01 30 2007

STYLIZED SWAG Art and apparel meet in San Marcos’ newest shop SEE TRENDS PAGE 5

MOUTHS OF MAYHEM

Austin digests competitive eating over weekend SEE SPORTS PAGE 10

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

JANUARY 30, 2007

ANTI-ABORTIONISTS

TUESDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 47

MARCH IN

ASG senator Titus opposes presidential appointments

AUSTIN

Texas State group shows ‘Alliance for Life’ allegiance

By Paul Rangel The University Star

Jeannie Yamakawa/Star photo

RALLY FOR LIFE: Anti-abortion activists gather at the steps of the capitol building for the Roe v. Wade anniversary march in Austin.

By Christina Kahlig The University Star Hundreds of anti-abortionists chanted, ‘Jesus loves the little children,’ as they marched up Congress Avenue in Austin Saturday for the 10th annual Texas Rally for Life, which ended at the south steps of the Capitol.

“We march not only for our unknown brothers and sisters, but for ourselves,” said Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. “Unless everyone is protected, then no one is safe. Either pro-life wins or nobody wins.”

Bobcats For Life, a Texas State student organization, showed their support for the cause by marching in the rally. Katryn Hubert, the group’s president, said in an e-mail the organization is against abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia and infanticide.

“Pro-life is a lot more than just being antiabortion,” said Hubert, history sophomore. “I

thought [the rally] was great.”

The event is held every year around Jan. 22 in protest of the Roe v. Wade decision. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that laws against abortion were unconstitutional, giving women the right to choose. Since then, the ruling has remained a fixture on the social and political landscape.

The rally and march was sponsored by the Texas Alliance for Life, a non-profit organization. According to its Web site, the organization is “committed to protecting the fundamental right to life of all innocent human beings and to promoting respect for their value and dignity from the moment of conception until natural death.” The group has a lobby team that interacts with legislators in an effort to pass laws that promote a “culture of life.”

“We gather with one voice to say God is good and that God is for life,” said Bishop Gregory Aymond of the Diocese of Austin. “We still have

ROTC hosts blood drive

Donations sent to support troops in Iran, Iraq

By Alex Hering The University Star

Alex Hering/Star photo BLOOD THIRSTY: Dominic Simonetta, freshman, eats a double stuffed Oreo cookie while giving a pint of blood at the Air Force ROTC Blood Drive Saturday. The drive collected over 37 pints of blood to benefit active soldiers.

Today’s Weather 20% Mostly Cloudy Precipitation: Humidity: 63%

59˚/35˚

UV: 3 Moderate Wind: NNE 14 mph

With a constant need for blood donations in Iraq due to the continuing violence, the Texas State Air Force ROTC played their part by hosting a blood drive Saturday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Center.

All the donated blood will go to troops stationed overseas, said Miriam Laird, operations non-commissioned officer from the Robertson Blood Center in Fort Hood. The wartime mission of the blood centers, she said, is to service soldiers on the front lines.

“The blood we have collected here will go to places like Iraq and Iran,” Laird said. “It will be for the benefit to all five branches of the military. Within 10 working days it will be down the range at field hospitals and army facilities.”

Since blood has a limited shelf life, the timely delivery of it is important. According to the Armed Services Blood Program, red blood cells must be used within 42 days of the donation. Frozen blood can be stored for years according to ASBP, and blood is always needed for critically injured troops.

See BLOOD, page 3

Two-day Forecast Wednesday Showers Temp: 44°/ 42° Precip: 40%

Thursday Mostly Cloudy Temp: 62°/ 40° Precip: 10%

work to do and we want our legislators to hear us.”

Groups from Austin, Cedar Park, Houston, Round Rock and San Marcos joined the march holding signs saying, ‘Roe Hurts Women,’ ‘ProLife: Not Just For Babies,’ ‘Women Need Love, Not Abortion’ and ‘All My Children Deserve Life.’

During the rally, 212 white balloons were released into the air, symbolizing the number of babies aborted everyday in Texas, followed by 212 red balloons for the mothers who made that choice.

“So many women and children suffer,” Hubert said. “It’s rare to hear a woman say she is proud of her abortion.”

Chelsea Henderson, pre-theatre sophomore, said she knows a girl who had an abortion but has now moved on and is planning a career.

Heated debate was heard among Associated Student Government members before the meeting began Monday. Discussion surrounding the “Senate Reformation” legislation has senators divided.

The reformation would call for more seats to the Senate and for limited seats to colleges. Seats would be re-appropriated so that 14 seats will be allocated for on-campus students and 14 for off-campus students. 15 seats would be for students at large and 16 seats for colleges, with two per college.

This legislation was brought up last year and was not voted in, said Senator Megan Titus.

“I don’t support this legislation because it gives more power to the executive branch rather than the Senate,” Titus said. “It would allow the president to appoint more positions.”

However, Amanda Oskey, ASG Vice President, said the legislation would appropriate the number of seats for the amount of applicants, essentially providing more students the opportunity to be elected to a seat rather than be appointed.

The legislation was debated by senators and lobbied by Oskey before the session began, although it was tabled for two weeks so the senators could acquire more information.

“We (the Senate) did not want this last year and we don’t want it this year,” said Senator Joe Prather.

If the administration wants to create a more competitive election and have more people involved than it needs to lower the requirements for ASG, Prather said.

Currently Texas State has one of the highest requirements to be involved, he said. Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech all have lower requirements.

Also on the Senate agenda, President Kyle Morris addressed problems of the usage of fees and administration associated with the LBJ Student Center.

“I believe that the student center is paid for by the students, for the students and should be in the hands of the students,” Morris said.

ASG had been petitioning for tax-free textbooks for three days when, on the third day, ASG petitioners had been told to relocate because they were breaching university policy, Morris said.

See RALLY, page 3

See ASG, page 3

Sexual assault case shatters image of safety on campus “O

By Alex Hering The University Star

The University Police Department has been investigating a case involving a female student who was sexually assaulted Jan.17 allegedly by an acquaintance around The Tower.

“Preliminary investigation shows that it was an acquaintance,” said Paul Chapa, Captain of Support Services. “So she knew this young man.”

Chapa said the student was attacked outside of the residence hall in the evening hours to early morning hours.

“She went to the hospital, but there were no other substantial injuries,” Chapa said. “There was no assault other than the sexual assault.”

Chapa said there are no suspects in the investigation yet, because the case is still in the preliminary stages.

“Sexual assault is one of the most difficult cases to prosecute, because the evidence needs to be so precise,” he said. “It’s hard to gauge at the preliminary stages of the investigation where we would be at in reference to prosecution, but (we) are defi-

nitely making sure that we are providing to her the best service that we can to her and student body.”

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, nine out of 10 victims of sexual assault know the offender. The survey includes date rape, assault by a co-worker, assault by an acquaintance and boyfriend or ex-boyfriend.

Jessica Abulezam, biology freshman, said it is hard to believe an assault can happen on campus.

“I know a few people who have been assaulted from high school,” Abulezam said. “Those times it was off campus and they go to other universities.

The Tower is right by UPD, so it seems so hard to believe that it can happen anyway.”

Maria Vargas, an international studies freshman, said this is not the first time a sexual assault on campus has happened.

“It’s happened before on campus, that is why the (UPD) has those classes so we can learn how to defend ourselves,” Vargas said. “Last year, they had one of those at my dorm and I learned a lot from the officers.

ne in four women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.”

—Paul Chapa captain of support services

They taught us to hold our keys a special way in case we are walking alone, and to use Bobcat Bobbies whenever we can.”

The service made available by the UPD to female students is called Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Training, which teaches the importance of awareness, prevention, defensive concepts and techniques. The next course available for students to attend will be after Spring Break.

“Part of the course is awareness, learning how to carry yourself as a young female (and) to be confident in how you walk and talk and interpret different situations that you may encounter,” Chapa said. “The second part

Inside News ..............1-3 Trends .............4-6 Crossword ......... 6 Sudoku .............. 6

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See ASSAULT, page 3

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2007 The University Star

PAGE TWO Tuesday in Brief

January 30, 2007

starsof texas state David Rauf, mass communication senior, received sixth place in indepth reporting for his Nov. 2 story “ASG executive officers defend ‘conflict of interest’ position” in the 47th annual William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program. Rauf received a $500 scholarship, and the College of Journalism received a matching $500 grant for the story.

Rauf competed against over 100 undergraduates in accredited journalism programs in colleges and universities nationwide for the award.

He is the first Texas State student to be a Hearst print journalism recipient.

Rauf joined The Star staff as a news reporter in Spring 2005 and served as news editor from Summer through Fall 2005. He is currently an intern reporter at the Austin American-Statesman.

— Courtesy of the Hearst Journalism Awards Program

News Contact — Nick Georgiou, starnews@txstate.edu Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

Sky High

TUESDAY There will be a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all students in the Catholic Student Center lobby.

leadership skills can attend Students in Free Enterprise meeting at 4:15 p.m. in McCoy Hall, Room 113.

The Association of Information Technology Professionals will have a chapter meeting with speaker Kevin Jetton at 5 p.m. in McCoy Hall, Room 124. There will be door prizes and free food. All majors are welcome to attend.

The men of Lambda Omega Alpha will have night prayer at 9 p.m. in the chapel of the CSC .

The Catholic Student Organization will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the lounge of the CSC.

A CEO Meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in McCoy Business Building, Room 127.

Bible study will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the lounge of the CSC.

Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center will hold advocate training for volunteers interested in helping victims of abuse. For more information, contact Elizabeth Dixon at (512) 396-3404.

Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center will hold advocate training for volunteers interested in helping victims of abuse. For more information, contact Elizabeth Dixon at (512) 396-3404.

Overeaters Anonymous will meet at 12:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St. For more information, call (512) 357-2049.

The Earth First organization will hold its weekly meeting at 4 p.m. in Evan Liberal Arts, Room 314. For more information, contact Bogan Durr at bd1132@txstate.edu.

San Marcos Toastmasters Club will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lone Star Café at the Prime Outlet Mall (Interstate-35 exit 200 at Centerpoint Rd.).

Optional dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Visitors and guests are always welcome. Practice speaking, listening and thinking skills; boost self-confidence and develop leadership skills. For additional information, call Ren Linér at (512) 353-0217; e-mail smtoastmasters@yahoo. com or visit www.sanmarcos. freetoasthost.org Students interested in becoming involved with the community, making business connections and learning

University Police Department

WEDNESDAY

Texas State Blood Drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in J.C. Kellam, Room 460.

Walk-ins will be accepted, but those with appointments will be taken first. To schedule an appointment for the blood drive, go to www.lonestardonor.com.

The Tennis Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, contact Tennis Club President Chris Harris at ch1282@txstate. edu.

CRIME BL TTER

The Tennis Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, contact Tennis Club President Chris Harris at ch1282@txstate. edu.

The Alcohol and Drug Resource center will hold its weekly “The Network” meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center, Room 3-6.1.

THURSDAY Career Services will hold “How to Utilize a Job Fair” in the LBJ Teaching Theater from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Jonathan Pliego at (512) 245-2645 or jp55@txstate. edu.

Overeaters Anonymous will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St. For more information, call (512) 357-2049.

Jan. 24, 1:54 a.m.

Alcohol: MIP/Bobcat Village An officer observed a student in possession of alcohol. Upon further investigation the student was found to be a minor and was issued a citation.

Jan. 24, 1:11 p.m.

Failure to Comply/Striking Unattended Vehicle/San Jacinto Parking Lot An officer was dispatched for a report of a hit-and-run. The student reported her vehicle had been hit by an unknown person.

This case is under investigation.

Jennifer Williams/Star photo Marcus Garland, aquatic biology sophomore, shows of his street performing skills atop a unicycle Saturday night in the H-E-B parking lot.

Google offers design competition Attention all aspiring architects, graphic artists and armchair designers. Today Google announced the 2007 Google SketchUp Build Your Campus in 3D Competition for university students. This is an opportunity for Google users to show off their savvy 3D-design and school spirit using Google SketchUp and Google Earth.

Here’s how it works: Higher education students in the United States and Canada are eligible and encouraged to participate by using Google SketchUp, at sketchup.google. com to model their campus in 3D. After uploading their models to Google Earth, users can submit their entry to the competition Web site by June 1. Participating students can team up with fellow classmates or go it

alone. For more contest details and rules, please visit contest. sketchup.com/entry.php.

Participants will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts, including Bobby Brooks, creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering, and Ken Harsha, production designer for Electronic Arts. Winners will receive not only instant online acclaim, but also a three-day trip to Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. to participate in workshops with 3D modeling experts from Google.

Free airfare and hotel lodging, food in Google’s world-famous cafes and a guided tour of the Google campus will be included.

For more information, please see today’s Google Web log post at googleblog.blogspot.

com/2007/01/show-us-your-university-campus-in-3d.html.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day.

Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google Today is a top Web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall Web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit Google. com.

— Courtesy of Collegiate Presswire

Jan. 25, 2:33 p.m.

Criminal Theft under $500/ UPD Lobby An officer was dispatched to the lobby for a report of theft. A student reported an item had been taken without her consent. This case is under investigation.

Jan. 25, 3:24 p.m.

Theft under $50/UPD Lobby An officer was dispatched to the lobby for a report of theft. A nonstudent reported an item was taken without his consent. This case is under investigation.

Jan. 25, 3:57 p.m.

Student Code of Conduct Violation/Alkek Library An officer was dispatched for a report of a verbal disturbance.

Staff reported a student was being disruptive in the library and had fled before officers arrived.

Jan. 25, 5:28 p.m.

Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility/Post Road An officer initiated a traffic stop.

Upon further investigation, the student was found to be without valid insurance or registration, was arrested and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center to await magistration.

National Engineers Week targets aspiring female students With women comprising just 10 percent of an engineering workforce in critical need of new members, the industry is trying to find new ways to encourage young women to consider the field and the endless possibilities it offers, according to the new book 21 Things Every Future Engineer Should Know: A Practical Guide for Students and Parents. Co-authors Pat Remick and

Frank Cook note that girls leave high school just as academically prepared to pursue engineering as boys, but most choose not to do so.

“Even though women comprise half of the college population, they represent only 20 percent of engineering undergraduates and their number plummets to a dismal 10 percent in the workplace,” Remick said.

“But the industry is taking notice and trying to boost female interest in the field — from a young age — to show that engineering is relevant and can change the world,” she adds.

Events like National Engineers Week, Feb. 18 through 24, include programs geared toward females, such as Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, during which more than one million girls and young women in kindergarten through twelfth grade will have the chance to be mentored by professionals across the country. Engineers Week activities also include the Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering Web cast and teleconference that seeks to

heighten awareness about issues facing women in the field.

“National Engineers Week is a great time for students, especially young women, to not only learn about engineering but to realize the tremendous amount of opportunities that a career in engineering offers,” Cook said.

The topic of gender disparity in the industry is an important chapter in the book, where the authors and industry experts discuss such issues as: — Female students can view engineering as a geeky, maledominated profession they mistakenly believe requires math skills far superior than they possess.

— Female students tend to be more attracted to professions they view as helping others, a facet of engineering that needs more emphasis.

— There are stereotypes that female students face, even from childhood, that might cause them to avoid engineering despite the many professional organizations available to support them in the field.

— Although there are concerns

about workplace environment for women in the male-dominated industry, including a reluctance to make provisions for women with families, the situation continues to improve thanks to societal changes and an increasing number of role models.

“Engineering is a profession that doesn’t care about your gender, your race or your background,” Remick said. “It’s more about being intellectually curious, creative and having a desire to make the world a better place.”

There are more resources and support available to young women considering engineering than ever before,” she says.

“Engineering wants and needs more females. With the current shortage, there’s never been a better time for young women — and young men — to choose this rewarding, exciting and wellcompensated field.”

For more information, visit the National Engineers Week Web site at eweek.org.

— Courtesy of Collegiate Presswire

Alumnus, long time supporter Mitte dies at 74 Roy F. Mitte, who gave millions to Texas State through his charitable foundation, died Saturday at age 74.

Mitte, along with his wife, Joann Cole Roy F. Mitte Mitte, donated nearly $8 million through the Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation to fund 100 undergraduate and 25 graduate scholarships of $5,000 annually. Their donations also endowed five faculty chairs at Texas State.

“The university community is saddened today. We have truly lost a great friend,” said President Denise M. Trauth. “Through his generosity and foresight, Mitte has created a legacy that will continue to change lives for years to come.”

The Mittes are alumni of

then – Southwest Texas Teachers College, where the Technology and Physics Building is named in Roy F. Mitte’s honor.

In 2005, the Mittes were presented with honorary doctoral degrees, making the Austin couple only the fourth and fifth individuals to be so honored by the university. The Mittes joined former U.S. President and then – Southwest Texas State Teachers College alumnus Lyndon Baines Johnson, former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and Gilbert H. Grosvenor, former editor of National Geographic magazine and longtime president of the National Geographic Society, as recipients of honorary doctorates from Texas State.

Also in 2005, Mitte worked to create a permanent endowment for the University Honors Program at Texas State, which was renamed in honor of the Mitte family. The Mitte Honors Program at Texas State currently

involves more than 600 of the university’s best students. It offers small, seminar-type classes where faculty members provide an interdisciplinary atmosphere designed to promote curiosity, creativity and a respect for learning. In 2006, Texas State launched the Mitte Laureate Scholars Program, a premier scholarship program ranking the most prestigious in the nation for high-achieving Texas State students.

Roy F. Mitte’s funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Memorial Chapel of CookWalden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, with Carson Stephens officiating. A private entombment will follow. In lieu of flowers the Mitte family suggests memorials be made to the Mitte Foundation, Family Eldercare or Junior Achievement.

— Courtesy of University News Service

NEWS

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Convenience, money protection main reasons for school mandate of direct deposit

By Karen Little The University Star Texas State mandated a direct deposit system for all Texas State employees and student employees Jan. 1. The option has been available to employees of the university for several years, although many did not start using it until this year.

Debra Jones, director of payroll, said the Texas State University System Board of Regents passed a regulation for all payments to be sent electronically, and was adopted May 19, 2006.

“The main reason we are pushing direct deposit is for convenience,” Jones said. “For instance, pay day was MLK day and the university was closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Employees without direct deposit had to wait until (Jan. 18) to pick up their check.”

Students can access their accounts online by going to CatsWeb and filling out the self-service application. After entering banking information, students have the ability to update it at any time.

“You can also go to the ‘my bank’ tab on the (Web site’s) SAP portal to change bank information and sign up for direct deposit, as well as going to the cashier’s office or the payroll office on the fifth floor,” Jones said.

SAP is a portal that employees use to clock in and allows them to update their bank account online at any time.

