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INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS pages 1-9

Volume 99, Issue 22

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Soccer Showdown

THURSDAY

OCT

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The women’s soccer team looks to extend its six-game win streak this weekend. For story, see page 15

Airport control tower provides Jail repairs displace safety, boost local economy inmates, costs county By Natalia Montemayor News Reporter

KTSW has plans for newly acquired tower Villagio tensions lessening

OPINIONS page 10 MAIN POINT: Dead day debate Celebrating National Coming Out Day ASG President Covo wrong in his remarks

TRENDS Pages 11-13 FTC putting new restrictions on bloggers

Jake Marx/Star photo GROUND BREAKING: Members of the San Marcos community attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new control tower at the San Marcos Municipal Airport on Wedensday.

By Hollie O’Connor News Reporter

City officials and airport staff have sky-high hopes for the San Marcos Municipal Airport. Aquarena’s history Officials broke ground preserved in local author’s Wednesday in preparation of book building an airport control tower designed to enhance take-off safety. Airport Manager Scott Gallagher said the tower will coorDIVERSIONS dinate take offs and landings, aiding private pilots whose page 14 planes are of different models and speeds. Safety, however, is not the only function the tower is expected to serve. The airport’s business is exSPORTS pected to take off as well. More than 200 aircrafts are based at Pages 15-16 the airport, which is currently operating at 40 to 50 percent CAMERON’s COLUMN: capacity, Gallagher said. The airNFL quarterbacks need to port has the ability to expand, but the infrastructure to do so get tougher “isn’t quite there,” he said. “The lack of a tower is a barSoccer facing top rier to growth,” Gallagher said.

competition

Mayor Susan Narvaiz said the tower will “attract more cooperate operations, and give us (San Marcos) a stronger position in the region.” Narvaiz said she hopes the addition of the tower will bring an increase in charter flights and the number of private plane owners calling the San Marcos airport their “home base.” Narvaiz said the control tower will also provide local San Marcos residents job opportunities, such as airplane mechanics and additional airport staff positions. “Even in tough times, progress is happening,” Narvaiz said. The ceremony for the ground breaking took place on the runway of the San Marcos Municipal Airport. Narvaiz spoke alongside City Manager Rick Menchaca and local businessman Chuck Nash, chair of the Airport Commission. Four authentic World War II planes from the Commemorative Air Force performed a flyover after the speakers finished. The cer-

emony ended with a reception of airplane-shaped cookies and bottled water depicting a model of the completed tower. The tower is part of the Airport Master Plan formed in 1986, but a recent federal grant of $1,500,000 made its construction a reality, city officials said. Narvaiz said the tower will be nine stories high and 2,295 square feet when finished in April 2010. The tower will be comprised of a base building, elevator and control cab that professional air traffic controllers will be able to use in directing flight arrivals and departures. The control tower is not the only renovation in the works for the airport. A new front door for the airport and additional executive hangars, utilities and apron areas for aircraft are also planned, Narvaiz said. “It’s a great day for us,” Nash said. “This is one step in the beginning of a long line of things to come.”

While incarcerated at the Hays County Jail in 2000, Todd Dietert, 36, made it a point to avoid contact with both quarrelsome inmates and the everpresent mold in the showers. “We’d wear shower slides on our feet, but the showers were so small you couldn’t avoid coming into contact with the wall, which was covered in mold and mildew,” Dietert said. Dietert eventually suffered a staff infection, which he attributes to the jail’s teeming population. “I stayed in a 40-man tank with bunk beds and guys sleeping on the floors ... with that many people in that close of a vicinity, tensions and the risk of sickness are high,” he added. The same sanitary issues were cited Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 as areas of non-compliance during the annual county jail inspection given by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Adan Munoz, executive director for TCJS, explained the jail has been at non-compliant status since an April 23 inspection. The inspectors cited a leaking roof, broken toilets, as well as mold, mildew and rust in kitchen and holding areas. Munoz explained the Hays County Commissioner’s Court was required to respond with a corrective plan of action to make the jail in compliance with state regulations following both inspections. “If there is still leakage, then we will ask the inmates be vacated and moved to jails in other counties,” Munoz said. A practice that Sheriff Tommy Ratliff says costs Hays County $50 a day per inmate. “Currently we have 55 inmates being held in the Guadalupe County jail ... so if we were to get shut down that’d mean we’d be shipping out up to 350 inmates. You do the

math,” Ratliff said. Ratliff has worked toward improving the jail’s condition since Sheriff Allen Bridges died in December, and had requested the April inspection from the TCJS. “From what I understand, the jail was an issue the last two sheriff’s wanted to resolve, so the best way to figure out the exact problems was to have the inspectors come through,” he said. Ratliff said the 280 jail employees took care of smaller maintenance work such as painting, but the court arranges high-cost repairs. “We will fix the facility in order to get up to the standards for the state, but we have no choice but to build another facility,” Ratliff said. During Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Court meeting, $1.5 million was allocated to repair the jail’s roof and kitchen flooring. Judge Elizabeth Sumter discussed an additional $200,000 for a long-term needs assessment to be performed by Austin-based consulting firm Broaddus & Associates. “We will start working on the roof on the first of November, but we had to make sure the structure itself can hold it, and that is why an assessment is necessary,” Sumter said. Sumter said the epoxy used in the roof emits fumes. November is convenient for repairs because workers will not need air-conditioning, which would spread fumes. The project will take roughly 60 days to complete, and if needed, prisoners will be removed temporarily from the site. County Auditor Bill Herzog said a contract has yet to be awarded to a developer. “We have gotten bids, and plan to award a contract within the next week or two,” Herzog said. Herzog said $538,000 would see JAIL, page 5

Texas State’s graduate City considers graffiti ordinance enrollment increases By Billy Crawford News Reporter

Today’s Weather

89°/62° Partly Cloudy Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 66% UV: 7 High Wind: W 14 mph

Friday

Partly Cloudy Temp: 76°/56° Precip: 10%

Saturday

Partly Cloudy Temp: 91°/73° Precip: 20%

If passed, convictions against individuals might not succeed in court because of the proposed graffiti ordinance targeting. The City Council considered a proposal in September from the San Marcos police department. The proposal would make it illegal to possess graffiti instruments — such as spray paint or broad-tipped markers — in public. The Beautification Commission has taken charge of the effort to pass this ordinance. Some community members have expressed concerns the ordinance would target people who have not committed crimes. Others are not convinced the ordinance would respect individuals’ rights. “I would be worried about how this (new law) might be enforced,” said Gilbert Martinez, media law assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “Law enforcement would have a lot of discretion to determine if someone is carrying these tools with intent to commit mischief. It could possibly lead to an influx of profiling.” The New York City Council tried to enact a similar ban in 2006 that made it illegal for 18 to 20 year olds to possess graffiti instruments. A federal court overturned the ordi-

nance, claiming it to unfairly single-out a specific age group. The city amended the law so it became illegal to sell graffiti instruments to anyone under 21 years of age. “We felt there needed to be something done to prevent graffiti from spreading across the city,” said Jonathan Risk, aid to New York City Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. “When the judge overruled (the ban), the council decided to amend the law so it would still limit this crime.” The likelihood of a statute such as this succeeding in court would depend largely on the language of the law from a legal standpoint. “It would have to be tailored to the illegal aspects of (possessing graffiti instruments),” said University Attorney Bill Fly. “The city staff is very competent, and I think they would learn from the New York case and would word it so it doesn’t conflict.” A final decision on the proposed ordinance is pending. “We have not yet reconsidered it,” said City Councilmember Kim Porterfield, Place 1. “It went to the beautification commission, and they’ve had a couple of public hearings to see how the community feels about it.” see GRAFFITI, page 5

By Lisa Carter Sports Editor

The recession is emptying offices and filling classrooms throughout the country. Texas State is currently experiencing this effect, as nontraditional students — those who are 26 years or older — are returning to school to pursue higher degrees. There are 3,870 students enrolled in the graduate college, which is a 375-person increase

from fall 2008. “Typically when the economy is down, you see an increase in graduate studies,” said J. Michael Willoughby, dean of the Graduate College. “This is certainly a very strong increase in recent years.” Gordon Martin, College of Education professor, agrees. “I do think the economy has influenced students going back to graduate school,” Martin said. “The education they are receiving will help them get hired in

school districts in Texas.” Willoughby said Texas State’s increase in the number of students enrolled in graduate school is significantly higher compared to the numbers at the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. “We look at the increase in numbers, but I see students coming into Texas State with higher test scores and GPAs,” Willoughby said. “Students are see EDUCATION, page 5

Ben Rondeau/Star photo BACK TO SCHOOL: Matthew Beebe, elementary education graduate student, came to Texas State to get his masters degree after receiving a Bachelor’s in anthropology from Southwestern University. The economy played a large role in Beebe coming back to school.

