08 29 2007

LOOKING FOR LOVE

Local animal shelters have donation opportunities, pets ready to adopt.

SEE TRENDS PAGE 6

PROVEN WINNER

Bobcats bring on heralded Matlock as pitching coach SEE SPORTS PAGE 10

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

AUGUST 29, 2007

WEDNESDAY

VOLUME 97, ISSUE 3

Tuition costs on the rise, no end in sight “W

e have seen significant improvement in our goal of establishing competitive salaries for faculty and staff.”

Designated Tuition Increase at Texas State

fall 2006–$1,320

for students students taking 15 hours for taking 15 hours $1000

fee” in the 1970s.

“The building use fee was used to construct new buildings,” Nance said. “In the 70s it changed the general use fee and the university used it to fund anything the legislature wasn’t funding.

The 90s are when it became designated tuition.”

In an effort to cut student fees, this year the administration eliminated the “course fee” by adding $9 to designated tuition.

One of the reasons the administration has increased designated tuition is to raise faculty salaries. According to the Texas Higher Education —Denise Trauth Coordinating Board, Texas university president State faculty members are some of the lowest paid in In 2002, designated tuition the state. at Southwest Texas State UniUniversity President Deversity was $38 per semester nise Trauth said in her fall hour. The 2007 fall semester 2007 Convocation speech presented Texas State stu- there has been considerable dents with designated tuition growth in Texas State’s goal at $110 per semester hour. of increasing their pay.

Hannah Jordan, philosophy “We have seen significant junior, said this year’s 10 per- improvement in our goal cent tuition increase ultimate- of establishing competitive ly affects her parents’ pockets salaries for faculty and staff,” more than hers.

Trauth said. “We have accom“I have a job that pays mini- plished this by committing mum wage,” she said. “That $2.25 million to this effort, in doesn’t help pay the tuition.” addition to the performance Designated tuition has and salary raises, which brings accumulated various names the total to an $8.2 million inover the years. Nance said crease over four years.” it originated as a “buildShe said the state of Texas ing use fee” 40 years ago, did not help fund the pay inchanging to a “general use crease.

fall 2005–$1,140

fall 2004–$915

fall 2003–$690 $500

Tuition costs continue to increase at public universities statewide, and Texas State is no exception.

A 10 percent increase in designated tuition went into effect this fall after the Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the hike in November, despite opposition from Texas State students who showed up in full-force during a public hearing the month prior.

The blame for the rising cost of tuition has not necessarily been placed on the universities themselves, but on a 13 percent appropriation cut for the higher education budget during the 2003 Texas Legislative session.

William Nance, vice president of Finance and Support Services, said 2003 was a time Texas had considerable monetary issues.

“That was a year the state as a whole had a significant financial crisis,” he said. “(Now) universities aren’t receiving the same amount from the state and had to raise their own tuition to make up for it.”

During the same session that the legislature cut the higher education budget, it gave public universities the ability to set their own tuition rates so the schools could

regain some of the lost revenue.

Every year since the budget cut, designated tuition has increased at public universities statewide.

fall 2002–$630

$0

By Karen Little News Reporter

source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

“I want to stress that during these years, the state of Texas has not appropriated any money for faculty or staff increases,” Trauth said.

Cameron Ney, international relations senior, said one of

her deciding factors for attending Texas State was its affordable classes. Now, with rising prices, the story may change.

Bobcat Build 2008 planning underway

See TUITION, page 4

By Stephanie Kusy-Wilson Special to The University Star

Southwest Texas alumna honored for lengthy service

By Sonja Bloch Special to The University Star High above campus, on the 11th floor of J.C. Kellam, a ceremony was held Thursday to honor Patricia Murdock, who after working at Texas State for 41 years, is retiring.

The room was filled with memories and reminisces of her great esteemed character.

“Wow,” said John Garrison, associate vice president of student affairs. “Pat Murdock is retiring — what a legend.”

Those at the ceremony were mainly friends and family — a large crowd of people that have been affected by Murdock throughout the years.

Mayor Susan Narvaiz honored Murdock by declaring Aug. 23 as Pat Murdock Day. For someone that did not want to go to Texas State, Murdock has left her mark on this school and the community.

“I’m very proud of her,” said Andrea Murdock Lewis, Murdock’s daughter. “She made it possible to be successful as a mom as well as a professional.

For a woman in her time this

The Texas State Bobcat Build planning committee held a meeting Tuesday to inform students about the annual community service event that takes place every spring.

Bobcat Build gives back to the city by painting fences, gardening and landscaping local neighborhoods and cleaning the San Marcos River. The event is boasted as the largest community service day in the history of Texas State with more than 2,700 students participating last year.

This student-run community service event started in 2003 with only 700 students participating. Erin Jines, director of Bobcat Build and English junior, said she expects more than 3,000 students to be involved this year with at least $30,000 invested in the event.

San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz made an appearance at the meeting. Narvaiz helped establish Bobcat Build and is still an active participant.

“Many people you support need these things,” Narvaiz said. “They remember you and what you did. You are going to touch thousands of lives that you won’t forget.”

After Narvaiz’ speech, the mayor was presented with a certificate for her hard work the past five years.

“There’s few things I do that have such meaning,” Narvaiz said. “ I’m very proud to accept this.”

Reagan Pugh, Associated Student Government president, attended the meeting and advocated for more student involvement.

“Bobcat Build is one of my favorite events,” Pugh said. “Just having everyone together is quite exciting.”

Becky Prince, vice president of University Advancement, is passionate about giving back to the community.

“This event is about being with people, being grassroots and connecting with the San Marcos community,” Prince said.

The student-led committee has so far made no major changes for the next Bobcat Build.

Their main focus right now is recruiting more students and organizations on campus to join and become actively involved.

The committee showed a video of all the things Bobcat Build has accomplished in previous years. It revealed smiling faces were eager to give back to the community, working hard in neighbors’ yards and proving they really do care about the city of San Marcos.

For Andrew Bettis, marketing sophomore, this was his first Bobcat Build meeting. Bettis said he really enjoyed hearing about how Texas State is helping clean up the community.

“It’s a good way to give back, and it’s amazing to see how many people participate,” Bettis said.

The next meeting for Bobcat Build will be held Sept. 12.

“P

at may be retiring from Texas State, but we hope and anticipate she will continue helping the community.”

—Susan Narvaiz mayor, San Marcos

was truly a remarkable feat.”

Murdock was born in Elgin and raised on a farm in rural Lee County in a community called Knobbs Springs. After graduating high school and going to a junior college, she received some pressure from her family to enroll at Southwest Texas College.

She originally wanted to go to Sam Houston State University with all her friends, but it had already been determined that Southwest Texas College was the school for her.

Murdock has had a long line of family members that have graduated or have gone to the school. She has experienced and participated in many historically significant events.

She earned her bachelor’s in

Monty Marion/Star photo HAVING A LAUGH: Pat Murdock laughs with the other attendees at jokes told by the speakers at the retirement ceremony held for her Aug. 23 in J.C. Kellam.

education in 1962 in the same ceremony former President Lyndon B. Johnson earned his honorary doctoral degree.

And she was there when LBJ came to the university for the signing of the Higher Education Act.

During her first summer at the school, she got involved with The College Star as a reporter, which she said was a landmark in her life. After graduating from Southwest Texas State for the second time to earn her master’s in

education, she left for one year and was invited back to teach as a journalism lab instructor. This was the beginning of what would become a legendary career.

See MURDOCK, page 4

TxDOT project will better inform student commuters

By Christine Mester News Reporter A new project by the Texas Department of Transportation could help students commuting to campus from San Antonio and Austin.

TxDOT is installing 40 new traffic cameras that will inform the public in advance of traffic incidents in the Austin-San Antonio I-35 corridor.

“The reason for the signs is basically because the I-35 traffic corridor between Austin and San Antonio is Cotton Miller/Star file photo becoming more heavily traveled,” said EARLY WARNING: Planned Brian Fariello, traffic management encameras along the I-35 corridor gineer for TxDOT. “Incidents on I-35 will help to notify drivers of traf- that shut down the roads result in a

very long wait time, waste of fuel and driver frustration.”

