04 24 2007 by The University Star

PITCHER PREVAILS

LITTLE HEROES

Jason Baca enjoys successful season after surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Children inspire art through photography

SEE SPORTS PAGE 14

SEE TRENDS PAGE 6

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

APRIL 24, 2007

TUESDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 79

University initiates study to determine football’s future By Chris Boehm The University Star

alumnus of Southwest Texas State University. “There appears to be a groundswell of enthusiasm surrounding our football program right now,” University President Denise Trauth said in a news release Sunday. “If we can carry that momentum forward and build on it, then the feasibility of moving the program to the FBS competition is something we need to examine.” But the winds of change will not be as touted as during the ASG election campaigns, when both President-elect Reagan Pugh and

A university committee will begin work on a feasibility study concerning a jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-A, following an Associated Student Government election focused on Texas State athletics No timetable has been set for the committee and the study. It will be headed by task force Chair John Schott, vice president of the Frost National Bank San Marcos branch and 1971

opponent Chris Anderson spoke of Trauth and Athletics Director Larry Teis signing a petition for the NCAA by a June 1 deadline. “Working in the banking business, I’ve seen people rush out and do things without knowing where they’re going,” Schott said. “I don’t want to sound too prudent, but there is no way we’re going to be ready by June 1. But I know the president is anxious to have the committee study this issue.” Pugh said it would be diﬃcult to move forward this year without the support of Teis and Trauth.

“If they don’t want to sign, there’s nothing we as students can do,” Pugh said. “What we can do is continue to express student interest and spend next year preparing for that direction. “It’s good to see the student voice is being heard and that the university is receptive to this direction.” In the news release, Trauth said the university was not prepared to act as Pugh and Anderson wanted. “This is a decision that must be made by our Board of Regents,” Trauth said. “And I do not have

the information I need to make my recommendation to them by June 1 of this year.” The Athletics Task Force had three meetings this semester to discuss the move, the latest of which took place last week. Schott said a meeting planned for Friday was cancelled, but the committee hoped to get together soon. Currently there is no time limit for the feasibility study to be completed, Schott said. The task force was formed in February, working with the athletic department to reﬁne its

Tragedy brings change University reviews plans, promises readiness

See STUDY, page 4

Presidential veto stands at final ASG meeting Paul Rangel The University Star

The shootings by Cho SeungHui at Virginia Tech April 16, which resulted in the loss of 33 lives, touched university students and faculty members nationwide. Kyle Morris, Associated Student Government president, University President Denise

Associated Student Government President Kyle Morris reported to the ASG Senate for the last time Monday, addressing the “In Support of a 120Hour Degree Plan” legislation, which he vetoed in a previous meeting. Morris said his opposition to the legislation was because of the Texas Legislature’s attempt to enhance core curriculum, such as sciences. The legislation is in support of removing one of the required science labs to drop the degree plan to 120-hours. “There is a time to lead and a time to follow,” Morris said. “None of us are professors or have a Ph.D. and the students have had their input.” He said the decision has been made not to change the core curriculum, but he does not want the ASG Senate to be at odds with the Texas Legislature, the group that cuts the checks for the university. After debating the presidential veto for the legislation, it was not overturned by the ASG Senate. The issue has been discussed since the fall semester and had been re-introduced because it was tabled and never addressed. In a recent ASG Supreme Court case, a decision was made to overturn Vice President Amanda Oskey’s decision to dissolve the Graduate House of Representatives. After the court case, ASG Sen. Jeremy Kuykendall, College of Liberal Arts, introduced legislation oﬀering two amendments to

See MEMORIAL, page 4

See ASG, page 4

By Scott Thomas The University Star As word spread of the Virginia Tech University shooting, colleges nationwide reevaluated their policies that are in place to respond to those types of situations. Texas State’s Crisis Response Team held a meeting Tuesday discussing the training received by the University Police Department. UPD receives instruction from a Texas State program called Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. “We reviewed the current policies we have in place,” said Joanne Smith, vice president of student affairs and member of the Crisis Response Team. “If we needed to evacuate the campus or close the campus down, we talked about some of the steps we need to take in order to do that.” UPD officers receive special training from the rapid response program on how to deal with emergency situations such as a school shooting. “ALERRT was developed in the late 1990’s to teach the first responding patrol officers to a shooting to enter the building and deal with the shooter as opposed to waiting for special police units such as SWAT,” said Don Montague, director of the program. “It’s not real complicated what we do, but what we do is really important.” Montague said the program trains police to move toward a shooter once the first four to five patrol officers, who are usually

strategic plan over the next ﬁve years. Trauth is currently looking for additional members from across the state of Texas, and will reveal concrete positions and names to the public once those facets are in place. Schott predicts the ﬁnal committee will have eight to 16 members. “We want a good cross section of people who will bring their own values and opinions,” said Mark Hendricks, assistant director of media relations and

Monty Marion/Star photo IN REMEMBRANCE: Student representatives lay roses in front of The Stallions Thursday in The Quad in remembrance of 32 people killed in last week’s Virginia Tech massacre.

the first responders to a violent situation, have arrived on the scene. “ALERRT provides a number of different training scenarios for police officers in this region,” UPD Capt. Rickey Lattie said. At the Crisis Management Team’s meeting, the ability to quickly contact faculty, students and staff was reviewed. “We already have a timely warning system set up,” Smith said. “We just wanted to re-confirm that everybody was set to go if we needed to get out an email.” Smith said the university

would be able to notify the local media, put information on their Web site, send voice messages to cell phones and update the Texas State hotline in case of an emergency. The university’s ability to contact students in case of an emergency was tested when a hoax bomb threat was called in at 11:02 p.m. Thursday. An e-mail was sent at 3:17 a.m. Friday to all faculty, staﬀ and students requesting no one show up to campus before 6 a.m. Police notified resident assistants to See READINESS, page 4

Texas State honors those killed at Virginia Tech By Christine Mester The University Star Hundreds of members of the San Marcos community, Texas State students, faculty and staﬀ gathered Thursday morning in The Quad for a memorial service honoring those who lost their lives at Virginia Tech University.

Abortion bill met with protest at the Capitol By Karen Little The University Star More than 100 abortion rights activists congregated in front of the Capitol Thursday to protest a “trigger” bill. The proposed legislation, House Bill 175, would enact an abortion ban in the event the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. The rally was hosted by Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capitol Region and the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League — two nonproﬁt organizations promoting women’s health. Activists held signs reading “Save Roe” and “Choose Justice,” and cheered

to passing vehicles while chanting, “Abortion rights are under attack. What do you do? Stand up, ﬁght back.” In 2003, the U.S. Congress passed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Partial-birth is a term used to describe some forms of late-term abortion procedures. The ban makes an exception when the mother’s life is endangered. The act was upheld Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote. Stemming from the act, a Texas House committee attempted to pass HB 175 on a 4-2 vote. But the vote was rejected because the nine-member committee

Today’s Weather

Scattered Precipitation: 60% 81% Strong Storms Humidity: UV: 5 Moderate Wind: S 16 mph 76°/63°

failed to meet quorum. Barbara Ostrand, Kyle resident, brought her eight-year-old daughter Avery to the rally and held a “Salve Roe” sign. “It’s all there is, to whittle away a decision from 30 years ago,” Ostrand said. She said the Texas Legislature is lacking in lawmakers who support abortion rights and women will proceed whether or not backed by law. “The bottom line is women will get abortions,” she said. “They need to remain safe and legal. There have been people very close to me who died from illegal abortion.” Megan Bettis, Austin Dance

Two-day Forecast Wednesday AM T-Showers Temp: 81°/55° Precip: 0%

Thursday Sunny Temp: 77°/51° Precip: 10%

Company ballet instructor, helped hold a series of posters reading, “Politicians playing doctor — hazardous 2 women’s health.” She said it was her ﬁrst rally experience. “It’s ridiculous that we are here,” Bettis said. “It shouldn’t See PROTEST, page 4 Karen Little/Star photo MAKING A STAND: Barbara Ostrand of Kyle protests the Supreme Court ruling to uphold a nationwide ban on partial birth abortions Thursday in Austin.

Inside News ..............1-5 Trends .............6-9 Crossword ......... 9 Sudoku .............. 9

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

Comics .............. 9 Opinions .......... 10 Classiﬁeds ....... 12 Sports ......... 13,14

PAGE TWO Tuesday in Brief

April 24, 2007

starsof texas state Shawn McCracken, Texas State doctoral student, is searching for a solution to the world’s declining amphibian population in Ecuador’s Amazon Basin. McCracken has already found two new species in the area’s rainforest canopies and will continue his research with a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

The fellowship will allow McCracken to continue his research in Ecuador for the next ﬁve years. He is the fourth Texas State National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship recipient and the ﬁrst to stay at the university for his doctoral degree in the aquatic resources program. — Courtesy of Texas State Public Relations

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

TUESDAY

Texas State baseball will play Baylor 6:30 p.m. at Bobcat Field. There will be a free lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Catholic Student Center lobby. The San Marcos Sunrise Club will sponsor Centerpoint Bingo at The Zone, Sk8, Arcade and Party Place. Doors open 6 p.m. and games begin 7 p.m. $1,700 in cash prizes will be given each night. Proceeds will fund college scholarships for local high school students. Facing the Fear: Anxiety and Panic Group will meet 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sessions offer a supportive way to cope. For more information or to register, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208. Every Nation Campus Ministries will meet 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Room G-02. There will be free food, fellowship and a relevant message. There will be a CEO meeting 5 p.m. in McCoy Hall, Room 127. The Tennis Club will meet 6 to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, e-mail Scott Schoenmakers, tennis club president, at SS1485@txstate.edu. Overeaters Anonymous will meet 12:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St. For more information, call (512) 3572049. San Marcos Toastmasters Club will meet 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lone Star Café at the Prime Outlet Mall. Visitors and guests are welcome. For additional information, call Ren Linér at (512) 353-0217; e-mail smtoastmasters@yahoo. com or visit www.sanmarcos. freetoasthost.org. Students in Free Enterprise will meet 4:15 p.m. in McCoy Hall, Room 113. Students interested in becoming involved with the community, making business connections and learning leadership skills are encouraged to attend.

