Director named
Larry Teis to replace Greg LaFleur in head athletics position/Sports/Page 16
Condoms galore
Listen to this
SXSW music festival to keep fans coming back for more/Trends/Page 9
Sex education on campus could do more to promote copulation/Opinions/Page 7
THURSDAY
VOLUME 93, ISSUE 63 www.universitystar.com
MARCH 11, 2004
RIDE SAFE, BE SAFE T E X A S
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y - S A N
M A R C O S
Chancellor steps down after 25 years By Jennifer Warner Senior Reporter After a 25-year career as chancellor of the Texas State University System, Lamar Urbanovsky has decided to step down from his position. Urbanovsky has been with the system for 31 years, but at the last TSUS Board of Regents meeting he was granted permission to resign from his seat. “We just felt like it might be time to let someone else take the lead,” Urbanovsky said. “I’m getting up in my age.” The Board of Regents grant-
Andrew Nenque/Star photo The newest addition to safe driving rode into town with TX Safe Ride, a 35-ft., 60-passenger nightclub on wheels. TX Safe Ride provides safe transportation round trip from San Marcos to Sixth Street in Austin Thursday through Saturday for $12.
TX Safe Ride provides safe alternative for intoxicated night clubbers
S
By Ryan Coggin News Reporter
TX Safe Ride Shedule and Locations
an Marcos residents wishing to partake in the Austin nightlife but worried about driving home after a few drinks now have an alternative. TX Safe Ride, a full-service charter operation, offers patrons a ride to and from Sixth Street on a 60-passenger bus, which has been stripped and redesigned to provide a “night club” atmosphere. Eric Bramlett, company president, previously worked at a Sixth Street bar, and began pursuing the business last fall with g See RIDE, page 6
Ru ns Thu rsdays through Sat urday Night s P ick up ti mes: 9:00 at The Zone Apartments 9:10 at Hillside Ranch Apartments 9:20 at Bishop Square Apartments 9:30 at Jefferson Commons Apartments 9:40 at The Exchange (rear entrance) Return trip picks up at Sixth and Brazos streets at 2:00 a.m. and leaves Austin by 2:15 a.m. Drop of f point s ar e in t he same or de r as t he pick-u ps.
ed his request at its quarterly meeting two weeks ago at Lamar University in Beaumont. Urbanovsky URBANOVSKY will continue to stay involved in the system but will concentrate on other projects. Urbanovsky, a licensed architect, will continue to be involved with planning and construction for the system. He will also
Grant money tops Senate meeting Funds split for tenure, tenure-track
By Julie Daffern News Reporter
Tenured professors may get a larger percentage of grant money provided by the Texas State University Research Enhancement Program if the Faculty Senate approves a proposal the next time it meets.
g See CHANCELLOR, page 5
The Program gives faculty the opportunity to compete for as much as $16,000 in grant money for faculty research and creative services. In the past, tenure-track faculty, those hired on a permanent basis but without tenure, received a 10-point bonus. “I propose that in lieu of bonuses, create two pots of money — a pot of money for tenured faculty and a pot of money for tenure-track faculty,” g See SENATE, page 5
Parking violation fee increases now in effect in San Marcos By Katherine Eissler News Reporter
Texans will soon feel the effects of recently passed legislation. The San Marcos Police Department is now enforcing a bill passed in 2003 that tacks a $30 state-mandated fee onto some parking violations and requires three-year repeat offenders to pay a $100 fine. This bill, along with other legislation, was brought about in response to an almost $10 billion lack of revenue for the next two-year budget period.
I N S I D E
Classifieds......................14
Comics/Crossword......13 Music.........................10,11
News........................2,3,5,6 Opinions........................7,8
Sports.........................15,16 Trends..........................9,12
Today’s Weather
High: 67 Lo w : 45
AM Clouds/PM Rain
Wind: From NE at 21 mph Precipitation: 30% Max. Humidity: 65% UV Index: 5 Moderate Friday’s Forecast Rainy 58/49
The bill has started some controversy within the State House of Representatives, where Democrats are accusing Republicans of misleading voters by saying they have spared them taxes but are raising revenue with hidden fees. “(The parking violation fee) is not a tax paid involuntarily, it’s just a fee for flouting the law,” said Willard Stouffer, political science professor. Stouffer said he is more concerned with social programs that are taking the brunt of the budget cuts, not with people who get parking tickets.
House Bill 3588 was introduced by Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, into the Texas Legislature in April 2003 and was enrolled two months later, but was not implemented until Sept. 1. The bill is also a broad promotion of Gov. Rick Perry’s Trans Texas Corridor plan, which would position highways, rails, utility lines and pipes in corridors across the state. According to a May 2003 San Antonio Express-News article, Krusee, House Transportation Committee chairman and author of the bill, said the bill is projected to raise more than $200
Weather proves major concern for Spring Break vacations
million a year for the Texas Mobility Fund. The bill also gives regional mobility authorities power to condemn land to build toll roads just as the state can, Krusee said in the article. The SMPD and the municipal court is now applying the fee. “We didn’t start collecting it here because no one knew about it,” said Howard Williams, San Marcos police chief. People have not been happy with the newly applied fee because the fee schedule printed on the citation they
receive is different from what the courthouse is charging, Williams said. “It is something that is totally out of our control,” he said. The parking fee is an addition to the existing moving violation fees that have been in effect for years. Those fees pay for things such as law enforcement training, Williams said. Municipal courts establish the fines, limited by law to $200, which can make the amount different for individual cities, but the $30 fee is required by g See FEE, page 6
By Kassia Micek Assistant News Editor
ered by bad weather during past breaks. Jordan Edwards, undecided freshman, made plans to go to the beach and Many students go to the beach dur- shop while in Los Angeles a few years ing Spring Break to relax from classes ago but was discouraged by the cold, and lectures, where clear skies and rainy weather. warm weather make “The weather made for an enjoyable vacait just like you didn’t tion. feel much like doing However, weather anything,” she said. could prevent such Rain during the blissful experiences break is a disappointfrom happening. ment to many. Even A few years ago, worse, it could happen Amy Friedrick, fami— Ken Widelski this year. ly and consumer sciKen Widelski, NaNational Weather Service ence senior, and tional Weather Service Meteorologist Michelle Carey, famimeteorologist for the ly and consumer sciAustin/San Antonio ence junior, had a bad region, said there is a Spring Break experience at Eagle Lake, 50 percent chance for periods of rain an hour outside of Houston, but didn’t and thunderstorms for San Marcos, a 20 let it bother them. percent chance of thunderstorms and “It was freezing, and we still went to isolated showers for South Padre Island the lake, anyway,” Friedrich said. and a 30 to 40 percent chance of showHowever, other students were both- ers for the Corpus Christi/Port Aransas
“It looks okay. It doesn’t look like any major systems are in the area.”
Louis LaSassier/Star illustration area for Saturday and Sunday. During the week in SPI, temperatures could range from the upper 60s to the low 80s; it should be sunny Monday and Tuesday. However, further in the week, fog and drizzle is expected at mornings. “That usually moves off by 10 or 11 in the morning,” Widelski said.
The forecast for the rest of the week looks optimistic for the Island. On Wednesday and Thursday, partly cloudy skies are expected to lead into a mostly cloudy Friday with highs in the low 80s. Many businesses depend on clear g See WEATHER, page 5