02 01 2007

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

TransGeneration will raise questions and provide some answers SEE TRENDS PAGE 6

MAVERICK MENACE

Men’s basketball hosts Texas-Arlington in Southland showdown Saturday SEE SPORTS PAGE 12

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

FEBRUARY 1, 2007

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THURSDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 49

Proposal could ban alcohol in parks along Guadalupe River

THE SYSTEM

By Alysha Mendez The University Star The New Braunfels City Council will make its final decision Feb. 12 regarding the ordinances proposed to limit alcohol use on the Guadalupe River.

The first reading was approved Jan. 22, and if at least four out of the seven council members approve the second reading, the ordinances will become law.

The proposals would only allow smaller, six-pack sized coolers on the river. No open containers in city-owned entrance or exit park areas would be permitted and tubes would be limited to one per person.

“We want to send a message that we’re proud of our river and what we really want is for everyone to come have a good time while obeying the laws,” said Bruce Boyer, mayor of New Braunfels.

District 3 Rep. Gale Pospisil voted against the smaller cooler sizes after the first reading.

“I think the six-pack size is too small,” Pospisil said. “But I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a size limit in general.”

However, Pospisil voted in favor of banning open containers in Cypress Bend, Prince Solms and Hinman Island parks, including the last tuber exit along the Guadalupe River.

When floating past the parks that may ban open containers, a tuber may still have alcohol in the river, just not on land.

“We can’t do anything to control or ban alcohol on the river,” Pospisil said. “I did vote for banning open containers in park areas. I think that something has to be done.”

Pospisil is also not in favor of limiting the number of tubes a person can have on the river.

“Originally, I thought it wasn’t a bad idea,” Pospisil said. “But as I talked to more and more families, I realized that it’d be difficult for people to manage — having to carry coolers on their laps.”

What many do not know is that the Guadalupe runs from Canyon Lake, so a majority of the river is not in the New Braunfels’ city limits.

“There are definitely issues See GUADALUPE, page 5

SMU faculty expresses opposition toward proposed Bush library

By Ross Frazier Brown Daily Herald (Brown U.)

Monty Marion/Star photo Workers lower a replacement section of an aging condensate pipe into place Wednesday afternoon at the corner of Pickard and North Guadalupe streets. The pipe carries steam, which can often be seen rising through manholes, throughout campus for heating. Scheduled to be completed Feb. 14, the construction will disrupt all bus routes that run directly from The Quad to LBJSC.

(U-WIRE) PROVIDENCE — The faculty at Southern Methodist University has been less than enthusiastic about news that the school may host the George W. Bush Presidential Library and its accompanying museum and public policy institute. At first, some liberal faculty members at the Dallas school were opposed to SMU hosting any part of the proposed $200 million facility, but many of those have more recently said they are concerned only with the institute.

Coverage of the faculty’s objections originally centered on a Nov. 10 opinion published in The Daily Campus, SMU’s student newspaper, in which two professors argued that the library would associate SMU with a president who unnecessarily took the country to war. The university will ultimately regret hosting a library commemorating a president whose policies are immoral and veiled in secre-

cy, argued William McElvaney, professor emeritus of teaching and worship, and Susanne Johnson, associate professor of Christian education.

“Unless the Bush library philosophy is radically different from the already proven track record of insolation (sic), the library will be little more than a center for the preservation and protection of privileged presidential papers,” McElvaney and Johnson wrote. “What would that mean for academic integrity based on open inquiry?”

That opinion ignited much of the debate surrounding the location of the Bush library at SMU, but the current nature of professors’ objections is much more nuanced, said SMU Faculty Senate President Rhonda Blair, theatre professor.

“There are substantial concerns about the institution and its relationship to the university, but different faculty have different concerns and different ideas See LIBRARY, page 5

Texas State plans forensic anthropology facility San Marcos site to be one of few in nation; location not yet determined

By Emily Messer The University Star More than a month after Texas State announced its plans to build an openair forensic anthropology facility, the university has not found a site for the building that could potentially help law enforcement officials solve crimes.

“The concept began almost when I first arrived,” said Jerry Melbye, forensic anthropology professor. “The hardest problem has been trying to find suitable property. Most university David Racino/Star feature photo property is already set aside for other research.”

PROGRESS STALLED: More than a month after Texas State announced its plans In December, an anonymous threeto build an open-air forensic anthropology facility proposed by Jerry Melbye, fopage flier depicting the potential facility rensic anthropology professor, the university has not found a site for the building, as a “body farm” was distributed on the southeast side of San Marcos. The flier which could potentially help law enforcement officials solve crimes.

Today’s Weather

AM Showers 65˚/41˚

Precipitation: 40% Humidity: 71% UV: 4 Moderate Wind: W 11 mph

Two-day Forecast Friday Mostly Sunny Temp: 67°/ 34° Precip: 10%

Saturday Mostly Cloudy Temp: 51°/ 33° Precip: 10%

warned the facility would attract predators who could carry cadavers off the site. The flier claimed the facility would be too close to homes and businesses.

However, Melbye said the flier was an inaccurate portrayal of a facility, which could solve murders that rely on forensic anthropology research.

The facility would be located beyond the city limits and away from residential neighborhoods. Guards, a prison-like fence topped with razor wire and security cameras, would secure it.

The facility would be used to research post-mortem interval (PMI), or time since death, which is critical when a body is found. Law enforcement agencies need to know the amount of time a body has been decomposing, but regular autopsies cannot determine the ex-

act time of death.

The Texas State facility would be one of a handful in the country.

Melbye said different factors that affect the decomposing body are environment, insects, location and entomology.

Flies are attracted to the body only seconds after death. It is an inviting place to lay eggs and produce maggots. This facility would teach forensic analysts about the effects the Texas climate has on bodies.

Many factors can affect decomposition levels, such as placement in a shallow grave, deep grave, above ground or on the surface or in a pond. Different plants integrated with a decomposing body can give forensic researchers clues See FORENSICS, page 5

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

PAGE TWO Thursday in Brief

February 1, 2007

starsof texas state Erica Hernandez, KTSW news director, was awarded $500 after placing seventh in a November Hearst Journalism Awards Program broadcast competition. A matching grant will also be given to Texas State.

In addition to being a KTSW news director, Hernandez is a producer and reporter for La Nueva Onda, KTSW’s new Spanish-language public service program.

She was also the assistant news director for the fall semester of 2006. Prior to that, Erica was an anchor and a newscast producer for KTSW News. As for other awards Erica has received, she placed third in the Radio Documentary category at the April 2006 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association awards.

—Courtesy of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation

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

Corrections

A Helping Hand 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.

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

Tired of bad relationships? The healthy relationships group, Making it Work, will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For information and a screening, call the counseling center at (512) 2452208.

Overeaters Anonymous meets at 5:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland. Call (512) 357-2049 for more info.

The San Marcos Noon Lions Club will have its 61st annual Mexican Dinner at the San Marcos City Park Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. All proceeds benefit local charities, individuals and organizations in Hays County. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. For more information, please contact Rebecca at (512) 7380811.

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.

The Rock - Praise & Worship will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Catholic Student Center.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room 320. Enjoy contemporary worship, relevant teaching, prayer and plenty of fun. Guest speaker Rebecca Sharp will share her experience in China

SATURDAY 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.

Library Beat Alkek Library bought access in the fall to an online image database called ARTstor. This educational digital library expands the resources of students and faculty for class lectures and presentations in addition to research and study purposes — basically educational and scholarly uses that are noncommercial in nature.

Working closely with both content providers and users from educational and cultural institutions around the world, ARTstor has developed a growing repository of images that include collections from a wide variety of civilizations, time periods and media. The images are drawn from different sources, such as museums, archaeological teams, photo archives, slide collections and art reference publishers.

Thus in addition to fine-art images, ARTstor’s content relates to architecture, clothing, photographs, illustrations and other visual elements spanning the social and cultural world.

A powerful tool for art and design faculty and students, ARTstor’s uses also apply to anthropology, archaeology, philosophy, history, physics,

On this day...

FRIDAY

Texas State Study Abroad Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the ASB Breezeway.

For more information, call (512) 245-1967.

Students, faculty access image library online via ARTstor

Tuesday’s headline “ASG senator Titus opposes presidential appointments” was erroneous.

The legislation Titus and other senators opposed involved senate reformation.

The story was also incorrect in stating Campus Activity and Student Organization lost the right to approve registration of student groups. CASO took that right away from the Student Organizations Council.

where she taught English as a second language. Everyone is welcome! Contact 557-7988 or mail@texasstatechialpha.com

area studies, sociology, environmental history, theatre and practically any discipline requiring images for evidence or illustration. The storehouse recently added its 500,000th image to the database.

Any Texas State user can access ARTstor via the databases link located under the resources section of the library’s Web site at library.txstate.edu.

Instructions for setting up an account are readily available on the ARTstor Web page, at www.Artstor.org/info/.

Accounts with varying privileges may be created by instructors for their students’ access, and the library’s reference desk staff is available to help with ARTstor access and account/password setup.

Due to university download restrictions of the offline image-viewer software, students assigned to view images selected by their instructors must do so on-campus only, at the library’s PC lab and the PC lab in the art department.