Page Two

2 - The University Star

STARS OF TEXAS STATE

Texas State women’s golfer Valdis Jonsdottir has received an invitation to play in the Carta Si Ladies Italian Open on starting today through Saturday in Milan, Italy. More than 100 professional golfers from 23 countries will compete in The Open, while Jonsdottir is the lone amateur competitor in the field. Jonsdottir will be joining the likes of Laura Davies from England and Christina Kim from the United States. — Courtesy of Texas State Athletics

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

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Investigation into alleged assault is ‘inconclusive’ The University Police Department responded to the investigation into a Monday alleged sexual assault on campus, through the University News Service. According to the statement from UPD, “The victim has indicated that she no longer wishes any involvement with this situation. She has not provided any new information to add to the original report. The police department’s investigation into this case is inconclusive. Increased patrol of the parking garages will continue and any suspicious persons should still be reported to the police department at 245-2805.” — Courtesy of University News Service

Correction

In Wednesday’s issue of The University Star, Erin McCracken, assistant philanthropy chair for Zeta Tau Alpha said “We want everyone on campus to know breast cancer is prevalent in girls our age, and men sometimes too. It’s not about our sorority being seen.” — The Star regrets this error

ON THIS Bridgette Cyr/Star photo SWEET RIDE: Ashley Lozano, studio art senior, opts to take her mo-ped to class daily instead of a car, eliminating parking issues.

Library Beat

DAY IN CRIME BLOTTER HISTORY

1860: Eleven-year-old Grace Bedell of Westfield, N.Y., wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, suggesting he could improve his appearance by growing a the University Professor Award, and he was beard. named the Lamar University Distinguished 1969: Peace demonstrators Lecturer. This year, Carter received the staged activities across Texas Medal of Arts and the Art League the country, including a Houston Artist of the Year award. candlelight march around Ten books of his work have been the White House, as part of published, among them Keith Carter a moratorium against the Photographs: Twenty-Five Years, Ezekiel’s Vietnam War. Horse, and A Certain Alchemy in the 2002: ImClone Systems Wittliff Collections’ Southwestern & founder Sam Waksal pleaded Mexican Photography Series. His imagves guilty in New York in the have been widely exhibited in Europe, the biotech company’s insider United States and Latin America. They trading scandal. (He was are included in numerous permanent later sentenced to more than collections, including the Wittliff, which seven years in prison.) holds the largest archive of Keith Carter photographs in the world. — Courtesy of New York

Meet photographer Keith Carter at Wittliff’s grand reopening Called “a poet of the ordinary” by the Los Angeles Times, internationally acclaimed photographer Keith Carter uses light and chemistry to reveal hidden meanings in the real world. Drawing from the nature of animals, popular culture, folklore and religion, his pictures explore relationships that are timeless, enigmatic and mythological. Carter will be the special guest Saturday, as the Wittliff Collections celebrate the grand reopening of their exhibition spaces at 7 p.m. on the Alkek Library’s seventh floor. More than 80 of Carter’s photographs will be on view, and he will be signing his most recent books, A Certain Alchemy and Fireflies, which will be for sale. The event is free. Students are especially encouraged to attend. Attendees are asked to RSVP at

either thewittliffcollections@txstate.edu or 512-245-2313. Born in Madison, Wis., in 1948, Carter moved to Beaumont, at the age of 5, and has lived there since. His mother, Jane, supported the family as a portrait photographer, and one of Carter’s earliest memories is of waking in the middle of the night to see his mother developing pictures at the kitchen sink. The orange safelight illuminated images as they emerged in their developing trays, leaving a deep impression upon him. Self-taught as a photographer, Carter received a BBA degree in 1970 from Lamar University in Beaumont, where he is now a professor and holds the endowed Walles Chair of Art. He received Lamar University’s highest teaching honor in 1998,

— Courtesy of Alkek Library

Times

Oct. 6, 11:55 a.m. LBJ Student Center Bus Loop A nonstudent reported to a police officer she was experiencing chest pain. The nonstudent was transported to Central Texas Medical Center for a medical evaluation. Oct. 6, 6:08 p.m. Medical Emergency/ Intramural Fields A student reported to a police officer she injured her eye while playing football. The student refused medical transportation. — Courtesy of University Police

News

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Jail

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be used for future repairs on the walk-in freezers and airconditioning within the jail. These renovations are a part of a large-scale project that

Education

Graffiti

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includes a new justice center, courts, a District Attorney’s office and a place for citizens to pay tickets and taxes. “I think the best path to continued from page

take would be to look to the future, and for a new location, although that in itself would take a year,” Sumter added.

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serious about their education and they’re selecting Texas State over other universities.” Willoughby said the Graduate College is helping students prepare for jobs in the recession. “We’re a major strength of Texas State,” Willoughby said. “Our graduate program is helping prepare for future jobs — not just for the current need, but for the future, as jobs are being eliminated.” The largest program in the Graduate College is elementary education, which currently has 344 students enrolled, an 82-person increase from last fall. “Many people now want to look at (pursuing degrees in) education,” Willoughby said. “It’s not unusual to see education numbers going up because it is a high-demand profession.” Carolyn McCall, College of Education assistant professor, said she began noticing an increase in elementary education enrollment during the summer. “I’ve absolutely seen an increase (in enrollment),” McCall said. “It’s the largest increase I’ve seen in years and I believe it is due to the economy. People started to come in (during the summer) for face-to-face (advising) appointments and were not familiar with being in school because they hadn’t been in school for a long time.”

However, people seeking degrees are not limited to the master’s level. Adults are returning to school to pursue doctoral and bachelor’s degrees as well. Clare Frazier, pre-studio art junior, is seeking a bachelor’s degree that will allow her to teach art classes in public schools. Frazier previously worked as an art teacher at a private school in Wimberley before pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Texas State. “The economy was a big part of (my choice to return to school),” Frazier said. “I looked for a job as a teaching assistant and couldn’t get one.” Frazier said being a non-traditional student is not easy. “I decided this would be a good time to go back and finish school, but it’s challenging to go back to school at an older age with technology advancing,” Frazier said. Matthew Beebe, elementary education graduate student, returned to school because of the economy. Beebe, 27, earned his undergraduate degree in anthropology at Southwestern University. He decided to enroll in graduate school at Texas State to pursue a master’s degree in elementary education. Beebe worked in the Austin school district as a special education teaching assistant in high schools in addition to other

part-time jobs and gigs with his band. However, it became difficult for him to pay the bills with these jobs. “Being a musician, I only get money when I play gigs,” Beebe said. “I did manual labor with a rainwater harvesting company in the summer. It’s been virtually impossible to find jobs, especially being a musician because I’m always gone.” Willoughby said like Beebe, most students enrolling in graduate school have a bachelor’s degree and are returning to begin a new career. He said classes are offered in the afternoon and early evening so students can work full-time and attend school part-time. “Many of the students are not unemployed, but they come back to school to see if they can better themselves,” Willoughby said. Beebe said working toward his master’s degree in elementary education will help him pursue his passion of teaching. “By going back and getting my master’s degree, I can get more breadth and depth in my profession,” Beebe said. “I won’t get my degree for another three years, so it will allow me to play music, tour and hopefully get hired (as a teacher) in 2010 or 2011.”

