GUIDE TO GREATNESS
BETTER THAN BURIED TREASURE
Delve into our Fall Sports Guide and come out a winner
The Southwestern Writers Collection celebrates its 20th anniversary with a trove of “treasures” SEE TRENDS, PAGE
4
SEE SECTION B
www.UniversityStar.com
AUGUST 31, 2006
THURSDAY
VOLUME 96, ISSUE 4
Identity thefts on the rise, college-aged group most at-risk By Jacqueline Davis The University Star The holidays were approaching and Brooke Keller was tight on money. Keller, mass communications senior, figured her best bet would be to get a small loan so she could purchase presents for her family. A little extra cash would eliminate the stress of saving up for gifts and the loan would be a good start for building some credit of her own,
Keller thought. She was in for a big surprise. Keller was declined for the loan and when she dug deeper to find out why, a credit bureau told her she had rented a house in California that she had quit making payments for, had cable service at that location; the list went on. “I had a few strikes against my credit before I even had a chance to establish credit,” Keller said. Keller became a victim of one of the fastest growing consumer
crimes in the country — identity theft. Identity theft occurs when a person uses another person’s information — such as a name, address or social security number — without permission. Identity theft costs victims more than $5 billion annually, according to the U.S. Department of Education Web site. The U.S. Postal service reported 10 million identity theft incidents in 2004. Out of all complaints of identity theft, the largest por-
tion arose from the 18 to 29 age bracket, according to online statistics posted by the Federal Trade Commission in 2005. Otto Glenewinkel, Texas State University Police Department community awareness and resource team officer, addressed the rising threat to college students. “It’s probably the biggest crime that’s growing in the United States,” Glenewinkel said. “I think one in four is the statistic right now and I’d say
that statistic is about the same here at Texas State.” Glenewinkel discussed the range of effects identity theft could have on a college student, with results ranging from mere inconvenience to detrimental financial loss. “The least is you are forced to close an old account and open a new one,” Glenewinkel said. “The worst is you could lose tens of thousands of dollars — you could lose your house, car or even your job.”
Invading ‘army’ floats like a butterfly
See IDENTITY, page 3
Man arrested at local hotel on kidnapping, assault charges
By Emily Messer The University Star In the current drought conditions, plants and animals start to diminish, but one Lilliputian army is flourishing — the snout butterflies. The 8-inch-long butterflies, named for the large projections from their head, make a mass appearance in Central Texas about once every 10 years. “It’s a June to October phenomenon when those widespread rains are preceded by extended droughts,” said Mike Quinn, invertebrate biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Services. Quinn doesn’t have figures, but one estimate reveals that millions of snouts are currently in San Marcos. The female snout butterfly lays an average of 200 eggs, giving the offspring a greater chance of reaching maturity during the droughts because predators are minimal, but its host plant, the hackberry, flourishes. Parasitic wasps that lay eggs inside the caterpillars and eat them from the inside out are usually the biggest threat to snouts. “Basically what happens is that if you get severe drought in the desert homelands for those guys followed by a little bit of rain, predators, in particular the parasatoids, control those populations go away on that severe drought,” said Chris Nice, assistant professor of biology. “That frees the butterflies from their normal population control.” As a result, the butterflies have been seen all over the region. “As far as up in the San Antonio area, the best I can tell it seems to be about an every 10 year event on the scale we’re seeing this summer,” said Quinn, who lives in Austin. “Just walking from the building to my car, I’ll see three or four. That’s a lot in one perspective, but nothing compared to the millions that are being seen much further south and also much farther west of us.” Between late June and midOctober, snouts, which are the only butterflies that belong to their own family, have a semimigration pattern. They follow
Many victims of identity theft find the most frustrating part of the situation is the burden of proving they did not engage in reckless financial behavior. “Why do I have to prove who I am?” Keller said. “I know who I am. They’re the ones who stole it.” Glenewinkel said the biggest threat to college students is “phishing,” a method that entails stealing credit or
By David Saleh Rauf The University Star A taskforce of federal, county and local law enforcement officers arrested a New Braunfels man wanted on a first-degree felony warrant for aggravated kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon Monday night at the Best Budget Inn on Interstate 35. Police said David Saldana Jr., 36, was wanted in connection with an incident on April 10 in Comal County and was considered armed and dangerous. The U.S. MarSaldana shals Service and the Comal County police department requested the assistance of the Hays County SWAT team to help apprehend the subject around 5:45 p.m. “Our Hays County SWAT on Monday was asked by the U.S. Marshall Service to assist them in apprehending a subject that they had a warrant for,” said Sgt. Leroy Opiela of the Hays County Sheriff’s Department. “We met them at a motel here in San Marcos over on I-35 where the subject was. Our SWAT team and negotiations team made contact with the room that he was in, asked him to come out and surrender. He did and we released him to the marshal’s office and they put him in jail in Comal County.” Saldana’s charges originally stem from an incident in which law enforcement officials said he kidnapped a New Braunfels woman and her son at gunpoint. He was released from custody after striking a plea agreement on Aug. 4, one day before his indictment. Saldana then failed to appear in court and 207th Judicial District Court Judge Jack Robison issued a warrant for his arrest. San Marcos Police Cmdr. Terry Nichols said Crime Stoppers ultimately led U.S. Marshals to Saldana’s doorstep. “It was Crime Stoppers that led them to San Marcos and then it was just investigative work that led to the hotel,” he said. Nichols, assistant commander of the Hays County SWAT team, said a woman and a 10-year-old child were in the hotel room with Saldana. He said the violent nature of the warrants made the assistance of the SWAT team a necessary component for the arrest. “That’s why we just kind of pulled up in front with the SWAT team and armored car,” Nichols said. “We got on the loudspeaker and requested him to exit and surrender. He did.” The entire incident lasted only a few minutes, he said. “There was nothing very dynamic about it. We called the telephone and he hung up on us and they took the phone off the hook,” Nichols said. “Then they just got a loud speaker and started issuing commands right over the loud speaker right at the door of the hotel. After just a couple of minutes he opened the door and surrendered peacefully.” Saldana is being held in Comal County jail on $200,000 bond. If found guilty, Saldana could face between five and 99 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Lt. Mark Reynolds of the Comal County Sheriff’s office said Saldana now awaits his court date and does not know when he will be tried. “He’s already been charged,” Reynolds said. “This was a sealed indictment from the grand jury.”
Jennifer Williams/Star photo
BUTTERFLY INVASION: This resting female snout butterfly is a member of a species that ranges from Argentina to Canada. Libytheana carinenta is known for feeding on the various species of hackberry, which grow prolifically in the Central and South Texas regions.
the food source and the mating scene. “None of them fit the more formal biological definition of the migration as in moving from Point ‘A’ to Point ‘B’ and back,” Quinn said. “They’re kind of dispersing and flying. Basically, they’re going on mass movement and they’re varying directions.” As a result, hundreds of butterflies end up as highway road-kill. “Windshields are definitely predators, especially in these outbreaks,” said Christopher Nice, assistant professor of biology. Leslie Rogers, who drives to her boyfriend’s house outside of San Marcos, said the front of her white Ford Ranger is covered with the winged bugs. “I noticed all the orange splats on my windshield. They’re everywhere,” said Rodgers, elementary education senior. The butterflies are attracted to hackberry trees and shrubs. Three species of the hackberry are common to the San Marcos area.
