02 15 2007

FEARS

FORGOTTEN

Chris Agwumaro faces heights, failure en route to successful season SEE SPORTS PAGE 12

SOULSPEAK

Dead men tell no tales, or so they say…

SEE TRENDS PAGE 5

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 15, 2007

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 55

Texas State gets lawmakers’ attention on first legislative day

By Jason Buch and Nick Georgiou The University Star

Speaker of the House Tom Craddick’s gavel came down shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday when the House adopted a resolution honoring the Texas State University System on its first-ever legislative day.

The system shared the honor, as the State Senate adopted reso-

lutions making Feb. 14 Comanche County Day, Hidalgo County Day and Mission Day. District 74 State Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, whose district includes Sul Ross State University, authored the house resolution honoring Texas State. A similar resolution, authored by District 25 State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, declared Feb. 14 Texas State University System Legislative Day. Texas State is in

Wentworth’s district. Wentworth filed the 2003 legislation that changed the university’s name.

This session, he has filed a bill that would allow schools within the system to create an $8.75 per semester hour athletic fee.

Earlier in the session, Gallego authored a resolution honoring James Ortiz, interdisciplinary studies senior, the track star who lost his leg this summer.

“It’s important for everybody

to know there are more than two large university systems in Texas,” Gallego said. “And that the third system, the Texas State University System, has some schools that have unique learning opportunities for students.”

Representatives from TSUS and its member institutions met at the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin early Wednesday. Administrators, alumni and friends of the system walked the halls of

the Capitol, calling on legislators and their staffers.

Just before the House convened at 10 a.m. Charlie Dromgoole, president of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, stepped into the office of District 52 State Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock. Dromgoole said Krusee has been instrumental in the creation of Texas State’s Round Rock Higher Education Center.

PICKED CLEAN

Legislation for a tuition revenue bond allocating $35 million to RRHEC for a nursing school was authored by Krusee and passed by the legislature during the 2005 special session. Krusee said money must now be appropriated for that bond.

“It’s just a line item in the budget,” he said. “It’s a matter of if it’s there or it’s not.”

See LAWMAKING, page 3

Regents will address graduate programs

By Bill Lancaster The University Star

Monty Marion/Star photo Late shoppers sift through what few Valentine’s Day gifts are left Wednesday night at H-E-B on East Hopkins. After the store’s seasonal aisle was picked over, all that remained was a small selection of candies, stuffed animals and cards.

Bobcat Battalion offers a bit Faculty Senate reevaluating of home in care packages relationship with Sam’s Club

By Karen Little The University Star Beef jerky, issues of Sports Illustrated and powdered Gatorade are a few items that provide comfort for soldiers stationed in the Middle East.

The Texas State Army ROTC Bobcat Battalion has been collecting care packages to send to alumni deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past few years.

Since November, Bobcat Battalion has sent six packages out to former ROTC members.

Cadet Stacy Rader, anthropology senior, has been in charge of the care packages. She tells the staff of 15 senior cadets and cadre, the officers who teach them, what is needed and gives guidelines for collection. The cadets receive a stipend every two weeks for their involvement in the battalion. One item included in the care packages is a personally written message from the battalion.

“We send a thank you note with the care packages for their services,” Rader said. “They get really excited.”

Rader, who has been the organizer since the fall semester of 2006, said the alumni like the cadet battalion t-shirt which is also sent with the care package.

“They are very thankful for the tshirts,” she said. “They usually comment

on how they have changed throughout the years.”

Last fall’s cadet battalion commander, Christopher Morgan, exercise and sports science senior, said they send alumni items reminding them of life back home. Assorted snacks, toiletries and reading materials are all included in the care packages sent to the soldiers.

Morgan said the types of magazines and newspapers they send are meant to inform and entertain rather than offend or bring a bad name to the U. S. Army.

“We are respecting wishes of the soldiers,” he said. “We want to set them up for success rather than failure.”

Morgan was stationed in Germany for two and a half years before being deployed to the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom. After coming off active duty, he came to Texas State and joined the Army ROTC program.

Morgan said they commend the cadet battalion who quickly responds in giving care packages.

“It’s been non-stop week in week out trying to get (the care packages) out,” he said.

The Bobcat Battalion tries to keep in contact with deployed alumni. When a soldier visits the Army ROTC Web site, they can contact the battalion by e-mail or signing the guestbook. This has created a positive response in regards to the

Today’s Weather

Partly Cloudy 46˚/24˚

Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 44% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: N 13 mph

See ROTC, page 3

Two-day Forecast Friday Sunny Temp: 56°/ 39° Precip: 0%

Saturday Sunny Temp: 64°/ 36° Precip: 10%

By Scott Thomas The University Star The Faculty Senate discussed Wednesday whether or not Texas State’s relationship with Sam’s Club, the sister company to Wal-Mart, needs to be reevaluated. Controversy was stirred after a Sam’s Club business membership sign-up for faculty employees was held Feb. 7 at JCK. Senators were worried that allowing business membership sign-ups on campus would make Texas State affiliated with Sam’s Club.

“We don’t know the policy right now — it’s something I’m looking into,” said William Stone, faculty senate chair and criminal justice professor. “We’re looking for what sort of screening policy there is and what businesses we can agree on.”

Questions of Wal-Mart’s and Sam’s Club’s treatment of employees were also brought up during the meeting, and if Texas State wished to support these businesses.

“There’s such an outcry about WalMart, not just their human rights, but about destroying small town America,” said David Wiley, faculty senator and health, physical education and recreation professor. “It’s atrocious.”

Only Texas State employees were allowed to apply for a Sam’s Club busi-

ness membership, and the memberships were only allowed for tax-exempt purchases for official school use.

“It seems a little icky, even if it provides a service,” said Mary Brennan, faculty senate vice chair and associate professor of history.

A sign-up for Sam’s Club memberships was held because the store will be opening in San Marcos on March 8.

Though no official decisions were made at the meeting, Stone said that he would investigate the matter with the human resources department.

Discussed later on in the meeting was a potential drug and alcohol testing policy for faculty and staff, an idea that came from human resources department. It was proposed by Stone that the policy not be put on the agenda and be sent back to human resources for changes. Stone also said he believed that the policy was for staff that would operate heavy machinery as opposed to teachers and faculty. No date has been set for the policy to go to any deans’ offices.

The first order of business for the night was a faculty handbook revision policy proposal. After the faculty handbook went unchanged for several years, the Senate passed a decision that the handbook committee will go back to their previous schedule of updating it every two years.

When the Texas State University System Board of Regents meets in Austin Thursday and Friday, the primary focus will be on the legislative session a few blocks away.

Regent Don Flores said the regents wanted to make sure that the TSUS did not get lost in the shuffle between Texas and Texas A&M, two of Texas State’s main competitors.

“We just want to get our story out,” Flores said. “We want to make sure we don’t lose programs that are vital to our universities and communities.”

The campus representatives will meet with legislators representing university districts.

They will also meet with legislator on the higher education committee.

Mark Hendricks, assistant director of the University News Service, said Denise Trauth, Texas State president, Joanne Smith, vice president of student affairs, Perry Moore, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Bill Nance, vice president of finance and support services, will attend the board meeting.

The focus for Texas State administrators will be on construction projects that are in various stages of planning and completion. Funding for these types of projects usually comes in the form of tuition revenue bonds. Also, in a Feb. 8 faculty Senate article in The University Star, Trauth told the Senate her priority would be to keep tuition deregulation in place.

Additional money to operate the university must come from somewhere, Flores said. Any money not provided by the state will have to be provided by students and their families.

“It’s with tuition or from making more grants and scholarships and loans available to students,” Flores said.

Also on their agenda is the addition of a new master and doctoral program and the purchase of property from the Comal Independent School District for the new KTSW tower, Hendricks said.

Dan Schumacher, KTSW General Manager, said the new tower would enable the station to expand power from 10,500 watts to 50,000 watts, which would allow a stronger signal within the present broadcast area.

“I am confident that they will approve it,” Schumacher said.

“If we are able to build a tower on that spot and put a new transmitter on that spot, it will eliminate dead (air) spots in San Marcos.”

Inside News ..............1-4 Trends .............5-8 Crossword ......... 8 Sudoku .............. 8

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

Comics .............. 8 Opinions ............ 9 Classifieds ....... 10 Sports ......... 11,12

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 15, 2007

starsof texas state Ron Walter, professor and endowed chair for chemistry and biochemistry, has been conducting research for more than 20 years. He has completed research for dozens of agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Walter has worked at some of the most prestigious research-oriented universities in the nation.

In 1988, he chose to move to Texas State because, as

Walter put it, this school is here for the students.

Research and working to receive the big grants is one thing, but to do the research and get the grants when it involves students is something entirely different. Walter decided that he wanted to do what is going to have the most significance in his life, and that is working with students.

— Courtesy of Media Relations

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

Academic Atrium THURSDAY Texas State men’s basketball will play Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7 p.m. at Strahan Coliseum.

“Protest and Dissent: Religion and Civil Rights in the African American Community,” a part of the Texas State Common Experience program, will be presented at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Student Center.

Andrea Powell, Texas State Honors Alumna and Cofounder of FAIR Fund, will be having a showing of MTV EXIT: End Exploitation and Trafficking 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall Teaching Theater.

The Residents Hall Association will host a town hall forum 9 p.m. in the LBJ Teaching Theater. This will be a forum for students to voice their concerns about the dining halls and dining service.

Career Services will hold a workshop, “Beyond the 1st Interview: How to ‘Land’ the Job You Want!” in the LBJ Teaching Theater 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Jonathan Pliego at (512) 245-2645 or e-mail jp55@txstate.edu Meditation/Contemplation will be from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Campus Christian Community Center. For more information, e-mail Micah Robbins at mr1235@txstate. edu or call (512) 878-2036.

The Catholic Student Organization will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the lounge of the CSC. The Rock - Praise & Worship will be at 7:30 p.m. in the CSC chapel.

Overeaters Anonymous meets at 5:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St. Call (512) 3572049 for more information.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room 320. There will be contemporary worship, relevant teaching and prayer.

Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call (512) 557-7988 or e-mail mail@texasstatechialpha.com Career Services will conduct a “Virtual Internship Fair” online at Jobs4Cats. For more information, call

CRIME BL TTER

Jonathan Pliego at (512) 245-2645 or e-mail at jp55@txstate.edu.

University Police Department Feb. 10, 3:18 a.m.

Assist Outside Agency/Cabana Beach Apartments An officer came in contact with a non-student who was having a verbal disagreement with others. A San Marcos police officer arrived at the scene and took over the investigation.

FRIDAY Texas State baseball will play Texas A&M –Prairie View 6:30 p.m. at Bobcat Field.

International Education Fee Scholarship application deadline is 5 p.m. For more information, call the Office of Study Abroad Programs at (512) 245-1967.

Deadline for “Square Off Against Cancer,” is 5 p.m.

All proceeds from the Four Square Tournament will go to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, whose main goal is saving children’s lives. Each team must have four members and pay an entrance fee of $20.

Applications can be turned in at the Campus Activities desk.

Career Services will conduct a “Virtual Internship Fair” online at Jobs4Cats. For more information, call Jonathan Pliego at (512) 245-2645 or e-mail at jp55@txstate.edu.

Saturday Texas State women’s basketball will play Texas-San Antonio 2 p.m. at Strahan Coliseum.

The Alumni Association Scholarship Gala 2007 will be 5:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.

For ticket information call (512) 245-2371 or visit www. txstatealumni.org/.

MONDAY The Sexual Assault and Abuse Survivors Group will meet from 5 to 6:15 p.m.

For more information and a screening call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.

An on-campus Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, call the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center at (512) 245-3601.

The Alcohol and Drug Resource Center will hold the weekly Men Against Violence meeting 5 to 7 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3-6.1.

Alpha Lambda Omega Christian Sorority will hold its weekly Bible study 8 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-13.1.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Feb. 10, 3:25 p.m.

Criminal Mischief Under $500/ Riverside Apartments An officer was dispatched for a report of criminal mischief. A nonstudent reported his car had been vandalized. This case is under investigation.