The Texas State Web site states, in addition to the SAP portal, direct deposit forms have been incorporated into the new hire packets.

Students that have inquiries about financial aid checks, grants and loans can visit the cashier’s office located on the first floor the J.C. Kellam building. To apply for direct deposit, financial aid and refund purposes, an employee can visit CatsWeb. Jones said rather than picking up a paycheck and driving to the bank, employees can get their payments the night before or on payday. For employees that do not have bank accounts, there is an option to “opt out” of direct deposit by simply submitting a written request. Jones said that they are currently sending out direct

“W

e only have (1,800) students signed up, so we really started to push it.”

—Debra Jones director of payroll

deposit forms to vendors.

“We only have (1,800) students signed up, so we really started to push it,” Jones said.

Cindy Rodriguez, director of student business services agreed with the convenience of direct deposit. She said it helps with student safety issues.

“We encourage ways for students to get their funds safely in their bank account,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said that direct deposit is also a helping hand against problems with postal delays.

Ralph Dalton, reference librarian at Alkek Library, is no stranger to using direct deposit. An employee of Texas State since 1992, he opted to have direct deposit as soon as it became available a few years ago.

“It is much more convenient and I can always check my account,” Dalton said.

Dalton also said that before direct deposit was available, an employee had to wait almost three days after payday to receive their paycheck.

“Now it is instantaneous,” Dalton said.

Gabriella Rosales, art history senior, has been an activities assistant for Campus Activities and Student Organizations for one year. She said mandating a direct deposit is not necessary.

“I only started using direct deposit when it became mandatory,” Rosales said. “Last semester I would pick up my check. I believe things get done faster when you do them yourself.”

Rosales did express some acceptance of the new mandate.

“Change is good, though.”

Rosales said. “Once I get the hang of things everything will be just fine.”

ASG: LBJSC expansion, senate reformation under discussion CONTINUED from page 1

He said the only justification the administration had for not allowing the petition was “rigid legalism.”

“ASG was taking time to work on behalf of the students,” Morris said. “We are the customers at this university and the customers are always right.”

Expansion of LBJSC was also brought to floor and it will be a topic of discussion for future ASG meetings.

According to the legislation sponsored by Senator Rebecca Quillin and Morris, Texas State has experienced rapid growth in the past decade,

and students, along with the Student Center Advisory Committee, are calling for an expansion.

The Campus Activity and Student Organization Committee lost the right to approve or disapprove registration of student groups.

Morris brought the issue to the attention of the Senate in accordance with other issues surrounding LBJSC. Due to the alarming rate of tuition increases across the state, the Senate has been given the authority to support legislation regarding 2007 tuition proposals, many of which have been brought to the legislative session.

The University Star - Page 3

SACA hosting stem cell debate Tuesday

By Ashley Gwilliam The University Star The Student Association of Campus Activities is hosting a hot-topic debate on stem-cell research at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Alkek Teaching Theatre.

Kyle Morris, Associated Student Government president and Amanda Oskey, ASG vice president, have been assigned to debate in favor of stem cell research, while Dana Garcia, a retinal cell physicist of Texas State’s biology department, has been assigned to debate against.

“I am a firm believer in the intellectual benefits of academic debate,” Morris said.

“The dialogue and the exchanging of ideas only makes people more aware of the world around them.”

The debate is a part of SACA’s Common Experience campaign started to foster student awareness and discussion on a number of controversial issues.

Johnny Devora, event coordinator and political science senior, said he got the idea to have a debate on stem cell research from the news and the recent media coverage of President George W. Bush vetoing human embryonic stem cell research.

“With all the controversy I figured it would be cool to provide

a debate series that would provide a forum to talk about these issues,” Devora said. “Hopefully it will get people to start thinking about these things and find a stance on some of these issues.”

A stem cell is a young cell that can be manipulated into becoming most of the 200 types of cells found in the body. According to the National Institutes of Health resource for stem cell research Web site, the use of stem cells could potentially offer a renewable source of cells and tissues to treat many of today’s worst diseases and birth defects.

The heart of the debate lies in what type of cell could be and should be used to do this. Many scientists believe that stem cells left over from embryos from invitro fertilization, or sperm fertilized outside a mother’s womb, offer the greatest potential for curing disease.

Cells being extracted from an embryo results in the death of the embryo. Is a young embryo a human life? Do the ends justify the means? These are the kinds of questions that will be tackled at tonight’s debate.

Morris said he isn’t for stem cell research that would destroy embryos. “I believe there are other alternatives that could be useful,” he said.

BLOOD: Approximately 37 pints RALLY: Organization opposes death collected during support drive penalty, euthanasia, infanticide CONTINUED from page 1 San Marcos come out to supCONTINUED from page 1

“I respect their decision to defend what they agree with,” Henderson said, “but when you’re a teenager, and you lie in bed at night, thoughts of abortion come into your head.”

Ava Fulmer, a speaker at the rally, told the story of her abortion when she was a freshman in high school. She was given a choice by her father to either get out of the house, or get an abortion.

“I remember my mother saying, ‘Oh my God, it’s twins,’” Fulmer said. “When I got home, I was empty. I wondered what my babies would have been like.”

Hubert said she does not agree with abortion because no one hears about the women who

are hurt.

“This cause will be won, but not if we aren’t willing to sacrifice, and even our lives if necessary,” Pavone said. “Never be silent. Never be afraid.”

While hundreds of anti-abortionists came out to march, few abortion activists were to be seen counter-protesting. A small group showed up near the end of the rally to express their opinions.

State trooper Joseph Osborne said it was a peaceful rally with no reported incidents. He also had his own opinion on the march and the frequent rallies held on south steps of the Capitol.

“I don’t feel these things change anybody’s mind,” he said.

ASSAULT: UPD offers defensive training to female students CONTINUED from page 1

is basically to ensure that you understand that you have power to make these decisions — to say no, to resist. There is also a low impact type training where the instructors review some kicks and some blocks and some strikes, which would be specific to defending yourself.”

Chapa said he encourages any female student, faculty or staff member to take the RAD training course.

“One in four women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime,” Chapa said. “That could be your fellow female students; your daughter if you’re a mother; your mother--your grandmother.

Any female in your life could be affected by this, and it’s not only traumatic for the survivor but for the family members as well.”

Abulezam said for her friends the pain is still present.

“It still affects them today,” Abulezam said. “It takes a lot for them to trust anyone.”

www.UniversityStar.com

More than 50 people came to the blood drive and around 37 pints of blood were collected, Laird said.

The Blood Center in Fort Hood also tries to encourage veterans to give blood often.

“We try to target veterans of the military to come out and donate at the local VFW,” Laird said. “We say to them, ‘come out and help your brothers and sisters in arms.’”

Among those who donated blood were veterans, students and the families of those enlisted, said Jim Stewart, president of the Veterans of Vietnam.

“We had people from Lockhart, Wimberley and of course

port the troops,” he said. “It (was) steady. They have kept us busy.”

It was Stewart’s first time hosting a blood drive and he anticipates holding one twice a year to support the military.

“After all, this is the primary way of getting blood to the military,” he said.

Dominic Simonetta, mathematics freshman, was one of the 37 donors.

“The last time I gave blood I was a junior in high school,” Simonetta, cadet in the Air Force ROTC, said. “It’s really fun though. The only thing I think I don’t like is the size of the needle they use — it looks like the size of a pen.”

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

releasesof the week music Remains – Alkaline Trio Not Too Late – Nora Jones

Some Loud Thunder – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

dvd Flyboys – (PG-13) James Franco, Scott Hazell

The Best Man – (R) Stuart Townsend, Amy Smart

Saw III – (R) Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - Page 4

Trends Contact — Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu

YouTube cooperates with illegal 24, Simpsons postings

By Rex Crum MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO -- Google Inc. and News Corp. could be heading for a legal showdown after News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox served Google’s YouTube online video site with a subpoena demanding the identity of a person who uploaded pirated episodes of the Fox television network shows 24 and The Simpsons.

A subpoena filed Jan. 18 with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California demanded that YouTube give up the names of the person or persons who posted the season premiere of 24 online prior to its debut on Fox, as well as 12 episodes from The Simpsons.

Jane Sunderland, vice president of content production, filed the subpoena for News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox. In a statement, YouTube said it was cooperating with Fox’s request.

“Fox alerted us to the videos and per our policies on copyrighted material, we removed them promptly,” said the YouTube statement. “Subsequently, we received a subpoena and will

comply with valid U.S. legal processes. As a matter of policy, we do not publicly discuss legal matters.”

As the popularity of YouTube has grown, the site has come under growing scrutiny over the matter of pirated and copyrighted video posted online without proper permission from media companies.

YouTube has a history of cooperation with such requests.

Last year, YouTube turned over to Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures details about a person who uploaded content from the studio’s movie Twin Towers to the YouTube site.

YouTube has also made deals with companies such as CBS Corp. and NBC Universal in order to avoid lawsuits over material posted to its site.

News Corp. spotted the episodes on Google’s YouTube Web site Jan. 8, more than a week before 24’s two-night, four-hour season opener was scheduled to air on Fox TV. Ten days after it sent the request, the situation escalated dramatically. On Jan. 18, News Corp. asked that a U.S. District See YOUTUBE, page 6

Jennifer Williams/Star photo UNIQUENESS: Jody Wood, history senior, recently opened a custom screen-printing shop on The Square that showcases many local artists as well as his own art. Every t-shirt is hand printed, making no two the same.