“They’re adapted to this region of the state,” said David Lemke, professor of biology. “They’re pretty common. Most people consider them trash trees.” The caterpillars strip the trees of their food and move on when their food sources are depleted. Adult snouts are also attracted to Crepe myrtles, such as the ones Nice has observed outside the Supple Science Building, because they are a source of nectar. Nice said the nectar source is especially attractive to the butterflies during the drought. “They love the Crepe myrtle,” Nice said. “There must be three or four thousand of them sitting around on those two trees down there at the end of the building all day long. It’s spectacular.” Because the insects’ snouts don’t have any smelling ability, the butterflies rely on their antennae. The snout helps them hide from predators. They lay their snouts on stems and use their wings as camouflage. “The butterflies themselves are
referred to as dead-leaf mimics,” Quinn said. This isn’t the first time the insects have been spotted in such abundance. In 1923, Canadian entomologists noted that an estimated 25 million snout butterflies per minute passed over a 250-mile stretch from San Marcos to the Rio Grande during an 18-day flight in late September 1921. The southeasterly-bound migration may have involved more than six billion butterflies thanks to the most severe rainstorm recorded in the continental United States. A total of 36.4 inches of rain soaked much of Central Texas during an 18-hour period. Larry Gilbert, integrative biology professor at the University of Texas, was the first person to study snout migrations at their points of origin. He noted record numbers of outbreaks. “If you read Larry Gilbert’s papers on these guys, apparently See BUTTERFLIES, page 3
Textbook costs continue to stagger students By A.N. Hernández The University Star By now, Texas State students are settling into class routines. They received their syllabi with the lists of required and recommended books. And, whether they shopped at local bookstores or online, many approached the cash register with fingers crossed hoping the textbook bill didn’t come out too high. “I bought one book here and it came out to $106 dollars and
I got the rest of my books at the Colloquium,” said Justin Parsons, outside the University Bookstore in the LBJ Student Center. “So far I’ve spent about $300.” Parsons, exercise sports science junior, said the prices were “ridiculous” but he needed the books for class. Julianne Doyen, psychology senior, said students would not mind spending so much money on books if they received better buyback rates. “It would seem reasonable
Today’s Weather
Sunny 100˚/71˚
Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 44% UV: 10 Very High Wind: SSE 6 mph
to spend $150 on a chemistry book, if when I returned it I got three-fourths of the price back rather than one-fourth,” she said. “To sell it back and get $50 is a big rip-off. I am not saying the prices are reasonable but it would be less of an ordeal.” Because Doyen cannot afford to buy all her books at once, she has chosen to purchase only the books she deems most important. Her University Bookstore receipt for Aug. 24 totaled $244.47. In 2005, the U.S. Government
Two-day Forecast Friday Sunny Temp: 100°/ 73° Precipitation: 10%
Saturday Partly Cloudy Temp: 98°/ 72° Precipitation: 20%
Accountability Office conducted a study that concluded the average college student at a two-year or four-year university spends about $900 each year on textbooks and supplies. It also found that since 1986 textbook prices have almost tripled, increasing 186 percent. The increase in textbook prices has come as a result of new features being included, such as Web site access and “other instructional supplements.”
Danny Rodriguez/Star photo EXPENSIVE EDUCATION: University Bookstore cashier Pricilla Cortez helps fashion merchandising sophomore Regina Garcia purchase textbooks and supplies for her classes Friday in the LBJ Student Center.
See TEXTBOOKS, page 3
Inside News ..............1-3 Trends .............4-7 Crossword ......... 7 Sudoku .............. 7
Comics .............. 7 Opinions ............ 8 Classifieds ......... 9 Sports .............. 10
To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2006 The University Star
PAGE TWO The University Star
Thursday in Brief
August 31, 2006
starsof texas state Mary Ann Zapata, administrative assistant III in the office of Professional Development, has been named the Texas State Staff Employee of the Year for 2005-06. Zapata was chosen from the year’s 12 employees of the month, who represent more than 1,500 staff employees at Texas State. Texas State president Denise Trauth announced Zapata’s honor Aug. 10.
Zapata has been employed at Texas State since 1989 and began work in the Professional Development office in 1995. There, she helps coordinate a variety of staff development workshops and training programs. Trauth called Zapata “a perfect example of customer service in action.” — Courtesy of the University News Service
News Contact — David Saleh Rauf, starnews@txstate.edu
Living Library THURSDAY The Tennis Club will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, contact the Tennis Club president, Chris Harris, at ch1282@txstate.edu. Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room 320. Enjoy contemporary worship, relevant teaching, prayer and fun. Everyone is welcome. Contact (512) 557-7988 or mail@texasstatechialpha.com. There will be an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. Contact the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center at (512) 245-3601 for location information. The Counseling Center offers the following groups: Facing the Fear (Anxiety Group) which is hosted from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and Women’s Personal Growth Group which runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. For information or to sign up, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.
look for the white ribbons marking the trails and footbridge over to the tree planting site. Extra parking is along Riverside Drive across the street from Herbert’s and at the Nature Center on Interstate 35 at Riverside. The San Marcos River Foundation will plant the tree. For more information, call (512) 393-3787. All his friends are welcome to attend — casual dress is encouraged.
1888 - Jack the Ripper claims first victim
Higher Ground, the LutheranEpiscopal campus ministry, invites students to share a free meal at 6:15 p.m., followed by Holy Communion at 7 p.m. The group meets at St. Mark’s Church, across from The Tower residence hall. All are welcome.
1955 - Dulles supports Diem’s decision not to hold national election
MONDAY
1985 - The “Night Stalker” is attacked by a Los Angeles mob
Labor Day, classes will not meet.
TUESDAY There will be advocate training at the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center. For more information, contact Elizabeth Dixon at (512) 396-3404.
FRIDAY
Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity will hold a bake sale fundraiser in The Quad from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Women’s Soccer will play Centenary College at 7:30 p.m. at the soccer complex.
Women’s Volleyball will play Baylor at 7:00 p.m. in Strahan Coliseum.
SATURDAY Football will play Tarleton State at 6 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium.
SUNDAY A memorial tree planting for C.J. Nelson, a university student for several years who passed away July 4, will be held at noon at the Wildlife Habitat Park at the corner of Riverside Drive and Cheatham Street. Park in the city parking lot at this corner and
On this day...
The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization will be having their first meeting of the year at 5 p.m. in the McCoy College of Business Administration building, Room 127. The first meeting is an informational meeting and CEO is open to all majors.
1897 - Edison patents the Kinetograph 1935 - FDR signs Neutrality Act 1939 - Germany prepares for invasion of Poland 1951 - William O. Douglas calls for recognition of PRC
1955 - Cobb demonstrates first solar-powered car 1957 - Stunt driver James E. Lynch dies
Monty Marion/Star photo SELFLESS SERVICE: Melissa Laing, Agricultural business junior, waters plants outside the Agriculture Building Wednesday afternoon. This area, located on the west side of the building, is part of the Living Library, a project of the Environmental Service Committee paid for by a nominal fee by all Texas State students.
CRIME BL TTER University Police Department Aug. 22, 1:33 a.m. Criminal Mischief/Blanco Hall Three students reported to an officer that two non-students caused damage to a student vehicle. This case is under investigation.
Aug. 23, 7:50 p.m. Minor Accident/Bobcat Village Two students were involved in a minor car accident in a parking lot. There were no injuries reported.
Crime stoppers: UPD: 245-7867, SMPD: 353-TIPS
Go to www.UniversityStar.com and click on contact to view calendar and Stars of Texas State submission policies.
