Softball Split Harmonious Holiday The Texas State softball team splits a Record Store Day celebrates independent doubleheader with Texas Tech Monday SEE SPORTS PAGE 8 SEE TRENDS PAGE 5
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April 14, 2009
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THE PASSION
Catholic Student Center re-enacts trial of Jesus in The Quad
Volume 98, issue 72
Villagio recognizes residents’ accusations, begins negotiations between lawyers By Theron Brittain Senior News Reporter
the addendum, and are being charged wrongfully,” the letter states. “This includes a reimbursement of all water charges and late fees as appropriate. Students should not be charged for any water ‘overages’ unless they signed the addendum at the time of the original lease.” Christopher said she was contacted by attorneys for Villagio soon after a March 11 University Star article publicized a situation she has called a pattern of abuse at the apart apartment complex. “They are concerned, and they want to resolve these issues,” Christopher said. Cohen agreed, but said Villagio owners had no previous knowledge of the specific complaints until receiving Christopher’s letter. Cohen said he forwarded the letter to the owners and has not had a chance to review the requests himself. “The owners are going over
The Office of the Attorney for Students is negotiating with lawyers for Villagio Apartments to resolve multiple resident claims of unfair leasing practices that have occurred within the last year. Milena Christopher, attor attorney for students, sent a 12page letter April 7 to Mike Cohen, attorney for Villagio, detailing accusations made by 12 students. The letter makes four primary requests, the most important being students are not to be held responsible for water charges under an addendum they were required to sign, which was not included in the original lease. “We demand that you cease and desist on all water charges to any students who were coerced into signing the addendum or who refused to sign
(the letter) now,” Cohen said. “They are not on site and had no idea any of this was going on, and of course, the article is injuring their business and they are very upset about it. They are going over the complaints and they are going to take care of them.” The students allege they have been forced to sign agreements requiring them to pay for water, a provision not included in the original lease. Students also allege they are being held responsible for damages caused by previous tenants and have been turned over to collection agencies for amounts ranging in the hundreds of dollars. “They were not coerced,” Cohen said. “If you say ‘you need to sign this lease amendment before you move into my apart apartment,’ then (the resident) has a choice: They can say ‘no’ and See VILLAGIO, page 3
House Bill concerning Trauth approves new commuter rails compensation moves to senate amounts after boiler failure By Teresa Wilburn News Reporter
Tina Phan/Star photo elric Blauvelt portrayed Jesus during the living stations of the Cross event sponsored by the Catholic student organization on Good Friday last week.
By Travis Hord News Reporter Students and their families stood outside the doors of the Catholic Student Center last Friday as the story of the trial of Jesus Christ at the hands of the infamous Roman governor Pontius Pilate was re-enacted. The Living Stations of the Cross event is a depiction of Jesus’ final hours — a live, realtime demonstration of his trial and crucifixion. It is an annual Easter tradition of the Catholic faith and of the Texas State University Catholic Student Organization. Pontius Pilate, played by Brian D’Andrea, history senior and president of the Catholic Student Organization, sentenced the unrepentant Jesus, played by Elric Blauvelt, veterinary science senior, to death by crucifixion as the
trial came to its conclusion. Blauvelt carried a large plank of wood on his shoulders as he walked up the North LBJ hill toward campus. Costumed Roman guards, in tow behind Blauvelt, beat him repeatedly and vigorously with frayed ropes as he walked. “I told them not to go easy on me,” said Blauvelt, who is a three-year veteran of the Living Stations event. “I wanted it to be genuine. Being able to share even a fraction of his pain and sacrifice is what makes this event so special.” The actors and audience proceeded from one station to the next as Sara Luong, vice president of the Catholic Student Organization, narrated the story. The audience replied with a short prayer and sang hymns as they
Future Bobcat commuters may be able to leave their car keys at home soon. House Bill 1923, which will allocate money toward the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund, is now in the senate after passing through a subcommittee. “We are hoping that this state legislation will add a financing source to the rail relocation and improvement fund,” said Alison Schulze, rail district administrator and senior planner. “It was approved by voters in 2005, but the legislation has not financed a plan for it yet. We are hoping they will do it soon this legislative session.” Schulze said the commuter rail will be 112 miles long from downtown San Antonio to Georgetown. She said the project has a total estimated cost of $613 million. “The plan right now is to have half of that come from the state and half of that come from local communities,” Schulze said. “It would be subject to approval if the individual community did decide to use bonds, but the overall system does not require a vote.” Schulze said Texas State and the City of San Marcos would benefit from the rail system. This gives the city an opportunity for economic development to work around the downtown plan, she said. “Texas State is also largely a commuter
Students left in the cold the past two weeks might be feeling a little warmer. Reimbursement checks were sent to all students who went without hot water after a week weeklong boiler failure. “Usually, when a disruption of the heating and cooling system occurs, it is restored in a reasonable amount of time with no monetary compensation to you. However, in this case, it took a week to fix the problem and we believe a monetary compensation for the inconvenience it created for you is warranted,” wrote Joanne Smith, Vice President for student affairs, in a letter sent to affected students. The compensation was approved by President Denise Trauth, Smith said. She wrote the compensation is equal to one week of the monthly room rate for the hall. “I, along with the rest of the university administrators, am sorry that you had to endure disruption this past week due to the recent steam and heat outage,” Smith wrote. Jessica Canty, marketing freshman and Butler resident, received a $108 check. “I think it’s just and the right thing to
See RAIL, page 3
See WATER, page 3
By Allen Reed Assistant News Editor
See GOOD FRIDAY, page 3
University officials tighten belts for summer budgets By Kosaku Narioka News Reporter The summer teaching budget for 2009 will stay the same from the previous year, whereas it typically increases by 3 percent. Associate Provost Gene Bour Bourgeois noted at Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting specific adjustments will be made, such as the new expenses for The Emerging Stars Program. Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus asked state agencies earlier this year, including institutions of higher edu-
cation, to make recommendations to reduce fiscal year 2009 appropriations by about 2.5 percent. “We do not anticipate an across the board cut if we have your guidance as to how to specifically achieve that goal, while still preserving the funding for essential programs,” they said in a joint statement. “The reason I held that back is I still don’t know how we are going to come up with … part of that 2.5 percent reduction the state has asked us to explore,” Bougeois said. “I’m a little bit more conservative when I still don’t know
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Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo PERFECT PITCH: sophomore pitcher Brian Borski pitches to southeastern louisiana, helping to win the game 4-3 saturday at Bobcat Field. FOR FULL COVERAGE SEE SPORTS PAGE 8
what’s going to happen.” Faculty Sen. Jaymeen Shah asked Bourgeois what actions would be taken if the department increased the number of classes in response to higher student enrollment. Bourgeois said each department policy should address such issues. Debra Feakes, Faculty Senate chair, said few departments actually have a policy for summer teaching. “It’s a fixed pie, fixed sum of See SENATE, page 3
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starsof texas state Dimitar Ninov, member of the music theory and composition faculty in the School of Music, has been selected as chairman of the board of directors of the National Association of Composers/USA. Ninov’s selection recognizes his
achievements as a composer and his professional service to the music and composition industry in the United States and abroad. —Courtesy of University News Service
Today in Brief
News Contact — Amanda Venable, starnews@txstate.edu Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
BAD FRIDAY
CRIME BLOTTER
TUESDAY Every Nation Campus Ministries will be holding our weekly campus meeting at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall, room G-02. Bring your cell phone. We will be responding to hot topic questions that are texted in and giving a biblical response.
