Defending the First Amendment since 1911
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Bike Cave Banks
Students say it’s OK to be gay
H1N1 cases rise, attendance falls
Volume 99, Issue 19
08
THURSDAY
OCT
www.UniversityStar.com
The Bike Cave received alsmost $8,000 for help with recycling. See page 13.
NEWS Pages 1-7 Airwaves make their way to San Marcos ASG moves toward additional dead day OPINIONS Page 10 Rock ’n’ roll vs. reaffirmation Campus Pulse: This week campus officials announced Commons Dining Hall, which recently closed, would reopen. What do you think? TRENDS Pages 11-14 A Bobcat to Know: Former Bobcat lands job in Dallas news station Music-related internships offer ‘real world’ experience.
SPORTS Pages 15-16 Cameron’s Commentary: United we sport Bobcats open conference play against Lions Saturday
Today’s Weather
90°/73° Mostly Cloudy Precipitation: 20% Humidity: 74% UV: 7 High Wind: S 20 mph
Friday
Scattered T-Storms Temp: 74°/57° Precip: 50%
Saturday
Showers Temp: 77°/62° Precip: 40%
By Clay Thorp News Reporter With weekly increases in the number of H1N1 cases throughout the state, the Student Health Center at Texas State is being overwhelmed with students exhibiting flulike illness. “The number of people who are getting sick is growing tremendously from week to week,” said Dr. Emillio Carranco, director of the Student Health Center. “We are already overwhelmed at the Health Center,” he said. “We’ve converted rooms that (otherwise) wouldn’t be examination rooms and we still cannot keep up with the demand for services right now.” Carranco has hired additional staff to handle the number of calls coming into the Health Center from students Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo who are sick in order to comAdrian Adame, political science freshman, and other members of LAMBDA support National Coming bat ever-increasing numbers Out Week in The Quad Wednesday. For a video from the demonstration and more information on the event see UniversityStar.com.
Harris hall basement becomes interim home for testing center The Testing, Research-Support and Evaluation Center will be moving to the basement of Harris following the announcement by university officials of a rodent infestation at the Commons Complex. The Testing Lab will be closing Friday and re-opened Tuesday. The center will be moved temporarily until the renovations to Commons are complete. The complex houses university offices, the faculty and staff restaurant, the University Club, in addition to the dining hall. The center serves students by administering institutional placement and credit by examinations “mostly during registration,” said Gail Ryser, director of the center. Ryser said the office’s main services, however, are geared toward faculty members, scanning and processing scantron exams and faculty evaluations. The Informational Technologies staff will move the two in-house
scanners, which each cost $25,000. Ryser said university officials have handled the rodent infestation in Commons efficiently. “It was smart of the university to take care of this,” Ryser said. The original plans to renovate Commons in 2010, as part of the Campus Master Plan, have been rescheduled because of the infestation. Commons will be renovated inside and out and will house the testing center permanently once renovations are complete. “I haven’t seen any rats, but I have heard them in the walls surrounding this office,” she said. Ryser said she does not mind the move. “What I would really like is a window, but that’s not going to happen in a basement,” she said. — News Report compiled by Clay Thorp
of students with “mild to moderate sickness.” The new staff members have been tasked with making appointments for students most at-risk for flu-related complications and giving self-care instructions for those exhibiting mild to moderate illness. “We’re looking at around 100 to 150 calls a day,” Carranco said. “We simply cannot see all (those) students.” Carranco could not give an exact number of students who have seasonal flu and those who have H1N1 because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are only testing those who have been hospitalized. He did say, however, the CDC has been testing nationwide specimens for months and “99 percent” of those tested positive for H1N1. “This time of year, if you have flu-like symptoms, it’s probably H1N1 and you should act see ‘H1N1,’ page 7
‘Drunk on technology’ Austin City Council considers ban on texting while driving By Billy Crawford News Reporter The Austin City Council voted last month in favor of drafting an ordinance that would ban texting while driving within city limits. Similar laws may soon be considered for San Marcos. “We haven’t talked specifically about (banning texting while driving), but it wouldn’t surprise me for us to take up the issue,” said Mayor Susan Narvaiz. “We all need to be aware of the hazards of texting and driving.” According to a study released in July by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be in an accident or near-accident than those who drive without distraction. “It can no longer be ignored,” said Tom Dingus, director of VTTI. “Driving while using cell phones or texting is much more dangerous.” Dingus said texting while driving may not always cause an accident, but it inhibits reaction time, diverts attention from traffic and increases the factors that can lead to an accident. A new law went into effect Sept. 1 in the State of Texas that prohibited use of hand-
Stacie Andrews/Star Photo: DANGEROUS CONVERSATIONS: Fifty percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 admit to texting while driving.
held cell phones in school crossing zones. It is also illegal for a driver under the age of 18 to use a cell phone while driving. “We felt like if (a ban on
texting while driving) was good enough to be enforced in school zones, it was good
By Megan Holt News Reporter
tractors who will bid to do the project at its lowest cost. “Falls will come down first and then Sterry Hall will follow, but not until we have funding for the music building that will take its place,” Nusbaum said. “That’s not set for another several years. Our goal is to have housing replaced before we take (Sterry) out.” Incorporated in the Master Plan are plans for two additional residence halls to house the 800 students who will be displaced because of demolition. The Master Plan states the two building sites identified for replacement halls are at the parking lot at the center of Comanche and Sessom — the current purple commuter lot — and on the existing Hornsby and Burleson Hall sites.
see ‘TEXTING,’ page 7
Campus Master Plan continues projects, postpones others When the building comes down in the summer of 2011 Falls Hall will live up to its name. The Campus Master Plan has included a performing arts center complex in its place since 2006 when the plan was implemented. “The performing arts center project consists of four large pieces: a ‘pay as you park’ parking garage like the one at the Student Center, recital and performance halls and landscaping,” said Nancy Nusbaum, associate vice president for finance and support services. The Master Plan estimates the performing arts center at around $83 million. The project made it through Bobby Scheidemann/ Star Photo all planning and designing steps thus far, and university officials GROWING PAINS: Officials hope that the new parking garage, located on Matthews St., will help are currently searching for conalleviate the parking congestion on campus.
see ‘CAMPUS,’ page 7
Page Two
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STARS OF TEXAS STATE
Cyrus Cassells, professor in the English department, will play both Beowulf and Othello in Medieval Macabre at the Curtain Theater in Austin. The play starts at 9 p.m. Oct. 9 to 10. The Curtain Theater is an outdoor replica of the Old Globe Theater and is located on Richard Garriott’s estate beside Lake Austin. — Courtesy of Department of English
Texas State University – San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Correction In Wednesday’s issue of The University Star, the Student Musician’s Organization is one of several groups open to nonmusic majors. Free lessons and performance opportunities are offered to students through multiple entities within the music department. —The Star regrets this error.
