03 02 2006

PRIMARY ELECTION GUIDE

Check out the candidates, their platforms and how it can affect you See pages 4 and 5

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

www.UniversityStar.com

MARCH 2, 2006

THURSDAY

The right thing

By Anna Heffley The University Star Spike Lee said his favorite album of 2005 is Kanye West’s Late Registration, so it was fitting that 12 minutes before the acclaimed director took the stage Wednesday night, West’s “Gold Digger” was piped through the speakers in front of the LBJ Student Center — the radio edit version of “Gold Digger.”

About 2,500 people attended Lee’s presentation on “Courage,” put on as part of the Texas State Common Experience and Diversity Month in The Mall between LBJSC and Alkek Library.

“We almost didn’t believe that we got

him to come to our campus,” said Natalie Chandler, pre-mass communication junior and president of the Student Association of Campus Activities. “We’re still in shock that this year has been such a success for the Common Experience.”

Shelton Jackson Lee, nicknamed “Spike” by his mother, grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. and attended film school at New York University after receiving his bachelor’s degree in communication at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. “College is a key point where we develop as a human being. I was fortunate I found in college what I wanted to do,” Lee said. “If

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 59

Talking with the man: Q&A with Spike Lee

‘If you can do what you love, it’s not a job anymore.’

Editors Note: After Spike Lee spoke to Texas State students he found time to answer three questions for The University Star.

— Spike Lee

The University JASON BUCH Star: In your speech, Assistant you said Hurricane Katrina was the first News Editor time governments Star: The Star at all levels in the was in New OrUnited States turned their leans last month, and the city backs on citizens. Don’t you seemed very unprepared to think that in the history of host Mardi Gras. You were this country, the government there during the weekend has ignored entire communi- shooting your documentary ties of people? about Hurricane Katrina.

What was it like?

Spike Lee: I meant it was the first time they turned SL: There was a big debate their back on an entire city. over whether or not there We can go all the way around should be a Mardi Gras. A the world to help other coun- lot of people were torn by it, tries, other nations, in their but the general consensus was times of need, but we weren’t that it was needed. It was a able to take care of our own time to let go, a time to forget citizens. about your troubles and your worries just for a minute. The Star: How did you end up people there know that every down here? Texas State Uni- day isn’t Mardi Gras. Mardi versity is a little out of the Gras ended yesterday, today way. is Ash Wednesday; tomorrow it’s time to build the city back.

SL: I speak at many, many It’s going to take 10 or 15 years universities. I’ve been doing to see what New Orleans will that for 20 years. Whenever I be, what the makeup of the can get time off, I try to work city will be.

SPIKE SPEAKS: (Left) Controversial and outspoken filmmaker Spike Lee spoke to a crowd of 2,500 on Wednesday night in The Mall between the LBJ Student Center and Alkek Library. Lee spoke about his upbringing, his filmmaking and issues young people deal with today.

PACKED IN: (Below) Students listen to Spike Lee on Wednesday night, covering every inch of The Mall. Students showed their approval of Lee with cheers and ovations.

See LEE, page 6

it into my schedule. I’m an educator. I’m a film professor at NYU. I’m also the artistic director of film and television at the Tisch School of the Arts. Besides a filmmaker, I’m a teacher.

A.D. Brown/Star photos

Unknown bacteria found thriving in wreckage of shuttle

By Ashley Richards The University Star

Matt Rael/Star graphic

Much like the mythological Greek figure Icarus, Robert McLean’s payload containing a bacteria experiment aboard the 2003 Columbia Shuttle lost its wings when the orbiter broke up upon re-entry into the atmosphere and fell punitively back to earth.

Ironically, McLean, biology professor, said his findings from the recovered payload will be published in May in the Icarus International Journal of Solar System Studies, the official publication for the Division for Planetary Sciences and the

American Astronomical Society.

Months after the accident on Feb. 1, 2003, McLean and several scientists were able to access their payload. After running tests to find if the original bacteria he sent had endured the harsh explosion and fall, McLean thought there were no signs of life. But he returned to his lab weeks later to find an unknown bacteria thriving.

The survival of the Microbispora bacteria shines additional evidence on a theory that is thought by some to be science fiction.

The payload contained nine other experiments, McLean

said, which were encased in plastic blocks that were then enclosed in an aerospace aluminum outer shell.

McLean focuses his research on biofilms, bacteria that grow on surfaces, such as plaque and slime on rocks.

“Originally, we sent a mixture of three different organisms, and we were just curious to see how they’d interact if you take away gravity,” McLean said. “Normally, you have one that gets very dominant, and the others are just minor players. We just wanted to see if you take away gravity does this still hold true or not.”

McLean worked with Instru-

Early voting attendance shows decrease of votes cast at LBJ Student Center

By Ashley Richards The University Star Campaign officials in the ongoing primary elections approached students walking toward the LBJ Student Center on Monday and Tuesday and encouraged them to cast their vote.

“Are you registered to vote?”

Eric Heggie, international relations senior, asked students as they passed by.

If by chance the student responded “yes,” Heggie was prepared to continue walking beside him or her, handing out a flier and making a quick pitch about why he or she should vote for the candidate Heggie represents.

“Basically, I talk about student issues,” Heggie said. “Students will respond to issues that affect them.”

Two hours before the polls closed at the LBJ Student Center for early voting Wednesday, Heggie said the number of votes cast there for the day was nearing 150, up from Tuesday’s

official count from the Hays County Elections Office, which tallied the day’s total at 102 votes cast at the LBJSC. Joyce Cowan, Hays County elections administrator, said the 102 voters who went through the polling station on campus represent a drastic drop from the nearly 500 voters who showed up each day during the November elections.

“To be honest, it’s down all over for the primary,” Cowan said. “Some of us don’t want to vote the primaries. There’s all kinds of reasons; we try to guess why, but our campus didn’t do any different than anywhere else.”

Pamela Bishir and Jessica Irwin, political science sophomores, stood near the student center passing out fliers for their candidates as well.

“Most people aren’t registered here,” Bishir said. “I think people are overwhelmed because there’s so many people passing things out.”

“I think more people were registered to vote when we

Today’s Weather

Partly Cloudy 86˚/53˚

Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 56% UV: 7 High Wind: SE 9 mph

had a student running,” Irwin said, referring to Texas State student Chris Jones’ successful campaign for the San Marcos City Council in the fall. “People don’t think it affects them now.”

She said a number of local issues of interest to students, including area business development and green-space preservation, will also be affected by this election, and that students should be involved in making the decisions.

“I think that people think government on the local level doesn’t affect them, but it does, sometimes more than on the national level,” Bishir said.

Early voting was available only on Monday and Tuesday at the LBJSC, but other early voting locations will be open in San Marcos until March 3.

In Hays County, early voting began Feb. 21, and as of the end of Tuesday, 1,911 votes had been cast, 353 of which were cast at polling stations in San Marcos excluding the 102 at the LBJSC.

Saturday Cloudy Temp: 77°/ 53° Precipitation: 10%

See SHUTTLE, page 5

Shirt swap aims to stir up some gold, maroon pride

By Leah Kirkwood The University Star

Spencer Millsap/Star photo illustration

The Student Chapter of the Texas State Alumni Association will host their “Trade Up” event in The Quad on Monday.

Two-day Forecast Friday Sprinkles Temp: 76°/ 52° Precipitation: 20%

mentation Technology Associates helping young students from Port Lavaca and Wimberley with a science project that went up on the John Glenn Discovery Shuttle in 1998. Because of his previous work, he had the opportunity again to send research on a shuttle.

ITA is a private company with an agreement with NASA to organize and coordinate various experiments to be sent along on the shuttles. Valerie Casasanto, who at the time was ITA’s microgravity experiment coordinator, worked with McLean on organizing and testing his

Brandon Jones, public relations officer for the Student Chapter of the Texas State Alumni Association, sees a lot of people wearing UT or A&M shirts around the Texas State campus.

“You won’t see that at other campuses, but it has become acceptable here,” said Jones, mass communication senior. “We want to change that.”

The Student Chapter will host a T-shirt “Trade Up” event in The Quad on Monday. Students can bring their shirts from other universities to trade for a free Texas State T-shirt. There will even be a private changing area for students wearing shirts from other schools.

Jones said the event will start at 9 a.m., but that the group may run out of T-shirts before the scheduled ending time of 2 p.m.

Jones said the Student Chapter strives to promote “all sorts of pride on campus.”

“We want students to know how important the Alumni Association is to students,” Jones said.

“There are benefits you can receive right now as students.”

The Student Chapter rewarded Erin Breland,

Inside

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

News............... 1-7 Trends .......... 8-11 Comics............. 12 Crossword ....... 12

Sudoku ............ 12 Opinions ..... 13,14 Classifieds ....... 15 Sports ......... 16-18

See SWAP, page 3

To Contact

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

PAGE TWO The University Star

Thursday in Brief

March 2, 2005

campushappenings McCoys receive award for largest philanthropic gift to university University President Denise M. Trauth presented the university’s President’s Excellence Award to Emmett and Miriam McCoy of San Marcos after a special guided tour of the new facility on Feb. 23.

In 2004, the McCoys made the largest philanthropic gift to Texas State in the university’s history: $20 million to enhance

programs in business administration. In return, the university named its College of Business Administration the Emmett and Miriam McCoy College of Business Administration.

Emmett and Miriam McCoy Hall, a new building on the Texas State campus that will house the McCoy College, has also been named in their honor. The university will begin holding classes there this summer.

— Courtesy of Media Relations

News Contact — Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu

Calendar of Events Clubs & Meetings Thursday Facing the Fear: An Anxiety/ Panic group will meet from 4 to 5:30 p.m. For information, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.

The Catholic Student Center will have the Rock Praise & Worship at 7:30 p.m. in the CSC chapel.

Bobcats for Christ will hold its weekly devotional session at 9:30 p.m. on the steps of The Mall on campus.

Monday The Inter-Tribal Council meets at 5 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 4-9.1. For more information, please contact Mark Calvin at (512) 245-1698 or e-mail mc1136@txstate.edu.

Bobcats for Christ will hold its weekly group Bible discussion at 8 p.m. in the McCarty Student Center.

Events Thursday The second annual Multicultural Talent Show will take place at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.

The Society of Professional Journalists will host Matt Flores, criminal justice editor at the San Antonio ExpressNews at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in Old Main, Room 232. Flores will discuss how to request information under the Freedom of Information Act. The event is free, and everyone is invited to

attend.

Friday The Student Leadership Development Team will hold its sixth annual Student Leadership Retreat through the weekend at Rocky River Ranch in Wimberley. Register at Campus Activities located on the fourth floor of the LBJSC. For more information, contact (512) 2453219.

Sunday The 78th Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Zilker Park, 2200 Barton Springs Road, in Austin. Events start at 1 p.m.

Monday The Texas State Alumni Association Student Chapter’s Trading Up will be held in The Quad from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students can bring old T-shirts from other universities to trade up for a free Texas State shirt.

Crash Scene Student Interaction, presented by the Texas State Police Department, begins at 10:50 a.m. in The Quad, off North LBJ and Bobcat Trail.

The crash display will remain through Tuesday.

Arts & Entertainment Thursday Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, directed by Victoria Alvarez, will be performed at 7 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. It will run through Sunday.

Faculty artist, Paolo Susanni, will perform on the piano at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Tickets

Time for a checkup

are $2 for general admission and $1 for students.

Saturday Anne Garza, senior flute, will perform at 3 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Tyrone Sutton, senior piano, will perform at 6 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Miscellaneous Friday Participation forms for Bobcat Build are due at the table in The Quad, the Campus Activities and Student Organizations desk on the fourth floor of the LBJSC or at the River House. For more information, contact Kalista Glasgow at kalista@txstate.edu.

David Racino/Star photo Music sophomore Casey Cowan and music senior Abigail Alleman get their blood pressures checked Wednesday morning in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom at the annual Texas State Health Fair.

Sunday Rockers Big Blue Hearts will perform at 4 p.m. in Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, in New Braunfels. For more information, call (830) 606-1281 or visit www.bigbluehearts.com.

CALENDAR SUBMISSION POLICY Calendar submissions are free. Send submissions to Calendar of Events at starcalendar@txstate.edu or call (512) 245-3487 for more information.

E-mailed press releases will not be accepted. If using e-mail, please submit as a simple bulleted list of essential information. Submissions are on a first come, first served basis and notices for weekly meetings need to be submitted every week they will take place.

The University Star reserves the right to refuse entries or edit for libel, style and space purposes. Deadline: Three working days prior to publication.

We All Make Mistakes On Page 5 of Wednesday’s issue, the name of Monty Marion, the photographer who compiled the day’s “Trendy Thoughts,” was misspelled.

Also on Wednesday, the wrong solutions were given for Tuesday’s sudoku puzzle. Page 12 of today’s issue includes the solutions for both Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s sudokus.