The cameras will provide travel times to specific destinations for commuters on the road. They will provide information to commuters about incidents before they make their trip. If commuters know about an incident ahead of time, they can take an alternate route, Fariello said.

History senior Brenda Blanchard, who commutes to San Marcos three times a week, said the signs may be helpful if a professor can be contacted and informed by a student stuck in traffic.

“As I know of no alternate routes, it can only help me by being able to tell

my professor where I am, why I am late and how long I will be,” Blanchard said.

Fariello said the goal of the project is to interconnect San Antonio and Austin. With the live video feed, emergency rescue teams will be able to respond to incidents more promptly.

The project is expected to be completed within the year and is estimated to cost $5 million.

“We were receiving many complaints from the public that they didn’t hear anything about the incident on the radio or before they left,” Fariello said.

“There are alternate routes available if people know there is an incident that is slowing traffic ahead of time.”

fic hazards.

Today’s Weather

Isolated Storms 90˚

Precipitation: 30% Humidity: 66% UV: 10+ Extreme Wind: E 8 mph

Two-day Forecast Thursday Scattered Storms Temp: 89°/ 72° Precip: 50%

Friday Scattered Storms Temp: 88°/ 72° Precip: 30%

Inside News ........ 1,2,3,4 Opinions ............ 5 Trends ............. 6,7

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

Diversions .......... 8 Classifieds ......... 9 Sports .............. 10

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

PAGETWO

Tuesday, August 29, 2007 - Page 2

Today in Brief

starsof texas state Jian Shen, associate professor of mathematics, was invited to attend the National Academy of Sciences’ 19th Annual symposium. Shen was also selected to take part in the Kavli Frontiers of Science symposium will be held in November where approximately 100 researchers from across the nation will be flown to

California to meet.

“Since only a very small portion of these 100 attendees are mathematicians, it’s a great honor for me to be recognized by NAS in this way,” Shen said.

— Courtesy of University News Service

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

Transportation for the

Masses

Monty Marion/Star photo BUSY BUSES: Students wait together in a large crowd to board the Bobcat Trams Tuesday at the bus stop outside of The Quad.

CRIME BLT TER University Police Department Aug. 18, 3:21 p.m.

Assault – Aggravated: Causes Serious Bodily Injury/Falls Hall An officer was dispatched for an assault report.

Upon further investigation, four non-students were involved in an altercation. This case is under investigation.

Aug. 18, 7:50 p.m.

Accident Involving Damage to Vehicle/ Arnold Hall An officer was dispatched for a hit and run report. Upon further investigation, a student reported his vehicle had been damaged while it was parked. This case is under investigation.

disorderly conduct report. A student reported being harrased by an unknown individual. This case is under investigation.

Aug. 21, 4:15 a.m.

Alcohol: Minor in Possession/Tower Hall An officer was dispatched for a disorderly conduct report. Upon further evaluation, a student was issued a citation for minor in possession.

The Student Health Center not only offers basic medical care, similar to what you would receive at your family doctor’s office, but it offers specialized clinics, such as the women’s clinic, as well. This clinic provides annual well-woman examinations and contraceptive counseling and is staffed by caring female practitioners. The center has a nurse clinic whose primary responsibility is to provide immunizations, allergy injections, Tuberculosis skin tests, anonymous HIV testing and a smoking cessation program. Other services include psychiatrists available by referral from one of the Student Health Center’s medical providers.

The Student Health Center boasts many convenient services, such as digital X-ray technology and an in-house laboratory. The center has an in-house pharmacy that provides many prescription drugs and generic brands, typically at prices lower than what one would find at a local pharmacy. Another service is the Health Education Office located upstairs. This office provides a variety of information, brochures and a health educator who is available for one-on-one discussions and class presentations.

As a registered student, you are eligible to use the services provided by the Student Health Center without paying a fee for an office visit. While you may have to pay for extra services, such as the laboratory, prescription medications, X-rays, or well-woman examinations, the services are offered at affordable rates. These services are sometimes covered by the Texas State student insurance. However, insurance isn’t a necessity in order to schedule a basic office visit at the Student Health Center.

Accessing the Student Health Center is simple.

You can schedule a same-day appointment online or by telephone at (512) 245-2167. You can use this telephone number to speak with a nurse with any concerns or questions you have. The Student Health Center is easily accessible during the day; it is located by the LBJ Student Center at the corner of Sessom and Tomas Rivera Drive. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For medical advice after-hours, call (512) 245-2167 to reach the Ask-A-Nurse telephone line. For emergencies, go to the Central Texas Medical Center located at 1301 Wonder World Dr. For more information about the Student Health Center, call (512) 245-2161 or visit www.healthcenter.txstate.edu.

— Courtesy of Student Health Center

Committee for LBJ Birthday Centennial Announced

commissions on legal issues.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve the city and help the council and staff achieve their vision and goals for the community,” Cosentino said. “My wife, Yvette, and I are looking forward to moving to San Marcos and living closer to our families.”

Cosentino earned a law degree from the University of Texas in 1979 and a bachelor’s of arts with highest honors in government from UT in 1975.

He served as assistant city attorney and acting city attorney in McAllen from 1980-1982 and as city attorney of Harlingen from 1983-1991 before joining the law office of Brendan Hall as an associate attorney from 19911992.

Cosentino became a deputy city attorney in Austin from 1992-1994, served as acting city attorney for Austin in 1994, and was division chief of the litigation section from 1994-1996.

He went into private practice as an attorney and mediator from 19961997 before being hired in Bryan as city attorney in July of 1997.

Cosentino is a member of the State Bar of Texas and has been admitted to practice in U.S. District courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. He is a past president of the Texas City Attorney’s Association.

A reception at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos heralded the kick-off of planning for Texas State’s yearlong focus on its most prominent alumnus.

President Johnson, who would have turned 100 on Aug. 27, received a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate from what is now Texas State in 1930.

The university’s Common Experience program will focus on the theme “Civic Responsibility and the Legacy of LBJ” during the 2008-2009 academic year.

The reception brought together many of those who have agreed to serve on the Honorary Committee, larger steering committee and members of the board of the LBJ Museum of San Marcos.

For four consecutive years, Texas State has chosen a theme for the Common Experience. Freshmen students read a common text and speakers, exhibits and performing arts events reflecting the year’s theme are scheduled.

The university expects to have a high-profile speaker give its LBJ Distinguished Lecture in the fall. Other speakers, exhibits, a play and a film series, as well as academic emphases in many classes will encompass the Common Experience theme.

As members of the steering committee looked for a common text to reflect President Johnson’s legacy, they found that although there are many potential text choices, no one book tells the complete story of the nation’s 36th president. Instead of a single book, pieces of many publications – including those written by President and Mrs. Johnson – will be pulled together to create a common text.

Texas State is also represented on the Austin committee that is helping with plans for the national gala to be held in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2008 and plans to partner with the LBJ Presidential Library, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, the Harry Ransom Center and the Wildflower Research Center in Austin.

Texas State remains the only Texas university to have graduated a U.S. president.

— Courtesy of city of San Marcos

— Courtesy of University News Service

Aug. 18, 3:20 a.m.

Criminal Mischief – under $1500/Jackson Hall An officer was dispatched for a damage report.

Upon further investigation, a barricade had been damaged. This case is under investigation.

Aug. 20, 6:01 p.m.

Disorderly Conduct/UPD Lobby An officer was dispatched to the lobby for a

Aug. 21, 4:35 p.m.

Failure to Comply/Striking Unattended Vehicle/Jackson Hall An officer was dispatched for a hit and run report. It was reported a student’s vehicle had been damaged while it was parked. This case is under investigation.

New San Marcos city attorney named Mayor Susan Narvaiz announced Thursday the appointment of Michael Cosentino, the former city attorney of Bryan, as the new city attorney for San Marcos starting Oct. 1.

Cosentino has served the city of Bryan for the last ten years. He submitted his resignation Aug. 22 to the Bryan City Council.

The San Marcos City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Cosentino after a nationwide search following the retirement last fall of former City Attorney Mark Taylor. Cosentino will receive an annual salary of $131,000, with benefits.

