VOLUME 102, ISSUE 61
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Defending the First Amendment since 1911
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
GO NE ONLI NOW
Illegal activity
Go to UniversityStar.com for a complete breakdown of crimes reported to university police sorted by residence hall.
DORM CRIME Alcohol and drug related
67%
257 total crimes in 2012 Violence related Other 12%
2%
Jackson Hall:
29
Theft 19%
San Jacinto Hall: 30
Blanco Hall:
Tower Hall:
32
23 San Marcos Hall:
33
Police log shows San Marcos Hall leads in dorm crime By Amanda Ross News Reporter Though San Marcos Hall is not the largest residence hall at Texas State, it is the dorm where the most crimes were reported in 2012. Residence halls experienced a combined total of 257 crimes in 2012, with 67 percent being alcohol and drug violations, according to information gathered from the University Police Department’s daily crime log. Theft was 19 percent of the total, and violent crimes accounted for just two percent. The other 12 percent of crimes reported at dorms consisted of cases like criminal mischief, graffiti and damage to university property. San Marcos Hall had the most crimes per capita, followed by Bexar, Jackson and Smith Halls, according to the data. Brogdon, San Saba and Burleson Halls had the fewest crimes per capita in 2012. Minor in possession offenses were the most frequently reported crime. Possession of marijuana was second. San Marcos Hall had both the high-
est total crime rate and highest per capita rate on campus. About 64 percent of crimes reported at San Marcos Hall in 2012 were related to illegal substances, reflecting a trend across campus. After alcohol and drug violations, theft and burglary are the second most commonly reported crimes at residence halls. The 33 total crimes reported at San Marcos Hall in 2012 include nine theft and burglary related incidents. The only crimes reported at Brogdon and San Saba Halls in 2012 were thefts and burglaries. Alyssa Kunz, San Marcos Hall resident and nutrition junior, said she is not surprised her dorm had the highest amount of crimes in 2012. Resident assistants held a meeting at the beginning of the year to address theft in the dorm. “Most people that I know of who have gotten things stolen just don’t lock their door,” Kunz said. “They covered that in the meeting, but people still forget to do it.” UPD Sgt. Chris Cost said campus police have computer systems to track
big-ticket items such as stolen laptops. However, many thefts are never resolved because of the high-traffic nature of residence halls. Kunz said alcohol and marijuana possessions are the most common occurrences of crime in San Marcos Hall. “People will punch holes in the walls and break things,” Kunz said. “In the morning, we’ll all see them and just know that it was from someone being drunk the night before.” Bexar Hall had the second highest crime per capita rate in 2012. Anthony Monroe, Bexar Hall Resident Assistant, said student-reported incidents are rare. Most crimes are discovered by resident assistants, who immediately notify UPD. Resident assistants will stand by the offender’s door while waiting for an officer to arrive so the student won’t be able to hide the crime. UPD takes over the case once a crime is reported. Cost said officers assess the situation and take action as needed, and
Regent appointment stirs controversy By Taylor Tompkins Assistant News Editor An executive’s appointment to the Texas State University System Board of Regents has some faculty members concerned about a potential conflict of interest. Gov. Rick Perry appointed Vernon Reaser III to the Board of Regents on Feb. 15, which is awaiting approval by the Texas Senate. Reaser, a Texas State alumnus, is president of Texas Teachers Alternative Certification. The business provides teaching certification training for a $4,195 fee. Its program includes a class with online and in-person training, along with an Internet-exclusive course. Gwynne Ash, associate professor of Curriculum and Instruction, said she is concerned Reaser will not advocate for collegeeducation certification programs the way a regent should. Alternative certification programs produced 56 percent of new teachers during the 2009-2010 academic year. College programs produced the remaining 44 percent, according to the Texas Education Agency. “When someone has a vested financial interest in the failure of one of the colleges, it seems like a clear conflict,” Ash said. Appointed regent board members “may
not have a direct or indirect interest, including financial” in a company “that is in substantial conflict” of the entity they are representing, according to Chapter 572 of the Texas Government Code. Brian McCall, the university system’s chancellor, declined to comment. The Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education consists of former regents, university system chancellors and institution presidents. The coalition released a statement calling Perry to appoint “qualified, independent regents” who “are committed to maintaining excellence at our institutions and diligently avoid all conflicts of interest.” “It is critical that the Senate Committee on Nominations carefully investigates each regent and their relevant relationships in order to ensure our university governing boards are experienced, equipped and conflict-free,” said Jenifer Sarver, spokeswoman for The Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education. Josh Havens, deputy press secretary for the governor’s office, said in an email “each and every applicant that is considered for appointment is thoroughly reviewed for any potential conflicts before the governor makes
READ REGENTS, PAGE 3
READ CRIME, PAGE 3
