Year one
The football program looks to the future at National Signing Day
Comedian Roy Wood Jr. relieves students’ stress with laughter Wednesday
SEE SPORTS PAGE 8
SEE TRENDS PAGE 4
KNEE
SLAPPING
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM
FEBRUARY 7, 2007
WEDNESDAY
VOLUME 96, ISSUE 51
Faculty, staff debate course removal from core curriculum
BOBCATS TAKE DOWN NO. 1
By Ashley Gwilliam The University Star The Texas legislature mandated in 2005 that Texas undergraduate programs be reduced to 120 hours by the 2008 fall semester, unless the institution determines there is a compelling academic reason for requiring completion of additional hours. The new law has created controversy, as Texas State faculty and staff continue to debate over which course requirements could be subtracted from the current 128-hour degree program that would be the most beneficial, or least harmful, to students. Four faculty committees have been given the task of generating ideas and making recommendations to Perry Moore, provost and vice president of academic affairs. The committees are the General Education Council, the 120 Hour Committee, the Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate. Although the ultimate decision-maker is the provost, who holds responsibility for and authority over the entire academic program, Debbie Thorne, associated vice president of academic affairs, said she wants this decision to be facultydriven. “It is important for the committees to bring perspective because this is a highly complex process,” she said. Moore had recommended four hours be cut from the core, requiring students to take their choice of either English literature or philosophy. In a Nov. 28 letter addressed to Moore by four university professors, Moore was quoted as saying he “strongly recommended” that university seminar and speech communication courses be exempt from consideration. On Nov. 28 the first assigned committee, the General Education Council, recommended leaving the core curriculum as is — but that if hours
Austin Byrd/Star photo OPENING WITH A BANG: The unranked Texas State Bobcats mob senior Jared Bunn after he crosses the plate on a two-out single to left field from freshman Laurn Randell, breaking a 2-2 tie to give the Bobcats the win in the bottom of the ninth.
See PHILOSOPHY, page 3
ASG president expects overwhelming support for Senate Reformation By Paul Rangel The University Star As the next Associated Student Government meeting nears, senators and administrators are gathering information and seeking support for the Senate Reformation legislation, which was tabled Jan. 29. “As we’ve been counting the votes and talking to student senators, it looks to me as if we have overwhelming support,” said Kyle Morris, ASG President. This is after many ASG Sena-
tors engaged in discussion preceding the Jan. 29 meeting; strong opinions were expressed both for and against the proposal. The reformation calls for adding more seats to the Senate and limiting seats to colleges. Fourteen seats would be allocated for on-campus students and 14 for off-campus students. The Residence Hall Association has indicated that the reformation is something they support, and student organizations are in favor of it because it will give them a voice and em-
power them, Morris said. He said that currently the student body only has a voice in the presidential and vice presidential elections. This would create a better chance for competition and more voices to be heard, he said. “I think that the process needs to just play out,” said Vincent Morton, ASG adviser and associate dean of students. “Being part of the student government, there are going to be a multitude of issues that are presented and should be debated.” Joseph Prather, ASG senator
and undecided-professional junior, opposes the reformation, but he said he “could care less” if it passes. “I don’t think it’s going to hurt (ASG),” he said. “It’s just going to add more people.” He said there is an attendance problem with some senators and that adding 20 more will only mean more empty seats. Amanda Oskey, ASG vice president, brought up the legislation in anticipation of voting next week. She said it was an important issue and if it did not work then the Senate could
change it next year. It possibly may be an effort to get more students that are participatory, Morton said. “What we’re trying to do is give more students more avenues to get involved with student government,” Morris said. Students that run for a Senate position may only declare themselves in one classification. However, if they are not elected, those students may opt to apply through the elections committee only if there are vacant seats on the Senate. “I think that you’ll hear a lot
of the points brought up, and the process will move forward and they’ll make the decision as a body,” Morton said. Student government changes every year, much of which is impacted by the leadership, senators and administration, he said. “You probably had a number of senators who enjoyed the art of debate — it wasn’t uncommon for us to be in meetings until midnight,” Morton said. “Senators and administration would do their homework and put everything on the table.”
