06 27 2007

WELCOME HOME

COMPILATION

Bobcats bring new men’s golf coach Mike Akers back to Texas.

San Marcos musicians band together to help beat fibromyalgia

WITH A CAUSE

SEE SPORTS PAGE 12

SEE TRENDS PAGE 6

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

JUNE 27, 2007

WEDNESDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 81

Misuse of university funds lawsuit settled out of courtroom

By Nick Georgiou News Editor A lawsuit claiming Texas State fired a former employee for reporting, among other things, the alleged misuse of funds to law enforcement authorities was recently settled outside of court.

The university will pay the plaintiff, Carroll D. Wiley, $215,000.

Wiley was an employee at the

university for 28 years, holding several high-level positions, until he was fired in November 2005.

While serving as executive director of the Texas State University Development Foundation, a private, non-profit corporation that handles investments from private donors, Wiley was involved in an alleged misuse of a $1.2 million endowment. The endowment was bequeathed to the

university by alumna Reed Parr, who had named Wiley as second in line to serve as the executor of her will and estate.

In a 1990 memorandum of understanding between Parr, Southwest Texas State University and the Development Foundation, her endowment was to predominately be used for scholarships.

But when the university was

about $560,000 short of raising $1.3 million for a matching grant challenge program, former University President Jerome Supple, who is now deceased, requested the administration use Parr’s endowment to make up for the shortfall. If the challenge were to be met, the university would receive a $450,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Hu-

manities.

Wiley “strongly opposed” Supple’s request.

“Mrs. Parr’s bequest to the foundation was restricted by Mrs. Parr so that the income, but not the corpus, from the endowment could be used at the discretion of the president of the university,” wrote Wiley in a May 2005 letter to the public integrity unit of the Travis County

District Attorney’s Office.

The corpus refers to the actual $1.2 million. Parr had instructed the foundation and the university to use the income from the endowment, not the corpus.

Despite his opposition, Wiley complied with his superiors’ request after consulting the foundation’s board of directors, who See WILEY, page 4

Independence extravaganza Multi-million dollar donation

completed, local land purchased

By Philip Hadley Assistant News Editor

✯ FYI

San Marcos’ long-awaited nature preserve park will finally become a reality after a large donation by the Emmett and Miriam McCoy Foundation.

The park will be located on 251 acres of land in the Sink Creek watershed above Spring Lake.

Emmett and Miriam McCoy donated $360,000 on June 11, completing a $5.1 million fund-raising campaign to purchase the land located over the Edwards Aquifer.

“We are grateful for the generous support by the McCoys and other donors,” Mayor Susan Narvaiz said in a June 14 news release.

“This project will offer a legacy that will last for generations to come.”

Emmett McCoy was modest when asked about the donation and simply said he thought

Other donors to the project include: • $2 million approved by San Marcos voters in a 2005 bond election • $700,000 from the Hays County Parks Bond and Open Space funds • $1 million from the U.S. Department of the Interior • $355,670 from the Meadows Foundation • $400,000 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department • $200,000 from the Lower Colorado River Authority • $100,000 from the GuadalupeBlanco River Authority • $1.13 million donated by former land owner Terry Gilmore.

See MCCOY, page 4

Jessica Sinn Assistant Trends Editor Amid the smoky aroma of hot dogs and hamburgers, residents brave the summer heat as they come together to celebrate our nation’s independence at the 27th Annual San Marcos Summerfest.

With bathing suits, coolers and lawn chairs in tow, festival goers practice the time-honored Fourth of July tradition of donning red, white and blue duds and gazing

Former professor reaches settlement with Texas State regarding firing

By Nick Georgiou News Editor

See CELEBRATING, page 7

Texas State will pay a former professor and his attorneys $171,000 to drop a lawsuit claiming he was wrongfully terminated.

Ryan Rudnicki, former tenured geography professor, was fired in 2001 after receiving three negative annual evaluations.

But Rudnicki said he did not receive full due process of law during the consideration of his possible dismissal and subsequently sued the university.

As outlined in university policy, the administration must follow a series of steps when attempting to dismiss a professor, particularly a tenured one. These steps allow the question of dismissal to go through several channels of the administration and enable both sides to present their arguments. This procedure ensures due process of law, a right protected by the 14th Amendment.

The administration said every procedure was followed.

William Stone, criminal justice professor and chair of the Faculty Senate, said in a Courtney Addison/Star file photo previous University Star article at the time of Rudnicki’s dismissal, the procedure for SUMMER BANG: Texas State Students lie in the grass at Sewell Park to watch fireworks for the 2005 Summerevaluating and firing a tenured professor, fest. This year’s festival will feature Fourth of July events starting at 8 a.m. and ending in the evening with the 9:30 called post-tenure review, was vague and a work in progress. p.m. fireworks show.

Post-tenure review was a relatively new policy to Texas colleges. The Texas Legislature passed a law in 1997 mandating this extra layer of tenure review, and like most other colleges, Texas State was developing the post-tenure review process. Stone said the administration did not know how foolproof the policy was going to be until a case like Rudnicki’s tested it. After seeing what happened with Rudnicki, a revision of the post-tenure review was completed in 2004.

According to the agreement, the parties decided upon the settlement “in order to compromise disputed claims, to settle the lawsuit and to avoid further litigation.”

All respective allegations and denials in the lawsuit are dropped and “are not to be construed as an admission of liability by Texas State …”

The case had originally appeared as if it would be decided by the court. Both parties said they were confident their side could win the case and they attempted to go to trial three times, but each was postponed and rescheduled because of various reasons, such as an ill witness. Just before the third rescheduled trial was set to begin Jan.16, the attorneys passed on it. Terry Thompson of the attorney general’s office, who was representing Texas State, made a See Rudnicki, page 4

San Marcos City Council delays plans for new loop

By Scott Thomas News Reporter The proposed loop roadway to be built around San Marcos dominated discussion at the city council meeting June 19.

One of the most talked about aspects of the loop was how it would be paid for, and if tax increases were needed.

“I don’t believe at this juncture we should speculate what the dollar amount is,” Mayor Susan Narvaiz said.

The mayor said she hoped to issue corrections regarding an e-mail sent by resident Amy Kirwin, which Narvaiz called misinformation. Kirwin wrote the city would have to increase taxes by 10

cents over the next year to build the loop. She said the city council should explore other areas of financing before resorting to what she called “one easy option that could be devastating.”

“A lot of things on that e-mail were propaganda,” said Chris Jones, place 4 councilman.

The county does have an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation, a state agency which finances roads the city plans to share with Hays County. The agreement will ensure San Marcos is reimbursed by the Department of Transportation for the cost of the road. However, Narvaiz said when she last talked with the department, the

Today’s Weather

Scattered Storms 84˚

Precipitation: 40% Humidity: 76% UV: 7 High Wind: SE mph

message she got was the city is running out of time.

The city council approved to send a letter to the department explaining the county does not want to back out of the deal.

“I want to make sure they don’t think that we’re not interested,” Narvaiz said.

An issue considered and then tabled was adoption of a resolution endorsing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The agreement states cities who sign will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent from 1990 levels by 2012.

“After researching this I found other cities had conservation plans in place,”

Two-day Forecast Thursday Scattered Strorms Temp: 84°/ 71° Precip: 60%

Friday Scattered Storms Temp: 85°/ 72° Precip: 30%

Jones said. “I don’t feel comfortable taking action at this time. We can build something that fits San Marcos better.”

The vocal council members were evenly split on the decision to endorse the agreement.

“This is about leaving a legacy for our children, so they can say, they ‘did something,’” Betsy Robertson, Place 1 councilwoman, said. “This is a good way to show leadership and take a step forward.”

Others making their opinion heard were Place 6 councilman John Thomaides, who said this agreement would give San Marcos a simple path forward, and Place 5 councilwoman Pam Couch,

who expressed her dissatisfaction with the plan.

Jones suggested the resolution be tabled so it can be brought up again when San Marcos is more ready.

“I agree at some point we need to participate in this,” Jones said. “We already have some irons in the fire. At some point this definitely needs to happen.”

Putting the debate to an end, Narvaiz said she would not sign the agreement because it was not right for San Marcos. Narvaiz said she was not looking to make a political statement on the national scale.

“I am trying to be a local mayor,” she said.

Inside News ........... 1,3,4 Opinions ............ 5 Trends ............. 6,7

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

Diversions .......... 8 Classifieds ......... 9 Sports ......... 11,12

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2007 The University Star

Page 2 - The University Star

ADVERTISEMENT

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

NEWS

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

The University Star - Page 3

Low-income students achieve higher Soldier loses legs, gains education through Upward Bound

By Laura Morehead Special to The University Star U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett recently announced Texas State will receive $342,000 in Upward Bound grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

Upward Bound is a program of the Education Department designed to help first-generation, lowincome high schools students get into and graduate from college.

“Texas State’s Upward Bound program helps students reach new heights of educational achievements,” Doggett, D-Austin, said in a news release.

“These grants open doors to first-generation college students and provide an invaluable opportunity for aspiring scholars.”

The grant is only awarded to the top-10 percent Upward Bound programs in the nation.

“Our kids graduate from high school and they graduate from college,” said Sonya Lopez, director of Upward Bound at Texas State. “Upward Bound opens the door for those who don’t have the resources, which are usually first-generation college students whose parents don’t know how to navigate the system.”

When high school students are accepted into the program, they come to Texas State two Saturdays a month to receive tutoring and additional lessons in “soft skills.” Some of the soft skills include stress management and college preparation.

The program focuses on teaching students how to receive money for college, such as filling out FAFSA applications and applying for scholarships.

High school seniors in the program have the opportunity to stay at Texas State for six weeks during the summer and take college courses. Currently, Upward Bound students are staying at Falls Hall and attending summer I classes.

“Living on campus takes the fear of college life away,” said Dorella Silva, an Upward Bound adviser. “Overall, they become more confident about their potential.”

If the students in the program go to Texas State, they are able to receive further assistance from Student Support Services for tutoring, workshops and scholarship opportunities.

hese grants open “T doors to firstgeneration college students and provide an invaluable opportunity for aspiring scholars.”

—Lloyd Doggett U.S. Congressman, D-Austin

“Participants meet two to three times per semester with their (support services) adviser to set goals and devise a plan for academic success,” said Cheryl McWilliams, director of Student Support Services.

Starting this year, ninth-graders attending San Marcos, Seguin and Layman high schools are the only students eligible for the program. Before, students in ninth through 11th grade at Lockhart and Luling high schools were eligible.

The purpose of the recent change is to “spend more time and establish better relationships with the schools,” Lopez said.

Texas State has one of the oldest Upward Bound Programs in the nation. The program is a product of the Civil Rights Movement and was created as part of Texas State alumnus and former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty initiative in 1964.

“The fact that Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Higher Education Act of 1965 on this campus gives Texas State a special connection with Upward Bound,” McWilliams said.

