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DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
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SEPTEMBER 27, 2006
WEDNESDAY
VOLUME 96, ISSUE 15
Getting Kinky: Friedman, Ventura make campus stop By David Saleh Rauf The University Star Kinky Friedman is hoping he can learn a few things from “The Body.” Friedman, along with Jesse “The Body” Ventura, former governor of Minnesota and professional wrestler, spent the second of a three-day college campus tour delivering their message to a Texas State audience. “When I won in Minnesota, I won because I inspired young people to come out and vote,” Ventura said to a capacity crowd Tuesday afternoon in the Evans Auditorium. “You can be the generation to open up the door to politics in America and allow it to be inclusive of more thoughts, more candidates and more choices.” Ventura urged students to “wake up to the fact that they can make a change” by voting in the upcoming gubernatorial election. “If you don’t vote, you can’t bitch. You can talk the talk, but
on Nov. 7 you can prove to me and walk the walk,” he said. “You have a chance by electing Kinky to watch your vote work and know that you were part of the process.” Friedman, who received a standing ovation as he strutted to the podium, has distinguished himself from the wide field of gubernatorial candidates by declaring he has no political experience. “The three other opponents, Perry, Grandma and Bell have 89 years of political experience between just the three of them,” he said. “There is a difference between a politician and a statesman. A politician is thinking about the next election; a statesman is thinking about the next generation.” Throughout the speech, Friedman, independent gubernatorial candidate, made use of his best resource: colorful oneliners. “I’m 61years old,” he said. “Too young for Medicare and too old for women to care.” He said Governor Rick Perry
onlineconnection For an audio feature on Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, go to www. UniversityStar.com. has wasted his time over the last four years on “cheer-leading legislation.” He called Perry’s initiative to arrest drunks in bars across Texas “wussification of the worst possible kind.” “If you’re a drunk, the perfect place is for you to be is in a bar,” he said. “That’s where you belong.” Friedman voiced his support for tougher immigration laws, the environment, education reform and gay marriage. “The governor has been busy banning gay marriage over the last four years,” he said. “My attitude is I support gay marriage. I think they have every right to be just as miserable as the rest of us.” In reference to Perry’s days at Texas A&M, Friedman said the
governor is still a “yell leader.” “They only tackle you when you’re carrying the ball and he is a yell leader,” Friedman said. “He’s not carrying the ball. He’s not talking about things that are troubling Texas.” Mason McCorkle, geography junior, said he missed work to attend the speech. McCorkle said Friedman will “take action” if elected. “He’s tired of the bickering back and forth between Republicans and Democrats,” McCorkle said. “He just wants to see action.” After the speech, Friedman and Ventura signed memorabilia in The Quad for more than an hour. The Friedman campaign is relying heavily on an increase
Bridgette Cyr/ Star photo TEXAS STATE LIKES IT KINKY: Sarah Petty, political science sophomore, thanks Kinky Friedman after he signed a bumper sticker during his college tour outside of Evans Liberal Arts. Friedman visited Texas State Tuesday to campaign and encourage students to get out and vote.
in college-aged voters going to the polls. “I think it’s pathetic that we’re out trying to sell democracy when in the last governor’s election here in the state of Texas you had 29 percent voter turnout,” Ventura said. “That
Mortal Combat
Investigation continues in petition case
online connection
By A.N. Hernández The University Star
To hear martial artist and actor Chuck Norris’ thoughts on his new league, go to www.UniversityStar.com.
found. “We got an e-mail at 10 o’clock from our San Antonio headquarters and we took down everything,” Cruz said. “Everything that came with spinach got pulled off the shelves — and it wasn’t even contaminated.” H-E-B shoppers have been relieved at the action taken, said a produce
An investigation by the Hays County district attorney’s office into alleged forgeries on a petition continues. The petition, which sought to annex the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District into the Austin Community College taxing district has been under investigation since April. It includes duplicated signatures and the signatures of at least three dead people. Names of Texas State staff members and students were among the petition’s signature irregularities. Although the Hays County Commissioner’s Court appropriated $50,000 to hire a special prosecutor to examine the case and other pending county cases, the district attorney’s office has not yet decided to call one in. Wesley Mau, assistant district attorney, said the investigation is ongoing, and a special prosecutor will be hired only if there is a conflict of interest with sitting District Attorney Michael Wenk or if a subject expert is needed. “What we are trying to do is really get a good feel for who is responsible for the forgeries on that petition before we go forward with any formal charges,” Mau said. “We want to make sure that we are confident there is a particular person we can point the finger at.” Although Mau could not disclose the results of forensic handwriting tests, he said some tests have been completed and that more will be done. He said there currently is no grand jury specially impaneled to investigate the case. Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office declined to comment on the ACC petition. Joyce Cowan, Hays County election administrator, said 74 people have signed affidavits swearing their signatures were forged on the petition. “This is a first for me, and I hope to never see another situation like it,” Cowan said. Cowan said she has seen the petition first-hand and believes the number of forgeries is more than 74. She said it is not a good sign when about 1,000 of the 3,000 petition signatures had to be thrown out. “A lot of people feel like, ‘You don’t steal my name, you don’t steal my vote and you don’t steal my signature, because if you steal my name, I don’t have anything,’” she said.