In the article “Houston consulting firm to receive input from witnesses in AALC afterparty at open forum,” Alpha Kappa Alpha was identified as the fraternity that hosted the AALC after-party. Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sorority, and it was Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity that hosted the party.

Daily Beat Hank Hill becomes King of the Writers Collection Hank, Peggy and Bobby Hill, along with all of their Arlen, Texas friends and neighbors, have found a permanent home in Alkek Library’s Southwestern Writers Collection. In 1999, Jim Dauterive, a Dallas native and staff writer for the Mike Judge & Greg Daniels King of the Hill television series, began donating his personal papers to the collection — the bulk of which consisted of scripts, research materials, memos, promotional items and other production records documenting the popular animated series. In 2005, as the show

prepared to wrap up its final seasons, Dauterive contacted SWWC Curator Connie Todd to inquire whether the collection would be interested in the comprehensive archives of the series. Todd was quick to accept more than 75 boxes of scripts, artifacts and production records that arrived at the library last month.

The King of the Hill Papers are currently being processed and will be available for research in Summer 2006. For access, please contact archivist Katie Salzmann ks31@txstate.edu or (512) 245-3861.

— Courtesy of the Alkek Library

NEWS

Thursday, March 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 3

SWAP: Students to wear spirit on sleeves

PET OF THE WEEK

CONTINUED from page 1

Spencer Millsap/Star photo FRIENDLY FELINE: Jade is a playful brown tabby cat in need of a loving owner. If you would like to adopt Jade or need more information, please contact the San Marcos Animal Shelter at (512) 393-8340. Jade’s identification number is 30133.

www.UniversityStar.com

psychology senior, with a reserved oncampus parking space in the fall. Although the parking spot was a first for the Student Chapter, Dorothy Evans, Alumni Association executive director, said other benefits of being a Student Chapter member include opportunities for members to network with Texas State alumni.

The Trade Up event will offer at least three different Texas State T-shirt designs, but most will be T-shirts printed by the Student Chapter specifically for the event.

Jones called the design a play on the anti-littering campaign, “Don’t Mess with Texas.”

“Our campus is littered with other schools’ T-shirts,” Jones said.

Several Texas State athletic departments are donating T-shirts for the event, including the Bobcat football and baseball teams.

“The past success with last season’s football team was when we saw a big change (in school spirit),” Jones said. “A lot of things have changed, and it all started with the name change.”

Jones said the party reputation associated with the name Southwest Texas State University contributes to the lack of school spirit displayed on campus.

“Up until now we have been overshad-

f it’s an athletic “I shirt, I don’t mind, because we don’t have

good athletic teams here; but if it’s just to promote the university, I think that’s wrong. If you like it so much, go there.”

— Phillip Moreno marketing junior

owed with the ‘party school’ image,” Jones said. “You can get a very good education here, go far and give back to the school.”

Ryan McDaniel, criminal justice sophomore, said he owns some Texas State Tshirts, but none from other schools.

“It doesn’t bother me if (students wear) a UT shirt, just A&M,” McDaniel said. “I don’t like A&M that much.”

Phillip Moreno, marketing junior, said he also doesn’t own any shirts from other schools.

“If it’s an athletic shirt, I don’t mind, because we don’t have good athletic teams here; but if it’s just to promote the university, I think that’s wrong,” Moreno said. “If you like it so much, go there.”

Nick Hajda, mass communications senior, wore a University of Texas Longhorns national football champion T-shirt on campus Wednesday. He jokingly said that he would trade his shirt only “if it was for a Texas State national champion shirt.”

Hajda said wearing another university’s T-shirt may show poor school spirit, but “it’s not as big of an issue as people make it out to be.”

Hajda said people sometimes yell at him for wearing his UT shirts.

“They launch into you and start grating you just for wearing another school’s shirt,” Hajda said. “At least my Texas State shirts are the right color.”

Head football coach David Bailiff, head baseball coach Ty Harrington and head soccer coach Kat Conner will help exchange T-shirts at the “Trade Up” event.

“I think it’s a great event for everybody,” Harrington said. “It’s an exciting thing that gives students an opportunity to show their school spirit.”

Harrington said he has seen an increasing number of Texas State T-shirts and bumper stickers.

“People now aren’t afraid to put a bumper sticker on their car or wear a T-shirt,” Harrington said. “We can see guys start to walk around here in their Texas State shirts instead of their Longhorn shirts because that’s what they are supposed to do. They go to school here.”

NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

Thursday, March 2, 2006

VOTER’S GUIDE U.S. Representative, District 28

Judge, 428th Judicial District

Henry Cuellar — Democrat

Anna Martinez Boling — Democrat

Goals: I will continue to work on increasing economic development to provide our community with higher-paying jobs. I will continue to be accessible to my constituents. I invite anyone to e-mail me personally at henry.cuellar@mail.house.gov.

I will also continue to deliver federal funding to my district, including the San Marcos area, for better roads and bridges to ease traffic congestion. Finally, I will fight to restore cuts in federal funding for student loans and protect Social Security and Medicare.

To Texas State Students: Unlike my opponents, I believe in representing the community interests — not the special interests. Political parties and political action committees (PACs) have a stranglehold on the process, and local folks are shut out and ignored. I am in Washington, D.C., to work hard and produce real results for you.

My parents were poor migrant workers, and I know what it is like to struggle financially to pay for school and get experience in your field. Therefore, I have a congressional office in San Marcos where I invite Texas State students to intern to get experience in government and politics.

I invite anyone who is interested in an internship to contact my San Marcos office.

Victor Morales — Democrat Goals: campaign Reform — To many voters, the system is totally corrupted by special interests.

I do not accept political action committee money and feel the reason very few things get done for ordinary residents is the control big money has. We need true reform.

Fiscal conservative — We owe $8.3 trillion. Most congressmen work at bringing pork to get re-elected. I tell people I will not work toward a project I feel is not a truly vital need. You can’t have it both ways, and this debt keeps us from helping the real needy.

The veterans are not really being taken care of. There is no veteran’s hospital in Laredo. Their co-payments on healthcare are going up. Our soldiers in

Iraq were not given the equipment they should have had. The VA was recently short on funds.

As a teacher, I was upset at the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, which forced itself on local educators.

We do not have enough qualified math and science teachers across the state, yet everyone takes the same test. Congress has never fully funded it in spite of them saying they would. I believe more Pell Grants are needed, and the student loan subsidizing should not have been cut.

Minimum wage needs to go up to $7 at least.

To Texas State Students: Texas State students should know that my campaign is one of no political consultants and no power brokers. What this means is that I am totally independent and will do what is needed. As a real teacher, I have always placed education at the top.

how I, or we, can make things better.

To Texas State students: Texas State students should know that I will be a fair and impartial judge and that I will not punish anyone just to teach them a lesson.

I will apply the law fairly and equally among all who come before the court. I will not make any pre-judgments about cases until I hear all of the evidence (as is a judge’s duty). I am a graduate of Texas State, and I am honored to have been able to attend such a great university.

The university has grown quite a bit since I enrolled in 1988, and it is even more beautiful than when I was attending. I truly enjoy living in San Marcos and moved back here because of the beautiful surroundings and because of the university.

Michael “Mike” Marcin — Democrat Goals: There are two main areas of concern I have with the current court administration.

First is that the docket has been handled in such a way that it has required Hays County residents to accept visiting judges in order to get a timely setting. Hays County residents should have their cases heard by local judges.

Second, I would look closely at how non-violent offenders are sentenced in the county. The taxpayers pay for long sentences, and this needs to be considered in light of the state’s inability to fund education.

Alternatives need to be considered where appropriate.

To Texas State students: While manning the tables outside the LBJ Student Center during early voting, two issues were consistently raised.

One was the need to protect the environment and our water, and the second was a concern with the treatment of minor drug offenses.

My background on water and development issues shows my commitment to protect the environment in Hays County. It starts with being sure the existing rules are enforced.

On the treatment of minor drug offenses, I believe that the use of alternative punishment and treatment is more cost-effective and ultimately more productive.

Hays County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2

Ciro Rodriguez — Democrat No response received

Hays County District Attorney Wesley Mau — Republican Goals: I first want to restructure the processing of cases in the office to focus our limited resources on the cases that deserve the most attention — the serious crimes with victims who should not have to wait so long for their chance to see justice done. I will do this by developing plea incentives for low-risk offenders that will address their need for rehabilitation without use of trial time and resources. Taking the dangerous high-risk offenders off the street is the priority, followed by ensuring that programs and incentives

Goals: Work on reducing the backlog of cases that are currently clogging the court.

Streamline the proceedings as much as possible. Look into bringing modern technology into the courtroom. Work full-time from Monday through Friday. Develop trust and confidence in the system among the residents of Hays County. Develop better relationships between all departments at the Hays County Justice Center and the district court. Educate the public about the 428th Judicial District Court and its importance in the community. Encourage public comment about the court and suggestions as to

exist for low-risk offenders to change their behavior.

To Texas State Students: I am the only candidate in the race for district attorney who has spent any significant time working in criminal justice in Hays County. I am the only candidate who has prosecuted the kinds of serious crimes that Hays County must deal with. I have been endorsed by the San Marcos Police Officers Association, as well as numerous individual officers, and the Austin American-Statesman editorial board. I am the only candidate with the experience to address the current issues faced by our growing community while still maintaining the high standards that Hays County expects from its district attorney.

Paul C. Velte — Republican No response received

Your friendly neighborhood watchdog.

Margie Hinojosa-Hernandez — Democrat Goals: My goal is to develop a Web site with our information and forms that pertain to cases filed at the justice of the peace level available.

Also, to reduce the amount of time between filing a case and having it set on the docket.

To Texas State Students: I am fair and impartial. A person who comes to court without legal representation should not feel that they are at a disadvantage.

Numerous small claim cases are filed by students who have moved and whose deposits are wrongfully withheld. Students need to know that all procedures must be followed according to the law, and there are remedies for them when they are wronged. I am asking for your support in seeking my second term as justice of the peace.

Virginia Reyes-Sierra — Democrat No response received

Democrat

Running unopposed Hays County Judge: Elizabeth “Liz” Sumter

County Court at Law No. 2: Linda A. Rodriguez

Hays County Commissioner, Precinct 2: Jeff Barton

District Clerk: Cecilia Adair

Hays County District Attorney: Sherry Tibbe County Court at Law No. 1: Howard Warner

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2: Beth Smith Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5: Lamont Ramage

Hays County Commissioner, Precinct 2 Christie Pogue — Republican Goals: To bring positive new leadership that will provide responsible and managed growth and proven effective leadership while keeping our taxes low. We need to bring inter-jurisdictional entities together to address our growth needs so we can provide the services necessary to our residents with the limited resources that we have. It’s about finding solutions together to ensure our quality of life is secured. I bring unique talents to this race: a proven record in consensus building, years of public service and education and experience in public administra-

tion. I want to put those talents to use to preserve our quality of life.

To Texas State Students: I am not a politician; I am a public servant.

What I learned during my education at Texas State, I was able to put to effective use for my constituents when I was on the HCISD School Board and co-chair of the North Hays Leadership Council.

It is imperative that we all take an active role in our political systems.

We can choose to be a part of the problem in doing nothing, or we can choose to be a part of the solution by being involved in various different levels of service.

Running a campaign and serving in a public position has absolutely nothing to do with the person serving, it has everything to do with those who are being served.

We must never lose sight of that.

H.S. “Susie” Carter — Republican No response received

Hays County Judge Ernest Murry — Republican Goals: Hays County has no “business-like” historical reporting, which is critical for making intelligent, informed decisions which explains a lot about why more money is always Judge Powers’ preferred solution to every problem. I want county decisions to be based on real information inside a historical context. This type of historical reporting common in every business will create a revolution in accountability for county government. Imagine a government that provided citizens with the formatted information they need to almost instantly compare the management skills and efficiencies of local government. People would be able to make informed, intelligent decisions about bond elections and government operations. Elected officials would be forced to run on their records of performance and efficiency. We could “trust but verify” the accuracy of outrageous claims made by incumbents, or the insane promises made by challengers. The current genera-

tion is almost hype-proof. They trust less because “Googling” has made verifying easier. Technology has given them (you) what others have wanted, but did not have.

Trust isn’t good enough anymore.

It must be “trust but verify.” The next frontier is on the horizon: “Googling local government.”

To Texas State Students: No hype. There is no hype. I document everything I say. My Web site, www.ernestmurry.com, contains real information and real answers to real questions. I’m not a “picture and a postcard” politician. I post e-mailed questions and my answers on my Web site. If you can’t understand from the financial stats on my site why Powers claims to have cut taxes three times is an insult to intelligent life, just e-mail and you’ll have your answer. Mine is not the old 4-by-8 sign, sticker on your shirt, bumper sticker on the car campaign. My campaign is about real information for making real decisions.