By Bianca Davis News Reporter

came, so students did see it,” Trauth said. “But I think you can always advertise more, and we certainly want to advertise it as much as we can.” Trauth said she communicates with students through means other than open door days. “This is not the only mechanism I have for interacting with students,” she said. “It’s possible there are students who have issues, but they are going to talk to me in another form about it whether its in an ASG meeting or (one of the) various receptions I have throughout the year for various student groups.” The event is a time for concerns to be heard, not decisionmaking, Trauth said. “It’s important for me to be able to meet with students,” she said. “But it’s also important for me to not just jump over the vice presidents or deans and make decisions on the spot.” Trauth said she discusses the issues mentioned with the vice presidents. “I take notes of the various concerns of the students,” Trauth said. “Then what I do is talk to the appropriate vice president to see what the follow through should be.”

Trauth said the university cannot accommodate every concern. “In some cases we are able to accommodate what the student is asking for and in some cases we cannot,” she said. Issues discussed at this session included a gamer convention, student center improvements, the smoke-free campus initiative and parking issues. “The issues tend to be different every year, but often there is a theme that runs through concerns students have,” Trauth said. This year, she said representation for all different types of student interests was a trend. “I believe community precedes pride,” Trauth said. “I don’t think you can have pride in something you don’t feel a part of.” Trauth said athletics is one area where the university aims to create community pride. “I think there is a lot more pride in the students,” she said. “I think we’re doing a lot of things for pride. Clearly a lot of things we’re doing in athletics isn’t just about athletics. It’s about pride in the university and having a sense of community.”

University President opens office, listens to student concerns University President Denise Trauth opened her doors for two hours Wednesday to hear students’ concerns. The event took place at her office from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Four students took advantage of the opportunity to speak with the president, who hosts two events to entertain student grievances each semester. Trauth said the number of attendees was about as many as she expected. “I had about the same number of students who have come in the past,” she said. The event was originally posted online for Oct. 2. The date was not fixed online until after that date. Fliers were posted advertising the event in various buildings on campus. Brice Loving, marketing senior, said he saw a few signs posted. “I’ve seen them in random places,” Loving said. “I don’t remember if I saw any this time, I just remember one of the other (ASG) senators, Colter Ray, talking about it.” Trauth said the event could have been advertised more. “There were students who

The University Star - 5 continued from page

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The beautification commission held a public forum Sept. 21 to let citizens voice their opinions on the proposal. Porterfield said arguments were made for and against the ordinance. Some residents see graffiti as a form of free expression and art. However, others consider it a direct form of vandalism and disrespect to others’ personal property. Questions were asked if the ordinance would promote discrimination from law enforcement and if it would be enforceable. “I don’t envision police officers shaking art students down when they are walking

by the river and just happen to have an easel, spray paint and some markers in their backpacks they need for class,” Porterfield said. Porterfield said she will wait to decide her stance on the proposal until after more input has been received. She said the proposal also included other articles that she would support. The ordinance would require those convicted of vandalism to remove the graffiti and return the property to its original value. It would hold parents of repeat offenders who are minors accountable. Porterfield said the city will

vote on the proposal after the beautification commission finishes its assessment. She hopes the ordinance’s wording gives law enforcement more ability to prevent graffiti. “The police say it’s impossible to catch them in the process (of drawing graffiti),” Porterfield said. “There’s a group of people under a bridge with wet paint on the wall and a can of spray paint in the bushes, but because the officer didn’t see them committing the crime, they can’t be punished. This is just a tool to hold accountable the people who actually do the deed.”

By Rachel Nelson News Reporter

basement. The lines would be immediately replaced because they stopped working once damaged, he said. There were talks of closing the dining hall for good when Commons was shut down in August. The university considered using the space for other campus endeavors but has now decided to maintain it as a dining hall. “We really need that dining hall back,” Root said. “It’s such a central location for students for primarily lunch. When we looked around, there wasn’t a good alternative compared to where it sits right now.” Since the closing, Root said customer service has not been affected. “The students basically distributed themselves between The Den, Jones and the Student

Center food court,” he said. Rachel Purswell, interdiciplinary sophomore, said she will not be in a hurry to eat at Commons after the rats issue is resolved. “I wouldn’t want to go because of knowing they had rats and didn’t tell anyone,” Purswell said. “I probably would after a while, but I think I’d wait to hear what other people say.” Root said he hopes students will not be skeptical to give Commons another chance but concedes “that’s an individual decision for each student to make.” “We would not re-open it if we were not sure about the safety and sanitation of the kitchen area,” Root said.

Administration plans to reopen Commons Hall next semester

Rats were discovered in Commons Dining Hall in late June, but closure did not take place until three months later. The information caused Sarah Ross, undecided sophomore, to ask the question, “Why did they wait so long?” Ross said she normally does not eat at Commons during the school year, but her soccer team ate at the dining hall three times a day during the summer. “We didn’t notice any rats, but I’m creeped out now,” Ross said. John Root, director of auxilary services, said university officials initially did not realize how bad the situation was. “At first we didn’t know the extent of the problem, so naturally our first instinct was to do what we could do while remaining open,” Root said. Root said Commons was closed for a short period during the summer, and service was shifted to Jones Dining Hall. “We reopened in August, then it was good for a couple of weeks,” Root said. “We basically gave it every possible chance we could without closing. We tried more aggressive ways of trying to use the extermination processes. Every time we would get to a point where we thought we had it under control, they would come back. It became obvious (closing the dining hall) was the only way to take care of it once and for all.” A 10-week process began this week to rid the building of rats. “(Commons) is expected to be a full-service dining hall by the beginning of next semester, considering no unforeseen issues arise,” Root said. Root said the university has contracted Town Lake Construction of Austin to seal the building of entry points for rodents. “The company is going to do whatever necessary to seal up all the penetrations to the building including cracks and the tiniest of holes,” Root said. “That’s the first part. The second part is getting rid of what’s already there.” Root maintains the rats did not get into the food at Commons, but found their food source in the trash. He said the rats would chew through soda lines that originate in the

6 - The University Star

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

KTSW to renovate 25-year-old tower Dj Nutter By News Reporter KTSW bought their existing tower after a series of unsuccessful attempts to purchase a new one eventually proved too costly. Dan Schumacher, general manager and faculty adviser of KTSW, said acquiring the land and tower gives the station an opportunity to invest in repairing existing features. Officials realized a 3 percent annual increase in the lease, and were recently paying out of pocket for mandatory maintenance. Acquiring the existing tower’s waves totaled $285,000. “We literally came around full circle and decided to purchase our existing tower,” Schumacher said. “We have plans to make it work.” Schumacher said, however, money saved by obtaining the land will be one way the station will fund its current three-step tentative plan for renovation. Acquiring the existing tower gives members of KTSW the chance to improve the station’s reception, Schumacher said. The most prevalent renovation is to purchase a translator. Schumacher said, obtaining a translator will allow the station to take its existing broadcast programs and render them onto a different frequency other than FM 89.9. Deciphering adequate frequencies will solve current lapses in reception, which currently affects San Marcos and surrounding areas. Schumacher predicts the total cost of the translator will be $30,000.