University Police Department
April 3, 11:07 p.m. Medical Emergency - Jackson Hall A student was ill because of consumption of alcohol. The student refused medical transportation.
There will be a LBJ Distinguished Lecture by Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb at 5:30 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. Admission is free.
April 4,12:30 a.m. Public Intoxication - Hopkins Street A police officer made contact with a student acting suspiciously. Upon further investigation, the student was cited and arrested for public intoxication. The student was transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center and is awaiting a court date.
The Student Recital Series presents Saxophone Studio Recital by the Students of Todd Oxford and Douglas Skinner at 6 p.m. in the School of Music Recital Hall. Admission is free. The Ensemble Series presents Texas State Flute Choir at 8 p.m. in the School of Music Recital Hall. Admission will be $5 for general public and $3 for students and senior citizens. WEDNESDAY There will be an Overeaters Anonymous Meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland. THURSDAY Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, room 320. Enjoy contemporary worship, relevant teaching, prayer and plenty of fun. Contact 512557-7988 or mail@texasstatechialpha.com for more information. FRIDAY There will be an AA meeting from 1 to 2 p.m. in LBJ Student Center, room 3-6.1 SATURDAY Phi Alpha Delta will host the P.A.D. Classic Charity Golf Tournament at 8 a.m. at Quail Creek Country Club. The entry fee is $60 and supports the San Marcos Youth Service Bureau. Registration will be in The Quad from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 30 to April 17. Visit www.padclassic.org for more information.
David Schmidt/ Star photo Junior Jonathan Rudd’s Ford pick-up truck hits Alize Nguyen’s, biology freshman, Lexus Friday in front of Sonic on Aquarena.
This day in history 1775: The first American society for the abolition of slavery was organized by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.
1828: The first edition of Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language was published. 1902: J.C. Penney opened his first store, in Kemmerer, Wyo. 1912: The British liner Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and began to sink. 1939: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck was published.
1956: Ampex Corp. demonstrated its first commercial videotape recorder. 1981: America’s first operational space shuttle, Columbia, landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California after its first test flight. 1997: Whitewater figure James McDougal drew a threeyear prison sentence for 18 felony fraud and conspiracy counts.
1999: NATO mistakenly bombed a convoy of ethnic Albanian refugees; Yugoslav officials said 75 people were killed.
2002: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to office two days after being ousted and arrested by his country’s military. 2002: Tiger Woods became the third golfer in history to win back-to-back Masters titles. 2003: Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit fell to U.S.-led forces with unexpectedly light resistance. 2007: Singer Don Ho died in Honolulu, Hawaii, at age 76.
April 4, 12:54 a.m. Medical Emergency - Jackson Hall A student reported to a police officer he was experiencing heart and head pain. The student was transported to Central Texas Medical Center for a medical evaluation. April 4, 9:30 p.m. Welfare Concern-Attempt to Locate - University Police Deptment-Lobby A nonstudent reported to a police officer she was concerned for another nonstudent. Attempts were made to locate the nonstudent. A report was made of the incident. April 6, 12:24 p.m. Failure to Comply/Striking Unattended Vehicle - LBJ Parking Garage A student reported to a police officer her vehicle was damaged while legally parked. The case is under investigation.
—Courtesy of New York Times
—Courtesy of University Police Department
Texas State, San Marcos recruits people for bone marrow registry Dr. Jeffrey Chell, CEO of the National Marrow Donor Program, will talk Wednesday about “Be the Match: Blood and Mar Marrow Transplants” during the Texas State Cancer Awareness Month and Community Out Outreach. The event will be 7 p.m. on the 11th floor of the J.C. Kellam Building on campus. A reception will precede the event beginning at 6:15 p.m. All activities are free and open to the public. Texas State, the City of San Marcos, Hays County and San Marcos CISD have all declared April as
Cancer Awareness Month. Be the Match focuses on recruiting registry members who may one day be called on to help a patient in need. Each year, more than 35,000 people are diagnosed with life-threatening blood diseases for which a stem cell or marrow transplant may offer the only chance for surviving. Every day more than 6,000 patients search the registry for a match, yet only four in 10 patients find the life-saving match they desperately need. Anyone between the ages of 18 to 60 years old and in general
good health can join the Be the Match registry. Marrow drives will be held in The Quad from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 13 to 16. Donors complete a registration form and swab themselves for cheek cells to become marrow donor registrants. Visit cancerawareness.healthcenter.txstate.edu for more information about the Texas State Cancer Awareness Month and Community Outreach and its several events this month. —Courtesy of University News Service
New chairman elected for Board of Regents Ron Blatchley of Bryan/College Station has been elected chairman of the Texas State University System Board of Regents. Blatchley was elected during a special called meeting of the Regents held April 6. He is a partner in BMB Homes in Bryan/College Station. He retired from a career in higher education in 1985, having served the last 14 years as director of student affairs at Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Ruth, then became McDonald’s restaurant owner/operators until 2003. After selling their 12 restaurants, Blatchley and two partners started BMB Homes, which bids in and around the Bryan/College station area. Blatchley is president of R.
Blatchley Management, serves on the Board of Directors at First National Bank and has previously chaired the Economic Development Corporation and served on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, McDonald’s Operators Advisory Board, The Ronald McDonald House of Houston, the Texas Municipal Power Authority and numerous other civic and charitable boards. He has served as a city councilman and as mayor of Bryan. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Sam Houston State University. The Texas State University System is comprised of eight member institutions: Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, Sul Ross State University, Sul Ross State University
Rio Grande College, Texas State, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College-Orange and Lamar State College-Port Ar Arthur. The Chancellor of the System is Charles Matthews. Members of the Board of Regents are Blatchley; Trisha S. Pollard of Bellaire, vice chair; Greg Wilkinson of Dallas; Char Charlie Amato of San Antonio; Donna N. Williams of Arlington; Michael Truncale of Beaumont; Kevin J. Lilly of Houston; David Montagne of Beaumont; Ron Mitchell of Horseshoe Bay; and Student Regent Nicole Lozano of Austin and Sam Houston State University. —Courtesy of University News Service
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WATER
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do,” she said. Butler said this was not the first time the hot water has failed, but was the longest. “We’re paying good money to live there, and we don’t pay for cold water for a whole week,” she said.“I felt like it was a complete inconvenience. I’m on the track team. After practice I want to be able to go home and take a shower.”
SENATE
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money,” Bougeois said. “You can’t just keep adding sections and sections based on presumed enrollment when there is no money. Sometimes you have to live within a budget. The question then becomes how do you live within that budget reasonably.” Shah said his department is in the middle of revising its summer teaching policy and there is a concern the department may “just pick up someone off the street to come and teach because that’s what they can afford.”