1997 - Princess Diana dies
Library Beat New library catalog uses state-of-the-art technology to better assist students Check out the new library catalog at www.library.txstate. edu or through the catalog link on the library home page. Alkek Library recently installed state-of-the-art software for a new catalog, which went “live” on Aug. 15. The catalog provides access to more than 1.4 million printed volumes, 200 databases, 68,300 electronic journals, 28,000 e-books and a half-million microform and audio-visual materials. Included are the holdings of the Southwestern Writers Collection. Improvements for searching include: more limiting options, a persistent search box, new search types, better exporting to Refworks (which allows you to create and store citations,
reference or abstracts) and a search-history drop-down menu. The catalog now has clearer displays with icons for material types, easier-to-use save, mark and request buttons, links to online content in journals, information for on order items easily visible and more information on journal issue status. Although the search interface for the catalog is user-friendly, the library is scheduling onehour workshops throughout the semester to orient the campus community to the new catalog and to demonstrate advanced search features. Workshops will be held in Alkek, Room 101. No registration required. Access the workshop schedule at www.library. txstate.edu/ref/bi/workshops. htm or call the library’s reference desk at (512) 245-2686. — Courtesy of the Alkek Library
War on drugs keeps students out of college Financial aid lost for students convicted of drug offenses WASHINGTON, D.C. Thousands of would-be students will not be joining their peers on college campuses across the country this semester because they were convicted of drug offenses and automatically lost their financial aid under a little-known federal law. Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a group with chapters on more than 70 campuses across the country, has been working to overturn the penalty since it was enacted and recently filed a class action lawsuit to challenge its constitutionality. “Students are tired of having our access to education destroyed as collateral damage in the war on drugs,” said Kris Krane, SSDP executive director. “For too long, the drug war has been waged supposedly to protect young people. But we know firsthand that these punitive policies hurt us instead
of help us. We won’t allow this war to be waged in our names any longer.” In addition to lobbying for changes in federal law, SSDP students also work to foster sensible drug policies on their own campuses. Some chapters have worked to stop automatic dorm expulsions, to eliminate parental notification policies and to prevent schools from punishing students more harshly for marijuana than for underage drinking. “Students on campuses around the country are taking action to foster more sensible drug policies that respect and protect young people,” Krane said. This fall, SSDP is hosting an international conference and congressional lobby day in Washington, D.C., Nov. 1719. Hundreds of students are expected to converge on the
nation’s capital to learn, lobby and network with one another. “Young people have had it with the war on drugs. This is our opportunity to take our concerns directly to our lawmakers’ doorsteps,” Krane said. Students interested in getting involved with SSDP’s efforts to foster sensible drug policies on campus should visit http:// www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com. SSDP, a national organization with college and high school chapters, is committed to providing education on harms caused by the war on drugs, working to involve youth in the political process and promoting an open, honest and rational discussion of alternative solutions to our nation’s drug problems. — Courtesy of Students for Sensible Drug Policy
NEWS
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Police seek possible victims of oppression at Gary Job Corps By Kathy Martinez The University Star An Army recruiter was arrested July 12 by the San Marcos Police Department and charged with official oppression. Sgt. Ricky Steinke, 30, allegedly lured a 17-year-old girl from the Gary Job Corps campus to his apartment on June 7. SMPD Sgt. Penny Dunn said Steinke told the victim he needed to measure her for uniforms at the off-campus Army recruiting office. Instead, Steinke took the teenager to his apartment where he reportedly made sexual advances towards the young recruit. “The victim made an outcry to a fellow friend at the campus, who convinced her to report the incident to authorities,” Dunn said. Although Steinke has no prior convictions or history of sexual assault, investigations are being implemented to find other possible victims. “At this point we are seeking anyone who may have been victimized by this individual and are keeping our eyes open for anyone willing to come forward with information,” Dunn said. Steinke, who was removed from recruiting by the Army recruiting office stationed at
Gary Job Corps, has been released from the Hays County Law Enforcement Center on a $10,000 bond. Dunn said that although Steinke the suspect is not currently in jail, he must stay within the state of Texas while investigations proceed. Steinke has not made any admission of guilt in the case. SMPD Commander Bill Glasgow said the police department is not at liberty to address any specifics about the case at this time. “This is an ongoing investigation and all aspects of the investigation cannot be opened to the public until the suspect is adjudicated,” Glasgow said. Official oppression is a Class A misdemeanor charged when a public servant knowingly engages under the color of his office or employment in the unlawful treatment of another citizen. Penalties include a $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail. Gary Job Corps could not be reached for comment in the case.
The University Star - Page 3
IDENTITY: Internet scams, e-mail most common means of ID theft CONTINUED from page 1
bank information over the Internet. Phishing occurs when someone simulates an email from a bank or credit card company requesting information for records. Many of these e-mails appear legitimate, Glenewinkel said, and can contain “backdoor links.” These links lead to destinations having nothing to do with a bank or credit card company. Responding to these fake emails can put a person’s information into the hands of identity thieves. These fake emails often contain false warnings that accounts will be frozen if the recipient does not respond within 24 hours. Banks and credit card companies will never ask for this information by e-mail, Glenewinkel said. Glenewinkel also described another common method used by identity thieves and urged people who wish to sign up for credit cards to do so directly through the credit card’s Web site or phone number. “At Subway, (identity thieves) will buy 50 certificates for a free sub. Then they’ll pick up 50 applications for a credit card,” Glenewinkel said. “They go down to the Outlet Mall and ask people to fill out the applications and receive a free sub. If someone fills out that application, that person has all your personal information, especially your social security number.” Leslie Capstick, media relations associate for the National Crime Prevention Council in Washington, D.C., said although phishing is a threat due to the prevalence of technology, the old-fashioned method of sifting through someone’s trash is a more common method of identity theft. “Mail thieves and dumpster diving for pre-approved credit offers is still a big thing,” Capstick said.
For this reason, Capstick and Glenewinkel urge students to shred all unwanted mail containing identifying information in a cross-cut shredder. Capstick also warned of the newest threat of identity theft — the rising use of camera phones. Camera phones can be used to photograph card numbers as someone is using an automated teller machine. Cassie Brown, marketing freshman, had her identity stolen two years ago by her own mother. Brown said she owes at least $2,000 from her mother’s indiscretions. She found out about her ruined credit when she applied for a credit card and was declined. “We went through a hard time,” Brown said. “She couldn’t get credit to get any of the bills opened in her name, so she put it in mine.” Kimberly Liles, childhood education freshman, did not realize her identity had been stolen until a year after it happened. Liles has had her identity stolen twice and is still bogged down in the process of straightening out her flawed credit. The first time, a thief began racking up charges on a lost credit card, but she was able to cancel the card and reclaim the lost money. The second time, Liles was not so lucky. Liles was representing her high school doing a routine at a halftime game for the Dallas Cowboys. Her team had a designated section where they placed their bags. While Liles was away from her belongings performing, a thief snatched her wallet containing her personal information and social security card. “I apparently have bank loans in Colorado and Oklahoma,” Liles said. “I didn’t know my identity had been stolen until my parents called and told me I received a final notice saying that the people I supposedly
owed money to were about to take legal action against me.” Glenewinkel said students should memorize their social security number and never carry the card in their wallet. It is also a good idea to ask why the number is needed anytime your social security number is requested on a form, lease or transaction of any sort. “It may be upwards of five years before someone realizes what’s happened,” Glenewinkel said. “That’s why you should check your credit report at least once a year through one of the three major credit bureaus.”
