VOLUME 102, ISSUE 19

www.UniversityStar.com

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

THURSDAY

OCTOBER 4, 2012

GO NE ONLI NOW

“A Very Potter Musical”

“A Very Potter Musical” is a student-run theatre production based on the Harry Potter series coming to Texas State. To learn more, visit UniversityStar.com.

Newcomer challenges state representative

University : Bookstore

$5.99 (24 pack)

Walmart:

$4.47 (36 pack)

University Bookstore :

$2.79

Walmart:

$1.17

University Bookstore:

John Casares, Staff Photographer

$2.99

Democrat John Adams, a six-year trustee for the Dripping Springs I.S.D. Board of Trustees, is running against Jason Isaac for District 45 State Representative.

Walmart:

$0.74

By Adrian Omar Ramirez News Reporter Two Dripping Springs residents will face off in the District 45 State Representative race. Democrat John Adams, a trustee for Dripping Springs I.S.D., is challenging incumbent Republican Jason Isaac to represent Hays and Blanco counties in the state legislature. According to his website, Adams is running because politicians in Austin have broken their promises to Texas and are allowing the schools and state to fall behind. The four main issues Adams hopes to tackle are education, economy, environment and women’s health. Adams said he has seen the Texas Legislature “abdicate” its responsibility for providing funding for public schools. This is the first thing Adams would change upon defeating Isaac, he said. “I simply got upset with (Isaac’s) actions, voting to cut $5.5 billion out of public education,” Adams said. “(Texas) already ranks near the bottom for dollars spent per people, and his efforts reduce that even further. I decided I’m not going to take that anymore.” As of press time, attempts to interview Isaac were unsuccessful. Alexis Morris, studio art senior and Col-

READ JOHN ADAMS, PAGE 2

University Bookstore:

$2.79

Walmart:

$1.24

University Bookstore:

$5.99

CONVENIENCE COSTS School supplies more expensive at bookstore

By Gregory Tate News Reporter Students may sacrifice affordability for convenience when they purchase some items at the University Bookstore. Some basic school supplies are more expensive at the University Bookstore, which manager Jacqueline Slaughter said is necessary because the store can’t purchase products in bulk. Corporations have larger clienteles, which is why they can afford to buy mass quantities of products to sell at lower prices. For example, a four-ounce bottle of Elmer’s glue costs $.74 at Walmart and $2.99 at the University Bookstore. A pack of 36 Crayola brand colored pencils can be purchased at Walmart for $4.47, while the University Bookstore charges $5.99 for a 24 pack. A pack of 12 erasable Crayola colored pencils costs $3.47 at Walmart, while the bookstore charges $5.99. A 24 pack of Crayola crayons costs $1.17 at Walmart and $2.79 at the bookstore. A pack of Dixon pencils costs $1.24 at Walmart and $2.79 at the bookstore. Slaughter said though items are often priced as much as 30 percent higher at the University Bookstore than at businesses like Walmart, students are willing to pay the cost for convenience. The University Bookstore is not part of a chain, and its products are bought individually, Slaughter said. Because the bookstore is not buying and selling in bulk, prices must be marked up for the shop to make money. She

said issues with stealing have also led to raised prices. Slaughter said she feels the store’s prices are “pretty good,” and doesn’t feel the products are overly expensive. “A lot of times, the products that we sell are a better quality or a bigger amount than what (students) are getting at Walmart,” Slaughter said. Steven Diaz, biology freshman and art minor, said he feels prices at the University Bookstore are too high for students, especially ones seeking art supplies. Diaz said he feels the convenience of shopping at the bookstore is not worth the price. “If I buy art supplies from the bookstore, it’s about $400,” Diaz said. “If I buy them from Hobby Lobby, it’s around $300. I’m broke.” Slaughter said the University Bookstore makes a 25-percent profit from its sales. Any revenue left over at the end of the year goes back to the university. Almost 50 students and 22 fulltime bookstore employees have to be paid, which Slaughter said also contributes to high prices. These prices are necessary in order to pay these expenses, she said. Rhevan Rhodes, exercise and sport science junior, said while the bookstore is convenient, prices are too high. “If I needed (something) last minute, to be honest, I still wouldn’t shop there,” Rhodes said. “I’d probably just take some tape from a teacher or something. We’re college students. I wouldn’t spend $2.99 on some glue.”

If I needed (something) last minute, to be honest, I still wouldn’t shop there.”

Walmart:

$3.47

—Rhevan Rhodes, exercise and sport science junior Austin Beavers, Staff Photographer

RampCorp program aids local entrepreneur By Nicole Barrios News Reporter Monica De La Rosa is turning her frustrations in making her home environmentally friendly into a business that will teach others how to be energy efficient. De La Rosa, Texas State alumna and San Marcos resident, utilized the university’s RampCorp program, which helps women entrepreneurs launch their own businesses. The Texas State RampCorp program began in 2010 and has helped more than 30 companies launch successful startups, said Terry Chase Hazell, director of RampCorp. The program recruits women who want to start their first scalable businesses. Hazell said scalable businesses look to have a national or international market focus, are typically companies based on intellectual property and are usually technologyenabled in some way. Bill Covington, associate vice president of Research and Federal Relations, said his of-

fice and the provost’s helped provide funds for the RampCorp program. He said the funding comes out of the university budget. The university has spent between $40,000 and $50,000 in support of RampCorp, he said. Hazell said the program consists of 25 informative sessions. According to the RampCorp website, women are taught “The Ramps” curriculum during these sessions. The Ramps curriculum includes 16 topics of training for women entrepreneurs. There are eight knowledge topics, or Ramps, covering the typical entrepreneurship training elements that make the core of a business plan. The eight topics are skill Ramps for women entrepreneurs. Participants are deemed members and allowed to participate in the incubation program at much reduced rates after successfully completing the 16 Ramps, according to the website. The program fee for women who attend the RampCorp program is $1,500 for firsttime attendees and $600 for returning entre-