Wood Apparel

marks newest addition to Square

By Maira Garcia The University Star Music, art and apparel.

These elements combined influence and fill the walls of Wood Apparel. The screen-printing and retail shop, run by Jody Wood, history senior and Trey Ramirez, public relations junior is the newest business on The Square.

Wood Apparel was created as an outlet for artists and a way to provide affordable screen-printing for musicians, Ramirez said.

Ramirez, who also plays guitar and sings in the metal hardcore band At All Cost, said he knows how important it is for bands to

get a good deal on merchandise.

Selling merchandise is what keeps bands going on tour and is their livelihood, he said.

“We know good value and price. There are some screenprinting businesses that really could care less about local and regional accounts; they’re treated like a number,” he said. “People can work with someone who understands music and art.”

Wood said he started the operation out of his garage as an outlet for his shirt ideas. Initially, Wood had a clothing line focused on “straight edge” — a lifestyle where one restrains from drugs, drinking and promiscuity — but also created prints and designs

for the hardcore music scene he was involved in as a former member of the band Oceanus.

While the idea was born from music, Wood said he wants to promote Wood Apparel primarily as an artistic endeavor.

“We want to be known for doing quality work and being artistic and creative,” he said.

The interior of the shop was also a way for Wood and Ramirez to promote the artistry of the business by having art painted directly onto the walls.

“Jody and I had the idea of the shop in our heads and it exceeded our expectations with the way it looks. Every sort of genre we like is reflected in the

store,” Ramirez said. “We even had people doing graffiti art on one of the walls. What they do is so unique and we are happy to bring something unique to San Marcos.”

In addition to carrying shirts with designs from local artists, the store also carries products created by the artists, like toys, shoes and handbags.

“We’ve never seen anyone try do it. Once we put it together and saw the finished product, we were thinking ‘why haven’t we seen this before,’” Ramirez said.

Wood said the two have been See APPAREL, page 6

TRENDS

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Culturally-rich trips new trend in travel

By Jay Clarke McClatchy Newspapers

Packages include lodging, transportation, most meals and a lot of free time. A two-week European Tracy Ann Foley loves to travel, Discovery trip, which goes to and she does it the old-fashioned London, Paris, Lucerne, Venice, way — backpacking. But her travel Florence, Munich and Amsterstyle — and those of other college- dam, starts at $1,550 and only in age youths today — is definitely the off-season, Marini says. cutting-edge.

Most youths aged 18 to 26, Unlike the backpacking travel- however, travel independently, ers of earlier generations, who said Palmer, executive director of stuck mostly to Western Europe, SYTA. Many are like Foley, who Foley ranges far afield. She has has traveled with companions but trekked through Eastern Europe, doesn’t mind going it alone.

Asia, Australia and New Zealand, “You can change plans whenand so have many of her peers. ever without disrupting others; Visiting such nontraditional you get to see things that a group destinations is a growing phe- doesn’t,” said Foley, who is 26 nomenon among today’s young and lives in Canton, Mass. “You travelers. Yes, they still love the also learn to handle unexpected old favorites — London, Paris, situations by yourself and you Amsterdam and Rome — but then test your limits.” they reach beyond. They head Hostels are the lodging of for Eastern Europe, especially choice for most backpackers, and Croatia, say editors at the popu- they too have changed over the lar Let’s Go student travel guide- years. books. They go to Africa and Asia, “Today’s hostels have Internet to South America and Oceania. cafes and WiFi. Old barracks-type Thanks to cheap fares, they’re as places are falling away; new hoslikely to jet around a continent as tels provide individual rooms or take the train. They book their those that sleep four at most,” trips online, not through a travel Palmer said. agency, and they keep in touch Foley said she paid an average with home via text messages, not of about $20 a night in European postcards. hostels, much less in Asia. But “Not only are today’s youth she also splurged ($40) on one more technologically savvy than in Italy that was “nicer than a most adults, they are also more hotel.” Overall, she admits spendlikely to be willing to travel to ing more than other backpackers, places that may have intimidated “about $50 to $60 a day. That’s older generations,” said Deb- pretty high.” bie Gibb, marketing director of Most students visiting Europe the nonprofit Student and Youth travel by rail, but pricing has Travel Association. become more convoluted this “We’ve seen a large growth year. Where once there was a in nontraditional travel — adven- single Eurail Pass, now there are ture and volunteer travel,” said dozens of options, one of which Kristen Celko, vice president of allows issuers to change prices marketing for STA Travel, one of during the year. In addition to the the largest youth-travel compa- basic Eurail pass, most European nies. “They go to Costa Rica for countries now offer their own rail a conservation project, to Africa passes, so there are dozens of to help in orphanages, to China to passes out there. Result: young work with pantravelers need a das.” very good idea of The helpinge’ve seen a where they want others trend exto go before comlarge growth mitting tends to spring to a rail in nontraditional break. pass.

“Today’s kids Pass prices travel — adventure are more confor 2007 have inand volunteer servative than creased slightly the 1990s parfrom 2006, pertravel. They go tiers,” says Mihaps 1 or 2 perto Costa Rica for chael Palmer, cent. For youths a conservation executive direcplanning to visit tor of SYTA. a few countries, project, to Africa to “There are fewthe Eurail Select help in orphanages, Youth Pass is a er party trips, more educagood option, as to China to work tional and mulit offers travel with pandas tipurpose trips. between three I have a 21-yearto five bordering —Kristen Celko countries. Sample old daughter who went on Vice president, marketing, prices: one perspring break to STA Travel son riding trains New Orleans to three bordering to do Katrina countries for five cleanup. There are more of those days within two months, $264; kinds of spring breaks, and both 10 days travel, $397. Prices are parents and kids want them.” higher for more countries and for Altruism may motivate some more days of travel. youths, but whether it’s spring or Rail Europe’s Web site, Raileusummer, many travel for no other rope.com, also lists special proreason than to enjoy themselves motions and links to such sites as and get some cultural exposure in www.myisic.com, where students the process. can obtain the all-important stuThat’s the point behind tours dent identity card ($22), which from Contiki, which takes more gets youths discounts to musethan 100,000 youths abroad an- ums and other facilities, and to nually to destinations as far away hostelworld.com, where one can as Australia and as exotic as book hostels.

Egypt. But Europe is by far the This kind of travel is best for most popular locale, says Frank college-age youths, as few kids Marini, Contiki’s president. under 18 go on independent trips Contiki is different from most anywhere. They travel in supercollege-age programs in that its vised groups, and their numbers group tours take participants also are on the rise. aged 18 to 35.

Not only that. “Kids are travel“It’s about half-and-half older ing at an earlier age than any in and younger, with the average the past — even under ten years age about 25,” Marini said. old,” said Palmer.

“W

.”

The University Star - Page 5

Gadgets invade gyms

By Lisa Roberts The Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO — Welcome to the future, in which you can zap calories using electronics-laden cardio equipment that sends boredom to the locker room. A new generation of machines — from treadmills and elliptical trainers to stationary bikes and stair steppers — is taking exercise to higher levels while offering entertainment options such as iPod ports, games and built-in TVs. “Interaction is everything,” said Mike May, spokesman for the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in Washington, D.C. “It’s where the future of industry is headed. People like to be entertained, they like a little enlightenment, and they want exercise.”

The NordicTrack Viewpoint 3000 treadmill exemplifies the trend. The machine has an MP3 player port and a flat-screen TV built into its console. While the user

Julie Fletcher/Orlando Sentinel HIGHTECH RUN: Elizabeth Alonso works out on the treadmill at the YMCA in Orlando, Dec. 22.

churns along, the console also displays the time, distance and calories burned. The machine is outfitted with Ifit technology, which enters a user’s workout by reading data on a small plastic card. Ifit’s “personal trainer” coaches throughout the workout, giving tips on such things as breathing and posture while offering encouragement.

The program offers 24 workouts, all based on an eight-week program that builds toward the exerciser’s goal.

Cardio technology has come a long way since the first electric treadmills appeared in health clubs decades ago. The pace picked up as electronics made possible programmable controls, a selection of workouts and ramps that inclined at the push of a button. Innovations quickly jumped to other cardio machines. Nautilus club equipment, for instance, offers things such as programmed workouts, fitness tests, LCD displays and heart-rate monitoring with a belt or via the machine’s grips, says Dale Griffin, sales manager of Precision Fitness Equipment in Altamonte Springs, Fla. “People want all the bells and whistles,” said Tony Tamules, fitness manager at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland, who notes that his upscale club’s new Technogym treadmills, which have built-in televisions, are tremendously popular with members.

“The ones with the TVs are the ones that are used the most when we look at the usage report.”

Among the most recent innovative products for club and home are: ProForm’s 20.0 CrossTrainer elliptical machine, which integrates fitness and two games, which are controlled by buttons built into the trainer’s handles. The more quickly a user pedals while playing “Fat Blocker,” the slower blocks “fall” on the console screen and the easier the game becomes. Pedal faster while playing “Calorie Destroyer” and a man on the screen runs faster, which allows him to better avoid bullets coming at him.

Horizon Fitness’ WT950 Wireless Pedometer treadmill, which lets you count your steps during the day, then transmit them to the machine for workout credit.

The Nautilus TreadClimber, a hybrid stair stepper/elliptical machine that gives users a running workout at a walk, which

saves wear and tear on the back, feet, ankles, hips and knees. It can convert to either an elliptical trainer or a treadmill.