The program at Texas State currently has 60 high school students from Guadalupe and Hays counties enrolled in the program.

“Texas State is very excited to receive funding for our Upward Bound Project. The project will allow Texas State to continue to prepare disadvantaged youths for the challenges of pursuing postsecondary education,” said Bill Covington, associate vice president for research and federal relations at Texas State. “Texas State appreciates the strong support for this project that we have received from Representative Lloyd Doggett.”

Road extension comprises ancient settlements

By Bill Lancaster News Reporter The Center for Archeological Studies at Texas State will conduct the excavation of American Indian settlement site before construction begins early next year on the Wonder World Drive extension. Even though a bridge is to be built over the settlement site, construction is expected to destroy the remaining artifacts.

Mayor Susan Narvaiz said the purpose of the extension was to provide a way for commuters to travel through to Interstate 35 without going through historic neighborhoods or the downtown area.

“The streets just weren’t made for that capacity,” Narviaz said. “This is a significant step in our overall transportation plan.”

Sabas Avila, San Marcos environmental and engineering department assistant director, said the extension will help alleviate congestion downtown and route large trucks around historical neighborhoods. The construction will begin near the recent railroad overpass project, cross Hunter Drive, bridge a flood plain and end near the San Marcos Baptist Academy and the Lower Colorado River Authority substation on Ranch Road 12.

“During the process, we looked at three route alternatives,” Aliva said. “We went out and did field surveys to find out exactly where the significant karst features are, where the environmental habitat is and

where the constraints like the spillway of the flood control dam is located. Basically what we did is threaded the needle through all of those features.”

The planned route is presently outside the San Marcos city limits but will be annexed after the city has purchased the land for the right-of-way, Avila said.

An environmental assessment conducted in 2004 gave the city a “finding of no significant impact,” but included mitigations to protect the environmentally sensitive and culturally significant areas.

“It includes karst features which are caves, it includes endangered habitat areas and it includes one archeological site,” Avila said. “There are different mitigations. For karst features, what we did is purchased over 300 acres of greenspace that will be preserved for bird habitat. We will be contributing an amount toward the purchase of golden Cheeked Warbler habitat land and for the archeological site. We will actually be excavating it, recovering any artifacts and then documenting our findings.”

Silt fences and sediment filtering ponds will be used during construction to help minimize the environmental impact to the Edwards Aquifer during construction, Avila said.

The project received a big boost from a $10 million federal grant spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-TX, and state Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-San Antonio, Narviaz said.

Don Nyland, Texas Department of Transportation engineer,

said the department will oversee the project until completion and will then take over maintenance of the roadway, repaying the city of San Marcos for construction using a pass-through financing which repays according to vehicle usage. The payback will be 80 to 85 percent of the cost of construction.

“We’ve got basic oversight just to make sure the plans are done according to state standards,” Nylan said. “Once construction starts, we’ll make sure that project is built according to our specifications and that all the federal guidelines and everything are followed for the construction. When the project is finished … we’ll take over permanent control of the roadway.”

The archeologically significant area is located approximately 2,000 yards from the present end of Wonder World Drive along Purgatory Creek, according to the environmental assessment. The settlement has been partially destroyed from construction of a nearby flood control dam.

“We are required to deal with anything of historical significance and if possible remove and preserve those artifacts,” Narvaiz said.

There will be plenty of time to excavate the site before the scheduled construction starts in January 2008, Avila said.

Britt Bousman, who will head the excavation, and is director of Texas State’s Center for Archeological Studies, is in the field and unavailable for comment.

new perspective on life

By Barbara Barrett McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Marine Sgt. David “D.J.” Emery Jr.’s life snapped into focus on the morning of April 23, two days after his baby girl was born. He studied the lower half of his hospital bed, then turned to his mother and, still unable to speak, mouthed this question: “What the f**k happened to my legs?”

For weeks, the young warrior’s mother, his wife and the doctors in the intensive care unit of the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center outside Washington had kept him clingChuck Kennedy/MCT ing to this side of death.

But when Emery discovered Marine Sgt. David “D.J.” Emery Jr. lays in bed at Walter Reed his legs were gone, the fight Army Medical Center. Emery’s wife, Leslie Shivery sits next to became his. him holding their 2-month-old daughter, Carlee Ann, June 19.

He hates it.

It hurts when the physi- where he was moved this took up his fight. He began to cal therapist pushes hard on month. They’re victims of the heal. Through good days and his stumps. He seals his eyes improvised explosive devic- bad, he moved from the intenshut and blows a long, slow es, which are becoming more sive care unit at Bethesda to curse through his lips, like powerful as the Iraq war con- a regular hospital room, then air seeping from a punctured tinues. One afternoon, four two weeks ago to Ward 57, tire. He’s humiliated when other double amputees, all of the amputees’ home at Walter he tries to lift his body into a them further along in their Reed. sitting position, loses his bal- recoveries, exercised their He’s been visited by the ance and nearly tumbles onto stumps or tested their new Washington Redskins football the ground. mechanical legs in the physi- team, by his congressman, He utters more curses and cal therapy room as Emery Rep. John Peterson and by throws whatever is lying nearby went through his rehabilita- President Bush, who gave Emwith his only good limb — the tion. ery his Purple Heart. left-handed Emery’s right arm.

He remembers little about “I dunno — he’s just anoth“I hate having to depend on what happened to him Feb. 7 in er person, you know?” Emery people,” Emery said, his voice al Anbar province, the hotbed recalled from his bed. “He inquiet and raspy. of Iraq’s Sunni Muslim insur- vited me to the White House.

He was lying on his stom- gency and its al-Qaida-linked Hopefully, I can get some runach and being attended to by terrorists. ning legs and go running with a physical therapist, his mothHe was at a checkpoint. He him and smoke his ass.” er, Connie and his wife Leslie stopped to chat with other The encounters which reShivery.

Marines while Iraqi soldiers ally matter to Emery are the He glanced over at little Car- searched anyone who didn’t ones with other veterans, lee Ann, 2 months old now and seem right. such as the old man in the testing a new smile from the He never saw the suspicious- hallway who gets around betbed of her stroller. He has to looking man whose torso was ter on two artificial legs than learn the same motor skills she wrapped in explosives. The most senior citizens do on does: rolling over, sitting up, man spread his arms wide, like real ones. propelling himself from one a bird taking flight, and trig“When a doctor tells you point to another. gered the blast. that you’ll walk one day and he He’s vowed to walk before Emery doesn’t recall the has two real legs, you’re like, she does. flight home, the countless sur- ‘Whatever,’” Emery said. “But Emery, of Bellefonte, Pa., geries, the amputations of one when a guy comes in on two is one of a growing number leg, then the other. prosthetic legs, and they’re of double amputees at Walter But April 23, when he dis- standing there, it makes everyReed Army Medical Center, covered his legs were gone, he thing possible.”

Page 4 - The University Star

NEWS

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

McCOY

Photo courtesy of city of San Marcos LASTING LEGACY — Emmett and Miriam McCoy present a check for $360,000 to Mayor Susan Narvaiz to go toward the purchase of a 251-acre tract in the hills above Spring Lake.

CONTINUED from page 1

it was a worthy cause.

“It just seemed like a good cause and we were interested in it,” McCoy said. “It’s a good thing and we decided to do it.”

Initially, The Nature Conservancy provided funding for purchase of the property.

“We bought the land from the developer who owned it and held it until San Marcos could afford to buy it and turn it into a nature preserve,” said Niki McDaniel, spokeswoman for the organization. “We wanted to help the city make the purchase so that it could be enjoyed for generations.”

The property will be preserved

as a greenbelt with hiking trails.

According to a news release issued by the city, “Texas State, in collaboration with the National Park Service, will assist the city of San Marcos in developing a master plan that will emphasize recreational activity and assure that its natural resources are protected.”

University President Denise Trauth said she was grateful for the McCoys’ generosity.

“Once again, Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have demonstrated their generosity and their love of the city they call home,” Trauth said. “Their gift will help preserve a very special piece of land, as well as the springs and the lake below it. The gift allows the city and the university to protect endangered species and

RUDNICKI CONTINUED from page 1

settlement offer to Rudnicki four days prior. Rudnicki signed the agreement Jan. 31.

With the lawsuit, Rudnicki was seeking back pay, reinstatement and attorney fees. Under the terms and conditions of the settlement, Rudnicki will only receive attorney fees. Of the $171,000, $112,500 is to be paid directly to Rudnicki’s attorneys.

The agreement says the sum “in no way represents compensation for any lost wages or earnings,

WILEY CONTINUED from page 1

approved of the move only if an agreement was signed by the university to pay the corpus back.

So Wiley created an accounts receivable contract between the foundation and the university and classified it as a loan. Wiley signed on behalf of the foundation and Gerald Hill, then-vice president of university advancement, signed on behalf of the university.

“It now appears that neither Mr. Hill, the president nor anyone with the president’s cabinet ever obtained approval from the legislature or board of regents to obtain this loan,” the lawsuit says.

“Originally, I opened the account as Mrs. Parr’s Account/Southwestern Studies within the foundation so her endowment would be kept intact, thus using the interest to fund the (National Endowment for the Humanities) project, which I thought would be in line with her bequest,” Wiley wrote. “This move was overruled by the University Comptroller Carolyn Conn.”

For the university portion of the challenge to count, the money apparently had to be transferred from the foundation to SWT. And so the endowment was transferred to the university’s books and recorded as a gift. The gift qualified for the National Endowment for the Humanities challenge and the university received the $450,000.

Through a series of letters and e-mails exchanged between administrators, there was uncertainty over the legality of the transfers.

In a November 2002 letter to the university comptroller from Bill Covington, then-associate vice president of research, he said, “I realize it is not possible to predict the opinion that an external auditor might have on the matching funds in question, but I believe (SWT has) a defendable position.”

According to a report obtained by The University Star, an audit performed by an accounting company on the foundation’s books, along with a separate external audit, verified Wiley’s concern.

Wiley said he showed the auditors the accounts receivable contract, which he believes is referenced by the accounting company in its Jan. 20, 2005 report.

“It has subsequently been determined to be a permanently restricted gift requiring the principle to be held by the foundation in perpetuity,” the report revealed.

The report details several questionable accounting practices within development services.

According to the document, “Reportable conditions involve … significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control that, in our judgment, could adversely affect the foundation’s ability to initiate, record, process and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management in the financial statements.”

“What the auditor’s put in their report makes me strongly believe that the university has been engaging in unlawful actions; that the university has probably fraudulently reported the loan to the legislature as something other than a ‘loan;’ that the university probably fraudulently reported the loan in order to get the (National Endowment for the Humanities) grant and that the university is likely engaged in an unlawful cover up of what they have done,” Wiley wrote.

protect a remarkable and unique environment and ecosystem.”