ON THIS
CRIME
DAY IN BLOTTER HISTORY
Sept. 28, 9:50 a.m. Theft-Under $50/ 1869: Franklin Pierce, Centennial Hall the 14th president of the A nonstudent reported United States, died at to a police officer her age 64 in Concord, N.H. property had been taken without her 1871: The Great consent. The case is Chicago Fire erupted. under investigation. The blaze destroyed four square miles of Sept. 28, 4:37 p.m. the city, killing about Burglary – Habitation/ 250 people and leaving Beretta Hall some 90,000 homeless. A student reported to Jake Marx/Star photo a police officer another NOW SERVING: Kari Bowen, pre-interior design junior, serves a burrito Tuesday at Zooka’s. 1918: Sgt. Alvin C. York student took her almost single-handedly property without her killed 25 German consent. The case is soldiers and captured under investigation. 132 in the Argonne Forest in France. Sept. 28, 9:00 p.m. Reserves and the media stacks have moved from the fourth almost 20,000 titles including popular feature films, important 1934: Bruno Hauptmann Burglary of Vehicle/ floor to the third floor of the library in order to make the Alkek documentaries and educational films. Of particular note is the was indicted for murder Bobcat Village Library reserve desk and media collection more accessible and entire Criterion Collection, a series of almost 500 significant Apartments in the death of the combined services with the Periodicals/Microforms Desk. classic and contemporary films on DVD. A nonstudent reported The new reserves, periodicals and media desk offers reference Browsing is available for DVDs, videocassettes, audiocassettes, infant son of Charles A. another nonstudent services for periodicals, provides access to the Reserve kits, models and various other formats. Compact discs of music, Lindbergh. collection and monitors the circulation and maintenance of the audio books and language learning recordings may be browsed took her property library’s extensive media collection. behind the Desk. If students, faculty or staff would like to check without her consent. A relaxing lounge area has been created, which is perfect for out a DVD, simply bring the case to the reserves, periodicals and 1944: The Adventures of The case is under Ozzie and Harriet made reading popular magazines and newspapers. Also offered is a media desk, and they will retrieve the disc. viewing area where microforms, DVDs and VHS’s (including PAL its debut on CBS Radio. investigation.
Library Beat
Reserves, periodicals, media move to third floor
and all region formats) may be viewed. Alkek Library offers an impressive movie collection with
— Courtesy of Alkek Library
Stage 2 lifted, stage 1-water restrictions take effect San Marcos stage 2-drought restrictions were lifted effective Tuesday, following several periods of significant rainfall which have relieved severe drought conditions. San Marcos has been under stage 2 drought restrictions since June 19 because of lack of rainfall and resulting low aquifer levels. “We have received some badly needed rain, but we’ll need more before we can say the drought is over,” said Tom Taggart, public services director. “We encourage residents to follow water conservation practices and continue to protect a precious resource.” San Marcos will continue with stage 1-water restrictions, which limit sprinkler use to one day a week, but allow longer hours on the designated day. Under stage 1, soaker hoses and drip irrigation can be used at any time on any day. The rules of stage 1 prohibit waste of water and irrigation with sprinklers or automatic sprinkler irrigation systems is allowed only one day per week on the designated weekday between the hours of midnight to 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight. Residents may apply for an alternate designated day, including
Saturday or Sunday if the designated weekday does not work for them. Hand watering and irrigating with a soaker hose or drip irrigation system is allowed any day and any time. Home car washing is allowed only one day per week on the designated weekday. Washing of impervious surfaces is prohibited unless required for health and safety use. Foundation watering is allowed any day and at any time. Restaurants are allowed to serve water only upon request. All other non-essential water uses must be is limited. The aquifer level Monday at the J-17 index well in San Antonio was recorded at 657.9 feet above mean sea level, 6.7 feet below the historic October average of 664.6 feet. San Marcos Springs were recorded at 110 cubic feet per second or 50 cf/s below the October spring flow average of 160 cf/s. Full text of the rules is available on the City of San Marcos Web site, sanmarcostx.gov. Contact Jan Klein, conservation coordinator, at 512-393-8310 for more information. — Courtesy of City of San Marcos
University hosts 5th annual Cyber Security Awareness Day The department of information technology at Texas State will host its 5th annual Cyber Security Awareness Day Oct. 14th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the LBJ Ballroom to promote security awareness and safe computing practices on campus and throughout the surrounding communities. Coinciding with National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the event will include a variety of activities and presentations from experts and sponsors in top technology companies throughout the area. “Anyone who uses a computer and accesses the Internet can benefit from attendance at this event,” said Donald Volz, special assistant to the vice president for Information Technology. “The speakers will share knowledge gained from years of experience with many security issues.” Lori McElroy, information security officer, Office of the Vice President for Information Technology, said faculty and students alike need access to a variety of information and communication Web sites important to the educational experience a modern university provides, but cyber security on a college campus offers a variety of challenges. “We encourage intercommunication, exploration and development among students and faculty,” said McElroy.
Additionally, a vendor expo will be available with representatives from more than 10 top technology companies who will exhibit their products and services, discuss strategies, answer questions and offer general community outreach. Furthermore, there will be a variety of prizes awarded including an online training preparation course for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam, which has been donated by keynote speaker, Dean Bushmiller, president of Expanding Security. Interested and qualifying individuals can register online for an opportunity to win the course valued at $2,500. Participants must be present to win. Other speakers include Conrad Geiger of Sun Microsystems, Kent Woodruff of AirDefense, Brad Jensen of the Microsoft Corporation, Gary White of the Texas State department of CIS, Joel Pridgeon with the Child Exploitation unit of the Austin Police Department, Michael Murray with Symantec and Otto Glenewinkel of the University Police Department. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required to attend. E-mail itsecurity@txstate.edu or call 512-2454225 for more information. — Courtesy of University News Service
1945: President Harry S. Truman announced the secret of the atomic bomb would be shared only with Britain and Canada.
Sept. 28, 9:43 p.m. Medical Emergency/ Texas State A student reported she injured her knee while playing football. The student was transported to Central Texas Medical Center for a medical evaluation.
1956: Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in a World Series as the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 in Sept. 28, 10:30 p.m. Burglary – Habitation/ Game 5. Bobcat Village Apartments 1985: The hijackers of A student reported the Italian cruise ship to a police officer his Achille Lauro killed property had been American passenger taken without his Leon Klinghoffer and consent. The case is dumped his body and under investigation. wheelchair overboard. Sept. 29, 11:37 a.m. Welfare Concern/ Quad A police officer made contact with a student who was acting suspiciously. Upon 2005: A major further investigation, earthquake flattened villages on the Pakistan- the student was not a danger to himself or India border, killing others. A report was an estimated 86,000 made of the incident people. 2004: Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart reported to prison to begin serving a sentence for lying about a stock sale.
— Courtesy of The New York Times
— Courtesy of University Police
News
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The University Star - 5
Students sport other university logos By Amanda Givens News Reporter Texas State may not be the only university with a presence on campus. Wearing university logos has long been a tradition of college students and alumni worldwide. The Alumni Association’s student chapter holds an annual Trade Up Days in The Quad each semester in which other university T-shirts can be traded for one boasting the Texas State emblem. ASG President Chris Covo said though the student government is not currently working with the community on encouraging more sales of Bobcat merchandise, it could be a possible future focus. “The number of Bobcat merchandise goes along with university success,” Covo said. “I bet you will find that in the next 10 years, Bobcat gear will be more buyable nationwide.” Kayla Hartzog/Star photo The University Bookstore
MISSING PRIDE: University of Texas and Texas A&M apparel is a common sight on students around campus.
