09 13 2007

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE

CHOCOHOLICS

Women’s golf captures individual and team championships as season tees off in Nebraska

CELEBRATE

Hershey turns 150

SEE SPORTS PAGE 12

SEE TRENDS PAGE 6

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

SEPTEMBER 13, 2007

THURSDAY

VOLUME 97, ISSUE 10

Faculty may be required to be drug tested Scott Thomas News Reporter Mandatory random drug testing among faculty was almost unanimously opposed by the senators who expressed their opinion at Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting.

The Policy and Procedure Statement making testing mandatory was initiated by the human resources department and has been discussed by the Faculty Senate in previous meetings, most recently their July 26 summer session meeting.

“I think the Faculty Senate should op-

pose this,” said Faculty Sen. David Wiley, health, physical education and recreations professor. “I think it’s just a bad policy all around, especially since there’s no rampant use, that I know of at least, of drugs amongst the faculty at Texas State.”

Faculty Sen. John McGee, finance and economics professor, said all universities that wish to receive federal grants must have some policy on faculty drug use, however, that policy does not have to involve random drug testing.

“We’ve looked all over for a university that has a policy like this and we couldn’t find one,” said Faculty Sen.

Debra Feakes, chemistry professor.

According to the minutes of the July 26 meeting, “The draft (Policy and Procedures Statement) suggesting random drug testing for faculty and staff seems to have hit a roadblock. While the deans offered no support to block its institution, the university attorney has indicated that in its present form it is unconstitutional unless some provision is made to require some evidence of need for the test to be administered, i.e., some evidence of reasonable suspicion.”

No mention of the constitutionality of the policy was mentioned Wednesday.

Wiley said a Breathalyzer could be a reasonable alternative, ensuring faculty were sober while at work without invading privacy.

“Are we looking for a drug-free workforce here or workspace?” Wiley asked.

Faculty Sen. Ian Davidson, music professor, said it was possible the test could be influenced by a faculty member’s environment, as opposed to their direct actions, giving the hypothetical example of a professor at a jazz concert with marijuana in close proximity.

“I too vigorously oppose this,” Davidson said. “I think that any testing for any

individual for any drug use should be triggered by them not doing their job.”

Wiley further questioned the legitimacy, accuracy and security of the test as well as its ability to be compromised.

“If someone takes a fluid from me, is it still mine?” Wiley asked.

Stone said he would invite John McBride, director of Human Resources, to the Sept.

26 meeting for further discussion.

“I don’t support drug use,” Davidson said. “I know, not at this university, many working artists who are regular users of something that could get them in trouble.”

SRC expansion can’t come quickly enough for some students

By Kristen Williams News Reporter As the Student Recreation Center overflows with students, many anxiously await the opening of the 94,000 square-foot expansion to the center. Some complain that at night, when they have free time, there is no space to workout.

Front desk worker Donna Darilek said the SRC is slow in the morning and begins to pick up in the evening.

“The best time to come is in the early morning, from 6 to 12,” said Darilek, pre-psychology junior. “It’s busiest from 3:45 to 8. Sunday evening is not too bad. The weight room and basketball courts get pretty busy. Racquetball gets busy in the evenings. You have to call ahead and reserve a room.”

Alex Herrera, manufacturing engineering freshman, heeds this advice because he does not want to wait for equipment to be available.

“I just try to come a little bit earlier,” Herrera said. “Sometimes I come at 6:30 so I can do everything I need to do without waiting for anybody. I actually had to wait for this one (incline bench) for about five minutes.”

Sometimes, Herrera has to wait for students to finish their conversation at a machine.

“It’s kind of inconsiderate,” Herrera said. “In my head, I’m thinking hurry up, because I have other things to do.

But I try not to start anything. Usually, I try to do something else while I’m waiting.”

However, he thinks this problem will be solved with the opening of the new section of the gym.

“Since there will be more space (with the expansion), it will be more flexible,” Herrera said. “I could work out at night since I have less to do then.”

Austin Byrd/Star photo When Neal Comeau, undecided freshman, goes to the FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE: Students must take turns at the free weight stations in the Student Recreation recreation at night, he gets aggravated by the crowds and

By Maira Garcia Editor in Chief

Many female residents returning to Burleson Hall this fall were shocked to discover their all-female dorm would be accommodating male students.

Kyle Estes, associate director for Residence Life, said the decision to switch Burleson Hall from all-female to a co-ed dorm was made over the summer. A high number of males were left without dorm assignments and a large number of vacancies remained in the female dorm.

Residence Life did not notify female residents of the switch.

Lisa Alvarado, industrial technology sophomore, said one of her main contentions is the abrupt change without warning.

“A lot of girls walked in for check-in to find boys living in an all-girl dorm,” she said.

Estes admits residents were not notified ahead of time.

“In this case there really wasn’t a lot of advanced notice given because it was a last minute thing,” Estes said. “There were just very few late female applicants and a lot of late male applicants. Part of it had to do

Three years ago, the 9/11 Commission set the official record for the events leading up to the Sept.

11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, but there are some people still asking questions.

Stephen Sheftall, international relations senior, organized a San Marcos chapter of Project for the New American Citizen, which was founded by University of Texas students to question government actions and educate people about their rights.

“We might come across as conspiracy theorists, but really we’re about restoring America to what it used to be about: individual freedoms, individual liberty and just doing the right thing,” Sheftall said. “Too many people today just don’t seem to care.”

Daniel McCarthy, history sophomore, who is a member of PNAC, said their goal is to educate others about constitutional rights and how the government may not always have American public’s best interest in mind.

The group distributed copies of the films Zeitgeist and America: Freedom to Fascism, both controversial films that question the U.S. government and agencies.

“We’re not about telling people what to think, we just want them to think,” he said.

The name of the group is a play on the conservative think tank The Project for a New American Century, which promotes American leadership and involvement in world affairs. The think tank has been a source of controversy from anti-war groups for releasing a report titled, “Rebuilding America’s Defenses: Strategies, Forces, and Resources for a New Century.” The report’s findings called to preserve and extend America’s position of global leadership by maintaining preeminence of U.S. military forces.

Several members of President Bush’s administration are part of the think tank.

Sheftall said the group is wary of the report and how it happened to be released a year before the Sept. 11 attacks.

“We’re wondering how various anomalies are explained by the government’s official story and we believe 9/11 was actually an

See DORM, page 4

See INQUIRY, page 4

Center because of the crowded conditions.

See SRC, page 4

Burleson Hall becomes co-ed, female students left in dark

By Jeff Turner News Reporter

Cotton Miller/Star photo SUDDEN SWITCH: Female students returned to Burleson Hall from the summer to discover the dorm had been changed to co-ed without notification.

Students rally for inquiry into 9/11 tragedy

Inside

Mostly Cloudy 87˚

Precipitation: 20% Humidity: 84% UV: 8 Very High Wind: ENE 7 mph

Friday Mostly Sunny Temp: 90°/ 72° Precip: 10%

Saturday Isolated Storms Temp: 83°/ 71° Precip: 30%

News ........ 1,2,3,4 Opinions ............ 5 Trends .......... 6,7,8

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

Diversions .......... 9 Classifieds ....... 10 Sports ......... 11,12

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

PAGETWO

starsof texas state

Today in Brief

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - Page 2

Texas State student Maggie Lajaunie will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation Nov. 5 at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio. Lajuanie, of Lafayette, La., is among 15 of this year’s Texas Business Hall of Fame scholarship winners.

Recognized for their entrepreneurial spirit and scholastic accomplishments, scholarship winners will receive $10,000 to apply toward their work on master’s degrees in business administration.

— Courtesy of Universtiy News Service

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

Calendar THURSDAY The Catholic Student Organization will meet at 6 p.m. in the library of the Catholic Student Center.

The Rock — Praise and Worship will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Jude Chapel of the CSC.

and Volunteers Helping Victims of Abuse. For more information call Emily Douglas, (512) 3963404.

TUESDAY

The women of Mu Epsilon Theta will have an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby of the CSC.

There will be an orientation and training session and to learn how to use the EmWave PC biofeedback program to reduce the negative effects of stress on your life. Open to university community. Session will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-11.1.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room 320. There will be contemporary worship, relevant teaching, prayer and plenty of fun. Everyone is welcome to attend

Every Nation Campus Ministries will be holding a weekly campus meeting at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Room G-02.

There will be free food, fellowship and a message exploring the person of Jesus.

Women’s Personal Growth Group will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. For information and screening on groups, call the Counseling Center at (512) 2452208.

The CSC will have a free lunch for all students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the CSC lobby.

Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center will host Advocate Training and Volunteers Helping Victims of Abuse. For more information call Emily Douglas, (512) 3963404.

FRIDAY Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3.4.

Alcoholics Anonymous Newcomer’s Meeting River Group will be 9:15 p.m. at 1700 Ranch Rd. 12, Suite C. SATURDAY Texas State’s women’s club soccer will play University of Texas-Pan America 1 p.m. on the west campus competition field.

Hope & Love 4 Kids will be hold their Fashion Show Fundraiser at the Papillion Villa from 6 to 8 p.m. This will be an evening of the latest fashions as well as an opportunity to see what the organization will be taking on this fall and next year.

SUNDAY Texas State’s women’s soccer will play University of Texas-El Paso 1 p.m. at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.

MONDAY Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center will host Advocate Training

Overeaters Anonymous will meet at 12:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland. For more information call Lynn, (512) 357-2049.

Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center will host Advocate Training and Volunteers Helping Victims of Abuse. For more information call Emily Douglas, (512) 3963404.

GLBQ Pride Group meeting will be held from noon until 1:30 p.m. For information and screening on groups, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.

Library Beat

Vintage photography method displayed in new exhibit Take a step back in time with The Art of the Tintype, a new exhibit from the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican Photography. Located on the library’s first floor, the show features vintage and contemporary images from the gallery’s permanent collection made with l9th century photography techniques.

Tintype photographs are developed on metal instead of paper, in a wet-plate process introduced in the U.S. in 1854.

This simple method was inexpensive to produce and much faster than other processes of the time, which made photography available to the working class. Lately it has become a popular form for a growing number of contemporary artists who are mastering l9th century techniques to create new works of art.

The exhibit features many of

University Police Department

Sept. 1, 1:28 p.m.

Alcohol: Minor in Possession/Bobcat Stadium East Parking Lot An officer was on patrol and observed an individual sitting with a cup. Upon further investigation, a student was issued a citation for MIP. Sept. 1, 2:13 p.m.