San Marcos City Council adopts multi-million-dollar budget By Andrew Osegi News Reporter The San Marcos City Council adopted a $160.8 million budget for 2012-2013 during its Sept. 18 meeting. The council voted 6-0 in favor of the budget, which will be in effect Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013. The primary goal of the budget is to address the five strategic initiatives outlined by the council. Budget organizers framed their spending around sound finances, customer friendly processes, big picture infrastructure, community wellness and San Marcos River protection, recreation and maintenance. The 2012-2013 budget has been in development since January, with workshops dur-

ing the spring and public hearings throughout August and September. City Manager Jim Nuse said the budget emphasizes priorities expressed by citizens and addresses the goals San Marcos wants to achieve. “We feel this budget model will make San Marcos sustainable for many years into the future,” Nuse said. Mayor Daniel Guerrero said city council prides itself on being transparent when formulating the budget with resident tax money. He said the new budget invests in core services, limits future debt obligations and provides funds for needed improvements to streets, parks, city facilities and technology.

READ BUDGET, PAGE 2

preneurs, Hazell said. There are partial scholarships available to defer some of the costs. De La Rosa said in her full year of RampCorp sessions, networking events introduced her to valuable contacts. She said being able to utilize RampCorp’s intellectual property resources, attending its informative classes and following the program’s step-by-step business plan helped her company progress and excel. “(RampCorp) helped me pretty much bring my idea into fruition,” De La Rosa said. RampCorp helps women determine what their businesses will be and make them a reality, Hazell said. De La Rosa, for example, has created an energy-efficient supply store that will cater to both business and residential customers. De La Rosa said her business will sell building products that are energy efficient, sustainable and innovative. She said the products range from solar panels to energy-

READ RAMPCORP, PAGE 2

Photo courtesy of Terry Hazell

Monica De La Rosa, Texas State alumna, worked with Texas State RampCorp to help start her own business. RampCorp, developed in 2010, has aided female entrepreneurs start 30 companies.

City council implements green waste collection pilot program By Karen Zamora News Reporter The implementation of a monthly waste drop-off day may be in the City of San Marcos’ future. Laurie Moyer, managing director for Community Services, updated the San Marcos City Council during its Oct. 1 meeting on ways to improve the city’s green waste collection, which includes leaves, branches and brush. The council unanimously approved a pilot program that would establish a monthly green waste drop-off day every Saturday. The Solid Waste Task Force asked city council in May to address green waste. Moyer presented three options to the council at

the Oct. 1 meeting. Besides the drop-off day, the other options were to create a manned drop-off facility and a schedule change to the Texas Disposal Systems service. The other two options will be considered if the drop-off pilot is unsuccessful. Moyer said the task force calculated that the monthly drop-off the council approved, which would be scheduled for five hours on a Saturday, would have a $22,000 annual operating budget, which includes capital items like an automatic gate and labor costs. Moyer said currently everyone who pays a trash bill to the city is allowed four bulky waste pick-ups a year. Moyer said the task force conducted a

READ CITY COUNCIL, PAGE 2

2 | Thursday October 4, 2012 | The University Star

NEWS

Check out more at UniversityStar.com

JOHN ADAMS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

lege Democrats president, said she has heard Adams is a major advocate for education, which is a quality needed in members of the legislature. “(College Democrats) doesn’t publicly endorse candidates, but we do want them to share our same values,” Morris said. Women’s health is another issue important to Adams. According to his website, the Texas legislature is currently “dominated by out of touch extremists working tirelessly to take away a woman’s right to control her own body.” Texas State is an asset to District 45 because every dollar invested in higher education returns $5.50 to the economy, and its emerging research institution status will attract a number of industries to the area. This will in turn grow the economy and workforce, according to his website. Adams believes education, the economy and environment are all intertwined. According to his website, failing to prepare an educated workforce limits the economy and hinders the ability to address environmental issues created by a growing population. Adams said his six years of experience on the Dripping Springs Board of Trustees

RAMPCORP

shows his ability to cooperate with Republicans even though he is opposed to many of the recent decisions made by right-wing politicians. “We have a mission that says everything we do is for the good of the children, and I believe I can bring that cooperative spirit to the legislature,” Adams said. “I think my ability to work with people across the aisle and my extensive knowledge of public education are the two things I’ll bring to the legislature.” Adams said current representatives lack cooperative mentalities, which causes the legislature to accomplish little. A “very ideological” agenda was implemented with no compromising, which does not serve the people of Texas, he said. Nicholas Cubides, field director for the Adams campaign, said a major focus of the campaign is student outreach. Cubides said presidential election years tend to have higher voter participation than other years. He said President Barack Obama’s race for re-election has been energizing voters. “We’re expecting a high number of people to come out for the race, and combined with us focusing on students, we’re expecting a strong win,” Cubides said.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

efficient air conditioning and heating units. The name of De La Rosa’s store is currently going through the copyrighting and trademarking process. Her website will be functional by Nov. 1 and will provide a guide on how to begin “going green” by using the store’s products, De La Rosa said. “A lot of people do want to go the

CITY Council

(energy-efficient) route,” De La Rosa said. “They just don’t know how to start, where to go or don’t understand the products. So, that’s where my website will help with puzzling all those pieces together.” She said the next phase of the business will be setting up a store, hopefully in San Marcos.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

study and found 492 of 2248 pick-ups in the past year were associated with green waste. She said when changing one of the bimonthly bulk pick-ups to a green waste one, couches and mattresses were left out for longer periods of time than before. Councilman Shane Scott, Place 6, said he wants to look at the restrictions for bulk pick-ups. He said residents could throw away couches, but not two-by-fours unless cut into smaller pieces. “That hampers people’s ability to go ahead and get those bulk items gone,” Scott said. “Because if you are going to have to do that kind of work to it, then you might as well throw it away in a regular trash can.” Moyer said based on information from the study, substituting one bulk pick-up a month

for a green waste one was not conducive to the goal. Moyer said she researched other cities like Round Rock that have created a green waste drop-off facility. She said the annual operating budget of a drop-off facility open six days a week is approximately $255,000 per year, which includes labor for staff and debt service payments for the equipment needed. Moyer said the task force has looked at 40 acres of land near River Road as a possible location for a drop-off facility. This is the same site the city uses to drop off its own brush material. “There are a lot of opportunities for us to explore and expand this,” Moyer said. “Mostly, what we are trying to do is to take this first step.”