Referendum to determine bus services, routes By Caitlin Clark News Editor Though the Bobcat Tram Interurban routes were recently canceled, more bus services could be eliminated if a potential student referendum does not pass. Transportation services officials are asking for the student bus fee to be increased from $78 to $95 for the fall 2014 semester. Nancy Nusbaum, interim director of transportation services, said the department would like students to vote on the bus fee increase through a referendum while Associated Student Government elections occur. Students can expect to a see a drop in bus-service hours, elimination of underutilized routes and other modifications if the referendum does not pass, Nusbaum said. Bill Nance, vice president for Finance and Support Services, said there will be several implications regarding how many bus routes are offered if students do not pass the referendum. “We’ll have to sit down and scrutinize which routes around San Marcos are most heavily used, and either shorten or cancel routes to meet demand within available revenue,” Nance said. “It’s absolutely up to students to decide whatever level of service we will provide.” Nance said the last time the student body voted to increase a charge was about five years ago when the athletics fee was increased by $10. The proposed $95 fee is based on a report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. The report projects the best rate the university can expect to pay under a new bus contract will be 20 percent higher. Texas State’s contract with its current bus provider, First Transit, expires in late August. The fee increase will cover the costs for a fresh fleet of buses, which will be included in the new contract, while supporting and improving the current services, Nusbaum said. Students can expect a 17.5 percent increase in service hours if the referendum is passed, in addition to the new fleet of buses costing approximately $13 million. A “point-to-point” service running from The Quad to the Mill Street parking lot would additionally be established, Nusbaum said. However, a drop in service hours and the elimination of Saturday, night and Wonder World Drive routes are possible if the referendum fails. Nusbaum said the “point-to-point service” would be scrapped. There could be additional modifications such as having fewer buses assigned to each route or less frequent service. Nusbaum said ASG must decide to allow the referendum to be a part of its April election ballot before students can vote on the bus-fee increase. ASG President Nathan McDaniel said the senate will vote on whether the referendum will be put on the ballot after spring break and expects its approval. McDaniel said students should vote however they want to on the referendum, but if it does not pass, the university will lose up to 20 percent of its core-level tram services. “That would eliminate routes, which would be doing a disservice to some students,” Mc-
READ BUS, PAGE 3
Positive economic impact shown for proposed buildings By Nicole Barrios News Reporter Jobs and revenue for San Marcos and the surrounding area could be a result of the construction of two proposed buildings, according to a report commissioned by the university. The administration recently asked The Perryman Group to conduct an economicimpact study for the new Science and Engineering and Health Professions buildings. The university is looking to use the information to receive funding for the buildings from the legislature. The report estimates more than $106 million will enter the local economy. Additionally, it estimates 1,230 permanent jobs will be created in the local and regional communities as a result of the graduating classes to be housed in the new buildings. Bill Nance, vice president for Finance and Support Services, said in fall 2012 the university contacted The Perryman Group. Nance said administrators asked The Perryman Group to assess the economic impact of the building construction and its academic programs. It would additionally look at
the facility’s potential research. The report estimates the construction of the Science and Engineering Building will create a statewide gross product of $88 million. The construction of the Health Professions Building is anticipated to generate $47 million. “There are significant economic impacts and benefits to the San Marcos-Round Rock region and the entire state of Texas many times over the initial investment that the legislature might make in these two buildings,” Nance said. Kristy Stark is the assistant director of development services for the City of San Marcos. Stark said the construction of new buildings on campus “brings up the standard for everyone” in the community. Nance said administrators can estimate the wages of employees who will construct the buildings. He said economists can then determine how employees’ paychecks will “ripple through the economy” when they buy groceries and gas. Nance said the same thing will happen when faculty who work in the new buildings
READ BUILDINGS, PAGE 3
2 | Thursday February 28, 2013 | The University Star
PAGE TWO
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wild art
ON THIS
DAY IN HISTORY
1827 - The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. was incorporated. 1854 - About 50 slavery opponents met in Ripon, Wis., to call for creation of a new political group that became the Republican Party. 1861 - The Territory of Colorado was organized. 1940 - College basketball was televised for the first time as station W2XBS aired the Pittsburgh-Fordham and GeorgetownNYU games from Madison Square Garden in New York. 1953 - Scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule that contains the human genes, at Cambridge University. 1960 - The U.S. Olympic hockey team won the gold medal, defeating Czechoslovakia 9-4 at Squaw Valley, Calif. 1972 - President Richard M. Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai issued the Shanghai Communique at the conclusion of Nixon’s historic visit to China, a step toward the eventual normalization of relations between the two countries. 1974 - The United States and Egypt reestablished diplomatic relations after a seven-year break. 1983 - The album “War” by U2 was released.
Ryan Elliott, international studies senior, climbs a tree for a better view at the Purgatory Creek. Natural Area.
1991 - Allied and Iraqi forces suspended their attacks as Iraq pledged to accept all United Nations resolutions concerning Kuwait.
David Simoneaux, Staff Photographer
Press Release
1993 - A gun battle erupted at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to serve warrants; four agents and six Davidians were killed and a 51-day standoff began. 2005 - Lebanon’s pro-Syrian prime minister, Omar Karami, resigned amid large anti-Syria street demonstrations in Beirut. 2007 - Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. died at age 89. --Courtesy of New York Times
CRIME BLOTTER
Feb. 23, 5:00 p.m. Bobcat Village Theft under $20,000 A student reported their personal property had been taken without consent. This case is under investigation. Feb. 23, 6:05 p.m. Aquarena Center Possession of a controlled substance Two nonstudents were arrested for possession of a controlled substance and both were transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center to await a trial. Feb. 24, 4:20 a.m. Speck Parking Lot Possession of drug paraphernalia Four students were cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. This case is under judicial review.