HealthRider’s 8.5 EX CrossTrainer elliptical, which has a multi-layer monitor that allows users to watch TV while tracking workout information.

Newfangled equipment does come at a cost. A club-quality TreadClimber, for instance, is $7,000 at Precision Fitness Equipment. A home-use HealthRider elliptical is $899 at healthrider.com.

Equipment manufacturers say games, programs and other diversions keep users motivated and engaged. They also allow users to multitask, says Tamules — whether it’s catching up on world events via TV or listening to a radio sportscast. “You kill two birds with one stone. Days are getting busier. The more people can multitask, the more they can get things done.”

During a recent afternoon at the downtown Orlando YMCA, almost every piece of cardio equipment was in use by an exerciser wearing headphones and watching TV or listening to music. As she walked, teacher Diane Fisher was watching a sitcom on a flat-screen TV bolted to the treadmill she used.

“It occupies my time,” she said. “It makes it pass more quickly.”

Such features may get you through a workout, “but it’s very distracting,” Tamules said. “They’re not really paying attention to things they need to be,” such as keeping an optimum pace or paying attention to feedback from their bodies.

“It also can be a little dangerous,” he said, adding that exercisers have been known to stumble or fall off machines when distracted. Such incidents might be caused by what psychologists call “dissociation effect.” That occurs when the mind is split in at least two directions, said Dr. Alan Keck, of the Center for Positive Psychology in Altamonte Springs. It’s like daydreaming while driving.

“It’s pretty profound,” he said. “We’re trusting our subconscious mind to drive the car while we do something else.

“To the average person, it’s not a big deal.” But for those looking to maintain a certain speed or calorie output, “then it might distract them from their performance,” Keck said.

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Page 6 - The University Star

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

YOUTUBE: News Corp. demands Google identify subscriber CONTINUED from page 4

Court judge demand that Google take down the videos, and turn over information to identify the subscriber. A hearing in the matter is set for Feb. 9.

Michael Graham, an intellectual property lawyer and partner with the Chicago-based law firm Marshall Gerstein & Borun, said it should come as no surprise that Fox would use legal means to get the content removed from the

YouTube site. Graham said taking down a video and giving up the identity of the person who posted it represents entirely different legal issues.

Graham said that under the notice and takedown provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, YouTube needed to remove the videos in question as soon as it received a notice of infringement from Fox. However, without a subpoena, YouTube wasn’t required to divulge the identities of the video posters.

And even with a subpoena, Graham said finding the name of the poster isn’t that simple.

“Even with the information and server tracking, which they can provide to Fox, it may be difficult or impossible to track down posters of illegal videos if those individuals use any of the various redirect or programs which are available,” Graham said. “In these cases, some solution needs to be determined, which prevents users hiding behind such systems from repeat postings.”

✯Star Comics CRAFTY CLOTHING: Wood creates screen prints for his new business, Wood Apparel. The clothing line plans to open its Web store in a couple of weeks.

Jennifer Williams/ Star photo

APPAREL: Owners open to submissions of local artists CONTINUED from page 4

working with a variety of artists to create shirts and products.

“We give them a lot of freedom and not a lot of demands,” he said. “However, we have to start being a lot more picky about whom we choose to work with. So far it’s mostly friends we’ve been working with.”

Wood and Ramirez said they are open to submissions from artists to have items placed in the store. Wood Apparel would

SU DO KU

take a percentage of the sales and the rest would go toward the artist.

Plans are also in place to profile a national artist on a small stage toward the front of the store and to have live music twice a month. In terms of business, the shop owners said they hope to attract accounts from bigger bands.

Ramirez said that while starting the business has been overwhelming, he is happy with the results.

“The biggest thing was to

get inspired to do it. We finally said ‘all right, we’re going to do this and take the big leap and a big risk,” Ramirez said. “ It’s great to see people are supporting it.”

✯FYI Wood Apparel is located at 119 E. Hopkins. Hours are from noon to 7 p.m. Check out the shop’s Web site at www.WoodApparel.com

Thursday’s solutions:

Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains every digit from one through nine inclusively.

Thursday’s solutions:

© Pappocom

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

onlineconnection If the city of San Marcos implements a wireless network, how much should residents pay to access it? Go to www.UniversityStar.com to vote in our online poll. Results will be published in Thursday’s issue of The University Star.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - Page 7

*This is not a scientific poll

Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

A

Texas State stu dent reported a sexual assault to University Police Jan. 17. The victim said she was assaulted by an acquaintance at The Tower.

PHANTOM

Letters to the Editor Bird control proving more harm than good

THREATS

Re: Jan 25 “Swallows driven from Alkek Parking Garage” Regarding the swallows, I have two questions not addressed in the article.

First, why is only the Alkek Parking Garage getting this treatment? There are several other garages on campus that have this bird problem. Could it be because the other garages are primarily for students or visitors?

Second, I work the desk at Elliot Hall, and when walking through the courtyard I find the noise extremely loud and obnoxious. Also, why haven’t limits been put on when the noise is made? At Campus Colony, an acquaintance was kept up all night from the noise. She lay in bed timing the intervals.

People live next to the Alkek Parking Garage and they should be taken into consideration.

Misinformation about sexual abuse overshadows real issues

The fact that she said someone she knew, not a stranger, assaulted her draws attention to the nature of sexual crimes, and to the firm belief in American culture that the danger of assault lurks in dark alleys and on the Internet, not in our own homes.

Ever since Louis Conradt Jr. killed himself in his home in Terrell, Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series has taken significant criticism.

Conradt, a Rockwell County prosecutor, shot himself in the head after police, working with NBC and an online watchdog group, entered his house to execute a warrant for his arrest.

“To Catch a Predator” involves Dateline correspondent Chris Hansen confronting would-be sexual predators after volunteers for the watchdog group Perverted Justice pose as teenagers, inviting men they have met online to a house NBC has rented. The program was blasted in the January/February issue of the Columbia Journalism Review.

CJR had a litany of criticisms for “To Catch a Predator” — the show violates a number of journalists’ ethical guidelines, it’s sensational and NBC is making the news instead of reporting it. In the incident involving Conradt, the NBC camera crew was on site before the police arrived, the warrant issued was faulty, and police may have sped up their timetable to accommodate NBC’s schedule But “To Catch a Predator” fails the public in one huge manner: It overemphasizes the threat posed by online predators, at the expense of education about sex crimes.

A study by an Ohio State University researcher estimates that an acquaintance or family member of the victim perpetrates more than 90 percent of sexual assaults.

The Houston Chronicle reported in October that the Texas Council on Family Violence and the Texas Attorney General’s office found 20 percent of Texans age 16 to 24 said they were victims of sexual violence while dating.

The dangers of online predators are not to be downplayed. A Hays County man was accused this summer of assaulting a teenager he met on MySpace. But as CJR reports, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s data shows 70 percent of sexually abused children were victims of family members or family friends. The online predator and the random attacker are not the ubiquitous bogeymen NBC would have us believe they are.

For accurate information about the dangers of sexual assault, go to the Counseling Center, the Health Education Resource Center or the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center.

Ariel Shirk junior, wildlife biology junior

Support our troops, become one today

Justin Jackley/Star illustration

While our troops undoubtedly appreciate care packages from the College Republicans (“American Apathy,” Jan. 25), real Americans have higher expectations of the future leaders of our president’s party. In fact, the refusal of the College Republicans to really support the war undoubtedly helped the loyal opposition to win control of Congress.

Why won’t the College Republicans support President Bush by volunteering for military service? Do they support the Iraq War only if “other people” fight it? For those College Republicans who are not veterans, in R.O.T.C., O.C.S, etc., or ineligible for military service, mere care packages, letters and e-mails don’t let them off the hook. Be a man! Enlist!

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.

Karl Olson Operation Yellow Elephant, New York, N.Y. Think you have something to say? Log on to www. universitystar.com and click on the letters link to read old letters and submit new ones.

M.L.K.-themed party puts all eyes on Tarleton State Martin Luther King Jr.’s name evokes feelings of pride and unity. But for some Tarleton State Univer- STEPHANIE SILVAS Star Columnist sity students, Martin Luther King Day meant celebrating his memory with fried chicken and malt liquor.

Pictures of a party held offcampus surfaced on Facebook. com a few days after the party and are now on TheSmokingGun.com. The pictures show students wearing gang apparel, eating fried chicken and drinking out of 40-ounce bottles covered in brown paper sacks.

One female student attended the party dressed as Aunt Jemimah while a male student wore a white bandana and white shirt that read, “I love chicken.”

Themed parties are popular

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on college campuses and are usually innocent, yet the difference between a “Ghetto Fabulous” Friday night and this M.L.K. party is sheer disrespect. The students who attended the party used a day dedicated to the memory of a man who fought for civil rights to take low-blows at an entire race.

Tracy Williams, a black 2006 graduate of Tarleton State, according to The Stephenville Empire-Tribune, started the party a few years ago.

“I know for sure that they weren’t being racist. They were just having fun,” Williams said in the article. The party, when it was originated, had no theme, Williams said.

We don’t know if the students were being racist. White students practiced and encouraged the use of stereotypes to celebrate a day honoring a black

man who fought for justice in our country. Racist? Probably.

Ignorant? Absolutely.

Laura Cantu, Tarleton State alumna and wife of Tarleton State Hall of Fame member Michael Cantu said that the students at the school should have known better.

“You would think you could expect more in a setting where cultural understanding and acceptance are emphasized.