is not required by law to carry only Texas State apparel, but Jacqueline Slaughter, general manager, said it is smart business to do so. “All the money goes back to the university, and our mission is not to compete with Wal-Mart, whether they carry UT and A&M apparel is up to them as a business,” Slaughter said. Students at Texas State are seeing burnt orange as well as red mixed into the crowds of maroon and gold T-shirts. Texas State ranks number 75 among the top selling universities and manufacturers in all college merchandise sold, according to the Collegiate Licensing Company’s report 2008-2009 fiscal year report released in May. The University of Texas at Austin comes in first. Texas Tech University ranks number 25 and Texas A&M in College Station did not make the top 75 list. Michael Heintze, associate
vice president of Enrollment Management, presents Texas State to interested students. Heintze said there is a focus on increasing the Bobcat fan base. “Although we don’t have Division I status, we still are in the top 75 in rankings, and this says great things about our institution and where we’re headed as a school,” Heintze said. Samantha Cruz, microbiology major from Houston, said people mostly wear shirts from other universities when their siblings go there or their friends attend the school. “However, often times, the people wearing the UT and A&M shirts on campus would prefer to go to that school,” Cruz said,” It doesn’t bother me and shouldn’t really bother people to see these shirts on campus.” City Councilmember Kim Porterfield, Place 1, said it would be nice if there were more Texas State merchandise
in local stores, and there needs to be a strong emphasis on marketing Texas State items in the surrounding community. “I think if there’s demand for Texas State items and we can help local businesses find suppliers, they will stock the items,” said Porterfield, director of community relations at the university. “Lots of effort has been made on campus to provide local businesses with contacts of these suppliers, and I think this will pay off.” Porterfield’s office is responsible for bringing local middle schoolers to tour the campus throughout the year, and she said it can be disappointing for them to see other universities’ logos on students’ clothes. “When we bring community groups on campus, they feel more welcome when students are wearing Texas State T-shirts,” Porterfield said. “What can I say, school pride is contagious.”
ASG moves toward additional dead day By Heidi Morrison News Reporter Texas State students could have more days off to prepare for finals in the future. Students may get two dead days instead of one. A proposal adding another preparation day is currently being put forth. ASG President Chris Covo and Vice President Tommy Luna recently met with Michael Heintze to discuss the option of creating another dead day. “We had a couple students come to us and ask why we haven’t made dead days as
other public institutions in Texas,” Covo said. “And we didn’t know. We thought it might be a good idea to add an extra dead day, giving a total of two for students to have more time to study for their finals.” Heintze, associate vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said issues must be considered before proceeding. “One would be the number of days, how much flexibility is in the calendar, if any, and what would be the result,” Heintze said. “How would it affect the rest of the semester?”
Calendar flexibility is one of the most complex issues, he said. “We’re required to maintain a certain number of classes and contact hours during the course of the semester,” Heintze said. “So if you begin to add time during a reading day, or have more than one reading day, there has to be some alteration in other places. And that’s what we’ll be looking at before we go forward.” Covo said another day could be added to the school year as the result of an additional preparation day. How-
ever, they will be looking at all the potential options before reaching a decision. “We’re trying to get to where we don’t take a day away from anything, we just add one and move around the calendar,” he said. Covo said the idea for an extra dead day came from students. “I don’t think anyone can say no to more time to study,” Covo said. “As far as I can tell I’ve got a lot of positive feedback.” Jackie Gonzales, nutrition and foods sophomore, is a supporter of having an extra
day to prepare. “I think we should have another dead day because other universities have them and it doesn’t make sense that we’re supposed to study for a bunch of classes in one day,” she said. “We need more time so we can study. Why shouldn’t we have two days?” Covo said the earliest students could see the extra day is next fall. “It’s our job to help facilitate getting the student body what that they need to be successful,” Covo said. “If we’re going to do something to add to academic success,
it’s positive. It’s something that should happen.” Heintze said student academic success is important, but the effects need to be considered from all sides. “Anything we can do to assist students be successful in the classroom is a benefit to them and the university, so I think we want to study it carefully,” Heintze said. “At the same time we have to be mindful of other things as well.” Heintze will present the issue to the Registration and Academic Calendar Coordinating Committee as a topic for discussion at their Oct. 28 meeting.
Faculty Senate discusses program name change By Lora Collins News reporter Course additions and cancellations may be underway. Don Hazlewood, chair of the University Curriculum Committee, proposed adding approximately 122 new courses, and cancelling 82 classes to Faculty Senators at their Wednesday meeting. The committee proposed the changes to be made in 2011.However, the senators’ topic for discussion focused on the name change of one program.
The University Curriculum Committee proposed changing the health information management program to a department, in order to avoid it being associated with the College of Education’s department of health, physical education and recreation. Bill Stone, senate vice chair, moved to accept the committee’s proposal. University Curriculum Committee members met in September before bringing the issue to the senate. Sen. Barbara Melzer said the concern originated within the
College of Health Professions. “It is a perception issue for students on campus as to where you go to find health issues, so it really is a confusion piece and a perception piece,” said Melzer, professor in department of physical therapy. Sen. Nathan Bond said clearer Web illustrations may help students distinguish between the department and the program. “It seems like in other departments and other colleges there is a lot of blending and overlaps,” Bond said. Melzer said the confusion with the College of Education
did not originate from poorly informed students. “If you have ‘health’ as the first name in the department, the perception is you can go to the College of Health Professions for that,” Melzer said. “It is not a health profession they have in that college so it’s a perception of what the issues are.” She said students are mistaking the colleges for each other when registering for courses because of the leading name. “There is going to be a time in which there is kind of a learning curve for all of us in what we call it, as long as
health is there,” Melzer said. Sen. Joey Martin, associate professor in the School of Music, said the conflict needs to be dealt with immediately. “We are an academic institution so we should accurately state what we do,” Martin said. “So I wonder the accuracy of the department (name) of health and human performance.” Senate Chair Debra Feakes, associate professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, said the college name problem is prevalent in other departments as well.
“We have students who don’t know if they are biology or biochemistry,” Feakes said. The decision now lies in the Faculty Senators’ hands. Feakes said the senate has the authority to approve course title changes, description changes, prerequisite and core requisite changes and contact-hour changes. “We are the main decider when it comes to the curriculum,” Feakes said. The senate moved to delay the decision until further discussion.
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Airwaves make their City Council commissions leak way to San Marcos detection service, saves water By Dj Nutter News Reporter It took the Federal Communications Commission 10 years to grant the City of San Marcos a license for a radio station. The newly acquired radio waves will power San Marcos’ own, KZOS-FM 92.5. Kenneth Bell, San Marcos fire marshall and emergency management coordinator, said he submitted the request to the FCC in April 10 years ago. The request was made after the devastating 1998 flood in which Hays County received 30 inches of rain in 24 hours. Bell said the city station will primarily be used to alert the community of dangerous environmental activity. He believes KZOS will expand to include City Council meetings and provide locals and visitors with events happening around the city within a fivemile radius. The operational cost of KZOS, Bell said, has accumulated $12,000 and should need $10,000 when they begin simultaneous broadcasting with KTSW.