Schumacher admits the current facility will need expansion in order to accommodate plans for a new transmitter. He said KTSW’s current transmitter is 25 years old. Schumacher said if a new transmitter is acquired, the station plans to replace the existing tower and antenna. KTSW’s staff will be able to follow through on any aspect of renovation as long as adequate funding is obtained. “I’m willing to look at multiple options for funding these current steps,” Schumacher said. “We’ll surely gobble at any funds that come our way.” Schumacher said funding could accumulate in a number of methods besides using funds from KTSW. Funding can be generated through current sponsorships, and Schumacher said submitting a proposal for an increase in student fees is an option. “We’re fortunate for the faculty of the university that continually show their expression of support,” Schumacher said. “They’ve done so much for so many years.” The KTSW tower has been positioned near Old Main since April 1992, when the land was originally leased. Schumacher said the ideal place to house a new tower would have been north of New Braunfels, west of Interstate-35. To no avail, KTSW’s staff searched San Marcos’ surrounding areas for years to relocate the stations’ tower. However, land within Schumacher’s boundaries proved too expensive. Schumacher said, along

with inadequate funding, complications arose from the surrounding community’s objection to any proposal. Nick Kukowski, former station manager, said the idea for the new tower was becoming known as Schumacher’s legacy. However, Kukowski said Schumacher’s work in renovating the existing tower will prove as noteworthy. “As of now, several complaints have been brought to our attention about students not being able to hear KTSW even in their dorms,” Kukowski said. “Our first step is resolving these lapses in local reception, specifically the campus we directly serve.” Peter Cho, KTSW student music reviewer and psychology sophomore, said KTSW Lunchbox events are held every two weeks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays to expand the station’s listening base. Students use the events to publicize bands played over the station’s waves and reach out to fellow students with free garb. Cho said KTSW cannot play any mainstream music because of station requirements. Rather, Cho said he and others play more underground music to aim for the college audience with content they may not be familiar. Cho admits current reception problems sometimes limit students’ ability to tune into KTSW’s programs. “Sometimes reception from your car can get fuzzy,” Cho said. “But if you’re at home you can always stream reception on-line at KTSW’s Web site.”

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Issues between Villagio, student tenants easing after six months By Megan Holt News Reporter The property manager at the Villagio Apartments believes significant progress is being made resolving unfair leasing practices by her predecesor. It has been six months since the Office for the Attorney for Students filed 12 complaints against the Villagio Apartments for unfair leasing practices. “I haven’t heard anything from anyone, the campus attorney or the Villagio, in months,” said Stephen Sanders, exercise and sports science senior. “I wasn’t even aware I still owed money to (the collection agency).” Sanders account with the collection agency was adjusted from nearly $700 to about $500 for damages he allegedly caused back in June. “We want to show students we will work with them,” said Amanda LeJeune, Villagio property manager. “We wiped parts of his debt off. We were mostly concerned with unpaid electricity and water so we turned him over to Williams and Fudge. His account is still open.” Milena Christopher, staff attorney, said in an e-mail, she tried contacting all of the students during the summer to see if things with the Villagio had been resolved, but “most did not respond.” “When I first got the call from the collection agency, I

went to get copies of my movein evaluation,” Sanders said. “LeJuene said I didn’t turn in an apartment evaluation. Later, they conveniently found it in another person’s file.” Former property manager Danny Gonzalez denied Sanders a copy of his lease and tried to deny copying his move-in evaluation after it was found, Sanders said. Sanders said they were trying to charge him for dirty carpets and damaged furniture, already in bad condition when he moved in — all of which was documented on his original evaluation. “The Texas law says they have to inform you of any charges within 30 days after you move out,” Sanders said. “They didn’t even bother telling me I had charges. (Management) said they didn’t mail me anything to alert me of the charges because they were trying to go green.” Erin Artzner, communication studies senior, also said she had problems with Gonzales. “My problem was mainly with the main manager,” Artzner said. “They were trying to charge me for damage to the carpet that was disgusting when we moved in. (LeJeune) went to pull my move-in evaluation, and originally said they didn’t have it. When I said I had a copy of it, they found it.” Gonzalez was let go the first of May for “performance is-

sues,” according to LeJeune. “As most of the students, if not all, complained strongly about Danny, the former manager, I can only assume his actions contributed to some of the problems at that apartment complex,” Christopher said. “He was uncooperative with the students and with our office.” Artzner said she believes Villagio management shows more respect to parents than students. “The day I moved out, I was going to pay the rest of the month’s rent, but they gave me a run around and wouldn’t do a walk through,” Artzner said. “My dad and brother went with me a second time. My brother has kind of a mouth so he was asking them questions to make sure I wouldn’t be charged for things. They didn’t mess with me after that.” Artzner said she received the rest of her deposit back in the mail during the summer, but she had to contact Villagio to get it. “At the time all of this was happening in December, we asked everyone who (had) a concern to come in and talk to us,” LeJeune said. “Instead, people were flocking to the campus attorney. We couldn’t get responses from the university or our residents. I think when people have a bad experience with management they have an extra oomph in

Sara Strick/Star photo TAKING CHARGE: Villagio Managment said they have made a commitment to resolve 12 tenet complaints filed with the Office of the Attorney for Students last year.

their step to complain.” Villagio management sent a letter April 30 to four residents forgiving their debt after determining they were not responsible for charges. The letter says, “It has been the firm commitment of our community to resolve these 12 concerns given to us by the Attorney for Students

at Texas State as soon as we were aware of them. We are confident we have cooperated within the interests of both parties involved and anticipate we have responded in a way where we have satisfied the issues at hand.” LeJeune said the Villagio is currently 92 percent occupied with 453 tenants, and no one

was swayed from signing with them because of the incident. “I understand Amanda LeJeune is the new manager,” Christopher said. “Although I have had no reason to contact her yet this year, it is my hope she will be more cooperative with the students and with our office should an issue arise in the future.”

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Dead Day Debate

Thursday, October 15, 2009

10 - The University Star

the main

point. T exas hand symbols, bobcat statues and a singular dead day are all unique Texas State traditions.

Unlike the majority of universities around the nation, Texas State does not have a dead week or multiple days —we have one. According to an article in the Oct. 8 issue of The University Star, ASG is working with university officials to determine the feasibility of adding an additional dead day. There are those students who use dead day as an excuse to sit around in their underwear watching reruns of SpongeBob Square Pants. Those people are a special breed of slacker. It would not matter if they had one or 100 dead days. Michael Heintze, associate vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said in the article there are a number of issues to take into account when considering the possibility of adding a dead day. “One would be the number of days, how much flexibility is in the calendar, if any, and what would be the result,” he said. “How would it affect the rest of the semester.” Tacking on another dead day is not as easy as it sounds. Texas State is required to have a specific number of classes and contact hours each semester so the move would involve serious re-shuffling of the academic calendar.

Students at the University of Texas will have Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 to prepare for their exams while Texas A&M will have Dec. 9 and Dec. 10 off of classes. The excuse that “all the other schools are doing it” is not a valid point, but these universities have recognized an important fact: today’s student looks different than the student of 10 years ago. Many students work to pay for college or have internships that demand a lot of their time. This not only adds to the stress level in students’ lives but also makes it significantly harder to find study time. An extra dead day would give over-worked students a chance to catch up on schoolwork. But students are not the only ones who would benefit. Conceivably, the university would benefit from this move because students’ test scores would increase. However, this leans on a pretty big assumption. If ASG and the university are going to follow through on adding another dead day, it is our responsibility to take advantage. If the day is not spent studying, it should at least be used to be productive in some way. Get the oil changed in your car. Apply for a job. Find somewhere to volunteer. Make the most of it but do not spend the day following SpongeBob and Squidward on their underwater misadventures. That’s what TiVo is for. The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University-San Marcos Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University-San Marcos.

