
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sor and business owner that ture in those high-density depends on the success and areas, as well as other incengrowth of the university tives, which is attractive to ought to be interested and in- businesses,” Robertson said. volved in this process,” Rose “It also keeps the homesaid. owner happy because their Ramirez said the master homes, if built in less-dense plan is about trying not to be areas of the city, will mainshortsighted when it comes tain their value.” to growth. Betsy Robertson, city planner, said growth is inevitable, and this process will make it easier for development, such as being able to place Olivia Ordoñez, Staff Photographer apartments in high-density Monica McNabb, local realtor, shares her opinion areas. on future rezoning around San Marcos Jan. 23 at “We have the Master Plan Open House at the San Marcos the infrastruc- Activity Center.
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4 | Thursday January 24, 2013 | The University Star
OPINIONS
For more viewpoints or letters to the editor, e-mail staropinions@txstate.edu
City council’s Cape’s Camp decision disrespects voters’ wishes
Kara Ramer, Star Illustrator
T
he San Marcos City Council is largely ignoring resident pleas and silencing the overwhelming public vote by going forth with plans to allow the Cape’s Camp land tract to become future student development. According to a Jan. 15 University Star article, the city council approved zoning changes to permit a new apartment complex called The Woodlands of San Marcos to be developed on Cape’s Camp. The 5-2 vote sparked opposition from many of the more than 75 percent of voters who said they wanted the 45 acres to be bought by the city and used as parkland. These votes were cast on the Nov. 6 ballots in a non-binding referendum, which means the final decision on the matter is left to the city council regardless of the voting outcome. Most voters also said they did not want the city to get the land through
eminent domain, the state’s ability to seize private property without the owner’s consent, or by raising taxes. However, the city still could have acquired the property as parkland through other means such as applying for grant money. If the city ignored the public’s opinion on those two voting outcomes and raised taxes to compensate the developer for land, it would have been equally unresponsive. The location of the Woodlands of San Marcos would be an inconvenient distance from campus, which would negatively affect the target audience: students. The increase of student transportation and traffic in the area would likely flood the surrounding neighborhoods with student vehicles and trams. This may fuel the fire between permanent residents of San Marcos and students housed near them. Natural beauty is a key feature of San Marcos’ charm, and the city council and residents must do everything in their power to protect it. City officials need to
Liberal arts degrees still hold potential for success
By Savannah Wingo Assistant Opinions Editor
L
iberal arts degrees are not useless, despite some messages from media outlets and society as a whole, and students who attain them are not doomed to irrevocable poverty. There is a lot of pressure on college students when it comes to picking a major. Parents tend to want their children to succeed in careers and often encourage them to pick certain college majors that will lead to profitable salaries. In addition, many want their children to receive a degree in a growing career path to be nearly guaranteed a job offer shortly after graduation. Students who graduate with non-technical degrees face higher unemployment rates after college matriculation, according to an Oct. 11, 2012 Forbes article. On the other hand, students graduating with degrees in health care, business, science, technology, engineering and math have consistently higher, more stable employment rates and salaries in their career fields. Potential salaries within a career path should always be a factor to students when choosing majors, but money should not be the only consideration. Liberal arts students are likely to make less money upon graduation, but that does not mean their degrees or jobs are worth any less to society than more technical career paths. Science and other technical fields are important to the world, but they are not everything. Where would we be without artists, writers, philosophers, historians, politicians and psychologists? Arts and social sciences are important. They create culture, analyze historical events and help us cope. They make life more bearable. We need people to fulfill these
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jobs. We cannot function as a society saturated with only science graduates. We need people with arts degrees, too. Both professions deserve equal admiration, contrary to society’s assumption that an engineer should be valued more than a writer. It is even possible that without the journalist reporting on the profitability of the engineering field, students never would have set out on that career path in the first place. According to a Jan. 27, 2012 Fox Business article, liberal arts graduates’ wages tend to “outpace” technical career salary earnings within 10 to 20 years. Some of these graduates in technical career paths may find their particular skills quickly outdated. On the contrary, liberal arts students may develop more universal skills, such as writing, that are beneficial in many careers. The point is not that arts degrees are particularly lucrative, however. The point is that no matter what your passion is, there is a way to make a living from it if you are willing to work hard. Students should not merely consider salary earnings first when picking a major, but instead should attempt to find a degree that allows them do something they love or are passionate about. Often, liberal arts degrees focus on so-called “soft skills” such as communication and problem solving, many of which are attractive to potential employers in all kinds of fields. Liberal arts students may not necessarily have the most set-in-stone career paths as other technical majors. However, this flexibility may give liberal arts graduates the wiggle room they need to segue into all kinds of different job opportunities. Arts and social sciences are necessary components of a society obsessed with information, media and personal growth. These careers are not “worthless,” although they may be somewhat less lucrative than their technical and business counterparts. For passionate students who want to work hard for what they love, liberal arts degrees are not only emotionally fulfilling but practical and versatile in the changing modern job market. —Savannah Wingo is mass communication sophomore.
