03 26 2009

Soil Skills Two Titles local artist uses dirt to Men’s golf takes both team create masterpieces on and individual awards at unique canvases Carter Plantation Invitational SEE SPORTS PAGE 12

SEE TRENDS PAGE 9

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MARCH 26, 2009

THURSDAY

VoluMe 98, Issue 65

The Issues

Candidates tackle FBS, diversity, senate attendance, and more at Wednesday’s debate hosted by The University Star

Gender identity issues ASG candidates discuss become topic for promoting FBS status future administration

By Theron Brittain Senior News Reporter

ASG presidential candidates are pledging to play a crucial role in Texas State’s ascension to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The move from Football Championship Series to FBS status, expected to take place in 2012, is a platform issue for candidates this ASG election.

Presidential candidates Chris Covo, Trenton Thomas and Bryce Loving, and vice presidential candidate Tommy Luna, promised, if elected, to bring the energies of the student government to bear on the issue, which has become a major focus of the Texas State community.

“The drive to FBS is not just for athletics, it is for students,” said Thomas. “When we become a D-1 institution, it is not going to just affect us athletically, but it is going to affect us academically.”

Thomas said increased revenue resulting from FBS status would be used to improve all aspects of the university. Covo said students are unaware of how the drive will benefit the school.

“The drive … when finished here in five to seven years, is going to make this university better than most in the state and maybe one of the best in the country,” said Covo, ASG executive assistant.

Loving said academics should be of equal focus, but acknowledged FBS status would be a major achievement for Texas State.

“The benchmarks we have are something we are definitely going to need to bring us to the next level,” Loving said. “We instinctively want to help out our athletic teams, but it should not be only something where we promote athletics because people say that is what is going to take us to the next level. It cannot just be about one thing, it needs to be about multiple things.”

Students voted in a referendum last spring in favor of increasing the athletic fee by $2 per semester credit hour. The increase means a student taking 15 semester credit hours now pays $150 toward the athletic fee.

Raising average game attendance to a minimum of 15,000 people is a major See FBS, page 5

Trenton Thomas

Karen Wang/Star photo

Communications lines closed, but candidates hope to open them

By Megan Holt News Reporter Chris Covo

Karen Wang/Star photo

By Lora Collins News reporter Only one ASG presidential candidate said he is willing to work toward implementing gender identity in the university’s non-discrimination clause at Wednesday night’s debate.

Chris Covo, ASG presidential candidate, mentioned implementing transgender into the clause.

“I do agree that is OK,” Covo said. “What we need to do is work with the administration and students to find the best way to do this right.”

Gender variants are identified as any individual who deviates from the general characteristics of their sexual gender.

The university has the ability to implement action and fur further policies regarding diversity and gender identity. Trenton Thomas, ASG presidential candidate, said he wants to take the opportunity to further the process, but did not say whether he would work toward adding transgender into the clause.

“We need to have active programs that understand the issues of gender identities,” said Thomas.

A part of the conflict with gender variance includes students not feeling a part of the student body because of deviating characteristics from their sexual gender.

Texas State was the first university in the Texas State University System to add sexual orientation to its non-discrimination clause. No schools in the system currently include gender identity.

The movement to protect gender variant students has received the support of the ASG senate, ASG president and the faculty senate in previous semesters, but has not been added to the clause by the university.

Brice Loving, ASG presidential candidate, did not say if he would further the issue, but said younger generations have learned to deal with the problem of diversity.

“We are at the point where we have grown up with this for some years now,” said Loving. “Communication knows no boundaries.”

Loving said the student body should be “representatives of the world” and learn to work together.

“It really is about uniting them (students) all together,” Loving said.

Thomas agreed with Loving, but said the committees need to get more involved in the diversity issues on campus.

“We want to take things a little bit further,” Thomas said.

“People hail from every single walk of life. People hail from everywhere from Indonesia to Japan and come to Texas State University to become Bobcats.”

Thomas said it is important to prepare students for the future.

“One of our main points is creating leaders,” Thomas said.

“And that is what we are going to continue to do.”

Covo said, if elected, he will create a diversity unity chair

See DIVERSITY, page 5

83˚

Precipitation: 20% Humidity: 68% UV: 7 High Wind: ESE 14 mph

See COMMUNICATION, page 5

Attendance may be better enforced with next year’s ASG senate Chase Birthisel News Reporter Sen. Tommy Luna, who is running for ASG vice president, said he will strongly enforce attendance in the ASG senate, removing senators in violation from office.

“My job is to ensure that when (senators) do miss a meeting that they get an e-mail saying that they have a warning,” Luna said. “When they miss two meetings, they’re out.”

Luna is running unopposed after opponent Edwin Maldonado dropped from the race Tuesday. He appeared at last night’s debate and answered questions, mainly pertaining to how he will lead the senate.

ASG senate has come under scrutiny in the past for lack of involvement.

Poor attendance and improper record keeping has plagued this year’s senate. According to the ASG Senate Code of Laws, the chairperson is required to keep an attendance file open to the public for examination.

“I think that Tommy will have more accountability,” said Sen. Michael Guzman. “Brett Baker tried to be more of a nice guy and understanding. I think that Tommy saw this and will make everyone more account accountable.”

Luna said as vice president, he would put committee and senate meeting attendance online.

“The fact of the matter is that poor attendance reflects on all of us,” said Sen. Colter Ray. “Tommy putting attendance online will make people think about missing meetings.”

Sen. Jonathan Moldenhauer said having attendance online will let senators know there will be no loophole.

The senate has authored fewer bills and passed less legislation than last year’s, which has gained criticism. Luna, however, said quantity should not play a role in how the senate is viewed.

See ATTENDANCE, page 5

Karen Wang/Star photo TALKING POLITICS: scott Thomas, The University Star’s editor in chief talks to Tommy luna about his campaign and ideas for the fall semester.

Two-day Forecast

Today’s Weather Mostly Cloudy

Karen Wang/Star photo

Brice loving

ASG legislation may be visible to students online next year, according to Sen. Tommy Luna, the presumptive vice president elect.

“Going back to the (ASG) Constitution, they require our minutes and attendance records to be posted on the Web for students to see,” Luna said, “I will make sure we are following those rules.”

Luna said one of his main priorities is to “make sure senators are connecting with the students.”

All three presidential candidates said there is a lack of communication between the students and administration. However, they differed on how to remedy the situation. “(The lack of communication) goes back to marketing,” said Brice Loving, ASG presidential candidate. “I think a TRACS site would be amazing, because you would be getting e-mails.”

Loving’s proposed TRACS site would contain polls and blogs to gain student feedback and encourage student cor cor-

roboration.

“Communication doesn’t just address one person, it targets all students,” Loving said.

Loving said the site could also be used to gauge how students feel on spending student service fees.

Loving said he would like to get away from a party-school image through a marketing plan.

“We are trying to reverse our prior school image by innovating, not replacing, the current marketing program,” he said.

Thomas, if elected, plans to implement a new program called Bobcat ROAR, Bobcats Reaching Out to Achieve Resolution. Thomas said the idea was conjured up by he and former running mate Edwin Maldonado, who dropped out of the vice presidential race Tuesday.

“This program is designed to reach out to the community and not only have Bobcat pride at Texas State, but also extend it to Hays County, Kyle, Buda and surrounding areas,” Thomas said.

Friday

Saturday

AM Clouds/PM sun Temp: 79°/43° Precip: 20%

sunny Temp: 71°/40° Precip: 0%

Inside News ..... 1,2,3,4,5 opinions ............ 6 Trends .......... 7.8.9

Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

Diversions...........10 Classifieds..........10 sports............11,12

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.universitystar.com © 2009 The University Star

PAGETWO Coping with Grief and Loss Group is from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. It is a source for students who have experienced the death of a loved one. Pre-screening is required by calling the Counseling Center at 512245-2208.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting on at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, room 320. Enjoy contemporary worship, relevant teaching, prayer and plenty of fun.

Contact 512-557-7988 or mail@texasstatechialpha. com for more information.

There will be a meeting of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at 5 p.m. in LBJ Student Center, room 3-14.1.

Cost is $25. Learn how to get rid of debt and build wealth by using the principles that Dave discovered after the hardship of bankruptcy that have now turned him into a millionaire. Contact Krista at 512-353-4414 or bsm4jesus@centurytel.net for more information.

There will be a “Simple Silent Sitting” meditation group is from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. in the Psychology Building, room 130B. All are welcome (any religion or no religion).

Brief instruction can be arranged before we “sit” by contacting Colby at 512-408-4544 or Sheila at 512-847-2159.

FRIDAY There will be an AA meeting from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in LBJSC, room 3-6.1 SATURDAY The Student Recital Series presents Stephanie Thoreson Senior Oboe Recital at 4 p.m. in the School of Music Recital Hall. Admission is free.

The Student Recital Series presents Jason Slayden Senior Voice

—Courtesy of Texas State Athletics

News Contact — Amanda Venable, starnews@txstate.edu Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

Calendar Veterans Support group is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Veterans can help veterans cope with the stress of transition and the demands of college lives.

