04 29 2009

Art Petition Streak Stopped

students are circulating a petition to get more Baseball halts 12-game winning SEE NEWS PAGE 2 SEE SPORTS PAGE 10

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

www.UniversityStar.com

April 29, 2009

wednesday

Volume 98, issue 79

‘a a very special place in the history of Texas music.’

—Greg andrews assistant director of The Center for Texas Music History

Alyssa Scavetta/Star photo students played monday night at Cheatham street to go to the Kerville songwriter’s competition. The Warehouse has served as a venue for budding talent for generations. FOR FULL STORY SEE PAGE 6. FOR FOOTAGE OF THE EVENT SEE UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

University needs funds to repair infrastructure

By Allen Reed Assistant News Editor Pat Fogarty said steam lines and pipes are the weakest point of Texas State’s infrastructure.

“The weakest area we have here on campus is under underground,” said Fogarty, associate vice president of facilities. “If the university had all the money in the world it would build tunnels and put most of the piping in there so you can monitor it and do most of your maintenance in there. We do have some tunnels that were put in 20 years ago, but many places on campus have pipes buried in the ground from many years ago. That’s where our problem is.”

Bill Nance, vice president of finance and support ser services, said Texas State’s ability to take care of problems partly relies on state funding.

“We rely a lot, whether it’s new construction or repairs, on the Legislature to fund those kinds of things,” Nance said. “It’s been well documented by all of higher education that the legislature needs to appropriate more money for all those things. We had five projects requested and it doesn’t look right now like any of those tuition revenue bonds are going to be funded.”

Nance agreed the biggest infrastructure problem lies underground.

“It’s very expensive to get in there and dig up those pipes and it’s also very disruptive to campus operations,” Nance said. “We know we have a problem underground.

We are going to commit additional funds to try and address this underground piping problem, but I don’t have a number yet.”

Fogarty said leaks in the pipes are hard to find and some of the piping is 80 years old.

“I’ve set aside some funds so we can systematically go through and replace steam lines where they are old and known to leak,” he said. “We’ve already replaced a few See BOILER, page 3

Mexican drug wars University investigated for alleged harrassment of student affect Texas, students

By Theron Brttain News Reporter

By Rachel Nelson News Reporter Ada Pomar remembers a time when she and her friends would cross the Texas-Mexico border with ease to shop, eat or go clubbing.

“Since 2004/2005 we haven’t gone across at all,” said Pomar, communication studies senior.

The acts of violence stemming from the long-running Mexican drug war were once common to fear at night, but in recent years “they started doing it during the day time,” Pomar said.

Bystanders who are not involved with the drug cartels are now at risk of being victimized more than ever.

“They just don’t have any regard for anybody anymore,” Pomar said. “If you’re in the way, it’s your fault.”

Pomar is from Laredo, a Texas border town, which is separated from Nuevo Laredo, a Mexican city, by bridges. Since her father gained U.S. citizenship in 1995, Pomar said her entire family resides in Laredo and seldom crosses the border. However, the violence is increasingly moving into Texas.

“You can’t say it’s completely safe on one side or the other anymore,” she said.

According to The Associated Press, the Mexican drug war grew much more violent in August 2006 when Javier Arellano Felix, the leader of a Tijuanabased cartel, was arrested. Since December 2006, 10,700 people have lost their lives throughout Mexico as drug lords from dif different cartels fight for control of the trade.

Angel Keen, public administration and Spanish senior, is from Laredo and said some of her family members reside in Nuevo Laredo. Since starting college, Keen rarely visits there, mostly because “the border is so dangerous,” she said.

Keen said her fear of the vio-

lence escalated when people involved in a drug cartel hi-jacked her mother at gunpoint two years ago. Police never recovered her stolen Nissan Altima.

Pomar and Keen said they have dealt with the drug wars when they were raised in Laredo.

Keen remembers seeing a house that was burned down in Nuevo Laredo in relation to the drug war just around the corner from her grandmother’s residence.

“We’ve learned how to deal with it,” Keen said. “We have to make accommodations to be able to live there.”

Pomar said she and others who come from the area tend to be desensitized to the violence.

“It’s just become so normal that it doesn’t scare anyone who lives there,” Pomar said.

Keen said the increasing violence combined with a slumping economy has taken a noticeable toll on the area.

“There used to be a lot of tourism,” Keen said. “You don’t really see much of that anymore.

A lot of the stores have closed down. It’s just not as safe as it used to be.”

Victor Santiesteban, Spanish senior, said his parents and younger siblings relocated to El Paso three years ago to escape the increasing bloodshed.

“I feel they are safe and that my brother and my sister will be safe more than how it was when I was their age,” Santiesteban said. “At the same time, I am sad they are not going to get to experience the same Mexican culture I experienced.”

Santiesteban said members of his family still reside in Juarez, but most have moved to residential areas where gates and security surround their homes.

Santiesteban returned to Mexico to visit those family members during Christmas break. He said there seemed to be a sense of fear from the locals.

See WARS, page 3

Today’s weather Isolated T-Storms

87˚

Precipitation: 30% Humidity: 65% UV: 7 high Wind: SE 18 mph

The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into harassment allegations of a Texas State student during the 2008 to 2009 academic school year.

The Office of Civil Rights is looking into, specifically, whether Texas State harassed graduate student Stephanie Bradford on the basis of her disability.

University President Denise Trauth was of of-

ficially informed of The Office of Civil Rights decision in an April 14 letter listing the allegations and providing a list of requirements Texas State must meet to comply with the investigation.

Bradford has an autoimmune disorder because of a malfunctioning thyroid, which, along with a tumor growth related to the condition, was surgically removed April 21. Complications of the disorder have required her to miss assignments, exams and class due dates, for which she has previously received

exemptions.

Bradford claims she was informed in January there would be no further exemptions because of her disability. Bradford also claims she was falsely accused of sending an anonymous e-mail critical of one of her professors, and since then she has been dropped from her thesis chair and committee and advised to pursue a non-thesis track.

Bradford, who possesses a master’s degree See BRADFORD, page 3

J.C. Kellum pond dyes spark worries of contamination

By Brigette Botkin News Reporter Concerns have been raised about the possible contamination of water sources in San Marcos.

Dianne Wassenich, president of the San Marcos River Foundation, is questioning the specific compound added to ponds by the J.C. Kellam Building along University Drive.

The compound, Lake Colorant WSP, is a dye that colors the water a bluish-green and prevents the growth of algae and other vegetation by blocking UV light from penetrating the water.

Wassenich fears components of the dye

could containment water sources, either through runoff or by seeping into the Edward Aquifer directly below the ponds.

One component of Lake Colorant WSP is copper chloride.

Copper is a trace element found in nearly every cell in the human body. However, according to Iowa State University, significant quantities of copper can cause headaches, hypoglycemia, increased heart rate and nausea in adults and is associated with hyper hyperactivity and learning disorders in children.

Large amounts can inhibit urine production and cause kidney damage, anemia and hair loss in women. Ingestion of copper chloride can cause permanent damage to the diges-

tive tract.

Becker Underwood is the company contracted by the university to add Lake Colorant WSP to the campus ponds, said Bradley Smith, director of Texas State grounds operations.

Joe Lara, Becker Underwood product manager, confirmed Lake Colorant WSP contained copper chloride at two parts per million per packet, but said it is not harmful.

“Tests for inorganic contaminants like copper were in compliance with and far below maximum levels specified by EPA regulations for drinking water,” Lara said. “We are See WATER, page 3

Austin Byrd/Star photo POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION: The ponds around J.C. Kellam may be contaminated because of a dye coloring the water that prevents algae from growing in it.

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News

2 - The University Star

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Art courses limited, students petition Second student charged for burglaries

another problem.

“As a junior, I can’t get in sophomore prerequisites,” Vincent wrote. “I need 12 hours for financial aid. We need more classes, please. We want to pay you for classes.”