Jim Powers — Republican Goals: My main goals are fiscal restraint, clean and managed growth and the expansion of our parks programs. When I was first elected county judge, we could boast only one county park.

After implementation of a parks master plan and the passage of voter-approved bonds in 2001, we created or expanded 13 parks in Hays County. The original $3.5 million dollar bond eventually resulted in more than $24 million in parks improvements. Parks help maintain our quality of life and enhance the beauty of Hays

County. I support the expansion of parks through either voter-approved bonds or other innovative programs.

To Texas State students: I am a fiscal conservative, and I am proud of my record of cutting taxes three times in seven years.

I am also proud that I have been open to new and innovative ideas for improving government and seeking out new economic development opportunities for Hays County.

I want to give students the opportunity to not only go to school here, but also the opportunity to stay in Hays County after completing college. As Hays County judge, we have done a lot to bring jobs to Hays County, but I believe the best is still to come.

NEWS

Thursday, March 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 5

VOTER’S GUIDE Hays County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Rob Baxter — Democrat Goals: To protect and maintain the quality of life we have in Hays County through proper planning

for and management of the impending growth in the county.

To Texas State Students: If they love this part of the Hill Country and the various springs and rivers the way I love this area, then I am the candidate for them.

Karen Ford — Democrat Goals: I will work for rational growth and protection of our natural resources and rural heritage.

I will work for more parks and the preservation of natural areas in Hays County.

I believe that a clean environment and a flourishing economy go hand-in-hand.

I will work to improve county services and efficiency in our county government while working to keep taxes low.

I will work to find ways to promote, encourage and support rainwater collection for residents and

small businesses.

To Texas State Students: I promised voters that I would be an honest, hard working full-time commissioner on behalf of all citizens, not special interests.

To demonstrate my commitment I became a dedicated, hard working candidate for office. I have talked to so many voters in the past few weeks that my voice was lost for three days.

But now it’s back, and I hope to earn voter confidence by continuing to work hard, to gain support by articulating our important issues and to win the vote so I can help to bring Precinct 4 and Hays County into the 21st Century without destroying our past.

Hays County Clerk

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4

Gina Islas-Mendoza — Democrat

Bill Hall — Democrat

Goals: My main goals, if elected, would be to investigate a software program that would make the records at the Justice Center available on the Internet. This would allow the records to be more easily accessible to the public. People would not have to travel to get information. I believe that this would save time for the public and the staff.

Another one of my goals is to ensure customer service from my staff. My job is to serve the people of Hays County and for my employees to serve the people of Hays County. I want to make sure people are treated nicely and receive all the information they need when they come to the office. Along with customer service, I intend to be a visible and hands-on county clerk. I intend to have an open door policy and make myself available to the staff and public.

It is important to have the community voice their concerns to me and ensure their needs are being taken care of to the highest degree.

Goals: Efficient and open operation of the justice of the peace court.

I will strive to make every person feel that he has been treated with fairness and justice in the court.

I will maintain the highest standards of honesty, integrity, professionalism,

To Texas State Students: I have been a dedicated, loyal and hard worker for the county clerk’s

office for the last 20 years. I have been working diligently with my family and friends to make sure Hays County residents know my qualifications for this job. I have been running a grassroots campaign and have been doing many things to make sure people know who I am. My family and friends have helped me with a fundraiser so that I could have money to pay for advertising. We have walked the neighborhoods to get more than 600 signatures to put my name on the ballot so that I would not have to pay a fee. We have passed out brochures to encourage people to vote, and we have put up signs all over Hays County. We have signs in Dripping Springs, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley and San Marcos.

We also have been e-mailing and making phone calls. It has been a great deal of work, but is something I have enjoyed because I am passionate about getting this job.

I am more than qualified and will work my hardest to make sure the office of the county clerk is run efficiently and effectively.

I also want the students to know that I was once a student at Texas State and know they work hard to fulfill their responsibility as a student and maintain a job. I know this is their home while they are in school and respect.

Goals: Precinct 4 is one of the fastest growing areas in Texas.

The residents are paying a full-time salary and deserve to have full-time representation from an impartial judge with no conflicts of interest.

I will, first of all, be a fulltime public servant. I am committed to spending all

No response received

Goals: My goal would be to keep the integrity of the living style that people move to North Hays County for.

Goals: My main goals are to work with the Commissioner’s Court to ensure a feasible funding plan for technology that improves the efficient processing of the official public records and court case management, to provide the leadership needed to ensure the best customer service possible to

Rex Baker — Republican

To Texas State Students: For people who have a voice in things — get out

Russ Molenaar — Republican No response received

State Elections Texas Governor ■ Chris Bell: Democrat ■ Bob Gammage: Democrat ■ Rashad Jafer: Democrat ■ James Werner: Libertarian ■ Larry Kilgore: Republican ■ Star Locke: Republican ■ Rhett R. Smith: Republican

Lieutenant Governor ■ Maria Luisa Alvarado: Democrat ■ Judy Baker: Libertarian ■ David Dewhurst: Republican

United States Senator

To Texas State Students: If students are interested in volunteering for my campaign, I would be happy to give them an assignment.

I need volunteers to set up signs at the polling places and hold up signs encouraging people to vote on Election Day. Students can contact me at (512) 353-1383.

Republican Running unopposed Judge, 428th Judicial District: Bill Henry

County Treasurer: Michelle R. Tuttle

Hays County Clerk: Linda C. Fritsche

207th District Court Judge: Jack Robison

County Court at Law No. 1: Peter B. Plotts

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3: Andrew W. Cable

County Surveyor: Kelly Kilber

Hays County Sheriff: Allen Bridges

■ Darrel Reece Hunter: Democrat ■ Gene Kelly: Democrat ■ Barbara Ann Radnofsky: Democrat ■ Scott Lanier Jameson: Libertarian ■ Timothy Wade: Libertarian

Attorney General ■ David Van Os: Democrat ■ Jon Roland: Libertarian ■ Greg Abbott: Republican

of my energies on improving the services of the justice of the peace, and I will not be distracted by personal business interests that would diminish the peoples’ confidence in this court.

To Texas State Students: I would like the students to know how important their involvement in the political process is.

Whether you are volunteering for a statewide candidate or a local race like mine, it is important to make your vote count.

Jim Autrand — Democrat

Margie Villalpando — Democrat the public, to manage the office within budget and to comply with the records management requirements.

To Texas State Students: They will be welcome in my court at any time, and they will be treated with the utmost courtesy and fairness.

They are welcome to help in my campaign as volunteers to ensure the accomplishment of my goals, as set forth above.

Terry Kyle — Republican

Johnny Q. Ward, II — Republican and vote; it’s very important.

There is a small majority of people who are deciding.

Whether you like the people (running) or not, this gives you an opportunity to get things to change.

evenhandedness and impartiality in the operation of the court. I will handle every matter that comes before me without any impropriety or appearance of impropriety.

No response received

Hays County Constable Precinct 5 Caledonio “J.R.” Mendoza — Democrat Goals: My main goal when elected is to continue the quality of work and respect for the community that our late and honorable Constable Billy Reeves maintained throughout his term.

I also would like to become more involved with low-income, at-risk students and provide mentors for them or any student in need of a mentor.

To Texas State Students: I would like you to know that I am a grassroots candidate.

I enjoy meeting people and being involved with the community.

I was previously a member of the Buda Volunteer

Fire Department for six years.

I have been a part of the Buda community since I was born.

In high school, I was considered a low-income, at-risk student and was an Upward Bound participant, where I was given the extra push to continue my education after high school.

I attended classes at Texas State (then known as Southwest Texas State) and came to realize there was no reason for me not to attend college.

I want to give back to the community, and this is an opportunity for me to do so.

Matt Mancillas, III — Republican

www.UniversityStar.com

Goals: My main goal if elected to office is to serve the people of Hays County to the best of my ability.

To Texas State Students: I believe I have the education and experience that uniquely qualifies me for the job.

I also have the backing of the previous constable, who recommended me, and the Hays County commissioners, who appointed me as Precinct 5 constable.

Now I need the votes of the community to validate the process.

Page 6 - The University Star

NEWS

Thursday, March 2, 2006

LEE: Filmmaker directs ‘Courage’ speech A VIEW FROM ABOVE: From movies to Hurricane Katrina to hip-hop music, Spike Lee spoke his mind about how these and many more topics affect the lives of today’s youth.

A.D. Brown/ Star photo CONTINUED from page 1

you can do what you love, it’s not a job anymore.”

Lee said he was inspired by a professor at Morehouse during his junior year. The professor told Lee to take the raw footage he recorded during the summer and turn it into a story.

“Having people respond to my work like that is why I wanted to be a filmmaker,” Lee said. “On television, the richness of African-American culture wasn’t evident; so when I decided to be a filmmaker, I made it my mission to put more stories on the screen — not positive or negative, just truthful.”

Lee is currently working on a documentary about Hurricane Katrina and its effect on New Orleans called When the Levees Broke. It will be Lee’s 20th film in 20 years.

“Katrina is an indication of what the federal government thinks of not only people of color, but poor people,” Lee said.

After speaking about his history and films, Lee spoke to the students about the importance of education.

“As young people, you have to

be more analytical of what you listen to, what you read, what you do,” Lee said. “In my day, we did not grow up wanting to be a pimp; we looked up to people who were smart.”

Lee encouraged young people, both white and black, to be responsible about the media they consume, especially in regard to hip-hop culture.

“The message he said about hip-hop, and today’s society glorifying hip-hop, was a much-needed sermon, because so many people look up to the ones who are putting them at a lower level,” said Carlton Fairley, pre-psychology freshman. “By acknowledging that hip-hop’s not what it used to be, we can come to a conclusion that there’s something wrong with the standard set by it.”

Lee said some aspects of rap music encourage ignorance and the objectification of women.

“It’s ironic that in this country, it was against the law for slaves to read and write; but if you were a slave, and you knew how to read and write, it was your obligation to pass that on, because our ancestors knew that education would be our way out of

bondage,” Lee said.

In the question and answer session after Lee’s speech, a student made a comparison between Kanye West and 50 Cent.

Lee responded by commenting on 50 Cent’s first album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

“I don’t know how you can make it any more plain than that,” Lee said. “I’m going to do what I’ve got to do to get this loot, get these rims, get this house.”

Lee ended his speech by tying in the Common Experience theme of “Courage.”

“In order to increase your power, you have to realize you do have power. Your voice does matter. Martin Luther King didn’t always have support. Rosa Parks wasn’t the first Negro to be told to sit in the back of the bus. She had to step up. You have to say, ‘I’m going to do this, because I believe it’s what’s right,’” Lee said.

Demitri Hammond, math senior, said Lee’s speech resonated with him.

“I think that he said some great words and had very good points. I hope everyone takes them to heart,” Hammond said.

www.UniversityStar.com

NEWS

Thursday, March, 2006

The University Star - Page 7

SHUTTLE: Survival of ‘little green bacteria’ supports panspermia theory CONTINUED from page 1

samples for compatibility with the payload hardware before the experiment was submitted to NASA. The Commercial ITA Biomedical Experiments-2 payload, which included McLean’s bacteria interaction experiment, was found in a convenience store parking lot in Nacogdoches shortly after the shuttle exploded on Feb. 1. McLean said a scientist, who also had an experiment in the same payload, was looking at the New York Times Web site and saw a picture that he recognized as their payload.

The researchers were not able to access the payload until the following May, because NASA had to compile the materials and complete an investigation of the accident.

“On May 6, we got access to the payload. To open this up, we needed a hammer and chisel,” McLean said. “This was really intact when you figure how far it fell. It was going Mach 12-ish and at 200,000 feet altitude. If you do the math, that’s 61 kilometers or about 40 miles up.”

Casasanto was also in Florida helping to open up the recovered payload.

“We made sure to work in a clean room at NASA, to wear gloves and sterilize the surfaces and all that,” Casasanto said.

“We were used to doing that for all the different missions we worked on in the past.”

Allana Welsh, microbiology doctorate student, began working with McLean once he returned with his recovered experiment.

Welsh and McLean said the initial tests performed on the samples suggested that no bacteria survived the accident.

McLean said he left the experiment in an incubator in his lab with intentions to return and clean up later. Upon his return weeks later, McLean found something growing.

“When this accident happened I thought ‘let’s go check for survival,’” McLean said. “Due to this tragedy, we had a very unique opportunity to see if something like this happened.”

To her surprise, McLean handed the unknown organism to Welsh and gave her the re-

sponsibility of characterizing it.