The news release says Texas State’s Center for Nature and Heritage Tourism will collaborate with the National Park Service “to work with the site as an educational venue for the university’s programs in environmental education, nature tourism, biology, geography, history, archeology, outdoor recreation and teacher education.”

The San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department will offer educational programs at the park for children and adults on various topics including the San Marcos watershed and recharge area, native plants, endangered species and birding activities.

or perceived loss of wages or earnings by Rudnicki; Texas State, Texas State University System and the individual defendants deny having caused any such loss and have asserted in the lawsuit that state sovereign immunity bars Rudnicki’s ability to recover lost wages or earnings.”

And by signing the agreement, Rudnicki agreed he would not apply for employment or re-employment with the university or any institution within the Texas State University System.

As per the agreement, the Rudnicki party cannot comment on the settlement.

According to the lawsuit, Wiley became troubled about the accounting practices of development services in 2003. The university is responsible for managing and administrating the foundation. However, according to the lawsuit filed, the foundation did not have one employee who was trained in accounting and “had inadequate accounting software in place.”

As executive director, Wiley sought to fix the foundation’s accounting practices. An audit committee was formed to ensure the organization’s financial records were kept in compliance with state law.

University attorney William Fly said there are no more accounting problems with development services.

“Everything is fine. All of the accounting issues have been resolved and it’s really all been taken care of,” Fly said.

While serving as executive director of the foundation, Wiley was the associate vice president of university advancement. On Sept. 1, 2004, Wiley was demoted from this position to director of planned giving.

“When Mr. Wiley was demoted he was told the reason for his demotion was that the school wanted ‘new energy’ in the position, an indication that Mr. Wiley’s age was impermissibly considered,” the lawsuit says.

In April 2005, he filed a charge of age discrimination with the Civil Rights Division of the Texas Workforce Commission. About a week later, he was removed from his position as executive director of the Development Foundation.

On May 25, 2005, he sent the letter to the public integrity unit regarding the university’s alleged unlawful actions.

Four months later, he was removed by University President Denise Trauth from his position as director of planned giving and offered a job in enrollment management with the Round Rock Higher Education Center. Wiley did not accept.

He was then offered a position at the library, which he again refused to take. Wiley said he would only take back his old position or one that did not represent a demotion. Trauth fired him shortly thereafter. Fly said in a previous Star article that Wiley was dismissed for showing insubordination and job abandonment.

A few weeks after being fired, Wiley filed the lawsuit in a Travis County district court.

The lawsuit says the administration took the series of steps against Wiley because he reported illegal conduct, made a complaint of age discrimination and exercised his right to free speech. As such, the lawsuit says the university violated the Whistleblower Act, the Texas Labor Code and the Texas Constitution.

A series of depositions and discovery responses followed.

However, according to the settlement agreement, “The parties now desire to compromise and settle all of the matters in dispute between them …”

The agreement dismisses the alleged claims of wrongful termination, age discrimination and violations of the Texas Constitution and Texas Labor Code. The settlement does not represent any admission of liability by the defendant.

“We believe the settlement was fair to both sides and allows the university to get on with its primary business of educating its students,” Fly said.

All claims were officially dismissed June 18.

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

onlineconnection For news updates throughout the summer, check out www.UniversityStar.com.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Page 5

Opinions Contact — Sydney Granger, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

I

ndependence Day has been celebrated in some form since 1777 when Bristol, R. I., held a 13-gun salute.

Now, 230 years later, it has become a holiday of hot dogs and baseball games, beer and fireworks. What are we celebrating? The Fourth of July is the only holiday celebrating the United States.

One of the more predominate founding fathers, John Adams, said the holiday would be “the great anniversary festival … from one end of this continent to the other, from this time and forward forever more.”

In a time of war, many would argue we should support our troops, eat a plate of barbecue and be thankful for those who made it all possible.

During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the Fourth symbolized “The democratic freedom which our citizens claim as their precious birthright.”

He continued by saying, “The tough, grim men who fight for freedom in this dark hour take heart in its message — the assurance of the right to liberty under God — for all peoples and races and groups and nations, everywhere in the world.”

It is hard to look at Roosevelt’s inspiring words this Independence Day and not question our country’s current methods.

The president spoke of all peoples and races while some politicians are still trying to find ways to build fences and close borders.

Only six years ago, President George W. Bush spoke in front of the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence.

He said the document represents, “the standard to which we hold others and the standard by which we measure ourselves.

Our greatest achievements have come when we have lived up to these ideals.

Our greatest tragedies have come when we have failed to uphold them.”

These are quite the words from the man who turned his back on the very country that made winning the Revolutionary War possible. Shortly after France opted to not participate in the War on Terror, french fries became freedom fries and it was acceptable to forget our past to hold revenge for the present.

What, then, does that say about the standard by which we measure ourselves if we are so quick to forget the very entity that made this country possible?

The University Star believes this Independence Day Americans should celebrate the fourth by taking action.

Write your representatives, go to a city council meeting, speak up and speak out.

Participate in the democracy that defines our country. After all, as Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, who died on the Fourth of July, noted, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”

DAY

Earth-friendly cars not much better than ‘normal’ ones

DEMOCRACY Remember America’s foundation this July Fourth

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.

Pat Stark/Star illustration

Sometimes, you just have to drive.

So what does the eco-conscious driver choose? Electric automobiles are good, but the process involved in creating BILL RIX the batteries releasStar Columnist es all manner of pollutants, so that’s not too good. Hybrids are readily available, but they have the same problem, and they use gasoline, so that’s probably a worse idea.

And as much as large corporations try and shove “green vehicles” on us, there is no getting around the fact these automobiles are still bad. So your Toyota Prius gets an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated combined city/highway 55 miles per gallon: Believe it or not, if you are thinking green, a Hummer is a better environmentally conscious choice than the Prius. Seriously. Google it.

Now that it’s hip to be environmentally thoughtful, corporations are scrambling to grab hold of the green dollar.

Automakers show commercials shilling their new makes and models which get so-and-so many miles to the gallon, use hybrid engines, whatever. Don’t believe the hype: You’re still driving an automobile. The best you can do is get a bus ticket and hope the thing runs on an ethanol mix, as some of the Texas State trams do, but pollutants are still rolling out the back.

Automakers are in it for the money and nothing else. Always have been, always will be. There’s no reason to buck the status quo, especially when the people in charge (read: old white people) continue to bank. And why should they? Thanks to people like Al Gore, it’s posh to be green. By giving speeches and writing a couple of books, Gore has done a considerable amount of damage against the environment by giving companies from all spectrums brand new niche markets. Now we have aisles of specious products aimed to save the earth. As with most things, you can’t fix this problem by throwing money at it. Considerate purchases are well and fine, but giving mega-corporations more money will only exacerbate things.

Trust me, Proctor & Gamble Co., General Electric Co. and Valero Energy do not care about this planet, sappy commercials and press releases be damned.

Back to the question at hand: If you must drive, what’s the most responsible way to get from point A to point B? Unless you’re in the market for a new ride, you’re stuck with whatever you have now, so why not make the most of it?

Regular tune-ups are vital to the life of your car to be sure, but clean-running cars minimize the damage to the environment as well. Keeping tires properly aired means better gas mileage. The same goes for clean air filters. And if you hate to drive as much as I do, you want to get wherever you’re going as fast as you can, but keep in mind going the speed limit helps out a lot. From www.treehugger.com: “Driving technique has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit.

Not only does speeding and herky-jerky driving kill your MPG, it’s dangerous...”

Until a truly green transportation alternative comes about, do whatever you can to minimize the impact on the planet. Go forth and tread lightly.

Knocked Up glosses over real-life issues

By Sue Hutchison San Jose Mercury News It’s not often that I go to see a comedy that makes me laugh so hard I almost blow Diet Coke and popcorn through my nose and yet frustrates me so much that I leave the theater wrung out and let down. That’s how I felt after I saw the much-heralded Knocked Up, a movie that is far smarter and funnier than its central premise.

In case you haven’t seen the reviews or the raging discussion about it in the blogosphere, Knocked Up is the story of an attractive young TV reporter who gets pregnant after a drunken one-night stand with a goodnatured slacker whom she meets in a bar — and she decides to have the baby. The option of having an abortion is barely even mentioned, and she proceeds to drag the slacker into the gynecologist’s exam room with her for the first ultrasound. Suddenly,

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

“T

he idea that a young woman like Alison would not consider an abortion is even more unrealistic than the premise of writerdirector Judd Apatow’s other hit film The 40Year-Old Virgin.” she expects him to be a central part of her life and the baby’s. And comedy ensues.

Hello?

I had to keep blinking to make sure that Katherine Heigl, the actress who plays the heroine, Alison, wasn’t really Doris Day. Certainly the slacker Ben, played by Seth Rogen, was no Rock Hudson. Otherwise I would’ve sworn that when I walked into that darkened theater, I’d passed through some sort of wormhole into the 1950s.

The idea that a young woman like Alison would not consider an abortion is even more unrealistic than

Editor In Chief.................................Maira Garcia, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor.....................Sydney Granger, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor...................................Nick Georgiou, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.......................Clara Cobb, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor...................................Monty Marion, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor............................Scott Strickman, starsports@txstate.edu

the premise of writer-director Judd Apatow’s other hit film The 40-YearOld Virgin. The only time abortion is even alluded to is when one of Ben’s slacker pals makes reference to something that rhymes with “smashmortion,” and Alison’s shallow mother recommends that she “take care of it” so as not to interrupt her career. As if that were the only reason not to have a baby with a do-nothing dude who can barely dress himself and is a virtual stranger to boot.

None of this would bug me so much if the film weren’t being hailed as the comedy of our age. Granted,

Copy Desk Chief.......................Colm Keane, starcopychief@txstate.edu Design Editor..................................Chris Clontz, stardesign@txstate.edu Systems Administrator............Les Stewart, starsysadmin@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator......................Jodie Claes, starad1@txstate.edu Advertising Sales Manager...........Jackie Pardue, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive...............................Scott Lynch, sl1148@txstate.edu

if Alison doesn’t decide to have the baby, you have no movie. And it’s not as though Hollywood films are known for their accurate reflections of real life.

But what’s frustrating about Knocked Up is that it is so insightful about the pitfalls and complications of marriage, commitment, growing up and growing old. One scene alone, where a nightclub bouncer turns away Alison and her sister Debbie because they’re too over-the-hill to pass the velvet ropes, is worth the price of admission.

It’s a shame that with so much going for it, the movie couldn’t have turned the same intelligent lens on the real agonies of choosing to have an abortion or not, especially when most unwanted pregnancies occur among women in their 20s. Is it that easy, even for Hollywood, to ignore the fact that the right to have an abortion is more threatened than it has been in three decades? Isn’t that

just wimping out, as Ben’s buddies would say?

Maybe it’s too much to expect of a Hollywood comedy, even one that’s been compared to The Graduate, to take on abortion in a realistic way.