Campus
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“I know Residence Life has some sort of plan on what to do with the students once Falls comes down,” said Herman Buhler, director of facility planning, design and construction. “I believe they may be changing the on-campus housing requirements, but it won’t be until a semester break that they will not occupy Falls (and have it ready for demolition).” Nusbaum said new residence hall construction will overlap demolition projects so when one building is evacuated, another can be filled shortly after. “There have always been two residence hall projects in the Master Plan,” Buhler said. “One hall was in the design phase, and the other one is not under any form of planning. We had to put a hold on the project after it reached a certain level of design because
Texting
On Oct. 9, the City Council will appoint seven volunteers to assist in developing policies for broadcast standards and will contribute to shaping the information KZOS will communicate. Bell said the taskforce will include one representative from Community Emergency Response Terms, Texas State, the San Marcos school district, the main street board of tourism, the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. Bell said the City Council has recently voted to approve KZOS’s antenna and broadcasting center near the Lower Colorado River Authority. Bell said the assistance from Texas State’s radio station, KTSW-FM 89.9, will be imperative to KZOS’s success. “We want to integrate the system with existing communications, such as KTSW,” Bell said. Dan Schumacher, general manager and faculty adviser of KTSW, said students who are a part of the campus station have been invited to work in conjunction with KZOS.
enough for Austin streets,” said Matt Curtis, communications director of Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. “We’ve made it very clear we don’t want people to text and drive in Austin.” Cities across the country, and even some states, have banned texting while driving. Some have gone a step further and banned all cell phone use while driving unless using a hands-free device. One of those cities is Philadelphia. “The important thing here is the bill doesn’t say you can’t talk on a phone while driving,” said Lauren Vidas, aid to Philadelphia City Councilman
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there was no funding.” Buhler said the residence halls are included in an estimated $330 million for remaining projects that will only occur if funding is made available by the Texas Legislature. “We have at least designed or are in the planning phase of the main projects of the Master Plan,” Buhler said. “We currently have about $658 million in active projects underway.” Nusbaum estimates the Matthews Street parking garage, which began construction in December 2008, to be finished summer 2010. The four-story parking garage will house 993 cars and cost nearly $25 million upon completion. It is currently 35 percent complete. “Another new project that we are in the design phase of is a new research greenhouse for the biology department,” Nusbaum said. “We are cur-
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“We have been approached to assist in training the city station’s personnel when they are hired,” Schumacher said. “Students with KTSW are willing to contribute their knowledge and experience in any way possible.” Charlie Day, senior program director with KTSW, said students have adequate experience to assist with any technical complications. Day said students will have the unique opportunity to apply their skills to an off-campus project. “We have a rhythm at KTSW that works for us, so it will be interesting to implement what we do at another station,” Day said. He said information about the university will remain better provided by KTSW. However, the new station will be beneficial to residences within its broadcasting range. “KTSW is well-known all the way to New Braunfels and Wimberley,” Day said. “Our broader reach will help in getting the city’s low-powered station a good start.”
rently looking for a contractor.” According to the Master Plan, the greenhouse, headhouse and conservatory complex will be constructed as a multi-phased project. The $2 million project is expected to be finished for occupancy in spring 2010. Buhler said the university is about 30 percent finished with the Master Plan, but because it is constantly being changed and added to, the university may never be able to say it has completed the entire plan. “Approximately $125 million are completed construction buildings that are being occupied and used,” Buhler said. “We have approximately $72 million worth of buildings under construction, $146 million in design and $316 million in the programming stage where funding is pending.”
By Natalia Montemayor News Reporter International concerns surrounding the scarcity of natural resources prolong, but the City of San Marcos continues to utilize its own conservation efforts with the annual leakdetection survey. The city has commissioned Austin-based SAMCO Leak Detection Services for the past eight years to conduct its services along San Marcos’ water mains. It has decreased the systems unaccounted for water loss from nearly 40 percent in 1997 to 11 percent in 2009. Sam Godfrey, owner of SAMCO, acknowledged the consistent progress being made with each survey. “This year’s leak detection survey is a part of the city’s preventative maintenance program of its water system,” he said. “Their proactive approach has all leaks identified in this year’s survey repaired in order to help reduce water loss.” The cost of this year’s survey was $35,000 and was conducted over a three-week period in late August. The survey was done along 75 miles of water manes (a fourth of the city’s total of 300 miles), where 58 leaks of varying sizes were detected. Jon Clack, assistant direc-
H1N1
tor of public services, (water waste/water division for the past two years,) explained how the city conducted repairs as leaks were discovered. “They (SAMCO) let us know what was being found by the day, and then we would go out and repair them while they were being detected,” Clack said. Clack said e-mails were sent to the director of public services as leaks were found. The final one, a 12-inch line leaking inside a concrete vault located along railroad tracks between McCarty Lane and Wonder World Drive, was repaired three weeks ago. “The larger leaks tend to turn into several leaks, so we kind of chase them sometimes,” Clack said.“These surveys are a good concentrated effort made in conjunction with a company whose expertise is leak detection, and this helps to cover more area in less time.” Techniques used by SAMCO to detect leaks range from simply observing the area for groundwater to a state of the art Global Positioning System (GPS). Technicians equipped with listening devices and headphones use acoustic detection techniques to locate the underground source of seepage if a leak cannot be identified from ground level.
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accordingly,” he said. With Texas State students preparing to be immunized for H1N1 in October, the CDC, in correlation with the Department of State Health Services, has upgraded Texas‘ swine flu levels in the last week of September to “widespread.” Carranco is also hiring additional staff to administer 22,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine at the end of October for those most at risk for spreading or developing the deadly virus. The vaccines, expected between Oct. 15 and Oct. 25, will contain an initial shipment of 5,000, which will all be administered in a single day, according to Carranco. “We’re already lining up
Technicians stand above the leak with handheld GPS devices to collect coordinates that are transferred into a Geographic Information System (GIS). “We take the coordinates put in the GIS and plot the locations on a map,” Clack said. Thes means of information gathering has been essential in the prompt repair of leaks and the conservation of water and money. “That’s water that becomes revenue once it goes through someone’s meter,” Clack said. Clack said it is difficult to put a dollar amount on the water saved each year through these services, but the city will continue to employ its methods of water conservation. “Leaks are not really preventable. Detection is prevention and we try to catch leaks when they are small, because they only get bigger,” he said. Drought and South Texas soil put strain on older pipes throughout the city. “There comes a point when we finally see rain, but once the ground starts drying the pipes can be pulled apart,” Clack explained.“We try and maintain pressures within the pipes, and continue maintenance throughout the year.” Texas State is not included in the annual survey because it manages its own water system.
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temporary nursing agencies and faculty in the nursing department to help with a major immunization event,” Carranco said. “Currently we’re looking at using the Ballroom and Campus recreation as our two major outreach sites.” Members of the emergency planning committee at Texas State have been meeting on a regular basis to combat the H1N1 virus and have adjusted the attendance policy to accommodate sick students who are self-isolating. “The provost has told faculty they need to be flexible with students,” said Margarita Arellano, associate vice president in the Office of Student Affairs. “Students do not need
documentation (to prove absences). We are taking the word of the student.” The Dean’s Office has begun to automate the process of contacting faculty whose students have become sick and are missing class because of H1N1. According to Arellano, starting next week students can visit the Texas State Web site and fill out a form that will allow them a period of five days to recover from their illness while only using one of their allotted absences for that class. Arellano said if students have any problems with faculty after becoming ill, they should call the Dean’s Office.
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Bill Green. “It says you have to have a hands-free device.” Vidas said there is concern about over-regulating citizen’s behaviors, but the main point of this sort of legislation is to protect public safety. “You can’t deny the connection between typing on a phone behind the wheel and the possibility of getting into an accident,” Vidas said. “We (as a society) can’t get drunk on technology.” To this point, Austin residents are supportive of the proposed texting ban. “Since we announced (the possible ban), we’ve received more than 600 e-mails from citizens saying ‘it’s about
time,’” Curtis said. “That’s really astounding because it’s really rare you get any feedback from the community that isn’t a complaint or concern. To have this be widely supported shows how important it is.” If Austin passes the texting ban, it will be the first city in the state to do so. San Marcos police were unable to provide statistics as to what percentage of accidents and traffic violations in San Marcos involve drivers’ texting.