Pre-screening is required by calling the Counseling Center at 512-245-2208.

Tuesday night the Texas State baseball team shattered three records and Spenser Dennis, exercise and sports senior, led the charge by setting an all-time individual mark, going 7-for-8 at the plate to lead the team to a 33-3 victory over the Prairie View A&M Panthers at Bobcat Field.

Today in Brief

2 - Thursday, March 26, 2009

THURSDAY

starsof texas state

LATE NIGHT SNACK Recital at 8 p.m. in the School of Music Recital Hall. Admission is free.

University Police Department

SUNDAY Every Nation Campus Minitries invites you to Christ Community Church, meeting at Travis Elementary (by TXstate golf course). We will have a one-hour service starting at 10 a.m. with contemporary worship and an encouraging message.

March 11, 8:18 a.m.

Medical Emergency / Education Building A faculty member injured her head while walking. The faculty member was treated and released. A report was made of the incident.

MONDAY Sexual Assault and Abuse Survivors Group is from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. It is a support group of the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center for Texas State students. Pre-screening is required by calling the Counseling Center at 512245-2208.

TUESDAY “Say What You Need To Say” is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Become a pro at direct, open, honest communication. Prescreening is required by calling the Counseling Center at 512-245-2208.

WEDNESDAY LGBQ Pride Group is from 12 to 1:30 p.m. It is open to students wanting to discuss the impact of their sexual identity on crucial aspects of their lives in a safe and confidential place. Prescreening is required by calling the Counseling Center at 512-245-2208.

Anger Management Group is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Learn simple, innovative techniques for managing anger and developing healthier ways of relating. Pre-screening is required by calling the Counseling Center at 512245-2208.

ACOA/Dysfunctional Families Group is from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. for adult children of alcoholics dealing with dysfunctional families group. Prescreening is required by calling the Counseling Center at 512-245-2208.

There will be an Overeaters Anonymous Meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland.

CRIME BLOTTER

Lindsey Leverett/Star photo Lucia Burns, wildlife biology freshmen, grabs a subway sandwhich with friends Allison Royland, mathematics sophomore, and Lindsey Bienvenu, mathematics sophomore.

ASG Candidates

This year the student body election will take place from Tuesday to Wednesday. The election will decide your next Student Body President, Vice President and group of senators that will represent you for the upcoming 2009 to 2010 academic year. Students will be able to vote at a poll in The Quad or the LBJ Student Center each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on-line. On-line voting will be available through a link on the Texas State homepage from Tuesday at 8 a.m. until Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Learn more about the candidates at UniversityStar.com/asg.

Candidates PRESIDENT Christopher Covo Brice Loving Trenton Thomas VICE PRESIDENT Tomas Luna SENATORSON CAMPUS Cody DeSalvo Melanie Ferrari William Fox Meredith Gatewood Temitayo Gidado Zachary Gonzalez Kristopher Infante

Jonathan Moldenhauer Patrick Samuels Cristina Solis Cameron Tanner Dallen Terrell

James Skellie Gordon Taylor Krista Tucker Maria Wasley Brittney Williams

OFF CAMPUS Julia Barnes Luke Cagle Laura Carhart Joseph Doyle James Flink Michael Florer Ashley Hanrahan Sheridan Hobson Cameron Kincaide Fidencio Leija John Nesselhauf Lisa Paulson Matthew Posey Griffin Taylor

APPLIED ARTS Xavier Garza BUSINESS Edouard Abihabib Russell Garcia Joe Koenig Tanya Kutzik Morganne Montalvo EDUCATION Justin Collard Ariana Vargas FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION Matthew Becher Allison Birk Gabriel Carrillo Coty Morris Colter Ray

AT LARGE Tommy Aguilar Chrystah Carter Lindsay Dabbs Sara Darby Albert DeGarmo Myles Duelm Roel Elizalde Rebecca Flores Andrew Gonzalez Kyle Gregory Brandon Guerra Kristin Guerra Alexandra Hansen Lakeisha Houston Cameron Johnson Alistair Laing Blake Millican Maria Olicia

LIBERAL ARTS Daniel Burrow Asha McElfish HEALTH PROFESSIONS Sarah Cruz SCIENCE Jon Riggs Austin Weisinger — Courtesy of Associated Student Government

This day in history

1827: Composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria, at age 56.

1874: Poet Robert Frost was born in San Francisco.

1892: Poet Walt Whitman died at age 72.

1911: Playwright Tennessee Williams was born in Columbus, Miss.

1971: East Pakistan proclaimed its independence, taking the name Bangladesh.

1982: Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

1992: A judge in Indianapolis sentenced former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to six years in prison for raping a Miss Black America contestant.

1997: The bodies of 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate techno-religious cult who had committed suicide were found inside a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

1999: Dr. Jack Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder for giving a lethal injection to an ailing man whose death was shown on “60 Minutes.”

2000: Vladimir Putin was elected president of Russia.

2002: Arthur Andersen chief executive Joseph Berardino resigned, bowing to mounting pressure as a result of the accounting firm’s role in the Enron scandal.

—Courtesy of New York Times

Best Buddies compete in scavenger hunt on campus This spring, teams will race to the finish for Best Buddies Midnight Madness, an off-the-wall, studentrun scavenger hunt designed to raise awareness and funds for people with intellectual disabilities.

On April 3, Texas State will be one of 20 college campuses to launch Best Buddies Midnight Madness, a 12-hour scavenger hunt consisting of six- to 10-person teams or individuals representing numerous campus organizations on a ‘Quest for the Booty’.

The board of directors consists of student volunteers who are planning all of the details for the Midnight Madness event.

After receiving their task list at registration, students scour the campus and town collecting odd items, interacting with the community and putting themselves in amusing situations to earn points toward first prize. Participants receive free food and prizes along the way ending at midnight with an after-party.

Teams can earn points before the event by taking advantage of the pre-event list, which is available at the Midnight Madness Web site.

All Midnight Madness proceeds benefit Best Buddies Texas, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of the 200 million people with intellectual disabilities worldwide by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships with students or citizens.

Best Buddies College pairs people with intel-

lectual disabilities in one-on-one friendships with college students. These friendships help increase self-esteem, confidence and the abilities of people with and without intellectual disabilities.

Students wishing to get involved with the Best Buddies College organization on campus should contact student director Devon Quevedo for more information.

Slone, communication studies senior, said buddies from the San Marcos area will be attending Midnight Madness.

Bountiful booty will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place scavenger hunt teams. The top fundraising team and individual will be announced at midnight. Prizes have included laptops, movie passes and digital cameras.

Teams and individuals can register up until the day of the event, April 3, at the Midnight Madness Web site or from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday in The Quad. The first person to register online on a team will click “Start a Team” and create the team name. All others can select “Join a Team” and find the team name.

Each team member or individual is responsible for collecting $150. A $10 registration fee is also required and provides each team member or individual with admission to the scavenger hunt and after-party.

—Courtesy of Best Buddies

March 11, 2:54 p.m.

Burglary of Vehicle / University Police Department-Lobby A student was arrested for burglary of a motor vehicle and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center and is awaiting a court date. A report was made of the incident.

March 12, 1:45 a.m.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Jackson Hall A police officer was dispatched to the location for a suspicious odor report.

Upon further investigation, a student was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia.

March. 12, 6:25 p.m.

Theft-Under $50 / University Police Department-Lobby A student reported to a police officer her property had been taken without her consent. The case is under investigation.

March 12, 9:17 p.m.

MIP-Alcohol / Lindsey Lot A police officer made contact with a nonstudent engaging in suspicious activity. Upon further investigation, the nonstudent was issued a citation for minor in possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

March 12, 10:43 p.m.

Medical Emergency / Evans Liberal Arts Building A student was feeling disoriented because of alcohol. The student refused medical transportion and left with a friend. A report was made of the incident.

March 12, 10:59 p.m.

Welfare Concern -/Elliott Hall A A nonstudent reported to a police officer that she was concerned for a student.

Contact was made with the student and there were no concerns. A report was made of the incident.

March 12, 11 p.m.

Theft-Under $500 / Bobcat Village Apartments A student reported to a police officer that her property had been taken from her vehicle without her consent. This case is under investigation.

March 12, 11 p.m.

Failure to Comply/ Striking Unattended Vehicle / Bobcat Village Apartments A student reported to a police officer that her vehicle was damaged while legally parked. This case is under investigation.

March 13, 12:40 a.m.

Public Intoxication / Guadalupe Street A police officer made contact with a student acting suspiciously. Upon further investigation, the student was arrested for public intoxication and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center awaiting a court date.

—Courtesy of University Police Department

News

Thursday, March 26, 2009

The University Star - 3

Students questions unanswered at Star debate

By Erica Rodriguez News Reporter The ASG presidential debate between candidates Chris Covo, Brice Loving and Trenton Thomas demonstrated moments of clarity to some students but for others mimicked rhetorical dodge ball.