WEDNESDAY

Texas State softball will play Baylor 6 p.m. at Bobcat Field.

Steps for studying

CRIME BL TTER

A student-led rosary will be prayed 6:25 p.m. in the CSC chapel. The Earth First Organization will meet 4 p.m. in Evans Liberal Arts, Room 314. For more information, e-mail Bogan Durr at bd1132@txstate.edu.

University Police Department April 16, 1:38 p.m. Assist Outside Agency/ Possession of Drug Paraphernalia/UPD Lobby An oﬃcer was dispatched to the lobby to assist an outside agency. The oﬃcer assisted a constable in serving two warrants to a student. The student was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and issued a citation.

The Alcohol and Drug Resource Center will hold “The Network” meeting 5 to 7 p.m. in The LBJSC, Room 3-6.1.

THURSDAY

The Rock - Praise & Worship will take place 7 p.m. in the CSC chapel. The San Marcos Sunrise Club will sponsor Centerpoint Bingo at The Zone, Sk8, Arcade and Party Place. Doors open 6 p.m. and games begin 7 p.m. $1,700 in cash prizes will be given each night. Proceeds fund college scholarships for local high school students. Meditation and Contemplation will be 4 to 5 p.m. at the Campus Christian Community Center. For more information, e-mail Micah Robbins at mr1235@txstate.edu or call (512) 878-2036. Overeaters Anonymous will meet 5:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St. For more information, call (512) 3572049. The Tennis Club will meet 6 to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, e-mail Scott Schoenmakers, tennis club president, at SS1485@txstate.edu. Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting 8:30 pm in Old Main, Room 320. Everyone is welcome. Call (512) 557-7988 or e-mail mail@texasstatechialpha.com

FRIDAY

The radiation therapy program will hold its annual research seminar 1 to 5 p.m. at the Joann Cole Mitte Art Building, Room 2121. The event offers an opportunity to learn concepts of radiation therapy delivery and hear discussions among students, faculty and clinical instructors.

Monty Marion/Star photo Marlyn Lieder, pre-social work junior, studies for a literature class Monday afternoon on the steps of the LBJ Amphitheater.

Mariachi concert in its eighth year The eighth annual La Feria del Mariachi Concert will be 4 p.m. Sunday at Strahan Coliseum. This year’s concert will be hosted by master of ceremonies Alberto Alegre and presents the Mariachi Campanas de America, quartet Janitzio and the ﬁrst-place winners from this year’s Vargas Extravaganza, Texas State’s Mariachi Nueva Generacion. There will be a free concert by Texas State’s award-winning Salsa del Rio, 7 p.m. Saturday at the outdoor Glade Theater. More than 200 middle and high school students will be on campus during the weekend for two days of instructional seminars focusing on various aspects of mariachi. Everything from

personalized instruction to vocal technique to stage presence, arrangement and the traditions of mariachi are included in the two-day event. Participants for the competition portion of the weekend come from high schools, middle schools and colleges around the state. The mariachi competition begins at 9 a.m. Sunday at Evans Auditorium. This is a free event. John Lopez, associate professor in the School of Music and director of multicultural music ensembles, will organize the event. The members of Mariachi Nueva Generación will provide additional help. The ﬁrst 300 Texas State students to visit the main oﬃce in

the School of Music, Room 101 are eligible to receive free tickets to the La Feria del Mariachi Concert. Students may purchase tickets at the door for $5 with a Texas State ID card. Tickets are $15 for preferred seating, $10 for regular seating and $5 for students and children age 13 and under and available at the door, the main oﬃce in the School of Music, or in advance at Taqueria El Charro and both H-E-B locations. For additional information, visit the Multicultural Music homepage at www.txstate.edu/ mcmusic. — Courtesy of Texas State Public Relations

April 16, 3:08 p.m. Failure to Comply/Striking Unattended Vehicle/ LBJ Garage An officer was dispatched for a hit-and-run report. A student reported a vehicle had been struck in the parking garage. A report was generated for this case. April 16, 11:12 p.m. Possession Of Marijuana/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia /San Jacinto Hall An officer was dispatched on report of a suspicious odor. Upon further investigation a student was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana. The student was arrested and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center to await magistration. April 17, 8:05 a.m. Burglary: Vehicle/UPD Lobby An officer was dispatched to the lobby for a theft report. A non-student reported property had been removed from a vehicle without consent. This case is under investigation.

NEWS

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The University Star - Page 3

Men discuss ways to end violence in all-male panel Underwater world By Chelsea Juarez The University Star

In lieu of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Men Against Violence will host a panel discussion 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday in the LBJ Ballroom to discuss the theme “Redeﬁning Manhood: A Discussion of Men’s Roles in Ending Violence Against Women.” The organization, along with the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies and the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, seeks diverse opinions from men on campus, including students and faculty. “I think it’s an important topic to discuss and it’s even more interesting because women talk about domestic

violence openly, but most men won’t,” said Laura Gonzalez, mass communication senior. The discussion will concentrate on topics related to the challenges men face when speaking out against gender-based violence. Julie Eckert, peer education coordinator at the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center, said she thinks it is a unique thing men address other males on a topic that hardly gets talked about. “It’s more eﬀective,” she said. “That’s why the panel is all men.” Bryan Ware, Kappa Alpha Psi president, who will be a panelist, said he believes the discussion’s theme is an issue that should be discussed. “Most people don’t realize the

prevalence of the issue,” he said. “They think it goes on, but that it won’t happen to them or people they know.” Other panelists will include Brock Brown, associate professor of geography; Curt Schafer, director of career services; Brad Wright, football coach and Curtis Clay, grant director at the Center for Safe Communities and Schools. The event is open and anyone interested is welcome to participate. Ware, advertising senior, said he thinks students should attend to educate themselves on violence statistics and other related information. “I think the panel will be successful because the topic is not commonly discussed in the male community,” he said.

Supreme Court will decide passengers’ legal status By Michael Doyle McClatchy Newspapers WASHINGTON — A routine traffic stop in California’s rural Central Valley six years ago yielded drugs, arrests and a constitutional conundrum that finally reached the Supreme Court Monday. Passengers should be heeding this case. Police definitely are. In hour-long oral arguments Monday, justices weighed whether a passenger in a stopped car is considered detained. Paradoxes complicate the case, which arose from a 2001 arrest in Yuba City, 40 minutes north of Sacramento. For the first time, the Supreme Court will decide whether the Fourth Amendment’s protections against illegal search and seizure cover passengers in a car law enforcement officers have stopped. Some lower courts have ruled such passengers are free to walk away. Other lower courts have ruled passengers in a stopped car are, in fact, detained. The Supreme Court’s ruling will resolve the ambiguity. The twist, in the case of Brendlin v. California, is that the police win if

“Y

our forward movement has been curtailed by government action. A reasonable person would not feel free to leave the car.”.”

— Elizabeth M. Campbell lawyer

passengers can walk away. “Just because the police have some authority, that doesn’t make you ‘seized,’” Cliﬀord E. Zall, California deputy attorney general told the Supreme Court. It’s a crucial distinction. If passengers aren’t considered “seized” or detained during a car stop, they can’t claim later police violated the Fourth Amendment in collecting evidence. Civil rights activists fear a law enforcement victory in the case will lead to many more car passengers being searched. The California Highway Patrol alone already makes more than one

million car stops annually. Defense attorneys argue — and some Supreme Court justices seemed to agree Monday — passengers naturally think that they’re restrained once the car is pulled over. “Your forward movement has been curtailed by government action,” Sacramento-based lawyer Elizabeth M. Campbell told the court, adding “a reasonable person would not feel free to leave the car.” Justice Stephen Breyer agreed he “wouldn’t think about getting out of the car,” and Justice David Souter added, “a reasonable person would assume the police were in control” at a stop. Some of the court’s conservatives echoed that view, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Campbell’s client, Bruce Brendlin, is on the road to a complete win. Justice Anthony Kennedy noted law enforcement oﬃcials had good reason to search Brendlin once they identiﬁed him as a parole violator. Conceivably, the court could agree passengers are considered detained in a stopped car, while still giving police leeway to collect evidence of a suspected crime.

Monty Marion/Star photo Curious observers watch as a scuba diver passes under one of the Aquarena Center’s glass bottom boats Sunday in Spring Lake during Earth Day festivities. Earth Day, created in 1970 to help promote environmental awareness, now boasts half a billion yearly participants and is celebrated around the globe in 174 countries, according to the Earth Day Network Web site.

NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

STUDY CONTINUED from page 1

publications. This is not the first time a task force has looked into the issue; in the late 1990s, Jon Bible, finance and economics professor, was Faculty Senate chair and a member of a task force given the same assignment. Bible spoke to the Board of Regents expressing the opinion a move to Division I-A would not be in the university’s best interest. “Back then, I said it would be disastrous,” Bible said. “I’m not sure that’s still the case, but right now and for the foreseeable future I don’t see this move happening.” Bible, a former NFL referee who currently officiates games for the Big 12, said he has witnessed first-hand the disparity in talent level between the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). “Every year, I see mismatches; these teams just can’t compete,” Bible said. “We’d be competing against Texas, (Texas) A&M and Baylor, as well as going after the same pool of athletes.” Bible pointed out other issues as well, including TV revenue, attendance, expanded parking and a lack of street access to the stadium. The task force will look into such issues, as well as a possible conference Texas State would join. Hendricks said Trauth and Teis were adamant Texas State would not move to the Football Bowl Subdivision as an independent program. “I don’t want us to just be in any conference,” Schott said. “It should be one with prestige, some place Texas State ought to be. I don’t know where that is right now, but it’s something we’re looking into.” Schott also said he was concerned with Texas State’s fan support beyond the initial jump to the Bowl Subdivision. “If we go 4-7 (in the Bowl Subdivision), will fans still go to the football games? I hope so,” Schott said.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

ASG CONTINUED from page 1

the group’s constitution. There would be two additions to Article 4, Section C of the constitution; one requiring the ASG Supreme Court to have case documents accessible to the public and the other giving the Senate the ability to impeach court justices. “There needs to be a fair and open system of checks and balances,” Morris said. ASG Sen. Enoch Castleberry, College of Fine Arts, voiced his concern about the importance of keeping the judiciary separate from the Senate. He said he does not want to give the power of impeaching Supreme Court justices to the Senate. Castleberry said he was not in favor of giving the Senate more power over

the Supreme Court and the checks and balances were already in place when justices are appointed. As an example, he cited appealing Supreme Court decisions through the Dean of Student Affairs Office. An amendment was made to the legislation to remove impeachment powers, but to keep documents accessible. The legislation was passed by the Senate and will now go to student referendum. The “Endorsement of Integrated Bus System” legislation was discussed, such as the benefits it would provide for the students and city. According to the legislation, ASG would endorse the creation of an integrated bus system with the city of San Marcos. If created, the students would be funding the majority of the

READINESS

costs to run the system. However, the legislation would require representation be dependent upon funding, giving the university a majority of seats on the committee. The creation of the busing system would not be an immediate transition, but would be pursued after the 2010 census. If the San Marcos population reaches 50,000, it would be considered an urban area; removing funding only designated for rural areas. The legislation was passed after senators discussed aspects of bus availability and extended service hours. A consent agenda proposed by ASG Sen. Alexis Dabney, College of Fine Arts, was created to vote on eleven items at one time. With several items on the agenda, some were previously

discussed and time was needed to debate on more pertinent issues. The consent agenda included “Creation of the Student Rights Task Force.” The legislation would be in support of creating a task force to respond and document situations where students’ rights may have been violated. If the task force were created, the university attorney would advise it. Other legislation voted on included “Embracing Bobcat Pride,” “Keep Texas State Beautiful: Tree Replacement Policy,” “Clariﬁcation of Titles,” “Public Access to Chartwell’s Health Inspection Results,” “Support Road Safety: Vote for Proposition 1,” “Zoned Out” and “ Student Liaison to the District Attorney.” Monday night was the last oﬃcial ASG meeting in 2006-2007.

MEMORIAL

CONTINUED from page 1

stand watch at residence hall doors and all affected people in the buildings that were considered a threat were notified through the public address systems and intercoms at around midnight. “From the beginning we suspected this was probably a hoax,” Lattie said in a University Star article Friday. “It was non-specific — it was very general.” He said the school made more of an effort to notify the public because of the Virginia Tech shooting. “We decided that based on the situation, it was better for students to stay in place — we didn’t want people up moving around,” Lattie said. Another e-mail was sent at 6:28 a.m. stating the bomb threat alert had been lifted and class would resume as normal. The ability to send mass text messages, which was not used during the hoax bomb threat, was questioned at the meeting. Smith said one of the issues the Crisis Management Team discussed was working with the university’s mobile phone provider, Mobile Campus, to be able to send text messages.

Trauth, Mayor Susan Narvaiz and Rev. Mike Miller of the Campus Christian Community spoke at the memorial. “It only seems right for us as a university and a community to take time out of our lives to reﬂect and give hope to our fellow students and colleagues at Virginia Tech and to continue to shed hope to the families of those who have lost loved ones,” Morris said. “The pain and sorrow felt throughout the campus of Virginia Tech and the community of Blacksburg, Virginia can be felt all the way to our home at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.”

The campus bell tolled 32 times to represent lives lost in the Virginia Tech shootings. Members of ASG and other campus organizations placed 32 ﬂowers at the base of The Stallions in The Quad as the bell tolled. “As fellow travelers on the academic road, we feel a kinship with our brothers and sisters at Virginia Tech,” Trauth said. “What happens to them in a sense happens to all of us. At a time like this, communities want to be together, to grieve together and comfort each other.” In addition to the memorial service, students were encouraged to write messages of empathy on banners and note cards that were placed in The Quad.

The messages will be sent to Virginia Tech. “Such enormous tragedy confounds the mind,” Narvaiz said. “Our hearts and souls are not prepared to grasp the senseless loss of innocent lives. Lives that were so ﬁlled with promise and accomplishment. Lives that we may not have directly known but that mirror our own.” The ceremony, which began at 10:50 a.m., drew many students to stop and share a moment of silence for the victims of the shootings. “It was a beautiful ceremony,” said Samantha Combs, interdisciplinary studies freshman. “It touched me. It made me appreciate what we have here and we’ve lost.”

said. “They were asking, ‘Is there a way for us to get our message out to the legislature?’” Wheat said President Bush’s appointment of two ‘conservative’ Supreme Court justices inﬂuenced the upholding of the 2003 ban act. Bush’s two appointees, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, joined the majority opinion. “It’s a historic shift in the way the U.S. Supreme Court rules legal abortion,” Wheat said. “The

Supreme Court we had for 30 years that protects this right no longer exists.” She said the proposed house bill is the ﬁrst step in a long process, because it still has to pass through the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. “Everyone was watching it really closely,” Wheat said. “The fact that they are taking their time and there are many other places to trigger their energy is what many of us feared.”

PROTEST CONTINUED from page 1

be an issue. Roe versus Wade ruled this in the 1970s.” Bettis said she was happy to see the large turnout and women’s voices should be heard. Sarah Wheat, director of public aﬀairs for Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capitol Region, said she received numerous calls from legislative committee members. “I think it’s great we’re getting calls from our supporters,” Wheat

www.UniversityStar.com

NEWS

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The University Star - Page 5

Controversial walls of separation built in Baghdad By Shashank Bengali McClatchy Newspapers BAGHDAD — The future of a U.S. military plan to erect concrete walls around Baghdad neighborhoods was in doubt Monday amid a growing outcry from Iraqis who said the barriers would fuel sectarian discord. A day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered a halt to the construction of a 12foot wall would separate Sunni Muslims from Shiite Muslims in the northern Adhemiya neighborhood, American oﬃcials said they’d reconsider plans for that barrier and several others in Baghdad. But they dodged questions over whether the construction would stop, and an Iraqi military official said it would continue. “Obviously, we will respect the wishes of the government and the prime minister,” U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker said. “I’m not sure just where we are right now concerning our discussions on how to move forward on this particular issue.” As hundreds of residents

marched through Adhemiya’s walled-off streets to protest what they called the “racist barrier,” American officials defended the plan as a temporary measure that would help secure sectarian flash points and deter suicide car bombings. Those bombings have been unrelenting despite a 10-week security crackdown in the city. At least 33 Iraqis were killed Monday in bombings throughout the country. Of the barriers, Crocker said, “It is in no one’s intention or thinking that this is going to be a permanent state of affairs.” An Iraqi military spokesman downplayed Maliki’s criticism, saying the prime minister, who was attending a summit of Arab leaders in Egypt, was responding to exaggerated news reports. “We will continue constructing the barriers in all Baghdad areas without exemption,” Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta said. Privately, American officials admitted they were caught off-guard by the firestorm over the threemile-long Adhemiya wall, whose details were made public in a mili-

tary news release last week. Dubbed by troops the “Great Wall of Adhemiya,” the project is one of at least seven barriers that are being built under a so-called “gated communities” initiative that’s intended to separate rival factions and control the flow of traffic in certain neighborhoods. Military officials say the barriers will be in a variety of forms: Some are long walls that don’t fully enclose neighborhoods and others are an amalgam of barbed wire, sand bags and concrete blast walls. It wasn’t clear whether Maliki intended to press for a halt to construction. U.S. officials suggested the prime minister might not have been fully briefed on the plan. “Discussions that happened at a lower level may not have been transmitted to the higher level,” said Lt. Col. Chris Garver, an American military spokesman. U.S. officials, nevertheless, appeared to backtrack from earlier statements that referred to the Adhemiya wall as “one of the centerpieces of a new strategy” in Baghdad.

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

releasesof the week music Favourite Worst Nightmare — Arctic Monkeys

dvd

Standard Songs for Average People — John Prine and Mac Wiseman

Twelve — Patti Smith

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - Page 6

The Queen — (PG-13) Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen

Planet Earth — The Complete BBC Series — (NR) David Attenborough

Night at the Museum — (PG) Ben Stiller

Trends Contact — Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu

LITTLE HEROES Child-inspired photography exhibit opens at Wittliff Gallery

LITTLE HEROES: Photographer Antonio Turok of Mexico City shows a photo from his book, Chiapas, to the audience during a panel discussion Saturday at the Witliff Gallery in Alkek Library. The LITTLE HEROES exhibition displays photographs of children through Aug. 10 from the permanent collection on the seventh ﬂoor of Alkek.

By Laura Jamison The University Star

camera in Chiapas, Mexico. Turok said he searched for nature when he shot the photograph. O. Rufus Lovett said he needed a moist “Civil war was devastating the country towel to remove the sticky fingerprints of and it was a hard experience especially for children from his camera. children,” Turok said. “So I wanted to get far Lovett spoke at the Wittliff Gallery’s LIT- from civilization and as close to nature as TLE HEROES exhibition reception Saturday possible … I found two sisters with the most in Alkek Library. The phoprecious seed. The genesis tographs feature children of all living matter is a small from the gallery’s permaseed.” nent collection and include Turok said he was stunned works by numerous artby the little boy who posed ists. for “Glorious Harvest.” Photographers Antonio “I was shocked when he Turok, Geoff Winningham crossed his arms and posed and Lovett discussed the like a divine prince,” Turok recurrence of children in said. their work on a panel led Winningham said he by Connie Todd, curator of doesn’t specialize in photo— Geoff Winningham graphing children, but they special collections at Alkek Library. photographer are a part of his work. Lovett, who recently fin“I have no special techished a project in Weeping niques for children — they Mary, said he is fascinated are so spontaneous and unwith children. predictable,” Winningham said. “I have never “The children in Weeping Mary were the had a project about children … they pop up in ones to accept me openly because they don’t just about everything.” know a lot of history,” Lovett said. “What is Winningham described his photo “Calf this big white guy coming down here and tak- Scramble,” as a very American event. ing our photographs for?” “There are 12 calves and 50 kids and you Lovett said he photographed children have to rope and wrangle calves in order to on the streets because they were always win one,” he said. “Once (a child) does, he around. owns the cow.” “There are quite a lot of children on the inWinningham said he enjoys describing ner city streets,” Lovett said. “Children were contests, rituals and events through photothe majority,” graphs. “The Seed,” a photograph by Turok, dis“I watch something and I frame it without plays two young girls blowing a seed at the interfering,” Winningham said.

have no “I special techniques

for children — they are so spontaneous and unpredictable.”