Alcohol: Minor in Possession/Bobcat East An officer was on patrol and observed an individual carrying an alcoholic beverage.

Upon further investigation, a student was issued a citation for MIP.

Sept. 1, 7:52 p.m.

Alcohol: Minor in Possession/Bobcat Stadium An officer was on patrol and observed a group of individuals. Upon further investigation, a non-student was issued — Courtesy of Alkek Library a citation for MIP. Sept. 6, 10:42 p.m.

Property – Lost/Stolen/ UPD Lobby An officer was dispatched to the lobby for an information report. A student reported property had been taken from Derrick Hall without consent.

This case is under investigation.

Sept. 7, 1:27 a.m.

Public Intoxication/700 Aquarena Springs An officer was on patrol and observed an individual walking.

Upon further investigation, a non-student was arrested for PI and transported to HCLEC to await magistration.

Anger Management: Your Plan for Real-Life Coping will be from 5:10 to 6:25 p.m. For information and screening on groups, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.

Sept. 8, 2:11 a.m.

Driving Under the Influence Minor/1300 Academy An officer initiated a traffic stop. Upon further investigation, a student was issued a citation, arrested and transported to HCLEC to await magistration.

WEDNESDAY

The Network Meeting will be held 5 to 7 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3.6.

view by Deborah Luster capture the people housed behind the barbed wire and steel bars of Louisiana prisons, the subject of her book One Big Self: Prisoners of Louisiana. She donated more than 350 tintypes from this series to the Wittliff Gallery.

Along with the contemporary works are a number of rare, historical tintypes, such as an 1865 image of a Confederate drummer boy.

The Art of the Tintype can be seen on the library’s first floor through Sept. 30, during regular library hours. The Wittliff Gallery presents Lonesome Dove: Photographs by Bill Wittliff on the seventh floor. Gallery hours and the full calendar may be accessed online at www. wg.txstate.edu or by telephone at (512) 245-2313. Admission is free.

THANKS A LATTE

Facing the Fear — An Anxiety/Panic Group will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For information and screening on groups, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.

There will be an orientation and training session and learn to use the EmWave PC biofeedback program to reduce the negative effects of stress on your life. Open to university community. Session will be 1 to 2 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-11.1.

the Wittliff Gallery’s 15 contemporary tintypes from art photographer Jayne Hinds Bidaut, including two self-portraits, two of her large dioramas and several insects and skeletons of vertebrates. Her pet-shop images on paper — the subject of Animalerie, the eighth title in the Wittliff Gallery Book Series — were on display in 2004 from the gallery’s collection of over 150 Bidaut photographs.

A sampling of work from master tintype photographer Robb Kendrick is on view, from his series of cacti, vaqueros and mummies from Mexico. His photographs of the working cowboy in Texas, which are touring nationally and featured in his first monograph, “Revealing Character,” will be on display. The gallery owns a growing collection of 105 Kendrick photographs, 23 of them tintypes.

The intimate tintypes on

CRIME BL TTER

Sept. 9, 12:00 a.m.

Information Report/UPD Lobby An officer was dispatched to the lobby for an information report. A non-student reported a student was haKaren Wang/Star photo rassing another student. This Theater senior Rachel McVay garnishes a drink at her part time job at Seattle’s Best Coffee on Moncase is under investigation. day afternoon.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

NEWS

The University Star - Page 3

Iraq war testimony produces no answers to questions about timetable

By Warren P. Strobel McClatchy Newspapers WASHINGTON — They sat behind burgundycovered witness tables for more than 16 hours of testimony and answered hundreds of questions about the Iraq war, some of them pointed, some of them softballs.

But there was one question Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, could not, or would not, answer.

It was the question Petraeus himself posed rhetorically back in 2003 when he led the Army’s 101st Airborne Division into Iraq: “Tell me how this ends.”

Much to the frustration of the senators — mostly Democrats, but including a few Republicans — who grilled them Tuesday, neither the general nor the diplomat outlined a strategy for putting Iraq back together or a timetable for bringing U.S. troops home.

Four and a half years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq — and four years after some Pentagon officials thought American troops would be home in triumph — two days of breathlessly anticipated testimony by Petraeus and Crocker appear to have produced another stalemate in Washington.

Democrats in Congress don’t have enough votes to force a withdrawal from Iraq. The Bush administration can only offer the hope of slow Chuck Kennedy/MCT progress in Iraq and an eventual, but undefined, U.S. withdrawal.

SURGE OF QUESTIONS: Army General David Petraeus, the top commander of U.S. forces in In response to a question from Sen. Lindsey Iraq, delivers his testimony to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the state of the Graham, R-S.C., Petraeus predicted that 100,000 war in Iraq Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

American troops would still be in Iraq a year from now.

“Two years from now, in the summer of 2009, we’re still going to have 80,000 troops on the ground in Iraq,” predicted one State Department official, who requested anonymity in order to speak frankly. “We knew that pretty much already. Now it’s done.”

But lawmakers complained that neither Petraeus nor Crocker could explain how the Iraq war fits into Bush’s war on terror or how it’s protecting Americans.

One of the most jaw-dropping moments in the hours of back-and-forth came when retiring Sen. John Warner, R-Va., asked Petraeus whether his proposal for Iraq — including a reduction of U.S. troops to pre-surge levels of 130,000 — would make the U.S. safer.

“Sir, I don’t know, actually,” Petraeus replied.

In military jargon, Petraeus and Crocker are “walking point” for the White House on Iraq, taking the brunt of the questions from Congress and the media. Much of what President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and others have said about Iraq has turned out to be false, but the general and the ambassador showed up with their credibility largely intact.

The president kept a low profile Monday and Tuesday, but he’s expected to announce in a prime-time address Thursday he’s adopting Petraeus’ troop recommendations.

Jon Clark/Star photo Petraeus has been praised for his knowledge A group of ROTC cadets strategize before making their way to various buildings around campus in

PATHFINDING

an orientation and teamwork exercise Wednesday afternoon.

of counterinsurgency tactics and Crocker for his knowledge of the Arab world. Both are implementing a strategy that some analysts think might have worked if it had been tried years ago.

Petraeus “is almost certainly the right man for the job in Iraq, but he’s the right person three years too late and 250,000 troops short,” Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said as the sessions began Monday.

Neither man, however, has been able to answer Petraeus’ original question: How does the Iraq war end?

“Are we going to continue to invest American blood and treasure at the same rate we are doing now, for what? The president said let’s buy time.

Buy time? For what?” said Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., a Vietnam veteran who will retire next year.

Most experts argue stabilizing Iraq requires two things above all: political reconciliation among Shiite Muslims, Sunnis and Kurds and Iraqi security forces that can stand on their own.

Petraeus and Crocker could promise neither.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., asked Crocker whether ethnic reconciliation is likely in the 16 months that Bush has left in office.

“Senator, I could not put a timeline on it or a target date,” Crocker replied. There are “hopeful signs,” he said, but “how long that is going to take and, frankly, even ultimately whether it will succeed, I can’t predict.”

Petraeus tacitly acknowledged Iraqi forces aren’t ready to take over security, warning an early drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq would jeopardize what he said were improved security conditions brought about by the surge.

Petraeus cited an Aug. 16 Defense Intelligence Agency report on the implications of a rapid U.S. withdrawal from Iraq that underscored the point. The results of an American exodus, the DIA concluded, would include “a high risk of disintegration of the Iraqi security forces, rapid deterioration of local security initiatives, al-Qaida Iraq regaining lost ground and freedom of maneuver, a marked increase in violence and further ethnosectarian displacement and refugee flows,” Petraeus said.

Looked at another way, however, the DIA report underscores how, four and a half years after Bush invaded Iraq, nothing has been achieved that wouldn’t be swept away as soon as the U.S. leaves.

Senators were left to splutter, angrily but impotently, at the lack of answers.

“How long will it take?” asked Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

Late in the afternoon, Sen. Susan Collins, RMaine, asked Petraeus and Crocker what they’d recommend if, a year from now, the Iraqis have still failed to make significant political progress.

Ever the diplomat, Crocker, who was somber, if not downright dour, throughout the two days, replied: “I can’t say what I’ll be seeing a year or even six months from now, but I can say that I will make the same honest assessment I made for this testimony.”

Asked by at least two senators what he’d recommend if things are unchanged a year from now, Petraeus replied: “I would be very hard-pressed to recommend a continuation.”

NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

Thursday, September 13, 2007

AALC brings acclaimed author to speak on campus INQUIRY:

By Christine Mester News Reporter

The African American Leadership Conference committee asks, “Are you thirsty?” with this year’s conference theme, “H20: Hardships to Opportunities.”

The 15th-annual conference will be held this weekend, Sept. 14 to 15, in the LBJ Student Center.

“The message of the theme is that sometimes we have hardships, but there are always opportunities to do better,” said Jonnie Wilson, assistant director of multicultural student affairs.

The student-led conference offers par-

ticipants workshops, social events and a chance to network with a panel of alumni.

“The conference is a retention tool for students to get engaged with Texas State University,” Wilson said. “Students can learn more about themselves, how to get involved with the university and life after college.”

The conference features workshops ranging from a class in business etiquette to information on joining the Mitte Honors Program.

This year’s conference speaker, Eboni K. Wilson, will headline the event. Wilson is the author of Breaking the Cycle, From Special Ed to Ph.D. The book highlights

the theme of this year’s conference.

Wilson, labeled special education as a child, now has a Ph.D and is the assistant principal at the Chicago International Charter School. In his book, Wilson chronicles growing up in South Central Los Angeles, living on the streets and life with drug-addicted family. “(Today’s kids) are being trained by their environment, by the media and by the people they surround themselves with to accept what their life has to offer them, which is gangs and drugs and violence and anger and frustration,” Wilson told www.nwi.com. “At some point, they need to retrain themselves and grow

above and beyond their environment.”

Wilson said she anticipates 300 students to attend from Texas State and other area colleges and high schools.

“A benefit of the conference is that students are able to network and meet other students,” said Beverly Woodson Day, African American Leadership Conference adviser. “Granted you see students in The Quad every day, but during the conference you really get to know them. Another cool thing is students get to learn about alumni experiences during and after college.”

Registration can be filled out online at the African American Leadership Conference Web site www.aalc-txstate.org or

DORM: Bathroom accessibility concern of women CONTINUED from page 1

with the university transfer student deadline. So, we got a lot of late applicants, and so we had to make some adjustments last minute.”