Those students were completely insensitive to their fellow students, their community and alma mater,” Cantu said.

I don’t know if insensitive is the word I would use to describe the actions of the students who attended the party. A better word would be ignorant.

We aren’t discussing children who do not know the difference between right and wrong.

We are talking about educated people who should know bet-

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ter. Stereotypes and prejudices show a level of ignorance that people don’t expect to see in college, but after the party at Tarleton State, it is obviously alive and well.

King won the Noble Peace Prize at age 35, was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963 and was awarded five honorary degrees. King stood for equality and acceptance.

The party at Tarleton State dishonored the sacrifices he made for all American citizens. The partygoers should be ashamed of themselves.

An investigation will determine what, if any, punishment the students will endure, AP reported.

“We have to determine is this a violation of university rules or is it free speech?” Wanda Mercer, Tarleton State vice president of student life, said in the article.

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The First Amendment is a freedom that we as U.S. citizens take pride in. It is a freedom that few have. These students displayed the worst aspects of that freedom, but unfortunately with the good, we must take the bad.

Regardless of what the school decides to do, those students will forever be branded by their actions. They have to know now that not only do their actions establish who they are, but they also reflect on their family and their community.

One of the worst aspects of this story is that Tarleton State is bearing the cross for a handful of students. Tarleton State is known for its notable alumni, including Mike Moncrief, former Texas State Sen., and Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm.

The university is also known for its award-winning rodeo teams.

Instead of headlining national

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news because of academics or athletics, a few students at Tarleton State are now infamous for having poor judgment.

The party is undergoing investigation and an open forum was held Wednesday with more than 350 individuals attending, University President Dennis McCabe wrote in a letter posted on Tarleton State’s Web site. The letter closed with a quote from King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Even today, we could all learn from King’s words. Instead of harping on the worst aspects of a culture or generation, we should focus on the similarities that bring us together and the differences that make us unique.

Stephanie Silvas is a mass communication senior The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a distribution of 8,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright January 24, 2007. 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.

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SPORTS

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The University Star - Page 9

Super Bowl second to super parties

By Andrea Adelson The Orlando Sentinel Want to cozy up to Alyssa Milano? Pretend like you are part of Jeremy Piven’s entourage? Take a turn with Emmitt Smith on the dance floor?

No need to go to Hollywood. They will be in Miami, where countless other celebrities and athletes will arrive this week to be part of the biggest Super Bowl party yet.

The hype and hoopla have already started. How could it not? Take a hot destination, add it to the hottest sporting event of the year, and you get one super white-hot weeklong celebration.

Scorching, no doubt.

“Everybody loves Miami, everybody wants to be here,” said Fritz Fandino, director of Web marketing at the Beacon Hotel on South Beach. “It’s the winter Hollywood. After the NFL did their Super Bowl in Detroit and it snowed, yeah, you want to come to Miami.”

Everybody, indeed. The actual game has become an afterthought in recent years, overshadowed by all the athletes, celebrities and pseudo-celebrities who come to town to see and be seen at exclusive parties hosted by everyone from Playboy to Penthouse. Seems like all of Los Angeles and the NFL will be somewhere in South Florida at some point during the week.

The frenzy is expected to be on a much higher level because this is the first time in three years the Super Bowl is in a desired location, after games in Detroit and Jacksonville.

“If you put the game in a place like Miami, people want to go just because it’s Miami,” said Robert Tuchman, president of TSE Sports & Entertainment, which puts together packages for sporting and entertainment events. “It adds to the excitement; it adds to the hype. We sold so many packages before the teams were even announced, just because it is Miami.”

Of course, Miami is no stranger to the Super Bowl, and is hosting for a record-tying ninth time.

But it is the first time since 1999 that the game is here. The NFL wanted to rotate the game to different cities such as Houston, Jacksonville and Detroit, and wanted improvements to be made to Dolphin Stadium before giving another game to Miami.

The league seems to be happy with the city; the game will be here again in 2010 for a 10th time.

“It gets the community that wasn’t here or wasn’t old enough or doesn’t remember the last ones, it gets everyone involved now and again in 2010,” said Maria Scott, spokesperson for the South Florida Super Bowl host committee “We’re ready.”

Miami also has been host to many memorable Super Bowl games. Joe Namath made his guarantee by a pool in Miami, then the Jets beat the Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III in 1969. The Colts won their only Super Bowl in 1971 in Miami. Joe Montana rallied the 49ers to a last minute 20-16 win over the Bengals in 1989.

But there also have been plenty of distractions for athletes tempted by all the fun. Bengals running back Stanley Wilson overdosed on cocaine before the game in 1989. The last time the Super Bowl was in Miami, Falcons safety Eugene Robinson solicited an undercover cop for sex the night before the game, and was arrested. He ended up playing but the Falcons lost to Denver 34-19.

Teams walk a thin line when trying to protect their athletes from all the parties going on during Super Bowl week. Coaches want their players to have a good time, but don’t want them stuck indoors, either. The Colts will have no curfew today, but one will be in place for the rest of the week.

“Miami is a great place for a Super Bowl. It’s a great party town, but we’re going down for business,” Bears offensive tackle Fred Miller said.

“We’ve got a lot of mature guys who know how to prepare for ballgames. We’re going to make sure we do what needs to be done. I think our guys know what this game is all about and what we’re there for.”

Everyone else is there to party.

But what of the average Joe Bear and John Colt fan coming into town, eager to escape the cold and actually watch the football game? Better get ready to throw down some cash to have the same type of Super Bowl fun as the rich and famous.

“There’s a lot to do, but if you want to get into

Small lake yields big catch

By Ray Sasser The Dallas Morning News

Jim Prisching/Chicago Tribune MAKING MEMORIES: The Chicago Bears’ Charles Tillman videotapes the team’s arrival Sunday at Miami International Airport. The Bears will face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI Feb. 4 at Dolphin Stadium.

the Maxim party, yes, you’re going to have to drop some dollars,” said Rick Ziminski, who runs two Bears fan Web sites, www.dabearz.com and www.dabears.com.

Many tickets to the game are going for $5,000 apiece, and hotels are charging exorbitant prices, especially on South Beach. The Hotel Victor, on Ocean Drive, had rooms for $2,100 a night with a four-night minimum. The luxury Setai hotel charged $1,100 a night with a seven-day minimum. At the Beacon, on Ocean Drive in South Beach, the rooms were going for $789 a night, all the way up to $1,489. This past weekend, those rooms were going for $169.

“When we set our rates, we look at our competition in order to set our bar,” Fandino said. “You can find rooms cheaper, but for our type of hotel, they’re typically going from the high $600s to the $1,000s.”

But spending money is part of the whole Super Bowl experience — especially at a place like South Beach.

“Miami is the Super Bowl everyone’s been waiting for,” said Kim Willis, senior director of integrated marketing for ESPN The Magazine, which is hosting its big “Next” party Friday. “It’s going to be a gigantic experience beyond the game itself.”

There are plenty of parties to keep everyone entertained. The two hottest are always the Playboy party and the Maxim party. The lavish soirees are mainly held to curry favor with the rich and glamorous. It is almost impossible for the average person to get into the elite parties like Playboy and Maxim. The only way is to get tickets through a broker, charging anywhere from $2,000 to $3,800.

But for parties without as much cache, you can pay a less exorbitant price. Penthouse is charging $1,000 for tickets on its Super Bowl party Web site. Another party, Leather and Laces featuring Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra, has tickets for sale on its Web site for $275.

This year, the Playboy party will be Saturday at American Airlines Arena. Among those expected

to be there are Milano, Piven, Johnny Knoxville, Terrence Howard, Nick Carter and Billy Bob Thornton. And how could one forget — the Playboy bunnies will be there, too.

The Maxim party will be Friday night at an undisclosed hotel on South Beach that is going to be transformed into a St. Tropez-themed event.

Sean Combs, Billy Joel, Michael Jordan, Matt Leinart and a host of others are expected.

The same night, ESPN The Magazine is hosting its party in the Design District of Miami. The party, sprawled over two blocks, will feature LL Cool J performing outdoors and will be open to a limited number of fans who come when the party starts in the early evening. Among the athletes expected: Cadillac Williams, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith, John Lynch and Ray Lewis.

There are plenty of other parties, too. Edgerrin James is having one on Thursday. John Travolta is hosting one with Marcus Allen. There is the Penthouse party Saturday night at Mansion, one of the hottest clubs on South Beach, featuring a performance by Snoop Dogg. Tickets also are $1,000 per person.

For those who don’t have connections and don’t want to spend thousands of dollars to party, the NFL is putting on a few fan events. The NFL Experience is always popular. There also is an official pep rally at Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami on Saturday night with free admission.

No matter where people choose to hang out, one thing is certain — there will be little time for sleep.

“The amount of parties and events that take place before the Super Bowl dwarfs any other event we work on,” Tuchman said. “The game has become secondary. It’s three hours on Sunday, but the energy and excitement when you couple that with South Beach and South Florida — it should be ridiculous.”

Party on.

Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi contributed to this report.

DALLAS — David O’Keeffe has spent dozens of memorable days fishing at Lake Scarborough, a 116-acre reservoir in Coleman County. O’Keeffe, a retired fishing guide who lives in Abilene, figures he has caught at least 1,000 largemouth bass from Lake Scarborough.

Until Jan. 5, the two biggest of those Scarborough bass weighed six pounds apiece. On Jan. 5, O’Keeffe caught an oversized largemouth in an undersized lake. Scarborough was undersized by prolonged drought. Nobody knows why the bass was oversized.