Karen Wang/Star photo David Jackson, accounting junior, studies at the Academic Atrium located at the fourth floor of McCoy Hall. The atrium is a quiet area for students to study.

Feb. 10, 5:11 p.m.

Alcohol: MIP/College Inn An officer observed a student in possession of alcohol. Upon further investigation the student was found to be a minor and was issued a citation.

Documentary examines Texas water resources AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will air its latest video documentary about water resources, Texas the State of Springs, Thursday evening on Public Broadcasting Service stations statewide.

Three PBS stations have changed scheduled airtimes for the documentary. KTXT-Lubbock and KCOS-El Paso will both air it at 9 p.m. local time.

KAMU-College Station will air the documentary at 7 p.m. All other Texas PBS stations will stay with plans to air the program at 8 p.m. CDT.

Broadcast news legend Walter Cronkite will again lend his voice to this latest project, as he did for TPW’s last water-resource TV documentary Texas: the State of Water-Finding A Balance in 2005.

Texas the State of Springs examines the historical decline of springs across the state alongside current groundwater and land use issues impacting spring flow. The film explores how groundwater pumping and water marketing in rural areas affect springs, as well as how proper land management can enhance

and restore spring flow. Texas the State of Springs also shows how conservation easements and land acquisitions protect key elements of watersheds, and concludes with information to help urban homeowners have a positive impact and dramatically reduce water bills through native-plant landscaping and other conservation measures.

The documentary is made possible in part by funding from Shell Oil Company, with additional support from patron sponsors The Partnership Foundation and supporting sponsors the Guada-

lupe-Blanco River Authority and Lower Colorado River Authority, with support from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and public television viewers.

PBS stations based in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Lubbock, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Midland-Odessa, Harlingen, Killeen, Waco and Austin have all committed to air the documentary Thursday. See local listings for station cable and broadcast channel numbers.

tion at the top of the main page.

Creating an account allows you to create a profile for scholarship searches and save test results when working through practice exams, among other functions.

College Search allows you to search for two and four-year colleges, colleges with distance-education programs, programs for international students and baccalaureate nursing programs.

The Basic College Search will limit searches by categories most important to you: location, type, and size of school, level of selectivity, student body, degree programs and campus-life activities and organizations. This section also has an option for setting up a profile for a Scholarship Search. Once your profile

is set up, the database will run a search of all available scholarships and resources that match your preferences.

Graduate Search works similarly to College Search, but is more specific to graduate programs, law programs, MBA programs, distance learning programs and graduate nursing programs. This section also has a Graduate Scholarship Search similar to the one under College Search.

Specialty and Career Program Search explores programs available in vocational schools, career colleges, information technology programs, nursing programs, executive education programs and private secondary schools.

Probably one of the most in-

teresting parts to this database is the Test Preparation section, where students can find the latest editions of various exam study guides for TOEFL, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, ASVAB and many others. Each test allows you to access the most current edition available of the study guide as well as take practice tests. Results of practice tests can be saved if you set up a login account through the database.

Questions about using the database may be directed to the reference desk at (512) 2452686, or to Ask A Librarian Live at askalibrarian.library.txstate. edu.

—Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife

Library Beat Library offers database for college searches, resources Looking for information about other colleges? Need money to pay for college or assistance studying for the GRE? The Testing and Education Reference Center is an online database available from the Alkek Library that can help. The database is also accessible to Texas State and Round Rock Higher Education Center students off-campus via their Texas State username and password.

From the library homepage, www.library.txstate.edu, click on the databases link, and then find the database alphabetically under the letter “T.” The database has a login op-

—Courtesy of the Alkek Library

Philosophy Dialogue Series ends Thursday The Philosophy Dialogue Series for Spring 2007 will wrap up its discussion forum on “Philosophy, Poetry and Love” with a final presentation Thursday in the Psychology Building.

The Philosophy Dialogue Series is presented in conjunction with philosophy dialogue, an upper division course where students have the opportunity to discuss various Western philo-

sophical topics.

Paul Wilson, coordinator, said the series are a vital part of the Texas State community and an excellent opportunity for students to take part in dialogue.

“It is unique because we have the lectures every day of the week at different times through each day,” he said. “Just the idea of taking a break from class to attend and going to these lec-

tures on any day of the week, it is a unique way of presenting the series because it promotes involvement.”

Monday, the series presented “Pornography: An Academic Subject?” and “The Voice of Eros.” Tuesday, students were welcomed to attend “Plato’s Lessons of Love” and “Are Computers a Threat to Privacy?”

Wednesday, Diann McCabe,

assistant director of the Mitte Honors Program, presented “Children and Poetry.” The series closes at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Psychology Building, Room 132 with “Beyond Romeo and Juliet: The Self in Love.”

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Paul Wilson at (512) 245-2285.

—Courtesy of Media Relations

NEWS

Thursday, February 15, 2007

ROTC: Items help soldiers

in Iraq feel closer to home CONTINUED from page 1

care packages, Morgan said.

“Cadet Russell created the Web site this year and a lot of alumni have responded to it,” he said. “There has been 100 percent improvement since he took over.”

When alumni e-mail comments about the Web site, it goes to Maj. Glenn Moore, professor of military science.

Moore was also deployed in 2003 to Operation Iraqi Freedom for 14 months collectively. “(We) want to show our past cadets that Bobcat Battalion still cares for them,” Moore said. “To show we still have them in our thoughts and prayers.”

He said it heightens the morale of soldiers when they receive a package from their former ROTC Battalion. They come to the Web site to write about their experiences and are asked to come speak with the cadets. The battalion learns of other members through alumni already contacted. Moore said the care packages have been a big success with alumni stationed in the Middle East.

They have had many positive responses, he said.

Moore also said wet wipes are a valuable commodity on the missions. During the Iraqi invasion of 2003, the bulk of his company went 22 days without a shower. Wet wipes are essential in those given situations because they can be a substitute cleanser when none are available. The soldiers called them “white bricks of gold.”

Inside care packages Magazines Newspapers Powdered Gatorade Kool-aid Wet wipes Beef jerky Shampoo Conditioner Razors Shaving cream Bobcat Batallion T-shirts, hat and mugs Thank-you notea for their services

“Anything you can imagine a person would want on a camping trip (is what goes in the care package),” he said.

Moore said items hit close to home for the alumni and reassures them they are cared for.

“Your loyalty to your school means a lot,” he said. “They wear the hats at night or they will wear their shirts to the showers, it’s something to remind them of home.”

Moore said if students choose to participate in putting together the care packages, they should contact his secretary, Sylvia Ferrer-Ledesma, who can arrange for items to be picked up. Anything they would like to donate can be offered to the program.

“If someone knows of a San Marcos soldier (who is deployed) to donate to, we would be glad to send it,” Moore said.

“A soldier is a soldier.”

For more information, call Sylvia Ferrer-Ledesma at (512) 245-3232.

Accord allows North Korea to keep nuclear weapons

By Tim Johnson McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

BEIJING — Now that North Korea has agreed to shut down and seal its nuclear facilities within 60 days, the hardest challenge ahead may be ridding the country of all of its nuclear weapons, several analysts said Wednesday The accord signed Tuesday in Beijing compels North Korea to list all of its nuclear facilities, weapons and atomic fuel stockpiles but doesn’t require it to hand over bombs immediately.

That would come in a later phase.

“I don’t see how the North Koreans would be willing to give up the weapons they’ve already produced,” said Ruediger Frank, a scholar on North Korean issues at the East Asian Institute of the University of Vienna in Austria.

The problem, Frank said, is that nuclear monitors don’t know precisely how many bombs Pyongyang has.

“If you read those CIA reports, they say ‘six to eight.’

But which is it? Six, seven or eight?” Frank asked. “You don’t really know for sure.”

U.S. officials say they think that North Korea has reprocessed about 110 pounds of plutonium for use as material in nuclear bombs, but they acknowledge that the estimate is based on extrapolating from the reprocessing of fuel rods at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, which the country now has pledged to shut down and seal.

Under the accord signed by North Korea, South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the U.S.,

North Korea will allow monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to return to the country and verify the shutdown of its nuclear facilities.

Still to be seen is how much access North Korea allows the monitors, and whether Pyongyang seeks to retain control of some weapons-grade nuclear material.

“There’s going to be some inefficiencies in the reprocessing, so they could fudge it a little bit,” said Daniel A. Pinkston, a Korea expert at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, Calif.

Among those to complain was John Bolton, a former Bush administration insider who left his post as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations only a few weeks ago.

“It sends exactly the wrong signal to would-be proliferators around the world, (that) if you hold out long enough and wear down the State Department negotiators, eventually you get rewarded, in this case with massive shipments of heavy fuel oil,” Bolton said on CNN. Some other North Koreawatchers agreed that the deal could encourage troublesome states to arm themselves in hopes of a big payout.

“From now on, both Pyongyang and assorted ‘pariah states’ will know how to treat the U.S. and by extension the world community,” Andrei N. Lankov, a North Korea expert teaching at Seoul’s Kookmin University, said in an e-mail interview. “They will know that: A. Blackmail pays if supported by really threatening acts; B. This payment arrives very fast.”

The University Star - Page 3

LAWMAKING: Attention focused on nursing school, engineering program CONTINUED from page 1

The system’s schools set up kiosks in the ground-floor rotunda of the Capitol. Yamilet MedinaLopez, undergraduate admissions counselor, sat at the Texas State kiosk and was the only representative on hand. Medina-Lopez said it is important to push the creation of a nursing school and expansion of engineering curriculum. She said the idea was to bring issues important to TSUS to everyone’s attention.

“We’re trying to attract legislators or just people in general,” Medina-Lopez said. “I’ve talked to some legislators, lobbyists, high school students, (Capitol) personnel — a little bit of everything.”

Associated Student Government President Kyle Morris, economics senior, and Vice President Amanda Oskey, electronic media junior, were the only students to attend the event on behalf of a TSUS school. Morris said the event was a success, but he would have liked to see more students involved.

“Students are the consumers of the product,” he said. “I think the representatives and senators want to know what the students think and what we have to say.”

Despite the low student turnout, Morris said the day was an important step for the system.

“This day was more about system recognition,” he said. “It was about putting the Texas State University System into the minds of the representatives and senators.”

Donna Howard attended her first meeting Monday as a member of the House’s Higher Education Committee. Howard served during the 2005 special session after defeating Republican Ben Bentzin in a special election to fill the District 48 seat. The Austin Democrat said it’s important for universities and colleges to make their needs known to legislators.

“I’m not sure it’s the day so much as it is important for people who are part of the system, especially students, to come talk with

legislators,” Howard said. “To hear how the things we’re doing here impacts you is important.”

Howard said making college affordable is a top priority of the legislature this session. She said to expect some sort of legislation curbing the cost of tuition, something she called tuition stabilization.

“Even the universities are indicating their support of (tuition stabilization),” Howard said.

“They want to be sure the state lives up to its end of funding. It’s very similar to public education; over the years the state’s share has become less and less.”

The state needs to make sure public universities have enough money to provide a good education, without making the costs too high, she said.

“We need to give the schools a chance to resolve funding issues, but I think the state has been abdicating its responsibility,” Howard said.

Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, co-authored legislation with Krusee during the last legislative session, which provided an additional $46 million in tuition revenue bonds for Texas State.

Those bonds have also been approved and are awaiting appropriation, and Rose said he expects the money to be made available this session.

Rose said he supports the school of nursing in Round Rock.

He wants to promote an engineering program and help Texas State’s River Systems Institute.

Rose described the work done by the institute, which develops and promotes river management and conservation, as “among the best in the world.”

Rose said work done by students at Texas State has been successful in helping legislators understand issues that affect the system. He cited last session’s addition of a student to the board of regents and this session’s tax-free textbook push as examples. Rose also said keeping tuition costs down is something he wants to work on this session.

“We’re working on filing a bill

that would freeze tuition, providing the state increases funding every biennium,” he said. “We need to keep tuition low. We can’t let it rise any more and we need to increase the state’s investment.”