RAIL Butler said the reimbursement was fair and the problems extended beyond not having hot water. She cited partial closures to the dining halls as an example. “It was a waste of our time and an inconvenience,” she said. Butler said the administration has become increasingly more responsive and feels the reimbursement settles the matter. “I was really upset it couldn’t be handled faster and disappointed with the amount of communi-
cation between communicators and residents, but I’m just glad it wasn’t longer than a week,” said Abbey Gill, international studies sophomore. Gill, Retama resident, received a $108 reimbursement check. “Honestly, I thought it was more than fair,” she said. “I didn’t expect anything monetary because they spent so much money fixing it. I was expecting an apology letter or maybe a free Bobcat hat.”
“My preference is Texas State faculty teaching (class), whether they are tenure, tenure-track, full-time or adjunct,” Bourgeois said. Faculty Sen. Nathan Bond said the approach seems to give flexibility to the department. Faculty Sen. Donald Hazlewood asked Bourgeois if there were any problems with some departments having too many people who want to teach. Bourgeois said what he hears generally is the department has to open more classes to accommodate students.
He said faculty members receive one-twelfth of their ninemonth salary if they teach a class in summer, one-sixth if they teach two classes and as much as one-third of their nine-month salary for both summer terms. Bourgeois said some new faculty in particular fields have been hired at higher rates, but those starting salaries are not well reflected in historical expenditures. The Office of Academic Affairs will have to request for additional funding to the President’s Cabinet for summer teaching at some point, he said.
GOOD FRIDAY CONTINUED from page 1
walked to the next station. “So much time and effort went into this,” said Luong, social work junior. “This is my first year organizing this event. It’s been a tremendous challenge, but everyone has been so great about helping out.” The event procession began at the Catholic Student Center and made its way to North LBJ and into The Quad through 14 stations, eventually reaching the Fighting Stallions statue in the Student Free Speech area. Blauvelt was then “crucified,” minus the nails, on a wooden cross. The Quad was silent. “Being Christians, the resurrection of Jesus is a huge celebration for us, and when we do this re-enactment, it’s a very
emotional experience,” Luong said. “It’s something people can carry with them this Easter holiday.” The event drew to a finish as Blauvelt’s limp body was dragged down from the wooden cross and carried away by costumed soldiers. The audience joined together for a final hymn before beginning their walk back to the Catholic Student Center for fellowship and refreshments. Students who stopped to watch the event returned to their business. Some were moved. Some were not. “I was just shocked,” said Christina Matta, anthropology junior. “I was just walking through The Quad and all of a sudden there’s Jesus, half-naked and tied to a cross. That’s something you don’t see every day.”
The actors gathered to introduce themselves to their audience back at the Catholic Student Center and received a round of applause before adjourning. “It was awesome to see how many people came out to remember what Christ did for us on the Cross,” D’Andrea said. “We encourage people to come out and participate.” The Catholic Student Organization, a part of the Catholic Diocese of Austin, meets 6 p.m. every other Monday night in the Catholic Student Center lounge. They also offer a free lunch at the Catholic Student Center every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information about the Living Stations of the Cross tradition is available through the Catholic Student Organization.
David Schmidt/Star photo HOLY DAY: Elric Blauvelt depicts Jesus Christ in the reenactment of the Crucifixion Friday on campus.
ASG bill helps local schools continue touring Texas State By Teresa Wilburn News Reporter The recent increase in meal prices for on-campus dining is forcing lower-income schools in the area to cut back on taking tours at Texas State. To help the cause, a bill was read at Monday’s ASG meeting that may give these schools the extra help they need. “Recently, there has been an increase in the prices of Chartwell’s food,” said Sen. Jonathan Moldenhauer, author of the bill. “It is causing local middle schools to have to cancel campus tours because they just cannot afford it.” Moldenhauer said the bill, entitled, “College Awareness Tours” will appropriate money so students can attend the university visits. He said the senate will donate around $2,000 per semester from the ASG budget. “These schools are less privileged,” Moldenhauer said. “These tours are a great opportunity for them to see what a day in the college life is like that they would not receive normally. It really gives them a great view of college and an opportunity to meet and talk with college students.” The campus tours provide
The University Star - 3
important information regarding the benefits of higher education in the hope the students will view college as a dream that can be achieved, according to the bill. “ASG is usually excited when it comes to bringing the community and Texas State as a whole together,” Moldenhauer said. “This is an excellent opportunity to do that.” Moldenhauer said he has a good feeling the bill will pass. Sen. Colter Ray sponsored the bill. He said it is a great opportunity for ASG to keep a good relationship with the community. “Unfortunately, Chartwells had to cut their funding because of the current economic situation,” Ray said. “ASG has the money to do it, though. It is only a couple grand.” Ray said the bill is set for this semester and the next, but not an annual basis. Further action would have to take place before that happened, he said. “I really think the college awareness tours are the positive step in strengthening our bond with the high school students in San Marcos,” said Sen. Brice Loving. “A significant amount of the community is in poverty and for a lot of those kids college is thought to be out of reach.”
Loving said visiting students will have the chance to experience some of the nice things Texas State has to offer, like oncampus dining. “Chartwells does a great job with the food on campus,” Loving said. “It is important they have the chance to experience that while they visit.” Monday’s meeting also hosted a reason for germophobes to rejoice. A new bill will be voted on next week that would require hand sanitizer be placed in every computer lab on campus. “When I started doing the research on it, it is staggering how dirty these computer labs can be,” Ray said, who wrote the bill with Sen. Ariana Vargas. “Consider how often each person is washing their hands. One guy can sneeze and keep typing on his keyboard, and then right after, another student comes in, sits down, and starts typing. That is all it takes.” Ray said if the bill is passed, hand sanitizer pumps will be placed in each computer lab, and refills will be provided monthly. A sign nearby will also provide an explanation on the use of hand sanitizer and the promotion of a healthier campus, according to the bill.
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school,” Schulze said. “The university is going to experience a huge parking problem. This does give commuting students an opportunity to come onto campus without having to worry about where to park.” Cody Clarke, geography junior, worked with City Councilmember John Thomaides, Place 6, in gaining senate support for the relocation of the freight rails. Clarke is the president of the Student Planning Organization on campus. “If and when Gov. Rick Perry decides to sign, it will dramatically improve congestion across the city,” Clarke said. “Probably in about 10 years, students will be riding these high speed commuter trains with no need for a car to commute.” Clarke said the proposed plot for the rail system station is by the Hays County Justice Center.
“By the looks of all the money that the State of Texas has invested for this, it is not a question of ‘Will it happen?’” Clarke said. “It is a question of when it will happen.” Clarke said the legislation, if passed, is going to benefit Texas. He said students have been involved in the process. “It is such a complicated issue,” Clarke said. “Four thousand signatures in support of relocation does say something to the state about our involvement.” Melissa Millecam, director of communications for the City of San Marcos, said one of the city’s long-term goals is to have the commuter rails available. “This is a step-by-step process,” Millecam said. “A lot lies in the legislation bill to begin funding rail relocation. It is a state-wide effort to remove these freight lines so we can allow commuter rails in Texas.” Millecam said the City of San Marcos is part of the Austin-San
Antonio rail district, and the city is a member of Rail Relo NOW! “I-35 is one of the busiest corridors in the country,” Millecam said. “The City Council has been interested for years in improving the regional grid and developing transportation plans involved with the commuter rail. If there was a workable, reliable, transportation system in the city, it would help commuters have options. It would also be helping the environment.” Millecam said the rail system would improve air quality, but that the project itself is a significant investment. “It would not be the city’s investment alone by any means,” Millecam said. “There are enormous benefits to the community in the long run if it can help the 14,000 students who attend Texas State from out of the city. It is going to take a lot from the state and the city to make it happen.”