Molina said the unavailability of courses has caused problems with students’ financial aid.

“After sophomore year, you’re done with your basics,” Molina said. “Some people that need to be full-time students for financial aid can only get into one three-hour class.

They have to find unnecessary classes to fill their schedule or be cut off.”

Nielson said he understands students’ frustration.

“It basically comes down to funding, faculty and space,” Nielson said. “The enrollment has increased, yet the funding hasn’t. It is difficult to hire faculty without funding, and we are currently maximizing the use of space in our art building.”

Nielsen said he attempted to expand the number of classes available during the summer to Hannah VanOrstrand/Star photo relieve pressure on fall classes.

ARTISTS UNITE: Erika Molina, communication design sophomore, leads a petition to get more funding However, Nielsen was denied because of a lack of funding. for undergraduate art and design majors, and make class registration less of a competition.

Nielson said he will continue

By Chase Birthisel hindered the program. to classes in demand and use to work on the problem.

News Reporter “You have to fight your way them as bargaining tools,” Mo“Funding comes from into getting into one class a lina said. “Students shouldn’t the state, and the university Limited course offerings semester,” Molina said. “It has have to resort to that.” is doing everything it can,” have art and design majors gotten to the point that people The petition has a comment Nielson said. painting their signatures on a are registering for art classes section, which provides stuMolina said the university department wide petition. they don’t need in order to dents the ability to express has done all it can to accomThe circulating petition calls trade for ones they do.” their concerns. Comments modate art and design mafor an increase in the number Erik Nielsen, chair of the have flooded the section. jors. She is planning to reach of courses offered through the department of art and design, Whitney Brazell, commu- out to ASG for help in art and design department. said enrollment last fall had a nication design junior, wrote receiving funding.

More than 200 people have 23 percent increase compared she will “probably transfer to “We are going to have to go signed to date. to fall 2007. graduate faster.“ above university level,” Molina Erika Molina, communicaMolina said she found a flyer Don’t drive students away,” said. “With this petition, I am tion design sophomore and in the restroom reading, “Want she wrote. hoping to make a statement author of the petition, said the a paint class for Summer 1?

Another comment left by about what we need. Our studifficulty of enrolling in offered Swap me for a drawing 2.”

Travis Vincent, pre-communi- dents are struggling and I don’t departmental courses has “These students will hold on cation design junior, addresses think anybody recognizes it.”

By Monte Ashqar News Reporter A second student has been charged with burglary in connection with others, which have occurred in dorms since the beginning of the semester.

Brian Squires, physics freshman, was brought in for questioning last week by the University Police Department investigators, said Capt.

Paul Chapa.

“The suspect was charged with one count of burglary of a habitation,” Chapa said. “We did not arrest him though, instead, we gave him some time to take care of his stuff and told him to turn himself in to the (Hays County) jail.”

Chapa said an arrest warrant was generated for Squires, so he could have been arrested if pulled over by any police department in Texas.

According to a jail officer, who did not wish to be identified, Squires turned himself in to the jail Friday and was released 12 hours later on a $20,000 bond.

The first student, who was arrested April 13, was Matthew Reynolds, finance freshman, and was released the following day on a $5,000 bond, according to an article in The University Star published April 15.

Reynolds was arrested while in possession of three backpacks of stolen goods.

Since Jan. 1, nine burglaries of habitations have been reported to UPD in San Marcos, Blanco and Falls halls and College Inn. The Texas Penal Code lists a burglary of a habitation as a felony of the second degree punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of no more than 20 years or less than 2 years, and or a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Library Beat Classes available for students through office of extensions Recording artist donates archives Drummer Ernie Durawa, who has performed on multiple Grammy Award-winning recordings, is donating his archives to the Wittliff Collections through the efforts of Texas State’s Center for Texas Music History.

Best known for his work with the Texas Tornados, Durawa is gifting more than 100 of his recordings along with certificates and plaques recognizing his musical accomplishments.

“I felt like my donation to the Wittliff Collections would be the right place for my awards,” Durawa said. “A safe place where they could be shared with other folks interested in Texas history.”

“Ernie Durawa is an enormously talented musician,” according to Dr. Gary Hartman, the Director of Texas State’s Center for Texas Music History.

“In many ways he reflects the remarkable diversity of Texas music. Ernie grew up playing country, jazz, and R&B, and then went on to play with some of the biggest names in music.”

Durawa was raised in San Antonio, where he began playing drums at 10 years old.

In high school he met the soonto-be legendary Texas musician Doug Sahm. The two became life-long friends and performed together in the Sir Douglas Quintet and in the world-renowned supergroup, the Texas Tornados, which also featured Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez and Augie Meyers.

Durawa has won numerous national and international awards and he has appeared on Austin City Limits, Saturday Night Live and other television programs.

Wittliff Collections Curator Connie Todd said, “so much of what happens in music is ephemeral, and so much of the history gets lost as time goes by. Ernie is really proactive in recognizing the cultural value inherent in these materials.

With his help, we’re preserving an important part of Texas music history.”

By Gabrielle Jarrett News Reporter

Students may not know the actual number of classes offered at the university when registering for courses.

Deborah McDaniel, administrative assistant, said there are seven extension courses offered through Texas State’s Office of Correspondence Extension and Study Abroad — five language courses, one field studies class and one English and history class.

“About 140 to 160 students take an extension course in a full fiscal year,” McDaniel said.

According to the office of correspondence extension and study abroad Web site, “Extension courses are offered on the Texas State campus and at various off-campus locations through extension studies. These course offerings tend to be limited and include the language courses Italian, Japanese, Latin and Portuguese.”

Phyllis Wilson, pre-international studies freshman, and Angela Barrera, interdisciplinary studies freshman, said they have never heard of the exten-

sion program.

McDaniel said the program is run like other classes offered at the university, but students cannot enroll in a course by means of online registration. McDaniel said prospective students must register within the office of extensions.

“The price of an extension course runs parallel to the price of the university,” McDaniel said. “Students who sign up for the course will have to pay a non-refundable application fee and tuition.”

McDaniel said the average price for a three-credit hour extension course is $565, but because the extensions office is not an appropriated program, it runs off of student and self-generated funds. McDaniel said extension courses, unlike regular courses, are not funded by the government or the university.

“This office is a different animal than the university,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel said the office offers courses to more than Texas State students, so acceptance into the program does not mean an applicant has been admitted

into the university.

The courses are officially offered outside of the university, and therefore the credits for the class are not added until completion.

McDaniel said once the class is finished, the office files paperwork with the registrar and adds the credits to the student’s transcript.

McDaniel said if a student is taking other courses during a semester, the extension class will not count toward the number of hours they are taking.

Barrera disagrees with the stipulation, saying it is unfair.

“If you are taking the same amount of classes as a person in Spanish, and they have 12 hours and you have nine, that is unfair,” Barrera said. “You are doing the same work load, but because you decide to be different, you pay a price.”

Barrera said she would not take an extension course because it would probably be harder and she would rather stick to the basics.

Barrera and Wilson said the extensions office could do a better job of advertising courses

to students.

“You walk through The Quad everyday and you receive tons of fliers about different programs offered on campus, but I have never heard of this department,” Wilson said. “The least they could do is post posters or stand out in The Quad and give us information, because I would like to know what all is offered here.”

Wilson said she would consider taking an extension course, but it would depend on if they would be to her benefit.

“Even though the credit does not show up until the end, that wouldn’t keep me from taking a useful course,” Wilson said.

Ryan Brown, English junior, is taking a Chinese language course in the extensions program. Brown said he is enjoying the class and it is similar to his others.

“I would recommend taking an extension course to other students,” Brown said. “I think if the class will help you, then go for it.”

Brown said he will take another extension course next fall in order to continue learning Chinese.