Gallego said having a day for TSUS to make its needs known

to lawmakers in both the Senate and the House will bring it the necessary attention.

“The system will have its will,” Gallego said. “We have 181 people involved in conversation and we have until the end of the session to do so.”

Legislation affecting Texas State University System students this session SB 161 Filed by Jeff Wentworth, RSan Antonio Would allow schools in the system to create a $8.75 athletic service fee per semester credit hours for regular semesters and $4.40 for summer semesters. The fee must pass a student referendum to be imposed.

• Texas State students have already approved fee.

• Texas State’s Associated Student Government is expecting the bill to include an amendment that would allow a majority-student committee to decide how to allocate the money collected from the fee.

HB 1418 Filed by Lois Kolkhorst, RBrenham Prevents the TSUS Board of Regents from changing the name of Sam Houston State University.

HB 956 Filed by Scott Hochberg, DHouston Places restrictions on the cost and sale of textbooks by university-affiliated bookstores, including: • Faculty cannot require students to purchase textbooks that will not be used.

• Students cannot be required to purchase textbook editions in print for fewer than three years, with certain exceptions.

• Schools must post a list of required textbooks on their Web sites.

• University-affiliated bookstores can sell course materials in a bundle only when they adhere to specific guidelines.

• University-affiliated bookstores cannot penalize students for returning opened bundles of course materials if all other conditions of the return policy are met.

HB 1434 Filed by Patrick Rose, DDripping Springs Creates a tax-free textbook holidays spanning from the second Monday in August to the second Sunday in September and Jan. 1 to Jan. 31.

SB 49 Filed by Judith Zaffirini, DLaredo Creates tax-free textbook holidays spanning from the second Friday in August to the second following Sunday and the second Friday in January to the second following Sunday.

Experts: Afghanistan could become next Iraq

By Ron Hutcheson McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

WASHINGTON — While President Bush and Congress argue over Iraq, experts warn that Afghanistan could slip back into chaos.

U.S. commanders are bracing for a spring offensive by Taliban insurgents that will test the staying power of the fragile U.S.backed Afghan government.

In a sign of the administration’s concern, President Bush will deliver a speech Thursday highlighting plans for a dramatic increase in military and economic aid, but skeptics fear that the renewed focus on Afghanistan may be too little and too late.

“We have our finger in the dike because our resources and attention were turned toward Iraq,” said Rep. Joe Sestak, DPa., a former Navy admiral who served in both conflicts. “This is the real front in the war on terrorism. It’s a daunting task, more daunting than it had to be because we let the opportunity

almost slip away.”

Administration officials and U.S. military commanders agree that Afghanistan is grappling with potentially crippling challenges. Five years after U.S. troops ousted the Taliban regime and its al-Qaida allies in retaliation for the Sept. 11 attacks, Afghanistan is still embroiled in war, terrorism, drug trafficking and instability.

The government of President Hamid Karzai has a shaky hold on power; the Taliban and al-Qaida continue to launch attacks from their haven along the Afghan-Pakistan border; and opium production has increased dramatically. Attacks by Islamic extremists spiked last year, making 2006 the deadliest year since the U.S. invasion.

“A point could be reached at which the government of Afghanistan becomes irrelevant to its people, and the goal of establishing a democratic, moderate, self-sustaining state could be lost forever,” Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, the former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, told

the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

Government officials and outside experts agree that the biggest threat isn’t a Taliban military takeover, it’s the possibility that the Karzai government could collapse and leave a void for Islamic extremists.

“The Taliban are not going to roll on a tank column into Kabul.

They are weak militarily. But the government is very weak politically. Even some small symbolic victories by the Taliban could lead to a political crisis,” said Barnett Rubin, an Afghanistan expert at New York University.

The crucial test could come this spring as the thaw opens snow-packed mountain passes.

This year, U.S. officials want to meet the annual Taliban offensive with their own, to shore up Karzai’s government.

Bush has asked Congress for $6.7 billion in emergency funding to help train Afghan security forces and rebuild the country, the first installment in a $10.6 billion package for Afghanistan over the next two years.

Until now, U.S. aid to Afghanistan has averaged less than $3 billion a year.

The Pentagon also plans to add about 3,200 more troops by delaying the planned departure of units that had been scheduled to come home. Administration officials are also pressuring NATO allies and Pakistan to do more to help protect the fledgling Afghan government.

The U.S. has about 27,000 troops in Afghanistan, with about 16,000 assigned to a multinational NATO force. U.S. allies have contributed about 20,000 troops, but many of them are under restrictions that prevent combat operations.

The president will promote his plans Thursday to the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

“We’re taking a comprehensive approach. It’s a question of building the security, but also building the government and building the economy,” said Richard Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for the region.

Page 4 - The University Star

NEWS

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Richard Michael Pruitt/ Dallas Morning News MAKING A RUN: Comedian and author Al Franken attends the first night of the Democratic National Convention July 26, 2004. Franken declared Wednesday he would run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

Comedian Al Franken throws his hat into the Senate race

By Dane Smith McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) MINNEAPOLIS — Comedian, author and liberal talk-show host Al Franken declared his candidacy Wednesday for the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Norm Coleman, ensuring that the 2008 race will be more entertaining than usual and more closely followed by the national media.

Franken at the opening of his statement confronted the central question he will face in the early going — whether a life-long comic should be taken seriously.

“Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical about whether I’m ready for this challenge and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I’m asking you to give me,” Franken said in a video message on a campaign Web site launched Wednesday afternoon.

“I want you to know: Nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state,” Franken said. “And over the next 20 months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously.”

Offering personal stories about his childhood in Minnesota and about how his father and other family members were able to survive and thrive with the help of federal education and Social Security programs, Franken said “your government should have your back. That should be our mission

in Washington, the one FDR (President Franklin D. Roosevelt) gave us during another challenging time: freedom from fear.”

Republican Party officials and conservative web loggers have been issuing pre-emptive attacks on Franken for weeks, focusing on some of his more outrageous skits and statements, and his role in recent years as a scathing critic of President Bush and other conservatives.

“Given his blind partisanship and extreme anger, Al Franken is the last person Minnesotans need in the United States Senate,” Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said in a statement before the announcement. “While Sen. Norm Coleman continues to work with all sides for the betterment of our state and nation, Franken offers Minnesotans nothing but polarization and vitriolic personal attacks.”

Franken talked about his candidacy on the last half-hour of his last show on Air America, a progressive talk-radio network he helped found almost three years ago, and which recently was sold after it went bankrupt.

With Election Day more than 20 months away, Franken is the third Democrat to declare. Trial attorney Mike Ciresi, who ran in 2008, and Dick Franson, a frequent candidate for high office who has not won an election since serving on the Minneapolis City Council in the 1960s, have also said they intend to run. Many other Democrats have expressed at least some interest.

TRENDS

weekendhappenings

THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Lucy’s San Marcos – Rich O’Toole

Lucy’s San Marcos – Kallisti Gold/ Navin’s Thermos

Lucy’s San Marcos – Raditude/Bermuda Briss/ 3 & 97

Triple Crown – Subtle Creeps/ The Standing Few

Triple Crown – The Carnys

Triple Crown – Ethereal Architect/Breach Cheatham Street Warehouse – Wade Bowen

Thursday, February 15, 2007 - Page 5

Cheatham Street Warehouse – Grant Ewing Band/ Doctor G and the Mudcats

Cheatham Street Warehouse – Monte Montgomery

Trends Contact — Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Fulton Read, Adelin,The Quinns will rock George’s

By Laura Jamison The University Star

Students will receive a hearty dose of multiple rock genres Thursday at George’s.

The live music night, hosted by the Student Association for Campus Activities, will be 8 p.m. Thursday. Students can bob their heads to piano pop with Fulton Read, get into a frenzy with Adelin’s high-energy melodic rock or simply leave Photo courtesy of Fulton Read with a smile on their face listenTHE MIDDLE GROUND: Self-described “power ing to the mellow reggae of The pop” band Fulton Read will round off the lineup.

Quinns.

Anthony Erickson, pianist and vocalist for Fulton Read, said their music is invigorating and it sounds like Ben Folds’ piano-driven sound.

“There is no denying that we Photo courtesy of www.onadelin.com are piano-pop or power-pop,” ErREADY TO ROCK: Rock band Adelin will perform ickson said.

The group started two years 8p.m. Thursday at George’s. ago and is in the process of recording a new album that should be complete in can young people; so we have mid-March. bridged the gap,” Hogarth said.

“We went in one direction playing guitar for a The band uses a variety of while and now we are coming back to piano … we brass and wind instruments. wanted to go forward with our sound,” Erickson “We use horns, saxophone and said. bass. We bridge genres like ska, The group is also committed to spreading their reggae and rock. Our group is music. multi-faceted and multi-talented,” “We want to do this full time, and a tour in the Hogarth said. summer,” Erickson said.

Alfredo Ramirez, lead singer Erickson said his lyrics are about life and being for Adelin, said their music is observant. so high-energy that people have “We hope everyone has a good time when they rushed the stage before. listen to our music. We want them to enjoy their “We are high-energy melodic Photo courtesy of The Quinns lives,” Erickson said. rock and we have a nutty stage SLOW IT DOWN: The Quinns offer smooth reggae.

Dylan Jones, bass player for The Quinns, refer- presence … we play anything to enced Sublime to describe their sound. keep you moving. If you can’t “Our music has a mellow vibe to it,” said Jones. move we don’t like it,” he said.

Brad Hogarth, trumpeter for The Quinns, said Adelin recorded an album this summer called ReFYI they play feel good music that’s influenced by art- unite, Bleed, Fight and they hope to build on their ists such as Bob Marley and CAKE. regional fan-base.

“One thing is that we are always energetic. We are Ramirez said the music is about grabbing your To find out more about these bands and hear on the happy side, and easy to listen to,” he said. passions, and having fun listening to the band. their music, check out: Hogarth said their music caters to a large audi“If you are just watching, it is not that fun. I grew ence drawing in both younger and older listeners. up around bands and the ones that wanted to get www.onadelin.com/ “It’s different because older people can relate. We crazy were the ones that were fun,” Ramirez said. www.thequinnsmusic.com/ kind of remind them of Chicago and Earth, Wind According to Ramirez, the band brings so much www.myspace.com/fultonread and Fire because we use horns and stuff like that. energy that it is nothing like anyone’s ever seen at 75-year-old people can relate to our sound and so George’s.

✯

SOULSPEAK: Where the dead live

By David Conrad The University Star Editor’s note: Soulspeak is the fictional prose and poetry writings of math sophomore David Conrad. In an effort to promote creative writing and the arts, Soulspeak will be a regular section in The Star. These are not news stories.

It’s said that dead men tell no tales, but that’s a lie.

People don’t listen with their hearts. Ever since I was little, I could hear them as I went with my mother to visit my grandmother’s grave. It frightened me at first, but after listening, I realized they just wanted someone to listen to their story. So many people, so many stories and no one to hear them.

Dead men tell no tales.

That’s why I pass them on.

This is Soulspeak.

Robert White 1955-2003 It was funny how she began to remember the poem as she tiptoed back up the stairs.

Word by word, line by line, stanza by stanza, the poem she thought she had forgotten found a way back into her memory.

“Words, they’re just words,” she continued to tell herself as she gripped the broom tighter and tighter until her knuckles were bleached.

One day, when she came back from shopping at the local Kroger’s, she found an envelope taped to her door.

She peeled it off and opened it, taking out the paper inside. Written on it in beautiful old English calligraphy was a

simple love poem: Your body, that quivers with my every touch.

Your face, shining like the sun, glowing like the moon.

Your skin, cool to mine like an icy kiss of wind.

For mine hands only.

Your voice, seducing me as it crawls through the air.

Your words, awakening that fire in the depths of my soul.

Your breath, intoxicating as it reaches down my back.

For mine ears only.

Your perfume, those sweet, sweet roses every time you pass.

Your hair, those black locks, the smell of midnight in them.