Steven Williams, biochemistry senior, submitted a question asking how ASG funds would be responsibly appropriated in the incoming administration.

The replies he received were not what he had hoped.

“They didn’t really get at the heart of my question,” Williams said. “As far as the debate’s concerned, I think it was a toss up. I think it was too close to call.”

None of the replies specifically answered the question.

“We have to make sure that while we’re here, we do what you need us to do,” Covo said. “I don’t think that Tommy and I will have any problem putting funds where they’re not supposed to (be) because we’ll be doing what the student body wants us to do.”

Loving called for scrutinizing student service fee committee budgets then advocated using a

TRACS group to see what all students think.

“Basically, how can we serve you better but at the same time still have your best interest in mind,” he said. “What it is — we need your feedback.”

First-time voter, Lauren Carney, pre-mass communication freshman, said she believed the candidates answered all of her questions but remains unsure who will get her vote.

“I wouldn’t say who won. I think that Covo and Thomas were more ready,” she said.

“They were more prepared so I wouldn’t say there would be one winner. They all had good points.

I thought Thomas and Covo stood out more than Brice to me. They just seemed more confident with their answers.”

Williams said the debate allowed insight into the candidates’ personality and speaking abilities.

“I feel as though Trenton Thomas was the most genuine, Brice Loving was the most ambitious and Chris Covo, I found him to be the most polished,” Williams said.

A funding question regard-

ing what candidates would do to secure new sources, left all the presidential candidates without a concise answer.

“We’re going to have to revamp our marketing,” said Loving.

“That really is going to give us the upper hand when it comes to getting us funding.”

Thomas said ASG should get input from students. He mentioned nothing of how to accomplish this and cited the Campus Master Plan as a solutions manual for allocating funds.

“Our main focus is to make better choices,” Trenton said. “Just making smarter choices, continuing with the master plan and continuing to strive to use our funds to serve students better.”

Covo provided a more detailed blueprint of how to save students money and mentioned working with legislators as key to securing more funds.

“The economic downturn is tough,” Covo said. “We’re not going to get a lot of tuition revenue bonds we wanted to build a lot of the buildings that we were hoping to start on next year. But we need Karen Wang/Star Photo to make sure we continue to work ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE: Students felt candidates dodged questions at The University Star presiwith legislators.” dential and vice presidential debate Wednesday night.

Obama ties hope for economic recovery to pass budget

By Margaret Talev and Steven Thomma McClatchy Newspapers WASHINGTON — Two months into his term, President Barack Obama went before the American people Tuesday evening to say that he’s enacted the broad plans needed to lift the country out of an economic crisis, and urged the adoption of his $3.55 trillion budget as another critical step toward recovery.

“We’ve put in place a comprehensive strategy designed to attack this crisis on all fronts,” he said in a White House prime-time news conference, the second of his presidency.

“It’s a strategy to create jobs, to help responsible homeowners, to restart lending and to grow our economy over the long-term. And we are beginning to see signs of progress.”

He cautioned, however, that more work remains to be done. He pressed for new powers to regulate financial institutions, such as insurance giant

American International Group, as well as for a budget blueprint that would dramatically expand the size, reach and cost of the federal government.

He urged Americans and the world to be patient, saying it would take time to restore the economy, not to mention addressing other intractable problems such as violence in the Middle East.

“I’m a big believer in persistence,” he said.

The economy dominated the discussion, and even as he suggested reasons for optimism, a shift of tone from him after weeks of dire warnings, Obama strived to tie hopes of recovery to his proposed budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.

“This budget is inseparable from this recovery because it is what lays the foundation for a secure and lasting prosperity,” he said, all but warning that Congress’s rejection of his budget would imperil the economy.

Obama recognized that he will not get all he wants, even from a Democratic Congress, and suggested a will-

ingness to bargain on proposals to cut middle-class taxes and a plan to curb the emissions that cause global warming.

“We never expected when we printed out our budget that they would simply Xerox it,” he said.

He said he’d insist on broad principles, including an expansion of health care, spending on education and energy, and a reduction in the deficit.

“The budget I submitted to Congress will build our economic recovery on a stronger foundation, so that we do not face another crisis like this 10 or 20 years from now,” he said.

However, he did not include in his must-do list his own middle-class tax cut or the plan to “cap and trade” greenhouse-gas emissions. He said he did get the tax cut into the temporary plan to stimulate the economy, so “we know that’s going to be in place for at least the next two years.” On the global warming proposal, he vaguely said “we’ve got to move toward a new energy future.”

His budget blueprint, which lawmakers will start taking up Wednesday morning, faces increasing skepticism, however.

New forecasts from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office show already-skyrocketing annual deficits climbing even higher than Obama had predicted just weeks ago, reaching $1.8 trillion, or 13.1 percent of the entire economy in the current fiscal year; and $1.4 trillion, or 9.6 percent of the gross domestic product next year.

Mindful of the complaints that his budgets foretell red ink as far as the eye can see, Obama insisted he’s being fiscally responsible. “We have made the tough choices necessary to cut our deficit in half by the end of my first term, even under the most pessimistic estimates,” he said.

His proposed expansion of the federal government would add trillions of dollars in debt, but Obama said he would lay the foundation for a stronger recovery and more sustainable growth

in the future.

“The best way to bring our deficit down in the long run is not with a budget that continues the very same policies that have led us to a narrow prosperity and massive debt,” he said.

“It’s with a budget that leads to broad economic growth by moving from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest.”

Yet the CBO projected Obama’s budget would double the national debt as a share of gross domestic product over 10 years.

“When the president says ‘save and invest,’ he must really mean ‘borrow and spend more,’ since in his first budget the president manages to amass more debt than the previous 43 presidents combined,” said Joe Pounder, a spokesman for Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va. And budget committees in Congress signaled Tuesday they will try to pare back some of Obama’s proposed spending increases. Said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.: “There will be change, there’s no question.”

4 - The University Star

News

Thursday, March 26, 2009

New local recycling program leaves behind material sorting

By Kosaku Narioka News Reporter The City of San Marcos is going to get its hands dirty so residents do not have to.

The city is about to implement a new recycling program allowing residential customers to put all their recyclable materials into one large cart. People will be able to put paper, aluminum, tin, rigid plastics and glass into a 96-gallon cart without sorting them.

Texas Disposal Systems, the city’s contractor for waste processing services, is replacing the old 18-gallon recycling bins with the new carts this week and next. Residents are asked to put old recycling bins at the curb on collection day.

“We have had recycling for residential customers in San Marcos for quite some time, and we use, at this point, a very small 18-gallon bin to put things in: newspapers, bottles and cans basically,” said Melissa Millecam, director of communication/intergovernmental relations. “The City of San Marcos is going to be expanding that to residential solid waste, starting in a couple of weeks.”

Millecam said they call the program “single stream” because people can put recyclable materials into one cart without them being sorted.

Rick Fraumann, director of sales and customer care of

Texas Disposal Systems, said the cart for recycling is the same size as the one for trash, but has a tan lid while the one for trash has a black lid. He said the label on top of the lid says what can and cannot be recycled.

Single stream recycling will start the week of April 6 and will occur every other week on the same day as the trash collection, according to the city’s Web site.

The San Marcos City Council approved a rate increase for residential solid waste and recyclable materials last November based on the proposal by TDS. The increase is from $13.98 to $15.75 per month effective upon the inception of single stream residential recycling program.

Millecam said the city started the recycling program in the mid ’90s and has had a contract with the Creedmoor waste processing services company.

She said thanks to the natural beauty of San Marcos, residents have a strong feeling for protecting the environment, and recycling is one important way to keep reusable materials out of the landfills.

A few residents spoke for the single stream program before the council last fall. However, no one spoke for or against the rate increase at the public hearing in October, according to the meeting minutes.

Steve Harvey, a San Marcos

resident, said the single stream program will dramatically increase the community participation in recycling and urged the council to bring the program to the city as soon as possible.

Dianne Wassenich, a San Marcos resident, said she has seen the price of recycling materials drop, and having a large company is the right thing to do so they will not have a situation where materials are discarded.

Fraumann said the value of materials, such as newspaper and aluminum, has significantly dropped since last fall.

The staff from the Texas Disposal Systems is visiting local organizations to introduce the new program to San Marcos residents, including Crockett Elementary School on Wednesday.

Fraumann said the company really wanted talk to elementary school children because they are the ones who are most excited about recycling.

“They are very knowledgeable about recycling, and they are very motivated,” he said.

The program will only be for residential customers, but Millecam said she anticipates future discussions about recycling programs for apartment and commercial customers with City Council.

“That’s another issue with another level of cost for the service, but I think there is a strong interest of expanding it even further in the future,” she said.

Star File Photo NEW CITY PROGRAM: The City of San Marcos is beginning Single Stream Recycling April 6.

Consortium provides standards for water use

By Theron Brittain Senior News Reporter Creating and protecting sustainable water resources is the goal of a new task force initiated by the River Systems Institute at Texas State.