COFFEE MAKER

—Courtesy of Alkek Library

Clarification

In Tuesday’s issue of The University Star, the contractor will only pay for the parts and maintenance of the first rental boiler if at fault.

— The University Star Bridgette Cyr/Star photo regrets this error Brian McMahon, journalism senior, makes iced caramel macchiatos Tuesday in Starbucks for students looking for caffeine.

News

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The University Star - 3

WATER

CONTINUED from page 1

confident that label-rate applications of Lake Colorant WSP in ornamental, nonpotable water bodies pose little to no risk to humans, pets, water fowl and the aquatic habitat.”

Lara said the soil beneath the ponds filter out all compounds of Lake Colorant WSP. He said it would be impossible to seep into the aquifer below.

“It’s nature’s way of filtering things out,” Lara said. “Even if it could seep through, it (Lake Colorant WSP) breaks down within two to four weeks by UV light. No dye would make it through to the aquifer or the river.”

Glenn Longley, director of the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Cen-

ter, said no recent studies measuring the amount of copper in local aquiferfed bodies have been conducted.

Andrew Zwarun, lecturer in the department of agriculture, said it is possible a lining of clay could filter out copper. “(Copper) will stick to clay, because it’s positively charged and clay is negatively charged,” Zwarin said.

Smith said it is typical for ponds built at the time to be lined with clay, though he is unsure about those outside J.C. Kellam.

Zwarun said the clay’s effectiveness depends on its age and the length of time the copper is exposed to the area.

Smith said the university’s first purchase order of Lake Colorant WSP was made in December 2006

and was based on a proposal by the vendor and prompted by numerous complaints on the condition of the ponds. Smith said he notified the department of aquatic biology about the addition of the product.

Patrick Cassidy, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, believes the amount of copper from the Lake Colorant WSP would likely not be significant enough to cause concern.

“Everything is toxic if you get enough of it, and nothing is if you get none of it,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy said copper is found in many everyday items, including jewelry.

“When you’re wearing a piece of jewelry that is plated or painted to look like gold, and your skin turns green after wearing it, it’s because of

the copper in the jewelry,” Cassidy said. “No one gets sick from that contact, and I doubt this two parts per million would be more than a bracelet has.”

If contaminants found their way into the river, a large area of Texas could be affected, said Lendon Gilpin, assistant director for education at the Edwards Aquifer Center. Hays, Kenny, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar and Comal counties water supplies would be directly affected if contaminants enter the aquifer, according to the Edwards Aquifer Research Center.

Water from the aquifer flows into the San Marcos River, which runs directly into the Guadalupe River. The river runs the rest of the way down Texas and empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

BOILER

BRADFORD CONTINUED from page 1

in education, is six hours short of completing her second master’s, assuming she completes this semester’s coursework. Because of her April 21 surgery, Bradford missed a midterm exam, which she said she has not been allowed to make up.

The Office of Civil Rights will examine whether administrative staff in the department of sociology attempted to force Bradford out of graduate school during the 2008 to 2009 academic year, according to the April 14 letter sent to Trauth.

The letter, authored by federal investigator Donald Moy, informs Trauth and Texas State that “opening allegations for

investigation in no way implies that The Office of Civil Rights has made a determination with regard to its merits.”

However, because the office determined it has jurisdiction in the matter under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Bradford’s complaint was filed in a timely manner, an investigation will be conducted.

“I am relieved The Office of Civil Rights is investigating,” Bradford said. “It is unthinkable a department in an institution of higher education would deny equal access to a student with a documented disability.”

University Attorney William Fly said Texas State is cooperating fully with the investigation.

“Typically, the process is that

David Schmidt/Star file photo QUESTIONING HARASSMENT: The Office of Civil Rights is investigating whether Stephanie Bradford, sociology graduate student, was harassed based on her disability.

Cities along these rivers derive significant amounts of drinking water from these sources.

The City of San Marcos used around 1,945 million gallons of water in 2008.

According to the San Marcos Water and Waste Department, much of that is pumped from the Edwards Aquifer.

Wassenich said an investigation into other components of Lake Colorant WSP and their safety will continue. She plans to consult a group of scientists who study the river at their next meeting.

“I’m not a scientist, so I’d like the scientific community to discuss this issue, to see what their concerns would be,” Wassenich said. “At this point, I’m just in the research mode on this issue.”

we submit our documentary evidence and then The Office of Civil Rights will conduct interviews with witnesses, which is up to them,” Fly said. “After that, they will prepare a report.”

Fly said the investigation could take as long as six months. He said if The Office of Civil Rights determines violations have occurred to Bradford, there will be an attempt to resolve differences through mediation. Fly said to his knowledge, Texas State has been investigated “several” times involving civil rights matters, but has always been exonerated and received no sanctions.

“We have always been cooperative with The Office of Civil Rights, and we understand they have a job to do, and we will try to help them to that job,” he said.

Fly would not comment on the specific allegations made

by Bradford nor the letter. Jim Bradshaw, a spokesman with the U.S. Department of Education, declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation, as did Moy, citing federal privacy laws regarding student records.

The letter details five specific actions Bradford alleges have occurred within the past academic year.

More recently, Bradford has become embroiled in a dispute with one of her current professors over the refusal to allow Bradford an extension of time to take her midterm. Bradford claims she was refused this extension despite providing medical documentation stating she was incapacitated for a period of time, following her April 21 surgery.

Sociology department administration and faculty have previously declined to comment on the case, referring all inquiries

to Fly. The university has until Wednesday to provide the required documentation to The Office of Civil Rights, which includes all university electronic correspondence pertaining to Bradford during the last two academic school years, Texas State policies and procedures, documentation verifying Bradford has registered her disability with the school and the doctor’s excuse Bradford claimed she provided her professors.

After review of the information, The Office of Civil Rights will determine if an on-site investigation is necessary, according to the letter.

Belle Wheelan, president of the Commission of Colleges in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is the accrediting agency for Texas State, said she was aware of the situation and the commission had its own review process. She said if The Office of Civil Rights’ investigation leads to litigation, the commission removes itself from the matter until it is resolved.

“I am not in a position to give specifics about the investigation, but we are aware of it and it is working through our process,” she said.

Wheelan said the commission may re-enter the situation once litigation is concluded.

“If the institution was found at fault somehow, then we would come back to see if they were in violation of our principles,” Wheelen said. “They could be put on warning, probation or their membership could be dropped. The latter two are unlikely, but a sanction could occur and a follow-up report could also be requested to make sure they changed policies and practices.”

CONTINUED from page 1

sections and we have a third section we are working on right now with a contractor.”

Fogarty said the university battles multiple leaks.

“Some of that is due to the nature of our soil here,” Fogarty said. “When we have a drought and then it rains the ground might shift around a little bit. We had a pretty big leak sending hot water from the east chill plant over to Strahan Coliseum and Jowers and it took a while to find the leak because of shifting soils. What we had to do is start digging up the pipe until we found it.”

Nance said 2 percent of Texas State’s $300 million operating budget goes to deferred maintenance.

“The issue with taking a big chunk of the resources we have and devoting it to that is we also have needs for new construction on campus,” Nance said. “The pots of money we use for these things have competing interests.”

Nance said Texas State is

classified as a space-deficit institution, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Texas State is approximately 500,000 square feet too small, according to the board. He said construction of new buildings is more expensive than maintaining existing infrastructure.

“New construction receives the bulk of the funding,” he said.

“We’re talking about spending $3 million to $5 million on curing these underground leaks. We’re going to spend $40 million on a new undergraduate academic center and another $36 million on a nursing building in Round Rock.”

Joanne Smith, vice president for Student Affairs, said the university has adjusted its operation procedures as a result of the boiler failures.

“We have discussed that.

Should this happen again, we will send daily updates to students about the status and will deploy transportation to alternative sites with hot water as soon as we know our situation,” she said in the e-mail.