Your clothes, their scent wrapping around me with your arms.

For mine nose only.

Your name, sweet candy that rolls off the tongue.

Your kiss, igniting fireworks deep in my heart.

Your neck, that forbidden fruit I long for.

For mine lips only.

Your eyes, my twinkling stars on cloudy nights.

Your smile, a light that breaks through all dark.

Your body, a heaven that walks upon my earth.

For mine eyes only.

And your love, for mine heart only.

She gave a loving smile, wondering how her husband was able to sneak in and deliver the note without her finding out. It wasn’t until she seriously asked herself that question that she began to worry. He was on a business

trip in Ohio. Why would he come back to Oregon to tape a poem to the door, and then go back to Ohio? Why not just mail it? Maybe she would ask him when he returned the following week. But wait… what if he didn’t write the poem? What would he say?

How would he take the fact that some random man just gave her some love poem?

What would he do? She took one last look at the poem, and then crumpled it into a ball, throwing it into the kitchen trashcan as she walked into the house.

So now, after a full month, she crept up the stairs toward that second story door where she had heard the ruckus above her just minutes before. She had been See SOULSPEAK, page 6

Alumna to discuss human trafficking, receive award

By Maira Garcia The University Star Andrea Powell always aspired to do bigger and better things before she ever entered college.

Her mother, Phyllis Powell, who retired earlier this year from working with the Texas State Air Force ROTC program, said her daughter was always ambitious with her studies. When she was a senior in high school, she was already taking courses at Texas State.

“When she was 15 years old, she asked me if she could go to summer school so she could graduate a year early. We said no,” Powell said. “Then she said, ‘What if I work and pay for myself to go to college?’”

Powell said she doubted her daughter initially, but when she got a job at Golden Corral and saved up $600 to pay for classes, she knew Andrea had drive. It was her enrollment in her first classes with political science associate professor Theodore Hindson and geography professor James Petersen that inspired her future work.

Andrea Powell will visit Texas State from Thursday through Monday to discuss her international organization FAIR Fund, which engages young women in activism and bettering their lives by stopping human trafficking, show the film MTV EXIT—End Exploitation and Trafficking and receive the Walter Richter Humanitarian Award from Alumni Affairs.

Phyllis Powell said her daughter began FAIR Fund while she was in Boston working for EcoLogic Development Fund.

“She learned a lot when she was working for EcoLogic and said ‘I could do this,’” Powell said. “She was working full time and doing FAIR Fund part time. After her husband graduated from Harvard, she decided to do it full time.”

Diann McCabe, assistant director of the Mitte Honors Program, who is coordinating Andrea Powell’s visit, nominated her for the Walter Richter award.

“The work she has done has raised awareness of human trafficking and sex trafficking. People are aware of it now and it has people talking about it,” McCabe said. “I’m proud that a student from (the Honors) Program is doing this work.”

Political science professor Robert Gorman taught Powell in a couple of courses.

He said he has regular contact with Powell and is proud of her work.

“When students are drawn to an activity they teach, it makes a professor feel pretty good. As the old saying goes, teachers bask in the reflective glory of their students,” he said.

Gorman said Powell was able to learn about non-governmental organizations through her studies as an international relations major and through internships in Europe. He said Powell’s initiative and energy makes her a great role model for other students.

“Her grassroots kind of work is providing skills to educate and get awareness of trafficking and extract these women from the environments they’re trapped in,” Gorman said.

Andrea Powell will discuss human trafficking 7 p.m. Thursday in Centennial Teaching Theater.

“I hope everyone will come to learn about (human trafficking). It’s interesting and scary,” Phyllis Powell said.

✯ FYI Andrea Powell will lecture at a Philosophy Dialogue 11 a.m. Monday.

She will also be honored at a reception by the Mitte Honors Program at 5 p.m. in the Lampasas Building.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

TRENDS

The University Star - Page 6

Denis Johnson to hold book reading, screen film

By Clara Cobb The University Star German-born, internationally raised Idaho resident Denis Johnson said he has been enjoying the Central Texas weather.

Johnson came to Texas State in fall 2005 to perform a book reading.

He said he liked the atmosphere so well, he knew he wanted to work as an associate visiting professor.

“San Marcos reminds me of Austin a long time ago,” Johnson said. “I begged them to let me come.”

Currently, Johnson holds the Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Endowed Chair in Creative Writing.

He will read from his novel Jesus’ Son Thursday and show a screening of the film Tuesday.

Writing, like any process, gets easier with time, Johnson said.

He said the best part of his job as a writer is being his own boss, not really feeling as though he is working and being able to create.

“In recent years, I spend a great deal of the day doing it,” he said. “There are not a lot of more exciting things to do now that I am older.”

Michael Noll, Katherine Anne Porter House Writer-in-Residence, said Jesus’ Son, Johnson’s most famous work, was named

by The New York Times as one of the most important books of the last 25 years.

“It was also made into a film starring Billy Crudup and Jack Black,” Noll said. “The film was named one of the ten best of 1999 by the New York Times.”

He said the book is short and can be read quickly.

“The most famous story from the book is ‘Emergency’ which is often anthologized and read by students in creative writing and literature classes,” he said.

Johnson has won a Lannan Literary Award, a Whiting Writers’ Award, and the Aga Khan Prize for Fiction from The Paris Review for his work Train Dreams.

“I started out as a poet, began writing short stories then novels,” he said. “I just finished a novel, and I have (more recently) started writing plays.”

Johnson is the author of six novels, a novella, five collections of poetry, one work of non-fic-

tion, and numerous plays.

“It’s the one thing I really know how to do,” he said. “Everything else I am still an amateur at.”

✯ FYI Where to see Denis Johnson: A display All day Thursday on the second floor of Flowers Hall A reading 3:30 p.m. Thursday at The Southwestern Writers Collection in Alkek Library A film 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Southwestern Writers Collection in Alkek Library A play 8 p.m. April 13. Location TBA. For more information regarding Denis Johnson and his work, visit www.english.txstate.edu/ mitte/.

SOULSPEAK: LOVE IS REUNITED CONTINUED from page 5

downstairs, grabbing a few cookies and a glass of milk while her husband finished up in the shower. She heard the bedroom door open and close, followed by shuffling of feet. It didn’t bother her much until she heard the thump.

She looked above her, listening to the ceiling as it moaned.

There was a crash, then silence.

Feeling uneasy, she reached for the kitchen broom propped in the corner with her eyes still on

the roof.

Now she was at the top of the stairs. She took a step for the door.

For mine hands only.

She pushed the door open with the broom’s bristles. It creaked open with an unforgiving sound.

For mine ears only.

She poked her head into the room. A cold breeze wafted though the shattered window.

For mine nose only.

She stepped into the room.

She looked to the floor.

For mine lips only.

It was all over.

For mine eyes only.

She gave out a shriek and clutched the broom close. Still, no shriek could drown out the final line that ran through her head. There it was, scribbled on a scrap of paper that was held to her husband’s body by the knife someone had stabbed through his chest.

And your love, for mine heart only.

TRENDS

Thursday, February 15, 2007

The University Star - Page 7

Dance company, faculty, students take part in annual showcase

By Michael Lee Gardin The University Star Music and performance come together this weekend at the visually stimulating Dancers in Flight.

The department of theatre and dance will host a performance by the Orchesis Dance Company 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Evans Auditorium.

LeAnne Stedman and her colleagues at Texas State founded the Orchesis Dance Company in 1980. The performance, Dancers In Flight, is an annual concert that takes place every spring and showcases the dance company, faculty members and other students. Dancers In Flight will include eleven

different pieces of jazz, improvisation and modern dance.

This spring, Orchesis is trying something different by showcasing three pieces choreographed by Orchesis members.

Khoi Le, dance and accounting senior, is the artistic director of the Orchesis Dance Company. Among other accomplishments, Le has recently been accepted into the Professional Training Program for the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.

Le will perform the solo titled “The Unedited Me,” which he choreographed. Le said Orchesis is trying new things this year.

“Normally, we only have one

information.

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 on the seventh floor of Alkek Library.

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 at 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.

George’s Live Music The Student Association for Campus Activities will host George’s Live Music Night, featuring Adelin, The Quinns and Fulton Read.

The show is free and begins at 8 p.m.

Hecho en Tejas: Celebrating Texas Mexican Literature The Hecho en Tejas exhibit displays a comprehensive selection of books, photographs and literary excerpts reflecting the Mexican-American experience in Texas. The exhibit is in conjunction with the anthology on Texan Mexican-American Writers, Hecho en Tejas: an Anthology of Texas Mexican Literature.

The exhibit is located in the Southwestern Writers Collection on the seventh floor of Alkek Library.

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.

Denis Johnson reads at Southwestern Writers Collection Denis Johnson, associate professor and Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Endowed Chair in Creative Writing, will read at the Southwestern Writers Collection, located on the seventh floor of Alkek Library. A book sale and signing will follow.

The event is free and begins at 3:30 p.m.

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.

The exhibition is located in the Witliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican photography on the seventh floor of 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

Religion and Civil Rights in the African American Community This roundtable discussion examines the history of protest and dissent as it has developed in American society, specifically in regard to civil rights and social justice for African American citizens. Invited speakers are Bishop John J. McCarthy and Mr. Nelson Linder, the current president of the Austin chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The event will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Catholic Student Center.

Andrea Powell and MTV Exit: End Exploitation and Trafficking Andrea Powell, Texas State honors alumna and co-founder of FAIR Fund, will introduce MTV Exit: End Exploitation and Trafficking. Powell will lead a discussion following the film.

The event will be at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall Teaching Theater.

TV SCHEDULE for Channels 17 &19 Feb. 15 5 p.m.

6 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 20 5 p.m.

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

Feb. 21 5 p.m.

6 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Entrepreneurship: Cindy Matula ASG Student Senate Meeting Entrepreneurship: Susan Dawson Zilo: Week 7 2006 Hour 1 (Ch. 17 only) French in Action Lesson 7 French in Action Lesson 19 Tibetan Monks Zilo: Week 8 2006 Hour 1 (Ch. 17 only) ASG Student Senate Meeting Ballet Folklorico Octohtli de SWT

long piece and this year we decided to cut it up into three pieces and have two officers lead each piece,” Le said. “We have two modern pieces and for the first time ever we have a jazz piece.”

Le also said the audience can expect three important pieces that will eventually be judged and critiqued.

“The three pieces that are going to the American College Dance Festival are being shown here at Dancers In Flight,” Le said.

Rachael Gillespie, pre-international studies freshman, will perform a modern piece at Dancers in Flight. Gillespie said she is very excited about the performance.

Beyond Romeo and Juliet: The Self in Love Student presenters and the philosophy dialogue class perform this dialogue, which closes the discussion forum “Philosophy, Poetry and Love.”

The dialogue will be at 11 a.m. in the Philosophy Dialogue Room in the Psychology Building, Room 132.

“We have been working on this for a long time,” Gillespie said. “Expect a great show.”

April Olsen, pre-healthcare administration freshman, will also perform. Olsen said she is excited about the event because it will be her first time performing since she was with her high school dance team.

“I know it is going to be a great show and I know that there are some solos and duets that are going to be really amazing that are done by our officers. They are just really great dancers,” she said.

The event costs $5 at the door, with a reception at Evans Auditorium following the Saturday performance.

Jennifer Williams/Star photo LIMBERING UP: The Orchesis Dance Company stretches Wednesday before practice for the Dancers in Flight show, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Evans Auditorium.

tographs by Graciela Iturbide Cheryl Parish Graduate Voice Recital Cheryl Parrish, graduate student of Juli Wood, assistant music professor, will perform her voice recital. The event will be at 8 p.m. in the Music Building recital hall. Admission is free.

MONDAY

FRIDAY

Lonesome Dove Revisited

Lonesome Dove Revisited

Hecho en Tejas: Celebrating Texas Mexican Literature

Hecho en Tejas: Celebrating Texas Mexican Literature Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Dancers in Flight The Orchesis Dance Company will perform Dancers in Flight, a three-part concert.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at Evans Auditorium. Cost is $5 at the door.

