VOLUME 102, ISSUE 56
www.UniversityStar.com
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
Tuesday
FEBRUARY 19, 2013
GO NE ONLI NOW
One Billion Dancing Lantana Hall residents held a dance party Feb. 14 to raise awareness about violence toward women. To hear the hall’s president and treasurer speak about the event, go to UniversityStar.com.
HOLLOWED HALLS
Gov. Rick Perry appoints new system regents By Caitlin Clark News Editor
Austin Humphreys, Photo Editor
The Comal Building, formerly known as the Psychology Building, will now house the computer science and philosophy departments. The psychology department was recently relocated to the Undergraduate Academic Center.
Former Psychology Building will house new departments By Michael Pope News Reporter Paint has been scraped from the walls, sawdust coats the floors and pipes hang exposed from the ceiling—the former Psychology Building has been gutted to make way for new departments. The Psychology Building, now known as the Comal Building, currently stands vacant, but it will soon be the new home to two departments once renovations are complete. The Psychology Department was relocated to the Undergraduate Academic Center, and the building’s name has been altered to reflect the change. Nancy Nusbaum, Finance and Support Services associate vice president, said the facility will house the computer science and philosophy departments. Chantelle Elder, Psychology Department administrative assistant, said the Undergraduate Academic Center provides more space and equipment such as labs and computers, which were not as accessible in the previous location. “It made more sense to move them due to
space,” Nusbaum said. The Comal Building is one of the older facilities on campus according to the university’s construction webpage. It served as the Education Building until 1977 before becoming the Psychology Building. The total project cost is $13.85 million. The remodeled Comal Building is being modernized to better accommodate the incoming departments and is being made more accessible for disabled people, Nusbaum said. The stairwell is being relocated, new heating and air conditioning systems are being installed and fire alarms are being updated. The asbestos and lead paint study was completed in September 2012. The computer science and philosophy departments are scheduled to move into the Comal building during the summer of 2014, but no specific dates have been set. According to a Nov. 15 University Star article, the university needs 1 million more square feet to support the current number of students. However, classes will not be held in the renovated building in the 2014 fall semester. The Department of Computer Science has experienced growth and will be moved
into the renovated Comal Building in order to accommodate the increase in students. Cheryl Morriss, administrative assistant for the department, said Computer Science faculty and staff were moved into Nueces Hall 10 years ago, but it was intended to be only a temporary location. The Department of Computer Science is the only one with faculty and staff housed in the Nueces building. Its classrooms and labs are located in the Math and Computer Science Building. Morriss said research has expanded and the Comal Building will provide faculty members with more space. Once computer science moves out of Nueces, the School of Social Work may take its place. Dorinda Noble, School of Social Work director, said the move is a possibility that has not been confirmed. “We have outgrown the space where we are,” Noble said. The Department of Philosophy, which is currently housed in Derrick Hall, will move into the Comal Building. The department has 36 faculty and staff members according to its webpage.
Gov. Rick Perry appointed three members Friday to the Texas State University System Board of Regents. Charlie Amato of San Antonio and William F. Scott of Nederland were reappointed to the board. Vernon Reaser III of Bellaire is a newly appointed member. All appointees’ terms have a Feb. 1, 2019 end date. The Texas State University System Board of Regents makes policy and budget decisions and is made up of nine members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Reaser is the president of Texas Teachers Alternative Certification and the Texas Educators Association, Inc., according to a press release from the office of the governor. Reaser is a former member of the Texas Association of Realtors and the Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas. He is a former board member of the Victoria Crime Stoppers and a past secretary for the Victoria Junior Chamber of Commerce. Reaser received a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration from Texas State. Reaser has made five contributions totaling $92,500 to Perry’s gubernatorial campaign, Texans for Rick Perry, since 2009, according to campaign finance data from the Texas Tribune. Perry first appointed Scott on Sept. 28, 2011 to the Board of Regents. Scott graduated from Lamar University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in government, according to the Texas State University System website. He now works as the CEO, chairman and co-owner of TransGlobal Solutions, Inc., a railroad transportation company. Scott has made nine donations totaling approximately $108,586 to Texans for Rick Perry since 2004, according to the Texas Tribune. Amato was appointed to the Board of Regents in November 2010, according to a University News Service press release. He is the cofounder and chairman of an organization that advises financial institutions on how to manage risk and increase profitability. Amato is chair of the University of the Incarnate Word Board of Trustees and vice chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council. He received a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University. Amato has made 18 contributions since 2001 totaling $32,400 toward Texans for Rick Perry.
