10 05 2006

BACK AT IT

CAFÉ DISPLAYS BRUISED FRUIT

The Bobcats come out of the bye week looking to capitalize against SFA at home

Root Cellar Café sets the tone for diners with an installation of unique portraits

SEE SPORTS PAGE 16

SEE TRENDS PAGE 7

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

OCTOBER 5, 2006

THURSDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 19

Heggie resigns as president of College Democrats

By Nick Georgiou The University Star

potential conflict of interest.

“I had a conflict of The president of Colconscience,” Heggie lege Democrats resigned said. “I’m a citizen Wednesday amid conand a student first troversy and pressure and a party member from outside democratthird.” ic organizations.

Heggie ignited the Eric Heggie, internacontroversy when he Heggie tional studies senior, sent out a mass e-mail had come under fire for to the College Demohis open support of Republican crats, telling members they candidate Judge Jim Powers. As could get paid $10 an hour to president of the College Demo- block walk for a candidate. Alcrats, his decision presented a though he did not mention the

candidate’s name in the e-mail, Heggie told The University Star the block walk was for Powers.

“I’ve not used the organization to help out Powers except for that one time,” Heggie said.

He explained his reasoning for his decisions, saying he could not support the Democratic candidate Liz Sumter.

“I think the Democratic candidate would be horrible for the county and the students,” he said.

Heggie worked for the Powers campaign through the politi-

cal consulting firm Marketing America’s Potential, founded

by Texas State students Samuel McCabe and Jude Prather and alumnus Jordan Anderson. Although he admits he violated a conflict of interest with the email, he said he was not aware of the violation of the College Democrats’ charter.

“We did not know we had a charter with the nationals (College Democrats of America) until they called us up,” he said.

“They never contacted us before. Technically, we are quasi-

chartered because we’re using the name.”

Gloria Whitehead, Hays County Democratic Party chair, said she reported the possible charter violation to the College Democrats of America.

Heggie was then contacted

by Katie Naranjo, national programs director for the College Democrats of America, who told him to write and sign a compliance agreement stating the College Democrats at Texas State do not and will not endorse a Republican candidate.

In an e-mail sent to Heggie and other local Democrats, Whitehead asked for his resignation.

Whitehead said she took issue with Heggie being employed

by MAP. The firm was hired by Powers to work for his campaign.

“I can say that Powers does not pay Heggie. He pays me,” McCabe said.

A July 17 financial report filed by the Powers campaign showed See HEGGIE, page 4

A time for sacrifice, cleansing of the soul Council reviews

Ramadan

suggestions for Wi-Fi, renewable energy

By Zach Halfin Special to The Star

Emily Messer/Star photos ALLAHU AKBAR: Abulkasem Faruque and son Ahmed Mehdi, management senior, attend Friday Jummah at the only mosque, also known as Masjid, in San Marcos.

EVENING PRAYER: Warda Khan, history sophomore and Muslim Student Association Web site administrator, prays Thursday evening at the San Marcos Mosque during the organization’s open house.

onlineconnection For a multimedia photo feature on Ramadan, go to www.UniversityStar.com.

By David Saleh Rauf The University Star “O Believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may learn self-restraint.”

— Quran 2:183 Abdullah Muhammad values the importance of a 5:30 a.m. breakfast — it’s the only food and drink he will consume for the next 13 hours.

As Muhammad, international studies senior, shuffled through pots and pans early Wednesday morning, getting ready to prepare a breakfast of eggs, pita bread, humus and fruit for five members of the Texas State Muslim Student Association, he began to feel a sense of urgency.

“As salaam alaykum,” Muhammad said as he knocked on doors and peered See RAMADAN, page 5

The San Marcos City Council reviewed suggestions Tuesday concerning the installation of a citywide wireless broadband network. The proposed network will cover 25 square miles of the city with Wi-Fi Internet access for public and municipal uses.

John Cooper, President of MetroNet IQ, a networking consulting firm, discussed the details of this potential project.

“What is unique about this technology is that when it is in a mesh configuration is that it can cover a large amount of territory more affordably than fiber optics or other wire technology,” Cooper said.

Wi-Fi, wireless fidelity, is a form of computer network that relies on radio signal rather than cables. Cooper explained that the Wi-Fi access points will be mounted to streetlights and will only cover the area near it. Spacing the transmitters in a mesh-like configuration allows the signal to cover a broad area, he said.

Cooper said Corpus Christi currently uses a citywide wireless broadband system. Cooper cited other cities currently planning to install similar networks and suggested that the private sector could fund the project in San Marcos.

“If we were to a follow a model like San Francisco, (where) recently it is under discussion that Google would support the network in return for ads,” he said. “Much the same way we got television 50 years ago, commercially sponsored broadcasting, where it generated revenue based upon selling advertising as a substitute for a fee-based system.”

Councilman Daniel Guerre-

ro said he supports the wireless broadband project.

“Being sandwiched between two larger communities is going to put us in a strong environment to maximize these structures,” Guerrero said.

“That will allow us to gain that sense of notoriety that we need to attract employers and attract those that are eligible to be employed. There are a lot of added benefits.”

The council also reviewed an assessment of renewable energy sources by representatives from the San Marcos Electric Utility Department and Lower Colorado River Authority.

At the request of councilman Chris Jones, the council was updated on the details of “green energy” use at the state and local level.

Kyle Dicke, SMEUD customer relations manager, said the city has done all that it can to acquire energy from renewable sources.

“We are exercising every option available to take the maximum amount of green power or renewable power as we can from LCRA,” Dicke said. “As much as they will generate and provide we are committed to accept.”

Dicke said there are current limitations to the supply of renewable energy in Texas.

“Wind power is great in the state of Texas. Texas is leading wind power generation for the country now,” Dicke said.

“The problem is that the wind power is in West Texas. Getting power from West Texas to Central Texas back to East Texas, where the bulk of the population is, is a real challenge.”

Dan Keen, executive manager of client services for LCRA — San Marcos’ sole provider See COUNCIL, page 4

University, board of regents implement logo changes

By Alex Herring The University Star The old granite Southwest Texas State University seal in the Alkek Library breezeway was removed Wednesday and replaced with a design that matches the new official school seal.

The cost of the new seal is between $10,000 and $12,000, said Pat Fogarty, associate vice president of facilities.

“The decision was made a few months ago, but we had to wait to be approved for the money to do it,” Fogarty said.

Gretchen Matias, pre-psychology freshman, watched as crews from Alamo Tile and Stone chipped out the seal Tuesday morning.

“I’m taking three pieces of the old seal and framing them.”

Matias said. “I feel bad because for the longest time it was Southwest Texas State. It would have been a nice memento for the school to keep it.”

The larger slabs of the seal are being saved, Fogarty said.

“We’ve saved the pieces, even the broken ones in case the university has any need for them,” Fogarty said.

Today’s Weather

Sunny 92˚/66˚

Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 52% UV: 8 Very High Wind: SSW 6 mph

The decision to replace the seal was made in response to the change in the official Texas State logo in February.

Michael Heintze, associate vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said the university marketing department was assigned to create one logo instead of the two forms already in use.

“We want to strengthen the Texas State brand,” Heintze said. “That would entail focusing on one logo rather than the two we have. Preferably a logo that incorporates the star.”

The star, which Heintze said

Two-day Forecast Friday Mostly Sunny Temp: 94°/ 66° Precip: 20%

Saturday Mostly Sunny Temp: 94°/ 68° Precip: 20%

is displayed on banners around campus, will bring an overall good feeling to students and alumni.

“The banners that have been put up instill pride in students,” he said. “There is a good deal of pride, and we have been receiving a very mature response.”

Plans to refresh signs on campus will go into effect in October, Heintze said.

“The website was free and Monty Marion/Star photo easy to redesign but for the several hundred signs on cam- IN WITH THE NEW: A stack of pie-shaped granite slabs waits to pus it’s going to cost $20,000,” be assembled into the new Texas State University seal of the AlSee LOGO, page 6

kek breezeway while Alberto Merquez (left) and Alberto Sanchez (right) work to level a part of the seal’s outer ring.

Inside News ..............1-6 Trends ...........7-12 Crossword ....... 12 Sudoku ............ 12

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

Comics ............ 12 Opinions .......... 13 Classifieds ....... 14 Sports ......... 15,16

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2006 The University Star

PAGE TWO October 5, 2006

starsof texas state Charles B. Bousman, anthropology professor, and two graduate students conducted an excavation in South Africa that may help explain the migration of early modern humans from Africa to Europe and Asia.

The excavation took place at three sites in South Africa, including a middle stone age and later stone age site in which the researchers found fossils of extinct animals and artifacts. The site had several layers of gravel encom-

passing a time period of 50,000 years. The group also found old artifacts, presumably made by homo erectus.

These fossils and artifacts approximate the same time period during which the last of two migrations occurred and they indicate that these sites have enough material to proceed with a more extensive study.

— Courtesy of Public Relations

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

Pinpointed THURSDAY The Tennis Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. Contact Tennis Club President Chris Harris with questions at ch1282@txstate. edu.

An on-campus Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. For more information, call the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center at (512) 245-3601.

The Counseling Center will offer Facing the Fear (Anxiety Group) from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For information or to sign up, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208.

The Rock - Praise & Worship will take place in the chapel of the Catholic Student Center at 7:30 p.m.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room 320. Enjoy contemporary worship, relevant teaching and prayer. Everyone is welcome.

Call (512) 557-7988 or e-mail mail@texasstatechialpha.com for more information.

Higher Ground, the LutheranEpiscopal Campus Ministry, will offer a free supper at 6:15 p.m., followed by Holy Communion at 7 p.m. The group meets at St. Mark’s Church, across from The Tower. Everyone is welcome.

The Study Abroad Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Academic Services Building breezeway.

The Organization of Student Social Workers will meet at 12:30 p.m. in the Health Professions Building, Room 234.

There will be a panel discussion entitled “Morality Without God?” at 7 p.m. in the LBJSC Ballroom. The discussion will be sponsored by the Freethought Society.

Simple Silent Sitting Group will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Campus Christian Community Center.

Every Nation Campus Ministries will meet at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Room G-02. There will be free food, fellowship and an inspiring message.

FRIDAY Texas State Observatory will host a stargazing party from 8 to 10 p.m. Physics senior lecturer Russell Doescher will give an educational view of the galaxy on top of the fourth floor of the Supple Science Building.

Tubers will meet at the Outdoor Recreation Center in Sewell Park to participate in a Full Moon Float from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

SATURDAY Morning on the Green will take place at the Texas State Golf Course at Aquarena Center.

Tee time is 7 a.m. for an 18hole, four-person scramble sponsored by Campus Recreation. Entry fee is $45 per person and includes green fee, golf cart, Texas State T-Shirt and lunch ticket for the Family Round Up BBQ in Sewell Park that afternoon. Awards and prizes will be presented during the Family Round Up BBQ. The Family Round Up will be held at Sewell Park and offer food, entertainment and family activities. The Texas State Steel Drum Band, Swing Jazz Band and Salsa Del Rio will provide musical entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. and the buffet BBQ lunch will be served at noon. A program featuring Texas State President Denise Trauth, Harambee Dance Group, VocaLibre, Double Portion, Hip Hop Congress, the Texas State Cheerleaders, mascot Boko and the Texas State Marching Band will follow. Dr. Michael Heintze will unveil the new logo, “The Rising Star of Texas” and Dr. Nico Schüler will introduce the Fall 2006 Common Experience theme.

The Parents Association general membership meeting will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Jowers Center, Room 209.

The Zeta Eta chapter of Delta Gamma will be hosting their 2006 annual Anchor Splash swimming meet at 5 p.m. at the San Marcos Activity Center.

A charity garage sale to benefit homeless cats on the Texas State campus will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 118 Chaparral Road.

SUNDAY Higher Ground, the LutheranEpiscopal Campus Ministry, will offer a free supper at 6:15 p.m., followed by Holy Communion at 7 p.m. The group meets at St. Mark’s Church, across from The Tower. Everyone is welcome.

MONDAY An on-campus Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be held from noon to1 p.m. For more information, call the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center at (512) 245-3601.

Go to www.UniversityStar.com and click on contact to view calendar and Stars of Texas State submission policies.

On This Day...

1902 — Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, was born.

1955 — The play The Diary of Anne Frank opened at the Cort Theatre in New York.

1988 — In a debate between Jeannie Yamakawa/Star photo candidates for vice president of the United States, Democrat Eric Schwarz, psychology senior, participates in an acupuncture demonstration at Tuesday’s Stress Lloyd Bentsen told Republican Fair in the LBJ Ballroom. Acupuncture is said to relieve stress by targeting specific points of the huDan Quayle, “You’re no Jack man body to restore its energy flow.

Kennedy.”

CRIME BL TTER Library Beat University Police Department Sept. 30, 4:17 p.m.

Theft Under $50/Jones Diner Food Court A non-student reported that three male students refused to provide the correct currency to purchase their food. The non-student at the register attempted to contact a manager.

The three students departed the dining facility without paying for the food. This case is under investigation.

Sept. 30, 5:40 p.m.

Burglary: Motor Vehicle/ Wood Street Garage An officer was dispatched for a report from a student that there was an attempt to break into her vehicle. This case is under investigation.