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find somewhere else, or ‘yes’ and sign the amendment.” Anton Hoffman, owner of Villagio, said the facts are on their side and prove the students are “exaggerating, lying or just outright trying to cheat.” He said Christopher’s office had not provided him with sufficient information before the April 7 letter to address the situation before it got out of hand. “It is a bad situation,” Hoffman said. “We were never given any complainant’s names before last Tuesday so that we could check into the facts and take care of the problem. Since we have learned of these allegations, we have asked repeatedly to get this information. We want to deal with it, we are part of the community, we run a business and it is a very nice property.” Complicating the issue is a volatile relationship between complainants and Property Manager Danny Gonzales, with both parties accusing the other of unprofessional and irate behavior. Christopher’s letter requests an apology for the way residents have been treated and asks that Gonzales “be relieved of his duties at
the Villagio.” Cohen responded by saying Gonzales is no longer dealing directly with tenants. The duty has fallen to Amanda LeJuene, assistant property manager. “Whoever is over there should be treating people with respect and nicely,” Cohen said. “That is not a legal issue, but that being said, the owners want the tenants treated with respect.” Cohen said there are two sides to every story. “We have to talk to those people and Danny and find out on a case-by-case basis exactly what happened,” he said. Two resident situations have been resolved since Christopher’s initial contact in January. Erin Artzner, communication studies senior, who was facing eviction over a conflict concerning a transfer lease with Villagio, has now signed the lease and said she was pleased with the treatment she received from LeJeune. Justin Vaughn, health management senior, never lived at Villagio, but was turned over to a collections agency for $6,400 for a lease agreement he initially signed in June 2008, before changing his mind and moving somewhere else. He maintains
management personnel, who have since been fired, released him from the contract that summer. LeJuene said a lack of proper documentation resulted in the misunderstanding that led to his referral to collections, who sent Vaughn a letter March 12 officially absolving him of the entire amount. “It is nice to be in the free and clear, but I do not think it should have been an issue to begin with,” Vaughn said. “I am definitely relieved and wished it had never happened.” Christopher said she spoke with Williams and Fudge Collection Agency, who handles all collections for Villagio, and they have agreed to halt collection attempts until the situation is resolved. Christopher is waiting to hear from Cohen and said she hopes the requests laid out in the letter are met. She could not be specific, but said there were options to pursue if Villagio is uncooperative. LeJeune said she believes progress has already been made on some of the issues. “I think we are all optimistic here and we are happy that the residents are getting their concerns handled,” LeJeune said.
OPINIONS 4 - The University Star
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Opinions Contact — Krista Almazan, staropinion@txstate.edu
THE MAIN POINT here would be no America without immigrants.
T
Even the most ignorant alien-phobe must acknowledge that fact. So it is puzzling why this country has taken such a firm stance against opening its doors for people to come and enjoy rights so many take for granted. There are practical limitations to immigration. The debate as to what those limitations are goes on today, with no clear solution in sight. However, it should be apparent to anyone that we must streamline the process for those who bring the most knowledge, expertise and skill to America. Just because they were born outside the border does not mean they cannot contribute something to America. That is why the federal government must come up with solutions to the problem of keeping out productive and hardworking people who want to come to America and help. According to the April 8 issue of The University Star, Texas State has been disadvantaged by the federal government’s ineffective policies by removing an educator from its ranks. Byounghak Lee, assistant professor in the physics department, is unable to teach this semester because of his immigration status. While he works with the university to obtain his green card, he is unable to work and receive compensation. He said the wait has created a financial burden on him and his family. If the federal government was more willing to accept the best and brightest educators from around the world this would not be a problem. Lee’s problem is not unique. The New York Times reported Sunday that America’s immigration policies are keeping out bright minds in the technology industry, among others requiring sharp minds. Tech industry leaders are concerned America will not be able to compete in the global economy if it isolates people qualified for the positions. This illustrates how immigration is not a problem for academia exclusively. The free market has always benefited from bringing in people from other countries. There are other, more local, problems stemming from retaining international faculty. According to Lee, other members of the faculty have had difficulties when dealing with the International Office. Texas State has been expanding its international faculty, and the office has had to take on more work. Dealing with the federal government understaffed must be exceedingly difficult. Jon Ahlberg, associate director for the International Office, said sometimes the federal government asks for unnecessary information, or for something that has already been submitted. To work through these difficulties Texas State needs an International Office with enough staff members to accommodate its growing, diverse faculty. International faculty members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, not only in their chosen field, but from seeing more of the world than others ever will. Nothing should stop these people from teaching at Texas State, whether it is the federal government or staffing problems at home.
LIMITATIONS
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.
Zach Ashburn/ Star Illustrator
Government change to media ban is respectful By Patricia Drew Guest Columnist Republicans and Democrats alike are applauding the transparency efforts of the Obama administration. The arrival of flag-draped caskets was open to the media for first time in 18 years. The remains of Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers arrived at Dover Air Force Base on April 9 with both family and media present. Myers was killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device, representatives of the Department of Defense said. Images of war and its causalities have long played a role in the politics of war. The George H. W. Bush administration knew this, which is why the ban of media coverage at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware was enacted in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War. The only thing transparent about the ban was its true intent. It was supposedly to shield the grieving families, but critics knew who it actually protected. The government was aware that hiding the human cost of war from the American public would make the call for pro-war sentiments easier. It’s much easier for someone to read about casualties in a newspaper and cast it aside as the unfortunate cost of war. However, seeing the caskets carried off a cargo plane by fellow warriors will play on the emotions of Americans. People are too willing to attend memorial services or to build statues in honor of armed forces rather than to seriously consider the price tag. The American death toll of the warfront in Iraq and Afghanistan is nearly 5,000. The number in print pulls less of a heartstring than the sight of nearly 5,000 caskets draped with the American flag. Little objection has been expressed toward the listing of the ban. Some opponents’ views are families might feel obligated to attend the ceremony while the whole country watches. It can be difficult for the bereaved to make such a sudden trip and leave the support of family and friends only to be under the scrutiny of the media. Families of fallen armed forces will decide whether to allow media coverage under the new policy. Several bodies might arrive on the same flight, but media coverage will only be permitted for those whose families have given permission. This is truly showing respect for the families and the efforts of their loved ones who died. The era of censorship is over. The only concern now is whether these heroes are becoming pawns on a chessboard. The rules should not change back and forth molding Americans’ opinion about war. The policy, as it stands, is how it should be.
College students do not need protection from controversy By Jillian Sheridan The Daily Texan “The radical academic project at the University of Texas is not confined to just one professor or even one academic department. It spreads across multiple departments, tarnishing the academic mission of a prestigious university,” claim David Horowitz and Jacob Laksin in their new book, One-Party Classroom. It’s an ominous claim, and Horowitz reiterated the sentiment in his speech on campus Thursday.