“I’m really incredibly surprised that we got any data at all. This whole experience has been just a shock for me. I was

“It doesn’t prove anything, but it lends more evidence to the idea that life can move from one planet to another; and it is somewhat reasonable,” Welsh

“I

was really in awe that (McLean) would trust me with this type of project ... It’s really important to him and the lives that were lost; and if we learn something and glean something good out of it, then this wasn’t all bad.”

—Valerie Casasanto Former Instrumentation Technology Associates Microgravity experiment coordinator

really in awe that he would trust me with this type of project,” Welsh said. “I took it really seriously and spent a lot of time.

It’s really important to him and the lives that were lost; and if we learn something and glean something good out of it, then this wasn’t all bad.”

After nearly a year of work, Welsh said she characterized the organism as Microbispora, a rare bacteria found in soil that also produces spores that float in the air. The bacteria found alive was not one of the original three sent in the experiment.

“I think it got contaminated before it got on the shuttle, because I ran controls to make sure I wasn’t contaminating it,” McLean said. “It’s a real small bit of anecdotal evidence. The tragedy has put us in a very unique position where we can check for survival of something that survived a pretty high speed, unprotected re-entry.”

Microbispora’s ability to survive the exposed re-entry gives some additional evidence to the panspermia theory.

“It’s showing the possibility that some form of life can survive a pretty major impact or heated re-entry. That’s one issue of panspermia,” McLean said.

Panspermia is the theory that life can survive, often in the form of bacteria, and travel through the universe on meteorites or comets enduring rough environments, then start new life on other planets if the appropriate nutrients and water are available.

said.

Casasanto said when she got word of the surviving bacteria, she and others at ITA were amazed it survived re-entry, sitting in a parking lot and being held by NASA for three months during the investigation.

“But then on the other hand, my reaction was, ‘well I’m not that surprised because the theory about life spreading in the universe and also of life on earth and how it developed here,’” Casasanto said. “(Bacteria) can live in really cold, cold and really hot, hot environments like in volcanoes.”

When Microbispora is taken from soil, the sample is heated to above boiling temperatures, Welsh said, which is possibly why the bacteria was able to survive the explosion.

“This is a really unusual organism; so the fact that it came from an explosion in outer space and fell to earth, and the fact that it was heated to a great extent, actually activated the organism and made it want to grow more,” Welsh said. “Or that’s what we think right now.”

Welsh said she and McLean theorized that the bacteria was a pre-flight contaminant; and the evidence they gathered supports that. Therefore they are reporting the most reasonable story of what might have happened, she said.

The primary evidence this discovery demonstrates, Casasanto said, is that there are organisms that are not lethally affected by exposure to certain

extreme factors.

“When something enters the atmosphere, you have a vibration that will shake you up a lot. So those combinations of the heat and re-entry (vibrations) may not have an affect on its survival,” Casasanto said.

“Basically it says that life is very adaptable.”

On the topic of proving panspermia, McLean referred to a quote from Carl Sagan, an astronomer and astrobiologist who was involved in exposing the public to science issues, when he said, “extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.”

“I guess there’s always been an interest in people — not just me — of are we alone in the universe,” McLean said. “I think it’s a neat concept — are we alone or are we not?”

For Welsh, the idea that life on earth began as panspermia describes moving through the

universe and establishing itself, is not a difficult concept to grasp. There is widely accepted scientific evidence from ancient fossils of life on earth 3.85 billion years ago, Welsh said. In addition to that, it is scientifically accepted that the earth is 4.15 billion years old, leaving just 300 million years for life to arrive, Welsh said.

The steps life took to form, such as DNA, replication, photosynthesis and other evolutionary movements seem too complex, Welsh said, for them to develop in 300 million years.

“I think, for me at least, it is much more likely that a comet hit the earth with a few spores than it is that life just suddenly came about in 300 million years,” Welsh said. “It seems just logical for life to have gotten here on a comet than it does for life to have suddenly sprung up in only 300 million years. Panspermia isn’t just a science fic-

tion idea; and maybe it is and we’re just talking nonsense, but maybe we’re not. Our little bacteria may lend evidence to that.”

McLean, Welsh and Casasanto are all authors of the article that will be published in Icarus.

In the future, McLean hopes to characterize Microbispora more specifically and find the environmental conditions it can endure.

“Seven people lost their lives over this, so just getting this little bit of information I think is important,” McLean said.

After he has completed much more extensive work, he also hopes to name the bacteria after the Columbia shuttle, possibly calling it Microbispora Columbia.

“If we go looking for life, there’s a much greater chance we’ll find the proverbial little green bacteria rather than little green men,” McLean said.

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, March 2, 2006 - Page 8

happeningsof the weekend san marcos

Thursday Cheatham Street Warehouse – Doug Moreland Band Lucy’s – Green Mountain Grass, Emily Clepper The Triple Crown – Word Association, King Tears

Friday Cheatham Street Warehouse – Max Stalling Lucy’s – Cari Huston Band, Jared Francis Band The Triple Crown – Stacey Steger, Rebecca Creek

Saturday Cheatham Street Warehouse – Houston Marchman Gordo’s – Bob Schneider Lucy’s – Junior Brown, Lomita The Triple Crown – Bellaparker, Happy Families

Trends Contact — Kyle Bradshaw, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Tabla, sitar playing livens up recital hall

By Stephen Lloyd The University Star According to Amelia Maciszewski, who played the sitar at Tuesday night’s Indian music performance at the music department’s recital hall, there’s a common joke among Indian musicians.

It goes like this: Some musicians from come to Delhi to play on the radio. An important foreign guest is present. The musicians begin to tune their instruments. And they keep tuning. After they’ve finished, the foreign guest applauds. He thinks the performance is over.

It’s a comical situation, but it’s easy to see how this could actually happen.

For Tuesday’s performance, the warm-up and

tuning were very musical. Maciszewski outlined the importance of the constant tuning, stating that it’s not only for aesthetic purposes.

“The masters say you can get sick by playing out of tune,” she said.

The first piece Maciszewski and tabla player Shantilil Shah played was a tribute to Maciszewski’s father, as Tuesday was the 99th anniversary of his birth. She indicated he was an important influence on her decision to persue music.

“My father was an engineer, but was also a serious amateur pianist. When I was studying (Indian music), he could recognize two ragas, and this was his favorite,” she said.

The lengthy raga began with just the sitar emitting a slow drone. A rhythm then gradually de-

veloped, which seemed to be building up to a crescendo. Soon the tabla joined in with a slow beat. The tempo increased and decreased regularly, and each instrument periodically grew softer, allowing the other to shine. The piece concluded with a playful call and response section, followed by a loud, frenetic and repetitive climax.

The second piece they played was relatively short, and Maciszewski explained how it was appropriate for this time of year.

“In northern India in the spring, you see big blossoms on big trees, big yellow and red flowers.

The sound of this raga gives the feeling of this explosion of color,” she said.

The raga started out slow, just as the first did.

The tabla had spurts of energy amid the slow

David Racino/Star photo

RAGA-TIME: Amelia Maciszewski, on sitar, and Shantilil Shah, on tabla, perform Monday night in the music department’s recital hall during an Indian music concert followed by a question-and-answer session.

rhythm, reflecting the aforementioned blooming of bright flowers.

The third and final piece of the night was a composite of at least two different raga styles. Maciszewski pointed out that one part of this raga was in the same style used by George Harrison in the Beatles’ song “Within You Without You.” The piece featured a central, repeating riff from the sitar that added to the hypnotic nature. The sitar rhythm stayed mostly constant, while the tabla became louder and its rhythm more freeform.

After the performance, the two musicians participated in a question-and-answer session with the audience. Maciszewski explained how she got into Indian music and playing the sitar.

“I started when I was in college. When people start as kids, they are technically stronger. There’s no stiffness. I still struggle with stiffness,” she said.

Maciszewski said she chose the sitar initially because that was the first Indian instrument introduced to the West, notably by The Beatles.

“When I went to India to study,” Maciszewski said, “people were not open to non-Indians learning. Now it’s much more open. I remember being told that I had to learn how to sing first, but because I was a foreigner, I couldn’t sing.”

According to Maciszewski, until the ’40s, it wasn’t considered appropriate for woman in respectable families to become musicians. This was partially because many women who were singers were also courtesans. She also spoke about the rise of the Indian music business.

“All-India Radio was the first modern patron of music (in India),” she said.

Maciszewski explained that the collapse of the feudal system in India was a major catalyst for the flourishing of the arts.

“It’s very much a business now,” she said.

“Anoushka Skankar (sitarist and daughter of sitar master Ravi Shankar) is now focused on (Western music) like pop stars are. This has really changed things for young woman getting into the field.”

Shah spoke about the influence that technology has had on the music.

“I’m not supposed to say this, but if there’s not a good sound system, (for a performance) I am not happy,” Shah said.

He said that before the invention of electronic amplification, performances were very intimate and crowds rarely reached more than 75 people.

“You cannot play loud and fast at the same time,” Shah said of those kinds of performances.

With their performance, these two musicians proved that Indian music isn’t like anything else on earth.

“There’s a relaxed nature about it which opens you up to its spiritual quality,” Maciszewski said.

TRENDS

Thursday, March 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 9 MOBSTER’S ERRANDBOY: Paul Walker plays a family man trying to hunt down a stolen gun in Running Scared.

Madea’s unique brand of comedy and love brings people together in Family Reunion

By Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News Like horror flicks or family films, Per✯✯ Tyler ry’s Madea Madea’s Family mov ies Reunion — based on Dir.: Tyler Perry his enorStars: Tyler Perry, mously sucBlair Underwood cessful plays Rated: PG-13 — are a genre unto themselves, which means one thing: either you are going to see them or you are not, and no review will change your mind.

When Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman was released last year, critics tore it apart and audiences ignored reviews, making the movie a smash.

And so Perry is back again, presiding over a mind-boggling mash of broad comedy, tragic melodrama and spiritual sermonizing.

As before, a good woman (Rochelle Aytes) is mixed up with a bad man (Blair Underwood), and it will take Madea’s

film review

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Running Scared chases exciting story through the end

By Nixon Guerrero The University Star Wow,where did this movie come from, and what the ✯✯✯ hell is Paul Running Scared Walker doDir.: Wayne ing in it? This Kramer is the movie Stars: Paul that Tony Walker, CamScott’s Domeron Bright, Vera ino wanted Farminga to be, and so Rated: R much more.

Running Scared stars Paul Walker as Joey Gazelle, a low-rent mobster’s sordid errand-boy. Amongst his other tasks, Joey’s main job is to get rid of guns that have been used in certain killings, and one in particular.

With amazingly imaginative camera sequences and editing of a David Fincher film, Running Scared has the wildly frenetic pace of Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run and amazing shootout scenes from either a Robert Rodriguez or Tarantino film. This is a great movie.

The film’s first five minutes firmly grab you by the neck,

film review

never loses its grip and has you witnessing some of the most outlandishly eccentric scenarios at break-neck speed. It is rated R for strong, brutal violence and language, sexuality and drug content. With the exception of films like Wolf Creek and Hostel, Scared is one of the “harder” R’s to hit the big screen in recent years.

At beginning of the film, we are witnesses to a suspicious drug deal, when out of nowhere, three or four masked, shotgunwielding, angry-as-hell hoodlums bust down the door and demand the money and drugs.

Obviously, a shootout ensues.

We’ve seen this a hundred times in countless movies, right? True.

But we’ve not seen it, uh, shot like this before.

At the end of the shootout, one of the now-wounded masked hoodlums is in focus on the floor. Joey’s boss puts his foot on his chest and coldly shoots the masked marauder. They find out he’s someone they maybe should have let live. Who is he? I won’t say. But after they realize what they’ve done, Joey’s boss immediately tells Joey to get rid of the gun that killed the high-profile

victim. So, does he get rid of the gun? Of course not; if he did, then we wouldn’t have a movie now, would we?

Joey’s got another side to him and is not alone for the rest of the flick. He’s also a family man with a wife, Teresa (Vera Farmiga) and son, Alex. To say the least, Joey and Teresa have an extremely healthy sexual relationship, and its sheer frankness and animallike passion is exceeded only by its household spontaneity.

This is where you can feel writer/director Wayne Kramer’s presence in the film. Kramer also wrote and directed the very original casino love story, The Cooler. If you’ve seen that movie, you’d be sure of the unflinching delivery of sex scenes and unconventional romances that Kramer is known for.

After a quick “hello” to his wife, Joey goes down into the basement of his house and removes a piece of board from a wall in which he will hide the gun. One thing he did not count on was his son and the neighbor’s kid, Oleg, (Cameron Bright) watching his every move.

Oleg’s a good kid, with a beaten-but-caring mother and an

abusive John Wayne-obsessed father. Oleg’s father routinely beats on both Oleg and his mother. So now that Oleg has seen where he can get a gun and dispatch of his battering father, he does just that. Except one thing: Daddy doesn’t die.