“The Council is delighted to have Mr. Cosentino join our executive team,” said Mayor Narvaiz. “He brings a wealth of experience and leadership in municipal law from communities also located in university settings.”

Cosentino will lead a department with five staff members, including two assistant city attorneys, and manage city of San Marcos legal services and a departmental budget of $698,197.

The city attorney’s office is responsible for ordinances and resolutions, legal opinions, contracts, property purchases, economic development agreements, litigation and prosecuting cases in municipal court.

The city attorney provides staff assistance to the Ethics Review Commission, Charter Review Commission and San Marcos Industrial Development Corporation board as well as advising other city boards and

Student Health Center provides a number of affordable services

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

NEWS

The University Star - Page 3

Cotton Miller/Star photo GOING WIRELESS: Jazzy Powell, political science junior, checks e-mail Monday at the LBJ Student Center. Students will now be able to use the Internet from anywhere on campus.

Web browsing just became an outdoor activity at Texas State

By Philip Hadley Assistant News Editor Texas State student Sarah Mueller quickly checks her email and browses the Internet as she waits for her next class beneath a tree in The Quad.

Thanks to a new network system installed at Texas State, outdoor wireless is a breeze.

Rick Bishop, director of network operations, said the new Cisco Wireless Mesh system, completed in July, employs state of the art technology to blanket the campus in a Wi-Fi hot spot spanning the entire length of the campus.

“The wireless mesh is a great addition to an already robust network infrastructure,” Bishop said. “The cost for this wireless addition was approximately $200,000.”

INX Incorporated of Austin and DTS Communications were contracted to install the campus-wide outdoor network.

Texas State IT/Technical Resources oversaw the project.

Bishop said the dynamic nature of the new system allows for many practical uses such

as allowing university police to download data to computers in patrol cars.

“With this mesh system we will be able to use mobile IP phones to take a desk number and put it onto a cordless phone allowing faculty and staff to be mobile as they travel throughout campus,” Bishop said.

Bishop said the new system eliminates the need to wire every access point in the network, making it easier and more costeffective to extend the reach of the campus’s existing infrastructure.

“When students come to campus they expect hot spot wireless on campus and with this new system we’ve create those spots all over our campus,” Bishop said. “I really don’t think we’ve even thought of all the possible future uses of this new wireless network.”

Patrick Brennan, senior network technician, said the network features 41 access points strategically placed around campus and provides campuswide wireless Internet access for laptop computers, tablet PCs, PDAs and smart phones.

Brennan said the network features two levels of security for user peace of mind.

“The first level is basic connectivity allowing for web browsing,” Brennan said. “The second level is an encrypted network requiring authentication that allows full access to the Texas State network. There are more security plans under development for the wireless infrastructure that will be announced soon.”

Mueller, animal science freshman, said she frequently utilizes the network outdoors between classes.

“It’s really helpful when studying or just browsing the Internet to kill time,” Mueller said. “I like being able to access the Internet outdoors.

Sometimes you just need some fresh air.”

Bishop said Texas State is among the leaders of colleges that are fully extending wireless networks from indoor to outdoor areas.

“Cisco has told us that we are in the top 5 percent of early adopters around the country,” Bishop said.

Page 4 - The University Star

NEWS

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

MURDOCK

Monty Marion/Star photo SAYING GOODBYE: University President Denise Trauth greets Pat Murdock at her retirement ceremony held Thursday in J.C. Kellam.

CONTINUED from page 1

Murdock further served as director and editor of news services. In 1994, she became the director of Development Research Services to finish out her 41 years here.

As well as being a mother and a professional, Murdock found time to make a significant contribution to the community of San Marcos. Murdock said special events planning and community

volunteer work are among her favorite activities. She served as Public Affairs Committee Chair for Texas Special Olympics when they were held in San Marcos.

She was unit president for the American Legion Unit and a cogeneral chairman for the Republic of Texas Chilympiad.

“If it wasn’t for Pat Murdock, Summerfest would not have happened,” Narvaiz said. “Pat may be retiring from Texas State, but we hope and anticipate she will

continue helping the community.

She is such an amazing motivator and a get-it-done volunteer; those are the ones that truly bring a community together.”

Murdock plans to continue her work in the community, but admits it is time to slow down.

“I need to learn to relax,” Murdock said. “I’ll have plenty of babysitting opportunities with two great grandkids in San Marcos — they will definitely keep me busy.”

TUITION CONTINUED from page 1

“Both of my parents work here and they didn’t see a pay increase,” she said. “I think that’s ridiculous.”

Nance said the tuition increase was honored because of several campus additions.

“The board of regents approved the 10 percent tuition increase because of enrollment growth, pay raises, new academic programs and utility costs,” he said. “We use designated tuition to supplement

educational activities not funded by the legislature, like faculty salaries. The state appropriation does not provide nearly enough.”

For the next two months, Nance said the administration will be discussing next year’s tuition increase. “(We are) speculating 5 percent,” he said. “In November, we will present next year’s tuition and fees to the board of regents. We have to look at all the cost elements, balance those out and try to figure out what kind of recommendation to take to the board.”

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Page 5

onlineconnection For news updates throughout this semester, check out www.UniversityStar.com.

MAJOR Opinions Contact — Bill Rix, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

I

t has been a trying summer for sports fans.

Michael Vick scrambled his way into our hearts, then was exposed for slaughtering helpless dogs to “get his fix.” NBA referee Tim Donaghy gambled his way into debt, hoping to collect via the mafia. Instead, he’s won Michael Corleone’s “kiss of death” and now the league’s entire officiating staff has come into question. Barry Bonds doesn’t look human anymore, yet he is the owner of sports’ most esteemed record. Worse, Derek Jeter supposedly gave herpes to former girlfriend Jessica Alba.

Even Texas State athletics has ties to the debauchery. With former Bobcat football star Fred Evans being detained in June for resisting arrest and battery on a police officer in Miami while still a member of the Dolphins. More recently, Texas State freshman wide receiver Alex Darley was arrested for attempting to shoplift merchandise at a local H-E-B and was dismissed from the team.

What happened to all the role models of the sports culture?

Maybe Charles Barkley was right when he said, “I’m not a role model ... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”

But for every fool, there is an equal and opposite savant, so long as Newton’s third law applies. Someone who is deserving of our admiration.

Take, for instance, Nick Clark, Texas State’s preseason all-conference defensive end. Sure, he’s good at football, starting in every game of his collegiate career, but so what? His impact on this campus, and in this city, extends far beyond the field.

Clark received his undergraduate degree earlier this month, graduating Magna Cum Laude in mathematics with a 3.77 grade-point average.

He has been a three-time selection for the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and he recently began work on his master’s degree in physics.

The degree is another step in life, he said.

Clark was nominated as a candidate for the National Football Foundation’s Draddy Award this season, which is handed out annually to the nation’s top scholar-athlete and is casually referred to as the “Academic Heisman.”

Most impressive is he still finds time to reach out to the community, serving as a mentor for area elementary schools.

That’s what sports is about; making a positive difference in the lives of others.

The Star has had enough of all the negativity. While it may still feel like summer outside, it’s the fall semester for students. That means we’re tired, stressed and broke. It’s time to move on from this disastrous summer, put our game faces on and support what is right with sports instead of screaming about what is wrong.

Nick Clark will appreciate it.

EMBARRASSMENT Athletes turning from stars on the field to stars behind bars

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.

John Stark/Star illustration

Dr Pepper expelled out of Texas State by Coca-Cola for the foreseeable future Karl D. Stephan Guest Columnist We’ve all seen news stories of how women dressed in anything skimpier than full-body burkas and headscarves have been hounded off the streets of Afghanistan or Iran, and how things as seemingly harmless as music videos and CDs have disappeared off store shelves when self-appointed morality police show up in these countries. Maybe when you watch these stories, you feel lucky to live in a country where freedom is a guaranteed right, and nobody is going to chase you down because of what you’re wearing or what kind of music you like.

Well, I’ve got news for you. Right here on campus, a systematic purge and abridgement of freedom has taken place, but so silently, so stealthily and with such full cooperation of the campus authorities, I bet you didn’t even notice.

Let me tell you about it.