Identity Theft Complaints in Texas: 26, 624 Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2005 Top Texas Identity Theft Victim locations Victim city Houston Dallas San Antonio Fort Worth Austin
Complaints 3,735 1,908 1,760 1,105 858
Identity theft complaints by victim age Under 18 29-29 39-39 49-49 59-59 60 and over
5% 29% 24% 20% 13% 9%
TEXTBOOKS: Web access, production costs BUTTERFLIES contribute to price hike, booksellers say CONTINUED from page 1
CONTINUED from page 1
The GAO also cited production costs, availability of used books and the demand for textbooks as reasons for the increase. James A. Boyle, president of College Parents of America, is “cynical about GAO studies” and said even though the federal government conducts the studies, they are often commissioned for political reasons. “The study provides a lot of interesting information, but I don’t think it should be a prime point of interest,” he said. Boyle, who worked on Capitol Hill for 6 years, writes a weekly column on the College Parents of America Web site and oversees the organization’s 98,000 paying members and subscribers. He said the organization’s prime goal is to empower parents and inform them on how universities and state legislatures plan to keep college affordable. “You know, the price of textbooks it is a complicated issue,” he said. “With textbooks there is not a mass market in pure volume that can drive down the cost. There are thousands and thousands of titles printed and utilized at campuses nationwide; there are just so many different textbooks used.” The recent influx of textbook bundles that come with CDs and interactive software has also contributed to the increased prices. Boyle thinks students, faculty and publishers are in a “transition period,” which will ultimately result in a shift to more
interactive teaching and online courses. But he is doing his research, hoping to learn the details of the textbook production and resale process. “Teachers and students are in a period where there is this desire to shift in that direction and there are still the old-fashioned textbooks that come along for the ride,” Boyle said. The textbook-price debate, Boyle said, is one that comes in cycles, markedly increasing at the beginning of semesters, “because it is a cost that needs to be dealt with in real time and outof-pocket.” “It’s a cost that’s often not considered. Even though tuition and fees have gone up at a much higher rate than textbooks, those are often paid in installments or with loans, but with textbooks you are at the bookstore and you need them,” he said. Jacqueline Slaughter, manager of the University Bookstore, said she knows textbook prices are hard on students. She said Texas State undergraduates who buy their textbooks at the University Bookstore spend an average of $250 to $350 a semester. However, Slaughter, who receives more than 50 articles a day via e-mail about textbook prices, feels the media often exaggerates the amount college students spend. “The study the GAO completed included textbooks and supplies, it wasn’t just textbooks,” she said. “And I think what happens is that everyone who writes a story based on another story rounds up the prices, so it sounds much worse. Textbook pricing is bad enough without
exaggerating the numbers.” She said the media needs to be clear about whether they are writing about “just textbooks or textbooks and supplies and they need to quit sensationalizing the numbers.” She said the University Bookstore tries to keep students from paying too much by purchasing as many used books as possible. Over 50 percent of the textbooks sold at the University Bookstore are used books, Slaughter said. Another way to cut the cost, she said, is by speaking frankly with faculty members who order textbooks in bundles with CDs and other instructional supplements. “We work closely with the faculty after they send their orders in,” she said. “If they have a bundle, we call them and say, ‘This is a bundle. Are your students going to use everything in it?’ Sometimes they change their minds. But sometimes faculty won’t change their adoption request because they want students to have access to all the pieces in the bundle.” Heather C. Galloway, physics professor and interim director of the Mitte Honors program, said the physics department has implemented cost-effective strategies for students so that they don’t always need to buy the latest edition of a textbook. “Texas State Students are not wealthy,” Galloway said. “This is a public university and I understand that students here might be more price-conscious than the students would be at a different school.” She said the physics department often uses the same book
The American Democracy New: $101.65 Used: $76.20 College Algebra New: $116.00 Used: $87.00 Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life New: $127.65 Used: $95.70 Western Civilization New: $81.30 Used: $60.95
for 2 to 3 semesters along with Webassign.com, which is an online homework service that allows students to access the same homework problems regardless of which textbook edition they have. “If students are using Webassign.com, they don’t need the newest version,” she said. “Instead they can buy a copy at Goodwill or Half Price Books.” Galloway said she has noticed students coming up with “goofy yet great ways” to save money on textbooks. This, she said, is a sign of a bigger problem. “When you see in your class that students are sharing and copying the textbook, it shows it’s obviously a big issue that students are not having enough money to buy textbooks,” she said.
there are historical records of outbreaks where they brought traffic to a standstill because people couldn’t wash their windshields quickly enough before they would get splattered again,” Nice said. “You couldn’t see and it was very dangerous to drive. It made the highways slick. It’s an incredible amount of biomass being produced.” In his studies, Gilbert discov-
ered that older butterflies are able to mate with females when they emerge from the pupil stage. As a result, younger males are left looking elsewhere for emerging females. “When he continued to observe the same swarm after a couple of days, it evened out,” Quinn said. “It is basically they’re leaving an area of high competition or depleted resources, whether its females or caterpillar food plants.”
TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR
Thursday, August 31, 2006 - Page 4
happeningsof the weekend SAN MARCOS
Thursday Cheatham Street Warehouse — The Grant Ewing Band, The Ben Danaher Band Lucy’s on the Square — Green Mountain Grass, Daughters of the Confederacy The Triple Crown — Opposite Day, Muchas Backflips!, Three Leaf
Friday Cheatham Street Warehouse — Ryan Turner Lucy’s on the Square — New Born Trance Conspiracy, River Rat Brass Band The Triple Crown — Blackholicus, Raditude, Flash Boys
Saturday Cheatham Street Warehouse — James McMurtry & The Heartless Bastards Lucy’s on the Square — Ghostland Observatory The Triple Crown — Word Association, Promise
Trends Contact — Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu
INSPIRATION BEHIND GLASS: The Treasures of the Southwest Writers Collection, on display until Dec. 15, features a wide range of notable memorabilia from the film, music and literature worlds. The collection is located on the 7th floor of the Alkek Library and is open all week.
Jennifer Williams/Star photo
TREASURES Southwestern Writers Collections OF
By Charlotte Almazan The University Star In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Southwestern Writers Collection will show off the treasures it’s been sheltering. On Friday the Southwestern Writers Collection will unveil Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection, an exhibit highlighting cultural artifacts that exemplify inspiration. The theme of the Texas Treasures exhibit concentrates on displaying the creative arc artists follow to turn their ideas into finished products. The showcase is a reminder that great work is created through considerable effort, not a sudden stroke of genius. “(The Southwestern Writers Collection) is always in service of education and inspiration. We set up our events to instruct, illuminate and in some way inspire someone … to create art,” said Michele Miller, marketing and media
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relations coordinator for the Southwestern Writers Collection. The Southwestern Writers Collection, founded by Bill and Sally Wittliff in 1986, is a collection of artifacts that reflect the influence of regional writers, musicians and filmmakers in the cultural arts industry. “This is a great way for young writers to be inspired by seeing the writing process,” said Steve Davis, assistant curator of the Southwestern Writers Collection. Through the past two decades, the university has built its impressive collection of memorabilia by acquiring pieces mostly through donations from the community and writers from the southwest region. “The exhibit is great because it gives you an overview of what we have here. Our archives are so extensive,” Davis said. The 1555 edition of Cabeza De Vaca’s book, La Relacion y Comentarios
and John Grave’s canoe paddle from his Brazos River trip in Goodbye to a River are a couple of the collection’s historical pieces. “The (Cabeza De Vaca) book is the first written account of what became Texas in the southwest,” Davis said. The Southwestern Writers Collection carefully selected pieces that intertwine historical artifacts with modern memorabilia in relation to the creative theme. “It’s difficult to get into the exhibit. (The exhibit) is trying to use what we have to tell a story,” Davis said. Although it focuses on the writing process, the exhibit expands the definition of writer to include songwriters, screenwriters and editors in the company of authors. Any Texas fans and especially music fans will enjoy a rare glimpse of the handmade songbook created by Willie Nelson when he was 11 years old. For fans of animation, the most cur-
rent and largest piece of the collection is a dry-erase production board, accompanied by character cutouts, from the King of the Hill series developed by Austin resident Mike Judge. Some of the artifacts spotlighted in the exhibit capture moments of clarity during the creative process. Letters of correspondence and pages from script rewrites illustrate that writers, at the height of their craft, have to work through the creative process. “(The exhibit) helps to see people who have made it, seeing the process and then thinking that I can make that, too,” said Johnny Scott, art studio senior. One view of creative brainstorming is captured through a supportive letter written by Tom Hanks to Bill Broyles, a Harris County native and Cast Away screenwriter, concerning the development of Hanks’ character. The highlight of the collection will involve a Nov. 9 panel discussion and
book signing from three Texas novelists represented in the collection: Sarah Bird, Elizabeth Crook and Stephen Harrigan. The exhibition is a popular way to flaunt the collection’s mission to inspire, but isn’t the only way to experience what the collection has to offer. “Another big part of our mission is serving our researchers and our students,” Miller said. The collection is open to the public for research purposes with the exception of a few closed artifacts. After students are introduced to the collection, Miller said that they use the archives on three different levels: visual absorption, research tool and welcomed break. “It’s good when you’re studying for hours and hours and need a break,” said Amber Warren, criminal justice graduate student. The exhibition will remain on display through Dec. 15.