A student may also use his or her own PC. Faculty who wish to set up an instructor privilege account should contact Selene Hinojosa, at gh14@txstate.edu or call (512) 245-1843.

—Courtesy

of Alkek Library

1788 — Isaac Briggs and William Longstreet patented the steamboat.

1790 — The U.S. Supreme Court convened for the first time in New York City.

1793 — France declared war on Britain and Holland.

Jennifer Williams/Star photo Amy Sowin, Relay for Life committee member and communication studies senior, talks with Javier Rodriguez, communication studies senior, Wednesday in The Quad about joining to help support those in need. Relay for Life will be held April 13 and 14 at Bobcat Stadium.

Bobcats honored at blood drive award ceremony Leaders of the top producing blood drives in Central Texas in 2006 were recognized at The Blood Center of Central Texas’ Life is in Your Hands Awards Luncheon Wednesday at The Doubletree Hotel in North Austin.

Category winners for most blood donations are KVET’s Have a Heart Blood Drive, Lower Colorado River Authority, St. David’s Healthcare Partnership, Temple-Inland, Giddings Community, St. Helen’s Catholic Church, National Cancer Information Center,

University of Texas at Austin and Dell.

In the college category, Texas State University placed second with 15 drives resulting in 466 units of blood collected.

The drives were coordinated

by Valerie Anderson, professional development staff, Crystal Schwake, residence hall director, Dave Falleur, program chair and associate professor in the department of laboratory science, Joe Piazza, facilities management training specialist and Suzanne Fox, women’s basketball coach.

1793 — Ralph Hodgson patented oiled silk.

1861 — Texas voted to secede from the Union.

1862 — “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” by Julia Ward Howe was first published in the “Atlantic Monthly.”

1867 — In the U.S., bricklayers start working 8-hour days.

1884 — The first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was published.

“Organizations who host mobile blood drives greatly contribute to saving lives in Central Texas,” said Heather Parsons, director of development and public relations for the center. “More than 54,000 units were collected in 2006, which is an increase of nearly 15 percent over 2005.

Fifty-two percent of that total was collected on mobile blood drives.”

1898 — The Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, CT, issued the first automobile insurance policy. Dr. Truman Martin of Buffalo, NY, paid $11.25 for the policy, which gave him $5,000 in liability coverage.

—Courtesy of Marsha M. Moore, director of Professional Development

1900 — Eastman Kodak Co. introduced the $1 Brownie box camera.

1893 — Thomas A. Edison completed work on the world’s first motion picture studio in West Orange, N.J.

Texas parks to receive more funding AUSTIN — A new analysis

by Texas economist Ray Perryman finds that local parks in Texas contribute more than $5.5 billion to Texas’ economy and create more than 38,000 jobs. A coalition of parks directors and business and environmental leaders from across the state used the report’s conclusions to call on the legislature to increase funding for parks by passing House Bill 6 and Senate Bill 252.

“Local parks aren’t just pretty places to walk the dog but are a major economic engine for Texas,” Ray Perryman said. “From the thousands of tourists who attend festivals in our parks to the businesses who locate to Texas because of quality of life measures like green space, our parks are big business for this state.”

The report, Sunshine, Soccer and Success, was commissioned by the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation and analyzed expenditures for parks operations and maintenance, capital outlays for improvements and acquisitions of parkland and recreational facilities,

and stimulus from tourism directly linked to local parks. In addition to the benefits to the statewide economy, the report found that local parks generate more than $170 million per year in revenue to the state government. In contrast, the legislature only appropriated $5 million per year in 2005 and 2006 back to local parks.

“With Texas’ population booming and becoming more urban, we are going to need a lot more soccer fields, recreation centers, and green space to meet public demand,” said Michael Massey, legislative director of the Texas Recreation and Park Society. “The good news is the state’s local-parks grant program has been highly effective at leveraging multiple pots of money to build and maintain local parks. Unfortunately, the program’s budget has been dramatically cut, putting many projects indefinitely on hold.”

Local and state parks are partially funded through sales taxes on sporting goods. While the Comptroller estimated that the taxes bring in more

than $100 million per year, the legislature has capped the fund and only appropriated a total of $20.5 million per year. HB 6 and SB 252 would eliminate the cap on the funds and increase funding for parks by more than $90 million per year, including an additional $20 million for local parks.

“I am very excited to be the primary author and legislative leader on this issue,” said State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran. “This is an important issue to the State of Texas. I will continue to work hard to restore our Texas parks’ system and move it forward until it becomes the beacon state system in the nation.”

“I believe we must properly maintain our parks to preserve our Texas landscapes, wild river basins, rolling hill country, and windswept prairies,” said State Sen. Craig Estes. “These parks preserve our Texas heritage and must be carefully guarded for not only the enjoyment of our generation, but for the generations to follow.”

The group noted that parks do much to promote quality of

life in our cities and towns. The ability to be outdoors in a park setting is important to psychological health. It also helps improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, including children, by providing a space for physical activity. Parks also provide environmental benefits such as contributing to clean air and water, the preservation of natural areas and controlling storm-water runoff “With more than $600 million in bonds for parks and recreation approved by Texas voters last November, our local communities are clearly doing their part for parks,” said Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas. “But they can’t do it alone. Well-timed grants from the state can make or break a park deal and we need the Legislature to step up and do their part.”

The report is available online, at www.tprfoundation. org/. Detailed local economic information can be found on page 82 of the report.

—Courtesy of Environment Texas

NEWS

Thursday, February 1, 2007

The University Star - Page 3

Wildlife biology department helps point crocodile toward home

By Zach Halfin The University Star Researchers from Texas State are involved in an international attempt to identify the origin of an American Crocodile that swam to Grand Cayman from an unknown location.

The endangered American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, was forced from Grand Cayman around 1500 A.D. because of over-hunting shortly after Europeans came to the island.

Andrew Hope, Cayman Island department of environment marine enforcement officer, contacted Mike Forstner, associate professor in the department of biology, after a young male crocodile measuring more than 2 meters in length was found swimming into Old Man Bay Dec. 30.

Wildlife officials in Grand Cayman want to return the crocodile to its home and needed help from the Texas State wildlife biology department to determine where the crocodile was from.

“The folks in Cayman need an answer,” Forstner said. “They need to know what to do with this crocodile (and) this is the first step in helping them find what they need to do now. They are hoping for repatriation.

They want to find out where it came from and take it back home.”

Forstner said that he thinks the crocodile was forced from Cuba, where crocodile populations are healthy.

“If it was in a population of crocs that had a lot of individuals in it, the big bull crocs are like, ‘Hey, I don’t like these little boys hanging around my ladies’, and they would have

pushed him out and he would have had to have gone somewhere (else),” Forstner said.

“This crocodile is the Michael Jordan of swimming,” he said.

Forstner said swimming or rafting from island to island is likely the way the crocodile originally got to the island.

“A really big rock fell out of the sky 65 million years ago and smashed into Cancun,” Forstner said. “When it did, it took out all life anywhere near it, and took the dinosaurs eventually. In the last 65 million years, crocodiles, which made it through that big purge, have reinhabited all of the Caribbean islands, and they had to do this by moving from one island to another. They where able to get to one island, then over time made it to the next island. We have seen the same thing with fruit flies in Hawaii and iguanas in the Caribbean.”

David Rodriguez, Texas State alumnus and Texas Tech doctoral student, has been working since 2005 on genetic markers that can identify the area where any American Crocodile may be from. He has worked with the Texas State wildlife biology Photo courtesy of David Rodriguez program to compile genetic information from blood samples HOMECOMING: It was recently discovered that Crocodylus acutus, an endangered American Crocodile, swam back to Grand Cayman collected from individual crocs from an unknown location. representing almost the entire range of crocodiles, and is cur- odile blood into the U.S. withTo avoid the federal shipping man will use the markers sup- dile is found, Grand Cayman ofrently writing his dissertation out a permit. rules involved in the interna- plied from Rodriguez’s research ficials will determine what to do over the subject at Texas Tech.

“I never would have predicted tional transportation of animal to determine what population with the animal, but for now it “People will send us blood we would get a Grand Cayman materials, the information used of American Crocodile the cap- is recovering from its capture samples, and these samples crocodile, so Grand Cayman isn’t in testing for these genetic tured one is from. at Boatswain’s Beach under the come from Costa Rica, Mexico, listed on any permits,” Forstner markers will be sent to Grand “There are genetic markers veterinary care of the Cayman Jamaica and Florida; from all said. “It takes real time, like a Cayman for analysis. in crocodiles that are just like Island department of environover the range of these croco- year, to get an animal put on a “We will supply the markers, the markers found in people ment. diles,” Rodriguez said. permit so we ship the crocodile they will generate the data, that can allow individual identiThe Texas State wildlife biolAcquiring the blood sample blood. In this case, the controls then we will put it into our data fication of animals just like you ogy master’s program has confrom Grand Cayman presents and regulations that protect en- set and do the analysis,” Forst- have seen in a murder mystery,” ducted numerous successful legal difficulties because it is dangered species make this re- ner said.

Forstner said. studies relating to the conseragainst federal law to ship croc- ally tough.”