Texas State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present “The Other Side,” a thesis concert directed and choreographed by seniors Emily Thompson, Jonathan Himawan, Molly Waldner and Raquel Gomez-Simmons. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 21 and 22 at Evans Auditorium. “The Other Side” will feature choreographic fusions of several different dance genres, all demonstrating the technical and artistic talents that these four choreographers have come to achieve through their years studying dance at Texas State. Thompson will be showcasing works culminating her distinguished style. She will be presenting an athletic, high-energy piece as well as a reflective video dance. Thompson will be resetting and reworking her dance titled “Shadow,” which she describes as a “dedication to a part of us that comes and goes and is often forgotten.” Himawan, who strives for unique individuality, challenges himself to define movement creation in his own way. He will present four numbers, including a daring fusion of lindy hop and break dancing. Waldner will be showcasing
her highly athletic and intricate choreography. She considers her choreography to be a fusion of hip-hop and contemporary, with musicality a key asset. Waldner will be performing an enticing and enchanting solo, “Only Me,” for the first time, along with three other delectable new works. GomezSimmons will be re-running an altered version of her stirring and ethnically-rooted “To the Eagles” and a new work of choreography, “Watch!,” set to the solemn and hauntingly beautiful chants of Benedictine monks. The concert will feature an original, powerful work based on the media’s impact on body image, choreographed by guest artist and Texas State alumna, Bonnie Cox. Parental caution is advised. This work will feature projected images that may be disturbing for young children to watch. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $7 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the box office at Evans starting at 6 p.m. Only cash is accepted. For more information, contact Shay Hartung-Ishii at 512-2452949. --Courtesy of Raquel GomezSimmons
clarification Selena Hernandez and Brittney Garcia were released from the softball team. A Feb. 26 University Star article said they were indefinitely suspended.
--Courtesy of University Police Department
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NEWS
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CRIME
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
it is up to their discretion whether a citation will be issued. A student will be ticketed more often than not, Cost said. Cali Littlejohn, undecided freshman and San Marcos Hall resident, was issued a minor in consumption citation this semester for having alcohol in her mini-fridge. Littlejohn said the resident assistant and police officers who responded to the call told her a photo of the alcohol was posted to a social media website by an unnamed person. “I don’t know who would do that to me,” Littlejohn said. “But at the end of the day, I
bUS
did have alcohol in my room. So, I understand why I got a ticket.” Kunz and Littlejohn said they believe San Marcos Hall had the highest crime rate in 2012 because the dorm’s living room area is large enough to accommodate several people. It gives the illusion of privacy. Littlejohn said dorm parties and drinking beforehand are common occurrences in every residence hall. “They’re just popular (at San Marcos Hall) because you can fit so many people in here, unlike somewhere where it’s just two people in a small room,” Littlejohn said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Daniel said. “At the end of the day, it’s the students’ money, but I think with San Marcos growing and apartment complexes popping up, we need as much money and buses as we can get.” Nusbaum said the Board of Regents has authorized the student bus fee to be increased to $95, which is within the $100 cap. However, regents have voted to introduce a bill to the Texas Legislature that would allow the cap to be raised to $150 and be changed to a transportation rather than a bus fee. Nance said the current tram fee statute
REGENTS
requires the proceeds of the expense to support a bus system. However, all institutions in the Texas State University System now agree on changing the bus fee to a transportation expense. The adjusted fee could support modes of alternative transportation such as vans and shuttles. Adding an extra $50 to the cap would allow transportations services to pursue capital expenditures associated with bus transit, Nusbaum said. Raising the fee to $150 would not happen immediately “by any means,” and depends upon on a student referendum, Nusbaum said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
his decision.” He said the governor’s office sees “no concern with this appointment.” Lisa Lloyd, associate dean of the College of Education, said it could directly affect the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, along with the office of educator preparation, if there is a conflict of interest concerning Reaser’s profession. Jarod Love, a public policy consultant for Reaser, said the newly appointed regent will support the faculty and staff of his alma mater.
BUILDINGS
“Reaser will always conduct himself to the highest ethical standard,” Love said. Reaser is a Bellaire native and the president of Texas Educators Association, Inc., a group that provides legal help and advocacy for its members. He 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. Reaser’s term will end Feb. 1, 2019 as university system regent.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
are paid. He said these are called economic impact multipliers. “The immediate impact is a very dramatic selling point that we have been able to make in the legislature about these two buildings,” Nance said. Ruth Welborn, dean of the College of Health Professions, said the study not only gives legislators valuable information but aids the community in knowing how the new buildings will affect it. Stephen Seidman, dean of the College
of Science and Engineering, said the study makes a clear case the buildings will “really help the economy of San Marcos.” Seidman said he hopes the report will help Texas State get funding for the buildings. Nance said university officials have been stating their case before the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. He said officials have not heard any news on the progress of funding for the projects.