An unfortunate sequence of events kept O’Keeffe from solving the mystery.

O’Keeffe and his regular fishing partner, Abilene’s Bill Horeis, teamed in bass tournaments for 25 years. In the twilight of great fishing careers, the old friends have a different perspective.

“Only now have we realized that it’s being out with a friend and the promise of maybe catching a big one that counts,” O’Keeffe said. “The important thing is watching a big fish swim off, knowing someday she’ll be bigger yet. Hoping one of us might be the one who catches her again is more rewarding than any tournament could be.”

Last year, Horeis was fishing with O’Keeffe when he landed a Hubbard Creek record largemouth that weighed 12.64 pounds.

O’Keeffe talks with a West Texas drawl as dry as July in Abilene. He’s in pain from a Vietnam helicopter crash that damaged his back. He stubbornly vows to keep fishing as often as possible. He was fishing by himself Jan. 5.

“I can’t remember what day of the week it is,” he said, “but I can recall every sweet spot in all the lakes I ever fished.”

At Scarborough, O’Keeffe remembered a drop-off that had paid dividends. It was windy early in the day and he was unable to fish in the open portion of the lake. When the wind died toward midday, O’Keeffe eased his boat into position to fish the sweet spot.

His first cast with a jig yielded a personal-best largemouth bass that weighed 13 pounds, nine ounces on his digital scales. O’Keeffe tried to donate the fish as a Budweiser ShareLunker. He called the nearest fisheries office, in Abilene, but nobody answered.

He considered calling the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, headquarters for the lunker program that accepts large game fish, but he knew it would be several hours before a hatchery truck from Athens could cover the distance. The fish was so long — about 27 inches — that she could not swim in an upright position in O’Keeffe’s bass boat livewell, designed to temporarily house live fish.

There was no marina close by, no place to successfully hold a big bass and keep it healthy. O’Keeffe had to document the fish, bigger than his fishing buddy’s Hubbard Creek record. He called the Coleman County sheriff’s office and caught them on a slow crime day, not uncommon in rural Texas. A deputy drove out to witness the weight and photograph the angler and his fish. He also photographed O’Keeffe releasing the fish.

“The picture of my fish is heavier than the Lake Scarborough bass record,” O’Keeffe said. Indeed, there is no lake record, and O’Keeffe probably won’t apply.

Had it been caught in the 1970s, O’Keeffe’s bass would have been famous. It was an ounce heavier than the historic Texas bass record that lasted from 1943 until 1980. H.R. McGee caught that 13-pound state record from Medina Lake.

Until Florida-strain bass were introduced, no native Texas bass had ever approached the weight of McGee’s record. One argument was that the weight was inaccurate. Others theorized that sportsmen had stocked Florida bass at Medina Lake.

In truth, McGee may have caught a 13-pound, eight-ounce Texas native just as O’Keeffe may have caught one that weighed an ounce more. Spencer Dumont, TP&W’s Abilene fisheries biologist, said there’s no record of the state agency ever stocking Florida-strain bass into Scarborough.

“A Florida bass could have washed in there after a rain from somebody’s stock tank,” said Dumont.

“Every bass we’ve ever checked from Scarborough was a pure native. In fact, when we want native bass for the hatchery, we get them from Scarborough.”

Eddie Griffin finds himself in trouble, again

By John Smallwood Philadelphia Daily News PHILADELPHIA — Dennis Seddon has seen pictures. He knows the face, but no longer recognizes the man.

This is not the Eddie Griffin he knew.

This is not the young man he coached at Roman Catholic High School, the one with so much potential as a basketball player and a person.

“He seems to be a very different person now,” says Seddon, in his 22nd season of coaching at Roman Catholic. “I’ve seen pictures of him and had to do a double take because I didn’t recognize him.

“He had that scowl on his face and was trying to look all hard.

That was not the Eddie I knew.”

Griffin, only 24, is near rock bottom these days.

The promising future that he should be realizing is instead crumbling around him.

Griffin, who was selected seventh overall in the 2001 NBA draft, hasn’t played a game for the Minnesota Timberwolves since Dec. 13.

Sherri LaRose/St. Paul Pioneer Press Before Griffin completed his recent five-game drug-test suspenSTOPPED: The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Eddie Griffin, sion, Minnesota owner Glen Tayright, blocks the shot of Memphis Grizzles’ Hakim Warrick lor had all but said the troubled during the first period April 18 at the Target Center in Minforward never would play another neapolis. game for the Timberwolves.

The word out of Minnesota is that the Timberwolves are trying

to find a way to terminate the rest of the three-year, $8.1 million contract Griffin signed before the start of the 2005-06 season or reach a buyout agreement.

Like the New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets before them, the Wolves simply decided that trying to tap into Griffin’s potential is no longer worth the baggage of dealing with his alcoholism and other personal issues.

Griffin’s last alcohol-related drama was March 30.

He was involved in a car crash that witnesses claimed was caused because he was watching a pornographic DVD and masturbating while driving.

Although the accident report does not indicate that police at the scene required Griffin to submit to a Breathalyzer test, Griffin was reportedly recorded on the security camera of a convenience store saying he was drunk and did not have a driver’s license.

He also was recorded as pleading with the man whose SUV he hit to not call the police. He allegedly offered to buy the man a new car if he would keep the police out of the matter.

Seddon doesn’t know what to make of Griffin’s fall from grace.

He just knows it saddens him.

“I never thought it would come to this,” Seddon said of Griffin, a player some said was the best big man to come out of a Philadelphia

high school since Wilt Chamberlain.

“When he was at Roman Catholic, he was a different person. We never saw any of this coming.”

There was the fight with a teammate during his senior year at Roman Catholic that caused Griffin to get suspended, but no one saw it as a harbinger of the waves of disturbing trouble that followed.

“I think it was a case of too much too soon,” Seddon said about what he believes happened to Griffin, “and you don’t know how to handle it.

“You’re 17-years old and suddenly you’re responsible for supporting your entire family. Too soon, suddenly there are a lot of strings attached and responsibilities that you didn’t know you were going to have.”

Seddon conceded that his conclusions are only speculation. He doesn’t know for sure what happened because he hasn’t spoken to Griffin since 2001 — not for a lack of trying, however.

“We’ve reached out to (Griffin) a number of times,” Seddon says.

“I’ve written letters to the Timberwolves and before that the Houston Rockets when he was with them.

“I’ve talked to a few friends of his that he was close with. (Griffin) has never responded back to us. It’s been a couple of years since I spoke to him, I guess not since Seton Hall.”

Griffin played one season at Se-

ton Hall before entering the NBA in 2001.

Seddon thinks about the athletic kid with the shooting range of a guard and reflects about what could have been.

“He could have been an All-Starcaliber player in the NBA with what he brought to the table,” Seddon says. “He’s six-nine with range on his shot. Not too many guys at his size can do what he could.”

It’s for that very reason that some NBA team might give Griffin another chance if he can finally clean up his personal life. That’s business in professional sports.

Seddon, however, is more concerned with Eddie Griffin the person than Eddie Griffin the product.

Assuming Griffin didn’t lose it all in alcohol-related stupors, he still has made millions of dollars during his so-far failed basketball career. A positive future still can be Griffin’s, even without the NBA. “He is only 24 years old,” Seddon says. “He’s been through hell, but he’s got his whole life ahead of him.

“I just want him to know that we are here for him. We don’t want anything from him, like some other people may have. We just want him to be happy.

“Hopefully, he’ll read this article and know that we are here for him.

We just care for Eddie, the person.”

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

newguys

Football coach Brad Wright announced additions to his coaching staff Friday, bringing five new faces to the Bobcat program. Casey Horny from Trinity University will act as co-defensive coordinator, alongside three-year Texas State staffer Kyle Tietz. Other hires include Charlie Reeve (running backs), Kevin Brown (wide receivers), Michael Salinas (special teams/safeties) and Greg Walls (cornerbacks). Reeve is an alumnus of Texas State and served as a student assistant coach for two seasons before graduating in 2003.

—Courtesy of Athletic Department Media Relations

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - Page 10

Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

Bobcats Slam Sam Second-half streak erases first half follies in 67-60 win

By Gabe Mendoza The University Star It was a tale of two halves Saturday for women’s basketball, as a strong finish led to a 67-60 victory over Sam Houston State at Strahan Coliseum.

The Bobcats started off cold in the first half against the Bearkats, shooting 21 percent from the floor en route to 19 points at the break.

Luckily enough for Texas State, Sam Houston started off just as slowly.

After the sluggish start, Texas State would build its lead to as many as 16 points with 12 minutes to play in the second half, but the Bearkats simply would not go away.

Sam Houston forced Texas State to keep up the defensive intensity and make free throws in the final minute of the game.

With less than 30 seconds on the clock, Brooke Degrate stole the ball at mid-court and put in a lay-up that brought the lead to eight. The Bearkats answered with a three-pointer from guard Kendall Homesley, cutting the lead to five with nine seconds to play. But Degrate would hit a pair of clutch free throws on the ensuing possession to seal the Bobcats’ 13th victory.

“We practice our free throws quite a bit in practice,” Degrate said. “So when we go to that line we know we have to hit them or it’s going to be a tight game.”