Another issue some female residents are concerned about is safety.

“It is just very surprising because I don’t mind that it’s a co-ed dorm, but I lived here before and it’s a safer atmosphere when it’s all girls,” said Rachel Sears, undecided sophomore.

She said the women’s bathroom in Burleson is currently under maintenance leaving female residents

SRC:

with fewer options than male residents, who are able to use the facilities in Hornsby, the all-male dorm next door to Burleson.

Estes knows the importance of restrooms.

“Everything is driven by bathrooms because you can’t mix genders in a bathroom,” Estes said. “If you’ve got a complete suite where it’s all empty, you can switch the gender from one to the other. When you get to a traditional residence hall like Burleson, you got to have a whole floor that’s completely empty. So, now you’re talking about between 30 and 60 people, and that’s where you get into trouble.”

Alvarado is further upset because Burleson is still being advertised as an all-female dorm.

“It is a problem because anyone wanting to sign up for an all-girl dorm wouldn’t know it’s now co-ed,” she said.

Another problem that has arisen, Alvarado said, is the inability of some of the Burleson males to relate to their female hall mates.

“Some of the guys in the dorm didn’t grow up with any sisters, so they don’t know how girls work,” she said.

She plans to voice her dissatisfaction at the Residential Hall Association meeting Wednesday. Estes said Residence Life has yet to receive any formal complaints about the Burleson switch.

For women hoping to sign up for an all-female dorm in the spring, Texas State still offers Sterry, Laurel and Lantana Hall as alternatives to co-ed living.

Official report challenged

CONTINUED from page 1

inside job by elements – not the whole government, just elements of our government – in order to create a war in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

McCarthy said the report indicates the government’s desire to have events such as those of Sept.

11 occur for the sake of military dominance.

“What kind of monsters want a new catastrophe?” he said. “What kind of monsters would publicly say we need a new catastrophe?”

Sheftall said some people may not agree with what PNAC has to say, but at least others are willing to listen. He said the group had good discussions with veterans on campus.

“They didn’t agree with our premise about 9/11 per se, but they definitely liked that we were asking questions,” he said. “We have mutual respect for them.”

University expects renovation WATCHING THE WATERS completion by fall 2008

CONTINUED from page 1

wishes the equipment were nicer.

“The machines are out of date and the padding is cracking,” Comeau said. “It’s unbearable at night time because it’s too full.

You’ve got to wait for machines.

I can’t wait for the expansion to open up.”

Because the year is just beginning, some think fewer students will continue working out on a regular basis throughout the year.

“According to my co-workers, it

doesn’t stay busy for long,” Darilek said. “I’ve also heard that in the spring it is bad, then after spring break it slows down again.”

Darilek has advice for students wishing to workout and get out in a timely manner.

“Come in the morning and bring your ID,” Darilek said.

Soon enough, the addition will be up and ready for students to workout in.

“The expansion is supposed to be usable by spring and done a year from now,” Darilek said.

The Texas State University

System Board of Regents approved the $31 million expansion in May and the project is set to be completed by fall 2008.

The center will have updated equipment and will give students more space to get in shape. It is set to have eight basketball/volleyball courts, two indoor soccer fields, two indoor pools, a weight room three times the size of the current room, one of the tallest climbing walls in Texas, more group exercise rooms, more locker rooms, a golf simulator and a juice bar.

Cotton Miller/Star photo Students lounge in the grass Tuesday evening in Sewell Park to watch the Common Experience’s showing of Laura Dunn’s documentary The Unforeseen about the Edwards Aquifer.

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - Page 5

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

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

THE MAIN POINT

T

he Common Experience, now in its fourth year, has brought famous, thought-provoking speakers to Texas State such as Maya Angelou, Edward James Olmos and Judy Shepard, whose son, Matthew Shepard, was a victim of an anti-homosexual hate crime.

However, that’s not what the program is all about.

Christopher Frost, former psychology professor and director of Mitte Honors program, implemented the Common Experience in 2004, intended to stimulate a campus and community-wide dialogue on a universal theme. In Frost’s research paper “Connected Learning Connected to Life: A ‘Common Experience’ in Higher Education,” he states the program is designed to initiate and sustain deliberate dialogue on difficult topics because it makes the challenge of engaging thousands of students more complex. He goes on to explain by daring students to explore difficult questions, the capacity to make tough decisions is developed.

Each of the topics covered in the past by Common Experience is not aimed at creating a happy dialogue. Hate is a powerful word and speakers such as Shepard challenged students and the rest of the community to reconsider using “gay” as a derogatory term.

Angelou told us the true meaning of courage, which is to persevere when one has no support, to find one’s own way to the top. Olmos said sometimes we have to use protest and dissent to fight for what we believe in, whether it’s a better education, basic human rights or self-respect.

This year’s topic is no different. “The Water Planet: A River Runs Through Us” asks us to take a closer look at our most valuable and indispensable resource. Water is what keeps animals, vegetation and people alive.

When issues such as global warming and the environment become increasingly politicized, it is difficult to have intelligent dialogue. The Common Experience requires students to put anger and differences aside for the sake of examining a topic with an open mind.

The program is still undergoing growing pains. While the Common Experience is aimed at attracting all students, faculty and the San Marcos community, freshmen know about it most because they are required to read the related text and attend certain events. The poor showing can be blamed on limited advertising. The lack of enthusiasm could stem from students not understanding why big names are coming to speak. Pick up this year’s text for the program, Goodbye to a River by John Graves. Visit the Common Experience Web site at www.txstate.edu/commonexperience.

Maybe then everyone will understand why Erin Brockovich is coming in October.

YOURSELF

Common Experience presents golden opportunity to broaden horizons

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.

Julie Sheah/Star illustration

LEGAL GUY: Students should be aware of university’s drug, alcohol policies to ensure no calls to mom and dad An important topic discussed across possibly classes. campus is the university’s policies conFour common problems the university cerning drugs and alcohol. Whether addresses are minors in possession of questions about the policy come about alcohol, possession of alcohol in an alcobecause of an alleged infraction by a stuhol-free zone, distribution of alcohol to dent, a friend or simply minors or hosting a party involving because you believe in the illegal use of alcohol and public reform, it is important intoxication. According to university to know the details of guidelines for penalties concerning two policies that could these common tickets, the first inaffect students and facfraction will have the student placed ulty alike at Texas State. on disciplinary probation, a $50 fee, Another reason to pay six community service hours and an attention to policies alcohol education class. However, such as these is because in addition to the aforementioned of the penalties that sanctions, the student’s parents will can be and often are also be notified if the student is less assessed. than 21 years of age if the ticket disCARSON GUY The Texas State’s Star Columnist pensed was for public intoxication or Drug and Alcohol Polimaking alcohol available to minors cies can be found on the or hosting a party involving the illeuniversity police department’s Web site. gal use of alcohol.

The first paragraph of the policy states, The second offense calls for all parents “As a member of the Texas State Univer- of students less than 21 years of age resity System, Texas State University-San gardless of the infraction to be notified a Marcos is governed by the drug policies third infraction will result in suspension established by the Board of Regents.” from the university. There is a $75 fee, Within this system, the president of more alcohol education and community each system component is able to proservice. As mentioned, a third violation bate suspensions allowing the student will result in suspension from the unito stay in school with sanctions such as versity. community service, assessed fees and Another guideline for sanctions

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

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 Millsap, starphoto@txstate.edu

involving drugs states the initial punishment a student faces if found to have “used sold or distributed any drug, narcotic, or controlled substance, whether the infraction is found to have occurred on or off campus.” That punishment calls for the student to be suspended for the remainder of the current semester and for the following long semester.

Regarding the suspension students face for violations, the president could choose to exercise their discretion and set aside the suspension. Upon a second violation of any drug related offense the penalties will “result in permanent expulsion from the component and from all other institutions in the Texas State University System.”

Allegations will be weighed on the criteria of a “preponderance of evidence” under the drug and alcohol policies of Texas State. That being said, the penalties can be exceedingly harsh. Whether you agree with the policies or not is not really the point; the policies are what they are right now and must be obeyed if continuing to attend Texas State is on a student’s agenda. Risking expulsion from Texas State not only means that you will be barred from ever attending the university again, but also the expulsion will be noted in your permanent record and

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

could seriously hurt a student’s chances to be admitted to another university.

There is a wealth of information available about these policies and others on the Texas State Web site. Knowing the policies of the university will limit risk and hopefully help to keep students aware of the ever-present danger of being caught violating university policy. Having the university call a student’s parents to tell them they were busted drinking or making alcohol available to minors is not a call a student would want their parents to receive. Not to mention anyone caught violating these policies would then be open to punishment from not only the university but from the local and state government as well.

Carson Guy is a political science senior. His column tackles legal quandaries. E-mail questions to Guy at staropinion@txstate.edu.

The content and opinions contained herein are in no way meant as legal advice. All information is general in nature. Do not rely on information within this article when trying to resolve a specific legal issue. All situations are unique and require specific legal advice from competent counsel.

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

Mutual interests can improve relationships

By Stephen Waldon The Daily Gamecock (U. South Carolina) COLUMBIA, S.C. — I had a sobering experience a few nights ago, but it didn’t involve several hours in front of a toilet as the pun may suggest. I figure myself a guy who believes he has relationships figured out, or at least, his own relationships. After several fake phone numbers, wasted dates and gold diggers trying to snatch my fat cash, I feel like I’ve been through enough to know how to do things right.

On the fateful night in question, the NFL kicked off its new season, and the match up could not have been more palatable: Peyton Manning vs. the Saints.

Peyton was outstanding and the Saints defense fell harder than Britney Spears’ career postTimberlake. It wasn’t until a few minutes into the game that I realized the NFL had made me forget about my surroundings. There beside me sat my girlfriend, smiling, understanding of my salivation over a dried piece of pig carcass.

As a girl with interest in football but not the teams involved, why was she not clamoring for the remote so she could turn it to anything MTV/VH-1 related? It hit me harder than an Eric Norwood sack on quarterbacks named “Stafford”: she’s trying to show an interest in something that I’m interested in, even if she didn’t care much about it otherwise. This mind-boggling concept led to a thorough game explanation and analysis that more than likely bored her to insanity, but she no longer associates a tight end with just Tom Brady’s gluteus maximus.