Sept. 30, 5:51 p.m.

Burglary: Motor Vehicle/ Family Consumer Science Parking Lot An officer was dispatched on a report from a student that items were stolen from his vehicle.

This case is under investigation.

Sept. 30, 6:11 p.m.

Criminal Mischief: Vandalism/ Bexar Hall An officer was dispatched for a report of vandalism. A student reported that her vehicle had been vandalized. This case is under investigation.

Sept. 30, 6:48 p.m.

Theft Under $50/San Marcos Hall Garage An officer observed that a street sign was taken from the garage. This case is under investigation.

Oct. 1, 2:41 a.m.

Warrant Service/San Marcos Hall Garage An officer was dispatched on a report of suspicious odor.

Upon further investigation, the student was found to have a warrant for his arrest and was transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center to await magistration.

Crime stoppers: UPD: 245-7867, SMPD: 353-TIPS

Alkek home to works by Wimberly artist Buck Winn

Texas State is home to three significant artworks created by James Buchanan “Buck” Winn, a Wimberley artist whose work captured the very spirit of the Southwest. Winn (1905-1979) was a painter, sculptor, muralist, inventor, teacher and architectural artist, called by some the “Leonardo da Vinci of modern Texas.”

Installed in 1959, the mural is 40 feet high, 20 feet wide and weighs 22 tons. Made of 138 engraved concrete blocks and Blenke Glass, the piece depicts the intellectual pursuits of humanity.

In 1962, Winn designed the sculpted entrance to Aquarena Springs and a series of metal sculptures resembling morning glories that form a pavilion over the sky ride. Flooding washed the entrance away years ago, but the pavilion sculptures still stand — at least for now. This marvel in architectural design could eventually be taken down.

The Alkek Library’s special collections department acquired three 28’ x 6’ panels, once part of a 280’ x 6’ mural Winn painted

in 1951 for San Antonio’s Pearl Brewery. Considered the largest mural in the world at the time, the work on canvas depicts the history of ranching in the Southwest. The department is raising funds for its restoration and eventual display on the main floor of the library. When completed, it will be another noble artwork for Texas State.

Winn created numerous murals and sculptures throughout the state, including murals for the 1936 Texas Centennial and World’s Fair in Dallas, and in 1946 he designed the U.S. threecent postage stamp commemorating Texas statehood.

A great many of his works have been lost, but Winn murals and sculptures can still be found at the Gonzales Memorial Museum and Library, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Southwestern University in Georgetown and both the Wimberley Community Center and high school.

A miniature facsimile of the Buck Winn mural panels can be seen at the Southwestern Writers Collection on the Alkek Library’s seventh floor.

— Courtesy of Alkek Library

Texas Benefits Event to help out area families Hays County families who need help applying for state benefits programs are invited to a Texas Benefits Event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the San Marcos High School cafeteria, 1301 Highway 123 in San Marcos.

The benefit is aimed at area families who have had difficulty applying for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, Food Stamps and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families programs.

“We want to help families that may qualify to access state programs that are available,” said San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz.

Those who believe they are eligible for one or more of the programs, but who have been denied or dropped from enrollment, are encouraged to attend.

Applicants will need to bring documentation such as Social Security cards, birth certificates, valid driver’s license and payroll

stubs to show proof of citizenship, income, address and identity.

For more information about specific documents they may need, residents may call Insure-A-Kid toll free at 866-496-0756 or call the free statewide information hotline at 2-1-1 (selection #1 for English, #2 for Spanish).

Hays County enrollment in state programs has declined after the Health and Human Services Commission implemented changes to the enrollment process, said Toby Hooper, Community Outreach Manager with Insure-A-Kid, an organization of the Seton Family of Hospitals.

“Families have reported problems with accessing the system,” he said. “In the CHIP program, Hays County enrollment has continued to decline. In September 2006, some 1,342 children were enrolled in the program, compared to 1,508 a year ago.”

State agency staff will be on hand to help with applications and answer questions about state benefits and eligibility.

The Texas Benefits Event is sponsored by Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth, State Representative Patrick Rose, Hays County Judge Jim Powers, the Hays County Commissioners, Mayor Susan Narvaiz, the San Marcos City Council, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, United Way of Hays County, the San Marcos Daily Record, Gary Job Corps Center, Insure-AKid and the Children’s Defense Fund.

Fliers announcing the Texas Benefits Event are being sent home with area school children.

For more information about the event, call Toby Hooper at (512) 324-8975.

—Courtesy of the City of San Marcos

NEWS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The University Star - Page 3

Elephants on campus: Republicans urge students to vote as election approaches

By Alex Herring The University Star

Alex Herring/Star photo PLOTTING TO WIN: Peter Plotts, candidate for Hays County court at law No. 1, talks to students at the Campus Rebublicans’ tent Wednesday afternoon in The Quad.

Republican candidates for local and state offices campaigned in The Quad Wednesday, rallying support and getting students to register to vote.

The College Republicans, who have been selling fajitas and snacks in The Quad while registering students to vote, hosted four local candidates.

Jim Neuhaus, a candidate for State Representative District 45, said he urges students to register to vote if they have not already.

“Their vote is as important if not more (important) than anyone else.” Neuhaus said. “The reason is because they are our future.”

Neuhaus, who is running against incumbent Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, said student voters are an important part of elections because they comprise a large part of the city population.

“I’m not sure that we will get 27,000 students voting, but at least we will make an impact,” Neuhaus said.

Joe DeLaCerda, psychology senior and chairman of the College Republicans, said they have been registering voters on cam-

pus since the first day of school.

“We have already registered maybe 300 people and that’s at the tables alone,” DeLaCerda said. “We are doing everything we can because the voter registration deadline is coming up soon.”

Voter registration ends Tuesday. Voter registration cards can be picked up around campus, in Residence Halls and in city offices.

Neuhaus said he plans on doing a good job whether he loses or wins, but he wants students to get the right message.

“It’s like Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,’” he said. “It’s the same right now, ask what you can do for your state. It’s not about students benefiting; it’s about getting involved and making life the way it should be.”

428th District Judge Bill Henry is running for re-election in November against incumbent Ana Martinez Boling. Henry said he has been on campus numerous times during this campaign and said he is trying to get reach students through other means.

“I am speaking with some sororities and fraternities. I have also gone to talk to some poli-

sci classes,” Henry said. “It’s incredibly important to talk to students about what happens in the community that students are a part of.”

Peter Plotts, who is running against Democratic incumbent Howard Warner for Hays County court at law No. 1, said he also intends on reaching out to students in other ways.

“I have plans to talk to ASG and greek organizations,” Plotts said. “I tell them what the race is about. I’m ready to talk to anyone who wants to know.”

Sarah Loth, elementary education junior, stopped to register to vote and speak with Plotts.

“We saw the elephants and were curious,” Loth said. “I spoke to (Plotts) and it’s great they are here to get people to register.”

Ryan Thomason, who is running against incumbent John Thomaides for City Council Place 6, said he is on campus 10 to12 hours a week with students.

“I go to ASG, College Democrats and College Republicans,” Thomason said. “I will talk to anyone who will schedule me.

(Students) make up half the city population. I would love to see them make up for half the voting population too.”

San Marcos City Council race winding down to last leg

By A.N. Hernández The University Star The race to fill San Marcos City Council Place 1 left open

by Ed Mihalkanin’s resignation is pitting two very different candidates against each other.

Ian Skiles, 28, is a newcomer to city politics and works as a maintenance man.

Betsy Robertson, 57, is the vice chair of the planning and zoning commission and owns her own building design business.

Both love San Marcos and are excited to see who the voters of San Marcos will choose in the election.

“We have two city council races with opposing candidates and I think that just means they will have to work to convince voters why they have to vote for them,” said Joyce Cowan, Hays County elections administrator.

Skiles, whose name is first on the ballot, has done maintenance work for his father’s realty company Skiles and Associates since he was 10 years old. And, although he’s never been on any city committees or task forces, he thinks his “first entry into the world of politics can be a strong

one.” He said he’s been reading up on the current city laws and regulations while attending or watching the city council meetings on television.

“I bring a blue-collar point of view. Nothing about this campaign will benefit me financially.

I am just interested in making San Marcos a better place,” Skiles said. “I am not set in my ways. You can have a discussion with me and you can change my mind. In my opinion that’s a good thing.”

Robertson said it seemed like she’d be running unopposed after Jane Hughson and Ryan Thomason both withdrew from the Place 1 race. But, when Skiles saw Thomason withdraw from Place 1 and re-file in Place 6, he thought “it just seemed like a good idea to run for council.”

“I’ve never done this before,” Skiles said. “It’s not scary; I just wanted to make sure I didn’t bite off more than I could chew.”

Robertson said it was a “bummer” when she found out Skiles filed on the last day, but she’s since changed her tune.

She said campaigning forces her to “clarify her attitudes and opinions on issues.”

“I am glad I got an opponent

because it’s forcing me to get out and to meet people and be places I might not be if I was running unopposed,” she said.

“It’s good prep for city council.”

Every year, through her company Shelter Designs, Robertson draws about 15 house plans and remodels about 20 houses in and around San Marcos. She thinks her experience on the planning and zoning committee and as a house planner will help her as a potential council member.

Both candidates are “progrowth” for the businesses and economy of San Marcos, but would like it to be a controlled type of growth.

“We really need more jobs here in San Marcos and people who attend the university have to be able to leave and find good paying jobs,” Skiles said. “I think we can keep San Marcos small and beautiful while expanding the job market.”

He wants to provide residents more opportunities to earn a wage they can live on.

Robertson agrees on the type of growth that doesn’t endanger the city’s culture and environment by spreading too quickly.

She said high-tech jobs could expand the economy by provid-

ing jobs for students graduating from Texas State, especially in proximity to the high-tech “Silicon Hills of Austin.”

“High-tech jobs are a great area to pay attention to,” she said. “They are usually non-polluting and call for an educated workforce.”

When it comes to the city’s single-family zoning laws, Robertson and Skiles are both supporters.

“I think it needs to be maintained,” Robertson said. “It’s very important we have places where people can raise their families in peace,” Robertson said.

She said the city council could “find a creative way to explore the issue, perhaps creating another zoning category for houses closer to campus.”

Skiles said it was “sad a few spoiled apples spoiled the bunch.”

As for Mihalkanin, professor of political science, he said he is not leaning in support of either Skiles or Robertson just yet. He said he is interested to see how many people will vote in the city council election, since the city council races share the ballot with congressional district, gubernatorial and county races.

“There’s a certain range of people who usually vote in a San Marcos City Council election and now that number could potentially be five or eight times more people than have voted in the past in a council election,” Mihalkanin said. “How many people who are voting in the governor’s race are going to stay with the ballot and vote all the way down for city council members?”

Tuesday is the last day to register to vote. Early voting, which runs from Oct. 23 through Nov. 7, will be available in the LBJ Student Center.

Page 4 - The University Star

NEWS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

Campus debate to highlight morality, religion connection

By Emily Newby Special to The Star The Freethought Society of Texas State will host a faculty panel discussion on the connection between morality and religion today at 7 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.

The society was founded in 2005 for students interested in the value of critical thinking over human reason, said president Kelly Skinner, studio art senior. Although this is their first panel discussion, the group’s past events include fundraisers and the screening of documentaries.

The event, “Morality Without God? Panel Discussion,” is open to all students and faculty. The discussion will feature English professor Paul Cohen, psychology professor Shirley Ogletree and philosophy professors Gilbert Fulmer and Jeffrey Gordon as panelists.

Skinner, the moderator for the discussion, said the event will inspire students to examine their views and walk away with

HEGGIE CONTINUED from page 1

a payment of $2,000 made to McCabe, but no payments made to Heggie.

Jill Simkin, the new president of College Democrats, said Heggie’s support of Powers is a personal decision and it has nothing to do with the organization.

“It’s being blown way out of proportion,” Simkin said.

Rebecca Conley, campaign coordinator for Powers, said College Democrats have helped out their campaign by vocalizing their support.

“It’s more of the fact that they’ve offered to help the judge out,” Conley said.

While Conley said some College Democrats have shown support for Powers, the organization has mostly been pushing for candidates like Democrat Sherry Tibbe, who is running for district attorney.

a better understanding of where they originated.

“I think it’s important that we don’t take things in our governing morality for granted,” Skinner said. “We should question why it is we feel this is right and that is wrong.”

Skinner plans to lead the professors in a discussion about myths associated with different religious perspectives.

“One thing that I personally hope is that people will come to appreciate that morality doesn’t necessarily come for all individuals straight from a religious doctrine,” she said.

Timothy Suto, biology senior and member of the Freethought Society of Texas State, said the goal of the discussion is to inspire critical thinking.

“The group is not encouraging a moral stance but just to think for yourself,” he said. “I hope the audience has questions raised that they haven’t thought of before.”

Ogletree, one of the four panelists, was interested in being on the panel because of the

opportunity to discuss the link between values and religious beliefs.

“Is there morality without religion?” Ogletree asked. “I would think it would be hard to find someone to argue that.”

Reward and punishment, she said, are usually the main factors when deciding if something is right or wrong.

“I hope to talk about how we decide what morality is,” she said. “Is a person only good to go to heaven or to avoid going to hell?”