Jake Marx/Star photo FLIPPING SCHOOL: A San Marcos High School student ran his car off of West Sessoms Drive into the cement ditch Wednesday morning.
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Send your thoughts to staropinion@txstate.edu Thursday, October 8, 2009
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Rock ’n’ roll vs. reaffirmation the main
point. D
o not be suprised if the campus looks less crowded the week of March 15. Texas State will resume classes after Spring Break while Austin’s annual music, film and multimedia mecca, South by Southwest, will be in full swing. Several students have already announced plans to skip classes that week. The music festival has become a favorite among college students because of the bevy of free concerts featuring huge musical acts, up-andcomers and local heroes. Thousands of bands played during the span of a week in 2009, and 2010’s festival organizers promise it to be no different. The film conference has grown into one of the premiere film gatherings in the world since it was introduced in 1994. Last year the festival hosted the premiere of Observe and Report and Choke, along with numerous other independent film screenings. The interactive event has become a breeding ground for ideas in the technology and communication industries. The scheduling conflict will affect more than music, film and technology fans. SXSW is also crucial to students for the internships and work opportunities provided. According to an article in the Sept. 30 issue of The University Star, Texas State’s Spring Break was scheduled because the South Association of Colleges and Schools will be reaffirming the university. The schedule will allow faculty and staff a week to prepare for the review, which will take place March 23 and March 24.
“You don’t want to come back after a week’s vacation and have reviewers coming. It’s like having a test the first day you come back from Spring Break,” said Beth Wuest, associate professor in academic development and assessment. The affirmation is crucial to the university’s continual improvement and growth as an institution of higher learning. S.A.C.S. has a number of standards for affirmed universities that include teaching and learning. Therefore, it is understandable the university would make special arrangements to accommodate the review process. The scheduling conflict is unfortunate, but it is a necessity. However, this does not change the fact that students seeking internships and other opportunities at SXSW will be severely inconvenienced by the situation. The administration can help. Students who can provide proof of internship at the festival should be allowed to miss class. The opportunities presented at the festival involve hands-on experience, which is rare for students who are used to sitting in crowded lecture halls listening to their teachers read Power Point slides. Faculty should be notified students who can provide proof will be excused from class for the week. After all, what would S.A.C.S. think if they knew Texas State was denying its students of such important learning opportunities? The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State UniversitySan Marcos Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University-San Marcos.
Russell Weiss / Star Illustration
LBJ Museum exhibit shows Campus Pulse history of Texas’ identity
By Robert Beckhusen Opinions Columnist I recently had the chance to visit the “Tejanos in Texas” exhibit. As a hobby student of Texas history, I found the story of scout, preacher and gunslinger Jose Policarpio Rodriguez fascinating in the way it dispelled some of our national origin myths. Rodriguez was born in 1829 Coahuila y Tejas, a constituent state in the new country of Mexico. Rodriguez headed into Texas and settled with his family in San Antonio in 1840 as the Alamo was still in ruins. He worked as a simple hunter, tracking animals for local markets and later made a name for himself as a scout and guide for federal troops
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surveying yet-to-be Western roads. Much of this scouting was in a setting of tit-for-tat warfare with Indian tribes as the exhibition illustrated. I was struck by how strange then-Texas seems from the present. Only 5,000 people lived in San Antonio in 1840, and that was considered a big city. The sheer remoteness of the region, much of it relatively unknown, the violence and rough attitude of its inhabitants made it seem like a different country. And it’s often the case that many in the Anglo population, of which I come from, seem ignorant Tejanos even exist. I remember staring in shock at the Dawn of the Alamo in the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives, with the image of William Barret Travis standing superhuman-tall as a squat and grimacing Mexican prepares to plunge a bayonet into his back. I pointed this out to my guide, who stopped romanticizing Texas history briefly enough for a hushed “ethnocentrism” to cross his lips. There were no
images of the Tejanos who fought and died there. So the brutality of the image defines the overall picture. It’s all we could notice even while concurring that, perhaps, resisting Gen. Santa Anna with our brothers and sisters in Texas and Coahuila was still the right thing to do. Rodriguez converted to Methodism in 1877 and became a preacher. He was admitted to the Methodist Episcopal Church in San Marcos that year. Leaving the Catholic faith for a Protestant strain from the British Isles shocked his family and distanced him from the wider Tejano community. Affiliating himself with the Confederacy shocked scholars. Rodriguez declined a commission when the American Civil War began, though he did serve briefly under Robert E. Lee, and instead joined with the virulently prejudiced Rangers, another head-scratcher for historians. A good friend characterized to me the Texan identity is essentially Latin Ameri-
can. The history is distinct from the Eastern United States, from the mapping of the state by Cabeza de Vaca to the insurgency against the Spanish crown by Fr. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811, to the predominant use of Spanish as a social and business language in much of the state. Through Rodriguez, we see the blending of that world with the Protestant and with the Southern — what gives Texas its unique identity. If there was one thing that would have improved the exhibit, it would be exploring the reasons why Rodriguez joined the Rangers and why he converted to Methodism. I think that would go toward exploring these unknowns and difficult questions. His life is presented as a matter of facts, which is fine, and space is limited, but I left unsatisfied. Nonetheless I’d recommend visiting while there is still time. The exhibit runs until Oct. 15 at the LBJ Museum of San Marcos. —Robert Beckhusen is a mass communication sophomore
This week campus officials announced Commons Dining Hall, which recently closed due to a rodent infestation, would reopen as early as January 2010.
What do you think?
-Michael Staalenburg, creative writing freshman
-Marshall Thompson, marketing freshman
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“With Commons being closed down, it’s been a bit of a change. I’ve had to go to Jones a lot. Commons used to be the best place to go but since it’s closed down it’s kind of a bit of a bummer. So going to Jones or the Lair or The Den is the way we get by.”
“I guess it’s pretty good (that they’re reopening it) but I’ll probably still avoid it because of the rat problem and whatnot. I only ate there once and wasn’t a big fan.”
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State UniversitySan Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a distribution of 8,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Thursday, October 8. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.
Trends Thursday, October 8, 2009
Web site becomes ‘key’ to class choices By Patrick Berger Features Reporter RateMyProfessors.com has let students voice opinions on faculty for 10 years, allowing an easier to make informed decisions on which classes to take. The Web site originally started as TeacherRatings.com by John Swapceinski in May 1999, and it changed its name in 2001 to RateMyProfessors. com. According to the Web site, it is home to the largest online archive of student feedback regarding collegiate professors and has more than ten million comments and suggestions from users. The site allows students to rate their professors, past and present, based on criteria like “helpfulness, easiness and clarity.” “It continues to be the leading destination for teacher ratings online,” said Carlo DiMarco, vice president of university relations for mtvU. MtvU, a division of MTV aimed at college campuses, purchased RateMyProfessors.com in January 2007 and made it available to students across the globe. “Just like mtvU, the site was built for college students, by college students,” DiMarco said. “We wanted to partner with our audience to continue to extend this platform as a resource.” The site holds ratings for professors from the United States, Canada, England, Wales and Scotland. The volume of content and international accessibility has allowed DiMarco to distinguish RateMyProfessors.com as “a uniquely valuable resource for students.” “It’s valuable if you have no idea and you want to get a basic idea of who to take,” said Luke Jones, finance freshman. “It’s a good start.”