Despite the early offensive struggles, the Bobcats’ defensive effort was more than enough to stay ahead. The Southland Conference’s second-ranked defense was domiAustin Byrd/Star photo nant in holding Sam Houston to 24 percent shooting, as well as forcing BEARKAT BEATDOWN: Junior guard Ashley Banks drives to the basket Saturday during 14 turnovers in the first half. But the Bobcats’ 67-60 victory over Sam Houston.

the team could only manage a slim two-point lead going into the break.

“We just weren’t ready when we came out in the first half,” said Degrate, whose 15 points led all scorers. “When we went in at halftime coach let us have it, and in the second half we knew we had to come out and just play like we know how to play and stop playing to their level.”

When the Bobcats took to the floor to start the second half, they came out of the gate strong. Coach Suzanne Fox’s team put together a 14-4 run to start, and took a double digit lead that they would maintain for much of the second half. Guard Joyce Ekworomadu hit a couple of three-point baskets during that stretch to give the Bobcats some much-needed breathing room.

“I think (the run) boosted our intensity and effort,” Ekworomadu said. “We just wanted to attack and feed our post. That helps the guards get open three-point shots and that’s what we did in the second half, so our shooting percentage was better.”

Texas State improved their record to 13-8 with the win, and climbed back into second place in the SLC West. The Bobcats have six wins and two losses in conference play and trail only Texas-Arlington in the division.

The Bobcats will hit the road again as they prepare for next week’s showdown with the Mavericks in Arlington, in a showcase of two of the conference’s best clubs.

UTA is undefeated in conference play and will be a major test for the Bobcats.

“We’re going to have to play a really good basketball game to be com-

petitive with them,” Fox said. “Our intention is to go in there and compete, play the best game we can, and see what happens at the end.”

Game Notes Slow starts for both teams The first field goal of the contest did not come until guard Ryann Bradford hit a jumper with 16 minutes and 10 seconds on the clock to give Texas State a 3-0 lead in the first half. The Bearkats would not score until much later, as Texas State took a 13-2 run over the first ten minutes of the game.

Home sweet home Texas State improved its home record for the season to 8-1 overall, with the one loss coming at the hands of a Southeastern Louisiana team that sits in first place in the East.

Bench playing well Coach Suzanne Fox has depended on her bench all season long and it came through against Sam Houston State, contributing 31 points, including eight each from Ashley Riley and Elyse Wright.

✯FYI Texas State returns home Feb. 10 to face Lamar University. Game time is 4 p.m.

Fries of fury: Big appetites Bearkats victory drops Texas State displayed in Austin contest to 3-5 in conference

By Chris Boehm The University Star

utes. Janus was awarded $700 for second place.

“The fries were different,” Chestnut said after the win. “At first I was taking big bites, but later on I found that three small bites and a drink of water worked better. I didn’t figure that out until seven minutes into it.”

Spectators at the bar and grill’s parking lot lauded Chestnut’s win. The San Jose, Calif. native’s fame has grown since narrowly losing to top-ranked eater Takeru Kobayashi in the hotdog and hamburger contests, two of the biggest events on the circuit.

Chestnut holds eight world records, including most grilled cheese sandwiches, waffles and asparagus eaten, but said none of it mattered compared to beating Kobayashi.

“I’d trade all my wins to beat him,” Chestnut said. “He doesn’t speak much English, but he’s a friendly guy. We don’t want to share too much about our secrets, though.”

Simpson, the sixth-ranked eater in the world, led for most of the competition before Chest-

to the sport of eating,” Janus said. “It changes the flavor so you don’t get tired, and it’s just AUSTIN — If fans believe evsugar and energy, so it’s okay erything they hear, then Chip (as a replacement for water).”

Simpson was destined for legThe competition also included endary status. a few local eaters and a pair of “As a boy, he saw Olympic Bikini Girls. rings in his Cheerios,” said Christina Gonzales was one of George Shea, one of the foundtwo waitresses who earned the ers of the International Federaright to eat onstage after wintion of Competitive Eating. ning an in-house competition beSaturday, Simpson placed tween her and five coworkers. third in the Bikinis Bar and Grill “You go really fast at the beString Fry Eating Championginning but by the second and ship, the first such competition third mouthful you don’t want held in Austin. anymore, and it’s still all there,” “The crowd was great. This is Gonzales said. the biggest fry contest we’ve had Pat Michael, a University of so far,” said Shea, who founded Texas student, ate 1.9 pounds of the IFOCE with his brother fries. He said he wanted to see Richard. “It depends of if Bikinis where he stood after winning a wants us back, but we’d love to few regional stops, and was not return.” sure if he would compete again.

Joey Chestnut won the event, “Right now I don’t feel like furthering his lead in the Axia3 eating anything else in my lifePoints Chase that began last time,” Michael said. “This was week with the Pretzel Twister tough, going up against the big World Pretzel Eating Championleagues. That’s part of the reaship. Chestnut beat out Simpson son I did this — to see where I and Tim Janus to win $1,000, stood.” eating six pounds and eight Shea said each competition atounces of french fries in 10 mintracts local talent.

“About a fourth of the competitors at a given event will be from the area,” Shea said.

“Some will return, but others don’t after they find out how hard it really is.”

Shea has been working in competitive eating for 20 years, and took over the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in 1988.

“Back then it was a lot smaller; we had just two or three cameras,” Shea said. “Now the crowds have grown a lot and we’ve been televised by ESPN the past three years.”

Many eaters train on their downtime, eating the contest foods in preparation for the events. Some work out to deflate the effects of consuming 6,000 calories in one sitting.

“I work out a lot and eat healthy, so it really doesn’t have an effect on me,” Janus said. “You eat about 30 meals in a week, so it’s really only Cotton Miller/Star Photo about three percent of the food you eat in that time. And most STUFFED: Bikini’s Bar and Grill String Fry Eating Championship contestants force fries in their guys do these contests just once mouths as the competition gets underway. Joey Chestnut, a San Jose resident, ate six pounds and every two or three weeks.” eight ounces of French fries in 10 minutes for the win.

nut switched his strategy.

“I didn’t find out until late the best way to eat them,” Simpson said. “I was mashing up the fries, taking big bites and then drinking the water while I mashed more fries.”

Janus, nicknamed “Eater X,” showed up to Bikinis Bar and Grill just minutes before the competition, sporting face paint in homage to the Ultimate Warrior, a former professional wrestler. The New York resident also sported one of the Bikini Girl’s tops for the event.

“In college I’d go to basketball games and heckle the other team with my face painted,” Janus said. “I enjoyed doing it, and I’ve done it since I started (eating competitively).”

Janus paved his way to second on the strength of a gallon of lemonade he brought to the competition. Contestants are supplied with water to help inhale the food, but Janus said he believes the “flavor fatigue” brought on hinders an eater’s chance at victory.

“I was the one to bring the alternative beverage movement

By Nathan Brooks The University Star A pair of lopsided losses to Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State last week cleared up any confusion as to where upstart Texas State stands in the tough Southland Conference West division.

The losses to the two league powerhouses dropped the Bobcats to 8-13 overall, and 3-5 in conference.

Stephen F. Austin dominated the Bobcats 82-62 Thursday at Strahan Coliseum, using redhot shooting and a stifling defense to build a 42-24 halftime lead.

“We waited until we were down 18 (points) to start running a better offense,” Coach Doug Davalos said. “Against a team like this, you can’t do that.”

Sophomore guard Brandon Bush tried to ignite a secondhalf run, scoring 16 of his team-high 19 points in the final period, but SFA answered each Bobcat spurt with one of its own on the way to a comfortable win.

SFA finished the night shooting 65.2 percent from the field while holding Texas State to just 37 percent shooting from the floor.

“As disappointed as I am, Stephen F. Austin can’t play better than that,” Davalos said. “You look at the stat sheet and it’s a nightmare for us, and a dream for them. All you can do is tip your hat to them and try to go and get the next one.”

The Bobcats tried to put Thursday’s loss behind them when they headed to Sam Houston Saturday, but James Barrett, Bearkats reserve forward, sparked a second-half run to put Texas State away 88-74.

Barrett scored 18 of his teamhigh 20 points in the second half.

Texas State whittled an 18point Bearkat lead down to just six points with five minutes and 25 seconds remaining in regulation after Chris Agwumaro turned an Antwoine Blanchard steal into two easy fast break points.

But Sam Houston State stayed calm and pounded Texas State on the offensive glass to finish on a 17-9 run to close out the Bobcats in Johnson Coliseum.

Game Notes One final push Only eight regular season games remain for the Bobcats to make a final push for the Southland Conference Tournament.

The top-eight conference records make the tournament regardless of division. Texas State currently sits in the last spot for a playoff berth with a 3-5 record at the midway point in conference play.

The Bobcats missed out on the conference tournament last year after finishing with a 1-15 league record.

Career nights for Agwumaro and Fullenwider Junior forwards Chris Agwumaro and Matt Fullenwider notched career highs with 20 points apiece in the Bobcats’ 88-74 loss to Sam Houston State Saturday.

Agwumaro, a six-foot-six forward from Dallas, also pulled down a career-high seven rebounds in the losing effort.

Bush making case for allconference Sophomore guard Brandon Bush has torched opponents all year long and after the first eight games of conference play, he finds himself amongst the conference’s elite performers.

Bush is fourth in the league in scoring with 15.1 points per game, fifth in steals with 1.71 per game, and 16th in rebounding with 5.1 rebounds per game.

Up next The Bobcats hit the court against Texas-Arlington Saturday at Strahan Coliseum after getting Thursday off.

Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.