01 30 2013 by The University Star

VOLUME 102, ISSUE 48

www.UniversityStar.com

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JANUARY 30, 2013

Ticket Sales Breakdown

Athletics revenue from ticket sales has been steadily increasing since 2008. Visit UniversityStar.com for an interactive breakdown of each sport’s revenue.

New manager hopes to improve dining services

SACRED SANDS

By Wil Slade News Reporter The new leader of Chartwells at Texas State has been named and is bringing years of similar job experience at other universities to the table. Chin-Hong Chua has been promoted to resident district manager of Chartwells. He said his main concern this year will be service and addressing the specific needs of different customers in the dining areas on campus. Chua said he will use the Chartwells survey students take to get some insight into how to provide customers with what they want in the campus dining halls and restaurants. “We want to enhance the customer service experience for all of our guests,” Chua said. “We want to bring our food service to the next level.” John Root, director of Auxiliary Services, oversees a number of the self-supporting areas on campus such as the bookstore, dining services and mail services. Root said he is confident in Chua’s ability to succeed in the new role. “I saw his ability grow over the years, coming to us from Florida Atlantic University,” Root said. “He already had a well-rounded background with Chartwells at that time, and he really was a big help.” Chua said he is originally from Malaysia and moved to the United States in 1996. He began a career at Chartwells 14 years ago as a student employee. “I started this career washing dishes in the dining hall at the University of Arkansas,” Chua said. Chua received his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Arkansas and worked at the school for a few years before moving on to Florida Atlantic. Chua worked as the Chartwells director of retail operations at Florida Atlantic for three years before being promoted to director of operations. Chua then worked as the Chartwells director of operations at Texas State for four years. He left in the summer of 2012 to take the job of senior director of operations at Texas A&M University. Chua said he is excited to be back at Texas State and is eager to enhance the campus dining experience of all students and faculty. Chua said students are encouraged to talk with managers and chefs to make sure the dining halls can serve specific dietary needs. Diversity can be seen everywhere at Texas State, including the dietary needs and preferences of different students on campus. “You cannot just generalize our customers’ needs all over campus,” Chua said. “What works in The Lair doesn’t necessarily mean that a customer will like it in Commons Dining Hall.” The needs of every student cannot always be met, but Chua said he enjoys the challenge of making sure what is wanted in the dining halls and restaurants is what will be served. Abel Valencia, a recent Texas State graduate and marketing manager for Chartwells, works alongside Chua to find out what students and other customers are seeking in the dining establishments on

READ chartwells, PAGE 3

Kristen Lefebvre, Staff Photographer

Lobsang Kunga and Tenzin Nyema, Tibetan monks, create a mandala Jan. 28 in the LBJ Student Center. A mandala is a traditional Buddhist sand painting used to bless a region with compassion.

“

-Lobsang Dhondup, Tibetan monk Some of the remains of the sand painting will be thrown into the San Marcos River as a blessing.

Future housing plans aim to consider residents’ convenience, environment

Map courtesy of City of San Marcos

In terms of the Buddha, it does not necessarily mean someone out there. The Buddha means enlightenment, totally enlightened.”

READ monks, PAGE 6

Research park fills empty spaces

By Minerva Hernandez-Garcia News Reporter

By Christina Cantu Special to the Star

Residents and community leaders have been working together to create the Comprehensive Master Plan, which will act as a roadmap to the locations of future housing developments in San Marcos. Bill Taylor, chair of the Steering Committee, said the process of putting together the Master Plan started more than a year ago. Since then city officials have held several workshops during which community members could weigh in on where they would like to see development in the future. A Preferred Growth Scenario Map was presented during the Jan. 23 Master Plan Open House, showing color-coded regions distinguishing the most- and least-dense areas of the city. The map depicts a guideline for zoning and placement of infrastructure. “We’ve had meeting after meeting where people were invited,” Taylor said. “We invited people to come out and said, ‘In 10 years we expect 30,000 more people. Where do you want to put them?’” The 30,000 additional people expected to come to San Marcos include new students. Consequently, one of the questions needing to be answered is where student housing should be built in the future. Kate McCarty, member of the Citizens Advisory Committee, said student housing should be concentrated close to the university.