Her interest in my interest was put to the test Sunday, when she had to put up with most of the Dallas vs. New York game. My man-crush on starting quarterback Tony Romo was in full force, but she held on, learning players, plays and reasons for all things on the field. I enjoyed the match up even more knowing she was making a concerted effort to learn about this beautiful game that brings men’s hands to each others’ butts, all in the name of support and camaraderie.

I learned something those nights; I needed to shape up, like many of us, and get more involved in her interests. What does that mean for me?

If she wants to take salsa lessons, I have to do it and actually try to bust a move. If she wants to watch Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2 in consecutive periods, I should give it a shot and not simply think Reese Witherspoon is the single recipe for a tasteless movie. And although she hasn’t expressed interest in either of those, it wouldn’t hurt to return the favor and get involved in things she likes, even if it doesn’t seem to be my thing. It’s part of the sacrifice of a functioning relationship, even if I didn’t see it at first. And who knows? I might even enjoy it.

Especially if I can actually tailgate before whatever it is.

✯ 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 September 13, 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

hopefulvoters The band Flyleaf is hosting a contest at www.eventful.com/flyleaf. Students may vote for the band to come to San Marcos on the Web site. The top five colleges demanding the band will be included on its tour. The contest opened Sept. 6 and closes Oct. 4. For more information, visit the Web site or the social networking Web site Facebook group, “Eventful’s Demand Flyleaf come to Texas State!!!”

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - Page 6

Trends Contact — Clara Cobb, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Playwright’s Conference celebrates fifth year at Texas State

By Hayley Kappes Trends Assistant Editor The fifth-annual Black and Latino Playwright’s Conference of Texas State gives an opportunity for minority writers to showcase their scripts in front of an audience, providing a platform for constructive criticism.

Eugene Lee, artistic director for this year’s conference, said the workshop provides the rare opportunity for minority playwrights to receive feedback on their budding scripts.

“Plays don’t happen by accident, they happen as a result of a specific process,” Lee said. “This is just one step of that process.”

Plays were submitted from across the nation by African American and Latino writers. Professional directors and actors have been brought in to work with the scripts throughout the week in rehearsals. This will give the playwright opportunity to receive feedback and questions from the audience at the conclusion.

Lee, along with assistant artistic director Joe Luis Cedillo, chose two plays, “Before Death Comes for the Archbishop” by Elaine Romero and “Common Ground” by Antoinette Winstead.

“I was looking for a voice, for stories that were about something. I also was looking for stories that needed further development and had room for improvement,” Lee said.

Professional directors and actors are brought in to work with the plays and several theatre students will have the

opportunity to participate in the staged readings.

“This is a chance that students won’t get very often,” Lee said. “It’s rare in a college setting that you get to work on a brand-new play with the playwright present.”

Cedillo’s play, “69 Portraits of Che,” was selected for the conference in 2005.

He said Texas State is giving a voice to minority playwrights they otherwise would not have.

“For black and Latino playwrights, there aren’t too many programs like this in the nation,” he said. “What happens in American theatre is that unfortunately minority writers get overlooked, making it difficult for them to get their scripts out there.”

As a struggling playwright in Los Angeles, he said after his play was presented at the conference, it opened up many doors for his career.

“This conference jumpstarted my career. It put me at a different level as a working theatre artist,” he said. “It’s all about writers helping writers, which is such a great and unique opportunity. I believe in what’s going on here at Texas State.”

Cedillo is currently working towards an MFA degree in play writing from the University of Iowa.

“As a playwright you want people to be like, ‘Wow why hasn’t this been done everywhere?’ and have a rehearsal room full of students taking the script and running with it,” he said.

In addition to garnering attention to the work being done in minority com-

munities, Cedillo said the conference unifies people from all walks of life.

“The cool thing about theatre is that you are able to elevate the discourse of the community. People are able to peer into other people’s lives and see that there are more similarities than there are differences,” he said. “The one thing I’ve particularly experienced with this conference is that a number of white students get to know a little bit more about a cultural aspect that can only happen through the staged readings.”

Joseph Ruel, pre-theatre freshman, is reading a part in Romero’s “Before Death Comes for the Archbishop.”

Through rehearsals that have been going on throughout the week, Ruel has provided the playwright with a unique interpretation of his role.

“During the past few rehearsals, lines have been cut, dialogue has been re-written and everyone involved has discussed different ways to build on the play,” he said. “It may be through a change in dialogue, a change in motive or perhaps the character just doesn’t belong in the scene. Some of us have even swapped roles to give the playwright a different interpretation of the character.”

Ruel said his experience from working with the conference has educated him on the process a script goes through to get to the finished product.

“By the end of the project, I will be able to say that I helped bring a play to life. Above all, this whole experience has helped me to realize that a play is written by a living, breathing person,” he said.

The staged readings will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Texas State’s Theatre Center as well as 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission for each reading is $3.

—Courtesy of MCT

Hershey’s chocolate celebrates 150 years Esteemed American jazz

By Erica Rodriguez Features Reporter Its rich, smooth taste has enticed populations the world over for centuries. In ancient times, this gourmet was reserved as a luxury for the rich and royal.

From the cacao trees harvested in tropical jungles to the chocolate factories around the world, what was once known as the food of the gods is now available to just about anyone thanks to the ingenuity of one man.

Milton S. Hershey, founder of Hershey’s Chocolate Company, was born Sept. 13, 1894. Today Hershey, Pa., known as “the sweetest place on earth,” will be honoring the 150th birthday of Milton S. Hershey with a daylong celebration of chocolate giveaways, fireworks and a flashlight illumination spelling out the words thank you in the sky above the town, according to Jill Manely, director of marketing & public relations for the M.S. Hershey Foundation.

“The Hershey museum does a celebration for him every year,” she said. “We certainly recognize (his birthday), just not to the same extent as this year.”

The town of Hershey, Pa. has much to celebrate about its founder. In addition to founding the largest manufacturer of chocolate and sugar confectionary products in North America,

Hershey established a town with hospitals, schools and even a theme park, that to this day still bear his name.

In the beginning, Hershey’s specialty wasn’t in chocolate making, but in caramels, she said. It wasn’t until years after opening his first candy shop that he began to perfect a recipe for milk chocolate. After years of trial and error, he developed a precise formula of milk, cocoa and sugar, which enabled him to make chocolate a delicacy affordable to everyone.

But making this “food of the gods” easily accessible and in extra sugary form, has pitfalls for those who consume it too readily.

“The majority of chocolate available in public places is milk chocolate,” said Dr. Silvia Hurd Crixell, Texas State Nutrition and Foods Program Coordinator. Crixell explained although a recent study has shown some health benefits related to dark chocolate consumption, once the chocolate is diluted with fats and sugars the health benefit is no longer present.

According to Health Magazine, one study by the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University found hypertensive people who ate 3.5 ounces

of dark chocolate per day for two weeks experienced a significant drop in blood pressure.

Chocolate contains more than 300 types of naturally occurring chemicals and, according to Yale-New Haven Hospital, the treat was found to have potent antioxidants called phenols, also found in red wine.

But before you reach for

addicting, according to a study by the University of New South Wales, Australia.

And most people, like Nathan Trafford, communication design and photography junior, don’t believe the hype of self-proclaimed chocoholics.

“You can say you are addicted to anything. It’s just an excuse to eat more of it,” he said.

Like most people, Trafford loves chocolate.

“I eat it all the time,” he said.

But he said he isn’t hooked.

Lindsey Dusea, manager at Rocky that Mountain Chocslice of chocolate Factory at Mon ty M olate cake, consider the Tanger Outlet ario n/S this, the closer the chocoCenter, said she betar p hoto late is to its natural state, the lieves chocoholicism more likely you are going to get exists. a health benefit, according to “People, when they come the Cleveland Clinic Heart and in here, get this glassy-eyed Vascular Institute. Dark choco- look,” she said. The store sells late appears to contain a higher 10 to 30 pounds of chocolate a amount of flavonoids, naturally- day along with fresh chocolateoccurring antioxidants that give dipped apples, cookies and popoff certain health benefits, but corn snacks. In honor of Milton the more the chocolate is pro- Hershey’s birthday, Dusea said cessed, the more those health- she would like to “thank him for ful flavonoids are lost. making such a good product.”

What about people who claim So what is it exactly about physical addiction to this myste- the flavorsome ingredient that rious food? made Milton S. Hershey’s com“There isn’t something in pany so famous? chocolate that’s so phenomenal “Good taste. Sugar. Fat,” said that we have to have it,” Crixell Crixell. said.

Health benefit or not, today While it’s true that chocolate just might provide you with a litdoes potentially contain mood- tle more incentive to peel back altering substances and is shown the wrapper of a Hershey’s milk to slightly increase endorphin chocolate bar and wish a happy levels in the brain, there is no birthday to the man who started real proof that the substance is it all.

poet visits Texas State

By Scott Strickman Sports Editor

A voice representative of true American music will resound through the walls of Texas State Thursday afternoon.

Nathaniel Mackey, author of eight books of poetry and editor of the literary magazine Hambone, will visit campus to read some of his works from his most recent of his collection, Splay Anthem, winner of the 2006 National Book Award in Poetry.

Michael Noll, Writer-in-Residence at the Katherine Ann Porter House, said he believes Mackey’s visit provides Texas State students a great opportunity because he embodies an important cultural symbol of America.

“He’s a voice many Texas State students might not hear on an everyday basis,” Noll said. “Jazz is as American as apple pie or rock ‘n’ roll.”

Mackey’s writings tend to be the result of his relationship with music, particularly jazz.

“Probably the earliest aesthetic experiences for me were experiences with music, going back to when I was a kid,” Mackey said in an interview with Christopher Funkhouser, published in the Nov. 1991 issue of Poetry Flash.

“It’s the biggest, most inclusive thing that I could put forth if I were to choose one single thing.”

Noll said Mackey’s prose extends beyond just the realm of poetry.

“He is sort of a jack-of-all-trades as a writer,” Noll said. “He’s written novels, poetry and a lot about jazz and the problems they face.

(His writings) have a touch of

magical realism to them.”

Noll mentioned the recent award bestowed to Mackey, who is a professor of literature in the graduate program at University of California, Santa Cruz, is handed out only to those deserving.

“The National Book Award is one of the most prestigious awards the country offers,” Noll said. “It doesn’t get much more prestigious.”

David Hadbawnik, poetry editor of Front Porch, the online literature journal at Texas State, seems to be fascinated with the distinctive prose Mackey has composed and its influence in the literary world.