Star Illustration/Juan Ramirez

National Coming Out Day is ‘self-affirming act’

By Robert Beckhusen Opinions Columnist Sunday was National Coming Out Day, coinciding with a major equality march in Washington, D.C. and capping off a week of street activism by gay activists including those here at Texas State.

In the spirit of this, I want readers to know I’m a gay man. I’m out to my friends, family and everyone who needs to know. But I don’t want to write about it much because I don’t want to be a “gay writer” or the token gay columnist for this newspaper. It’s just another part of my identity. I wouldn’t say it’s marginal, but its centrality fades after one comes out of the closet. And that’s why I’m writing this, for the same reasons Lambda at Texas State was on The Quad last week: because the closet is the enemy. Hopefully, by writing this, in my own small way, I’m playing a

part in smashing it to bits. I’m also writing in solidarity to my peers at Texas State who went to Washington for the National Equality March. The story of those students was recounted Oct. 13 in The University Star. Remember this is activism for its own sake. It’s a movement for equal rights on gays’ terms. There are gay rights organizations wedded to, say, the Democratic Party — namely the Human Rights Campaign (with their horribly exclusive black-tie dinners). But the broader movement answers to no party or clique. And in case I’m criticized for

not speaking too inclusively, I mean the word “gay” in the broadest sense. I avoid awkward acronyms like “LGBT” and other jargon. Those words seem to take less courage to say, as in “alternative lifestyles,” which is said by straight people with the best intentions, but rankles no one. No. Let’s say “gay” loudly, in all the ways that gay is good. It may seem a bit anachronistic to some that gays feel it necessary to put on a campus political display. Lambda was outside for a week and thousands must have seen it. They (we?) do it because it’s a self-affirming act. I think I can say this. I’m not a member of

Lambda. I don’t presume to speak for them, but I consider them an ally. Universities are generally more tolerant places than elsewhere. People with college degrees are generally more tolerant of differences than those without. But college students, particularly young men, can also be more virulent. It’s something about being in your late teens and early twenties that builds this sense of insecurity, the need to fit in and belong to groups, while having yet to build the sense of honor and politeness colleges are designed to instill. Standing around The Quad

last week, I heard some pretty awful comments directed at Lambda — outside earshot, of course (Are you afraid your resolve won’t hold up?). I was stared down at a bus stop by an ogreish and pimpled man (yes, I remember you) for ostensibly unknown reasons, except on that day, I didn’t “code” straight. I didn’t look like a straight man. That’s why we make the statement. And I would suggest if you have any issues, to get over them.

ally, in order “to compete and be a contender for a good job, you need to have a higher level of education.” Unfortunately, that figure was Student Body President Chris Covo. Of course, President Covo would never directly undermine the goals of approximately 25,000 of his undergraduate constituents, but the statement has too many negative implications to ignore. Our university is in an active campaign to climb national rankings and increase the value of its degrees for graduates. Regrettably, one

of the more difficult obstacles to overcome is changing uneducated perceptions about the university. Making a statement like Covo’s, especially to Austin residents, doesn’t quite help. On top of that, the Texas Legislature will soon have to make a choice about naming a new ‘Tier 1’ university. It is highly unlikely the 38,000 undergraduates at UT, let alone at Texas State, believe their bachelor’s degrees are the equivalent of a high school diploma. Recognizing difficulties in the job market is one thing, admitting your

university is as good as a high school is another. We can only hope next time any Texas State student goes to compete for a job in Austin they don’t run into someone who can quote the article. But even if we let that slide, should the 25,000 undergraduates at Texas State take this “advice” to heart and apply to grad schools their senior year? Well, not really. A Sept. 28 article from MSN Money says, “someone with a liberal arts master’s degree earned just $5 a month more, on average, than someone with a bachelor’s in the same field

($3,460 compared to $3,455). In fact, the average liberal arts M.A. earned about $300 a month less than the average bachelor’s degree recipient.” So, if in the long run, most undergraduate and graduate degrees make the same amount of money, is it really worthwhile to pursue a master’s degree? Assuming every undergrad decided to apply to a graduate school, Covo’s statement still undercuts Texas State degrees during the application process to other universities. Even if the statement is viewed as friendly advice, the

consequences for Texas State students are still negative. Mr. Covo, I am sure your administration is doing everything it can to improve our university. I can only hope this article serves as a reminder to be cautious of what you say on behalf of every other student here. We think our degrees mean something, so should you. Undergrads, at no point should we as students question our pursuits, even if our president has done so for himself.

—Robert Beckhusen is a pre-mass communication sophomore

Bachelor’s degree is more than high school diploma By Luis Baez Special to the Star Apparently, a very important Texas State figure believes an undergrad degree from our university is like a high school diploma. This was said in an Oct. 13 article in the Austin American Statesman highlighting the increases in enrollment at the University of Texas, Texas State and Austin Community College in the face of a shrinking economy. The figure went on to say that he planned to go to grad school, and so do many of his friends. Addition-

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—Luis Baez is political science junior

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 15. 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

Punk Parting

Singer Avril Lavigne filed for a divorce from Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley, according to mtv.com. The couple had been married for three years and separated in September. Lavigne said the divorce was because of “irreconcilable differences” and the two will be parting on a positive note.

The University Star - 11

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Behind the Scenes Students say driving trams is no easy task

FTC may impose regulation on blogs By Matthew Barnes Features Reporter

Allie Moncrief/Star photo portrait

By Brittany E Wilson Features Reporter As Renee Penner turns the Bobcat Tram into the circle drive of an apartment complex, a large group of students shuffle toward the bus to begin their journey to campus. Penner is one of many Texas State bus drivers who take thousands of students to campus each day. Some students may not notice them. “I don’t really look at the bus drivers too often,” said Caroline Allen, chemistry sophomore. “I guess I’m rude and too much in a hurry.” A commercial or ‘class C’ driver’s license is needed to become a Bobcat Tram driver. There are five assessments an interested driver must pass, including a passenger test, general rules and knowledge and a pre-trip inspection check. “I took all five the first day and only had to retake one,” Penner said. Drivers have timing points they must maintain to keep the Bobcat Tram system flowing.

“It takes lots of patience, and you have to find a balance between keeping the passengers happy and keeping the schedule,” Penner said. The recent announcement of additions to certain bus routes aims to lower wait time at bus stops. However, mishaps still happen. Nathan Head, international studies graduate student, said he was hit by a bus in the spring 2006. “The driver wasn’t paying attention and was looking in the rearview mirror instead of looking in front of him,” Head said. “I almost fell down, but I wasn’t hurt. My pride may have Allie Moncrief/Star photo portrait been hurt though.” Allen said bus drivers have DRIVER’S SEAT: Renee Penner, Post Road bus driver, waits for Texas State students to board the Tram for transport. difficult jobs. “They (bus drivers) are probably annoyed we’re an“One thing that keeps popMost students may not pergry at them, as if it’s their ping in mind is how polite a sonally be acquainted with fault, but they can’t control lot of the guys on the bus are,” their bus drivers, but some the weather,” Allen said. “Not Allen said. “The drivers are notice who is carting them to mention the fact we’re very polite to everyone, and around town. packed like sardines.” the students are (too). Guys “There is a gentleman that Allen said something positive will stand up and offer the drives the Post Road route she notices during crowded bus girls a seat. I’ve been seeing it who wears workout gloves,” rides is chivalry. a lot lately.” Head said.