Texas State’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research Park is has found companies with unique products to fill vacancies in its building. S.T.A.R. Park will house and assist startup companies in its McCarty Lane location, said Executive Director Stephen Frayser. Companies hoping to apply for a space had to satisfy two tests to be eligible. The companies must be creating a unique, new product working toward a significant impact. The startups must have an affiliation with the university, such as offering formal internship programs or licensing intellectual property. Frayser said the park is not only a real estate location, but an environment for beneficial interaction between the university and businesses. “It is a physical place that embodies experiment and (is) a bridge between the academic world and the business world,” Frayser said. “It is a technical research incubator that provides an environment to assist entrepreneurial, tech-based, scalable businesses to reach high probabilities of success.” The first company to officially be housed on the S.T.A.R. Park premises is MicroPower, which teamed up with Texas State in 2009 to develop energy-saving technology. MicroPower is working on developing a semi-conductor microchip that can turn heat directly into electricity, which saves energy,

READ HOUSING, PAGE 3

READ s.t.a.r., PAGE 3

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2 | Wednesday January 30, 2013 | The University Star

PAGE TWO

Check out more at UniversityStar.com

ON THIS

DAY IN

wild art

HISTORY 1820 - Britain’s King George III died insane at Windsor Castle. 1843 - William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was born in Niles, Ohio. 1850 - Henry Clay introduced in the Senate a compromise bill on slavery that included the admission of California into the Union as a free state. 1860 - Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov was born in the port city of Taganrog. 1861 - Kansas became the 34th state of the Union. 1900 - The American League, consisting of eight baseball teams, was organized in Philadelphia. 1936 - The first five members of baseball’s Hall of Fame, including Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, were named in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Garrett Quick, concrete industry management junior, hones his boxing skills Jan. 29 at the Student Recreation Center.

1958 - Actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were married.

John Casares, Staff Photographer

library beat

1963 - At age 88 poet Robert Frost died. 1979 - President Jimmy Carter welcomed Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping to the White House following the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Research Tips from Alkek’s Undergraduate Librarian

1995 - The San Francisco 49ers became the first team to win five Super Bowl titles when they beat the San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX.

If you’re on top of your research projects for this semester, you’re probably ready to start searching the library’s catalog and databases. We librarians talk a lot about evaluating search results to determine if they are scholarly or peer-reviewed, but you should also evaluate your results to determine if they will be appropriate for your project. Not every search result will be a gem, and reading through every resource you find can be frustrating and time-consuming. Try these quick tips to be sure you’re spending your time and effort on the most valuable resources. The first step of efficient research should be to get a grip on your topic. Before you search, make a list of relevant keywords or phrases related to your topic, and think about possible synonyms or

1998 - A bomb exploded at an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Ala., killing an off-duty policeman and severely wounding a nurse. (The bomber, Eric Rudolph, was captured in May 2003 and is serving a life sentence.) 2009 - The Illinois Senate voted to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. -Courtesy of The New York Times

related terms—the better you understand the vocabulary of your topic, the easier it will be to separate the really useful resources from the rest of your results. If you want to learn more about choosing keywords or get some pointers on good search strategies, call, email, or chat with a librarian through the Ask a Librarian page of the library’s website. Before you print or check out every item on your list of possible resources, look for clues about the content. If you’re searching for articles in a database, be sure to read each article’s abstract. These short summaries give you the gist of the author’s arguments and conclusions, so you can decide quickly if it’s worthwhile for you to read the whole thing. Books are a little trickier to evaluate be-

cause they generally don’t have a handy abstract to review and they’re too long to skim. Instead, flip to the table of contents and the index and look for those keywords, synonyms, and related terms you listed earlier. Still not ready to commit? Read the first and last paragraphs of a chapter that catches your eye—you should find the author’s main points here. Of course, you will need to actually read the resources you choose—the meat of the author’s arguments and the quotable passages or statistics are in the middle—but by then you should have narrowed your results down to a manageable list. -Courtesy of Jessica McClean

CRIME BLOTTER correction

Jan. 1, 2:47 a.m. San Jacinto Hall Criminal mischief under $500 University property had been intentionally damaged. This case is under investigation.

Jan. 1, 3:12 a.m. Comanche Street Public intoxication A non-student was cited and arrested for public intoxication and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 1, 5:08 a.m. Comanche Street Evading arrest A non-student was arrested for evading arrest and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 1, 9:11 a.m. Other Graffiti- higher education University property had been vandalized

with graffiti. This case is under investigation.

Jan. 1, 4:40 p.m. Bobcat Village Apartments Possession of a controlled substance Two non-students were arrested for possession of a controlled substance and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center.

A Jan. 23 University Star article should have said the San Marcos Fire Department has 60 frontline firefighters. The SMFD has 20 firefighters on three shifts and a minimum daily staffing level of 17 firefighters.

Jan. 4, 9:11 a.m. Bobcat Village Apartments Public intoxication A student was cited and arrested for public intoxication and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. Jan. 5, 4:35 a.m. Comanche Street Loss under $500 University property had been vandalized with graffiti. This case is under investigation.