Researchers in Grand CayOnce the origin of the croco- vation of endangered species.

Meteorologists incorrectly predict below-freezing temperatures

By Karen Little The University Star Meteorologists and the media jumped the gun last week when they predicted a major cold front would sweep across Central Texas late this week and plunge temperatures down into the teens.

Larry Eblen of the National Weather Service said the low-

est it might get would be into the low to mid 20s.

“We’ve seen these temperatures already several times this winter,” Eblen said.

Although the weather will not be abnormally cold, Texans have found themselves dressed in winter clothing on a daily basis.

Melissa Millecam, city of San Marcos communications

manager, encourages people to dress warmly, sensibly and in layers. She says it is important to play it safe.

On Jan. 13, a rare winter tornado damaged 20 homes in addition to businesses along Interstate 35, Millecam said. An ice storm followed closely behind, blanketing the region with a mix of ice, sleet and snow.

Millecam said to follow

weather reports because road conditions could be life threatening.

“The main thing is to use common sense and pay attention to what’s happening,” Millecam said.

With consistently cold temperatures comes higher heating and electric bills.

Checking space heaters to make sure they are working

properly and keeping them away from walls and checking smoke detectors are also ways of playing it safe, Millecam said.

Sarah Mammel, mathematics sophomore, said she does not own winter clothes because the Texas weather is so unpredictable.

During freezing weather, it is normally recommended to turn the thermostat down to

68 degrees. Millecam said it is usually a personal preference. According to the Edison Electric Institute, “each degree over 68 degrees can add 3 percent to the amount of energy needed for heating.”

“The cold weather is a huge demand on the energy system,” Millecam said. “It is smarter to wear a sweater or two; that is the important factor.”

NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Texas State awarded grant to benefit project to get students to college

By Chelsea Juarez The University Star The Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation awarded the university a $52,422 grant that will assist in a project to help overlooked students in underprivileged areas attend college.

“Every year we plow a certain percentage of our budget to fund toward what is known as the Public Benefit Grant Program,” said Ray Perez, TG senior specialist. “We then use the money in grants toward different schools, organizations, projects and so on.”

According to a 2004 assessment by TG, the enrollment rates of Texas high school graduates “determined that

economically disadvantaged but college-prepared students were 20 percent less likely to attend a college or university than their more affluent peers.”

Perez said a lack of information was an obstacle in most cases. Many of the students come from families where neither of the parents attended college and they discourage the thought of enrolling at school rather than taking a full-time job, he said.

“Unless you’re filthy rich, you’re going to need money for college,” Perez said. “You have to consider the cost of living, housing, food and not just tuition. These competitive grants are specifically intended to make information accessible to those who need it.”

Perez said by providing information, access and resources, TG and Texas State’s efforts help students in low socioeconomic regions of Texas navigate a pathway to college that may have otherwise been difficult.

“We see lots of applications from students in underserved areas with potential, which just isn’t conveyed as well through their essays,” said Chris Murr, assistant director of financial aid and scholarships. “With funding from TG we can better prepare students to successfully apply to college.”

Murr said he hopes the program will accomplish two objectives: help students realize they can compete for scholarships and entrance into universities, and provide them with as much

information and resources as possible.

The project, titled, “Improving Postsecondary Scholarship Access for Students from High Schools in Low Socio-Economic Communities,” is a result of an initiative adopted by the Texas legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2000.

According to the THECB Web site, the plan, called “Closing the Gaps,” has four goals: “to close the gaps in student participation, student success, excellence and research.”

Murr said thorough planning for the project has taken place since the summer, and includes on-site and online workshops for students and parents. The workshops will provide essential

skills for writing a competitive scholarship essay and the development of effective resumes.

“It is my hope that students who attend our workshop will have an opportunity to compete on a national level,” said Mariko Gomez, director of financial aid and scholarships. “By improving their scholarship resumes, these students will have the competitive edge needed for those national scholarships.”

The workshops, Murr said, will be videotaped and carefully evaluated to underline key information to utilize in later workshops. The information will be available on the Internet through streaming video, allowing the project to benefit many students in the future. This way the project will make more of

an impact than only helping students in one year, Murr said.

High schools to be included in the project will be based on information provided by the Texas Education Agency Web site, Murr said. Although the project is nearly ready to go, participating schools have not been announced yet.

“So far we have 50 schools interested but we are still making contacts,” Murr said.

Although the focus is aimed at current high school students, the project intends to assist future Texas students as well.

“Ultimately, finding better access for students to go to college is the goal,” Perez said.

TG, a public, non-profit corporation, has awarded Texas State three separate grants this year.

California born, Texas raised: Molly Ivins dies at 62

By John Moritz Fort Worth Star-Telegram AUSTIN — Molly Ivins, whose biting columns mixed liberal populism with an irreverent Texas wit, died at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at her home in Austin after an up-and-down battle with breast cancer she had waged for seven years. She was 62.

Ivins, the Fort Worth StarTelegram’s political columnist for nine years ending in 2001, had written for the New York Times, the Dallas Times-Herald and Time magazine and had long been a sought-after pundit on the television talk-show circuit to provide a Texas slant on issues ranging from President Bush’s pedigree to the culture wars rooted in the 1960s.

“She was magical in her writing,” said Mike Blackman, a former Star-Telegram executive editor who hired Ivins at the newspaper’s Austin bureau in 1992, a few months after the Times-Herald ceased publication. “She could turn a phrase in such a way that a pretty hard-hitting point didn’t hurt so bad.”

A California native who moved to Houston as a young child with her family, Ivins was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. Two years later after enduring a radical mastectomy and rounds of chemotherapy, Ivins was given

a 70 percent chance of remaining cancer-free for five years. At the time, she said she liked the odds.

But the cancer recurred in 2003, and again last year. In recent weeks, she had suspended her twice-weekly syndicated column, allowing guest writers to use the space while she underwent further treatment. She made a brief return to writing in mid-January, urging readers to resist President Bush’s plan to increase the number of U.S. troops deployed to Iraq. She likened her call to an old-fashioned “newspaper crusade.”

“We are the people who run this country,” Ivins said in the column published in the Jan. 14 edition of the Star-Telegram.

“We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war.

“Raise hell,” she continued.

“Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we’re for them and are trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush’s proposed surge.”

Ivins

She ended the piece by endorsing the peace march in Washington scheduled for Saturday. “We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, ‘Stop it, now!’” she wrote.

Born Mary Tyler Ivins on Aug. 30, 1944, in Monterey, Calif., Ivins was raised in the upscale River Oaks section of Houston.

She earned her journalism degree at elite Smith College in Massachusetts in 1965. From there she ventured to Minnesota, taking a job as a police reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune.

Growing weary of the winters in the Upper Great Lakes and missing the spice of Texas food and its politics, Ivins moved to Austin to become co-editor of the Texas Observer, long considered the state’s liberal conscience.

Nadine Eckhardt, the former wife of the late Texas novelist Billy Lee Bramer and who later married former U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt of Houston, said Ivins soon made herself a fixture in the Austin political and cocktail party scene in the early 1970s.

“That’s where she became the Molly Ivins as we’ve come to know her,” said Eckhardt, an Ivins friend for nearly four decades. “The Observer had such wonderful writers doing such wonderful stories at the time,

and Molly was always right in the middle of everything.”

Her writing flair caught the attention of the New York Times, which hired her to cover city hall, then later moved her to the statehouse bureau in Albany.

Later, she was assigned to the Times’ Rocky Mountain bureau in Denver.

Even though she wrote the Times’ obituary for Elvis Presley in 1977, Ivins said later that she and the sometimes-stodgy Times proved to be a mismatch.

In a 2002 interview with the Star-Telegram, Ivins recounted that she would write about something that “squawked like a $2 fiddle” only to have a Times editor rewrite it to say “as an inexpensive instrument.” Ivins said she would mention a “beer belly” and The Times would substitute “a protuberant abdomen.”

So Ivins returned to Austin in 1982 to become a columnist for the Dallas Times-Herald and reconnect with such political figures as Ann Richards, who would later become governor, and Bob Bullock, then the hard-drinking state comptroller who later wielded great power as lieuten-

ant governor.

The column provided Ivins the freedom to express her views with the colorful language that would become her trademark. She called such figures as Ross Perot, former U.S. Sen. John Tower and ex-Gov. Bill Clements “runts with attitudes.” As a candidate for governor, George W. Bush became “Shrub,” a nicknamed she never tired of using.

Surprised became “womperjawed.” A visibly angry person would “throw a walleyed fit.”

Ivins, who was single and had no children, told readers about her first bout with cancer in a matter-of-fact afterword in an otherwise ordinary column.

“I have contracted an outstanding case of breast cancer, from which I fully intend to recover,” she wrote on Dec. 14, 1999. “I don’t need get-well cards, but I would like the beloved women readers to do something for me: Go. Get. The. Damn. Mammogram. Done.”