SATURDAY Lonesome Dove Revisited Hecho en Tejas: Celebrating Texas Mexican Literature Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Dancers in Flight Clutter-Busting Nancy Wesson is a professional organizer and feng shui consultant who will help jumpstart efforts to sort, clear and manage clutter.

The workshop will be held at 10 a.m. in the San Marcos Public Library.

SUNDAY

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Eyes on the Prize Series - Part V & VI Eyes on the Prize, a 14-episode documentary on the American Civil Rights Movement, aired in two parts on PBS. Episode VII, titled “The Time Has Come (1964-1966),” documents Malcolm X’s movement and Stokely Carmichael and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s move from “Freedom Now!” to “Black Power!.”

Episode VIII, “Two Societies (19651968),” focuses on Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) move north to help Chicago’s civil rights leaders.

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

A Reception for Andrea Powell Texas State and Honors alumna Andrea Powell, Co-Founder of FAIR Fund, will be honored with a reception by the Mitte Honors Program. The FAIR Fund is an international organization that centers on ending gender violence and engaging young women in politics.

The event will be held at 5 p.m. in the Lampasas Building, Room 407.

Lonesome Dove Revisited

TUESDAY

Hecho en Tejas: Celebrating Texas Mexican Literature

Lonesome Dove Revisited

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Pho-

Hecho en Tejas: Celebrating Texas Mexican Literature

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Protest and Dissent Exhibition This exhibit in Gallery I of JCM is relevant to the Common Experience theme “Protest and Dissent,” and provides a survey of artists and work using art as a vehicle for social commentary.

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.

Linnea Glatt – Fibers Dallas sculptor Linnea Glatt is known for mixed media sculpture that is minimalist in nature. This exhibit includes 2-D and 3-D work. Glatt will give a lecture on her art at 11 a.m. in JCM, Room 2121 and take part in an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m.

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.

WEDNESDAY Lonesome Dove Revisted Hecho en Tejas: Celebrating Texas Mexican Literature Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Protest and Dissent Exhibition Linnea Glatt – Fibers Common Experience Event: Zoot Suit This film stars Edward James Olmos, featured speaker for the Fall 2006

Common Experience. Luis Valdez, who also spoke on campus, directed the film.

Zoot Suit is the film version of Valdez’s play, and is based on the Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the 1940s zoot suit riots in Los Angeles.

The film will show at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building recital hall.

Move Over Mrs. Markham Move Over Mrs. Markham, directed

by Richard Sodders, professor in the department of theatre and dance, is a British sex farce that will have you rolling in the aisle. The Markhams find themselves trying to hide amorous goings-on while frantically attempting to sign a well-known writer to a big publishing contract.

The play will be held on the Mainstage in the Theatre Building at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for students.

Secondary Functions: A Way to Navigate Through Keys Dimitar Ninov, lecturer in the school of music, will give a lecture entitled “Secondary Functions: A Way to Navigate Through Keys.”

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

Music at the Library Trio Del Rio features local artists MariLisa and Tanner Swain. Joining them is Mary Ann Price, a former member of Asleep at the Wheel, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks and The Kinks.

They play an eclectic blend of jazz, blues and alternative country.

The band will play at 7 p.m. in the San Marcos Public Library.

Page 8 - The University Star

✯Star Comics

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Thursday, February 15, 2007

RIX’S

TECHNOLOGY Don’t let the leash of cell phones get any tighter

Let’s talk cell phones.

As far back as I can remember I never really liked cell phones. I was given one BILL RIX when I was Star Columnist 16. I fought it as long as I could (about five minutes), because to me, a cell phone was just another way for my parents to find out my whereabouts whenever I was trying to have fun. And if my friends wanted to talk to me and I wasn’t at home, too bad. That’s just how it worked.

Since then, I’ve tried off and on to get out from under the burden of owning a cell phone.

Unfortunately, because of my job and the long-distance relationship I have with the people who pay my bills, there’s no avoiding one. I don’t really like people being able to get hold of me that easily — it just bothers me. But since it’s an unfortunate fact that I will have one anyway, I’ve found more to dislike about cell phones other than them being a virtual leash.

Let’s begin with the phones themselves. After I mistakenly left my cell phone in a restaurant last semester, I was faced with the daunting task of choosing a new one. The last time I bought a phone was in 2004, and al-

though I have seen a steady barrage of commercials advertising the glitz and social prestige of cell phones the sizes of matchbooks that have multi-megapixel cameras and full-color displays, I was still caught unaware when I stepped into a Cingular store late last year.

When it comes to phones, I’m easy. I want a phone that can deliver crystal-clear calls. I need an alarm clock so I’ll know when to wake up or check laundry or do whatever, and I must have a way to back up my contacts, something I can usually accomplish through third-party hardware and software.

I don’t want, and definitely do not need, a color screen; nor do I require a camera on my phone.

I’ve seen the pictures people take on their phones.

I also don’t need a music player. I am concerned with the preoccupation everyone has with having to listen to music almost every waking hour. In any event, if I wanted to listen to Gravediggaz on the way to class, I’d purchase an iPod or an iRiver or something similar that was made for the job.

Therefore one can imagine how hard it was for me to choose a phone. Fortunately, I found a utilitarian Nokia cheapo that so far has gotten the job done. With that phone, however, came the second part of this tirade: a new

FIXES

contract. I don’t like contracts.

No one I know likes contracts.

They make me suspicious of the person or company that wants me to sign. A contract, to me, is an excuse for an entity to do whatever it wants (that part is in the small print) — in the case of cell phone companies, provide shoddy call-quality, poor customer support, and baffling monthly bills – and then charge me whenever I want to leave.

That’s why TracFone and other prepaid wireless providers are an attractive and reasonable alternative; if I don’t like the quality or the service, I can just leave. Not so with the big guys. Also, I can’t find the same phones everywhere I go, and this is just beyond me. It’s so fundamentally irritating and deceptive that I wonder why people put up with it.

Sure, you can buy ‘unlocked’ phones, but they are often prohibitively expensive, and doing it yourself can be a bit of a chore.

There’s also no guarantee an unlocked phone will work with any given provider, so that leaves little hope for the lay user. I know most won’t get what I’m complaining about here, and I understand. I know life’s all good when you can listen to Fallout Boy and text friends about the next drink-a-thon and what have you, but sometimes a phone is just a phone.

SU DO KU

© Pappocom

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

Wednesday’s solutions:

Wednesday’s solutions:

OPINIONS T INFORM YOURSELF onlineconnection

THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Do you agree with Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order requiring school girls to get an HPV vaccination? Go to www.UniversityStar.com to vote in our online poll. Results will be published in next Thursday’s issue of The University Star. *This is not a scientific poll

Thursday, February 15, 2007 - Page 9

Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

hursday marks one

of the last days of Na-

tional Condom Week, but the celebration should not be limited to seven

days out of the year. We

still find ourselves needing more dialogue that educates people on the

Practicing safe sex should not be limited to just a week

subject of sex.

In Tuesday’s Main Point about Black History Month, The Star pointed out that as journalists we must do a better job of covering pertinent events yearlong, and not just on designated days, weeks and months. In return, we should all do a better job of understanding the world around us. This applies to National Condom Week. One week should not be the only time of the year to promote safe sex.

In 1948, Alfred Kinsey published the first-ever comprehensive study on sex. It is no surprise that a nation only 60 years into having an awareness of sexuality is still lost in such matters. That is why National Condom Week celebrates awareness and education of safe sex.

Recently, Gov. Perry passed a law that all girls must have an HPV inoculation before entering 8th grade, unless their parents choose to opt out for conscience or religious reasons. Since then, many Texans have been up in arms. But forcing Texas’ young girls into the HPV vaccination will not be a pass to free love and unprotected sex. If anything, this is a leap forward for such a conservative state.

Currently, 20 million people are infected with HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it is well known that STIs are most prevalent in 18 to 24 year olds.

These issues affect college students.

And safe sex is nothing new for mankind. The earliest known illustration of a man using a condom was painted on a wall of a cave in France, according to Planned Parenthood. It is expected to be 12,000 to 15,000 years old. Condoms have been used since the 16th century and yet 78 percent of teenage pregnancies are unintended. Yet, we too often don’t know how to talk about or use condoms.

Learn to make educated choices. Condoms are not 100 percent safe. They will not prevent the contraction of 100 percent of STIs, and they will not prevent 100 percent of pregnancies. They do, however, give you a much better chance of not contracting an STI or causing an unwanted pregnancy. Be aware of your options on campus. The Student Health Center is available for appointments concerning possible STIs and pregnancies.

It’s important that you test yourself for these things and be aware of your responsibilities as an adult.

It’s no secret that college students are having sex. For some college students, it is the official entry into the adult world.

Don’t limit safe sex to this week. Make every week condom week.

Online Poll Results Required Philosophy

D

Top 10 percent rule does more good than harm

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

This is in response to Jennifer Fricks’ Feb. 8 letter to the editor. Fricks made the argument that people on The Quad who voice controversial (and oftentimes insulting) opinions should not only be allowed to do so, but students in disagreement should be discouraged from voicing their opinions back at them. I find this to be quite a conundrum. How can a person support the free speech of one person and discourage it from others?

Just because a person has the “conviction” to stand up in front of a group of students and vocalize their thoughts doesn’t mean their opinion outweighs another person’s. Freedom of speech has two sides to it.

The preacher has the freedom to preach his or her message, and the opposition has the freedom to retort. I have yet to agree with the views of any “Quad preacher” I’ve seen. For example, I support homosexual marriage, but I also support a person’s right to shout their disagreement. If I support their right to disagree with me, I must also support anybody else who may disagree with them.

As far as behavioral issues go, I don’t find it personally gratifying to yell back at The Quad preachers, and I don’t find it particularly productive either.

I can only speak for myself, though, and anyone who may think otherwise can do what pleases them without worry of my rights imposing on theirs.

Think you have something to say?

Log on to www.universitystar.com and click on the letters link to read old letters and submit new ones.

Pat Stark/Star illustration

The University Star

Free speech includes right to disagree

Matthew Erickson music senior

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.

The Texas original bill aimed to give House has filed more high school stutwo bills to in dents the opportunity to regard to the continue their education. current the Rangel believed it would state’s top 10 encourage students to be percent rule in more motivated in high an effort to fix school if they could enviovercrowding in BRANDON SIMMONS sion a better future for Star Columnist some universithemselves. ties and colleges.

The students graduating in The current law allows all the top 10 percent did not get high school seniors graduatthere by gathering volunteer ing in the top 10 percent of hours, but by academically betheir class guaranteed admiting some of the best in their tance into any state college or class. That can cause conflict university of their choice. because not all schools are The top 10 percent rule is a the same in terms of class good idea despite the fact that size and possible curriculum. it can lead overcrowding of Schools in urban areas have certain universities. larger graduating classes than Some graduating high schools in small towns. school students don’t always When the sizes of high fill requirements of SAT and schools in small towns are ACT scores or they fail to woo looked upon, they may not colleges with a plethora of be taken seriously as a larger volunteer hours and extracursize school. Those reviewing ricular activities. This rule the applications may think gives them a chance to get of the top 10 percent of that into the university of their school as less significant choice based on the criteria because there are not many of grades. Most importantly, people in the smaller school the late Rep. Irma Rangel’s and their percentile numbers

Letter to the Editor

are so small. Being from a smaller-sized school is not the student’s fault, so they shouldn’t have to face being rejected from a college or university based on that.

If the top 10 percent is eliminated, then there is a chance it could reduce diversity. Diversity is not just meeting someone from another race or country, it also involves meeting someone from a different background such as social or economical.

If students graduating at the top of their class of any high school their high school class wants to attend a prestigious institution such as University of Texas or Texas State, then the opportunity should be available. Texas needs to make sure its universities and colleges make efforts to be more diverse if the top 10 percent rule changes.

Plus, if this rule is taken away, students may be less likely to get into any college that they would want to attend. Suppose a student came from an area where

Editor In Chief...................................Jason Buch, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor.........................Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor..............................Nick Georgiou, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor....................Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor...................................Monty Marion, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor..................................Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

the local colleges are below par in terms of curriculum.