WARS

CONTINUED from page 1

“You can tell people are scared,” Santiesteban said. “I mean, they don’t trust anybody.”

Santiesteban said although he hears brutal stories that sometimes involve decapitations and hangings, he believes the government is making an effort to stop the bloodshed.

Pomar said the violence at the border has never stopped her from going to Laredo, but she takes precautions while she is there.

“You just have to know what you know and keep your mouth

shut when you’re not supposed to be talking,” Pomar said.

Santiesteban exercises the same caution and said he uses “common sense” when he returns to his hometown.

“Pretty much, stay alert all the time, don’t be too trusting with people, and of course don’t get a ride from a stranger,” he said.

“All my life I’ve lived there, and all my life I’ve been cautious.

However, for Keen the thought of returning home is not as appealing, especially when it comes to crossing the border because “it’s just not smart,” she said.

Texas State crime rates increase since 2007

By Kosaku Narioka News Reporter The amount of some on-campus crimes increased in 2008 compared to the year before, according to statistics released on the Univeristy Police Department’s Web site.

Forcible sex offenses increased from six to 10, larceny jumped from 138 to 200 and drug law violations went from 100 to 144. Some crimes saw a decrease. The number of minor in possession citations dropped from 207 to 184.

UPD Capt. Paul Chapa said

one incident that occurred on campus last January led to six charges of sexual assault. He said one nonstudent went around groping women. The man was arrested.

He said offenders in some cases were not arrested because of lack of evidence or little cooperation from the victim.

Chapa said a sexual assault case is “one of the most difficult cases” to work, especially in the university environment where date rape can occur.

He said campus police officers see a lot of theft “because it is definitely a crime of opportunity.”

“You have a lot of book bags,” he said. “You have a lot of laptops. You have a lot of bicycles.

You have a lot of property that is floating around our environment.”

He noted, however, the number of larcenies in 2006 was 143, and it dropped to 138 in 2007. The number rose to 200 in 2008.

“Those numbers do fluctuate,” he said.

Drug law violations recorded 152 in 2005, dropped to 107 in 2006 and 100 in 2007, according to Campus Watch ’08. However, the number bounced to 144 this

year.

Chapa said the number of drug law violations tend to increase during the fall semesters because freshmen come to the campus.

“They are new to the campus environment, experiencing all the different types of situations they find themselves in,” he said.

Chapa said it is “a struggle” to deal with liquor law violations because the university has minors who live on campus and attend events where alcohol is present.

Offenses are sometimes reported to authorities other than

UPD. According to Campus Watch ’08, the department of housing and residence life recorded 318 minors in possession of alcohol in 2007.

The Campus Watch will have 2008 data available in the fall.

“The UPD is constantly looking for trends and issues, anticipating issues that we may have coming up within a year,” Chapa said. “We do have a community awareness and resource team, also known as a crime prevention team, that will work with the criminal investigation’s division to ensure we are taking all measures to

identify different trends or different issues we may be experiencing or anticipating.”

Chapa said UPD also holds presentations to raise awareness of crime prevention among the faculty, staff and students.

The UPD published the 2008 statistics in early April. Chapa said the department tries to publish it as soon as possible, but it also wants to make sure the information is accurate.

The total enrollment in the fall at Texas State continuously increased from 27,485 in 2006 to 29,105 in 2008, or about 5.9 percent.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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onlineconnection Check out www.UniversityStar.com in the following weeks for continued News, Sports, Trends and Opinions coverage.

DAUNTING

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Opinions Contact — Krista Almazan, staropinion@txstate.edu

The Main PoinT he Texas Legislature is taking an intrusive solution to a delicate problem.

T

DECISION

If passed, bills going through the House and Senate would prohibit universities from banning handguns on their campuses. The University Star editorial board opposes handguns on university campuses in general, but this is the worst solution, barring making handguns mandatory.

If nothing else, it should be up to regents and university administrations whether handguns are allowed on their campuses. This is how it works in 23 other states, and only two universities have allowed handguns on campus.

Furthermore, any guns on campus could make people feel insecure in a learning environment.

Students, faculty and staff deserve a sense of security on the campus.

To make the university community uncomfortable and insecure on campus is unfair.

Proponents argue an “invisible line” separates campuses from the area’s license holders can carry firearms. However, univer university campuses house students who need to feel protected.

Students have enough to worry about without adding concealed weapons to the mix.

According to an article in the April 22 issue of The University Star, last week’s empty holster Star protest, in which supporters of concealed carry sported empty gun holsters, “symbolizes how (students, faculty and staff) are left unarmed and defenseless on campus.”

The protestors might feel defenseless, but it is hard to imagine how guns would better protect them. In the event of a Virginia Tech style shooting, even a veter veteran weapons handler would have a hard time collecting his or her wits to fire back. In warfare, a small group of soldiers can take out a large one in an ambush, and those are professionals. It is doubtful a student, even one with shooting experience, would be able to stop a killer. The best thing to do would be what the University Police recommend: run.

Michael Guzman, president of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, has said guns would also help protect from assaults and more regular crimes. These are real threats, but there are better, more practical ways to defend oneself. No one is a functioning human being after getting hit with pepper spray or electrocuted with a taser.

Faculty senators openly spoke against the bill, as did Texas State and University of Texas students when they walked out of class to protest at the Capitol. The bill is expected to pass, but that does not mean those who want a secure university have to take it lying down. The more the Legislature knows about how people feel about this issue the better.

English author Edward BulwerLytton said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Do guns trump the two?

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.

Russell Weis/Star Illustration

Absentee fathers faulted in poor child upbringing TRISTAN WATSON

Star Columnist

Individuals who steal, vandalize and assault others may be able to fault their absentee fathers for this behavior. Our society practically encourages people to raise a family without the benefit of marriage. This lack of marriage is one reason why children may grow up confused.

Fathers who abandon their children can sometimes have a negative impact on how their children are raised. Boys may treat women with disrespect, and girls may feel it is okay to be promiscuous.

The University Star publishes a small section titled “Crime Blotter” which gives basic information of criminal activity mainly involving students at the university. Every week a student feels the need to steal, assault, get caught in possession of illegal drugs or are found tripping over themselves from public intoxication.

According to Fathers and Families.org, studies show children who are raised without their fathers experience more poverty, have more problems at school, more trouble with the law and more single motherhood in the next generation.

According to an interview conducted by Fox News, Anne Coulter stated, “70 percent of the inmates in prisons come from single-parent families, 70 percent of teenage runaways and 70 percent of drug abuse” Students go to college to obtain a degree, not a criminal record.

Nevertheless, students who commit these miscellaneous crimes know the difference between right and wrong but often think they won’t get caught.

It’s the parents’ responsibility to make sure their children become productive citizens, not delinquents.

Having an individual seek counseling or other form of therapy is not always the answer to finding out why certain individuals behave the way they do. Some people enjoy engaging in misconduct, especially if an individual knows he or she can get away with it.

Society seemingly always tries to fault the mother for how her children turn out if a child comes from a single-parent family. However, why doesn’t society hold the fathers responsible for abandoning their children? There’s never a good reason for a father to leave his family behind. Their actions impact a child’s life and often times in a negative way.

Individuals who practice delinquent behavior shouldn’t feel as if his or her actions are harmless or amusing. Assaulting and vandalizing is not funny and is by no means “cool.” These minimal crimes are not part of a trend people should become accustomed to. Committing burglaries, assaults and vandalism only speaks volumes about an individual’s lack of moral stability.

Absentee fathers can cause aber aberrant behavior in their children. Our culture should focus the attention on these fathers and find solutions to help their children seek a more positive lifestyle in society.

Time Warner billing plan would charge GB downloads

By Patrick Ygnacio Guest Columnist Recently, Time Warner Cable’s Chief Executive Glenn Britt announced his company would temporarily be suspending plans to test Consumption Based Billing for Internet ser services in certain cities.