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See ACC, page 3
Kevin “The Hitman” Engel of the Houston Enforcers dodges just out of arm’s reach of Ryan “The Lion” Madigan’s right hand during their World Combat League match Friday night at the Frank Erwin Center.
Cotton Miller/Star photo
Commissioners extend Horse Committee contract By Kathy Martinez The University Star Hays County Commissioners passed a motion Tuesday to extend the Horse Committee’s contract with the civic center for one year. The agenda item called for possible action that included authorizing the county judge to execute an agreement with Charles Nagel, Hays County Civic Center director, relating to the management of the center. While the original topic called for a review of Nagel’s contract, emails surfaced among the commissioners in the days prior that indicated the center was closing down permanently. Consequently, the rumors generated comments from the public in attendance. Kim McGee, vice president of Hays County Horse Committee, said the HCCC is a safe place for the commu-
nity to learn how to ride their horses and take care of their livestock. “The center has been a way for the children to learn life lessons about the importance of livestock and at the same time have the opportunity to participate in the horse shows that are held at the civic center,” McGee said. Nagel said while the center has not brought in revenue for the county, it does provide a service to the community through its livestock shows and a place for people to learn how to properly take care of their horses. “I understand that bringing in revenue is important, but in all reality the civic center is not going to directly bring in $100,000 a year. It’s not practical. When I started in 2003 this place was a mess and people did not have a positive perception of it,” Nagel said. “Now, membership is high, vast improvements have been made,
and customers are happy.” Commissioner Russ Molenaar, Precinct 4, agreed that the use of the civic center is vital for the community. Molenaar said the county must expect to lose some money every year from the facility. “When we were in the stages of changing directors for the center, I almost gave up on the project because the place was such a mess, but then I met Charles,” Molenaar said. “We have to think though in regards to how the center has indeed brought revenue to other facets of the community.” Molenaar said although the center has not brought in direct profit, it has helped provide revenue to hotels, the outlet malls, restaurants and the purchasing of gas in Hays County. “We will eventually start to break even and the tourists that the center brings will pay for some of our taxes.
That’s acceptable,” Molenaar said. Molenaar made a motion to extend Nagel’s contract for one year. While the commissioners agreed on the motion, a request was made by the court to have Nagel present monthly updates on the progress of the center as well as all of its expenditures. After an hour of discussion, County Judge Jim Powers interjected with his own comments and concerns about the topic. “Closing down the center was never even an option. Our topic of discussion for today was to review Mr. Nagel’s contract and establish why the center has not brought in revenue. It’s my job to see that this asset is being utilized for the betterment of the community. Something needs to happen and we need a plan of action,” Powers said. “I don’t expect the center to bring in $100,000 a year, but I do expect it to at least break even.”
Local businesses respond to FDA, E. coli spinach reports By Jacqueline Davis The University Star Nationwide concern about fresh spinach consumption and illnesses because of E. coli infections has local businesses taking precautions to keep their clientele healthy. Although Texas has apparently not been affected by the contaminated spinach, the U.S. Food and Drug Ad-
ministration reported 175 cases of illness due to the strain Escherichia coli O157:H7 spanning 25 states. While most strains of E. coli are harmless, this strain produces a strong toxin that can cause severe illness. As of Monday, there have been 93 hospitalizations and one death because of this E. coli strain. The FDA became aware of the current outbreak on Sept. 13 and in light
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sucks. You should be embarrassed over that.” Friedman reiterated the importance of getting out and voting in this election. “If you all get off your asses and vote, this thing is done. It’s all over,” he said.
Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 48% UV: 9 Very High Wind: SSW 11 mph
Two-day Forecast Thursday Mostly Sunny Temp: 87°/58° Precip: 20%
Friday Sunny Temp: 84°/ 68° Precip: 20%
of the information, San Marcos businesses took no chances. Frank Cruz, produce lead for the larger of the city’s two H-E-B stores, said he and his produce crew threw out all fresh and bagged spinach Sept. 15, the day the vegetable was declared unsafe by the FDA. H-E-B put up signs declaring its reasoning behind the action in the areas of the store where fresh and bagged spinach were usually
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