It probably wouldn’t be a box-office bonanza, and the subject is certainly nothing to laugh at.

I’ve been a big fan of Apatow’s ever since Freaks and Geeks, his painfully hilarious TV series about the hell of adolescence. But, would it have killed him to at least show more of the downside of raising an unplanned child with a virtual stranger with whom you have almost nothing in common?

I guess divorce, custody feuds, financial nightmares and maybe even food stamps don’t make for a happy ending.

Sue Hutchison is a columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. Readers may send her e-mail at shutchison@mercurynews.com.

Account Executive..................Samantha Manley, sm1299@txstate.edu Account Executive...........................Krystal Slater, ks1429@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator..Linda Allen, starbusinessoffice@txstate.edu Publications Director..............Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every other Wednesday of Summer I and II with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright June 27, 2007. 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

remembered Professional baseball player, Houstonian and LBJ statue sculptor Lawrence Ludtke died May 4.

Ludtke’s work can be found on many college campuses including the U. S. Air Force Academy, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Texas A&M, as well as national sites including Pennsylvania’s Battleground Park and the Pentagon. Texas State has the distinction of being the location of the last sculpture he completed before his death.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Page 6

Trends Contact — Clara Cobb, starentertainment@txstate.edu

4th of Julycalendar

H-E-B Austin Symphony Concert & Fireworks: 8:30 p.m. at the NorthEast Triangle of Zilker Park (Lou Neff Point) Events include free music and fireworks. Picnic baskets are encouraged and concessions are available on site. The stage is in the northeast triangle of Zilker Park at Lou Neff Point. For more information, call (512) 476-6064.

Round Rock Fourth of July Fireworks and Frontier Days Celebration: 8:30 a.m. on Main Street Mile Events include a walk followed by a parade through downtown Round Rock. After the parade, events move to Old Settler’s Park for a Western Traditions-themed celebration. Events include a reenactment of the Sam Bass shootout, free watermelon and arts and crafts. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. For more information call (512) 218-5540.

Red, White and Buda: 5:00 p.m. July 4 on Main Street, Buda Events include music, washer pitch and tug-of-war. For more information call (512) 295-9999 or visit www.budachamber.com/Annuals/Events.htm.

Wimberley Parade: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Ranch Road 12 through town Traffic will be blocked through Wimberley during this time.

Wimberley Community Chorus 7 Band Patriotic Concert: 5:00 p.m. at Ozona Bank Drive-in Park Events include music for all ages. For more information on Wimberley events, call (512) 8472201 or visit www.wimberley.org.

New Braunfels Parade and Patriotic Celebration: 10 a.m.

Downtown New Braunfels Events include a parade and family celebration. For more information call (830) 629-1572.

Celebrating summer

KTSW will air music to complement firework displays CONTINUED from page 1

at clusters of bedazzling fireworks at Sewell Park.

The San Marcos American GI Forum will launch the festivities with its 8 a.m. tee-off for the four-person scramble tournament at the Texas State Golf Course.

Jesse Sanchez, of the American GI Forum said the fundraiser emphasizes the patriotic theme because it benefits a scholarship program aimed for helping graduating San Marcos High School students achieve freedom through education.

“Our motto has always been this: ‘Education is our freedom and freedom should be everybody’s business,’” Sanchez said. “So in celebrating the independence of our nation, we want to help the younger generation access the education they deserve.”

Live music, food and crafts vendors, a children’s costume parade, a patriotic program and a duck derby are just a few attractions set to be featured throughout the day.

Pat Murdock, director of development and research services at Texas State, said the San Marcos noon Lions Club Illuminated River Float Parade is a popular attraction. She said the illuminated boats attract onlookers to the banks of the San Marcos River.

“The Lions Club river parade is never very large, but people just love it,” Murdock said. “You can often see people looking over the bridge just watching the floats go by.”

Murdock said she encourages people to rent river tubes and enjoy the day by floating down the river.

“That’s one of the nice things about having the festival at Sewell Park, you can take a dip in the river, cool off and then go and get hot again,” Murdock said.

Murdock said festivalgoers should tune into KTSW during the fireworks exhibition.

“For the first time KTSW-FM is going to broadcast music to go along with the fireworks,” Murdock said. “We’re all very excited to see that.”

This year’s live music lineup fuses an array of multiple genres, including jazz, bluegrass, rockabilly and mariachi.

Crabby Grass Boys, an acoustic bluegrass band, is slated to perform at 3 p.m. This will be the band’s third performance at Summerfest. Alton Rex, lead vocalist and guitarist, said the festival’s easy-going, family friendly atmosphere keeps him coming back every year.

“It’s just our kind of festival, and our kind of people, and it’s a

“I

t’s just our kind of festival, and our kind of people, and it’s a family-oriented event, so we enjoy playing there.”

—Alton Rex lead singer and guitarist, Crabby Grass Boys

family-oriented event, so we enjoy playing there,” Rex said.

Despite the summer heat, he said the crowd moves and shakes to the band’s acoustic bluegrass and Cajun blues beats.

“We seem to have struck a chord with the people,” Rex said. “The first year we performed there, we played early in the day when it was at least 108 degrees in the shade, and I was surprised to see people dancing.”

Rex said the band’s synchronized harmonies induce an autonomous response among the crowd.

“I noticed every time we play at a festival, when the three-part harmony started to happen, there was this involuntary reflex among the people in the audience,” Rex said. As soon as that third voice kicked in, their heads would immediately turn towards the stage.”

In addition to performing at summer festivals, the band performs at Veterans Affairs hospitals around the nation. Rex said many of his songs are loosely based on inspiring conversations with war veterans.

“By performing concerts for these veterans, I ended up writing generic versions of some of the really good stories they would tell me,” Rex said. “There’s a song about combat nurses on our EP called ‘You Can Call Them Angels.’”

Rex said the band’s spontaneous stage shows are sure to impress the audience.

“Solos can occur anywhere; we perform in the moment,” Rex said “There’s an edge to our live shows that can only come from a band that’s comfortable playing without canned arrangements. We play art in the moment, and not many bands do that.”

Summerfest is presented by Texas State University, the City of San Marcos and numerous businesses and community organizations. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.summerfestsanmarcos.com.

Compiled by Clara Cobb/Trends Editor

Local musicians rock, raise money for charity with album CD proceeds, sticker sales to benefit fibromyalgia research Elisa Botello Features Reporter

Monty Marion/Star photo COMPLATION WITH A CAUSE: The SMTX 78666 CD includes orginal songs from local bands.

Bands on the album include: The Jared Francis Band, Scott Biram, Robbie and the Robots, Word Association, The Cari Hutson Band, The AK47’s, The Jocks, Fluffers Union, Molly and the Hatchets, Kallisti Gold, Rockus Circus, Blackwater Gospel, Fambly, Grant Ewing, Chancla, Eleven Fingered Charlie, Apse Affinity, The Subtle Creeps and Bernie Calcote.

Robbie Doyen, Robbie and the Robots’ lead singer and songwriter, came up with the idea for SMTX 78666 — a 19-song compilation with a cause.

“My father has fibromyalgia and is in constant pain,” Doyen said. “I just want to do anything I can to help him and the millions of others around the world who suffer from this disease.”

Fibromyalgia syndrome is thought to be the second most common rheumatic condition (osteoarthritis being the first) affecting Americans, according to the Johns Hopkins White Paper on Arthritis. This painful syndrome affects two percent of Americans, about 3.7 million people.

The album, representing San Marcos as a fun, relaxing, hilarious and hospitable town, will donate a majority of the proceeds from the album’s sales to Advocates for Fibromyalgia Funding Treatment Education and Research, he said.

The group’s president, Shari Ferbert, shares Doyen’s excitement for the SMTX 78666 album’s release.

“It is a very worthwhile cause being done by very talented and generous musicians,” she said.

“T

he community here in San Marcos is very happy with and supportive of the compilation.”

—Robbie Doyen lead singer and songwriter, Robbie and the Robots

Besides appearing on the album with his band, Doyen produced the compilation as well as chose which bands would be included. Doyen said he wanted a variety of different bands to show off the musical diversity San Marcos has to offer while keeping the album fun and youthful.

SMTX 78666 contains exclusive songs, he said. The Word Association recorded “Snake Eyes” specifically for the compilation. Another exclusive is “Up in the Scene *HipHop Remix*”

by Robbie and the Robots featuring emcee Omari Kamau.

Doyen said the public’s reaction to the album has been overwhelmingly positive earning over $1,000 within its first week.

“The community here in San Marcos is very happy with and supportive of the compilation,” he said.

SMTX 78666 was released May 12 — National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. The album is available regionally at Sundance Records, Hastings in San Marcos and Waterloo Records in Austin.

People may support the cause by donating money to Advocates for Fibromyalgia Funding Treatment Education and Research (www.affter.org). SMTX 78666 stickers are available at locations where the album is sold.

SMTX 78666 is not the average charity drive-type album, Doyen said. From the music of country and blues artist Scott H. Biram to the poetic lyrics of the hip-hop group The Word Association, SMTX 78666 has something for every music fan. The album includes several other genres such as rock ‘n’ roll, ska, soul, punk and blues.

The local compilation album SMTX 78666 embodies the qualities that make San Marcos the Texas legend it has become, Doyen said.

The 19 San Marcos bands featured on the album perform original songs, many about local trademarks such as floating the river and attending house parties, he said.

Alumnus publishes law guide for students Scot Courtney, Southwest Texas State University alumnus and Texas State rugby coach has published a new guidebook to help college students understand the law. The book, The Student Body of Law, deals with issues including apartment leases, self-defense, credit cards and partying.

Compiled by Clara Cobb/Trends Editor

TRENDS

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

The University Star - Page 7

Second (and third, and fourth) shift: Five seconds Popular food myth proven bogus Students’ work surpasses classroom Chris Copple Feature Reporter Floating the river and partying all summer can be strenuous and tiring — but imagine trying to keep up with two or more jobs while taking classes.

Many students are forced to take on a second or even third job as the cost of living rises. At times, these second-shifters find there are not enough hours in the day to allow for sleep, work, school and entertainment.

Erica Meier, history senior, knows all too

Monty Marion/Star photo WORKING THE REGISTER: Seth Johnson, accounting senior (left), and Rodney Adams, computer information systems graduate student, work the cash register June 25 at Paws Market on the 2nd floor of the LBJ Student Center.

Monty Marion/Star photo MANNING THE PHONES: Supervisor Kurt Caldwell discusses a survey about insurance choices with Customer Research International employees during their June 25 shift. CRI hires mostly Texas State Students to conduct its phone surveys.

well the stresses of working two jobs while taking classes. This summer she is keeping up with jobs at the agriculture department, Sundance Records and she is volunteering in the dive shop at Aquarena Center.

While the agriculture department and Sundance Records pay for her time, the dive center is a volunteer job Meier has taken on in order to receive her certification as a dive instructor.

