04 19 2006

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TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

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APRIL 19, 2006

WEDNESDAY

Earth First

University releases AALC investigation report to public

By Kirsten Crow The University Star An investigation conducted by an independent consulting firm revealed that “sufficient documentation exists to substantiate claims that students/citizens were making physical contact with the law enforcement officers” in the LBJ Student Center parking lot on Sept. 11, 2005 following an after-party at the African-American Leadership Conference.

The university released the executive summary of the report produced by the Houstonbased company Brown Group International on Tuesday, which found inconsistencies in both student and law enforcement versions of the incident, as well as recommendations to prevent such an event from occurring again.

The events following the after-party held by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity on Sept. 11, 2005, drew contradictory accounts from students and law enforcement officers after one student was Tased, three arrested and several others detained.

About 25 law enforcement officers from the University Police Department, San Marcos Police Department, Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission and Hays County Sheriff ’s Department responded to the scene.

Some witnesses characterized police actions against students as “excessive force” while police officials described the crowd as incompliant, alleging at least one student assaulted an officer.

However, the “most notable discovery” in a portion of the summary was the fact that neither UPD nor Texas State University ever conducted an official investigation into the incident.

UPD Capt. Rickey Lattie said the department never conducted an investigation into the incident because there were no

official complaints to investigate. UPD, however, wrote a retrospective review of the events that transpired that night.

UPD Chief Ralph Meyer said in addition to a complaint not being filed, there were other were concerns about launching an investigation without any formal claims of wrong-doing.

“We should have done a review, but there were some thoughts that if we brought everyone involved in it in, it would inflame the situation,” Meyer said.

Jarad Davis, president of Black Student Alliance, said it may have been students’ lack of education about the processes to file a complaint that explained the absence.

Bryan Ware, a pre-mass communication junior who was arrested for interfering with public duties on Sept. 11, said it may also have been due to students entrusting the university and student organizations to handle the situation. He said the situation had been handled poorly by both the university and the police department.

Although a thorough review of the full report was not available at press time, Vice President of Student Affairs Joanne Smith sent the executive summary to The University Star on Tuesday afternoon.

The summary notes that BGI’s work “did not include the responsibility to reinvestigate the incident in question, but how the incident was handled.”

The consulting firm gathered various forms of information, including dispatch records, department policies and procedures, police reports and use of force guidelines. Additionally, the group conducted several interactive panel discussions between faculty, staff, students and UPD officers to come to

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 76

Federation dumps butts, hosts QuadButt Pickup

By Nick Georgiou The University Star

O

n April 1, Bobcat Build volunteers picked up 13,600 cigarette butts in one hour.

In an effort to bring more attention to the cigarette-butt problem, the Earth First!

Federation, a new Texas State environmental organization, held the QuadButt Pickup on Tuesday afternoon.

The group dumped a few thousand butts in the middle of The Quad, forcing students to confront the massive pile.

See EARTH, page 3

See AALC, page 4

Mike Perez/Star photo illustration

Commissioners Court reviews agenda item for property tax relief

By Kathy Martinez The University Star The Hays County Commissioners Court met briefly on Tuesday morning to discuss only a few agenda items listed for the week.

Among the items passed included

actions to transfer two Environmental Health pickups to the maintenance department and to establish traffic regulations in the Blanco River Crossing subdivision.

A staff recommendation called for the implementation of stop signs and a 30 mph speed limit at Blanco River Cross-

ing.

The court briefly discussed possible action approving a resolution supporting the Tax Reform Commission’s Plan for property tax relief.

County Judge Jim Powers made a motion to pass the resolution, which he said would lower taxes for property owners.

“I think we can all agree that we are in favor of lower property taxes — at least I am, for that matter,” Powers said.

Commissioner Susan Carter, 2nd precinct, said she felt it was not a permanent solution for tax relief for the business community.

“I’m abstaining because I’m having a

hard time with the idea of such taxes being possibly transferred to the business sector,” Carter said. “This resolution still allows for taxes to escalate even after this happens, so I don’t see the point.”

Carter said she would abstain from voting until she received further clarification on the resolution.

Panel addresses harsh language aimed at sexual minorities

By Anna Heffley The University Star About 40 people attended Monday night’s panel discussion about harmful language as part of Language Consciousness Week, hosted by the Texas State Activists for Sexual Minorities organization.

Panel members Jeffrey Gordon, philosophy professor; Audrey McKinney, associate philosophy professor; Shirley Ogletree, psychology professor; and Barbara Trepagnier, associate sociology professor, began by discussing discrimination against homosexuals.

Gordon, who posed questions Deleigh Hermes/Star photo to the panel, brought up a reWATCH YOUR LANGUAGE: Texas State students watch The cent incident of discrimination Color of Fear, a film discussing ethnicities and stereotypes that at Taco Cabana against a lesbian average Americans are exposed to on a daily basis on Tuesday couple. The event was described evening at Evans Liberal Arts Building, as a part of Language Con- in a guest column in the opinions section of The University Star on sciousness Week.

Today’s Weather

Partly Cloudy 90˚/66˚

Precipitation: 20% Humidity: 54% UV: 10+ Very High Wind: NE 9 mph

“T

hey shouldn’t have to step out anymore than all of us do. All kinds of hardships go along with minority status.”

— Shirley Ogletree psychology professor

Thursday.

“Why is it OK for heterosexuals to show affection and not homosexuals?” Ogletree said. “Why is it OK for one and not the other? The girls hadn’t encountered much discrimination before.

They were probably shocked. It would have been nice if another bystander had jumped in.”

McKinney said it is not always the role of the minority to educate a person, since that individual is directly involved.

Trepagnier said allies are important and when someone

Two-day Forecast Thursday Isolated T-storms Temp: 89°/ 68° Precipitation: 30%

Friday Scattered T-storms Temp: 89°/ 67° Precipitation: 40%

witnesses discrimination, they should say something.

“There’s no such thing as an innocent bystander,” Trepagnier said. “When someone witnesses discrimination they have to stand up and say, ‘This is a beautiful thing here; these people care about each other.’”

The next question posed by Gordon was whether all members of a minority should be activists.

“A professor at Yale invited her students to her and her partner’s house for dinner, but that was the

Inside

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most she ever did. She never really felt urges of a political activist and someone asked her, ‘Don’t you feel like you should do more?

You’re not in the closet, but shouldn’t you step out?’” Gordon said.

Ogletree said the burden to stop discrimination is on every person, not just the minority.

“They shouldn’t have to step out anymore than all of us do,” Ogletree said. “All kinds of hardships go along with minority status. Another person has no idea what that person has to deal with.”

McKinney said it is hard on minorities, especially sexual minorities, to have to defend themselves against discrimination.

“When I was in college, I was walking behind two women holding hands and some guys See PANEL, page 4

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2006 The University Star

PAGE TWO The University Star

Wednesday in Brief

April 19, 2006

community happenings City begins minor reconstruction on Park Place The City of San Marcos Public Works department began minor reconstruction of Park Place on Tuesday. The project is expected to take three to five weeks.

The minor reconstruction involves grinding the old asphalt, recycling it with base materials, reshaping the base and adding a new asphalt surface. Motorists are asked to drive carefully in the construction zone.

Public Works will pave 7.3 miles of streets in the minor reconstruction program this year. Public Works is also currently working on Telephone Alley.

Streets completed since the fiscal year began in October include Norcrest, Endicott, Burleson, Kasch, Rogers Ridge, E. Sierra Circle, Mead, Hillyer and Advance St. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at (512) 393-8036.