The institute formally announced the creation of the Consortium for Watershed Excellence Tuesday at Texas Rivers Center in San Marcos.

The consortium will coordinate efforts by researchers to understand and address the effects of population growth and periodic water shortages on regional water supplies. The plan will be used by local water planning groups to construct and monitor efficient water use in their communities.

Joining Texas State are research institutes at Oklahoma State University and the University of Arkansas, as well as numerous water boards and authorities in the three states.

Andrew Sansom, executive director of River Systems Institute, hosted researchers and water experts from Texas and Oklahoma at the first official meeting of the consortium.

“We are going to have twice as many people in Texas in the next 20 years or so, and we have already over-appropriated many of our rivers,” said Sansom, research professor in the geography department.

More water has been promised to future communities than actually exist.

“We will not be able to provide sufficient supplies of clean, abundant water for that new population unless we get a handle on watershed function,” Sansom said.

Watersheds are geological features affecting the journey of water as it moves above and below the ground. Ignorance of the function can lead to over-tapped groundwater supplies, which results in drought and prohibitively expensive water.

Barney Austin, director of surface water resources of the Texas Water Development Board, said the old system of making a single water-use guide to apply statewide was ineffective. He said it changed in 1997 when the legislature turned the process “upside down.”

“Instead of the board engineers developing a plan for the state, the board was directed to help coordinate a process where the state was divided into regions,” Austin said.

“Each region has a water planning group composed of stakeholders covering everything from environmental concerns to industries and cities. Everyone who has a concern with water (would help) develop their own plan.”

The consortium is a step further in that direction.

One responsibility of the consortium is education, Sansom said. Everyone from kindergarten to the Governor’s Office is intended to benefit from knowledge compiled by the group.

Sansom said the public should be involved in understanding wise water use.

Miguel Flores, Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 director of the water quality protection division, said a broad cooperative program like the consortium was needed to provide standards of water use to all types of communities.

“There is a lot of interest at the local level to develop a water (study) group, but they do not have the resources,” Flores said. “That is where the universities (come in). Local water-study groups will be able to come to the universities and get help on developing good watershedbased plans.”

An initial grant of $72,599 from the EPA on Feb. 9 launched the consortium’s first project.

An application of the principles went to a portion of the Red River Basin above Lake Texoma.

The project will be extended to the entire basin if the initial efforts prove sustainable.

Sansom said the next step would be to organize residents and officials along the Red River into a group and to help formulate a plan for the region. The model could eventually be applied in other areas.

He said the Red River Basin was chosen because all three states involved in the project benefit from the Red River. Sansom said the project is essentially a trial run for the consortium.

“This will be the proving ground,” Sansom said.

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

The University Star - 5

COMMUNICATION FBS CONTINUED from page 1

He did not comment on how he plans to implement the program.

Thomas said he wants to hold grievance sessions similar to the way City Councilmember Chris Jones did when he was ASG vice president.

“Every administration has an open-door policy, but it’s not as personal as we would like.”

Thomas said. “I want you to come yell at me for what we’re doing wrong.”

Luna said his door will be open to students as well.

“We want students to be able to come in and have a Coke,” he said. “Transparency is the key.

This is about you more than us.”

Covo said he would like to see

increased communication with the administration.

“We want communication with Trauth to be on a day-today basis,” Covo said. “That communication barrier will be torn down.”

Covo said in response to a question about overcrowding in academic buildings that the student body is not aware of the Campus Master Plan, which details university construction plans through year 2015 — a result of poor communication, he said.

“The plan details everything, that’s why we have the construction on campus that we do — it will make our university look beautiful,” Covo said.

The candidates say they will continue to campaign and stand by their platforms.

ATTENDENCE CONTINUED from page 1

“The main criticism came from comparing our senate to last senate,” Luna said. “However, if you look to the depth, not so much the amount, of legislation that we have passed then you will see we have given this university several new advantages.”

Luna named legislation, such as the 24- hour library, veteran’s benefits, and Cat’s Camp, which he said will have a positive impact on the university.

“Whenever senators are inspired, they will write legislation.” Ray said. “It starts at the top and works its way down.

Tommy seems to inspire the people.”

Luna said he plans on being an effective leader by staying in contact with senators and keeping open communication. Luna said he is hoping to find sena-

tors’ strengths and use them to ASG’s advantage.

“For example, I will team up all the senators that are interested in legislation about parking,” Luna said. “They then can collaboratively write that piece of meaningful legislation together.”

Luna said keeping the senate linked to the student body is key to running an effective legislative branch.

“This is about you more than us,” Luna said. “With the student body, there’s nothing we can’t do.”

Moldenhauer said creating legislation is about having an ASG and student body relationship.

“ASG reaches out to the students, students inform ASG and then ASG writes legislation for the students,” Moldenhauer said. “Tommy is a very infectious person. He will be able to motivate the student body.”

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benchmark the university must meet to reach FBS status. Texas State struggled to fill stands during the 2008 football season, spurring a collaborative effort between the university and San Marcos to revamp the tailgating experience, which is widely regarded as a key factor in packing stadiums.

The university sponsored meetings in January and February where school officials, students and community members brainstormed tailgating improvements.

A steering committee compiled suggestions Feb. 9, including longer alcohol consumption periods, better produced entertainment

events and a shuttle system to ease parking congestion. Some of the improvements, particularly the shuttle system, could be implemented as early as next fall.

All of the candidates agreed ASG could play a crucial role in achieving the benchmark.

Thomas mentioned his service on the Athletic Advisory Council, composed of campus administrators, saying he gained experience working with different organizations to promote Texas State athletics. He proposes marketing the university’s image beyond San Marcos and expanding the Bobcat fan base to include residents of nearby Buda and Kyle, among other communities.

DIVERSITY CONTINUED from page 1

to work with students and the administration. He said reaching out to gender-variant students and becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution is important to the expansion of those ideals.

“Our campaign is ‘Bobcats

are Bobcats,’” Covo said. “I want to make sure every single Bobcat feels like they are welcome when they set foot on campus.”

Covo talked about “tearing down barriers” and making Bobcats understand who they are.

Tommy Luna, vice presidential candidate, spoke before the de-

“When I say I want to change Hays County to Bobcat County, I’m not just joking around,” Thomas said. “Our responsibility is to be the main connection between the students, the school and the community. My administration is going to go out and work with the athletic marketing department to market to these towns. We cannot fill the stands with just students.”

Loving agreed the university should have a regional approach to encouraging game attendance.

Covo said he would establish a new position to facilitate dialogue between organizations involved in the drive, and he wants to expand the current reward program, which recognizes game attendance.

“I want to create an athletic coordinating liaison,” Covo said.

“Their job is to be a main line of communication between ASG and the athletic department and to find out exactly what it is, from their mouths, they need from us.”

Luna, Covo’s running mate, said inspiring students to the point of attending games has to start early.

“We expect athletes to play their hardest for us, and yet we are not even there for the entire game,” Luna said. “We can implement expectations of what it means to be a Bobcat at Cats Camp and Paws Preview and explicitly explain those expectations.”

bate and said “working collaboratively” will be most important to bring everyone together.

“In the senate we have one person from each different organization across campus,” Luna said. “That is an absolute key in ensuring that we bring this campus back together.”

Thomas said the current and

past ASG administrations have had an “open door policy,” but that it is not welcoming enough.

He said the first step in changing policies and minds on campus will depend on student involvement.

“We need to service students, but a group of 60 people can not speak for 30,000,” Thomas said.

OPINIONS 6 - The University Star

onlineconnection Check out www.UniversityStar.com in the following weeks for continued News, Sports, Trends and Opinions coverage.

BOGUS

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Opinions Contact — Krista Almazan, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT he American people found a perfect target for their ire and rage more than one week ago due to the bailout and recession.

T

AIG paid its employees millions of dollars in bonuses, which some claimed was unavoidable because of contracts. Now, after what can only be described as a public relations representative’s sweat-soaked nightmare, the AIG employees have given much of it back.

Few would argue giving the money back did much repair work for the insurer’s image. The AIG name is tarnished forever.

However, after all the sound and fury about the bonuses, it is becoming apparent the AIG debacle has served as a sort of red herring.

There is far more at stake than $165 million padding some executives’ pockets.

The Obama administration believes two things will help get the American people out of this mess.

One is giving the banks nearly unlimited funds, which came in the form of the now infamous bailout. The second, the presidential administration argues, is a massive stimulus package, which had trouble getting past Republican opposition in Congress.

According to the March 12 issue of The University Star, Hays and neighboring counties will receive money trickling down from the stimulus. How the commissioners will spend the money is yet to be decided, but hopefully as much of the funds as possible will go toward improving the roads and infrastructure of the county.

The stimulus is good news for Hays County, but all the issues discussed above tie into one thread: government spending.

Tightening the coffers and letting federal dollars dry up seems pointless now. Too little, too late. Economists now say spending is the only way to get out of this economic quagmire.