Meier has worked multiple jobs since she moved to San Marcos four years ago. Since then, she has become a staple at local shops such as Tantra Coffeehouse and The Stratosphere Lounge.

“I really don’t mind it,” she said. “I pay my way through college so I kind of need the money.”

Working in an enjoyable environment can cut stress from the job and add happiness to the workday.

Many students are not as fortunate as Meier and are forced to work at a job unrelated to their career choice, she said.

The stress that comes with working can be multiplied when a student’s job is not helping to further future plans but is simply a means to an end, according to Texas State Career Services. Ideally, doing what one loves or working a job that moves one closer to a desired future reduces stress in the workplace.

If students cannot work in a field relevant to their future, then it is important to hone the skills necessary for their major through a non-vocational job, according to the services.

Kristina Tower, geography senior, tries to keep this in mind as she works four jobs during the fall and spring semesters and five jobs during the summer. As a waitress, temporary agency employee, babysitter and oncampus computer lab assistant, Tower said she is constantly learning from experience. “(My jobs) have taught me to be a more whole, well-rounded person,” she said.

“These jobs are teaching me skills that are essential to life like time and money management and how to be professional and cordial in the workplace.”

Tower is learning time management well — pulling a 3.4 GPA during the spring 2007 semester on top of working 48 hours a week.

In order to maintain a positive attitude and not get burned out, Tower makes sure to allocate what she calls “me time.”

“I focus on keeping good friendships because happiness is key and my friends make me happy,” she said.

Both Meier and Tower agree it is easy it is to make due on a tight budget in San Marcos. With the river and thousands of young people in this town, quality time outside of work does not require any money.

By Maureen Simpson McClatchy Newspapers

If you drop a brownie on the floor, that brownie is then dirty.

Time, in fact, is not on your side.

Researchers at Clemson University (hereafter referred to as killjoys) recently put this age-old justifier to the test by placing bread and bologna on bacteriacovered surfaces for varying lengths of time.

Food science professor Paul Dawson and his colleagues found test food slices picked up within five seconds were found to be less contaminated than those left for longer, but, more importantly, nothing came out germ-free. And munchies left up to a minute on the floor picked up nearly 10 times more bacteria than the five-second tidbits — whether on tile, wood flooring or nylon carpet. Microbes, it seems, show no partiality.

Ground-breaking discoveries aside, The Island Packet decided to ask locals and tourists what they think of the five-second rule and if they practice it in their lab coat-free lives. See how their responses sit with your stomach: Name: Shawn Richardson, 24 Occupation: Self-employed “I’ve eaten something that’s fallen on the floor before, but it was years ago. Five seconds, two seconds or one second, whatever was on the floor is going in your body. I know that.

It’s not that I’m scared of getting sick or anything, that’s just how I was raised. I know not to do it.”

Name: Mike Meyers, 53 Occupation: Loan originator “Are you talking about the food five-second rule? I usually practice it, yeah. ... If I’m in an area that I’m familiar with, then it’s OK. But if I dropped food right here on the sidewalk, I probably wouldn’t eat it. I guess more dry food or solid food I’d be OK with, too. I’d never chance something longer than five seconds.”

Name: Kim Wilson, 43 Occupation: Church marketing consultant “Nope. All foods. All floors. No way. I’ve got a 7-year-old, and I can’t stand it. I’d never chance it. I grew up with a grandmother

who used Pine-Sol on everything.

Everything had to be spotless.”

Names: Hop Buran, Drew Coleman, Cody Coleman and Eli Buran Ages: 9, 7, 9 and 3 Occupations: Math and chores Drew: “My parents usually say that if it drops on the floor, after five seconds don’t eat it.

But sometimes I can, because it’s something that usually doesn’t attract hair or anything.

But if I dropped my ice cream on the floor, I wouldn’t be able to eat it. ... The carpet would be safe as long as my mom had just cleaned up from the dog. If I dropped a Swedish Fish on the floor I would probably pick it up, inspect it and eat it if there’s no hair on it.”

Eli: “Or dirt. I wouldn’t eat anything with dirt on it.”

Hop: “I do the 10-second rule sometimes, but not usually. Like if I dropped a Jolly Rancher and I didn’t lick it yet, I would just pick it back up, look at it and wipe it off.”

Cody: “When you drop something on the floor like a Skittle, you don’t always pick it up. When it’s dirty, you always leave it on the floor until someone cleans it up. You always eat Skittles when you don’t drop them.”

Name: Casandra Burhans, 25 Occupation: Customer service representative “If it lands on the ground, it stays. It’s done. Well, actually it does depend on what it is. If it’s wrapped or in a wrapper, what’s the big deal? But if I drop a piece of gum, that stays. If anything, I’ll pick it up and throw it in the trash. I wouldn’t leave it on the ground.

“Some floors I’d be OK with.

Like in my own kitchen in my own house. That’s OK, because I know how clean I have that.

“It would also have to depend on the food. I have dropped chicken I was getting ready to cook on the floor. But if I’m getting ready to cook it, I’m going to kill any germs that are on it.

So, I’d pick it up, rinse it off and stick it on the skillet. Whatever.

Or hard candy. If I drop that on the floor and I don’t grab it right away, I can chance more than five seconds with that.”

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Page 8 - The University Star

Tracking Tren d s

Rockstar does a ‘Take-Two’ on Manhunt game sequel several thousand dollars After more than in fees. a decade of trying This ruling means to prove its efficacy, several things: First, if the Entertainment Take-Two, the publisher Software Rating which owns Rockstar, Board has handed BILL RIX opts to keep the game down its third Adults Star Columnist as is, it will lose several Only rating (based on major distribution channels, something other than sexual such as Wal-Mart, which have content) to Rockstar Games’ policies against carrying Adults upcoming sequel Manhunt 2.

Only-rated games. Second, editThe game, scheduled to be ing the game for content will released in July for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 and Wii, cost millions and will cut into the predicted revenue of the is currently on suspension folgame. Lastly, in an ironic move lowing the ESRB’s Adults Only the ESRB will rue heartily, this ruling on the title because of kind of press will push Manhunt the intense violence involved to the forefront if and when it during game play. hits stores. Imagine the cult The ESRB, mind you, is following this game will have if similar to the FCC and MPAA which govern radio and movies, Take-Two sticks to its guns, a la Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas respectively, in that the agencies are either highly private or after the Hot Coffee debacle.

Aside from the Take-Two self-regulation committees. For problems, kindly allow me to an industry relying heavily on indie programmers and publish- ask, what’s up with the ESRB, ers for shots in the arm, getting anyway? Is it even a good idea, seeing as how for a long, long an ESRB seal of approval is time, the ESRB just rated just another hurdle to cross if you ever want to see your game games based on clips of the reach the big time. The applica- game being played? Before the ESRB was even a twinkle in tion process requires developthe Entertainment Software ers to fill out forms describing Association’s eye, some game the game and then provide

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

RELEASED Celebutante Paris Hilton is again a free woman since her release from jail June 27 after three and a half weeks in the slammer. She vowed she is a changed woman while still behind bars.

makers went out of their way to give warnings of their own (eg: Wolfenstein 3D among others).

In any event, shouldn’t the onus of “protecting children” from these “sorts of games” fall on the shoulders of the parents and shop owners anyway? If anything, the ESRB ratings should be more of a guideline than a rule of sorts (shop keeps are supposed to abide by the rules set forth by the ESRB by requiring proof of ID before selling M or T-rated games to gamers).

Look at it this way: Studies upon studies have shown there is no real correlation betwixt game violence and real-life violence. As pointed out in an earlier column, this is another case of old white men mandating what we can and can’t have access to. It stymies our freedom and hurts the industry and all those involved in the creative process. Who wants to try and make real, ground-breaking art if you have to deal with the specter of Big Brother?

Need a FIX? E-mail Bill your technology and gaming comments and questions. Send feedback to bill.rix@gmail.com.

GROUNDED Julia Matthews, wife of Chancellor Charles Matthews, and Arlene Wohlgemuth competed in the Air Race Classic June 19 to 22. The four-day airplane trip began in Oklahoma City and ended in St John, New Brunswick, Canada.

LOWERED Spring showers brought river levels to dangerous highs causing an early season cease-tube. However, levels have since dropped to a recreation-friendly level. However, heavy rain activity continues to threaten floaters.

FEATURED San Marcos is a featured tourist destination in this month’s Southern Living Magazine. The one-page editorial notes the Alkek Library’s panoramic view among attractions.

SNAPPED The Texas Photographic Society set a July 5 deadline for entry in its TPS 16: The National Competition. Amateur and professional photographers can find an entry form at www.texasphoto.org.

HITCHED Time Magazine reports July 7, 2007 is the number one day of all time for tying the knot. Actress Eva Longoria and San Antonio Spur Tony Parker are getting married on this date.

UNSOLVED Crime solvers are wanted as The Capital City Mystery Players is performing an interactive mystery dinner theater July 7 and 21 at Spaghetti Warehouse in Austin.

© Pappocom

HUNG The New Braunfels Art League Gallery will host “Hot Art After Hours” 5 to 8 p.m. July 6. The monthly theme is contemporary and a new exhibit will be hung. Live music and light refreshments are available for participant enjoyment.

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

REJECTED President George W. Bush vetoed legislation June 22 that would have eased funding restrictions on stem cell research. This is the second time in one year he has prevented a bill supporting such research from passing.

6/13 solutions:

ASSAULTED Biking enthusiasts gathered June 24 for the Austin Urban Assault Adventure Race. The 26-mile race included a variety of events, including opening with an Internet quiz, bouncy balls and ending with beer and tacos.

Photos compiled

from MCTcampu s

REVAMPED Texas State unveiled its new Web site June 25. Questions and comments can be directed to webmaster@txstate.edu.

B in the park A R K

Belly dancers will kick off the festivities and pets are welcome at Bark in the Park Saturday, June 30 at the San Marcos Fish Hatchery. The event will feature live music from Susan Gibson and other local acts.

The event is BYOB and “BOYD” — dogs welcome. All proceeds benefit the San Marcos Animal Shelter.

Animal viewing and adoption hours are

WEDNESDAY JUNE 27 Erikson Triple Crown, 6 p.m.

Julianne Banks Gruene Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Cody Canada and Stoney LaRue Cheatham Street Warehouse, 8 p.m.

Electric Mayhem Lucy’s San Marcos, 9 p.m.

Ratitude, Sober Daze and 3 and 97 Triple Crown, 9 p.m.

6/13 solutions:

THURSDAY JUNE 28 RC Banks Triple Crown, 6 p.m.

Mariachi Nueva Generacion and Youth Mariachi San Marcos Plaza, 7 p.m.

Carton Pride & Zion Landa Park, 7:30 p.m.

Paula Nelson Gruene Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Derek Austin and the Volunteers Whitewater on the Horseshoe, 8 p.m.

Zack Walthers and the Cronkites Cheatham Street, 8:30 p.m.