City officials consider incentives for Springtown store tenants By Nancy Young News Reporter Future development is hopeful for the abandoned Springtown Shopping Center, according to city officials. There are only a few stores in operation at the shopping center located off Thorpe Lane and Springtown Way, with many spaces still available. Although it is not city-owned property, officials can support plans for moving tenants into Springtown. Under the city’s Comprehensive Master Plan, officials can work with economic developers to help interested parties bring entertainment back to Springtown, said councilwoman Kim Porterfield, Place 1. “We can’t tell private owners what to do with the land,” Porterfield said. “It’s a prime piece of land. It is close to the university, H-E-B and other prime locations.” According to Amy Madison, economic development coordinator, one part of Springtown is privately owned, while the other is owned by the John Lewis Company. The City of San Marcos is focusing on the reconstruction of Thorpe Lane. There is currently no projected date by which the city hopes to have more businesses occupying Springtown, but it is actively pursuing tenants for the shopping center, Porterfield said. “It is a high priority for me,” Porterfield

BUDGET

said. “I am willing to consider incentives such as tax abatements, expedited permit processing and any creative incentives proposed by the developer.” The approximately 30-acre shopping center has remained largely vacant since 2009 when Target, Best Buy, Bealls and J.C. Penny moved to other locations in San Marcos, Porterfield said. “I’m interested in a mixed-use redevelopment site, family retail, entertainment, student and non-student living, things of that nature,” Porterfield said. “We can work with economic developers to accommodate and help with bringing back entertainment.” The owners of the property presented a renovation proposal in 2009 for further economic development of the area. They proposed some entertainment venues for the center, such as a beer garden and Alamo Draft House in hopes of attracting crowds from San Marcos and surrounding cities. According to the proposal, renovations would create 451 jobs, $295 million in salaries, $1.7 million in additional taxable sales for the city and $51.74 million in local tax rolls. “We have been working on (the proposal) for about a year and are hopeful to put it into play around January or February,” said Matthew Lewis, director of Development Services. “The Springtown Shopping Center is a target area.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

This year’s city budget will increase water and wastewater rates by 3 and 2.5 percent, respectively, to help offset seasonal revenue fluctuations, according to documents provided by councilwoman Kim Porterfield, Place 1. Property taxes and electric rates will remain the same, according to the documents Home values in San Marcos increased this year, according to the Hays Central Appraisal District, raising the average homeowner’s tax bill by $4.71. Park and street maintenance, development, animal services and public safety workers will receive $510,000 in funding, according to the documents. Maintenance projects, including implementation of the city’s Comprehensive Master Plan, will receive $1.29 million. The city budget is supported by three major and several special funds. The general fund receives revenue from sale and proper-

ty taxes and pays for police, fire, community and public services, planning and development, capital improvements and administration. Public rates for electricity, water and wastewater finance their respective funds. Special funds include airport, transit and solid waste. Porterfield said more money will go toward public services than last year’s budget committed to sidewalk and playground infrastructure. “This year we wanted to open the door to public services,” Porterfield said. “Population increase is the biggest challenge for city transportation. We hope to direct more funding into public transportation in terms of improved street overlays and bike lanes.” Porterfield said city council hopes to eventually integrate more public art into the community and finish the $9 million downtown renovation, including road improvements to LBJ Drive and Hopkins Street.

PAGE TWO Clarification

A sentence in a Sept. 27 opinions column titled “Research priorities should remain competitive with other universities” should have stated that the 2012 fiscal year budget numbers for the new doctorate in materials science are only a portion of the overall funding allocated for the program.

wild art

Correction

A sentence in an Oct. 2 opinions column titled “Alkek due for cleaning, renovations” should have stated that the library does allow on-site printing from Windowsbased laptops connected to the wireless network in the fourth floor computer lab.

ON THIS

DAY IN HISTORY

1822 – Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of the United States, was born in Delaware, Ohio. 1895 – The first U.S. Open golf tournament was held, at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. 1923 – Actor Charlton Heston was born John Charles Carter in Evanston, Ill. 1931 – The comic strip “Dick Tracy” by Chester Gould made its debut. 1957 – Jimmy Hoffa was elected president of the Teamsters Union. 1957 – “Leave It to Beaver” premiered on CBS. 1970 – Rock singer Janis Joplin, 27, was found dead of an accidental heroin overdose. 1990 – German lawmakers held the first meeting of the reunified country’s parliament in the Reichstag in Berlin. 1993 – Dozens of cheering, dancing Somalis dragged the body of an American soldier through the streets of Mogadishu. 2002 – John Walker Lindh, the so-called “American Taliban,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a federal judge in Alexandria, Va. 2010 – The Supreme Court began a new era with three women serving together for the first time as Elena Kagan took her place at the end of the bench. —Courtesy of The New York Times

John Casares, Staff Photographer

Kate Schaul, radiation therapy sophomore, and Andrew Orscheln, business management junior, enjoy a game of badminton Oct. 3 at the Student Recreation Center.