Editor In Chief................................................Beth Brown, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor............................Lee Moran, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor...................................................Caitlin Clark, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor............................Hollie O’Connor, starentertainment@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..........................................Liza Winkler, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor.......................................Austin Humphreys, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor..........................................Cameron Irvine, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief......................Thomas Glasebrook, starcopychief@txstate.edu Web Editor.............................................Cayla Green, starwebeditor@txstate.edu
draw the line regarding the limits developers have in proposing future construction projects. The river will not remain one of our main recreational resources if development around sensitive waterfront areas continues. Although Texas State enrollment is growing at a fast pace, developers do not necessarily need to keep constructing numerous housing complexes at an equal rate. If every bed in every apartment complex and campus residence hall was full, then it may be acceptable to develop in parkland areas. However, the current amount of student housing in San Marcos seems adequate. Plenty of new apartment complexes have opened in recent years, and several commuters come in from the Austin and San Antonio areas. For members of the opposition who say outdated student housing is detrimental to residents, older housing establishments are affordable and can be more beneficial for low-income students. The Woodlands at San Marcos may be
nice, new housing, but the complex will likely be expensive for students with tight budgets. The money the city will get from property taxes on the apartment complex will likely pale in comparison to the profit the developers will be making off of students. San Marcos officials, who are supposed to be the voice of the city, should try harder to align themselves with the ideals of the residents they were elected to represent.
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 UniversitySan Marcos Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University-San Marcos.
Money-saving strategies necessary for budget cuts
By Molly Block Opinions Columnist
T
exas State needs to find ways to develop more strategies this year to overcome potentially greater budget cuts enacted during the new state legislative session. According to a Jan. 17 report from educationdive.com, the current budget for higher education in Texas is $15.1 billion. The corresponding projected budgets from the Senate and the Texas House of Representatives are $14.8 and $14.9 billion. If the Texas legislature passes its preliminary budget proposals, a 2 percent funding cut will take place at higher education institutions during the next three years. The reductions are predicted to be steep, so many universities may be forced to make changes to their curriculum and possibly cut faculty positions, likely hurting students in the process. Education is such a crucial component to a student’s future, so it is important Texas State officials utilize the university’s resources to offset any current or future budget cuts. According to an April 11 University Star article, $17 million was cut from Texas State’s budget in 2011. This loss was already substantial, and the university is anticipating similar or even deeper budget cuts this year. Professors are likely to be the most affected by these cuts, which could make the school year challenging for many. Many students do not realize exactly how much money is cut each year in budget reductions. However, it is apparent these cuts pose a devastating effect. Professors may be concerned about how the budget cuts are going to influence their instruction in the classroom and the availability and quality of resources.