Ivins authored three books and co-authored a fourth. She was a three-time finalist for a Pulitzer Prize and had served on Amnesty International’s Journalism Network, but the icono-

clastic writer often said that her two highest honors were being banned from the conservative campus of Texas A&M University and having the Minneapolis police name their mascot pig after her when she covered the department as a reporter during one of her first jobs in the newspaper business.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

“T

he Observer had such wonderful writers doing such wonderful stories at the time, and Molly was always right in the middle of everything.”

—Nadine Eckhardt wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt

Where the good meat is

NEWS

Thursday, February 1, 2007

The University Star - Page 5

LIBRARY: Opposition fears university may become politically aligned CONTINUED from page 1

about what the appropriate solution is,” she told The Herald.

According to Blair, faculty members largely agree that the library would be a helpful resource for the university.

“I think that the library will be a great benefit and will be important because of its being a repository for significant historical records about a time in our history that’s been full of change,” she said.

Even McElvaney and Johnson have now said they support hosting the library at SMU, First Lady Laura Bush’s alma mater, but they still oppose the public policy institute.

In a Jan. 24 closed-door faculty meeting, professors questioned whether the library’s institute might threaten SMU’s reputation, citing a lack of university

“I

don’t want SMU to become ‘the Bush School.’ The institute politically links us much more to the current administration’s ideology than the library would.”

—Evan Farrior SMU sophomore

oversight for the institute and the fact that its research agenda will be determined by Bush himself, professors who attended the meeting told the Associated Press.

Several professors, including Blair, have said the institute sounds like a think tank, and some have expressed concern that the institute might give the impression that SMU is aligned

with a particular political ideology.

“Some faculty say we need to have oversight so that we can have control — some faculty say we don’t want oversight so we don’t have to be associated with (the institute),” Blair told The Herald. “In terms of our politics and positions, we’re a very diverse faculty, which is one reason why the dialogue has been

so rich.”

A group of 170 professors will submit a petition against the institute to the faculty senate next week, Blair said, though she couldn’t predict what, if any, action that body might take.

In fact, there might be little professors can do to stop the institute from coming. The decision ultimately rests with the school’s administration and its president, R. Gerald Turner, has strongly supported bringing the Bush facilities to SMU. “It’s all or nothing,” Turner told the AP, referring to some professors’ position that SMU should accept the library but not the institute. “The question is, does the asset outweigh what you consider the liabilities? I think it does.”

Blair said she believes SMU’s president will take faculty concerns into account.

“I know he’s put a great deal of thought into this. We’ve had a number of meetings listening to comments, responding to questions,” Blair said. “It’s a process, and (Turner) is taking it all in.”

Among students, there is generally support for both the library and public policy institute, said Evan Farrior, a sophomore.

“I’d say most of the students are in favor of the library just based on the number of Bush bumper stickers I see on cars around here,” Farrior said. “If you support Bush, I can’t imagine you would be against having a Bush institute at your school.”

Farrior added that while most students are in favor of the library, “those who are opposed are vehemently opposed.”

For his part, Farrior hopes SMU’s administration and the White House agree to build only the library and not the think

tank.

“I don’t want SMU to become ‘the Bush School.’ The institute politically links us much more to the current administration’s ideology than the library would,” he said.

If SMU decides not to sponsor the Bush library, it wouldn’t be the first time a university has refused to host a presidential library because of the official’s actions while in office. Duke University refused to host a library for President Nixon, a Duke law school graduate, because of similar concerns about associating an educational institution with a controversial presidency.

A final decision on where the Bush library will be located is expected within the next several months. If SMU fails to agree on specifics with the president, the library will be located at Baylor University in Waco.

FORENSICS: Fears of pestilence, body robbing unfounded GUADALUPE: Facebook CONTINUED from page 1

as to the season when someone died.

“There are many variables,” Melbye said. “We plan to explain these with a series of research projects.”

Bill Bass, who initiated the first forensic anthropology facility in the U.S., agrees that Texas needs its own facility and supports Melbye’s proposal.

“The length of time since death — this is an area that we know very little about. We still know very little,” Bass said. “It’s an important area. In every death, the question is ‘When did they die?’ In every murder case, the person who did it holds an alibi.

That’s why this type of question is important.”

Researching decomposition in Texas is no easy task. There are seven major ecological zones in the 267,000 square miles of the state.

“We have to start some place, so we’ll start in Central Texas,” Melbye said.

Melbye said with the facility, he hopes to bring “multifaceted research status bringing many different disciplines to solve the problem of PMI.” San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz said the city is supportive of a forensic anthropology facility and any public education on the topic. “(The research) puts closure on things,” Narvaiz said. “I would ask the community to have an open mind on important work that takes place.”

Narvaiz said the university, county and city have been working together closely to ensure everyone is pleased with the location of the facility.

“This is a great opportunity for the university and San Marcos,” Narvaiz said.

Forensic anthropology emerged in the 1980s. Known as the “body farm,” in 1980, the University of Tennessee in Knoxville founded the first human decomposition lab. This July, Western Carolina University announced its plans for the second cadaver lab. The exact location of the Western Carolina facility is a secret. However, the facility in Tennessee is widely known because it has become so popular, Bass said.

Bass was not met with wel-

come arms in the Knoxville community when he established the first U.S. facility. Bass said residents formed an organization to boot him and the facility out during its initial stages. Residents wanted him relocate to Oak Ridge, Tenn., a government city where atomic bombs were built and studied.

“The major key to solving a killing is the length of time since death. If (I) don’t do it, some criminal goes free,” Bass said.

“That’s when the general community says ‘Hey, we need this.’”

Complaints received by Melbye inspired Bass to write a letter supporting the Central Texas facility.

“If you don’t study deceased people, how can you help people who are alive?” Bass asked.

California could force high school students to register to vote

By Edwin Garcia San Jose Mercury News (MCT) SACRAMENTO — Assemblyman Joe Coto has a provocative proposal to increase voter participation among young people. He wants to require high school students to register to vote before they can receive a diploma.

If his measure becomes law, graduating seniors beginning with the class of 2010 who meet the state’s criteria to become voters — 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, for example — would be required to submit proof of registration to the school.

It’s believed California would be the first state to tie registration to graduation. The bill al-

lows students to opt out of the requirement, but they would have to put their request in writing.

“What we want to try to do is just increase the engagement of people in the democratic process,” said Coto, D-San Jose.

“The percentage of people who determine the outcomes of elections is a very small percentage of the population because there are so many people who are not registered.”

The Secretary of State does not have information readily available on how many 18-yearolds are registered or with what party, but it is widely assumed that younger voters disproportionately register as Democrats.

That makes Republican lawmak-

Got dirt?

Send your news tips to us at starnews@txstate.edu

ers suspicious of the motives, and might make it a tough sell for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to approve the measure, if it were to reach his desk.

A high percentage of those new voters, judging by student demographics across the state, also would likely be Latino. One of the stated priorities for Coto, as chairman of the Latino Legislative Caucus, is to boost voter registration among the hundreds of thousands of Latinos in California who are citizens and eligible to vote.

More than 15.8 million Californians were registered for the November election, from a pool of 22.6 million who were eligible, according to the Secre-

tary of State — a gap of about 30 percent. That gap is assumed to be even wider among younger voters.

If approved by the Democraticmajority Legislature and signed

by Schwarzenegger, Coto’s effort in AB 183 will push California into what seems to be uncharted territory.

“I don’t know of any other state trying mandatory registration for young people, but there are a number of states trying to come up with different things to bring more young people into the voting process,” said Kay Stimson, communications director for the National Association of Secretaries of State. “California has a history of innovative approaches to voting and voter registration.”

group of 3,000 members

fights council proposal CONTINUED from page 1

about being on the river and floating into New Braunfels, where the laws will change,” Pospisil said.

Laws have already been created to prohibit any glass, open containers of five ounces or less, which was to discourage the presence of Jell-O shots and any beer bongs.

“Right now we have to devote a tremendous police force to patrol the river, so I hope we can find a reasonable compromise,” Pospisil said. “We want people to come float.”

Many students and floaters are outraged by the council’s actions.

Lance Eschberger and Mike Motl, undecided sophomores, created the 3,000-plus member Facebook group, “Keep the Guadalupe River Alcohol Friendly!”

“The City of New Braunfels has no idea what economic suicide is but they are about to commit it,” Motl said in an e-mail. “It is a shame that they have to take such drastic measures because some individuals do not know how to control themselves in public.”

Some Texas State students are also New Braunfels residents, such as Skip Lietz, psychology senior.

“This is not only going to hurt their business, but that of so many others in the community as well,” Leitz said in an e-mail.

The Feb. 12 meeting is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. in the New Braunfels Council Chambers.

“If approved, then certainly the city will put in an effort to enforce the laws and be determined to make them work,” Boyer said.

TRENDS

Thursday, February 1, 2007

The University Star - Page 7

Percival Everett, famous for unique humor, to appear on campus

By Todd Schaaf The University Star Esteemed author Percival Everett will be the guest at a Thursday book reading on campus.

Everett has made a name for himself as a writer by publishing 15 novels as well as three collections of short stories and one book of poetry. Everett is known for his writing style, sometimes called a wordsmith. His works have been known to deal with satirical subject matter that may be bizarre or offsetting to some, including hate crimes, racism, kidnapping and one Native American little person.