Eat healthier on gamenutrition days Previous NFL Green Bay Packer Coach Vince Lombardi once challenged his players with the following quote: “The spirit, the will to win and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.” While he was referring to dedication on the field, his words can directly relate to health. It is health that is the determinant of a lasting, enduring quality of life. Lombardi’s challenge becomes harder to fulfill as fast food and convenience foods are ever-available in our community. How can students expect to have a lasting quality of life if they continue to ingest convenience foods known to cause sickness and disease? The solution starts with a small change such as choosing healthier foods on game day. Instead of the average chips, queso, wings and beer, challenge the expect-

ed options with healthy and creative choices such as portabella pizza bites or baked broccoli crisps. By simply exchanging fried potatoes for baked broccoli or mushrooms with cheese, one has traded a high-fat and starch-filled snack for a low-calorie, high-nutrient one. This pattern of including more vegetables and fruits can greatly increase quality of life and may prevent the development of certain nutrition-related diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Broccoli is part of a family of vegetables referred to as “cruciferous vegetables.” These are widely known by researchers to contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Antioxidants are able to prevent damage to DNA, proteins and lipids inside our bodies. Challenge the expected by making a small change in your common ingredi-

beat

ents while maintaining flavor with an appetizer like the one below. Crispy broccoli bites recipe: adapted from “My Tasty Treasures” ·2 lb (16 oz.) fresh streamed broccoli ·1 cup low fat 2 percent mozzarella cheese ·3 eggs ·1 cup whole grain bread crumbs ·Combine all four ingredients in a bowl, form small patties with your hands and place onto a foil wrapped cookie sheet. ·Bake at 375 F for 25 minutes and watch them disappear! Make Coach Lombardi proud this fall football season and start scoring points towards a higher quality of life through greater consumption of vegetables and fruits. —Courtesy of Perfect Solutions Nutrition and Weight Loss

The University Star | Thursday October 4, 2012 | 3

OPINIONS

For more viewpoints or letters to the editor, e-mail staropinions@txstate.edu

Current bike routes dangerous for all involved

I

n the interest of students and residents, more efficient and convenient bike lanes need to be installed throughout San Marcos roadways. The inefficiency of the city’s bike lane system is not only inconvenient for cyclists, but dangerous for pedestrians and motorists. Biking is a unique part of the San Marcos culture. Students and residents who choose to bike should not have to cycle on the shoulders of highways and in the middle of traffic. According to a Sept. 27 University Star article, bike lanes have been added to River Road, Thorpe Lane, Cheatham Street and portions of C.M. Allen Parkway. The city has also issued a map detailing San Marcos’ different bike lanes and their varying difficulties. While this is a step in the right direction, more must be done to better accommodate the city’s cyclists. Peter Vogt, geography junior and vice president of the Texas State cycling team, said in the Star article that San Marcos’ bike lanes do not adequately serve the community’s bicycling needs and are not part of a cohesive system. These issues are clearly reflected in the 2012 San Marcos bicycle map. Multiple routes are categorized as “easy” in the map, meaning they have low traffic and little elevation change and are largely located along neighborhood streets not typically frequented by students. Portions of roads closer to campus like Hutchison and Comanche are considered “intermediate” routes. Intermediate routes have moderate traffic volumes and “usually lack facilities such as bicycle lanes,” according to the map. It is nonsensical and unsafe to label routes as having an intermediate difficulty level when they are largely devoid of bike lanes. The majority of routes on the map are considered “easy,” but whatever benefits they have are cancelled by the fact that a few blocks down the road a cyclist will find themselves on an intermediate section with relatively no bike lanes. Connecting existing bike lanes should be the city’s priority rather than sporadically placing new lanes around town. Almost all of Sessom and Aquarena Springs Drives, arguably two of the most heavily trafficked and dangerous roads around campus, do not even have a difficulty classification. They are considered “future capital improvement projects.” Navigating Sessom Drive can be stressful for even the most experienced driver. This stress is compounded by the fact that motorists often have to avoid hitting cyclists weaving in and out of traffic because there are no bike lane options. Every student and resident, cyclist or not, would benefit from an improvement in the city’s bike lane system. The city should continue their efforts in making additions to the system, but also needs to give priority to improving the dangerous and incomplete routes around campus.

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. Emmanuel Ramirez, Star Illustrator

LETTER TO THE EDITOR This letter is in response to a front-page article featured Sept. 26 in The University Star. The article, headlined “Student struggles with disability office resources,” grossly misrepresents the Office of Disability Services. Please allow me to clear up a few of the distortions. I have been an ODS captionist for over a year. I have worked closely with numerous students, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that we captionists are an asset to those we help. We transcribe lectures for our hearing impaired students so they may have an equal opportunity to learn at the same rate as their classmates. The main goal of a captionist is to capture any and all discourse in a classroom, so our students do not miss a single detail. Therefore, while I sympathize with Mr. Reyes’ view that typing “word-for-word” slows down the transcription process, I must point out that continuous deliberation over which elements to censor from our transcripts would impede it further and even impair the full academic experiences of our students. To be frank, if our students request a captionist because they might otherwise miss specifics of a lecture, why would ODS provide them with a captionist who consciously omits any details? Furthermore, Mr. Reyes laments his experiences “dealing with Texas State faculty and staff who stereotype.” I want it made perfectly clear that Captioning Services is a wonderful program full of people who are passionate about what they do. ODS requires us to pass tests in typing speed, spelling, grammar and verbal retention in order to work with a student. We are taught to use special shortcut software, which both increases our typing pace and catalogues classspecific terms for future use. As representatives of the program, ODS wants us to be fully capable of delivering the best possible service to its students. And we do just that. ODS specifically chooses students who pride themselves in this opportunity to help fellow Bobcats. We, as well as Clint-Michael Reneau, Office of Disability Services director, Linda Lovelace, liaison interpreter, and every other member of the ODS staff, are not merely office or student workers. Certainly, we are not “faculty and staff who stereotype.” We want our students to excel. We cheer for their classroom victories. We wish them good luck on their exams. We high-five and encourage them, and many thank us after every lecture. We are not just their captionists. We are their friends. I request that editors keep this in mind when publishing future articles pertaining to ODS. We captionists are not as incompetent as this article paints us, and we do not “stereotype” our students. In fact, I encourage asking more of our students about their experiences with us. While Mr. Reyes is certainly entitled to his opinion, he alone cannot possibly represent with accuracy the 1,601 students registered with ODS. I strongly urge editors and reporters to make every effort to find more perspectives of our performance. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Whitney S. May -Whitney S. May is a Captionist for the Office of Disability Services

The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building, Room 101 San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