“What makes his writing unique is that he pulls together very different literary and artistic traditions,” Hadbawnik said. “Every now and then a poet comes along who takes one thing and connects it with something else. The result is exhilarating and inspiring.”

Eroding Witness, another of Mackey’s books, which was printed in 1985, was selected for publication in the National Poetry Series. Mackey received the Whiting Writers’ Award in 1993, an honor annually given to ten emerging poets, and is a member of the Board of Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets.

Currently, he is in the process of completing another series, called From A Broken Bottle Traces of Perfume Still Emanate, of which three volumes have been released.

The reading Mackey will present is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Thursday in the Southwestern Writer’s Collection, with a Q-andA session following at 5 p.m.

TRENDS

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Generation YouTube The quick and easy way to get 15 minutes of fame

By Brett Thorne Special to The University Star Andy Warhol believed in a future where “everyone would be famous for 15 minutes.”

This was considered by some to be an odd belief until Steven Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim created www.youtube. com.

For anyone who ever wanted to see a man straight out of an 80’s hair metal band beat “Jordan” on the hyper speed level of Guitar Hero or those who can enjoy the guilty pleasure of seeing a sevenyear-old get hit in the face with a soccer ball, there is a Web site where reality rarely ends.

It seems YouTube has become a nearly daily activity for college students.

Gerry Melendez/The State “I love YouTube,” said Devin UPLOADING DEMOCRACY: Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut (left) and former Sen. John Edwards of Moody, undecided sophomore.

“I watch it at least four times a North Carolina share a laugh during the CNN/YouTube debate July 23 in Charleston, S.C. week. I like it because it’s a great exercise of our rights. Freedom the interest of the younger votfor the Internet giant, said the of speech you know? I feel like ers,” he said. popularity of YouTube is clear when I’m watching YouTube its While Guerrero said he bethrough the shear volume of more real and more entertain- lieves the “YouTube debates” daily watchers. ing. There’s a lot of great com- will have a positive impact on the “People are watching hunedies on there.” politics in the long run, he’s not dreds of millions of videos a Jake Koenig, construction sure if the benefits of this new day on YouTube, and uploading tech senior, is an avid “YouTu- format will be reaped any time hundreds of thousands of videos ber” who said he uses the Web soon. daily,” he wrote in an e-mail. “Evsite for a variety of reasons.

“It really depends,” he said. ery minute, seven hours of video “I watch it pretty much every- “The younger voters are the is uploaded to YouTube.”

— Brandon Boone day,” he said. “I usually look at ones more interested in computHow do those clips get there? spokesman, drum stuff and stuff about Ron ers versus the older people who Students, like Moody, already www.youtube.com Paul.” aren’t as interested but are more know the answer.

Koenig, a drummer, said he powerful because they’re the “There’s a video of me jumpappreciates watching other mu- ones that vote.”

But that is not the only thing ing off a roof into a pool,” he sicians on the site.

Shannon Beresford, account- she’s watching on the popular said. “Some of my friends upRecently, YouTube made a for- ing junior, said she has as good a Web site. loaded that one.” ay into the political world. Can- reason to stay glued to YouTube.

“I’ve been on for that reason Moody said he likes getting a didates for the 2008 presidential “I look at Iraq news because a lot, but I’ve also watched some little bit of fame — for the minelection fielded questions sub- my cousin is there,” she said. comedies with my friends,” she utes the video is playing — online. mitted via YouTube on a nationFive months ago, Beresford’s said. “‘Dear Sister’ was the first While the video featuring his ally televised debate. cousin was deployed with the one I watched.” stunt was uploaded by a friend, Victor Guerrero, undecided 82nd Airborne Division as a “Dear Sister” is “The O.C.”- Moody said he has some more freshman, said he believed this scout leader. She said watching inspired “Saturday Night Live” quality time to spend online. was an interesting format.

YouTube allows her to keep tabs parody which spawned multiple “I’ve been meaning to (up“I think that submitting ques- on the events happening half imitators. load),” he said. “I have a lot of tions via YouTube would peak way around the world.

Brandon Boone, a spokesman cool videos.”

eople are “P watching hundreds of

millions of videos a day on YouTube.”

Student, alumni join forces for new Web site

By Charlotte Almazan Senior Features Reporters With only a program loan and personal investments, three entrepreneur students took their business school project from the classroom into the real world.

In March of 2007, Patrick Stevenson, management senior, and Texas State alumni Andrew McGuire and Jonathan Nelson, launched a Web site, www.txstateofmind.com. The site was originally made for a class project.

“Three years ago, the idea of the business started as a Tshirt and hat company in The Quad. We wanted much more than that,” said Nelson, business graduate.

The three owners decided to continue the business. They believed the city of San Marcos could benefit from a site maintained by the Texas State community.

“The concept was created to give the students more of a voice,” said Nelson. “(The Web site) gives all the students, faculty and businesses a place to mix.”

The concept, titled Texas State of Mind, started as a merchandise business made to capture and create school spirit. Now,

the Texas State of Mind owners want to transfer that sense of spirit and community into a student Web site that reaches beyond the social networking sites.

“We do not want to be a MySpace or a Facebook. The ultimate goal is for students to put us on their homepage,” Nelson said. “We are not a social site, but a Web portal.”

The Texas State of Mind group is not opposed to social sites, but they want to provide the university with more useful content than other network sites. The site provides homepage links to commonly used networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace.

“We kind of started this whole thing right when Facebook was getting real complex,” McGuire said. “That’s the one thing that’s been a hurdle for us.”

Since the Texas State of Mind owners are trying to make the site’s goals known around campus, the content is still largely undeveloped. Still in a start-up phase, the site hopes to have a grand launch during the fall semester.

“It’s in a raw form, and we are really looking for the students to help us build it,” Stevenson said.

“If students see something they like, we would like to partner with them.”

The student body has been invited to provide content, feedback and criticism for the Web site. The Website is built, managed and maintained by the students who add articles or suggestions.

“Our whole site is made to edit. Students can go in and add want they want,” Nelson said.

“After that addition is done, the student just changed the site by adding something new.”

Because the Web site will run primarily on student-driven content, it provides students of all studies an opportunity to add to their resumes on a volunteer basis.

“It would be nice to get someone from every field of study to help us know what the needs of that study are,” McGuire said.

The Texas State of Mind Web site has links such as Bobcat News, Bobcat Buzz, Students, Nightlife and a Parents tab that are meant to post resourceful content.

“My hopes for the Students tab is for it to be an academic link where students can share information that have helped them along the way,” McGuire said.

The Bobcat Buzz tab is a feature aimed at Texas State students who want to write independently in the form of a Web

log about the university, community or student life.

“With a site like this, a freshman can come find out about (places in) San Marcos, like Gordo’s Burgers and the things that we all love as student,” Stevenson said.

Online content is not managed by the university, but the business owners would like to keep a line of professionalism they feel social networks lack.

“We want to be a positive aspect to Texas State. We want to help the school grow like the rising star it is,” Stevenson said.

With the help of the students, the site will continue to grow with students continually adding useful information for new students and families visiting San Marcos and the campus.

“We want people to create new sections,” McGuire said. “It’s all like an umbrella. We want a bunch of businesses to stem off of it.”

Building the site has taught the three businessmen lessons about business they quickly realized were not taught in the classroom.

“This experience has really made everything literal,” McGuire said. “ All our classes were informative, but this was real, not just an assignment.”

The University Star - Page 7

Local organizations seek student volunteers

By Cristal Martinez Features Reporter

Organizations in the San Marcos community offer many volunteer opportunities to those who aren’t afraid to get their hands a little dirty.

For those who like gardening, The Green Corn Project is a good volunteer organization to join. Meagan O’Donnell, program director, along with others, provides families with a sustainable source of food in their own backyards.

“GCP is a non-profit organization that helps Central Texans to grow organic gardens,” O’Donnell said. “Families, schools and community centers that do not have access to nutritional food qualify for this assistance.”

The name comes from a Native American celebration used to secure a good crop year. The Green Corn Festival is held when the first spears of green appear each year. The ceremony praises the spirits that provide plentiful food for the tribe. The purpose of the Green Corn Project is to give the gift of a good crop for those in need.

Volunteers get together twice a year, during spring and fall, the planting seasons.

“Our gardening method is biointensive,” O’Donnell said. “It is a gardening method that John Jeavons (researcher and author of small-scale gardening techniques) created.”

This is considered small-scale gardening that provides the maximum amount of food.

The Green Corn Project is looking for volunteers who are willing to get their hands dirty.

“We are not strict about the requirements for volunteers, but we do want our gardeners to have sweat equity,” O’Donnell said.

In October, the organization will be helping to fill the pantry of an Austin church, which will then be used to feed the homeless.

Growing a garden at the church will provide it with a renewable

source of food for the homeless.

The organization is made up mostly of volunteers. All ages are welcome in helping build gardens for those unable to get nutritious renewable sources of food.

For those who want to provide people with food but not necessarily grow it themselves, volunteering for the local food bank is another option. Hays County Area Food Bank provides food for families in need.

Pat Tessaro, executive director for the food bank, is always looking for the help of Texas State students.

“We help families in Hays County with Thanksgiving dinner and all the trimmings,” Tessaro said. “Last year we helped 1,200 families.”

The food bank needs volunteers year round with labor, donations and food.

This year the food bank will try something different than previous years.

“We’ve always asked people for a food drive, this year we are focusing on a new campaign,” Tessaro said.

The campaign will ask for the community to sponsor a family during Thanksgiving. Twenty dollars will provide a family with Thanksgiving dinner.

For drivers who wish to volunteer, the Combine Community Action is available. This organization cooks and delivers food to the elderly and homebound.

Ella Hurst, program director of senior services, needs more volunteers to plate and transfer food.

“Volunteers are asked to deliver meals from the centers to the people who need them,” Hurst said.

Most of its help comes from retirees but the organization is looking for help from Texas State students.

“We don’t have a lot of students helping because of the times that we deliver food,” Hurst said.

“Most students are in class in the morning and can’t get away.”

TRENDS

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The University Star - Page 8

Student finds hot new use for old keg shells

By Susan Rauch Features Reporter Have a keg? Make a grill. That is exactly what Zach Hanson, manufacturing engineering junior, does. His keg-grill creations came out of necessity. He had an idea and went with it.

When the Loud Crowd organization needed a grill, member Hanson was able to provide them with not just any pit but one that is rustproof and a conversation piece.