Why the Hell Not? touches deep issues with light-hearted sounds, lyrics By Jessica Sinn The University Star Firmly insert tongue in cheek for Kinky Friedman’s latest album, Why the Hell Not?: The Songs of Kinky Friedman. This album showcases classic songs from Pearls in the Snow, a tribute album to Friedman that features an all-star cast of singers and songwriters. Sustain Records infused popular tracks from Pearls in the Snow with revamped classics from Friedman’s band, The Texas Jewboys. Friedman’s wisecracking lyrics are guaranteed to induce belly laughs that’ll have listeners doubling over in tears. The up-beat songs on this album are sure to get boots scooting, feet tapping and beer joints thumping. The album is chock-full of A-list country crooners such as Kevin Fowler, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, Asleep at the Wheel, Reckless Kelly and legend Willie Nelson. “They sang my songs 30 years too late — before they were really famous and I could have made a lot of money off them,” Friedman said. “Music has not been a financial pleasure for the Kinkster. Willie Nelson once said, ‘Kinky thinks he’s a guitar player, but he’s not really a guitar player.” The Texas Jewboys started cranking out progressive-rock tunes in the 1970s and have developed a strong cult following. The formation of The Texas Jewboys was a fusion of his two cultural backgrounds. “That happened when I was in the jungle in the Peace Corps,” Friedman said. “I realized I was a bastard child of the twin cultures — the cowboys and the Jewish; the Texas Jewboys just came natural.” Kevin Fowler kicks off the album with a catchy honky-tonk ditty, “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven (And Your Buns in the Bed).” The lyrics are crude but light-hearted and filled with what Kinky is known
best for — great one-liners. “Kevin Fowler’s ‘Get Your Buns Out of the Oven’ is my favorite song on the album. I also think Lyle Lovett’s version of ‘Sold American,’ is great. Delbert McClinton’s ‘Autograph,’ is just beautiful,” Friedman said. These poignantly politically incorrect lyrics are meant to stir up laughter, yet there are deeper issues at hand: Racism, anti-Semitism and a nod to the victims of the Holocaust are some underlying themes in Friedman’s songs. Willie Nelson put his spin on Friedman’s “Ride ‘Em Jewboy” — a song that paints a sad picture of the horrors that took place during the Holocaust. Friedman is known for his quick wit and off-the-wall jokes, but he can also create evocative and poetic lyrics. Jimmy Buffett will be performing a benefit concert for Friedman’s political campaign on Sept. 19 in Austin at the Paramount. Parrot-Heads, fans of Buffett, can catch a glimpse of Friedman there. Because Friedman is busy pursuing the Texas governor campaign trail, he won’t be writing new songs or performing with The Jewboys anytime soon. “It’ll be easier to fly my way to the moon than to write new songs — almost as tough as getting married this late in life,” Friedman said. Friedman has accumulated a long list of fans from his best-selling mystery novels, in which the cigar-chomping and trash-talking protagonist is none other than himself. Fans of his critically acclaimed mystery novels will notice that the fictitious Kinky pops up in the song, “They Aint Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore.” Known for his trademark black leather getups, black Stetson hat and chain-smoking cigar habit, Friedman proves to be an unconventional candidate for governor. This ambitious native Texan is in hot pursuit for the governor’s chair and will entertain the masses along the way.
When his political writer Molly Ivins asked him why he was running for governor, he responded, “Why the hell not?” “Buy this album and vote. If young people vote, politics as usual will be dead. I’d like to get rid of the old farts, fill the board of regents with young people and get rid of the high costs of tuition,” Friedman said. “I’d like to tell the young little boogers, ‘Ask not if you’re proud of Texas — ask if you’ve made Texas proud of you.’” LIGHTHEARTED: Kinky Friedman’s new album doesn’t take itself too seriously. The CD contains pieces from Pearls in the Snow, a tribute album to Friedman featuring Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam and Lyle Lovett.
Photo courtesy of Sustain Records
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Page 5 - The University Star
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Album bumps former Texas State student’s music career up a notch By Sam Ladach-Bark The University Star
Jennifer Williams/Star photo TEXAS COUNTRY: Kyle Park will be playing at the Dell Diamond along with Tracy Lawrence and Clint Black Sept. 1.
Texas singer/songwriter Kyle Park blends elements of traditional country melodies with an energetic twist that places his upbeat tunes in their own genre. With the release of his debut album, Big Time, Kyle Park has respectively put himself on the map as one of today’s newest sounds in country music. Park grew up in Leander and is close to his family, which he said is his greatest gift in addition to music. He began as a semiserious musician in 1998 — writing more than 70 songs. Since his band’s debut release in 2005, he has become a full-time artist. His live act can be seen most often in and around Austin, but he calls San Marcos home. “I can’t get enough of the scenery and the down-to-earth people,” Park said. Park was a business major at Texas State. “I’m not enrolled currently, but I expect to return soon. Right now, I don’t want to turn down a serious gig because I have class the next day,” Park said. Park’s first major breakthrough in the local music scene came in 2002 when his five-song demo was played by KVET, an Austin countryrock station.
“Once I found out that they were playing my songs and getting requests for it, I started to think that this could be a serious new career path for me,” Park said. Less than three years later, he began recording Big Time, an album six years in the making. Park said it was recorded over the course of 11 months. “I didn’t want to cut corners, but hearing the music in my head come to life in the studio was an inspiring experience,” Park said. His new album exhibits 10 of his own songs, with guest musicians such as Jason Roberts and David Sanger from Asleep at the Wheel. Songwriting has always appealed to Park, using it as a tool to express personality and experience. “I honestly don’t have enough life experience, so for my music I try to create stories and characters,” Park said. On Saturday, Park will play a benefit concert, the Texas Triple Play, with chart-topping country veterans Clint Black and Tracy Lawrence. Home of the baseball team the Round Rock Express, the Dell Diamond and it’s 8,000 plus seats will host the concert. Park said he isn’t nervous about performing in front of such a large audience. “I’m really excited to say the least. I’m totally focused on making things ride, but I will take this show more serious than others,” Park said.