After 10 years on the net, RateMyProfessors.com is changing to progress with the burgeoning tech-movement. DiMarco said mtvU has kept a watchful eye on the younger generations’ communication habits and finds their site to be beneficial to young people. “We know young people today are connected in so many different ways,” DiMarco said. “We’re working to make sure they can connect to this resource to voice their opinion when they’re on the road with the iPhone applications we’re developing.” Faculty who feel misrepresented on the site will enjoy another addition with the “Professors Strike Back” video section, where teachers defend themselves, some lightheartedly, against comments students made on review pages. “Hey, we insult everybody,” said Michio Kaku, professor and theoretical physicist at City College of New York, responding to a comment stating he “insults students regularly.” “We insult the president, we insult the students, we insult the professors because sometimes we have to take people down a notch,” Kaku said. Students will soon be able to rate a wider range of aspects about their college experience, including their campus, facilities and off-campus, school-related activities. With a firm grasp on the growing tech world, the people behind the site know what keeps students coming back. “Choosing the best courses and professors is a rite of passage for every college student,” DiMarco said. “And connecting with peers on RateMyProfessors.com has become a key way millions of students now navigate this process.”
Beastie’s Feeling Better
Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys sent an e-mail to the official fan list saying he is feeling healthy and thinks he has beaten cancer. Yauch recently returned from a visit to Tibetan doctors in India, where he went after his surgery in July to remove the cancerous tumor from his parotid gland.
The University Star - 11
A Bobcat to Know
Former Bobcat lands job in Dallas news station By Jovonna Owen Features Reporter Last year, Lauren Corbut was taking classes at Texas State. Today, she is a television news producer in one of the largest markets in America. Corbut, CW producer in Dallas, said she typically does not go to her office until 1 p.m. “Which is nice, until someone is trying to blow up a building in downtown Dallas, which happened last week,” Corbut said. Corbut graduated in 2008 with a degree in electronic media and sociology. She worked as an intern at a Washington, D.C. news station and was later hired by the company. “I started as an intern, and worked my butt off,” Corbut said. “I got a job there, but my boss always labeled me as the intern.” Wanting to shed that image, Corbut took a higher-paying job in Dallas. “Your goal is to be constantly moving up,” Corbut said. “I was able to do that quickly.” Corbut said she is “in charge of everything,” including reporters, writers, editors, graphics and directors. “I’ve had reporters look at me and say, ‘I’ve been doing this longer than you’ve been alive. Don’t tell me what to do,’” Corbut said. “You know what? They’re right. But right now I just need to do my job.” Corbut said despite the challenges, working in television is fun because people are not boring, and journalists are eclectic people.
“You get to cover history,” Corbut said. “You get to be there. You can say to your grandkids when they ask you where were you when Barack Obama was inaugurated ‘I was there.’” Corbut said she has a lot of friends who have taken office jobs. “If that’s your deal, then great. Make your forty-grand a year,” she said. “Go to your office, work from 9 to 5 and watch Grey’s Anatomy every night. I wake up every morning excited to go to work. It’s always something different every day.” Corbut spoke to mass communication students Thursday about her career, emphasizing her success came from her internships and networking. “I think a lot of it is about making contacts,” Corbut said. “I know that is so obnoxious to hear, but I think it’s about who you know. Professors here aren’t utilized enough. They’re not only professors. They used to work in these industries.” Corbut enjoyed her time at Texas State. “I thought it was a great college town and a really good journalism program,” Corbut said. “My teachers all taught me everything I know. I felt really confident that I knew what I needed to know to be successful in the news room. I always like coming back here to show my appreciation.” Corbut said she learned skills from life lessons and textbook terms. “As a combination it was a very well-rounded journalism
Jake Marx/Star photo TV NEWS: Alumna Lauren Corbut spoke to Larry Carlson’s, senior lecturer in the School of Journalism, classes in Old Main.
education,” she said. Michael England, associate professor in the School of Mass Communication and Journalism, said Corbut was a bright student who was determined to go against the trend.
“One has to be impressed,” England said. “She graduates from here and lands a job in a large market television station. When she walked into class, I knew she would set the world on fire.”
trends
12 - The University Star
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Music-related internships offer ‘real world’ experience By Alejandro Martinez Features Reporter The music industry is a proverbial beehive, buzzing with countless people vying for the same opportunities. Students who actively pursue internships and other opportunities in the industry will likely increase their chances of success in the market. Students hungry for exposure do not need to go to Los
Angeles or New York City, but can instead find opportunities closer to home. Denise Mamo, electronic media senior, has completed two internships she found through personal research. Mamo said working with Austin-based companies Voodoo Cowboy Entertainment and the 101X Radio station gave her a more focused scope on her career path. Working 20 to 25 hours per week, her responsi-
bilities ranged from menial side-work to using audio editing software and updating the company’s podcasts, blogs, Web site and other social media sites. Mamo said the real world responsibility is crucial for anyone considering a career in the media industry. “I recommend everyone do internships,” Mamo said. “If anything, you get an idea of what to expect after graduation.” Chuck Kaufman, intern-
ship coordinator for the School of Mass Communication and Journalism, said students are ideally placed to take advantage of opportunities within the local media and music scene to gain real world experience. Kaufman said his goal is to help guide students, polish their résumés and aid them presenting themselves successfully to prospective companies. “The initial contact (for
internships) is made by the students … making them take the first steps and getting to know the inner-workings of the industry,” Kaufman said. Ross Bennett, public relations junior, is an intern at Emo’s Alternative Lounge in Austin. Bennett said he was offered the job by the venue’s in-house booking agent after his band (local San Marcos group Zlam Dunk) played a show at Emo’s. “We just started talking after the show, and he offered me the job.” Bennett said. Bennett’s main responsibilities include updating Emo’s social media sites, band promotions and editing weekly ad designs that appear in The Onion newspaper. Bennett said he has gained invaluable experience working at Emo’s, opening doors
that might have been previously closed to him. “You just have to learn to put yourself out there and approach people” Bennett said. “Being able to say I worked there (Emo’s) will help me anywhere in the music industry.” Mamo and Bennett both agreed it is all about connections. “The industry is tough, even with a degree and internships,” Bennett said. It doesn’t guarantee you a job, but knowing the right people can make things easier.” – Editors Note: The University Star Opinions Editor, Brett Thorne, is a member of Bennett’s band, Zlam Dunk.
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The University Star - 13
Bike Cave acquires funds from RecycleNow program By Thea Setterbo Features Reporter The Bike Cave program received a check Tuesday for their contribution to the first RecycleNow electronicwaste event held on Earth Day in April. Marianne Framme, associate coordinator of Home Depo,t and Melissa Kayda, representing PSC Environmental and Waste Services, presented the $7,725.28 award to the Bike Cave representatives. The Bike Cave workers helped to generate funds from the proper and safe disposal of unwanted televisions, computers, cell phones, radios, stereos, and
other electronic devices. The Environmental Service Committee, which supports the Bike Cave, made a contract with PSC that allocated the net profit from the RecycleNow event in appreciation of the Bike Cave’s involvement. The Environmental Service Committee has sponsored other Bike Cave events such as last semester’s Bike to School Day. The Environmental Service Committee was created to assist environment-conscious programs like the Bike Cave and the more recent Bobcat Blend compost program. “Anyone can submit a project idea to the Environmen-
Thea Setterbo/Star photo FUNDING: The Bike Cave received a $7,725.28 reward on Wednesday.
tal Service Committee,” said John Montoya, Environmental Service Committee chair and agriculture graduate student. “We like to fund the kind of programs that will help with campus efficiency and beautification.” The Bike Cave, which became an official organization in August 2007, is funded by Auxiliary Services to promote alternative transpor-
tation and depends on a $1 environment charge that is paid as a part of students’ fees. Manager, Judith Wilson, received the check on behalf of the Bike Cave. “This Environmental Service Committee has been very supportive of our efforts,” said Wilson, geography resources and environmental studies senior .