“His creations are a work in progress, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. The guy is amazing,” said roommate Brian Wyman, exercise sports and science senior and Loud Crowd events coordinator.

Hanson is no novice when it comes to his experience with welding. While attending the University of North Texas, Hanson operated a business out of his truck in Denton. He provided contract work repairing and welding fences, worked on

Susan Rauch/Star Photo COOKING OUT: Brian Wyman (left), exercise and sports science senior, and Jamie Blair (right), management junior, use a keg grill to tailgate at a Texas State game.

truck accessories and created an outdoor spiral staircase for a client’s deck.

In the spring of 2006, Hanson transferred to Texas State and this summer moved his business, Zach’s Metal Fabrications, to San Marcos where he runs it out of his apartment with a temporary workshop in Bulverde.

“It was hard to move the business here. It takes money to get a business going,” he said.

Hanson’s idea for the keg grill was initially inspired by a class project to find a better material for kegs. Out of 1800 materials tested, kegs can only be made of stainless steel to function properly. Because the stainless steel doesn’t rust, the kegs are sturdy alternatives to store-bought grills.

Some of his past sales have been to liquor stores in the Fort Worth area. Cool Keg, a keg company, bought a double pit, two kegs welded together, to barbeque for customers on weekends.

Some of the many styles of pits Hanson makes are from single kegs on a supported stand, the double pit, the kind Loud Crowd uses for tailgates and a unique smoker pit with a side firebox.

James Blair, business management junior and Loud Crowd vice president, said, “ (The Loud Crowd) bought the second (double pit) made.”

Hanson has a pit that attaches to the back of a truck.

The kegs can be custom painted with high-heat paint, although most buyers who are interested

Susan Rauch/Star Photo WELDED: Zach Hanson, manufacturing engineering junior, displays one of the grills he created. He makes the grills using old keg shells.

want the true look of the keg.

There are a variety of places Hanson gets his empty kegs.

Sometimes he gets them from liquor stores or from authorities who puncture a hole in the metal when confiscated, making it unusable to hold liquid; but it is still usable for grill conversion.

Hanson said it takes about two to three hours to make a keg grill.

The prices range from $100 for

a custom-made pit to $150 for a double pit. For those larger jobs, Hanson has the on-call help of a friend and welder, John Turk, agriculture student at Texas A&M, who is from Bulverde.

Although he is taking 16 hours of courses this semester with plans to graduate in fall of 2008, he is hoping the grills will jumpstart his welding business in the San Marcos community.

✯FYI To order a custom-made keg grill, call Zach Hanson at (817) 403-3993 or e-mail him at zh1014@txstate.edu. He has an online catalog of keg grill pictures, which can be found on the social networking Web site Facebook by adding him as a friend.

Spears’ VMA performance calls attention to body image fascination

By Charlotte Almazan Senior Features Reporter The now infamous video is Britney Spears’ live performance of her new single, “Gimme More,” Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards.

In a performance that drew in 7.1 million viewers, Britney Spears performed an out-of-sync dance number while wearing an out-of-place black sequin bikini.

The Texas State campus conversation compares to the cultural consensus that Spears’ music career is over. The performance has since been

branded as unrehearsed, sloppy and most of all, fat.

“I was a little shocked that she was so off,” said Tower, ge-

he markets “S her body so it has to be perfect.”

Tanya Kostetsky marketing senior

ography senior. “She was out of shape and wearing a scandalous outfit.”

Kostetsky, a marketing senior, said Spears did not look as bad as she did out of step. She

seemed confident Spears could continue her career simply by being a public spectacle.

“I don’t think her career is going to end, because she will always be a public disaster,” Kostetsky said.

Defending her right to comment on Spears body, Kostetsky said Britney Spears has always marketed her body first and her voice second. In turn, Spears has subjected herself to living up to society’s body expectations.

“It’s her fall from grace. It wasn’t up to our ideal standards,” Kostetsky said. “She markets

her body so it has to be perfect.

Comments about Spears continue to flood the industry with questions of what makes a perfect body, or in regards to other celebrities like Nicole Richie, the question leads to what makes up a healthy body.

“To my eye, the criticism was a little shocking,” said Audrey McKinney, philosophy associate professor. “It seems to me the criteria for being fat is awfully restrictive for public performers.”

McKinney teaches a class on women’s studies that includes topics of society’s treatment of women’s body images.

“Certainly, women’s bodies are under a different kind of scrutiny than men’s bodies, McKinney said. “There is no real analog to a male performer to discuss what you had with Britney.”

On a more positive note, McKinney feels assured the image debate has sparked good conversation.

“I think this will potentially allow people to think about how narrow their criteria is for what constitutes a fit or toned body,” McKinney said . “It’s cultural baggage and very unrealistic.”

McKinney cited the rigorous work that would have allowed

Britney to return to her pre-baby form and work on sculpting the perfect body.

“Britney would have to have done something like a thousand crunches which takes enormous amounts of work,” McKinney said .

After the awards show, Spears continued the party circuit slightly emotional over the intense criticism.

Whether or not her singing career is over will likely be determined when her album is released later this year. One thing is certain; Spears will continue to be in the news.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Apple gives go ahead to iPhone hackers

By Bill Rix Star Columnist

While a strange decision, hopefully other companies will follow suit and grant For a company notorious amnesty to those who would for making its products hard hack its devices. Nothing but to open up, Apple is surprisgood can come from what alingly accepting of people most amounts to open-sourchacking its iPhones. ing. Imagine an iPhone with While still difficult to pry the engraved Apple logo open, Apple’s latest decibeing the only noticeable sion on the iPhone — similar Apple thing about it. to the decision made on the It’s possible, after all: if Apple TV product, wherein the base allows for such Apple has no issue with uscoding, a Linux operating ers developing software for system launcher or emuthe device as long as the warlated environment won’t be ranty stays intact — essentialfar off. And then comes an ly allows developers to make entire suit of applications software for the iPhone withincluding mobile document out running into problems creation suites, calendars, with Apple’s lawyers. enhanced Web browsers, Ars Technica, a technology games and anything else Web site, reported Sept. 11 programmers and develop(“Apple: You have our blessers can think up. Sky’s the ing to hack the iPhone to limit on this. bits” by Jacqui Cheng) Apple Limitless possibilities are, doesn’t exactly support thirdafter all, the whole point of party applications, but it why opening the products doesn’t have a problem with up to customers is a good them. So while you won’t be development. Letting cusDaniel Currey/Star Graphic in trouble with Steve Jobs, tomers fully explore the don’t expect a software development kit release limits of their devices — remember, if you can’t any time soon. But expect a host of enhance- open it, you don’t own it — not only makes life ments that will make the phone fly off the stores better for the end users but also for all other defaster than it already has. velopers and the hardware makers themselves.

As reported, this means iPhone users and soft- Giving the public freedom to make its devices ware developers can make applications with im- better leads to better products in the future and punity. Apple has vowed not to make any software gives that company an edge up on competitors. to keep homebrewed applications from running, A steady following of enthusiasts will provide you a decision they might regret, as it’s conceivable a with income if you make a gadget open to those developer could make a Wi-Fi-based phone appli- with an urge to explore. cation rendering the AT&T agreement useless, So go on, developers. Hack the iPhone to bits. especially if one could acquire an iPhone without Opportunities like this come once every so often signing a contract. so take full advantage.

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

9/6 Solutions:

✯

The University Star - Page 9

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

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

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - Page 10 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - Page 33

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

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

The deadline for all classified ads is noon two business days prior to publication. Classified ads must be paid in advance unless credit has been established. Refunds will only be given when a classified ad has been paid by credit card. The Star reserves the right to refuse, edit, and discontinue any classified ad at any time without prior notification. Classified ads will be edited for style purposes. Classified ads that do not note heading, will be put under the appropriate heading. All classified ads are published free, on-line at www.universitystar.com. Since this is a free service, posting is not guaranteed. While The University Star attempts to screen ads for misleading claims or illegal content, it is not possible for us to investigate every ad and advertiser. Please use caution when answering ads, especially any which require you to send money in advance.

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

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 1989 ACCORD, 105k miles, new brakes, new tires, A/C, sun roof, power windows, power locks. Asking $2,000, OBO. Sara at (512) 787-7072.

FOR RENT COUNTRY LIVING ON 1 ACRE. 2BD/2BA mobile home. 1 horse okay.

Call (512) 357-6271 or (830) 660-0801.

OLDER COUPLE RENTING 1BD/1BA FOR A STUDENT. W/ D, computer available, some meals furnished; country living. $350/mo.

(512) 396-0748.

FOR RENT

RENT A WASHER & DRYER SET. Just $29.95 per month. Free Delivery!

Go online to www.azuma.com or call Azuma Leasing at 1-800-707-1188.

TWO LUXURY ROOMS AVAILABLE IN LARGE 6BD/3BA HOME IN KYLE. $425/mo. + deposit; semester contract available; all bills paid; fridge, microwave, and W/D privileges. Males preferred. Call Edward, (512) 415-4060.

FOR RENT-APTS BEAUTIFUL 2BD/2BA AND 1BD/ 1BA IN DOWNTOWN SAN MARCOS. Call (830) 609-6162 or (830) 832-4914.

FOR SALE AKC WEIMARANER PUPPY, female.

9 weeks old. (361) 648-2542.

1998 OAKWOOD MANUFACTURED HOME. Clean 17 x 75, 3BD/2BA. Includes deck and shed, all appliances included. Bike to campus. $625/mo. or $29,500 cash. Jeff, (512) 363-3696.

HELP WANTED

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 READING/WRITING TUTOR. Elem Ed. Major Jr. classification or higher. 3 hrs./wk. $17/hr. in New Braunfels. jeff_herndon@hotmail.com !BARTENDING! Up to $300/day.

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

PART-TIME ADMIN. ASSISTANT FOR MEDICAL BILLING OFFICE. Flexible hrs. 20-30/week, occasional Sat. Must be detailed oriented & have interpersonal and telephone skills.

Drop off resume at 1348 Hwy. 123, Suite A. EARN $800-$3,200 A MONTH to drive brand new cars with ads placed on them. www.AdCarClub.com

WANTED

MOVIE EXTRAS. New opportunities for upcoming productions. All looks needed no experience required for cast calls. Call 877-218-6224.

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

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!

EVENING STUDY HALL SUPERVISOR NEEDED. Experience working with high school students preferred.

No tutoring required. $18 dollars per hour. (512) 753-8062 or (512) 656-0327.