Editor In Chief................................................Beth Brown, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor............................Lee Moran, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor...................................................Caitlin Clark, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor............................Hollie O’Connor, starentertainment@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..........................................Liza Winkler, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor.......................................Austin Humphreys, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor..........................................Cameron Irvine, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief......................Thomas Glasebrook, starcopychief@txstate.edu Web Editor............................................Karyn Kittlitz, starwebeditor@txstate.edu

Concealed carry should remain banned on Texas college campuses

By Ravi Venkataraman Opinions Columnist

C

oncealed carry should be banned from university campuses because it is not an effective shield against mass shooting-type occurrences. Within public debate, concealed carry has become a major topic of discussion. Various college campus shootings have been carried out in the U.S. within recent years, starting with the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting. According to a Sept. 22 New York Times article, Oregon, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Utah and Colorado permit the carrying of concealed weapons on campuses through provisions. According to the same article, more than 200 institutions across the nation allow individuals to carry concealed firearms. Recently, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on the lawfulness of concealed carry on college campuses in the state. Currently, students with gun licenses at the University of Colorado Boulder can carry concealed weapons on campus, according to the same article. Instead of instilling a sense of security, professors and students may show more apprehension to these new concealed carry rulings. Two notoriously tragic shootings have happened in Colorado—at Columbine High School 13 years ago and at a movie theater in Aurora this past summer. Some students in open discussions have expressed paranoia that anyone on a college campus could potentially possess a deadly weapon. Students for Concealed Carry is an advocacy group for the right to carry legally permitted firearms on campuses. According to the same article, the group challenged the gun ban in place for more

Multimedia Editor.........................Alex Peña, starmultimediaeditor@txstate.edu Design Editor................................Michelle Wadsworth, stardesign@txstate.edu Account Executive........................................Christina Carr, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive...................................Casey Neubauer, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Michelle Rohmer, starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Hannah Wilson, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist.............................................Mary Scheske, ms88@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, starad1@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu

than 40 years at the University of Colorado Boulder. The organization argued for a means of self-defense. Other arguments include if a student or a professor was armed, the person could have helped to prevent past massacres on college campuses. But such a coincidence is highly unlikely during similar events. Even proper training with a gun could cause more harm than help. According to an Aug. 24 Wall Street Journal article, a gunman was fatally apprehended near the Empire State Building in August. Stray bullets, likely from police, injured nine bystanders. All in all, arming a student seems much more risky than arming a trained police officer. The issue of concealed carry received mixed reactions when it was brought to the Texas State campus two years ago. Although concealed firearms on campuses are currently banned in Texas, the senators in the Associated Student Government at the time voted that they were against the university’s policy disallowing firearms, according to a Nov. 30, 2010 University Star article. It was later vetoed by the ASG president at the time. The Texas bill that would have permitted concealed carry died in the Texas House last year. It still remains an issue for debate in the upcoming 2013 legislative session, especially with the recent August shootings at Texas A&M University. According to an April 4 Texas Tribune article, students at Texas Tech University and Texas A&M held weeklong demonstrations amid fatal shootings at Oikos University in Oakland, Calif. Their protests called for concealed carry. College students and the state government should not jump to conclusions and allow concealed carry on college campus as a response to recent shootings. A gunfight between a potentially mentally ill gunman and a college student would do more damage to the campus community— physically and mentally—than the intended defensive effort. —Ravi Venkataraman is a creative writing masters student.

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos and is published every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Thursday, October 4, 2012. 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. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.

Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

4 | Thursday October 4, 2012 | The University Star

TRENDS

Check out more at UniversityStar.com

“A Very Potter Musical” underway for student production company A group of Texas State students have founded a new production company and announced its new play, “A Very Potter Musical.” By Paige Lambert Trends Reporter Two Texas State students are on the verge of being in the spotlight with the creation of their own production company and its debut play, “A Very Potter Musical.” Corbin Paulino and Tanner Wiggins created Prospecting Productions in their freshman dorm, eager to start a theatre company open to all talents. Wiggins, theatre sophomore, said auditions in the Department of Theatre and Dance can be intense and competitive. Not everyone gets the opportunity to work in a production. “Most people dream about being in a big production, and it’s heart crushing that many people don’t see those dreams fulfilled,” said Paulino, theatre sophomore. “That’s why we named the company Prospecting Productions. We want to give an opportunity to find that hidden talent.” Paulino and Wiggins first went to John Fleming, chair of the department, for advice

and to get the involved. They wanted it to become a tradition in the Department of Theatre and Dance, similar to the student run production groups at other universities. Paulino said they also wanted to make sure the project didn’t interfere with any of the school’s productions to insure that anyone could be involved. “Fleming loves the ideas of students making their own production,” Paulino said. “He gave full support to the project, like mentioning it during student meetings and to faculty.” The team chose “A Very Potter Musical” as their first show because of the large fan base of “Harry Potter,” including theatre and musical enthusiasts. Paulino said doing a popular show would get their names out and gain the attention needed to fuel future shows. Starkid Productions, a troupe based in Chicago, originally created “A Very Potter Musical.” Starkid gave them permission to put on the show as long as they did not make a profit, so the production company will not

Sonja Burton, Staff Photographer

charge for tickets to “A Very Potter Musical.” Instead, they are funding the project through sponsorships. Wiggins said they were the inspiration for what Prospecting Productions could become. “We were amazed by all that Starkid did. At first they didn’t have a budget and didn’t get too technical,” Wiggins said. “But the show was great and it was cool how the group bonded. We want something like that here.” Diane Irwin, theatre freshman, said the team is trying to make it a little different from Starkid’s version. The set, for example, will have more doors, a moving staircase and floating frames. “Starkid did a great job, but a lot of it was improvisation. We want it to be more real,” said Eric Meo, theatre junior. “Along with the floating frames idea, we are working on a full-scale dragon puppet. We’ve got the plans for it—it’s just putting it all together.” The play doesn’t have much of a budget for set construction or a venue because of the nature of being a student-run production.