Karen Wang/ Star photo

Austin Reggae Festival draws laid-back crowd By Jeﬀery D. Hooten The University Star Tents and blankets dotted Auditorium Shores Saturday and Sunday, as reggae fans from across Central Texas crowded in for the fourteenth annual Austin Reggae Festival. The festival began noon Saturday with a lineup featuring bands from as far away as New York and Jamaica. The light cloud cover and cool air Saturday brought hundreds of fans to Town Lake for a chance to unwind and listen to music.

Psychology junior Maureen Pafumi said she and a group of friends came to Saturday’s portion of the festival for the relaxed atmosphere. “To me the main focus of the event was hanging out and relaxing,” Pafumi said. She said the Austin Reggae Festival on Saturday was notable for its eclectic crowd. “The labels (people put on each other) disappeared and everyone just hung out together,” she said. Pafumi thought the refreshments sold by vendors at the festival were overpriced, but

said she was happy some of the admission went to a good cause. “The best part was that a portion of the proceeds went to the food bank,” Pafumi said. Saturday’s schedule was closed out by the Easy Star AllStars from New York. The Easy Star All-Stars is best known for its dub remakes of the music of Pink Floyd and Radiohead, which they played in addition to original pieces. By Sunday afternoon, the numbers dwindled as cloudy weather hit Auditorium Shores. Slight rain caused electrical

problems Sunday just before Austin-based ska quintet RokkaTone took the stage. “We were setting up and the rain came in,” said Jonny Meyers, guitar player and lead vocalist for RokkaTone. “Then, all of a sudden the power went oﬀ.” Undaunted by the technical diﬃculties, the band played more than half of its set in the crowd with acoustic instruments. “People were waiting to be See REGGAE, page 7

TRENDS

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The University Star - Page 7

Campus concert series fosters appreciation for Texas music By Tug Ledermann The University Star The seventh annual Texas Music History Unplugged Concert Series will bring live entertainment and discussion to campus Tuesday, featuring Marcia Ball, Ruben Ramos, Barbara Lynn, Randy Rogers and Colin Brooks. The event will be 8 p.m. in the LBJ Ballroom. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Deirdre Lannon, project administrator at The Center for Texas Music History, said each year the performances seem to improve. “The Center for Texas Music History is within the history department of Texas State University and was formed by Gary Hartman and Greg Andrews in 1999,” Lannon said. Andrews, history professor, and Hartman, associate history professor, created the center seven years ago to raise an awareness of Texas music from the past. “We had discussed the idea at a Merle Haggard concert at

Stubb’s in Austin,” Andrews said. “We came back and did some investigative work to see if there were any other comparable programs at other Texas universities and there were not.” The Center for Texas Music History includes a board of advisers. “In putting an advisory board together, Hartman and Andrews reached out into the music community to try and ﬁnd people that would appreciate our mission and act as advisers,” Lannon said. “Marcia Ball was one of the ﬁrst to hop onboard.” Ball will lead Tuesday’s dialogue. Lannon said each year one of the performers takes the role of discussion leader. “Every year we try to put together a quality and diverse lineup that shows the complexity and breadth of Texas music and its roots, but I have to say I am pretty excited about this one because we have Marcia Ball, who is on the board of advisers for the Center for Texas

Music History,” Lannon said. The discussions will allow students and spectators to ask performers questions and learn about the history of Texas music. “In between songs you get some interesting interplay between the musicians and discussions,” Andrews said. “Marcia Ball is very aware of the historical influences of her music and she will be very good at guiding the discussions.” Andrews said the performances are the main focus of the experience. “The trick is to have enough of the historical-based stuff in between songs but still not let it get in the way of the music itself because people are there primarily for the music,” he said. Lannon said although the performers are from diverse backgrounds and music genres, they always seem to come together at one point during the performance. “What usually happens is after the first or second cycle

through everyone, somebody will sing a song that somebody else knows the harmony to, so people wind up lending their talents to each other,” she said. Andrews said the discussions are an integral part of the series and the musicians often have a lot of great things to say. “The musicians are really appreciative,” Andrews said. “First of all, because they are often surprised that the academic world is interested in them and because it brings dignity to what they do.” Lannon said she rarely runs into difficulties finding the perfect musicians to perform each year. “The more all of us are out in the community listening to music and learning about Texas music history we find out about people that are still out there playing,” she said. “So we probably have the next three years booked in our minds — it is just a matter of finding the people and inviting them.”

REGGAE: Musician cites respect as favorite of festivals CONTINUED from page 6

sophomore Megan Reddick was another vendor at this year’s festival.

“I make and design jewelry for gauged ears,” Reddick said. “They’re all one of a kind.”

entertained, so we went out and entertained them,” Meyers said. Lindsay Greene, bass player and vocalist for RokkaTone, said the laid-back festival crowd is easier to play for than other audiences. “Festivals are cool because when people come, they already know what they are getting into,” Greene said. “You don’t have to sell yourself as much.” Events such as the Austin Reggae Festival are important sources of income for craft vendors. Glass blower Jeﬀ Baker set up an open-air workshop among the vendor booths at Auditorium Shores. Baker said he has been coming to the festival to sell his artwork on and oﬀ for the last seven years. Jeannie Yamakawa/Star photo “I love it,” Baker said. “Most of the people show you a lot of ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE: Austin-based band Mau Mau Chaplains perform at Auditorium Shores in Austin for the hundreds of reggae respect.” Pre-communication design fans who gathered at the 2007 Reggae Festival.

MUSIC UNPLUGGED: Marcia Ball will lead discussion at the seventh annual Texas Music History Unplugged Concert Series. The event is sponsored by the Center for Texas Music History and department of history. Photo courtesy of www.rosebudus. com/ball

The University Star - Page 8

TRENDS

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

San Marcos rocked to the sound of Bowling for Soup By Danielle Elisabeth Madsen Special to the Star From burping contests to bragging about Bobcat Bucks, Bowling for Soup entertained Thursday at Lucy’s San Marcos. Besides cranking out their familiar hits, the band kept their audience involved by pausing to crack jokes or pulling stunts like giving out cash to lucky fans. “Eric has been farting all day,” said Jaret Reddick, guitar and vocals, to the audience. The four friends from Wichita Falls formed the band in 1994, and received a 2002 Grammy nomination for the single “Girl All the Bad Guys Want.” “The biggest thing that has happened for us is the fact that we’ve put up with each others’ trials and tribulations, outside relationships and all that stuﬀ to come to a perfect zen point,” said bassist Erik Chandler. Dick Smith, Wimberley resident, said he has attended more than 80 shows and has brought his 14-year-old son, Cody, to see Bowling for Soup since he was nine years old. “A family that rocks together, stays together,” Smith said. Two band members, Chandler and Reddick, left San Marcos with new tattoos. “They didn’t cry,” said Bubba Royce, Live Electric Studio Tattoos artist, about the band members’ pain tolerance while being inked. Bubba Royce has worked at Live Electric for four years and tattooed “TX” on both of the band members’ left arms just above the elbow. “They were down to earth, real cool guys, (the band members) even told a couple of stories and practical jokes. I’d feel comfortable having a beer with them,” Royce said. Road Manager Sean Bailey spoke of the band’s humility. “They are the nicest, most successful band anyone could ever meet, not an attitude in

Photo courtesy of www.bowlingforsoup.com MAKING A STRIKE: Bowling for Soup, formed in 1994 in Wichita Falls, played Thursday at Lucy’s San Marcos. The band performed familiar songs and antics to keep the crowd engaged.

“T

he biggest thing that has happened for us is the fact that we’ve put up with each others’ trials and tribulations, outside relationships and all that stuﬀ to come to a perfect zen point.” —Erik Chandler bassist, Bowling for Soup

the bunch. It’s a band for the people,” said Bailey. Bowling for Soup said the music will not mature along with its age. “It’s a Bowling for Soup formula. We don’t try to reinvent the wheel,” said Chandler. Chandler said he has a vision

for how he would like the band to make its musical mark. “I would like to go down as the Poison of the next generation,” he said. “We’re a party band, not hair metal. It’s fun music and if I can throw cheap tricks in there at some point, it’s really cool.”