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3 | Wednesday January 30, 2013 | The University Star

NEWS

Check out more at UniversityStar.com

Drought causes burn ban to be reinstated By Adrian Omar Ramirez News Reporter Hays County Commissioners voted Tuesday to reinstate the countywide burn ban in unincorporated areas, three weeks after it was lifted. The ban was reinstated on recommendation of Fire Marshal Mark Chambers, who cited the county’s rising drought index as cause for concern. The commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the ban. Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3, was absent from the meeting Chambers said the drought index currently sits at 497, a level where it had remained for the previous week. A drought index nearing 575 is an indication to consider a ban, though it is not always an accurate measure. “(The drought index) is not moving, and there’s a lot of fuel out there,” Chambers said, referring to the high amount of dead grass in the county. Judge Bert Cobb said the dead grass can make the index unreliable because it often measures dryness in soil but doesn’t factor any material that could fuel fires.

chartwells campus. Valencia said Chartwells is striving to become a more socially responsible company. “We worked with the Associated Student Government to bring in certified humane beef,” Valencia said. “That’s part of our corporate social responsibility program.” Valencia said he has worked with Chua in past years and is glad to have him at Texas State as resident district manager. “(Chua) really knows the business inside and out,” Valencia said. “He recognizes problems before they happen and he is able to address them.”

Chambers cited a red flag warning from the National Weather Service regarding high winds, which were expected to last from Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon. While several days of rain were predicted for the county, Chambers said there wasn’t going to be as much precipitation afterward. “There’s nothing out there for the next week as far as precipitation,” Chambers said. “I recommend we put the burn ban back in place for the safety of the citizens of Hays County.” Violators of the burn ban can receive a Class C misdemeanor and a $500 fine. After a burn ban is imposed, it will remain in effect for 90 days before county commissioners can re-examine it. “If something changes, like we have thunderstorms or rain for three or four days in a row, we can lift it, because we have enough moisture on the ground,” said Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, Precinct 1. The burn ban was previously lifted on Jan. 8, with a warning from Assistant Fire Marshal Clint Browning it could possibly be short.

HOUSING

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

McCarty said if student housing is placed in close proximity to Texas State, buses will not have to be added to the Bobcat Tram routes. She said developers of new apartment complexes could instead provide students with transportation, or students could drive to campus themselves Future student housing will be located not only closer to the university, but nearer to downtown, McCarty said. She said this will create an ideal environment. “It makes the community around the university very walkable and bikeable for students,” McCarty said. “And, of course, it’s not just students that we’re thinking of there.” Matthew Lewis, director of Development Services, said convenience was not the only factor considered when mapping out the future of student housing. He said environmentally sensitive areas were also taken into account. “We mapped out the flood plains so that when the community was building the map they had the ability to make educated decisions on where the appropriate locations would occur,” Lewis said. There are a few possibilities for development marked over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, but most of the housing plans are located in less environmentally sensitive areas, Lewis said. The Springtown Mall, which remains largely vacant, is another area where citizens can expect to see

student housing in the future, Lewis said. “Particularly where Springtown Mall is, and the downtown area, calls for really high density housing,” Lewis said. “I don’t know that it’s necessarily marked as ‘student housing.’ It could house students or young professionals.” This means students, empty nesters and young couples will all be able to coexist in the same living space, Lewis said. Students will also have a wider variety of amenities to choose from when looking for housing, he said. “As you go through life, there is a diversity of housing,” Lewis said. “Different people have different needs in housing. Students with a dog may want a yard. An older generation may not want to take care of a yard. So, (the Master Plan) is really planning for life cycles. It’s not necessarily saying, ‘Here’s where the students go. Here’s where citizens go.’ That would be shortsighted.” Lewis said completion of the Master Plan will fall between late February and early March, and the anticipated date for adoption is April 3. McCarty said the master plan will not be “set in concrete for ever and ever” after it is adopted. She said there will be opportunities to amend it during a public process in which residents can weigh in on the plan. This will accommodate for changes not anticipated when the initial plan was made, she said.

Go to UniversityStar.com to view the San Marcos Comprehensive Master Plan map of preferred development areas.

s.t.a.r.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The S.T.A.R. Park was designed to house startup companies looking to develop new products.

Shea Wendlandt, Staff Photographer

Chin-Hong Chua, resident district manager for Chartwells, said he will make customer service a priority for dining halls on campus.

according to its website. Amanda Gregory, associate scientist at MicroPower, said the company will gradually move to its new S.T.A.R. Park location. Frayser said although producing energy saving semi-conductors is not a new idea, MicroPower is very close to creating a cost-effective product for a global market, setting it apart. The S.T.A.R. Park is still in the startup stage, and growing pains are being worked out, Frayser said. One growing pain is two final undisclosed companies are bringing the facility to full capacity. “Two other companies will move in as soon as

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we get some minor plumbing issues sorted,” Frayser said. “(It will be) a very short period of time. With those three (companies), we will have met our capacity. The 6,700 square foot, one-story building sits on 38 acres, and is the second research park Frayser has directed. He was the president of the Nebraska Technology Park for nine years before accepting the position at Texas State in November. According to the Office of Commercialization and Industrial Relations webpage, Frayser’s accomplishments include assisting in the creation of 2,400 jobs and $68 million in new capital investments.