Austin and San Antonio were among the cities chosen to test the bandwidth cap program.

Time Warner’s reason for put putting the program on hold is because of “a great deal of misunderstanding” on the part of the consumer and others who

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

criticized the plan.

Consumption Based Billing charges customers on a tiered platform for the amount of downloading they do rather than the speed of their broadband connection. The reality is Time Warner’s bandwidth cap billing was halted by an overwhelming public outcry against what can be considered an infringement on an evolving resource for dif different kinds of media.

Time Warner Cable alleges a small minority of its customer base is consuming large amounts of bandwidth and tiered billing is a means to

counter the rising costs of expanding its network. Some have said tiered billing is being implemented to combat the large amount of illegal downloading taking place through the use of BitTorrent and other peer-topeer applications.Time Warner is looking to charge customers for the expense of fixing problems caused by a select few.

Time Warner’s most expensive tiered billing package would allow for 60GB worth of downloads for around $65 per month. Every GB downloaded thereafter would cost $1 each.

The cost can be equated to the

Editor In Chief.............................Scott Thomas, stareditor@txstate.edu Letters....................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor............................Amanda Venable, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor...................Brett Thorne, starentertainment@txstate.edu Opinions Editor.......................Krista Almazan, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor....................................Karen Wang, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor....................................Lisa Carter, starsports@txstate.edu

kind of charges you incur when you go over your minutes on your wireless phone bill.

Today, high-speed Internet connections are being utilized more for entertainment and professional purposes. Media professionals can work from home more often. Their broadband connections allow for quick and efficient transmissions of photos or video. Web sites like YouTube and Hulu are host to a growing library of movies and popular television shows people can watch whenever they want. Netflix offers unlimited viewing of more than

Copy Desk Chief..............Claire Heathman, starcopychief@txstate.edu Design Editor...Kelly Patterson, Carrie Evans, stardesign@txstate.edu Art Director...........................Michelle Oros, starartdirector@txstate.edu Sales Manager.................................Krystal Slater, starad2@txstate.edu Marketing & Promotions.......Samantha Manley, sm1299@txstate.edu Office Manager...........................Emily Gerngross, eg1166@txstate.edu Media Specialist.......................................Matt Lynch, matty@txstate.edu

12,000 films and TV shows subscribers can access through the Internet. Devices are available that allow consumers to stream content straight to their televisions. With bandwidth caps comes the threat of losing limitless access to these kinds of online venues.

Folks over at Time Warner are quickly realizing today’s growing media on the World Wide Web is challenging conventional cable offerings. Consumption Based Billing is Time Warner’s attempt to protect these commercial interests and keep customers tethered to

overpriced cable TV. Bandwidth cap billing has been put on hold for most subscribers, but Time Warner still argues Consumption Based Billing is still the best route to take in an emerging Internet market. Once the public opposition to the practice stops, Time Warner Cable will be revisiting the prospect of forcing it upon its customers. Unless subscribers voice their dissent, intrusions upon consumer rights will continue and Time Warner Cable and companies like it will continue the trend of charging more money for less content.

Advertising Coordinator......................Jodie Claes, starad1@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator...........................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...............Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a distribution of 8,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

Copyright Tuesday, March 24, 2009. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.

Trends the university star

kidscontroversy

Indie rock hipsters MGMT won a legal dispute Monday against French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

The President used the bands hit “Kids” from their 2007 album Oracular Spectacular in a number of advertisements for his UMP party. According to a statement from the band, after learning of the country’s recent crackdown on illegal piracy, the band decided the party’s use of the song “seemed a little whack.” Initially the French government offered the band one euro in symbolic damages, but the offer was quickly rejected. The band, which consists of guitarist and vocalist Andrew VanWyngarden and keyboardist Ben Goldwasser, called the offer insulting. The final settlement is estimated to be around $39,000.

Trends Contact — Brett Thorne, starentertainment@txstate.edu

6 - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

HAVE A COLD ONE Company transforms landfill waste into usable products

By Sandy Bauers The Philadelphia Inquirer

Austin Byrd/Star photo At the intersection of Ranch Road 12 and Farm to Market 32 patrons can taste the best all-grain, site-brewed beer and ale courtesy of brew master Bruce Collie. Formerly known as Cedar Grove, the Wimberley Brewing Company will still feature Cedar Grove’s award-winning menu as well as additions from the pub.

PHILADELPHIA — In 2003, an investor offered 21-year-old Princeton dropout Tom Szaky a million bucks.

Szaky turned him down, not that he didn’t need the money.

He was sleeping in a makeshift office, showering in the gym and pondering a cash balance of zero.

The guy wanted Szaky to lose the environmental pitch with his business plan, except that was the plan.

Today, Szaky is glad he didn’t give in.

Szaky has become a titan of trash. His company, TerraCycle, transforms waste headed for the landfill into new products.

TerraCycle makes kites from Oreo cookie wrappers, reusable bags from Capri Sun drink pouches and coasters from the center of old vinyl records.

It gives new uses for milk jugs, circuit boards and yogurt tubs.

He calls it not recycling, but upcycling. Better yet, “TerraCycling,” which he hopes will join the common lexicon, like “Googling.”

TerraCycle sales have doubled every year since 2004, projected to be $12 million to $15 million this year.

Along the way, last year he was able to send back

$100,000 to thousands of schools, charities and other groups that collect the trash he wants.

The spiky-haired guy who defaults to scruffy — stubble, jeans and a T-shirt — is worth more than $3 million, but he’s not quite sure. Who has the time to keep track?

“It’s been a wild ride,” Szaky says.

He doesn’t see garbage anymore, just opportunity.

“My worldview is that garbage doesn’t exist in nature.

It’s a man-made idea,” he says.

“It can’t exist in the long run, or we won’t be around.”

This is big. He’s headed for an Earth Day interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He’ll probably talk about his book: Revolution in a Bottle: How TerraCycle Is Redefining Green Business.

On Wednesday, the National Geographic channel debuted “Garbage Moguls,” a special following Szaky’s zany cadres to odiferous locales — a landfill, an auto junkyard — to mine for materials.

Could his world possibly look any better?

Szaky’s story — part luck, part pluck — started with worm poop. His plan was to have a massive vermiculture operation, making compost with worms that would then fertilize gardens.

When he needed cheap containers for the product, he and a few buddies scrounged plastic bottles from recycling bins. Princeton police who caught them in the act were suspicious but let them go.

Gradually, the no-waste notion took hold and evolved.

Turns out companies that used unrecyclable packaging wanted to help.

TerraCycle offers them an opportunity to green their image by funding a “brigade” program that signs up schools, churches and other groups, paying them two cents an item for the stuff TerraCycle needs.

Students at Patterson Elementary on Bustleton Avenue in West Philadelphia sent in more than 1,000 drink pouches — with 700 more ready to go — and are giving their money to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the cancer charity.

“The kids love it,” says Erika Buscaglia, a phys-ed teacher.

Not only that, but now they’re walking around with lunch pouches and pencil cases that TerraCycle has made from wrappers, possibly the ones they collected.

The UPS truck backed up to the door of the Trenton, N.J., plant Monday with 263 packages. That’s the norm.

From 15,000 to 20,000 drink pouches arrive every day.

The company is still growing. Also that day, TerraCycle made its biggest deal yet, with Mars Inc., to recycle packaging from more than 20 of its products, including M&Ms, Snickers and Milky Way bars, Wrigley’s gum and Life Savers.

“Our primary objective is to eliminate waste,” said Mars sustainability vice president Richard Ware, who praised the “funky-looking” cases, zipper bags and other products the Mars brands will be on.

TerraCycle’s origins are in Princeton, N.J. But it wound up in Trenton when Szaky needed a cheap facility. “If you had to find a human equivalent of discarded soda bottles,” it would be depressed cities such as Trenton, Szaky wrote in his book.