Western Sudan crisis awareness top Smithsonian director to speak on priority for Texas State organization campus about Black History Month By Chelsea Juarez The University Star A mass genocide is taking place in Darfur, a region in Western Sudan, and Texas State students involved in the Network of Enlightened Women have made creating awareness of the crisis a focal part of their agenda. A philosophy dialogue entitled “Who Will Save the People of Darfur,” and a voluntary fast comprise the group’s agenda. Laura Jamison and Annette Walker, Texas State’s NEW presidents, said the organization has merged ideas with the Common Experience and its theme, “Protest and Dissent,” to start a campus initiative toward Darfur. “It’s amazing that nobody knows about it,” said Walker, nutrition senior. According to the Save Darfur Web site, the region has been entangled in the conflict between the Sudanese government and two rebel groups since 2003, which has claimed at least 400,000 innocent lives and forced more than 2.5 million civilians to seek refuge. As it stands today, more than 3.5 million are reliant on international aid for survival. The rebel groups, called the Sudanese Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, dedicate their efforts to addressing underdevelop-
Today’s Weather
Mostly Sunny 74˚/52˚
Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 66% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: S 11 mph
ment in Sudan and political marginalization. The Sudanese armed forces and its ally, Janjaweed, have retaliated at the civilians and ethnic groups from which the rebels obtain most of their support. “Six to 10,000 refugees die per month,” said Danielle Madsen, treasurer of NEW and mass communication senior. In 2004, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution demanding the Sudanese government disarm Janjaweed, and in May 2006 the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed. Then on Aug. 31, the Security Council authorized a UN peacekeeping force for Darfur. Janjaweed has ignored these actions and continued to commit genocidal crimes with the aid of the Sudanese government. NEW has made an effort to educate by speaking to political science classes, passing out flyers and contacting surrounding schools along the Interstate 35 corridor. “We are working with The White Rose Society in Austin to push the fast on Austin and San Antonio colleges to make this a unified effort to stop the genocide,” said Jamison, mass communication senior. She said the major goals were to have every single organization on campus involved and to See SUDAN, page 3
Two-day Forecast Thursday Partly Cloudy Temp: 70°/ 50° Precip: 72%
Friday Partly Cloudy Temp: 68°/ 48° Precip: 10%
By Karen Little The University Star Historian and educator Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, will present a lecture on “The Continuing Importance of African American History Month” at Bunch 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Flowers Hall, Room 341. The department of history, the University Lecturers Series and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will be hosting the event. The lecture will address the significance of Black History Month and its effect on the nation. “I think part of the notion is asking, ‘why is this month still important?’” Bunch said. “Even my daughters say we live in a world that is integrated.” Bunch said besides being aware of the world we live in, the message will focus on the value of black culture. “It’s about the inspiration, clarity and resilience of African Americans and why it’s more important than ever before,” Bunch said. Jonnie Wilson, assistant director of multicul-
“B
lack history should not be celebrated in just February, but any month of the year.”
—Jonnie Wilson assistant director, multicultural student affairs
tural student affairs, said she is hoping that it will raise awareness. “Black history should not be celebrated in just February, but any month of the year,” Wilson said. Bunch said he believes a good lecture is comparable to a child listening to elders tell stories in the backyard. “As a historian, I believe it is important (to lecture) because it tells who we are as America,” Bunch said. Bunch lectures one-third of every month about the Smithsonian Museum and black history. Bunch has published several books and magazine articles varying from black history to cultural experiences in Japan.
Inside News ..............1-3 Trends ............. 4,5 Crossword ......... 5 Sudoku .............. 5
Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
Comics .............. 5 Opinions ............ 6 Classifieds ......... 7 Sports ................ 8
To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2007 The University Star