4 | Wednesday January 30, 2013 | The University Star

OPINIONS

For more viewpoints or letters to the editor, e-mail staropinions@txstate.edu

More can be achieved if the university and city work together

Lara Shine, Star Illustrator

ore cooperation and communication needs to be fostered between the city and the university in all aspects of major operations, plans and social interactions. According to a Jan. 24 University Star article, the draft of the San Marcos Comprehensive Master Plan presented to residents only mentions Texas State once among 113 objectives. The Texas State-specific objective involves the city partnering with the university to develop programming to engage new audiences in San Marcos’ economic development efforts. According to the same article, Patrick Rose, president of Corridor Title, said the business community’s draft recognizes the importance of Texas State because San Marcos’ success depends upon the university. Although the relationship between Bobcats and permanent residents has historically been tumultuous, students and the university as a whole continue to boost and grow San Marcos’ overall economy. Students would be more inclined to continue living in San Marcos

after graduation if they were not treated as a separate entity concerning city plans and daily aspects of government. It should not be students versus residents when it comes to the future of the city. Rather, there should be a united effort between the two. While the Achieving Community Together initiative is a step in the right direction, more work needs to be done to strengthen the student and resident dynamic within the city. Using Texas State as a resource and including them more in the plans for the city would create a more conducive environment and promote better, healthier growth in the city. Confusion and major problems within the community dynamic could also be mitigated with a closer working relationship between the city and the university. Construction projects, for example, could be planned better around student and resident schedules. Traffic seems to get worse every day, especially as buses are currently being rerouted through downtown San Marcos. Not only is

this a burden to students, but it is also affecting residents. Improved coordination of school construction projects with the master plan’s projects could help keep similar issues from occurring in the future. After graduation, many students leave San Marcos and head to other areas for work, thus contributing to the brain drain effect largely impacting the city. This may be the result of strained relationships between residents and students. San Marcos, which has struggled with poverty issues, could benefit from graduates creating or drawing business to the area, should they choose to stay. Alumni could possibly help the economy by joining the local workforce or opening businesses in town like the Katz brothers did with Dos Gatos and Zelicks. While the master plan tiptoes around this issue, it should be directly addressed. The city and the university must make the decision to work closer and more cohesively. Students and administrators should be reasonable when working with the city to promote growth for both entities.

The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University-San Marcos Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University-San Marcos.

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The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos and is published every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Wednesday, January 30, 2013. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.

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Opinions | The University Star | Wednesday January 30, 2013 | 5

U Club lacks profitability, requires greater attention

By Savannah Wingo Assistant Opinions Editor

exas State and Chartwells officials need to take significant steps to improve sales and combat meager profits at Lyndon’s U Club. The main thing Chartwells needs to improve upon to see heightened Lyndon’s sales is marketing. Currently, Lyndon’s is tucked away in an inconspicuous corner of The Lair in the LBJ Student Center and is barely noticeable with its subtle facade. Many students are not even aware of the restaurant’s existence, and those who are may have mis-

conceptions that prevent them from trying out the on-campus eatery. Some students still believe Lyndon’s U Club is a faculty-exclusive venue. This idea can be a common belief held over from the days when the restaurant resided in Commons Dining Hall and only served faculty and staff members. Chartwells needs a more aggressive advertising campaign if it wants Lyndon’s profits to improve. Chartwells could employ many methods to attract more students to Lyndon’s. One such method is placing pamphlets and posters describing the venue’s menu in other popular dining halls within plain sight of hungry students. Chartwells could make the entrance clearer and more welcoming to help entice students into the restaurant. The problem is many students are looking for food they can grab quickly in between classes and meals they can buy quickly with a