Wiggins said the team will reach out to local businesses for sponsorship once the cast is picked and they put a portfolio together. “Auditions mean it’s pretty set. So, now we are going to put posters everywhere and talk to everyone,” Irwin said. “We’re even going to get help from friends in Austin to spread the word.” The team has the musical score, set ideas and is working on costumes. Depending on the monetary situation, the venue might be Evans Auditorium or Texas Music Theater. Prospecting Productions is estimating their show date to be around the beginning of January before auditions for the Department of Theatre and Dance’s spring productions start. The future of Prospecting Productions is still up in the air, but many of the students involved are already thinking of sequels and performing in other cities. “We might bring it to Seguin, but nothing is solidified yet,” Paulino said. “We’ll just have to see where this goes, but Chicago is always on my mind.”

friends, some of them are acquaintances and some of them are friends of friends. Grace Park (of the band Grace Park and the Deer) will record a track on the album. JGP: How would you personally define your sound? FP: I define my sound as pop. That’s what I’m going for at least.

Felipe Portela Debut EP in the works by former student By Jordan Gass-Poore’ Trends Reporter With San Marcos-based band Those Nights and 127 others backing him on the online fundraising platform Kickstarter, former Texas State student Felipe Portela began recording his long-awaited, untitled debut EP this week at Shine Studios in Austin. Portela has since raised more than $9,000 (and counting) for the album. The singer-songwriter took a leap of faith about one year ago when he withdrew from the university to pursue music full time. Even though he will be “comfortably homeless” until the album’s tentatively scheduled December release, Portela told The University Star he has no plans to return to school. Instead, he will continue to work toward creating and sharing his new musical sound.

JGP: Other musicians may see “pop” as a dirty word. What are your thoughts on the music genre? FP: I recognize that a lot of people see it as a dirty word. The last year, the main thing I’ve been doing is studying pop music. What I’ve realized is that pop isn’t bad at all. Pop music is the most popular music all over the world and I think that says something about us, humans. There are elements in there that clearly appeal to us, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with tapping into that. JGP: You’re willing to give your first guitar to a Kickstarter backer. Other musicians’ first instruments are usually such a big deal to them that they wouldn’t be willing to part with it. What made you decide to do that? FP: That guitar has seen a lot. It’s traveled with me a long way and it’s pretty busted up. I never play it and it’s just an art piece at this point. I had a great artist friend of mine paint it. My idea there was if somebody was going to be taking this they’re going to be hanging it up like I have and it’ll be remembered as something more than this guitar that somebody’s jammed with. So, that was an easy decision for me.

Photo courtesy of Christopher Balcom

JGP: Why did you choose Kickstarter as a fundraising platform? FP: I thought that I could pull more funds from different sources, especially from around the world. I have a lot of friends that don’t live around here and a lot of people that I believed would support me and it turned out that they did, which is wonderful. JGP: How long has this album been in the works? FP: Tricky question. This particular project has been about a year in the making, although the last few months I’ve gotten a lot more serious and realistic. The closer I got to getting all my songs complete the busier I became with the whole project. Now I’m completely engulfed in the whole thing here. JGP: Are you getting friends or other musicians to help you out on this album? FP: I’m hiring several people. Some of them are close

Live Music weekends

Thursdays Miss

2201 E. Ben White • Austin, TX

midnightrodeoaustin.com

3 x $150 Cash Weekly

Midnight

1 Miller Lite Punch Top Cans $ .00

Finals Oct. 11th

Rodeo

2012

Grand Prize: $

1,000 CASH!

The University Star | Thursday October 4, 2012 | 5

SPORTS SOCCER

Check out more at UniversityStar.com

Texas State preps for first WAC road trip

By Odus Evbagharu Sports Reporter The Texas State soccer team is taking its 1-1 record in conference play on the road this weekend. This will mark the first WAC road trip for the girls in the program’s history. Currently, the Bobcats sit in third place in the WAC standings. On Friday, the club will take on San Jose State University (3-7-1, 1-1), which has a 2-2-1 record at home this season. The Spartans come into the matchup struggling. Their club has lost six out of the last seven and has only scored four goals within that span. San Jose State’s defense has not played sharply lately. The Spartans have given up 17 goals in their last seven games and have already given up four goals in two WAC games this season. Coach Kat Conner is determined for the girls to play with better pace, saying the club looked “sluggish” in a shutout defeat by Seattle on Sunday, 2-0.

“We have to make sure that we play both games,” Conner said before practice Tuesday. “On Sunday against Seattle, we looked sluggish. So, we’ve got to correct that. That’s probably more toward our off-the-field stuff with recovery. So, we are doing more with that, watching their nutrition more, so to speak. Let’s just put it that way.” The Bobcats gave up three goals combined against the Vandals and the Redhawks this past weekend. The club was outshot 36-19 by its opponents, and the attack is trying to build momentum this week at practice and to get more shots in these upcoming road games. “Well now that we know how tough the WAC is and how difficult and physical they are, we are just going to have to practice like we are playing against them every day,” said senior defender Alissa Scott. “We need to keep our defense strong. So that way, we (the offense) will pick it up more than they already have.” After playing San Jose State, the girls head to Logan, Utah to take on the Utah State University Aggies. Utah State is 5-2-6 overall, and 0-0-2 in conference play. On Sunday,

NEXT BOBACT GAME

By Cameron Irvine Sports Editor

@

New Mexico (2-3)

Saturday October 6, 5:00 p.m.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

@

New Mexico State (1-4, 0-1)

Idaho (0-5, 0-0)

Saturday October 6, 4:00 p.m.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Louisiana Tech (4-0)

vs.

UNLV (1-4)

Saturday October 6, 6:00 p.m., ESPN GamePlan

Utah State (4-1)

Twitter: @TState_Sports18

Athletics department has new marketing partner

UPCOMING FOOTBALL Texas State (2-2)

Texas State will go against an Aggies team that has not won a game since Sept. 9 and has tied its last three games. One of those ties came against a WAC rival, 18th ranked University of Denver. The result of that game was 0-0. “We’re looking to get these two wins this weekend,” said senior midfielder Taylor Kelley. “We’re sitting pretty good and other teams are sitting behind us. So, we’re not down at the bottom and hopefully we can stay on top of the rankings.” The Bobcats will go on a long west coast trip, which Conner hopes will be productive and successful. “They’re both playing a 4-3-3 and it’s what we’ve seen all year,” Conner said. “San Jose State is a little more possession-oriented and Utah State is more direct. (Utah State) is like Southeastern Louisiana, who was a big foe of ours, and so we are definitely going to have our work cut out for us on both sides. This will be a long and exciting road trip.”