Skinner plans to bring up other topics such as the differences between atheism and theism from a moral standpoint and the importance of religion in society.

“The philosophy teachers are always saying that an unexamined life isn’t worth living,” she said. “The prevailing morals of our society are very important to examine.”

The Freethought Society of Texas State meets every other Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center, Room 3.7.

COUNCIL: Solar, wind energy plan investigated CONTINUED from page 1

of electricity — said one mile of transmission-line from West Texas wind-towers costs around $1 million, making it the biggest obstacle to overcome in supplying green power.

“There isn’t an adequate infrastructure in transmission to get all this wind power across Texas,” Keen said. “That’s a little bit of a constraint.”

Commercial solar technology, Keen said, is another option for future electricity production for the LCRA. A three-kilowatt solar energy system, adequate for residential application, currently costs around $24,000 to install.

Dicke said he expects that the same system will cost $14,400 in 2015.

“This is a developing technology; it is expensive, but over time it will be more and more competitive as the technology advances,” Keen said.

“We want to be at the front end of this change and how this technology can serve our customers.”

The council also approved on third reading an amendment to the city code establishing a two-hour parking zone that will restrict parking on West Hutchinson Street from Guadalupe to Moore Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ordinance will go into affect Oct. 14, 2007.

NEWS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The University Star - Page 5

RAMADAN: MSA hopes to dispel myths about Islam

Emily Messer/Star photo JUMMAH: Area Muslims attend Jummah, a Friday prayer service, at the San Marcos Mosque. Muslim men are required to pray Fridays in congregation at a mosque.

CONTINUED from page 1

into various bedrooms trying to wake the other MSA members. “It’s 5:41. Come on. Move around. It’s time for breakfast.”

For the past 11 days, eating breakfast has been a consistent race against the hands of time as MSA members wake before dawn to prepare food and eat a traditional morning meal, known as sahoor, before the sun rises. A chirp from outside signals breakfast is almost over.

“There it is. That’s the bird alarm,” said a groggy eyed Samer Morad, MSA president. “We hear it every morning around 6:10. The second you hear it, you know you have about five more minutes.”

In observance of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of penance and self-purification, more than one billion Muslims around the world will fast from sun up to sundown. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is viewed as an opportunity to build character, practice self-restraint and cleanse the body. During the month of Ramadan, the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the prophet Muhammad.

“This is one of the most blessed months that you can ever be a part of, especially when it comes to you being able to come closer to God. You’re fasting for him and it motivates you to be better and strengthen yourself and your faith,” Muhammad said.

“You can strengthen yourself not

just spiritually but mentally and physically. You feel the pain of not being able to eat and at the same time you’re more submissive to God.” In addition to refraining from eating, drinking, sex and smoking during daily fasting hours, Muslims also focus on reading the Quran, doing charitable deeds and conducting voluntary prayers, along with their obligatory five daily prayers.

“At the end of Ramadan, you sit down and recall the beginning, how it came fast and went fast, and you also regret every second that you wasted not reading the Quran or not praying,” said Ashraf Al-Abiad, MSA member.

The rewards for conduct-

ing good deeds and charity are also multiplied during the holy month.

“When you fast this whole month, one of the rewards is that all of the sins that you commit are erased,” said Al-Abiad, owner of Cedars Mediterranean Cafe.

“A lot of people will leave everything they do and make sure all they do is worship the creator and take advantage of every second.”

Al-Abiad, a Lebanese native and general manufacturing senior, said the self-sacrifice endured by fasting is equivalent to feeding your soul.

“When you’re fasting, you’re leaving food that is available right now in the kitchen for what your creator has ordered you

to do,” he said. “This how you feed your soul. You’re not feeding your body, but you’re feeding your soul and elevating your soul.”

The month-long fast is based on a personal relationship with God, characterized by sincerity and intention, Morad said.

“It is the base of every deed that you do. When you’re fasting, it’s between you and God,” Morad said. “Nobody’s watching over you while you’re walking over campus. You want that mental support and physical support; physical comes from food, mental comes from Allah.”

During Ramadan, which began on the sighting of the crescent moon Sept. 23, Muslims come together to break fast and pray.

“There are some people that are so busy during the year that I don’t get to see them and the only time of the year I spend quality time with them is during Ramadan,” said Morad, manufacturing engineering senior.

“Bringing people together during Ramadan is like fuel for the rest of the year that keeps you going, looking forward to next year. At the end of Ramadan, you have that little sadness in you because you know its over.”

Ramadan is also a month when Muslims promote dialogue within their own communities and with other faith communities.

MSA held an open house Sept.

28 at their mosque, the only one in San Marcos, where they invited students, faculty and residents to learn about Islamic faith from a “local and authentic source.”

“It’s time that the Western world comes and learns about it,” said Abdullah Syed, MSA secretary. “That’s why we opened our doors and invited the community.”

Syed, originally from Pakistan, led a question-and-answer session at the open house where he addressed issues that ranged from women in Islam to current stereotypes about Muslims that are being perpetuated.

“I think the average Joe views Islam as this big, bad, terror boogie guy,” Syed, management senior, said. “That’s not what Islam is. Although some of the actions of some Muslims will make you think that way, know that there are 1.3 billion Muslims in the

world. The small fractions that do something violent doesn’t reflect upon the majority of Muslims.”

Virginia Aalen, San Marcos resident, attended the open house and said she had “totally different ideas” on Islamic faith.

“What you read in the newspaper is very different and that’s what I knew about because I never spoke to anybody who is Muslim,” Aalen said.

Morad said most misinterpretations regarding Islam are derived from the media.

“The media is about business; the media is about what sells and if the idea of terrorism and terrorist sells than be it,” he said. “It’s all about the Benjamins when it comes to them. They don’t care who’s getting hurt in the process or who’s getting discriminated in the process.”

Syed also addressed the role of women in Islam, noting the importance of being able to differentiate between Islam and the cultures of some Muslim countries.

“They have their laws. That is not from Islam,” he said. “I think we’ve taken this freedom thing too far where we’ve taken it to insulting women. Now were putting women out in marketing and stripping the clothes off of them and saying, ‘this is freedom’. I don’t believe that’s freedom. I believe that’s an insult to their honor.”

Mariam Zamila, MSA member and native of Bangladesh, agrees with Syed, saying Islam treats women with respect, honor and equality.

“The way I perceive myself is a person of honor, respect and I have modesty,” Zamila, communication studies senior, said. “I want to portray that through the way I dress. I have a certain faith.

I’m not embarrassed to present that to the world. I’m proud of it.”

Depending on the lunar cycle, the holy month of Ramadan is scheduled to end Oct. 22 with the festival of Eid al-Fitr.

“Ramadan is when you’re conscious about how to improve yourself,” Syed said. “If somebody doesn’t improve their lifestyle, then they haven’t achieved the goal of Ramadan. People have New Year resolutions. I have Ramadan resolutions.”

NEWS

Page 6 - The University Star

Thursday, October 5, 2006

Athletes not subject Demonstrators from around the country to three-to-a-room gather to protest Bush administration dorm living he majority “T of people hen we don’t approve, “W recruited but Republicans the athletes, we

By Jamie Schue Special to The Star

By Georgia Fisher The University Star

Mackenzie Farmer is usually up before dawn.

“My workouts begin at 6:30,” said Farmer, political science freshman and tennis player.

An athlete at Texas State, she lives with one roommate — also an athlete — in Blanco Hall.

But Farmer and her roommate are a minority in Blanco and are not subject to the same default policy as many other residents, who must live three to a room.

The largest dorm on a quicklygrowing campus, Blanco’s policy is to triple-up most of its occupants — with the exception of student athletes.

The situation is not a result of special preference so much as basic recruitment standards, said Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs.

“When we recruited the athletes, we did so under terms that they’d be two to a room,” Smith said. “We made the decision to (place them as such) because we’d already recruited them in that way.”

Current NCAA regulations call for no more than 49 percent athletes in a given dorm, in order to diffuse once-common athleteonly housing. In Blanco, athletes are scattered over various floors and may not always room together.

That they are grouped with single roommates isn’t offensive or unfair, said Luis Valverde, criminal justice sophomore, who lives with two other residents. “(Housing’s) not too bad for us,” Valverde said. “And I think it’s fine that athletes go two to a room; sure, why not? They’re probably bigger guys anyway.”

The department has received few complaints about grouping students three to a room, Smith said, and many non-athletes actually reapply at semester’s end.

“We didn’t get major pushback about it and still haven’t,” Smith said. “Plus, a number of students who lived in Blanco last year have reassigned for this year.”

Revamped with new furniture for a third roommate, she said

did so under terms that they’d be two to a room.”

— Joanne Smith vice president of Student Affairs

the rooms are safe, less expensive and allow a larger number of students to reside in the popular dorm.

“We worked with the fire marshal, worked with the folks we needed to, to ensure we weren’t having an overcrowded condition in the residence hall,” Smith said. “It also allowed us to change the rate, so it became another cost-reduction for people who want to live here.”

Two-person rooms are 12 by 18 feet and three-person rooms are 22 by 15 feet. Smith said the extra closets and already-large size of many rooms made Blanco a good candidate for resident expansion and that the addition of loft-beds made them more inhabitable.

“We got additional furnishing for (Blanco), got loft-style furniture which allows for the triple condition,” she said.

But not everyone is happy living three to a room and the decision to do so should be a personal one, said Erin Deleon, radiation therapy freshman.

“I think it should be your choice,” she said. “We were lucky in our case.”

Deleon applied for the dorm by making a list of building choices. Blanco wasn’t at the top, she said, and she didn’t choose to have three roommates — but the group gets along well.

“The three of us are all really outgoing and we get along really well,” she said. “We’re able to say ‘OK, let’s turn the TV off and study for an hour,’ and so on. But if we were all different, it could be a real problem.”

Protesters in Austin and San Antonio will join activists from around the country today in a national day of mass mobilization against the Bush administration.

Austin organizer Joy Demoss said the purpose of the rallies is to give a voice to the majority of Americans who disagree with the administration and policies of President George W. Bush.

“We feel pretty strongly that what is needed is for people to stand up and speak,” Demoss said. “The majority of people don’t approve, but Republicans are moving forward with their agenda anyway.”

The rallies, organized by local chapters of the anti-Bush group World Can’t Wait, will begin just before the end of the workday.

Participants in Austin will as-

semble on the south steps of the Texas Capitol at 4:30 p.m. The rally, which will include live music, speakers and banners directed upward at anticipated media in helicopters, begins at 5 p.m.

Organizer Isis Guerrera said San Antonio supporters will gather at 5 p.m. in the HemisFair Park before a short, 5:30 p.m. march to the federal building for a catered open-speaking forum.

“Whoever wants to speak can. It’s kind of an open mic,” Guerrera said. “We’re going to have Food Not Bombs there serving vegetarian food.”

Texans for Peace founder Charlie Jackson is scheduled to speak about the war in Iraq at the Austin rally.

Jackson, who has been to Iraq three times for the current conflict, said the situation is bad and is getting worse.

“All of our time is spent with-

out military escorts finding out what the situation is like on the ground,” Jackson said. “The sooner we get our troops out, the better.”

Demoss said World Can’t Wait does not believe it is ultimately up to Democrats to come to the rescue.

“The world is counting on American citizens to control our government,” Demoss said.

Jackson, on the other hand, believes politicians will be held accountable.

“All members of Congress who vote for continued funding for the war in Iraq are accomplices,” Jackson said.

Demoss said that, while letter writing and traditional means of communication are good, it is time for action on the streets.

“Get out of your house and show up,” Demoss said.

World Can’t Wait was founded in 2005 to mobilize

are moving forward with their agenda anyway.”

— Joy Demoss Austin protest organizer

opposition against the Bush administration, according to the group’s website.

More information about the protests can be found at www. worldcantwait.org. Information about Jackson’s group, Texans for Peace, can be found at www.texansforpeace.org.

LOGO: System statement more prominent CONTINUED from page 1

Heintze said. “They should be done by Christmas break.”

The replacement of university stationary is also underway and being slowly incorporated around campus offices.

“The printers have been notified and faculty has been asked to use old stationary until they run out,” Heintze said.

“It’s very economical.”

Students might also notice the system statement that is required to be on the front of all stationary, publications and off-campus advertisements.

The system statement identifies Texas State as a member of Texas State University System.

Provost Perry Moore said the system statement requirement Monty Marion/Star photo has been in place since the university became a member of OUT WITH THE OLD: Althe Texas State University Sysberto Merquez works to drive tem in 1899. a wedge under the Southwest Regent Don Flores said the Texas State University seal to system statement is required remove it from the Alkek Library by the board of regents on all university publications, adverbreezeway Tuesday afternoon.

tisements and other published materials to show an affiliation with the university system.

“It has been a longstanding regulation, it hasn’t been as thoroughly discussed as it was at the last meeting,” Flores said. “We’ve just been lax in enforcing it.”

The enforcement will require all university-published materials to include the university statement on the front, and that it be legible.

“It will be displayed more prominently than before,” Moore said. “This would make it more readable and visible.”

Texas State should be more easily identifiable with the system, Moore said.

“Before, it was like you needed to use a magnifying-glass to see the statement,” Moore said.