The Federal Trade Commission has made a proposal that would force Internet bloggers to disclose any freebies they receive from companies or products they choose to endorse. Therefore, if a company sends mom a free vacuum to try out, and she blogs about how well it sucks the dirt from her rug, she would be required by federal law to disclose that in the same post. The proposal was mentioned in hopes to prevent bloggers from writing false rave reviews after getting free products. “It will help educate consumers who read blogs,” said Kym Fox, senior lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “A lot of people who browse the Internet don’t know what they’re reading. I can see value in having consumer protection. Bloggers aren’t doing it themselves, so the FTC decided to step in.” Esmeralda Guerrero, theater senior, keeps a blog about different burgers she tries locally. “I’m for it,” said Guerrero. “If someone gave me a free cheeseburger, I would probably say it was free anyway, and if it sucked I would still say that. I wouldn’t let that affect my opinion.” Frank Walsh, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, agrees with the proposal and the need for more transparency of information, but said advertisers will fight back. “The First Amendment

rights of large institutions not disclosing how they’re spending some of their advocacy money might be upheld,” Walsh said. “I think what you’re seeing is the beginning of another First Amendment judicial process that will take probably two years to be resolved.” However, Kym Fox said First Amendment rights should also defend bloggers and their free speech. “The government should not be involved in what we publish,” Fox said. “Consumers and audiences should look at blogs with a wary eye and consider what they’re reading for themselves and where it came from before accepting it.” Some students also feel the FTC is infringing on civil rights. “A blog is the most liberal form of human communication,” said Mark Nash, international studies senior. “One should be able to speak about what they want to on a blog in the form they wish. The FTC adding regulations to blogs diminishes the power of open speech.” There are no laws requiring authors of print media to be as open about handouts they receive, but several mass communication faculty members said journalism is a profession that requires operating under a standard of ethics. The code sets the profession apart from the newer medium. “Journalists hold themselves more accountable than the average blogger on the Internet,” Fox said. “The alternative is bloggers should operate with ethics. If you want people to believe you, you should be transparent.”

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

Local woman writes book about family history, Aquarena Springs By Brittany Bemis Features Reporter Oddities like Ralph the Swimming Pig and The Aquamaids were part of what brought tourists to Aquarena Springs, and San Marcos resident Doni Weber’s interest in writing stems from her family ties to the old attraction. “My great grandfather and grandfather started Aquarena,” Weber said. “My mother’s family owned Aquarena until 1985, then it was purchased by a private investor. It was sold to the university around 1994.” Weber wrote Aquarena Springs, an illustrated history of the springs from the early 1900s to today. “My family was approached, and since I am the writer in the family, I was elected to do it,” Weber said. “It has a fascinating history. My great grandfather built the hotel, which is now the River System Institute building. His son, my grandfather, built Aquarena as a tourist attraction. Over the years, it became a popular tourist attraction in Texas, and now it has evolved into the environmental education center.” Aquarena will host a reunion Nov. 6 for former employees. “Over the years, hundreds of people have worked there,” Weber said. “(Some) swam as Aquamaids in the underwater show. My mother was an Aquamaid back in the ’50s, she is on the right hand side of the cover of the book.” Weber spent most of her researching time hunting down photos because the book is an illustrated history. “I had to collect photos from the library here and Texas Highways Magazine gave me a lot of help,” Weber said. “Then there were a lot of photos our family had through the years. This book will be a great thing for my children, who were too

Stacie Andrews/Star photo FAMILY HISTORY: Doni Weber’s book Aquarena Springs tells the story behind her family, Aquarena Springs, and the changes it went through from the early 1900s until today.

young to witness it as a tourist attraction, but they can see what it was.” Alex Watts, geographywater studies junior, said she went on the glass-bottom boat tours but prefers to enjoy the nature. “I usually go over the boardwalk and go look at all the fish and the animals there,” Watts said. “I think (the springs) are important, and the fact that it is a natural phenomenon of the earth, we

need to preserve it. I don’t think we needed the whole attraction there. It was cool, but I think we needed to have a little bit more protection.” Alfred Gonzalez, international relations junior, said his experiences at Aquarena Springs have always been positive. “My first glass-bottom boat ride was because of a freshman seminar class,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t think it would be as great as it turned out to

be. I loved looking at all the fish swimming around, and watching the springs bubble up was really interesting.” Gonzalez said he thinks a book about Aquarena would be a great idea. “I think with all of its history, Aquarena Springs would make a great subject for a book,” Gonzalez said. “I wish I was around when the park was still up, I would’ve gone to see an Aquamaid show.”

copies of his works at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Witliff Collections on the seventh floor of Alkek Library and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Katherine Ann Porter House. Both appearances are free and open to the public. “It’s a great opportunity to meet one of the more famous literary writers in the country,” said Michael Noll, program faculty in the English department. “His views extend beyond just poetry.” Hoagland’s contributions to the literary world include several full length poetry collections and chapbooks: What Narcissism Means to Me, “Sweet Ruin,” “Donkey Gospel,” “Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty” and his most recent work to date, Little

Oceans, which was released in July. Hoagland said he tries to identify the audience he attempts to reach in his works. “I feel we are so drowned in a culture whose media forces and spin-doctoring are so powerful,” Hoagland said in an interview with poets.org. “Poetry is well equipped to present a model of what our experience is like right now.” Hoagland’s said his works try to capture the disembodied American spirit and “attempt to name the sources and architecture of suffering as an act of empathy and analysis.” Noll, who said he is familiar with the author’s work, and characterizes Hoagland’s poetry style as distinctive and often funny.

“He’s a terrific poet,” Noll said. “His humor appeals to younger audiences as well as people in the professional writing community.” Hoagland refers to his poetry as being essentially colloquial, but regards the current trend as being “aesthetic” and “effervescent” in nature Hoagland currently teaches in the poetry program at the University of Houston and at Warren Wilson College, in addition to being a working author. “I still believe in poetry,” Hoagland said in the poetry. org interview. “It help(s) us … in continuing to perform operations on the diseased patient of American culture and individual psyches.”

‘Essentially colloquial’ poet to present works in Alkek Library By Alejandro Martinez Features Reporter

Tony Hoagland has found a niche as America’s mockingbird poet because his “imagination ranges thrillingly across manners, morals, sexual doings, kinds of speech both lyrical and candid, intimate as well as wild,” according to poetry.org. Hoagland has built his poetry career through sardonic and unyielding commentary on the afflictions that shape popular American culture. His interpretations have garnered him praise from literary journals and institutions, including the Poetry Foundation’s 2005 Mark Twain Award. Hoagland will be reading and signing

Thursday, October 15, 2009

trends

The University Star - 13

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Local bar’s three-dimensional Fine Arts Calendar performance disappoints Thursday • Philosophy Dialogue Series, The New World Disorder, 9:30 a.m., Psychology Building, Room 132 • Tony Hoagland Reading, 3:30 p.m., The Witliff Collections, Alkek Library • Texas State Opera Theatre, 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar

Friday

• Philosophy Dialogue Series, The New World Disorder, 2 p.m., Psychology Building, Room 132 • Texas State Opera Theatre, 7:30 p.m., The Wine Cellar

Saturday

• A Certain Alchemy by Keith Carter, all day, The Witliff Collections, Alkek Library • The Lightning Field: Mapping the Creative Process, all day, The Witliff Collections, Alkek Library • Jane Sutton Graduate Piano Recital, 2 p.m., Music Building

• Sarah Keller Senior Euphonium Recital, 4 p.m., Music Building

Sunday

• Marjorie Moore: Labyrinth, all day, Mitte Gallery II

• A Certain Alchemy by Keith Carter, all day, The Witliff Collections, Alkek Library • The Lightning Field: Mapping the Creative Process, all day, The Witliff Collections, Alkek Library