— Courtesy of the City of San Marcos

News Contact — Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu

Calendar of

A chip off the old block

STARS OF TEXAS STATE POLICY Do you know someone at Texas State who has recently celebrated a great achievement? Nominate your choice to appear in The Star as a “Star of Texas State.” Write an e-mail to starletters@txstate.edu with the subject line “Stars of Texas State,” and include your nominee’s name, his/her relationship to the university, contact information for yourself and your nominee, and a brief description of the achievement. Also include a photo of your nominee if available. Accepted nominees will be featured at the top of Page Two.

EVENTS Events Wednesday A rosary will be recited at 7:25 p.m. in the Catholic Student Center chapel.

The CSC will have a student-led bible study at 8 p.m. in the CSC lounge.

p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3-6.1.

There will be a special screening of Rescue Me from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. in the Alkek Library Teaching Theater.

On This Day...

There will be a special screening of Jumping Off Bridges from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Alkek Library Teaching Theaters.

1775 - The American Revolution began as fighting broke out at Lexington, Ma.

Saturday The RiverFest Raft Race will take place at 3 p.m. at Sewell Park.

Language Consciousness Week 2006, sponsored by Activists for Sexual Minorities, will have Language Expression Poetry Night at 6:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Amphitheater.

SahamAd’ Deen, Muslim scholar, will be speaking at 5:30 p.m. in Arnold Hall.

Earth Day Ride, a group bicycle ride, will start in The Quad at 10 a.m.

Arts & Entertainment Wednesday The Student Association for Campus Activities will present RiverFest at Sewell Park.

Saturday

Language Consciousness Week 2006, sponsored by Activists for Sexual Minorities, will host a Diversity Dinner at 7 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-13.1.

Career Services will be holding the Job Search Rehab from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the LBJSC. Please contact Career Services at (512) 245-2465, or visit www.careerservices.txstate. edu for more information.

Friday Steve Montignani will lecture on Transcendental Meditation Program Introductory at 7:30 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3-7.1.

Linda Montignani will lecture on Transcendental Meditation Program Group Meditation at 7:30

1971 - Russia launched the Salyut into orbit around Earth. It was the first space station.

Delta Sigma Theta sorority will host the Miss Black Texas State Pageant 2006 from 6 to 10 p.m. in the University Performing Arts Center.

Thursday The Rock-Praise & Worship will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the CSC chapel.

1881 - Baltimore rioters attack a Union regiment en route to Washington, D.C.

The Wildflower Fiesta Plant Sale and Gardening Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the San Marcos Nature Center, 403 Riverside Drive. Admission is free.

CALENDAR SUBMISSION POLICY Calendar submissions are free. Send submissions to Calendar of Events at starcalendar@txstate.edu or call (512) 245-3487 for more information.

E-mailed press releases will not be accepted. If using e-mail, please submit as a simple bulleted list of essential information. Submissions are on a first come, first served basis and notices for weekly meetings need to be submitted every week they will take place.

The University Star reserves the right to refuse entries or edit for libel, style and space purposes. Deadline: Three working days prior to publication.

Strange, but informative.

Monty Marion/Star photo Studio art senior Chris Day works on a sculpture at the Mitte Complex on Tuesday afternoon. The solid oak log will eventually become a spiraling figure diving into water.

CRIME BL TTER University Police Department

San Marcos Police Department

April 17, 4:52 a.m.

Information Report/ Student Recreating Center A police officer made contact with a student who seemed confused and excited. The student was transported to North Baptist Medical Center for medical evaluation.

April 17, 10:26 a.m.

Theft Under $20,000/ 817 North Interstate 35 Victim advises that a ring was stolen.

April 17, unknown hour Theft: Under $500/ Bexar Hall Two students reported to a police officer that their personal property had been stolen. This case is under investigation.

April 17, unknown hour Criminal Mischief: Under $500/Academy St. Garage A student reported to a police officer that his vehicle had been damaged while parked. This case is under investigation.

April 17, 11:04 a.m.

Credit Card Abuse/ 2300 S. I-35 Victim’s stolen credit card was used at the outlet mall.

April 17, 11:46 a.m.

Illegally Parked Vehicle/ 4015 S. I-35 Vehicle was found at Tanger Outlet Center, abandoned, with fictitious Arkansas plates.

Vehicle was impounded at Masters.

April 18, 1:34 a.m.

Information Report/1640 Aquarena Springs Dr. Officer took information regarding possible stalking.

Crime stoppers: UPD: 245-7867, SMPD: 353-TIPS

1982 - NASA named Sally Ride to be first woman astronaut.

1995 - The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building is bombed, killing 168.

Campus Beat Seventh-annual mariachi concert to include contest, musical instruction The seventh-annual La Feria del Mariachi Concert will be held at 8 p.m. on April 29 in Evans Auditorium.

This year’s concert presents three top mariachi performers: Trio San Antonio de Chepe Solis, Mariachi Mariachi Campanas de America and Texas State’s own award-winning mariachi ensemble, Nueva Generación.

More than 250 middle school and high school student participants will be on campus during the weekend for two days of instructional seminars, focusing on various aspects of the mariachi musical art form.

Everything from personalized instruction on the various instruments used in mariachi music and vocal technique to stage presence, arrangement and the traditions of mariachi are included in the two-day event. Participants come from

high schools, middle schools and community colleges around the state.

The mariachi competition begins at 11 a.m. on April 30 and is free and open to the public.

The weekend has been organized by John Lopez, an associate professor in the School of Music as well as the director of Multicultural Music Ensembles. Additional help was provided by the members of mariachi ensemble Nueva Generación.

Texas State students may purchase tickets at the door for $5 with a university ID the night of the concert. Tickets ($15 for preferred seating, $10 regular seating) for all others may be purchased in advance at three locations in San Marcos; Taqueria El Charro and Los Cucos Mexican Restaurant as well as the music office.

For additional information, visit the Texas State MultiCultural Music Home Page at www.txstate.edu/mcmusic.

Memories of a 1906 earthquake San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (far left) talks with earthquake survivor Olive Carol, during the marking of the centennial of the 1906 earthquake at Lotta’s Fountain on Tuesday in San Francisco.

Gregory Urquiaga/ Contra Costa Times/ KRT

NEWS

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

The University Star - Page 3

Bush’s new budget designee must grapple with huge deficit

By Kevin G. Hall Knight Ridder Newspapers WASHINGTON, D.C. — Awaiting Rob Portman when he becomes director of the White House Office of Management and Budget is this chilling fact: By one measure, the governments budget deficit is actually twice as big as last years official total of $319 billion.

President Bush on Tuesday picked Portman, a family friend and the current U.S. trade representative, to head the OMB. The former Ohio congressman, 50, is widely praised for his smarts and pluck. He’ll need all that and more for his new job. If confirmed by the Senate, Portman must grapple with chronic budget deficits and severe government accounting problems to head off a looming fiscal crisis.

“Director Portman will be inheriting the most dire longterm fiscal outlook we’ve ever had,” said Brian Riedl, the chief budget analyst for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. “The first baby boomers retire in 18 months, and the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid costs are set to explode. On top of that, he’ll be dealing with a Congress that’s absolutely addicted to runaway spending and pork!”

Conservatives like Riedl complain that federal spending has grown 45 percent since 2001 and that the budget deficit for fiscal 2005 was a whopping $319 billion.

But its actually more. When Treasury Secretary John Snow signed off in mid-December on the 2005 Financial Report of the United States Government — the official federal balance sheet — he acknowledged that a parallel accounting method showed the budget deficit was actually about $760 billion.