“It was like we looked ashamed to be a part of the system. But the university is becoming more and more proud to be identified with such a large system.”

Flores said the affiliation is important because of the

amount of universities in Texas.

“This is clearly what we needed to do. You see UTAustin or UT-Arlington and you know what system they are in,” he said. “But our systems schools have different names.

We want people to know what system we are a part of.”

Flores said another addition will be the names of the regents and their hometowns on the inside cover of bound books that the university publishes.

“If someone has a question, comment or complaint, we have the regents of the system and where you can contact them,” Flores said. “It’s a responsibility to parents, students, and taxpayers.”

Student regent Frank Bartley said the association with the Texas State University System will create opportunities for students.

“Personally, I think it gives us a chance to chance to add to the prestige of the system and there are more opportunities for students,” Bartley said.

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, October 5, 2006 - Page 7

happeningsof the weekend san marcos

Thursday Cheatham Street Warehouse — Doctor G and the Mudcats Lucy’s San Marcos — Songwriter Showcase The Triple Crown — Audioflava w/ Thomas Champagne

Friday Cheatham Street Warehouse — Phil Pritchett Lucy’s San Marcos — Disfigured Metal Showcase The Triple Crown — Bloodshot Pyramid/ Ethereal Architect

Saturday Cheatham Street Warehouse — Texas Renegade/Randy Weeks Lucy’s San Marcos — The Belgraves/ Raditude/Coptic Times The Triple Crown — Word Association/The Tingles

Trends Contact — Maira Garza, starentertainment@txstate.edu

FEATURED ARTIST: Natalia Kochak’s art series Bruised Fruit is currently on display in the Root Cellar Café.

Café builds

Jennifer Williams/Star photo

atmosphere with ‘raw, expressive’

ARTWORK

By Leah Kirkwood The University Star

In addition to serving up tasty food in a charming, laid-back atmosphere, The Root Cellar Café now serves double-duty as a contemporary art gallery.

Kristin McDermott and Kyle Mylius are co-owners of Root Cellar Café. Mylius’ friend Joseph Cohen was the original featured artist at the café, and his work has hung on the walls for a year and a half.

Cohen said his art represents self-discovery and life experiences. He layers pigment, resin and occasionally gold leaf on pieces of birch to achieve a great amount of visual depth.

“To me, (the works) can be looked at as topographical,” Cohen said. “Layers and history can be history and time and the pieces themselves can be looked at as physical.”

Mylius and McDermott recently decided to open the restaurant to other artists. Root Cellar Café now houses paintings by Natalya Kochak, but a few of Cohen’s works remain on display.

McDermott described Cohen’s work as amazing.

“He devotes his life to (his work) and you can see that in everything he does,” McDermott said. “He will always have a place here.”

McDermott is in charge of coordinating the exhibits and selecting artists.

“We take this gallery very seriously,” McDermott said. “In this town, the art community is pretty large, but we are only interested in serious artists.”

McDermott selects art that will set a tone for the restaurant. She said she is looking for raw, expressive work to display.

“It also has to be very warm to fit this environment,” McDermott said.

Paintings from Natalya Kochak’s Bruised Fruit series are on display in the small dining room at the Root Cellar Café.

“I really thought she had a very unique style,” McDermott said. “She takes her art very seriously, which is really important because art also is a business if you want to impact people with it.”

Kochak graduated in 2004 from the Chicago Institute of Technology. As a student, she began

Local artists join, form new band

By Jessica Sinn The University Star Local music artists joined forces to create a brand new side-project, Bloodshot Pyramid.

Members from Rebecca Creek, Newborn Trance Conspiracy and Strong Rock have teamed up to mix Bloodshot Pyramid’s hybrid of modern jazz and riff-rock. Bloodshot Pyramid’s lead vocalist, Aron Williams, is also front man and guitarist for popular rock band Rebecca Creek. Williams took on this new side gig with Strong Rock and Newborn Trance Conspiracy guitarist Mike McLeod.

“Mike and I started talking about doing a side project, and it snowballed,” Williams said. “We’re still involved with other projects, and we’re trying to see how it rides out.”

McLeod, Texas State alumnus and guitarist for Bloodshot Pyramid, said their heavy instrumentals and hard rock beats are inspired by popular rock bands such as Tool and “old-school” Red Hot

Chili Peppers.

“Our music is straight rock. We try to bring rock — the hardest — to every show,” McLeod said. “I know it’s kind of generic to describe it as rock, but it’s really riff-driven with sweet solos and lots of energy.”

Bloodshot Pyramid is only eight

months old and has just started hitting local music venues. Band members have already established a steady following from their full-time gigs, which allows them to open for popular bands and book concerts at music hot spots in San Marcos.

“We already opened

Photo courtesy of Bloodshot Pyramid BACK TO ROCK: Bloodshot Pyramid will be performing its strong rock riffs at 10 p.m. Friday at The Triple Crown along with Ethereal Architects.

for the Burden Brothers,” McLeod said. “And we’ve been getting good slots on weekends at local venues because of our reputation with Rebecca Creek.”

This four-man band is busy recording a fivesong EP, which is to be completed in about three weeks. A Texas State sound recording senior and guitarist for Ethereal Architects, David Glass, was impressed by Bloodshot Pyramid’s music. Glass asked the band to be involved in his senior project and gave them recording time at Texas State’s Fire Station Studio.

McLeod believes Bloodshot Pyramid will win the crowd over with its powerful stage presence and a side of comic relief.

“We have a lot of fun on stage — we like to get crazy with the crowd,” McLeod said.

“You’ll love watching Aron — he’s hilarious onstage. He makes us laugh in between songs.”

Bloodshot Pyramid and Ethereal Architects will be performing at The Triple Crown San Marcos at 10 p.m. on Friday.

snapping photos of people on the busy Chicago streets and turning them into intriguing paintings.

When the paintings are viewed together, Kochak calls them a “population.”

“The people I chose are mostly people I don’t actually know,” Kochak said. “The paintings are more my idea of who the person is, and when I put them all together, they make something else.”

In her artist statement, Kochak said her paintings are not portraits.

“Portraits are often painted quite false, revealing only what the subject wants the painter to see and record,” Kochak said.

Because most of the subjects for Bruised Fruit were unaware they were being photographed, Kochak’s paintings capture unrehearsed expressions and poses. She said the paintings show the beauty and resilience that is visible in people.

“Everybody has things happen to them throughout life, but everyone’s still beautiful,” Kochak said.

“Fruit are very fragile but beautiful.”

Kochak relocated to Austin eight months ago and

continues to paint people she sees around town.

She has painted around 100 people for the series and continues to work on the project.

“I’d like to end up having enough to fill up an entire room from top to bottom so when you walk in, you’re overwhelmed by them,” Kochak said. “You’ll walk into a conversation that’s already happening with all the people on the wall.”

Kochak said she doesn’t play favorites with her paintings. She selected the works on display at the Root Cellar Café to best fill the space of the room.

“I put up one and see what looks right next to it,” Kochak said.

Kochak created the works using three wet-on-wet techniques: water-based monoprint, water-based silkscreen and watercolor on paper.

“Wet-on-wet is more uncontrollable,” Kochak said. “I let the paint do what it wants to do.”

Kochak witnessed reactions to her work at the opening of her exhibit, which attracted 150 people.

“I liked the fact that people kept walking away and then coming back to take another look. I think that’s a really good sign,” Kochak said.

Family Weekend to feature tubing, stargazing

By Chris Parrish Special to The Star The annual Texas State Family Weekend, co-hosted by the Parents Association and Campus Activities and Student Organizations, will be held Friday through Sunday.

Family Weekend is a campuswide event that is geared toward freshman, new students to the university and their families.

“We want to give parents and family members the opportunity to get to know their students’ campus and meet new people,” said Marian Loep, Parents Association coordinator.

Family Weekend offers something for everyone to enjoy, Loep said.

Tours of Old Main, the new McCoy Hall and the Southwestern Writers Collection and Wittliff Gallery at the Alkek Library are highlighted as well as the Family Round Up Barbecue picnic.

Family Weekend officially begins 11 a.m. Friday at with the first-ever University Star Scholarship Golf Tournament at the Quail Creek Country Club located on Highway 21, with all proceeds benefiting student scholarships. Later that evening, Bobcats soccer kicks off against Central Arkansas at 7 p.m. at Texas State Soccer Complex.

Friday evening events continue with the theatre department’s portrayal of Tennessee Williams’ Night of the Iguana and a Full Moon Float sponsored by the Outdoor Recreation Center, both

“W

e want to give parents and family members the opportunity to get to know their students’ campus and meet new people.”

— Marian Loep Parents Association coordinator

beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“The Full Moon Float should be a big deal because there will actually be a full moon that night,” Loep said.

Physics lecturer Russell Doescher will also host a stargazing event at the Texas State Observatory on top of the Supple Science Building.

“Parents like to experience how we open the minds of students who attend this university,” Doescher said. “College opens up a person’s point of view. Astronomy opens it up more than anything,” By using several telescopes, including a recently repaired 16inch telescope, Doescher hopes to show the audience visions of the expansive universe, including a uniquely bright Jupiter and the elusive planets Uranus and Neptune.

Saturday morning activities begin with the Morning on the Green Golf Tournament at 7 a.m. at the Texas State Golf Course.

Students and their families hoping to learn more about the university can also attend Bobcat Day beginning at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the LBJ Student Center. Tours of campus buildings continue regularly through-

out the day.

The Family Round Up Barbecue will be held in the afternoon in Sewell Park.

“The Round Up is the most exciting event for sure,” Loep said.

“It’s so full of excitement, just bringing all the groups together to give parents and family a taste of what Texas State is all about.”

The Texas State Steel Drum Band, Salsa Del Rio and the Swing Jazz Band along with several other performers will be performing Saturday evening by the San Marcos River. Door prizes will be awarded and participants have the opportunity to peruse information tables set up by representatives from the campus and San Marcos communities. Restaurants, hotels and several local businesses, including the Tanger and Prime Outlet Malls, will all be represented.

“This event really brings families into the San Marcos community. It’s a big impact for the commercial entities,” Loep said.

Bobcat football also heads to the gridiron at Bobcat Stadium to face in-state rivals Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m.

“The goal is to end up at the football game after the Round Up,” Loep said.

TRENDS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The University Star - Page 8

Culture of coffee has firm grip on college students

By Maira Garcia The University Star It makes you jittery. It keeps you up at night. It is everywhere you look.

Caffeine is everywhere. Soda machines line the hallways of buildings, coffee pots are standard in any office, and caffeine drinks are sold in every dining hall. San Marcos alone has seven coffee shops or houses — many within walking distance of campus.

According to Michael Wilkerson, coordinator of health education, caffeine is an addictive substance that causes a variety of side effects. Drinking too much caffeine can cause increased urination, jitteriness, sleep deprivation and can actually decrease productivity.

“When someone asks me about caffeine addiction, I wonder what is going on in their life

that they have to take caffeine to push through the day,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson said caffeinated beverages such as coffee are popular, especially among college students, because there is a culture associated with coffee.

“I know when I’m stressed out I say ‘I’m going to coffee and just relax.’ But it is counterintuitive because caffeine is a stimulant,’” he said.

Although some may know the side effects of too much caffeine, Alina Adonyi, an educational technology graduate student, and her boyfriend John Cienki, an elementary education graduate student, said they can’t work without it.

“If I don’t have coffee, I wouldn’t be able to function.

We’re grad students and we’re at our busiest right now,” Adonyi said.

Adonyi said that she is at-

tempting to quit caffeinate drink but has been unsuccessful.

“We want to quit coffee and switch to tea, but we are having the toughest time ever,” she said. “I called (Cienki) yesterday and told him, ‘Dude, I can’t do it anymore. I can’t hold a piece of paper — I keep shaking.’”

Cienki said his attempt to quit caffeine hasn’t been working out either.

“I was in bed at 2 p.m. when she was telling me this because I didn’t have my cup of coffee at 8 a.m,” Cienki said.

Caffeine is the way students get up and moving, according to Julie Elkman, manager of Jo on the Go. “Not only are (caffeinated drinks) popular, they wake you up to go to class. Coffee is a popular thing to do, and it will help you pass those finals,” Elkman said.

Drinking caffeine, however, isn’t just to stay up; it has become a way to socialize as well.

“I think it is a place for social outlets,” said Elkman of coffeehouses. “People are discussing news, religion, and it is just a social experience. It’s not a smoky bar, but it is a different type of addiction.”

Cienki said he frequents coffeehouses for studying.

“I do coffeehouses because they’re more conducive to work in than at the house where there is noise,” he said.

Wilkerson said students should re-evaluate their schedules and lifestyles if they want to stop using caffeine. Also, basic health such as sleeping patterns, diet and exercise are important to becoming independent from caffeine, Wilkerson said.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘Can I reprioritize?’” he said. “I always ask students if anyone

has ever told them in order to be successful, they should do less. It is counterintuitive to American thought. Normally, we think if you do more you do better.”

Wilkerson said that he advises students to taper their use if they want to quit in order to limit the side effects of caffeine withdrawal. He said mixing caffeinated coffee with decaffeinated could help or having one less caffeinated drink a day.

