Biased Mel
Sweet 16
Films a-plenty
SXSW offers movies for the masses/Trends/Page 6
Gibson’s translation of gospels not all it’s cracked up to be/Opinions/Page 5
Star sports staff offers their picks for NCAA tournament/Sports/Page 10
WEDNESDAY
VOLUME 93, ISSUE 65 www.universitystar.com
MARCH 24, 2004
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
High-tech thieves hit campus Locations & Times of Computer Theft Reports Lampasas
March 8, 7:12 p.m.
Brogdon
Academic Services
March 12, 9:40 p.m.
College of Education
Brazos
Occupational Education
Commons Hall
Retama
March 9, 7:50 a.m.
Beretta
Nueces
BOBCAT TRAIL
Laurel
March 9, 11 a.m.
Flowers
Evans Liberal Arts
Scooter Hendon/Star illustration
Technology thefts spur security measure increace
By Jennifer Warner Senior Reporter
The University Police Department is beefing up its security measures in numerous academic buildings around campus after a series of computer thefts before Spring Break.
Concert to show history, diversity By Amber Conrad News Reporter A free concert performance by some of the state’s most prominent artists will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the LBJ Student C e n t e r Ballroom. Te x a s M u s i c History BENSON UnPlugged 4 will host a variety of musical artists from around Texas to promote diversity through musical interaction on the Texas State campus. “It’s going to be really fun,” said Gary Hartman, Center for Texas Music History director. “We get the musicians on stage together and encourage them to just jam. It’s really a song swap in a way; they trade songs, but they all perform together.” The “post-modern king of western swing” Ray Benson, Grammy award winner and cofounder of Asleep at the Wheel, returns again this year to host the event. “Ray is simply outstanding in his ability to relate the songs and music he performs with the history of Texas,” said Eugene Bourgeois, history chair. Benson will perform along with Ruthie Foster and Cyd Cassone, who mix blues, gospel, roots and folk music to attain their signature sound. “Ruthie Foster, who is a truly
I N S I D E
Amusements....................7
gifted singer, brought the house down two years ago,” Bourgeois said. “She sang a spiritual song that had Joe Ely and Ray Benson literally tipping their hats to her onstage.” Debuting at the event this year is the Sisters Morales, that will showcase its diverse Mexican-influenced music. Another first-time performer in the concert is Chris Wall, a Grammy-nominated songwriter who uses western honky-tonk sounds to evoke the mythology of Texas through his songs. Returning to the UnPlugged stage is accordion player Joel Guzman, acclaimed instrumentalist, singer and performer. His band, Aztec, formed the inspiration for RCA’s recent Los Super Seven release. Guzman will accompany the performers on stage, providing backup as they improvise together. “The concert will really be a wonderful blend of all these musical styles, and it looks to be another standing room only event,” Hartman said. Each artist will perform songs illustrating the history and diversity of their specialization in Texas music. UnPlugged 4 is open to the general public and is free to anyone who can get past the door. Last year, about 1,100 people were in attendance with more than 100 people having been turned away for safety reasons. It is suggested that concertgoers arrive early to get a seat or spot on the floor.
GETTING HOOKED
g See CRIME, page 4
The Talon IVRS, seen here attached to a Ford Crown Victoria, is designed to hook underneath the rear bumper of a car in order to prevent or stop high-speed chases.
W
By Nikki Dawson News Reporter hile it may seem reminiscent of a Batman episode, San Marcos resident Sydney Weatherford says he created his invention from a dream he had one night. “I had a dream about a car chase and a wrecker and I dreamed that I attached a wrecker to the front end of a police car,” Weatherford said. Realizing he was on to something, Weatherford began to experiment with his idea. He eventually created the Talon, which is designed to prevent police chases or stop those already in progress. The device, which derives its name from the claws of
GENEROSITY
Comics/Crossword........7 Opinions...........................5
Voting machines to replace current election equipment
Hays County may soon move into the 21st century of voting if county commissioners approve the purchase of electronic voting machines in the coming months. “We’re required by law to
Sports...........................9,10 Trends...............................6
Today’s Weather
High: 75 Lo w : 62
a hawk, can also aid officers in getting drunken drivers off the road. The Talon Immediate Vehicle Restraint System consists of two large metal hooks that attach to the front bumper of a police cruiser. Weatherford created two custom designs that connect to the chassis of the car. The prototype is powered by an air tank in the trunk of the car and is activated with a control device by the driver. According to a press release, the Talon is designed to end 80 percent of all police pursuits. The system makes use of weight transfer. When the system is applied, weight is transferred from the target vehicle to the restraint vehicle, thus making the brakes g See HOOKED, page 4
Commissioners OK buying e-polls
By Kassia Micek Assistant News Editor
News.............................2-4
replace our present election equipment by 2006,” said Joyce Cowan, Hays County elections administrator. In the United States, 30 jurisdictions currently use electronic voting devices. In Texas, counties such as Harris, Tarrant, Brazos and Travis currently use electronic devices. Hays County commissioners listened to a presentation on the E-Slate voting machine during their Tuesday meeting. As a result of the controversy
surrounding the 2000 presidential election, Congress and state legislatures passed laws requiring all counties to have one Direct Recording Electronic device in each county election precinct by January 2006. Hays County has 36 county election precincts. The cost per machine is $25,000. Phillip Braithwaite, Hart Intercivic sales and business development director, made a g See E-POLLS, page 4
Air Force ROTC to hold info session By Chris Boehm News Reporter
AM Rainy/PM Cloudy
Thursday’s Forecast Cloudy 81/63
In some instances, there was evidence of forced entry into an office, but in some of the cases it was simply a matter of an unlocked door. Chapa said he believes each case may be connected, and all of the cases are currently under investigation. UPD Investigator Jeb Thomas said at this point they have a few leads, but he was not able to release that information. Measures are being taken by the UPD to minimize these crimes. The
Andy Ellis/Star photo
Classifieds........................8
Wind: From SE at 19 mph Precipitation: 30% Max. Humidity: 74% UV Index: 4 Low
The thefts took place March 8 through 12 with an undisclosed amount of computer equipment taken from offices in Commons Hall, the Nueces Building, Evans Liberal Arts Building, the Academic Services Building and Flowers Hall. “Periodically, you’ll have one or two laptops that are taken from the library or the cafeteria or the (LBJ Student Center),” said UPD captain Paul Chapa. “But over the last couple of weeks we’ve definitely seen a rise in computer theft.”
Andy Ellis/Star photo Business management junior Brianna Peterson receives a free soda from business management sophomore Heather Cook who was one of many women passing out free drinks in The Quad Tuesday. The unaffiliated group of Christian women collected donations from local vendors, then purchased and are now passing out about 115 cases of soda, CDs and books until Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Texas State Air Force ROTC detachment will host an information session highlighting a general overview of the organization and a look at scholarship and career opportunities. The event will take place
from 3 to 5 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center, Room 3-14.1. “There are many people who have varying impressions about a military career and our program,” said Brett Gibson, 2nd Lieutenant of the United States Air Force and recent product of the AFROTC. “We want to show what our cadets do in and out of the classrooms
and in their extracurricular activities.” Lt. Charles Cohoon and Capt. Marlena Fernandez will host the meeting, educating and informing the public about the ROTC program. A Q&A session will follow Cohoon and Fernandez’s presentation. g See ROTC, page 3