City construction a necessary inconvenience

By Ravi Venkataraman Opinions Columnist

he city’s numerous construction projects will soon serve to benefit local business profits, transportation and beautification despite any current traffic frustrations. Construction throughout the city will drastically change the urban landscape of San Marcos. The downtown area will appear more attractive, and less traffic will allow for improved alternative transportation. An incredible number of projects and city-design improvements have already begun or are slated to start in a matter of months. Projects to help alleviate traffic, improve the airport and reconstruct downtown are listed on the city’s Engineering and Capital Improvements department website. Likewise, construction improvements are in progress on a two-lane bridge at Yarrington Road. Additionally, county commissioners recently approved plans for the construction of a new four-lane freeway called the San Marcos Loop. The increasing number of recent construction projects and proposals means the city is bracing for a major influx of students and residents. The university’s recent emerging research status, growing enrollment and overall revamped plans for the city may be drawing even more people to San Marcos. However, rather than solving problems, the construction process is creating noise, pollution, accessibility and traffic issues that affect not only residents, but local business. According to a Jan. 29 University Star article, Dan’s Discount Bookstore, a locallyowned bookshop, attributes the store’s recent closing partially to construction in the area. These projects, such as the ones on Sessom, North LBJ and University Drives, are a nuisance to many students and residents now. However, in the long run the improvements will make it easier to navigate the city and

spark profits in currently suffering businesses. The Downtown Improvements Project broke ground late last year. The estimated $10 million project will rebuild sections of LBJ Drive, Hutchison Street and CM Allen Parkway, the San Marcos Plaza Park parking lot, water lines and underground electrical and communication cables. Additionally, the project will enhance the beauty of these areas upon completion with new landscaping, repaved sidewalks, improved street lighting, benches and trashcans. These aspects will help give the downtown area a much-needed facelift and ease access to local businesses. The largest complements to the Downtown Improvements Project are changes, additions and enhancements to surrounding amenities. The Loop 82 overpass project on Aquarena Springs Drive, for example, will ease traffic in and out of campus by cutting over the Union Pacific Railroad line. Lane improvements to Hopkins Street will also serve to improve traffic flow in and out of San Marcos. Hunter Road from Wonder World Drive to Bishop Street is planned to be widened as well. Outside of road improvements is the movement of the city’s post office to Stage Coach Trail. This will reduce some traffic in the major downtown area by freeing up already-crowded streets. Overall, the accessibility of local businesses will be improved after construction is completed on the major city roads. Less traffic build-up means more bikers and pedestrians are able to travel the streets freely. If more pedestrians are out traveling and shopping because of revitalized transportation efforts, businesses are likelier to increase their profits from locals and visitors. This predicted benefit from the construction projects is very optimistic. When the construction is completed, there is no true way to predict how soon empty storefronts will be bought and turned into successful businesses. It is ultimately up to students and residents to build on the positive steps the city has already taken and support local businesses throughout the process. -Ravi Venkataraman is a creative writing masters student.

swipe. Students often have excess meal trades at the end of the year, and many actively look for fast ways to use up these extra swipes. Although Lyndon’s U Club accepts dining dollars, which come with the standard meal plans, students usually use these up quickly. Many students may not be willing to spend a large portion of dining dollars at once. The restaurant accepts Bobcat Bucks, but these do not come with the standard meal plans. Therefore, many students do not use Bobcat Bucks regularly. One way Lyndon’s could bring in more traffic is to accept meal trades as payment for a sit-down dinner at the venue. To sweeten the deal for Chartwells, Lyndon’s could remain a more formal venue while still accepting meal trades. For example, a meal at Lyndon’s could cost students several meal trades instead of one. According to a Jan. 22 University

Star article, Fridays are the lowest profit days for Lyndon’s U Club, with the restaurant oftentimes making less than $100 on that day. Chartwells could potentially close the venue during low traffic days and hours to help save money. If business fails to pick up within the next few semesters, Chartwells should consider moving Lyndon’s to a new location or potentially integrating a more grab-and-go buffet style to the venue. Chartwells needs to quickly employ money-saving and awarenessraising tactics when looking to compensate for Lyndon’s lackluster profit margin. The eatery could end up closing down or reverting it to its former state as a faculty-exclusive outlet if these initiatives are not carried out efficiently. -Savannah Wingo is mass communication sophomore.

Wal-Mart needs to play role in city’s improvement

By Molly Block Opinions Columnist

he San Marcos Wal-Mart must work toward furthering the store’s national initiative to spend more money on Americanmade products and increase veteran employment. According to a Jan. 20 Dallas Morning News article, Wal-Mart management plans to increase its spending by $50 billion on American-made products during the next 10 years. Similarly, in the same article, it has vowed to give 100,000 U.S. military veterans jobs over the course of five years. Wal-Mart is expected to begin hiring honorably discharged veterans who have left active duty within 12 months prior on Memorial Day, according to a Jan. 15 Associated Press article on the Home Post website. If Wal-Mart accomplished these two objectives, the U.S. economy and the community of San Marcos would improve significantly. According to a 2012 Fortune 500 report on the CNN Money website, Wal-Mart is ranked as No. 2 on a list of the United States’ largest corporations, falling only to Exxon Mobile. The U.S. economy is indisputably influenced by Wal-Mart from the corporation’s powerful impact on society, and it is no surprise other large retail stores look to Wal-Mart as a business-plan model. Although some criticize the store for using inexpensive foreign labor to keep costs low, many new jobs could be created if Wal-Mart partners with other local shops and sells more American-made products. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation’s unemployment rate in December 2012 was 7.8 percent. According to the same statistics, the unemployment rate for Austin, Round Rock and