@

Nelligan Sports Marketing, corporately based in Little Falls, New Jersey, announced Wednesday that they have partnered with Texas State Athletics. The company will hold the exclusive rights to the Bobcats’ corporate sponsorship and promotions, which includes ticket sales and various improvements to print and broadcast presentations. Texas State will be the company’s 31st client, along with other university athletic programs and conferences across the country. A few already partnered entities include Marquette University, University of Louisville, Rutgers and fellow FBS newcomers University of Massachusetts and UTSA. The company strives to increase market exposure and will secure additional media in an effort to grow the athletics program from a marketing standpoint.

crossword

BYU (3-2)

Friday October 5, 9:15 p.m., ESPN

BYES San Jose State 4-1)

UTSA (5-0)

classifieds

For Rent/Sale

2 BED/2 BATH ONLY $655/mo or 1 Bedroom w/ study. Fantastic move-in specials. 396-1983 GATED COMMUNITY, LOVELY TX limestone home, located in the beautiful hill country, 63 acres with wonderful views, about 11 miles from campus. 3bed-2.5ba home. Wrap around porches, and courtyard in back. Pond, corral, fencing. Ag. exempt. Opt. commercial frontage on RM 32. Broker (512) 947-7521.

Jobs !BARTENDING! Up to $300/day. No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK. (800) 965-6520 ext. 157. GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR the right person at Great Locations! Must be motivated, organized and driven! We’d like to talk to you if

Jobs

Jobs

you have or are in the process

TEACHERS: PT MON.FRI, 2:30-

of obtaining your real estate license. Email

6:30pm Experience/ Edu major preferred, not required. Must pass criminal background check & FBI fingerprinting. Child Development Center, Kyle. 512405-3700 or fax 405-3701. www.rockinghorseacademy.com

info@mygreatlocations. com for more details. LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR WIMBERLEY LITIGATION FIRM. 30-40 hours per week. Two years litigation experience, family law preferred. Must be detail-oriented, MSWord proficient, professional, positive, and client-focused. Will draft documents, file, research, bill, answer phones, prep for trial. Spanish a plus. $10-$12 per hour to start. Insurance after three months. Send résumé in MS Word to hiringlawstaff@gmail.com. STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid survey takers needed in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on surveys.

Misc. THE EGG DONATION CENTER of Dallas, Inc. 1720 Avenue K Plano, TX 75074 Phone: 972-4249369 FAX: 972-516-1161 SEMEN DONORS NEEDED! $150 per specimen, healthy college students age 18-39. For application go to www.123donate.com

Travel

ACROSS 1. Not fully closed 5. Scatter 10. Assistant 14. Naked 15. Feudal lord 16. Wear away by rubbing 17. Commencement ceremony 19. Destiny 20. Soak 21. Flora 22. Fertile areas 23. Treachery 25. Classical Greek 27. Precious stone 28. A star-shaped character 31. Something of value 34. Anagram of “Smite” 35. French for “Bon” 36. Razzes 37. Wizardry 38. Hodgepodge 39. Supply with weapons 40. Loose fitting cloak 41. Hardy wheat 42. Flight attendants 44. Mass. Inst. of Tech. 45. Ski jacket 46. A style of roof 50. Gown fabric 52. Nasality in speech 54. Also 55. A Freudian stage 56. Unruly 58. Dash 59. Eagerness 60. Initial wager

28. Auspices 29. Dirt 30. Clove hitch or figure eight 31. Garments of goat hair DOWN 1. Anxiety 32. Classify 33. Somewhere 2. Juryman 34. Required by rule 3. Maxim 4. Scarlet 37. Darkness 5. Ski race 38. Chooses 6. Moon of Saturn 40. Container weight 41. Burn slightly 7. Bridle strap 43. Billfold 8. Vain 9. A common cyst 44. Slogan 10. An illicit sexual rela- 46. A worker of stone tionship 47. Redress 48. Way to go 11. Short-tempered 49. Drugged 12. A romantic meeting 13. Visual organs 50. Sailors 51. Two-toed sloth 18. Disturb 53. Broad 22. 1 1 1 1 24. How old we are 56. “___, humbug!” 26. Ear-related 57. Male sheep 61. Cooking fat 62. Doglike mammal 63. A fitting reward (archaic)

6 | Thursday October 4, 2012 | The University Star | Sports

FOOTBALL

Texas State aims to spoil New Mexico homecoming

Star File Photo

The Bobcats will travel to Albuquerque this weekend to take on the University of New Mexico. Texas State has a current record of 2-2 after last week’s 34-21 loss against University of Nevada-Reno. By Jordan Brewer Assistant Sports Editor Texas State football (2-2) will be making its second road-trip of the season this Saturday after three straight home games, which resulted in a 1-2 record at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats traveled to the University of Houston on Sept. 1, where they won against the Cougars. They will try to do the same against the University of New Mexico (2-3) in Albuquerque. This will be only the second time these two programs have met, the first in 2003 when the Lobos defeated the Bobcats 72-8. The Bobcats will be the enemy in the Lobos’ homecoming game. However, New Mexico has been in a drought recently, los-

ing all of their homecoming games since 2008 when they faced the University of Wyoming. Coach Dennis Franchione will be making a “homecoming” of his own. He was the head coach of the Lobos’ football program for six years from 1992-97, his first job at the Division-1A level, now known as the FBS. “In regards to going to Albuquerque, it’s kind of special for me since I coached there for six years,” Franchione said at Tuesday’s media luncheon. “I still have lots of great memories and great friends there that we are still very close to. We enjoyed our time there a great deal.” First-year coach Bob Davie has led New Mexico to a 2-3 record and its first season-