• Fireflies by Keith Carter, all day, The Witliff Collections, Alkek Library • Rick Astorga Senior Percussion Recital, 12 p.m., Music Library • Matthew James Moreno Senior Double Bass Recital, 2 p.m., Music Library • One Hour of Bassoon, 4 p.m., Music Building

Monday

• Mass Communication Week: A Whole New Media, all day, Old Main

• Positive Mental Regard Workshop, 3 p.m., LBJ Student Center • Percussion Studio Recital, 8 p.m., Music Building

Tuesday

• Mass Communication Week: A Whole New Media, all day, Old Main

• Philosophy Dialogue: Music, Philosophy and the Brain, 12:30 p.m., Psychology Building

• The Band of Heathens and The Trishas, 8 p.m., Glade Outdoor Theatre

Wednesday

• Mass Communication Week: A Whole New Media, all day, Old Main • Somos Musicos, 8 p.m., Music Building

universitystar.com universitystar.com universitystar.com universitystar.com universitystar.com universitystar.com

By Kassie Kitchen Trends Columnist Local music junkies from the area, along with those looking for a good time, found themselves at Bar One-41 Saturday night for the highly anticipated and overly promoted 3D light show. The bar opened its doors at 8 p.m., bringing the space above Barfish back to life by filling it with a source of entertainment and, subsequently, a crowd. Rest in peace, Lucy’s. The show kicked off with plunging, hardcore sounds

from Austin-based band, Newlywed, which was followed by Zlam Dunk, a San Marcos favorite. The Couch was the third band to inexplicably bring the beat to Bar One-41 with a soulful, catchy sound. Fulton Read, a piano rock band originally from The Woodlands, headlined the show. Their set was scheduled four hours into the show, but the crowd managed to hold for the most part, and I can safely say they held out for an interesting display. Anthony Erickson, vocalist and pianist of Fulton Read, said the group has been together for almost five years and has been performing since high school. The members have released three CDs since their arrival in San Marcos, including How Rocks Become Mountains, Out of the Woods and their latest

EP titled Indivisualize, composed of four tracks free and available on their Web site. The band appears to have been successful in its local shows and musical endeavors. Their first two CD releases alone sold more than 1,500 copies. The members’ influences in jazz and piano-centric music were obvious throughout the performance, and the presence of Austin’s Hellfire Horns brought something fabulously fresh and jazzy to the stage. I especially enjoyed their cover of the funk rock classic “Sunshine of Your Love.” Fortunately, the music was a delightful crowd pleaser because it excused the lack of psychedelic effects produced by the 3D light show. Whether it was the lights across the white backdrop or a defective pair of threedimensional paper glasses,

I was sadly not impressed. I give props to the original ideas in the planning of the event, but the single red star and slight glow around each band member was not the outcome I expected. Nonetheless, The Square got a little more action than usual Saturday night, and it was still a great time for the many who gave it a shot. Erickson, mass communication senior, was impressed by the large turnout and glad people were able to attend. “The people here have great class and love to come out and party,” Erickson said. “It was a lot of fun, and it was great to get to play a show with other (talented) local bands.” —Editor’s note: The University Star’s opinion editor, Brett Thorne, is a member of the band Zlam Dunk.

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diversions

Thursday, October 15, 2009

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sports

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The University Star - 15

CAMERON’S COMMENTARY

NFL quarterbacks could take a few pointers from college athletes By Cameron Irvine Sports Columnist Professional sports officials have given us another reason to boo. We all know professional football is a contact sport, right? It’s not sipping tea with your grandmother, it’s not wasting your day constantly losing the game of solitaire

and it’s certainly not playing hopscotch with your little sister. No, professional football is more like trying to find a campus parking space on a Sunday night. But that’s not the issue here. The issue is when a milliondollar quarterback gets a booboo while falling down thanks to a push, and do you know what happens next? The defense is penalized for it. NFL, are you kidding me? Roughing the passer penalties are so ridiculous nowadays the football field has turned into a preschool. “Mr. Referee, the mean kid pushed me on my back so I couldn’t accurately throw the ball.” Then

we see the yellow flag fly and the quarterback clap. It’s sickening. If you get paid millions of dollars to throw a football to another human being, stand there tall, throw it and take the hit like everyone else on the field. There is no roughing the wide receiver, roughing the running back or roughing the assistant coach (unless you are the Oakland Raiders, in which that last example applies). So why does this matter? Because in college, quarterbacks get treated like everyone else and the world is aligned again. A few years ago, Colt McCoy got smacked two times by the Texas A&M defensive line and ended up

being hurt. To the dislike of the Longhorn fans, no penalty was called on either occasion. But wide receivers take the big hits, end up on the bench with a concussion and that is OK. Everyone “oh’s” and “ah’s” at the replays on the big screen, but no one says “that should be a penalty.” College does it right. Quarterbacks are treated like the men they are — not like dolls. But the NFL likes protecting its stars because otherwise, why would anyone care? Last year Tom Brady got sidelined for an entire season because of injury and guess what transpired? Matt Cassel was discovered and became

Bobcats soon to face top teams in SLC conference By Cameron Irvine Sports Reporter The Bobcat women’s soccer team has outscored opponents 15-1 in its last six games. The team hopes to extend its six-game win streak Friday and Sunday against Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana, respectively. The Nicholls State Colonels have a 4-10 overall record, which is the second worst in the Southland Conference. Nicholls State lost to Houston Baptist earlier this year 3-0­— an opponent the Bobcats defeated 3-0. Nicholls State’s Kaity Mattsson has seven goals on the

season. The Bobcats defeated the Colonels last year, scoring seven goals in the shutout. Brittney Curry, junior forward, scored four of those seven, and has 14 goals on the season thus far. Coach Kat Conner said Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana would be tough competition. “(The Bobcats) know this weekend will be very tough, as both teams would like to beat us and spoil our championship run,” Conner said. The top two offenses in the SLC will battle Sunday. The Southeastern Louisiana Lions are undefeated in SLC play this year with a record

of 3-0. The only other undefeated team atop the SLC is I-35 rivalry Texas-San Antonio, which is 4-0. The Bobcats host the Roadrunners at the Oct. 30 regular season finale. Southeastern Louisiana has shut out opponents in almost all of its wins this year, similarly to Texas State. However, the Lions combined to outscore their opponents 27-0 in three previous games this season. Southeastern Louisiana’s Maiya Cooper leads the team in goals with 11 this season. Natalie Santana leads the team in assists with 10 and has seven goals. The Lions have 41 goals to their op-

ponents’ eight. UTSA and McNeese State are behind Southeastern Louisiana in goals with 29. Texas State defeated Southeastern Louisiana twice 1-0, including the SLC Tournament game, which eventually led Texas State to the conference title. “(The players’) mindset is a little stressed, as they are all taking midterms and have presentations before we leave on Thursday, but I know our team will be ready when they take the field Friday afternoon to battle for a win,” Conner said. Games begin 4 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

a terrific young quarterback who almost lead the Patriots to the playoffs in his first year. Sometimes the stars have to take big hits to clear the way for the next generation. The stars in college do not get special treatment, therefore, everyone gets treated fairly and everyone benefits from that. Every sport applies here. There’s no Kobe Bryant yelling at Jack Nicholson to tell the refs they fouled him. It is all about the better team — not the better individual. The fact of the matter is all college sports are better officiated because no one cares who you are as a college athlete because there are so many. Even

Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow have had their rough bruises this year. On the college level, you won’t hear Brady yelling like a child that cannot sleep, you won’t hear Eli Manning whimpering his toe hurts and no one even hits Brett Favre because we would all like to see him play for yet another team next year. So to all the whining Barbies of the NFL’s elementary quarterback club (Shh…no girls allowed), take a page out of the college kids of today’s book because they know how to take a hit and they know how to get up and throw the ball without a struggle.