OUTGOING STUDENTS NEEDED to distribute fliers Sept. 24, 25. Flexible hours, $10/hr. 1 (800) 927-9194.

MAKE UP TO $75 EACH TAKING ONLINE SURVEYS. www.CashToSpend.com

HELP WANTED

UB SKI is looking for Sales Reps to post College Ski Week flyers. EARN FREE TRIPS & EXTRA CASH. Call 1-800-SKI-WILD. ECONOMICS AND FINANCE TUTOR NEEDED, $10/hr. If interested call: (512) 392-6101. E-mail: jm1482@txstate.edu TEKA MARKETING is looking for help with light office work. Starting pay is $8 an hour. Call (512) 805-0020 to set up an interview.

GENERAL LABORERS NEEDED for tank refurbishing operation in New Braunfels (near I-35 and Hwy 46). M-F evenings and Sat during the day.

(Evening shift is 4 pm - 12:30 am.) $9/hr. You can work all days or will consider part timers too. Call (210) 385-4078 or email reese@mytanks2u.com.

UNDERCOVER SHOPPERS. Earn up to $150 per day. Under cover Shoppers needed to judge retail and dining establishments. Exp. Not RE. Call 800722-4791.

MISCELLANEOUS 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

PERSONALS

LOST YOUR PET? If your pet is lost anywhere in Hays County, please check the San Marcos Animal Shelter (512) 393-8340 which is located at 750 River Road off of east Hwy 80. All strays from the Kyle, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Uhland and some of Buda (non-city) areas are taken to San Marcos. Hours: Mon. and Fri. 11:30 to 5:30; Tues., Wed., Thurs. 11:30 to 4:30; Sat. 11:30 to 4:30. Please go in person rather than call, you are the only one who can identify and reclaim your beloved pet! Remember, an ID tag is a ticket home!

SERVICES WWW.STUDENTATTORNEY.COM

SUBLEASE TAKE OVER LEASE OCT. 1 THRU DEC. 31. 2BD duplex, $500. Option to re-sign. (512) 665-1863.

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

Thursday, September 13, 2007

SPORTS

Body image problems not limited to women

By Clara Cobb Trends Editor There are numerous studies and extensive media attention surrounding body image in women, but there are few addressing male issues.

Muscle dysmorphia is a preoccupation with the idea that one’s body is not sufficiently lean and/or muscular. Some refer to this condition as “reverse anorexia” because the primary focus is on becoming overly muscular.

Jackson Katz, gender academic and professional, said men and women receive mixed body image messages. Men receive a message the issue does not exist.

“It’s total mythology men are unconcerned with what they look like,” Katz said. “That doesn’t mean you can’t find individual guys who really don’t care.

But, the idea men don’t care or body image is a women’s issue is total mythology.”

Eating disorders in men, he said, were the first step in raising awareness. Katz said body pressures on women are greater, but the increased objectification of male bodies has increased the pressure on men.

“In part, because society values men for more than their looks, men don’t have that particular burden, or at least it’s not as intense,” he said.

“There are pressures on men and boys. I think a lot of men see a difference between what’s idealized and what their body looks like.”

This is intensified in athletics.

“Men who are successful at certain sports are exemplified as an ideal of masculine success if what they’re doing is literally embodying a certain level of masculine attainment,” Katz said.

Lots of men compare themselves to athletes, Katz said. The irony is athletes compare themselves to each other.

“Even the guys I might look at and say, that guy’s built or whatever,” he said. “He might be thinking about the next guy, too. It’s just constant, the anxiety related to measuring up.”

Measuring up, he said, is a linguistic example and a direct reference to size. These effects of socialization are what cause size dysmorphia.

When the body is on full display, the pressure to fit into a masculine or body image ideal is increased. Katz said athletes’ bodies are among those on public display.

“They’re on stage, they’re performers, entertainers,” he said. “Their bodies are on constant display. Look at football. The attributes of the uniform exemplify the idealized male body.”

Bruce Ludlow, associate commissioner of the Southland Conference, said the organization supports healthy athletic practices. He said only a small percentage of college athletes move on to the professional level, so the focus of a college athlete is on academics.

“The whole reason they’re at this level is to get an education,” he said. “So, the best way to have a successful life is to do it through education and not put all your eggs in one basket.”

Ludlow said trainers on the individual college campuses protect the athletes.

“They’re the No. 1 in line,” he said. “They’re on the campuses and it’s their responsibility to take care of the athletes.”

David Gish, athletic trainer at Texas State, said he has experienced athletes who want bigger bodies.

“If you look at society’s images of athletes today for the men, unfortunately, the big rippling muscles, overdevelopment,” he said. “Obviously the stereotypes are there. That’s what young people see and try to emulate.”

Gish said masculinity is sports-driven, but has positive body examples, such as Lance Armstrong, who is at a healthy body weight and has achieved the highest level of athleticism.

Overall, he said, sports culture has and is changing.

“Baseball has suddenly become a power sport,” Gish said. “Twenty years ago, you couldn’t find a baseball player in a weight room. Now they are all over the place.”

Gish said generalizations pertaining to body image issues and pressures of a particular sport are inaccurate, as different sports dictate various body types.

“All of our athletes lift weights, even the cross country runners and the golf team,” he said.

At Texas State, the trainers take great precautions to protect and keep athletes healthy. For example, Gish said, high school recruits are eased into college sports.

“When you get on the field, the game speed and talent level changes drastically,” he said. “Everything’s faster and bigger.”

While college athletes have professionals like Gish to help them keep their bodies healthy, Katz said the socialization of masculinity and body image effects all men.

In his film Tough Guise: Violence, Media, and the Crisis in Masculinity, he examines toys as an example of socialization. In the film, he takes Star Wars toy figurines from the 70s and contrasts them with Star Wars figurines from the 90s.

Through this, he displays a muscular size shift in the toys.

G.I. Joe has changed as well. In the film, Katz says researchers calculated the size of G.I. Joe’s biceps in real life equivalence increased from 12.2

—Courtesy of MCT

inches in 1964, to 15.2 inches in 1974, to 16.4 inches in 1994 and up to 26.8 inches by 1998.

Mark McGwire’s biceps were 20.0 inches in 1998, the season in which he broke Roger Maris’ homerun record.

McGwire later admitted to using the steroid Androstenedione to get his biceps to bulge.

The idea ‘greater size equals greater performance’ is not exclusive to baseball or chemical substance abuse.

Blanca Sanchez-Navarro is the supervising counselor at the Texas State Counseling Center. She said there are few statistics and studies to support male body image issues, but professionally, she has experienced men dealing with body image issues.

“We used to think men didn’t have body image problems,” she said.

Sanchez-Navarro said increased mainstream media images and men magazines, such as Men’s Health, have increased size dysmorphia with images of washboard abs, tight butts and perfectly toned calves.

“When (Men’s Health) first came out, it had helpful articles, like how to prevent prostate cancer,” she said. “I have to get a smile on my face because it’s like, really? The truth is, not all men are capable physiologically of having six-pack abs. But, men sense that pressure and think, ‘We should be able to do this.’”

These images and ideals include athletes, who have to compete for positions on a team as they continue their careers.

“In order to be an athlete, you have to be a vermeil male,” she said. “If you have made it to the college level, you haven’t been eliminated, you’re the star. It’s logical you have to keep pushing to be the best.”

As a counselor, she encourages body acceptance.

“You can’t change your height,” Sanchez-Navarro said. “You can do sit-ups until your abs are rock hard and if your stomach doesn’t get a six-pack, accept it as rock hard. Body acceptance is important.

It doesn’t mean don’t be healthy — It means there’s more to you than your body shape.”

Katz said believing masculinity is expressed in physical terms is common.

“It’s easy to fall into this notion, the notion strength resides in physical strength,” he said.

Katz offered advice for men with body image issues.

“You’re in good company,” he said. “Most men have these issues.”

Bobcat volleyball looks to win on the Rhode

By Charlotte Almazan Sports Reporter

The Bobcat Volleyball team headed northeast to Kingston, R.I. Wednesday morning, to prepare for their third tournament of the season, the Rhode Island Invitational.

Beginning Thursday, the three-day tournament will match up the Texas State volleyball team against Rhode Island, Dartmouth and Maine.

“I don’t think we know much about any of the teams we are playing,” said sophomore libero Kacey Wimpy. “We are taking them all the same.”

A tournament win could solidify the streak of success that has been building since early in the season.

“Every match, you have to take care of business,” Coach Karen Chisum said. “With this tournament, we want to try and come back with three wins under our belt.”

In their two previous tournaments, the North Texas Invitational and the CenturyTel Premier, the Bobcats have played tight-scoring games with their opponents.

“We have not been annihilated in any matches,” Chisum said. “We have played a couple of matches by a close score.”

Going into Rhode Island, the Bobcats hope to break their pattern of close games by achieving a win with consistency.

“We are trying to find our consistency,” Chisum said. “Each game we have players doing very well, and we are all trying to find our good game at the same time. I think when we do that, we will be a strong team.”

Currently, the team is concentrating on the strengths of blocking and defense that have helped the team compete successfully.

“Last year blocking and serving were some of our weaknesses,” Chisum said. “I think this year, we have turned them into strengths.”

When asked about some of the surprises that the team has experienced thus far, Chisum was quick to praise the defensive performance of Wimpy.

“Surprises are always good. On defense, Kacey Wimpy is doing an outstanding job,” Chisum said.

Wimpy responded to the compliment by saying she has tried to concentrate on her weaknesses from last year.

“I think my defense has picked up in my range and motions,” Wimpy said.

To prepare for the Rhode Island tournament, Wimpy used this week’s practice to focus on strengthening the defensive skills that concerned her in the Cal State-Fullerton match.

“The serve-receive … has been one of my weaker points from the last game,” she said.

Outside hitters, such as sophomore Jessica Weynand, have used practice to hone their fundamental skills, such as timing the ball and reaching high on the swing.

“We’ve been working a lot on my timing, arm swing, and confidence on where to place the ball when I hit,” Weynand said.

The team is hopeful that practice will help them bring home a tournament championship, but for now, they will focus on one game at a time.

“To prepare for game day, I focus on the game ahead of us,” Weynand said. “I don’t let any distractions get in the way.”