The building almost writhes with graffiti painted by the locals. In fact, they repaint annually; he provides the music and barbecue.

Inside, vice president Albe Zakes, 24, jazzed by latte on an empty stomach, keeps up a steady patter – showing off products, ticking off statistics, noting how even the office furniture is secondhand.

Workers are filling bottles with fertilizer pellets – wormpoop products are still 20 to 30 percent of the business.

Cheatham Street owner focuses more on music than money

By Erica Rodriguez Features Reporter The quaint boxcar-shaped warehouse on the edge of Cheatham Street and a railroad crossing is not much of a sight. But the historical cotton warehouseturned-music-venue has been the birthing place of Texas music legends like George Strait and Stevie Ray Vaughn, and it is a place where music must be preserved.

“I absolutely love the place,” said owner Greg Andrews, assistant director of the Center for Texas Music History. “I believe it has a very special place in the history of Texas music, and I would like to see that continue.”

Andrews, a musician himself, purchased the venue in 2007 to stop land developers who wanted to bulldoze it. Now, the Cheatham Street Music Foundation is raising money in an attempt to buy the venue from Andrews before his planned retirement. They need close to $200,000 before June.

Kent Finlay, Warehouse manager, put the San Marcos music scene on the map in 1974 when he opened the venue.

“He’s lost more money than he’s made in helping songwriters find their careers,” said Gary Hartman, director of the Center for Texas Music History. “Kent does it for the love of the music and for the love of the songwriting, and he would do it whether he was making money or not.”

The wooden floors creaked in tune Monday with student songwriters competing for a place at the Kerrville Music Festival. A Texas flag formed the backdrop of the stage that brought many to fame, and the soft curl of cigarette smoke glowed neon beneath beer signs and Shiner Bock banners. All was silent, save the guitar strings and the voice artists on stage. The ambiance is what founder Kent Finlay calls “magic” and something he would not trade for any dollar amount.

“I can feel it when it’s happening,” he said. “A lot of places out there are there just to make money. When we first opened, one of the promises I made to myself is that we would never fail to bring in someone who’s great just because they wouldn’t

bring in any money.”

Money never came first for Finlay.

HalleyAnna Finlay, Kent’s daughter, is a creative writing senior and practically grew up in the warehouse. She hopes the effort will bring people together in support of Texas music.

“He’s making it easier for everybody in the foundation for the community and everybody to come together,” she said.

“There’s no money in running Cheatham Street.”

Finlay said money and support are exactly what the venue needs.

“It’s work. The economy kind of is hurting us because money is tight,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult, and it’s just work that has to be done.”

The worst-case scenario for Cheatham Street would be the building being for sale on the open market, but Finlay and Andrews are confident it will not happen.

“We’re doing everything possible, short of financial suicide, to make sure that property gets preserved,” Andrews said.

The best way for students to show support is by

their presence.

“Just come out,” said Victor Holk, communication studies

junior and winner of Monday’s competition. “That’s all students have to do. Pay a cover, buy a

beer and listen to some music.

This place keeps the Americana scene alive here.”

Alyssa Scavetta/Star photo CHEATHAM CHALLENGE: Kent Finlay, owner of Cheatham Street Warehouse, is working to preserve the music venue. Finlay talked about the Cheatham Street Foundation Monday.

Trends

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The University Star - 7

Camp provides high school credit, leadership skills to eighth graders Mayra Mejia Features Reporter Caminos camp is helping local junior high students prepare for high school and college life.

Jaime Chahin, Texas State dean of the College of Applied Arts, founded the sixweek-long program in 2004. The Greater Texas Foundation funds the program.

His inspiration to start the program was to give students an opportunity to prepare for college and a foundation in ar areas that he says are critical to determine whether one will go to college.

“It was an academic intervention that was designed to do the math, English, technology and leadership skills of eighth graders,” Chahin said.

The program is still operated by Cha Chahin and is only for eighth grade students who attend Goodnight or Miller junior high schools. Counselors and teachers choose 75 students to attend the six-week program to earn three high school credits. Once the program starts, camp-goers are split into three groups, each having their own public school teacher and two college student tutors.

“They are eighth graders with potential.

We give them the opportunity to spend three weeks at the high school and three Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mello weeks at the university,” Chahin said. “It’s COLLLEGE PREP: Michael Bolanos, English freshman, Jaime Chahin, Alexia Guti- a six-week program that is intensive.” errez, undecided health professions freshman, and Marissa Garcia, biology freshThe students go to class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes for each subject last for two man, are all part of the Caminos program that helps local junior high students .

Games, food will be at Concho Green for student carnival Brittany Bemis Features Reporter The Under the Big Top Carnival will take over the Concho Green May 3. Texas State students will have an opportunity to take a study break on the Concho Green from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Students will be able to enjoy typical carnival fare such as lemonade, cotton candy, nachos and snow cones, as well as a live performance from Southside Union.

Gillian Amaro, Lantana residence hall director, said she is ex excited about the upcoming event. “(The resident assistants) really wanted to do a bigger program — end with a bang so to speak,” Amaro said. “They really wanted to take it an extra step.”

Denim Pittman, co-coordinator, said the carnival is a collaboration of ideas and hard work.

“You can usually get up to $200 in petty cash for a program,” said Pittman, mass communication senior. “We wanted to open it up (for everyone), not just Lantana hall.

We got (a grant) approved and we are pretty excited about it.”

The carnival refreshments are free because of the grant that the Lantana resident assistants petitioned for and received.

Pittman explained the carnival is both educational and fun, with the games geared toward helping students get ahead.

“For intellectual we have a duck pond that will have little SLAC study tips,” Pittman said. “Occupational is going to be a coke toss, where there will be fun facts about how to get a job for the summer.

The San Marcos Athletic Center is going to have a football toss and the cakewalk will talk about how to eat healthy through finals and avoid stress eating.”

Throughout the year, Lantana Hall has put on different programs educating residents about everything from safe sex practice to the dangers of drunk driving.

Amaro said the carnival is designed to be a fun break for cam-

pus residents.

“We want to incorporate all of the things we tried to do with programs,” Amaro said. “We want (the carnival) to be both interactive and informative.”

Kinzy Patton, co-coordinator, said the carnival will feature a moon bounce, dunking booth and a caricature artist through Three Ring Circus, located in Austin.

“The residents will get a chance to see the fun side of their resident directors, resident assistants, hall council members and other residents participating in the dunking booth,” she said.

Patton, journalism sophomore, said students who attend can look forward to making their own keepsakes.

“Throughout the year we have found that Lantana residents enjoy doing crafts, so we plan to provide different shapes of containers to allow residents to use their creativity and decorate the inside of the container with colored sand, similar to a craft sta station at a fair,” Patton said.

The Network, a Texas State organization that aims to educate students on wellness and healthy attitudes and behavior, is sponsoring a kissing booth.

“It is designed to give students information on sexual health,” Amaro said.

Amaro said she feels the carnival is also a good way for students to have closure on the school year.

“I think it will be a really great way for them to let off some steam, learn about new study tips before finals and everything can come full circle,” Amaro said.

Pittman said having the Concho Green gave them a reason to organize a bigger event.

“We figured it is easiest for residents to get to, instead of going to Sewell Park,” Pittman said. “(Residents) will see it from their rooms and they can just walk down. It is there for a reason.

They want us to use it, and we figured a good way for us to use it is to have programs out on it.”

hours and include a leadership skills class, and every night they have instructional sessions with the tutors. The students watch a movie Friday evenings, but they are responsible for waking at 7 a.m. to get ready for a Saturday morning field trip.

Two tutors, Marissa Garcia, biology freshman, and Alexia Gutierrez, undecided health professions freshman, will return to the program this summer as volunteers, five years after entering the program as students.