Jack Kaulfus, a graduate student in the MFA fiction program, is a big fan of Everett.

“He’s bold, funny. He’s not afraid to examine race, class and politics through pointed satire,” Kaulfus said.

Kaulfus was drawn to Everett’s work after reading Erasure, which was published in 2001.

Erasure is a story about a black writer who struggles to gain success writing about real life. As a joke, he writes a book reinforcing black stereotypes, which is actually embraced by book clubs and

Thursday Lonesome Dove Revisited This exhibit gives a close-up look at props, costumes, photographs and other items from the filming of the CBS miniseries.

The exhibit is located in the Southwestern Writers Collection in Alkek Library, 7th Floor.

Exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call (512) 245-2313 for more information.

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide The exhibit includes self-portraits, portraits, famous works and neverbefore-exhibited images by one of Mexico’s greatest photographers.

Pieces will be featured from the Wittliff Gallery’s major collection of Iturbide’s work. The exhibit coincides with publication of the ninth volume in the Wittliff Gallery Book Series from the University of Texas Press.

The exhibition is located in the Witliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican photography in Alkek Library, 7th Floor.

Exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call (512) 245-2313 for more information.

Faculty Exhibition Galleries I and II in the Joann Cole Mitte Art Building will feature work by current art and design faculty.

The event is free and open to the public.

Exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Monday though Friday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Percival Everett Reading and Book Signing Award-winning author Percival Everett will do a reading, book signing, and question and answer session at the Southwestern

other authors. The main character must then decide whether or not to expose the truth.

“His book Erasure really got to me when I read it in 2001. I thought Everett was exploring race and class in ways other writers were afraid to,” Kaulfus said.

With 14 other novels to his name, there is sure to be something for everyone.

“I have been happy to find that the honesty and humor I loved in Erasure can be found in a lot of his other works. I like his careful prose, his lack of pretension, and his ability to cut right to the heart of his characters,” Kaulfus said.

Kaulfus is looking forward to attending the book reading.

“He’s a teacher of writing, really interested in craft. It will be great to hear him talk about his work and his life, and how the two intermingle,” Kaulfus said.

The book reading will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Southwestern Writers Collection on the seventh floor of Alkek Library. Another reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Katherine Anne Porter House in Kyle.

KAP house writer-in-resident

Writers Collection located on the seventh floor of Alkek Library.

Everett has written novels, short stories and poems that push the limits of social conventions.

The event is part of the English department’s Therese Kayser Lindsey/Katherine Ann Porter Series.

The reading begins at 3:30 p.m. and will be followed by the question and answer session at 5 p.m.

Live Music Night at George’s The Student Association for Campus Activities will host Live Music Night at George’s. Austin’s The Alice Rose and The Almost Ready will perform.

The show begins at 8 p.m. in George’s, located on the first floor of the LBJ Student Center.

Admission is free.

Berkeley in the Sixties The Common Experience will host a screening of the documentary Berkley in the Sixties. The film features 1960s alumni of the University of California-Berkeley campus as they tell their stories about how the quiet school became the site of massive political activism.

The film will begin at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall. Admission is free.

Michael Noll is enthusiastic about Everett’s reading.

“The reading should be very good. Everett is a very, very smart writer. His writing is postmodern. It’s funny. He’s an excellent writer. Students should come for that reason alone,” Noll said.

The event is also a chance for students to interact with the author.

“The house now partners with the Texas State MFA program to bring visiting writers to campus, where they read from their work, answer questions and work with students on their manuscripts and, in general, on their writing. The visiting writer series is a terrific resource for beginning writers searching for guidance in their craft,” Noll said.

The event is free and open to the public.

✯ FYI Check www.english.txstate. edu/kap for more information and upcoming events.

Saturday Lonesome Dove Revisited Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Faculty Exhibition Percival Everett Reading and Book Signing Award-winning author Percival Everett will do a reading and book signing at the Katherine Ann Porter House in Kyle. Everett has written novels, short stories and poems that push the limits of social conventions.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free. For more information, go to www.english.txstate.edu/kap.

Tantra Art Exhibit Jeff Truth, Doug Mallard and various artists will present an art exhibit at Tantra Coffeehouse.

Tantra is located at 217 W. Hopkins St. The reception begins at 7 p.m.

Sunday Lonesome Dove Revisited Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Faculty Exhibition Tantra Art Exhibit

Friday Lonesome Dove Revisited

Monday

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide

Lonesome Dove Revisited

Faculty Exhibition Art Exhibit Justin Jackley, studio art senior and University Star illustrator, will have an art exhibit opening titled “Subconscious What-Not” at the Ruta Maya Coffeehouse located at 107 E. Martin St. on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Music will be provided by Mama Speedheart.

The exhibit will be on display from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Faculty Exhibition Tantra Art Exhibit Eyes on the Prize Series - Part III & IV Eyes on the Prize, a 14-episode documentary on the American Civil Rights Movement, aired in two parts on PBS. Episode III, titled “Ain’t Scared of Your Jails (1960-1961),” documents black college students participating in

Photo courtesy of Blue Flower Arts BOOK SIGNING: Novelist Percival Everett signs his book, American Desert, at the 2005 International Festival of Literature. Everett will conduct a book signing at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Southwestern Writers Collection on the seventh floor of Alkek Library.

lunch counter sit-ins and “Freedom Riders” as they try to desegregate buses. Episode IV, “No Easy Walk (1961-1963),” is a look at mass demonstrations and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s integral role in them.

The films will be shown at 7 p.m. in Alkek Teaching Theater. Admission is free.

Faculty Artist Performance Timothy D. Woolsey, professor in the school of music, will hold a piano recital in the Music Building Recital Hall. Admission is $2 for the general public and $1 for students.

The recital will begin at 8 p.m. For more information, call (512) 2452651.

Tuesday Lonesome Dove Revisited Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Faculty Exhibition Tantra Art Exhibit Jazz Saxophone Recital Christopher Ty Reagan, music senior, will perform on the saxophone. He is a student of Doug Skinner, music professor.

The performance will be held at 6 p.m. in the Music Building recital hall. Admission is free.

For more information call (512) 245-2651.

First Tuesday Reading Series MFA Creative writing students will share their poetry and fiction at the Southwestern Writers Collection, located on the seventh floor of Alkek Library.

The readings will begin at 5 p.m.

Wednesday Lonesome Dove Revisted Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Faculty Exhibition Tantra Art Exhibit

The Continuing Importance of African American History Month Lonnie Bunch, the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will present a lecture on the importance of African American History Month.

Bunch has served as president of the Chicago Historical Society, various other positions with the Smithsonian, and Curator of History for the California African American Museum in Los Angeles.

He has also written several books, including The American Presidency:

A Glorious Burden.

The lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in Flowers Hall Room, 341.

SACA – Comedy Series The Student Association for Campus Activities will host comedian Roy Wood, Jr. Wood, a Los Angeles resident, does standup comedy, prank calls and parody songs.

The show begins at 8 p.m. in the LBJ Ballroom. Admission is free.

Page 8 - The University Star

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

✯Star Comics

Thursday, February 1, 2007

RIX’S

TECHNOLOGY Wi-Fi is a step ahead, but only for those with the technology

FIXES

Wireless Internet suitable for such a chore. more revenue and jobs. is all but a must for Hiring a person or persons On the surface, the plan to college towns. It alin the computer science provide San Marcos residents lows students the department to oversee or with a citywide-mesh network freedom to write papossibly administer the appears to be a benevolent one. pers and study notes wireless network could Conflating the Internet haves away from the fixed help strengthen the less- and have-nots is an issue that BILL RIX locations of dorms than-optimal relationship should be resolved, but if goodStar Columnist and apartments. So that presently exists be- will is the end of this plan, then when the San Marcos tween the university and there is much else to be done City Council decided on a plan to the town and add to the prestige before the creation of a citywide make San Marcos into a wire- of the university. wireless network. less city of sorts, it ostensibly Making a city completely wireWhile the ends the city council seemed like a good idea. As City less is no small undertaking, but has in mind are questionable, I Manager Dan O’Leary pointed it is something that certainly must commend them for looking out in a Jan. 25 University Star could be done in-house, as it forward. Only a handful of cities article, it would indeed provide were. Instead of farming out all in the U.S. are wireless, and addInternet access for lower-income of the labor involved in the cre- ing San Marcos to the list would households in San Marcos. ation and upkeep of the network, be a major accomplishment worAccessibility is one thing; us- why not just create a local work- thy of national attention. While ability is another. Problem be- force to handle all the challenges the project seems altruistic, it ing, using the Wi-Fi network associated with creating and feels myopic. In any event, the would necessitate the same maintaining a wireless citywide next two years will give further lower-income families having a infrastructure? insight into what we are to exlaptop or similar device capable A citywide network would need pect out of the project. Hopefulof using wireless Internet. This almost constant management ly it will shape up into something is essentially akin to providing and maintenance, and if the final truly useful for residents of all rate plans to people who are plan involves a fee of some sort, incomes and not just for the unable to afford a cell phone. It then a billing department would ones who are already set up for has a feel-good quality, but lacks bear creation, so that’s even access. practicality.