Office of Disability Services meeting outlines new goals, philosophy By Xander Peters News Reporter David Cosner said he looks like an ablebodied college student, but his chronic illness prevents him from behaving like one. Cosner, marketing junior, said he has undergone approximately 130 lung surgeries, had two-thirds of his right one removed and spent 28 days in a medically-induced coma in November. Cosner has Wegener’s granulomatosis, a chronic inflammatory condition. Cosner was one of the guest speakers at Tuesday’s Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance and Steering Committee on Disabilities spring 2013 meeting. Clint-Michael Reneau is the new director of the Office of Disability Service, and spoke about his mission, vision and new leadership philosophy for ODS at Monday’s meeting. Reneau said the committee has to approach each student from an individual basis and be aware of how their identities impact the services they require. He said they must look at each student from a social justice standpoint to understand how “ableism,” discrimination against people with disabilities, is an issue. “Part of our identity is our ability,” Reneau said. “My philosophy stems from moving from a medical model, where we put the problem on the student and say that the student has the disability. That’s where the problem lies.” Reneau said ODS has to look at the environmental barriers blocking the student from success. The committee must be able to relate to students with needs for accommodation to get them registered in the ODS office, he said. “We’re trying to lift the myth and stigmas
on the issues in disabilities and help students understand they don’t have to always have a stack of documentation when they come through the door,” Reneau said. The committee outlined the University Policy and Procedure Statement proposal addressing the number of days missed for students with chronic illnesses. Sherri Benn, Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, said the policy is still in developmental stages. Benn said ODS is researching what other institutions are doing about the problem and is looking to develop a system to better coordinate the needs or services for ill students. Cosner is one student who may be affected by the new proposal. He has missed a large amount of class throughout his college career, and some of his faculty members were not willing to work with his situation after his first hospitalization. This resulted in Cosner failing a class. “In the beginning, it’s just really hard for (ODS) to be on your side,” Cosner said. “ODS didn’t really have my back, in the respect that they didn’t fight on my behalf. So, when you’re dealing with just trying to get better, the last thing you want to do is bat for yourself.” Cosner said after returning to ODS, the office has been much more accommodating to his situation. He hopes ODS will sustain its improved quality. “Don’t let it lag or drag,” Cosner said. “What I’m trying to say is don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk.” The committee discussed making more Texas State facilities accessible, with improvements beginning in the middle of campus and stretching outward during the span of five fiscal years. Michael Petty, director of Facilities Plan-
ning, Design and Construction, said an online map is being developed that will allow students to view the most accessible route from handicapped parking spaces to classes. Sally Caldwell, sociology associate professor, is one who could find relief in having more disabled accessible routes on campus. Caldwell has a case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She said a ramp going uphill is not accessible for a person with her ailment. Caldwell said each building on campus should provide a place to sit in close proximity of any door leading inside. Caldwell said she has come close to collapsing numerous times upon entering a building. “Sometimes I get to a door and think
‘These are my last few moments on earth,’ “ Caldwell said. Reneau said ODS’s mission is to listen to a student’s journey and honor their experience by using professional judgment on how they qualify for disability services. “We’re not creating a culture of care for students if we’re relying on a student to pay $1,300 for a battery of tests,” Reneau said. “We have to make sure that we’re trying to be more socially just in how we serve individuals.” Large resolution map available online at UniversityStar.com.
Map courtesy of the Office of Disability Services