That’s a difference of $441

billion.

The $319 billion deficit is based on cash-basis accounting, which tracks money flowing in and out of federal coffers as payments are made or received.

But since 1997, the government also has estimated the presentday cost of promised future spending using accrual-basis accounting, which is the norm in corporate America.

Think of it as the government making a purchase on a credit card. The goods and services are paid for in the future, but they’re counted as liabilities immediately, such as pension commitments to veterans.

“The (cash-basis) budget deficit doesn’t pick up those long-term obligations because they have no current effect,” said Donald Hammond, the assistant treasury secretary for government financial operations.

The $760 billion accrual-basis deficit for fiscal 2005 was up sharply from the $615.6 billion deficit of a year earlier. In fact, the accrual-basis deficit has grown each year of the Bush presidency.

If the bigger-than-advertised deficit isn’t troubling enough, there’s this attention-grabbing fact buried in the government’s Chuck Kennedy/KRT 158-page financial statement: DIRECTORIAL DEBUT: President George W. Bush introduces U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman as his nominee for Director of the The U.S. government’s un- Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C. With them is Susan Schwab, funded liabilities — financial newly appointed U.S. Trade Representative. promises to be paid by future generations — now exceed $46 trillion.

Yes, $46 trillion — enough to Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a for- unfunded? You’ve got me,” he Ultimately, Congress decides cent history, in terms of an adgive $155,932.18 to each of 295 mer economic adviser to Bush said. federal spending, tax and debt ministration having to decide million Americans. and until recently the director But Bush rules out raising questions. Many experts believe whether they continue to borThe bulk of that staggering of the nonpartisan Congressio- taxes. He favors tax cuts, argu- that if Congress is going to re- row and spend, or whether they number, $36 trillion, reflects a nal Budget Office, believes the ing that they’ll promote growth ally tackle the deficit, it needs a face up to very difficult choices present-day value on promises focus on unfunded liabilities is and thus bring in more rev- sign from Portman and Joshua that have to be made to discithat the government has made overstated. enue. Economists are divided Bolten, the new White House pline the budget,” said Leon Pafor health and retirement ben“Unfunded in the private over how much revenue tax chief of staff who previously netta, who served as President efits to 76 million baby boom- sector means you do not have cuts generate, but most agree headed OMB, that the Bush ad- Clinton’s budget director and ers born between 1946 and funds in your hands to meet that economic growth alone ministration is serious about it, later was his White House chief 1964. The first boomers reach (commitments). The govern- won’t generate enough to meet too. of staff. “I think well find out in the early retirement age of 62 ment has the power to tax, so the governments promises to “I think they’re facing the the next few months what that in 2008. what constitutes funded or future generations. largest challenge I’ve seen in re- decision is going to be.”

PANEL: Discussion, awareness offered as solutions to dissolving stereotypes CONTINUED from page 1

on a scaffolding made derogatory comments — you know, really trying to hurt them — and I love it, the girls kissed each other in a prolonged fashion and the guys shut up after that,” McKinney said. “But it was a poignant moment. They were thrust out of their happiness of just being with each other and had to enact their affection for an audience.

They not only meet resistance, but have to perform to defend themselves.”

The next issue raised was how to handle other people making racist or sexist comments, especially in a large group.

“People don’t want to be a wet blanket,” Gordon said.

Trepagnier said the solution might be to make a joke about it.

“If someone tells a racist joke, you can interrupt it by saying, ‘My grandmother was black,’ or, ‘My grandmother was a lesbian,’” Trepagnier said. “It’s never easy, but it’s harder the first time; it does get easier.”

Sabrina Jennings, applied sociology junior and president of ASM, asked the panel how language affects our society and other people.

McKinney said derogatory language is not only harmful to the person or group it is directed toward, but to the person who said it as well.

“Martin Luther King said when a person uses that language, they internalize it themselves,” McKinney said. “When they look at a part of humanity and say, ‘No, this is beneath me,’ it negatively affects them too.”

When told by a member of the audience that Damon Wayans is coming out with a clothing line called “Nigga,” the panel discussed the pros and cons of using the Nword as a term of endearment.

“I think that’s a hoot,” McKinney said. “It will provoke conversation. Like the woman comedian who just lets out derogatory words about women one after the other.

It makes people think.”

Trepagnier did not think it would be such a good idea.

“It would give other people the right to use it,” Trepagnier said.

“Turning a negative term into a positive term, I don’t see the point of it. I don’t think a group can change the meaning of a word.

A word may change by itself over time; we’ve seen evidence of that, but people didn’t set out to change those words, it just happened.”

Jennings said sexual minorities also encounter difficulties when referring to each other as “dyke” or “femme” lesbians.

“The terms constrain people,” Jennings said. “You have to be butch or femme. It’s enforcing those stereotypes and instead of being ourselves, we’re expected to live up to that name.”

Trepagnier said the best advice for stopping harmful language is discussion and awareness.

“I don’t think you can grow up in our society without having some thoughts in our head,” Trepagnier said. “I think we might all be racist, and we don’t know, but we should try to understand and talk about it. Make friends with someone who is different from you and discuss it.”

ASM was started one year ago

by Jennings to raise awareness about different issues that affect not only sexual minorities, but other minorities as well.

“One big goal was to bring unity to different minority groups and focus on shared goals,” Jennings said. “All the groups are separate from each other and we want to kind of bring everyone together.”

Other Language Consciousness events include a Language Expression Poetry Night at 6:30 p.m. today in the LBJ Student Center amphitheatre and a Diversity Dinner at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the LBJSC, Room 3-13.1.

ASM will also be passing out information in The Quad about stereotypes and harmful words.

“We want to encourage people to stop and think about the things they say,” Jennings said. “We want people to see that language is such an important part of everyday life and it affects how we perceive ourselves and others.”

Got dirt?

Send your news tips to us at starnews@txstate.edu

NEWS

The University Star - Page 4

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

EARTH: EF! requests return of AALC: Investigation reveals some cigarette butt cans to The Quad inconsistencies, recommends new CONTINUED from page 1

from discarded butts. They worry about the effects the butts from Texas State smokers could EF! members collected the butts within a cou- have on wildlife in the San Marcos River. ple of hours.

Cigarette butts are nonbiodegradable, and Matt Akins, nutrition senior and EF! mem- according to Underwater Naturalist, a publicaber, said it only takes a person tion in the field of reference and a couple hours to fill up a groeducation, they can affect the Ph cery bag’s worth of butts. level of fresh water.

According to an EF! press reIn a study published by Amerlease, the rise in the number of ican Littoral Society Bulletin, 100 butts has been attributed to the percent of the test organisms removal of the cigarette-disdied in one liter of water with posal cans from the non smoktwo cigarette butts in it. ing areas such as The Quad and “Everything is connected and the Alkek breezeway.

—Jonathan Mook we will eventually disrupt our EF! wants the administration Earth First! Federation way of life,” Mook said. to effectively place cigaretteJoe Ptak, EF! adviser, said the member worldwide cigarette-butt probutt disposal cans around campus and return the ones that duction is estimated at a total of 2 were taken away. billion pounds.

Bogan Durr, He said the history sophoUnited States is more and EF! responsible for s p o ke s p e r s o n , approximately said her orga176 million nization has no pounds. problem with During the people smokApril 1 cleanup, ing but feels the the Chemistry cigarettes should Building was be disposed of cited with havproperly. ing one of the Durr said the largest accumugroup supports lations of cigathe Associated rette butts.