The article stated that city council is in the process of hiring his is essentially akin to a consultant to oversee and manproviding rate plans to people age the two-year project. This is interesting in that Texas State who are unable to afford a cell has a well-established, nationally phone. It has a feel-good quality, accredited computer science debut lacks practicality.” partment, which conceivably has several personnel who would be

“T

SU DO KU

Yesterday’s solutions:

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

Yesterday’s solutions:

© Pappocom

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, February 1, 2007 - Page 9

onlineconnection Do you think Texas State should establish an open-air forensic anthropology facility? Go to www.UniversityStar.com to vote in our online poll. Results will be published in Thursday’s issue of The University Star. *This is not a scientific poll

RESTRICTING RESIDENTS Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

S

ome members of the San Marcos community are afraid a project to provide training to forensic analysts will make this area a less-desirable place to live.

A three-page flier was distributed to San Marcos residents, calling the openair forensic anthropology facility that the university plans to build a “body farm” and claimed that it will be close to homes, among other things.

Forensic anthropology professor Jerry Melbye told The University Star that the flier was inaccurate. The facility is intended to provide a real service to the academic and law enforcement community. More importantly, it can help solve crimes involving partially decomposed bodies and ultimately bring justice for victims of heinous acts.

It would be unfortunate if the university and the city of San Marcos treated the matter of its location with carelessness, but so far it appears that this has not been the case. It wouldn’t be stuck in the middle of a residential neighborhood, contrary to what the flier claimed. Melbye has stressed the high security nature of the facility and that it would be in an isolated area away from homes.

The university, however, has a duty to inform the public about the forensic facility and quell any misinformation formally, whether it is through an open forum or at the very least a mailer. Residents have a right to know what is being placed in their community and how it will affect them. People just want to know the facts.

There have been issues with such facilities in the past, as Bill Bass, who established the first in the nation, told The Star. It would be good for residents to know how the University of Tennessee and the Knoxville community handled the presence of their forensic facility, being that they were the first to deal with the issue. Tennessee newspapers have not featured headlines proclaiming spread of disease or missing body parts from a forensic facility.

If the facility were to be pushed away because of rumor and bad information, it would be tragic and a loss for everyone.

The facility has the potential to teach students and law enforcement officials so much in this relatively unexplored field. The facility would be one of less than a handful in the nation, which is an achievement for the university, city and state.

Those who would lose the most from preventing the establishment of a forensic facility are victims of crimes and their families. The knowledge this facility would provide could help bring criminals to justice and bring closure to the victims’ loved ones.

The benefits of the facility are clear and arguments against it lack substance.

When residents have correct information and knowledge of how the facility will be useful, doubts can be put to rest.

Forensic anthropology facility could be valuable service to community

Letter to the Editor Wage increases will harm more than help Once again the Democrats are pandering to voters with feel-good legislation. Artificially inflating the pay of minimum-wage workers will cause an overall increase in the price of labor. Employers who will be forced to pay more for labor will face of the choice of employing fewer people or raising prices.

Previous hikes in the minimum wage have seen a corresponding decline in employment amongst low-wage earners. The perversity of this legislation is that it will hurt the group who it is intended to help. It is obvious that this a Democrat ploy for votes.

Speaker Pelosi managed to exempt workers employed in American Samoa by hometown-based StarKist Tuna from the new wage increase despite her pledge for honest government.

Doggett’s comments about the bill are nothing more than encouragement of class warfare.

Minimum wage is a starting point and is not nor should not be considered a “living wage.” Market forces should decide what your services are worth, not the long arm of Big Brother.

Zachary Royal accounting senior

Online Poll Results Citywide Wireless

I

f the city of San Marcos implements a wireless network, how much should residents pay to access it?

It should be a free service

67% Users should pay a low fee

27% The first 30 minutes should be free

6%

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.

Pat Stark/Star illustration

Results compiled from The University Star Web site online poll. This is not a scientific survey.

Motorists, cyclists need to be safer on San Marcos’ roads During my first bike ride through San Marcos in early August, I was Daniel Palomo crossing Star Columnist the intersection of Sessom Street and Aquarena Springs Drive when I was almost struck by a motorist attempting to sneak through the intersection before yielding to oncoming traffic.

It is difficult to go anywhere in San Marcos because of the increase in the student and local population. Aggressive San Marcos drivers are racing to a finish line that yields no victory, only a dangerous city for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Hays County is among the top-10 fastest growing counties in Texas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The influx of people into the county, specifically San Marcos, has increased traffic dramatically. So much so

The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

hat all these W factors add up to is a more

perilous city, where pedestrians and motorists are in endangered whenever they take to the roadways. that the traffic spurred the San Marcos city council to allocate millions of dollars toward construction of new roads.

Texas State’s student population is growing every semester and students are constantly petitioning for solutions to this transportation conundrum.

Texas State revamped its offcampus tram service for the spring semester and according to the Campus Master Plan, the

increased emphasis of pedestrian and bicycle facilities will help alleviate traffic.

The rapid student influx puts a strain on traffic congestion, which despite San Marcos and Texas State’s best efforts, remains a ubiquitous issue.

Thankfully, Texas State’s Campus Master Plan is dynamic enough to include a very comprehensive approach to managing traffic.

According to a report by the Texas Transportation Institute, travel time during peak hours can take as much as 51 percent longer than during non-peak hours. That report also found smaller urban areas to experience a similar level of traffic congestion — and if you have ever driven in San Marcos during peak hours, you know all the holdups that can take place.

With pedestrian and railroad crossings, the short two-mile drive from my apartment complex to campus can be painstakingly slow. That is why I rarely

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ever drive in San Marcos at all.

Many drivers feel rushed because of the increases in traffic congestion and travel time. In a telephone survey conducted by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 44 percent of U.S. drivers cited being “late,” or “behind schedule” as a reason they drove at speeds they deemed unsafe.

Traffic problems are further compounded in college towns like San Marcos, where students rush to class throughout the day. There are no set “peak” hours, and little downtime exists.

No matter what time you attend your first class of the day — whether at 8 a.m. or 1 p.m.

— you will always be in a rush to arrive. This creates a rush-hour mindset at all hours.

Although aggressive driving is difficult to define, it includes a number of moving traffic violations, such as but not limited to: Speeding, running red lights, and angry or unsafe behavior

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towards other drivers, according to the National Road Safety Foundation. Does this sound familiar? According to the NRSF, aggressive driving is linked to half of all car crashes.

What all these factors add up to is a more perilous city, where pedestrians and motorists are in endangered whenever they take to the roadways.

Drivers in San Marcos are certainly “aggressive,” to put it lightly. While on my bike, a motorist followed me for more than 100 yards, blaring her horn the entire way despite having an unoccupied traffic lane next to me. I have also seen students meekly attempt to cross Sessom Street while the crosswalk sign blinked “walk” — and drivers simply forwent their responsibility to yield.

The hazardous concoction San Marcos drivers produce is especially terrifying considering the high level of pedestrians in and around campus.

It’s usually an unfortunate

Account Executive.....................Esmeldi Sanchez, es1225@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................Jonathan McCoy, jm1751@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator..Linda Allen, starbusinessoffice@txstate.edu Publications Director..............Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

event when a car crash takes place. Both cyclists and motorists need to obey all the traffic laws, so they do not put themselves or others in harm’s way.

Cyclists will not soon forget James Ortiz, the athlete whose leg was amputated after his bicycle collided with a truck.

Ensuring pedestrian safety is central to any safe community.

The drivers, myself included, need to focus on controlling their emotions. It’s not the fault of the cyclists, trains, or cars in front that you hit the snooze six times before you got up this morning. It is just plain pathetic that the U.S. Department of Transportation has to waste its time and our taxes on flyers and programs stating, “Don’t yell or use obscene gestures,” “Use your horn sparingly” and my personal favorite, “Don’t be tempted to start a fight or carry any sort of weapon.”

Daniel Palomo is a pre-mass communication junior 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 February 1, 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

Thursday, February 1, 2007

The University Star - Page 11

Tennis, golf could be seeing legends in the making SWISS CHAMP: Roger Federer holds up the championship trophy after defeating Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the men’s final of the Australian Open at Flinders Park Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.

Corinne Dubreuil/ Abaca Press

By John Smallwood Philadelphia Daily News PHILADELPHIA — If you are a fan of dominance, you really have to appreciate what happened last weekend in California and Australia.

Sunday in San Diego, Tiger Woods won the Buick Invitational, running his PGA Tour winning streak to seven.

That’s the second-longest in tour history behind the 11 straight that Byron Nelson won in 1945.

Woods shot a six-under-par 66, the best score of the week, to finish 15-under and beat Charles Howell III by two strokes.

Amazingly, it wasn’t the most captivating performance of the day. Much earlier in Melbourne, at around 4:30 a.m. Eastern time, Woods’ good friend and Nike compadre, Roger Federer, was finishing off Fernando Gonzalez to win the Australian Open.

It wasn’t just that Federer beat Gonzalez, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4, in the fi-

nal. It wasn’t just that Federer won his 10th Grand Slam singles title.

It was that Federer ran through the Australian by winning 21 straight sets - that’s a sweep of straight matches over two weeks.