They should have a choice to go somewhere that they can to get the best education as possible. It is without a doubt that they will pay for it.

The new bills may have some good ideas behind them, but not too many. It appears that it is going to hinder more than help by taking away opportunities for young people to attend some of the best universities and getting the best education that they can.

Everyone deserves a chance to attend a college they want to and should jump on the opportunity when it arises. Especially when they reach the top 10 percent of their class, because it is very difficult to make that type of accomplishment. It would be a worthy award for hard work and perseverance. So introducing these bills may seem fair, but it really isn’t.

Brandon Simmons is a premass communication junior

Copy Desk Chief................Sydney Granger, starcopychief@txstate.edu Design Editor..........................Michael E. Perez, stardesign@txstate.edu Systems Administrator.............Chris Jeane, starsysadmin@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator......................Jodie Claes, starad1@txstate.edu Advertising Sales Manager....................Lindsay Lee, atlas@txstate.edu Account Executive...........................Jackie Pardue, jp1271@txstate.edu

Currently, Texas high school students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class may be admitted to the state college or university of their choice.

The proposed changes: HB 400: This bill would change the Top 10 percent rule to the top 7.5 percent of a student’s high school graduating class if a student graduated during or after the 2007 through 2008 school year.

Bill’s author: Rep. Tony Goolsby Last history of bill: referred to House Higher Education Committee on Feb. 1 SB 101: This bill suggests that a public institution of higher education would not have to admit more than 50 percent of an incoming freshman class under the Top 10 percent rule. State colleges and universities would have to offer admissions to all students of the same percentile.

Bill’s author: Sen. Florence Shapiro Last history of bill: referred to Senate Subcommittee Higher Education on Jan. 29

Source: Texas Legislature Online

Account Executive.....................Krystal Slater, ks1429@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

o you agree with the Provost Perry Moore’s recommendation to scratch philosophy from the core curriculum but keep university seminar and speech communication exempt from consideration?

Yes

73% No

19% Not sure/I don’t know

8%

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

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 15, 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.

�LASSIFIEDS ���������� C THE ����UNIVERSITY �����������STAR ����

��������������������� ad policiesand costs

Thursday, February 15, 2007 - Page 10 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - Page 33

All classified ads are charged 20¢ per word. Ads may be emailed to starclassifieds@txstate.edu.

Check your classified ad for accuracy. Any changes must be made by the second day of publication.

The deadline for all classified ads is noon two business days prior to publication. Classified ads must be paid in advance unless credit has been established. Refunds will only be given when a classified ad has been paid by credit card. The Star reserves the right to refuse, edit, and discontinue any classified ad at any time without prior notification. Classified ads will be edited for style purposes. Classified ads that do not note heading, will be put under the appropriate heading. All classified ads are published free, on-line at www.universitystar.com. Since this is a free service, posting is not guaranteed. While The University Star attempts to screen ads for misleading claims or illegal content, it is not possible for us to investigate every ad and advertiser. Please use caution when answering ads, especially any which require you to send money in advance.

E-mail starclassifieds@txstate.edu Email Classifieds Classifieds at starclassifieds@txstate.edu

FOR RENT

FOR RENT-APTS

$495, 1BA/1BD, ON TSU SHUTTLE. FREE internet. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

1BD/1BA, $450. 4-PLEX, 500 SQ. FT. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. $410 EFF., DOWNTOWN & CLOSE TO TSU. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

2BD/1BA HOME with stove and refrigerator, on 5 acres, 6 miles from San Marcos. $600 per month plus deposit.

Call (512) 357-6271 or (830) 660-0787.

APARTMENTS & HOUSE NEXT TO CAMPUS: 1BD, 2BD, 3BD, house.

Wooden floors, upgraded. Roommate matching available (for 2BD, 3BD, house), $275-$375 per room.

(512) 757-1943. Available January, May, August.

NEXT TO CAMPUS-BALCONES APTS. 1BD, 2BD, 3BD, roommate matching. Pre-lease for May or Aug. Now updated w/ wooden floors and ceramic tile. Economical with bills included. Most rooms $300-375.

1BD/1BA with electric, cable and Internet, $620. (512) 392-2700.

2/1 WALK TO CAMPUS, $625/mo.

Most bills paid. (512) 738-6882, agt. $0 APP. $0 DEP. $199 total movein. 1bd/1ba, $475; 2bd/2ba, $570.

Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

LARGE ROOM W/ SEPARATE ENTRANCE. $200/mo. plus light chores. (512) 353-3224.

4BD/2BA, $279 P.P. Most bills paid.

Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

BEAUTIFUL 2BD/2BA AND 2BD/1BA in downtown San Marcos with parking. Call (830) 609-6162 or (830) 832-4914.

4 BD, $340 pp, hardwood floors, all bills paid. (512) 738-6882, agt.

3BD/3BA, $675/mo., on the river, w/d, hardwood floors. (512) 738-6882, agt.

APARTMENT IN WIMBERLEY. Spacious 2BD/1BA, 1,000 sq. ft., built in 2002, with fireplace, large kitchen, balcony, sunset hill country views, and free health club membership, available ASAP. Ideally suited for professor, married couple or grad student who appreciates beautiful, quiet, serene surroundings. Quick easy access to Austin and San Marcos, near RR12 on RR3237. $750/mo. Call (512) 560-6761, e-mail ironsarah@aol.com. $785 PRE-LEASE NOW FOR 5/20 OR 8/20. 2/2.5 townhouse, 3 blks. from TSU. Free HBO, Free Road Runner, Full Size W/D, Small, Clean & Quiet Community. www.windmilltownhomes.com for floor plans & prices. (512) 396-4181.

APARTMENTSTOGO.COM. Free list of apartment prices and amenities or visit our office on The Square!

(512) 353-FREE. 4BD/4BA, $350 A MONTH. Internet/ cable w/ HBO/phone/trash pd. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. $575, 2BD/2BA, 810 SQ. FT. $200 OFF 1st month rent. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

FOR RENT-APTS NOW PRE-LEASING FOR MAY ‘07 AND AUGUST ‘07. Call Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

AWESOME DEAL! 2BD/2BA, 974 SQ. FT. $696. W/D included. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

ALL BILLS PAID! 1, 2, 3, 4 bedrooms available. W/D included. Walk to school. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

MOVE-IN TODAY!!! $785 2/2.5 townhouse, 3 blks. from TSU. Free HBO, Free Road Runner, Full size W/D, Small, Clean & Quiet Community www.windmilltownhomes.com for floor plans & prices. (512) 396-4181.

FOR RENTCONDO/TOWNHOMES 736 CENTRE. Extra large 2BD/1.5BA for $750/mo. Water/waste water paid. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call Legacy (512) 665-3321. $785 PRE-LEASE NOW FOR 5/20 OR 8/20. 2/2.5 townhouse, 3 blks. from TSU. Free HBO, Free Road Runner, Full Size W/D, Small, Clean & Quiet Community. www.windmilltownhomes.com for floor plans & prices. (512) 396-4181.

FOR RENT-DUPLEX $765 2/2 DUPLEX, 3 BLKS. FROM TSU. Pre-leasing for 5/20 or 8/20.

Free HBO, Road Runner, Full size W/D, Small, Clean & Quiet Community. www.windmilltownhomes.com for floor plans & prices.

(512) 396-4181 208 UHLAND. Recently Renovated.

2BD/1BA for $550. Water and trash paid. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call Legacy (512) 665-3321.

2BD/1BA, $500, walking distance to river, TSU, HEB and the square. Call for info 353-3733 334 CRADDOCK. 3bd/2BA REDUCED to $900/month. On the shuttle. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call Legacy (512) 665-3321.

FOR RENT-DUPLEX FOR RENT: 3BD/3BA DUPLEX with W/D, cable, internet & phone.

(512) 422-0903.

FOR RENT: 3BD/3BA DUPLEX with W/D. (512) 422-0903.

FOR RENT-HOUSES FOR RENT: NEW 3BD/2.5BA HOUSE in Kyle at Plum Creek.

(512) 422-0903.

2BD/1BA, CENTRAL AIR AND HEAT. Fenced backyard. $650/mo.

Available Jan 1. (512) 396-1717

FOR SALE MINIATURE DACHSHUNDS for sale in time for Easter. (830) 708-0586. (830) 627-1000.

ATTENTION: DIVERS For Sale: Two Sherwood Regulators, Gauges, BCs, male/female wet suits, weights, Luxfer tanks price to sell.

(210) 416-0946.

PIANO FOR SALE. Good condition. $200. (512) 353-3224.

HELP WANTED SEMEN DONORS NEEDED! $150 per specimen, healthy college students age 18-39. For application go to www.123donate.com.

WANTED: SUMMER STAFF The C Lazy U Ranch in the Colorado Rockies has positions available for individuals who can work until Aug. 19 or later. Applications available online www.clazyu.com. Questions call Phil (970) 887-3344.

EARN $250+MONTHLY AND MORE to type simple ads online. www.DataAdEntry.com THE SAN MARCOS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT needs energetic individuals to work Spring Break Madness Camp (March 12-16, 2007). Hours are 7:30am-5:30pm. Call Jessica Jenkins at (512) 393-8283 for more information or to set up an interview. Application deadline is Feb. 16. E-mail: Jenkins_jessica@ci.san-marcos.tx.us ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN for calendars, greeting cards, etc. $75-200/ hr. No exp. needed, (512) 684-8296.

THE TICKET SPORTS GRILL. A fantastic new restaurant in New Braunfels now hiring all positions. Apply in person at 1042 IH-35 N, Monday-Friday, 10-4.

HIRING TEMP POSITIONS @ WALMART IN SAN MARCOS. Please apply inside the store!

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

!BARTENDING! Up to $300/day.

No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK. (800) 965-6520 ext. 157.

NURSERY WORKER for Sunday mornings and occasional weekday events for Wimberley United Methodist Church. Background in Early Childhood studies preferred, but not required. Call church office (512) 847-3109, 9am-1pm Mon.-Fri. to obtain an application and to arrange for an interview.

WEB DESIGNER/DEVELOPER, secretarial, correspondence flexible hours, decent pay. Email exp. resume: via www.texasarabianhorses.com or call (512) 353-3477 or (210) 367-7842.

CRAIG O’S PIZZA NOW hiring day/nighttime delivery drivers. Apply within. 690 Centerpoint Rd. (512) 558-2220.

WIMBERLEY ATHLETIC CLUB FRONT DESK POSITION. To work set schedule, 20 hrs. weekly, $6 hr. to start, in exchange for professional on the job training with clients who have health, fitness, sports conditioning, post surgical, and medical exercise needs. Ideally suited for kiniesology, physiology major looking to develop into a full time professional fitness trainer upon graduation. E-mail resume to Ironsarah@AOL.com and call (512) 560-6761.

SECURITY OFFICER. Hill Country Resort. FT/PT. (830) 660-5959.

ATTRACTIVE, ATHLETIC, ARTISTIC models for creative photography: portrait, figure, fashion.

Apply at www.nabilcronfulphotography.com.

(210)367-7842.

LOCAL BUSINESS LOOKING TO FILL SEVERAL FT/PT POSITIONS. Duties will include light office work.

Please call (512) 805-0209 for more information.

DOMINO’S PIZZA EQUALS GREAT PIZZA, GREAT VALUE, GREAT PLACE TO WORK. We are now hiring for management positions.

Looking for additional income or a career change. We have flexible hours, paid vacation, a referral bonus, and a great 401 retirement plan. Please call (512) 392-3030.

EARN MONEY OVER SPRING BREAK and potentially secure a Summer Job. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is HIRING Outgoing, Enthusiastic, and Motivated applicants for Visitor Center Positions which can include Tour Guides. Apply in person, 7 miles west of IH-35 on FM 3009.

HELP WANTED WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, 3:30 P.M.-6 P.M., M-F. Call (512) 357-9911 or come by Second Step.

