RUGGER WEEKEND
Texas State’s undefeated rugby club to host playoff game against TCU SEE SPORTS PAGE 14
LUNAR NEW YEAR
Fashion, food and dance ring in the Chinese New Year SEE TRENDS PAGE 6
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM
FEBRUARY 22, 2007
THURSDAY
VOLUME 96, ISSUE 58
White House political adviser will speak at Communication Week By Alysha Mendez The University Star
Kyle Morris, Associated Student Government president, in a presentation at noon titled “Breaking the Barrier.” “This is a great opportunity to share the experiences of the civil rights movement and how it transformed Texas State University with the current generation of students,” Morris said. “It’s important to remember the past as we look to the future.”
Karl Rove will come to Texas State next week when the department of communication studies hosts its 19th annual Communication Week, starting Monday and ending March 2. Monday’s kickoff event will feature Helen Franks, the university’s first black student, and
All the events are free and open to the public including the week’s three Spotlight Events. Rove, deputy chief of staff to President Bush, will give a public lecture in the first Spotlight Event 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday in Evans Liberal Arts Auditorium. Rove has served as the head of several White House offices, including the Office of Political
Affairs. “The department of communication studies is home to a minor in political communication and Mr. Rove is speaking to highlight this,” said Steven Beebe, communication studies chair. “How to Make the Most of Your Communication Studies Major” is the title of the second Spotlight Event, which will be presented by the Communica-
A day for the devoted
tion Studies Advisory Council in addition to a Communication Networking Reception hosted by Career Services. “Our students will certainly reap the benefits from listening to these gifted speakers as they offer advice, share their experiences and identify the challenges of today’s Franks
See COMM WEEK, page 4
City council approves tax exemptions for local manufacturers By Zach Halfin The University Star
“S
an Marcos may be the only city in our county without this exemption, but we hold the lion’s share of manufacturers.”
The Freeport Tax Exemption passed its final reading Tuesday at the San Marcos City Council in a 4-3 vote. The measure allows property tax exemptions that are directed toward local manufacturers and will cost the city an estimated $202,000 in tax revenue. The decision rescinds a previous city ordinance that prevents manufacturers from taking advantage of property tax exemptions passed by the Texas Legislature in 1989. At that time the city council passed an ordinance that allowed the city to continue collecting those property taxes. The tax break allows for the exemption of property taxes on items known as Freeport property, meaning goods that are used in manufacturing or goods that are stored in the state, which are then distributed out of state within 175 days or less. The tax exemptions are intended to attract new manufacturers and distribution facilities to San Marcos, and are considered a prerequisite for some site selectors seeking manufacturing locations. About 40 citizens attended the meeting to voice their opposition or support for the tax exemptions. Daniel Palomo, former University Star columnist and premass communication junior, spoke to the council during the citizen period to voice his concern that local manufacturers are going to cause a financial burden for the school district by requesting these tax exemptions.
Cotton Miller/Star photo ASH WEDNESDAY: Parishioners pack the St. John’s Catholic Church Wednesday evening for the 7 p.m. Mass in observance of Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Worshippers receive a cross onto their foreheads made from the ash of palm leaves as a sign of their repentance before God. Monty Marion/Star photo illustration DEEP IN THOUGHT: A Rosary, which can be used during traditional prayer, contains beads that represent a series of meditations concerning the mysteries of redemption.