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Experimental tunes define RJD2’s new album release By Tim Pratt Detroit Free Press It’s never easy for a musical artist when his established fan base likes him for a specific style but his creative impulses are leading him down a drastically different path. Such was the case for Philadelphia-based RJD2 (Ramble John Krohn), who made a name for himself as an atmospheric hiphop producer in the late 1990s and early 2000s via a string of singles released by underground hip-hop labels Rawkus and Definitive Jux. Though RJD2 hit his stride with the release of Dead Ringer in 2002, melding groovy samples with gritty hip-hop beats and exotic instrumental sounds — solidifying his status among underground hip-hop artists and fans — the follow-up album, Since We Last Spoke (2004), revealed a more expansive, experimental sound. Yet The Third Hand, RJD2’s latest release, finds the 30-yearold venturing into previously uncharted musical territory. Entirely recorded, produced and performed single-handedly in his basement studio, The Third Hand showcases RJD2’s taste for

experimental kitchen-sink style pop songwriting, with a taste for funk, soul and jazz — including the producer’s smooth, creamystyled vocals. It’s a startling shift for longtime fans of his work. But RJD2 insists it was a natural progression, and playing all the instruments allowed him much more musical freedom. “I’ve always used some sort of vocal element if I could, working samples and such, but on a microcosmic level I didn’t want to be limited to using samples anymore,” RJD2 said in a phone interview from New York. “I’ve been looking at the bigger picture and forming a new perspective.” The recording artist admits he doesn’t know how to react when some longtime fans complain about the music shift. “I’m not surprised some people were taken aback by this record at ﬁrst, but I wouldn’t say it bothers me — people have their opinions,” he said. “It’s kind of a hard thing; I want people to be happy and pleased and I want to give them something they can enjoy. But at the same time, at least for this record, it felt insincere for me to follow the same blueprint.” RJD2 says the writing process wasn’t all that diﬀerent for The

’ve always “I used some sort of vocal

element if I could, working samples and such, but on a microcosmic level I didn’t want to be limited to using samples anymore.”

— RJD2 musician, producer

Third Hand, though it was easier to go wherever he wanted to go because he was playing the instruments himself. “One of the things that’s deficient about working with samples is that once you found a sound you were going to use, you were limited to that. Changing to a diﬀerent progression in the song was impossible,” he said. “It took a lot of work and practice because I knew how the instruments worked but my chops weren’t very good. This has been very freeing for me.” © Pappocom

Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains every digit from one through nine inclusively. Thursday’s solutions:

Thursday’s solutions:

www.UniversityStar.com

✯

The University Star - Page 9

Page 10 - The University Star

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

onlineconnection The University Star’s editorial board has voted for the top 10 editorial cartoons of the year. To see a slideshow of these illustrations, go to www.UniversityStar.com.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - Page 11

Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

COMMUNAL

Letter to the Editor

n the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech University, college students nationwide were left wondering what steps their university was taking to Texas State acted late in announcing plans for school protection ensure safety on campus.

Not all Bobcat Build projects help needy

COMMUNICATION

Texas State students had to wait a little longer than most. When a reporter for The University Star tried to contact the University Police Department April 16 for information about what Texas State was doing to protect students, he was directed to the media relations department. The department is in charge of giving statements and general information to media outlets. The media relations staff is not able to give the detailed information students need to know about what is being done to protect them, which UPD could have provided. But an article in the April 16 issue of The San Marcos Daily Record had already quoted UPD Chief Ralph Meyer. The residents of San Marcos were more aware of what steps were being taken to ensure safety on Texas State’s campus than students were. The university made almost no attempt to educate students or make them aware the administration formed a committee to address the issue. The administration has a duty to inform students about what steps are being taken to protect their safety. The first statement by the administration was an e-mail Wednesday from University President Denise Trauth. There is an uncomfortable irony in Texas State’s decision to send a belated e-mail addressing the Virginia Tech shootings. At this point, we all know the story of that school’s administration sending an out an e-mail warning to students too late to prevent any deaths. It was disappointing the Texas State administration took so long to make any sort of statement. Other university presidents had posted letters on their institutions’ Web sites the day of and the day after the shootings. Texas State students got 300 words telling them how touched America is, telling them when memorial services would be and directing them to read the university policy on emergency procedures. Texas State did hold a memorial to honor those killed at Virginia Tech, but even then did not fulfill its duty to honor the dead. Thirty-two roses were laid at the feet of The Stallions in The Quad. Thirty-three people died April 16 on the Virginia Tech campus. When events like this happen, we stop and evaluate what needs to be done to prevent them in the future. As for how to prevent these tragedies, universities and colleges will not only be reviewing how they handle emergency situations, they will be adjusting counseling programs and taking steps to make sure resources are available to provide help for students who need it. It’s important students are not only kept aware of what steps are being made to help and protect them, they must be engaged in that discussion. The Star hopes Texas State will look at what happened at Virginia Tech and realize the administration and the students need to reach out to each other.

Re: Letter to the Editor April 12 I agree with Mathew M. Golding about Bobcat Build. Our group’s job sites were in the Siesta Verde area. At one of the job sites we were to wash windows and oil a three tier wooden deck. At the other job site we had to clear the brush so that the homeowner could use her riding lawnmower on the lawn. The houses were on Arroyo Doble and Paso Del Robles. I believed the idea behind Bobcat Build was for the students at Texas State to give back to the community and help the people in need. The woman we helped clear the brush works for the Hays County ﬁre marshal, and her son owns a landscaping company in Austin. Why are we helping people who have the means to have this work done? The other problem I saw was the lack of tools for the job assigned. No saws, axes, rakes, pruning shears, etc. Gloves were provided, but not the correct gloves (leather, because the brush in this area have thorns). I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in San Antonio, and you do get a feeling of accomplishment when you know you are doing it for the less fortunate. If there are no or little criteria for applying for assistance, then some of the students at Texas State, who are residents of San Marcos, could apply for next year’s Bobcat Build. Toribio “Buddy” Gomez International studies senior

Campaign calls, phone lists abuse student privacy In the middle of class Tuesday, my phone rang. I quickly ﬂipped it open and shut. Annoyingly, the same number called back immediately. Seeing area code 202, I immediately left class to take the call. You see, 202 is Washington D.C., which is where someone very dear to me lives, as well as where the headquarters of my outside employment is located. Instead, it was no more than a campaign call for the current election of ASG candidates. Generally, I do not have a problem with this concept. Having worked in and now studying the political arena, I understand the value of aggressive and comprehensive campaigning. What I would like to know however is how my number became a part of this list. Is the university eﬀectively maintaining the security, privacy, and integrity of students’ personal information? As always, I implore my peers to get out and vote in any given election. Be openminded in listening and reading about candidates and their issues. But don’t allow your privacy to be invaded by the overzealous either.

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.

Melanie Gutermuth criminal justice junior Justin Jackley/Star illustration

Hype after tragedy enables unconstitutional control Shortly after tions to prevent such the Virginia Tech an event. tragedy, televiThirty-two helpless sion media outpeople dead and 29 lets nationwide more injured while started their pursuing their dreams CLARA COBB favorite school is a reason to uphold Assistant Trends violence debate: the U.S. Constitution, Editor gun control. not to dismantle it at It makes good, logical the expense of trampling all sense to ask why a tragedy over the rights of millions of takes place. It makes good, lawful citizens. logical sense to ask how it Media outlets running could be prevented. their mouths oﬀ about how And thus, we return to more laws will prevent gun control. However, after tragedies and massacres the Oklahoma City bombweaken the laws currently ing we did not talk about protecting the citizens of moving truck control or this country. fertilizer restrictions. JefI am a card-carrying liberal, frey Dahmer would not have tree-hugging feminist but I been stopped by silverware am still a Texas woman with regulations. some common sense and a While the VT shootings concealed handgun license. are a terrible, horrible tragTo me, the media has lost edy, calling the event a mas- sight of a necessary self-evisacre in the media furthers dent truth of self-protection. the paranoia not of mentally It is not hard to understand. unstable, violent people, but How can television newsof people who are anti-gun. casters demand to unarm Sure, guns kill people. a defenseless public? Who Guns kill people — and stop wants good, honest Ameripeople — trying to kill other can citizens dead when they people as well. have the right and freedom Virginia Tech was a gunto protect themselves? free zone, an area already Here’s a newsﬂash — movunder controls and regulaing trucks and fertilizer do

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not cause terrorism just as forks and spoons do not cause cannibalism. Furthermore, controlling guns and restricting ownership doesn’t stop lunatics from shooting innocent people. New York City is an excellent example of how effective firearm laws are. The city has the toughest control laws in the country, yet more than five hundred homicides were committed with guns last year. It is hard to believe the inability of people to protect themselves did not contribute to a rise in violence. The sensationalism in the news makes it easy to blame the media. It is important, I believe, to separate the 24-hour television news channels from other outlets such as non-profit radio or newspapers. ABCNews.com was first to speculate on the Virginia Tech Massacre. Without any substantiated facts regarding what the shooter used, ABC headlined a story, “Lapse of federal law allows sale of large ammo clips.” Even television non-profit PBS newscaster Jim Lehrer

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devoted coverage and an accompanying podcast to gun control. Regardless of Gallup Poll results indicating the public feels availability of guns contributes the least to gun violence (21 percent), ABC’s World News Tonight and CBS’s Evening News both devoted stories to gun control. And that was just network coverage. On television, 24-hour news channels have to compete to keep viewers tunedin. Television is competing with all sorts of junk. When the massacre, as television dubbed it, began coverage on these news media outlets, it was competing not only against seven other news channels, but against such mindless programming as “The Top 10 Most Expensive Hollywood Divorces.” Virginia Tech is not the worst school massacre in U.S. history. At Bath School, 45 people, mostly children, were killed and 58 injured in 1927 in Michigan. But you wouldn’t know that, watching 24-hour coverage. Sensationalism, gossip and hearsay are necessary

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for media and advertising competition. As Barbara Walters said following the death of colleague Peter Jennings, “what made Peter great was that he knew there was no such thing as the truth.” Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations at Virginia Tech, commented on a previous Virginia Tech shooting, “Guns don’t belong in classrooms. They never will. Virginia Tech has a very sound policy preventing same.” Consequently, Virginia legislature’s HB 1572, which would have allowed handguns on college campuses, died in subcommittee. I do not want to take anything away from the 32 Virginia Tech victims or their families in the light of a senseless tragedy. I do want to remind you, and our news media, that many American citizens and more are dying in Iraq every week — dying to protect our rights and freedoms. Clara Cobb is a public administration graduate student

The Star’s music references should be in-depth, authentic Does The University Star let anybody write about music? I realize that you don’t often ﬁnd a 44-year-old college senior with an opinion about current music, but I love music, all kinds of music. Apparently much more so than those writing about music from The Star. I let it slide during SXSW when it was reported that Pete Townsend was the bassist for The Who. I understood that The Who is not current and could understand how one of the greatest guitar players in history could be mistaken for a bass player. However, I can not stand by and let it go without comment that in the March 29 issue of The Star in the article about punk rock that Fall Out Boy was referred to as Punk Rock. The Dixie Chicks are more punk rock than Fall Out Boy. Check out some current punk music like Arrogant Bastards or elepunk. Maybe you could check out the Godfather of Punk, who recently played in Austin, Iggy and the Stooges. You could also check out The Germs, The Clash or, of course, The Sex Pistols for some old punk bands. But whatever you do, please do not ever refer to Fall Out Boy as punk again. I promise not to consider Kanye West “gansta” rap in return. Don Massey geography senior Editor’s note: Pete Townsend is the guitarist and main songwriter for The Who. The Star apologizes for this error. Think you have something to say? Log on to www.universitystar.com and click on the letters link to read old letters and submit new ones.