San Marcos in November 2012 was 4.9 percent. These local statistics might be lower if the community of San Marcos was encouraged to open businesses and possibly coordinate with Wal-Mart, thus encouraging more individuals to make their own commodities. It is important Wal-Mart increases its spending on American-made products. However, it is equally imperative more veterans have the opportunity to be employed at WalMart. According to the same Dallas Morning News article, the unemployment rate for veterans is about 10.8 percent, which is 2.9 percent more than the national overall rate. Veterans deserve more opportunities for employment, and Wal-Mart can set a positive trend by hiring greater numbers of them. Texas State was given the classification of “military friendly school” and ranked in the top 15 percent of 7,000 universities in the nation by G.I. Jobs, according to a Sept. 29, 2011 University Star article. Statistics from the same article indicate Texas State had a veteran enrollment of 1,030 during the fall 2011 semester. With so many veterans attending Texas State and living in the area, the Wal-Mart store in San Marcos should actively work to recruit, hire and retain veterans for employment. According to the same Dallas Morning News article, Bill Simon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart, said, “Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They’re quick learners, and they’re team players.” Those two qualities are exactly what any company would look for in an employee. So, it is no surprise that Wal-Mart is looking to hire many more veterans. Wal-Mart management should go through with its proposals to spend more money on Americanmade products and increase veteran employment within San Marcos. Ultimately, these plans could help bring more jobs to the city, lower the unemployment rate and help stimulate the local economy. --Molly Block is a mass communication junior.

Grace Perkins, Star Illustrator

6 | Wednesday January 30, 2013 | The University Star

TRENDS

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Tibetan monks perform Buddhist ritual in weeklong event By Scot Wortner Special to The Star Men in maroon and gold robes worked diligently on an intricate drawing Tuesday, carefully tapping colored sand through metal tubes onto an outline. The artwork was starting to take shape but will be destroyed soon after it is finished Friday. The Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery near Atlanta, Ga. kicked off their weeklong visit to Texas State Monday at the LBJ Student Center. They started the creation of the artwork, a traditional Buddhist sand mandala. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning “circle,” and the work of art is used to bless certain regions with compassion, understanding and wisdom. Lobsang Dhondup, one of the visiting monks, began the ceremonies with a short speech explaining the nature of Buddhism and the purpose of the mandala. “In terms of the Buddha, it does not necessarily mean someone out there,” Dhon-

dup said. “The Buddha means enlightenment, totally enlightened.” He said there are many things inside people, and once they have the wisdom to discover them, the Buddha nature may be reached. The monks started an approximately 25-minute chant interlaced with singing and music. The four-step process begins with asking for permission from the spirits to bless the area they are in. They ask the spirits to examine the place to be sure it is “good,” remove any obstacles that may be in the way and bless the environment. Once the prayer was finished, the lamas began to sketch the mandala on a wooden table with a chalkboard-like surface. The deeply intricate design is created using colored pencil, chalk, drawing compasses, rulers and string. The outline for the mandala took about an hour to complete. After completing the base for the mandala, the monks filled in different areas of the design, starting from the middle, with colored sand. They did this by filling metal

funnels, known as “chak-purs,” with sand and grating them with rods so the vibration pours it out. Once the work is completed, they will take it apart on Friday, essentially destroying the piece and representing what they call the “impermanence of life.” From there, they will distribute half the sand to the audience and then carry the rest to Sewell Park and bless the San Marcos River. The hope is the blessings are carried from the body of water to the oceans, where they may then spread throughout the world. Errin Scroggins, a San Marcos resident, had been watching the events for a few hours on his day off. He said “there’s a beautiful metaphor” in the dismantling of the mandala. “They’re creating this. They’re in the moment of creating it, and then they destroy it and move on,” Scroggins said. “It’s not an attachment to what you’ve made or are going to make. It’s just a constant state of becoming and evolving.”

Taylor Jones, philosophy graduate student, switched her plans Monday so she could see the opening ceremony. Jones had only planned on staying an hour, but she was so fascinated by the process she stayed for several. “I really appreciate and am humbled by the whole practice of doing something that’s so profound and exacted and precise,” she said. “Then to willingly enter into that endeavor knowing you’re going to destroy it is an incredible meditation to walk through life with–the practice of nonattachment.” In addition to the mandala creation, the Drepung Loseling singers will perform “Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing” Thursday at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. The group is selling books by and about the Dalai Lama, CDs, jewelry, scrolls and other related items near the mandala in the Student Center. All of the monks’ visiting exhibitions are free to the public and are part of “The Mystical Arts of Tibet” tour.