I happen to like drinking Dr Pepper — in moderation, of course, one or two cans a day at most. For the last several years, whenever I got a hankering for a Dr P, I’d ride the elevator down to the

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ground floor of the Mitte Building, walk across the sunlit glare of the courtyard between Mitte and the Supple Physics Building, go down the stairs into the basement and put a dollar in the machine outside the big lecture hall. And there’d always be a Dr Pepper there, unless it was out (which it was during the summer — they don’t get refilled nearly as often then). About two months ago, I made the hike down there to discover not only was the machine out of Dr Pepper, the Dr P button had disappeared.

In its place was Dasani. When there is no alternative, such as expeditions into primitive areas where the local water is suspect, I will pay good money for bottled and filtered tap water, but not usually.

I figured, well, they weren’t selling enough Dr P’s out of that machine, so I went on a hunt for a machine that had Dr Pepper. To make a long and silly exploration of the better part of two buildings short, Dr Pepper was gone from all the machines, I suppose all over campus.

Well, I had one recourse. The little convenience store in the LBJ Student

Editor In Chief.................................Maira Garcia, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor.......................Sydney Granger, starletters@txstate.edu News Editor...................................Nick Georgiou, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.......................Clara Cobb, starentertainment@txstate.edu Opinions Editor.......................................Bill Rix, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor................................Spencer Milsap, starphoto@txstate.edu

Center, Paws Market, still carried Dr Pepper — two sizes, in fact. It’s a long block of a hike over there, so my consumption went down, but I consoled myself with the fact at least one place on campus sold Dr Pepper. Until Tuesday.

I’d just found an article I wanted to read, and I was looking forward to settling down after a hard day of preparing for classes with a Dr Pepper and a good read. I hiked over to LBJSC and looked in their refrigerator — no Dr Pepper. I asked the fellow behind the cash register if they carried Dr Pepper anymore.

“Naw, the contract won’t let us, so we had to quit. Sorry.”

Companies like Coca-Cola that sell lots of stuff to students have taken to making contracts with both private and public universities. These contracts will give the firm exclusive rights to sell a given kind of product on campus. Once that contract is signed, the company can legally halt the sale of rival products anywhere on campus or take their business elsewhere. I don’t know where the money Coca-Cola pays to Texas State goes for this privilege, but I rather suspect it isn’t devoted to lowering tuition.

Sports Editor............................Scott Strickman, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief.......................Colm Keane, starcopychief@txstate.edu Design Editor................................Daniel Currey, 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

But observe the effect of all this unbridled free-market activity. As a result of a large corporation putting the muscle on a large public institution in the form of payments for a contract, my freedom to buy a Dr Pepper on campus has vanished, just as effectively as if some wild-haired guy swinging a machete had chased me down after spotting a Dr Pepper can in my hands. It’s not nearly as exciting this way and doesn’t generate as much publicity, but it’s just as effective.

The motives in the two cases are different. In the case of women being forced to wear burkas, the enforcers are devoted to some wacky moral ideal of their own and try to impose it on others.

In the case of Coca-Cola stomping out every last Dr Pepper sales point on campus, the enforcers are devoted to making more money for themselves and their shareholders. But in both cases, freedom has been abridged. And if you think freedom is important, you shouldn’t take either case lying down.

Karl Stephan is an associate professor of engineering and technology. He can be reached at KS22@txstate.edu Account Executive...............................Scott Lynch, sl1148@txstate.edu 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

Women’s fight for equality far from over

By Amy Baack Daily Trojan (USC) LOS ANGELES — I’d like to think being a woman is a lot easier now than it was 20 years ago. I cannot know for sure because I wasn’t alive before the 1980’s, but on the surface it appears women and men are generally on equal grounds in our society.

I rarely give sexual discrimination much thought — I knew I could go to college and pursue just about any career I desired as long as I worked hard enough.

My sex never seemed to pose a threat to my ambitions. Yet, many women today remember a time when being female in America was a considerable challenge. After all, it was only about 40 years ago that the second-wave feminist movement occurred and women took another stand against the repression they had previously endured.

Women began to leave their homes, attend college and enter the workplace — areas formerly dominated by men.

I happened to catch an episode of “The View” over the summer and listened as Barbara Walters recounted a time when she was younger and her male co-workers literally chased her around an office table and attempted to make sexual advances towards her.

Walters did not report the incident to her bosses because she would have been fired. Unfortunately, her situation was not an unusual one.

Even though women were beginning to hold prominent positions in society, they were easily undermined by their sex.

Now, laws and regulations against sexual harassment abound, ideally enabling women to pursue their dreams without feeling oppressed by male co-workers.

However, I have no doubt sexual harassment still continues on a more subdued level, and these incidents are tiny reminders women still have a long way to go on the path to equality, especially in the workplace.

I personally have been a victim of sexual harassment in the workplace on more than one occasion at more than one job; in one situation, there was little I could do but quit because the harasser was one of my bosses. I left feeling humiliated, degraded and ashamed because I felt as if I were perpetuating the century-long power struggle between men and women by not standing up and demanding a change.

Although in reality there was not much I could have done on such occasions to radically alter the male-verses-female-dynamic, there are indeed many inspirational women today striving to remind the world women are capable of doing anything men can do.

Recently, Alexandra Hai became the first female gondoliera to paddle the canals of Venice. Hai’s actions are inspiring as she is one of few women in a typically allmale field. Yet even in her success, a court limited Hai to piloting only residents of a hotel in the city.

As a female film student, I sometimes feel pressured to become a pioneer like Hai; it’s no mystery that the world of Hollywood is run by men. I challenge you to name one famous female director whose last name is not Coppola. Although Americans like to pretend our nation is positively bursting with equality, men still continue to run the show in many of society’s most lucrative fields. Luckily, even if I never make earth-shattering headway into the field of showbiz, I have no doubt another woman will. The very fact USC’s School of Cinematic Arts is led by a female dean shows women are continuing to push their way to the top.

While being a woman in America today may be a whole lot easier than it was only decades ago, stories such as that of Hai in Italy remind us women still have a long way to go in our struggle to be treated as equal to men. However, these stories are ones of inspiration; women may not yet be on the same level as men in every professional field, but we’re working as hard as we can to get there.

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

Copyright August 29, 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

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Page 6

ariver story The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is opening a photography exhibit by San Marcos resident Jerry Kimmel Saturday. The photos are from the book The San Marcos: A River’s Story, by Jim and Jerry Kimmel. Photos not in the book will be on display as well. Book signings will take place 1 to 3:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through September at the center. For more information, visit www.wildflower.org.

Trends Contact — Clara Cobb, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Puppy love Animal shelters provide temporary homes for man’s best friends

By Clara Cobb Trends Editor A typical day begins with a morning cage cleaning at 8 a.m., which is about the same time the construction begins on the San Marcos Animal Shelter expansion project.

Shortly thereafter the animals are given food and water, said Bert Stratemann, the shelter’s animal services manager.

“That’s pretty much life at the shelter,” he said. “(The pets) spend the day watching cats and dogs come and go.”

Stratemann said normally, the pets spend time watching new volunteers come and go, but current expansion has created various hazards.

“It’s been different with all the renovations they’ve been doing,” Stratemann said.

“We just want to be sure everyone — people and animals — are safe at all times.”

The shelter will start accepting new volunteers at the end of October, and resume it’s regular Tuesday night training schedule then.

“It’s not that we don’t want volunteers or that we don’t love having volunteers,” he said. “We’re just trying to hold off until we have a parking lot again.”

He explained the shelter is a full-access facility, which serves Hays County. As a full access facility, the shelter opens its

“T

he longer (a pet) is with us, the more they give up on people.”

—Aimee Duffy veterinary technician PAWS Animal Shelter

doors to all animals, even those who may be ill or aggressive.

Currently, the shelter has 10 kennels with dogs and 35 kennels with cats, although normally multiple animals share kennel space. These animals, Stratemann said, can still use donation contributions and homes.

Donation items the shelter needs most are basic household cleaning supplies, such as bleach or dish soap, he said. Monetary donations may also be made to help the shelter, or people may come to adopt pets. Stratemann said owning a pet costs about $100 per month.

“It’s just like a child,” he said.