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ASAP MOVE-INS! 1BD, $425; 2BD, $500; 3BD, $650. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. 1BD APT. NEXT TO CAMPUS. $625/mo. Includes internet, cable, electric, gas, water, and garbage. (512) 392-2700. PERFECT ROOMMATE DESIGN, bus route, includes, w/d. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. APLUSAPTS.NET. Pictures, prices, floorplans, deposit info. It’s free! $785 PRE-LEASE NOW FOR 8/20. 2/2.5 townhouse, 3 blks. from TSU. Free HBO, free Road Runner, full Size w/d, small, clean and quiet community. www.windmilltownhomes.com for floor plans and prices. (512) 396-4181. FURNISHED 4BD/4BA STUDENT PROPERTY. Great price! Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. MAKE $150 FOR USING MY FREE REALTOR SERVICES TO FIND YOUR NEXT APARTMENT. CALL AARON JOHNSON (713) 294-3330. CHAMPIONS REAL ESTATE GROUP. LARGE 1BD WITH HUGE WALK IN CLOSET! www.glsanmarcos.com, (512) 878-2233. 1BD/1BA AVAILABLE! Water paid. www.glsanmarcos.com, (512) 878-2233. DUPLEXES AVAILABLE at Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. APARTMENTSTOGO.COM. Free list of apartment prices and amenities or visit our office on The Square! (512) 353-FREE. APLUSAPTS.NET. Pictures, prices, floorplans, deposit info. It’s free! 1BD OR 2 BD. Great view, spacious loft, washer & dryer. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. 4BD/4BA, $350 A MONTH. Internet/ cable w/ HBO/phone/trash pd. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. 1BD APT. FOR RENT. Walk to campus. $400/mo. Most bills paid. (512) 392-4012. $575, 2BD/2BA, 810 SQ. FT. $200 OFF 1st month rent. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. APLUSAPTS.NET. Pictures, prices, floorplans, deposit info. It’s free! TAKE OVER MY LEASE FOR THE SUMMER. $385/mo. All bills included at The Exchange. Pet deposit paid. Pets welcome. (512) 639-9267. ASAP MOVE-INS. Call Great Locations, (512) 878-2233.

CEDAR GROVE 3BD/3BA/2 garage duplex, on shuttle, fenced, garage, call for details, Williamson Mgmt. (512) 362-3600. 2BD/1BA FOURPLEX with w/d connections, clean. Only $500. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. 3BD/3.5BA ON TSU BUS ROUTE, w/d included, big backyards. www.primepmc.com, (512) 878-1792. 2BD/2BA DUPLEX AVAILABLE NOW! Large living area & backyard. www.primepmc.com, (512) 878-1792. SPACIOUS 3BD/3BA in small apartment community, very private. PRIME PMC, (512) 878-2233. $785 2BD/2BA DUPLEX, 3 BLKS. FROM TSU. Pre-leasing for 8/20. Free HBO, Road Runner, full size w/d, SMALL, CLEAN & QUIET COMMUNITY. www.windmilltownhomes.com for ﬂoor plans and prices. (512) 396-4181 3BD/2.5BA w/ walk-in closets & w/d included. PRIME PMC, (512) 878-2233. VISIT LEGACYREALESTATE.BIZ for houses, duplexes, 4-plexes and apartments. 1 bedrooms to 3 bedrooms available at many locations. WE HAVE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR! Call Legacy, (512) 665-3321. FOR RENT DUPLEX 3BD/3.5BA 103/105 Cedergrove (on bus route). Fenced backyard/pets ok. $1,099 per month. (512) 351-3034. DUPLEX-3BD/2.5BA/2 CAR GARAGE on bus route, w/d, $1,050/mo., pets ok. Call (512) 587-7559. SPACIOUS 3BD/2.5BA with garage & w/d. www.primepmc.com, (512) 878-1792. SPACIOUS 3BD/2.5BA w/ garage, w/d included. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. 3BD/3BA AVAILABLE NOW! $800/month. www.primepmc.com (512) 878-1792. AVAILABLE NOW! 3BD/3BA, cable, w/d included. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. AVAILABLE NOW! 3BD/3BA, w/d included, cable & trash paid. www.primepmc.com, (512) 878-1792. 2BD/1BA AVAILABLE NOW! Newly remodeled, great neighborhood. PRIME PMC, (512) 878-2233. 3BD/2BA DUPLEXES available on Baylor and Earle Streets. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call Legacy, (512) 665-3321.

3BD/2BA HOUSE FOR RENT. 1204 Dartmouth. Minutes from campus. Refrigerator, w/d, 2 car garage. $1,100/mo. (512) 338-4626 or (512) 963-5369. HOMES FOR LEASE 3BD/2BA, fenced, garage, $1,000/mo. Williamson Mgmt. (512) 392-3600. 3BD/2BA HOUSES FOR RENT-Kyle and San Marcos. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. 3BD/2BA HOME AVAILABLE ASAP! Great neighborhood, 1,600 sq. ft. PRIME PMC, (512) 878-2233. 3BD/2.5BA AVAILABLE IN KYLE AREA, new house! PRIME PMC, (512) 878-2233. 3/2/1 HOUSES AVAILABLE ON Baylor and Clyde Streets. Single family restrictions apply. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call Legacy 665-3321. 3BD/2BA HOUSE FOR RENT. 1605 Girard St. Minutes from campus. Refrigerator, w/d, 2 car carport. $1,200/mo. (512) 338-4626 or (512) 963-5369. 1BD HOUSE IN COUNTRY. 15 min. from campus. $680/mo. Includes internet/cable. Call (512) 392-2700. 3 ROOMMATES NEEDED. 2,600 sq. ft. house, 1 mile from university. $400+ utilities. Call (210) 422-0577. 2BD/1BA HOME ON 5 ACRES. 6 miles south of San Marcos, $600/mo. plus deposit. Call (512) 357-6271 or (830) 660-0787.

ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN for calendars, greeting cards, etc. $75-200/hr. No exp. needed, (512) 684-8296. CINEMARK NOW HIRING! PT/FT Apply at Southpark Meadows 14, 9900 South IH35, Look for movie banner. Mon-Fri 9am -5pm, Sat 9am Noon. COMPUTER SAVY SECRETARIAL work, part-time and throughout summer. (512) 353-3477/ (210) 367-7842. CORE HEALTH CARE is looking for individuals who would like a rewarding employment experience in the health care field. Our direct care positions offer opportunities to work with either brain-injured or psychiatric clients. Looking to fill weekend, weekday and overnight positions. Location in Dripping Springs. Candidate must be 21 years of age and have satisfactory driving record. Background check & drug screening is required. Pay begins at $8.50, but commensurate with experience and education. Benefits may include health, dental, vision insurance, monthly gas allowance, PTO and 401(k). If eligible there is a sign on bonus of $200.00. Please contact Kerri (512) 894-0701 ext. 219 or fax resume (512) 858-5104 or e-mail kalvis@corehealth.com. Please visit our website at www.corehealth.com JOHNNY ROCKETS “THE ORIGINAL HAMBURGER” located at Prime Outlet Mall is now hiring for all positions! Have fun at work and be apart of the team that serves fun food with a 50’s flare. Food service experience desired, but not necessary. Please apply in person Monday-Thursday, 3 p. m.-8 p. m. HOUSING SCHOLARSHIPS for Upper Classmen from Texas Student Housing [TSHA] Contact: Pete Ehrenberg (817) 490 - 5723 or westlake-tx.org (follow the prompts). ROCKIN R RIVER RIDES is accepting applications for ALL positions. Want a job on the Guadalupe River this summer? Enjoy a summer full of fun in the sun and create memories you will never forget. Come by and fill out an application at 1405 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, TX or call (830) 629-9999. CANYON LAKE MARINA/CRANES MILL MARINA. NOW HIRING. Dock Hand/Cashier/Service Tech. Apply in person at Canyon Lake Marina. 280 Marina Dr. Canyon Lake, TX 781333. (830) 935-4333. DO YOU HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS DUE? Did you know you can complete hours, having fun, working on campus through the Horticulture Program? Contact Dr. Cade at tc10@txstate.edu for information. OLDER COUPLE OFFERING FOR LEASE 1BD/1BA FOR FEMALE STUDENT OR PERSON. w/d and computer available, 2 meals furnished daily, $350/mo. (512) 396-0748. NEEDED: SORORITY HOUSE DIRECTOR. Mature woman to live on premises (small apartment provided and small salary) who can deal with security, oversee household cleaning, yard maintenance, and other household maintenance. Person can hold another job or school attendant if time is somewhat flexible. For more information call: (210) 349-0707 or (830) 980-3581. ARTISTS: Photographer looking FOR ATTRACTIVE, athletic and artistic talent to photograph through summer. Flexible times, good pay (512) 353-3477/ (210) 367-7842.

PT HELP NEEDED at Heartland Coffee & Antiques in Wimberley. Mature responsible self starters needed. (512) 847-7799. TIRED OF GOING TO CLASS? Start Your Very Own Online Business Today! www.SixFigureProgram.com.