Reggae singer Matisyahu performs in San Marcos By Jordan Gass-Poore’ Trends Reporter Long lines and the perpetual smell of marijuana rounded the corners of East San Antonio Street in anticipation of “An Acoustic Evening with Matisyahu” Tuesday night at Texas Music Theater. Despite the wait and 45-minute drive, San Antonio resident Sara Pardo was excited to get inside the venue to see what critics have called the world’s first Hasidic reggae star. Pardo, in anticipation of her first acoustic Matisyahu show, viewed the photo she took with him at a meet-and-greet in San Antonio. The photo showed a beaming Pardo with a recently clean-shaven Matisyahu, who has been known in the past for his beard. “I was so nervous,” she said. “I didn’t know what to say. I had never met anyone famous like that before.” After a long wait in line, Pardo made it to the ground floor of the venue. She knew what to expect from Matisyahu’s change of ap-

pearance in person, but for other fans, it may have come as a surprise. “When he was on stage, he felt so comfortable with himself,” Pardo said. “I know everyone expected him to be with the beard, the whole rabbi look, but he felt so comfortable with the way he is now … I know it was a big controversy.” For Matisyahu himself, the loss of his signature beard in late 2011 came at a time of self-reflection and liberation. “I don’t really listen to what other people have to say,” Matisyahu said. But fans like Pardo, who started listening to the explicitly devotional songs about religion and Jewish identity when she was 17, take what he says to heart. “I fell in love with him,” she said. “He speaks the truth. Everything’s from the heart and soul. He’s awesome.” Matisyahu, born Matthew Miller, was clad in jeans, a white zip-up jacket and an “LA” hat, representing his recent change of residence, when he stepped on the stage

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at TMT. Matisyahu’s latest album, “Spark Seeker,” was inspired by his reinvention. The singer, whose past performances have been described by fans as energetic, wanted to dig deeper and be more personal, so he decided to explore songs from the albums acoustically. What came of that is “Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions,” which was released this week, and a short tour that finishes Feb. 19. “The energy isn’t lost,” he said. The New School graduate, who dropped out of high school when he was 17, said playing in a college town is no different than doing so in a large city. The positive feelings are always there. Positive feelings were felt from last night’s crowd when Matisyahu played the 2006 hit song “Jerusalem.” But Pardo had her fingers crossed Matisyahu would play the songs “Sunshine” from his latest album and “Darkness Into Light” off 2009’s “Light.” “It’s definitely worth the wait,” she said.

Carlos Valdez, Assistant Photo Editor

Matisyahu performs an acoustic set Jan. 29 at Texas Music Theater. The show is in support of his latest album “Spark Seeker.”

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The University Star | Wednesday January 30, 2013 | 7

SPORTS

Check out more at UniversityStar.com

Men’s Basketball Standings WAC Total La. Tech

Women’s Basketball Standings WAC Total 7

Seattle

10 10

NM State

Utah State

Denver

Idaho

Utah State

UTSA

UTA

La. Tech

Idaho

SJSU

Denver

TEXAS ST.

NM State

Seattle

UTA

UTSA

TEXAS ST.

Men’s Upcoming Schedule

Women’s Upcoming Schedule

Thursday January 31

Wednesday January 30

NM State @ TEXAS STATE 7:00 p.m. Denver @ UTSA 7:00 p.m.

Utah State @ Idaho 9:05 p.m. Saturday February 2 Denver @ TEXAS STATE 2:00 p.m. NM State @ UTSA 6:00 p.m. UT Arlington @ La. Tech 7:00 p.m. Utah State @ Seattle U 9:00 p.m. San Jose State @ Idaho 9:05 p.m.

National Signing Day is in seven days—Feb. 6—and these are the current ranking notes from Rivals and ESPN.com on Texas State and Sun Belt recruiting. Note: these rankings are not set in stone and will fluctuate due to de-commitments, new additions and transfers.

#76

Texas State

#88

Western Kentucky

#95

Arkansas State 18 total recruits, 1 three-star recruit

TBA

TEXAS STATE @ NM State 7:30 p.m. UTSA @ Denver

#108

UL-Lafayette 10 total recruits, 3 three-star recruits

#108

UL-Monroe 15 total recruits, 0 three-star recruits

8:00 p.m. Idaho @ Utah State 8:00 p.m. Seattle U @ San Jose State 9:00 p.m. Saturday February 2 TEXAS STATE @ Denver 2:00 p.m. Idaho @ San Jose State 4:00 p.m. La. Tech @ UT Arlington 6:00 p.m. UTSA @ NM State 7:30 p.m. Seattle U @ Utah State 8:00 p.m.

