EYEING IMPACT
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Kerry Maddox returns to the Lone Star State targeting a feature role in the Bobcat secondary
Do-it-yourself genre influenced by politics
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MARCH 28, 2007
THURSDAY
VOLUME 96, ISSUE 69
Texas State secures research grant
Bill supports death penalty for repeat sex offenders
By Philip Hadley The University Star Research funded by a new grant will explore the secrets of aging and possibly find ways to preserve youth and combat cancer. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-TX, announced March 20 Texas State would receive a $217,000 grant over a 3-year period from the National Institute on Aging at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. “This grant is proof that cutting edge research is about to be underway at Texas State,” said Wyeth Ruthven, spokesperson for Doggett. The federal grant will be used to fund research under the direction of Kevin Lewis, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. The project will examine the ends of chromosomes within cells in the human body and identify genetic and environmental factors that may alter cellular aging. “Inside our bodies, our cells change as we get older,” Lewis said. “One of the ways our cells change is that the ends of our long chromosomes start to get shorter.” Lewis compares the shortening of chromosomes to a candle being burned at both ends. This shortening has been linked to increased risk for cancer and other age-associated diseases. “The research will help us understand why this erosion process ultimately leads to cell death, and will also identify factors that cause shortening to be faster in some individuals than in others,” Lewis said. Sandra Becerra, biochemistry graduate student and assistant for the project, said the research would involve growing yeast cells in a Petri dish to mimic those of human cells. “The yeast cells will mimic what goes on in our bodies,” Becerra said. “In our bodies, the process takes 70 years, but in cultured cells it takes a matter of months.” By manipulating an enzyme present in our cells called telomere, the researchers will be able to manipulate yeast chromosome length.
By Chelsea Juarez The University Star The Texas House and Senate are currently reviewing a bill that could be the difference between life and death for repeat sex offenders. House Bill 8, authored by State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, is framed after Florida’s Jessica’s Law, which includes a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and lifetime monitoring of adults convicted of sexual acts against a victim younger than 12 years old. The main difference between that law and the proposed House Bill is a possible death sentence. Jon English, Riddle’s chief of staff, said the purpose of the bill is to pinpoint criminals involved in severe cases of repeated sex offenses against minors under the age of 14. New provisions in the bill include a minimum of 25 years to life in prison for a first conviction. Second offenders may face the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. Katryn Hubert, founder and president of the student organization Bobcats for Life, said she does not support the death penalty, but because the victim is a child, “it’s better than nothing.” Bobcats For Life is a campus organization against abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia and infanticide. “Anyone who takes a pro-life perspective will tell you they don’t condone it,” Hubert, history sophomore, said. An important aspect of the bill is adding a seventh type of sexual assault offense, the “continuous sexual assault of a young child,” English said. “This is an indication of dealing with a habitual pedophile,” English said. “There is a basic concern on whether or not people are wrongfully committed. There are Romeo and Juliet cases where the boyfriend may be 17 and he’s dating a 13 year old in high school; the bill isn’t aimed at them. The idea is to cut such situations out to deal with the habitual pedophiles.”
See GRANT, page 4 Monty Marion/Star photo YEAST SCIENCE: Jennifer Summers, biochemistry graduate student, prepares yeast cells for a gene mutation experiment Tuesday afternoon during a lab with Kevin Lewis, associate chemistry professor.
See DEATH PENALTY, page 4
Student organization hosts rally to inform, spread awareness about campus violence By Patrick Ygnacio The University Star The Texas State chapter of the Men Against Violence organization conducted a “Be Part of the Solution” rally Tuesday in The Quad. The rally was part of Men Against Violence Awareness Week, aimed at educating students on the impact of sexual assault and other forms of violence on college campuses. The weeklong campaign precedes Sexual Assault Awareness Month and other educational functions to be conducted by the student organization in April.
According to their mission statement, Men Against Violence is an organization designed to “reduce the frequency of violent acts among students, faculty and staff at Texas State and surrounding communities through education and awareness campaigns.” Members conduct educational programs throughout the year in classrooms and residence halls. Nick Clarke, finance senior and Men Against Violence member, said they travel to different locations around the city and educate students on violence and its impact on the community as well. In addition to programs related to sexual assault, educational programs
provided by the organization include presentations on hate crime, alcohol, violence and anger management. Clarke said the organization works to confront instances when victims fail to report a violent act because of fear or self-blame. He described how men who have been victims of sexual assault are often hesitant to report such incidents. “That goes unreported a lot more because they feel that by reporting it, they fear that their masculinity is at risk,” Clarke said. He said these victims should not fear See VIOLENCE, page 4
Jon Clark/Star photo CHANGING WAYS: Christopher Watson, English alumnus, calls for a change of the stereotype in our society of the violent man during the Men Against Violence event held Tuesday in The Quad.
Former deputy convicted of sexual assault, gets three years probation By Alex Hering The University Star Former Hays County Deputy John Pastrano, who was convicted of improper sexual conduct with a Texas State student in 2004, was sentenced March 15 to two years in state jail. Guadalupe County District Judge Gary Steel suspended the sentence and placed Pastrano on probation for three years. “The defendant will pay a $1,500 fine, attend counseling and pay the standard probation fees and court costs,” Sherri Tibbe, Hays County district at-
“T
he victim in this case and her family were pleased with the outcome.”
—Sherri Tibbe district attorney, Hays County
torney, said in an e-mail. ”He will also perform community service.” Pastrano was found guilty February for groping Holly Cagle, a fashion merchandising student, in September 2004 during a routine traffic stop on Ranch Road 12.
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According to affidavits, Pastrano forced Cagle, who was 20 at the time, to expose herself. Court records further revealed Pastrano touched Cagle with his hand “with the intent to arouse and gratify (his) sexual desire.” Joe Turner, one of Pastrano’s lawyers, said the decision was
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beneficial to Cagle and taxpayers. “I think the judge made the right decision, but we made it easy for him because we had pretty much an agreement between the prosecutor and the defense that he had to get probation,” Turner said. “We saved the taxpayers a lot of money and effort and of course the victim from having to go through trial.” Turner said the argument in court was Cagle was not an adult offender; therefore Pastrano’s actions did not constitute official oppression or a felony offense. “Our interpretation of the statute was that she was not at
that time an adult offender, and that is what the statute requires for her to be,” Turner said. “But she wasn’t in custody (so) she was not an adult offender. Therefore whatever he may have done with her was wrong; it was not a felony.” Tibbe said Cagle and her family were satisfied with the final decision. “The victim in this case and her family were pleased with the outcome,” Tibbe said in an e-mail. ”They were involved with the process and feel comfortable with the resolution.” Turner said Pastrano should
be successful with the probation period and the fine. “He has community service that he had no problem with and some counseling was recommended, but he’s already doing that,” Turner said. “They probated most of it. He had a $5,000 fine, but he won’t have to pay all of it if he doesn’t get in trouble. He’ll handle it fine, he is used to taking care of his business, showing up and making sure he doesn’t do anything else wrong.” Cagle is suing Pastrano for his actions. The civil suit filed against Pastrano is slated to go to court this fall.
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