SOUTHLAND STANDINGS SOCCER TEAM

SLC

OVERALL

Texas State Texas-San Antonio Southeastern Louisiana Stephen F. Austin Sam Houston State Northwestern State Central Arkansas Nicholls State McNeese State Lamar

4-0 4-0 3-0 3-1 3-1 1-2 0-3 0-3 0-4 0-4

9-5 9-6 9-3 6-7 5-6-2 8-6 6-6-1 4-10 4-9-2 1-11-1

Sports 16 - The University Star

DOUBLE DISTINCTION Britney Curry, junior forward, and Taylor Person, freshman defender, were named Tuesday as Southland Conference Players of the Week. Curry was honored with Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this year after scoring four of the Bobcats’ five goals this weekend, including the game-winning score Friday against Lamar. Person was awarded Defensive Player of the Week after holding Lamar and McNeese State both to one goal.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sports Contact, Lisa Carter – starsports@txstate.edu

Bobcat football looks to redeem losses at next game By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter

The Bobcat football team seeks redemption in the form of Nicholls State as it will travel to Thibodaux, La. Saturday after losing two consecutive games. Fans expected Texas State to win its first two conference games against Southeastern Louisana (3-2 overall) and Nicholls State (1-4) before facing tougher division foes such as McNeese State (3-2), Central Arkansas (4-1) and Stephen F. Austin (4-1). The Bobcats own a 0-1 Southland Conference record and sit at

sixth in conference standings after losing to the Lions. “I’m going into my sixth year as coach here, and from team one to eight (in conference), it’s as equal as it has ever been,” said Coach Brad Wright. “Obviously, we would like to be 1-0, but there is nothing we can do about that except come together and try to get better.” The Bobcats attempt to even their SLC record at 1-1 Saturday. They have to win on the road — a feat that they yet to accomplish this season. Texas State defeated Nicholls State at Bobcat Stadium, 3410. Texas State had similar

problems heading into that game last season, except the Bobcats were struggling to win home games rather than on the road. Nicholls State is ranked seventh in the SLC. The Colonels have the same conference record as Texas State but hold a 1-4 overall record compared to the Bobcats’ at 2-3. The Bobcats had success against Southeastern Louisiana when they incorporated optiontype plays. They orchestrated a three-play scoring drive in the third quarter, using the option all three times. The first play was a pitch to Karrington Bush,

The Bobcats took the next two points and extended the match to a fourth set with a 25-23 victory. The Bobcats had a 10-4 lead playing off the momentum they gained with the third set win. Texas State was able to push the lead to 18-11, causing Central Arkansas to take a timeout. The Bobcats served an ace with the score 21-13. The call was heavily disputed by Central Arkansas, which in frustration was penalized with a yellow card. The Sugar Bears then went on a run to bring the score to 24-19. However, the Bobcats took the set 25-19 on a Sugar Bear return that went wide, forcing a deciding fifth set. Texas State reduced its errors to eight in the fourth and fifth sets combined after having 14 in the previous two.

some energy and we changed the momentum.” Irvin and Schumacher sparked the Bobcats in the middle two sets. Irvin finished the match with 32 assists while Schumacher had six kills and helped as part of a 10-block effort on the match by Texas State. Jessica Weynand, senior outside hitter, said she was proud of the way the Bobcats came back and refused to let down against the Sugar Bears. “We knew they were good,” Weynand said. “I’m glad we didn’t get down and we fought to make it a match.” The final set went back and forth early on as the teams reached a 5-5 deadlock. The Sugar Bears then scored the next four points before the Bobcats took a timeout. Texas State fought back after the timeout to bring the score within two points at 11-9. Central Arkansas then took two of the next three points. The Bobcats called their final timeout with a possible comeback in their favor. The teams split the next two points, bringing the Sugar Bears to within one point of escaping Strahan Coliseum with a win. Texas State took the next point to bring the score to 14-12, but Central Arkansas was able to end the match on the following point. They grabbed the set 1512, ending the Bobcats’ hopes of a two-set comeback. The Bobcats had 23 attack and 12 serve errors for the match. Weynand said these

junior running back, in which he gained 16 yards. The second was an option-pass by Bradley George, senior quarterback, which resulted in a gain of 18 yards. Another 16-yard pitchand-run capped off the drive, this time by Alvin Canady, senior running back. The option may appear more in the Bobcats’ offense because of its recent success. “The option is a part of our offense and if the defense is going to give it to us, than we’ll take it,” Wright said. “We know from week to week what defenses are going to do to us, so that’s how we’ll prepare.”

Wright might call more option plays, knowing he has three solid running backs on the offensive line. Canady leads Texas State in rushing with 239 yards. However, his lead may be shortlived. Bush missed the first three games because of a sprained MCL. He has rushed for 227 yards since his return. Bush leads the Bobcats in rushing for both games he has played. “(My leg is) feeling better,” Bush said. “We’ll take what they give us. We had success with the option. So if that’s what they give us, we’ll take it.”

Frank Reddic, redshirt freshman running back, is in his first season for the Bobcats. Reddic has recorded five touchdowns and 152 yards in his first five games. The three running backs have collectively rushed for 618 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Nicholls State is ranked last in rushing defense for the conference. The Colonels have allowed 244.4 yard per game. Nicholls State had 19 rushing touchdowns scored on them through the first five games. Texas State averages 154.4 yards rushing per game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Bobcat volleyball prepares for next SLC match By Eric Harper Sports Reporter

It was a match of last season’s Southland Conference champion against this year’s SLC leader. The volleyball team was picked to win the Southland Conference title in the preseason polls.However,CentralArkansas was ranked second and entered Wednesday’s match with the Bobcats undefeated in SLC play in first place. The Sugar Bears left the match still undefeated with a 3-2 victory over a Bobcat team that almost won despite a two-set deficit. Central Arkansas took control of the match in the first two sets, taking each by a score of 25-18. The Bobcats had early onepoint leads in each set, but the Sugar Bears secured victories in both matches. The Bobcats committed 14 It was the ugliest attacks and five serve errors through two sets and were volleyball all year. outhit .222 to .018 by the Sugar They were about to Bears. cover us with dirt. Central Arkansas had a 10-5 -Coach Karen Chisum lead in the third set, forcing the Bobcats to call timeout. Texas Coach Karen Chisum said State went on its first extended the first two sets featured run of the match following the some of the worst volleyball timeout, evening the score at 17 the Bobcats have played this points. season. However, Chisum said The Bobcats took their first Shelbi Irvin, junior setter, and lead of the set at 18-17 with a Matti Schumacher, freshman block and pushed the lead to outside hitter, gave the team the 21-18 before Central Arkansas lift it needed. took a timeout. The Sugar Bears “It was the ugliest volleyball brought the score back to a all year. They were about to tie at 23, putting themselves cover us with dirt,” Chisum within two points of a sweep. said. “Shelbi and Matti found

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Jake Marx/Star photo GOOD HIT: Jessica Weynand, senior outside hitter, bumps the ball back over the net against Central Arkansas Wednesday at Strahan Coliseum.

errors were what eventually stopped the Bobcats from winning. “Errors are what probably killed us the most,” Weynand said. Chisum said the Bobcats

knew they had the advantage in the middle, but were not able to execute well enough to benefit from it. “The game plan was to pass the ball and get it to the middle, but we struggled passing,”

Chisum said. The Bobcats will turn their attention to the next opponent, Northwestern State, after their first SLC loss of the season. Texas State will play the Demons 2 p.m. in Natchitoches, La.