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MARCH 24, 2009
tuesday
VoluMe 98, Issue 63
ASG senators announce candidacy, discuss platforms By Amanda Venable News Editor A third candidate has entered the ASG presidential race, filing paperwork the day of the deadline. Brice Loving, marketing junior, joined Chris Covo and Trenton Thomas in the race for student body president. However, unlike his opponents, Loving does not have a running mate. Loving was sworn into the ASG senate by current president Brett Baker in February. His campaign strategy is to enter as a surprise candidate. “Being within the McCoy College of Business Admistration gives the real
life experience of working in teams and I have had experience leading groups in a positive direction,” Loving said. Loving’s campaign platform focuses on furthering the university and greeklife marketing efforts. He also wants a change to the current GPA scale. “The idea is to start changing the GPA scale to a plus or minus scale,” Loving said. “The University of Texas is pushing to this system in the fall. If our academics are comparable to these schools that are using this, then we should follow with those changes.” Loving said he has researched his opponents’ platforms, saying, while they have good points, the success of their propos-
als need a large-scale marketing effort. He said his marketing strategy involves the promotion of student par participation in university activities and improving the image of greek life. Loving is not the only candidate whose platform focuses on greek life and student involvement. Covo, whose campaign focuses on promoting student participation on campus, said “a successful greek system is vital to a successful university.” Covo and running mate Tommy Luna, student body vice presidential candidate, propose a three-prong platform: revamping recruit recruitment, improving alumni relations and student appreciation, the latter of which
Covo said is most important. “If the student government is running effectively, like it is actually supposed to, then we will be able to affect student participation as a whole,” Covo said. “If the next administration does not under understand that then it will be the same organization it has been. I can promise — it is the only time I have ever promised anything — but we will work very hard to make sure the senate will work like it is designed to.” Thomas, who is running with Edwin Maldonado, vice presidential candidate, agreed student enthusiasm and ASG senate involvement in campus efforts is critical. The Thomas / Maldonado tick tick-
et, if elected, plans to hold grievance sessions with students. “Sometimes, it gets to be all talk with the ASG administrations,” Thomas said. “Maldonado and I will have an open door policy. We are going to actually use our senators and our executive board to talk to student organizations. We want open forums so students can come in and see what their student government is doing.” The Thomas / Maldonado ticket’s four-tier platform argues success for Texas State’s Football Bowl Subdivision drive depends on “getting all of San Marcos to support and back” the uniSee ELECTION, page 4
Texas State student drowns in San Marcos River at park
sXsW 2009
By Scott Thomas Editor in Chief
Karen Wang/Star photo For coverage of this year’s south By southwest, see Trend’s pages 6,7 and 8.
ASG legislation Train collides with car trapped on railroad tracks may ease motorcyclists’ parking woes By Teresa Wilburn News Reporter Motorcyclists now have shelter on rainy days. Monday ASG legislation proposed giving motorcycle riders more options regarding the parking situation on campus. The bill entitled, “Motor-Cycle Friendly Campus,” asks for a preceding pass to be issued to motorcyclists on bad weather days for a car pass. It also asks for additional parking slots around campus for motorcycles. “Motorcycles reduce congestion on campus,” said Sen. Michael Guzman, author of the legislation. “I ride a motorcycle myself. The problem is that sometimes the parking spots fill up. The permit costs the same as a car, but the university does not allow you to park in another parking spot.” Guzman has been inconvenienced by the parking regulations around campus. If the weather is bad, he has to use alternative transportation. Without the additional parking permit, the university can issue a ticket, he said. “The main thing will be setting up a type of system that will allow a temporary permit,” Guzman said. “If it is raining, I cannot ride my motorcycle. I have to drive my other vehicle to campus. I would need to have two See ASG, page 4
today’s Weather Scattered T-Storms
68˚
Precipitation: 70% Humidity: 68% UV: 3 Moderate Wind: NE 20 mph
A student drowned Friday af afternoon in the San Marcos River at Sewell Park, despite being pulled from the river by an onlooker and an attempt to resuscitate him. Tam Minh Tran, a 24-year-old mathematics junior, was swimming in the river Friday after afternoon when Ben Asmus, criminal justice sophomore, spotted him. Asmus said Tran was swimming recreationally. “He wasn’t swimming real hard,” he said. “(He was swimming) like everyone else does.” Asmus was at the park with friends and his girlfriend. He noticed not seeing Tran swimming for a few minutes. “For some reason, I realized I hadn’t seen him in a while,” Asmus said. “I don’t know why. I said something about not seeing him come up.” Asmus said he, his girlfriend and a friend got up to look. Asmus’ girlfriend spotted Tran on the bottom of the river. “She spotted him and said ‘is that him?’” Asmus said. “You could tell he had been down there for quite a bit. I jumped in. He was in the deep part of the river.” Asmus said he shook Tran’s shoulder and saw he was unresponsive. “I grabbed him and took him to shore,” he said. “I had to haul him up the ladder, which was tough. I had him on the edge before someone helped me pull him up.” Asmus described jumping into the river and pulling Tran out as “pure reaction.” “There was nothing in my head,” he said. “I didn’t think a whole lot. I just kind of did it.” Asmus did CPR with another individual for approximately two minutes, he said. EMS showed up at approximately 2:33 p.m. University Police received two
Sajen Claxton-Hernandez/ Star photo SMASHED UP: Candice and Caitlin Taber’s car after a train ran into at approximately 1 a.m. March 13.
By Sajen Claxton-Hernandez Special to The Star Twin sisters Crystal and Candice Taber stalled in the mud on a train track about 1 a.m. Friday the 13th. They attempted to free the car so they could arrive at a friend’s house on time. They saw a bright light in the distance approaching. Their plans changed. They abandoned the car. The light drew progressively
nearer as the horn grew louder. The tremors in the ground became stronger, and the twins had no choice but to watch as the unstoppable train struck their immovable car. The twins’ car got stuck on the train track at the intersection of Post Road and Uhland as students were beginning Spring Break. They tried to free the car for roughly 20 minutes before seeing an approaching train in the distance. The twins called the police at 1:05 a.m. The train collided
with their car shortly after. Crystal Taber was driving her sister’s car as it stalled on the tracks. “Me and my sister were on our way to a friend’s house,” Crystal Taber said. “I took a right on the train track, and we slipped in the mud.” The twins made various attempts to free their car from the track. “We tried dragging it out,” said Crystal Taber. “We moved all the See TRAIN, page 3
two-day Forecast Wednesday
Thursday
Rain Temp: 52°/41° Precip: 70%
Mostly sunny Temp: 55°/42° Precip: 50%
Inside News ........ 1,2,3,4 opinions ............ 5 Trends .......... 6,7,8
Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
Diversions............9 Classifieds...........9 sports...........11,12
Tam Minh Tran
See DROWNING, page 4
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