Attending the presentation was UPD Sgt. Daniel Benitez. Benitez said UPD has supported the Bike Cave from its beginning with the annual Bike Round-Up, a program devoted to clearing the campus of abandoned bicycles and parts to provide students with room to lock their bikes. “We want to make sure the campus looks beautiful
and there are not any torn up bikes laying everywhere,” Benitez said. Benitez said the “rounded up” bikes are donated to the Cave to provide parts and frames for students to use. Wilson said the funds from the award will be used to further the Cave’s efforts and provide more opportunities to help students with bikes and repairs.
14 - The University Star
c ro s s w o rd
diversions
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Facebook network connects people, causes lower GPAs By Elizabeth Barbee Features Reporter Facebook was created by and for college students, but CNN’s John D. Sutter recently reported the Web site’s “popularity is growing most quickly among women older than 55.” As a result, some Texas State students are receiving friend requests from their parents. Xander Peters, sociology freshman, said his mom has an account on the social networking site. “We’re friends,” Peters said. “She can see pictures of me drinking at parties. It’s fine — my parents are really laid back.” Peters, who primarily uses Facebook to connect with his old high school friends, said he sometimes gets and approves friend requests from complete strangers. “Of course, if a cute girl adds me, I will accept her friend request right away,” Peters said. “If it is some random dude I might have to check out his
profile first.” Peters said he belongs to three different online communities because he can see the unique benefits of each. However, Jenny Molina, undecided freshman, said she prefers Myspace to Facebook because it is more low key. “On Facebook, it seems like everybody is in on your business,” Molina said. “Myspace is more private. I am from California so it helps me keep in touch with the people I know there.” Peters said she likes how social networking is an easy way to connect with the rest of the world. “I have friends who go to different schools and live out of state,” Peters said. “It is a great way to stay in contact with them.” An article for USA Today by Jon Swartz published statistics, collected at Ohio State University, that suggests Facebook could be detrimental to academic success. Swartz reported students who used the Web site had grade point
averages between 3.0 and 3.5. The same article said those who did not log in had higher grade point averages, ranging from 3.5 to 4.0. “I don’t think it affects my studying,” Molina said. Peters does not see the correlation between social networking and grades and said he has not noticed any difference in his scores or studying habits. One student, with an eye on the future, pointed out another downside to social networking and said he plans to delete his Facebook account when he graduates. “I have been told employers do and will check your Facebook,” said Aaron Hynson, healthcare administration senior. “I am going to cancel my account when I have some career prospects.” Peters said social networking is ultimately a beneficial tool. “I think it is cool,” Peters said. “It is something that needed to happen in the 21st century.”
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sports
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Cameron’s Commentary
United we sport By Cameron Irvine Sports Columnist People always wonder why athletes get paid millions of dollars doing what they love, when everyone else is getting paid minimum wage because they are ordinary. I don’t think anyone has a true correct answer, but sports ties this nation together in ways most people don’t even realize. The trials and tribulations on the field, the court, the diamond, the ice, in the rain and in the snow all reflect on our “ordinary” lives off the
field. Sports bring us together when we have nothing else to cheer for. Sports give us something we all can believe in. Sports keep some going all the way to their death. Vince Lombardi once said, “I firmly believe any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle — victorious.” That’s what soldiers feel. That’s what people in poverty feel. That’s what we all feel at some point in our lives. Red Auerbach once said, “The best way to forget one’s self is to look at the world with attention and love.” After Sept. 11, 2001, sports took a week-long break to honor those who had fallen. It was the first time in most of our lives we had seen something so catastrophic happen to this country. Once sports resumed, teams were united to play for those who had
lost their lives — not just for themselves. Brett Favre played one of his best games the day after his father died and sometimes, in death, we all find a little strength. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Don’t we all do that everyday? When life has pushed us to the brink? When people say it’s just a game, it’s not. A game has its ups and downs. A game has its winners and losers. A game has trials and tribulations, just like life. So what makes sports so important in this country? The amount of pride, glory and happiness it brings. United we stand. Bart Starr said, “Anyone can support a team that is winning — it takes no courage. But to stand behind a team to defend a team when it is down and really needs you, that takes a lot of courage.” Why do people stand by teams like the Detroit Lions, the St. Louis Rams, the New
Playing any sport can bring out the competitive nature in people. It was not fun for Billy Vissering, exercise and sports science senior, and his intramural football team, Guess Who, finally lost last season. It was not only the fact that they lost, but how. Guess Who had an impeccable run through the regular season, winning all five games and beating every team in a dominating fashion.