Student GovLaura Butts, ernment’s legchemistry seislation, but the nior, admitashtrays need to ted to creating be put back. her own little EF! hopes to pile outside increase awarethe Chemistry ness of the probBuilding. lem by placing “We are noticeable sigchemistry manage of the No jors and we Smoking and the don’t sleep,” No Butts policies Butts said. “I’m Mike Perez/Star graphic campuswide. gonna smoke Above all else, because I’m an EF! press restressed.” lease said smokers should take responsibility and She said if students do not have the receptacles dispose of their butts properly. to in which to throw the butts, it is harder to disEF!, in addition to the display of butts, set up pose of them properly. a table that included photos of children from Andrew Carroll, applied arts and sciences juCamp Fire USA picking up butts during the nior, said the butt problem is a cultural issue.

April 1 cleanup.

“Our culture breeds laziness,” Carroll said.

For the past four years, the local Camp Fire “People just don’t care.”

Girls and Boys have picked up more than 40,000 In addition, Carroll said the school has no cigarette butts on the Texas State campus. The right to regulate students’ lives or habits. child volunteers ranged from third to seventh Carroll said the best way to stop people from graders. smoking in nonsmoking areas is to issue citaEF! member and history junior Jonathan tions.

Mook said his organization is also concerned He suggested a $50 dollar citation would probwith the environmental problems that can arise ably curb the habit.

verything is “E connected, and we will

eventually disrupt our way of life.”

measures to prevent future incidents CONTINUED from page 1

their conclusions.

The report states the “escalation and de-escalation of the scene happened very, very quickly,” noting that only three minutes passed between the time police allege Joseph Stewart, finance junior, struck UPD officer Nathan Watkins in the face and the time he was transported to the Hays County Law Enforcement Center.

Sixteen findings of the investigatory group included the university administration’ s knowledge of potential problems at the event, violation of established protocols for the use of the LBJSC Ballroom, campus visitors who were incompliant to officer’ s instructions and a lack of training for UPD officers on how to handle such an incident.

BGI also found UPD requested assistance from only three officers from SMPD, and on-site SMPD officers made the following calls for additional personnel.

The report discussed several points of contention between student and law enforcement accounts. One such point was student reports that event sponsors ended the function, while Meyer said it was UPD who did so. According to BGI, it was indeed the students who ended the party.

Although students said there was no fight, BGI found enough evidence to back UPD’ s claim of students making physical contact with officers.

Although The Star received several reports from eyewitnesses that two students were Tased, BGI found evidence to the contrary, noting that no UPD officer discharged their Taser that night in the LBJSC parking lot. Taser logs obtained

by The Star show one SMPD officer discharging his weapon during that time.

Among the 21 recommendations offered by BGI were reevaluations of LBJSC Ballroom usage requirements, necessary police-to-student ratios at large

e’ re looking at this executive “W summary as the first step for positive things for the university and the police department.”

events, locations of police personnel at late night venues and diversity on the police force.

The group also suggested crowd control training for UPD officers, the development of an Alternative Dispute Resolution process, a marketing plan to counteract negative publicity the university has suffered and a process under which someone other than the complainant may request the launch of an Internal Department Investigation.

In response to BGI’ s findings, the university initiated several actions, including a revision for the Management of Late Night Events Policy, possibly integrating an Alternative Dispute Resolution process into the existing mediation process, launching a comprehensive review of UPD and the creation of the University Police Advisory Board and diversity plan for UPD. Meyer said the creation of a University Police Advisory Board would bring the pulse of the community to the department, giving residents a chance to air concerns. According to the university response press release, the board would bring together students, faculty, UPD officers and San Marcos community leaders to communicate and assist in marketing police services and creating campus safety guidelines.

The report states the “incident inflicted more emotional damage than physical,” a sentiment that has been echoed by many students, faculty and university staff in the nine months that have passed since the event.

Davis and Ware agreed.

“The African-American population on campus felt like they were marginalized because of the situation and how it was

— Ralph Meyer UPD chief

handled,” Davis said. “It hit the emotions much more than it hit the physical aspect of it.”

Ware and Davis also said an apology would go a long way to healing.

“I think it would rectify the situation a lot more and will bring some closure to the situation, and I think it would make the students feel a lot better,” Davis said.

Ware said he felt the university needed to create a proposition to bring back the trust of black students at Texas State, and university President Denise Trauth needs to make a public statement.

“I think Dr. Trauth needs to come publicly and denounce the actions that happened and say she will work to improve relationships on campus and work harder to create the diversity this university is supposedly comprised of and stands on,” Ware said. “That’ s a challenge, basically of myself, to her.”

Both Lattie and Meyer said they viewed the recommendations as a positive development.

“We’ re looking at this executive summary as the first step for positive things for the university and the police department,” Meyer said.

Smith said on Tuesday evening two copies of the full, 146page report would be available at Alkek Library’ s Reserve Desk today for anyone who wishes to view it. Smith said students’ names originally appearing in the document were redacted by University Attorney Bill Fly because it is considered an internal report.

“We thought that was the most acceptable way to make the report available for the people who wanted to view it,” she said.

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

trendythoughts

Would you rather buy a new CD at the store, or find it online?

“Store. I like to have the actual CD, the artist’s work.”

“I’d rather download it off the Internet. All my music ends up on my computer ayways.”

“Download it. It’s more convenient.”

— Ben Wilkey finance senior

— Johathan Bibles biochemistry junior

— Eric Trochta undecided freshman

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - Page 5

Trends Contact — Kyle Bradshaw, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Compiled by David Racino

The

Monster Squad dra w s

By Nixon Guerrero The University Star Outside the original Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Austin, fans of a cult film were amassed with marked verve, awaiting the opening of the theater’s doors into the world of classic moviemonster legends and haute ’80s fashion and music. What kind of film could hold fans’ hearts for more than 20 years after its original 1987 release and cause them to arrive hours before the screening to stand in a line that nearly wrapped the block?

The film of the night was The Monster Squad. Along for the screening came director/cowriter, Fred Dekker and cast members Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert and Ashley Bank.

The Monster Squad is Dekker’s homage to the classic Universal monster movies that many have come to love, like monster heavyweights such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Dekker is also responsible for another cultclassic film of the horror/comedy genre — Night of the Creeps (1986).

The Monster Squad is about a group of children obsessed with horror movies and their central monster characters; the children have even formed their own club. At one point, the real monsters find their way to the children’s town, and no one can stop the evildoers but the Monster Squad.

As the theater doors opened

Kelly Simmons/Star illustration

devoted crowd, roars of laughter

for the eager — yet respectful — hoard of fans, one would begin to sense that the screening was going to be an event to remember. Fans eagerly walked to their seats and ordered their meals and drinks for the night, as Eric “Quint” Vespe took the stage, who is responsible for organizing the screening with the director and cast.

Vespe welcomed the film’s fans and introduced the special guests. Vespe shouted, “Are you guys ready for a great film?” and asked, “How many of you have not seen this movie?” To which,

about 20 hands sheepishly responded in hesitant ascension.

Though there were a few Monster Squad “virgins” — as Vespe put it — in attendance, he, along with the director and cast, sincerely welcomed the few oblivious attendees.

As the lights dimmed and the film played, fans applauded the film’s opening credits acknowledging the filmmakers’ names.

The loudest of all the came when the title card “The Monster Squad” appeared.

An intimate, humor-filled question-and-answer session

immediately followed the screening. Vespe welcomed Dekker and the cast to the stage to lead the Q&A. Dekker expressed his shock that people were still fans of the film.