A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit the Miracle League, an organization that invites children with specials needs to participate in baseball. “We’re thrilled to be hosting the first major country music concert at the Dell Diamond — especially with such a great cause in mind,” Round Rock Express President Jay Miller said. “… to be helping out Miracle League is such a great bonus for us and the community.” The Miracle League’s latest project will be realized this fall due to beneficiaries such as the Round Rock Express. A brand new $700,000 baseball field, conducive to wheelchairs, crutches and braces will open on the Town and Country Optimist Sports Center located in northwest Austin. The concert will start at 7 p.m. with Park opening followed by Black and Lawrence. Park said he is excited about playing the show and promises an energetic live performance. “I’m not the George Strait type — to just sit and rock back and forth,” Park said. FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.kyleparkmusic.com For tickets to the Texas Music Triple Play at The Dell Diamond, visit www.roundrockexpress.com or call (512)255-2255
Gomez to bring foreign sound Ghostland Observatory to scare up a crowd at Lucy’s to Austin City Limits Festival guess it comes down to By Leah Kirkwood The University Star
By Charlotte Almazan The University Star
During the last few years, the band’s music has been included in popular shows such as Gomez can be described as Entourage, Grey’s Anatomy and five British lads with sophisti- House. However, the band first cated songs and critical praise, gained familiarity with Ameribut it would not be fair. One can say they are The can audiences through the Beatles meets The Grateful Philips Electronic commercial Dead with Eddie Vedder on vo- campaign that featured the Beatles song, “Getting Better.” cals, but it would not be true. The raspy Beatles remake is Here lies the problem with Gomez. As of late, they are the Gomez’s signature sound that current title-holders of “the helps divide the line between band you haven’t heard of but Gomez and British bands. Organized in 1996, Gomez’s should.” However, now is the time to give Gomez your atten- debut album edged out Mastion. sive Attack and The Verve for “They’ve been around for Britain’s album of the year almost 10 years. I think the back in 1998. (ACL) fans will react positively Those familiar with their (to the music). The sound they sound agree with the Eddie Veare known for is more prevalent dder comparison of lead singer now,” said Kristin Hennessey, Ben Ottewell’s vocals, but what music director for KTSW, the differs Gomez from the current campus radio station. British wave is their blues infuOn Sept. 15, the quintet will sion into their sound. return to Austin and take the As many indie bands are gostage as one of the first bands ing toward synthesized sounds, to open the Austin City Limits Gomez celebrates its ability to Festival. jam as band while incorporatHowever, the buzz from the ing sophisticated Brit pop into music industry that surrounds the mix. the festival is partial to the new The band is known for havbands to watch. Festival orga- ing a niche of an American fan nizers added bands like Gomez base, but that niche may be to the bill for musical diversity about to grow. “Their popularity has aland because the band could use that extra element of exposure. ways been there. We feature the “(Festivals) can be helpful group on our displays,” said to smaller bands if you have Marty Pedranzan, Music for a the bigger bands booked,” Song employee. said Sean Hesterly, undeclared Now with a new album to freshman. promote, How D u r We Operate, the band will ing the estivals) play a doublepast few can be header in Ausyears, the music intin week of helpful to smaller the the festival. Afdustry has bands if you have ter their showheld a red flag to the case at ACL, the bigger bands listening the band is booked.” audience, also scheduled but only to play at La — Sean Hesterly the true Zona Rosa the undeclared freshman new musame evening. “I think the sic seekers (ACL) festihave responded. val helps by publicizing the Chances are that Texas State bands,” said Jon Scott, undestudents have heard the band’s cided freshman. “It gives them music without knowing it. plenty of exposure.”
“(F
Ghostland Observatory gets crowds moving with their beatdriven, electronic music with a rock ’n’ roll vibe. The Austin-based band will headline a show Saturday at Lucy’s on the Square with This Will Destroy You and Happy Families. Thomas Turner, producer and drummer, creates the beats for Ghostland Observatory while Aaron Behrens lends his
commanding presence and long, black braids to the vocals of each song. Behrens said he draws inspiration from past rock ’n’ roll front men like Freddie Mercury. “I’ve always liked artists that express themselves, not just visually, but physically and emotionally, too,” Behrens said. The duo has released two albums on Trashy Moped Recordings in the past year, delete. delete.i.eat.meat and Paparazzi Lightning.
Photo courtesy of myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory ELECTRONIC ROCK: Austin-based Ghostland Observatory, fresh off their Lollapalooza performance, will bring their genrebending music to Lucy’s San Marcos Saturday night.
“I
electronics and rock ’n’ roll, but you can’t really describe it. You have to be at the show to know what it’s about. It’s like a robot having sex with a tree.”
— Aaron Behrens Ghostland Observatory frontman
When asked to describe his music, Turner simply said it is “different.” Behrens also struggled to name Ghostland’s sound and style. “I guess it comes down to electronics and rock ’n’ roll, but you can’t really describe it,” said Behrens. “You have to be at the show to know what it’s about. It’s like a robot having sex with a tree.” Behrens said he was surprised by the crowd’s enthusiasm at the April 1 sold out show at Lucy’s with Clap!Clap! “The last show (at Lucy’s) was really awesome,” Behrens said. “We had a great time.” Behrens and Turner both credit the San Marcos audience for starting a trend at Ghostland shows. “I think they originated the
whole ‘getting-up-on-stage’ thing because the crowd’s been doing it at every show since,” Turner said. Behrens said Saturday’s show might include some new material. “There’s a possibility of a couple new songs,” Behrens said. “If the crowd calls for it, we’ll play some new stuff.” Turner said a new song called “Heavy Hearts” is currently one of his favorites to perform. Happy Families will kick-off the lineup at 9:30 p.m. with their own brand of schoolboy angst, followed by This Will Destroy You at 10:30 p.m. and Ghostland Observatory at 11:30 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Sundance Records and online at FrontGateTickets.com.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
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TRENDS/DIVERSIONS
Page 7 - The University Star
Thursday, August 31, 2006
RIX’S
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TECHNOLOGY FIXES
Tips to keep your computer clean
This is directed toand sloppy registry enward the new Bobcats, tries. It’s safest to keep with their new, shiny them from launching upon startup, that Dell and Apple laptops: Get acquainted way they won’t bother you later. Deleting the with your computer! Not being knowlshortcut will help too, edgeable about comso you won’t accidenBILL RIX puter basics seems to tally launch them. Star Columnist be the top contributor I’m going out on a to computer problems. limb here by saying Let’s start with the majority mar- that the Windows environment is ket — Dell owners. slightly more complex to the lay It doesn’t help that most Dell user. It wouldn’t hurt to read up machines come semi-messed up. on basics such as the Windows Dell fills your computer up with file structure and how the RAM an atrocious amount of rubbish. handles applications. Free Internet service provider triAs for the Mac folks, there has als, CD-burning software, search been a sharp increase in Apple assistants and other things that ownership. And while Mac users clutter up your hard drive and do shell out more money for a registry — you might as well comparable system, the benefits reformat the monster at first of OS X are innumerable. While chance. Your best bet is to leave Apple users find some things easthem alone unless you want to ier, it’s still important to be able mess with poorly coded uninstalls to help yourself when problems
arise. To keep problems at bay, make sure your computer has the most up-to-date patches and software releases. The biggest problem Apple users make is that they tend to treat OS X like Windows. Most of the keyboard shortcuts translate — the only distinction being the command key. The difference between closing an open window and quitting the application is the application will keep running and it will weigh the RAM down if you just shut the window. Terminate the program by either going to the File menu or use the keyboard shortcut, command-Q. The last tip is that regardless of how many buttons your mouse has, you can get a context-sensitive menu by holding down control when you click. It’s similar to the right-click in Windows and can save time.
SU DO KU Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains every digit from one through nine inclusively.
Yesterday’s solutions:
© Pappocom
Yesterday’s solutions:
OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR
onlineconnection What do you think about the level of safety in San Marcos? Go to www.UniversityStar.com to vote in our online poll. Results will be published in next Thursday’s issue of The University Star.
Thursday, August 31, 2006 - Page 8
*This is not a scientific poll
Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu
Students should take necessary precautions to avoid identity theft THE MAIN POINT
A
s a college student, your identity is important. That includes the one you use online to pay your tuition, buy your textbooks and send private information. You put yourself at risk, though, if you don’t play it safe — and online thieves know that. People ages 18 to 24 years old are one of the top-three categories most likely to be victims of identity theft, according to the Department of Justice Web site. Carelessness or inaction could lead to significant losses, but precautionary measures can keep you safe. These measures aren’t anything out of the ordinary. Be sure not to check your bank balance at the Wells Fargo outlet in the LBJ Student Center and always log out of CatsWeb when you leave the Alkek Library. Even if you do take measures such as these to protect yourself, there are still ways that people can get to your identity. Key loggers and unencrypted login portals — there are several venues at which thieves can make off with sensitive information. Call your financial institution and ask that they halt all transfers of money and freeze all card activity if something happens to minimize financial damage. Report stolen cards as soon as you think someone has access to your information. Credit card companies can be called at the numbers listed on their Web sites
and on the monthly credit reports. Social Security numbers can be reported stolen at the local Social Security office. After identity theft, personal safety quickly becomes an issue when your security is compromised. Your residence, phone number and possibly even your credit card or Social Security number are all things that a thief could potentially have access to. Whenever you buy online, look for a lock at the bottom right corner of your browser window indicating that the information being
ONLINE & UNSAFE
transmitted is secure and cannot be intercepted. Even if someone knows that their data is being transmitted securely, they might not know if it is being stored securely. Concerns about your credit card number getting hacked out of a company or a lack of trust for a Web site can be alleviated by using services such as PayPal or similar companies where credit card numbers aren’t stored. Companies will never send you an e-mail asking you for this information
and will never ask you to follow a link in an e-mail to provide the information to them. Remember that much more than money is stolen when an identity is duplicated and that recovering from such an incident can be long and troublesome. Common-sense thinking will keep you and your investments out of hot water and keep you safe online.