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4 | Thursday February 28, 2013 | The University Star
OPINIONS
For more viewpoints or letters to the editor, e-mail staropinions@txstate.edu
Conflict of interest makes regent appointment inappropriate
T
he most recent member appointed to the Board of Regents by Rick Perry maintains a business with an inappropriate and serious conflict of interest for the College of Education at Texas State. Vernon Reaser III, the appointee, is the president of Texas Teachers Alternative Certification. The business provides teacher certification training for approximately $4,195. College seniors in their final semester and those who have a four-year degree and a 2.5 GPA are eligible to enroll in the program. The certification training can be done via the Web or through a blend of in-person and online instruction. Texas State is historically known for providing top-quality teaching degrees. Reaser’s teacher certification business is in direct competition with the university’s College of Education goals. In addition, Texas State’s official name used to include the phrases “Normal College” and “Teachers College” from 1918 through 1959 to denote the university’s mission toward education. The College of Education still holds a strong presence in the overall spectrum of the university’s operations today. Therefore, it is unfair for Reaser to make decisions about the university’s education department and curriculum when his business profit interests may interfere. Texas law states Board of
Regents members “may not have a direct or indirect interest including financial” in a company “that is in substantial conflict” of the entity they represent. Students will have to choose a path toward certification when seeking to enter the teaching profession. It is plausible some of those people will consider both Texas State’s College of Education and Reaser’s program when making that decision. In essence, Reaser has no real incentive to make decisions that may cause students to flock to Texas State’s education program. The Texas Teachers Alternative Certification’s main selling point is low cost and accessibility. Texas State is offering more courses online or by correspondence as it grows and evolves. Reaser can make the argument Texas State and the business are not in direct competition right now, but they could be before his term is up in 2019. A spokesman for Perry said all applicants are vetted for conflicts before they are appointed, according to a Feb. 28 University Star article. It seems as though the governor’s office forgot to glance at Reaser’s resume. The teaching certification business was likely an easy detail for Perry to overlook, considering Reaser donated $92,500 to the governor’s campaign. Reaser should be open to the public about the potential interaction between his business and the new appointment as a regent. However, instead of being
Grace Perkins, Star Illustrator
transparent to The University Star, Reaser designated Jarod Love, who identified himself as a “public policy consultant,” to answer questions on his behalf, according to the same article. “Reaser will always conduct himself to the highest ethical standard,” Love said in the article. Texas legislators will make the ultimate decision whether to confirm or deny Perry’s appointment,
and these officials need to make the right choice by keeping Reaser from attaining a regent position. Texas State is incredibly vulnerable with tight budgets, space and resources. The regents need to be able to make fair and accurate decisions with the university’s best interests at heart, without regard to personal agenda. Reaser’s teaching certification business makes him unable to be objective
toward Texas State’s College of Education interests. 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.
Driving creates danger for student motorists, pedestrians By Daniel Palomo Opinions Columnist
S
ome students continue to fuel America’s obsession with cars over any other means of transport, including bicycling, walking and bus riding, and fail to take responsibility for vehicle fatalities that result. Drivers and pedestrians alike are not completely ignorant of the dangers of driving. On the contrary, traffic fatality numbers and statistics are readily available on the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) website. However, many people are still in complete and absolute
denial of these dangers. In 2011, Governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would ban texting while driving, according to a Feb. 26 Austin American-Statesman article. It seems society is at an unfortunate place because the governor senses the people of Texas would rather defend their freedoms to drive as they please than to sensibly reduce them. Many people have seemed to decide it is safe to essentially operate a handheld computer while driving a vehicle. This may seem like an absurd act, and rightly so. I would be remiss to say I have not participated in many of the ills associated with driving. But that is exactly why I try to relegate driving to the times when I absolutely must, and I take the bus or ride a bicycle whenever possible. It is amazing to think that, despite all of the fatalities that
have arisen from car accidents, there are many drivers who have had horrific crashes and survived. Students see these types of incidents on the news every day. Think about how much force it takes in order to destroy a modern vehicle and how much research and development goes into designing the safety aspects. Despite everything, engineers who build cars could not save the 3,015 people who died in motor vehicle incidents in 2011 across Texas, according to the same TxDOT statistics. In order to avoid the societal cognitive dissonance associated with the dangers of driving, students may pass blame onto the “boogeyman” of drunk driving. Some may rush to blame the “idiotic” or “selfish” drunk driver whenever there is an exceptionally tragic alcohol-related accident. Students may do this as if no one
else was driving drunk, as if many of them have not driven drunk before and as if it was much more heinous than a crime they could commit. Some students do not find fault in those instances. Blame is sometimes placed on the crooked bar or drink tender who served the person too much and so on. Students may rush together to throw together some law or try to shut down some establishment because, well, it sure was not their fault. In Mass Media and Society, my peers and I read a passage from a book about euro-centrism. It posits that euro-centricity, bias toward anything European, is engrained so thoroughly in American society, that even sincere attempts at inclusion of other societies are trivial at best. This is exactly how I feel about driving. In the American car-dependent society, students do not tend to
see any of the cons associated with driving in their day-to-day lives. As my mom has told me several times, “Mijo, you have to have a car.” When it comes to motorized personal transport, as a society, students appear to be all in. Reliance on this transportation would be fine if only students were realistic about it. However, this is not the case. The dangerous condition of the roads is not any one person or establishment’s fault. It is everyone’s fault. Driving fatalities are just one of the symptoms of the overall condition—a condition which emphasizes expediency over everything. As those suffering from an addiction may say, the first step is admitting one has a problem. -Daniel Palomo is a mass communication masters student.