“I can’t believe there are people that like this movie!” Dekker said. “Where the hell were all of you in 1987? Seriously.”

He also spoke about the experience of directing child actors.

“I loved working with these kids,” he said. “It’s not that I have anything against adult actors; it’s just that a lot of them have their own methods and

such. But with children, you can just say, ‘I need you to be more scared,’ and they’ll be like, ‘OK.’ See, that’s simple and fun.”

When asked if he wrote one of the film’s most famous lines, Dekker said, “You know, when I watch the movie, I can hear what it is that I wrote, and I also hear what my writing partner wrote, but when I hear ‘Wolfman’s got nards!’ I go blank — but I think it was me.”

Gower, who played Sean in the See MONSTER, page 6

TRENDS

Page 6 - The University Star

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Garden Ruin sprouts new style, sound for Calexico

By Samuel Ladach-Bark The University Star

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company THE LUCKIEST: Josh Harnett stars as a wisecracking New Yorker who gets caught in a gang war in Lucky Number Slevin.

Cleverly written Slevin keeps up action with comic-book feel

By Samuel Ladach-Bark The University Star Filled with gore, twists, clever tricks two ✯✯✯ and mob bosses Lucky Number at war, Lucky Slevin Numb e r Dir.: Paul Slevin delivMcGuigan ers an inStars: Josh Hartstant smirk nett, Bruce Willis — even if it Rated: R does glorify the life of a world-class contract killer.

Its far-fetched, almost comic book-esque storyline follows the life and crimes of “The Boss” (Morgan Freeman) and “The Rabbi” (Ben Kingsley). In New York City, these warring gang leaders have not left their penthouse suites — which sit just across the street from each other — in more than 20 years, for fear of losing their lives at each other’s hands.

The wisecracking, streetsmart Slevin (Josh Hartnett) somehow finds himself dealing with both sides under a case of mistaken identity. Both gangsters think he is Nick Fisher, a small-time bum who owes both of them dearly in gambling debts. Slevin is commissioned by The Boss to kill The Rabbi’s son “The Fairy.”

Maybe now you see where this movie stops trying to be realistic and instead assumes that of a implausible satire. Unusually cool about his newly acquired $30,000 debt and murder commission, Slevin — aided by his neighbor Lindsey (Lucy Liu) — sets out to find the root of his troubles. Within this initial interaction, based on mutual curiosity, blossoms a passionate and physical love story that will have Slevin risking it all before the end. The audience

film review

also finds Mr. Goodkat (Bruce Willis), a contract killer who is feared and respected by both sides, and Brikowski (Stanley Tucci), a detective shadowing the activities of both gangsters.

Willis is perfect as a coldhearted assassin, not even blinking an eye as he guns down countless victims throughout the movie. Freeman, however, is not very believable as a mob boss; his grandfather-like smile and dialogue makes it hard to take him seriously when he talks about crime and murder.

As Slevin, this could very well be the role that drags Hartnett out of teen heartthrob magazines and into the beginnings of a prominent action career.

His calm, quick-witted attitude throughout the film’s unfortunate events gives him a very adult appeal.

Throughout the film, director Paul McGuigan relies on quick scenes that make a profound impact, without use of many flashy images; then again, showy cinematography would do nothing but slow down the roller coaster plotline and probably push the length from 109 minutes to 200. More than anything, the body language and the characters’ wardrobe tells this story best; just like in a comic book, the good and bad are displayed to obvious extremes.

Reminiscent of director Quentin Tarantino’s thrillers, Lucky Number Slevin sports clever twists around every corner with enough plot and dialogue in the first 30 minutes to fill most movies of its kind.

With the quick, smart dialogue of writer Jason Smilovic, it is a fast-paced film that might leave you guessing, but it will not fail to create an uncomfortable grin.

Calexico was named after a small western town that lies where California and Mexico meet, which accurately music reflects its review unique, folk✯✯✯ meets-Latin style. With a Calexico prominent Garden Ruin horn section Quarterstick and caustic Records acoustic backbeats, this ensemble defined a new genre with its 1998 debut. It was this fresh and exclusive approach to salsadance-pop that brought fans flocking the band’s way with the release of The Black Light. Up until its 2003 release, Feast of Wire, the band has stayed true to its fiery roots.

In September of last year, Calexico released a seven-track collaborative EP with Iron & Wine. The result was a happy

blend of Calexico’s mariachistyle acoustics with Sam Beam’s docile voice. With Garden of Ruin, they have adopted some of the somber folk themes that are commonly associated with Sam Beam’s simple yet captivating tones.

The band’s new folk-oriented approach was experimented with on Feast of Wire but did not encompass the entire album. Garden Ruin is, however, a very classic rock/folk-infused endeavor that finds the listener yearning for the simple beginnings of this group. It is no coincidence that this new style should emerge after working so closely with Iron & Wine.

A slide guitar is utilized in many tracks where a once vibrant horn section existed.

There are also vocals on every song, and Joey Burns’ voice is crisp while the lyrics are actually quite poetic. The strings on “Bisbee Blue” play similar to a gospel-rock group, whereas the lyrics paint a portrait of big city blues, yearning for the simple life in a simple town. On “Letter to Bowie Knife,” Calexico surprises with a simply picked intro

that erupts into an all-out rock song, sounding like a blend of The Who and Wilco. The same can also be heard on the album’s closer, “All Systems Red,” which actually dips its toes into psychedelic rock territory.

Calexico did not totally abandon its old style and set free some south-of-the-border goodness on “Roka.” Guest vocalist Amparo Sanchez sings in Spanish with soul, satisfying lucidity about a dance for the dead. But in a complete U-turn, spoken French is featured on “Nom de Plume.” The dark vocals set against minimal instrumental accompaniment evoke the spirit of Tom Waits’ poetry.

Although its new approach on Garden Ruin is not musically unpleasant to listen to and is actually quite the opposite, it fails to set Calexico apart from similar groups. The strongest track was definitely “Roka,” and for future endeavors, the band should strive to stand out from other indie groups. They could definitely do this with cultivation and experimentation of the Latin-based strengths of previous albums.

Courtesy of City Slang GARDEN STATE: Calexico released its latest album Garden Ruin on April 11. It’s the band’s first album since the 2003 release, Feast of Wire.

MONSTER: Directors rile up devoted crowd with Q&A, meet-and-greet session CONTINUED from page 5

film, talked about his experience working on Monster Squad.

“It was a lot of fun,” Gower

said. “I mean, you got to hang out with cool kids, including Fred; he was 27 when he made the movie.

He had Operation Wolf, the arcade, in his apartment for us to

play with.”

A crowd member thanked Dekker for not casting one of the “Corey’s” (’80s film stars Corey Feldman and Corey Haim) in his film.

“You know, we were actually approached by one of their agents,” Dekker said. “They actually wanted their client to get the Rudy part. I told them we had someone better, and that ‘someone’ was Ryan Lamber,” to which the crowd roared with applause.

After the question-and-answer session, Dekker and the cast went to the theater’s lobby, where Tshirts displaying the movie’s infamous line — “Wolfman’s got nards” — were on sale, to meet and sign autographs for fans.

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Scary Movie 4 presents old movies, poor humor

By Steven Rea Knight Ridder Newspapers W h a t do you get when you mix up Saw, ✯✯ The Grudge, Scary Movie 4 The Village Dir.: David Zucker and War of Stars: Anna Faris, the Worlds Craig Bierko — and then Rated: PG-13 throw in a little Brokeback Mountain and Million Dollar Baby?