Garcia and Gutierrez credit Chahin and Caminos camp for continuing their educa education and want to give to eighth graders what they received from the program.

“I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the workers and the opportunity to be a part of what I hoped and dreamed for my future to be like,” Gutierrez said. “The ex experience is great, and I would love to give back to the new students who are going to participate in Caminos this year, and give them a good understanding of what the college environment is like, as well as the many memories to come.”

Garcia said she learned about more than academics while at Caminos camp.

“I know I learned a lot of skills that helped me be more independent,” Gar Garcia said. “When I was in the program it was like the first time you kind of just had to do your own work by yourself and get up in the morning by yourself; just being on your own and making yourself do that stuff by yourself without your parents.”

Gutierrez said her life is not the only one impacted by her involvement with the program.

“As a student, I have come to realize I am a part of a small number of Hispanic students who further their education,” Gutierrez said. “Dr. Chahin has helped me increase that number and be a prime example for my brothers and sisters, and teach them to value their education, as well as other Hispanic students. Dr. Chahin embraced the importance of an education and opportunities and created a healthy environment for students to learn and grasp these measures as they come their way.”

Garcia remembers her tutors being role models to her and wants to do the same for eighth graders.

“I remember my tutors back then,” she said. “They were just really nice girls and you look up to them. You (realize) they are in college and they are doing something for themselves. It makes you want to be that influence for a younger person.”

Chahin said being enrolled in the program is not enough to guarantee future achievement, because that responsibility rests with the students.

“I think we only provide opportunity and hope, but students have to work hard and stay focused so they can succeed,” Chahin said.

Contact Jaime Chahin at 512-245-3333 for more information on Caminos camp or to volunteer.

8 - The University Star

✯Star Comics

Diversions

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 FOR RELEASE APRIL 29, 2009

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Betting setting 6 Oratory with lots of arm-waving 10 Sloop pole 14 “Get __!”: “Relax!”

15 Hamburg’s river 16 Award for a soap 17 Shady high roller’s advantage 19 Manx cat’s lack 20 Hanging-hook shape 21 After all?

22 Garden hose feature 24 Disney pooch 26 Islamabad’s land: Abbr.

27 Above, in odes 28 Harbors ulterior motives 32 By surprise 33 “That is to say ...”

34 Himalayan mystery 35 Dark earth pigment 37 Programming language with a coffee-cup logo 41 Ho-hum state 43 Ear-related 44 Log holder 48 It has a charge 49 Space shuttle astronaut Jemison 50 Seller of TV time, e.g.

51 Resealable bag brand 53 Cheese with an edible rind 54 Revelation reaction 57 Qualified 58 Dojo blow 61 Actor Arkin 62 Leave the premises 63 “__ who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”: Santayana 64 Florida attraction 65 D.C. party 66 Caravan stops

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

Solutions for 4/28

Classifieds

4/29/09

By Doug Peterson

DOWN 1 Depression between hills 2 Big heads have big ones 3 Goes for, as straws?

4 Lend a hand 5 Explore caves 6 Team that ended a “curse” in 2004 7 Hit the ground 8 Home of “The Office” 9 Fake ID user, often 10 Capital of Lorraine 11 E-tail giant 12 Beamed 13 “Breathing Lessons” Pulitzer winner Anne 18 Info to crunch 23 Creole vegetable 25 More doilylike 26 Apple or quince 28 Farmer’s stack 29 Face on a fin 30 Fibula neighbor 31 Hurt 35 Emptied one’s bags

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2009 Tribune Media Servies, Inc.

36 Stubborn critter 38 Wyoming tribe members 39 Winery container 40 Tapped beverage 42 Pixar fish 43 Go along with 44 Minor failing 45 Not out-ofbounds, as a ball 46 Gem weight units

4/29/09

47 Rework, as an article 48 “The Compleat Angler” author Walton 52 Zoom, for one 53 Panama border?

55 Stockings 56 Long-armed critters 59 Dismiss 60 “__-ching!”

E-mail Classifieds at starclassifieds@txstate.edu

RATES AND POLiciES

Cost - 25¢ per word (1–6 days); Cost - 20¢ per word (7+ days); Deadline - 2 business days prior by noon All classified ads must be paid in advance, unless credit is established. Classified ads will be edited for style purposes. We do our best, but please check your classified ad for accuracy. Any corrections to your ad must be made by the second day of publication. As a free service to you, all classified ads will be published on-line on our web site at www.universitystar.com. However, since this is a free service, posting is not guaranteed. While The University Star attempts to screen ads for misleading claims or illegal content, it is not possible for us to investigate every ad and advertiser. Please use caution when answering ads, especially any which require you to send money in advance.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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The University Star - 9

Sports the university star

conferencecontinuation

The men’s golf team is currently in seventh place going into the final round of the Southland Conference tournament. Jeff Gerlich, mass communication senior, is leading the team with a 3-under-par score of 69. Corey Roberson, exercise and sports science senior, is tied for 15th in individual standings with a total of 147.

10 - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Sports Contact — Lisa Carter, starsports@txstate.edu

Longhorns stampede over Bobcats’ win streak Track, field team celebrates

By Joseph O. Garcia Sports Reporter The Texas State baseball team arrived in Austin Tuesday with a 12-game win streak but fell short of 13 in a 12-2 loss to Texas.

Tyler Sibley, freshman outfielder, led the game by getting on base after being hit by a pitch. He advanced to second on a hit-andrun by Bret Atwood, sophomore outfielder. Keith Prestridge, junior designated hitter, put the Bobcats on the board first with a single to left centerfield to score Sibley from second. It was the first run Texas had given up at home in the first inning all season.

The Longhorns answered

back in their half of the inning when Brandon Belt, Texas infielder, hit a two-run homer to left field. Texas led 2-1 after the first.

In the second inning with two outs, Sibley hit a single to right field, scoring Ben Theriot, junior catcher, from third base. The RBI tied the game at 2.

Garret Carruth’s, junior pitcher, wild pitch put the score at 3-2 in favor of the Longhorns. Texas added another run to make the score 4-2 heading into the third.

The Longhorns continued to hit against Bobcat pitching. A pair of doubles in the fourth inning gave Texas a 5-2 advantage.

Tyler Brundridge, senior

pitcher, came in to relieve Carruth in the fourth inning.

He pitched 3.2 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. Texas pitchers Brandon Workman and Thomas Stayton combined to throw six straight scoreless innings against the Bobcats.

“I thought we were going to perform better tonight,” Coach Ty Harrington said. “Texas did a great job of pitching to us.”

Lance Loftin, senior pitcher, replaced Brundridge on the mound in the sixth inning. The Longhorns scored two more runs in the sixth to increase Texas’ advantage to 7-2. Loftin struck out the final batter in the inning.

Texas added two runs in the seventh inning and three

more in the eighth to make the final score 12-2.

“That was a great baseball team on the other side,” Harrington said. “They came off a tough week when they played a good team in Kansas State.

Texas is a top 10 team in my opinion.”

The Bobcats will prepare for a weekend series against I-35 rival Texas-San Antonio. The first game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Friday at Bobcat Field.

“Tomorrow will be a great day of practice in preparation for San Antonio,” Harrington said. “We have to go back to work tomorrow and get ready for this weekend. We had some opportunities to score but didn’t come up with the hits that we needed.”

NCAA Regional marks

By Jessie Spielvogel Sports Reporter The Texas State track and field team received four more NCAA Regional qualifying marks at the Sooner Invite Saturday in Oklahoma.

Kemuel Morales, health and wellness promotion senior, placed third in the shot put with a throw of 17.34 meters, giving him a qualifying mark.

“I have hit the mark several times already, and I have qualified for the past three or four years,” Morales said. “I think this is my best year.”

Morales has high hopes for the remainder of the season.

“I plan on improving. My goal is to make it to NCAA Nationals, which requires 60 feet or so,” Morales said.