The last man to win a major without losing a set was the legendary Bjorn Borg, at the 1980 French Open.

We are witnessing immortality in the making. In Woods and Federer, we are watching two athletes who someday may be considered the absolute best their sport ever has produced.

At their current pace, considering both are just entering their prime, they might set the championship bars so high they never will be equaled. If you think that’s a stretch, you really haven’t been paying attention to what these guys are doing.

Considering the popularity of Woods, most are aware only that he is chasing the record of 18 major titles held by Jack Nicklaus. Unless Woods, 31, suffers some kind of dev-

astating injury or simply loses interest in golf, I doubt there is anyone who believes he won’t surpass the Golden Bear.

I think the only question is how many more than 18 will Woods eventually win.

Nobody on the PGA Tour or on the horizon looms as a serious threat to Woods - not such contemporaries as Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh or Sergio Garcia, not some rising star like Howell.

There is Woods and everybody else, and everybody else is such a step down they’re not worth adding to the debate - unless, of course, you are comparing them and the rest of the players on the ATP Tour besides Federer.

Pete Sampras holds the men’s record with 14 Grand Slam singles titles. Federer, 25, is on pace to obliterate that. He is the only man in history to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in three consecutive years.

If he runs that streak to four this

season, he’ll have 12 major titles before the end of 2007, 13 if he wins the French Open beforehand.

Since he already is the only man to have won three separate majors three times, it’s likely he will pass Sampras with 15 in 2008, at which time he will be only 27.

And if Federer figures out his only weakness, clay — and considering he reached his first French Open finals last year, there’s a good chance that he has — he could do things in the next two seasons that no man ever accomplished.

Federer has greater mastery over other tennis players than Woods has over golfers.

He’s won 36 consecutive matches and is 55-1 since losing in the 2006 French Open final to Rafael Nadal.

Dating back to the 2006 Masters Cup, Federer has won 30 consecutive sets.

In the future, when you look up dominance, instead of a definition, there might be only pictures of Woods and Federer.

Rangers’ minor league deal puts Sosa back at bat

By Kevin Sherrington The Dallas Morning News ARLINGTON — Moments after the Sammy Sosa news conference, ESPN Radio’s Dave Shore hustled over to clarify one of my penetrating questions regarding the Rangers’ latest hired gun.

Shore: “Did you realize you used the word ‘juice’?”

Me: “Uh, no.”

But while we’re at it, let me say this: Sosa should “inject” some real enthusiasm in a fan base that could use a “boost,” particularly if he makes “clear” that he’s still the “cream” of baseball’s power hitters and not just a washed up “Barry Bonds” or “Mark McGwire.”

Editor’s note: Any more buzz words from here on out are absolutely unintentional, unless specified by the author.

Many readers have expressed concern as to what the Rangers could be thinking, bringing back Sosa. Maybe you think it’s loony, too. Out of baseball last year, Sosa was about as ineffec-

tual for Baltimore in 2005 as he was in his testimony before the House committee investigating steroids abuse in baseball.

Good news: In Tuesday’s conference call, he seemed to understand most of the questions quite well. Maybe he just doesn’t understand politicians.

Anyway, Sosa has all the right answers now. Even more important, the Rangers make all the right points.

The risk/reward factor is higher on the reward side. He’s signed to a minor league deal, meaning he doesn’t have a guaranteed roster spot.

He comes in and stinks it up, he’s gone. He comes in and acts like a diva, he’s gone.

He comes in and even approaches what he did before 2005, and the Rangers have plugged a significant hole in the lineup.

Maybe you remember Sosa’s numbers: Nine straight seasons of at least 100 RBI, two straight seasons of at least 25 home runs, and three times he’s climbed the magic mark of 60.

He’s also fifth on the all-time home run list with 588.

The guys in front of him? Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.

Of course, you could bring back Hammerin’ Hank, too, and it doesn’t mean he’d scare anyone but his cardiologist.

But let’s try another comparison. A once-feared slugger puts together meager back-toback seasons. Then last year, at 38, the same age Sosa is now, he hits 39 home runs with 114 RBIs. Moral: Frank Thomas turns that season into a two-year, $18 million deal with Toronto.

Question: Can Sosa put up those kinds of numbers for the Rangers?

Answer: If he does, people will start asking questions with the word “juice” in them again.

Let’s be realistic. What if Sosa hits, say, .270 with 25 homers and 80 RBIs? Would you take that behind Mark Teixeira ?

“I want more than that,” Rudy Jaramillo said.

No one knows Sosa’s swing

MEDIA: In sports, few

blacks work as analysts

CONTINUED from page 12

his story include a line about the lack of diversity in the network’s sports department.

“I couldn’t adopt the tone of contempt about golf without talking about our business,” Brown said. “Here we are years later, and it’s essentially the same.”

Why? On the play-by-play side, Gumbel says it is a matter of getting an opportunity. He did but others haven’t been as fortunate.

“I’m shocked at the number of African-American broadcasters there are,” Gumbel said. “You hope to get the opportunities.

The question is, how long do you wait? You only can make promises for so long.”

Curt Menefee, a black sports announcer, had been doing playby-play for Fox before moving inside to do studio work this year.

He cites a lack of turnover at the network level in the last 10 years.

However, there will be some changes in the coming years as veteran play-by-play men such as

Dick Enberg and Dick Stockton step aside.

“In the next five to 10 years, there will be more opportunities,” Menefee said. “That’s where you’ll see a lot of minorities come in. If (that isn’t the case), then that will be the travesty of this business.”

Brown, though, contends the situation won’t change in front of the camera until it changes behind the scenes. He says the networks need to hire more blacks as producers and in executive roles.

“How many people of color currently occupy those positions?”

Brown said. “I don’t know of any African-Americans in senior positions. Those are the people who make the decisions.”

The analyst situation is completely baffling. The only black to have a leading role as a game analyst was O.J. Simpson on “Monday Night Football” during the ’80s.

Former black players such as Tom Jackson, Shannon Sharpe, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders have assumed high-profile positions on the studio shows. But none has risen to the same status

in the booth. Meanwhile, in the last 10 years, two former quarterbacks, both white, have become the No. 1 analysts on Sunday: Simms for CBS and Troy Aikman for Fox. “Sure, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened,” Gumbel said. “Considering the number of (black) players, the odds definitely are in favor that it should have happened. Are there capable people out there to do the job? Common sense says there has to be.”

The networks always will trot out the line that they merely look to hire the best man for the job.

But that doesn’t hold much weight anymore.

“It sounds like the newspapers and networks should have to invoke the ‘Rooney rule,’” said Wilbon of the requirement that NFL teams have to interview minorities when they hire a head coach.

Brown repeatedly said, “There is no excuse.”

Brown is right. The next time you read or see a report bemoaning the lack of diversity in sports, just consider the source.

BASKETBALL: Mavericks’ star player could prove to be a menace Saturday CONTINUED from page 12

Tennessee men’s head coach Bruce Pearl made national headlines last week after donning a painted chest at a Lady Volunteers basketball game.

Davalos, a fun-loving and energetic coach himself, offered an interesting response when posed with the possibly of throwing on body paint to support the Texas State women’s team.

“I would paint myself,” Davalos said. “I’d have to go in and get waxed and do my eight-minute abs before, but yeah I’d do it.”

Davalos has plenty of time to tone up before he gets his opportunity March 1, when the women hit the court against Texas-Arlington at Strahan. The men have that night off before heading to Arlington to take on the Mavericks for their final game of the regular season March 2.

However, Davalos did say to ask him again come March, but for now fans can hold him to the gracious offer.

Junior Bobcat clinic Before the Super Bowl kicks off in Miami Sunday, the Texas

State basketball program is putting on a Junior Bobcat Clinic for youngsters wanting to learn the game of basketball. “(Assistant) coach (Russell) Vanlandingham told me that we’re probably the only Division 1 team in the country having a clinic on Super Bowl Sunday,” Davalos said. “But we told the parents as you’re getting ready for you party, drop your kids off and let us baby-sit them for a few hours and teach them some basketball.”

The clinic will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Strahan Coliseum.

better than Jaramillo. No one is better prepared to fix it.

Jaramillo has known him since Sosa was a skinny 16-yearold kid coming up fast with the Rangers. Of all the great hitters he’s been around, Jaramillo said Sosa is the toughest mentally.

Even at 38, after a year away from baseball, Sosa would worry opposing pitchers.

Jaramillo says it’s all still there: the bat speed, the work ethic, the body, the will.

The downside? He’ll be the center of a media storm in spring training. Jon Daniels concedes it’s a concern. He’s working on a feel-good story here with Ron Washington, and he doesn’t need any distractions.

And then there’s this, too: Maybe you have philosophical problems with a suspected steroids user.

Don’t be too quick to judge.

Unlike some of his brethren on the House panel, Sosa has never bragged about steroids (Jose Canseco), been caught lying about steroids (Rafael Palmeiro) or shrunk after he quit

playing (Mark McGwire).

Sosa was, indeed, guilty of using a corked bat in 2003. He explained that it was an accident, that he used his batting practice bat by mistake.

Do I believe that story? No. Do I think he’s used corked bats to hit 588 home runs? Hardly.