You get Scary Movie 4, a throw-it-at-the-wall-and-seeif-it-sticks onslaught of pottyjokes, puns, celebrity cameos, Japanese horror, sophistication and wit. You also get laughs, but not nearly as many as you’d hoped.

Overseen by David Zucker, The Airplane! and Naked Gun parodist, who took over the Scary Movie franchise with No. 3, SM4 brings back Anna Faris

film review

as the nubile nincompoop Cindy Campbell, sent to take care of an infirm hag (Cloris Leachman) in a Japanese-style house.

When a spooky kid materializes at the top of the stairs, Cindy freaks. Then she starts talking Japanese with the ghost boy, a string of sushi orders and brand-name products (Nikon, Toyota) accompanied with subtitles, of course. How do you say ha-ha?

Craig Bierko gets the Tom Cruise War of the Worlds role, a lumbering dockworker with a divorced wife, a moody teenage son and a cute little girl that he keeps knocking over, electrocuting and crushing with heavy objects. Tom (yup, no subtlety here) lives next door to the old woman and he and caregiver Cindy hit it off. When the intergalactic tripods (yes, there’s an iPod joke) start destroying the town, Tom and his kids go running — into the countryside and into the plotlines of several

The University Star - Page 7

✯Star Comics

recent box office hits.

When Zucker was at the top of his game, the parodies teemed with sight gags, goofball signage and throwaway shtick. It wasn’t just dopey Leslie Nielsen front and center, it was the sublime idiocy going on all around him. With Scary Movie 4 — which has Nielsen playing a dim-witted U.S. president first seen in a kindergarten class listening to a story about ducks (draw your own parallels) — there are none of those satisfying background gags.

Carmen Electra gets the plum job of a blind village resident who unwittingly goes to the toilet in front of her entire community. Bill Pullman does William Hurt, Chris Eliott is The Village’s village idiot and Charlie Sheen does a Viagra spoof. Shaquille O’Neal and Dr. Phil open Scary Movie 4 with an achingly unfunny couple of minutes of severed limbs and errant hoop shots.

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company NOT SO SCARY: Craig Bierko and Debra Wilson spoof Tom Cruise’s infamous couch jumping incident on The Oprah Winfrey Show in Scary Movie 4.

SU DO KU Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains every digit from one through nine inclusively.

Tuesday’s solutions:

© Pappocom

Tuesday’s solutions:

Go to www.UniversityStar.com for today’s answers.

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

quote of the day “I’m the decider and I decide what’s best. And what’s best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain.”

”

— President George W. Bush responding to calls for him to fire Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld over his handling of the Iraq war. (Source: CNN)

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - Page 8

Opinions Contact — Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu

Problems remain San Marcos shouldn’t have even after AALC to shoulder ACC’s debt findings released THE MAIN POINT

With Texas State’s release of the findings and recommendations from Brown Group International about the events following the African-American Leadership Conference after-party last September, the university took another step toward healing the wounds created by that incident.

The report concluded what any reasonable person would: no one was free of blame. It is almost inconceivable that a situation would arise in which one party was entirely to blame and one party was without fault. But pointing fingers wouldn’t benefit anybody — much less our readers.

We do want to say thanks to the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs for providing us with a copy of an executive summary of the BGI report as quickly as they did; we’re glad that we didn’t have to go through any flaming hoops to get the report and get the information it contains to our readers.

Kudos also go out to the university for making the report so accessible by reportedly planning to place it in the library for anybody to read and form their own conclusions.

We cannot thank University President Denise Trauth, whose continued silence on the issue is troubling at best. Repeatedly, Trauth’s office has directed all questions about the AALC incident to Vice President of Student Affairs Joanne Smith. The president of the university acts as the face of the institution. The president’s job is one of public relations, not administration. Trauth’s refusal to make a statement about the incident itself, or BGI’s findings, belies a reluctance to touch any sort of sensitive issue. This reluctance leaves students, faculty and staff feeling abandoned by the university’s top representative.

The BGI report points to a number of problems within the University Police Department, the student body and administration that led to the incident. While the university is implementing steps to correct these problems, so far only Smith and UPD officials have made statements to The University Star.

The easiest way to counteract the message sent by the events of that night and the following days is to admit the mistakes — on both sides — and take swift measures to ensure that a situation of that magnitude does not happen again.

Continuing to claim “there was no fight” is not a constructive way to deal with these problems. BGI found significant evidence that students were involved in physical altercations during the incident. BGI also found to be false claims by students that police used Tasers on more than one person on the night of the after-party.

These findings are corroborated by the UPD and SMPD Taser logs released to The Star. Continuing to make these issues points of contention does little to advance the healing process.

The university and UPD are not in a position to rest on their laurels. Administrative shortsightedness and poor decisions on the night of the incident only exacerbated the situation. The university should be commended on its efforts so far to rectify these mistakes, but significant steps need to be made to let students know the school is taking responsibility for its mistakes and assure students it is doing all in its power to protect them.

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 UniversitySan Marcos.

“What do you think of the ACC annexation vote being rescinded?”

“I think it’s sad that they had to resort to underhanded measures to get the petition through; this is important for San Marcos to bring it back up eventually — for a future election.”

— Josh Ferrado criminal justice sophomore

“I’m disappointed that it might get dismissed because people think its important to have a campus down here — for the students who need help with reduced tuition prices.”

— Stephanie Touchet mass communication freshman

“It’s ridiculous they couldn’t get 1900 people to sign the petition to help so many kids to go to school for less; it wouldn’t be that hard.”

— David Boone recreational administration sophomore

Compiled by Deleigh Hermes

The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

SEAN WARDWELL Star Columnist

Until I noticed my forged signature on the petition to hold an election to bring San Marcos into the Austin Community College taxing district, I had no idea I was even interested in the issue. Usually before I sign my name to something, especially something calling for an election, I like to know what I’m signing. Otherwise I really don’t know what I’m asking for or what consequences it will bring. It’s just common sense.

Now, for some strange reason, I’m very interested in this issue. In fact, I can’t remember when an issue has so captivated my attention.

Saying that, I have to admit that I’m glad ACC has decided not to hold an election because of the forged signatures. It’s just the right thing to do. Additionally, San Marcos has as much business being in the ACC taxing area as a chimpanzee has wielding a bazooka in The Quad. It’s interesting to look at, sure, but ultimately it’s just confusing and dangerous.

This whole issue has been presented with such a degree of urgency, though it leaves me a bit leery. If I’m not mistaken, we go to a good and affordable school already.

Some folks feel differently, though. I guess that’s why they felt it was in the public’s best interest to go out and literally forge page after page after page of petitions. I guess you can’t blame them, given the severity of the issue. Who has time to think for themselves these days?

And these dedicated public servants, because of the urgency involved, didn’t even make them good forgeries.

There was some diversity in the actual signature block, but every printed name and every address were all in the same handwriting on the forged sheets. They were in such a rush they didn’t even take the time to be stupid correctly. Wow. Now, they were in a rush, that much is true, and the

Jeffrey Cole/Star illustration

reason why makes everything in this issue clear. The people at ACC were not being humanitarian saviors from the money-grubbing claws of Boko. They were trying to save their own asses from an almost $100 million debt to the city of Austin. Their current and future bonded debt to Austin stands at $98.9 million. For a $100 million debt, I think I’d like a broader tax base too. Does it have to be on our back, though?

One thing about a new tax is that it usually involves people who have no intention of using the thing being taxed.