In the book, Horowitz targets Dana Cloud, associate communication studies professor, and Robert Jensen, associate journalism professor, as radical Marxists who push their agendas on students. While on campus last week for a talk, Horowitz called Cloud and a group of people protesting his appearance hysterics and fascists before their jeers cut his talk short. I am taking both Cloud’s and Jensen’s classes this semester in a strange turn of events I did not purposely
arrange. I am not scared of them, despite Horowitz’s accusations, and I do not quake at the thought of their alleged powers of mind control. I see little to no evidence of their personal political views in the classroom. I have not once felt intimidated into conforming to a specific ideology by either professor in the last 11 weeks. I was aware of Cloud’s political views and personal activism before enrolling in Speechwriting and Criticism but have not found her to be the terrifying
radical Horowitz describes in his book. Instead, I’ve found she is an involved professor who encourages thought and discussion in class. Jensen, well — I’ve been trying to determine his political beliefs since I started taking his Media Law and Ethics class. I was coming to the conclusion that he just might be conservative before last week. Thus, I was shocked to see Jensen even mentioned in Horowitz’s book. Like most students, I don’t take everything I hear as
fact, which is why Horowitz’s book is about as useful as a paperweight to me. I am not afraid of losing my intellectual autonomy, despite being a student of Cloud and Jensen. I’m confident in my own intelligence and critical reasoning ability. For instance, I was able to read the chapter of One-Party Classroom lambasting UT and, clearly, I’ve retained my ability to disagree. College students are capable of thinking independently. They do not need to be protected from controversial
ideas. In fact, students want to hear the opinions of their professors in their areas of expertise. Listening to the opinions of others, processing them independently and coming to one’s own conclusions may be the most essential aspect of an education. Discussion and expression of controversial opinions do not oppress critical thought but encourage it. Students would find it hard to think critically if there was nothing for them to think critically about.
Trends the university star
sisteract
The daughters of Texas State’s most famous alumnus will speak Tuesday as part of this year’s Common Experience: LBJ and Civic Responsibility. Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb will present the Lyndon B. Johnson Distinguished Lecture. Former Texas State president Bob Hardesty will moderate the lecture. In addition to working with the university, Hardesty is the former curator of the LBJ Library in Austin. The lecture will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.
5 - Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Trends Contact — Brett Thorne, starentertainment@txstate.edu
Record Store Day celebrates Web-free music sales
Fraternity welcomes students to Sewell Park for Island Party By Megan Holt News Reporter
Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo SWEET BEATS: A customer browses for vinyl at Sundance Records during the weekend. Record Store Day celebrates independant record stores on April 18.
By Christian Wallace Features Reporter Record Store Day, a movement initiated two years ago takes place every third Saturday in April to celebrate the 80 percent of music sales made without the click of a mouse, and the independent music stores still providing the human touch. According to a recent report released by the IFPI, the international organization representing the worldwide recording industry, digital music sales accounted for 20 percent of all recorded music sales in 2008. “There are some things that define a community. For us music nerds, the record store becomes the town square,” said John T. Kunz, the president and owner of Waterloo Records and Video. Waterloo Records, nestled in the heart of downtown Austin, is among the most renowned independent music stores in the world. Waterloo has won The Austin Chronicle’s “Best Record Store” title each of the 27 years it has been open. “We were with Record Store Day right from the get-go,” Kunz
said. “This year, we are going to have two big events. At 11 a.m., we will be previewing the new Bob Dylan CD, 10 days in front of its release. Later that day, we will have Mark Louris and Gary Olsen of the Jayhawks, after many years apart, playing live in the store at 5 p.m.” Kunz said despite the growth in online music purchases, record stores would continue to appeal to music lovers. “For what it’s worth, I think the entire music industry has been limping since 2000, when Napster came along. There are definitely a lot of challenges out there and, unfortunately, we have lost a lot of good (record stores),” Kunz said. “The record stores that are still out there are the ones most connected to the music, the people who make the music and the people who love the music. The stores continuing to make that connection will make it.” Waterloo and other independent record stores will host special events on April 18 in honor of Record Store Day. The official Record Store Day Web site has lists of businesses across the world registered to participate.
Recording artists have also made efforts to support the holiday by playing live shows in stores nationwide and playing pro-bono at the Record Store Day tent at the annual Coachella Festival in Indio, Calif. Paul McCartney is one of the supporting artists quoted on Recordstoreday.com. “There’s nothing as glamorous to me as a record store,” McCartney said. “When I recently played Amoeba in Los Angeles, I realized what fantastic memories such a collection of music brings back when you see it all in one place. This is why I’m more than happy to support Record Store Day and I hope that these kinds of stores will be there for us all for many years to come.” Sundance Records is a local independent music store that has been serving San Marcos since 1977. Customers are greeted by the smell of burning incense and music, ranging from lazy jazz solos to blaring guitars, playing throughout the store. Some form of music memorabilia covers almost every square inch of the establishment. A poster of The Doors and one of Lil’ Kim
hang side-by-side, while fading newspaper clippings and yellowing concert flyers are stapled or taped to the walls around them. Sundance, like most independent record stores, has a variety of merchandise for sale. Frisbees, flasks, Zippos, magazines, posters, T-shirts and vinyl records are all available for purchase at the store. Landry Jackson, performance freshman, is a regular customer at Sundance. “Sundance is absolutely the best. They have a great combination of used and new vinyls,” Jackson said. “You can ask them unbelievable questions that nobody should know about music, and they’ve got it spot on. Give them one line of a song and they’ll go pull it off the shelf.” Jackson agrees with the purpose of Record Store Day. “Digital has no soul. I think iTunes is killing music,” Jackson said. “I bought a Killers CD the other day and when I opened it, the CD looked like the rings found on the inside of a tree. That says something about the music; that gives it soul. You miss that with digital music.”
Nothing says “college” like a huge party with grilled burgers, suntans and an abundant amount of food — all for free. The Christian fraternity BYX, or Brothers Under Christ, throws island-themed parties across 52 Texas university campuses each year. Sewell Park will welcome students for an afternoon of free food, inflatable games and a variety of live bands from 4 to 10 p.m. April 14. “Island Party is a large scale event offering free things to any student who comes up to us,” said Daniel Hardy, BYX vice president. “The best thing about it, and what people should realize, is there is no catch. It’s going to be a good time and a chance to meet new people.” Island Party will introduce a new sporting event called “slack lining” this year, which will consist of rope climbing. Also, an ongoing volleyball tournament will challenge competitive students with no entry fee required. “The last band will finish at 9 (p.m.), but there will be free food until 10,” said Hardy, recreational administration junior. BYX feverishly raised the money for Island Party through “workout weekends” all year, where they did random work such as painting fences around the community in exchange for donations. “We also had a Cash Dash where we had two weeks to raise as much money as we could,” Hardy said. “All the money we raised will be used to give back. We won’t keep any of it.” Cash Dash helped BYX raise much of its money for Island Party. Promises for raising the money were honored after the goal was met. A member had to wax his chest and another spent a night at The Stallions. “Island Party is at a time when we are coming toward finals,” said Travis Vaught, BYX president and English junior. “We like Island Party to be fun and bring out everyone. This year, we have a larger variety of music genres. Our headliner is a rapper from Canada: Manafest.” Joining Manafest will be bands Nothing More, Life in Rescue and The Captive, and all can be found on MySpace for listening previews. Hardy said BYX is an alternative to the “present fraternity lifestyle.” “BYX is a Christian fraternity that exists to promote brotherhood in the community under Christ,” said Hardy. BYX hopes to break the typical stereotypes of Christianity and focus more on their image through their actions. “We aren’t Bible-thumpers who sit in our dorms all day,” said Paul Mallon, Texas State alumnus and former BYX member. “We are just typical guys who want to have fun. It’s all about food, fun and fellowship. Christianity will be presented in a fun and applicable way.” Aaron Hamer, BYX Chaplain, said the fraternity is “normal students trying to serve Christ for dying on the cross for us.” “We’re not trying to pretend like we are perfect,” said Hamer, public administration junior. “We’re far from it.” The only thing available for purchase will be Island Party T-shirts for $10.
