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OCTOBER 16, 2007
TUESDAY
VOLUME 97, ISSUE 23
Policy fails River Cleanup nets highest volunteer rating so far after voting discrepancy By Jason Hagerup Special to The University Star
Records were set Saturday at the annual Fall River Cleanup for highest volunteer attendance and most trash bags collected in its 19-year history. Melani Howard, watershed protection manager for San Marcos Parks and Recreation, said the cleanup was the most geographically widespread it has ever been, covering numerous parks and river tributaries in addition to the city’s central river corridor. “It went really well,” Howard said. “The people who came out had a good time, and they collected more trash than we have ever collected.” Thanks to 148 student volunteers and 72 other community members who participated, the cleanup yielded 108 bags of trash, 72 bags of recyclable material, multiple tires and a bicycle frame. Participants were given latex gloves, trash bags and maps and were dispatched in groups from the Lions Club at City Park. Many campus and community organizations aided in the cleanup. As for individual volunteers, they were organized into groups. Stephen Gates, biochemistry sophomore, came to the cleanup after the faculty member teaching Jenny Polson/Star photo university seminar recommended HELPING HANDS: HalleyAnna Finlay, English sophomore, and Chris Copple, management sophomore, dispose of trash found in the San it as a way to accumulate required
By Scott Thomas Assistant News Editor
A mix up during the Associated Student Government meeting Monday night occurred when the resolution “Embracing True Diversity” did not pass a two-thirds majority vote in the senate. However, after ASG Vice President Alexis Dabney reviewed the Code of Laws after the meeting adjourned, it was revealed the resolution required a majority vote, which it met. Dabney said the resolution might be reconsidered next week because of procedural error and taken back up for vote. “If it got the same number of votes (in next weeks meeting as it did) tonight it would pass,” Dabney said. The resolution, authored by ASG Sen. Tyler Ferguson, urged University President Denise Trauth and the Texas State University System Board of Regents to amend Texas State’s non-discrimination policy to include the words “gender identity and expression.” “It’s not an issue for you until you meet someone who’s affected by it,” Ferguson said. “I met someone affected by it and it changed Marcos River during the volunteer-led River Cleanup Saturday. my outlook on the entire issue.” Ferguson said transgender enSee TRASH, page 3 compasses anyone who does not fit traditional gender roles. “Gender identity is how others see you,” he said. ASG Sen. Michelle Malcik questioned the political bias of the resolution, saying it was libBy Allen Reed erally slanted and a religiously News Reporter offensive statement. “As a right wing conservative, Every seat was filled and many were left I don’t approve of this and I don’t standing Sunday at the tribute to the San approve of being called discrimiMarcos River. A diverse group of people natory for something I just simcongregated at the public library to parply don’t believe in,” Malcik said. take in the appreciation of the river. “I don’t want our school to carry “I was pleased with the turnout and something I don’t believe in.” the broad range of people who attended,” Ferguson said no one was callsaid Mayor Susan Narvaiz. “We had everying Malcik, the Republican Party —Susan Narvaiz thing from people in their 80s to young or Christians discriminatory. kids who are just now getting a taste of Malcik further questioned if San Marcos mayor what the river is like.” the resolution was necessary The walls of the library were covered personal stories to a tale in which a car“I don’t see the discrimination with pictures of the river while laptops nival elephant tore across town in pursuit taking place,” Malcik said. with image slideshows complimented the of the San Marcos River. Ferguson said the resoluatmosphere. The Austin Chronicle, the The panel concluded with Ron Coley, tion took no tangible action San Marcos River Rangers and the San director of River of Innocence, speaking on immediately. Marcos Greenbelt Alliance all had tables the importance of the preservation of the “This is going to give the uniset up at the occasion. river. Minimizing waste and protecting versity administrators a toll to inNarvaiz moderated a panel that includ- the natural wildlife and fauna highlighted sure discrimination like this can’t ed Jim Kimmel, author of The San Mar- his speech. happen,” Ferguson said. “One cos: A River’s Story, Jerry Kimmel, the Russell, who wrote and performed the hundred and forty eight other uniphotographer for the book, John Hohn, theme song for Coley’s film, ended the versities have implemented this, author of The Millennium Tuber, Shirley panel discussion with a performance of it’s about time we became one.” Lehman, former aquamaid, Ron Coley, his song, “River of Innocence.” Riley Knight, clinical laboratofilm director and Shake Russell, singer Diann McCabe, assistant director of ry science junior, who identified and songwriter. the Mitte Honors program, said she was himself as transgendered, was Jim Kimmel spoke on the importance pleased with the community’s participagiven the floor to speak during of the river to the San Marcos communi- tion in the event. the debate. ty and stressed the importance of events “It’s what we were hoping for,” McCabe “It affects you in the showers, like this one. said. “There were over 60 people here. I the Student Health Center — it “These stories give life to places we thought it was great and that there was affects you in the classroom,” rarely pay attention to otherwise,” Kim- good participation. The man who sang his Knight said. “Everything for mel said. “Community events like this poem about the river was very articulate someone like myself.” help us recognize the uniqueness and the in how he had come to see the river and The vote was characterized by a value of our community. I’m a geographer problems he sees with it now. It was terhigh number of abstaining votes. and part of what geographers talk about rific.” “I abstained because of my pois the idea of place. Sometime we don’t McCabe touched on the importance of litical and Christian beliefs,” said Greg Richards/ Star Photo realize that we make that place.” having events like this tribute. ASG Sen. Steven De La Cerda. Hohn recanted various stories that fo“We live together in this town and FLOWING FESTIVITIES: Ron Coley, Aquarena Center director, speaks about the San “But I’m still for life, liberty and Marcos River and the effects it had on his life during the “Tribute to the River” celebra- the pursuit of happiness. After I cused more on the river’s recreational tion Sunday at the San Marcos Public Library. aspects. He covered everything from his knew I could have been the decidSee RIVER, page 3 ing vote I thought back about it.”
Community, university combine to stress importance of river e had “W everything from people in their ’80s
to young kids who are just now getting a taste of what the river is like.”
Lecturer will focus on men’s role in societal violence By Alex Hering News Reporter Having dedicated his life to educating men and women about gender violence and its deep-rooted traditions in American society, Jackson Katz is an unconventional anti-sexist activist. According to Women’s E!
News, Katz was not a victim of violence or harassment — being a former all-star football player — but simply became angry about violence against women. “It wasn’t overnight,” Katz said. “It was in my first and second year of college where inside and outside of the classroom I began to learn about how many women had to live with either
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abuse, violence or the daily threat of violence from men and it immediately struck me as terribly unfair and wrong and I knew that I was in a position as a man to do something about it.” Katz, the author, educator, filmmaker and social critic, will speak at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the LBJ Ballroom.
Katz was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and was the first male at the school to earn a minor in women’s studies. He said it is important that people not assume it is an “alienated” field of study; rather, it applies to all. “I didn’t do it so I would be the first, I did it because I wanted to and I turned out to
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be the first,” Katz said. “It’s a shame that more people don’t take women’s studies, not for degrees but take classes and be educated at the same level of intensity. It is some of the most cutting edge and important work in the country and it relates to everyone’s life on a daily basis.” Katz is most widely known for
co-founding the Mentors in Violence Prevention program for college and professional athletics. The topics of the lectures he has given at hundreds of college campuses range from the media’s contribution to sexual and domestic violence to representations of presidential mas-
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