09 10 2009

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Defending the First Amendment since 1911

Volume 99, Issue 7

ThURSDAY

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Percussionist Susan Martin Tariq came to Texas State to show her skills at a music recital Wednesday night. SEE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO AT UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

October brings Halloween, University prepares for reaffirmation to SACS swine flu vaccinations See the Video Online at

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By Bianca Davis News Reporter

See the Photos Online at

Jenny Polson/Star file photo illustration SIGH OF RELIEF: Texas State will be receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine in October.

By Clay Thorp News Reporter Shipments of the H1N1 vaccine are making their way to Texas State. Following the postponement of greek life events and reports of an H1N1 “swine flu” outbreak within an unnamed Texas State sorority last week, the Student Health Center, along with registered county health providers, are making preparations to vaccinate those most at risk for contracting the deadly virus. Expected in October, the vaccinations will be dispersed by the Department of State Health Services and will be given especially to children and young

adults, ages 6 months to 24 years old. “Seasonal flu tends to affect older populations,” said Dr. Emilio Carranco, director of the Student Health Center. “H1N1, (however) is affecting a lot of younger people and is causing serious consequences in college students.” Other groups to be immunized include pregnant women, caregivers of children under 6 months of age and people ages 25 to 64 that have conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza. There are five companies who are manufacturing the H1N1 vaccine. They include Sanofi Pastuer, Novartis, GSK,

Confirmed and probable case rate of H1N1 within the US

Medimmune and CSL. All have been contracted by the federal government through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and have been working since April on massproducing an effective means to combat H1N1. “The plan is for the majority of county residents to receive vaccine from their primary healthcare providers,” said Priscilla Hargraves, director of the Hays County Personal Health Department. Hargraves said providers may charge an administration fee for vaccination, but the Hays County Personal Health Department will provide free vaccines for the under and uninsured. Hargraves could not confirm the amount of vaccines expected in October. Following a CDC report for the last week of August, which raised the number of nationwide deaths caused by swine flu to 593, existing emergency plans in the event of a pandemic have been reviewed and are expected to successfully combat any emergency situation. “If needed, dispensing clinics can be established throughout the county to better reach the population,” said Jeff Turner,

Texas State is in the final www.universitystar.com stages of a five-year process to be reaffirmed to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. University officials are completing the reaffirmation process, formerly referred to as reaccreditation, as required by the Commission on Colleges. Each accredited institution much be reaffirmed every 10 years. SACS formerly required all institutions to comply with a series of “must statements,” but the process changed in 2001 and in 2004 it became effective. “It’s a completely different process we go through,” said Cathy Fleuriet, associate vice president for Institutional Effectiveness and SACS liaison. “We decide who we are as a university and how we approach our mission, which is very student learning oriented.” Fleuriet said reaffirmation is important because the process analyzes how the university operates as a whole. Texas State began the first planning phase of the new process, which is a more customized approach to accreditation and reaffirmation than five years ago. “It’s been at least five years ago we started talking about student learning outcomes,” Fleuriet said. “We went to all the colleges and departments and explained to them what this was all about and getting student learning at the forefront.” The SACS reaffirmation process is outlined in Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for

Quality Enhancement. The process has two main components: a Compliance Certification Report and a Quality Enhancement Plan, which is considered a core requirement. “The huge part of this is, can we communicate what we do well in writing and documentation?” Fleuriet said. “If we communicate this extremely well then they can get an objective look.” The Compliance Certification Report, which was submitted Tuesday to an off-site review team, addresses approximately 85 items regarding university procedure. “The report addresses every single Core Requirement, Comprehensive Standard and Federal Requirement, except the Quality Enhancement Plan,” Fleuriet said. “We look at our own process for doing all the things we do — that’s what the Core Requirements ask.” Two years ago the university conducted an initial audit to determine which areas needed improvement and which were considered to be doing well. Officials then consulted the audit and began making improvements in preparation for submitting the Compliance Certification Report. A review of the Compliance Certification Report by an off-site review committee is underway. “Over the next two months they will be looking at all of our documentations, student learning outcomes and narratives to see if we’re compliant — that we are doing these things correctly,” Fleuriet said. see SACS, page 4

Cancer Research

Four of the seven candidates bidding for a place on City Council this upcoming election have their sights set for Place 5 – a seat with no incumbent challenger. Current Councilmember Pam Couch, who declined to run as the incumbent, is vacating seat 5 this year. Competing to replace her are Lisa Marie Coppoletta, academic adviser in the Education Advising Center, Shaune Maycock, CEO of San Marcos small business, Blue Skies Aviation

and Ryan Thomason, a homebuilder and vice chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission of San Marcos. “We all want what is best for San Marcos,” Thomason said. “Too often city politics is divisive and polarizing – I want to bring the community together instead of pulling it apart.” Also competing for council seat 5 is John Nesselhauf, political science junior and ASG senator. “One of my goals for this election is to create a stronger connection between the university and the city,” Nes-

Lindsey Goldstein/Star Photo Two Texas State faculty members take part in cancer research. STORY PAGE 3

selhauf said. “Students are a part of this city too, and it is important to me they are involved in and represented by the city council.” Three candidates are running for Place 6. Unlike seat 5, Place 6, is currently held by councilmember and small business owner John Thomaides, who is running as an incumbent. Rivaling Thomaides are Anita Fuller, retired, and Monica Garcia, former U.S. Marine currently employed as a Mary Kay beauty consultant. “I may not have much experience,” Garcia said, “but

Scattered T-Storms Precipitation: 60% Humidity: 66% UV: 7 High Wind: E 8mph

Friday Scattered Thunderstorms Temp: 89°/70° Precip: 50%

Saturday Isolated Thunderstorms Temp: 87°/70° Precip: 60%

INISDE THIS ISSUE News…..Pages 1-4 University researchers help develop potential cancer-controller New service to Wonder World City efforts will help three families acquire homes Opinions….Page 5 Main Point: Infectious Environment New Wittliff collection is true to Texas ‘Political bias’ interferes with ‘true goal’

Toastmasters relocate to Salt Grass Steakhouse

City Council seat lacks incumbent challenger By Travis Hord News Reporter

87°/70°

Trends.......Page 6-7 Skydive San Marcos offers adrenaline rush to risk takers

see H1N1, page 4

Photo courtesy of Student Health Center

Today’s Weather

I am passionate about San Marcos, and I am willing to listen to and serve the people of this city.” Council seats 5 and 6 are considered “at large,” meaning any San Marcos resident can run for and fill the seat, regardless of where their residence lies within San Marcos. Other seats on the council are restricted to particular zones throughout the city. Only residents with homesteads in those respective zones can run to fill the seats. Shane Scott, alumnus and small business owner, dropped out of the race for seat 5 last

week. “With so many people running, I’d like to avoid a run-off election,” Scott said. “Run-offs waste a lot of time and a lot of money, and I would prefer to see a positive outcome from this election.” Coppoletta ran against Councilmember Chris Jones, Place 3, in November. Voter registration for the council election will end Oct. 5. Early voting for the election run from Oct. 19 to Oct. 30. The council election itself will be held Nov. 3.

H.O.P.E. contributes to new art exhibit Bobcat Tube soon to be available on Web Diversions…Page 8 Classifieds…Page 8 Sports….Pages 9-10 Money runs college football, not talent Volleyball starts series this weekend Bobcat soccer prepares for catfight Friday


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