Multimedia Editor.........................Alex Peña, starmultimediaeditor@txstate.edu Design Editor................................Michelle Wadsworth, stardesign@txstate.edu Account Executive......................................Catie Brossard, starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Blakely Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Hannah Wilson, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist.............................................Mary Scheske, ms88@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, starad1@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu
This, in turn, can lead to stressed students. One-on-one time with professors has become rare because there does not appear to be enough instructors to support the growing amount of students attending the university. According to a Nov. 15 University Star article, Texas State had a student-to-faculty ratio of 29-1 in fall 2010. This number, according to the same article, is the highest of public colleges in Texas. With the number of students far outweighing the number of professors, the workload has become exceedingly difficult for many professors. The consequences of budget cuts may seem insurmountable, but there are ways the university could prepare for a potentially smaller source of funding in the near future. Many students may not favor a hike in tuition and fees, but increasing the amount by even a few dollars could help solve the growing budget problem at Texas State. In addition, reallocating money from services that do not serve the primary function of education could benefit the university. According to information from the Student Business Services website, a student taking 15 or more credit hours has to pay a total of $4,545.45 in tuition. Of that money, 7.11 percent goes towards athletics and 2.48 percent for campus recreation. The university could ensure money is placed where it is needed most if some of those funds were dispersed equally among educational resources instead. According to an article on educator. com, another way to lower costs and soften budget cuts is to reduce “waste.” The university could reduce waste by decreasing the amount of staff traveling with sports teams and substituting print newsletters, course evaluations and syllabi with less expensive, online formats. The university could similarly help reduce the budget by keeping a close watch on thermostats to lower utility bills. Texas State is likely going to have to face budget cuts again this year. However, implementing some of these solutions could mitigate some of the negative outcomes the budget may bring. —Molly Block is a mass communication junior.
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos and is published every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Thursday, January 24, 2013. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.
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TRENDS
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“Treasure hunt” catches on among Texas State students
Freelance photographer captures wildlife images
Photo courtesy of Greg Lasley
By Glen Tadych Trends Reporter
David Simoneaux, Staff Photographer
Isaac Canales, mass communication sophomore, and Patrick Freeman and Kelsey Rose, applied sociology juniors, geocache in their spare time around San Marcos. By Randi Berkovsky Trends Reporter While scanning through the free applications on her phone, Kelsey Rose came across something unusual—an app that claimed to be comparable to an authentic treasure hunt. The official geocaching website describes the activity as “a free real-world treasure hunt where players try to locate hidden containers called geocaches, using a smartphone or GPS, and then share them online.” The game was created in May of 2000 when GPS enthusiast Dave Ulmer wanted to test GPS accuracy by hiding a navigational target in the woods. Today, Rose and Patrick Freeman, sociology juniors, take groups of friends to find the geocaches hidden around the San Marcos area. They both explained that all one has to do to get started is download the app, locate nearby caches and follow the clues. “It is just about finding an adventure,” Rose said. “It is a break from school to find something cool that no one has foundzin a couple of months.” Clues given on the app can contain
the mileage away from the next clue or cache, a riddle picture or even word puzzle. Information on the app also indicates how the treasure is buried and stars rating the difficulty of the terrain leading to the treasure. Geocache prizes can consist of a notebook or paper to sign and date or trinkets that treasure hunters can take as long as they leave something else of equal value for the next explorer to find. There are at least 20 geocaches hidden in San Marcos alone, but they exist all over the country. On one of his excursions, Freeman found the prize was much harder to attain than he imagined. As if geocaching at 3 a.m. wasn’t already difficult, his 6-feet-6-inch frame had to scramble up a large tree in the dark. Freeman climbed the 25-foot tree and attempted to get the paper for him and his friends to sign. It was located on one the branches in a waterproof container. “I couldn’t see, and I couldn’t bring the flashlight or another person, but I finally figured it out,” Freeman said. “I didn’t hurt myself, so I was actually pretty proud.”