“You’ve got to provide an animal with adequate food, shelter and water. You have to plan to spend time with it, and provide veterinary care on a regular basis.”

Aimee Duffy, veterinary technician at PAWS animal shelter in Kyle, agrees.

“It’s like adopting a child, it’s just not as expensive,” she said.

Duffy said shelters try to provide an environment as close as possible to what an animal would have in an adopted home.

The cats at PAWS, for instance, have a free-roam room.

“They have a TV where they watch soap operas,” she said.

“It’s a lot of napping and a lot of eating.”

Shelter volunteers may participate in cleaning, playing, socializing or grooming.

“The more socialization they have, the better off they are,” Duffy said. “The longer (a pet) is with us, the more they give up on people. A year and a half is a long time to be with us.”

PAWS is a limited intake shelter. Since it’s a private, as opposed to government-funded organization, the shelter is able to operate under a no-kill policy.

Duffy said there is currently a waiting list for pets to be accepted at the shelter.

“We try to give as many options as possible for adoption so we can have more intakes,” she said.

For more information on the San Marcos Animal Shelter, call (512) 393-8340 or visit 750 River Road. For more information on PAWS Animal Shelter in Kyle, call (512) 268-1611 or visit 500 FM 150 East.

Duffy suggests getting newly adopted pets registered “Make sure they’re tagged and micro-chipped,” she said. “So, if you do happen to misplace one, you can get it back.”

✯FYI Training and obedience classes are available at the PAWS animal shelter beginning Sept. 15.

The puppy training class is 9 to 9:30 a.m. Saturdays for six weeks. The course cost is $90. The basic obedience class is 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays for six weeks.

The course cost is $125.

For more information or to register a dog, contact Rachel Daughn at (512) 422-2838.

New Texas laws affect pet owners HB 1411 is an anti-tethering law limiting the length of time owners can leave a dog unattended and restrained outside.

The law is designed to prevent owners from keeping dogs chained up outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and from leaving them outside during storms.

SB 1562 requires animal control officers to be trained and certified.

HB 2328 creates separate statutes for cruelty against livestock and other animals. This new law stiffens penalties for cruelty against non-livestock animals, including pets.

HB 1355 makes the owner of a vicious dog attacks a human criminally negligent. Dog owners with prior knowledge of dangerous or violent dogs can be charged with a second-degree felony if their pet kills a human.

HB 916 strengthens the laws against illegal dog fighting by increasing the penalties for the crimes of dog fighting and attending dog fighting exhibitions. The penalty for causing one dog to fight with another dog increases from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony and increases the penalty for attending a dog fighting exhibition from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor.

— Compiled by Clara Cobb

TRENDS

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

The University Star - Page 7

Joining student organization enhances college experience

By Ricki Dugdale Rocky Mountain Collegian

Monty Marion/Star photo GETTING THE NAME OUT: Numerous campus organizations work to attract students to their tents for information Tuesday in the LBJ Student Center Mall.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Over the past 30 years, research from Colorado State University’s Division of Student Affairs has shown a positive correlation between student involvement on campus and staying in school.

The Student Involvement Fair at CSU is here to make it more convenient for students to find their niche and keep busy during their college career.

“College students do better if they’re engaged in and out of the classroom,” said Dave McKelfresh, executive director for assessment and research.

“They stay in school and graduate in higher numbers.”

Students are given the tools to succeed academically and socially through their student organizations, and the involvement enhances their overall experience.

Tae Nosaka, assistant director for the Center for Advising and Student Achievement, has been working to get students involved because the more involved they are, the more satisfied they will be.

“If they find a good balance with being involved in both academic and social aspects, they will have a more positive experience,” Nosaka said.

Some students already involved with organizations on campus are already reaping the benefits.

Krista Arcuri, a human development junior at CSU, is a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and has made great connections socially and academically.

“Being in Pi Phi has helped me meet people all over campus and network with them,” Arcuri said. “It has also helped me academically because I’ll have classes with Pi Phis and we can help each other.”

Greek life is not the only way to get involved, either. There are opportunities for students to get involved with organizations catering to their interests.

“Being engaged could be writing for the school paper, playing intramural sports, being apart of a residence hall government or the student government,” McKelfresh said.

The Student Involvement Fair is one outlet for students to explore the different opportunities available.

Deanna Leone, program coordinator with the SLiCE office, has noticed an increase in the number of student organizations participating in the fair because it is an opportunity for them to be noticed by the CSU community.

“We offer such a wide variety of organizations,” Leone said. “There is something for everyone.”

— Editor’s note: Texas State University’s Student Organizations Fair is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Even heat of summer can’t warm flopped summer singles

By Kevin C. Johnson St. Louis Post-Dispatch This summer was supposed to be a “three-peat” for Kelly Clarkson and 50 Cent.

Much the way Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End were titles slated to keep this season’s movie box office afloat,

pop star Clarkson’s third CD, My December and rapper 50 Cent’s third disc, Curtis, were titles considered to be surefire summer saviors.

A few undeniable summer hits were certainly needed. During the first half of the year, sales of digital tracks rose almost 50 percent from the same period last year. But CD sales fell 15

Baylor participates in 28-hour worship forum

By Christopher Stone The Lariat (Baylor U.) WACO — Dim, colored rays of light gleamed through stained glass windows as the sun set Friday night over Baylor University’s Miller Chapel, drawing the first week of classes to a close.

But as the first worship leader took the stage, strumming her guitar and praying, Burn: Waco was just beginning.

The 28-hour nonstop worship and prayer event was designed to be a forum for Baylor students, visitors and Waco residents to connect with God. Artists led worship in prearranged, two-hour shifts while attendees knelt, sat, stood or danced coming and going at will.

“I think the opportunity to have it all night invites people to come whenever they have time,” said Baylor alumna Tara Parker.

“It really encourages you to sit down for a long period of time, let other things go and just focus.”

The primary theme was praying for revival on campus and in the city.

“I thought it sounded kind of interesting to take out some time to worship and pray for Waco,” Houston junior Nick Deere said.

Baylor was the most recent location for a series of similar events held by Burn 24-7, a Christian movement based in Tulsa, Okla. Burn: Waco was the first of the events to be held on a college campus.

“They really believe in the power of the youth having a lot of zeal and a lot of vigor,” said Sara Sommers, director of the event.

Sommers, a Tulsa sophomore, said Burn started with the vision of prayer and the importance of getting to the heart of God. Sean Feucht, a musician and the director of Burn 24-7, began meeting with students from Oral Roberts University off-campus at churches in 2002.

Since then, the nonprofit

organization has spread into 18 cities in the U.S. and three other countries.

“We’ll be in eight countries by the end of the year,” Sommers said.

She began plans to have a Burn event at Baylor after attending Burn: Tulsa over the summer.

According to the Web site www.burn24-7.com, college campuses are becoming a greater focus for the organization.

Jeremy Echols, a George W. Truett Theological Seminary student from Augusta, Ga., said Burn starts with a firm belief that God inhabits the praises of his people. Echols, Burn: Waco assistant director, said he envisions a movement in the likeness of the 1940s youth revivals in Waco.

Those events, Echols said, began when students met at Seventh and James Baptist Church with the same commitment to prayer and worship.

“We’re not in need of religion,” Echols said. “We’re in need of Jesus. There were revivals that began 61 years ago in Waco.”

Addressing the underground nature of Burn, Echols and Sommers agreed the events are more about seeking Jesus than doing promotions.

“It doesn’t really matter to us how many people are there,” Sommers said. “Once people come, they’ll tell their friends and then more people will come.

Our whole point is the presence of God. You don’t have to market that.”

Sommers said there are plans to make Burn: Waco a monthly event by the end of the year, though the next Burn might not happen until November.

Expecting Baylor will continue to support the venue, Parker said she hopes students will catch a passion and continue to come.

“I’m kind of out of the college stage of life,” Parker said, “But I think I would set aside at least a couple hours to come on a Friday night.”

percent, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry’s Daughtry is the bestselling CD of the year so far, and it’s actually a 2006 release.

Clarkson’s and 50 Cent’s track records looked like the right remedies, or at least BandAids, for an ailing music industry. Then things fell apart for both artists.