How to get around that, though, so as not to provoke a revolt? Simple, you tie it to the property tax already levied for education. When you do that, you literally tax everything that has anything to do with the ground. It is a tax on all property owned, be it residential or commercial. I think if any of you have been watching the news lately, most everyone in the Capitol in Austin agrees Texas property taxes are pretty much FUBAR at this point.

If this election were to pass, it would suck $2.7 million out of San Marcos and into ACC, with an increase of at least $100,000 a year afterward. San Marcos property owners would have to still deal with ACC’s debt if something went wrong.

There would be no way to secede from the ACC taxing area if the measure was voted on and passed. There would be no local representation or control. Finally, and I think this really says it all, fewer than 50 graduates from the San Marcos Consolidated School District chose to go to ACC in each of the previous two years. That’s $2.5 million to support less than 50 people a year from a town that incidentally has a perfectly acceptable four-year doctoral-granting university literally around the corner.

So I’m glad that ACC decided not to seek an election for an issue that frankly isn’t anyone’s problem in San Marcos. I’m really sorry that ACC is in debt up to its eyeballs too, but that’s not our problem either. It seems

our problem is greedy stupid people getting old lists with outdated information and deciding to make up our minds for us. That’s a big problem and one that needs to be investigated and addressed. In fact, anyone involved with the petition drive should have to answer a few questions including any and all student organizations that decided to help.

Our names are all we have.

They imbue more than identity. They are a reflection of the kind of person we are and of the quality of our souls.

Our names are everything about us condensed into a few words and are as powerful as we choose to make them. They can be spoken with respect or distain, but they are ours. When someone decides to usurp my right to decide what I do and don’t support by fraudulently signing my, or anyone else’s name, it speaks of a character turned to trash and democracy turned to dust.

Pay your own damn bills, ACC. Your debt simply isn’t our concern.

What the eff? Cursing in a college publication up for debate OK, you cats of you reading this Bob, you only have now knows what a few more weeks “effing” means. If left — finish strong. you don’t, you effNow, down to busiing should. ness. This week, I Slang is one offer a little shopthing, but does talk. My editor and “effing” have the SHAWN A. I had a discussion full weight of the FREEMAN over whether or not dictionary? I must Star Columnist the word “effing” admit I was mildly was acceptable to use in this surprised to discover that publication. He felt it was it does. “Effer” and “effing” unacceptable because it was are under the heading, “eff,” unprofessional, and he felt it which is defined by Oxford was unprofessional at least as a “variant of EF, name of partly because “effing” is not the letter F, euphemistically a word. Those two premises representing f**k.” It goes on are worth exploration, but to indicate that it is “used as it also made me think about an expletive on its own acother things as well. count, as a milder alternative First of all, is “effing” a to the full form of the word word? The Oxford English f**k, or else as a euphemistic Dictionary says a word is report of an actual use of the simply verbal expression. full word.” Oxford has got Merriam-Webster says a word my back. Solid. I had an idea is, “a speech sound or series that the same book that gives of speech sounds that symword status to Homer Simpbolizes and communicates a son’s “d’oh,” would have a meaning without being divis- place in its pages for “eff.” The ible into smaller units capable real question is: where does it of independent use.” “Effing” end? Will we see “cee-sucker”, certainly satisfies those. Re“bull-ess”, or kiss my “eigh” in gardless, every single one of The Oxford English Dictionary

in the near future?

So, “effing” is a word, but that doesn’t cover the idea that it is unprofessional to use in this newspaper. That’s a harder question to answer.

My barometric standard for professionalism is a job interview. Would I use this word or phrase during a job interview? In the case of “effing,” the answer is no.

So should I have put it in my column? My view is that on the local, state or national news page it wouldn’t be OK, but on the Opinions Page or in the comics, I think it is.

To be fair, the replacements “f-ing” and “f***” or any allusion to vulgarity, or vulgarity itself for that matter, are unprofessional as well.

“Effing” is a socially acceptable way of cussing in everyday speech, but what does that say about me, as a writer, that I needed to use vulgarity to strengthen my point in the first place? Not much, frankly. I try to avoid cussing in everyday speech and since I sold my car that has become much easier. I still slip up ev-

ery single day. When “effing” came around, I latched onto it as the loophole that it is but that solves nothing. The Bible says that it isn’t the words themselves that are the problem but the intent behind the words. If my ex-roommate went into one of her daily, psycho hissy fits and I called her a “cee-faced, mother-effing bee” — which I never did, but thought it many, many times — rather than the actual curse words, have I made any improvement? No. If we elevate our thoughts, our speech will surely follow.

A word on spelling: some people, who shall remain nameless, like to type in common misspellings on university computers and then click “add to dictionary.” At the very least, “eff ” is now on this one. So be careful and remember, “I before E except after C and when sounding like A, as in neighbor and weigh, and on weekends and holidays and all throughout May, and you’ll always be wrong no matter what you say.”

Letters policy: E-mail letters to starletters@txstate.edu. Letters must be no longer than 300 words. No anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit for grammar, spelling, space and libel. We reserve the right to refuse obscene, irrelevant and malicious letters. All e-mails must include the name and phone number of the letter writer. Students should also include their classifications and majors.

Editor In Chief..................David Michael Cohen, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..................................Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor......................................Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor.........................Jason Buch, jb1163@txstate.edu Trends Editor.................Kyle Bradshaw, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor......................................A. D. Brown, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor...................................Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

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Account Executive................................Ana Kulak, ak1094@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Lindsay Lee, atlas@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................Lindsey Randolph, lr1068@txstate.edu Student Business Manager................Robby Silva, rs1237@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator..Linda Allen, starbusinessoffice@txstate.edu Publications Director..............Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

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 other Wednesday of Summer I and II with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright April 19, 2006. 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.

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FOR RENT-APTS APARTMENTS NEXT TO TEXAS STATE now leasing for

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FOR RENT-APTS

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FOR SALE SELLING A GARAGE POOL TABLE with ping pong top

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HELP WANTED

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The University Star is available at 70 locations on campus and 30 locations in San Marcos.

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SPORTS

“I do declare”... for the 2006 NBA Draft

THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Tyrus Thomas Freshman Forward LSU

LaMarcus Aldridge Junior Forward Texas

Adam Morrison Junior Forward Gonzaga

Rudy Gay Sophomore Guard UCONN

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - Page 10

Sports Contact — Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

Bobcats fall to Bears 8-5 despite late game rally led by Cannon

By Miguel Peña The University Star Texas State baseball made their way to Waco to take on Baylor in hopes of breaking even on the season after suffering a slim loss to the Bears on Feb. 28, but in the end it was an 8-5 victory for the Bears capping a season sweep, 2-0.

The home team took the early lead with a single run scored in the first inning of play, with Kevin Sevigny taking home on Bears’ shortstop, Beamer Weems’, sacrifice fly.

The Bears padded their lead with three runs scored in the second inning, but with only one earned run as Matt Sodolak and Kevin Russo both scoring on throwing errors by the Bobcats infield. Ben Booker reached from third on a Sevigny double to left field.

With a 4-0 lead, the Bobcats looked to make up the deficit in the third but never got the chance to score the run as Jake Weghorst kept steady from the mound.

Baylor added four more runs in the third to take a big advantage with a relentless scoring effort. Chase Gerdes added two RBIs to his stat sheet with a triple down the right field line, scoring Zach Dillon and Sodolak. Booker followed that with a home run over the right field wall, leaving the Bears with the 8-0 lead going into the top of the fourth inning.