Not far from the humble abodes of San Marcos residents lives one of photography’s most influential nature documentarians—a man with over twenty years of experience shooting and publishing photos. Greg Lasley, a freelance nature photographer since 1988, began his fascination with wildlife as a teen in the 1960s. In the mid-1970s, Lasley’s interest in wildlife birds grew while he worked for the Austin Police Department. Soon after, he began encountering unusual finds while bird watching, kicking off his journey in photography. “My initial motivation was to document rarities,” Lasley said. “It used to be you’d have someone say they saw something, but with no photo, so no one believed it.” In the 1980s, Lasley developed his skills as a photographer, acquiring better equipment and higher-quality photos along the way. His hobby paid off in 1988 when one of his photos of a Golden-cheeked Warbler was bought and published, earning him $300 and his first official mark on professional nature photography. Lasley continued working throughout the 1990s, selling photo spreads to various nature magazines. His numerous contributions to Texas Birds formed his relationship with the magazine’s editor, Shannon Davies. Davies, serving as natural science editor for Texas A&M University Press since 2000, noticed an intimacy within Lasley’s work and in 2006, approached Lasley on publishing a collection of his photographs. “He has a real connection with nature,” Davies said. “(Lasley) captures the essence of the wildlife, the personality.” Lasley’s first book, “Texas Wildlife Portraits,” hit shelves in 2008, offering Lasley’s vision to a broader audience. The book serves as a collection of not only birds, but other wildlife including insects,
mammals, amphibians and reptiles, which Lasley began pursuing in 2001. Up until 2000, Lasley’s focus was primarily birds. After participating in a 2001 photo contest featuring dragonflies, Lasley embraced the new subject and contacted John Abbott, University of Texas curator of entomology and dragonfly expert, for assistance with identifying various photographed species. Lasley and Abbott continue to work side by side to this day, assisting one another in research projects and traveling the globe studying and documenting nature. Lasley supplies Abbott with photos for UT’s insect collection. “(Lasley’s) not just taking pictures,” Abbott said. “He’s learning about what he shoots. It’s more than just photography with Greg.” Abbott became intrigued with Lasley’s work upon noticing his method of shooting insect photography using bird photography techniques, such as the utilization of long telephoto lenses. Currently, Lasley is helping supply photos for Abbott’s new book, a field guide to the dragonflies of Texas that will be published by UT Press as part of their Natural History Field Guide series sometime in 2014. “I’ve worked with colleagues all over the world, but (Lasley’s) one of the greatest collaborators I’ve ever worked with,” Abbott said. “He’s very interested in sharing his work, which sets him apart from others.” Today, Lasley resides in Dripping Springs, Texas. He continues to travel and supply photos for publication. He sometimes conducts workshops in the area, including in San Marcos, helping aspiring photographers refine their craft. “Even if I weren’t selling photos, I’d still be taking them because I just like doing it,” Lasley said. “I realize that 95 percent of what I photograph will never get published, and that’s OK.”
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6 | Thursday January 23, 2013 | The University Star | Trends
Alumnus hits New York Times Best Seller List
Photo courtesy of Ross Bolen
By Hollie O’Connor Trends Editor Texas State alumnus Ross Bolen’s account of wild, rowdy fraternity life has made the New York Times Best Seller List. “Total Frat Move” comes in at spot No. 10 on the list of Nonfiction Hardcover Best Sellers for Feb. 3. The book is just two spots below a Pulitzer Prizewinning author’s biography of Thomas Jefferson and one spot above the memoir of Stanley McChrystal, retired United States army general. It also came in No. 8 on the list of E-Book Nonfiction Best Sellers. The book follows protagonist Townes Prescott as he joins a fraternity, gets drunk and high, has promiscuous sex and narrowly escapes a run-in with the law. The story is humorous, often profane and puts Prescott in outrageous situations. The book contains photos
and quotes from the popular TotalFratMove.com. The author, a 2010 graduate who goes by the pen name W.R. Bolen, found out about the list Wednesday. “When I was writing this thing, I used to joke about all the ridiculous s*** I’d do if it ever became a New York Times Bestseller,” Bolen said in an email while en route to Grand Cayman to celebrate. “I think I’m still in shock. It’s insane.” In the first five days, the book sold more than 10,000 print and e-book editions combined, Bolen said. “My friends and family have been incredibly supportive from day one,” Bolen said. “Obviously, I have some family members who don’t really get it. This isn’t exactly the easiest book to explain to your grandma, but she loves me just the same. Making the list really lessens the blow of explaining what I do for a living.”