FOR RENT-APTS NOW PRE-LEASING-2,3 and 4 bedrooms apartments, condos, duplexes and houses. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. APLUSAPTS.NET. Pictures, prices, floorplans, deposit info. It’s free! MAY SPECIALS, PRE-LEASE NOW! Most bills paid, Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. BEST PRICE! Large 4BD/2BA with wood floors. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. 2BD/1BA. $750, walking distance to campus! Great Locations, (512) 878-2233. ALL BILLS PAID. Student property. Call today! www.glsanmarcos.com, (512) 878-2233. NOW PRE-LEASING FOR MAY ‘07 AND AUGUST ‘07. Call Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. AWESOME DEAL! 2BD/2BA, 974 SQ. FT. $696. w/d included. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. APLUSAPTS.NET. Pictures, prices, floorplans, deposit info. It’s free! ALL BILLS PAID! 1, 2, 3, 4 bedrooms available. w/d included. Walk to school. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

FOR RENTCONDO/TOWNHOMES $785 PRE-LEASE NOW FOR 8/20. 2BD/2.5BA TOWNHOUSE, 3 blks. from TSU. Free HBO, free Road Runner, full Size w/d, SMALL, CLEAN & QUIET COMMUNITY. www.windmilltownhomes.com for ﬂoor plans and prices. (512) 396-4181. 2BD/1.5BA PET FRIENDLY TOWNHOMES! $575-$625. Great Locations, (512) 878-2233.

FOR RENT-HOUSES FOR LEASE-NEW 3,200 SQ. FT. HOME for group of ten occupants only 15 minutes to Lockhart. Award-winning design includes 10’ ceilings throughout, fireplace, all appliances, stained concrete floors on first level, 4 large bedrooms, 2 small bedrooms, 6 bathrooms. Will be available by midMay. $535/mo. per occupant, plus share of utilities, with a one year lease. Brokers & agents welcomed. Call agent Ed Sykes, (512) 905-2069, edsykes3@hotmail.com

FOR SALE 7’ POOL TABLE. Great condition. $450. Call (210) 286-0714. CAP & GOWN, size 5’6”-5’9”. Call (210) 566-6688. MINIATURE EASTER DACHSHUNDS FOR SALE. (830) 708-0586. (830) 627-1000.

HELP WANTED WIMBERLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH seeking Christ-centered person for Youth Director. 20 hr./wk. Three years exp. in a structured youth program preferred. Contact Zula Haight, zula_haight@yahoo.com. (512) 847-1694. STUDY BREAKS MAGAZINE is now hiring account executives/advertising sales. Great pay, ﬂexible hours. (512) 480-0894. TEACHERS NEEDED: NOW HIRING FT&PT teachers- morning and afternoon shifts. Experience/bilingual preferred. Beneﬁts available. Quality Child Development Center in Kyle. (512) 405-3700 or fax (512) 405-3701. www.rockinghorseacademy.com. SEMEN DONORS NEEDED! $150 per specimen, healthy college students age 18-39. For application go to www.123donate.com. EARN $250+MONTHLY AND MORE to type simple ads online. www.DataAdEntry.com LOOKING FOR SELF MOTIVATED individuals wanting to become healthy and wealthy. Make your own schedule! Contact (903) 262-420 or ktmonavie@yahoo.com to make money. NEED HELP WITH LAWN MOWING AND WEED-EATING and other miscellaneous jobs. Must have own transportation. $11.00 per hour. Call Sharon @ (512) 557-5697.

WHICH WICH?

SUPERIOR SANDWICHES All positions needed for exciting new sandwich concept opening soon in San Marcos, TX, across from the University on University Dr. and Edward Gary. Positions needed: General Manager, shift leaders, sandwich makers, cashiers, both part time and full time. To apply please fax resume to (972) 492-9424 or email resume or request for an application to bobcats@whichwich.net. LOOKING FOR A FUN and exciting job that is ﬂexible? Well, check out Wonder World Park! Now hiring tour guides. Apply in person at 1000 Prospect St. or call (512) 392-3760. LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENTS WANTED for the #1 apartment locating service in San Marcos, Apartment Experts. Full and Part time available. Call Greg at (512) 805-0123. MAKE UP TO $15/HR. EXPERIENCED LANDSCAPER NEEDED FOR AN ESTABLISHED LANDSCAPING COMPANY. MUST HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. FULL OR PART-TIME. CALL JOHN AT (512) 626-9189. SUMMER CAMP JOBS ON LAKE TRAVIS. Salary, room & board provided. Experience not necessary, love of children essential and willingness to learn camp life required. Contact camptexlake.org or (512) 264-1044. NATURAL BRIDGE WILDLIFE RANCH is hiring outgoing enthusiastic Visitor Center Personnel. An interest in leading educational programs a plus. Park Ranger positions also available. Apply in person, 7 miles west of IH-35, exit 175. CORRECTIONAL OFFICER $9/HR. Lockhart Correctional Facility has immediate openings for persons seeking a career in corrections. Paid beneﬁts and training. Must have a high school diploma or GED and a valid TDL. Must pass drug screening, physical, and background check. Apply in person at: 1400 Industrial Blvd. Lockhart, TX EOE/m/f/d/v. DANCE INSTRUCTORS AND PIANO TEACHERS needed for Allegro School of Music’s new location in Kyle. For summer camps and regular music/dance lessons. Call (512) 312-5995.

MISCELLANEOUS BOBCATSNEEDJOBS.COM. Paid Survey Takers needed in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys. NO MONEY DOWN - FREE LIST OF PROPERTIES WITH NO DOWN PAYMENT. FREE RECORDED MESSAGE. (877) 594-5570 ID #1043.

ROOMMATES ROOMMATE NEEDED. 2BD/2BA trailer in San Marcos mobile home park. Furnished, covered parking, 10 min. from campus. $210/mo. plus half of bills. $100 refundable deposit. Call (281) 639-8048. ROOMMATE NEEDED BY MAY 1 FOR 2BD HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM CAMPUS. Roomy house with a decent-sized backyard. Split all bills in half. I have one cat and there is room for a well-behaved dog, if you have one. If you have any questions, please call (361) 877-0019.

SERVICES WWW.STUDENTATTORNEY.COM LEARN TO USE PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR, DREAMWEAVER OR FLASH. Register 4/30-5/23 for ACC’s 11-week summer semester. Credit or CE classes – online or classroom. (512) 223-9266, viscom@austincc.edu www.austincc.edu/viscom.

SUBLEASE 1BD/1BA AT CABANA BEACH. Sublease ASAP for the summer, $650/mo. NO deposit required. Call Steven, (214) 773-4729.

WANTED USED CARS, TRUCKS, VANS. Any condition, running or not. If you have something to sell please call Willis Mitchell. (512) 353-4511.

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The University Star - Page 13

TOURNAMENT: Two Bobcats exact revenge on opponents PROGRESS: CONTINUED from page 14

Travis Atkins/Star photo WIND UP: Freshman Andrea Giraldo prepares to return a shot from Lamar’s Maria Gutierrez during her 7-5, 7-5 victory during the Southland Conference Tournament Friday in San Antonio.

performed better in her match than the previous time against Baylor. Both freshman Rabea Hartmann and Giraldo got revenge on opponents who beat them last time, with Hartmann winning 6-3, 4-6 and 6-4 and Giraldo defeating Maria Gutierrez 7-5, 7-5. “This time I was mentally and physically stronger,” Giraldo said. “I really wanted to beat this girl because the last two times we played, I lost in very close matches. The difference this time was that I made her play more; (I) was smarter and more patient.” Ellis and sophomore Lainy Chaﬁtz each lost their singles matches Friday. “Last time Lainy lost 6-1, 6-1, this time she split sets and played exceptionally well,” Plunkett said. “Ashley’s score was about the same, but you could tell she was playing better.” Texas State ﬁnished the season 117 overall and 7-4 in the SLC. The team will add one walk-on next year, with all eight players set to return. “This year, we turned it around and made the tournament,” Plunkett said. “Next year, we will have nine players battling for six spots and three experienced seniors, so we should be able to go further.”

PITCHER: Baca provides confidence for teammates CONTINUED from page 14

Cotton Miller/Star photo DEDICATED LEADER: Senior pitcher Jason Baca endured six months of treatment last season for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and remained a strong part of the Texas State team despite his ﬁve-day-a-week treatments.

else when I wasn’t one hundred percent.” Assistant coach John Maley said both Baca and the team need each other, attributing his presence to a sense of confidence for the club and pitching staff. “I think a lot of the guys are so confident in him that whatever the other team has going offensively, it’ll be over,” Maley said. As the bullpen’s anchor, Baca said he feeds off adversity. “You can’t go in there scared and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve got to do this and that,” Baca said. “You have to go and pitch

with what you’ve got instead of trying to make stuﬀ happen that you can’t control. I’m comfortable in that role and I can do the job.” Baca, who is now cancerfree, may have another opportunity to do the job Tuesday in Texas State’s game against Baylor at Bobcat Field. The 6:30 p.m. match-up takes place after a weekend in which he played in every contest of a three-game series with Central Arkansas. “He has a home and a place, and with a home and place, there’s comfort,” Harrington said. “There’s a tremendous environment he’s in now, and he’s comfortable there. It’s led to success for him, which is leading to success for us.”