SWIM INSTRUCTOR - PT Tom’s Dive & Swim is seeking energetic, selfmotivated, and friendly individual to teach swim, Indoor Pool. Experience required. E-mail resume to Warren@TomsScuba.com or Phone (512) 451-3425.

LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE WORKING WITH CHILDREN, CDA preferred or working on child development courses. P/T and F/T employment M-F only, hours will vary. Call (512) 351-7280 or e-mail mcdirector_25@hotmail.com.

DORMITORY RESIDENT ASSISTANTS. Need male and female Dormitory Resident Assistants at San Marcos Academy, a private Christian school. Must enjoy working with 7th-12th grade students in a Christian environment. Positions may include room and board plus an hourly wage.

Contact Kris Spillers at (512) 753-8004 or spillersk@smba.org.

COLORADO DUDE RANCH SEEKS SUMMER WRANGLERS. We are looking for individuals with an equestrian background, western riding skills and outgoing personalities. The job includes room/board, monthly salary and post-season bonus. Contact Megan Dugan at info@tumblingriver.com or www.tumblingriver.com CLEAR SPRINGS CAFE is now hiring Grill cooks, Fry cooks and Line servers for night and weekend shifts.

Must have great communication and organization skills and experience in fast-paced, high-voume cooking. Starting wage from $8.50-$11.50/hr. Insurance and vacation pay avail. Apply in person at: 1692 Hwy. 46 S. (3 miles off IH-35) New Braunfels, TX. MOBILE DJ. Plan, Coordinate and Execute a variety of entertainment.

Design, Facilitate and Motivate, fun and dancing. No experience necessary. (210) 496-3535.

SPANISH TUTOR NEEDED FOR SPANISH 1420. Will pay. Call (858) 232-7868.

WEEKEND DISCIPLINE COORDINATOR. Need Weekend Discipline Coordinator to supervise weekend work/discipline details at San Marcos Academy, a private Christian school.

Must enjoy working with 7th-12th grade students in a Christian environment. Contact Kris Spillers at (512) 753-8004 or spillersk@smba.org.

VET TECH WANTED. Experience required. Fax resume to (512) 392-7297.

LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENTS WANTED for the #1 apartment locating service in San Marcos, Apartment Experts. Full and Part time available. Call Greg @ (512) 805-0123.

LOOKING FOR A FUN AND EXCITING JOB THAT IS FLEXIBLE? Well, check out Wonder World Park!

Now hiring tour guides. Apply in person at 1000 Prospect St. or call (512) 392-3760.

CLEAR SPRINGS CAFE is looking for outgoing, energetic hostesses.

Must have great communication and organization skills and know how to keep a smile going all day. Starting wage from $7.50-$9/hr. Apply in person at: 1692 Hwy 46 S. (3 miles off IH-35) New Braunfels, TX.

DIRECT CARE POSITIONS: Are you wanting a career where you help people? Brown-Karhan Healthcare is looking for individuals to work with brain injured or psychiatric residents.

Positions available in the Dripping Springs area (25 miles SW of Austin).

Looking to fill primarily weekend shifts. Pay begins at $8.50, but commensurate with experience and education. Candidate must be 21 years of age, have satisfactory driving record.

Drug screening and criminal background check required. Benefits may include health insurance, dental, vision, PTO, mileage reimbursement and 401(k). If eligible there is a sign-on bonus of $200. Please contact Kerri (512) 894-0701 ext. 219, or fax resume (512) 858-5104 or e-mail kalvis@brown-karhan.com. Please visit our website at www.brown-karhan.com.

F/T MANAGER POSITION WIMBERLEY ATHLETIC CLUB, open 7 days a week. Must have exer. phys., kinseology degree. Salaried position plus additional personal training revenue. Send resume to Ironsarah@aol.com, and call (512) 560-6761.

DESIGNER FRAGRANCES-TANGER OUTLET MALL. Now hiring part-time sales associates for mornings, nights and weekends. Call (512) 392-7086 for more information.

HELP WANTED! Adobe Cafe in New Braunfels is now hiring waitstaff, hosts, and bussers for all shifts. Please apply in person M-F between 2-5 pm @ 124 S. Business IH 35.

EVENT FACILITY SEEKING PT setup/break-down operations assistant including light to medium labor. Dependability Required. Friday-Sunday Availability preferred. E-mail APruet@thewinfieldinn.com / (512) 268-1420

MISCELLANEOUS BOBCATSNEEDJOBS.COM. Paid Survey Takers needed in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

2007 EXPANSION Attention students Positions Available •$13 Base Appointment •Flexible Schedules •Customer Sales/Service •No Experience Needed, will train •All Ages 17+ •Conditions Apply Call today (512) 392-7377 www.workforstudents.com

SERVICES SPECIAL OCCASIONS SEWING. Call (830) 372-1672 or (210) 902-6130 and leave msg.

WWW.STUDENTATTORNEY.COM

SUBLEASE TAKE OVER MY LEASE! $469/mo plus electricity. HUGE bedroom.

(817) 689-5450.

TAKE OVER MY LEASE ASAP. February paid. $400 per month all utilities included. Has pool, fitness and computer lab. Call (512) 618-8136.

TAKE OVER MY LEASE. Very spacious 3BD/3BA, three blocks away from campus. $350 mo. plus 1/3 of utilities. Lease ends in August. Call Tyler at (361) 701-6271 please leave message or e-mail tw1105@txstate.edu.

WANTED USED CARS, TRUCKS, VANS. Any condition, running or not. If you have something to sell please call Willis Mitchell. (512) 353-4511.

NEEDING MODELS FOR FUSE HAIR EXTENSIONS. Service is at reduced price w/ purchase of hair.

Please contact The Studio Salon in New Braunfels, Tx ask for Jana or Adrian. (830) 627-1000.

SPORTS

Thursday, February 15, 2007

COMPLEX:

$17 million spent over past eight years

CONTINUED from page 12

frustration with the department, but believes a new complex can be built and that patience must be exerted due to all the changes.

“Right now, the new baseball and softball complex is in year one in being ready to get done,” Park said. “A lot of fans are in year six because they had heard of it five years ago, but we had to get reorganized and start fresh.”

Park’s current plan primarily focuses on private donations, something Teis emphasized while talking about how quickly actual construction of the complex could commence. “(The donors) are going to make the decision for us on where we are on it,” Teis said.

“We’ll take help in any fashion, but we’re looking for the major donors first.”

According to Tanner, his connection to the Bobcats’ online community, including www.BobcatFans.com, helps him understand the tangible dissatisfaction with the athletic department, but his history with the school leads him to believe there is more to the story than most forum posters know.

“Everyone on Bobcat Fans blames Teis, but this has been going on longer than him,” Tanner said. “(Former athletic director) Greg LaFleur could have made serious renovations to the field, but he just didn’t give a squat about a baseball stadium. Part of the problem now is that it seems like they just don’t care.”

Park strongly opposed this position, as he named the baseball and softball complex as his and major gifts development officer Jim Wooldridge’s No. 1 priority concerning fundraising. According to Park, the process of obtaining serious donations is a long and intricate one.

“This is a long process of identifying leads and building and cultivating relationships,” Park said.

“You don’t just meet someone and, on first meeting, ask ‘Hey, can I have a million dollars?’”

Teis said he understands the strains of the process and that the fundraising still needs some time, but believes it is entirely doable.

According to him, $17 million has been spent on Texas State athletics in the past eight years.

Baseball coach Ty Harrington is one of the other key contributors to the planning of the stadium and said though architecture plans are close to finalization, there needs to be a concise plan before serious fundraising can begin.

“We’re in the process of getting something together and having something on paper so that we can entice donors more,” Harrington said.

Major changes to past plans for the complex include moving offices and training facilities from a proposed spot behind the right field wall to the parking lot behind Strahan Coliseum. The lot would have to be removed and replaced.

Some of the changes associated with the new complex include regrading the grass and inserting a sub-drainage system into the current Bobcat Field to better deal with inclement weather. Teis said the moves are small but will better bridge the time between now and the completion of a stadium.

“It’s what one of our donors likes to call ‘putting lipstick on the pig’,” Teis said. “We want to finish the pig.”

According to Teis, there will be more than 2,000 seat-backed chairs for fans, meaning for sellouts like Tuesday’s Rice match, there will be no awkwardly filled bleachers.

Teis and Park said that architects have been chosen for the project, but would not release detailed plans or architect names to the The University Star.

Despite being the largest school in the Southland Conference, other league universities have already moved forward with building expenditures for new baseball fields.

“Across the SLC, everyone else, including Stephen F. Austin, UT-Arlington and Lamar, are building,” Tanner said. “There’s just been a long history of indifference to the baseball team at Texas State.”

Park said he hopes to change baseball fans’ outlook at Texas State, and he believes that as the department’s new components get accustomed to their surroundings as quickly as possible, the school will see leaps forward with the project.

“Obviously, not enough was done in the past, since nothing’s built,” Park said. “But people will see some major headway on this project.”

The University Star - Page 11

Bobcats head to Corpus Christi

By Gabe Mendoza The University Star The women’s basketball team continues its February stretch Thursday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, with the regular season winding down and the Southland Conference Tournament on the horizon.

Texas State is holding strong in third place of the SLC West division with an 8-3 conference mark (15-9 overall). The Bobcats have won two of their first three games in this crucial month.

“Like Coach (Suzanne) Fox says, February is the month that we’ve got to shine,” said senior forward Erica Putnam.

“These last five games are really placing the (tournament) seeding because if you do take a loss and another team wins, it can all change in one night.”

Things certainly change in an instant in the West, where arguably three of the conference’s four top teams play.

Undefeated Texas-Arlington sits atop in first place, while A&M-Corpus Christi is fourth, but just a half game behind both the Bobcats and Stephen F. Austin, who have identical conference records. The Islanders of Corpus Christi are 7-3.

“We’re going to have to remain focused because they’re a very good team,” said scoring leader Joyce Ekworomadu. “It’s also a very tough place to play so we just have to go out there and do what we do best.”

The Bobcats definitely put their best out there the last time these teams hooked up, in mid-January. After a close first half, Texas State outscored the Islanders by 22 in the second period, en route to a convincing 76-48 victory at Strahan Coliseum. Despite the momentum from the previous victory, Fox said A&M-Corpus Christi will be a tougher match-up on its home floor.

“We are just going to have to really play, because last time was a pretty uncharacteristic game, and Corpus Christi is a very good ball team,” Fox said. “In the second half it just sort of got away from them a little bit. I hope it’s not, but I expect it to be a totally different ball game going there.”

Last time out, the Bobcats picked up their eighth home victory in nine games with a 69-60 win over Lamar, finishing

Austin Byrd/Star file photo PASSING THE COMPETITION: Brooke DeGrate runs to take up defense during Texas State’s Nov. 24 game against TexasPan American. The women’s basketball team will play 7 p.m. Thursday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

play against the East with a 5-1 mark.

Putnam scored a career-high 20 points and Ekworomadu added 18 to lead the team.

The Islanders rallied Saturday from an eight-point half time deficit to defeat East leader Southeastern Louisiana, 4746, for their third straight win. A&MCorpus Christi held the Lady Lions to just three field goals in the second half, as well as a record-low 9.7 percent shooting.

Senior guard Nicole Duncan leads the Islanders with a 14.4 points per game

average. Duncan also ranks third in the conference in three-point field goal shooting, hitting over 38 percent for the year.

Ekworomadu leads Texas State in scoring, averaging 22 points a game, while Putnam tops the team on the boards, posting over seven a contest.

Guard Brooke DeGrate leads the squad in assists, steals and blocked shots.

With so little time left on the schedule, everyone is looking for postseason positioning, which means coaches and players will be doing some score board

watching over these last few weeks.

“We definitely follow the scores after games in the nights that we play and see how other teams are doing,” Fox said.

“We’re in a pretty good position right now but it’s not going to mean a whole lot — how well we did in January — if we don’t come out and play well down the stretch.”

Following the road test against the Islanders, the Bobcats return home Saturday to square off against Texas-San Antonio, who will also be looking to make a push up the standings out west.