The Standing Few Lucy’s, 9 p.m.

Robbie and the Robots, Opposite Day and As Seen On TV Triple Crown, 9 p.m.

Blue Diamond Shine Riley’s Tavern, 9 p.m.

Dark Water Lucy’s, 10 p.m.

A Mindivided Lucy’s, 11 p.m.

FRIDAY JUNE 29 Patrick Murray University Performing Arts Center, 2 p.m.

Big Fest — Various Artists Cheatham Street, 5 p.m.

Kelly Willis* Gruene Hall. 8 p.m.

Matt Skinner Whitewater, 8 p.m.

Grupo Fantasma Lucy’s, 9 p.m.

Redd Volkaert Riley’s Tavern, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY JUNE 30 Big Fest — Various Artists Cheatham Street, 12:30 p.m.

Gospel Festival Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church, 3 p.m.

Gary Claxton & Friends Gruene Hall, 1 p.m.

Spazmatics Whitewater, 8 p.m.

— Complied by Clara Cobb/Trends Editor

every Monday and Friday 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m during the summer. The shelter is located on River Road, a few blocks south of Highway 80 and north of the old shelter.

For more information regarding the event, contact Donna Bellion at donnabellion@yahoo.com.

Shelley King Riley’s, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY JULY 1 The Weary Boys Gruene Hall, 12:30 p.m.

Jeffrey Owen Recital Hall, 2 p.m.

Sean Castillo and the Hubcaps Gruene Hall, 5 p.m.

The Weary Boys San Marcos River Pub and Grill, 7:30 p.m.

Big Fest — Various Artists Cheatham Street, 8 p.m.

Open Mic Riley’s, 9 p.m.

MONDAY JULY 2 Dan McCoy Gruene Hall, 1 p.m.

Band of Heathens Gruene Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Big John Mills Cheatham Street, 9:30 p.m.

TUESDAY JULY 3 Mark Jungers Gruene Hall, 1 p.m.

Two Tons of Steel Gruene Hall, 8:30 p.m.

Locals Only Festival — Various Artists Lucy’s, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY JULY 4 Zach Walther and the Cronkites Gruene Hall, 1 p.m.

Seth James Gruene Hall, 9 p.m.

Josh Ward Riley’s, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY JULY 5 Dimensions in Blue San Marcos Plaza, 7 p.m.

Texanna Landa Park, 7:30 p.m.

Rodney Hadyden Gruene Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Derek Austin Whitewater, 8 p.m.

Locals Only Festival — Various Artists Lucy’s, 9 p.m.

Flywood Riley’s, 9 p.m.

Phil Pritchett Cheatham Street, 9:30 p.m.

FRIDAY JULY 6 Tim & Forest Riley’s, 6 p.m.

Bob Schneider Gruene Hall, 8 p.m.

Blue October Whitewater, 8 p.m.

Locals Only Festival — Various Artists Lucy’s, 9 p.m.

Mitch Webb & The Swindles Riley’s, 9 p.m.

Bloodshot Pyramid Lucy’s, 11 p.m.

SATURDAY JULY 7 Brian Keane Gruene Hall, 1 p.m.

Blue October Whitewater, 8 p.m.

Gary P. Nunn Gruene Hall, 9 p.m.

Locals Only Festival — Various Artists Lucy’s, 9 p.m.

Lil’Bit & The Customatics Riley’s, 9 p.m.

Houston Marchmen Cheatham Street, 9:30 p.m.

Eleven Fingered Charlie Lucy’s, 11 p.m.

SUNDAY JULY 8 Gospel Brunch — Various Artists Gruene Hall, 10:30 a.m.

Bret Graham Gruene Hall, 12:30 p.m.

Lost Immigrants Gruene Hall, 5 p.m.

Eliza Gilkyson River Pub, 7:30 p.m.

Locals Only Festival — Various Artists Lucy’s, 9 p.m.

Open Mic Riley’s, 9 p.m.

MONDAY JULY 9 Band of Heathens Gruene Hall, 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY JULY 10 Two Tons of Steel Gruene Hall, 8:30 p.m. * Indicates a CD release party If your local live music is missing, please e-mail your music calendar to starentertainment@txstate.edu.

Venues covered must be within a 20mile radius of Texas State campus.

Deadline for next issue’s calendar events is July 6.

C �LASSIFIEDS ���������� THE STAR ����UNIVERSITY ���������������

��������������������� ad policiesand costs

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Page 9 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - Page 33

All classified ads are charged 20¢ per word. Ads may be emailed to starclassifieds@txstate.edu.

Check your classified ad for accuracy. Any changes must be made by the second day of publication.

The deadline for all classified ads is noon two business days prior to publication. Classified ads must be paid in advance unless credit has been established. Refunds will only be given when a classified ad has been paid by credit card. The Star reserves the right to refuse, edit, and discontinue any classified ad at any time without prior notification. Classified ads will be edited for style purposes. Classified ads that do not note heading, will be put under the appropriate heading. All classified ads are published free, on-line at www.universitystar.com. 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.

E-mail starclassifieds@txstate.edu Email Classifieds Classifieds at starclassifieds@txstate.edu

AUTO 97’ JEEP CHEROKEE W/ MUSIC MAKER. Perfect condition. $2,700.

(512) 353-3224.

FOR RENT 106 LADYBIRD B, 2BD/1BA ON THE SHUTTLE ROUTE. Adorable layout. Perfect for students!! $550.

VJE, (512) 353-3002.

SAGEWOOD! 3 BD/2.5BA or a 3BD/ 3.5BA, all have 2 car garages & full size WD. $900-$1200. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

WONDERFUL 2-STORY WITH 2 CAR GARAGE. Washer & Dryer. Near to campus & on shuttle route. 108 Cedar Grove. 3BD/2.5BA $1,150. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

AWESOME LAYOUT!! Beautiful historic mansion close to TSU & The Square!! Hardwood floors, lots of windows, front balcony. 3BD/2BA, $1,200, 527 W. San Antonio #1. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

WONDERFUL TRI-PLEX IN THE HEART OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. Walk to the square & campus!!

Peaceful with lots of trees. Huge living room, ceramic tile floors and new carpet. 1015 MLK, 2BD/1BA, $650. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

NEWLY REMODELED, 1,100 SQ. FT. APARTMENT. $680, 2BD/1BA and study with W/D inc. Quiet Hill Country living 10 minutes from Texas State. Call (512) 393 9236.

SPACIOUS BEDROOMS, GREAT FLOOR PLAN WITH LOTS OF WINDOWS. Washer & dryer!! On the shuttle route. 305 Craddock A, 2BD/1BA, $575. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

WALK TO CAMPUS!!! 1226 N. LBJ #2. Ceramic tile in common areas, fireplace, W/D, fenced back yard! 3BD/ 2BA, $950. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

239 CRADDOCK. Large 2BD/2BA. W/D included, $565 per month. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

HWY 80 APARTMENT. 2BD/1BA. Newly remodeled. $550 per month, water & trash paid. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

FOR RENT-APTS

FOR RENT-DUPLEX

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

HUGE 1BD/1BA, $495/MO. Most bills paid. Walking distance to campus. For more information call Apartments to Go at (512) 353-FREE. CORNERSTONE APARTMENTS. Full size WD, ceiling fans, breakfast room off kitchen. Great floor plan!

Special!! 2BD/1BA, $575; 3BD/2BA, $675. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

TAKE OVER MY LEASE. 4BD apt., individual leasing. Cable, internet and phone paid. Call (956) 572-6725.

PRE-LEASING 1BD APT. FROM $395/MO. (512) 353-5051.

BISHOP’S CORNER HAS 1BD/1BA FOR $405. Water/waste water & trash paid. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

3BD/2BA LOCATED AT 1305 BAYLOR, 108 CREST AND 1408 EARLE. July and August availability.

Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

519 HUTCHISON. 3BD/3BA for $1,100 per month. So close to campus you can walk. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

1404 EARLE. 2BD/2BA with fenced yard. $765. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

3 BD/3.5 BA/2 CAR GARAGE DUPLEX WITH ONE ROOMMATE WANTED, $1075/mo. Call (210) 324-0285 or (512) 587-2660.

484 CREST CIRCLE DRIVE. 2BD/ 2BA. Fenced yard. Out by the outlet mall. $825 per month. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

WIMBERLEY ATHLETIC CLUB FRONT DESK POSITION. To work set schedule, 20+ hrs. weekly, working Saturday or Sunday is required, $6 hr. to start, in exchange for professional on the job training with clients who have health, fitness, sports conditioning, post surgical, and medical exercise needs. Ideally suited for kiniesology, physiology major looking to develop into a full-time professional fitness trainer upon graduation. E-mail resume to Ironsarah@AOL.com and call (512) 560-6761.

GREAT JOB! Dependable, responsible, attentive female to care for handicapped boy near campus. Fall and Spring semester, 25 hrs./week. 6:307:30 a.m. and 4-8 p.m. $8/hr. with bonuses. Call Jenny, (512) 392-9737.

Leave message.

DIRECT CARE POSITIONS. Are you wanting a career where you help people. CORE Health Care is looking for individuals to work with brain injured or psychiatric residents. Positions available in the Dripping Springs. Looking to fill primarily weekend shifts and overnight positions. Pay begins at $8.50/hr., but commensurate with experience and education. Candidate must be 21 years of age, have satisfactory driving record. Drug screening and criminal background check required.

Benefits may include health insurance, dental, and vision, PTO, mileage reimbursement and 401(k). If eligible there is a sign on bonus of $200. Please contact Kerri at (512) 894-0701 ext. 219 or fax resume (512) 858-5104 or email kalvis@corehealth.com. Please visit our website at www.corehealth.com MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST/ INSURANCE BILLING CLERK. Send resume to medicalassistant_dw@hotmail.com

AUDIO AND COMPUTER PERSON. Must know Adobe editing (Saw helpful).

Clean up my computer. Speed up Adobe editing. Back up my files. Get alternate M-audio-Etc. at my studio in Martindale. $10/hr. (512) 357-4144.

WANTED: RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO LOVES AND RESPECTS CHILDREN. PT position available; M-F, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Will train to be an AMI Montessori Assistant to children 21/2 to 6 yrs. by guides (teachers). Call Kyle Montessori School, (512) 262-2999.

ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN for calendars, greeting cards, etc. $75-200/hr. No exp. needed, (512) 684-8296. !BARTENDING! Up to $300/day.

No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK. (800) 965-6520 ext. 157.

WANTED: SEASONAL SALES PEOPLE to sell fireworks. Must be able to work July 4th. Call Michael at (512) 665-4092.

DAISY DUKES NEEDS WAITRESSES. Call (830) 964-4464.

TEACHERS NEEDED: Now hiring part-time & full-time teachers. Education major/experience/bilingual preferred, but not required. Quality child development center in Kyle.