Kevin Carswell, owner of Mochas & Javas, said he believes the key to preventing addiction to caffeine is moderation.

“I think all things we consume should be taken in moderation. Nobody should guzzle anything down throughout the day,” Carswell said.

Carswell also said that even if you are a heavy caffeine drinker, only so much will affect you. “… the body also only processes a certain number of milligrams of (caffeine) an hour.”

For Adonyi and Cienki, caffeine is difficult to get away from, so they have tried alter-

natives.

“I’ve been switching to Full Throttle and other caffeine energy drinks. I don’t believe it is better, but I think it is better than coffee,” Cienki said.

Adonyi said she has been drinking caffeinated beverages for a long time.

“I’ve been drinking cocoa since I could shove beverages to my face,” Adonyi said. “My parents are huge coffee drinkers.

Bad habits are learned.”

Cienki said he began drinking coffee for the same reason he still uses it for: to stay awake.

“I started drinking coffee when I was 14 years old because I couldn’t stay up to finish my homework,” he said.

Wilkerson said that ultimately, students should reflect on the factors that led to having to stay up late and rely on caffeine.

It is something that involves being reflective and self-aware, Wilkerson said. “(Drinking caffeine) is a challenge for all of us, and it is something we need to be aware of.”

85 40 60 24 6 5 0

Mark Decker/Star feature photo CAFFEINE EXTREME: Taylor Kuhlmann, mass communication graduate student, sips down coffee at Mochas & Javas before class Wednesday. Drinking excessive caffeine can slow down productivity according to health education coordinator Michael Wilkerson.

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TRENDS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The University Star - Page 9

CSI’s greatest rival now Grey’s Anatomy

By Scot Collins Los Angeles Times

Photo courtesy of Red vs. Blue READY FOR BATTLE: Characters of the popular Internet-based Red vs. Blue series are each individually controlled through an Xbox console using the point-of-view of a player as the camera.

Video game funnies net creators contract with Microsoft

By Jonathan Garten Kansas State Collegian (U-WIRE) MANHATTAN, Kan. — A group of futuristic soldiers wearing red armor stand on one side of a virtual canyon, discussing philosophy.

Why are they there? What are they fighting for?

On the other side of the canyon, a team of blue soldiers stands around doing the same thing. They’re locked in a battle no one ever wins.

The teams of soldiers are the stars of an online comedy series called Red vs. Blue at www.redvsblue.com. Burnie Burns, the show’s creator, uses the video game Halo as the animation and then records voices over the scenes.

“I’ve played video games my whole life, and now I actually feel like I’m part of the videogame industry,” Burns said.

Burns and his friends have been making the series Red vs.

Blue for more than three years.

The show, produced in an apartment, has five seasons and 78 episodes so far.

He said the Red vs. Blue humor has evolved to a point where people who do not play video games can understand the jokes. The show has featured a Spanish-speaking robot whom none of the characters can understand and a tank no one knows how to drive.

Burns compared the animation of his show to the movie Toy Story, except that he needs 12 other people, three Xbox video game consoles and 40 to

50 hours to make one five-minute weekly episode.

In Halo, everything is seen in the first-person perspective of the character being used. Burns said the creators devote one Xbox to a character who serves as the show’s cameraman. The audience views all the scenes taking place from the cameraman’s point-of-view.

Using Xbox controllers, Burns and his friends make their characters walk and move their heads to give the impression that they are talking.

Everything is recorded and edited by computer. Voices, audio and visual effects are then added.

“It’s technically 3-D animation,” Burns said, “but it’s done in real time on the fly.”

Burns’ experience in film dates back to his years as a student at the University of Texas.

He and friends Matt Hullum and Joel Heyman created a film called The Schedule in 1996.

After presenting their movie at several film festivals, Heyman and Hullum decided to pursue careers in Hollywood.

Burns, a computer science student, got a technology support job in Austin.

He brainstormed Red vs.

Blue while writing video game reviews in 2002 for a Web site called www.drunkgamers.com.

In trying to write a funny review for Halo, Burns tried turning it into a video with voice-overs.

“I thought, ‘Wow this could actually be a movie,’” Burns said. “So that was kind of the Red vs. Blue moment.”

With help from Hullum, Heyman and Burns’ www. drunkgamers.com co-workers Gustavo Sorola and Geoff Fink, Red vs. Blue began on April 1, 2003.

In less than two weeks, Red vs.

Blue had about 250,000 online visits. Burns said the former Web site, www.drunkgamers. com, had about 3,000 visitors a day while it was online.

“We’d done a bunch of different stuff, plugging away and doing stuff that nobody noticed, and then it was just this one thing that completely took off,” Burns said. “It exceeded our wildest expectations in about 10 minutes.”

But the fans weren’t the only ones noticing. Less than a month after the first episode was released, Bungie Studios, the creator of Halo, called Burns about the show.

“We were gathering stuff up to go talk to them, and then Bungie called us, and they were great,” Burns said. “They said, ‘We really like what you guys are doing, and we just want to make sure that you do it right.’”

The result was a contract with Microsoft Corp., the company that owns Bungie Studios.

Burns said he is not allowed to discuss the details of the contract but said he, Hullum, Sorola, Fink and Jason Saldana have no jobs outside the Red vs. Blue project.

“There’s not too many day jobs where you get to play video games all day — just hang out with friends and make stupid jokes,” Hullum said.

HOLLYWOOD — The genius of CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation lies in its paradoxical approach to what for many of us is the ultimate taboo: the autopsy.

Forensics investigator Gil Grissom (William Petersen) and his team retrieve corpses in frightful states — crushed, severed, bloodied, partly decomposed, often — this seems a favorite of the producers — with the lifeless eyes open and fixed in a thousand-yard stare.

Backlit and color drenched, producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s crime drama looks fantastic, so instead of switching the channel in disgust, the fascinated viewer can watch a CSI pathologist saw open a murder victim and exclaim, “Cool!”

Yet this season, its seventh, CSI is trying to avoid getting filleted itself. Once the unrivaled No. 1 scripted show on television, the Thursday series is up against its biggest threat in ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, a sexy soap set in a fantasy hospital where runaway flirting is the biggest health hazard.

In two airings, Grey’s has peeled away roughly one-fifth of the adults ages 18 to 49 from CSI, although last week the latter hung on to a slim edge among total viewers (23.8 million versus 23.5 million, according to Nielsen Media Research).

What viewers are seeing is the culmination of planning that began in March, when CBS executives got an inkling that ABC might import Grey’s from Sundays to take on Grissom and the gang (the move was not officially announced until May, when the networks rolled out their fall schedules to advertisers).

“You start to hear the buzz,” said CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler of ABC’s scheduling move. “So we sat down creatively to talk about

season seven of CSI. The producers really started challenging themselves.”

The sustained effort to keep CSI strong speaks volumes about the show and the pressures networks face these days.

In addition to anchoring CBS’ Thursday nights, CSI has also spawned two successful spinoffs, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. With the Survivor reality franchise showing unmistakable signs of cooling, CSI and its progeny will largely determine how CBS fares this season among the young adults whom advertisers seek.

The danger to a long-lived show like CSI is that in a bid to stay fresh, the producers try so hard to jazz up episodes that longtime fans get turned off.

“Television writers often try to top themselves rather than reinventing themselves,” said TV historian and Lifetime Television research executive Tim Brooks. “That’s the definition of ‘jumping the shark.’”

Executive producer Naren Shankar said the writers understand the unusual chemistry of CSI, and although they may refine the formula, they won’t alter it.

“Shows often, I think, make a mistake when they try to change their DNA, for lack of a better term,” Shankar said.

“When you start trying to change what a show is, in response to what may or may not be on, or what you think other people may or may not want, it’s almost always a mistake.”

TRENDS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The University Star - Page 10

Project Runway’s Jeffrey Sebelia turns heads, entertains viewers

By Julie Hinds Detroit Free Press DETROIT — Jeffrey Sebelia’s tattooed neck, including the large “Detroit” tattoo, is a bold enough statement on its own.

Still, it’s Sebelia’s trash-talking mouth that has made him a bad boy of reality television.

Viewers of Bravo’s hit series Project Runway tend to treasure Sebelia’s oh-no-he-didn’t moments.

To cite a few, he made Angela’s mother cry and wished that Laura would have a stroke.

Sebelia always raises eyebrows, and he’s doing it again.

Recently, an item on New York magazine’s Web site aired accusations that Sebelia had outsourced the sewing for a challenge that will determine the Project Runway winner.

Bravo isn’t commenting on the rumors, which spread to fans through a link on the popular Web site BloggingProjectRunway (bloggingprojectrunway. blogspot.com).

Sebelia wasn’t available for comment, either.

Whatever the truth is, the gossip should only add to the hype for the show’s finale, which airs next month.

Gregorio Binuya/Abaca Press But wait, there’s more news.

Sebelia’s work is turning heads JUMP FOR JOY: Designer Jeffrey Sebelia jumps on the catwalk in metro Detroit, where blazers, at Project Runway Sept. 15 during Olympus Fashion Week Spring jackets and coats from the fall 2007 in New York City.

line of his label, Cosa Nostra, are now available at Dolce Moda boutique in Royal Oak, Mich.

The Los Angeles-based label, which counts Gwen Stefani and Billy Bob Thornton among its clients, was created by Sebelia before he joined Project Runway.

Dolce Moda owner Jenny Ouliguian says she’s the only person in the region carrying Cosa Nostra, which is sold at exclusive stores like Harvey Nichols in London and Maxfield in Los Angeles.

She discovered Cosa Nostra on a visit to a showroom in New York City that carries avantgarde clothes. She was drawn to the rock ‘n’ roll pieces, which run from about $700 to $1,500 and decided to carry the line.

“Next thing you know, I see Project Runway,” said Ouliguian with a laugh. “It was quite a shock as well.”

The Cosa Nostra separates, which arrived a few weeks ago, have generated buzz from shoppers who don’t realize they’re made by Sebelia, said Ouliguian.

She’s in talks to bring the designer to Royal Oak for a trunk show.

The flurry of gossip over the sewing issue doesn’t bother her at all.

“I say, if you’re not controversial, then you’ll be boring,” Ouliguian said. “It’s all about

controversy.”

On Wednesday’s episode of Project Runway, the remaining four designers: Sebelia, Laura Bennett, Uli Herzner and Michael Knight, found out, as usual, who’s in and who’s out. Based on past seasons, it is expected for one designer to be dropped. But in a twist this go-round, all four finalists are still in.

There’ll be a two-part finale Wednesday and Oct. 18.

The foursome already revealed their collections for season three’s ultimate challenge during a runway show held Sept.

15 during New York Fashion Week.

Last season, four finalists presented collections in New York, but one was a decoy; three designers actually competed in the season two finale.

Some local viewers think Sebelia has a real chance of winning — if he’s not disqualified.

“His collection surprised me,” says Tiffany Dantzler, a meeting and events planner from Royal Oak who saw photos of the runway show online. “I didn’t like anything he made on the show.

I loved everything in his collection.”

Dantzler describes herself as Knight’s biggest fan, but admits Sebelia says the most entertaining things.

“Even though it’s mean, he ends up being really funny,” she

Fava beans are a favorite among Egyptian culture

By Monica Eng Chicago Tribune CAIRO — Morning is the best time to visit one of Cairo’s most famous fava-bean eateries; that’s when you can avoid the crowds.

But even at this “slow” time, the place — Al Gahsh — is full of workers and school children lining up for their daily fuul (pronounced fool) and ta’miya (ta-MEE-ah), boiled and deepfried fava bean treats that make up Egypt’s national breakfast combo.

The fava bean has been eaten in this country for more than 5,000 years. It is also a special favorite during the holy month of Ramadan, which runs through Oct. 22. That’s when many of the Muslim faithful wake early to eat a hearty breakfast, called suhour, before the rising of the sun and the daylong fast. Others — especially in festive Cairo — stay up all night and finish the long evening with friends at

a fuul and ta’miya house such as Al Gahsh.

Think of the bean sandwiches as Egypt’s answer to White Castle sliders.

The small, two-story corner Al Gahsh eatery sports three stations. At one, a young man processes cooked fava beans, green herbs, onions and spices through a primitive grinder powered by a small, loud generator on the sidewalk. He forms the mixture into patties and drops them into a huge iron cauldron of oil. They emerge from this oily bath as delicious nutty discs. These are the ta’miya, sometimes called falafel.

At another station, a sassy lady with rolled-up sleeves fries short-order eggs and scoops up her secret blend of mashed fava beans and seasonings from a huge copper pot. When asked for her recipe, she curtly explains that she simmers the beans all night and seasons them with garlic, oil and lemon but warns

“you will never be able to make it like this at home.”

The third station is the cashier counter where an efficient man settles the bills and hands out side orders — fried eggplant, piles of potato chips (cooked between batches of ta’miya), bunches of arugula, fresh green onion stalks, a bowl of pickled vegetables and stacks of hot whole wheat pita bread.

Fava beans are such an integral part of the Egyptian diet that the government subsidizes them. With their significant levels of protein, thiamin, zinc, fiber and folate and meaty flavor, these legumes, also called broad beans, are a filling and nutritious protein alternative for many in the Middle East, but especially Egypt.