So now, we’ll spend the rest of the movie accompanying Joey trying to re-procure his shiny, snub-nosed .38 from little Oleg.

While at the same time, we’ll witness scenes where Oleg has run-ins with hookers, pimps, drug-dealers, and um, creepyas-hell pedophiles.

On the surface, Running is a high-tension thriller. Underneath, there’s an amalgam of many genres. You’ve got the romance between Joey and Teresa and the strong horror element in the pedophilia scene that plays like a Kubrick film. You also have a mobster movie, a revenge movie, some comedy, and — if you really want to dig deep — a sort of twisted coming-ofage tale.

Now, if only Walker would choose these roles more often. I smell a director-actor, ScorseseDiCaprio-type collaborative relationship in the future.

Jones’ excellent performance in Three Burials to haunt audiences everywhere Kyle Bradshaw The University Star It’s hard to film tell if Pete is crazy or if he review just misses ✯✯✯ his friend, The Three Burials Melquiades, of Melquiades who was shot Estrada and killed in Dir.: Tommy Lee Texas. The Jones Three Burials Stars: Tommy of MelquiaLee Jones, Barry des Estrada is Pepper an intriguing Rated: R but slightly disappointing story of Pete’s journey to find redemption for his fallen companion.

As an alienated rancher in South Texas, Pete (Tommy Lee Jones) is mostly soft-spoken, but he’s also earnest and toughskinned. He has a sort of ornery grin that appears in flashbacks, where we learn about his friend-

H

owever, when Pete and Mike’s voyage ends, it leaves an unsettling feeling of emptiness. To the director, this may have come across as a fitting conclusion; but we’re left still holding on to some sort of hope for release, which never really comes.

ship with Melquiades (Julio Cedillo). During those scenes, they herd cattle together, drink and pick up women in the city.

When Melquiades is murdered, Pete’s grin all but disappears and fades into a constant glower. Without the help of local law enforcement, he hunts down his friend’s killer, Mike (Barry Pepper), a border patrolman. Mike lives in a trailer home, which he hates, with his wife (January Jones), whom he ignores.

Aiming to keep a promise to his deceased friend, Pete kid-

naps Mike and forces him to dig up Melquiades’ body, which was given an improper burial by the border patrol. On horseback, the two men, along with the body, begin a tumultuous trek toward Melquiades’ hometown in Mexico so Pete can give his friend an appropriate burial.

In his directorial debut, Jones’ haunting performance overshadows his skills as a filmmaker. As an actor, his Pete is broken, stern and fascinating to watch. As a director, he gives the film a steady pace

and anchors it in the souls of its characters. However, when Pete and Mike’s voyage ends, it leaves an unsettling feeling of emptiness. To the director, this may have come across as a fitting conclusion; but we’re left still holding on to some sort of hope for release, which never really comes.

Pepper is an underappreciated actor whose performance gives Three Burials a realistic conscience, even though it’s an egotistic, arrogant one. The now always-reliable Dwight Yoakam (who you might remember as Doyle in Sling Blade) is also terrific as the local sheriff who’d like to see Pete gone but has trouble finding the stomach to stop him from his quest.

With a nearly flawless script

by Guillermo Arriaga, Three Burials is the kind of film that feels almost right, like it came close to being perfect and fell just short.

meddling to make things right.

Played in cheerful drag by Perry, Madea is a Southern, African-American matriarch guided by Christian values and a wicked sense of humor. She’s a kind of community adviser, teaching important lessons through messy, if intermittently moving, means.

We learn that an open home and an open heart will heal all wounds, that some men really want to be responsible and loving, and that a boiling pot of grits and a carefully wielded skillet will take care of the ones who don’t.

Perry makes sure villains get their comeuppance, while heroines get big, frilly weddings —with God, and an imperious Maya Angelou — presiding over it all movies rating key No stars – Must skip ✯ – Bad, fails overall ✯✯ – Mediocre, wait for DVD ✯✯✯ – Good, few flaws ✯✯✯✯ – Outstanding, must see

Courtesy of Lions Gate Films MAD ABOUT MOVIE-MAKING: Tyler Perry (center) plays Madea in Madea’s Family Reunion, the sequel to last year’s Dairy of a Mad Black Woman.

TRENDS

Page 10 - The University Star

Thursday, March 2, 2006

The Popes put on ‘Smokin’ show at Emo’s

By Maira Garcia The University Star More than seven years after parting ways, ✯✯✯✯ the SmokThe Smoking ing Popes Popes returned Emo’s to the road Sat. Feb. 27 with their infectious pop-punk melodies, making a stop at Emo’s in Austin on Saturday night.

Formed in 1991, the band helped set the standard for poppunk music. They achieved mainstream success throughout the ’90s, cementing a loyal fan base that remains to this day.

Members of Alkaline Trio and Fall Out Boy have credited the Popes as one of their reasons for

concert review

starting careers in music.

The Popes were accompanied on their first tour since breaking up in 1998 by similar-sounding bands such as opener The Fall Collection and Victory Records label-mates Bayside.

The Fall Collection provided a warm greeting to the audience with their up-tempo, indie pop rock. However, it was Bayside who turned up the energy at Emo’s.

Despite having lost drummer John “Beatz” Holohan in a deadly car accident just a few months ago, the members of Bayside showed nothing but enthusiasm for their music and eager audience. Beginning with a slow beat and lead singer Anthony Raneri’s back to the audience, Bayside exploded into “Blame it on Bad Luck” off their self-titled album.

“Tortures of the Damned” erupted into a singalong with a

sea of hands clapping in the air.

The middle of Bayside’s set was dedicated to the band’s first album, Sirens and Condolences, sparking more singalongs and waving hands from the crowd.

Raneri demonstrated his considerable talent as a frontman as the band wrapped up its set with “They Looked Like Strong Hands,” using his voice beautifully as an instrument in the song’s a capella intro. With the help of Jack O’Shea’s guitar and Nick Ghanbarian’s bass, this band was unstoppable.

As midnight drew closer, the crowd inched toward the stage in eager anticipation of the headliners.

When the sound check ended, cheers of relief erupted from the audience. All their nervous excitement was rewarded as Josh and Eli, two of the three Caterer brothers who with drummer

Rob Kellenberger make up the band, walked to their instruments and hoisted them over their shoulders.

Lead singer Josh Caterer began picking his guitar to the rhythm of “Pure Imagination” from the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The duo of Josh and second guitarist Eli entertained fans with this song, singing so sweetly it would make your teeth hurt.

The cover song seemed to transport the crowd to a state of childlike emotion. Josh’s voice was understated yet powerful, happy yet melancholy, a paradox of emotion that stayed constant throughout the set.

The third Caterer brother, bassist Matt, and Kellenberger

then took the stage, and the band launched into “Gotta Know Right Now” from its first full-length album, Born To Quit.

They looked like they enjoyed what they were doing as they smiled and played, and their evident passion for their craft was shared by the audience. People sang along, pumped fists in the air and jumped around during the set.

The band manipulated the audience’s emotions masterfully throughout the show, from the bittersweet “Let’s Hear It For Love” (“Let’s hear it for poison tears that wash your dreams down the drain/Let’s hear it for sleepless nights/Let’s do it again/Let’s hear it for love.”) to

the sunny doo-wop harmonics of “Writing a Letter.”

Not ones to upset a crowd, the Popes returned for an encore with one of their most popular songs, “Pretty Pathetic” — which is the type of song from which emo bands make their living. It is the model for the perfect sad song, and had the Emo’s crowd singing along until the last bar.

Saturday night demonstrated why every band that made a dime off a sad song since the mid-’90s owes has a debt of gratitude to the Smoking Popes.

Their passion and ability to move the audience were without peer. The Popes need no flashiness to be cool; they say it all with their music.

Courtesy of Victory Records HOT TUNES: As part of their first tour in seven years, the Smoking Popes performed at Emo’s in Austin on Saturday.

Where the good meat is

TRENDS

Thursday, March 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 11

By Chuck Barney Knight Ridder Newspapers Dwight Schrute, the nerdy paper salesman played by Rainn Wilson on NBC’s hysterical sitcom The Office, has an endless supply of off-the-wall opinions and he’s not afraid to foist them on you.

He believes men are infinitely superior to women in oh so many ways (“Please don’t be offended, feminists. I respect you and am attracted to you,” he says). He is appalled by “wrongful or pretend illness” in the workplace. (“Only miss a day of work if your life depends on it.”) And he even has some insightful theories on the adventure series Lost. (“Sawyer is way cooler than Dr. Jack and could kick his doctor (expletive) if they ever had a throwdown.”)

What’s interesting about these twisted Dwightisms is that they weren’t spewed by Wilson during a scripted episode of The Office, but in a hilarious Web log called “Schrute-Space” on NBC’s official Internet site for the series.

“On our show, the actors spend so much time at their computers for all those background shots, and I figured I needed something to do,” Wilson said. “So if you’re watching and you see a scene with me hammering away at the keyboard, I just might be blogging.”

He’s not the only one. Eager to develop a more intimate relationship with fans, many TV shows have been supplementing their Web sites with blogs by producers, writers and actors.

But the latest and most humorous trend is blogs penned in the voice of a character – usually a quirky sidekick type.

For example, Barney, the womanizing cad on the comedy How I Met Your Mother, offers dubious dating advice in “Barney’s Blog.” Dave, the paranoid conspiracy theorist on Invasion, vents his spleen in “Dave’s Diatribe”; and Joe, the Seattle-based bartender on Grey’s Anatomy, shares his views in “The Emerald City Bar.” Even daytime television is

in on the act, as workaholic Dr. Robin Scorpio of General Hospital reaches out to viewers via “Robin’s Daily Dose.”

“We wanted to move away from the tried-and-true template-style sites that we’ve done in the past,” said Larry Terenzi, the senior producer for ABC. com, which oversees the latter three blogs. “Our fans are already so involved with these shows, and this is just one more way they can experience them beyond the regular episodes.”

With the exception of “Schrute-Space,” the character-driven blogs are not written by the actors who play them, but by members of a network’s online team, or in the case of “Barney’s Blog,” a writing assistant and/or a script coordinator on the show.

“We more or less have a blog posse,” said Craig Thomas, coexecutive producer of How I Met Your Mother. “They come up with the ideas, and they run them past us. We dig it a lot.

Barney is a guy who thinks he has all this social wisdom. Now he wants to share it with the world, and it’s spreading like a virus.”

In some cases, the blogs are natural offshoots of the show.

In Invasion, for example, Dave is often seen working on a blog in which he desperately tries to alert residents of Homestead, Fla., and beyond to an alien takeover. “Remember, if you’re not vigilant, your little slice of the planet might be the next one coming under fire,” he wrote in a recent posting.

Joe the Bartender was pegged to do a blog for the medical series Grey’s Anatomy because, according to Terenzi, he has unique insight into the personal lives of the passionate doctors working at Seattle Grace Hospital. “He’s the guy people lean on, cry in front of and unburden themselves to,” he said.

As for Barney, his blog essentially came about by accident.

The show’s pilot episode featured a scene in which the sartorial-minded Barney (played

by Neil Patrick Harris) is excited because his friend, Ted, has finally decided to “suit up” for a big date. “This is totally go-

Michael Perez/Star illustration

Internet blogs give insight into TV characters heads

ing in my blog!” Barney gushes.

It was an improvised joke, and it got producers thinking that Barney should, indeed, have a place to disseminate his missives.

Now visitors to “Barney’s Blog” can solicit his advice on everything from essential items to take to a strip club (“Cleverly planted fake movie producer business cards”) to strategies for picking up bridesmaids at weddings (“You must move with the urgency and precision of a SWAT team kicking down the door, deciding who’s a civilian, and ghosting the bad guys before they can fire back”).

Hey, no one ever said the guy was deep.

“The thing about this character is that he feels so certain that he’s so right about so many things. But usually he’s just so

wrong,” Thomas said.

Still, “Barney’s Blog” reportedly attracts a great deal of traffic, including many fans who do seek his advice — or perhaps pretend to. “We’re not sure if people are just playing along or actually think it’s real,” Thomas said. “One time Barney even received an Evite to a party. Alas, he couldn’t make it.”

Likewise, Wilson says he receives plenty of weird responses to “Schrute-Space,” but apparently some of the writers are only looking to use him to get to Jim, the hunky character played by John Krasinski.

“I get a lot of lonely girls,” Wilson said. “They write things like, ‘Oh, Dwight, you’re so cool. You’re so funny. Can you introduce us to Jim? We looove Jim.’ Normally, that might make Dwight jealous, but Dwight

knows he’s a better salesman than Jim and that’s what really counts.”

Wilson, who usually pens his blogs while on the set, says he gives himself self-imposed deadlines geared toward having an entry ready a day or two before a new episode of The Office airs. He describes Dwight as an “idiot savant who’s mostly idiot” and says writing in the

voice of his character poses its own set of unique challenges.