However, even if the economy starts growing again, wasteful government spending will put the economy back on track for more financial troubles.

The allegory of prescribing superfluous spending to the government has been used akin to prescribing heroin to a junkie. It does not totally hold up, economists say in down turns more stimulation is needed.

However, once the economy becomes healthy again, the excessive waste will turn back to toxin.

The AIG executives benefited from excessive government spending, and it damaged the American people.

Everyone from Hays County Commissioners up to President Obama: spend the stimulus money. No matter how people felt about it passing, it is passed now and we need to give it a try. However, when the economy starts growing again every elected official who used the money should remember why it was necessary in the first place.

Healthy homosexuals should donate blood too

BONUSES

AMMIE JIMENEZ

Star Columnist

The Bloodmobile will be stationed in The Quad throughout the semester awaiting good citizens who are willing to donate blood. It is a worthy cause and something everyone should consider participating in. Unfortunately, simply wanting to donate blood might not be enough for some people.

Shocking as it might be, especially in this day and age, perfectly healthy and willing individuals are banned from donating blood because of their sexual orientation.

Men who admit to having had sexual relations with the same sex are placed under a lifelong ban by the Food and Drug Administration and are not allowed to donate blood.

This may sound crazy, but it is true. The ban was placed during the 1980s, when very little was known about HIV, to protect the recipients of the donated blood. The rule was established out of ignorance of the virus and an intention of protection. But times have changed. The continuation of this ban is not only unfair, but foolhardy.

More importantly, this ban does not help the real problem of blood shortages. It seems ironic to ask for blood donations out of high demand and to ban people with no health problems from donating. There is a page about the Texas State Blood Drive on the university’s Web site. The writing clearly entails the massive amounts of blood needed to stock the Blood Center.

According to the Web site, the Center needs to collect more than 55,000 blood donations each year to have blood products available for 150,000 area patients. Knowing this, how is it possible the antiquated ban is still in place? It’s ridiculous and foolish to allow such a rule to keep out willing donors from providing lifesaving blood.

The issue goes beyond personal beliefs about homosexuals. The problem of denying these men the ability to donate lowers the chances of those who may someday be fighting to survive. According to an article published on the News 8 Austin Web site Tuesday, it is explained how urgent the demand for blood has become in Central Texas.

According to the News 8 Austin Web site, there are currently about 92 units of blood on the shelves at the Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas. The Web site also explains that to operate efficiently and effectively, the center needs another 400 to 500 donations. The problem is serious and has to be dealt with immediately. The only way for our blood and tissue centers to stay stocked with enough supplies is to ensure everyone who is willing and in good health is allowed to donate. Sexual orientation should not determine eligibilKate Sciscoe/Star Illustration ity to help someone in need.

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 University-San Marcos.

Focusing troubles should not be fixed with harmful prescriptions

GARRETT MCSPADDEN

Star Columnist

Albert Einstein had problems in school.

He had a strange way of learning and most of his teachers labeled him mentally impaired.

However, he continued to introduce some of the most profound physical and mathematical breakthroughs in the history of

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science. Einstein was no dummy, and it was not his or his teacher’s fault that he did not adhere well to the mandated curriculum in grade school. He was simply operating at a different level.

Einstein, despite his genius, was probably not the only one to harbor this affliction.

“Hyperactivity, impulsiveness and an inability to maintain focus” are some of the most predominant symptoms of ADD, according to www.About.com. Another Web site, www.ADD.org, claims “5 to10 percent of children and 3 to 6 percent of adults” are affected by ADD or ADHD and represent a rational and legitimate

psychological disorder.

It seems as if someone only needs to tell a doctor about focusing troubles, and they will likely score a prescription for Adderall, which is essentially speed.

The mother character from the film Requiem for a Dream is prescribed diet pills for a TV game show appearance. She abuses the drug and eventually enters a state of psychosis, which is a genuine side effect observed in amphetamines.

Obetrol, the most prevalent diet pill since the 1960s, has similar ingredients to Adderall.

The “miracle” diet pill was a

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synthesis of two amphetamine salts that increase the heart rate, which boosts alertness and dramatically decreases appetite.

The drugs in Obetrol have been marketed under aliases like Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Metadate, Focaline and the new Strattera in 2002, according to www.

ADDhelp.com. The name changes, but the drug does not. Perhaps the reason is the medical community who pushes Adderall use as a cash cow to exploit a very natural trait in humans.

Laurie Fluker, associate professor in the School of

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Journalism, said in my Introduction to Mass Communications class last year that the average human receives at least 5,000 advertising messages per day. It is no wonder we may find it hard to concentrate. It seems we are prey to the manipulations of pharmaceutical companies’ attempts to sell a drug, and this one is no hard sell. It makes people feel good and helps get that ‘A’ in organic chemistry.

Realistically, even if ADD is a real affliction, it only affects 3 to 6 percent of adults.

The rest of us are just having trouble concentrating on

schoolwork that gives us no motivation to be interested.

I wonder what would have happened if Einstein would have taken Adderall. He might have paid more attention in school and, distracted by the little buzz, ignored what he really wanted to focus on. He might not have introduced the theory of relativity. It is food for thought.

We should not let pharmaceutical companies trick us into poisoning our bodies so they can make a quick buck.

Garret McSpadden is a pregeography sophomore.

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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 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a distribution of 8,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

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Copyright Tuesday, March 24, 2009. 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.

Trends the university star

timewarped

The line-up for the 2009 Vans Warped Tour was announced yesterday and old school punk fans will rejoice. Bad Religion, NOFX, Flogging Molly and Less Than Jake have all been confirmed to perform at the summer-long tour along with Underoath, Thrice, 3OH!3, Black Tide, Bayside, Flipper and Shooter Jennings. The tour will open in Pomona, Calif. on June 26 and run through Aug. 23 when it will come to a halt in Carson, Calif. Pre-sale tickets will be available for $25 beginning on April 1 and general tickets will be available April 18.

7 - Thursday, March 26, 2009

Trends Contact — Brett Thorne, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Native American Awareness Conference shares culture

By Erica Rodriguez Features Reporter Ray Duncan was raised as a self-described “walker of two worlds”—one of American culture and the other American Indian .

Now, he hopes to pass on the story and a legacy, dispel myths and empower a new generation.

The third annual Native American Cultural Awareness Conference was Wednesday. It was a collaboration of the Native American Student Association, Four Winds Intertribal Society Inc. and university sponsors.

“We’re helping young people reconnect with something inside of them that they don’t even know is there sometimes,” Duncan said.

“I saw an opportunity for the university to reignite or rekindle an interest in our culture and our heritage and our traditions.”

Duncan, a full-blood Cherokee, has been involved with the association since the organization began three years ago. He has helped students create a space to inform and unite.

“This is an opportunity to provide interactive education to those interested in learning about cultural differences,” said Shelby Steward, anthropology senior and president of the student asso-

ciation. “Our purpose for putting this event on is to support our Native American community.”

The conference featured a line-up of speakers from around the country and comprised a varied fabric of American Indian cultures. Workshops on Latin American Indians, spirituality and leadership highlighted the event that brought more than 100 participants. Vendors selling herbal teas to hand-carved wooden flutes lined the LBJ Ballroom.

The sound of traditional Indian instruments and drums played by Texas State alumnus Adam Pyle created the lunchtime ambience.

But Duncan will tell listeners this is a portion of what it means to be native.

“The crazy part about Texas is that if you ask someone, they will tell you that there are no Indians in Texas,” Duncan said. “We’re still here, but you don’t recognize us, because you see us everyday.

We’re dressed just like you are; we’re doctors, we’re lawyers, we’re civil servants, we’re soldiers. We’re here, but don’t walk around with the traditional feathers in our hair wearing leather and saying ‘how.’”

There is no picture-perfect idea of what a native looks like, and Grandmother Emma Ortega

believes there shouldn’t be.

“We have titles for everything,” Ortega said. “We’re Mexican, we’re Hispanics, we’re Indios, we’re native, we’re this and we’re that — we’re humans. We are the human race.”

The year holds a special meaning for Duncan. His wife died in January, after living with cancer for two years. This was his first year back to the conference, and the first year a memorial scholarship was dedicated in her name.

The Patricia Maxwell Duncan Memorial Native American Scholarship, formerly a Four Winds scholarship, honored Duncan’s life. Before her death, Patricia and Ray Duncan created a nonprofit group to promote the traditions and heritage of the native peoples in South Texas.

“That was her dream, it was to educate the youth,” Duncan said.

“She was very intelligent, she was very well-spoken.”

The conference focused on American Indian culture, but Ortega believes everyone can benefit from learning more about their own history.

“Let me find out more about my own culture and how beautiful and colorful it is,” Ortega said.

“Let me not just exist.”

Alyssa Scavetta/Star photo EXPERIENCING HISTORY: Texas State hosted the third annual Native American Cultural Awareness Conference, which shared its heritage with students Wednesday in the LBJ Ballroom.