Dragonball is ‘debatably one of worst films in cinema history’
Brent Vickers
Trends Columnist
Unfortunately, I chose to sit through the hellish 84 minutes of James Wong’s new live-action adaptation
of beloved anime television series “Dragonball.” Many fan boys’ dreams may be to one day see a live-action Dragonball movie, but I can’t imagine this is what they had in mind. I walked out of the theater halfway expecting it to be dark outside, and I went into a 2:40 showing. That’s how bad the movie was. It was debatably one of the worst films in cinema history. Debatably. Worse than Mortal Kombat: Annihilation? Yes.
Worse than Double Dragon? Yes. Worse than Battlefield Earth? Let me think about that one. It is honestly impossible to decide where to begin critiquing. The choice of cast can only be described in one word: hilarious. The production of the film begs the questions, “Why was this released to theaters?” “Wouldn’t it be better if this was a made-for-TV movie?” or better yet “Whose idea was it to make this film, and do
they still have a job?” If this film does not scream “career killer,” I’m not quite sure what does. The director obviously borrowed from countless other films—too bad for him the films he used as textbooks are those no director should ever even consider seeing. I am familiar with the anime from my younger years, and even though I can’t remember exactly how the storyline goes, I can remember
the television show was nothing like the film—and that doesn’t even bother me. What bothers me is the atrocious makeup on the character Piccolo, the one-liners no selfrespecting 6 year old would quote, and the mispronunciation of the word “kai,” among other things. Those who are looking for any old film to cure midday boredom would be doing themselves a favor by choosing a different film to see. Moms
and dads trying to please their kids with something only children could enjoy, take them to see Hannah Montana: The Movie. I wish I had been so wise. I am deeply sorry to all those “Dragonball” enthusiasts who have been waiting for their liveaction Dragonball movie all these years. Hopefully, they will figure it out when they decide to make a 12-part live-action adaptation of Dragonball Z.
6 - The University Star
Trends
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Music experiment becomes full-time band
Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT HAUNTING MUSIC: Members of Minneapolis band, Halloween, Alaska, make third album, Champagne Downtown, despite becoming family men.
By Chris Riemenschneider Minneapolis Star Tribune MINNEAPOLIS — Never mind how great the new Halloween, Alaska record is — although Champagne Downtown is indeed one to behold. Scenes of America’s hastening fade from glory are set to a slower-moving sonic backdrop that sounds like the comfortably numb whir inside a car being driven between Hollywood and Las Vegas. What is more impressive, though, is the electronics-buoyed, atmosphere-soaked rock quartet even remained a band at all. In the four years since their sophomore album, singer James Diers moved to Los Angeles and then Madison, Wis. drummer David King toured the world with the Bad Plus and Happy Apple. Bassist Matthew Friesen started a cabinetry business. Guitarist Jacob Hanson played in other groups, finished school and became an instructor himself. Meanwhile, keyboard/electronics player Ev Olcott quit the band altogether, but still acts as their studio engineer. Oh, and three of the members stayed busy as dads. “It’s probably fair to say it’s an important band to everyone in it,” said Diers, who is back living in Minneapolis. “That’s the main reason we kept it going: It’s rewarding for us.” Talking at a happy-hour gettogether last week between a rehearsal session and a taping, the group still seemed to be troubled by real-life distractions. King was late because of a session with a chiropractor. Friesen suffered through a virus that prompted a warning of sudden upchucking. Diers had the tired look that
comes with having a 1 year old at home. Still, the enthusiasm for the band was tangible as its members talked about making disc No. 3, Champagne Downtown. “These songs kept coming up, and we kept going after them,” said Hanson, who joined in 2004, after playing with King and Olcott in the last lineup of 12 Rods. “This started out as sort of just a hanging-out kind of band, a way of playing around with quieter, minimalist arrangements.” King said. “We still enjoy that about it: hanging out and playing around.” Diers and King formed Halloween, Alaska in 2002 as a side project to their louder and more full-time band, Love-cars (now on hiatus). What started as an experimental foray into electronically based music — its nonsensical name underlines those playful beginnings — became quite a serious full-time group in 2004, when a couple of Halloween, Alaska tracks were played on the then-red-hot Fox TV show “The O.C.” and a record deal was signed with East Side Digital. “I moved away at about the worst time possible, just as things really started picking up steam,” said Diers. “However,” he added, “we never really considered calling it quits.” Diers still saw King a lot in the interim as a tour manager for the Bad Plus. Once Halloween, Alaska put aside live gigs — the last shows were two years ago — its members focused exclusively on recording. And, it turns out, the album was mostly finished more than a year ago, but the band happily kept a hold on it so sonic guru Tchad Blake could do the mixing. Blake produced three Bad
Plus albums, in addition to engineering a who’s-who of modern music (Tom Waits, Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello). “At one point, Tchad was like, ‘Sorry, I have to take a break to do this movie thing for Pete,’“ Diers laughingly recalled. The “thing” was Peter Gabriel’s Oscar-nominated song for WALL-E. Blake’s refined touch is definitely felt, but the sonic richness on Champagne Downtown also reflects the band’s evolution. The electronic influences Halloween, Alaska initially dabbled with — “Everything But the Girl,” “New Order” and “Aphex Twin” — have become a natural aural backdrop, leaving more room for the band’s collage-like songwriting. Highlights include the cautionary digi-pop track “The Ends”; a somber ode to Diers’ grandfather, “Knights of Columbus,” and the cheerily apocalyptic “Hot Pink,” which opens the disc with the line, “You’re just like America/Fresh out of surprises/Stickers all over you/And a garden of rationale.” “I was thinking of (America) more as a sociological profile, not in any political way,” Diers said. Another new gem written largely by King, “In Order,” sounds like a lost Love-cars or 12 Rods track — a trait the members credit to Hanson’s added involvement. “What Jacob is able to do affected this record quite a bit,” King said. “We added this great guitar player to the original, dynamic soundscapes. He sort of brought it back closer to our noisier roots.” Half-jokingly, King added, “And he feeds back with actual feedback — it’s not digital feedback.” Don’t worry, Dave, we get it: Halloween, Alaska is a real band.