Clarkson, coming off a blockbuster, hits-laden CD in 2004’s Breakaway and a couple of Grammy Awards, had this summer’s most troubled CD. All the news leading up to the release of My December was bad, and that’s not good.

She fought with label head Clive Davis over songwriting control, parted with her management, her tour crumbled and her single “Never Again” nearly tanked.

Still, Clarkson’s CD sold well its first week before it was topped by Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus.

Coming in behind a star as dubious as Cyrus wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

Clarkson has since fallen from the Top 10 after a mere month.

And 50 Cent, who had the second-best-selling CD of 2005 with The Massacre, released two singles this spring, “Amusement Park” and “Straight to the Bank.” Both flopped, as did his performance on the BET Awards.

His Curtis CD release subsequently was moved to Sept. 4 from June 26, then to Sept. 11.

The official spin has something to do with synchronizing his worldwide release, but who’s buying that?

Now, the industry finds itself looking for other summer CD champions, another Daughtry, another Carrie Underwood, another High School Musical (the latter two are on the way). Hits

and misses are popping up in unexpected places.

Now Vol. 25 isn’t selling like other installments of the longrunning series, but it still sits atop the Billboard 200 for two weeks and counting as fans continue to show their transition to stand-alone hit singles over albums. No matter the hits are slightly moldy. The latest set includes Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend,” Beyonce and Shakira’s “Beautiful Liar,”

of Nickelback’s All the Right Reasons, released in 2005.

In need of real help are Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky, Nine Inch Nails’ Year Zero, Marilyn Manson’s Eat Me, Drink Me and Enrique Iglesias’ Insomniac. Iglesias might be wishing he’d stayed up more nights.

Nickelback’s not the only one with legs extending into this summer.

Consider: — Fergie’s debut solo CD,

Huey’s “Pop, Lock and Drop It” and Fergie’s “Glamorous.”

Say what you will about the state of rock today, but Linkin Park’s new Minutes to Midnight holds the record for the biggest debut week of the year. And other new rock albums — Bon Jovi’s Lost Highway, Maroon 5’s It Won’t Be Soon Before Long, White Stripes’ Icky Thump and Smashing Pumpkins’ Zeitgeist — aren’t looking too shabby.

Most impressive is the continued Top 10 status this summer

The Dutchess.

Buoyed by the single “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” it is closing in on nearly a year on the chart and remains in the Top 10.

— T. I. never got the memo on rap music’s down spin. His T.I. vs. T.I.P. this summer had the year’s second-biggest opening, surely aided by a clearer path after 50 Cent got out of the way.

T.I. is faring much better than Shop Boyz’ Rock Star Mentality, Timbaland’s Timbaland Presents Shock Value, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Strength & Loyalty and

Young Jeezy Presents U.S.D.A.’s Cold Summer: The Authorized Mixtape.

— Amy Winehouse may be a mess with her highly publicized drinking and carrying on, but she’s delivering the soulful goods musically on her consistently selling summer sleeper Back to Black. But new albums by fellow soulful young Brits, Joss Stone’s Introducing Joss Stone and Lily Allen’s Alright, Still, aren’t doing as well.

— R&B stars, such as R. Kelly and T-Pain, are doing respectably with their Double Up and Epiphany CDs, respectively. But other R&B CDs, such as Ne-Yo’s Because of You, Tank’s Sex, Love & Pain, Lloyd’s Street Love and Bobby Valentino’s Special Occasion, could use a push if they’re going to last past summer.

— Former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland shares a lot in common with her onetime group-mate Beyonce, except when it comes to CD sales. Rowland’s second solo CD, Ms. Kelly, is experiencing the kind of fate Beyonce’s has never seen: the release is sliding out of the Top 40 after only a few weeks.

— Country has encountered a few bumps, as CDs such as Brad Paisley’s 5th Gear, Toby Keith’s Big Dog Daddy and Big & Rich’s Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace debuted well but failed to generate much momentum.

— Reggaeton’s top ambassador, Daddy Yankee, isn’t making much noise with his latest, El Cartel: The Big Boss.

— National artists with St. Louis area roots aren’t selling as well as they might have liked.

Gretchen Wilson’s third CD, One of the Boys, is posting her worst numbers yet. And rapper Huey’s Notebook Paper is looking like a fast fade as well, despite a hit single in “Pop, Lock and Drop It.”

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Page 8 - The University Star

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

✯ Nintendo trumps PlayStation in new releases It’s a good time to It’s not as if Sony be a console gamer. isn’t trying, though.

BioShock, 2K Price cuts aside, the Games’ X-Box and PC PlayStation Network first-person shooter — Sony’s foray into the powerhouse, garnered world of downloadable high praise from neargames — updates often BILL RIX ly all corners of the in an effort to keep Star Columnist reviewing world and pace with Nintendo’s Nintendo’s Metroid 3 Virtual Console and Prime: Corruption, for the Wii, Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Arcade. only a few days old, has been It will have to constantly and hailed as one of the best games aggressively change its marfor the console. keting in order to catch the For those owners of Sony’s elusive online gamer. However, PlayStation 3, however, the it’s evident a viable online outlook isn’t so sunny. Few multiplayer presence is finally worthwhile games have come becoming a feature important out and the system is lacking to many gamers. a killer app. Lair looks promisThis is a facet of the gaming ing, but it’s been shown off experience Nintendo — for lack well before the PS3 landed in of better phrasing — just gets. stores, so at this point, it may It was evident when the Ninas well be regarded as a tech tendo DS first came out. The demo with some gameplay DS’ operating system allows for shoved in. voice chat as well as traditional The recent price drop of the text messaging via Wi-Fi. This PlayStation3 might spur sales, usability has transferred well to but for the time being the the Wii, which allows players to console can readily be found send messages to friends and in stores across the nation, store address book informameanwhile those looking for tion. It’s a giant cell phone, in a Nintendo’s offering are still way, something the PS3 isn’t. having problems locating a Wii It’s been said the PlayStaalmost a year after release. tion 3 is a hardcore system for

hardcore gamers, but even the hardest players need games with mettle, not just fine graphics. Such amazing heights of gaming could be accomplished with the PS3’s Blu-Ray drive — imagine the depth of gameplay a traditional, spritebased role playing game could achieve given the right team.

Or, consider the ramifications of emerging software, such as John Carmack’s newest masterpiece, the megatexture, a texture-streaming method able to render massive environments based on a single, texture map with relatively small file size.

With the right developers and producers, the PlayStation 3 could prove to be a gaming revolution in and of itself, or it could go the way of the 3D Interactive Multiplayer 13 years before it — intensely powerful, but not marketed or priced correctly and so doomed.

As it stands, the PS3 isn’t fairing as well as it’s Nintendo and Microsoft brothers, a shame considering the potential laying within. With any luck, a stellar team will come together and breathe life into the still-fledgling console.

Tracking Tre n d s

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

Amy Winehouse’s in-laws are apparently firm believers in tough love. Her parents, not so much.

The father of Blake Fielder-Civil, Winehouse’s hubby of three months, has spoken out about the downward spiral of the musically-inclined couple, and is calling for a fan boycott of the “Rehab” singer’s music as a last-ditch effort to send a message to what he deems a drug addicted duo. Winehouse’s dad, Mitch Winehouse, disagreed, telling the BBC the suggested boycott was an exercise in “clutching at straws,” and his daughter would only change her life when she was ready to do so.

8/28 solutions:

Jennifer Esposito and Bradley Cooper signed dissolution of marriage papers Friday, court records show, after Esposito filed for divorce on May 1. The couple’s split is due to become final Nov. 10; financial terms were determined by a prenuptial agreement, the details of which remained sealed.

Johnny Depp will be coming to theaters everywhere in time for Christmas. DreamWorks and Paramount have set a Dec. 21 opening date for “Sweeney Todd,” Tim Burton’s big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical.

Helena Bonham Carter will also star.

Owen Wilson’s emergency hospitalization and ensuing recovery process are throwing the future of some of his upcoming projects into question.