Concealed Carry
TALK
AGAINST By Christian Penichet-Paul Opinions Columnist The solution to gun violence must not include the right to carry concealed weapons on a college campus. According to a Feb. 12 University Star article, a bill filed in the Texas Legislature would permit the possession of concealed handguns on university campuses. The bill is a dangerous proposal for Texas State students. Daniel Benitez, University Police Department captain, said UPD would have concern about the potential actions of concealed handgun holders if a shooter situation occurred on campus. Gun holders are
IT OUT
required to have 15 hours of training per year, while UPD officers are trained for more than 100 hours and undertake special training to prepare for emergency shooter situations. Rash actions by concealed weapon holders could severely worsen an emergency situation. State representative Jason Isaac believes more harm is done on college campuses when students cannot exercise their Second Amendment rights. Isaac’s position seems to be outside the bounds of common sense, because having college-age, potentially stressed concealed weapon holders in a densely populated area could create a dangerous situation.
By Molly Block Opinions Columnist
FOR
With a Constitutional right to bear arms present in the Second Amendment, students should be allowed to carry guns on campus with some limitations and restrictions. Future mass shootings could be prevented from happening on any college campus or university if students were allowed to carry guns on campus. The sole purpose of carrying a gun would be for protection against an individual who was attempting to cause significant harm to others. The student would obviously need a Concealed Handgun
License and be able to pass a criminal history background check before he or she would be able to carry a gun on campus. Students with handgun licenses, along with abiding by the previously mentioned regulations, should have to register that information with the university. An administrator could be in charge of keeping tabs on these students to ensure criteria is met such as maintaining a 3.0 GPA average and having no disciplinary infractions at the university. Students should be allowed to carry a gun on campus if they meet these conditions.
Mental health key factor in school shootings By Savannah Wingo Assistant Opinions Editor
S
tudents must place mental health at the forefront regarding the occurrence of school shootings within the country instead of blaming video games, music or other forms of popular media. People often accuse violent video games, music or movies as the source of youth violence. Students may look for a scapegoat to take the blame for violence among children, but this first reaction is
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far from justified. The correlation between consumption of violent media and brutal behavior is weak at best. Correlations were found between youth brutality and playing violent video games for larger amounts of time, according to a Dec. 26, 2012 article on the MassGeneral Hospital for Children website. However, this was only present in a small portion of children who already exhibited high stress levels and aggressive tendencies, according to the 2004 study in the article. It seems the main factor contributing to brutality in these children was their mental health statuses, with violent media consumption only reinforcing the negative
Editor In Chief................................................Beth Brown, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor............................Lee Moran, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor...................................................Caitlin Clark, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor............................Hollie O’Connor, starentertainment@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..........................................Liza Winkler, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor.......................................Austin Humphreys, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor..........................................Cameron Irvine, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief......................Thomas Glasebrook, starcopychief@txstate.edu Web Editor.............................................Cayla Green, starwebeditor@txstate.edu
behavior. Officials should provide children with mental health issues, such as stress, the help they deserve, instead of suggesting radical reforms to prevent them from buying and playing violent video games. Counseling services and mental health evaluations must be made available on a wider scale at cheaper costs for the public. Mass media may often serve to strengthen false beliefs about youth violence among worried parents and citizens. A report in Mother Jones contained skewed data that wrongly showed an upward accelerated trend in mass shootings within the country, according to a Jan. 28 Daily Beast article. In the same article, James Allen Fox, a criminology professor who studies
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mass murder, debunked the data and revealed a graph with no obvious patterns in the frequency of mass shootings since 1976. Mass shootings have not become more frequent in recent years, contrary to a common popular belief, the article said. Alarmist reports that incite hysteria about mass shootings among the American populace may be a different story, however. Despite this, violence among school children is, in many ways, on the decline. Fewer students brought weapons and got into physical fights at schools during 2011 than in 1993, according to statistics from the Center for Disease Control. The rate of violent crimes within the United States has been
steadily declining for five consecutive years as of 2011, according to an Oct. 29, 2012 CNN article. It may be easier for students to blame violent media as the cause of recent school shootings, but this sentiment is neither substantiated nor helpful. Students should be concerned with improving the mental health care of children to address problems before anything becomes out of control. This initiative could better prevent possible tragedies from occurring, instead of casting doubt on the roles of video games, music and movies in school shootings. -Savannah Wingo is a mass communication sophomore.
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos and is published every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Wednesday, February 13, 2013. 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. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.
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The University Star | Thursday February 28, 2013 | 5
TRENDS
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Tram drivers discuss bus route experiences
Alexandra McGonagle, Texas State alumna, drives the Mill Street route Feb. 11. By Jordan Gass-Poore’ Trends Reporter The Texas State Bobcat Tram hissed and popped as it idled by the side of the curb at Campus Loop. Guy Douglas, economics senior, was behind the wheel of an “El Dorado,” the most common type of tram operated by Texas State Transportation Services. He wore a maroon polo and a fluorescent yellow vest, ready to begin his 3:05 p.m.