“There are subtle differences between the way Dwight speaks in his blog and how he would speak to his co-workers in the office,” Wilson said. “He knows that with his blog, he’s addressing the world and people are actually reading what he has to say. That puts a little extra pressure on him.”

DIVERSIONS

Page 12 - The University Star

my latest tunes

Thursday, March 2, 2006

✯Star Comics

Entertainment Editor Kyle Bradshaw reveals what he’s been listening to this past week.

Plans Death Cab for Cutie

Sea Change Beck

Room Noises Eisley

Favorite track: “Marching Bands Of Manhattan”

Favorite track: “The Golden Age”

Favorite track: “Golly Sandra”

SU DO KU

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

Wednesday’s solutions:

Tuesday’s solutions:

© Pappocom

www.UniversityStar.com

Wednesday’s solutions:

Go to www.UniversityStar.com for today’s answers.

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

quoteof the day

Thursday, March 2, 2006 - Page 13

“I can’t hijack a radio station.”

”

— Howard Stern following claims by CBS Radio that Stern abused his terrestrial radio show by using it as advertisment for his move to Sirius Satellite Radio. CBS Radio sued Stern on Tuesday. (Source: MSNBC)

Opinions Contact — Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

Bobcats take next step in school spirit with Trade Up Monday morning is going to be disheartening for other institutions of higher education, and especially so for those who might happen to venture through The Quad wearing any of those other school’s apparel.

The Student Chapter of the Alumni Association is sponsoring the Trade Up program beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until 2 p.m., but even they think the program’s popularity might ensure they run out far before their scheduled end time.

Chris Jones, the president of the student chapter, has been pushing the increase of school pride for a long time and has been pitching an idea just like this to anybody who’d lend an ear.

“Texas State offers students so much to be proud of, and it’s time that we start showing that pride around campus and remove all the other university logos that litter campus,” Jones told Texas State’s Media Relations in a Feb. 21 press release.

It’s nice to see the vision finally coming to fruition.

While it might seem harmless to question the logos or colors of your apparel as you breeze through campus, it’s about a sense of pride in the university that not only accepted you, but that you accepted as your own.

That’s not to say it’s totally wrong to wear T-shirts or hats from other schools. There are some perfectly legitimate reasons to do so.

For example, you might have graduated from one of those schools or your family might have an established heritage at that institution.

But why not take pride in the place you’re at now and establish your own tradition of school pride?

“People now aren’t afraid to put a bumper sticker on their car or wear a T-shirt,” head baseball coach Ty Harrington said. “We can see guys start to walk around here in their Texas State shirts instead of their Longhorn shirts because that’s what they are supposed to do.”

Harrington, as well as head football coach David Bailiff, will be in attendance at the Trade Up event to help interested parties exchange their apparel.

Claims have been made saying that there’s no reason to support athletic programs that don’t have national championships — which is certainly in reference to the University of Texas Longhorns and their title in football in January.

That’s all fine and good. In fact, congrats to the Longhorns, just don’t forget that this school year has seen conference titles from both volleyball and football as well as unexpected success from women’s basketball, who have their own chance at making some noise in the upcoming Southland Conference tournament.

As far as the claims of forcing school spirit, it’s a way for the university to increase our visibility and make sure that all of our successes are respected, both athletic and academic.

It can be discouraging to see the burnt orange of UT, the red and black of Texas Tech or other school’s colors, but it’s even better to see the pride that comes from an increased presence of Bobcat maroon and gold.

There’s nothing wrong with showing pride in any institution of higher education, but for those who walk on the campus of Texas State, we all chose to be here, and we should all choose to be proud of this university and all who represent us well.

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 UniversitySan Marcos.

Stephanie Gage, Matt Rael/Star photo illustration

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

Kelly Simmons/Star Illustrator

Residents and minorities will benefit from ACC annexation (EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a threepart series of columns from Nicole Hernandez about the Austin Community College and a possible election on a new tax for the residents of San Marcos.)

provided for Texas State students.

Community college students have to travel to Austin or San Antonio in order to take advantage NICOLE HERNANDEZ of such services.

Star Columnist The new campus in San Marcos would also be the new home of a full-time facLast semester, Texas State ulty and an adjunct faculty. students paid more than Those professors will be $400 in tuition and fees for able to teach in classrooms three semester credit hours. equipped with multi-media As well as being increasingly devices, such as more comexpensive, four year instituputers and wireless network tions are not for everyone. access. This type of campus Right now, ACC charges would further contribute to $318 for the same three the higher education experihours. However, if San Mar- ence and value attained at cos residents were included Austin Community College. as residents of the ACC disAnother development that trict, those enrolled would would take place on the new be paying $144 for three secampus would include exmester credit hours. Being in panded degree and training the ACC tax district would programs. As of now, ACC allow families to pay $1,128 can offer San Marcos stuless to send their students to dents only limited general ACC. The numbers for Texas education transfer courses State students only go up, in nine different subject as the $426 per three-hour areas. Those subject areas class does not include “finewould increase as a result of print” fees or courses worth annexation. Also offered are more than three hours. That limited workforce educamoney also does not cover tion courses in computing, room and board that the on- business and fire and arson. campus requirement charges These are courses that proyounger students. vide training in a narrow A generous donation of concentration expressly for land has been offered to employment in those areas.

ACC, if San Marcos votes to After joining the district, impose the tax and become ACC would provide workpart of the district. Under force education courses in these conditions, an ACC expanded computer traincampus spanning 34 acres ing, human services, finanwill be built near the new cial management, social high school under construc- work and business administion on Highway 123. The tration. campus would provide the Yet another new service services and space needed to for students would be the run a college. On-site stu“Access/Foundation” Skills dent services would include Programs. These programs financial aid and admissions provide developmental offices, assessment testing, education for those not advising and career counready for college. An editoseling. The new campus rial in the Jan. 26 edition would also house a college of The University Star cited library, a learning lab where a research study done by students would be able to the American Institutes for receive free tutoring and a Research. The study found computerized testing center. that 50 percent of students These are features and serat four-year institutions lack vices that have always been complex literacy skills. This

simply means that half of the people at our school may not be able to understand a credit card offer. ACC can offer programs that would prepare more students for four-year institutions. Although San Marcos offers a free GED program already, ACC can provide that and adult basic education and English as a second language programs. Programs like these help students of all ages and stages of life to continue their education and take part in an education that further enhances the job skills they may need to advance or earn higher wages.

Another benefit of bringing ACC to San Marcos would be further promoting high admission standards at Texas State. Since Texas State is nearing the 30,000student enrollment cap, having an expanded local ACC program would allow students to continue preparing for the demands of this institution.

According to an April 19, 2005 article in The Star, the Associated Student Government heard legislation from Sen. Robert Albert that would raise the transfer GPA requirement by .25. The current transfer requirement is a 2.25 GPA. At the April 2005 meeting in which his bill was debated, Albert said “low admission standards are allowing ourselves (Texas State University) to be a backup school.” Sen. Joseph Gause, co-author of the bill, “emphasized the need for enhancing the prestige of the university.” University administration and many students would like Texas State to be considered a topnotch, high-quality, premier institution and recognizable by name as such.

The Institutional Research Office says Texas State has welcomed more than 2200 transfer students from ACC in the last three fall semesters. In addition, “more than 50 percent of adults and high school graduates

in Texas choose to enter higher education through a community college every year,” according to the ACC Board of Trustees. Records indicate that “ACC transfer students perform as well as or better than those who begin at a four-year university.” A strong community college program in San Marcos could help prepare high school graduates and adult students for the rigor and demand of Texas State University, thus allowing Texas State to maintain high standards of admission and control enrollment, while still allowing applicants a chance to live and develop in San Marcos as qualified candidates for acceptance at Texas State.

It is important to offer students as many options as possible when it comes to education. Those students who graduate from San Marcos High School deserve a chance to attend the college with which they share a community. ACC records indicate that in the last three semesters almost 700 ACC students identified themselves as San Marcos High School graduates. This number could grow with a local campus and lower costs.

Students deserve a chance to make that number increase.

Most young people have been told since the beginning of their educational careers that college is the way to go. It’s how you get a better job, how you make more money, how you become a well-rounded person and how you continue to prosper in a pattern of selfevolution. But now, higher education is being ignored because the taxes aren’t worth it. Government statewide is frantically trying to fund secondary education, and high schools are suffering. This is a chance to relight the candle of hope for higher education, and, more importantly, to diffuse the development of a poor, uneducated, socially dependent majority in our community.

Letters policy: E-mail letters to starletters@txstate.edu. Letters must be no longer than 300 words. No anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit for grammar, spelling, space and libel. We reserve the right to refuse obscene, irrelevant and malicious letters. All e-mails must include the name and phone number of the letter writer. Students should also include their classifications and majors.

Editor In Chief..................David Michael Cohen, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..................................Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor......................................Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor.........................Jason Buch, jb1163@txstate.edu Trends Editor................Kyle Bradshaw, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor......................................A. D. Brown, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor...................................Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

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Account Executive................................Ana Kulak, ak1094@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Lindsay Lee, atlas@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................Lindsey Randolph, lr1068@txstate.edu Student Business Manager................Robby Silva, rs1237@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator..Linda Allen, starbusinessoffice@txstate.edu Publications Director..............Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

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 other Wednesday of Summer I and II with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright March 2, 2006. 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.

OPINIONS

Page 14 - The University Star

Thursday, March 2, 2006

Caring about local elections improves students’ futures

Why are college many were just bashstudents so apaing Bush and had no thetic? relevance to the quesYou have heard tion. me complain about According to their this before, but here comments, people I go again. Early seem to believe that voting for the Texas Bush is sacrificing edprimary elections is ucation and veteran’s RACHEL ANNE this week, and I am healthcare for Iraq.

FLETCHER appalled at the low This is not the case.

Star Columnist voter turnout thus Since the passage of far. I voted on Tuesthe No Child Left day and was only Behind act in 2002, the seventh person to vote that the Bush administration has day, and this was at 2 p.m.! increased elementary and secHow can you not vote in ondary education funding. The these elections? Not only do administration has also worked they determine our governor on making higher education and numerous state offices but more accessible by expanding local positions as well. The win- the Pell Grant and providing ners of this election and their relief to those students affected subsequent legislation and acby Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. tions affect us everyday.

In addition, the administration Hell — I would even vote just has requested an additional so I could have the “I Voted” $3 billion dollars for veteran’s sticker and not be harassed in healthcare in the 2007 VA budThe Quad and in front of LBJ get.

Student Center.

These are just a few of the I am also amazed at the gencommon misconceptions I eral lack of knowledge that col- saw. While I believe everyone lege students possess. Besides is entitled to an opinion, they not voting in elections, we are should have the knowledge to often unaware of their exisback it up. tence. However, the problem As disheartened as I was goes beyond elections and spills about the misinformed politiinto our knowledge — or lack cal knowledge of the student thereof — of current events body, I was very pleased with and the world around us. Is it the social intelligence. A second that we think these issues don’t board asked, “Is there a cure for affect us; or do we just not care? racism, bigotry and stereotypes?

This is why I was ecstatic If so what is it?” Besides a few to see a student organization annoying and insensitive comtaking a stand on Wednesday. ments, most were very astute.

As part of their BSA Week, the They offered enlightened eduBlack Student Alliance placed cational, moral and individual posters in The Quad with ideas to combat the issue of probing political and social racism. questions on them. Students I am often saddened by colwere encouraged to write their lege students’ apathy. It bothers thoughts and opinions on the me that we are such a bright boards, which provided an and powerful collective force. open and public forum for disWe have so much potential cussion and ideas. but lack motivation. I was exHowever, my joy was short tremely impressed by the BSA lived when I saw some of the and give my kudos to Brittany comments on the boards. Many Lee, the chair of Black Student were hurtful and ignorant.

Alliance Week, and the rest of While participation is better the organization. than nothing; ignorance can be It is rare to see students takjust as discouraging. ing a stand and encouraging One of the boards asked, discussion, and they did it suc“How do you feel about the cessfully. The rest of the student monetary decisions of the body needs to follow their exBush Administration? (I.E. the ample and get on board. We can deductions from Veterans and do this by educating ourselves Education)” Regardless of your about issues that affect our opinion of President Bush, I lives, which in turn allows us to was dismayed by a majority effectively participate in imporof the comments. Some were tant discussions and shape the insightful and intelligent; but course of our own lives.

Smashing ratings

Mike Wood/ Star Illustration

Call to action: Students can help give back to Texas State devotee I’m going to take As of now, he does a break from my not have insurance usual répertoire of or income. He does political doom and have a mountain of gloom to talk about medical bills piling something that acup in front of him, tually matters. though.