The funnyman was due to begin shooting a lead role in the Ben Stiller-directed comedy Tropic Thunder in the coming weeks, with filming on the project already underway in Hawaii. DreamWorks stated filming would continue. Wilson was recently cast opposite Jennifer Aniston in the upcoming comedy Marley & Me, with production expected to begin in January.

this space for sale

Call (512) 245-3487 or email starad1@txstate.edu for details.

Rules of Engagement star Oliver Hudson is getting acquainted with the rules of parenthood.

Kate Hudson’s big bro welcomed a baby boy, named Wilder Thursday, his first child with wife Erinn Bartlett. The baby was born a few weeks shy of his expected due date, according to Hudson, who called the birth a “miracle.” The new parents tied the knot last summer in a beachside Mexican ceremony, after dating for approximately six years.

8/29/07 — Courtesy of MCT 8/28 solutions:

this space for sale

Call (512) 245-3487 or email starad1@txstate.edu for details.

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

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Page 9 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - Page 33 ANNOUNCEMENTS

SIGMA ALPHA LAMBDA, a National Leadership and Honors Organization with over 70 chapters across the country, is seeking motivated students to assist in starting a local chapter (3.0 GPA Required). Contact Rob Miner, Director of Chapter Development at rminer@salhonors.org.

AUTO 1992 CHEVY LUMINA. Needs AC compressor and belt. Runs good. $500. (512) 667-7612.

1997 JEEP CHEROKEE, excellent condition, new tires, 12 CD player, $2,600. (512)353-3224.

FOR RENT ROOM FOR RENT, $150 PER MO. Walk to the university. In exchange for very light housekeeping.

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FOR RENT-DUPLEX SAGEWOOD 3BA/3BA AND 3BA/2BA. Garage and W/D included.

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

OPEN HOUSE. 1406 Earle, $875 and 1408 Earle (new carpet and tile), $895.

Large 3BD/2BA’s approximately 1,250 sq. ft. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call (512) 665-3321 for showing.

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FOR SALE 2 MALE FERRETS, app. 3.5 years old with large multi-level cage and accessories, collars, harnesses, leashes, health book, food and bedding. $225 ($500 value). Call (512) 353-1807.

BRAND NEW 14” GATEWAY WINDOWS VISTA LAPTOP FROM BEST BUY. Geek fixed and installed security and teaching discs. Has carrying case, electronic mouse and “Windows Vista for Dummies”. Price $500. Call Louise at (512) 754-6122.

HARTKE VX3500 COMBO BASS AMPLIFIER 350 Watts Amplifier. 410 inch speakers. New, $400 or OBO. (210) 332-3354.

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

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FALL SEMESTER WORK •$13 base/appointment •Flexible schedules around classes •Customer Sales/Service •No experience necessary •Scholarships possible •Conditions apply •Call to apply (512) 392-7377 www.workforstudents.com SITTER NEEDED FOR 3 CHILDREN FROM 3:15PM TO 5:30PM. Needed: Non-smoker, trustworthy, can start the kids on homework if necessary. Contact me if interested; please provide 2 references with phone numbers. High school to adult age welcome. Diane11276@yahoo.com TUTOR/NANNY POSITION AVAILABLE in San Marcos beginning August 20, 2007, through May 23, 2008. Prefer Interdisciplinary Studies/ Education Generalist 4-8 major with GPA of 3.0 or greater. Non-smokers only. Pays $7.50+/hour, plus bonus opportunities. Call (512) 787-7609 for an application. More info on Jobs4Cats #5123. Interviewing now!

NOW HIRING SERVERS-Doc’s in Austin is hiring for our new location in Sunset Valley. Apply in person at Doc’s Motorworks on South Congress.

(512) 448-9181. !BARTENDING! Up to $300/day.

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

NOW HIRING: Full-time, Part-time experienced servers, cooks, dishwashers, hostess, in both Cedar Grove Steakhouse and Casa Loma Tex Mex Cantina; located RR 12 at The Junction (Wimberley). Call (512) 847-3113 for info.

ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN FOR CALENDARS, GREETING CARDS, ETC. $75-200/hr. No exp. needed, (512)684-8296.

HOUSE CLEANING IN NEW BRAUNFELS. Starting $8 per hour, quick advancement. (830) 237-5304.

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HELP WANTED

YOUTH ADVISOR to conduct service learning activity and delinquency prevention groups at Luling ISD. Parttime. E-mail resume to amoore@councilonatriskyouth.org.

CRI IS SEEKING INDIVIDUALS TO WORK AS TELEPHONE INTERVIEWERS. Flexible Schedule, Paid Training, No Experience Necessary. Within walking distance of TxState. $7-$12/hr. Call (512) 353-3627x209 today!

EXPERIENCED WINDOW TINTER NEEDED FOR AUDIO OUTLET SAN MARCOS. Call (512) 392-2886.

TEKA MARKETING INC. is now expanding and looking to fill several FT/PT positions. Very flexible hours and casual work environment. For more information call (512) 392-1065.

BUSY RESTAURANT IN WIMBERLEY NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS. Apply in person at 500 River Road between 2-4pm, daily.

(512) 847-1320 for directions or juanhenrys.com AFTER SCHOOL CARE TAKER NEEDED IN WIMBERLEY. Looking for a student that is good with kids with disabilities. Pick our daughter up from school and bring home, do homework, play games. Approx. 3:30-5:30, M-Th. $20/hr. + $5 a day for gas = $180 week. Please call Julie at (512) 914-0654.

WANTED DANCE INSTRUCTORRuiz Dance Studio & Co. in Lockhart (20 min. from San Marcos) needs a ballet, jazz, tap instructor to teach Creative Movement, Tap & Ballet Combo and Teen Jazz! Great pay and great students ready to learn from a very enthusiastic person. Please inquire immediately (512)738-2035, (512)376-5153 or aruiz6@austin.rr.com. Send your resume-CALL! PART-TIME: Audio Outlet of San Marcos is looking for energetic & goal oriented students. Bilingual a PLUS. Mon./Wed. & Tues./Thur. shifts. Must bring resume. (512) 392-2886.

MANAGER POSITION FOR CLEANING COMPANY IN NEW BRAUNFELS. Experience with QuickBooks, good with people, start $8 per hour, quick advancement and flexible hours. Call (830) 237-5304.

PART-TIME NANNY. education major preferred. E-mail resume to jschwab1@satx.rr.com

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

WANTED: San Marcos Baptist Academy, a private Christian school, has the following dormitory and activities positions available. Must enjoy working with 7th – 12th graders in a Christian environment.

Dormitory Resident Assistants: Male and female R.A.s needed. Positions may include room and board plus an hourly wage.

Night Proctor Night: Proctors needed to supervise in the girls’ and boys’ dorms. Needed 3-4 nights per week with shifts every other weekend.

Weekend Discipline Coordinator: Will supervise weekend discipline details.

Recreation Assistant: Working in the recreation center and gym after school and on weekends. Includes supervision on activity trips. Life guard certification helpful, but not necessary.

Contact Mike Simondet at (512) 753-8110 or simondetm@smba.org TEACHERS NEEDED: PT/FT. Leads, assistants, after-school program supervisor, teachers and PT kitchen help. Education major/experience/bilingual preferred, but not required. Positions starting now and in Fall. Kyle.

(512) 405-3700 or fax (512) 405-3701. www.rockinghorseacademy.com NEED SOME EXTRA CASH AND WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON CAMPUS? Charwells has great opportunities for students. Full-time/Parttime positions available. Apply at either the Lair @ the LBJ Student Center, (512) 245-9901 or Jones Food Court, (512) 245-9935, on campus.

PAPER BEAR - A DOWNTOWN GIFT SHOP HIRING FOR THE FOLLOWING SHIFTS: 9-7, 9-2, 17. Starting pay $6.50/hr. Pick up application in person. Must be able to work minimum 30 hrs. per week, Mon.-Sat., and summer and fall semesters.

RESPONSIBLE, NON-SMOKING STUDENT WITH TRANSPORTATION NEEDED FOR IN-HOME CARE of faculty member’s 3-year-old twins MW 8:30am.-1:30pm. and occasional other times as schedule allows.

Experience preferred; must love kids and be willing to actively and enthusiastically engage our children. Competitive pay. San Marcos side of Wimberley. References required, will background check. Call (512) 426-2831 and leave message; fax resume to (512) 847-8988.