Fine Arts Calendar Tuesday All-Student Juried Exhibition, all day, Mitte Gallery I & II Saxophone Studio Recital, 6 p.m., Recital Hall Texas State Flute Choir, 8 p.m., Recital Hall Wednesday All-Student Juried Exhibition, all day, Mitte Gallery I & II Guitar Studio Recital, 6 p.m., Recital Hall Faculty Artist Series presents David Pino on clarinet, 8 p.m., Recital Hall Thursday All-Student Juried Exhibition, all day, Mitte Gallery I & II Comm Club Panel Discussion, 6:30 p.m., Centennial 102 Rock Harmony: The Musical Vocabulary of Rock Music Viewed Through the Lens of Traditional Tonal Analysis, 6
p.m., Recital Hall Amanda Shelton Vocal Graduate Recital, 9:30 p.m., Recital Hall Friday All-Student Juried Exhibition, all day, Mitte Gallery I & II Daniel Pardo’s Senior Flute Recital, 6 p.m., Recital Hall Heather Harmon’s Senior Voice Recital, 9:30 p.m., Recital Hall Saturday Marty Lenard’s Senior Saxophone Recital, 12 p.m., Recital Hall Sabrina Stovall’s Senior Basson Recital, 1 p.m., Recital Halll Erin Pivek’s Junior Vocal Recital, 6 p.m., Recital Hall Rebekah K. Smeltzer’s Graduate Voice Recital, 8 p.m., Recital Hall
Sunday Vocal Songs of Spain and Latin America, Student Voice Recital, 2 p.m., Music Building Texas State University Singers, Women’s Chorus & Men’s Chorus Concert, 2 p.m., Covenant Presbyterian Church Trombone Studio Recital I, 4 p.m., Recital Hall Ana Hernandez and Hilary Janysek’s Joint Junior Flute Recital, 6 p.m., Recital Hall Ty Reagan’s Senior Saxophone Recital at George’s, 7:30 p.m., George’s Monday Thesis Exhibition I, 5 p.m., Mitte Gallery I & II Texas State String Students perform and area recital, 8 p.m., Recital Hall
Diversions
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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Sports the university star
postponedplay The Texas State women’s tennis team’s match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi originally scheduled for Saturday will take place Wednesday. The match was postponed because of rain.
8 - Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sports Contact — Lisa Carter, starsports@txstate.edu
Bobcats continue winning streak for Southland Conference Argentine takes green jacket in Masters By Jeff Shain McClatchy Newspapers
Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo PERFECT PITCH: Brian Borski, sophomore pitcher, throws to Southeastern Louisiana, helping to win the game 4-3 Saturday at Bobcat Field.
By Joseph O. Garcia Sports Reporter The Texas State baseball team is now first in the Southland Conference with a four-game winning streak, including a sweep of Southeastern Louisiana Thursday to Saturday. Kane Holbrooks, senior pitcher, set the tone for the Bobcats’ three-game series with the Southeastern Louisiana Lions. He pitched eight and two-thirds innings and improved to a perfect 7-0 on the season. Paul Goldschmidt, junior infielder, launched his 10th home run of the season in the first inning. Holbrooks allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out five batters. “I am proud of him, obviously, especially after this performance tonight,” said Coach Ty Harrington. “He did all he could do and had an outstanding night.” Spenser Dennis, senior outfielder, drove in Bret Atwood, sophomore outfielder, with a base hit to left centerfield. Ben Theriot, junior catcher, followed with a single up the middle, giving the Bobcats the early 2-0 lead. “I thought coming into the game that I would throw well, and I did,” Holbrooks said. “But I also want to give credit to the defense because they played very well behind me tonight. It gives me a lot of confidence to know those guys are there on offense and defense.” Goldschmidt’s two-run homer to right centerfield lifted his career RBI total to 141, making him
the all-time career RBI leader at Texas State. The score was 5-3 after the fifth inning. “I had no clue that there was a record on the line,” Goldschmidt said. The team tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth and added one run in the seventh and eighth innings to take the game. The final score was 9-3. Goldschmidt continued to power hit in the second game. The Bobcats scored four runs in the second inning. Goldschmidt blasted his 11th home run of the season into the softball field. Zach Tritz, senior pitcher, worked a solid eight innings, surrendering just three runs on five hits while earning his fifth win. Theriot hit a two-run homer to right field to start the offense. Goldschmidt followed suit by launching a three-run homer to left field, giving the Bobcats a 5-0 lead. Texas State scored two more runs in the fifth inning to gain a 7-0 lead. Southeastern Louisiana scored three runs on three hits in the seventh and eighth innings. The rally was not enough to overcome the Bobcats, however. The final score was 9-3. Tritz improved to 5-2 on the season and collected four strikeouts in the victory. Brian Borski, sophomore pitcher, made his eighth start of the season. The Bobcats and the Lions were tied at 2 until the seventh inning when Southeastern Louisiana scored on an infield error to take the lead 3-2.
The Bobcats rallied in the eighth inning. Goldschmidt tied up the game with a solo home run over the leftfield wall that landed in the softball stadium’s centerfield. Theriot pinch-hit and drew a walk for the RBI with the bases loaded, giving the Bobcats a 4-3 lead heading into the ninth inning. Russo made his fifth save on the season. Texas State earned its first Southland Conference sweep since the opening weekend against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Bobcats improve to 23-10 overall and 13-5 in the SLC. Southeastern Louisiana falls to 20-13 overall and 10-8 in the league. The sweep was the first time this season the Lions have lost three straight games. “It was closer than I wanted, but it is what I anticipated, to be honest,” Harrington said. “We responded well in the second half of the game, not so much in the first half. A lot had to do with who they had on the mound.” Goldschmidt had three walks in three plate appearances before he got a pitch to hit in the eighth. “They didn’t pitch to him all day, but they got in a situation where they had to pitch to him,” Harrington said. “I was looking for his fastball so early in the count I was trying to hit it,” Goldschmidt said. “Thank God it happened. It’s the biggest home run so far.” Harrington said he is proud of his players. “Brian Borski was good, Lance Loftin was real good and I
thought Russo was outstanding,” Harrington said. Russo threw 13 pitches, nine for strikes, including a strikeout to end the game. Loftin improved to 2-0 after pitching two and one-thirds innings of relief. The senior collected one strikeout and allowed just one hit and an unearned run. “The biggest accomplishment for us is that we won a conference game,” Harrington said. “The sweep is nice particularly over a team as good as they are.” The Bobcats hosted the Houston Baptist Huskies Tuesday for the second time in one week. Texas State was scoreless until the fifth inning when Cody Gambill, sophomore outfielder, and Goldschmidt each hit RBI singles to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead. Garret Carruth, junior pitcher, started the game for the Bobcats. He pitched six scoreless innings and gave up only three hits while striking out three. The Bobcats added runs in the seventh and eighth inning. Dennis knocked in his 27th RBI of the season and Jason Martinson, sophomore infielder, scored on a throwing error by the Huskies’ third baseman. Russo came in to close the game in the ninth inning. It was his sixth on the season. The Bobcats won 4-0. Texas State will host Prairie View A&M Wednesday before traveling to Natchitoches, La. to face Northwestern State for a three-game SLC series.