Elise Laird, Staff Photographer
Tuesday shift. The life of a Bobcat Tram driver can have its ups and downs, he said. While he’s had plenty of pleasant riders, some don’t understand the rules of the road when it comes to driving the huge vehicles. “Why aren’t we leaving yet?” is a routine question from passengers on Douglas’ routes, and one that requires a simple explanation, he said. The buses are on a specific schedule to alleviate road con-
gestion and even the flow of traffic. Douglas would be back at The Quad bus loop 30 minutes later for more students to file into the tram and find an empty seat. The ones who miss the bus sometimes take desperate measures, he said. “Students will run up and bang on the door, even when I’m at the light at the intersection leaving The Quad,” he said. Douglas said students ask him why the bus won’t open its doors on a regular basis, but may not understand that once the tram leaves the curb and is in motion, the doors are required by First Transit, the company that operates the buses, to remain closed. Alexandra McGonagle, Texas State alumna, said the majority of passengers like the ones on her Bobcat Stadium, Post Road, Mill Street and Ranch Road routes are “chill,” but some get hostile with drivers. McGonagle said Bobcat Tram drivers are not allowed to drop passengers off at nondesignated locations because the company would be liable for them. To possibly beat the crowds, traffic and motion sickness, Douglas suggested people leave about an hour before they need to reach their destination. He said Monday through Thursday mornings are the busiest times to use the Texas State Bobcat Tram in San Marcos. He said students who miss the bus do not plan properly. “Get up 20 minutes earlier,” he said. Douglas’ Bobcat Tram driving experi-
Students campaign against school bullying for national competition By Fiona Riley Trends Reporter Texas State students are putting together a campaign against bullying through artwork, social media and other strategies to get their message out into the world. The Public Relations Student Society of America participates in an annual competition called the Bateman Case Study, whose prompt this year is an anti-bullying campaign. Texas State’s team includes public relations seniors Seth Schoolcraft, Kerri Driver, Callie Hill, Marissa McMinn and Rachel David, Spanish senior. The Bateman competition specifies that the campaign should target students between the ages of 10 and 19. The Texas State students decided to conduct their campaign by establishing a blog and a Twitter account, and speaking to students in San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District’s high school, alternative high school, elementary schools and middle schools. The team spoke to the students, establishing “thought banners” in the middle and high schools. “Basically, the thought banners were big posters that asked the question, ‘What Makes You Different?’” Hill said. “We’d gone with the campaign idea to ‘Be the Difference,’ to be proud of what makes you different, because most of the time that’s what kids are bullied about.” In the elementary schools, art projects were assigned to children to draw “what makes them different,” in addition to having books in their libraries displayed with the display title, “Be the Dif-
ference, Be Proud.” “Hopefully, from the books and displays, students will realize how important it is to be proud of who you are,” Hill said. Working on this campaign is necessarily time-consuming for the participants. David said the team works on the project each day, whether doing activities with the school, writing content to distribute to media outlets or managing the social media accounts. “The bottom line is creating awareness,” David said. “Writing something to put out there is a daily task.” The team’s work was not limited to schools. On Feb. 24 they spoke to a group of sixth-graders at San Marcos Baptist Church. “One thing you have to keep in mind is the idea of focusing on the solution of accepting what makes you different and what makes you unique, instead of trying to change things about yourself that just can’t be changed,” Schoolcraft said.
Team members like Hill are glad to be able to work on the campaign, despite the hard work. “We know we’re reaching someone, and if one student thinks about their actions or their friends’ actions, it’ll be worth it,” Hill said. The team received 181 art projects back from the schools they talked to and accumulated approximately 300 followers on Twitter. All social media accounts will be taken down on Thursday, Feb. 28, as instructed by the competition rule that contestants have only one month to work on their campaign.
ences have not made him entirely jaded yet, he said. He has made friends with some of his regular passengers during the approximately 32 hours he works every week, covering six shifts. But Douglas is just paying it forward. Last spring, he discussed the possibility of applying for a Bobcat Tram position as a driver on the Night West route he frequented after seeing a hire sign at First Transit’s home base off Wonder World Drive in San Marcos. Once Douglas was hired, he spent two weeks training to be a Bobcat Tram driver. McGonagle was hired as a driver in 2009 and continues to work for First Transit after graduating from Texas State last August. As trainees, McGonagle and Douglas drove buses with a group of other candidates around a sparsely developed area for more than 15 hours. They were then paired with an experienced driver for more than 20 hours of one-on-one route training called “cadetting” after taking the two-part Commercial Driver License test. McGonagle said her first solo drive was from San Marcos to Austin. She said despite being slightly nervous, it was “awesome” to finally be able to drive the bus on her own. Douglas said every day working as a tram driver is a little different. “The unusual is actually the usual,” Douglas said of his experiences.