Letter to the Editor Bus service lacking, full rides causing student irritation I consider myself a patient person; however, this morning I was late for class because of the lack of space on the Bobcat Stadium buses. I got to the lot at half past 9 for a 10 a.m. class and did not actually board a bus until 10 minutes to 10 a.m. The one bus that came by in that 20-minute span was completely packed. I find it both interesting and wholly obnoxious that it took me the same time to get to the lot this morning from South Austin as it took for me to get from the lot to The Quad. If I had not been parked in the south stadium lot, I’d have walked; however, given that I voted for the bus fee increase with the hope of improved bus service, I find this appearance of the opposite effect quite irritating. The university needs to either actually bring the bus service up to a first-world standard or refund us the fees. Ivy L. Crawford history junior
Online Poll Results Social Networking Web sites
D
o you think someone’s MySpace, Facebook or Friendster account should be considered when they apply for a professional job? No, employers shouldn’t read too much into that
54%
Yes, people should be held accountable for their online postings
42%
Kelly Simmons/Star illustration
Maybe/I don’t know
Spell check can save thyme, weather you’re a good student or knot In a popular musical often performed by high school drama departments, the protagonist, FRED AFFLERBACH Star Columnist J. Pierrepont Finch, gets away with goofing his way to the top of the business world. If it can work on stage, then why not at the college level? In How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying a young window washer (freshman) relies on manipulations rather than hard work to climb the ladder at World Wide Wicket Company (Texas State). First off, a few basic hurdles in college — those persnickety English professors intent on perfect spelling, punctuation and grammar, and their pesky homework assignments — can
be overcome with a little help from modern technology. As students, we come armed with more than the $14,000 worth of unread textbooks bouncing around in our backpacks. We have spell check, a foolproof way to insure we have spelled everything write. Now you might think this wonderful tool is very expensive, costing thousands upon thousands of dollars — like a tank of gas, or a monthly cell phone bill — but it comes free with most word processing software. So it is not just for effluent people like politicians and CEOs, but for students on a budget, or senor citizens on fixed income. If you are not familiar with spell check and are curious why those little, red lines keep popping up underneath your words as you type, then this is a read letter day for you. Here’s how it works. I just
misspelled the word “misspell” in this sentence, but one of those squiggly, little red critters alerted me. So I clicked on spell check in my toolbar and it showed me the correct spelling. And the best thing, you don’t have to learn to spell the word correctly, just click one of the suggestions in the dialogue box and presto, the line disappears and the word is spelled write. If you feel uneasy proofreading your English assignment, worried how your tripe looks on paper, don’t worry weather anything can go wrong. Spell check has got you covered. Sometimes proofreading as you go is to much work. And if you don’t like little red lines constantly chasing you across the monitor, then here’s another feature that will help save thyme. You can set up spell check to weight till you
are threw writing, and then you can check the whole document at once. And there’s more. Spell check can follow along, correcting any misspelled words as you type. Sort of like Mom picking up after you at home. Unfortunately, spell check catches proper names that are unusual and treats them as if they are misspelled. So if you are writing a paper about the Russian novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and you don’t like Denisovich underlined in red glaring up at you, simply open up spell check and add Denisovitch to you’re computer’s dictionary. With spell check now performing my heavy intellectual lifting, I can forget that pesky rhyme drummed into me by former English teachers meant to help students remember how to spell such tricky words as deceive, relieve and believe:
“I before E, accept after C, or sounded as A as in neighbor or way.” Writing with spell check at my side is like the old saying about throwing dynamite and horseshoes — you just have to get close. Or maybe the Greyhound commercial said it best: “Sit back, relax and leaf the driving to us.” At the end of the musical, our hero, Finch, has connived his way to a cush job on the bored of directors (faculty) without really doing anything other than showing up and learning how to get out of trouble. So, in introspect, use spell check religiously to make your English grades sore, and help pave a smooth rode to a successful college experiment. Without really trying. Afflerbach is a mass communication senior.
Letters policy: E-mail letters to starletters@txstate.edu. Letters must be no longer than 300 words. No anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit for grammar, spelling, space and libel. We reserve the right to refuse obscene, irrelevant and malicious letters. All e-mails must include the name and phone number of the letter writer. Students should also include their classifications and majors.
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4%
Results compiled from The University Star Web site online poll. This is not a scientific survey.
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.
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 August 31, 2006. 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.
SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR
WinningLegend Texas State will dedicate the Bill Miller Victory Ball and “T” Association room located behind the west stands at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in honor of the winningest football coach in Bobcat annals. Miller, who passed away in February, coached Texas State from 1964 through 1978 and compiled a record of 94-53-3. In 1975, he was named the director of athletics — a post he held until his retirement in 1992. Members of Miller’s family will be on hand for both dedications, prior to Texas State’s season opener.
Thursday, August 31, 2006 - Page 10
Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu
Bobcats, Texans to battle Volleyball tries to thwart in season opener Saturday revenge in Edinburg By Chris Boehm The University Star
By Nate Brooks The University Star For nearly nine months, the Bobcats have patiently waited to get back on the field. This Saturday, Texas State gets its chance to prove last season’s historic run was not a oncein-every-23-years fluke when they return to Bobcat Stadium to take on Tarleton State in the 2006 season opener. “It’s finally here,” senior linebacker Shola Obafemi said. “We’re ready to come out and play. After awhile, you get tired of hitting each other because these are your teammates. We’re ready to get after them.” Tarleton State enters the contest ranked No. 25 by the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll and is picked to finish first in the Lone Star Conference South Division after going 7-3 last season. Tarleton, coached by Bobcat alumnus Sam McElroy, has built a strong winning tradition with six straight winning seasons and the Bobcats know they can’t take them lightly. “This is no walk in the park,” junior quarterback Chase Wasson said. “They’ll have a chip on their shoulder coming in here after our success last year and we have to be ready to play. They are really talented and it is going to be a big test.” Tarleton State returns six starters from a potent and balanced offense that averaged 26.7 points and 383.4 total yards per game last season. “It’s going to be a great football game,” coach David Bailiff said. “They are not much different athletically from us. They have a Division 1 transfer at quarterback, a Division 1 transfer at running back and a huge offensive line.” Senior quarterback Richard Bartel returns to lead the offense after passing for 1,883 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. Bartel transferred from SMU in the fall of 2004, where he started two years at quarterback before pursuing a brief baseball career in the Cincinnati Reds organization as a 14th-round draft pick. Tarleton State also returns a pair of Bartel’s favorite targets in seniors Jeremy Madkins and Dustin Pleasant. Madkins led the team with 51 receptions for 693 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Pleasant, a transfer from Wyoming, recorded 22 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns in 2005, his first season with the Texans. On the ground, the Texans turn to running back Korey Sutton to replace the 1,512
Adam Brown/Star file photo READY TO PLAY: Senior running back Daniel Jolly finished the 2005 season with 515 yards on 111 carries. The Bobcats hope to use his and others’ talents to continue their winning momentum into the 2006 season opener against Tarleton State Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