Vissering said teams scored on Guess Who only twice all season. Two playoff wins later and an appearance in the semi-final round had Guess Who right on track before the unthinkable happened. “There was a lot of talking going on between both teams,” Vissering said. “I should have let it go, but when you’re in the heat of the moment, it’s tough to.” Trash talking and three warnings later landed Guess Who out of the playoffs by disqualification. Texas State Intramural Sports is seri-
ous about sportsmanship, in which it has a rule requiring the officials to rate every team 1 to 4 (with 4 showing exceptional sportsmanship) after every game. Teams must have a 2.75 rating at the end of the year to qualify for the playoffs. “I feel like we could have won that game,” Vissering said. “In fact, we were winning. It left a sour taste in my mouth about how it went down. But that was last year. This is a whole new season.” Vissering said he has changed the team name to
Volleyball faces UTA on two-match skid By Eric Harper Sports Reporter
While midterms are bearing down on students, the Bobcat volleyball team has more than tests to focus on York Knicks, the New York this weekend. Mets or any others? Because The Bobcats will host Texthey have pride — they beas-Arlington 6:30 p.m. Friday lieve in something. Sports in Strahan Coliseum for the give everyone something “Dig Pink” match to promote to believe in, even if it’s breast cancer awareness. Fans your six-year-old son who wearing pink will receive a $2 believes in scoring his firstdiscount on tickets. ever basket. The Mavericks enter the We all wish we could be ei- match 6-10 overall and 2-2 in ther rich or prosperous. We the Southland Conference afwish for a good family and a ter losses against Lamar and nice home. We wish for a job Sam Houston State. UTA has because it’s not secure anybeen outhit by an average of more. We want to be the best .161 to .200 per set this seawe can be. Inheriting a rich son. The Mavericks are tied fortune is not being the best with Texas State in the SLC — that’s being the best at West division. being fortunate. Americans The Bobcats saw their work hard, just like their four-match win streak come sports heroes who work to an end Oct. 1 against SHSU hard for them. and come into Friday’s game Mike Ditka said, “Success on a two-match skid. is about having, excellence is Coach Karen Chisum said the about being. Success is about Bobcats have to be consistent. having money and fame, but “We did not play our best excellence is being the best (last weekend). We were inyou can be.” consistent,” Chisum said. “We So the next time you’re athave to get back to reducing tending, playing or filming a our errors.” game, think about how it’s not The Bobcats hold a 6-1 rejust a game, but how it’s life cord at home. However, Texas and dreams with a purpose. State has not found the same success away from Strahan Coliseum, holding a 2-10 record on the road. Chisum said her team must play the same style no matter where its games take place. “We have to ignore it. It Bad Intentions because of doesn’t matter where we play,” that game and has one play- Chisum said. “It’s what we are er, Erik Ledvina, exercise and doing — not our opponents.” sports senior, returning from The Bobcats committed a last year’s team. combined 22 serve errors in “I think this team is just as their previous two matches. good or even better than last Chisum said limiting errors season’s,” Vissering said. “I is a must for the Bobcats. think the fact that we all get “We have to play hard and along so well and we kind of eliminate errors in order to gelled together really helps. win,” Chisum said. I play to win and that’s what The Bobcats struggled to we plan to do.” find a balanced offensive atBad Intentions is currently tack earlier in the season. 2-0. Vissering said the team However, Amber Calhoun, hopes to win the champion- sophomore middle blocker, ship, go undefeated and not and Jillian Wolpman, sopholose its competitive fire. more middle blocker, have
Strong season ends in team disqualification By Dustin Porterfield Sports Reporter
The University Star - 15
been contributors to the offensive attack in recent matches. Calhoun has a .272 attack percentage while Wolpman has tallied 51 kills. Melinda Cave, junior middle blocker, has 97 kills. Junior Shelbi Irvin, freshman Caleig McCorquodale and senior Brittany Collins give the Bobcats three options at the setter position. Irvin, McCorquodale and Collins have 184, 151 and 346 assists, respectively. Chisum said she is waiting to see more of her players have good matches on a regular basis. “We have had several individual players have good individual games, but we haven’t had all of them going at once yet,” Chisum said. “When all our players play well at the same time, we’re going to be good.” Texas State will look to get back in the win column coming off consecutive road losses and take advantage of its home court success. Chisum said the Bobcats must seize the opportunity playing at Strahan Coliseum. “We have to take care of business on our side,” Chisum said. “We feel good playing at home.” The Bobcats will stay in San Marcos following the UTA match to take on Central Arkansas Wednesday.
f.y.i.
The “Dig Pink” match will feature a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. and will last until the beginning of the third game. Proceeds will go to Central Texas Medical Center’s breast cancer treatment and support organizations.
Sports 16 - The University Star
FALL BALL
The Texas State softball team will end fall season play 6 p.m. Oct. 16 in San Marcos against Temple College. A pregame ceremony will be held in which players will receive their 2009 Southland Conference Championship rings. Fans will have the chance to meet players during a postgame autograph session.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sports Contact, Lisa Carter – starsports@txstate.edu
Road-strong Bobcats face Cardinals, Cowboys By Cameron Irvine Sports Reporter The women’s soccer team won its first two conference games this weekend, both on the road where the Bobcats had not won all season. Texas State returns to its comfort zone this week at home against two conference foes. The Bobcats will host the Lamar Cardinals Friday. Lamar comes into the game with an almost entirely new team and a 0-2 in conference play. The Cardinals are starting seven new players, with three from England. Lamar lost both of its games by a combined two goals. “We know they are organized in the backline and they are a physical, hard-working, slidetackling team,” said Coach Kat Conner. “Offensively they play everything forward trying to put you under pressure to make a mistake and capitalize on it.” Texas State plays Sunday against McNeese State. The Bobcats and the Cowboys tied their game at 2 last season. The Cowboys are 0-2 in SLC play and have lost each game by one goal. However, McNeese State lost to Grambling State and tied with Houston Baptist, teams the Bobcats defeated earlier this year. “I think two wins on the road is building this team’s confidence after a tough start of the season,” Conner said. “With injuries, sickness and close loss-
es, this team needs to see that they can battle for 90 minutes and secure a win as long as they stay together and play our style of soccer.” Mandi Mawyer, senior goalkeeper, was named SLC Goalie of the Week after leading the Bobcats to four straight wins. Leading the way on offense is Britney Curry, junior forward, whom Conner said is having a breakout season. “Britney is an all around great player and it is her scoring a dangerous play that usually leads to her assisting in her teammates’ goals,” Conner said. “Opponents have to know where she is and sometimes she draws double coverage, which opens up other players to score. Her main mission is to lead the team to another championship and she is doing just that.” Texas State comes into this weekend’s matchups with the best home record of any team in the SLC at 4-1. The Bobcats have the second-best overall re- Star file photo cord behind Southeastern Loui- CONFERENCE ACTION: The women’s soccer team continues its Southland Conference slate against Lamar 7 p.m. Friday and McNeese siana, which is currently 7-3. State 1 p.m. Sunday. “Texas State must come out and match their intensity, control the game by keeping possession and limit their counter attacks,” Conner said. “We do this by keeping the speed of play high and making sure to have a balanced attack by always knowing where the open space is to exploit.” Texas State will take on Lamar 7 p.m. Friday and McNeese State 1 p.m. Sunday.
Bobcats open conference play against Lions Saturday
SOUTHLAND STANDINGS SOCCER TEAM Texas State Texas-San Antonio Stephen F. Austin Sam Houston State Southeastern Louisiana Nicholls State Central Arkansas Northwestern State McNeese State Lamar
SLC
OVERALL
2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 1-0 0-1 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2
7-5 7-6 5-6 4-5-2 7-3 4-8 6-5-1 7-6 4-7-2 1-9-1
Ben Rondeau/Star file photo SOUTHLAND OPENER: The Bobcats will face Southeastern Louisiana 2 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter The football team opens conference play Saturday when Southeastern Louisiana comes to town. The Bobcats have never lost to the Lions. Texas State have fallen out of the polls for the first time this season after losing to Southern Utah, when they dropped to 2-2. “We were a few plays away from changing that game, from having a better record,” said Coach Brad Wright. “It is what is. We’ve got conference coming up and we’re ready to go.” The Bobcats’ inconsistency
remains their biggest foe this season with sound victories over Angelo State and Texas Southern and losses to Texas Christian and Southern Utah. The Bobcats have a chance to recover and contend for the conference title even though they have dropped from the polls. Of their two losses this year, one was played against then-No. 15-ranked (currently No. 10) TCU, A team in which the Bobcats posted more points against than any offense has in three years. Texas State held a 3-2 record the week heading into its first Southland Conference game last season. The
Bobcats had the task of trying to upset the Sports Network No. 3-ranked McNeese State at Lake Charles and won 45-42. The Bobcats went 4-2 for the remainder of the season. They won the SLC Championship and earned a bid into the FCS playoffs. The return of Karrington Bush, junior running back, has revamped the Bobcats’ rushing attack that ranks fifth in the Southland Conference. “It’s good to be back,” Bush said. “I’m just ready to get out there and get it going.” Bush is the only Bobcat to ever rush for 1,000 yards in
a season, twice. There is a chance he could do it for a third time with 82 yards in his debut and seven games left to play. “I’m not too worried about that (record),” Bush said. “If it happens, cool, but we’ll see how the season goes.” Bush rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns last season as the Bobcats cruised past Southeastern 38-24. Texas State’s pass defense is ranked last in the SLC. The Lions boast the conference’s second-best pass offense, one spot better than the Bobcats’. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