6 | Thursday February 28, 2013 | The University Star
SPORTS
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Players aim to improve with ‘nothing to lose’ By Odus Evbagharu Sports Reporter The Texas State softball team will try to end their six-game losing streak at the Centurylink Classic March 1-3. The team (2-12) is coming off an 0-5 performance at home last weekend, and not been winless this long since the team endured a 10-game losing streak in the 2005 season. The team will be without starting senior pitcher Anne Marie Taylor, who Coach Ricci Woodard hopes will be able to return “in a few weeks” after rehabilitating from a torn ACL. Taylor said on her Twitter page she is “going to try to play the rest of the season with a torn ACL.” Taylor has not pitched since Feb. 17 when the team lost 3-2 to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Woodard said the team is going to try to get Taylor back as soon as possible. “There are some dates that we are shooting for, but you know all of it just depends on rehab and when she feels strong enough to pitch again,” Woodard said. “She’s one of those kids that is going to work hard and get back for not only this ball club, but for herself. She wants to finish strong in her senior year. She’s going to do whatever she needs to do in the rehab room to get back in a few weeks.” Woodard also confirmed that the two softball players who were let go prior to the season are former shortstop Selena Hernandez and outfielder Brittney Garcia. In the CenturyLink Classic, Texas State will face the University of North Texas (79). The Mean Green played the Bobcats last weekend, gaining a 1-0 win. The University of North Texas was led by junior pitcher Ashley Kirk. She pitched six innings, gave up three hits and struck out six Texas State batters in the victory. The University of North Texas finished second in the Texas Shootout last weekend, losing 9-3 to Baylor University in the championship game. “We have nothing to lose at this point,” said junior outfielder Coralee Ramirez. “I think it’s going to be a different story next time we see (the University of North Texas). We are just going to bring our game to them this weekend and see what happens.” The University of North Texas has faced another team that will be participating in the Centurylink Classic this year in familiar Southland foe Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Mean Green mercy ruled the Islanders, beating them 11-3 in five innings.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi enters the tournament with a 5-10 record. Last year the Islanders and the Bobcats split the season series 1-1 in their only two meetings. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has held a 5-4 series advantage dating back to 2010. Islanders head coach Stephanie Hughes was a former player under Woodard and graduated in 2001 from Texas State. Texas State lost all three of its regular season match-ups with the Islanders in 2011 but was able to beat them 8-5 in the Southland Conference championship game. The victory helped clinch a NCAA tournament berth for the Bobcats. “We just want to take one pitch at a time, one day at a time to make sure that we’re playing our game still,” said junior outfielder Brooke Keel. “We’re excited to play (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi). We played them a lot in the Southland and are excited to play them on our home field.” The Bobcats will be facing a Purdue University team that is 6-9 and has not won a road game all season. Purdue University comes into the classic losing four of its last five games. The Boilermakers will be participating in their second Centurylink Classic in three years. “Right now we are just trying to get a little bit better at something,” Woodard said. “They’ve individually picked something to get better at this week, and that’s what we are focusing on. Instead of being overwhelmed with winning and losing, we’re just going to find something to get better at.” In the 2011 classic Purdue beat Texas State both times they played each other. The Bobcats were outscored 10-0 in the combined meetings. “Obviously we want to win, and that’s our job,” Ramirez said. “I’m not sure what (the University of Purdue) looks like, but right now it doesn’t even matter who is in the other dugout. We just need to come out and play our game and get some wins.” Texas State lost its home opener for the first time in the last five years. The team hopes this weekend being at home will change the momentum of Bobcats into a winning direction. “We’re lucky to be at home again this weekend and not traveling,” Woodard said. “We’re playing people that if we play well we can win (against), and if we don’t play well, we’re going to lose. It’s nice to be in that spot where if we do the things we need to do, we have a chance to win this weekend.” Twitter: @odus_Outputs
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Sports | The University Star | Thursday February 28, 2013 | 7
BASEBALL
Texas State enters Northern Kentucky series on 3-game skid landers, making three errors, two in the eighth inning. Until the game against Corpus Christi, The Texas State the Bobcats had not committed more baseball team will than one error in a game all season. look to get their ofCoach Ty Harrington still remains fensive and defenconfident in his defensive players sive efforts back on and knows their performance track coming off from Tuesday is not indicathree straight loses tive of their talents. when they take on “My outlook Northern Kentucky right now is to just University for a get to the next day,” three-game series this Harrington said. weekend. “(We) need to see what we The biggest struggle got player wise. (We) need to for the Bobcats (2-6) see who wants to come back has come at the plate and make this team a better this year, but they were team right now.” able to get their offense Northern Kentucky Univergoing against Texas A&Msity comes into the weekCorpus Christi University end 1-6. Their lone victory Tuesday in a 7-3 loss. It came against St. Louis was the defense that was University in 14 innings not able to do its part by a score of 5-3. They against the Islost to St. Louis just two days later by the same score. The Bobcats’ Star File Photo defeat against Texas State baseball will take on Northern Kentucky in the Islanders three games this weekend starting March 1 at home. was the largest By Jordan Brewer Assistant Sports Editor
