01 30 2007

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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

Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

Comics .............. 6 Opinions ............ 7 Classifieds ......... 8 Sports ........... 9,10

See ASSAULT, page 3

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


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