Many of you While I’m writing SEAN WARDWELL don’t know who this, I’m looking at Star Columnist Earl Moseley is, but the jobs that he has he’s devoted the held, the organizabetter part of his adult life to tions he has volunteered for helping students. Here at Texas and the many accomplishState, he has worked as a resiments of a life devoted to helpdence hall director, the assising others find their way up. tant director of Multicultural A résumé does not tell you all Student Affairs and coordinayou need to know about a pertor of the student-mentoring son, though. It’s the intangible program. Until recently, he was things that make us who we the interim adviser to the Non- really are. Those are the things Traditional Student Organizathat reveal character. tion program. We at the NTSO So what can I tell you about were actively lobbying for Earl Earl that could let some of that to get the position permanentthrough? ly. He always had a unique way I could mention that he was of channeling students’ energy the first African-American city into really making a difference. councilman in San Marcos and He inspired us to find and liswas recently honored by Mayor ten to the better angels of our Susan Narvaiz for his cournature. age and commitment to the Unfortunately, Earl had city. There’s also the fact that to withdraw his application he served as president of the because he has late-stage panUnited Way of Hays County. creatic cancer. He was only a I think the first thing — the temporary employee, so he most important thing — is that was not eligible for benefits.

Earl would probably rather

this column never see the light of day. I can’t say that I blame him either. Charity received does not always equal uplifted pride. However, those of us who know him cannot sit idly by and watch someone who has honestly touched our lives be left by the wayside because of financial and social circumstances.

Earl Moseley is not a person who asks for help. Earl gives; that’s just what he does. So we who know him feel a duty to give something back to him.

His effect on people is unique and moving. Nobody who has spent any time with Earl can deny the presence of an old and wise soul that has always taken the time to really listen.

Given the fact that we live in a world where people are only silent because they are waiting for their chance to talk, actual listening goes an awful long way.

So despite the fact that all you have to go on are the preceding paragraphs, I, and the people who know Earl, are asking that you contribute to a fund we have set up to defray his medical expenses. The things Earl does for the student

Compiled by A.D. Brown

of n o si ? s e r p ation m i r u nt e o y s s s pre a w t e’ a e h L W ike “I’m from Brooklyn, and Sp “It was inspirational and brought forth issues different cultures don’t usually talk about.”

— CARL BRIGHT management senior

I really related with him.

I agreed with him when he said parents kill your dreams.”

— GEORGINA COLUNGA interdisciplinary studies junior

“He addressed issues in the African-American subculture that perpetuate stereotypes.

He was here to encourage young people.”

— JORDAN STEWART mass communication senior

body are priceless and eternal.

Since we cannot possibly return those kinds of intangible gifts, we can only hope to give what we are able.

Earl is a survivor. He has beaten the odds on so many different occasions. He knows that this is but another temporary setback and that he will beat this. Anyone who knows him has been moved by his unfettering faith in who he is and what his purpose in life is.

We simply ask that you take a moment to help a man who would not hesitate to help others. It does not matter if you have never met him. Consider this a random act of kindness that will someday find its way back to you.

Amber Maxfield-Kraft co-authored this column.

If you would like to make a donation, call (512) 245-3459, or you can drop off a donation at either the LBJ Student Center Director’s Office on the fourth floor. The vice president of Student Affairs is also accepting donations in the J.C. Kellem Building, Room 980.

“It was important for him to come here and hear a different perspective on things.”

— MONIQUE DUPLECHAIN pre-communication design senior

“He’s real. He brings real things to life and shows it to people. ” — PARHAM BARARI management senior

“He talked about what educated African-Americans are supposed to talk about, and he had the courage to do it.”

— TIM SWAIN pre-communication sophomore

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

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WALK TO CAMPUS. $99 total movein 2-2 $599. 1-1 also available. Call Apartment Experts 805-0123. $149 TOTAL MOVE IN! $420, 2bdrm $525. On TX State shuttle. Call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123.

TOWNHOME 4-2.5, all bills paid, W/D included call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123 2 BEDROOM 2 BATH with w/d $550 per month. Park North Condos. 3537644 LARGE T-HOME, $99 total move-in free cable, internet, and phone. W/D included. Call Apartment Experts 8050123.

611 BRACEWOOD - Large 2/2 with water/waste water paid. Small pet welcomed. REDUCED to $595 per month. Call Legacy Real Estate at (512) 665-0350. $350 FULLY FURNISHED cable, internet, water paid, W/D included.

Call Apartment Experts 805-0123.

BRACEWOOD CIRCLE - Upstairs and downstairs units available for immediate move-in. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 800 sq. ft. with W/D connections.

Starting as low as $450 per month. Visit legacyrealestate.biz, and call Legacy Real Estate (512) 665-0305.

NEED LOW RENT? Roommate matching could be the answer. Call and we’ll set you up. Apartment Experts (512)805-0123.

BIG 2 BDROM 900 SQFT. $585! call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123. $1-1 $375 500 SQFT! call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123 CHECK OUT OUR current apartment specials online at www.sanmarcosapartments.com or call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123.

FOR RENT-APTS ROOMS NEXT TO CAMPUS free internet, cable, and other free utilities $325-$375 call 392-2700.

APARTMENTS NEXT TO TEXAS STATE now leasing for May and August.

Beautiful wooden floors, no shuttle or parking worries. Rooms, 1B, 2B, 3B and roommate matching. Free internet, cable and some utilities. $300 - $605 per person. 392-2700 APARTMENTS FROM $375/MO. Near stadium. Gas, water paid. 353-5051.

3 BEDROOMS WITH 3 FULL PRIVATE BATHS. Extra large kitchen, washer/dryer, fridge, dishwasher, 3 carports, storage building, and FREE phone-cable-high speed internet. $845.

Agent, (512) 665-8788.

FOR RENTCONDO/TOWNHOMES 1/2 MO FREE & FULLY LOADED, like new 3/2.5 townhome, roommate plan, fenced, double garage, all appliances and W/D. $995. 850 Sagewood Trail. (short lease ok) 512-342-9567, 512-8266208 Prime Properties. $785 2/2.5 TOWNHOUSE. 3 blks from TXState. Preleasing for 5/20 and 8/20.

Free HBO, Road Runner, full-size W/D. www.windmilltownhomes.com for floor plans & prices. 396-4181.

FOR RENT-DUPLEX FOR RENT DUPLEX 3br/3.5ba 107 Cedergrove (on bus route). Fenced backyard/pets ok. $1050 per month.

512-351-7499.

DUPLEX NEXT TO TEXAS STATE. Modern, excellent condition. Large 5b/2.5b; upstairs, $1700. 3b/1.5b; downstairs, $1100. 757-0399 SAGEWOOD DUPLEXES pre-leasing for 6/1 &8/1, bus route, 3/3.5 garage, W/D inc., Call 512-699-9759 NEED A SHORT-TERM LEASE? Advance Street duplexes available with complete appliance packages including full size W/D. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths for only $750/mo. Visit legacy realestate. biz and call Legacy Real Estate at (512) 665-0305.

1B/1B NEAR WEST CAMPUS. $385 per month 512-396-1717.

DUPLEX FOR LEASE for immediate move-in. 2/1 at 1107 Marlton for $650/mo. Easy terms. Call Legacy Real Estate (512) 665-0350, and visit legacyrealestate.biz.

DUPLEX READY FOR IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN. 2/2 for $650. 519 Hutchison.

Easy bike ride to campus or just walk.

Visit legacyrealestate.biz, and call Legacy Real Estate at (512) 665-0350.

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.

FOR RENT-HOUSES

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

3B/2B, $950/mo.; Washroom, carpet, tile, carport, lg yard, available, March 1.

392-2443.

HUGE 3/2, W/D, ETC. 1600 sq ft. $950 per mo. 713-774-5953.

D & D FARM & RANCH full-time position, tack sales associate - English/ Western, and Clothing Sales Associate.

Good customer-service applicants need to apply in person. 516 IH-10 E., Seguin, Texas.

PART TIME FEMALE BARTENDERS NEEDED. Please apply @ Riley’s Tavern.

Must love live music. 512-393-3132 for directions.

IMMEDIATE OPENING for dependable person to help clean Neiman Marcus Last Call at the Outlet Mall. Morning hours, 8am, 20 hrs per wk, $7.00 per hr. Call 754-9044 to arrange interview.

MANAGED SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE -teleNetwork is currently seeking applicants for positions in the dynamic and fast paced field of Managed Application Services Support. Full and Part Time positions are available with flexible scheduling at our Austin and San Marcos call center locations. Apply online today at http://www.telenetwork.com/careers CLEAR SPRINGS CAFE is now hiring energetic high-volume kitchen help.

Full and part time. Must be available for weekends. Apply in person at 1692 Hwy 46 South (3 miles off IH-35 between New Braunfels and Seguin).

OXYGEN FITNESS CENTER in Austin is opening a 2nd location in Buda/Kyle.

Hiring sales/managers. Benefits include possible tuition re-imbursement. Call 312-2900 or fax resume’ to 444-1262.

HELP WANTED for Vineyard establisment and maintenance. Basic plant knowledge preferred. Call 512461-1876.

HELP PROTECT YOUR friends, family, and members of your community from identity theft. Good training, great pay.

Call Troy (512)750-7405.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE - teleNetwork is currently seeking TSRs to provide technical support for dialup and DSL customers. Full or Part Time positions available with flexible scheduling at our Austin and San Marcos call center locations. More information and online application available at http://www.telenetwork.com/careers BOBCATSNEEDJOBS.COM WE NEED Paid Survey Takers in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

CLEAR SPRINGS CAFE is hiring energetic, friendly servers who can handle fast-paced, high-volume sales.

All shifts available. Apply in person at 1692 Hwy 46 South (3 miles off IH-35 between New Braunfels and Seguin). !BARTENDING! Up to $300/day. No experience necessary. Training Provided.

Age 18+ ok. 800-965-6520 x 157.

PART-TIME HELP NEEDED at busy Real Estate office. Bring resume to 1503 Thorpe Ln. LEAD TEACHER NEEDED. Full time M-F. 12 mos. - 18 mos. Quality Child Development Center in Kyle. CDA minimum req. Bilingual preferred. Part time teacher positions also available MF 2:30-6:30. (512) 405-3700 or fax (512) 405-3701. www.rockinghorseacademy. com NANNY POSITION FOR FOUR CHILDREN. Christian woman to work part time during school year and full time during summer. Must be English speaking and have own transportation.

Excellent references required. Call 7548659 for more information.

D & D FARM & RANCH, full-time position, Excel proficient, G/L & Accounts Receivable, Appointment only. Call (830) 379-7340, ext.115

TUTORING in self-defense, guitar, flying (ground school), writing, and scholarship, etc. Downtown San Marcos.

Dr. Reed Harp. 512-787-7855.

ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN for calendars, greeting cards, etc $75-200/ hr, no exp. needed, (512)684-8296.

UTSA PREP IS SEEKING college students majoring in Mathematics, Engineering, Science, or Technology to provide 6th-11th grade students academic counseling, tutoring, group supervision & activities. Temporary fulltime employment: June 7-July 28. Application deadline: March 24. To apply call 210-458-2060 or visit www.prepusa.org UTSA is an EEO/AA employer.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

FOR SALE 2/2 CONDO @ Village of Springtown.

New carpet & paint, on bus line. $88,000. (830) 981-2243.

5/3/2 HOUSE FOR SALE quite neighborhood, close to Texas State, immaculate excellent condition, tile/wood and approx. 2700 square feet. $210,000 fenced yard, San Marcos. 757-0399.

HELP WANTED COOK NEEDED: FULL-TIME M-F. Quality Child Development Center in Kyle. Experience in childcare a plus.

(512) 405-3700 or fax (512) 405-3701. www.rockinghorseacademy.com LOOKING FOR A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE? Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch hiring outgoing enthusiastic and ambitious visitor center personnel with opportunity to instruct educational programs. Apply in person, 7 miles west of IH 35 on FM 3009.

GET PAID TO DRIVE a brand new car! Earn $800-$3200 a month to drive! www.freedriverkey.com SAN ANTONIO MEN’S CLUB. Largest club in south Texas is now hiring entertainers. Full and part-time positions available. Apply @ 8244 Interchange Pkwy (behind Cowboy’s Dance Hall). (210) 590-7088.

PAPA DOCS now taking applications for cooks, dishwashers, busters, hostesses, and servers. Lake front dinning. Great tips. Apply in person located FM 306 at Canyon Lake Marina.

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. FT/PT. www.relocatetexas.com

ROOMMATES ROOMMATE WANTED. $300.00 mo.

Walk to campus. Cell 206-660-7921.

TRAVEL SPRING BREAK Mazatlan Party bus $399 with hotels and meals. http://www. mazatlanexpress.com 1-800-366-4786.

MISCELLANEOUS PART-TIME HELP in office and in food and beverage. Canyon Lake Golf Club.