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 OJT with clients who have health, fitness, and sports conditioning needs.

Ideally suited for kiniesology, physiology major looking to develop into a professional fitness trainer upon graduation. E-mail resume to Ironsarah@AOL.com and call (512) 560-6761.

MISCELLANEOUS FREE 48” DINING TABLE, NO CHAIRS. Will have to pick up. Call (512) 805-6600.

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

100% FREE to join. Click on surveys.

PERSONALS $5,000 PAID. EGG DONORS. +Exps. N/Smokers, ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.0 Reply to: info@eggdonorcenter.com

ROOMMATES ROOMMATES NEEDED across from Bobcat Village. Utilities to be equally split. $250 per mo. Call (832) 276-8746.

ROOMMATE NEEDED. 2BD/2BA trailer in San Marcos mobile home park. Furnished, covered parking, 10 min. from campus. $210/mo. plus half of bills. $100 refundable deposit. Call (281) 639-8048.

SERVICES WWW.STUDENTATTORNEY.COM ALCOHOL AWARENESS CLASSES for M.I.P. - M.I.C. - D.U.I. - P.I. - held at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza - FREE PIZZA - Next class Sep. 5 & 6 - call 1-866-441-0101 to reserve a seat.

SUBLEASE SUBLEASE MY APARTMENT! Share 4BD/4BA at Ex 2 with 3 other people, female preferred. $404/mo., includes cable, internet, water, and covered parking. Call (512) 749-6019.

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

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

roughstart Bobcat volleyball lost to Baylor in Waco Tuesday in 4 games, 30-26, 29-31, 17-30, 28-30. The defeat was the first time Texas State volleyball lost their season opener since 2003. The team will return to action Friday when they travel to Denton for the North Texas Invitational. The Bobcats first home game will be Sept. 4 against Big 12 opponent Texas A&M.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Page 10

Sports Contact — Scott Strickman, starsports@txstate.edu

Baseball announces hiring of pitching coach

By George Kiel Sports Reporter The Texas State baseball team announced the addition of pitching coach Derek Matlock to their staff Aug. 20.

While Matlock is excited and energized about this upcoming season, his fellow coaches and players seem even more enthused about his arrival than he.

“We’re excited about having Coach Matlock. He has a positive thought process that will only rub off on the team’s success,” Ty Harrington said.

Harrington, baseball head coach, sees Matlock as a “non-stop energy guy” who will demand lots of respect from his players.

“The players will respect him only if they respect themselves. You can’t respect anybody unless you respect yourself,” Harrington added.

Matlock joins the Bobcats after serving as head coach for the Denton Outlaws, an affiliate of the Texas Collegiate Baseball League, all three seasons of its existence. While with the Outlaws, he was named Texas Collegiate League Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2006, leading the team to the league championship in its inaugural season in 2005. He served as a volunteer assistant coach at TCU with prior stints at Eastern Hills High School and Flower Mound High School as well.

During his time coaching high school ball, Matlock compiled an impressive 251-67 record that earned him area coach of the year in 1998, named such by both the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“I have been fortunate to be a winner at every level I’ve been on since high school,” said Matlock.

While he brings a winning attitude

toward the program, Matlock declares he will bring much more than that.

“I am a player’s coach. Every morning I wake up, I try to figure out a way to make my players the best they can be,” Matlock explained.

Not having met the pitchers at this time, Matlock said he still feels they will accept him with open arms because he relates to his players more than usual.

The excitement from the coaching staff is clear, but the players seem to be just as excited to get to know their new coach and learn what he is about.

Sophomore Mike Hart, Bobcat starting pitcher is very eager to meet his new coach. Hart feels Matlock brings a whole different dimension to their team and likes their chances. “ With Coach Matlock, we can be ourselves. He will teach us things that fit our strengths as opposed to all of us

“I

have been fortunate to be a winner at every level I’ve been on since high school.”

—Derek Matlock pitching coach

learning the same technique,” Hart said. “ I believe he will let us be us, and it seems he will relate to his players.”

Although Hart is ready to work with his new coach, he feels the learning curve will go both ways.

“He will have to get to know us as well,” Hart added.

Bears linebacker crashes in early morning, flees scene

By Vaughn McClure and Azam Ahmed Chicago Tribune

alcohol use at the crash site.

“We’re handling it as a regular accident. We’re not changing our strategy just because he’s a high-profile athlete,” CHICAGO — Lance Briggs apparently Illinois State Police Master Sergeant Kywill emerge from Monday’s wee-hours, ron St. Clair said. one-car auto accident with nothing more Briggs smiled and said he was fine as than a misdemeanor citation and two he arrived at Halas Hall to practice with traffic tickets. the Bears on Monday. He left practice Bears Coach Lovie Smith said the early and traveled to the state police stateam would take no disciplinary action tion in Des Plaines, Ill., accompanied by against the Pro Bowl linebacker, whose attorney Frank Himel and Bears security 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago, valued at director Tom Dillon. $350,000, was found wrecked and abanDuring a 30-minute meeting with state doned on the Edens Expressway in Chi- police investigators, Briggs confirmed cago shortly after 3 a.m. Monday. that he was the driver of the car but of“It’s concerning, fered no details regardyes, that an accident ing the crash. happened at 3 in the After the meeting, morning,” Smith said, state police announced “but beyond that I Briggs had been don’t know what else I charged with leaving can tell you.” the scene of an acciThe heavily damdent, a misdemeanor. aged Lamborghini was He was ticketed for found at 3:14 a.m. off failure to immediately the northbound lanes notify police of a crash of Edens near Devon —Kyron St. Clair and for improper lane Avenue. Temporary master sergeant, Illinois State Police usage.

Texas license plates Briggs posted $100 were on the car, and bond and has an Oct. 4 permanent Illinois plates registering the court date in Skokie. vehicle to Briggs were found inside, IlliThe Class-A misdemeanor charge for nois State Police Sgt. Theodore Whittier leaving the scene carries a maximum said. sentence of a year in jail and up to a Briggs contacted police to report the $2,500 fine, attorney David Steigmann accident after the wrecked vehicle was said. discovered.

Neither Briggs nor Himel could be No one was found inside the car when reached for comment. Phone messages police arrived, and there was no indi- left for Drew Rosenhaus, Briggs’ agent, cation anyone had been injured in the were not immediately returned. crash. Lengthy skid marks on the roadBriggs leased the Italian sports car way and tire tracks in the muddy grass from Autoplex Leasing in Richardson, adjoining the expressway indicated the Texas, on Aug. 3, said Henry Haupt of driver may have lost control. the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.

Police said there was no evidence of The car arrived in Delaware earlier this

year from Italy, according to vehicle identification reports.

Though the Secretary of State’s office could not confirm Briggs had auto insurance, they said all drivers are required to have proof of insurance in order to register a vehicle in the state.

Haupt said Briggs had a clean driving record in Illinois, though he was cited for

a speeding infraction in his native California in 2000.

Briggs’ teammates learned of the crash when they arrived at Halas Hall for practice and were relieved that he apparently escaped injury.

“From what we hear, it’s probably nothing bad, just a little accident,” said fellow linebacker Jamar Williams. “Lance

seemed fine today. “ Defensive end Alex Brown might have been speaking for all the Bears when he said, “You can replace the car. You can’t replace Lance.”

– Chicago Tribune staff reporters David Haugh and Dan Blake contributed to this report

e’re handling “W it as a regular accident. We’re

not changing our strategy just because he’s a high-profile athlete.”

Candice C. Cusic/Chicago Tribune/MCT POLE INTERCEPTS CAR: The Lamborghini luxury sports car belonging to Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs sits inside Lin-Mar Motors, Inc. in Morton Grove, Illinois, Monday after authorities found it abandoned early in the morning alongside the Edens Expressway on Chicago’s North Side.

Volleyball season tips off

Monty Marion/Star file photo Texas State volleyball faces off with former ’Cats during the annual alumnae match Aug. 25 at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats fell to Baylor volleyball Tuesday night in four games in Waco, the first time since 2003 the ladies began their season with a loss.