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The University Star | Thursday January 23, 2013 | 7
SPORTS
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
Texas State faces challenges away from home
By Samuel Rubbelke Sports Reporter The Texas State men’s basketball team will travel more than 2,000 miles to take on the University of Idaho and Seattle University in the final two games of their two-week road stint. In their most recent game, Idaho (3-4, 7-10) shot a season best 59.5 percent from the floor in a 77-64 victory over UT-Arlington. The Vandals’ senior center Kyle Barone, who has a WAC-leading eight double-doubles this season, scored 14 points and collected a career-high 18 rebounds in the win. Barone currently leads the WAC in rebounds with nine per game, and is the only player averaging a double-double in conference play. Barone’s teammate, sophomore guard Connor Hill, put on a shooting clinic and scored a game-high 19 points. Hill shot 7-9 from the field and 4-6 from beyond the arc. Hill has made 45 threes this season and is leading the WAC, shooting 46.9 percent overall from downtown. “We have to be up and pressuring the ball when our man is in a scoring position,” said junior forward Reid Koenen. “Keep them thinking and force them to make quick decisions. Especially with Connor leading in 3-point percentage, you have to be there on the catch, have a hand up and make him put the ball on the floor.” Idaho controlled every facet of the game against UT-Arlington. The Mavericks were out rebounded by a margin of 12, which allowed the Vandals to convert 42.1 percent of their 3-point shots. Idaho displayed mental focus by shooting 86.4 percent from the foul line on the road. Idaho is ranked No. 1 in free throw and field goal percentage. The Vandals have attempted 127 shots from the foul line and have converted 77.2 percent while shooting 49.4 percent from the field. The Bobcats will look to maintain an ever-changing style of defense and make an effort to always have a body or hand in the shooter’s face. “We just have to continue our aggressive play on defense,” said junior forward Corey Stern. “And switch
it up like we’ve been doing, from our zones to man. We have to keep them off-guard. Aggressive play will be the key.” Barone will not be the only rebounding challenge for the Bobcats during this road trip to the northwest. Seattle University is ranked No. 1 as a collective unit and averages 13.7 offensive rebounds in conference play. “There’s not a great technique for post defense or for defensive rebounding,” said Coach Doug Davalos. “It’s about fighting. We show them different ways of doing it, but it’s about being a man.” Keeping Seattle off the glass will only be half the battle for the Bobcats. The Redhawks have tallied 147 steals over the course of 17 games. Davalos, for the first time this season, used three guards in his starting lineup. This trend will most likely continue, giving Texas State more ball handlers on the court. Seattle’s top six scorers are all within four points of each other. From their leading scorer Clarence Trent (11.4), to sixth man Sterling Carter (7.3), the Redhawks’ core rotation has scored a total of 853 points. “Both teams are well balanced,” Davalos said. “You have to play defense. It’s Division 1 basketball. Most teams are well balanced. It’s got to be a team mentality. It’s got to be that everybody knows they’re going to be held accountable. Sometimes in a game plan you can help ‘off’ a guy. In these two games, you can’t. You have to really be solid off the ball and on the ball, and you can’t take a break.” Idaho and Seattle played each other in their first WAC conference game. Idaho beat the Redhawks 7164 behind Barone’s 25 point, 11 rebound effort. It was a tight game with 10 ties and eight lead changes, until the end when Seattle was forced to foul the Vandals. The Bobcats were not worried about the long trip and three straight road games. In fact, Davalos prefers life on the road. “When you’re at home, there are so many distractions,” Davalos said. “It’s not making excuses, but you’ve got parents, girlfriends and you’ve got buddies (at home). When you’re on the road, it’s (just) us.” Twitter: @SamuelRubbelke
Star File Photo