In Chicago, Egypt native Hassan El-Foly, manager of Queen Nefertiti Cafe in Albany Park, explains the popularity of fuul as a breakfast and especially for suhour.

“It’s popular because it has high protein and it will fill you up with all the energy you need for the day,” he said. “People can even come here and have it for suhour if they want because we open at 5 o’clock in the morning.”

In the Nefertiti kitchen, chef Isaac Al-Halayqa sautés garlic and olive oil for the fuul, then adds fava beans that he cooked the night before. He stirs the mixture with a spoon, letting the flavors meld, then sprinkles in some cumin. A shower of parsley, shake of salt, generous squirts of more olive oil, fresh lemon juice and even some cooked chick peas finish the dish before it is served with sides of toasted pita and chopped jalapenos.

Next he makes the ta’miya, scooping up the prepared bean batter onto the end of what looked like a small copper dumbbell. He shapes the lump into a dome with a flat copper

spoon, dips the dome into a container of sesame seeds and slides it into hot oil. The resulting patties are rolled into one of the best falafel sandwiches in Chicago.

Later Al-Halayqa says he used chickpeas for that batter, rather than the Egyptian favas. Still, he said, he can use favas if a customer calls ahead to request them.

Home cooks also can easily make the meal starting with the dried or canned fava beans available in some Chicago supermarkets and in Middle Eastern grocery stores. Some richer recipes call for adding onions, tomatoes or other legumes, such as lentils. The simplest version always features boiled beans, garlic, oil and lemon.

Despite their humble profiles, Egypt’s fuul and ta’miya stands attract eaters from all walks of life and classes. An Arab saying goes, “Beans have satisfied even the pharaohs.”

think his “I fashions are different and

fun and young. I love his attitude.

You never know what he’s going to do.”

— Kate Bennett fashion designer

said.

Kate Bennett, a fashion designer from Rochester Hills, Mich., said Sebelia has always been her favorite.

“I love the stuff he does,” she said. “I think his fashions are different and fun and young. I love his attitude. You never know what he’s going to do.”

Detroit area viewers also love that their city’s name is inscribed on Sebelia’s neck. The elaborate tattoo contains the name of his toddler son, Harrison Detroit, and the phrase “the love of my life” in Italian.

Sebelia’s girlfriend hails from metro Detroit, and her relatives have previously used Detroit as a middle name.

“It’s really kind of distracting, but it’s cool. It’s cool to see Detroit on national TV,” said Dantzler of the tattoo.

STEWED FAVA BEANS (Fuul medammas) Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes Yield: 6 servings This quick version of fuul is adapted from a recipe in The Middle Eastern Cookbook by Maria Khalife. You can start with dried fava beans, if you like; they will need several hours of cooking to become tender. Serve hot or cold with bread.

2 cans (16 ounces each) fava or broad beans 3 cloves garlic 1 teaspoon salt Juice of 2 lemons 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 tomato, cored, chopped 1. Heat the beans to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat; reduce heat to low. Cook 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, crush the garlic with the salt in a bowl. Mix in lemon juice, olive oil and cumin. Stir the garlic mixture into the beans; mash the beans if you like. Transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with parsley and tomato.

TRENDS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The University Star - Page 11

George’s host to hip-hop acts Zeale32, Gobi to give performances

By Todd Schaaf The University Star Zeale32, a local freestyle emcee, and Gobi, a band that blends many genres into a tightly knit sound, will be performing at George’s tonight.

Pre-mass communication sophomore Valin Zamarron, known as Zeale32, describes his sound as “conscious hip-hop” and is no stranger to performing on campus. He won SACA’s freestyle contest at George’s last year.

Zamarron understands the value of having a venue like George’s on campus.

“I think its important for them to feature local acts because it exposes students to an alternative music — to alternative versions of music as opposed to just a commercial range,” Zamarron said.

Veterans of performing at George’s as well, the guys in Gobi won last year’s Battle of the Bands, hosted by SACA. Band members say Gobi is the embodiment of a unique musi-

cal style.

“We listen to all different types of music and pretty much take all the musical influences we have and try to culminate them into one sound,” said Philip Arciniega, Gobi vocalist and English senior.

Both Zamarron and Gobi said they take pride in their live performances.

“We’re a pretty visual band,” said Gobi guitarist and management senior Justin Dillon.

Zamarron, who has been known to perform some shows backed by a live band, encouraged people to attend the show.

David Racino/Star file photo “I am the dopest emcee at TexRETURNING ARTIST: Pre-mass communication sophomore Valin Zamarron, also known as Zeale32, returns to George’s tonight for a as State,” Zamarron said.

Gobi went into more detail de- special performance with Gobi. scribing their live shows.

“We like to take the audience Zamarron is an active member ganized by psychology junior to book here, at least one person The show will start at 8 p.m. actually like on a journey,” said of Texas State’s Hip Hop Con- Natalie Diaz, George’s Coordina- goes to school at Texas State,” For more information about Arciniega. gress organization. tor for SACA. Diaz, who offers a few reasons to the show, visit http://www.lbjsc.

Gobi is currently in the studio “Look out for me and Hip George’s, located in the base- go to George’s rather than Austin txstate.edu/ or www.myspace. recording their first full-length Hop Congress doing some stuff ment of the LBJ Student Center or The Square, said. “It’s closer com/georges. album, which is scheduled for on campus,” Zamarron said. is host to a plethora of events to home, they don’t have to leave For more information on Gobi release in February 2007 and tenThe event is being sponsored throughout the year — from campus, it’s a free show and it’s and Zeale32, visit them at www. tatively titled Welcome to Planet by the Student Association for movie screenings to live music. basically for people who enjoy myspace.com/gobi and www.

Gobi.

Campus Activities and was or“Most of the bands that we try listening to music,” said Diaz. myspace.com/zeale32.

Thursday The Latino Presence at Texas State: Celebrating 100 Years This Hispanic Heritage Month exhibition from the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies looks back through the years, beginning with 1906 when the Latinos first joined the student body.

The exhibit is located in the Witliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican photography in the seventh floor of the Alkek Library.

Exhibit hours: Monday/Tuesday/Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday/Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (512) 245-2313. www.txstate.edu/mcgs/latino_presence/index.html.

Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration The “greatest hits” of the permanent archives contains the 1555 edition of Cabeza de Vaca’s La Relación y Comentarios, a songbook made by an eleven-year-old Willie Nelson, costumes and props from Lonesome Dove and much more. The archives are located in the Southwestern Writers Collection in the seventh floor of Alkek.

Exhibit hours: Monday/Tuesday/Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday/Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 2 to 6 p.m. For more information, call (512) 245-2313.

Drew Daly Exhibit Seattle-area sculptor Drew Daly makes works that fragment, deconstruct and reconstruct everyday materials and objects that lead the viewer to rethink the relationship with the commonplace. The exhibit is located in Gallery I of the Joann Cole Mitte Art Building.

Gallery hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday/ Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call (512) 2452664. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Tim Roda Exhibit New York photographer Tim Roda’s work casually travels between borders of installation, photography and ceramics. Roda’s photographs are made from sculptural installations (props that are often ceramic) that are autobiographical. Each vignette is based in the artist’s childhood, family history, memories and emotions and encourages the viewer toward a multilayered interpretation of meaning, both in implication and inference. The exhibit is located in Gallery II of JCM. Gallery hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday/ Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call (512) 2452664. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Live Music at George’s Local freestyle emcee Zeale32 and genre-blending band Gobi perform live at George’s.

Time: 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Night of the Iguana

Drew Daly Exhibit

The Texas State department of theatre and dance present Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana. Considered Williams’ last great play, The Night of the Iguana features Shannon, a defrocked Episcopal priest who faces a crisis of faith and descends into the “dark night of the soul” in a cheap hotel in the Mexican tropics. Directed by Michael Costello. Tickets available at the University Box Office in the Theatre Center, located at the corner of Moon Street and University Drive and by phone at (512) 245-2204.

Tim Roda Exhibit

Showtime: Thursday through Saturday: 7:30 p.m., Sunday: 2 p.m.

Admission: $10 for the general public and $5 for students with a Texas State ID

Friday The Latino Presence at Texas State: Celebrating 100 Years Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Drew Daly Exhibit

The Night of the Iguana Choral College All Texas State choirs perform at Evans Auditorium. Call (512) 2452651 for more information.

Time: 3 p.m.

Price: $2 for the general public and $1 for students Music Lecture Series Charles Ditto will present the lecture “Non-Impressionism in Debussy’s Music” at the Music Building recital hall. Call (512) 2452651 for more information.

Time: 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public

Monday The Latino Presence at Texas State: Celebrating 100 Years

Tim Roda Exhibit

Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration

Senior Tuba Recital

Drew Daly Exhibit

Chad Taylor, music senior and student of Raul Rodriguez, associate professor of music, performs at the Music Building recital hall. Call (512) 245-2651 for more information.

Tim Roda Exhibit

Time: 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public The Night of the Iguana

Saturday The Latino Presence at Texas State: Celebrating 100 Years Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Drew Daly Exhibit

Tuesday The Latino Presence at Texas State: Celebrating 100 Years Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Tim Roda Exhibit Drew Daly Exhibit Jazz Night at George’s Time: 9 p.m.

Tim Roda Exhibit

The event is free and open to the public.

Senior Voice Recital

Wednesday

Rachel Plitt, music senior and student of Burt Neely, professor of music, performs at the Music Building recital hall.

Call (512) 245-2651 for more information.

Time: 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public The Night of the Iguana

Sunday The Latino Presence at Texas State: Celebrating 100 Years Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration

The Latino Presence at Texas State: Celebrating 100 Years Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Drew Daly Exhibit Tim Roda Exhibit SACA Movie Night The Student Association for Campus Activities hosts a screening of Superman Returns at the LBJ Amphitheater.

Time: 8 p.m.

TRENDS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

RIX’S

TECHNOLOGY FIXES

The University Star - Page 12

✯Star Comics

Magazines a thing of the past as Internet advances

I’ve read that the Insearch? It’s beyond me ternet is slowly doing why magazines such as away with traditional Gamepro and PC World print media. I admitare still around. At one tedly don’t read a lot point, these were indusof Newsweek or Time try giants, but reading or what have you, but them is like looking at when I drop by Hasta museum of stuff that ings and give tech and was cool or interesting BILL RIX video game magazine 30 days ago. The speed Star Copy Chief a quick once-over, it’s at which the technology hard to put up a fight industry moves is only for the publishers. getting faster, and a monthly Now, back in the day, I had update on things isn’t going to a subscription to Nintendo cut it.

Power. I had it for several years.

I’m not sure if it’s more irThis was well before I got my ritating to read old news from first computer, so I lived and a video game magazine or to died by the “Classified Inforsee “pro tips” and the like on mation” cheats section and the covers of every single issue marveled at the feats of my of PC Magazine. There aren’t peers in the “NES Achievers” enough full-page Newegg portion. Doom’s E1M1 in 16 advertisements in the world seconds flat? Yes, sir. There to keep these people afloat, were actual photographs to yet somehow I still see them prove it, too. But that’s gone to on news racks with whatever the wayside.

Alienware’s latest abomination Today, why even bother to is on the cover. How on earth is put out a magazine when you any of this still relevant by tocan get all the reviews and day’s standards? PC Magazine screenshots you could posmust really be cornering the sibly want in a single Google aunt-who-is-shopping-for-her-

nephew market. That, or the computer builder who loses his mind every 30 days and forgets that, yes, it’s probably a good idea to create backups of important data.

While some magazines have lost clout to larger, more accessible online venues, some have soared using a new twist on content. Play Magazine, for example, usually contains a bevy of long interviews with video game playmakers and pundits alike. The non-review material is well written and worth a glance, typically offering readers the kind of substantive content rarely found at Gamespot or IGN (no filler or “Babes” section). The design is top-notch and very modern – it’s like reading a print version of Web 2.0.

It’s a bit disheartening to note that, for all the good the Internet does (YouTube videos of kittens, vandalized Wikipedia articles, things like that), it puts a hurt on magazine publishers. Survival of the fittest, I guess.

Ane Brun releases first album in the U.S.

By Chuck Myers McClatchy-Tribune News Service BALTIMORE — Norwegianborn artist Ane Brun developed a magical touch for an appealing sound early in her career.

Brun’s debut LP in 2003, Spending Time With Morgan, earned strong marks from critics and developed a solid following in Europe. After releasing an album of duets, she recorded her next solo effort, A Temporary Dive.

A Temporary Dive made a huge splash almost as soon as it hit European record stores in 2005, achieving platinum record status in less than a month.

Now, the singer-songwriter, who resides in Stockholm, Sweden, looks to reach a new audience in North America as the disc finally arrives in the United States this year.

Brun holds a particular appreciation for two notable folk artists who have had a telling impact on her music.

“When I was 20, I was living at a friend’s house, and she had Joni Mitchell’s Blue album,” Brun said. “A year later, I got my first guitar. So those things just have merged into each other.

“I

t’s about trying to get through the hard times that you have. It comes from situations in my life.”

— Ane Brun Recording artist

After Joni Mitchell, I discovered Ani DiFranco, which for me was very, very important, because that’s how I learned to play …

Her finger picking is amazing.”