Star file photo BENEFIT RIDE: The second annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour will be taking place at 9 a.m. on March 28.

Fundraising bicycle tour features historic sites

By Ashley Dickinson Features Reporter The LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour will be rolling into Texas for the second year in a row.

The tour will feature optional routes of 10, 32, 45 and 62 miles throughout the scenic roads of the Texas Hill Country.

Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, will lead the 10-mile tour of historical sites at the LBJ Ranch. The tour will begin at 11 a.m. and includes LBJ’s Texas White House, cattle barn, school, homestead and the Johnson family cemetery, where the president and his wife, “Lady Bird,” are buried.

“Luci (Johnson) is a wonderful cyclist and speaker,” said Luci Pedraza, co-chair for the bicycle tour. “I’ve done a tour with her, but not this particular one.”

Pedraza said the 2008 fundraiser was successful enough to repeat the event.

“Everyone loved it last year, so we thought, ‘Why rock the boat?’

The added thing is the 10-mile ride, and that’s within the ranch,” Pedraza said.

All routes are going to begin at the active LBJ airstrip near the parking area. Three rest stops are included on the tour to provide Gatorade, water, first aid, sandwiches and fruit. Riders will also receive a T-shirt, map and bandana. Participants are required to bring an Ansi, Snell or ASTM certified bicycle helmet.

Registration is available until the day of the event and costs $40. All profits will be donated to the LBJ National Historical Park. George Culp, treasurer of the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park, said in an e-mail that funds from 2008 went toward hosting the free LBJ Ranch “Movies Under the Stars” series, adding ultraviolet filtering screens to windows in the Texas White House and re-landscaping the garden to appear as it was in the ’60s, Bicycle enthusiasts can utilize the event to prepare for longer tours. The LBJ ride is on the training-ride list for the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure, a two-day cycling event in the Texas Hill Country.

Pedraza said the LBJ tour will continue rain or shine, and expected attendance is much greater

than in 2008.

“We’re probably going to have about 900 people,” Pedraza said. “Right now, we have close to 600, and we’re expecting the day of (the tour) many people will sign up. Last year, we had 430 sign up on the last two days, and we have many repeats. We’re ecstatic.”

Pedraza said planning the tour has been a rewarding experience.

“The cyclists are just so enthusiastic about the history here in the pretty country,” Pedraza said.

“They’ve been wonderful. I’m pretty sure we are going to continue it (next year). It’s taken off so well.”

According to the National Park Service Web site, the LBJ National Historical Park is a full partner in the research of natural environment and cultural heritage in the Texas Hill Country.

Precipitation and meteorological data collection is an on-going process at the park, and the ranch sponsors a Remote Automated Weather Station for the Texas Forest Service.

The event will be at 9 a.m.

March 28th at the LBJ National Historical Park in Johnson City.

Trends

8 - The University Star

Entertainment Calendar Thursday Gordee Tentrees, Mark Jungers, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall The Standouts, 10 p.m., Gray Horse Saloon Eric Hisaw, 6 p.m., The Couch, The Murdocks, Falcon Buddies, 9 p.m., Triple Crown Jenny and the Corn Ponies, 8 p.m., Riley’s Tavern Emory Quinn, 9 p.m., Cheatham Street Friday Leon Russell, 8 p.m., Gruene Hall Fatcracker, 10 p.m., Gray Horse Saloon Rabb Rodriguez y los Killa’ Hogs, 6 p.m., Winter Dance Party, The Organics, 10 p.m., Triple Crown Andrea Marie & The Magnolia Band, 8 p.m., Riley’s Tavern Brandon Jenkins, 9 p.m., Cheatham Street Saturday Gary Claxton, Erik Hokkanen & Friends, 1 p.m., Casey Donahew Band, 9 p.m., Gruene Hall Glen Collins, 10 p.m., Gray Horse Saloon The Beaumonts, Turbo 350, 10 p.m., Triple Crown Dale Watson, 8 p.m., Riley’s Tavern Paula Nelson, 9 p.m., Cheatham Street Sunday

Chip Dolan, Marvin Dykhuis, 12 p.m., Bugs Henderson, 3 p.m., Gruene Hall Jazzie-Okie, 9:30 p.m., Gray Horse Saloon Joel Hoffmann Band, 6 p.m., Triple Crown Open Mic with Glenn Allan, 8 p.m., Riley’s Tavern Monday Bret Graham, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall Matt Begley, Friends Song Swap, 9 p.m., Gray Horse Saloon Everydays a Hollyday, 6 p.m., Earle Brown, Firewater Serman, 9 p.m., Triple Crown Free Pool & Jukebox, 8 p.m., Riley’s Tavern Battle of the Bands, 9 p.m., Cheatham Street Tuesday Kelley Mickwee, Andrew Hardin, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall Open Mic with Robotic Robbie, 9:30 p.m., Gray Horse Saloon Forest Wayne Allan, 8 p.m., Riley’s Tavern Midnight River Choir and Jordan Minor, 9 p.m. Cheatham Street Wednesday Texas Renegade, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall Kent Musick Band, 10 p.m., Gray Horse Saloon Kent Finlay’s Songwriters Circle, 9 p.m., Cheatham Street

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Open space in Sewell Park is backyard for students

By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter Whether you are looking to feed that competitive hunger, get a tan or just waste some time, there is an array of outdoor sports that are entertaining, inexpensive and easily accessible to students in San Marcos.

Students may lack the ability to compete in collegiate sports, but with a little creativity and practice, these outdoor activities can make the average Joe feel like Joe Montana in their own backyard.

There are always classic sports such as horseshoes and washers, but sometimes the same old sport can get boring.

Alternative games such as corn hole and ladder golf can substitute for the other games.

Corn hole is a game similar to washers except bean bags are used. The same catcher is used as in washers, but the bags are placed further apart for intensified competition.

Ladder golf involves two golf balls hot-glued to the ends of a two-foot rope. The balls and rope are then tossed underhand towards a rectangular PVC pipe stand with three rows. The object of the game is to try to get the rope wrapped around one of the rows. The top row is worth three points, the middle is worth two and the bottom row is worth one. The game is usually played in pairs and first one to 21 wins.

College students likely do not have a backyard of their own to partake in such sports but San Marcos flourishes with open space, making it a prime area for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Sewell Park is provides space for these sports. On one side of the river, the grassland slants on a hill and is usually a premiere spot for relaxing or studying. On the opposite side, the land is flat and is usually used for strenuous outdoor activities such as Frisbee, hacky sack or playing catch with a football.

However, if you don’t own a Frisbee, Dan Barry, San Marcos resident better known as “Frisbee Dan,” is here to help. “$25 and I’ll sell you a Frisbee. I design them myself,” said Barry, holding up a large Frisbee with a display of colors portrayed on it. “It’s the best Frisbee you can buy around here.”

Sewell Park also has concrete to ride a longboard or skateboard around. The park includes a concrete bridge crossing over the San Marcos River.

Marshall Holmes, applied sociology sophomore, said he enjoys riding his longboard at Sewell Park.

“There is a lot of smooth cement here,” Holmes said. “I especially like the big circle (by the basketball hoop) because it’s perfect for sliding.

It’s a cool atmosphere here at Sewell. Mixing it up with longboarding it makes it optimum.”

Courtesy of Stockxchange.com FLYING FRISBEE: Frisbees can offer hours of entertainment without having to spend a fortune.

TRENDS

Thursday, March 26, 2009

The University Star - 9

Local makes national news with different ‘canvas’ surface

By Mayra Mejia Features Reporter Scott Wade sees a dirty car window as an art canvas.

In his art, the cars need to be covered with a dust like dirt.

Living on a dirt road for more than 20 years inspired him to start doing this type of art.

He draws on dust-covered rear windows, but did not start improving the art until the summer of 2003.

“I lived on a dirt road. (As kids), we always had dirty cars and would go out to play,” Wade said.

Wade said his paintings are a quick, easy way to have fun. He started by using his fingers to do his drawings and now uses paintbrushes. He first started doing cartoon drawings and now continues to do drawings that gather people’s attention.

“My father was a great amateur cartoonist and I must have picked that up from him, because mostly I would draw funny faces,” Wade said.

Having inspiration is not a problem for any of his drawings.

“I’m constantly inspired. All

kinds of things inspire me,” Wade said. “Nature inspires me. People’s space inspires me.”

Robin Wood, Wade’s wife and publicist for the San Marcos Public Library, said people like Wade’s art because no one expects it to be good.

“No one expects a quality piece from dust,” Wood said.

Wood said she thinks the artwork is wonderful. She also looks forward to the driving once a drawing is done on her car. Usually the driving is to a grocery store and to the parking lot of the library, which, understandably, causes people to approach.

“If a person is driving right beside me, they will jump out of their car and take a picture with their cell phone camera,” Wood said.

The dust on the car is important to Wade’s paintings. It has to have the right amount of dust on it.

“I prefer to work on a (dirty car) to where you can’t really see through (the windows) easily,” Wade said.