Men’s basketball will hit the road to go up against Idaho Jan. 24 and Seattle University Jan. 26.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Bobcats plan to use home court advantage to end losing streak By Odus Evbagharu Sports Reporter The Texas State’s women’s basketball team is looking to end their three-game losing streak at home when they host the University of Idaho (7-11, 4-3) on Thursday. The Vandals come into Strahan Coliseum hitting 8.3 threepoint shots per contest, which is ranked eighth best in the NCAA. The team connects on 33 percent of their shots that come from behind the arc each game, a WAC best. Idaho will be led by the combo guard-forward Alyssa Charlston. The 6-feet-1-inch junior averages 14.4 points per contest and 7.9 boards per game, leading the Vandals in both categories. Coach Zenarae Antoine recognizes that the Bobcats will have to contain the “savvy” Charlston to find success in this game. “(Idaho) is an excellent 3-point shooting team and (Charlston) is a phenomenal four player,” Antoine said. “She’s really savvy from inside and out. She’s
got the length and the size. If you stick her in the middle of our zone, there will be times where it will cause us some fits. I think you will see us in a combination of things to stop her and the 3-point shot.” The Bobcats will be missing double-double junior forward Ashley Ezeh. Ezeh is the WAC’s leading rebounder, grabbing 10 boards per contest. Without the forward in the line-up, rebounding will be the focus of Thursday’s matchup. Idaho leads the conference in rebounds earning 42.3 per game, while Texas State is last in the WAC with 49.5 rebounds per contest. Despite the numbers, Antoine has confidence in the team’s ability to crash the boards. “On paper, if you look at it, we won at Arlington when we didn’t have Ashley,” Antoine said. “Obviously it was a close game, but we had the opportunity against UTSA to win. We just didn’t knock down the free throws, and that’s what cost us that game. We can still scheme and compete in our games. The girls and the coaches have a lot of confidence in their ability to rebound without Ashley being in there.” On Saturday, Texas State will welcome the conference’s first place team, Seattle University. The Redhawks are currently undefeated in the WAC sitting at 7-0. Seattle is second in the nation in steals, totaling 14.1 per game. The Redhawks are led on defense by junior guard Sylvia Shephard. She is tied for ninth in the NCAA in steals, picking the opponents’ pocket 3.56 times a game. The Bobcats’ senior guard Diamond Ford, the
WAC’s top scorer at more than 20 points per game, has been double, sometimes triple teamed all conference season long. Ford will aim to stay poised while still in attack mode to find the best success. “I just have to come out and be aggressive and play hard,” Ford said. “From the beginning to the end I just have to not let their defense affect me, as well as our team. We just have to stay aggressive and finish at the free-throw line.” Offensively the Redhawks will be led by junior forward Kacie Sowell. The six-feet-two-inch forward is fifth in the nation in field goal percentage, making 60 percent of her shots this season. Sowell averages 16.8 points per contest, making her the WAC’s fourth best scorer. “(Seattle) is a real good defensive team,” freshman guard Ayriel Anderson said. “Playing at home against them, we should have home court advantage. Our offense should be really good, and we are just going to have to play better defense against them. We are going to have to play poised and with a sense of urgency. Knowing that we could push it down their throats at times, there will be times where we have to pull it back and be aware by not making lazy passes. We have to be on our p’s and q’s.” Texas State currently sits ninth in the WAC with a record of 1-6. The Bobcats will end their five-game home stand against Seattle before they go on the road Jan. 31 to face New Mexico State University. Twitter: @odus_Outputs
Star File Photo
Women’s basketball will take on Idaho and Seattle University this weekend at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats’ current record is 7-10.
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