A Temporary Dive strikes its strongest chord on its affecting ballads, particularly with the elegant “Laid In Earth,” a number Brun describes as a “cover” of a 16th-century opera aria, and the poignant “My Lover Will Go.” While Brun’s lyrics often possess an introspective quality, they actually have little to do with her personal experiences with love and relationships.

“I think it’s like analyzing from a distance,” Brun said. “Many of these songs are not about heartache. It’s about trying to get through the hard times that you have. It comes from situations in my life, but it wasn’t necessarily love-related stuff.”

The record also features three duets, including “Song No. 6,” with artist Ron Sexsmith, and a bonus track with

Syd Matters on the U.S. release, “Little Lights.” The third number, “Rubber and Soul,” was recorded as a Brun solo, originally for the European release. For the U.S. version, Brun re-recorded the song’s jaunty, dialogue-like lyrics with a fellow Scandinavian, alternative pop artist Teitur.

Many of the numbers on A Temporary Dive took time to gel.

Brun shapes her tracks carefully and doesn’t rush the creative process.

“I work really slowly,” Brun said. “I want it to feel good even after three weeks and four weeks and five weeks and make it grow quality wise.”

But, on occasion, inspiration does strike her in an instant.

“Sometimes (inspiration) just comes like this,” said Brun, snapping her fingers. “‘My Love Will Go’ was one night with a huge bottle of wine. Because it was something that had happened that was so strong and I really wanted to play and write about it.”

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

Yesterday’s solutions:

© Pappocom

Yesterday’s solutions:

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

onlineconnection What do you think of the Texas State logo changes? Go to www.UniversityStar.com to vote in our online poll. Results will be published in next Thursday’s issue of The University Star.

Thursday, October 5, 2006 - Page 13

*This is not a scientific poll

Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

A

s students at Texas State, we have an opportunity to meet thousands of people from different backgrounds in an environment where learning is encouraged.

LEARNING TOLERANCE

Letter to the Editor Not all Christians are hatemongers I completely agree with The University Star’s statement: “We cannot be proud of this nation if we continue to persecute and marginalize certain citizens.”

However, in their recent editorial, The Star ironically did exactly what they set out to destroy — they discriminated.

Although their remarks were directed toward Christians, you do not have to be a Christian to take offense to the fact that The Star has deemed an entire religion of people “hatemongers.”

It is apparent that the privileges of the first amendment exclude Christians. The Star has pointed out that we can’t write, say or even think about what we believe to be true.

J. Matt Barber, a father and dedicated Christian who lost his job with Allstate Insurance because he wrote an article outside of work about homosexual activism, is not a “hatemonger.”

Robert Smith, who was abruptly fired by Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. based on his Biblical view of marriage between a man and a woman, is not a “hatemonger.”

As a Christian, I want something to be clear: We love everyone, but this does not mean we love sin. Every day I sin and I fully understand that I am not the judge of others.

However, this does not mean I have to betray my beliefs and endorse homosexual marriage into society. I love homosexuals the same as I love heterosexuals, alcoholics, pastors, prostitutes, priests, drug addicts and my best friends.

I am not a bigot, a racist or a hatemonger. I am a Christian.

It is apparent that The Star is endorsing homosexuals at the expense of Christians.

This “politically-correct” article is not about “basic respect” it is about basic hypocrisy.

College students have a chance to to teach themselves about various religions

Some of the best lessons the university has to offer are not learned in a classroom — they come from other students.

As America and the world at large remain divided over theological issues, students should take advantage of the religious groups, classes and activities on campus.

There are 23 student religious organizations at Texas State representing a wide variety of beliefs. Many groups sponsor events that are open to the student body. If the chance to increase your knowledge on different religions isn’t enough motivation, many of the events also include free food.

The University Star calendar is always full of student-led worship services and other religious events, and we encourage all organizations to submit their calendar dates.

The philosophy department offers a course called REL1301, Intro to Religious Studies, which offers a broad overview of world religions. This class is the easiest way to get an unbiased look at the major religions of the world. In the spring, the university is offering two advanced religious studies classes for students who want to get more involved with the subject.

Many on-campus events also serve as forums for religious discussion. The Philosophy Dialogue Series often hosts lectures on moral and political issues linked to religion. The Freethought Society will host a discussion panel on the topic “Morality Without God?” at 7 p.m. today in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.

The Muslim Student Association has invited religious leaders to speak at Texas State to offer students of other religions insight on of Islamic beliefs.

Recently, MSA opened the doors of the student-operated mosque on Comanche Street. MSA invited students and members of the community to come learn about Islam and the holy month of Ramadan.

In Central Texas, we are fortunate to have a number of opportunities to expand our religious knowledge.

You can find devotees of almost every major Christian sect in San Marcos, San Antonio and Austin. The Barsana Dham temple is a short drive from San Marcos, near Driftwood. Barsana Dham is a Hindu temple that has open visiting hours and offers tours and overnight stays.

Religious belief is a decision that everyone is entitled to make for him- or herself. We at The Star hope students will explore all religions and choose based on personal knowledge instead of media portrayal or speculation.

Annette Walker nutrition senior Editor’s reply: The Main Point was not directed at Christians. It was directed at all people who discriminate against others.

Think you have something to say? Log on to www.universitystar.com and click on the letters link to read old letters and submit new ones.

Online Poll Results Mike Wood/Star illustration

Vixen Entertainment

W

hat do you think of the girls and guys of Texas State calendars being sold by Vixen Entertainment?

Maines called it: Outspoken Dixie Chick right on all accounts Several dozen fans Abu Ghraib and dog showed up for the leashes on naked prisDixie Chicks’ concert oners, she stood up.

Sunday at the Frank Before body armor Erwin Center in Ausshortages, this chick tin. They hadn’t heard stood up. the trio had reschedBefore 2,700 soluled their show, a re- FRED AFFLERBACH diers were shipped sult of slow ticket sales back in flag-draped Star Columnist over lead singer Natacaskets — caskets the lie Maines’ comments three Pentagon refuses media access years ago about President to because they think we are Bush. Back in 2003, before a too weak-stomached to witconcert in London, Maines ness — one chick stood up. spoke out against Bush and Before Cindy Sheehan’s his planned invasion of Iraq. son Casey was killed in Sadr She said she was ashamed that City and Sheehan planted her Bush was from Texas. lawn chair in a Texas ditch Maines is one of the few in August 2005 outside the public figures — politicians, president’s ranch, one chick entertainers and clergy includ- stood up. ed — who spoke out against Before Rummy said “Stuff Bush before the war. With the happens” and “You go to war Iraq war spiraling out of conwith the army you have,” to trol, Maines’ comments seem explain lack of equipment for prophetic today. the troops and before Jessica Back before “Shock and Lynch’s rescue was exposed as Awe,” this chick stood up. a farce, this chick stood up.

Before “Bring it on” and “MisBefore Nicholas Berg’s besion Accomplished,” before heading was posted on the

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

Web and before two American contractors were mutilated and hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River, this chick stood up.

Before CIA agent Valerie Plame was outed because her husband wrote a New York Times editorial critical of the Bush administration’s rationale for war, Maines stood up.

Before the release of the Downing Street Memo that said Bush had planned to invade Iraq before Sept. 11, one chick stood up.

Before John Murtha, the hardened Vietnam War veteran and Pennsylvania congressman stood up against the war, one chick already had.

Predictably, the response to this traitor chick’s disparaging remarks about our president was swift and brilliant.

“Shut up and sing,” they said.

Isn’t that like telling someone to sit down and walk?

After this chick stood up,

Editor In Chief...................................Jason Buch, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor.........................Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor..............................David Saleh Rauf, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor....................Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor...................................Monty Marion, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor..................................Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

the country DJs and silvertongued radio talk show hosts grew angry, and they rose up, and they purged themselves of the Chicks’ music that they once enjoyed because the music had been desecrated.

Going off on the Dixie Chicks because of a comment by their lead singer makes us as a nation appear paranoid, afraid to face anything that challenges our views.

Perhaps too often, we project our opinions onto our favorite actors and singers, thinking because we identify with them through their music or movies, that we also think alike. And when we discover our differences, we feel betrayed. Sorry, but these folks don’t owe us anything other than a good show or movie for the price of admission.

And if they use that concert or movie as an opportunity to take a stand on an issue, then so be it.

The Dixie Chicks aren’t

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the first Americans to turn the concert stage into a bully pulpit. They follow a long line of singers such as Woody Guthrie, Peter Seger and Bob Dylan, who used music as a medium to voice their opinions. And don’t forget Mr. “Born in the U.S.A.,” Bruce Springsteen. He recently released an entire album of antiwar songs.

But keep in mind, Natalie Maines spoke out before Bush’s war. Polls today show that Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of the war, how it was presented and how it is being conducted.

The Dixie Chicks have rescheduled their Austin concert for early December. It’s doubtful the war and all the issues swirling around it will be over by then. And from the tone of their latest album, I doubt the Dixie Chicks will back down.

Fred Afflerbach is a mass communication senior

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It is superficial and promotes unrealistic body images

48% It gives good exposure to Texas State

32% Not sure/I don’t know

20%

Results compiled from The University Star Web site online poll. This is not a scientific survey.

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 other Wednesday of Summer I and II with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright October 5, 2006. 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.

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Thursday, October 5, 2006 - Page 14 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - Page 33 ANNOUNCEMENTS

FREE PETS ARE THE RESULT OF UNWANTED PET BREEDING. Unwanted surplus and stray pets are often destroyed. Please fix your pets!!!

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PET FEST will be held October 21, 2006 at the San Marcos Plaza Park 10-6.

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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.

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COME WORK FOR THE STAR! Are you interested in learning how a newspaper is made? Do you have a writing talent none of your friends appreciate? Would you like to see your name in print?

Employment at The Star provides you with an opportunity to work with motivated students who are interested in journalism and newspapers. This is a must for anyone who in a career in journalism, and it is an excellent opportunity for students who want to get involved with the university and learn about the world around them.

The Star is currently hiring for the following positions: •News reporters Must be able to gather information, conduct interviews and come into the newsroom to have stories edited.

•Sports writers Must be able to attend games, interview coaches and players and come into newsroom to have stories edited.

•Sports columnist Must be able to write interesting and entertaining columns about Bobcat Sports.

•Entertainment writers Must be able to report on arts and entertainment events on campus and in Central Texas, conduct interviews and come into newsroom to have stories edited.

•Entertainment columnist Must be able to write intelligent and interesting columns about arts and entertainment on campus and in Central Texas.

•Opinions columnists Must be able to write well-organized and thought-provoking columns about on-campus and local happenings.

•Photographers Must be able to capture visual human reaction to a news event, gather subject’s information, edit pictures and write cutlines. Having digital SLR equipment a plus.

•Comic artists Must be able to create a comic strip three days a week.

•Illustrators Must be able to work with the editorial staff to create editorial cartoons and story illustrations as well as bring original ideas to the table.

Pick up an application at the Trinity Building, or download one at www. universitystar.com.

SPORTS

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The University Star - Page 15

Women’s golf takes 10th at tournament

By Carl Harper The University Star

Cotton Miller/Star photo WINDING UP: Freshman quarterback Bradley George will start his second game of the season Saturday agaist Stephen F. Austin. The games marks the first Southland Conferance match of the season.

FOOTBALL: Bobcat offense a strength against weak SFA defense CONTINUED from page 16

every day.”

A part of Texas State’s offensive growth is the play of redshirt freshman running back Alvin Canady. The San Marcos local has emerged as the starting running back after returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him part of the season opener against Tarleton State and the entire Kentucky contest the following week.

In just two starts, Canady has accounted for 243 yards of total offense, including a standout performance against Southern Utah were he caught six passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

“We set up some screens and they were very successful,” Canady said. “But I’m just trying to help the team wherever I can — whether it be special teams or starting (at running back).”

Canady and the rest of the offense will face a struggling SFA defense that has given up an average of 392.6 yards of total offense and 28.8 points per game.

The Bobcats will have to be

aware of All-American safety Keldric Holman, who has recorded 40 tackles, including four for a loss. The Lumberjacks’ defense also sports linebacker Damian Perkins, who has 43 tackles, six for a loss and two sacks on the season.

The Bobcats are aware Saturday’s conference opener offers them a chance to resurrect their season.

“It’s an important game for us,” Bailiff said. “The four we’ve played have been in preparation for this one.”

Football Notebook Ireland still starting kicker Andrew Ireland will remain the starting kicker for the Bobcats this week after converting all three extra-point attempts against Southern Utah and continuing to impress in practice.

“You hate to go week to week on this,” Bailiff said. “But after the Northern Colorado game we reopened the competition, and Ireland emerged.”

Kyle Bronson started the first three games of the season before being replaced by Ireland against Southern Utah. Bronson has converted two of field goals, and five of six extra point attempts on the season.

Crane takes advantage of opportunity Sophomore linebacker Jammar Crane recorded five tackles in his first collegiate start against Southern Utah after coaches disciplined senior Jeremy Castillo for missing class.

“Jeremy didn’t go to class one day, so we took the starting job away from him,” Bailiff said. “I bet he doesn’t miss anymore.”

Crane, a transfer from Wisconsin, was thrilled to get the start and has seen his role increase each week.