Wood said her husband’s artwork is not a career at this

Photo courtesy of Scott Wade DIFFERENT STROKES: Scott Wade draws images on the windows of dirty cars, and has been featured on shows such as CBS’s “The Early Show.”

point. Wade works as a graphical user interface designer when he’s not changing people’s perceptions of art. Wood is involved in her husband’s artwork every step of the way.

“I go to appearances with him. I am a basic assistant (to him),” Wood said.

His hobby is bringing him lots of attention from people and the media. Wade has been

San Marcos nightlife offers night of “Square dancing”

By Crystal Davis Trends Columnist For my 24th birthday, I was telling a friend about all the different local bars I wanted to go to and what my plans were. She smiled and said, “You’re going Square

dancing.”

I had never heard the phrase in that context before, but it seemed an appropriate label for a night full of bar hopping on The Square.

The Square is a beating heart that keeps the blood flowing for San Marcos’ nightlife. Each venue establishes a unique feel to keep citizens and visitors entertained.

So what is so special about these places that keep people amused and make them want return?

In my opinion, there are three qualities that make or break clubs: environment, service and prices.

Each bar has something different to offer its patrons, but these are the three attributes most appealing to repeat customers.

The Showdown, for example, has a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The thing that confuses me the most about the place is that any concoction made with juices has a weird tax, which always results in an odd total like $4.89. Despite strange pricing, The Showdown is one of the oldest bars in San Marcos and is a long running favorite with local people.

Another place with a comfy environment plus a tasty menu is Tap Room. In my eyes, Tap Room is the equivalent of Cheers in San Marcos. Even though everybody might not know your name, they will still ask with a smile and friendly hand shake. Tap Room

also has the largest selection of drink choices in town. Who could ask for more than a smile, selection and good food?

If one was to keep migrating on The Square, they might find J’s Bistro next. The Bistro may have the highest drink prices in town, but provides entertainment five days a week. J’s is usually pretty busy on the weekends and it gets hard to maneuver through the crowds, so my suggestion would be to arrive early and snag a table.

Every venue has its ups and downs, the good side and the bad side, but we are lucky to have different options for nighttime entertainment. It gives a whole new meaning to Square dancing.

featured on CBS’ “The Early Show” and in the past, has been hired to do drawings for companies. Wade is also a musician and is currently designing a play for a theater in

Wimberley.

Visit to www.dirtycarart.com for more information about Wade and to see pictures of his dirty car art.

Diversions

10 - The University Star

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Solutions for 3/25

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SPORTS

Thursday, March 26, 2009

The University Star - 11

Softball sisters play together as Bobcats Gonzaga senior competes in last Sweet 16 tournament

By Terry Bannon Chicago Tribune

Austin Byrd/Star feature photo DOUBLE TROUBLE: Sisters Taylor, senior outfielder, and Chandler Hall, freshman pitcher, pose a threat on the mound and in the batter’s box.

By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter The Texas State women’s softball team sits atop the Southland Conference with a 14-4 record in conference games, 22-11 overall. The result could be credited to the sibling duo of Taylor Hall, senior outfielder, and Chandler Hall, freshman pitcher.

“I’ve never had sisters on the same team before,” said Coach Ricci Woodard. “It’s working out great considering they are both playing well.”

The Hall sisters have never played on the same team together.

“I graduated high school when she was in eighth grade,” said Taylor Hall, exercise and sports science senior. “And, because I didn’t play my freshman year, we are able to play together this year.”

Chandler said Taylor assisted her both on and off the field.

“It’s been great. She’s been helping me out a lot,” said Chandler Hall, pre-fashion merchandis-

ing freshman. “But mainly with my homework.”

Taylor Hall may be the older, more experienced player than Chandler, but do not be fooled

by Chandler’s youth.

“She is a competitor, so anytime you get a competitor in both those spots (pitching and hitting) it’s a good thing,” Woodard said. “Anytime the ball is in her hand, we know we’ve got a chance to win the game because she wants to win as bad as anybody out there.”

Chandler Hall has a batting average of .298 with two home runs, 25 hits and 15 RBIs, but carries the most success on the mound as starting pitcher.

Chandler Hall, as a pitcher, has made 20 appearances, 19 starts with a 14-5 record and an ERA average of 1.14 — She leads the team in all those categories.

“I like pitching and hitting about the same,” Chandler Hall said. “It wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t doing both. I feel like I help myself in both areas. I learn stuff about hitting from pitching and I learn stuff about pitching from hitting.”

The end is in sight for Jeremy Pargo.

His four-year odyssey to the west coast is winding down with a second trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, one he hopes ends differently than the 2006 trip.

Like with a national championship, or at least Gonzaga’s first Final Four berth in its 11th straight NCAA tournament appearance.

“Personally, we want to leave a mark as one of the best Gonzaga teams ever,” Pargo said. “And we have an opportunity to do that in this tournament.”

Gonzaga, 28-5 and seeded fourth in the South regional, will meet top seed North Carolina on Friday night in Memphis for a berth in Sunday’s regional final against Syracuse or Oklahoma.

Pargo, a 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound point guard from Chicago’s Robeson High, has already left his mark in the record books of the Jesuit College in Spokane, Wash. He was the West Coast Conference’s player of the year as a junior, and he threw his name in the NBA draft.

Pargo backed out when he saw his offensive game was not quite ready and it was not time for him to follow in the sneakers of big brother Jannero, who played for the Bulls from 2003 to 2006 and is now playing in Greece.

It was back to Spokane for this third year as a starter. He is fourth on the team in scoring with 10.1 points per game, down from 12.1 as a junior. He adds 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.6 rebounds for the Zags.

“It hasn’t been perfect, not exactly the way he’s scripted it, but here he is,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said of Pargo’s senior year. “The No. 1 statistic for a point guard in any program is winning games and winning championships and getting your team in the NCAA Tournament. And probably right now he’s playing as good as he’s played all year.”

Few said it would include Pargo’s MVP performance at the Old Spice Classic in November in Orlando, which Gonzaga won by beating Oklahoma State, Maryland and Tennessee, all of which made the NCAA tournament.

Pargo scored 18 points Saturday as the Zags eliminated No. 12 Western Kentucky, 83-81, on freshman Demetri Goodson’s running bank shot with ninetenths of a second left. Pargo had nine points in the Zags’ first-round win over

Akron and has made 11 of 16 shots from the floor in the NCAA tournament.

Gonzaga would have played Illinois if Western Kentucky did not upset the team, depriving Pargo a chance to rub shoulders with some of his friends in the Big Ten. Pargo said Illinois and Purdue expressed some interesting aspects during recruiting. He met with Purdue’s Matt Painter, then a Boilermaker assistant and now their head coach. But there was no scholarship offer.

“Then they must have seen my transcripts,” Pargo said with a smile.

Pargo can make light of his old academic issues because, he said, he’s on track to graduate this spring with a degree in sports management and minor in communications.

“Which is unbelievable,” Pargo said.

“It’s a great situation at Gonzaga in terms of academics. They set you up with a great deal of tutoring. You can’t play ball and not do your work.

If you let the opportunity to be a college graduate pass you by, it’s kind of a joke.”

Coach Few will miss Pargo’s outgoing personality.

“He’s as charismatic and engaging a personality as you’ll probably ever coach,” Few said.

He lacks big offensive numbers, but Pargo believes he can follow his brother to the NBA. “In college, you can’t be successful always looking at the next level, but I’d be lying if I said I never looked at it,” he said. “It’s one of the things I try to block out.”

First comes dealing with North Carolina. Three years ago, Pargo was a freshman averaging 2.7 points off the bench. Now, he’s a 23-year-old senior watching freshmen like Goodson carry on a tradition at Gonzaga, which has seen overall enrollment grow from 4,507 in 1999, when the NCAA tournament streak started, to 7,319 this year.

“It means a lot for these guys that have years left under their belts to play,” Pargo said after the Western Kentucky game. “For them to come out and play just as hard as us seniors, they really want this bad.

“You can see it in their eyes how much they want to win and advance and get a program and opportunity to do something never done before. It’s a tremendous thing to see in everyone’s eyes.”

SportS the univerSity Star

tracktops

The men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the Dr. Pepper Invitational March 21 in Waco. Liat Anav, marketing senior, won the 400-meter hurdles event with a time of 1:02.60 and Clay Holland, exercise and sports science senior, won the 100-hurdles with a time of 14:57. Kemuel Morales, health and wellness promotion senior, won the shot put event with a 17.52-meter mark, setting an NCAA regional record. The teams will compete at the University of Texas Invitational Saturday in Austin.

12 - Thursday, March 26, 2009

Sports Contact — Lisa Carter, starsports@txstate.edu

Baseball continues winning streak Men’s golf wins

By Joseph O. Garcia Sports Reporter

The Texas State baseball team came into Wednesday’s game against Texas Tech coming off of a record night at the plate.

The Bobcats started where they left off against Prairie View A&M by scoring five runs in the first inning en route to a 10-4 victory.