yards and 13 touchdowns accounted for by Derrick Ross last season. Sutton is a sophomore transfer from Arkansas, who was twice selected first-team All-State at Texas High School in Texarkana. On defense, the Texans return six starters from a unit that allowed only 18.5 points and a respectable 366.5 yards of total offense per game. Preseason All-American selection Ranardrick Phillips leads the way after recording 90 tackles and a team-leading 8.5 tackles for a loss last year. Phillips was named LSC South Division Defensive Player of the Year in his first season with the team after transferring from Hutchinson Community College. Senior linebacker Erick Smith joins Phillips after leading the team with 98 tackles a year ago. Smith also tallied five tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Tarleton State returns an excellent special teams unit with senior All-American place kicker Paul Williams. The 29-year-old ex-Marine enters the season with the NCAA Division II career record of 25 consecutive field goals, dating back to the 2004 season. Williams has been named pre-season first team
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All-American by both Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and Division2Football.com. Texas State is careful in not overlooking the Texans, keeping in mind their goals of the long season ahead. “We have to take one game at a time,” Obafemi said. “Like the coaches keep telling us, you can’t win all of them without winning the first one.” The season kicks off 6 p.m. on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
The Bobcats better have their canteens filled and ready. “It’s a war,” said volleyball coach Karen Chisum. “Every time you step on the court it’s a war.” Texas State returns to the battlefield this weekend for two matches in the UTPA Women’s Volleyball Invitational. The Bobcats travel to Edinburg for a rematch Friday at 7 p.m. with UTPA, then face off with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, picked to finish last in the Big 12 after doing just that in 2005. “That doesn’t mean anything. That was last year,” Chisum said. “(The Red Raiders) are better than Texas State. They’re probably expecting to get a win.” Texas State opened the season with a dominant performance in San Marcos’ CenturyTel/Classic Honda Premier, a three-game sweep over the Lady Broncs. UTPA stands at 1-3 after the tournament, its lone win coming against North Texas, who defeated the Bobcats in three games. “I’m glad we played them early in the tournament, because they got better,” Chisum said. “The difference this time around is that they’re at home and they’ll be much tougher to beat.” UTPA features outside hitter Heather Bravo, an all-tournament selection for her performance in San Marcos over the weekend. In four matches she totaled 49 kills for a 4.21 per-game average. The senior is one pace to be only the second Lady Bronco ever to register 1,000 digs and kills each over an entire season. “Bravo’s a tough, scrappy player,” Chisum said. “She plays strong and physical defense.” Texas Tech finished in the Big 12’s cellar last year, with a record of 10-16. Coach Nancy Todd leads her team into the weekend with outside hitter Amy Charlebois averaging 4.2 kills and almost a block a game. On defense freshman libero Jenn Harrell paces the
added pressure on senior middle blockers Karry Griffin and Ashley Stark, whom Chisum is already counting on for heightened offensive production after a poor weekend showing. In its two losses, Texas State was outscored 7798 in kills, committing 54 errors on its way to a .082 team attack percentage. “Our middles have got to play a lot better,” Chisum said. “They’ve got to do a better job transferring off the net.” Offense has been a point of emphasis in practice this week, as Chisum and company search for a second weapon to replace St. Francis’ 2.42 kills per game average from a year ago. She was Danny Rodriguez/Star photo the team’s second-leading return KILLER QUEEN: Senior player. outside hitter Lawrencia Brown “We’ve got one of six people finished last weekend’s games that could step up,” Chisum said. scoring a high of 24 kills in two “Usually you’d expect the outside hitters to be the ones scoring and of the four separate games. that’s Kelly Fletcher and freshShe and the rest of the Bobman Jessica Weynand (eight kills cats will be facing both Texasvs. UNT). Weynand showed me Pan American and Texas Tech some things last weekend. She rethis weekend in Edinburg. ally stepped up. But we can’t have just one person terminating the club with 3.05 digs per game. ball.” “I’m not even thinking about That one player Chisum spoke Texas Tech right now. We’ve got of is sophomore outside hitter our minds on UTPA,” Chisum Lawrencia Brown, the Southland said. “Texas Tech’s a good viable Conference’s first Offensive Player opponent and I have the utmost of the Week in ’06. The Austin narespect for Nancy Todd.” tive averaged 6.08 kills per game Against the Mean Green in its in four matches, posting a careerfinal contest of the weekend, Tex- high 24 on two separate occasions. as State dropped three straight On defense she also notched 42 games 30-26, 31-29 and 30-25. digs over the weekend. The Bobcats also lost an earlier “Lawrencia had a great week on match to 14th-ranked USC. the back line,” Chisum said.” “USC was not an issue,” Chisum Defense is where Texas State said. “Against North Texas there’s excelled the most during the no doubt I was disappointed. We tournament, out-digging its opdid not come out and compete.” ponent twice in four matches, led Of more dire consequence is by libero Kacey Wimpy’s weekend the loss of Texas State’s top mid- total of 43. The freshman from dle blocker, junior Brandy St. Arlington has stepped in right Francis. The former Deer Park away, starting for graduate Amy High School star went down in Ramirez. the UNT match with a knee in“Kacey is doing an excellent job jury. Chisum said St. Francis will anchoring the back line,” Chisum be out indefinitely. said. “Our defense is definitely The loss of St. Francis puts ahead of our offense right now.”
Texas State to host Centenary College Friday By Carl Harper The University Star Texas State hopes to get into the win column Friday, as it will host Centenary College in the third game of the young season. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Texas State Soccer Complex. Centenary is coming off a 3-2 overtime win against Bobcat rival Sam Houston Sunday afternoon on its own turf. Wednesday the club continued its trip through the Southland Conference with a stop at Nicholls State. Freshman Stefani Robbs scored the game-tying goal with less than three minutes left, sending the game beyond regulation against SHSU. She then continued her heroics in overtime by scoring the winning goal, giving her team a 1-0 start to the season. For her efforts, she was named Mid-Continent Conference Offensive Player of
the Week Monday and has given Centenary momentum for the road. Texas State will need to be prepared for players such as Robbs and her teammates Bre Fletcher and Ali Hilsher. Fletcher, a junior from Schertz, made the other goal for Centenary and is second on the team with four shots. Goalkeeper Hilsher has a 1.92 goals-against average and a .818 save percentage that could potentially give Bobcat shooters a problem in Friday night’s game. Bobcat coach Kat Conner was pleased with Sunday’s defensive performance against the North Texas, the second of two home games to start the season. Her squad surrendered a 2-1 loss after being shut out 10-0 by Oklahoma State, and will be looking to get the offense rolling. “Now that we have seen how we have to defend with everybody, now we can start to work
offensively,” Conner said. “Now we will start looking at our runs to the goal and to get behind people and going at people. (Forward Nicole) Kinard showed those plays against UNT and now we’ve got to get the rest of the team to do that, too.” Assistant coach Megan Ramey had additional thoughts to the team’s workouts in practice this week. “We will be working together more as a unit,” Ramey said. “We want to get inside and behind the defense and finish in the run of the play. We focus on getting chances on every play rather than set pieces.” Texas State stands at 0-2 after the first two, a three-game home stand, and is looking to salvage a match before loading the bus for four on the road. “I think this game will be equivalent to the game against UNT, which we walked away not feeling that we lost,” defend-
er Kristy Collison said. “This week will work on some different offensive runs, but with the defense comes offense. As a unit we are mainly working on high defensive pressure situations and working on supporting each other. Right now we’re looking good.” Texas State could be without the services of goalkeeper Paige Perriraz yet again, who was held out of Sunday’s game after reaggravating her thumb in the Oklahoma State contest. Sunday the Bobcats will focus on moving the ball downfield, something they were not able to do very well against the Cowgirls. OSU out-shot Texas State 25 to seven in the route. “We’ll be practicing our defense and helping our outside flankers,” sophomore Marty Wright said. “We also need to generate the ball from midfield up to the forwards. We’ll get our offense sorted out this week.”