The Bobcats, determined to cut the deficit, made advances in the fourth, scoring two runs, the first by Elliott Babcock who was substituted in to pinch hit for Luke Cannon. Babcock made it home on a single by Heath Keel to left field. Jared Bunn made the effort, stealing third base and reaching home on a Baylor throwing error. The faulty fielding wouldn’t last through the inning as the Bears hooked up for

a double play to retire the sign.

The Bears were handed their first of five scoreless innings in the fourth as Jason Baca took over for Kyle Gembler midway through the fifth.

Baylor made a change at the mound after Randall Linebaugh allowed two runs in the fifth, bringing Jeff Mandel from the bullpen for some mid-game relief. Mandel must have had some butterflies in his belly as he ended the fifth with one bean and a wild pitch that scored Cassidy Dresch from third after advancing on a passed ball. The Bears kept the scoring to a minimum on another double play to close the top of the fifth, but allowed another Bobcat run in the sixth as Keel scored on a Pat Crumpton fly ball, cutting the Bears’ lead to four.

The Bobcats went scoreless in

the seventh and eighth inning getting their final opportunity to turn things around in the ninth.

Thomas Field led off in the inning with a single to shortstop and advanced to second base on a throwing error by Weems.

Dresch struck out on a full count with the next at bat bringing Kyle Jones to the plate. Nick Cassavechia, the Bears’ righthander, walked Jones on five pitches but not before a couple of wild pitches that gave the Bobcats their final score of the game, as Field scored, bringing the final score to 8-5 in favor of the home team.

Texas State will step right back into action when they take on the Hilltoppers from St. Edwards. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 tonight at Bobcat Field.

A.D. Brown/Star illustration LEADING THE WAY: Undecided freshman Dima Kabakov brought home first place in the men’s pole vault with a jump of 16-06 3/4 on Thursday at the 35th annual David Noble Relays in San Angelo.

Men’s and women’s pole vaulting place in top 10

By Carl Harper The University Star

Monty Marion/Star file photo HARD HITTING: Texas State senior Luke Cannon, seen here in the Bobcats’ Feb. 28 game against Baylor, went 2-4 with one run and two RBI in their 8-5 loss to the Bears, capping the season sweep for Baylor.

The track and field team traveled to San Angelo on Thursday to compete in the 35th Annual David Noble relays and came away with another strong performance.

“The meet wasn’t the best meet, but the performance was one of the best all season,” assistant coach Blaine Wiley said.

Both the men’s and women’s pole vaulting teams had shining moments as nearly all of them placed in the top 10 and some reached a qualifying mark for the Midwest Regional. Dimitri Kabakov led the way for the men’s side, finishing in first place with a jump of 16-06 3/4 and qualified for the Regional.

Casey Cummings and Eric Williams tied for second place with vaults of 16-00 3/4, while Peyton Carrol and Kevin Galbreath tied for fourth place in the event at 15-07. This mark was Carrol’s lifetime best.

On the women’s side, Britni Lawrence, who has already qualified for the Regional, vaulted 13-01 3/4 to claim another firstplace victory this year.

“This was a much better meet than the others, and I felt really good about it. My coach said it was the best he had seen me look in two years. Earlier in the day, I didn’t even know if I was going to jump because my foot was sore; but I felt fine by the time I needed to compete,” Lawrence said.

Rebekah Vickers jumped 1200, which was good for a second place finish, while Ashton Baldwin came in fifth at 11-06.

Brookelyn Dickson finished in a six-way tie for sixth place with a vault of 11-00.

Jacque Iwuchukwu bettered

her previous season high and regional-qualifying mark by placing second in the triple jump at 41-05 meters. She also found third place in the long jump with a mark of 18-5 1/2.

She is a tad frustrated with her performances lately because of scratching over and over again, but has confidence that she will be able to perform her best in the near future.

“I jumped great but kept scratching. When the meet does matter, I know I will bring it up.

I do feel that I am learning to be a better and smarter jumper due to the long outdoor season though,” Iwuchukwu said. She went on to describe the difference between the two seasons and the effects that the outdoors has to offer.

“It’s easier to jump indoors because we don’t have to deal with the wind and the heat.

Outdoors it just takes a while to build up and learn your body more. So I am disappointed that I have been scratching a lot, but every meet I find something I need to improve on,” she said.

Also in the triple jump, sophomore Tamequa Poole came in fourth at 39-00 1/2.

Chris Demerson was another athlete who found a regionalqualifying mark in the men’s long jump by winning the event with a jump of 24-08 1/2 meters.

“Chris jumped really well and actually had his best jump since freshman year,” Wiley said.

On the track, Erroll Harris scored points in Thursday’s competition by placing fourth in the men’s 200 meters at 22.08 while Justin Callis posted a third-place finish in the 400 meters at 50.49. Others to score points for Texas State were Whitney Perkins, who finished

fourth in the women’s 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 12 minutes and 45.30 seconds and Kristina Viniar, who came in fourth in the women’s 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:06.53.

Overall, the coaches were pleased with the weekend meet and were excited to see more of their competitors reach the Midwest Regional.

“We still have some work to do and some areas that need improving, but things are starting to come together for us. We will have a good shot at bringing a lot of kids to the Regional meet,” Wiley said.

The team will now prepare to travel back to Austin on April 22 for the Texas Invitational.

Spencer Millsap/Star file photo SKY HIGH: Exercise and sports science freshman Britni Lawrence, seen jumping on March 10 at Bobcat Stadium, took first place in women’s pole vault for the second time this season.

’Cats complete tennis season, finish seventh in Southland Conference

By Ericka Hailey The University Star The Bobcat tennis team wrapped up its conference play last week, finishing 7-14 overall. The team waited patiently Friday for the announcement of their future playoff action in the Southland Conference.

The win for the Lamar Cardinals over Louisiana-Monroe Indians was a disappointment to the ’Cats and shattered the hopes for this year’s playoffs.

Texas State — which is ranked seventh — finished 5-5 in the SLC under Southeastern Louisiana, who grabbed the championship. The UT-Arlington snatched second followed by Lamar, Sam Houston State, the UT-San Antonio and ULM, which were all tied for third place in the SLC rankings.

In order for the ’Cats to advance to the playoffs, Lamar, which — before Friday’s match — was 54, would have had to lose to ULM, making their record tied with the Bobcats. Since the ’Cats had defeated the Cardinals in a head-to-head match earlier this season, conference would have allowed Texas State to advance.

With the win for the Cardinals, two teams, Lamar and SHSU, both of which the Bobcats had defeated earlier this year, will be going to the playoffs this season.

Despite the disappointment of not advancing in the playoffs, the team had much success this season. The ’Cats won four of their last five conference matches including wins over SHSU, SFA, Lamar and Nicholls State.

“It was a disappointing finish in the fact that we won our last four out of our five conference matches. We were playing exceptionally well, and unfortunately it was just a weird season for our whole conference,” head coach Tory Plunkett said.

Next season, the ’Cats will lose seniors Jana Cucciniello, Margaret Potyrala and Leja Sirola but will be backed up next year by a relatively young, experienced team. Returning players include freshmen Christina Amo, Lainy Chafitz and Ashley Ellis. Also adding to the roster will be sophomores Natalie McLeod and Sumarie Muller.

The players this year have gained much experience and knowledge throughout the season and in the differences between regular season and conference plays, which will help them to continue to be successful for next year’s season.

“If you are going to be the best, you have to play the best and learn to play at that level; I think they realize now that they can play at that level. Whether they win or lose, they can still walk away with a lot of confidence,” Plunkett said of the underclassmen. “I think they have the experience, and they can make it next year.”

www.UniversityStar.com