A&M-Prairie View, Notre Dame BASKETBALL: Agwumaro’s next on schedule for baseball offensive production up from beginning of season

By Jacob Mustafa The University Star Texas State baseball will attempt to start a new winning streak Friday against Texas A&MPrairie View at home, before heading to San Antonio’s Nelson Wolff Stadium to face Notre Dame in a two-game series.

Coming off a late collapse at Baylor in which they allowed nine runs in the final two Bears innings, the Bobcats, 5-2, will attempt to sweep the Panthers in their season series. Texas State defeated A&M-Prairie View 8-2 twice last weekend, but senior first baseman David Wood said there are no given victories.

“We don’t go into any game thinking, ‘It’s an easy win,’” Wood said. “We know what they’re capable of.”

The Bobcats are undefeated at home, with a record of 3-0. The Panthers will look to put a dent in the Bobcats’ dominance over A&MPrairie View. The all-time record for the series is 32-1 in favor of Texas State.

Texas State’s hopes will likely be pinned on sophomore Mike Hart Friday night, whose year has started off with a 2-0 record. His 0.82 ERA leads all Bobcat starting pitchers and is second in the Southland Conference in strikeouts, with 12. Fellow Bobcat and senior reliever Jason Baca leads the conference with 15 strikeouts in nine innings pitched.

Despite solid efforts early in the season, Texas State’s loss to the Bears Tuesday can be attributed to a lack of clutch pitching. Relievers Justin Fiske and Josh Walter allowed five and four earned runs, respectively.

Walter recorded no outs while also allowing no hits, as the junior gave up three walks and hit Baylor shortstop Beamer Weems with a pitch.

The usual closer, Fiske, had an off night in allowing three hits and just one out.

“Some of our pitchers didn’t do the job,” Wood said. “I have a lot of faith in them, though, and I definitely have confidence they will take care of things this weekend.”

Texas State pitching, despite Tuesday’s loss, is still among the best in the Southland Conference. They lead the league in strikeouts, with 76; no other team has more than 42. Texas State’s team ERA of 3.39 is also second in the conference.

The Bobcats face Notre Dame Friday and Saturday, at the home of the San Antonio Missions,

CONTINUED from page 12

Cotton Miller/Star file photo HOME BOUND: Coming off a hard setback in Waco against Baylor, the Bobcats play next at home against Texas A&M-Prairie View 6:30 p.m.

Friday. Texas State defeated the Panthers twice last weekend.

a Double-A minor league club in the San Diego Padres’ organization. Texas State will aim to tie the all-time series, which the Fighting Irish lead 3-1.

The Fighting Irish open their season this weekend, as they also play the Panthers Saturday, leaving their first game with the Bobcats as the late half of Notre Dame’s doubleheader.

Saturday also marks the first games for Dave Schrage as Notre Dame’s new head coach.

According to Wood, Notre Dame will be yet another challenge in a season in which the Bobcats have faced Oklahoma, Rice and Baylor only six games deep into the schedule.

“We’re going to do what we always do when we play a team from a big, Division 1 school,” Wood said. “We’re going to go out there with a good attitude and have confidence in our team.”

Championship, earning National Tournament MVP, NJCAA Division III Player of the Year, and First-Team All-American honors in the process.

This all came from a player who went virtually un-recruited at West Mesquite High School near Dallas after earning district honorable mention honors his senior year.

“He’s always had to overachieve,” Davalos said. “No one recruited him out of high school.

He’s always overachieved to be successful in the classroom and on the basketball court.”

All Agwumaro’s achievements have come through hard work, not just athleticism. And it’s his work ethic and eagerness to learn that brought him to the Bobcats after de-committing from Texas A&M-Prairie View over the summer after the Panthers had a coaching change of their own.

“When we visited him on our recruiting visit, I knew right away he was exactly what we were looking for in our program,” Davalos said. “When Chris looks at you, he stares right through you. He sits there and analyzes what you are saying and tries to learn from it. He’s such a tremendous, nonstop receptive learner.”

Agwumaro also walked away from the visit convinced Texas State was the place for him.

“I had talked to the coaching staff — how they were bringing in new players with good character and work ethic,” Agwumaro said.

“I wanted to be a part of that.”

He felt a special connection to a program rebuilding from the ground up, preaching the same values that made him successful — hard work, dedication, and overcoming failure.

“I heard that everyone expected them to be last place,” Agwumaro said. “That’s how I was, my whole career.”

Despite struggles early this season, Agwumaro has turned into the explosive offensive threat he was last year at North Lake.

Agwumaro has averaged 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game over his last five contests, up from his respective season averages of 7.3 and 2.6.

“He was overanalyzing,” Davalos said. “He was frustrated because he couldn’t impact the program the way he thought he could. But to his credit he pushed through and he is now playing his best basketball of the season.”

And Texas State has needed his contributions because the last month has been tough for the Bobcats. They have dropped eight out of their last nine games after a 2-0 start in conference play, and sit on the verge of missing their goal of reaching the postseason in the first year of a new era of Bobcat basketball.

The dreaded fear of failure must be creeping back once again for Agwumaro, but it’s not as if he hasn’t been here before.

Spending time atop that 50foot pole in the summer taught him something about fear.

“That shows you can do anything,” Agwumaro said. “No matter what obstacles stand in your way, you can overcome them.”

TRACK: Bobcat men finished ninth in 2006

CONTINUED from page 12

has only been two or three meets, and it was important to show a good time and (get) a great opportunity to run the track at which the (championships) are held.”

Kostetskaya will also partici-

pate in two relays: the 4x400-meter relay and the distance medley relay.

“I am more worried about the relays because that’s where the big points are won,” Kostetskaya said.

Big things are also expected from Abby Ruston, the conference leader in the women’s shot

put. Ruston leads the conference by a wide margin, but said she is not letting the pressure affect her performance.

“I try not to pay attention to others and focus on what I am doing,” Ruston said. “It would be great to get a mark that will qualify for the (NCAA) indoors championship, but I just want to

improve my (personal record). It is important to not peak yet. I can either peak in March, or I can peak in June. I choose June.”

The finals for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships take place June 6 to 9.

On the men’s side, Bukharina expects an improvement over

last season’s performance.

“We finished ninth last year in conference as a team,” Bukharina said. “The men should improve over last year’s results but we are still in a rebuilding mode.”

Following the SLC championship, the Bobcats return to action March 2 to 3, when they begin the outdoor track season.

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, February 15, 2007 - Page 12

Wasson onleave

Chase Wasson, quarterback and wide receiver, is on leave of absence from the football program, said Ron Mears, Texas State director of sports information.

“He asked for the leave from head coach Brad Wright to take care of personal matters, and Coach Wright granted this request,” Mears said late Wednesday.

Wasson played both quarterback and receiver during the 2006 season, starting the year under center before getting replaced early on in favor of Bradley George. At receiver, Wasson led the team with 27 receptions, good for 380 yards and three touchdowns.

Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

Members of administration work to make new complex a reality

By Jacob Mustafa The University Star When 1,812 fans filled Bobcat Field last week to watch the Texas State baseball team defeat the Rice Owls, hundreds of people were at the edge of their seats.

Unfortunately, hundreds more were standing in grass.

It’s been more than five years

since original plans for a new baseball and softball complex at Texas State began, leaving many Bobcat fans to wonder what exactly has happened to the progress of the new facilities.

“I’m not looking at what we did five years ago,” said Chris Park, a development officer for athletics in University Advancement.

Park began working on the

baseball and softball complex project in the summer of 2006.

“I’m looking at what we’re doing now and we have a plan now,” Park said.

According to Athletic Director Larry Teis, a virtual tour of the proposed stadium was on the Bobcats’ official Web site a year ago, and since then things have changed.

“This school does not have a huge history of giving in athletics, so we’re trying to break through that point to some people,” Teis said. “Private funds are what carry a lot of university athletic departments.”

In a Web log posted Feb. 6 on www.CSTV.com, Glenn Tanner, Texas State associate professor of finance and economics, stated

Failure is not an option

Basketball star finding success on hardwood

By Nathan Brooks The University Star

Chris Agwumaro stood alone at the top of a 50-foot pole on the University Camp ropes course, his rugged 6-foot 5-inch frame trembling in fear.

The same body the Texas State forward sacrifices so willingly on the hardwood could hardly stand the petrifying torment of his worst fear, heights.

“I’m terrified of heights,” Agwumaro said. “If someone would have told me I would have been doing something like that, I wouldn’t have believed them.”

But there the junior was, staring his fears right in the face at what must have felt like the top of the world.

Agwumaro dug down and found the strength to finish the ropes course with the rest of his new teammates that day in the sweltering summer heat of Central Texas, all while learning a valuable lesson in the process — even if he thought first-year coach Doug Davalos was out of his mind for making them go there in the first place.

“I thought Coach was crazy,” Agwumaro said. “He told us we were going on a trip and I thought we were going to a gym or a track Austin Byrd/Star Photo to run or something. But in the end the ropes course was a real PREVAILING: Chris Agwumaro has proved doubters wrong in ’07. good experience for me. It taught

me a lot. I learned how to trust in my teammates and overcome my fears.”

Overcoming fears is nothing new for Agwumaro. Burning deep inside this quiet and analytical young man is another fear, one that his driven him his entire life.

“Failure,” Agwumaro stated plainly.

And it was after a disappointing freshman season at North Lake College that the fear of failing consumed him more than ever.

Agwumaro knew if he were to sit back and succumb to the pressure, he would prove all those coaches and recruiters correct who said he wasn’t good enough to play Division 1 basketball.

Those criticisms and doubts, combined with the unrelenting presence of failure in the back of his mind, pushed Agwumaro to have the greatest season of his career.

“That summer (between freshman and sophomore years) was the hardest I’ve ever worked,” Agwumaro said. “My sophomore year was the best year I’ve ever had at any level and that’s what got me here.”

He went on to lead the North Lake College Blazers to a National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National See BASKETBALL, page 11

that the baseball team was “held back by indifference from their athletic department.” According to Tanner, his statement in the blog that the team “still plays in a high school-quality stadium” is rooted in past experiences with the program.

“The school always encourages faculty to donate to the school, and being a huge college base-

ball fan, I’d always donate to the baseball team,” Tanner said. “It was around 2002 when there was serious talk of a new stadium, so I stopped donating and waited to give for the actual stadium, and it never came. For five years, no one has ever contacted me.”

Park said he understands fans’ See COMPLEX, page 11

Track and field prepares for Indoor Championships

By Scott Strickman The University Star The Texas State track and field team heads to Houston this weekend for the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, visiting the Bill Yeoman Fieldhouse for the second time this semester.

“We are planning to win the women’s overall team competition; it should be between us and Sam Houston State,” Coach Galina Bukharina said.

“Our goal is always to win.”

Bukharina said the inclement weather to start the semester has hindered the team’s progress and preparation for the indoor event.

“The weather has played a factor in our training since we have no indoor facilities,” Bukharina said. “We lost three weeks of training and the NCAA Outdoor Championships begin two weeks earlier this year than in the past. We had to change a lot of things, but we will still try our best.”

Earlier this semester, the Bobcat women’s 4x400-meter relay team defeated the University of Texas, capturing first overall in the Houston In-

vitational with a time of three minutes, 46.38 seconds. The Longhorns finished second with a time of 3:46.79. Bukharina said she expects to build on the momentum the women were able to create in their first stop at the field house.

Junior Katya Kostetskaya is expected to compete for a spot in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field National Championship in the 800-meter event. She set the pace for the rest of the country last weekend at the University of Arkansas, earning the top time in the nation this season at 2:03.58 in the Tyson Invitational. Slated for March 9 and 10, Arkansas is also hosting the NCAA championship.

“I am a little nervous; everyone expects big things and there is only a second difference between me and secondplace,” Kostetskaya said. “I just want to qualify for nationals.”

Kostetskaya was awarded the SLC Aeropostale Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week for her school record-breaking performance last weekend.

“It feels good,” she said. “It See TRACK, page 11