Rove
— John Thomaides city councilman, Place 6
“I find it very interesting that the proponents of the Freeport Tax Exemption place a strong emphasis on what manufactures have given back to the community especially with regards to education,” Palomo said. He said some supporters of the exemption argued it will bring in businesses that will, in turn, put money into local education programs, possibly in the form of scholarship donations. “As the proponents put it last week, (the businesses) are ultimately here for financial reasons,” he said. “The scholarships they give are tax writeoffs and the money goes right back to them. If enacted to its fullest degree Freeport tax exemptions would take away $215, 830 away from the school district.” John Thomaides, Place 6 councilman, has voted against the ordinance on all three readings, continued to voice his opposition of the tax exemptions. “I rise to speak in opposition to this tax break,” Thomaides said. “This may be the final time that this, or any other fuSee COUNCIL, page 4
Faculty Senate opposes Proposed budget plan cuts trillions from lending program textbook legislation By Paul Rangel University Star
By Scott Thomas The University Star The Faculty Senate unanimously voiced opposition to a pending proposed bill in the state legislature that would require professors to use the same textbook edition in a class for a minimum period of three years. Though the bill does say that if a professor provides the university’s governing board with a good cause for change before the three years pass, such as significant improvements in the knowledge or technology affecting the subject matter, the Senate feared the law would infringe on a professor’s right to choose textbooks and have
unintended consequences. “This strikes me as being pretty horrifically bad,” said Faculty Sen. Richard Warms, anthropology professor. The intended effect of the legislation is to help students spend less money by providing more used textbooks in stores. However, Senators expressed fears that this legislation would inadvertently raise the cost of textbooks by creating less competition. “It works against the free market,” said Faculty Sen. Michel Conroy, art and design professor. The Senate also expressed doubt concerning the governSee SENATE, page 4
Today’s Weather
Partly Cloudy 79˚/55˚
Precipitation: 30% Humidity: 43% UV: 6 High Wind: S 10 mph
President Bush’s $2.8 trillion 2008 fiscal year budget proposes cuts to the private sector student-lending program, which may lower the availability of student loans from the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. “The competition provided by the dual existence of the Direct and FFEL program has been good for all students,” said Harold Whitis, associate director of financial aid at Texas State. “Since the creation of the Direct Loan Program, private lenders providing funds for the FFEL program have continued to find new benefits to students that have decreased the overall amount that students have to repay and have greatly enhanced their default prevention efforts.”
Two-day Forecast Friday A.M. Showers Temp: 74°/ 61° Precip: 30%
Saturday A.M. Clouds Temp: 73°/ 42° Precip: 10%
Approximately 80 percent of students receive aid from the Federal Family Education Loan Program, which is funded through the private loan sector. Concerns are not about Sallie Mae, a private lending company, but more so the student borrower, said Conwey Casillas, director of public affairs for Sallie Mae. “The payments to the lenders are largely a subsidy of the borrower, these lenders essentially providing access to loans at less-than market rates,” Casillas said. The way payments are made to lenders creates a mechanism where lenders charge 6.8 percent, or lower, interest versus the higher market rates. “There are always two sides of the story,” Whitis said. “Proponents of the Direct Loan Program, such as Senator Edward Kennedy, would argue that the
federal government is spending as much as $3 more per $100 of loans to pay subsidies that support the FFEL program.” Whitis said cuts to the Federal Family Education Loan Program may decrease services for students, but may provide opportunities for student federal grants. “This is a situation where government scoring models are insufficient, there are a number of issues that are not captured,” Casillas said. “Those projections aren’t based on reality. In any given year, one program may be better than another, but that’s all based on the interest rate environment.” Projections made by the government are an attempt to predict what interest rates will be in the next five or ten years, he said. Generally the government will contribute something, but it usually never reaches what they predicted.
The 2008 budget also creates cuts to several different federal grants such as the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. “It’s not a good idea in our view to put funding from one program and moving it to another,” Casillas said. “Increases in the Pell Grants and decreasing the costs for student borrowers are good, but lets not do it with other aid programs.” He said the U.S. needs a loan system that’s efficient, reliable and provides services that students and families need. Sallie Mae, with other lending programs, offers counseling for students taking out loans to pay for college. “Money loan obligations have a dramatic impact on students,”
Inside News ..............1-5 Trends .............6-9 Crossword ......... 9 Sudoku .............. 9
Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
Comics .............. 9 Opinions .......... 10 Classifieds ....... 12 Sports ......... 13,14
See CUTS, page 4
To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2007 The University Star