(512) 405-3700 or fax (512) 405-3701.

EXPERIENCED SERVERS, HOSTS, AND COOKS WANTED AT PALMER’S. Apply in person between 2-4 p.m. daily. EOE. No phone calls please.

CURRENT OPENINGS: Administrative Assistant Dispatchers – Closing & Weekends More details www.foxservice.com 4300 S. Congress; Austin, Texas recruiting@foxservice.com

NO MONEY DOWN - FREE LIST OF PROPERTIES WITH NO DOWN PAYMENT. FREE RECORDED MESSAGE. (877) 594-5570 ID #1043.

BOBCATSNEEDJOBS.COM. Paid survey takers needed in San Marcos.

100% FREE to join. Click on surveys.

FOR RENTCONDO/TOWNHOMES 736 CENTRE. Extra large 2BD/1.5BA. Water/waste water paid. $750 per month. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

BAYNEBRIDGE CONDOS, NEXT TO CAMPUS WITH GREAT VIEWS. Walk to class! Balcony off bedrooms & living, fireplace, full size W/D. 2BD/ 2BA, $795. Some bills paid. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

CUTE TOWNHOME STYLE UNITS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. Walk to the square & campus! Beautiful trees and quiet living. Washer/dryer included! 605 W. San Antonio, 2BD/1.5BA. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

FOR RENT-DUPLEX 612 MILL. 2BD/2BA with washer/ dryer. $675 per month. On the shuttle.

Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

1009 DARTMOUTH B. Cozy, nestled amongst trees, enjoy this nice duplex with fenced backyard and great floorplan. W/D inc.! $850, 3BD/2BA. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

FOR RENT-HOUSES 1BD APT. NEXT TO CAMPUS. $625/mo. Includes internet, cable, electric, gas, water, and garbage.

(512) 392-2700.

CUTE HOUSE LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT!! 2BD/1BA, $625. 513 Centre St. VJE, (512) 353-3002.

FOR SALE KENMORE STACKED W/D. 5 years old. $450, OBO. (512) 259-3482.

1BD CONDO ON RIVER W/ POOL IN NEW BRAUNFELS. $99,000.

(830) 708-5254 or (702) 688-9577.

GREAT FOR GRANDMA’S HOUSE. Baby crib, mattress, chenille bumpers, very good condittion, $60. Antique civil war baby crib, $850. Call (512) 754-0681.

ROOMMATES CLEAN, MATURE, ENVIRONMENTAL FEMALE WANTED TO SHARE LARGE 2BD. Walk to campus, $280/mo. di40339@txstate.edu WANTED: 2 FEMALE ROOMMATES, attending Texas State in the fall. $250 per month and 1/3 utilities.

Call (830) 625-1465.

SERVICES MATH TUTOR. 1st hour free unless satisfied. Rates range from $18-$30/hr.

Modest dress and responsible adult present required. Contact Mr. McCoy at (512) 659-0623 or davidmcy@io.com.

WWW.STUDENTATTORNEY.COM

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

EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. DO YOU HAVE WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR? TELL THEM IN THE UNIVERSITY STAR! Email starclassifieds@txstate.edu or call (512) 245-3487.

Page 10 - The University Star

ADVERTISEMENTS

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

SPORTS

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Spurs’ Frenchman awarded finals MVP after rough start to career

By Krista Jahnke Detroit Free Press Born in Belgium to a Dutch mother and an African-American father, Spurs point guard Tony Parker grew up in France, where soccer dominated the sports pages as well as the imaginations of most young athletes.

But at a young age, Parker’s passion fell elsewhere, to basketball, the sport his father played at Loyola University in Chicago.

And like most kids of his generation, Parker was transfixed by no one quite like Chicago Bull Michael Jordan. And so, as the Bulls went to one NBA Finals appearance after another,

Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal PARKER PERFECT: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson, right, knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, left, June 14 in Cleveland. Parker is the first European-born player to win the NBA Finals MVP award.

Parker often snuck out of bed at 3 a.m. to gaze at television images of his idol transmitted from the other side of the world.

He memorized the way Jordan shot jumpers, the technique in his fade-aways, the artistry of his awe-inspiring drives to the rim. He cheered when Jordan hoisted the NBA MVP trophy on six separate occasions.

“I never thought one day I’d kiss that trophy,” Parker said.

Their worlds are not nearly so separate these days.

Parker, who has added Texas roots and a Hollywood hottie to his globe-canvassing resume, became the first European-born player to win the NBA Finals MVP award as the Spurs swept the Cleveland Cavaliers May 14.

In a series featuring arguably two of the game’s greatest talents (Tim Duncan and LeBron James) few expected a week ago it would be Parker holding tightly to the trophy May 14, when the Spurs finished a tidy series with an 83-82, Game 4 win.

It once would have surprised San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, who took a moment on stage to pull Parker aside and recall with him their rocky beginnings.

“I reminded him that when we first gave him his first workout, we didn’t think he was tough enough,” Popovich said, “and we sent him home.”

Parker remembers it in harsher terms.

“I was terrible,” Parker said.

“And Coach Pop said, ‘I never want to see him again.’ “ He was just 21 then, impressionable and young. He could have taken the dismissal hard.

After all, Popovich was an NBA championship winner. If Popovich thought he was terrible, who was Parker to argue?

But he did.

“I came back,” Parker said, “and did better.”

In the second workout, “We stacked it and had some people go after him physically,” Popovich said, “and he was fantastic in that one. I reminded him of that, and he had a big laugh.

And I said, ‘Now you’re here standing on the stage with the Finals MVP trophy,’ and he just kept laughing. He couldn’t believe it.”

After those two unbalanced workouts, the Spurs drafted Parker with the 28th pick. And five games into the 2001 season, the man many expected to be a bust became the Spurs’ starting point guard. With Popovich in charge, the real trials were only beginning.

“I thought I was doing pretty good, being 21,” Parker said.

“But it was never enough. I could score 14, 15, it was never enough. Sometimes I felt like it wasn’t fair, all the criticism.”

It got worse before it got better. After the team’s 2003 title, Parker felt insulted when the Spurs targeted a big-name free agent: point guard Jason Kidd.

Again, the Frenchman fought for himself.

“I told Pop, ‘I want to be the point guard on that team. I want to do it, and I’m going to work hard to become a great player,’ “ Parker said. “It made him mad at the time, but I think now he understands where I’m coming from because I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself, and I knew I could do it. I put a lot of work to arrive here.”

On May 14, at the pinnacle of a career including a title in 2005 as well as two straight AllStar bids, Parker pointed to the constant pressure, the give and take between coach and player, the sometimes rocky road as the catalyst for his all-world accomplishment.

The Spurs’ fourth title was unquestionably a team achievement. But these Finals will be remembered not only for their poor TV ratings, but for the Belgium-born Frenchman who drove through the lane and cut the Cavaliers’ hearts out with breathtaking moves at the rim, who suddenly developed a penchant for three-point shooting, and who shot 57% against a defense that had riddled great players throughout the playoffs.

As Duncan and James crossed paths in the hallways of the arena after the game, they embraced, and Duncan said something in time should prove prophetic.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said.

“The league will be yours soon.”

Right now, though, for at least this summer, it belongs to Parker.

The University Star - Page 11

No off-season Entertaining professional sports can be found in the summertime

Well, it’s the dog The U.S. Men’s National days of summer and Team defeated Mexico things on the sports 2-1 to win their second scene have cooled a straight CONCACAF Gold bit, leaving many of us Cup. It gets better, too, searching for our daily with the South American fix of competitive acCopa América getting tion. Especially here in ready to begin, as the GABE MENDOZA Americans will play some Texas, things have reStar Columnist ally fallen off the edge of the world’s best. They of the cliff. The NBA go up against legendary Finals are over (thankfully) and Argentina in their first contest San Antonio swept away the Leb- later this week. Major League rons, leaving a great big void in Soccer should get exciting during the great big heart of Texas. the coming months, as well, with With basketball over, there Mr. Posh Spice, himself, David isn’t a whole lot going on in the Beckham joining the Los Angeles Lone Star state at the moment.

Galaxy, and the lesser known Hockey came and went without Mexican superstar Cuauhtémoc anyone even noticing and the Blanco set to transfer to the ChiNFL is in the in-between time cago Fire. Not excited? OK fine, that comes after free agency but at least give it a shot. but before the pre-season. It’s • I don’t know about you, but even more boring at the college I just love watching the drama level. The College World Series unfold when spoiled NBA superis over and the only Texas team stars start whining and making that really made any noise, the trade demands. Every time some Rice Owls, was eliminated in the quote is leaked to the press semi-finals. And it’s still just a tad about a guy bashing a teammate too early to start talking college or a coach, my ears perk up like a football. That is of course unless paparazzi catching word of a Paryou ask people in Austin, because is Hilton high-speed car chase. It they’ll tell you that it’s never too could get really exciting too, with early. the June 28 NBA Draft, you could But the Major League Baseball see some legitimate superstars season hasn’t really been exceplike Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett tional, especially around here or Jermaine O’Neal on the move. where the Rangers and Astros On top of that, this is one of the have settled themselves into the deepest drafts talent-wise, in bottom of the MLB standings, many years, so anything really where I assume both will stay could happen. for the remainder of the season.

• I know golf isn’t the most exBut there are still some things to citing sport to watch on TV, but look forward to. It’s not all bad. if you get really desperate around So for those of you that are like mid-August, you can catch the me and need a quick fix on some last major of the 2007 Pro tour sports, I have some things for season in the PGA Championship you to look forward to this sumstarting August 6. One thing you mer. can count on is Tiger, Tiger and • Whether or not you’re a more Tiger. Plus every now and Houston Astros fan, it’s hard to then, between punch shots and ignore Craig Biggio’s impending putts, they’ll cut to the camera 3,000th hit. Biggio went into the stationed in front of Tiger’s week of the 25th just four hits supermodel wife in the gallery. shy of the milestone and any Hey, it’s better than watching baseball fan, or even sports fan, poker on ESPN2 at 3:30 in the will want to be in front of the morning. Or is it?

TV when it happens. Especially The point is there should be considering only 26 players have more than enough to keep the ever accomplished the feat bemasses interested in what’s left fore Biggio. on the sports scene, even if it • Soccer! Or as they say every- gets a little slow on SportsCenwhere else on the globe (except ter. Tiger, Kobe and Becks will Australia) football! I know what surely take some headlines over you’re going to say, “soccer is the next few months and it that’s boring, it’s not an American thing not enough for you, then hey, and it just won’t catch on here.” keep counting down to SeptemBut if ever there was a time to ber 1 when the Bobcats start be excited about the global game their season at home against it’s now. Just this past weekend, Cal-Poly.

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

majorleague milestones

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Page 12

Texas Rangers outfielder Sammy Sosa slugged his 600th career homerun June 20 against his former team, the Chicago Cubs. The shot to right-center field came in the fifth inning off of Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis. Meanwhile, Houston Astros second baseman Craig Biggio enters the week just four hits away from a career total of 3,000 after going four for 11 during a June 22 through 24 series against the Rangers.

