aseB Ball Breakers Music Makers Base l PAGe PAG e6
see s
10
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
www.UniversityStar.com
MARCH 25, 2009
wednesday
VoluMe 98, Issue 64
ASG DEBATE TONIGHT
Alyssa Scavetta/Star photo Running for President of ASG, Chris Covo, political science sophomore, Trenton Thomas, finance junior and Brice Loving, marketing junior, promote their campaigns across campus Tuesday. ASG candidates will debate at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Flowers 341.
ASG senators support presidential candidate platforms By Allen Reed Assistant News Editor
ed and sought. Covo has 52 senators, Loving 4 and Thomas 14. Chris Covo, ASG presidential candidate, said the main thing senators need to know is simple — the student government is a student organization. “It’s not something for you to just put on your résumé,” said Covo, ASG executive assistant. “The people we’ve recruited
The company one keeps is a strong indication of character. ASG presidential candidates have gathered an entourage of prospective senators on their campaigns. Each ticket is unique in the type of individual it has attract attract-
understand that we’re (ASG) not just a bunch of students who get together, argue for our ourselves and think we’re cool.” Covo, political science sophomore, said he gathered students with specific goals, who understand his platform and are diverse. Covo said he did not accept every prospective senator who
wanted on his ticket. “It was just two or three who weren’t really sure what the student government was,” he said. “It wasn’t that we turned them away, but it was mutual.” A senator who is running alongside Covo is Justin Collard, interdisciplinary studies junior. “Chris is crazy. He is abso-
asG vice presidential candidate removed from ballot By Amanda Venable News Editor Edwin Maldonado dropped out of the race for ASG vice president after finding out late Monday night he was ineligible according to the ASG election commissioner. Maldonado was Trenton Thomas’ running mate. “Words cannot describe how I feel right now,” Maldonado said. “I have told everybody it’s not about me anymore — it’s about my commitment that I made. It’s not fair to everybody else.” Maldonado said he thinks the reason for his ineligibility is GPA requirements. Because it is past the filing date, Tommy Luna will be
the next ASG vice president, assuming there is not a write-in candidate, no matter who is elected student body president. Luna expressed disappointment Maldonado is no longer in the race. He said a “healthy student democracy” takes place when there are multiple ideologies. “It’s unfortunate, but am I excited? Absolutely,” Luna said. “But it’s still not over. We still have Chris and Trenton running, two great candidates. It’s not over.” Maldonado said he will remain engaged with Lindsey Leverett/Star Photo the campaign, despite the fact that he will not AND THEN THERE WAS ONE: Tommy be on next week’s election ballot. See MALDONADO, page 3
luna is now running unopposed for AsG vice president.
Economy affects college enrollment By Lora Collins News reporter
Public and private universities across the nation may see a change in enrollment numbers because of the economy. The recession has caused some administrations to predict an increase in enrollment numbers or, in the case of private universities, a decrease. Michael Heintze, associate vice president in enrollment management, said the recession will not decrease the number of applicants, but may hinder the number admitted. Texas State has had a 12 percent increase in the number of students admit admitted, according to Heintze. “Some public institutions may see an increase in applications,”
Heintze said. “If this occurs, they will admit enough to meet their needs, and then deny the remainder.” Institutions have relied on statistical models in the past to make final decisions regarding who is accepted. Jennifer Wood, associate director of admissions at St. Edwards University, said they have not seen a decrease. “St. Edwards has not experienced a fall in the number of freshman applications,” Wood said. “I do think that we are at the mercy of a lot of factors in the future which we cannot control.” Wood said private schools need to improve marketing strategies to keep up with enrollment.
Today’s weather Scattered T-Storms
68˚
Precipitation: 70% Humidity: 68% UV: 3 Moderate Wind: NE 20 mph
“I think it will be more about educating families,” Wood said. “I think it will be the responsibility of the colleges to get out there and better educate families on what their students will be investing money in. Other universities might have to get more creative with their approaches.” Heintze agrees with Wood, and said the marketing strategies and costs may cause students to change to public institutions. “Some private institutions may be concerned that a portion of their traditional applicants and families might determine that they cannot manage the cost of attendance and will not enroll,” Heintze said. He said the number of students accepted into private uni-
versities may increase “in hopes of yielding the ideal number of enrolling students.” Heintze said Texas State has not seen a decline in the number of students drawn in by marketing. “Our Visitors Center has not been impacted by gas prices,” Heintze said. “Their visitation rates are normal. In fact, attendance at our two Spring Bobcat Days have been at record levels.” Ben Crockett, student manager at the Texas State Visitors’ Center, said students who are motivated will find a way to show universities they are interested. “I do not think we have seen that big of a drop off here,” Crockett said. “I do not think it See ECONOMY, page 3
lutely crazy about the school and the students,” said Collard, ASG senate pro-tem. “He wants nothing more than for Texas State to be recognized as the great school that it is.” Sen. Trenton Thomas, ASG presidential candidate, said his ticket is primarily composed of prospective senators rather than those running for re-elec-
Friday
Rain Temp: 52°/41° Precip: 70%
Mostly sunny Temp: 55°/42° Precip: 50%
See ASG, page 3
Top 10 percent rule may be done away with By Megan Holt News Reporter Some Texas high school students automatically know they have been accepted into their college of choice before even applying. Senate Bill 175 proposes eliminating these top students’ certainty. Current state law allows Texas high school students to attend any public college or university they choose if their grades fall within the top 10 percent of their peers’. The top 10 percent law, House Bill 588, was passed by the 80th Texas legislature in 1997. Its purpose is “to uniform admission and reporting procedures” for freshmen. SB 175, authored by Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), intends to “limit the automatic admission of undergraduate students to general academic teaching institutions.” Shapiro argues limiting automatic admittance will help “maintain a more well-rounded student body.” The University of Texas and A&M University’s student population continues to rise as more top 10 percent students gain automatic admittance. According to UT’s top 10 per percent report, automatically ac-
Two-day Forecast Thursday
tion. “The qualities I primarily looked for are leadership and enthusiasm,” said Thomas, finance junior. “People who were not more concerned with how it would look on their résumé. ASG is an entity to serve students and make change happen.”
Inside News ........... 1,2,3 opinions ............ 5 Trends ............. 6,7
Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
Diversions............8 Classifieds...........8 sports................10
cepted freshmen for fall 2008 totaled 81 percent. A&M’s institutional studies and planning reports yielded 54 percent of incoming freshmen for fall 2008 fell under the same law. Shapiro’s bill analysis projects UT will see 100 percent of their students admitted under the top 10 percent law in 2013. “Hypothetically speaking, one of the results that Texas State might face (if the bill is put into effect) is that Texas State’s incoming freshman class may get larger,” said Michael Heintze, associate vice president for enrollment management. “It just depends on how many top 10 per percent students UT turns away.” Shapiro’s analysis entails, “A university needs the flexibility to consider criteria other than high school rank, such as test scores, special talents, leadership ability, personal achievements, or other relevant aspects of what the student can offer the academic environment.” The bill will amend the Texas educational code, concerning automatic admission for all higher education institutions. Colleges and universities will be required to admit no more than 50 percent of incoming undergraduate students under the top 10 percent law. See EDUCATION, page 3
To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.universitystar.com © 2009 The University Star