Baseball Home Opener vs. Missouri State: Feb. 15 Softball Home Opener vs. North Texas: Feb. 21

20 total recruits, 8 three-star recruits

29 total recruits, 2 three-star recruits

La. Tech @ Arkansas - LR Thursday January 31

San Jose State @ Seattle U 9:00 p.m.

Recruit Tracker

#116

WAC Champs?

The Western Athletic Conference released the Softball Coaches Poll and the 2013 Preseason Softball All-WAC Team Tuesday. Texas State earned five of the eight first place votes. The 43 points the team earned beat San Jose State by one, placing the Spartans second in the poll. Along with the Bobcats and Spartans, UTSA, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, Utah State, UT-Arlington and Seattle University will be participating in WAC softball this year. Second baseman Anna Hernandez and pitcher Anne Marie Taylor made the preseason All-WAC team.

Player of the Week

Men’s basketball junior forward Joel Wright won the player of the week honor in the WAC. This achievement followed his career high 37-point outburst against Idaho in the Bobcats’ second win in conference play. Wright had 19 points and nine rebounds Saturday in a win over Seattle University and leads the team averaging 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Wright leads the team in fouls and turnovers and is second on the team in minutes.

The rising money of Texas

Troy 10 total recruits, 0 three-star recruits

#118

Bobcat News and Notes

South Alabama 13 total recruits, 1 three-star recruit

Conference three-star recruit numbers, according to ESPN.com: UTSA’s star recruit: Pac-12: 152 SEC: 142 Big 12: 134 Big Ten: 132 ACC: 127 Big East: 101 Conference USA: 98 Mountain West: 59 Mid-American: 39 SUN BELT: 33 (4 from Texas State) WAC: 16

Tevin Broussard, DB, 6’1, 200 Rivals Rating: 5.5

Texas State’s star recruit: Jamel James, RB, 5’11, 220 Rivals rating: 5.6

Not only has ticket sale revenue increased in 2012 across most Bobcat major sports. The Bobcat Club saw donation increases in this key transition year for Texas State. Fundraising brought in $750,000 in 2012, a 52% increase from the previous year. The donor base is currently 863 but according to Travis Comer, Associate Athletic Director, a goal is to have 2,000 donors.

Early rankings

Men and women’s track and field were ranked in the south central regional poll by the USTFCCA. The women are ranked sixth while the men are 12th. Senior Danessa Lyssy holds the highest ranking individually and is currently third in the region as a pentathlon participator. Logan Cunningham, pole-vaulter, who tried out for the 2012 Summer Olympics, is eighth in the South Central. Report compiled by Cameron Irvine, Sports Editor Twitter: @txstcamirvine

Follow the University Star’s Sports Twitter: @ustarsports

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8 | Wednesday January 30, 2013 | The University Star | Sports

HELLO

my name is...

rn Corey Ste ard Junior Forw

By Samuel Rubbelke Sports Reporter SR: Who do you think is going to win the Super Bowl? CS: The Ravens. SR: If you could play a pick-up game with any four players in the NBA, who would you play with? CS: (Carmelo Anthony) first off, LeBron, Kevin Durant and have to finish with Kobe. SR: With the All-Star Game coming up, which squad looks the best? CS: I’m going to go with the West,

especially with (Rajon) Rondo being out.

franchise who would you take first? CS: Melo, of course. He’s the best, I’m telling you.

SR: If Texas State was to have a dunk contest, who would come out on top? CS: Me, of course me, you know … I just have that natural jumping ability.

SR: Who introduced you to the game of basketball? CS: I would have to say my dad. I got introduced to basketball late. Football was my initial sport.

SR: What would be your winning

SR: Favorite place to eat on campus? CS: Harris.

dunk? QS: Probably a 360 between the legs. SR: What is your favorite basketball memory? CS: Playing in the State Championship for my high school in Denver.

SR: What’s your favorite activity off the court? CS: Beating up everybody on 2K (NBA) and Madden.

SR: Favorite place to relax on campus? CS: Class.

SR: What do you think about New Orleans changing their team name to the Pelicans? CS: I think it’s terrible. Whoever thought of it needs to be fired.

SR: If you could take any girl or celebrity on a date, who would it be? And where would you take them on a date in San Marcos? CS: Okay, first of all, I’m going to take Zoe Saldana on a date. And then where am I going to take her? I’m going to take her to Fazoli’s.

SR: If you were to start an NBA

Twitter: @SamuelRubbelke

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