Contact (210) 860-3550.

WANTED: USED CARS, TRUCKS, VANS. Any condition. Running or not.

If you have something to sell please call Willis Mitchell. 512-353-4511.

HAPPY TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY!

SPORTS

Page 16 - The University Star

Women’s golf planning to bring record up to par with next event

March holds milestones for rugby, biking clubs

By Miguel Peña The University Star With March under way, sports fans nationwide have all eyes on the closing weeks of NCAA basketball, but meanwhile, under the radar, a motley group of Texas State rugby enthusiasts will be making their way to Waco for the Texas League Division II Final Four along with teams from Southern Methodist, Angelo State and Texas Tech.

Texas State rugby finished 3-1 in club matches following a slow fall season, its only loss this spring coming at the hands of the Red Raiders when they traveled to Waco on Feb. 12 after knocking off teams from Texas Christian, St. Thomas and SMU in consecutive weeks.

The club continued its success with a 29-13 victory over Stephen F. Austin State in last week’s divisional quarterfinals. Texas State jumped to an early lead Saturday on two MAN AND THE WHEEL: Texas State’s Cycling team competes at the Baylor invitational on Feb. 13.

Dan Valperta/ Special to the Star

penalty kicks from junior John Hinson. Opportunistic scores came soon thereafter from sophomores Nick Elkins and Will Burns, adding to the Texas State lead. A late-half try by the Lumberjacks settled the period with Texas State leading, 16-7.

Two long penalty kicks from SFA pulled them to within three, but Texas State added another penalty kick from Hinson, and they repeatedly repelled a strong SFA attack.

The ample crowd witnessed a dogged score by senior captain Chris Mutschler, and later sophomore Thomas Bullock bullied in another try to ice the match at 29-13.

“The involvement of committed club members coupled with strong team leadership amongst the members has sparked the club’s return to the upper echelon of Texas collegiate rugby, culminating in our playoff appearance this year,” said Scott Courtney, Texas State rugby player.

Rugby has been a club sport

Thursday, March 2, 2006

By Carl Harper The University Star

Justin Farmakakis/Special to The Star

ON THE MOVE: Julian Nunn breaks to the open field with Matt Larson (center) and Keith Freeman (right) in support during the Texas State Rugby teams’ game against Stephen F. Austin.

on campus since 1983, seeing its most successful era between 1986 and 1994. The club appeared in seven championship matches, winning the Texas Collegiate Championship in 1987.

A rebuilding process begun three years ago with the emergence of new coach James Summers, an alumnus of both SWT and the rugby club.

A win in the semifinals on Saturday against Angelo State (Texas State defeated Angelo State in a test match last fall), will not only give the club a chance to meet the winner of the Texas Tech/SMU semifinal in the championship game on Sunday but will also advance the team to the Western Regional Playoffs, hosted by the University of Oklahoma on April 8 and 9.

Meanwhile, the Texas State Cycling Club will be hosting two collegiate bicycle races,

with serious collegiate cycling teams coming in from all over the state to compete this weekend. Teams from UT, Texas A&M, Baylor, the University of Houston and other big-name schools will be present at the event.

“We expect to have about 16 Texas State riders competing in the men’s and women’s classes, including the likes of Steen Rose, former state champion,” said Dan Valaperta, Texas State cycling.

The top men’s class will slug it out in a a 60-minute criterium Saturday afternoon and a 60-mile road race Sunday morning. A criterium is a high-paced event in which racers zoom around a 1.3 mile circuit for a given time period. The Texas State club team is well-balanced in road and mountain and is attempting to qualify for nationals in both disciplines.

Shreveport, La. was the site of the women’s golf team’s second tournament this season. After placing eighth out of 16 teams last week in Corpus Christi at the Islander Classic, the ’Cats were looking for better results at the Centenary Ladies Invitational.

On Monday, Texas State freshman Jennifer Crawford led the Bobcats with a 79 in round one which placed her in a tie for ninth place out of 13 teams.

Closely behind Crawford was Christine Brijalba and Anessa Thompson, who tied for 24th place with a score of 84.

Texas State was in sixth place after day one with a team score of 333. Oral Roberts had four golfers in the top 10 and led the tournament with a score of 306. At that point, they were 16 strokes ahead of second place McClennan Community College.

Lamar was posted at third place with a 324 which was just one stroke ahead of New Orleans and Louisiana-Monroe who were tied for fourth at 325.

Texas State was able to improve its shooting to a 327 after Tuesday, but remained in sixth place for the final results.

Crawford had a repeat performance by shooting another 79 and was the leader in the invitational for the ’Cats. She finished tied for 10th.

Jennifer was solid for two days, and I thought she played well, Coach Dacia Mackey said.

Junior Anessa Thompson

also shot a 79 and concluded the tournament with a score of 163 to tie for 16th place.

Overall, Mackey was not pleased at all by the girls performance, and has several areas in mind where they need to improve.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us. The course wasn’t easy by any means, but we did not play well,” Mackey said.

Mackey saw some improvement in the short game, but had concerns on getting there.

“The short game was really good. I thought they putted and chipped very well. However, they didn’t put themselves in position to score or to even make par.”

Oral Roberts claimed first place with a team score of 625 which ended up being 19 strokes better than second place finisher McClennan CC. Christy Carter of Oral Roberts, who led the tournament individually both days, shot a 153 and won a playoff with Centenary’s Jessica Garza to win the individual medalist honors. Carter led her team to a first-place finish.

Now heading to Florida for their next tournament, the Cats will have to face tough teams such as Northern Illinois.

“We will try and get back to the basics and make our game overall stronger. We need to get our team average down by about 20 points and our goal is to finish in the top three,” Mackey said.

Texas State continues their road schedule as they travel to Sebring, Fla. for the NIU Springlake Invitational on March 10 and 11.

SPORTS

Thursday, March 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 17

Bobcat tennis serves up some good wins over St. Edwards

By Carl Harper The University Star

Danny Rodriguez/Star photo

SWEATING IT OUT: The women’s softball team warms up during an afternoon practice on Tuesday.

Softball drops three straight at Crown Plaza Classic in Houston

By Chris Dukes The University Star The Texas State softball team traveled to Houston during the weekend to compete in the Crown Plaza Classic. The Bobcats finished the tournament with a 2-3 mark, scoring wins over Rhode Island and host Houston, while dropping games to Wichita State, Iowa State and 25th-ranked Brigham Young University.

“If the tournament would have been over on Friday, I would have been happy,” coach Rikki Woodard said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t swing the bats well on Saturday and Sunday, and we couldn’t score runs.”

The team’s first-round match up was with Rhode Island. Alex Newton got Texas State on the board with an RBI-single to bring in Amy Hromadka in the first inning.

The next inning saw an onslaught of offense by the ’Cats; the six-hit, 11-run marathon was highlighted by Newton’s three-run double.

The third inning saw more Texas State scoring, when Ashton Peters went deep into left field to make the score 13-0.

Chelsea Giroux would add another homer in the next inning. The game was called, because of the run rule, in the fifth with the final score 15-1, Bobcats. Sarah Lancour picked up her fifth win of the year, allowing only one hit through five innings.

Kristin Gunter led the way on offense, finishing the game

three-for-four, with four RBI. The nightcap of Friday’s double-header was against the Houston Cougars. After two scoreless innings, the ’Cats used some well-placed sacrifices to take advantage of a Ryan Kos leadoff double and produce a 1-0 lead.

The sixth inning found Texas State still clinging to the onerun advantage when Newton turned a Cougar error into a 2-0 lead. Hromadka gave the ‘Cats a little breathing room in the seventh with a two-run blast to center field.

Katie Ann Trahan improved her record to 5-2 while also marking her fourth shutout of this young season as the Bobcats prevailed 4-0.

The next day saw a rematch game against BYU, a team they defeated 6-4 earlier in the season. Trahan, on less than 12 hours rest, allowed only five hits and one earned run in a classic pitcher’s duel, but fell short in a 1-0 loss.

The Bobcats next found themselves in another defensive struggle, this time against Wichita State.

Though they were able to strike first, thanks to a Kris Gunter double to left-center, Wichita State pitching held them in check throughout much of the remainder of the game, and the ’Cats fell 2-1.

Lancour turned in another solid game for a losing effort, allowing just five hits and two runs in a complete game outing.

The team finished up play in the tournament with a date

against Iowa State.

The Cyclones struck first, taking advantage of a Texas State error to make the score 1-0 in the third inning. The Bobcats were finally able to get some offense going in the top of the fourth when Hromadka hit an RBI-single, scoring Trahan to tie the game at 1-1.

Later in the inning, Texas State took the lead by taking advantage of a Cyclone throwing error, scoring three runs to make the score 3-1.

The team would take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the final inning, but could not make it stick; and they fell 4-3. Trahan allowed only one run on five hits before moving to DH in the fifth.

Lancour allowed three runs on four hits in two innings of relief work. It goes down as the seventh one-run loss this season for Texas State.

It also marks the first time this season the Bobcats have dropped three straight.

They will need to regroup quickly with a date against the Baylor Bears in Waco looming ahead. The Bears are currently ranked 18th in the country and are coming off a 3-2 performance in the Palm Springs Classic tournament.

“We are going to have to be better on offense and defense.

Baylor has speed and power, and they put runners on bases.

We will have to limit our defensive mistakes,” Woodard said.

The Bobcats and Bears are set to square off at 4 p.m. with game two scheduled for 6 p.m.

After edging Air Force 4-3 in Colorado Springs, the Bobcats came out swinging with momentum against St. Edwards on Thursday back in San Marcos.

Texas State swept the doubles matches as Ashley Ellis and Lainy Chafitz won the No. 1 game 8-6 against Allison Paris and Regina Del Bosque. Leja Sirola and Jana Cucciniello followed up with an 8-3 win at No. 2 over Andrea Adamson and Janelle Otero, while Sumarie Muller and Christina Amo ended doubles play with an 8-2 win at No. 3 versus Piasha VanTho and Mandy Salazar.

At this point, Texas State had an early 1-0 lead.

Coach Tory Plunkett talked about how she believes when No. 1 doubles wins their match first, the other teams usually feed off their win and consistently keep the winning percentage up.

“No. 1 doubles is the strongest team, but I thought they all went out and took care of business and performed very well,” Plunkett said.

In singles play, Amo raised her singles record to 3-3 as she kept the team in the win column by handling her set 6-1, 6-0 over Janelle Otero. Amo is the current leader for the Cats in singles wins.

The Bobcats received another dominant singles victory from Cucciniello at 6-0, 6-2 and clutch victories from Ellis at 7-6, 6-3 and Muller at 6-2, 4-6, 103. Sirola also came away with a win at 6-3, 6-3.

“Leja found her winning ways in the Colorado classic and walked out on the court with confidence against St. Edwards,” Plunkett said.

Chafitz lost her set to Regina Del Basque in singles play 6-2, 6-1, dropping her season singles record to 2-5. In this match against St. Edwards, the team won eight of nine matches making this their best performance

Danny Rodriguez/Star photo

GETTING SERVED: Senior Leja Sirola works on her serve during women’s tennis practice on Tuesday afternoon. The Bobcats will travel to Houston this weekend for matches against Rice and University of Houston.

of the season so far.

“I thought they played very competitively, but also played very well against Texas A&M,” Plunkett said. “St. Edwards is just not as strong as A&M.” Texas State is currently on a two-game winning streak and has now improved their record to 2-5 for the 2006 season. Plunkett’s bunch will take the week off and look to continue their

positive run against No. 55 Rice and No. 72 Houston on March 3 and 4 in Houston.

“After Colorado and St. Edwards, we have made some adjustments and will get to test them against Rice and Houston next week,” Plunkett said.

“Hopefully, we will find the right winning scenario we need, because conference starts on March 7.

BASKETBALL: Women burn up Northwestern State CONTINUED from page 18

Ekworomadu scored seven of the Bobcats first nine points of the half, pushing the lead to 49-40.

Her shooting display from early in the first half continued throughout the second, as Texas State sailed past the Lady Demons in the remainder of the contest on way to an 88-79 win.

The Bobcats finished the night shooting better than 52 percent from the floor and were led by Ekworomadu and Tamara Thompson who finished the night tied with a game high 22 points. Thompson also led the team with

nine rebounds, continuing her stellar play over the last month. Off the bench, Ashley Leffingwell dropped in 11 points and four rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc.

The win moves the Bobcats record to 8-7 in conference and 16-10 overall.

The Bobcats regular season finale tips off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Strahan Coliseum when they will face last-place Nicholls State.

The Lady Colonels upset the Bobcats 52-50 on Feb. 4, in Thibodaux, La., behind Jamie Octave’s 17 points and six rebounds. Texas State shot just 32.8 percent from the field and squandered a 3226 halftime lead on the way to the loss.