Keith Prestridge, junior outfield-

er, hit an RBI single through the right side of the field to score Bret Atwood, sophomore outfielder. Ben Theriot, junior catcher followed up with a sacrifice fly to score Paul Goldschmidt, senior first baseman.

The big hit of the inning came from Kyle Kubitza, freshman infielder. With two men on and two outs, he crushed his first home run of the season over the right field wall to give the Bobcats a 5-0 lead

heading into the second.

“It felt pretty good off the bat,” Kubitza said. “We definitely have a power lineup. Everyone on our team can really hit.”

“Kubitza’s home run in the wind may be one of the farthest balls I’ve seen hit,” said Coach Ty Harrington.

Matt Steiner, freshman pitcher, made his third appearance for the Bobcats. He started the game by throwing three and two-thirds

Austin Byrd/Star photo LEADING OFF: Bret Atwood, sophomore outfielder, steals second in the bottom of the first inning against Big 12 opponent Texas Tech Wednesday at Bobcat Field.

scoreless innings while striking out two batters.

Steiner gave up his first run and hit to the Red Raiders in the fourth inning. Taylor Ashby, junior outfielder, hit an RBI single to center centerfield to make the score 5-1.

The Bobcats added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Goldschmidt batted in Jason Martinson, sophomore infielder. Prestridge batted in Atwood on a towering sacrifice fly to right centerfield to give the Bobcats a 7-1 advantage.

Steiner was relieved by Tyler Brundridge, senior pitcher, in the top of the sixth inning. The freshman gave up one run on four hits while striking out three Red Raiders.

“Matt Steiner set the tone,” Harrington said. “You got a freshman making his second start in a big game for us. It was a big moment for him. He needed to grow. I thought he was fantastic.”

Each team added another run to their totals. Kubitza scored for the Bobcats on an error in the fifth inning. The Red Raiders scored on a RBI single by Justin Berry, Texas Tech infielder, in the sixth to make it a 8-2 game.

Texas State added runs in the sixth and seventh innings to bring its total to 10. Texas Tech put its final two runs on the board in the eighth inning. Ashby crossed the plate again for one of the two runs.

Michael Russo, junior pitcher, came on in the ninth inning to end any Red Raider comeback. He earned his first victory of the season.

Harrington said he was very pleased with his team’s performance.

“Obviously it was a big win for us against a Big 12 team. I was very proud of our efforts again defensively and I think we’re continuing to grow,” Har Harrington said.

Texas State will host Stephen F. Austin for a three-game series March 27 to March 29.

Softball loses to Texas-El Paso Miners

By Blake Barington Sports Reporter The Texas State softball team took a break from conference play Wednesday to face the Texas-El Paso Miners in the Bobcats’ fourth consecutive home game.

UTEP scored two runs off a third inning homer to defeat Texas State 2-0.

UTEP went three up, three down in the first inning having two fly outs and a strikeout with Ryan Kos, senior sec second baseman, catching the ball in the outfield for the first out.

Chandler Hall, freshman pitcher, struck out Stacie Townsend, UTEP pitcher, swinging to record the third out of the first inning.

Neither team put runners on bases in the first two innings until Diana Parada, UTEP shortstop, reached first after receiving ball four from Hall.

The next UTEP batter sent the ball out of the park for a two-run homer to put the Miners up 2-0 in the third inning.

“After the home run, I still stayed in the zone and just kept pitching my game,” Hall said.

Kristina Tello, junior centerfielder, was the first Bobcat to get on base in the bottom of the third inning, reaching first base off a bunt.

Alex Newton, senior shortstop, also put down a bunt following Tello, but was called out because the ball hit her.

UTEP led at the end of the third inning 2-0.

Townsend reached first base from a hit to left field in the top of the fourth

inning followed by Shea Lodes, UTEP to pull ahead of the Miners. Emery son while UTEP improved to 16-16 catcher, who hit the ball past Kos to reached first base off a walk to start overall. reach first. However, the Miners were the Bobcats off in the seventh inning.

Texas State will play New Mexico unable to put more points on the Kos and Snow both struck out. Hall 7 p.m. Friday in Albuquerque, N.M. board. was called out and ended the game.

The Lobos are currently 9-20 on the Texas State finished the inning Hall had seven strikeouts and gave season. quickly in the bottom of the fourth up four hits and two walks. Newton, “I think we just need to make an adwith Townsend striking out McKenzie Emery and Tello each recorded one hit justment at the plate. That pitcher was Baack, sophomore utility, and Leah for the Bobcats. pretty good. We need to start getting Boatright, junior first baseman. Hall Texas State fell to 22-12 on the sea sea- hits and making it happen,” Hall said. popped up to shortstop.

Hall recorded her sixth strikeout of the game in the fifth inning with UTEP going three up, three down.

Jenna Emery, sophomore utlility, got her first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth with Shekia Knight, freshman outfielder, coming in to pinch run.

Kos advanced Knight to second base with a sacrifice bunt while Hall sent the ball to deep right field, advancing Knight to third.

Allyce Rother, sophomore outfielder, struck out on a full count pitch to end the inning with the score still 2-0 in favor of the Miners.

Newton sent the ball to left field to record the third hit for the Bobcats in the bottom of the sixth inning. Newton stole second base during a pitch to Baack.

Baack reached first base after receiv receiving ball four to put runners on first and second for the Bobcats. Allison Snow, freshman first baseman, pinch hit for Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo Boatright and left two runners on base SHUT OUT: Allyce Rother, sophomore outfielder, strikes out in the bottom after striking out to end the sixth inof the fourth inning against UTEP Wednesday at Bobcat Field. ning.

The Bobcats had one more chance

team, individual honors in tournament

By Javier González Sports Reporter

The men owned the plantation.

The Texas State men’s golf team traveled to Springfield, La. to participate in the Carter Plantation Inter Intercollegiate on the par-72, 7,104-yard course Monday and Tuesday. The Bobcats won both the team and individual titles.

The Bobcats shot a total team score of 881. Their first-round score was 291, followed by a 298 in the sec second. They concluded with a final-round score of 292.

The Bobcats were followed by Louisiana-Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana who finished second and third, respectively. Stephen F. Austin tied with Jacksonville State for fourth place with scores of 914 to round out the top five teams.

Coach Shane Howell said it was nice to beat Louisiana-Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana. He said his team played on a championship level caliber golf course and performed to the best of its ability.

“We had some exceptional play from Jeff (Gerlich),” Howell said. “(He) broke the tournament record by two shots. Corey Roberson starting us out (in) the first round with a 68 and was very, very strong. Everybody played really solid (Tuesday). (We) survived a late rally from Louisiana-Lafayette, who put on a heck of a per performance.”

Gerlich, mass communication senior, brought home the individual title after finishing in first place with his final round, even-par 72 score. He set a new tourna tournament record with his 208 total score. Gerlich set a personal record by being one of two individual golfers to record below par, first- and second-round scores of 69 and 67. Christ Stroud of Lamar, who shot a 210 in 2004, held the previous tournament record.

“It was really incredible,” Howell said. “This is the sixth year for the Invitational, and Christ Stroud, who is on the PGA tour, held the previous record at six under. To shoot the scores that he did the first two rounds, under really tough conditions says a lot about him and his golf this week. It was really a great perfor performance. So, it was quite impressive.”

Roberson, exercise and sports science senior, finished in fifth place with a total of 221 and third-round score of 74. Gerlich and Roberson were both named to the all-tournament team. Roberson said the team was selected based on individuals who finished in the top six positions.

Howell said Gerlich and Roberson achieved these honors because of their consistent round-by-round play and competitive attitudes.

Gerlich said he was happy with the tournament results.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Gerlich said. “Obviously, some of the other guys didn’t play as well as they would have liked to have played. But, for the most part, they hung in there. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good tournament.”

Carson Gibson, business sophomore, and Michael Carnes, history junior, followed Gerlich and Roberson, ,and both finished tied for 16th. Philip Krebsbach, accounting sophomore, finished tied for 21st. Gibson shot a third-round 75 while Carnes and Krebsbach both shot a third-round 73.

Gerlich said putting and placement were his strong points.

“I was able to put the ball pretty much where I want wanted to put it,” Gerlich said. “And then, once I was on the green, I hit the putts.”

Roberson said he was pleased both he and Gerlich were selected to the all-tournament team.

“He (Gerlich) had a great tournament. I played pretty well with the exception of one or two shots out there,” Roberson said. “I’m happy we both finished in the all-tournament team.”

Roberson said he does not see the need to change his game because of his final results. Instead, he will continue to play how he usually does.

Howell said there is one more stop — the Southland Conference Championship — to make before the final tournament.

“We have one more tournament left before confer conference,” Howell said. “Hopefully we can go and win that event at Arkansas-Little Rock and be ready for confer conference, because it will be tough.”

The Bobcats will travel to Little Rock, Ark. next week for the UALR Invitational. The competition will be the team’s last until the conference tournament in April.