Standing among a clump of trees alongside Augusta National’s 18th fairway, Angel Cabrera estimated his chance to win the Masters was no more than a foot wide. “I told myself the ball is smaller than what I had to hit it through,” Cabrera explained later. “So I said, ‘Go ahead.’” The ball didn’t squeeze through, but Cabrera did. Saving par from that risky-business first playoff hole, the Argentine held steadiest through the next to wrestle the green jacket from Kenny Perry’s grasp on a Sunday burgeoning with drama at both extremes. Perry bogeyed three of his final four holes, none of them costlier than when his approach at No. 10 — the second extra hole — bounced off the left side of the green and down a steep slope. Soon, that instantly-recognizable green blazer made a nice complement to Cabrera’s yellow shirt. “This is a great moment — the dream of any golfer to win the Masters,” Cabrera said during the traditional crowning on Augusta National’s practice green. “I’m so emotional, I can barely talk.” The burly Argentine now stands as golf’s newest two-time major champion, added to the 2007 U.S. Open crown won at Oakmont. And his homeland can cheer a green jacket that might have slipped off the hanger 41 years ago. It was 1968 when Roberto de Vicenzo lost a spot in a playoff with Bob Goalby, signing for a score that was one stroke higher than he actually recorded. “He had a bad moment,” Cabrera said Sunday. “It’s not going to change what happened to him.” Three shots behind with six holes to play, Cabrera rallied with three birdies down the stretch to complete a final-round 71. He finished regulation play at 12-underpar 276, tied with Perry (71) and Chad Campbell (69). It was the lowest 72-hole score since Tiger Woods beat Chris DiMarco in a playoff for the 2005 green jacket. That also was the last time the Masters went to extra holes, though you have to go back to 1987 for the most recent three-man playoff. “I had so many birdie opportunities, and I just couldn’t convert them,” said Perry, 48, who was seeking to become the game’s oldest major champion. “That’s what hurt me in the end.” Julius Boros, who made Fort Lauderdale his home for years, remains the oldest man to win a major. He was 48 years, four months when he won the 1968 PGA Championship. Perry is 3 months older, and
he appeared to have one arm in the green jacket when a spectacular 8-iron shot at the par-3 16th settled less than a foot from the pin. That got him to 14-under, two shots ahead of Cabrera and Campbell. But Perry bogeyed No. 17 after a tough chip ran through the green, then bogeyed again at No. 18 after driving into a fairway bunker. “I had a shot to win,” Perry said. “I played beautifully all day, all the way to 17 ... I’m not going to hang my head from this deal.” Japan’s Shingo Katayama used a 68 to claim fourth, two shots out of the playoff and one ahead of Phil Mickelson (67-279). Tiger Woods was at 280 with Sunday’s 68 lifting him to a tie for sixth. It was Woods and Mickelson who created fireworks to start the day, storming from seven shots back to throw a shadow on the leaders. Mickelson’s front-nine 30 matched a Masters record, and Woods used three birdies on the back nine to make his run. With two holes left, both were at 10under and one stroke off the lead. “I thought there were some pins that you could get to,” Mickelson said. “If you could make some birdies, you could get a little bit of momentum.” But Woods bogeyed No. 17 after a poor drive, and both endured adventures at No. 18 that led to bogeys. “When I birdied 16, I was right there,” lamented Woods, whose four-year gap between green jackets is his longest since turning pro. “Obviously, I didn’t do it.” Cabrera appeared cooked going into the playoff after his drive into the trees on the first hole. Seeing that small gap, he tried to punch through the trees, only to hear the dreaded crack of ball against bark. Then caddie Ruben Yorio spoke up. “We’re fine,” Yorio said. “It’s in the fairway.” Cabrera lofted a wedge shot to eight feet and drained the pressure putt for par. Perry and Campbell, meanwhile, failed to reach the green from the fairway. Perry’s approach landed short and right, leaving him a tough pitch that he brilliantly ran to 18 inches of the cup. Campbell was in a greenside bunker, blasting to eight feet but unable to convert. Down to two men, both piped their drives down the fairway before Perry cracked. Again pulling his approach shot, it took one bounce off the green and down that steep slope. All that was left was a routine two-putt after Cabrera hit the green. “Angel hung in there,” Perry said. “If they execute and beat you, I’m going to shake the man’s hand.”
Softball player ends Texas Tech game with home run By Lisa Carter Sports Editor The Texas State softball team took down its second Big 12 opponent of the month Monday. The Bobcats lost to Texas Tech 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader, but won 5-1 in the second. Coach Ricci Woodard said effort was key to winning the
second game. “Obviously, I thought we should have gotten both, but we didn’t have much effort in the first game,” Woodard said. “But to come back and be able to put some effort out there in the second game and win a ball game is big. It’s a good adjustment for us.” Texas State came off a 2-1 weekend against Interstate 35 rival Texas-San Antonio going into
Monday’s games. The Bobcats lost 3-2 to the Roadrunners Friday in the first game of a doubleheader, but won 4-1 in the second game and 6-1 Saturday. The Red Raiders were first to score in the opening game Monday when Elizabeth Eimen, Texas Tech infielder, had an unearned run in the third. Jenna Emery, sophomore utility, answered with a home run in the fourth, tying the score at 1. No runs were scored and the game went into extra innings. Danielle Matthews, Texas Tech infielder, scored an unearned run in the ninth. Emily Bledsoe, Texas Tech infielder, scored after Matthews to put the score at 3-1 in favor of the Red Raiders. Kristina Tello, junior utility, scored the final run for the Bobcats in the ninth off a hit by Chandler Hall, freshman pitcher. Hall is now 18-8 in pitching on the season. Texas Tech was first to open scoring again in the third inning of the second game. Bledsoe hit a home run to right field. Texas State scored two runs in the bottom of the same inning. Alex Newton, senior third baseman, scored on a single by Hall. Emery singled down left field to score Tello, putting the Bobcats up 2-1. The Bobcats scored their final
runs of the game in the sixth inning. McKenzie Baack, sophomore first baseman, led off the sixth with a home run. Baack said she was anticipating the home run for a long time. “It (the home run) was a great feeling,” Baack said. “It was a long time coming. I hadn’t hit one in awhile, so it felt great.” Ryan Kos, senior second baseman, and Allison Snow, freshman first baseman, scored off a double by Newton to end the sixth, and the game, for the Bobcats. Katie Garnett, senior pitcher, pitched all seven innings of game two. She had four strikeouts and one earned run in her 11th win of the season. The Bobcats improve to 29-14 overall, 16-5 in the SLC. Texas State will begin a threegame series against Northwestern State beginning with a doubleheader 1 p.m. Saturday in Natchitoches, La. Woodard has a strategy for this weekend’s games. “I think as long as this team brings their game, and they give everything they’ve got, then they’re hard to beat,” Woodard said. “If we don’t, people beat us. We’re just trying to figure out the Tina Phan/Star photo consistency of a day-to-day basis. I think if we can bring our efforts, FAST PITCH: Katie Garnett, senior pitcher, tosses the ball at the we can finish out this stretch of game Friday against Texas-San Antonio at Bobcat Field. The Bobcats lost 3-2 the first round and won 4-1 the second. April without any problems.”