He’s broken more than one bat, and the innards never came into question before.

Here’s what I believe: Sammy Sosa deserves a second chance, especially considering the bargain rates.

Trust in Rudy to fix Sosa’s swing. He’ll help keep his head on straight, too. And if Rudy can’t, well, it was worth the try.

And if Sosa hits? A lot of people around here will be pumped, and Sammy won’t be one of them. Promise.

DALLAS BOUND: The Orioles’ Sammy Sosa complains after being called out by home plate umpire Bill Hohn to end the third inning of play against the Devil Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Aug. 9, 2005.

John Makely/ Baltimore Sun

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, February 1, 2007 - Page 12

bobcatsbroadcast The Texas State women’s basketball team hits the road 7 p.m. Friday for a game against Texas-Arlington, the leader in the Southland Conference West division. Texas State sits at 6-2 in second place behind the Mavericks. UTA defeated Stephen F.

Austin 57-56 Saturday on a buzzer-beating lay-up from Terra Wallace, tying a school-best with its eighth straight win to open league play. Fox Sports Southwest will air the Bobcats’ 7 p.m. game on regional television.

Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

Men’s basketball prepares for UTA after loosing streak

By Nathan Brooks The University Star

in a long time. We’re enthused that we continue to make strides.”

Part of those strides has been their abilThe push for the post season begins 4 ity to try some different things defensively. p.m. Saturday at Strahan Coliseum, when The Bobcats played primarily zone defense the Bobcats take on Texas-Arlington. against Sam Houston State in an attempt to The Bobcats will be playing in a game that shut down opponents’ points in the paint. could propel the winning team in the right That same strategy is going to have to direction for a coveted berth in the South- be applied against UTA, a team that likes land Conference Tournato slow down the game ment. and pound the opposition Texas State (8-13 overwith size and strength in all, 3-5 conference) enters the paint. the contest just one game “This game will be ahead of UTA (7-14, 2the most decidedly dif6) in the SLC West. The ferent tempo team we’ve Bobcats also sit in seventh played,” Davalos said. place overall, putting them “It’s the first team we’ve on the edge of being one played in conference that of the eight teams chosen primarily plays three for the conference tournapost players at the same — Doug Davalos ment. time.” basketball coach A win Saturday could go Junior forward Jera long way towards buildmaine Griffin leads the ing some momentum for Mavericks charge up front, Texas State. Recently the Bobcats have hit averaging 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per a funk, losing four of their last five games, game, which ranks sixth in the conference including a pair of double-digit losses last in both categories. Griffin’s 1.9 blocks per Mark Decker/Star file photo week. Texas State is coming off an 88-74 loss game is second-best in the league as well. at Sam Houston State on Saturday.

“He’s a tremendous player,” Davalos said.

HEADING HOME: Brandon Bush slams the ball during Texas “The final score (of the Sam Houston “He’s a really good inside presence and he’s State’s 67–63 victory over the Roadrunners Jan. 20. The Bobcats game) doesn’t indicate the progress we’ve a hard-worker. We’ve got our hands full.” are home for two games, with the first 4 p.m. Saturday against made,” Coach Doug Davalos said. “That’s Slowing down Griffin is going to be key the best I’ve felt after a game on the road for the Bobcats, but that is something easier Texas-Arlington.

his game “T will be the most decidedly different tempo team we’ve played.”

said than done. When it comes to stopping Griffin, Davalos offered a wide variety of solutions. “(We’ll) Probably call Tonya Harding,” Davalos joked. “But seriously, we want Griffin to be a runner. We’re going to have to make them play fast and furious.”

The Mavericks have been playing some of their best basketball as of late, beating Sam Houston State 78-65 at home last week and demolishing Austin College 105-63 earlier this week.

First-year coaches meet Davalos can look down the sideline Saturday and see a man facing the same challenges he faces in taking a once proud program back to prominence.

Texas-Arlington coach Scott Cross is also in his first year on the job with the Mavericks after replacing Eddie McCarter, who stepped down after a disappointing 14-17 record last season.

“Scott got a very deserving shot at the head job and I’m happy for him,” Davalos said. “He’s a good guy and a tremendous recruiter. I wish Scott the best but not until after Saturday.”

Davalos willing to show shades of Pearl See BASKETBALL, page 11

Baseball team preps for opening day, weekend series Super Bowl story highlights

By Jacob Mustafa The University Star The Texas State baseball team starts the season this weekend with the UTPA Classic in Edinburg.

The Bobcats face off against the Oklahoma Sooners Friday and the host school, Texas-Pan American, Saturday and Sunday.

Opening-day starter Mike Hart the said the Bobcats can learn plenty about the team from the first weekend series of the year.

“We’re going to find out what this team is about,” said Hart.

“We’ll be able to see what our pitching can really do.”

Coach Ty Harrington agreed, saying the outcome at the tournament is not the most important element of the first games of the season.

“I think it’s more important to start the season off trying to play well,” Harrington said.

“Wins and losses will factor later, but this weekend won’t make or break the season.”

This will be the second consecutive year Texas State begins its season against the Sooners, with last year’s opener ending in a heart-wrenching 7-6 loss for the Bobcats that ended on double play with a runner in scoring position.

The Bobcats hope to shake off last year’s defeat and come out victorious against Oklahoma this time around, and Harrington said his team will have to rise to the occasion against a team of the Sooners’ caliber.

“I think they (Oklahoma) are going to be a great team this

“T

he kids always get excited about playing a Big 12 or SEC school. But the coaches usually don’t, because we expect the same kind of play from the team.”

— Howard Bushong assistant baseball coach

year,” said Harrington. “I think the level of your play has to go up when you play a team like that.”

Assistant Coach Howard Bushong said there may be a high level of anticipation surrounding the game versus Oklahoma, but it is still just a baseball game and they are just another team.

“The kids always get excited about playing a Big 12 or SEC school,” said Bushong. “But the coaches usually don’t, because we expect the same kind of play from the team.”

The Broncs also handed Texas State a loss in last season’s UTPA Classic, in another onerun affair that did not go the Bobcats’ way. Texas State will have two chances to return the favor this weekend; Texas-Pan American will also play Oklahoma twice.

While the seventh year of the classic will go on as scheduled, Harrington said this year the most recognizable mainstay of the weekend will be missing.

“The real tradition is the weather,” said Harrington. “This time of year usually brings some great weather, but it looks bad right now.”

Despite the weather condi-

tions and recent canceling and rescheduling of practices, Bushong said he still expects a lot out of the team this opening weekend.

“We have some freshmen and some guys from other schools

and we need to see some young people play,” said Bushong.

“Some will press more than others, and that’s really what we need to find out.”

The plan is a simple one for Hart, though.

“I’m probably just going to go out there and pitch the best game I can,” said Hart.

The coaches are of the same mind as Hart. Harrington and Bushong stressed playing well over winning the tournament, and said they plan to use the weekend as a litmus test of sorts.

“This is a fact-finding weekend,” Harrington said.

Mark Decker/Star file photo GETTING READY: Senior Jason Miranda and the Bobcats play their first game of the UTPA Classic Friday in Edinburg.

lack of diversity in sports media

By Ed Sherman Chicago Tribune

MIAMI — The media is making a big deal out of Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy becoming the first black head coaches in the Super Bowl.

Good. It provides the perfect contrast to an untold story about the media.

In the previous 40 Super Bowls, there has been only one black who sat in the broadcast booth; Greg Gumbel called the play-byplay for the 2001 and 2004 games for CBS. In a sport where more than 60 percent of the players are black, there has never been a black analyst in the booth for a Super Bowl.

That’s stunning, considering the large pool of black who not only are the game’s biggest stars but also are glib and quotable.

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will work this year’s Super Bowl for CBS. Unless the lead broadcast teams for CBS, NBC or Fox unexpectedly change, there won’t be another black person in the booth through at least 2012, the length of the current NFL television contract.

James Brown, a black who is the host of CBS’ “NFL Today,” said when apprised of the facts: “I should not be surprised, but I am.”

The lack of diversity in the media goes beyond the Super Bowl booth. While blacks have prominent roles as hosts and analysts on the various NFL studio shows,

there are only a handful of black play-by-play voices and analysts working NFL games for the networks.

The situation isn’t just limited to television. Scanning the vast pressroom at the Miami Convention Center, you hardly see any black faces. Here’s why: According to an Associated Press Sports Editors racial and gender report card released last June, black men and women make up seven percent of all sportswriters.

Columnist Fred Mitchell is the lone black sportswriter for the Tribune.

Obviously, the media, which critiques the hiring practices of pro sports, has plenty of room to be criticized.

“I always thought our business was worse than pro sports,” said Michael Wilbon, a black sports columnist for the Washington Post and co-host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption.”

“When you talk about those statistics, it does jump off the page at you,” Wilbon said. “Both the electronic and print media use the high-beam flashlight on Major League Baseball and the NFL (for their hiring practices). Maybe it’s time to use that flashlight on our own industry.”

Brown said he did just that when he compiled a report on the Shoal Creek controversy in 1991, which dealt with the exclusionary practice of private golf clubs.

With CBS at the time, he insisted See MEDIA, page 11