Empty bleachers hinder tradition CONTINUED from page 14

the last five seasons, including this year. Even the football program hasn’t received an unconditional following in a state where the sport is king. Texas State has averaged 11,441 in reported attendance over the past five seasons in a stadium with 15,218 seats — not even 75 percent of capacity. It is routine to see a few hundred students enjoying a sunny afternoon at Sewell Park instead of watching a baseball game at nearby Bobcat Field. And the Texas State baseball team was recently ranked 30th in the country by one Web site, and is a Southland Conference contender each season. So what will it take to get fans in the stands at Texas State? “It’s basically ‘which comes first, the chicken or the egg?’” said Amanda Oskey, Associated Student Government vice president. “Is it because we don’t win that students don’t go (to games) or because there’s not support for athletics?” It can be easy to make the excuse that a sports program isn’t winning, but if students and alumni are going to complain, they need be in attendance at games to show they are serious about supporting the program in good times and bad. How are the university and athletic department supposed to listen to people who aren’t in the stands watching? The same can be said about new facilities. Why spend millions to improve facilities if no one is filling the existing ones? Many people complain about a lack of traditions, but it becomes possible to create traditions when people are in the seats. The alternating “Texas” and “State” cheers at a filled Bobcat Stadium send chills up the spine. But that’s impossible at a nearempty Strahan Coliseum or Bobcat Field. The athletic department needs to find new ways to appeal to students and alumni. The current strategies are not getting fans into the seats. Energy and imagination with promotions to create awareness of the games themselves appear to be in short supply. “We’re doing the same stuff we did 20 years ago,” football coach Brad Wright said. “We still have the (Bobcat) Bonanza, we still have to go out and ask the same people when we need anything.” In the end it all boils down to the commitment of building a consistent winner at Texas State. “It’s a cold hard fact that winning takes care a lot of the problem,” Wright said. “As much as we’re out in the community shaking hands, handing out shirts, and making ourselves available, (fans) don’t want to go see a poor product.”

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - Page 14

Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

Perception and Progress: Department hurt by athletic apathy By Nathan Brooks and Gabe Mendoza The University Star Editor’s note: This is the ﬁrst of a three-part series on the Texas State athletic department. Changing image and perception is nothing new at Texas State University. The university has grown into a nationally recognized institution after being viewed for years as a small, regional school under the name Southwest Texas State.

It was cited as one of “America’s Best Value” colleges by the Princeton Review and ranks among the top in the state in various academic categories after being labeled a “party school” for decades. But there is one stigma this institution can’t seem to rid itself of: apathy toward athletics. It begs the question students and Bobcats supporters have been asking for years. Why? Why can’t this university embrace athletics the way it em-

braces its location, atmosphere and academics? The campus boasts an enviable college environment with beautiful rolling hills and an immaculate spring-fed river, and has an ideal setting between two of Texas’ largest metropolitan areas in San Antonio and Austin. Academic facilities and prestige continue to reach new heights, but the athletic program seems to remain stagnant. Students and alumni have yet to fully embrace a sports culture at Texas State, as attendance ﬁgures

have shown over the past several years, with the exception of sellout crowds during Texas State’s run through the 2005 Division IAA football playoﬀs. “The pride is growing with students,” Rick Koch, alumnus and BobcatFans LLC magazine owner, said. “But the athletic department needs to catch on and grab that, otherwise they’re going to get tired.” While the pride among students does appear to be growing, it hasn’t translated to support of athletics.

Overall attendance at Bobcat athletic events has been abysmal. Basketball and baseball crowds have been sparse at best, despite university enrollment ﬁgures of more than 27,000 students. The athletic department reported an average of 1,743 basketball fans a game in a 7,200-seat arena over the past ﬁve seasons. Baseball has averaged a reported 511 fans a game at an 1,800seat capacity Bobcat Field over See PROGRESS, page 13

Overcoming all odds Bobcat pitcher remained on field through cancer treatment By Jacob Mustafa The University Star

Cotton Miller/Star file photo BOLD BACA: Jason Baca pitches March 3 against Texas Southern. Baca said his strong connections with the Texas State baseball team helped him during his time battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Baseball pitchers have to be protected. They are among the most shielded athletes in any major sport, from the time they are little leaguers to when they are 40-year-olds in the MLB. Jason Baca is as much of an exception to the rule as possible. The senior is the Bobcats’ iron horse; as the first pitcher to come out of the bullpen for Texas State, he enters the game when there are runners on base, when the Bobcats desperately need an out or whenever the game can be won or lost. However, this kind of ‘life or death’ situation is trivialized when a player deals with an actual life or death situation. Prior to last season, Baca was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a disease accounting for less than one percent of cancers worldwide. He went through six months of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation that extended into the 2006 season, when he made 23 appearances and led the team with a 2.10 ERA. The cancer affected his actual play on the baseball field only slightly — changing the way he moved, Baca said — but the offfield issues were what made the disease a burden to him as a baseball player. “The bad thing about (the treatment) was I did it five days a week, and on Fridays, we’d have to leave to go to Nicholls or something like that,” Baca said. “I’d go (to the treatments) at like 5:30 in the morning and drive to the games after.” Baca knew what he was dealing with when first diagnosed, but felt he would not miss any time in the 2006 season because of it. “At first, it’s like, ‘Damn, I got cancer,’” Baca said. “But I wasn’t going to sit out a year. As long as I was able to, no mat-

ter how bad I felt, I knew I’d get through it.” Coach Ty Harrington said he was amazed at Baca’s resolve when he found out about his diagnosis. He is reminded of how his father, who passed away in a car wreck in 2006, was inspired by Baca to live with his own fight against cancer. “My father was diagnosed with cancer before his wreck, and I’d tell him stories about how Baca was doing to keep his spirits up,” Harrington said. “Jason would say, ‘I’m going fishing, I’m doing this,’ living his normal life while he was looking cancer in the face. “We came up one day and Baca was here, and my dad said, ‘I want to talk to him.’ Baca came over to the window and my dad just shook his hand and said, ‘I want to let you know how proud I am of you and how well you’ve done.’” While it is clear Baca can deal with adversity, a change in one’s life of such magnitude can be enough to distract a player. As dedicated as Baca has remained, the battle certainly gives people a different viewpoint on life, Harrington said. “Getting out of a (pitching) jam is tough; fighting cancer is real life,” Harrington said. “Not to say that succeeding (on the field) doesn’t concern him, but I think he probably has a different perspective than you or I have. I think it’s helped him.” Baca’s time with the team may have been a factor in his recovery from cancer, he said. The reliever said his comfort level with a team he has played on his entire collegiate career (Baca is the longest tenured Bobcat) was a crucial element in him never feeling out of sorts. “I think it was a lot better being here already,” Baca said. “Better than being somewhere See PITCHER, page 13

Controversial vote hangs Texas State out to dry in tennis tournament By Travis Atkins The University Star When the Bobcats traveled to San Antonio for the tennis championship this weekend, they didn’t expect to be thrown into a mock-up of a reality TV show. Texas State could not catch a break Friday, unable to overcome player protest and a miscounted score en route to a ﬁrst-round exit at the Southland Conference Tournament. The Bobcats bowed out 4-3 against Lamar, a team they lost to 5-2 earlier this year. “We were at Survival Island and at the tribal council I did not have any alliances,” Coach Tory Plunkett said. “The Lamar coach had already spoken to three other coaches who had a vote, and I was voted out.” An hour before the coaches meeting the day before the tournament, Plunkett received a call from Lamar’s coach, saying he would protest the team if junior Ali Gulida played Saturday’s match at the No. 5 spot. Gulida played most of the year ranked No. 6 for Texas State but was slated to play at ﬁve for the match. Plunkett refused and subsequently lost the protest; Gulida was replaced at No. 5 by junior Sumarie Muller, the No.

6 seed. Because Lamar only had five players, the Southland Conference’s Newcomer of the Year, Gulida, was forced to sit out. “To be honest, I thought it was a no-brainer (that we would win the protest),” Plunkett said. “Number one, (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) rules state you should play in order of ability; Ali was 8-0 and Su was 4-5.” Gulida played at No. 5 in the regular season match against Lamar and won 6-2, 6-1, but Lamar made no protest after its win. Gulida moved back to No. 6 a match later against Nicholls State. Plunkett said she did this because she wanted to build Muller’s confidence back up and give her another chance to prove herself. After Muller lost and Gulida won, Plunkett determined the latter was better suited at the five spot. “ITA rules say if you have two players of equal ability, you are allowed to move them one spot,” Plunkett said. “So regardless if they’re playing in order of ability, I am still able to move them one spot or what have you.” Plunkett said she felt she was a victim of a coaching alliance based on her past history with protest committees. “I don’t believe coaches should

be on protest committees because even though Lamar and us didn’t get a vote, we still have to play the other schools who are on the committee,” Plunkett said. “I think the Southland Conference needed to step up and never allow the protest to happen, based on ITA rules.” As if the team match was scripted, the score was tied 3-3 and both clubs gathered around the court awaiting the conclusion of the one remaining match, Muller against Manami Kuroda. Muller won the first set easily at 6-2 and then dropped the second set 3-6. “The second set, (Kuroda) came out and completely changed her game, coming up with high loopy balls and just running after everything,” Muller said. “That threw me off and broke my rhythm completely. We had such long rallies and I think I just got too impatient.” Down 5-4, Muller was able to fight off numerous match points and tied the score 5-5. Then down 5-6, she trailed 40-0 for the point and again endured match points to get the score to deuce. But Kuroda won the next point and when Muller’s shot clipped the top of the net and landed on her side, the match and the Bobcats’

season ended. “I was really tired and fought with everything I had, but just couldn’t seem to pull it through,” Muller said. “We had a long rally and then I missed the line on the last ball through nerves and exhaustion. She played great and also fought very hard.” During doubles, the No. 2 pair of sophomore Ashley Ellis and freshman Andrea Giraldo were down 5-7, but had just broken Lamar’s serve to make it 6-7. Then, as both teams were changing sides, the umpire noted the game score at 40-15 instead of being over. Lamar then won four points in a row and took the match 8-5. As they had already won the other doubles match,

the Cardinals won the doubles point. “When the umpire said it was 40-15, everybody was thinking ‘What the heck is going on?’” Plunkett said. “Come to ﬁnd out, it was when Andrea hit an excellent return and the umpire must have thought Lamar called it out. That was a huge momentum swing and what’s so devastating is that the players had no control over it.” Plunkett said after the doubles, the team realized nothing was going in its favor during the tournament, which pumped them up to play better in singles. Plunkett felt they did, saying each player See TOURNAMENT, page 13

The University Star

Published on Apr 24, 2007

04 24 2007

Published on Apr 24, 2007

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