“It means the world to me (to start),” Crane said. “I haven’t been able to play a lot of football since my junior year in high school. Every time I get a chance to step on the field and make any kind of play, it means a lot.”

The Texas State women’s golf team placed 10th at the ORU Shootout earlier this week, ending the third round with a 317 score.

“I am a little disappointed in the finish,” said coach Mike Akers. “The short game is a huge issue and we will work extremely hard in those areas.”

The tournament was Akers’ first outing with the team since coming over from Central Florida and he said he is excited to work with the Bobcats.

“Anessa (Thompson) did a great job of preparing and is very mature with good skills,” Akers said. “The team will work hard to get ready for Sam Houston.”

Thompson posted a 77 in the first round to lead the Bobcats to eighth place in the two-day event. Thompson later ended the tournament with a 76 and 80 in the next two rounds, good for a team-best 233 in the 14squad outing.

“I started off good but didn’t finish very strong,” Thompson said. “We have stuff to work on and we have two weeks to do Armando Sanchez/Star file photo that before our next tourna- STEADY SWING: Senior Anessa Thompson finished with a teamment in Sam Houston.” best of 233 in the Oral Roberts University Shootout in Tulsa, Okla.

Jennifer Crawford and Christine Brijalba tied for second on we can work on our weaknesses team is used to. It played softer the team with scores of 238, to get ready for the spring.” and wetter. They are use to the while teammates Sarah Glass The Bobcats carded a 954 dry, hard grounds down here.” and Danielle Mask finish at 245 overall, just three strokes beTexas State has one more and 261, respectively. hind Texas A&M-Corpus tournament for the fall semesThompson placed 18th over- Christi and 22 strokes ahead of ter, scheduled for Oct. 23 at the all at the tournament. Crawford Northeastern State. The course Sam Houston Ellingson Invitaand Brijalba were part of a sev- in Tulsa, Okla. proved different tional in Huntsville. en-way tie for 25th. from what the Bobcats were fa“The Sam Houston course “As a team, we obviously miliar with. is set up with Bermuda grass didn’t play as well as we wanted “We struggled with those and will be more suited to our to,” Thompson said. “But the greens,” Akers said. “The course games,” Akers said. “We will thing that’s great about the fall is was a little different than the practice hard and be ready.”

Past anger problems as of yet unpunished

WARD:

CONTINUED from page 16

college days, he was suspended just half a game for fighting a teammate in practice, then returned to that same practice with a metal pole with which to finish the fight. He had warrants for his arrest issued in May in

two Tennessee counties for an incident in which he allegedly attempted to drive someone off the road for cutting in front of him. Charges were dropped in both counties. Somehow this guy keeps getting off.

My recommendation is that Haynesworth be suspended for

30 games and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. One game per stitch that Andre Gurode needed to stop the bleeding. If that were the punishment, you’d better believe that an incident like this would never happen again.

SPORTS

woddy weekend

THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Including football, three sports are set for weekend campaigns against Stephen F. Austin. The men’s golf and women’s tennis teams head to Nacogdoches for the Bill Hill – Crown Classic and Stephen F. Austin Tournament, respectively. The golf team is coming off a

Thursday, October 5, 2006 - Page 16

fifth-place finish in late September at the Moe O’Brien Intercollegiate, hosted by McNeese State. Newcomer Carlos Gibson led the group with a three-round score of 227.

Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

Bobcats see Saturday’s game as way Soccer draws task of hosting to send rest of league a message league’s best

By Nathan Brooks The University Star

By Carl Harper The University Star The Bobcats will look for momentum this weekend after they ended their eight-game winless streak, dominating Texas A&M-Prairie View 8-0, Tuesday night at the Texas State Soccer Complex.

Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana will make their way to San Marcos to conclude a three-game home stand. Game times are set at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Texas State’s two opponents are atop of the Southland Conference standings.

“Central Arkansas pulled off a great win against SFA earlier this week and now they are going to come in and play red hot,” coach Kat Conner said.

“They are a hard working team that plays very direct so we will have to pick up the intensity and get the attack going.”

Southeastern Louisiana, 6-41, is coming off an 11-0 shutout of Alcorn State and has won three of their last five games.

“I don’t have the scouting report yet on Southeastern Louisiana, but I can tell you they have a great goalkeeper,” Conner said. “She’s good. She always comes here and plays out of her mind so it will be a tough match for us.”

Crista Wood, goalkeeper for the Lions, could provide a problem for Texas State this weekend. The senior from Dia-

mond Bar, Calif. received AllSLC honorable mention and Newcomer of the Year in 2004.

In 2005, the senior made just five starts due to an injury, but has returned this year to appear in every game.

Texas State, 2-9-1, did not play either team last year. Central Arkansas, 5-4-1, is in its first season as a SLC school.

The last time the Bobcats faced Southeastern Louisiana was in a 2004 road game, blanking the Lions 4-0 despite seven saves from Wood.

Texas State senior Kim Phillips leads the team in shots at 26 and is second on the team in goals with three. Freshman Lindsay Tippit has contributed the most goals, with four.

“I know Central Arkansas is up in the conference standings right now so hopefully the game against Prairie View was a momentum builder,” Phillips said. “I think we are all confident so that’s a good thing for us.”

Freshman Nicci Kinard grabbed her first two collegiate goals Tuesday night and feels that they are ready for a conference weekend.

“The win against Prairie View was really good for the team and helps our confidence,” Kinard said.

Kinard has attempted 13 shots and has started in two of her 10 appearances on the field.

Last week’s bye couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bobcats as they head into the conference opener this Saturday against Stephen F. Austin.

Texas State used the additional time off to focus on fundamentals and bring a young and growing team closer together in order to make a run at another Southland Conference crown.

“Last week, we worked on a lot of fundamentals while continuing to work hard and get people healthy,” said Alvin Canady, freshman running back. “The coaches have talked about this being a million-dollar game.”

After a disappointing 1-3 start, the Bobcats know that this week would be great opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the league and the entire country.

“It’s a statement game for conference and for America,” Canady said. “We’re better than 1-3, and a lot of people don’t see that we’ve lost a couple of close games and that we’re getting better.”

Texas State knows that they have an excellent chance in conference despite the slow start.

Northwestern State and Sam Houston State sit atop the league heading into conference play, both holding 2-2 records. The conference as a whole is just 8-22 overall this season.

“The conference is an absolute mess, but we’re going to have to take it one game at a time,” said Coach David Bailiff said. “Right now as a team, we’re talking just about Stephen F. Austin.”

The Lumberjacks have experienced their own growing pains this season with a 0-5 start under second-year coach Robert Mc-

Cotton Miller/Star photo RUNNING STRONG: Sophmore RB James Aston dodges defender during practice Wednesday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium

Farland.

“They’ve been in every ballgame,” Bailiff said. “They’re a lot like us — young but really talented.”

McFarland has been busy trying to get 44 new faces incorporated into his system, but one player he can rely on is junior quarterback Danny Southall.

“He reminds me a lot of Barrick (Nealy) when he was a junior,” Bailiff said. “He’s really talented; he can run and throw the football well.”

Southall was named preseason first team all conference and leads the league in both total offense with 1,018 yards and passing with 887 through the air.

The junior has thrown for three touchdowns and two interceptions and is completing 56.8 percent of his passes.

“On every play, we’ll have a spy on him,” Bailiff said. “He demands that type of respect.”

The Bobcat defense has been a rollercoaster all season, as it seems it can’t string together back-to-back solid efforts.

Texas State is coming off a frustrating performance from two weeks ago when it surrendered 431 yards of total offense and 30 points in a loss to Southern Utah.

“Defensively, everybody’s got a job to do,” Bailiff said. “We had guys who thought they had

to make every play and didn’t play within the framework of the defense. They were pressing too hard, but I think you’ll see a much improved defense here on out.”

On offense, the Bobcats will continue to look for improvement from a young group that has shown growth over the course of the season.

“Every week, we continue to gain confidence,” Bailiff said. “At Southern Utah, we saw things better than against Northern Colorado. We’re improving See FOOTBALL, page 15

Volleyball starts homestand against Interstate 35 rival

By Robyn Wolf The University Star Monty Marion/Star file photo READY FOR THE BEARS: Junior forward Jerelyn Lemmie fights for control of the ball during the Bobcats’ Sept. 22 game against Rice. The team hopes to carry its momentum from Tuesday’s victory into its match with Central Arkansas tomorrow.

Texas State volleyball returns to Strahan Coliseum today for the first of a four-match home stand after a September that consisted of just dates in San Marcos.

After today’s match with Texas-San Antonio, the Bobcats will take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Lamar and McNeese State before heading back out on the road to play Central Arkansas.

The Roadrunners come into the match as winners of three of the last four matches they played, while A&M-Corpus Christi have dropped 13 straight.

Texas State holds a 4-0 life-

time series lead versus A&MCorpus Christi and went 2-1 against Texas-San Antonio last year, including a Southland Conference Championship win in Arlington.

Meagan Daniel and Connie Picard, averaging 3.89 and 3.54 kills per game, respectively, lead UTSA’s offense. DeeDee Strickland quarterbacks the team at setter, averaging 9.21 assists per game. Picard also anchors the Roadrunners at the net with 77 blocks.

Defensively, Erin McMillan’s 4.85 digs per game secure UTSA. Daniel also contributes 3.16 digs per game from the Roadrunner backline. As a team, UTSA ranks third in the SLC in hitting, assists and digs per game.

The Islanders, Texas State’s opponent Saturday, are led offensively by Christie Feliz, who averages 3.11 kills per game. Up front, Paula Araujo paces the team with 9.32 assists per game.

Araujo also leads the team with 10 aces.

Ashley Thigpen’s 32 blocks lead the Islanders at the net.

Laura North secures the backline with 4.69 digs per game.

Bobcat Lawrencia Brown ranks second in the SLC with 4.52 kills per game to anchor Texas State offense.

Setter Erin Hickman, back after recovering from knee injury, is averaging 10.06 assists per game. The senior has quickly made an impact on her young team.

“Erin Hickman is just return-

ing to play after ACL surgery last spring,” said Coach Karen Chisum. “She is providing some very needed leadership on the floor.”

Karry Griffin, Ashley Stark and Amy Weigle lead the Bobcats at the net with 49, 33 and 31 blocks, respectively.

Chisum said she had a positive outlook for the upcoming home stand despite the teams’ sub-par record.

“We always expect to win when we step foot on the court,” Chisum said. “This team has turned a big corner, but we’ll see (tonight).”

Tonight’s Interstate-35 rivalry gets underway at 7 p.m. Game time for Saturday’s contest with A&M-Corpus Christi is slated for 3 p.m.

Proper punishment for Haynesworth vital if league hopes to prevent future violence

WILLIAM WARD Star Columnist On Sunday, an event took place that should have shook the very foundations of American football. The Dallas Cowboys traveled to Tennessee to face off against the Titans. In one corner, you have America’s Team and in the other is arguably the worst team in the league. The game went as predicted by the world of football punditry, with Dallas trouncing Tennessee 45-14, but along the way, an unbelievable thing happened.

Immediately following a touchdown run by Dallas Cow-

boys tailback Julius Jones, Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth ripped the helmet off of a prone Andre Gurode. Haynesworth, a defensive tackle, had been facing off with Gurode at center and had been getting beaten all day long. After removing Gurode’s helmet, Haynesworth proceeded to kick Gurode in the face — twice — with cleats on. Gurode required 30 stitches to stop the bleeding and is still suffering from blurry vision from his left eye being cleated.

What took place was nothing short of assault with a deadly weapon. He intentionally carried out a premeditated attack on a man who was not in a position to defend himself. It was the cheapest of cheap shots. He then had the audacity to argue with officials, saying God knows what to try and justify or deny his actions, which led to his ejection from the game completely.

Unfortunately for Gurode, all of his teammates were focused

on the touchdown run that had just taken place. If they had been paying attention to their fallen teammate, I might be writing how Haynesworth had the life beaten out of him on the field.

Instead, I’m writing about how the NFL screwed the pooch and new league commissioner Roger Goodell made the first mistake of his reign.

What’s amazing to me is that, first off, it’s been implied by officials from the league that if he didn’t throw his helmet off and argue with officials that he would have actually stayed in the game and been punished afterward.

Amazing. I wonder what would happen at my sports meeting for the paper Thursday if I cleated one of my fellow writers in the face. Think they’d let me stay until the end of the meeting and punish me afterward?

Secondly, it was announced Monday that Haynesworth would only be suspended five games without pay for his ac-

tions. His pay for five games and a bye week during that time, which he also will not be paid for, is $228,089. Apparently assault in Tennessee only costs $230 grand.

Congratulations to the league on responding quickly, but this is a slap on the wrist. What Haynesworth did was an embarrassment to football. Nothing on that level of viciousness has ever occurred and the league should have made sure players know that nothing like that will ever happen again.

Worst of all, Nashville police will press no criminal charges.

Comparatively, Todd Bertuzzi of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks missed 20 games and pleaded guilty in 2004 to causing bodily harm when he sucker punched Colorado forward Steve Moore.

Albert Haynesworth has a history of anger problems and has yet to be disciplined for them.

Way back in his happy-go-lucky See WARD, page 15