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
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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
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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
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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.
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