— Complied from other sources

Sports Contact — Scott Strickman, starsports@txstate.edu

New golf coach has visions of championship

By Carl Harper Sports Reporter It has been nearly a year since Athletic Director Larry Teis and a search committee brought in Mike Akers to manage the women’s golf team. Now the men’s team has followed up with their addition of coach Shane Howell.

“We did a thorough national search and put together a great search committee, and we feel very confident in Shane,” Teis said. “The fact that he is from Texas, went to school and played in Texas, and then has been coaching in the (Atlantic Coast Conference) at Virginia who has been successful in athletics and academics, (makes us) believe he has brought the overall package to the table. Shane is very enthusiastic, energetic and is a great recruiter.”

Howell, a Beaumont native and Lamar University graduate, spent his last four years as assistant coach at the University of Virginia. Now with the opportunity to run his own program at Texas State, Howell says he is ready.

“I’m looking forward to working here with Larry Teis and the

athletic institution,” Howell said.

“I’m familiar with the Southland Conference after attending Lamar. I know this conference has some great courses and I’m really excited to get to work.”

While working with the Cavaliers at Virginia, he directed several of the daily operations within the program, such as instructing the team in their short and long game and recruiting golfers on both national and international levels. He scheduled the practices, qualifiers and conducted the travel arrangements for the program.

“Virginia was wonderful and really is one of the best programs in the nation,” Howell said. “I had a great experience working with them and I look forward to seeing them compete in golf championships there in the ACC.” In addition to his coaching responsibilities at Virginia, he was in charge of fundraising and was assistant tournament director for the Cavalier Classic Golf Tournament. He served as co-director for the U.S. Sports Nike Golf Camp, as well.

Before Howell joined the Virginia staff, he was an assistant

golf professional at Glenmore Country Club in Keswick, Va., and worked with one of the top golf instructors in the country, Kandi Comer. Howell said Comer has appeared in five U.S. Opens and he learned a lot from her.

“Kandi was great to be around and is a good teacher,” Howell said. “She specialized in junior golf and it helped me gain experience working with younger players. She helped me understand the fundamentals of the golf swing, the short game and just mentally being a good player.”

Following Howell’s two seasons at Temple College and his graduation from Lamar in 1999, he worked at the New Orleans Country Club as an outside assistant. He coordinated the club’s junior golf camp and supervised the caddie program.

“It has been great (working in different states),” Howell said. “I have seen most of the country and it has been a good experience working with different people in different types of areas. I feel like this experience of recruiting will really help me out at Texas State because you have to get the best of the best to win championships.”

Tank terminated Player unable to weather explosion of career, released by team

Scott Strozzante/Chicago Tribune WITHOUT DEFENSE: Chicago Bear Tank Johnson sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck late in the fourth quarter Jan. 14 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

By Don Pierson Chicago Tribune

Texas State offers cure for those with g lf itch Golf Infomation Course Hours The Texas State Golf Course is open 7 days a week, 363 days a year. Specials are as follows: Wednesday — Two-for-one student rates.

Thursday — Texas two-man scramble, 5:15 p.m. $5 entry fee.

Twilight — $8 twilight rates after 3 p.m. everyday.

Tournament The Texas State Golf Course will be the site for the July 4 Firecracker Classic. The scramble kicks off with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

The American G.I. Forum is sponsoring the tournament and proceeds go to its scholarship program.

The tournament is an irononly 4-person scramble. Entry fee is $240 per team or $60 per player. Deadline for entry is July 1. For more information, call (512) 665-0881 or (512) 245-3978.

By Clara Cobb Trends Editor You play nine, yell fore and hope for one at Texas State’s own golf course.

The 2,850-yard course has a place for every shot in the bag, according to the Campus Recreation Web site.

Convenience and time are what attracts Ricky Barboza, health and wellness promotion senior, to come out and play.

“It’s just nine holes,” he said.

“So if you have a golf itch, you can come out here and get that out in an hour and a half.”

That is exactly how Barboza likes to play the green — short and sweet. Golfers may play 18 holes by repeating the course.

“It’s a pretty easy course,” Barboza said. “It’s great to practice on. I like all the holes out here.

It’s pretty fun.”

Scenery includes lush greenery, and although the course is located in the hill country, it is relatively flat. Most players come out for the love of the game.

“It is definitely a sport you can go play and relax,” he said. “It’s a way to relieve frustration from work and school.”

He said he tries to come out regularly to play the course.

“We play here a lot,” “Golf’s an expensive sport. We definitely take advantage of Wednesday when it’s (student) two-for-one.”

Denise Ferguson, administrative assistant remembers the names of most of the regulars.

She has been working at the course for 20 years.

She said the course first opened in 1929. At that time, the clubhouse was located where the Aquarena Center gift shop is today. The course began nearby.

When the course was still privately owned, she said, what is now hole 9 was a 606-yard par 5.

Hole 9 is still the longest hole on the course — a 355-yard par 4.

The numbering, length and order of the holes has changed since Texas State purchased the course in 1996, however, the attitude remains the same.

“It’s a laid back comfy little course,” Ferguson said. “We don’t demand much from anyone.”

The dress code at the course lends to its laid-back atmosphere.

The only requirement to play is to wear a shirt with sleeves.

Scott Henderson, exercise and sport science junior, said the casual dress code and low prices attract students to the course.

As a staff member on site, he said traps include sand, trees, grass bunkers and water, as the San Marcos River runs through the course.

Hole 2 provides golfers with the most traps, incorporating all of these elements. Tree lines on the right and left of the hole require a straight shot over the river. Sand and grass bunkers line the up-hill slope to the green.

The most challenging hole, Henderson said, is hole 7. Another cross-river shot is required.

Because the trap is right in front of the green, the shot can be hard to judge, he said. This hole requires the shot to hook right as well.

Traps aside, he said no one should be discouraged from playing the course, regardless of skill level.

“The caliber of players is very diverse,” Henderson said. “It’s not like there are a bunch of Tiger Woods out there, so you don’t have to worry about how you look.”

CHICAGO — Tank Johnson’s time ran out with the Bears Monday. They abruptly released the troubled defensive tackle before his latest scrape with the law had time to play out. Police in Gilbert, Ariz., detained him at 3:30 a.m. Friday for speeding and suspicion of driving under the influence.

Johnson did time and that didn’t work. The Bears took time and that didn’t work. Johnson was simply taking up too much valuable time. The team finally decided running a reform school at Halas Hall was infringing on football business.

The Bears already had ample reason to question Johnson’s judgment. In December, after police found unregistered weapons and a small quantity of marijuana in a raid on Johnson’s Gurnee home, the team announced a zero-tolerance behavior policy for him. Less than 36 hours later he was present at an altercation at a downtown nightspot that resulted in the shooting death of his friend Willie Posey.

They had to be alarmed another incident occurred just weeks after Johnson was released from Cook County Jail, having served a 60-day sentence for probation violation. He received an eight-game NFL suspension for his off-field behavior, and the Bears were adamant he exhausted his supply of chances. And he was cruising the streets of Gilbert, Ariz., at 3:30 a.m.?

Before learning any more details of the Friday traffic stop, Bears Coach Lovie Smith brought Johnson into his office at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Monday and told him the Bears’ baby-sitting job was over. Johnson flew to Chicago from his home in Arizona, already too late to talk his way out of the relatively minor indiscretion.

The Bears had bent over backward for Johnson, and he finally broke their back.

“We are upset and embarrassed by Tank’s actions last week,” General Manager Jerry Angelo said in a team press release. “He compromised the credibility of our organization.”

Smith was among the 147 names on Johnson’s county jail visitor list and was a strong supporter, frequently referring to Johnson as “a good person.” He was particularly disappointed by the latest development.

“A lot of people within our organization gave extra time and energy to support Tank: players, coaches and our front office,” Smith said in the release. “We did our best to establish an environment for him to move forward. Ultimately, Tank needed to live up to his side of the deal.”

By itself, driving 40 mph in a 25 zone at 3:30 a.m. and “being impaired to the slightest degree,” in the words of Gilbert Police Sgt. Andrew Duncan, would not be enough to terminate employment immediately. But the Bears have been holding Johnson’s hand for the last two years, since June 11, 2005, when he was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun after Chicago police found a loaded 9-mm Ruger in his parked car outside a downtown nightclub.

Under terms of his newly established “personal conduct” policy, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Johnson for the first eight games of the 2007 season for violation of his probation on the gun charge. The suspension could have been reduced to six games with good behavior.

Carrying Johnson for half a season simply became more trouble than it was worth for the Bears.

“We made it clear to him that he had no room for error,” Angelo said. “Our goal was to help someone through a difficult period in his life, but the effort needs to come from both sides. It didn’t, and we have decided to move on.”

It wasn’t the Bears couldn’t use Johnson on the field. A judge allowed him to leave Illinois to play in the Super Bowl in February, and in Smith’s defensive scheme, no position is more important than tackle. Pro Bowl star Tommie Harris is coming off a leg injury, reliable Ian Scott signed with Philadelphia and Alfonso Boone signed with Kansas City.

But Johnson wasn’t so good the Bears could afford his perpetual presence on their weekly calendar: Monday, check up on Tank; Tuesday, game plan; Wednesday, practice; Thursday, tuck in Tank; Friday, apologize for Tank.

Cornerback Nathan Vasher signed a five-year contract extension with the Bears on Monday, a positive development quickly overshadowed by the latest Johnson news.

Vasher, one of several Bears players who visited Johnson in jail, understood why the team’s patience toward his troubled teammate finally ran out.

“It’s really hard to see him go through some of the things he has,” Vasher said. “But the Bears were kind of pushed into a corner. ... I think you have to be accountable for your actions, and the Chicago Bears had to do what was needed.

“I am surprised,” Vasher added. “I was really convinced that Tank had more than thought about the time he did in prison or just every other compromising situation he has been in, not to jeopardize (his career) any further.”

Texas State Triathlon Club hosts race, spectators welcome The Texas State Aquarena Classic Triathlon begins 8 a.m. July 1 at Aquarena Springs. The event includes a 500-meter swim, 16-mile bike ride and a 5K run.

The triathlon has continued for six years according to the Texas State Triathlon Club, which hosts the race. The race is limited to 300 participants.

Although registration is closed, spectators are invited to watch the athletic event.

Club Vice President Adam Stroobandt said he

is excited about the race, which brings out a variety of athletic talent.

“Everybody does it,” he said. “Sure, we have professional people do it, but anyone who participates does it to go out and have fun.”

Stroobandt, athletic training senior, has participated in several triathlon events. His advice to participants is to have a good time.

“Just have fun — it’s a fun race,” he said. “Anybody can do it.”

Compiled by Clara Cobb/Trends Editor