Katy Hanie, exercise and sports science senior, had already qualified April 18 at the UT Twilight with a distance of 48.14 in the discus throw, putting her in third place. She improved her distance Saturday to 49.96 meters. Jiovanna Martinez, nutrition and foods junior, qualified with a distance

of 48.41 meters, putting her in sixth place. Martinez also competes in the hammer and the shot put events.

“The shot put is really just an event to get points in. It’s not really my event,” Martinez said. “I am working to qualify in the hammer right now.”

Martinez had high expectations for the meet and was doing extra workouts and drills to prepare.

“The last time I qualified was my freshman year,” Martinez said. “I expected to do well at this meet because I had done well all week. There was good wind, I felt good and I was rested.”

Other throwers are expected to qualify at the next meet, May 8 to 10, the Southland Conference Championship.

“I think the others have a good chance to qualify,” Morales said. “David Hernandez (construction technology senior) is really close in the hammer.”

Ikenna Obonna, finance sophomore, made the mark by placing fourth in the triple jump with 15.31 meters.

✯ FYI

Austin Byrd/Star photo DOUBLE PLAY: Jason Martinson, sophomore infielder, delivers the ball to first base, completing the double play against Texas Tuesday

WOMEN’S RESULTS:

MEN’S RESULTS:

Valerie Hancock, applied sociology junior, tied for third in the high jump with a height of 1.70 meters.

Iris Darrington, interdisciplinary studies junior, placed seventh in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.97. She also placed third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.04.

Ryann Bradford, marketing senior, took home fifth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.62.

Jessica Canty, marketing freshman, finished the 400-meter event in 59.53 and Kaneesha Skinner, undecided freshman, finished in 59.84.

Hernandez placed fifth in the hammer toss with a distance of 56.26 meters.

Daniel Schmidt, management junior, came in eighth with a toss of 53.38.

Jarrod Buddin, finance senior, had a height of 4.90 meters in the pole vault, putting him in fourth place.

Clay Holland, exercise and sports science senior, placed fourth in the 110meter hurdles in 14.65 and the 400-meter hurdles in 53.62.

Michael Webley, accounting senior, finished the 800meter event in 1:56.98.

Dino Buchanan, exercise and sports science senior, finished the 400-meters in 48.60.

in Austin.

Economy, schedule affect fencing tournament attendance

By César G. Rodriguez Sports Reporter The nationwide economic situation may have affected the turnout of the Yorick Open.

However, it did not affect the quality of the fencing tournament.

More than 60 fencers from Texas gathered at Strahan Coliseum to duel.

It is the 34th annual tournament, the second oldest tournament in the state only to the Longhorn Open.

Kevin Beahan, Texas State fencing club president, said the turnout was less than last year.

“It has been really big in the past, but I feel with the economic downturn, a lot less people are coming out to fence,” said Beahan, a mathematics senior. “Also, we scheduled it the same weekend as the North American Cup.” Will Cisler, psychology senior, said the NAC, which took place in Portland, drove away fencers from the tournament. Registration costs less at the Yorick Open, but the quality of fencing remained the same.

“We still had a lot of good competition here,” Cisler said. “It was not easy today.”

The economy did not prevent Jack Hudson, member

of the Alliance Fencing Academy, from capturing the Open Mixed Epee.

According to the U.S. Fencing Association, Epee (pronounced “EPP-pay”) is freestyle fencing.

The blade is heavier, stiffer and thicker. A fencer can score when it touches with the point of the blade, however, the entire body is a valid target, according to the U.S. Fencing Web site.

“All I tried to think about was ‘try and keep focus,’” Hudson said.

Hudson, 15, has been fencing for five years. Hudson said he has enough experience to study his opponents. He noticed his counterpart openings when attacking.

“You want to try to catch him off guard, catch him off preparation,” Hudson said. “Most of the time, I was trying to prepare my touches. I was trying to get him to react to different things that he was doing.”

Hudson said patience in fencing pays back.

“If he extended his arm to try and get me, I would go through the blade,” Hudson said.

Hudson defeated Cisler in the finals. Cisler was disappointed to return the trophy he cherished over the last year.

“I won first last year, so I had to

bring the trophy this morning,” Cisler said. “Getting second was a little of a down for me.”

Beahan said the best event in the tournament was the Y14 Foil.

According to the U.S. Fencing Association, Foil is the sport of kings. Foil is a descendant of the light court sword used by nobility to train for duels. The tip of the blade must land on valid target, such as from torso to shoulders, to the groin in the front and to the waist in the back.

Sixteen young fencers competed in the tournament.

“That’s just amazing to see those kids coming out and fencing at that age and to see them fencing at the level they’re fencing,” Beahan said.

The Yorick Open served as fundraiser for the fencing club.

The income helps pay club expenses to send competitors to the Southwest Intercollegiate Fencing Association tournament, among others.

Kayla Hartzog/Star photo “Our club is unique (in) that EN GARDE: William Cisler, psychology senior, takes on his opponent Sunday at Jowers during the we make enough money so Yorick Open. we can pay for our individual fencers to go to tournaments,” to the collegiate events. They we have at Epee.”

“That’s not what this is about.

Cisler said. get to learn from the best fencBeahan said students who You go to these collegiate events.

Students interested in the club ers in the area,” Beahan said. had attended the SWIFA events It’s about learning how to fence can gain experience in fencing “Fencers from Austin and San as spectators believe they can- and have a good time,” Beahan and participate in tournaments.

Antonio come to our practices not join the club because they said. “You can go to these col“They get the chance to use just to fence with us, because would never represent the club legiate events and you can learn our equipment. They get to go they know the level of fencers at that level. how to fence here.”

The Bobcats arrived at the HEB Tennis Complex Thursday to practice and get used to their surroundings. Plunkett said her team looked focused and enthusiastic.

“We had an unbelievable practice,” Plunkett said. “It was windy, (but) I didn’t have to tell them anything. They were doing all the right things.”

The team warmed up Friday just before its match. However, the match was delayed by almost two hours. Plunkett said the delay might have affected

the way her team played, but said it is not to blame for the team’s loss.

“This is part of this tournament and that’s the way it is and both teams went through it,” she said.

Plunkett said the biggest reason why the team lost was because of its decreased momentum after a close doubles match. Texas State had won the doubles point in nine of its last 10 matches going into the SLC tournament.

Plunkett said even though the

Women’s tennis mourns SLC tournament loss

By Dustin Stelly Sports Reporter The Texas State women’s tennis team ended its season Friday with a first round loss at the Southland Conference tournament in Corpus Christi.

The Bobcats were seeded fifth coming into the tournament and played Northwestern State. Texas State had already lost 6-1 to Northwestern State in their first conference match of the season.

team only lost one doubles point, it made a large impact on the team’s momentum.

Texas State’s No. 3 doubles team lost 8-4, just before the No. 2 team won 8-4. The point would go to the winner of the No. 1 match between Texas State’s Andrea Giraldo, management junior, and Elaine Chafitz, exercise and sports science senior, and Northwestern State’s Olga Bazhanova and Dragana Colic.

Giraldo and Chafitz gained an early lead in the match, but

Northwestern State came from behind and won 8-6.

“After the doubles point, emotionally, I just don’t think we could get it back,” Plunkett said.

Plunkett had three seniors to look to for leadership.

Plunkett said she has always worried about “senioritis” in past years, but this year, her seniors were focused and hungry.

“They just wanted it so bad because it’s a possibility they were playing their last match,

and when you start forcing it, unfortunately, you’re not relaxed,” Plunkett said. “You’re not playing your shots, and I think they wanted it so bad.”

The team needed four points to win the tournament and once a team has won, all other matches are stopped. For that reason, Giraldo, Saskia Kruse, exercise and sports science junior, and Nyssa Peele, art junior, were unable to finish their last matches of the season. However, all three juniors are expected to return next season.