09 25 2007

Page 1

’CATS DROP COOGS

NEW MEDIA The School of Journalism and Mass Communication

First win comes in dominating 4-0 shutout for women’s soccer

responds to changes in the industry

SEE SPORTS PAGE 10

SEE TRENDS PAGE 6

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

SEPTEMBER 25, 2007

TUESDAY

VOLUME 97, ISSUE 11

New financial aid bill spans across state, federal lines By Bill Lancaster News Reporter The U.S. Congress presented the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 to the President Wednesday. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said the bill is the largest investment in college financial aid in more than 60 years. “The bill reduces the cost of federal student loans by halving interest rates and increases the value of the Pell scholarships,” Doggett said. “More students receive help and more help goes to those most in need. In all, this bill provides over $2 billion in additional assistance to Texas students and families.” The bill will increase Pell Grants to a maximum of $5,400 during the next five years, decrease the interest on new student loans to 3.4 percent during the next four and loan payments will be based on income levels. Texas State students receive more than $15 million in Pell grants and more than $100 million in federal loans, according to the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Association. Matthew Tejada, of the Texas Public Interest Research Group, said the bill is significant because it addresses the two most important problems when pursuing higher education: access and affordability. “It’s a fairly significant increase and the first one that’s been affected in many years,” Tejada said. “It does not force students to take repaying their student loans as a chief consideration for what sort of

jobs they pursue after they receive an education.” Michael Heintze, associate vice president of enrollment management and marketing, said the requirement in the bill for the university to have policies relating to lenders would not have much effect on Texas State because they are moving away from relationships with the lending institutions. “Already, over the years, the incoming freshmen are taking advantage of the direct lending system through the federal government and now we will be moving the transfer students over,” Heintze said. The majority of transfer students at Texas State are usually the ones who use private lenders, while freshman go through the direct lending system. The policies regarding private lenders in the act arose from the recent New York attorney general’s investigation into private lending companies. The investigation exposed relationships between private lenders and universities that presented a conflict of interest. At the same time the federal government was considering increasing funds for students, Gov. Rick Perry vetoed in June a $154 million line in the state budget designated to cover health care for students and employees in the state’s community colleges. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education said in a news release, “This unwarranted and unexpected action See COST, page 4

By Scott Thomas News Reporter

Spencer Millsap/Photo Illustration TUITION SAVINGS: The College Cost Reduction Act, passed by the U.S. Congress and sent to the President Wednesday, will reduce the cost of federal student loans and increase the value of Pell Grants.

Forces unite at League of Women Voters to improve San Marcos By Andy Sevilla Special to The University Star The San Marcos Area League of Women Voters hosted a public forum Monday night to bring together four entities — the city, the county, the university and the school district — to openly communicate issues affecting San Marcos. This year, the university grew 2.5 percent to a total of 28,132 students, which adds to the heavy traffic congestion San Marcos is experiencing. The university is still expected to grow in population, as it now offers seven doctoral programs with the recently approved doctorate in physical therapy. Two more doctoral programs in mathematics and mathematic education may be approved by next month, said University Jenny Polson/Star photo President Denise Trauth. COMMUNITY CONNECTION: University President Denise Trauth speaks at the San Marcos Area Several ideas are being disLeague of Women Voters meeting at the San Marcos Activity Center Monday night. The discussion cussed in order to better deal brought forward issues from different areas of the community. with traffic in San Marcos, including mass transit.

“The only way that we can help the university grow and get our student population around is mass transit — that’s probably the biggest priority between (the university and Hays County),” said Liz Sumter, Hays County judge. Trauth said Texas State is the biggest university in the smallest town in Texas and that is why there needs to be a strong partnership between the city and the school. She said programs such as Bobcat Build do exactly that because San Marcos citizens benefit from the service of students, while in turn giving the students a sense of gratification. “I feel really good helping with Bobcat Build and all I do is walk around,” Trauth said. “The students do respect where they live and want to give back to the community.” Patty Shafer, superintendent of San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, said See VOTE, page 4

Voter education vital for students By Leslie Cortez Special to The University Star

Monty Marion/Star photo GETTING THE WORD OUT: Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson encourages voter particapation as he talks to San Marcos locals Friday in the rotunda of the Hays County Courthouse.

Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson made an appearance Friday morning at the Hays County Courthouse to encourage voter participation in the upcoming Constitutional Amendment election Nov. 6. “Since it was enacted in 1876, our constitution has set the framework for how our state and its legislature operate,” Wilson said. “Once again, Texans will have the opportunity to let the leadership know what they want the future of Texas to look like.” Sixteen amendments will be on the ballot, including Proposition 2 and Proposition 15. Proposition 2 provides for the issuance of $500 million in bonds to finance education loans to students. Proposition 15 would create the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorize the issuance of $3 billion in bonds payable for cancer research in the state. In total, the amendments contain $9 billion worth of bonds. During his speech, Wilson stressed the importance of exercising the right to vote. “It is a great right that many sacrificed and died for,” Wilson said. “We are all obli-

Today’s Weather

Sunny 92˚

Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 58% UV: 9 Very High Wind: S 8 mph

Two-day Forecast Wednesday Partly Cloudy Temp: 92°/ 69° Precip: 20%

Thursday Partly CloudyTemp: 92°/ 68° Precip: 20%

ASG working toward improving alumni relations

gated to participate, to vote.” Among those who met Wilson Friday was Joyce Cowan, Hays County election administrator. “I think that it’s important for all ages, from 18 on up, to get out and vote,” Cowan said. “I think that it’s one of the places that we can cast our opinions — whether it’s candidates or whether it’s on issues. I’m going to encourage everybody within the voting age to register and then get out and vote and try to educate themselves on the issues.” Wilson said voter turnout last May was an abysmal 7 percent statewide. The high was set in November 2005 when voter turnout averaged 18 percent. “We can do better,” Wilson said. Kim Porterfield, director of the Office of Community Relations and candidate for City Council Place 1, was in attendance Friday morning as well. She said research shows students engaged in their community tend to perform better in school. “I think that it’s important that college students become civically engaged and become a part of their community and contribute in many ways,” Porterfield said. “I believe that voting is one component of civic engagement that university students

should become involved in.” She said it is important for students to be educated voters as well and participate in the election process. She said students should research the issues and candidates by participating in forums and listening to debates. She said one helpful tool is the League of Women Voters’ guide to the election. “If the students would get involved with the campaigns for the people who they support and who they align themselves with, it’s a real good educational tool for them to learn more about the processes,” said Linda Kinney of the Texas Republican County Chairman’s Association. Cowan expanded on this idea. “We would love to see voter participation in our elections,” Cowan said. “We’re looking for workers in our elections and when we have primaries, and that participation helps educate them.” The last day to register to vote is Oct. 9. One way to register is by downloading an application at www.sos.state.tx.us and sending the completed form to the county voter registrar’s office. For Hays County, this should be sent to Cowan, whose address is available at the Web site.

The Associated Student Government passed legislation in a unanimous voice vote Monday allowing graduates to keep their Texas State e-mail accounts. Texas State graduates e-mail account would end with txstate. grad.edu. The legislation, authored by ASG Sen. Amanda Oskey, College of Fine Arts and Communications, cites an increase in communication with alumni within a campus with a growing number of graduates as the primary reason for the change. “I’m glad the legislation passed this evening,” said ASG President Reagan Pugh. “This is one of many steps we’ll take this year to increase relations with alumni.” Oskey said it is possible the Alumni Association might pay for the charges that may arise because of the change. “It could take a while to find funding,” Oskey said. “I’m graduating in December so hopefully it will be done before then.” Pugh said it is necessary to modify the alumni e-mails with the .grad because the university recycles the e-mail initials and numbers. During the meeting, a piece of legislation written by ASG Sen. Melanie Gutermuth recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month was declared emergency legislation, enabling it to be passed by a unanimous voice vote the same night it was read. “We’re trying to raise the consciousness and awareness on the subject,” Gutermuth said. “We are in college and these types of things happen in college.” Howard Williams, San Marcos Police Department chief, Sherri Tibbe, Hays County district attorney and Carrie Freeman, director of the Hays County Women’s Center, attended the meeting to show support for the legislation. “We don’t have any specific plans right now, but the student who wrote the bill is a student in my class,” Williams said. “Before the month is over we’ll have something worked out.” Sagewood Circle was discussed at the meeting during the External Affairs Committee report. “We’re trying to let the students know their rights,” said ASG Sen. Ryan Clay, at-large, External Affairs Committee chair. “We’re just looking out for the best interest of these guys.” Pugh, Mayor Susan Narvaiz and University President Denise Trauth will be taking a walk through Sagewood Circle Wednesday night to talk to residents living on the street. “We’ll be meeting with community members, figuring out how to deal with the situation with the correct approach,” Pugh said. “It’s ASG’s job to make sure the students are being well-represented and the students are being heard.” Clay said both sides of the story will be heard, and the primary focus of ASG will be communication. “We’re trying to give an opportunity to communicate,” said ASG Sen. Bogan Durr, off-campus. “ASG is not taking a stand.” Pugh encouraged the senators to write and pass legislation to help a bobcat statue to be placed on campus. To bring the statue to Texas State would cost approximately $75,000, Pugh said. “We are the Bobcats, and if someone were to be dropped in the middle of campus they would have no idea,” Pugh said. “We, as a senate, would like to leave this as a gift to future Bobcats.”

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

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

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

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09 25 2007 by The University Star - Issuu