deficit all season. Texas State has lost by a single run in three of their six defeats thus far in 2013. They have gone into extra innings two times in seven games and lost both. Against the Islanders, Texas State surrendered three runs in the first inning. Their WAC-worst .194 batting average would have trouble overcoming the deficit. Texas State is still trying to find a lineup that suits them. Harrington has started 14 different players. He used a total of 15 players in Tuesday’s loss to Corpus Christi. In terms of batting position and average, junior utility player Cody Lovejoy and sophomore shortstop Garrett Mattlage have been the two most consistent. “We are going to start with a clean slate,” Lovejoy said. “The only thing to do is come back and get a solid victory. So we are going to come back, play hard and try to put a hurting on somebody.” Lovejoy is the only Bobcat batting over .360, 8-15 from the plate in his last four games. Mattlage is second on the team with a .333 average. Two other Bobcat players have an average above .200. Northern Kentucky’s senior infielder Brad Clement is the team’s only player batting more than .400. Their two next
leading hitters are freshman catcher Cody Kuzniczci (.375) and freshman outfielder Conor Ledger (.357). Clement has a home run on his resume. The Bobcats will hold a pitching advantage this weekend, with junior Kyle Finnegan starting on Friday. He maintains a 2.45 earned run average and has given up six hits and eight walks while striking out 20. Sophomore Taylor Black will start game two and has a 0.60 ERA, giving up five hits, a run and five walks while striking out 13. “All we can do as a pitching staff is go out and put up zeroes,” said junior pitcher Scott Grist. “I think we have done a decent job. Our hitting is going to come around. They have been hitting the ball hard and hitting right at them sometimes. We can come back at any time.” Northern Kentucky has two starters with ERA near 5.00. However, its senior reliever Brett Loeding boasts a 0.71 ERA, and has appeared in four games this season. Senior right-hander Blake Bagshaw will go head-to-head with Finnegan on Friday. He is 0-2 on the year giving up 12 hits and four runs while striking out three. Twitter: @jbrewer32
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Bobcats plan ‘to play tough’ in last home games By Samuel Rubbelke Sports Reporter The men’s basketball team will look to continue keeping themselves in games when they close their home schedule Thursday and Saturday against Seattle University and the University of Idaho, teams they have defeated in come-from-behind fashion earlier this season. Texas State men’s basketball thrived off second-half offensive surges earlier in the season in a 7873 victory over Idaho and an 86-83 triumph against Seattle. Seattle is currently riding a five game losing streak but has dropped its last three by a combined 11 points, including a 6-point loss to now nationally ranked Louisiana Tech University. Seattle leads the WAC in defensive (26.6) and offensive rebounding (14.1). The Redhawks scored 44 in the paint and collected 21 offensive rebounds, which accounted for 20 second-chance points in their first game against Texas State. “We have to execute our game plan,” said Coach Doug Davalos. “More importantly, we’ve got to play tough. Seattle is a great offensive rebounding team. They really hurt us inside last time. We have to do a better job of protecting the paint.” Junior forward Reid Koenen led the Bobcats with 24 points scored and six boards in the team’s first meeting against Seattle. Junior forward Joel Wright finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Phil Hawkins contributed 13 points and six assists. Redshirt junior forward Clarence Trent led the Redhawks with 22 points and eight rebounds. Redshirt freshman forward Deshaun Sunderhaus recorded a double-double, 17 points and 12 rebounds. Senior forward Chad Rasmussen added 11 points. Texas State held the Redhawks’ athleticism to six fast break points and six points off turnovers last meeting, two components that ultimately led to a 12-point, second-half comeback. “We used our fundamentals,” Hawkins said. “It’s about doing the little things, like boxing out. Don’t gamble, and (be) smart with every decision you make.” The Bobcats trailed 42-35 at the
half on the road against Seattle but then scored 51 points in the second half, giving them an 86-83 win. “You’ve always got to get better,” Davalos said. “We also beat UTSA the first time, then they stomped us in the first half (of their second meeting). So, we’ve got to come out and compete harder than they do.” Idaho recently snapped its fourgame losing streak against Idaho State University in their Ramada BracketBusters game. The Vandals are ranked number one in free throw percentage (.770) and three-pointers (.389) and second in field goal shooting (.474) in conference play. Such proficient shooting is helped by sophomore guard Connor Hill, who is leading the conference going 46 percent from behind the 3-point line in WAC play. Overall, Hill is ranked seventh in the nation at 45 percent for the season from beyond the arc. Senior center Kyle Barone is fourth in field goal percentage
(.566) and second in free throws (.831) in the WAC. Idaho led by 17 points with 7:36 left in the first half, but Texas State trimmed its deficit to four heading into halftime. Texas State outscored Idaho 48-39 in the second half in the first meeting. Wright scored a WAC season high 37 points while gathering six rebounds, dishing out five assists and collecting five steals against the Vandals in the first matchup. Barone posted a double-double with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Barone is the only player in the WAC averaging a double-double, 17.5 points and 10.4 rebounds. Texas State will honor its seniors before Saturday’s game against Idaho. Matt Staff and Vonn Jones, both seniors, reflected on time at Texas State, the final two upcoming home games and their respective careers. “It’s been great,” said senior forward Matt Staff. “It’s been ev-
erything I could ever hope for and even more. These guys are my family now. When I transferred, they brought me right in. The past three and a half years here, two and a half playing, have been the greatest experience. I love playing here at Texas State, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Staff is currently second on the team in points (10.9 ppg) and rebounds (6.0 rpg), and shoots 91.5 percent from the foul line. Jones is averaging 5.1 points and 2.8 assists per game. He is second on the team with 38 steals on the season. “It’s been a great privilege to play Division I basketball here at Texas State,” Jones said. “I have made new friends and grew as a young man here, and I won’t forget the times I had here with the team I was a part of.”
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Men’s basketball will take on Seattle University for the second time this season Feb. 28 at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats have a 3-10 record at home.
Texas State women’s basketball will attempt to turn the season around in their final two road games before the WAC Tournament. For the complete story, scan here or go to UniversityStar.com.
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