02 08 2006

Page 1

FREEWAY FLIRTING

LETTING IT FLY

SEE TRENDS PAGE 5

SEE SPORTS PAGE 10

New Web site allows singles to meet behind the wheel

Stultz keeping it real on the field

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

www.UniversityStar.com

WEDNESDAY

FEBRUARY 8, 2006

Veteran, former professor emeritus passes away at 75

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 51

ONE OF OUR OWN THE YOUNGEST REGENT: Pubic administration junior Francis Bartley was recently appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas State University System Board of Regents. Although he will not hold voting privileges, Bartley can bring student views to the board for the first time.

By Magen Gray The University Star

Texas State University in 1953, he married his wife, Elida. “We met at a dance in New Former Professor Emeritus Braunfels. My mother used to of Education Carlos Gonzalez take me to the dances, and that Rodriguez died on Jan. 28 sur- is where I met him,” Elida Rodrirounded by his family in his guez said. home. In 1961, RoRodriguez, driguez was 75, served at called to active then-Southduty in the U.S. west Texas Air Force, takState Universiing him and his ty for 29 years family around as the director the country and of the Bilinto Okinawa, Jagual Bicultural pan. — Gisela Greco-Llamas Education Rodriguez grant director of earned degrees Program. bilingual education in “He was the education, soul of the bijournalism and lingual educaeducational tion department,” said Gisela administration from Southwest Greco-Llamas, current grant Texas State University before redirector of bilingual education. ceiving his doctorate in curricu“He strongly supported the lum and instruction from the grant-scholarship program and University of Texas at Austin. Bilingual Education Student OrRodriguez began teaching at ganization.” Southwest Texas State UniverRodriguez was born in San sity in 1971 as the grant project Marcos and graduated from San coordinator for bilingual educaMarcos High School in 1948. tion. After serving in the U.S. Army See PROFESSOR, page 4 and graduating from Southwest

e was “H the soul of the bilingual education department.”

Students have opportunity to travel United States with exchange program By Leah Kirkwood The University Star A little-known Texas State program offers students a chance to attend one of 180 colleges and universities across the country with no tuition increase or change of enrollment status. The National Student Exchange program has placed 150 Texas State students in host institutions across the United States and the U.S. territories since 1997. “The only drawback to the program is not enough people know about it,” said Lisa Chrans, NSE assistant coordinator. The program has two in-state tuition payment options. Students can choose to pay either Texas resident tuition while attending another university or pay their host school’s state tuition, which may be less expensive than what they pay to attend Texas State. Shannon Wisner, digital and

photographic imaging senior, said she enjoyed the experience of spending the Fall 2005 semester at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. “I loved the town,” Wisner said. “I felt like I knew everyone in the town even though I was only there a semester.” Wisner spent a lot of time hiking and said the Grand Canyon was only an hour and a half away. She lived in a house off campus with some of her friends from other states. Wisner originally planned to spend the full school year in Arizona while working on her digital and photographic imaging degree, but she decided to cut her trip short because of the school’s curriculum. “It was kind of hard to get used to because the photo program was really communications-based and (at Texas State) it’s art-based, which is more

Stephanie Gage/Star photo Pianist Russel C. Riepe and clarinetist David Pino perform during Celebration of Courage: A Common Experience in the Arts on Sunday afternoon in the Evans Auditorium.

Today’s Weather

71˚/39˚

Texas State student joins university system board By Ashley Richards The University Star A decades-long effort to place a student on each university system board of regents in Texas became an official reality last week when Gov. Rick Perry announced his picks, among them being Francis Bartley, public administration junior, who will serve on the Texas State University System Board of Regents until Feb. 2007. Each of the 10 Texas boards of regents now has 10 regent positions. The newest addition was created with the passing of Senate Bill 934, authored by

Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 31% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: WNW 8 mph

Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, in the 79th Texas Legislative session. The students serving on their university’s board of regents do not hold voting power and they will not be counted to determine a quorum, the number of members needed to begin a meeting. “I’m just grateful the process is working the way that the bill envisioned it to work,” Wentworth said. Wentworth’s initial bill was written to replace one of the original nine regents with a student who would hold equal voting and quorum powers. A majority of the members on the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Educa-

tion opposed the original bill. Once it was rewritten, the student regent bill passed both the House and Senate with heavy support. “I truly believe that the perspective of the students will be a genuine help to the regents,” Wentworth said. Jordan Anderson, Associated Student Government president, said voting power for a student regent is not a forgotten goal. He is satisfied with the student regent position, considering it took many years of effort, but Anderson still believes a student with voting See REGENT, page 3

Police academy offers training courses for residents

See NSE, page 4

MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

Sunny

Monty Marion/Star feature photo

By Anna Heffley The University Star The Citizens’ Police Academy, a free 13-week training course, will begin its spring session Feb. 21. The class is open to anyone who lives or works in San Marcos, is at least 18 years old and has no pending criminal court cases. “The academy is a great (and free) way for the citizens to learn more about their local police department,” San Marcos Police Department Sgt. Bob Klett, supervisor of Community Services, said in an e-mail. Klett said SMPD wants citizens to have a chance to gain a better understanding of the missions and operations of the department. “This class is not only for our supporters, but those who may not be, as we hope to bridge the gaps of communication and

“I

t helps you understand why the police do the things they do and what’s going on in their heads..”

— Justin Hines physics junior

understanding,” Klett said. “We find that our instructors often learn as much about the citizens and their concerns as the citizens learn about us.” Participants will be introduced to the basic skills officers are trained in such as patrol tactics, criminal and narcotics investigation, driving while intoxicated procedures and family violence. The academy is also beneficial for residents, said Justin Hines,

Two-day Forecast Thursday Sunny Temp: 68°/ 44° Precipitation: 0%

Friday Few Showers Temp: 64°/ 43° Precipitation: 30%

a physics junior who completed the course last year. “I would encourage college kids especially to take the class. It helps you understand why the police do the things they do and what’s going on in their heads,” Hines said. Hines said each night focuses on a different division of the police department, like the SWAT team, child abuse investigation and crash investigation. Part of the academy training is a ride-along with a police officer. Hines said this was one of the most exciting nights of the academy. “That’s the most scared I’ve ever been in my life, when a cop looks at me and says, ‘OK, it’s time to find a guy with a gun,’” Hines said. Hines said students get to choose the times they go on the ride-along, and he chose the 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift for the excitement.

Inside

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

Classifieds ......... 9 Comics .............. 7 Crossword ......... 7 News ..............1-4

Opinions ............ 8 Sports .............. 10 Trends ............. 5,6

There are also two optional “hands-on” events on Saturdays. One is a driving course and one is a shooting course. Hines said both are well worth the time. Classes begin at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at SMPD Headquarters. Each class lasts about three hours, and a meal is provided.

To apply, pick up an application at the San Marcos Police Department or fill one out online at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/ departments/police/cpa.htm. For more information, call SMPD at (512) 754-2270.

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2006 The University Star


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