opening victory in six years, a 66-21 victory over Southern University. Davie has found a way to insert youth into his team. There have been 30 first-year players, including 18 true freshmen, who have played this season. “I think Coach Davie is doing a good job,” Franchione said. “They are doing a nice job of running the football, draining the clock and keeping their defense off the field. They have been giving themselves a chance to stay in the game.” The Lobos and Bobcats have played a common opponent in Texas Tech. New Mexico lost 49-14 after giving up 702 yards of total offense (325-rush, 377-pass), and 38 first downs. The Lobos battled back against Boise State University after trailing 25-0 at halftime, only to lose 32-29. “(Texas Tech) is one of the games we’ve looked over (in film study),” said running back Marcus Curry. “We were looking to see how we stack up. The game plan should be alright. Whatever the coach calls, we just got to go out there and execute.” There has been an instant upgrade in the rushing department for the Lobos from previous seasons. They are about to eclipse last season’s total rushing yards (1,358) through five games this season (1,269). For the second straight week the Bobcats will be facing a team that ranks among the best in the country in rushing. New Mexico ranks 10th nationally averaging over 250 yards per game. Junior Kasey Carrier is the team’s leading rusher so far and has started three games for the Lobos with 278 yards on the ground. Freshman Jhurell Pressley has two starts under his belt and has scored a team leading four touchdowns. The starting quarterback will be senior B.R. Holbrook, who is more of an engi-

neer of the offense than a passer. Holbrook has only passed 57 times during the year with one touchdown, but does have 106 yards on the ground. Backup freshman Cole Gautsche (six feet four inches, 227 pounds) has 230 yards rushing with four touchdowns on the season, while also playing the entire second half against Boise State. “We don’t underestimate anybody,” said safety Justin Iwuji. “We are expecting to go into this game and play hard and hopefully win. Both quarterbacks are athletes.” The passing game has struggled for New Mexico so far. Yearly passing totals just 68 attempts, 284 yards and one touchdown. Senior Lamaar “Flash” Thomas, the primary “wildcat” quarterback, is labeled as a wide receiver but does his damage on the ground. He has touched the ball 16 times on the season for 143 yards. Defensively the Lobos have had their struggles. They are surrendering 294 yards per game through the air, ranking them 108th in pass defense nationally. The inability to stop the passing attack has led them to ranking 119th in total defense by giving up over 460 yards per game. New Mexico has a rather inexperienced secondary, buoyed by its upperclassmen cornerbacks. The two starting safety spots have been rotated among four players through their first five games. The game Saturday will be the first of five upcoming road games during the next two months for Texas State. It is also the second straight WAC/Mountain West matchup. Texas State starts WAC play with its game against Idaho next weekend. Kickoff with New Mexico is set for 5 p.m. at Branch Field in Albuquerque.. Twitter: @jbrewer32

VOLLEYBALL

Bobcats to face off against Mavericks for conference advantage By Jordan Cole Sports Reporter The Texas State volleyball team, fresh off a sweep of Seattle University, will come back to Strahan Coliseum to play in front of its Bobcat fans Thursday as it battles the Texas-Arlington Mavericks. Saturday the Bobcats will play Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs. The Bobcats now have a 7-9 record, and

have gone 2-3 in the WAC. Dating back to 1973, the Bobcats lead the all-time series 4025 against the Mavericks. UTA is 12-12 all time on the road against Texas State. The Mavericks (6-11) are coming off a 3-1 victory over San Jose State University— a team the Bobcats defeated—and a 0-3 loss against the Utah State Aggies. The Bobcats were swept by the Aggies in their last game at Strahan. The Bobcats were a different team then,

VOLLEYBALL

STANDINGS

Team New Mexico State

Conference Overall Record Record 5-0

11-4

5-1

6-10

4-2

10-5

UTSA

3-2

7-9

San Jose State

3-3

8-7

2-3

7-9

2-3

7-9

UT Arlington

2-3

6-11

Seattle U

1-5

6-10

0-5

3-14

Utah State Idaho

Denver Texas State

Louisiana Tech

however. They now sport a 6-2 formation which features freshman setter Ali Gonzalez from San Marcos High School, giving the offense a new look. The 6-2 formation additionally puts senior setter Caleigh McCorquodale on the court. Associate Coach Tracy Smith feels the formation might be what the team has been missing. “That new formation really seemed to give us the spark we have been missing,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can keep it up and string together some wins as conference play picks up.” After the Bobcats face their familiar foe, they will wait a day before coming back to Strahan to battle the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, who have seen better years. Louisiana Tech sports a 3-14 overall and 0-5 record in the WAC. The Bobcats, who lead the all-time series with Louisiana Tech 4-2, have won each of the last two matches, the most recent of which was Sept. 5, 2003 in San Marcos. Louisiana Tech coach Adriano de Souza said the team has been looking good in practice, and he is ready to get out there and compete. “We are looking forward to competing

again and keep growing as a team,” de Souza said. “Our players have been working well together in practice. I believe they will start applying their training to their game.” Louisiana Tech is looking to break a seven-match losing streak in its game against the Bobcats, but Texas State does not want to let that happen. “It’s conference now,” Smith said. “After last weekend we moved up in conference, and so we are trying to do the same this one. We are just trying to get wins. We get some wins, and we move up in conference, and that’s what we are trying to do in the end.” The Bobcats are currently tied for seventh with UTA in conference at 2-3. The upcoming game is pivotal in terms of the early conference standings. The winner gets sole possession of at least sixth place, and if the Bobcats manage to keep Louisiana Tech without a victory in conference, they could move up even further. The first game will take place on Thursday against UTA at Strahan Coliseum starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s game versus Louisiana Tech will begin at 2:00 p.m. Twitter: @TXStatesman

Star File Photo

Bobcat volleyball will meet with Texas-Arlington Oct. 4 and Louisiana Tech University Oct. 6 at Strahan Coliseum. Texas State has a current record of 7-9 overall.