The University Star - Page 11

SPORTS

spygame

THE UNIVERSITY STAR

MCT

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - Page 12

New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick apologized Wednesday after his organization was caught filming opponents’ signals during Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. According to league rules, video recording devices of any kind are prohibited on the field, in the locker room or in the coaches’ booth at all times during a game. Jets Coach Eric Mangini was a former assistant under Belichick with the Patriots prior to accepting his current position.

Belichick and the Patriots await a ruling from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Belichick

Sports Contact — Scott Strickman, starsports@txstate.edu

Seeking Redemption:

Week Baylor provides first road test This Southland

By George Kiel Sports Reporter

The Bears average 327 passing yards per game, 12th best in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, with quarterback Blake Szymanski, who was named Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Rice. Szymanski tossed for 412 yards and six touchdowns last week. Coach Guy Morriss is in his fifth season at the helm, compiling a 15-31 record through his first four seasons.

Texas State has their work cut out for them, as they head into their match with the Bears 0-6 all-time against Big 12 opponents, while Baylor is 12-0 against opponents from lower divisions.

“The Bears are bigger, faster, and stronger than us, but with better execution we should be fine,” said George.

Some of the players have taken it upon themselves to improve individually for the betterment of the team. Two of the main offensive weapons for the Bobcats feel they have to do better in this upcoming game.

“I feel that I have to make better decisions and recognize reads when I’m under pressure,” George said.

Thomas feels he can improve in different areas as well, and feels that Wright’s preparation will help them focus more on what is at hand.

“This week in practice, coach has been a lot more (about) discipline, stressing that we do everything the right way,” Thomas said. “Even during our stretching time he’s making us focus on the little things.”

Thomas said he feels this will help the team eliminate some of their turnovers from last game’s performance.

Though Wright may be focusing on the little things, his philosophy still remains the same from day one.

“We will continue to work hard everyday, give our best effort and see what happens,” Wright said.

The Bobcats will take on the Baylor Bears 6 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco.

After suffering a disappointing loss at the hands of Abilene Christian, and falling out of The Sports Network Top 25, the Bobcats look to bounce back against Big 12 Conference foe Baylor in their first road contest.

The two teams have played six times, with Baylor winning every game; however, their last meeting in 2004 was decided by only one touchdown.

Bobcats’ sophomore quarterback Bradley George described his team as being “sick to their stomachs” after last week’s performance; he feels they have put the loss behind them.

“That’s why we play 11 games,” George said. “We have to forget about that one and keep moving.”

Last weekend Baylor pounded Rice, and former Texas State coach David Bailiff, 42-17, improving to 1-1 on the season. From Coach Brad Wright to junior wide receiver Adrian Thomas, the Bobcats seem to be fully aware of what the Bears possess.

“They are a very improved team since the last time we played them,” Thomas said. “Their secondary is much better and they like to mix up their covers a lot.”

Wright and Thomas both said the Bears are a very talented team and have exceptional speed. While Wright focuses only on his team’s preparation, he said Baylor may try to do some of the things Abilene Christian did to be successful against the Bobcats.

“They may try to run the football more because that’s what Abilene did,” Wright said.

Baylor may attempt to expose the Bobcats’ passing defense, which ranks 78th in Division I Football Championship Subdivision in passing yards given up per game, surrendering 225 yards a contest.

VOLLEYBALL

SOUTHLAND SCOREBOARD FOOTBALL STANDINGS TEAM

RECORD

Northwestern Nicholls Sam Houston McNeese TEXAS STATE Se. Louisiana Stephen F. Austin Central Arkansas

1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1

CONFERENCE

SOCCER STANDINGS

TEAM

OVERALL

PCT.

HOME

AWAY

RECORD

PCT.

HOME

AWAY

1.000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000

1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1

2-0 2-0 2-0 1-0 1-1 0-2 0-2 0-2

1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 .500 .000 .000 .000

2-0 1-0 2-0 1-0 1-1 0-0 0-1 0-0

0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-2 0-1 0-2

Se. Louisiana Northwestern McNeese Tx.-San Antonio Stephen F. Austin Nicholls State Central Arkansas Sam Houston Lamar TEXAS STATE

RECORD 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

CONFERENCE PCT.

.000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000

HOME

AWAY

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

RECORD

OVERALL

PCT.

TEAM

HOME

AWAY

4-0 1.000 4-0 2-2 .500 2-1 1-1-3 .500 1-0-1 1-2-1 .375 0-0 1-2 .333 1-1 1-3-1 .300 1-1-1 1-3 .250 0-0 1-3 .250 1-2 0-4 .000 0-0 0-5 .000 0-2

0-0 0-1 0-1-2 1-2 0-1 0-1 1-2 0-1 0-0 0-3

RECORD

Central Arkansas Stephen F. Austin Tx.-Arlington Se. Louisiana Sam Houston Lamar McNeese Northwestern TEXAS STATE Tx.-San Antonio A&M-Corpus Nicholls

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Northeastern vs. Northwestern St.

Kentucky Wesleyan vs. SE Louisiana

North Dakota St. vs. Sam Houston St.

Louisiana-Lafayette vs. McNeese St.

Tennessee-Martin vs. Central Arkansas

Nevada

CONFERENCE PCT.

.000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000

vs.

Nicholls St.

—Courtesy of the Helmet Project Austin Byrd/Star photo Matthew Slabaugh/ Star photo illustration

HOME

AWAY

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

RECORD 11-1 6-4 5-5 2-2 3-4 5-7 4-6 3-5 3-5 4-8 3-6 2-10

OVERALL

PCT.

.917 .600 .500 .500 .429 .417 .400 .375 .375 .333 .333 .167

HOME

AWAY

4-0 4-0 1-0 1-0 2-2 1-1 1-0 1-0 1-3 2-3 1-2 0-0

2-1 0-2 1-3 0-1 0-0 0-3 1-2 0-2 1-1 1-2 0-2 0-6

Games played at neutral sites are not reflected in the standings

Bobcat golf off to healthy start after tournament play

By Javier González Sports Reporter

After their first tournament appearance, the men and women’s golf teams are both proving they can compete at a high level.

The women’s team won the Chip-N Club Invitational held Sept. 10 and 11 at the Woodland Hills Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb. Of the 19 teams entered, Texas State faced opponents such as Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska as well as Southland Conference member McNeese State.

Bobcat coach Michael Akers’ team started the season off on a good note and has already been able to fulfill his expectations.

“Our goal was to win this first tournament,” Akers said. “I am very pleased with the patience and composure we showed. I honestly thought we would win, we discussed winning from day one.

We discussed carrying the trophy in the airport and it came true.”

The Bobcats began play Tuesday with a one-stroke advantage over second-place Kansas State.

Texas State shot 15-over-par as a team Tuesday, while Kansas State shot 19-over-par on their final 18 holes. With a three-round score

of 897, the Bobcats won their first tournament championship with Akers at the helm.

Though the team came away victorious, Akers understands improvement is always possible.

“We still have room to improve, and need to, in order to compete well the remainder of the fall,” Akers said. “No matter how much talent a team has they still have to learn how to win.”

Freshman Linn Gustafsson shot a 2-under-par 69, finishing with a three-round score of 212 (-1) to claim the individual championship by eight strokes, ahead of second-place Kali Quick of Kansas State.

“Linn Gustafsson played just like she can,” Akers said. “She was ranked in the top 20 in the world last year as a junior and will continue to develop.“ The women’s golf team plays next Oct. 1 and 2 at the Marilyn Smith Sunflower Invitational held at Kansas State.

The men’s golf team had an impressive performance as well, as they finished in a tie for third at the rain-shortened, tworound Cobb/Ferrell Mean Green Classic Sept. 10 and 11, held at North Texas.

The Bobcats tied LouisianaLafayette with a final score of 3under-par, coming in behind host North Texas and team champion Western Kentucky, who finished 4 and 5-under-par, respectively.

Texas State freshmen Phillip Krebsbach and Andrew Bryant both tied for fourth, finishing at 2-under-par.

Coach Shane Howell came away from the tournament impressed with the team.

“I was extremely pleased with the way the guys played,” Howell said. “You go into each one hoping to win and this was a good start to the season.”

Though the weather caused some problems, the team was pleased just to play.

“We were happy to get some golf in after they canceled the first few holes,” Howell said.

Howell and his squad look to build on this tournament as they travel up I-35 to play in the Texas Cup Sept. 17 and 18 at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin.

“We’ll have the same attitude at UT,” Howell said. “The competition at UT, which is in the top 25, will be higher. The course itself is extremely difficult to play at.”

Soccer remains optimistic after early winless season

By César G. Rodriguez Sports Reporter Focusing on scoring and balancing defense were the main practice points for the women’s soccer team before their match against North Texas.

When practice ended, the team divided into two and played a scrimmage match.

The losing team paid the price by doing push-ups.

The scrimmage was for the Bobcats to gain confidence on scoring goals, assistant coach Megan Ramey said.

Ramey said the match in Denton will be a tough game.

The Mean Green, she said, is a very athletic team, but she is confident the players will match up well against UNT. Building attacks and string passing to get the ball behind UNT’s defenders will be a challenge. The Bobcats plan to take the challenge head-on with high-pressure attacks.

A balanced attack and defense, Ramey said, will play a

key role against UNT. UNT marches undefeated with a record of 4-0. So far the Mean Green women have scored 16 goals and allowed four.

On the other hand, the Bobcats have lost all their games, made two goals and allowed 12.

From all the games, Ramey said, the Bobcats have been working on putting the pieces together to improve their game.

In a normal season, the first couple of games solidify the defense. The next couple of games the teams improve possession, she said.

Junior midfielder Reagan McNutt said the team is optimistic to face the Mean Green.

She said the key to winning the game is very simply, “work hard and play as a team.”

She anticipates a win against UNT will be the beginning of a winning season.

“We’re ready to go win; we’re tired of being defeated,”

she said.

Out of the last five games, McNutt said the team has taken steps forward to improve, a good reason for the Bobcats to practice on offense and defense.

“Each game is a lesson,” she said.

Despite the hard practice, there is always one word that throws off the game plan: luck.

McNutt said luck has played a role against the Bobcats in the last five games — the ball would simply not go in the net.

Whether luck played a role or not, Ramey said the Bobcats lacked confidence the last couple of games because of missed opportunities.

“We hit lots of posts and had chances (but) we could not put them away,” Ramey said.

The Bobcats leave Thursday afternoon for Denton and play at 7 p.m. Friday.

Playing UNT will be the end of the women’s three-game road trip. The Bobcats will host Texas - El Paso Sept. 16.